Automated processes in tennis: Do left-handed players benefit from the tactical preferences of their opponents?

Automated processes in tennis: Do left-handed players benefit from the tactical preferences of their opponents?

Authors: Florian Loffing a; Norbert Hagemann a;Bernd Strauss b
Affiliations: a Institute of Sports and Sports Science, University of Kassel, Kassel
b Institute for Sport Science, University of Mnster, Mnster, Germany
DOI: 10.1080/02640410903536459
Publication Frequency: 14 issues per year
Published in: Journal of Sports Sciences
First Published on: 19 February 2010
Subject: Sport & Exercise Science;
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Abstract
Previous research on laterality in sport suggests an over-representation of left-handers in interactive sports such as tennis and cricket. These findings potentially reflect left-handers' advantage over their right-handed competitors in those sports. Although considered crucial for successful performance, the tactical component of their superiority has yet to be analysed. Two studies were conducted to test for a side bias in tennis players' tactical preferences. In the first study, 108 right- and left-handed players of varying skill watched rallies on a computer screen and had to indicate where they would place the ball in the opposing half. The results showed the tactical preference of players to place more balls on a left-handed opponent's mostly stronger forehand side compared with when faced with a right-hander. In the second study, 54 professional tennis matches involving right- and left-handers were analysed with respect to ball placement frequencies on the opponent's backhand side. Significantly fewer balls were hit to the backhand side of a left-handed opponent, thus replicating the findings of Study 1 in on-court situations. Both studies indicate players' preference to place shots to their right irrespective of their opponent's handedness. Findings support the assumption that left-handers might enjoy a strategic advantage in tennis.
Keywords: Laterality; handedness; strategic advantage; ball tracking
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Dr. Rosa

Jerry Rice scored a touchdown among attendees at Parker Seminars Las Vegas

Legendary NFL wide-receiver and three-time Super Bowl champ Jerry Rice scored a touchdown among attendees at Parker Seminars Las Vegas — the world’s largest chiropractic seminar — by sharing all the ways he is being a champion for chiropractic. He was joined onstage by fellow chiropractic supporter Linda Cohn, veteran sportscaster and one of the first women to report for ESPN. Both Rice and Cohn are spokespeople for the Foundation for Chiropractic, an organization dedicated to generating positive press for the chiropractic profession, and traveled to Parker Seminars to encourage chiropractors and their assistants to continue delivering natural, quality health care to patients around the globe.

Thinking back to his football career, Rice credits his success on the field largely in part to chiropractic care. "If I had everything in alignment, I knew I could play my best football," said Rice. His training routine included twice-weekly chiropractic adjustments which helped his body recover from all the hard hits and countless tackles. Because Rice firmly believed in the benefits of chiropractic, his teammates began to favor this natural care over the medications that trainers traditionally give. "I wanted to set the standard within football," said Rice. "I knew if chiropractic helped me put up outstanding numbers, it could help my teammates do the same."



Former NFL superstar Jerry Rice - photo credit kinetic
And Rice’s accomplishments are indeed a testament to chiropractic: he was twice named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year, won three Super Bowls, and still holds nearly every record as a receiver. He retired as the league’s career receiving leader. Rice was recently announced as a 2010 NFL Hall of Fame candidate.

The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress (FCP) made its own version of a "Hall of Fame" induction by presenting Rice with a medal for his commitment to chiropractic. "The Foundation for Chiropractic is getting the word out there, and [being a spokesperson] is a way for me to give back," said Rice. "Chiropractic made football great for me. I was at my best and was always at 100 percent."

Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention: a systematic review

Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention: a systematic review.
Hübscher M, Zech A, Pfeifer K, Hänsel F, Vogt L, Banzer W.

Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. m.huebscher@sport.uni-frankfurt.de
PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of proprioceptive/neuromuscular training in preventing sports injuries by using the best available evidence from methodologically well-conducted randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials without randomization. METHODS: Two independent researchers performed a literature search in various electronic databases and reference lists. The reviewers independently assessed trials for inclusion criteria and methodological quality and extracted the data. Focusing on studies of high methodological quality, relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate treatment effects. RESULTS: From a total of 32 relevant studies, 7 methodologically well-conducted studies were considered for this review. Pooled analysis revealed that multi-intervention training was effective in reducing the risk of lower limb injuries (RR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.49-0.77, P < 0.01), acute knee injuries (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.28-0.76, P < 0.01), and ankle sprain injuries (RR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.31-0.79, P < 0.01). Balance training alone resulted in a significant risk reduction of ankle sprain injuries (RR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.46-0.9, P < 0.01) and a nonsignificant risk reduction for injuries overall (RR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.13-1.8, P = 0.28). Exercise interventions were more effective in athletes with a history of sports injury than in those without. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results of seven high-quality studies, this review showed evidence for the effectiveness of proprioceptive/neuromuscular training in reducing the incidence of certain types of sports injuries among adolescent and young adult athletes during pivoting sports. Future research should focus on the conduct of comparative trials to identify the most appropriate and effective training components for preventing injuries in specific sports and populations.


Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise 2010 (Mar); 42 (3): 413–421
Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. m.huebscher@sport.uni-frankfurt.de

Training Volume and Personal Best Time in Marathon, Not Anthropometric Parameters, are Associated with Performance in Male 100-KM Ultrarunners

Training Volume and Personal Best Time in Marathon, Not Anthropometric Parameters, are Associated with Performance in Male 100-KM Ultrarunners

by Knechtle, Beat; Wirth, Andrea; Knechtle, Patrizia; Rosemann, Thomas
Knechtle, B, Wirth, A, Knechtle, P, and Rosemann, T. Training volume and personal best time in marathon, not anthropometric parameters, are associated with performance in male 100-km ultrarunners. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 604-609, 2010-We investigated the relation between selected anthropometric and training variables and the personal best time in a marathon with total race time in 66 Caucasian male nonprofessional ultrarunners in a 100-km run. In the multiple linear regression analysis, the average weekly training volume in kilometers (r2 = 0.224, p < 0.01) and the personal best time in a marathon (r2 = 0.334, p < 0.01) were significantly associated with total race time, whereas no anthropometric variable was related to race performance (p > 0.05). We conclude that high training volume and a fast time in a marathon were more important for a fast race time in male 100-km runners than any of the determined anthropometric variables. (C) 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association
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Monitoring Load, Recovery, and Performance in Young Elite Soccer Players

