Asian Journal of Sports Medicine

Are Fast-Bowlers Prone to Back Injuries? Prevalence of Lumbar Spine Injuries in Fast-Bowlers: Review of MRI-Based Studies Background: Fast-bowlers in cricket subject their spines to repetitive stress.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to review the prevalence of lumbar spine injuries among fast-bowlers.

Materials and Methods: Medline and embase searches were performed. Further, the authors canvassed the reference list of available articles and used other search engines such as Google Scholar to identify a total of nine studies.

Results: The prevalence of lumbar disc degeneration in fast-bowlers ranges from 21-65% with an incidence rate of 15% per year, and the prevalence of lumbar spine bony abnormalities ranges from 24-81%. Factors associated with lumbar spine injury in fast-bowlers are classified into un-modifiable (age) and modifiable (more intense bowling workload and mixed-bowling technique).

Conclusions: Fast-bowlers have a high prevalence of lumbar spine injuries. Appropriate interventions, such as educational sessions, may be able to modify risk factors such as bowling workload and bowling technique and thus reduce injury prevalence.

Late Care in Marathon Runs Leading to Exertional Heat Stroke with Multiple Organ Failure
Asserraji Mohammed, Benameur Brahim, Elkharass Abdenacer, Filai Karim

Abstract

Background: Exertional heat stroke (EHS) is still a main cause of death in sport. Many of EHS complications could have been prevented if EHS had been recognized and treated early and properly.

Case presentation: We report an unusual case of multiple organ failure caused by EHS due to intensive sportive activities in a hot environment with lack of primary care. A 35-year-old healthy sportive man was admitted in our hospital because of muscle aches and weakness as well as dark urine three days after a six hour marathon run (Agadir Semi-Marathon) in a very sunny day. Patient developed rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure (ARF) requiring hemodialysis because of hyperkaliémia, azotémia and severe metabolic acidosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute liver failure. Unfortunately, after eight days of intensive care, the patient died from septic shock and multiple organ failure.

Conclusion: This case reminds us that, despite the advancements of knowledge in the area of EHS prevention, recognition, and treatment, knowledge has not been translated into practice.

Surgical Treatment of Pectoralis Major Tendon rupture (Outcome Assessment)
Mohammadreza Guity, Arash Sharafatvaziri, Hossein Shafiei, Amirreza Farhoud

Abstract

Purpose: Rupture of pectoralis major (PM) occurs most commonly as a result of an indirect mechanism associated with extensive tension on a maximally contracted muscle. Patients with PM tendon ruptures, classically present a history of sudden severe pain in arm and shoulder at the time of injury. Treatment options vary from conservative to operative. In cases with total or near-total injuries, surgical treatment by anatomic repair is generally advised, since conservative treatment may lead to poor results. The present paper reports 24 cases of surgically-treated ruptured PM while assessing the results.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2010, 32 cases of unilaterally distal ruptured PM were surgically treated by the same surgeon and same technique, in two teaching hospitals of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All cases were followed postoperatively by physical examination and functional criteria.

Results: Since eight of the cases were lost from follow up, 24 cases were followed for at least one year. According to modified Kakwani system, 6 of our patients (25%) rated as excellent, 15 cases (62.5%) rated as good, 2 cases (8.33%) rated as fair and 1 case (4.1%) rated as poor.

Conclusion: In conclusion, we see that 87.5% of the patients had good to excellent results, according to modified Kakwani classification, after one year of follow up. So it seems that surgical repair of the pectoralis major ruptures will help the patients to return to their previous activities more frequently and we believe, to achieve better functional outcome. Meticulous surgical technique and attention to rehabilitation program are more important than delay in surgery.

The Effect of Two -Week L-Carnitine Supplementation on Exercise –Induced Oxidative Stress and Muscle Damage
Khadijeh Parandak, Hamid Arazi, Faegheh Khoshkhahesh, Babak Nakhostin-Roohi

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to assess the effect of Two-week L-carnitine supplementation on known markers of oxidative stress and muscle damage following acute bouts of exercise in active healthy young men.

Methods: Twenty-one active healthy men volunteered for this study. Participants were randomized in a double-blind placebo-controlled fashion into two groups: L-carnitine (C group; n=10) and placebo group (P group; n=11). They arrived at the laboratory after overnight fasting. A baseline blood sample was taken. Afterwards, subjects consumed either L-carnitine (2 capsules containing totally 2000 mg L-carnitine) or placebo (2 capsules containing totally 2000 mg lactose) daily for 14 days. On the day of the test, participants attended the athletics arena after overnight fasting. Then, participants were asked to run 14 km on the track at their highest ability. Blood samples were taken immediately, 2, and 24 hour after exercise. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), MDA as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) as a marker of lipid peroxidation, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as markers of muscle damage were measured.

