bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mood, mileage and the menstrual cycle.
Authors: Cockerill I M , Nevill A M , Byrne N C
Published: December 2008

Forty women took part in a study to determine the effects of high-intensity training and the menstrual cycle on mood states. Half of the sample were competitive distance runners following a training load of between 50 km and 130 km running per week. Seven athletes were amenorrhoeic and 13 either eumenorrhoeic or oligomenorrhoeic. The remaining 20 subjects were inactive women who menstruated regularly. The mean age of all 40 subjects was 29 years. Each subject completed two identical Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaires. The 33 menstruating subjects completed both a premenstrual and a midcycle form and the amenorrhoeic athletes completed the questionnaires at a 3-week interval, which acted as a control for the potential effects of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) among the menstruating females. Results showed highly significant differences in mood profiles among amenorrhoeic athletes, non-amenorrhoeic athletes and inactive women. The greatest difference was between premenstrual and midcycle measures for the inactive group. PMS appears to cause marked negative mood swings among menstruating women which the POMS inventory is sensitive in detecting. While the lower-intensity-training runners appeared to benefit psychologically from a training distance of approximately 50 km week-1, high-intensity training had an adverse effect on mood.
Bulimia nervosa symptomatology and body image disturbance associated with distance running and weight loss.
Authors: Gleaves D H , Williamson D A , Fuller R D
Published: December 2008

To investigate the hypothesis that problems characteristic of eating disorders may often be associated with distance running, 20 women who had lost weight through distance running were compared with a control group who did not exercise and had not lost weight and a comparison group of bulimia nervosa patients. Dependent variables were measures of depression, bulimia nervosa symptomatology, and body image disturbance. No differences were found between the runner group and the normal controls. Bulimics differed from runners and controls on most measures. Thus, the results did not support the proposition that weight loss through running leads to problems related to eating and body image. The failure to find disturbances in body image in runners suggests that body image disturbances are not a direct result of weight loss, as suggested by some theorists.
Potential markers of heavy training in highly trained distance runners.
Authors: Verde T , Thomas S , Shephard R J
Published: December 2008

Markers of a heavy increase in training were examined in ten highly trained distance runners (mean(s.d.) age 29.8(1.7) years, maximal oxygen intake 65.3 ml kg-1 min-1, personal best 10-km time 31 min 4 s) who undertook a deliberate 38% increment of training over a 3-week period. Their running performance did not improve, and six of the ten subjects developed sustained fatigue, suggesting that training was excessive, although the full clinical picture of overtraining did not develop. The Profile of Mood States was the best single marker of disturbed function, indicating increased fatigue and decreased vigour. There were no useful changes of resting heart rate or perceived exertion during submaximal running, sleep was undisturbed, and there were no orthopaedic injuries. Two subjects developed rhinoviral infections following the heavy training, and a third complained of symptoms that were diagnosed 2 weeks later as exercise-induced asthma. The increase of serum cortisol normally induced by 30 min of submaximal exercise was no longer seen when the same acute exercise was performed after heavy training. Resting lymphocyte proliferation tended to increase in response to phytohaematoglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A), the ratio of helper to suppressor cells (H/S) decreased, and pokeweed mitogen induced smaller increases in IgG and IgM synthesis. Whereas before heavy training, PHA-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation was unchanged by 30 min of acute submaximal exercise, after 3 weeks of heavy training the same bout of exercise caused an 18% suppression of proliferation. Likewise, heavy training brought about a decrease of T-lymphocytes in response to acute submaximal exercise, but an abolition of the acute exercise-induced decrease in the H/S ratio. The previously observed exercise-induced decrease of IgG synthesis did not occur when the same acute bout of exercise was performed after heavy training. We conclude that such minor and transient changes of immune function may possibly be a warning that training is becoming excessive, but they have only a limited significance for overall immune function.
Society of Apothecaries diploma in sports medicine.
Authors: Gibberd F B
Published: December 2008

The Society of Apothecaries examination in Sports Medicine consists of four parts: a multiple-choice question paper; a written paper; a clinical section; and an oral section. The candidates must have experience in sports medicine and have to submit a dissertation and a case history book. The importance of an examination in sports medicine is discussed.
A case of affective disorder associated with the misuse of 'anabolic steroids'.
Authors: Perry H M , Hughes G W
Published: December 2008

In the pursuit of gains in muscle size and strength, body-builders may mistakenly use illicit drugs believing them to be anabolic steroids. The case described illustrates the physical and psychological dangers of such behaviour.
Training-overtraining: performance, and hormone levels, after a defined increase in training volume versus intensity in experienced middle- and long-distance runners.
Authors: Lehmann M , Gastmann U , Petersen K G , Bachl N , Seidel A , Khalaf A N , Fischer S , Keul J
Published: December 2008

