In the period 1998-, we registered four sudden and unexpected cardiac deaths in male athletes due to myopericarditis during or after physical exercise. Three of them were professional soccer players and the fourth was engaged in swimming. One aged 29, had symptoms of tiredness, heart enlargement and left ventricular premature ...

Previous studies of elite Kenyan endurance runners reported that athletes did not consume liquids before or during training and infrequently consumed modest amounts of liquids after training that contributed to low daily fluid intake. PURPOSE: To assess hydration status of elite Kenyan endurance runners during an important training period. METHODS: ...

Athletes' symptoms may only occur in extreme conditions, which are far from normal. Exercise may increase ventilation up to 200 l/min for short periods in speed and power athletes, and for longer periods in endurance athletes such as swimmers and cross-country skiers. Increasing proportions of young athletes are atopic, i.e. ...

The use of vibration as a training intervention has been suggested for more than a decade. Following the initial promising studies, a large number of investigations have been conducted to understand the acute and chronic effects of this novel training modality mainly using special populations, sedentary, physically active, and aged ...

This article, by the United Kingdom's last Olympic Marathon Medal winner, Charlie Spedding, and his brother, the pharmacologist, Michael Spedding, covers the difficulties posed by the availability of powerful drugs to ameliorate athletic performance, from an athlete's perspective, particularly in view of the fact that performances are becoming highly optimised ...

The Beijing Olympics will begin in August 2008 and athletes will face an unpredictable challenge. Based on present data, Beijing is one of the most polluted megacities in the world; the air concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), ozone, nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter approach ...

The aim of the study was to examine the hypothesis that when former high-level athletes retired from competition, bradycardia would vanish. ECG changes and factors possibly related to the persistence of bradycardia were investigated. We performed a longitudinal follow-up study in 157 former elite athletes who had records of bradycardia ...

Using a previously described approach to generating novel medical hypotheses, this paper shows how two separate medical literatures taken together can suggest new information not apparent in either literature alone. Many studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise in healthy people can induce esophageal acidic reflux that increases with the duration ...

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that exercise-induced asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness commonly occur in athletes. The present study investigates pulmonary function and cytokine levels in professional athletes to explore the impact of various sports on respiratory system function and to evaluate the possible role of systemic anaphylaxis. METHODS: Lung function ...

OBJECTIVE: The interpretation of biochemical testing in sportsmen requires caution. Although creatinine-based estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) overcome some shortcomings of serum creatinine, there is scarce information on their use in endurance athletes. DESIGN: We evaluated GFR, estimated by the recommended Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation ...

BACKGROUND: There are limited studies evaluating arthroscopic treatment of unidirectional posterior shoulder instability in overhead-throwing athletes. HYPOTHESIS: Arthroscopic capsulolabral repair for unidirectional posterior shoulder instability will yield equivalent stability and functional outcomes in the overhead-throwing athlete and nonthrowers. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. METHODS: Ninety-eight athletes (107 ...

Horses as equine athletes must be conditioned and trained to optimize the whole animal for the particular type of athletic activity. An extremely high proportion of all injuries in the equine athlete in general, and in the racehorse in particular, are associated with the skeletal system, many of which are ...

Present work was aimed to study QT dispersion changes during exercise and relation of it with LV myocardium mass in veteran elite athletes. 31 veteran athletes aged 30-50 years and 31 age-matched healthy controls were studied. In all of them QT dispersion (QTd) at rest and during exercise test was ...

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to investigate the amount of water loss and percentage dehydration experienced during 1 hour of paddling on the kayak ergometer so as to help coaches and athletes tailor a suitable and adequate rehydration regime. Also, rehydration efficacy between water and a well established, ...

Our previous work has demonstrated that professional athletes show protocol-dependent variability in salivary testosterone (T) responses to resistance exercise (RE). The current study examines the consistency and functional outcomes of prescribing a RE regimen based on T response. We hypothesized that prescribing an individual-specific RE protocol based on T response ...

Exercise and athletic competition for the young individual has become increasingly more important in society. Scoliosis and Scheurmann kyphosis are spinal deformities prevalent in up to 2% to 3% and 7% of the population respectively, requiring nonoperative and occasionally operative treatment. Curve progression and patient physiologic age dictate treatment regimens. ...

Exercise training reverses endothelial dysfunction, but the effect in young, healthy subjects is less clear. We determined the influence of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and a single bout of high-intensity exercise on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), brachial artery diameter, peak blood flow, nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and antioxidant status in highly ...

Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis are common diagnoses made in the athlete suffering from persistent back pain. Although the etiology of this continuum of conditions is uncertain, genetic predisposition and repetitive trauma have been strongly implicated. Sports in which participants are subjected to repetitive hyperextension across the lumbar spine pose a risk ...

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) may occasionally affect athletes by impairing their ability to compete, and leading to noneligibility at prequalification screening. The impact of catheter ablation (CA) in restoring full competitive activity of athletes affected by AF is not known. The aim of our study was to investigate the effectiveness ...

In 2005, the European Society of Cardiology published recommendations for cardiovascular screening in athletes. Discussion on whether screening is beneficial is ongoing. Recently, the first prospective results on effectiveness of screening in preventing sudden deaths were published from Italy. The results were supportive of screening, but did not provide conclusive ...

The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of intrinsic musculotendinous and musculoarticular stiffness of plantarflexor muscles on (1) the overall musculoskeletal stiffness and (2) the performance during stretch-shortening cycles-type exercise. The influence of plyometric training background on these relationships was also analyzed. Musculotendinous (SIMT), passive (KP) and ...

The two Yo-Yo intermittent recovery (IR) tests evaluate an individual's ability to repeatedly perform intense exercise. The Yo-Yo IR level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1) test focuses on the capacity to carry out intermittent exercise leading to a maximal activation of the aerobic system, whereas Yo-Yo IR level 2 (Yo-Yo IR2) determines ...

To evaluate the clinical usefulness of complete preparticipation cardiovascular screening in a large cohort of sports participants. Cross sectional study of data over a five year period. Institute of Sports Medicine in Florence, Italy. 30,065 (23,570 men) people seeking to obtain clinical eligibility for competitive sports. Results of resting and ...

As early as 1975, Morganroth and colleagues hypothesized that the cardiac morphological adaptation observed in athletes corresponded with the nature of the haemodynamic stimulus imposed on the ventricles during repeated exercise bouts. Endurance training purportedly leads to an eccentric form of cardiac hypertrophy, principally characterized by increased left ventricular (LV) ...

Female participation in high school athletics has increased 800% in the last 30 years. The problem of exercise-induced amenorrhea was initially thought to be analogous to hypoestrogenism, but recent studies suggest that nutritional issues underlie most of the pathophysiology and that the mechanism is different from that seen in the ...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of respiratory resistance training (RRT) with a concurrent flow respiratory (CFR) device on respiratory function and aerobic power in wheelchair athletes. METHODS: Ten male wheelchair athletes (8 with spinal cord injuries, 1 with a neurological disorder, and 1 with postpolio syndrome), were matched by lesion ...

In the decade since the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene was first proposed to be a 'human gene for physical performance', there have been numerous studies examining the effects of ACE genotype on physical performance phenotypes such as aerobic capacity, muscle function, trainability, and athletic status. While the results are variable ...

Over the past 2 decades, there has been a large interest in cardiac troponin T (cTnT) elevations, which are often seen following endurance sport events. There have been many reports on this topic, although sometimes with different approaches. We reviewed the available literature on cTnT elevations after prolonged strenuous exercise ...

It is widely recognized that an athlete's 'pacing strategy', or how an athlete distributes work and energy throughout an exercise task, can have a significant impact on performance. By applying mathematical modelling (i.e. power/velocity and force/time relationships) to athletic performances, coaches and researchers have observed a variety of pacing strategies. ...

The bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital cardiac malformation. A literature search was performed using the key words 'bicuspid aortic valve', 'pathophysiology', 'exercise' and 'training'. BAV is the result of a complex developmental process where several genes seem to lead to abnormal valvulogenesis. Complications associated with BAV ...

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of endurance exercise on circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in sickle cell trait (SCT) athletes with or without alpha-thalassemia. Five athletes with SCT, 7 athletes with both SCT and alpha-thalassemia (SCTAT) and 8 control ...

BACKGROUND: Several creatinine-based estimates of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) have been advocated as reliable alternatives to the urinary clearance of exogenous filtration markers. The Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) equation requires a body weight parameter, which was not included in the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study and the Mayo ...

BACKGROUND: Optimization of body weight and composition is a key priority for elite athletes striving for a competitive advantage. The present investigation was designed to characterize various parameters related to weight control in Olympic competitors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research unit at a University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 223 athletes (125 men ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cardiac fibrosis occurs with normal aging, but the extent of this process and its effect on cardiac function is unknown. Fibrosis in the nonhypertensive elderly patient is thought to be due to decreased degradation, and not increased deposition, of collagen. The cause of this decreased degradation is unknown. ...