Monitoring Load, Recovery, and Performance in Young Elite Soccer Players

by Brink, Michel S; Nederhof, Esther; Visscher, Chris; Schmikli, Sandor L; Lemmink, Koen A P M
Brink, MS, Nederhof, E, Visscher, C, Schmikli, SL, and Lemmink, KAPM. Monitoring load, recovery, and performance in young elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 597-603, 2010-

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between training load, recovery, and monthly field test performance in young elite soccer players to develop training guidelines to enhance performance. In a prospective, nonexperimental cohort design, 18 young elite soccer players registered training and match duration for a full competitive season by means of daily training logs. Furthermore, session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and total quality of recovery (TQR) scores were recorded. Weekly duration (TLd), load (duration x session RPE = TLrpe), and TQR scores were calculated for 1 and 2 weeks before a monthly submaximal interval shuttle run tests to determine interval endurance capacity. Participants spent on average 394.4 +/- 134.9 minutes per week on training and game play with an average session RPE of 14.4 +/- 1.2 (somewhat hard) and TQR of 14.7 +/- 1.3 (good recovery). Random intercept models showed that every extra hour training or game play resulted in enhanced field test performance (p < 0.05). Session RPE and TQR scores did not contribute to the prediction of performance. The duration of training and game play in the week before field test performance is most strongly related to interval endurance capacity. Therefore, coaches should focus on training duration to improve interval endurance capacity in elite soccer players. To evaluate the group and individual training response, field tests should be frequently executed and be incorporated in the training program. (C) 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Monitoring Load, Recovery, and Performance in Young Elite Soccer Players

Monitoring Load, Recovery, and Performance in Young Elite Soccer Players

by Brink, Michel S; Nederhof, Esther; Visscher, Chris; Schmikli, Sandor L; Lemmink, Koen A P M
Brink, MS, Nederhof, E, Visscher, C, Schmikli, SL, and Lemmink, KAPM.

Monitoring load, recovery, and performance in young elite soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 597-603, 2010-The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between training load, recovery, and monthly field test performance in young elite soccer players to develop training guidelines to enhance performance. In a prospective, nonexperimental cohort design, 18 young elite soccer players registered training and match duration for a full competitive season by means of daily training logs. Furthermore, session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and total quality of recovery (TQR) scores were recorded. Weekly duration (TLd), load (duration x session RPE = TLrpe), and TQR scores were calculated for 1 and 2 weeks before a monthly submaximal interval shuttle run tests to determine interval endurance capacity. Participants spent on average 394.4 +/- 134.9 minutes per week on training and game play with an average session RPE of 14.4 +/- 1.2 (somewhat hard) and TQR of 14.7 +/- 1.3 (good recovery). Random intercept models showed that every extra hour training or game play resulted in enhanced field test performance (p < 0.05). Session RPE and TQR scores did not contribute to the prediction of performance. The duration of training and game play in the week before field test performance is most strongly related to interval endurance capacity. Therefore, coaches should focus on training duration to improve interval endurance capacity in elite soccer players. To evaluate the group and individual training response, field tests should be frequently executed and be incorporated in the training program. (C) 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association
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Retired NFL Players at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease

Retired NFL Players at Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Mayo Clinic study finds elite athletes have same risks as fans

Thursday, March 25, 2010

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Despite their elite athletic history, former professional football players have not benefited from their fitness and training and may be susceptible to the same risks associated with obesity as the general population.

Such were the findings of a study led by Mayo Clinic in Arizona and the Living Heart Foundation in which 201 healthy, retired NFL players between ages 35 and 65 were evaluated for carotid artery plaque. The presence of plaque is a sign of advanced atherosclerosis and is a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular events.

"The published health data available for retired football players are limited, but as in our study, the data suggest an increased cardiovascular risk in these athletes," says R. Todd Hurst, M.D., Cardiovascular Diseases at Mayo Clinic and lead author of the study that took place between September 2006 and March 2008.

Even though physical activity is known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, "It remains unclear whether high body mass index diminishes the benefits gained from being an elite athlete," adds Dr. Hurst.

Linemen, in particular, may be at increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events and death after retirement, according to Dr. Hurst. "The increased body size typical of these men may be of concern, as well as obesity-related conditions such as metabolic syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea that have been reported in professional football players."

Study partner, the Living Heart Foundation, arranged health screening events for retired NFL players in conjunction with Mayo, and all the study participants agreed to participate in the screenings. The Living Heart Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was established by retired cardiac surgeon Arthur Roberts, M.D., whose mission is to combat cardiac health issues in groups such as high school, college and professional sports.

"Large body mass and other factors may mitigate the well established benefits of fitness," explains Dr. Hurst.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/

Correlations Between Injury, Training Intensity, and Physical and Mental Exhaustion Among College Athletesfrom

Correlations Between Injury, Training Intensity, and Physical and Mental Exhaustion Among College Athletesfrom

The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research - Current Issue by Vetter, Rheba E; Symonds, Matthew L
Vetter, RE and Symonds, ML. Correlations between injury, training intensity, and physical and mental exhaustion among college athletes. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 587-596, 2010-The primary purpose of this research was to obtain information concerning injury incidence and perceptions of training intensities and fatigue levels among college athletes via a survey study. A second purpose was to illuminate correlations between the collected data. This study employed an investigator-designed survey instrument administered to 411 NCAA Division II male and female athletes, with 149 completed responses. The survey included 3 themes: injury incidence, training intensity, and physical and mental exhaustion. Men and women spent 4.5 days per week training using moderate- and high-intensity levels. Fifty percent of the total number of athletes reported chronic injury. During the competition season, physical exhaustion occurred "frequently" 30.86 and 23.53% of the time with men and women, respectively. In the noncompetition season, physical exhaustion was "frequently" experienced 19.75 and 17.65% of the time among men and women, respectively. Statistically significant correlations (p < 0.05) were found with acute injury for men and chronic injury for women. Also, training intensity levels and physical and mental exhaustion for men and women were statistically significant. The current investigators found the training involved 2-3 hours of moderate to high intensity 4.5 days per week both during competition and noncompetition; women and men spent 2-3 hours of light intensity 1.31 and 1.45 days per week, respectively. Women and men in addition to training, engaged in 3.78 and 4.43 hours of leisure physical activity per week. The investigators recommend tapering, periodization, and rest to help avoid overuse syndrome, overreaching, and overtraining that leads to excessive physical and mental exhaustion and injury. (C) 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association