Performance and hormones were determined in eight middle- and nine long-distance runners after an increase in training volume (ITV, February 1989) or intensity (ITI, February 1990). Seven runners participated in both studies. The objective was to cause an overtraining syndrome. The mean training volume of 85.9 km week-1 increased within 3 weeks to 176.6 km week-1 during ITV and 96-98% of training volume was performed as long-distance runs at mean(s.d.) 67(8)% of maximum capacity. Speed endurance, high-speed and interval runs averaging 9 km week-1 increased within 3 weeks to 22.7 km during ITI, and the total volume increased from 61.6 to 84.7 km. A plateau in endurance performance and decrease in maximum performance occurred during ITV, probably due to overtraining, with performance incompetence over months. Nocturnal catecholamine excretion decreased markedly (47-53%), contrary to exercise-related plasma catecholamine responses, which increased. Resting and exercise-related cortisol and aldosterone levels decreased. Improvement in endurance and maximum performance occurred during ITI indicating a failure to cause an overtraining syndrome in ITI. Decrease in noctural catecholamine excretion was clearly lower (9-26%), exercise-related catecholamine responses showed a significant decrease, cortisol and aldosterone levels remained almost constant, exercise-related prolactin levels decreased slightly. There were no differences in insulin, C-peptide, free testosterone, somatotropic hormone (STH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). The decrease in nocturnal catecholamine excretion during ITV might indicate a decrease in intrinsic sympathetic activity in exhausted sportsmen. But it remains open whether this reflected a central nervous system incompetence.
Muscle soreness, swelling, stiffness and strength loss after intense eccentric exercise.
Authors: Cleak M J , Eston R G
Published: December 2008

High-intensity eccentric contractions induce performance decrements and delayed onset muscle soreness. The purpose of this investigation was to study the magnitude and time course of such decrements and their interrelationships in 26 young women of mean(s.d.) age 21.4(3.3) years. Subjects performed 70 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors on a pulley system, specially designed for the study. The non-exercised arm acted as the control. Measures of soreness, tenderness, swelling (SW), relaxed elbow joint angle (RANG) and isometric strength (STR) were taken before exercise, immediately after exercise (AE), analysis of variance and at 24-h intervals for 11 days. There were significant (P < 0.01, analysis of variance) changes in all factors. Peak effects were observed between 24 and 96 h AE. With the exception of STR, which remained lower (P < 0.01), all variables returned to baseline levels by day 11. A non-significant correlation between pain and STR indicated that pain was not a major factor in strength loss. Also, although no pain was evident, RANG was decreased immediately AE. There was no relationship between SW, RANG and pain. The prolonged nature of these symptoms indicates that repair to damaged soft tissue is a slow process. Strength loss is considered particularly important as it continues when protective pain and tenderness have disappeared. This has implications for the therapeutic management of patients with myopathologies and those receiving eccentric exercise for rehabilitation.
Surgical treatment of dislocations of the acromioclavicular joint in the athlete.
Authors: Krueger-Franke M , Siebert C H , Rosemeyer B
Published: December 2008

The treatment of the sports related dislocation of the acromioclavicular joint remains controversial. This study was carried out to determine whether or not a combined surgical procedure consisting of repair and polydioxanone (PDS)-cord augmentation of the coracoclavicular ligaments, fixation of the acromioclavicular joint with a single Kirschner wire as well as the repair of the acromioclavicular ligament permitted return to athletic activity. Athletes were examined with regard to their range of motion, pain and their ability to return to the performance level achieved before the injury. During the period 1986-1989, 21 athletes were treated. Follow-up averaged 22 months. Return of athletes to previous performance level was related to their original degree of activity. Two recreational once-a-week athletes did not return to this level, 19 patients, including five competitive athletes, continued their previous activities. There was no correlation between coracoclavicular ossification or post-traumatic arthritis and a good or excellent result. We recommend the operative treatment of acromioclavicular separations in athletes.
Shoulder tendinitis and osteoarthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint and their relation to sports.
Authors: Stenlund B
Published: December 2008

A sample of 207 men from the construction industry was studied using an epidemiological technique of cross-sectional design to investigate if sport activities involving the arms increase the risk of developing shoulder tendinitis or osteoarthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint. The relative risk for shoulder tendinitis was estimated to be 9.5 on the right side, and 4.9 on the left side for a lifetime of sport activity exceeding 8399 h. Subjects who reported both extremely high physical load from work and from sports had an estimated relative risk for signs of shoulder tendinitis of 5.9 on the right side and 10.4 on the left side. High sport activity yielded relative risks of 4.6 on the right side and 2.8 on the left side for osteoarthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint. The combination of high activity in sports and high exposure to load lifted during work yielded relative risks for osteoarthrosis of the acromioclavicular joint of 12.5 on the right side and 6.7 on the left side. There seems to be an increased risk for shoulder tendinitis and acromioclavicular osteoarthrosis for subjects who have been extremely active in sports, and an even higher risk for those who have been extremely active in sports and also report a high exposure to load lifted during work.
American football injuries in Finland.
Authors: Karpakka J
Published: December 2008

