Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological states of youth and adult elite male athletes

Objective: Although the psychological states of athletes were negatively affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a lack of studies examining the psychological impact on athletes according to age, sports discipline, and contact requirement of the sport. The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on elite athletes according to age, sport discipline (team-individual), and contact requirements of the sports (contact and non-contact). Material and methods: Three questionnaires (Depression anxiety stress scale-21, Impact of events scale (IES), International physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ)) were sent to participants’ smartphones, six weeks after professional football leagues were postponed. The online survey was completed by 440 athletes and 126 non-athlete volunteers. Athletes were divided into three groups as follows; team sports, individual contact, and individual non-contact-sports. Also, each group was subdivided into two age groups as youth and adult. Results: Depression, anxiety, and stress scores for the team sports were significantly lower than individual contact-sports (p<0.01 each) and individual non-contact-sports (p=0.02, p<0.01, p<0.01, respectively). IES score for the team sports was significantly lower than the individual contact sports, individual non-contact sports, and non-athlete volunteers (p<0.01, p=0.02, p=0.04, respectively). There was no other significant difference between the scale scores of the groups (athletes-control, or youth-adult) (p>0.05). Conclusion: Mental health status of team sport athletes were relatively protected, whereas, individual contact sports athletes were highly affected. The psychological states of individual contact athletes should be monitored closely, and necessary psychosocial support should be provided to create coping strategies.

Egzersizin iştah ve iştah hormonları üzerine etkisinin incelenmesi: PubMed üzerinden yapılmış sistematik derleme

İştah, besin alımını etkileyerek enerji dengesine etki eder. İştah mekanizması çeşitli dokulardan salgılanan hormonlar ile regüle edilir. Peptid YY, glukagon benzeri peptid 1, kolesistokinin, pankreatik polipeptid, oxyntomodulin, amilin, leptin gibi hormonlar besin alımıyla uyarılarak iştahı baskılarken ghrelin ve glukagon gibi hormonlar ise besin alımıyla inhibe olup, açlık durumunda uyarılarak iştahın artmasına neden olurlar. Egzersiz, iştah hormonlarına olan etkisi ile iştah mekanizmasında rol alabilir. Bununla birlikte, yanıtlarda bireyler arasında büyük bir değişkenlik vardır. Bu makale alışılmış fiziksel aktivite, beden kütle indeksi, cinsiyet, egzersiz şiddeti, süresi, türü ve egzersiz öncesi besin alımının egzersize bağlı iştahı ve iştahla ilgili hormon yanıtlarını nasıl değiştirdiğine ilişkin kanıtları gözden geçirmeyi hedeflemektedir. Çalışma; veri taraması için ”exercise and appetite”, “exercise and appetite hormones”, “physical activity and appetite” anahtar sözcüklerini kullanarak PRİSMA yöntemi ile PubMed arama motorunda yer alan son beş yılda yapılmış güncel insan çalışmalarını ele almaktadır. Araştırma sonuçları beden kütle indeksi, alışılmış fiziksel aktivite ve egzersiz şiddetinin akut veya kronik egzersiz testlerinde iştahı önemli ölçüde değiştirmediğini göstermektedir. Ancak egzersiz süresinin, türünün, egzersiz öncesi besin alımının ve farklı cinsiyetlerin egzersize yanıtlarının farklı olduğu gösterilmiştir. Bu bireysel özellikler ve davranışlar ile egzersiz yapmanın iştahla ilişkili hormon tepkileri üzerindeki etkisi belirsizliğini korumaktadır. Egzersizin iştah ve iştah hormonları üzerine olası etkilerini belirlemek için gelecekte daha kapsamlı kontrollü çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Comparison of the biomechanical parameters during drop jump on compliant and noncompliant surfaces: A new methodological approach