Exercise associated muscle cramping (EAMC) is defined as a painful, spasmodic, and involuntary contraction of skeletal muscle that occurs during or immediately after exercise. There is a high lifetime prevalence of EAMC in athletes, specifically in endurance athletes. The most important risk factors for EAMC in athletes are a previous ...

World records (WR) in sports illustrate the ultimate expression of human integrated muscle biology, through speed or strength performances. Analysis and prediction of man's physiological boundaries in sports and impact of external (historical or environmental) conditions on WR occurrence are subject to scientific controversy. Based on the analysis of 3263 ...

Although regular aerobic physical activity increases exercise capacity and plays a role in both primary and secondary prevention of a variety of chronic disorders, competitive physical exercise is associated with a significant increase of risk of sudden death in athletes, especially adolescents and young adults. Several pathogenetic mechanisms have been ...

PURPOSE: Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a highly specific marker of myocardial damage and used clinically in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Release of cTnT has been demonstrated in several small studies after endurance exercise. The purpose of this study was to explore, using a meta-analytic approach, the ...

Master's swimming has been one of the most successful master's athletic organizations over the past few decades. It creates an excellent environment for older athletes to stay fit and develop friendships. Exercise has been shown to be important in keeping an aging population healthy by reducing risk factors associated with ...

The fact that exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) may be both over- and underdiagnosed in athletes has led to calls for widespread screening for the condition. This article assesses such a strategy by employing the standard framework used when evaluating any screening policy. This approach highlights a number of concerns and allows ...

Key questions regarding the training and physiological qualities required to produce an elite rock climber remain inadequately defined. Little research has been done on young climbers. The aim of this paper was to review literature on climbing alongside relevant literature characterising physiological adaptations in young athletes. Evidence-based recommendations were sought ...

The current diagnosis of overreaching and overtraining is based on exclusion. In the present paper, four possible confirmative tools have been examined in three female speed skaters between 16 and 19 years old. A nonfunctional overreached (NFO) athlete, an athlete who was recovering from NFO and a healthy athlete were ...

This study was undertaken to examine self-reported caffeine consumption and reasons for its use, amongst UK athletes, following its removal from the 2004 World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List. A convenience sample of track and field athletes (n = 193) and cyclists (n = 287) completed a postal or Web-based ...

Exercise and physical strenuous activity have been demonstrated to increase the serum TNF-alpha and IL-6. Regular physical training is expected to attenuate such a response. This study was undertaken to understand the impact of regular exercise training on IL-6 and TNF-alpha in athletes and non-athletes. Ten athletes, who have been ...

AIMS: Identification of a prolonged, corrected QT (QTc) interval in athletes may be a recommendation for disqualification from competitive sports. However, the prevalence and diagnostic significance of an isolated prolonged QTc in asymptomatic athletes without familial disease is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2006, 2000 elite athletes (mean ...

CONTEXT: Concussed athletes may underreport concussion-related symptoms in order to expedite return to play. Whether neurocognitive impairments persist once concussion-related symptoms resolve has yet to be determined. Reliance on athlete-reported, postconcussion symptoms when making return-to-play decisions may expose athletes to subsequent injury if complete recovery has not occurred. OBJECTIVE: To ...

We determined whether a short-term exhaustive dynamic exercise (cycling) for about 18min induces changes in the intramuscular architecture of the quadriceps in trained athletes. Thirty-five male athletes (age 28.8+/-9.8 years; height: 175.4.+/-5.5cm; weight: 74+/-11.5kg; average years spent training: 11.1+/-8.4 years; mean weekly duration of training: 10.4+/-3.20h) underwent an incremental cycloergometer ...

Achilles tendinopathy is common, and its management continues to be challenging, especially in elite athletes. Despite a wide range of novel management options, none guarantees a rapid return to high level sporting activity. Eccentric exercise has been shown to reduce symptoms and normalise imaging abnormalities, but time constraints on professional ...

The purpose of this study was to compare, during a 30s intermittent exercise (IE), the effects of exercise intensity on time spent above 90% VO2max(t90VO2max) and time spent above 95% VO2max(t95VO2max) in young endurance trained athletes. We hypothesized that during a 30sIE, an increase in exercise intensity would allow an ...

Older ('Masters') athletes strive to maintain or even improve upon the performance they achieved at younger ages, but declines in athletic performance are inevitable with ageing. In this review, we describe changes in peak endurance exercise performance with advancing age as well as physiological factors responsible for those changes. Peak ...