Study finds pitching mound height affects throwing motion, injury risk

Study finds pitching mound height affects throwing motion, injury risk
Published in:Press Releases
Medical College study on pitching mound height provides insight into baseball injuries

23-Mar-2008 -- A study involving several Major League Baseball pitchers indicates that the height of the pitcher’s mound can affect the athlete’s throwing arm motion, which may lead to potential injuries because of stress on the shoulder and elbow.

The study was led by William Raasch, M.D., associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, who also is the head team physician for the Milwaukee Brewers. Major League Baseball funded the study in an effort to help prevent injuries among professional baseball players.

The results of the study were presented at the 2007 MLB Winter Meetings at the joint session of the Major League Baseball Team Physicians Association and Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society.

The researchers recruited 20 top-level, elite pitchers from Major League Baseball organizations and Milwaukee-area NCAA Division I-A college pitchers for the study, which was conducted both during 2007 spring training in Arizona and at the Froedtert & Medical College Sports Medicine Center in Milwaukee.

“Our researchers employed a motion analysis system using eight digital cameras that recorded the three-dimensional positions of 43 reflective markers placed on the athletes’ bodies. Then we analyzed the pitching motion at mound heights of the regulation 10-inches, along with eight-inch and six-inch mounds, as well as having the athletes throw from flat ground,” Dr. Raasch explains.

The study focused on determining if there is increased stress on the shoulder or the elbow based on the height from which the pitcher has thrown. A kinematic analysis provided information regarding pitching motion (position and velocity), while the kinetic analysis determined the forces and torques generated at the shoulder and elbow.

“We found that compared to flat ground, pitchers using a 10-inch mound experience an increase in superior shear and adduction torque in the shoulder – meaning there’s a greater amount of stress on the joint surface and surrounding structures. That greater stress may result in injury to the shoulder including tearing of the rotator cuff or labrum which may result in surgery and long-term rehabilitation. It also can make it difficult for the athlete to replicate the same throw and develop a consistent strike,” Dr. Raasch says.

“The most notable kinematic difference was the increase in shoulder external rotation at foot contact. This probably represents a change in the timing of the foot contact relative to arm position, because the foot lands earlier in the pitch delivery during flat ground throwing than with a slope,” he says.

While the study did not result in enough data to recommend reducing the 10-inch mound height, which became standard in 1968 and also used in college and high school baseball, Dr. Raasch says the findings give trainers information that can help them determine if pitchers would be better off practicing on flat ground especially after an injury.

“Nolan Ryan, who played major league baseball for 27 years, often threw pitches more than 100 mph, even past the age of 40, and he liked to throw on flat ground in his waning years. I think others might follow his lead,” Dr. Raasch says. He adds that he hopes subsequent research during spring training in 2008 will provide even more valuable findings for baseball players and trainers.

Coauthors of the study include Jeremy R. O’Brien, M.S., research engineer; Craig C. Young, M.D., professor of orthopaedic surgery; and Mark W. Lydecker, MPT, OCS, ATC, physical therapist at the sports center.img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/jaimeemartinez/Blog%20Designs/Rick%20Rosa/Rosasignature.png">

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Arginine and Cyclist over 50 may have some benefit

Cyclists Over 50 Benefit From Dietary Supplement



Taking arginine supplements can improve the cycling ability of over-50s. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition tested a combination of the amino acid and an antioxidant in sixteen cyclists, finding that it enhanced their anaerobic threshold - the amount of work done before lactic acid begins to accumulate in the blood.

Zhaoping Li worked with a team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, USA, to carry out the randomized controlled trial. She said, "The loss of exercise capacity with age often results in a reduction in physical fitness and more rapid senescence. A dietary supplement that increases exercise capacity might help to preserve physical fitness by optimizing performance and improving general health and well being in older people".

One way in which older people may reduce their exercise capacity revolves around the signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in many physiological processes, including those related to working out. NO production diminishes in quantity and availability as we age and is associated with an increased prevalence of other cardiovascular risk factors. In the body, NO is created from the amino acid arginine and is inactivated by oxygen free radicals. By supplementing diet with both the precursor and an anti-oxidant, the researchers hoped to support the NO system in the cyclists and thereby enhance performance.

Sixteen cyclists aged between 50 and 73 were randomly assigned to receive either the supplement or dummy placebo pills. After one week of study, the anaerobic threshold of the supplement group increased, while that of the control group did not significantly alter. This increase in anaerobic threshold was preserved at week three. According to Li, "We've demonstrated a 16.7% increase in anaerobic threshold. This indicates a potential role of arginine and antioxidant supplementation in improving exercise performance in elderly".

Notes:
Arginine and antioxidant supplement on performance in elderly male cyclists: a randomized controlled trial
Steve Chen, Woosung Kim, Susanne M Henning, Catherine L Carpenter and Zhaoping Li

Source:
Graeme Baldwin
BioMed Central img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/jaimeemartinez/Blog%20Designs/Rick%20Rosa/Rosasignature.png">

Effects of Vibration Training on Muscle Power: A Meta-Analysis

Effects of Vibration Training on Muscle Power: A Meta-Analysis

by Marín, Pedro J; Rhea, Matthew R

Marin, PJ and Rhea, MR. Effects of vibration training on muscle power: a meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 871-878, 2010-

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to attempt to gain a clear picture of the magnitude of adaptations in muscular power expected after acute and chronic training, as well as identify specific factors that influence the treatment effects. Studies using a power training intervention and containing data necessary to calculate effect size (ES) were included in the analysis a total of 30 studies. Effect size demonstrated that the type of vibration platform used is a moderator of the treatment effect of vibration on power development is the type of vibration platform employed. Differences were noted in both acute and chronic changes in power when vertical vibration platforms were compared with oscillating platforms. Vertical platforms elicit a significantly larger treatment effect for chronic adaptations (ES = 0.99) as compared with oscillating platforms (ES = 0.36). The data also show that age is a moderator of the response to vibration exercise for power. On the basis of the overall analysis, it is apparent that vibration exercise can be effective at eliciting chronic power adaptations. Exercise professionals can include vibration exercise as a means of fostering power improvements. (C) 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association

The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research

Whole-Body Vibration Training Increases Vertical Jump Height in a Dance Population

Whole-Body Vibration Training Increases Vertical Jump Height in a Dance Population

by Wyon, Matthew; Guinan, Danielle; Hawkey, Adam

Wyon, M, Guinan, D, and Hawkey, A.