American football is currently played in 14 European countries. It is a contact sport where injuries are inevitable. In this study, injuries causing more than one week of absence from game or practise were registered during the 1991 preseason and season. A total of 112 injuries was reported among 684 players. Knees were most vulnerable to injury (28.6%) followed by ankle injuries (16.7%). Operations were performed on 28 (25%) of the injured players. Catastrophic injuries can occur in this sport, but none has happened in Finland during the 12 years for which the sport has been practised. The skill level was not a contributing factor. The frequency of injuries and their profile closely resemble those in US-based studies so it is suggested that the precautions and preventive measures recommended in the USA should be applied and followed in Europe.
Scapula winging in a sports injury clinic.
Authors: Packer G J , McLatchie G R , Bowden W
Published: December 2008

Scapula winging is an uncommon condition but one which may be underdiagnosed. Four patients with scapula winging referred to a sports injury clinic are presented. None of the patients was aware of any trauma and a traction injury to the long thoracic nerve is proposed as the aetiology of this condition. These case reports emphasize the importance of excluding winging of the scapula in patients who present to sports injury clinics with shoulder pain.
The XY female in sport: the controversy continues.
Authors: Hipkin L J
Published: December 2008

The summer and winter Olympic Games have been accompanied by much press coverage of the controversy and confusion over sex tests for sportswomen. Much of this has centred on the eligibility of subjects with androgen insensitivity to compete in women's events. The purpose of this paper is to review the process of sex differentiation and its abnormalities, highlighting those conditions in which biologically active testosterone is secreted which might confer an advantage in women's sporting events.
High thoracic disc prolapse in a rugby player: the first reported case.
Authors: Davies P R , Kaar G
Published: December 2008

Traumatic disc prolapse in the thoracic region is not common, and is rare above the T3 level. A case of a T1-T2 disc prolapse as a result of rugby injury is described.
Left-right asymmetry in two types of soccer kick.
Authors: McLean B D , Tumilty D M
Published: December 2008

The ability to kick with both feet is regarded as a desirable skill in high level soccer players; however, most players display a dominance of kicking ability on one side. This study investigated the characteristics of asymmetry in two types of soccer kick. A low drive and a chip kick from both the left and right foot of 12 élite junior soccer players were analysed. Kick velocity, kick accuracy, position of the plant foot from the ball centre, and time from foot plant to ball contact were measured for each kick. Knee extension and flexion strength were also determined for each leg at 60 degree s-1, 180 degree s-1 and 240 degrees s-1 on a Cybex II Isokinetic Dynamometer. A single factor repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to velocity, plant foot position and timing parameters to compare between sides and between shots. chi 2 analysis was used to compare accuracy between shots and between sides, and a paired Student's t test was used to compare strength parameters between sides. Pearson's product moment correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between velocity and both leg strength and the time from foot plant to ball contact. Significance was set at P < or = 0.05. The results showed that this group had strength dominance at all speeds tested on the right side and better drive kick performance with their right leg as determined by mean(s.d.) velocity (79(6) versus 66(8) km h-1) and accuracy (66.6% versus 33.3%). There was no difference in these parameters between sides for chip kicks.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sports causing most injuries in Hong Kong.
Authors: Chan K M , Yuan Y , Li C K , Chien P , Tsang G
Published: December 2008

A prospective survey was carried out on 2293 patients attending the Sports Injury Clinic in the Prince of Wales Hospital between May 1984 and December 1990. A Sports Injury Report Form was completed for each patient. Subjects in this study represent a group of nonprofessional and non-élite athletes in a metropolitan area. Soccer, basketball, volleyball, long-distance running and cycling in descending order were the five most common sports causing injury. Different sports produced different injury patterns. In four of the five sports, the knee (27.27-50.47%) and the ankle (16.78-24.67%) were the commonest sites of injury. In cycling, the face (19.46%) was the commonest site of injury. There was a higher injury rate to the lower than the upper limb in soccer, basketball, volleyball and long-distance running, with a ratio of upper- to lower-limb injury ranging from 1:1.13 to 1:46.10. In cycling, upper limb injury was more frequent (upper- to lower-limb injury ratio was 1:0.53). Sprain was the commonest injury overall (44.60%). It was also the commonest injury condition in volleyball (55.15%), basketball (55.34%), soccer (51.41%) and long-distance running (39.33%). In cycling, abrasion (24.83%) was commonest.
The 'S' Quattro--results of treatment in 11 cases of sports injury.
Authors: Bostock S , Fahmy N R , Nee P
Published: December 2008

The 'S' Quattro is a dynamic external fixator which has been designed to treat displaced comminuted intraarticular fractures of the phalanges. This type of fracture is commonly the result of a sports injury. We present a follow-up study of 11 cases.
Comparison of effects of two interval-training programmes on lactate and ventilatory thresholds.
Authors: Burke J , Thayer R , Belcamino M
Published: December 2008

Twenty-one women subjects were matched in terms of their Vo2max and assigned to one of two groups: (1) training at 30 s; or (2) 2 min with a 1:1 work: relief ratio (1:1 WR) before participating in a 7-week training programme which began at an intensity of 85% Vo2max and increased 5% every two weeks (90% and 95% Vo2max). The subjects trained to exhaustion four times per week. Maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2max), lactate threshold (Tlac) and ventilatory threshold (Tvent) were determined before and after the training programme. After training, there were significant increases (P < 0.05) in Vo2max (5% and 6%), Tlac (19.4% and 22.4%), and Tvent (19.5% and 18.5%). There were no significant group differences on any dependent measure but this research adds support to previous training studies in that a strong correlation (P < 0.05) between Tlac and Tvent is maintained from before to after the test. It was concluded that both formats of high intensity aerobic interval-training produce similar changes in Vo2max, Tlac and Tvent and that these changes appear to be independent of the length of the work interval.
Precompetition anxiety in women volleyball players: a test of ZOF theory in a team sport.
Authors: Raglin J S , Morris M J
Published: December 2008