Results: TAC increased significantly 14 days after supplementation and 24h after exercise in C group compared with P group (P

Assessment of Correlation between Electrogoniometer Measurements and Sports-Specific Movement in karate Elites
Sara Lotfian, Afsaneh Safarcherati, Aliashraf Jamshidi, Mohammad Ali Sanjari

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the intra-rater reliability of knee movement data in sagital plane obtained from electrogoniometer (EGM) in a basic, sport-specific task of karate.

Methods: A total of 23 elite karate athletes (13 females and 10 males; mean age of 16.10±1.26 yrs) participated in this study. The task was defined as performing three consecutive Zenkutsu-dachi in two sessions. The used EGM was a twin axis of Biometrics company. EGM curves were plotted in MATLAB software separately. The indices of three points in the plots corresponding to extremes of flexion and extension of knee in the first dachi were determined. There was also another (forth) point which was not in extremes of movement. As it was repeated in all curves, it was perceived as a biomechanical event and was assessed. The phases of movement between the points were scaled between 0 to 100% of activity.

Results: Repeatability of the forth point index was assessed by intraclass correlation method. Intraclass correlation of the ratio in the first testing session was 0.666 and in second was 0.448. The interval between points were considered as phases of movement. After determining three phases of dachi, it was shown that these phases pertained a specific ratio of the total plot which were 48%, 36% and 16% of total respectively.

Conclusion: Dachi could be divided into three distinct phases; each of them should constitute a specific percent of the total in an elite athlete.

Effects of Resistance versus Endurance Training on Plasma Lipocalin-2 in Young Men
Mehrzad Moghadasi, Amin Mohammadi Domieh

Abstract

Purpose: Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) has been recognized as an adipocyte-derived acute phase protein that is positively correlated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The effects of resistance and endurance training (RT vs. ET) on plasma lipocalin-2 are still unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of RT vs. ET on plasma lipocalin-2 in young men.

Methods: Twenty nine healthy and sedentary young men (age, 21-29 years) participated in this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to RT group (n=9), ET group (n=10) or control group (n=10). The experimental groups performed either RT or ET, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. The endurance training program included continuous running at an intensity corresponding to 65–80% of maximal heart rate, while resistance training consisted of 2-4 sets of circuit weight training for 8 stations and at an intensity corresponding to 65-80% of 1-RM in each station.

Results: No significant changes in the body mass, BMI, body fat percentage and WHR were found after the RT and ET. The results showed that Lcn2 decreased after RT and ET compared with the control group (P

Effects of recovery type after a kickboxing match on blood lactate and performance in anaerobic tests
Ibrahim Ouergui, Omar Hammouda, Hamdi Chtourou, Nabil Gmada, Emerson Franchini

Abstract

Purpose: To verify whether active recovery (AR) applied after a kickboxing match resulted in better performance in anaerobic tests when compared to passive recovery (PR).

Methods: Eighteen kickboxers volunteered to participate on a Kickboxing match preceded and followed by anaerobic tests: squat jump (SJ), the counter movement jump (CMJ) and the upper-body Wingate test. Blood lactate (BL), heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were analyzed before and after rounds. The recovery sessions consisted of 10min at 50% of maximal aerobic speed or PR. [BL] was measured at 3, 5 and 10 min after the match, while HR, RPE and anaerobic power were assessed after the recovery period.

Results: [BL], HR and RPE increased significantly (P

Studying the Balance of the Coper and Non-Coper ACL-Deficient Knee Subjects
Abbas Rahimi, Narjes Soltani, Sedigheh-Sadat Naimi, Khosr Khademi Kalantari, Hassan Saeedi

Abstract

Purpose: It seems that there is an association between the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and stability of the knee. This study aimed to evaluate the balance condition of the injured and non-injured sides of the coper and non-coper ACL-D (deficient) subjects during single and bilateral standing conditions.

Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 10 coper and 5 non-coper ACL-D knee subjects and 15 sex-age matched healthy subjects. A Zebris platform pedobarograph tool was used in this study. The subjects were tested barefoot during single and bilateral leg stance conditions. The outcome measurements included measurement of the center of pressure (COP) path line length, confidence ellipse area and sway velocity.