Whole-body vibration training increases vertical jump height in a dance population. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 866-870, 2010-Whole-body vibration (WBV) training has gained popularity with the strength and conditioning environment. Previous research reported improvements in strength and power after WBV interventions in untrained individuals with little hypertrophical development of the muscles, suggesting that the improvements are because of neuromuscular adaptations. The present intervention study recruited moderately trained individuals that have jumping as integral to their training. Participants were randomly allocated to an intervention or control group. The intervention group was exposed to WBV at 35 Hz for 5 minutes twice a week, whereas the control group was exposed to a similar isometric contraction stress. Results indicated that after a 6-week intervention, vertical jump height increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the intervention group than in the control group. The study concluded that WBV was able to maintain vertical jump height with very little intervention time (10 minutes a week) and therefore should be considered as an intervention form for maintaining jump performance. (C) 2010 National Strength and Conditioning Association

The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research

Pelvic Fractures Resulting From Snowboarding

Pelvic Fractures Resulting From Snowboarding

by Ogawa, H., Sumi, H., Sumi, Y., Shimizu, K.
Background
Information regarding pelvic fractures sustained during snowboarding is scant.

Purpose
To analyze the epidemiologic data, injury patterns, and types of pelvic fractures sustained during snowboarding.

Study Deign
Case series; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods
We analyzed the epidemiologic factors, injury patterns, and types of pelvic fractures in 145 patients with snowboarding-related pelvic fractures who were admitted to our institution from the 1998–1999 to the 2006–2007 ski season.

Results
The incidence of snowboarding-related pelvic fractures was 0.102 per 10 000 ski lift tickets, which amounted to 2% of all snowboarding-related fractures (fifth most common type of fracture among all snowboarding-related fractures). Of the pelvic fractures, 85.5% were stable (type A according to the Tile classification) and 14.5% were unstable (types B and C according to the Tile classification). Isolated sacral fractures had the second-highest incidence (24.1%) after pubic bone and/or ischium fractures (46.9%). A distinct female prevalence was seen (52.4%). Jumps and isolated falls were the main mechanisms of injury (80%), and the incidence of collision was significantly higher in the unstable group than in the stable group (P = .037). In all, 57.9% patients classified their skill level as "intermediate," and only 9.7% of patients had received professional snowboarding lessons. A total of 30 subjects (20.8%) had other injuries along with pelvic fractures; the patients with multiple injuries were significantly more frequent in the unstable group than in the stable group (P = .035).

Conclusion
Pelvic fractures resulting from snowboarding accidents included a higher proportion with isolated sacral fractures in the stable group and a lower prevalence of associated injuries in the unstable group compared with those resulting from other causes.img src="http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii68/jaimeemartinez/Blog%20Designs/Rick%20Rosa/Rosasignature.png">

Third Generation Turf still not as good as grass soccer surface for MTBI

The predicted risk of head injury from fall-related impacts on to third-generation artificial turf and grass soccer surfaces: A comparative biomechanical analysis

Authors: Peter Theobald a; Liam Whitelegg a; Leonard D. M. Nokes a; Michael D. Jones a
Affiliation: a Trauma Biomechanics Research Group, Institute of Medical Engineering & Medical Physics, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
DOI: 10.1080/14763141003690245
Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year
Published in: Sports Biomechanics, Volume 9, Issue 1 March 2010 , pages 29 - 37
Subject: Sport & Exercise Science;
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Abstract
The risk of soccer players sustaining mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) following head impact with a playing surface is unclear. This study investigates MTBI by performing headform impact tests from varying heights onto a range of third-generation artificial turf surfaces. Each turf was prepared as per manufacturers specifications within a laboratory, before being tested immediately following installation and then again after a bedding-in period. Each turf was tested dry and when wetted to saturation. Data from the laboratory tests were compared to an in situ third-generation surface and a professional grass surface. The surface performance threshold was set at a head impact criterion (HIC) = 400, which equates to a 10% risk of the head impact causing MTBI. All six third-generation surfaces had a >10% risk of MTBI from a fall >0.77 m; the inferior surfaces required a fall from just 0.46 m to have a 10% MTBI risk. Wetting the artificial turf did not produce a statistically significant improvement (P > 0.01). The in situ third-generation playing surface produced HIC values within the range of bedded-in experimental values. However, the natural turf pitch was the superior performer - necessitating fall heights exceeding those achievable during games to achieve HIC = 400.
Keywords: Artificial; head; injury; soccer; turf

A Winning Strategy: Don't Play Through Pain

Sometimes athletes can be their own worst enemy especially when they continue to play following an injury to a foot or ankle. Surgeons presenting at the Annual Scientific Conference of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) are discussing athletic injuries and the importance of proper diagnosis, prompt treatment, and full healing and rehabilitation.

Athletes often misunderstand how serious an injury can be and try to rush back into competition without appropriate treatment and rehabilitation. Some of the most difficult cases seen by foot and ankle surgeons are those in which athletes have continued to play after an injury. ACFAS conference speaker and Orlando, Florida, foot and ankle surgeon, Robert Duggan, DPM, FACFAS, says, "Athletes often make the mistake of ignoring what seems like a minor foot or ankle injury because they are able to walk. Serious injuries can exist even when the foot or ankle is able to accept weight or pressure."