Consistency in psychological factors is widely regarded to be important for successful performance in team sports, but the Zone of Optimal Function (ZOF) theory contends that athletes should exhibit considerable variability in the level of anxiety that will optimize performance. In an attempt to determine if tenets of ZOF theory held for athletes in a team sport, anxiety was measured using Spielberger's state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) at the baseline and before easy and difficult competitions in nine members of a collegiate women's volleyball team. The ability to predict precompetition anxiety was assessed by having the athletes complete the STAI both 3 weeks and 2 days before each match according to how they thought they would feel 1 h before competition. Each athlete also completed the STAI on the basis of how she recalled feeling before her best competition. Four anxiety units were added and subtracted from this value to establish the ZOF of each player. Actual precompetition anxiety was assessed 1 h before each match. In accordance with ZOF theory, considerable variability was found in the range of optimal anxiety, and 55.5% of the team members reported performing best at either low or high levels of anxiety. The prediction of precompetition anxiety made 2 days before competition was significantly correlated to actual anxiety for the difficult match (r = 0.69, P < 0.05) but not the easy match (r = 0.21, P > 0.05). Predictions made 3 weeks before competition were not significant (P > 0.05). More (P < 0.05) of the player possessed anxiety levels within the ZOF for the difficult match compared with the easy match (77.7% versus 22.2%). In summary, athletes in the team sport of volleyball exhibit considerable variation in optimal precompetition anxiety in accordance with ZOF theory. As posited by ZOF theory, the athletes were able to predict anxiety before a difficult match accurately and were more likely to have anxiety levels with ZOF.
Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning for adolescent back pain. A sine qua non?
Authors: Read M T
Published: December 2008

Nine cases of adolescent back pain show that a diagnosis of spondylolysis cannot be made on physical examination alone and that single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scanning revealed pars interarticularis stress lesions undiagnosable on planar technetium-99 bone scan. As management of spondylolysis differs from other lumbar dysfunctional problems SPECT scanning of children should be a sine qua non in extension related back pain with a normal radiograph and planar bone scintigraphy.
Estimation of body composition in Chinese and British men by ultrasonographic assessment of segmental adipose tissue volume.
Authors: Eston R , Evans R , Fu F
Published: December 2008

It has been shown that ultrasonographic measurements can be used to predict body composition in adults. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between ultrasonograph and caliper (SKF) measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness in athletic Caucasian (English, E) and Asian (Chinese, C) men against estimates of body composition determined from hydrodensitometry (HYD). The usefulness of a proposed ultrasonographic method of estimating lean and fat proportions in the upper and lower limbs was also evaluated as a potential method of predicting body composition. Ultrasonography (US) was used to measure adipose and skin thickness at the following sites: biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal, pectoral, thigh and calf. Caliper measurements were also made at the above sites. Subcutaneous fat thickness and segmental radius were measured directly from the display screen of the ultrasonic scanner (Aloka 500 SD). By applying the geometry of a cone, the proximal and distal radii of the upper arm and upper leg were used to calculate the proportionate volumes of adipose tissue. The best correlations for US and SKF were obtained at the quadriceps, subscapular and pectoral sites for E (r = 0.96, 0.93 and 0.90, respectively) and at the quadriceps, calf and abdominal sites for C (r = 0.90, 0.81 and 0.75, respectively). The best ultrasonographic predictor of the percentage fat in both groups was the percentage adipose tissue volume in the upper leg (r = 0.83 and 0.79 for C and E, respectively). Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that the prediction of percentage fat was improved by the addition of the ultrasonographic abdomen measurement in both groups: Chinese sample: %fat = %fat(leg) (0.491) + US abdomen (0.337) + 0.95 ( R = 0.89, s.e.e. = 1.9%); English sample: %fat = %fat(leg) (0.435) + US abdomen (0.230) - 0.765 ( R = 0.80, s.e.e. = 3.6%). It is concluded that ultrasonographic measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue and volumetric assessment of percentage adipose tissue in the thigh are useful estimates of body composition in athletic English and Chinese males.
The influence of pre-exercise glucose ingestion on endurance running capacity.
Authors: Chryssanthopoulos C , Hennessy L C , Williams C
Published: December 2008

