Analysis of muscle tone and strength and cerebral blood flow in kickboxers

Abstract

Purpose: the article deals with providing a characteristic of muscle and tone status as well as precerebral and cerebral hemodynamics in kickboxers. Materials: 102 athletes with the qualification from the Second-class Athlete to the Master of Sport voluntary participated in the study. The average age of athletes at the moment of the study was 20.90±0.50. The average sports experience of participants was equal to 4.15±2.77. The control group consisted of apparently healthy young males of the same age but not involved in sports activities (n=35). The indicators of muscle tone and strength and cerebral blood flow were studied with the help of Doppler ultrasound of the main arteries of the head, electroneuromyography, and transcranial Doppler. Results: the article provides the results of the study on the effect of muscle and tone disturbances in the spinal motion segment on the functional status of precerebral and cerebral blood flow. The disturbances in nerve conduction velocity in the symmetrical groups of trunk muscles are considered as the reason for muscle imbalance in 50% of athletes. The analysis of blood flow indicators in kickboxers with muscle imbalance revealed a typical increase in the tone of precerebral vessels and changes in the gradients of blood flow velocity in various segments of the carotid and vertebral arteries. The decrease of cerebral blood flow in athletes, in particular, the venous outflow of a dystonic nature, is the result of spasmodic and ischemic Doppler patterns against a decreased indicator of arteriovenous balance. Mild traumatic brain injuries should also be taken into account when speaking about the development of cerebrovascular dysfunction as a result of kickboxers’ sparring activities and competitions. Conclusions: Differentiated disturbances in sensory and motor conductivity result in the disturbance of afferentation and muscle imbalance intensity. Angiospasm and vascular ischemia determine the increase in the linear blood flow velocity in the carotid system and the decrease in the vessels of the vertebrobasilar system against the increase in resistivity indicators in the carotid basins and vertebrobasilar system in kickboxers. Correlation analysis revealed visceral motor correlations, which proved the influence of the functional status of the regional muscle system on cerebral hemodynamics. The analysis of tone and strength muscle characteristics and cerebral blood flow in kickboxers indicates the necessity of correcting muscle and tone asymmetry of the paravertebral area.