Objective: Bilateral plyometric training of the lower extremities has been shown to provide improvement in vertical force production. However, designing a proper plyometric training program and choosing the appropriate surface is critical, otherwise the risk of injury and lower extremity joint pathologies increases. The aim of this study was to compare biomechanical parameters between mini-trampoline and noncompliant surface during drop jumping. Materials and Methods: Thirty-four male adults participated in the study. Active markers were placed on the left knee, ankle and hip joints of the participants. Also, a force sensing resistor was placed under the participants’ left shoes. During drop jumping, the knee joint angles were recorded by the camera while a data set of reaction forces and loading rates were collected using a force sensing resistor. Data were compared with paired samples T-test. The level of significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The mean values of maximum reaction forces and loading rates were greater on the noncompliant surface (p < 0.001). Mean knee joint angles for frame at which the knee angle is minimum and the frames one before and one after the frame at which the minimum value is obtained were similar between surfaces, however, were found to be smaller on noncompliant surface for the remaining eight frames (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates that the range of bending values in the knee joint is greater on noncompliant surface compared to mini-trampoline during drop jump. Since the mini-trampoline resulted in lower reaction forces and loading rates, it can be used as an exercise equipment to minimize the injury risk of plyometric training.

Rectus femoris muscle thickness and cross-sectional area on ultrasonography may predict isometric and isokinetic knee extension strength: A cross-sectional study

Objective: To examine the relationship between knee extensor strength and quadriceps muscle architecture evaluated with ultrasonography during relaxed and contracted situations. Materials and Methods: A total of 40 healthy participants (age range 18-40), doing sports at a recreational level were included. Pennation angle, muscle thickness, and cross-sectional area of the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris muscles were measured firstly during rest while participants are sitting on an isokinetic dynamometer with their knees at 0° and 60° of flexion. Thereafter, ultrasound evaluations were performed during maximal isometric contraction at 60° knee flexion and maximal isokinetic contraction at 30°/sec and 60°/sec speeds. The architectural parameters were correlated with peak isometric (measured at 60° knee flexion) and isokinetic (measured at 30°/sec and 60°/sec angular velocities) torque values. Results: Pennation angle (p<0.001), muscle thickness (p<0.001) and muscle cross-sectional area (p<0.001) of the vastus medialis muscle during rest, and isometric and isokinetic maximal contractions were higher than the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles. Pennation angle, muscle thickness and muscle cross-sectional area parameters measured during rest, and isometric and isokinetic maximal contractions in the vastus medialis (r=0.39-0.64, p<0.05-0.01) and vastus lateralis (r=0.36-0.68, p<0.05-0.01) showed weak to moderate correlations with isometric and isokinetic peak torque. In rectus femoris muscle, on the other hand, except the weak correlation in pennation angle (r=0.35-0.49, p<0.05-0.01), muscle thickness (r=0.74-0.80, p<0.001) and cross-sectional area (r=0.71-0.80, p<0.001) had a moderate to strong correlation with isometric and isokinetic strength. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that rectus femoris cross-sectional area measured during knee relaxed at 60° flexion (R2=0.532-0.610) and rectus femoris muscle thickness measured during isometric and isokinetic contraction modes (R2=0.538-0.600) were decisive to predict the isometric and isokinetic strength of the quadriceps muscle. Conclusion: Contrary to pennation angle, muscle thickness and cross-sectional area of the rectus femoris measured during relaxed and contracted conditions may be determinative in predicting isometric and isokinetic strength.

Rotator manşet tendinopatisinde ağrı şiddeti ile skapular kasların dayanıklılığı ve kor kaslarının işlevselliği arasındaki ilişkinin incelenmesi