Drinking a concentrated glucose solution less than 1 h before the start of prolonged submaximal exercise has been reported to reduce endurance capacity during cycling. The purpose of this study was to re-examine the influence of pre-exercise ingestion of a concentrated glucose solution on endurance running capacity. Nine recreational runners (five men and four women) ran to exhaustion on a level treadmill, at speeds equivalent to 70% VO2max, on two occasions separated by at least 1 week. The runners ingested either a solution containing 75 g of glucose in 300 ml of water (G trial), or 300 ml of sweetened water (P trial) 30 min before each trial. As a consequence, the blood glucose concentrations were 55% higher at the beginning of the G trial compared with those recorded for the P trial (G trial, mean(s.e.) blood glucose = 6.3(0.7) mmol l-1 versus P trial, mean(s.e.) blood glucose = 4.1(0.3) mmol l-1; P < 0.01). Nevertheless, there were no differences in the running times to exhaustion between the two trials (G trial, mean(s.e.) 133.79(11.0) min versus P trial, mean(s.e.) 121.16(8.1) min). The results of this study show that ingesting a 25% glucose solution 30 min before exercise does not reduce the endurance capacity of recreational runners when the exercise intensity is equivalent to 70% VO2max.
Magnetic resonance imaging in sports medicine--an overview.
Authors: Featherstone T
Published: December 2008

As more Britons become health conscious and are involved in a variety of sporting events, sports-related injuries are a daily occurrence. Although evaluation of bony abnormalities resulting from acute and chronic sports injury by conventional radiography and bone scintigraphy has been satisfactory, the assessment of soft tissue and tendinous injury is more difficult and imprecise. Due to its superior contrast sensitivity and multiplanar imaging capability, magnetic resonance imaging has already shown great promise in delineating soft-tissue and tendinous abnormalities. In addition, marrow pathology is exquisitely displayed.
Body composition of athletes in Bahrain.
Authors: Musaiger A O , Ragheb M A , al-Marzooq G
Published: December 2008

A total sample of 304 athletes was selected from first class clubs related to four common sports (football, handball, volleyball and basketball) and compared with 53 non-athlete adults. Weight, height, mid-arm circumference and skinfold thickness were measured to assess their body composition. The findings revealed that there were differences in body composition among athletes according to the type of sport. Basketballers and volleyballers were the tallest athletes, while handballers were the heaviest ones. Skinfold thickness measurements showed that basketball and handball players have more subcutaneous fat than other athletic groups. As compared with non-athletes, the Bahraini players had higher means for height, weight, subscapular, suprailliac thickness and mid-arm circumference.
Resistance exercise decreases beta-endorphin immunoreactivity.
Authors: Pierce E F , Eastman N W , McGowan R W , Tripathi H , Dewey W L , Olson K G
Published: December 2008

Previous research investigating the response of plasma beta-endorphins (beta-EP) to resistance exercise has resulted in equivocal findings. To examine further the effects of resistance exercise on beta-EP immunoreactivity, 10 male and 10 female college-age students participated in a series of controlled isotonic resistance exercises. The session consisted of three sets of eight repetitions at 80% of one repetition maximum (1-RM) for each of the following exercises: (1) bench press; (2) lateral pull-downs; (3) seated arm curls; and (4) military press. Blood plasma was sampled both before and after the lifting routine and beta-endorphin levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. A Students t test for paired samples indicated that mean(s.e.) plasma beta-endorphin levels after exercise (10.5(1.3) pg beta-EP ml-1) were significantly decreased as compared with pre-exercise (control) levels (16.5(1.2), P < 0.05). While the mechanism(s) contributing to the decrease in immunoreactivity is unclear, it may be the result of the synergistic effect of beta-EP clearance during rest intervals and changes in psychological states between sampling.
The influence of dietary carbohydrate and pre-exercise glucose consumption on supramaximal intermittent exercise performance.
Authors: Jenkins D G , Hutchins C A , Spillman D
Published: December 2008

The present study examined whether a pre-exercise consumption of glucose by subjects having adhered to a 3-day low carbohydrate (CHO) or normal CHO diet would influence supramaximal intermittent exercise performance. Sixteen moderately active men volunteers (mean(s.d.) age 20.0(1.3) years) agreed to undertake three exercise tests over an 8-day period; in addition to completing a VO2max test, the subjects performed two identical maximal interval tests (MIT1 and MIT2). Periods of 3 days separated each of the three tests. The interval tests involved five 60-s 'all-out' cycling bouts working against a resistance of 0.075 kg kg-1 body mass; each bout was separated by 5 min of passive recovery. For 3 days preceding the first interval test (MIT1), all subjects adhered to a 'moderate' CHO diet which comprised 59.1% (approximately 4.1 g kg-1 body mass) of the daily energy intake as CHO. Following MIT1 and for 3 days before MIT2 subjects were randomly assigned to follow either a moderate CHO diet (60.8%) or a low CHO diet (14.4% or 1.1 g kg-1 body mass). All food and drink consumed during the experimental period was weighed and recorded for later dietary analysis. One hour before MIT2, eight subjects were administered (in single blind fashion) a 15% glucose solution (1 g kg-1 body mass) while the other eight subjects consumed a low-energy sweetened placebo. During both interval tests, values of work, exercise VO2, plasma glucose, plasma lactate and venous blood pH were statistically analysed. No changes in performance between MIT1 and MIT2 across conditions were found (P > 0.05). However, those subjects who consumed the glucose solution before MIT2 (irrespective of their dietary CHO intake) consumed significantly less oxygen during exercise than those who had been given the placebo solution (P<0.05). While these findings question the ergogenic potential of consuming glucose before supramaximal exercise, the VO(2) data implicate a possible shift in substrate utilization during repeated sprint exercise after pre-exercise glucose ingestion.
Overtraining--what do lactate curves tell us?
Authors: Jeukendrup A E , Hesselink M K
Published: December 2008