Results: In double leg stance, data analysis revealed that the COP path line length, confidence ellipse area and sway velocity all showed a significant increase in the injured leg of the non-coper ACL-D subjects when compared to the injured leg of the coper ACL-D and healthy subjects (P=0.002). During single leg stance, all of the parameters showed significant increase in the injured leg of both coper and non-copers of the ACL-D subjects relative to the healthy subjects (P

Relationship of Anthropometric and Training Characteristics with Race Performance in Endurance and Ultra-Endurance Athletes
Beat Knechtle

Abstract

A variety of anthropometric and training characteristics have been identified as predictor variables for race performance in endurance and ultra-endurance athletes. Anthropometric characteristics such as skin-fold thicknesses, body fat, circumferences and length of limbs, body mass, body height, and body mass index were bi-variately related to race performance in endurance athletes such as swimmers in pools and in open water, in road and mountain bike cyclists, and in runners and triathletes over different distances. Additionally, training variables such as volume and speed were also bi-variately associated with race performance. Multi-variate regression analyses including anthropometric and training characteristics reduced the predictor variables mainly to body fat and speed during training units. Further multi-variate regression analyses including additionally the aspects of previous experience such as personal best times showed that mainly previous best time in shorter races were the most important predictors for ultra-endurance race times. Ultra-endurance athletes seemed to prepare differently for their races compared to endurance athletes where ultra-endurance athletes invested more time in training and completed more training kilometers at lower speed compared to endurance athletes. In conclusion, the most important predictor variables for ultra-endurance athletes were a fast personal best time in shorter races, a low body fat and a high speed during training units.

Repeated Acceleration Ability (RAA): A New Concept with Reference to Top-Level Field and Assistant Soccer Referees
José Carlos Barberó-Álvarez, Daniel Boullosa, Fábio Yuzo Nakamura, Germán Andrín, Matthew Weston

Abstract

Purpose: To perform an exploratory characterization of repeated sprint sequences (RSS) and repeated acceleration sequences (RAS) in top level soccer referees.

Methods: 7 field and 7 assistant referees were monitored during 2007 America's Soccer Cup with GPS technology. Sprints of >18 km·h-1 and accelerations of >1.5 m·s-2 were considered as high intensity activities. RSS and RAS were defined as a minimum of 3 consecutive bouts interspersed with a maximum of 45 s.

Results: Field and assistant referees performed substantially more accelerations than sprints. Neither field nor assistant referees recorded any RSS. In contrast, total distance performing RAS amounted to ~37% and ~20% of the total distance covered by accelerations during the entire match for field and assistant referees, respectively. Only field referees exhibited fatigue-related reductions in RAS characteristics between halves.

Conclusion: The results of the present study would appear to support the appropriateness of a repeated acceleration ability (RAA) concept, instead of the repeated sprint ability (RSA) concept, in soccer referees. Further studies should assess RAS in referees and athletes of different team sports for designing better training exercises and physiological testing.

Surface Electromyography Assessments of the VM and RF Muscles and CK after Eccentric Contraction Following Glutamine Supplementation
Farhad Rahmani-Nia, Esmail Farzaneh, Arsalan Damirchi, Ali Shamsi Majlan, Vahid Tadibi

Abstract

Purpose: L-glutamine is the most abundant amino acid found in human muscle and plays an important role in protein synthesis and can reduce the levels of inflammation biomarkers and creatine kinase (CK) after training sessions. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) develops after intense exercise and is associated with an inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of glutamine supplementation on surface electromyography activity of the vastus medialis muscle (VMM) and re**us femoris muscle (RFM) and levels of creatine kinase after an eccentric contraction.

Methods: Seventeen healthy men (age: 22.35±2.27yr; body mass: 69.91± 9.78kg; height: 177.08±4.32cm) were randomly assigned to experimental (n=9) and control groups (n=8) in a double-blind manner. In both groups, subjects were given L-glutamine supplementation (0.1g.kg-1) or placebo three times a week for 4 weeks. Median frequency (MDF) and mean power frequency (MPF) for VMM and RFM muscles and also CK measurements were performed before, 24h and 48 h after a resistance training session. The resistance training included 6 sets of eccentric leg extensions to exhaustion with 75% of 1RM.

Results: There was no significant difference between groups for MDF or MPF in VMM and RFM. The difference of CK level between the groups was also not significant.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that glutamine supple­mentation has no positive effect on muscle injury markers after a resistance training session.