Amaç: Rotator manşet tendinopatisi olan hastalarda, ağrı şiddeti ile skapular kasların dayanıklılığı ve kor kaslarının işlevselliği arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek amaçlanmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya, 25-65 yaşları arasında rotator manşet tendinopatisi tanısı almış 40 hasta (25 kadın, 15 erkek) dahil edildi. Hastaların ağrı şiddetleri Numerik Ağrı Skalası (NAS) ile, skapular kasların dayanıklılığı skapular kassal endurans testi (SKET), kor kaslarının işlevselliği ise tek bacak duvar oturuşu testi ve tekrarlayan tek bacakla çömelme testi ile değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Hastaların, yaş ortalaması 43,95±10,12 yıl, ağrı şiddeti ortalamasıı 6,57±1,41, skapular kas dayanıklık ortalaması 24,525±20,13 sn, tek bacakla duvar oturuş testi ortalaması 12,9±10,01 sn ve tek bacakla çömelme testi ortalaması 6,85±3,93 tekrar idi. Hastaların, ağrı şiddetleri ile skapular kasların dayanıklılığı (p= 0,021, r=-0,363) ve kor kaslarının işlevselliği (Tek Bacak Duvar Oturuş Testi Dominant ve Tekrarlayan Tek Bacakla Çömelme Dominant) arasında (p= 0,007, r=-0,417; p= 0,042, r=-0,323, sırasıyla) negatif yönlü orta şiddette anlamlı bir ilişki bulundu. Hastaların, skapular kaslarının dayanıklılığı ile kor kaslarının işlevsellikleri (Tek Bacak Duvar Oturuş Testi Dominant ve Tekrarlayan Tek Bacakla Çömelme Dominant) arasında ise pozitif yönlü kuvvetli anlamlı ilişki olduğu görüldü (p= 0,001, r= 0,868; p= 0,001, r= 0,742). Sonuç: Rotator manşet tendinopatisi tanısı almış hastaların orta şiddette ağrı bildirdikleri, skapular kas dayanıklılığı ve kor kasları işlevselliğinin azaldığı görülürken; ağrı şiddetinin artması ile skapular kas dayanıklılığı ve kor kasları işlevselliğinin azaldığı görüldü. Bu sonuçlar, rotator manşet tendinopatisi tanısı almış hastaların fizyoterapi ve rehabilitasyon programlarında skapular kas dayanıklılığı ve kor kasları işlevselliğini arttırmaya yönelik rehabilitasyon uygulamalarının göz önünde bulundurulması gerektiğini düşündürdü.

Futbolcularda kalça izometrik addüktör ve abdüktör kas kuvvet oranının dinamik denge ile ilişkisi

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı kalça addüktör ve abdüktör kaslarının bilateral izometrik kuvvet oranının dinamik denge ile ilişkisini incelemektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Araştırmaya 20 sağlıklı erkek futbolcu katıldı. Sporcuların kalça kas kuvvetlerini değerlendirmek için GroinBar™ (Vald Performance, Albion, Avustralya) cihazı kullanıldı. Alt ekstremite dinamik dengeleri ise Y denge testi ile değerlendirildi. Kalça addüktör ve abdüktör izometrik kas kuvveti ve kuvvet oranları ile Y denge testi ilişkisi Spearman sıra korelasyon katsayısı (rho) ile belirlendi. Bulgular: Araştırma sonunda non-dominant taraf abdüktör maksimum izometrik kas kuvveti ile dominant taraf Y denge öne uzanma arasında pozitif yönde (rho= 0,465, p= 0,039) ve dominant addüktör/abdüktör oran ile non-dominant postero-lateral uzanma arasında negatif yönde (rho= -0,439, p= 0,05) orta seviyede istatistiksel olarak anlamlı ilişki tespit edildi. Diğer parametreler arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmadı. Sonuçlar: Kalça addüktör abdüktör kas kuvvetleri ve kuvvet oranlarının dinamik denge ile ilişkili olduğu görülmektedir. Futbolcularda kalça eklemi ve pelvis dinamikleri üzerine doğrudan etkileri olan bu kasların kuvveti ve bunların oranlarını değerlendirmek ve sonuçlara göre antrenman programlarında planlamalar yapmak yararlı olabilir.