In a cyclist, competing at national and international level, submaximal lactate concentrations were initially interpreted as improved endurance capacity. However, 2 weeks later, a test in which maximal lactate was measured showed that maximal lactate was decreased as well. Together with the complaints of deteriorating performance and subjective complaints of irritability and sleep disturbances, overtraining was diagnosed. After decreasing the training load, performance was gradually restored. This example indicates that athletes should be carefully questioned on their ability to perform their regular training programme, their motivation, possible sleeping disorders and eating problems. This case serves as a reminder to interpret lactate curves carefully and shows how important it is to obtain maximal lactate from a graded exercise test.
Psychological and immunological correlates of acute overtraining.
Authors: Fry R W , Grove J R , Morton A R , Zeroni P M , Gaudieri S , Keast D
Published: December 2008

Five men undertook two intensive interval training sessions per day for 10 days, followed by 5 days of active recovery. Subjects supplied a venous blood sample and completed a mood-state questionnaire on days 1, 6, 11 and 16 of the study. Performance capabilities were assessed on days 1, 11 and 16 using a timed treadmill test to exhaustion at 18 kmh-1 and 1% grade. These individuals became acutely overtrained as indicated by significant reductions in running performance from day 1 to day 11. The overtrained state was accompanied by severe fatigue, immune system deficits, mood disturbance, physical complaints, sleep difficulties, and reduced appetite. Mood states moved toward baseline during recovery, but feelings of fatigue and immune system deficits persisted throughout the study.
Potential impact of physical activity and sport on the immune system--a brief review.
Authors: Shephard R J , Shek P N
Published: December 2008

Description is given of methods that can evaluate the main functional elements of the immune system. Acute responses to exercise depend on the intensity and duration of the required activity relative to the individual's fitness level. Moderate endurance exercise causes either no change or an enhancement of such indices as total leucocyte count, granulocyte, monocyte, lymphocyte and natural killer cell count, total T cell count, helper:suppressor cell ratio, cell proliferation in response to mitogens, serum immunoglobulin levels, and in vitro immunoglobulin production. However, exhausting exercise tends to produce adverse changes in these same indices, particularly if the physical activity is accompanied by environmental or competitive stress. Moderate, appropriately graded training reduces reactions to any given absolute intensity of exercise. When pursuing a more demanding training regimen, it is important that the exerciser optimize immune responses. If athletic preparation is pursued to the level of staleness and/or muscle damage, it can have substantial negative implications for many aspects of immune function, including resistance to acute infections, HIV infections, ageing, cancer and other conditions influenced by the immune system.
Surgical stabilization of spondylolisthesis in a wrestler.
Authors: Garcés G L , Rasines J L
Published: December 2008

Sporting activity in wrestlers operated on for spondylolisthesis is not well documented in the literature. We present the case of a wrestler with a grade I L5-S1 spondylolisthesis who was L4-S1 arthrodesed due to pain not relieved by conservative methods. One year after surgery he had returned to full wrestling activity, including competitions. Two years later, he continues to wrestle at the same level of competition.
Monitoring altitude acclimatization--a case study of an élite woman athlete.
Authors: Nimmo M A
Published: December 2008

A simple study monitoring altitude acclimatization, which is not intrusive to the athlete's training, is described. Particular attention is drawn to the change in production of lactate in response to steady state exercise, before and after altitude. The results suggest that a more thorough assessment of aerobic ability at altitude is required than that described in the British Association of Sports and Exercise Science (BASES) guidelines. It is also relevant to note that elevations in haemoglobin, promoted by altitude, can mask iron abnormalities. It is therefore recommended to assay for iron in addition to haemoglobin.
Pain and pain tolerance in professional ballet dancers.
Authors: Tajet-Foxell B , Rose F D
Published: December 2008

Pain experience in sport had been the subject of increasing research in recent years. While sports professionals have generally been found to have higher pain thresholds than control subjects the reasons for this are not entirely clear. The present study seeks to investigate one possible explanatory factor, the importance of the popular image of the physical activity and of the self-image of its participants, by examining pain experience in professional ballet dancers. Like sports professionals, dancers were found to have higher pain and pain tolerance thresholds than age matched controls in the Cold Pressor Test. However, they also reported a more acute experience of the sensory aspects of the pain. Explanations of this apparent paradox are discussed both in terms of the neuroticism scores of the two groups and in terms of the dancers' greater experience of pain and its relationship with physical activity. The results illustrated the importance of using multidimensional measures of pain in this type of investigation.
The physiological demands of Gaelic football.
Authors: Florida-James G , Reilly T
Published: December 2008