One such injury involves the Lisfranc joint, on the top of the foot. It's possible to walk with a Lisfranc injury, but this can lead to damage to the soft tissues of the foot or even chronic conditions such as arthritis. "Sometimes the pain of this injury is mistaken for an ankle sprain, but treatment for the two conditions is very different," Dr. Duggan comments.

Another injury that may be overlooked is a fracture of the fifth metatarsal the bone that runs along the outer side of the foot. This can accompany an ankle sprain, or the athlete may think it's a sprain. However, this injury is difficult to heal, and continuing to participate in sports will make it worse.

Playing with pain is never a good strategy for athletes. Prompt treatment is. "Foot and ankle surgeons can determine the best course of treatment for the specific injury and help get athletes back into the game," Dr. Duggan comments.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons is a professional society of 6,000 foot and ankle surgeons. Founded in 1942, the College's mission is to promote research and provide continuing education for the foot and ankle surgical specialty, and to educate the general public on foot health and conditions of the foot and ankle

Source: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons

Thumb Injuries in Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse

by Bowers, A. L., Horneff, J. G., Baldwin, K. D., Huffman, G. R., Sennett, B. J.

Background

Men’s intercollegiate lacrosse is played at a fast pace and with significant force. Glove protection is required. However, the thumb is at risk because of contact with opponents’ sticks, the ball, other players, and the ground or artificial surface.

Purpose

To characterize patterns of hand injuries in men’s intercollegiate lacrosse and to compare them with those in similar intercollegiate stick-handling sports that require gloves.

Study Design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Injury Surveillance System was utilized to evaluate thumb injuries in intercollegiate stick-handling sports (men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and men’s ice hockey) during 16 intercollegiate seasons. Injuries were defined as events requiring an athlete to seek medical treatment and miss competition. Data were collected for injuries to the thumb, phalanges, and hand. Descriptive statistics were performed to calculate rates of injury per 1000 athlete-exposures and the relative exposure of the thumb with respect to total hand injuries. ² testing with the Yates correction for continuity was performed to determine differences in proportions of injury among the 3 sports studied.

Results

During 16 intercollegiate seasons, there were 692 thumb, finger, and hand injuries in 3 038 255 athlete-exposures. Total thumb injuries were significantly higher in men’s lacrosse, accounting for 59.4% of total hand injuries, when compared with women’s lacrosse (42%) and men’s ice hockey (35.8%) (P <.001). Thumb fractures and contusions were each also found to be significantly more prevalent (P <.001) when compared with women’s lacrosse and men’s ice hockey.

Conclusion

Men’s intercollegiate lacrosse requires the use of gloves; nonetheless, injury rates of the thumb are significantly elevated in this sport compared with other gloved, stick-handling sports. Recommendations include the development of gloves with improved thumb protection.

Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention

A March 2010 systematic review conducted in Germany continues to underscore the value of proprioceptive training in preventing sports related injuries. Take a look at this summary as well as one done in 2008. If your working with athletes and your not doing proprioceptive training the you need to put down your chisel and stone and read up on the neurmuscular training.

Neuromuscular training for sports injury prevention: a systematic review.

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2010 Mar;42(3):413-21.

Hübscher M, Zech A, Pfeifer K, Hänsel F, Vogt L, Banzer W.

Department of Sports Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany. m.huebscher@sport.uni-frankfurt.de

PURPOSE: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of proprioceptive/neuromuscular training in preventing sports injuries by using the best available evidence from methodologically well-conducted randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials without randomization.

METHODS: Two independent researchers performed a literature search in various electronic databases and reference lists. The reviewers independently assessed trials for inclusion criteria and methodological quality and extracted the data. Focusing on studies of high methodological quality, relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to estimate treatment effects.

RESULTS: From a total of 32 relevant studies, 7 methodologically well-conducted studies were considered for this review. Pooled analysis revealed that multi-intervention training was effective in reducing the risk of lower limb injuries (RR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.49-0.77, P < rr =" 0.46," ci =" 0.28-0.76," rr =" 0.50," ci =" 0.31-0.79," rr =" 0.64," ci =" 0.46-0.9," rr =" 0.49," ci =" 0.13-1.8," p =" 0.28).">

CONCLUSION: On the basis of the results of seven high-quality studies, this review showed evidence for the effectiveness of proprioceptive/neuromuscular training in reducing the incidence of certain types of sports injuries among adolescent and young adult athletes during pivoting sports. Future research should focus on the conduct of comparative trials to identify the most appropriate and effective training components for preventing injuries in specific sports and populations.

Balance improvements in female high school basketball players after a 6-week neuromuscular-training program.

J Sport Rehabil. 2009 Nov;18(4):465-81.

McLeod TC, Armstrong T, Miller M, Sauers JL.

Athletic Training Program, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, USA.

CONTEXT: Poor balance has been associated with increased injury risk among athletes. Neuromuscular-training programs have been advocated as a means of injury prevention, but little is known about the benefits of these programs on balance in high school athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether there are balance gains after participation in a neuromuscular-training program in high school athletes.

DESIGN: Nonrandomized controlled trial.

SETTING: All data were collected at each participating high school before and after a 6-wk intervention or control period.

PARTICIPANTS: 62 female high school basketball players recruited from the local high school community and assigned to a training (n = 37) or control (n = 25) group.

INTERVENTION: Training-group subjects participated in a 6-wk neuromuscular-training program that included plyometric, functional-strengthening, balance, and stability-ball exercises.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data were collected for the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) and Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) before and after the 6-wk intervention or control period.

RESULTS: The authors found a significant decrease in total BESS errors in the trained group at the posttest compared with their pretest and the control group (P = .003). Trained subjects also scored significantly fewer BESS errors on the single-foam and tandem-foam conditions at the posttest than the control group and demonstrated improvements on the single-foam compared with their pretest (P = .033). The authors found improvements in reach in the lateral, anteromedial, medial, and posterior directions in the trained group at the posttest compared with the control group (P < .05) using the SEBT.

CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates that a neuromuscular-training program can increase the balance and proprioceptive capabilities of female high school basketball players and that clinical balance measures are sensitive to detect these differences.