Relationship between body composition, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test and vertical jump test in elite young soccer players

Objective: The aim of this study is to find out the relationships among body composition, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) test and vertical jump test in elite young soccer players. Material and Methods: Eighteen healthy young male soccer players (Age: 16.5±0.3 years, height: 178.0±5.9 cm, body weight: 65.9±7.9kg,) voluntarily participated in the study. Total and regional body composition parameters of the soccer players were examined through a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) method. Vertical jump performance tests were squat jump (SJ) and active jump (AJ), and endurance performances were determined by the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 1 test (Yo-Yo IR1). Relationships among body composition, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test and vertical jump test were analyzed with Pearson Correlation coefficient. Significance level was taken as ≤0.05. Results: A statistically significant negative correlation was found between squat jump and countermovement jump (r=-0.588, r=-0.573, p<0.05), and the leg fat rate. However, there were no statistically significant relationship among squat jump, Yo-Yo IR1 and countermovement jump and other whole/regional body composition (p>0.05). Conclusion: Changes in body composition are important issues for the physical performance level of young soccer players, as local excess body fat may cause deterioration, especially in jumping performance.

Combined and comparative effects of plyometrics and dynamic stretching on vertical jump in volleyball players

Objective: Aim of this study was to investigate the combined and comparative training outcomes of plyometrics and dynamic stretching of lower limb muscle groups on vertical jump performance in male and female collegiate volleyball players. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out as two training sessions in a week, for eight weeks duration. The total number of participants was 90 male and 90 female collegiate volleyball players aged 18-22 years. All the participants were recreational players and they were playing one hour daily in the evening. They were randomly distributed into three male groups (Group 1, Group 2 & Group 3) and three female groups (Group 4, Group 5 & Group 6) with 30 participants in each group. All the participants underwent Sargent vertical jump performance test before starting the training session it was repeated in every two weeks of training program. Results: Plyometrics and plyometrics with dynamic stretching led to significant improvements in vertical jump height (VJH), and this improvement was progressed after every two weeks of training. However, the control groups did not display any improvement. The effect of training was significantly higher in male and female groups who have performed plyometrics with lower limbs dynamic stretching as compared with the groups that performed only plyometric exercises (p<0.05). Compared to females, male participants had a better improvement of VJH in both training groups (p<0.05). Conclusion: It can be concluded that two sessions of plyometric exercise training per week for eight weeks can improve the ability of VJH in male and female collegiate volleyball players. However, combined training of lower body plyometrics and lower limbs dynamic stretching had better results in terms of vertical jump performance.

Variances of the intraarticular landmarks for anterior cruciate ligament tibial footprint: Tibial eminencies have less variability than lateral meniscus on sagittal magnetic resonance scans

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the sagittal plane variations of intraarticular landmarks for single bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction including lateral meniscus, medial and lateral tibial eminencies. Methods: T2 weighted sagittal magnetic resonance (MR) scans of 80 skeletally mature patients aged between 18 to 60 years and without any sign of ligament and meniscal injuries were viewed. Midpoint of ACL, most posterior aspect of anterior horn of lateral meniscus (LMAH), tip of medial eminence (ME) and lateral eminence (LE) were identified on widest antero-posterior (A-P) distance of tibial plateau according to of Staubli-Rausching method and variances were compared. Results: Mean location of center of tibial footprint of ACL at sagittal plane was found as 38.0±4.2% (range, 29-51%) on A-P distance of tibial plateau. Location of posterior border of LMAH, ME and LE were 38.0±12.4% (range, 21-62%), 52.3±4.2% (range, 41- 60%) and 59.5±4.4% (range, 51- 69%), respectively. Difference between the variances of ACL midpoint and LMAH was large enough to be statistically significant (p=<.001) with a large effect size (f=0.59), however differences between the variances of ACL midpoint and bony landmarks were not significant (ME, p=.65; LE, p=.33). Intra and interobserver agreement for measurement of all parameters were detected as moderate to good. Conclusion: There was no constant relationship between ACL midpoint and posterior border of LMAH on sagittal plane MR images. Difference of variances between ACL midpoint and ME and LE were significantly lower than of variances of LMAH.