Match-lay demands of Gaelic football and fitness profiles were assessed at club competitive level. English Gaelic football club championship players (n = 11) were assessed for anthropometry, leg strength and time to exhaustion on a treadmill run. A similar test battery was administered to a reference group of University competitive soccer players (n = 12). Heart rate was recorded during match-play using radio telemetry and blood lactate concentrations were determined at half-time and after full-time. No differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the Gaelic and soccer players in: body mass (70.7 +/- 10.3 vs 76.6 +/- 10.3 kg); height (176 +/- 5.9 vs 177.7 +/- 6.4 cm); leg to trunk ratio (0.53 +/- 0.01 vs 0.54 +/- 0.03); adiposity (12.2 +/- 2.1 vs 13.5 +/- 3.2% body fat); mean somatotype (2.8 - 4.3-2.0 vs 2.4-4.2-2.4); leg strength measures; and performance on the treadmill. The percentage muscle mass values were lower for the Gaelic players compared to the soccer players (41.9 +/- 5.4 vs 47.3 +/- 5.2%; p > 0.005). For the Gaelic and soccer players, respectively, mean heart rate recorded during each half of match-play were (157 +/- 10 and 158 +/- 12 beats/min) and (164 +/- 10 and 157 +/- 11 beats/min), whilst blood lactates measured at the end of each half, were (4.3 +/- 1 and 3.4 +/- 1.6 mmol/l) and (4.4 +/- 1.2 and 4.5 +/- 2.1 mmol/l). Gaelic footballers at English club championship level seem to exhibit similar fitness profiles, and are subject to broadly similar physiological demands as University-level competitive soccer players.
Poor ventilatory response to mild hypoxia may inhibit acclimatization at moderate altitude in elderly patients after carotid surgery.
Authors: Roeggla G , Roeggla M , Wagner A , Laggner A N
Published: December 2008

Peripheral chemoreceptors (carotid bodies) are the main sensing organs for hypoxaemia. During carotid surgery, the carotic body in the bifurcation of the common carotid artery is often involved and damaged or destroyed. Animals lose their ability to adapt to high altitude after experimental denervation of the carotid bodies. The objective of our study was to evaluate the ability of human patients to adapt to moderate altitude after single side carotid surgery. Blood gas analysis at rest at 171 m and after car and cable car transport to 1600 m before and after carotid surgery was performed. Mean(s.d.) paO2 decreased insignificantly from 74.8(3.56) at 171 m altitude to 71.6(2.07) at 1600 m (P = n.s.), means(s.d.) paCO2 decreased significantly from 36.2(2.86) to 31.4(2.7) mmHg (P < 0.05) before carotid surgery. Months after surgery, a significant drop in paO2 occurred after identical passive exposure to moderate altitude: mean(s.d.) paCO2 at 171 m 74.4(3.65) mmHg, at 1600 m 65.8(3.70) mmHg (P < 0.01), paCO2 did not change significantly. Mean(s.d.) paCO2 at 171 m: 36.0(2.35), at 1600 m 36.2(2.86) mmHg (P = n.s.). Although the sample investigated was small, after single side carotid surgery patients seem to lose their ability for satisfactory ventilatory response to acute exposure to moderate altitude. This is of possible alpine medical importance.
Catecholamine and cortisol levels in Oxford college rowers.
Authors: Pearson R , Ungpakorn G , Harrison G A
Published: December 2008

Urinary catecholamines and cortisol levels in two teams of Oxford college eight oarsmen were compared on three different day types: training days, racing days, and non-rowing days. Adrenaline and cortisol were raised on racing and training days compared to non-racing days. Noradrenaline was raised on training days, reflecting longer periods of physical exercise during training. There was evidence of a progressive lowering of adrenaline output over consecutive race days and that the outcome of the races had an effect on both adrenaline and cortisol. In addition to this there seemed to be differences in cortisol levels between the two teams of rowers on both racing days and non-rowing days.
Value of wearing head protection gear while playing hurling.
Authors: Crowley P J , Crowley M J , Dardouri H , Condon K C
Published: December 2008

One of the three national games of Ireland, hurling is a contact team sport (15 a side) played with a metre long ash stick and a small hard leather ball. Over a 12 month period, 413 players were treated for hurling-related injuries at Cork Regional Hospital. While hand and facial trauma predominate, the proportion between the two sites has changed substantially from previous reports with a reduction in the level of facial injuries. The wearing of a helmet, and optionally a supplementary faceguard, is seen to have contributed to this trend. Despite this welcome reduction of facial injuries, a certain resistance to the use of protective headgear is evident, particularly among older players.
One hundred and ten sports related facial fractures.
Authors: Carroll S M , Jawad M A , West M , O'Connor T P
Published: December 2008

In a 1 year period (1993) 332 facial fractures were treated in Cork Regional Hospital. Of these 110 (33%) were sports related. Males accounted for 94.5% of patients and 77% of patients were aged below 30 years. Nasal fractures were the most common fractures seen (56%). Almost half (49%) of sports related facial fractures occurred while playing Gaelic games. The incidence of hurling fractures has been more than halved over the last 20 years. Seventy eight percent of patients required operative treatment.
'Gilmore's groin'--or is it?
Authors: Williams P , Foster M E
Published: December 2008