Effect of proprioception training on knee joint position sense in female team handball players.

Br J Sports Med. 2008 Jun;42(6):472-6. Epub 2008 Apr 7.

Pánics G, Tállay A, Pavlik A, Berkes I.

Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Science, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. gergelypanics@gmail.com

BACKGROUND: A number of studies have shown that proprioception training can reduce the risk of injuries in pivoting sports, but the mechanism is not clearly understood.

AIM: To determine the contributing effects of propioception on knee joint position sense among team handball players.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.

METHODS: Two professional female handball teams were followed prospectively for the 2005-6 season. 20 players in the intervention team followed a prescribed proprioceptive training programme while 19 players in the control team did not have a specific propioceptive training programme. The coaches recorded all exposures of the individual players. The location and nature of injuries were recorded. Joint position sense (JPS) was measured by a goniometer on both knees in three angle intervals, testing each angle five times. Assessments were performed before and after the season by the same examiner for both teams. In the intervention team a third assessment was also performed during the season. Complete data were obtained for 15 subjects in the intervention team and 16 in the control team. Absolute error score, error of variation score and SEM were calculated and the results of the intervention and control teams were compared.

RESULTS: The proprioception sensory function of the players in the intervention team was significantly improved between the assessments made at the start and the end of the season (mean (SD) absolute error 9.78-8.21 degrees (7.19-6.08 degrees ) vs 3.61-4.04 degrees (3.71-3.20 degrees ), p<0.05).>0.05).

CONCLUSION: This is the first study to show that proprioception training improves the joint position sense in elite female handball players. This may explain the effect of neuromuscular training in reducing the injury rate.

Neuromuscular control of trunk stability: clinical implications for sports injury prevention.

J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2008 Sep;16(9):497-505.

Zazulak B, Cholewicki J, Reeves NP.

New research on "Sudden Cardiac Arrest"

Sudden Cardiac Arrest syndrome (SCA) is poorly understood, but it's a real danger for the otherwise young and healthy. For no apparent reason, the heart suddenly stops beating, and without treatment death may follow within minutes. It's why some athletes drop dead on the track and why a young man, without any warning, suddenly dies while sitting at his desk. SCA accounts for approximately 300,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

Dr. Joel Hirsch of Tel Aviv University's Department of Biochemistry has teamed up with Prof. Bernard Attali of TAU's Sackler Faculty of Medicine Department of Physiology and Pharmacology to investigate the cause and effects of the fatal syndrome. Not the same as a heart attack - in which heart muscles continue to pump, however erratically - SCA normally occurs with no warning.

This team is hot on the trail of understanding how a multi-gene syndrome, one of the causes for SCA, operates inside the body. Once they figure out how the disorder operates and describe its molecular system in detail, they hope to develop a drug or therapy to stop this condition before it strikes.

Solving the mystery of sudden death

"SCA is not as uncommon as most people think," Dr. Hirsch says. "It may explain a lot of mysterious occurrences in which people, even very young people, drop dead for no apparent reason. Doctors have started screening athletes for this condition, which can be exaggerated under physical exertion. Our research into the biological mechanisms of SCA can add to the toolbox of diagnostic possibilities - and we hope that it will help science find a new drug to treat it.

"We are looking specifically at channels that allow certain electrical ions to pass through membranes, and the mutated ones that do not. If we can understand the molecular signalling required to keeping the heart pumping regularly, we might be able to design a drug to help cure the disease before it strikes," says Dr. Hirsch.

The answer lies in the molecular machinery of the cell, Dr. Hirsch explains. "There are mutations that can be found when doctors do genetic screening called Long QT syndrome. We are trying to figure out what has gone awry in the signaling systems in people with these mutations, starting with how the natural nanomachines work," he explains.

How cell membranes communicate

So far, Dr. Hirsch's team has mapped the molecular structure of some modules of the important communicators in cell membranes, and they are now investigating how signals can be blocked or turned on to prevent SCA. Currently the only treatment for SCA is to use the defibrillators found in public places, such as airports, which must be used within minutes.

"Our goal is to get to the part of the protein channel which is easily 'druggable' - that is an effective target for drugs. So far, we've been able to show how this communication channel assembles, and we are extending our focus to see how the molecular structure looks, explaining in atomic detail how mutations cause the disorder."

The same and similar mutations, he says, can also lead to deafness and epilepsy, suggesting that his research is applicable to a number of significant and currently incurable conditions.

Source:
George Hunka
American Friends of Tel Aviv University

Basketball has highest Incidence of Ankle Sprain in the United States

2010 Annual Meeting Podium Presentations

Foot/Ankle 3: Sports and Soft Tissue Disorders

Incidence of Ankle Sprain in the United States

Podium No: 715

Friday, March 12, 2010
05:12 PM - 05:18 PM

Location: Morial Convention Center
Room 347

Brian Waterman, MD El Paso TX
Shaunette Davey, DO
Philip J Belmont, Jr MD El Paso TX
Brett D Owens, MD Cornwall NY

Moderator(s):
Daniel C Farber, MD Baltimore MD
Justin K Greisberg, MD New York NY

The risk for ankle sprain is increased with second decade of life, black race, males 15-24 years old, females 30 years old or older, and exposure to selected sports such as basketball and football.

Ankle sprain is a common injury. While this has been studied in athletic cohorts, little is known of the epidemiology of this injury in the general population. A longitudinal, prospective epidemiological database was used to determine the incidence and demographic risk factors among the general population of the United States.

The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) was queried for all ankle sprain injuries presenting to emergency departments between 2002 and 2006. Sex, age, race, mechanism, and setting were analyzed.

