N. Bachl, L. Prokop and R. Suckert (Eds.) "Current Topics in Sports Medicine--World Congress, 1982, Vienna"
Authors: J. R. Owen
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1984)

The editors are to be congratulated on achieving a 'lay-out' of this book, which is both simple and easy to follow.The amount of material assembled is quite enormous and the task of editing it must have been formidable.The book is divided, perhaps a little indefinitely, into ten sections, of which the section on Trauma seems to occupy, although obviously important, a rather disproportionate amount of space, perhaps to the exclusion of subjects which one feels might well be of at least equal interest, though the fault here really lies with the organisers of the Congress.It is obviously impossible to comment on more than a fraction of the contents, and therefore one can only make mention of those papers which seem outstanding for one reason or another, though this must vary according to the reader.Sport in older age (Strauzenburg, German Democratic Republic) This, I thought was one of the best papers in the book.It was readable and understandable, and quite excellent in content.It was written in impeccable English, as indeed one might expect from one whose mother was English.Risk of damage due to overstraining in older athletes (Cotta and Correll, Heidelberg) This was good and comprehensive, and the conclusions simple and eminently reasonable. Physiology of High Performance SportsA rowing ergometer test with stepwise increased workload (Steinacker, German Federal Republic) Many rowing ergometers have been produced over the years, all with the intention of accurately simulating the rowing stroke, and none have been completely successful in achieving this.This paper goes to great lengths to explain in detail how this adaptation has succeeded in doing this, but it does, in fact, not seem any more convincing than its predecessors in producing the required simulation.Nevertheless it is full of interest, though not necessarily of proof, of what is being discussed.Prevention of lower back Pain in young female gymnasts (Oseid et al, Norway) This gives seven factors that must be considered in preventing lower back trouble, all of which seems eminently reasonable and understandable.A paper that does, at least, make sense. Effects of temperature on maximal performance (Heidelberg)The effects of heat, and of radiation, on distance runners, were described by Pugh many years ago in a somewhat similar manner, though he did not study the effects of cold on them.These observations could, therefore, be of some importance in certain Winter Sports.Traumatology, Therapy, etc. Assymetrical strain and scoliosis (University of Bonn) This paper appears to explode a commonly held theory, which found somewhat surprising, to say the least.According to this assymetrical strain does not promote scoliosis and cannot be considered as a possible 'sport damage'.would think the conclusions are certainly open to doubt. MiscellaneousMenstrual Dysfunction in Norwegian Top Athletes (Oseid et al, Norway) Details of those subjects quoted in the survey suggest that an intrinsic abnormality in this respect was present before the training started, and it would seem doubtful whether the training was, in fact, related to the menstrual dysfunction.The fact that the average age of menarche was 14.6 years very much supports this.While the report suggests that the important factors are stress and energy expenditure, it is a known fact that women with a late menarche, whether athletes or not, are prone to develop secondary amenorrhoea.I found the paper of interest, but not very convincining, and even the authors themselves admit that some of the conclusions are controversial.This is a book containing a great wealth of material, and in which anyone with an interest in Sports Medicine can find something of interest.