Groin injuries are a common and often difficult diagnostic problem. This paper reviews six patients presenting with symptoms highly suggestive of the syndrome 'Gilmore's groin', but in whom the pathophysiology of the groin disruption and its surgical management differed from Gilmore's description.
Surgery in acute patellar dislocation--evaluation of the effect of injury mechanism and family occurrence on the outcome of treatment.
Authors: Mäenpää H , Lehto M U
Published: December 2008

A retrospective study was made of 270 patients and 284 knees with acute patellar dislocation treated operatively. The mean follow up time was 4.1 years. Medical history revealed 21.1% of cases with previous dislocations and 15.6% of cases with family occurrence of patellar dislocation. The dislocation resulted from an athletic performance in 41.5% of cases. The sport events most often associated with patellar dislocation were soccer, gymnastics, and ice hockey. All cases were treated with reefing of medial capsule. Release of lateral patellar retinacula was performed in 243 cases. Two cases were treated primarily with the Elmslie-Roux-Trillat procedure. The subjective result of operative treatment was better and the redislocation rate was lower if the injury mechanism was traumatic rather than non-traumatic and if there was no history for family occurrence of patellar dislocation.
Skiing injuries: the increasing workload.
Authors: Williams R L , Sweetnam D I , Stanislas M
Published: December 2008

All skiing injuries presenting to a fracture clinic during the period December 1992 to April 1993 were studied. Fifty five patients with 59 injuries were treated during this period. Thirty (54.5%) were male and 25 (45.5%) female. The mean age was 34 years (range 9-61). The anatomical distribution of injuries seen corresponded very closely with those seen in much larger studies abroad. There were 35 upper limb injuries (59.3%), 22 lower limb injuries (37.3%), with only two spine and trunk injuries (3.4%). While only two patients underwent surgery abroad, a further 12 needed surgical intervention on return, requiring a total stay of 61 'inpatient days'. The bulk of the workload was, however, on an outpatient basis, with a total of 172 appointments. Many advances have been made towards improving the safety of skiing. However with skiing becoming increasingly popular we can expect an increasing workload and cost associated with such injuries.
MRI diagnosis of accessory soleus muscle strain.
Authors: Featherstone T
Published: December 2008

An accessory soleus muscle is a rare anatomical variant. Clinical awareness of this entity and the appropriate use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can yield a definitive diagnosis in those patients with symptomatic accessory muscles. A case is presented in which the unique sensitivity of MRI in the evaluation of exertional muscle injuries proved useful in the detection of an accessory soleus muscle strain.
The athlete's heart: is big beautiful?
Authors: Shephard R J
Published: December 2008

Development of the concept of "athlete's heart" is traced through early clinical and radiographic studies to modern echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. It is noted that the lower limits of criteria for the diagnosis of a "pathological" enlargement of the heart have frequently been revised in an upward direction, as the prevalence of large hearts has been recognised in both endurance and power sports competitors who are in good health. Belief that hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the commonest cause of sports related death in young adults is traced to weak diagnostic criteria and frequent republication of a very small group of cases. Although the existence of a congenital myocardial dystrophy is now well established, this condition is extremely rare, and has no particular predilection for athletes. Genetically based screening tests may become available in the future, but the exclusion of young adults from sports participation on echocardiographic criteria appears costly and ineffective. For most people, the development of a large heart is not a pathological sign--rather, it is a desirable outcome that will enhance performance on the sports field, and will allow longer independence in old age.
Three cases of nalbuphine hydrochloride dependence associated with anabolic steroid use.
Authors: McBride A J , Williamson K , Petersen T
Published: December 2008

Three case reports are presented of nalbuphine hydrochloride dependence meeting DSM IIIR and ICD10 criteria for opioid dependence. Nalbuphine hydrochloride is being obtained from illicit sources and used by those using performance enhancing drugs. In some cases this leads to opioid dependence. There is a potential risks of crossover between the misuse of drugs of performance and the misuse of psychoactive drugs by injection. Further research into the dependence potential of nalbuphine and the extent of the crossover between steroid misuse and other psychoactive drug misuse is required. The legal status of nalbuphine should be reviewed in the light of its availability on the black market.
The musculoskeletal effect of intense physical training of non-athletic youth corps conscripts.
Authors: Egwu M O
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVE: To determine the musculoskeletal problems associated with high intensity physical exercise among non-athletic youth subjects. METHODS: 484 fresh Nigerian graduates participating in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme were studied. At the start of the four week intensive physical training which formed part of the orientation course for the programme, the subjects completed a questionnaire designed to determine their previous exercise habit. The physical training consisted of jogging, physical drills, games (soccer and volleyball), and man o'war activities. During the period of physical training, the subjects were instructed to report all ailments to the camp clinic. RESULTS: Muscular pain/soreness and injuries were major problems associated with the exercise. The lower limbs were most affected and the ankle joint was found to be more injury-prone than other joints. CONCLUSIONS: Most of these graduates were physically unfit and the intense fitness programme produced adverse effects on their physical health. Precamp physical preparation would be desirable.