During the study period, an estimated 3,140,132 ankle sprains occurred among an at-risk population of 1,461,379,599 person-years for an incidence rate (IR) of 2.15 per 1000 person-years in the United States. Males, when compared with females, did not demonstrate an overall increased incidence rate ratio for ankle sprain (IRR 1.04; 95% CI 1.00, 1.09). However, males between 15 and 24 years old had significantly higher incidence of ankle sprain than their female cohorts (IRR 1.53; 95% CI 1.41, 1.66), whereas females over 30 years old had higher incidence rates when compared with male cohorts (IRR 2.03; 95% CI 1.65, 2.65). Peak incidence of ankle sprain occurred in the second decade of life (7.2/1000 person-years), with peaks between the ages of 15 and 19 years old in males (8.9/1000 person-years) and 10 to 14 years old in females (5.4/1000 person-years). When compared with Hispanic race, black (IRR 3.60; 95% CI 1.03, 6.16) and white race (IRR 2.49; 95% CI 1.01, 3.97) were associated with significantly higher rates of ankle sprain. Nearly half of all ankle sprains (49.3%) occurred during athletic activity, with basketball (41.1%), football (9.3%), and soccer (7.9%) associated with the highest percentage of ankle sprain during athletics. The majority of injuries occurred in and around the home (47.9%), followed by athletic or recreation facilities (28.5%) and schools (14.5%).

In the largest incidence study to date, second decade of life and black race are associated with higher rates of ankle sprain. Males aged 15-24 had higher rates of ankle sprain than females, whereas females over 30 years old had higher rates than males. Half of all ankle sprains occur with athletic activity.

Runners with Overpronating feet and use of motion control shoe

Motion Control Shoe Delays Fatigue of Shank Muscles in Runners With Overpronating Feet

by Cheung, R. T. H., Ng, G. Y. F.

Background

The motion control shoe is a well-developed technology in running shoe design for controlling excessive rearfoot pronation and plantar force distribution. However, there is little information on the leg muscle activation with different shoe conditions.

Hypothesis

The motion control shoe can prevent excessive shank muscle activation and delay fatigue.

Study Design

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods

Twenty female recreational runners with excessive rearfoot pronation were tested with running 10 km on a treadmill on 2 days. Participants wore either a motion control running shoe or neutral running shoe on each day. Activities of their right tibialis anterior and peroneus longus were recorded with surface electromyography. The normalized root-mean-square electromyography and median frequency were compared between the 2 shoe conditions.

Results

Significant positive correlations were found between the root-mean-square eletromyography and running mileage in both the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus in the neutral shoe condition (P <.001). The median frequency dropped in both shoe conditions with mileage, but paired t tests revealed a significantly larger drop in the neutral shoe (P < .001 for peroneus longus, P = .074 for tibialis anterior).

Conclusion

The motion control shoe may facilitate a more stable activation pattern and higher fatigue resistance of the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus in individuals with excessive rearfoot pronation during running.

Clinical Relevance

The motion control shoe may increase the running endurance, thus reduce overuse injuries, in athletes with unstable feet during long-distance running.

Balance As a Predictor of Ankle Injuries in High School Basketball Players

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if a preseason measurement of balance while in a unilateral stance could predict susceptibility to ankle injury in a cohort of high school basketball players. Predicting risk for ankle injury could be important in helping to reduce the risk of these injuries and furthermore save health care costs.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Data were collected at five high schools during the first 2 weeks of the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 basketball seasons.

Subjects: 210 (119 male, age = 16.1 ± 1.1 yr; height = 182.98 ± 7.4 cm; weight = 76.4 ± 10.9 kg; and 91 female, age = 16.3 ± 1.3 yr; height = 170.9 ± 7.8 cm; weight = 63.4 ± 8.4 kg) high school basketball players who did not sustain a time loss ankle or knee injury within the previous 12 months served as subjects. Subjects did not use prophylactic ankle taping or bracing during the season.

Assessment of Risk Factors: Balance was quantified from postural sway scores measured while subjects performed unilateral balance tests with eyes both open and closed. Logistic regression analysis was carried out to determine if gender, dominant leg, and balance scores were related to ankle sprain injuries. In addition, Fischer's exact test was used to determine if the rate of ankle injuries was the same whether the subject had poor, average, or good balance. Balance was assessed by measuring postural sway with the NeuroCom New Balance Master version 6.0 (NeuroCom International, Clackamas, OR, U.S.A.). Testing to determine postural sway consisted of having subjects stand on one leg for three trials of 10 seconds with their eyes open, then repeated with their eyes closed. Subjects then underwent the same assessment while standing on the other leg. Postural sway was defined as the average degrees of sway per second (°S/S) for the 12 trials producing a compilation (COMP) score.

Outcome Measures: Ankle injury resulting in missed participation.

Results: Subjects who sustained ankle sprains had a preseason COMP score of 2.01 ± 0.32 (Mean ± SD), while athletes who did not sustain ankle injuries had a score of 1.74 ± 0.31. Higher postural sway scores corresponded to increased ankle sprain injury rates (p = 0.001). Subjects who demonstrated poor balance (high sway scores) had nearly seven times as many ankle sprains as subjects who had good balance (low sway scores) (p = 0.0002.)

Conclusion: In this cohort of high school basketball players, preseason balance measurement (postural sway) served as a predictor of ankle sprain susceptibility.

McGuine, Timothy A. MS ATC; Greene, Joe J. MS ATC; Best, Thomas MD, PhD; Leverson, Glen PhD

Concussion in Sports New study

Natural History of Concussion in Sport: Markers of Severity and Implications for Management

by Makdissi, M., Darby, D., Maruff, P., Ugoni, A., Brukner, P., McCrory, P. R.
Background
Evidence-based clinical data are required for safe return to play after concussion in sport.

Purpose
The objective of this study was to describe the natural history of concussion in sport and identify clinical features associated with more severe concussive injury, using return-to-sport decisions as a surrogate measure of injury severity.

Study Design
Cohort study (prognosis); Level of evidence, 3.

Methods
Male elite senior, elite junior, and community-based Australian Rules football players had preseason baseline cognitive testing (Digit Symbol Substitution Test, Trail-Making Test–Part B, and CogSport computerized test battery). Players were recruited into the study after a concussive injury sustained while playing football. Concussed players were tested serially until all clinical features of their injury had resolved.

Results
Of 1015 players, 88 concussions were observed in 78 players. Concussion-associated symptoms lasted an average of 48.6 hours (95% confidence interval, 39.5–57.7 hours) with delayed return to sport correlated with ≥4 symptoms, headache lasting ≥60 hours, or self-reported "fatigue/fogginess." Cognitive deficits using the Digit Symbol Substitution Test and Trail-Making Test–part B recovered concomitantly with symptoms, but computerized test results recovered 2 to 3 days later and remained impaired in 35% of concussed players after symptom resolution.

Conclusion
Delayed return to sport was associated with initially greater symptom load, prolonged headache, or subjective concentration deficits. Cognitive testing recovery varied, taking 2 to 3 days longer for computerized tests, suggesting greater sensitivity to impairment. Therefore, symptom assessment alone may be predictive of but may underestimate time to complete recovery, which may be better estimated with computerized cognitive testing.

Women More Affected Than Men By Air Pollution When Running Marathons

Women More Affected Than Men By Air Pollution When Running Marathons

Poor air quality apparently affects the running times of women in marathons, according to a study by Virginia Tech civil and environmental engineer Linsey Marr.

Marr's findings come from a comprehensive study that evaluated marathon race results, weather data, and air pollutant concentrations in seven marathons over a period of eight to 28 years. The top three male and female finishing times were compared with the course record and contrasted with air pollutant levels, taking high temperatures that were detrimental to performance into consideration.

Higher levels of particles in the air were associated with slower running times for women, while men were not significantly affected, Marr said. The difference may be due to the smaller size of women's tracheas, which makes it easier for certain particles to deposit there and possibly to cause irritation. Click here.

"Although pollution levels in these marathons rarely exceeded national standards for air quality, performance was still affected," Marr said.

Her work, done in collaboration with Matthew Ely, an exercise physiologist at the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, appears in the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, Medicine and Science in Sports & Exercise. http://www.acsm.org/

Her studies were conducted where major U.S. marathons are located, such as New York, Boston, and Los Angeles, where pollution tends to be highest. Although the person might not be significantly impacted by low-yet-still-acceptable air quality, marathoners are atypical because of their breathing patterns, she said.

"Previous research has shown that during a race, marathon runners inhale and exhale about the same volume of air as a sedentary person would over the course of two full days," Marr said. "Therefore, runners are exposed to much greater amounts of pollutants than under typical breathing conditions."

Particulate matter appeared to be the only performance-altering factor in air quality, with carbon monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide levels not impacting race times.

Source:
Lynn Nystrom
Virginia Tech

Maximal and submaximal physiological responses to adaptation to deep water running

Authors: Liane B. Azevedo ^a; Mike I. Lambert ^b; Paulo S. Zogaib ^c; Turibio L. Barros Neto ^c

Affiliations:	a Health and Social Care Institute, Teeside University, Middlesbrough, UK
	b Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
	c Department of Physiology, Federal University of So Paulo, So Paulo, Brazil

DOI: 10.1080/02640410903527813

Publication Frequency: 14 issues per year

Published in: Journal of Sports Sciences

First Published on: 11 February 2010

Subject: Sport & Exercise Science;

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Abstract The aim of the study was to compare physiological responses between runners adapted and not adapted to deep water running at maximal intensity and the intensity equivalent to the ventilatory threshold. Seventeen runners, either adapted (n = 10) or not adapted (n = 7) to deep water running, participated in the study. Participants in both groups undertook a maximal treadmill running and deep water running graded exercise test in which cardiorespiratory variables were measured. Interactions between adaptation (adapted vs. non-adapted) and condition (treadmill running vs. deep water running) were analysed. The main effects of adaptation and condition were also analysed in isolation. Runners adapted to deep water running experienced less of a reduction in maximum oxygen consumption ([Vdot]O2max) in deep water running compared with treadmill running than runners not adapted to deep water running. Maximal oxygen consumption, maximal heart rate, maximal ventilation, [Vdot]O2 at the ventilatory threshold, heart rate at the ventilatory threshold, and ventilation at the ventilatory threshold were significantly higher during treadmill than deep water running. Therefore, we conclude that adaptation to deep water running reduces the difference in [Vdot]O2maxbetween the two modalities, possibly due to an increase in muscle recruitment. The results of this study support previous findings of a lower maximal and submaximal physiological response on deep water running for most of the measured parameters.

Keywords: Oxygen consumption; heart rate; ventilation; lactate; muscle recruitment

Normalization effect of sports training on blood pressure in hypertensives

Authors: Yi-Liang Chen ^a; Yuh-Feng Liu ^a; Chih-Yang Huang ^b; Shin-Da Lee ^cd; Yi-Sheng Chan ^e; Chiu-Chou Chen ^a; Brennan Harris ^f; Chia-Hua Kuo ^a

Affiliations:	a Laboratory of Exercise Biochemistry, Taipei Physical Education College, Taipei, Taiwan
	b Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University; Department of Health and Nutrition Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
	c Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
	d Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
	e Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Division of Sports Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
	f Department of Kinesiology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA

DOI: 10.1080/02640410903508862

Publication Frequency: 14 issues per year

Published in: Journal of Sports Sciences

First Published on: 19 February 2010

Subject: Sport & Exercise Science;

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Abstract Exercise is recommended as a lifestyle intervention in preventing hypertension based on epidemiological findings. However, previous intervention studies have presented mixed results. This discrepancy could be associated with shortcomings related to sample sizes or the inclusion of normotensive participants. The aim of this prospective cohort study (N = 463) was to compare the chronic effect of increasing sports training time on resting blood pressure for normotensives and hypertensives. We assessed systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) for 69 untreated hypertensive patients (age 20.6 ± 0.1 years, systolic blood pressure >140 mmHg) and 394 normotensive controls (age 20.6 ± 0.1 years) before training and at follow-up visits at 12 months. All participants enrolled in various sports training lessons for 8 hours a week. The baseline BMI and HOMA-IR in the hypertensive group were significantly higher than those in the control group. For the normotensive control group, no significant changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were observed after training. However, for the hypertensives, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly reduced after training by ∼15 mmHg and ∼4 mmHg, respectively, and HOMA-IR was reduced by ∼25%. In conclusion, the effect of sports training to lower blood pressure was confined to the group of hypertensives, which may account for the overall minimal reduction in blood pressure observed in previous intervention studies.

Keywords: Hypertension; insulin resistance; HOMA-IR; systolic blood pressure; diastolic blood pressure