BACKGROUND: There is not enough scientific literature to determine whether the deficit in lumbar mobility may be associated with pain in the lumbar region in paddle tennis players.METHODS: Analytical, observational, and cross-sectional study design. The range of low back mobility was assessed among a sample of 34 paddle tennis players. Modified-Modified Schöber Test (MMST), Toe-touch Test (TTT), FMS® scores from the Deep Squat (DS) and lumbar flexion measurement in the final position of the deep squat (LBM in FMS® DS) were selected.RESULTS: Significant differences were obtained in LBM in FMS® DS (P=0.014) in relation to presence/absence of low back pain. A moderate positive correlation was obtained between TTT and LBM in FMS® DS (0.517) in the no low back pain group, whereas a considerable negative correlation between TTT and LBM in FMS® DS (-0.592) was stated in the group with low back pain. A “high” positive correlation (0.721) between the MMST and the LBM in FMS® DS. A “considerable” negative correlation (-0.672) be-tween TTT and LBM in FMS® DS was also found.CONCLUSIONS: Low back mobility test and low back pain are related in amateur paddle tennis players.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a growing disease that mainly affects postmenopausal women and represents an increasing human, social and economic burden. Physical Activity (PA) is a key factor to counteract osteoporosis, but most of the women do not reach the minimum amount of PA recommended. Being able to develop PA protocols in the workplace can be a focal point in the prevention and treatment of this disease and benefit the general health of workers.METHODS: The primary aim was to evaluate the compliance and dropout of postmenopausal women enrolled in a well-structured protocol for osteoporosis prevention in the workplace: “The Happy Bones” protocol. Secondarily, the effects of the protocol on functional parameters were evaluated to understand how it affected general health. 30 postmenopausal women employed at the “Foro Italico” University of Rome were recruited: IG (N.=15) performed the Happy Bones protocol for 24 weeks; and CG (N.=15) continued the daily routine. Before and after 6 months, participants underwent MOC, functional assessments (i.e. 6MWT, Handgrip, Balance tests) and body composition analysis.RESULTS: Compliance was higher compared to similar studies. Bone health parameters showed no significant results in both groups, but still showed a positive trend in IG. Functional capacity (6MWT P=0.007), balance (P<0.05), 1 RM strength test (P<0.05) and body composition (P<0.05) in the IG showed statistically significant improvements.CONCLUSIONS: The Happy Bones protocol was able to generate a good compliance, marking a positive trend in the bone health of postmenopausal women and improving functional capacity and general health of the participants.

BACKGROUND: Studies about the injury risk in Taekwondo (TKD) focused mainly on WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) style as an Olympic discipline, but not on ITF (International Taekwondo Federation) that differ in the manner of fighting. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 pandemic negatively affected people’s lives worldwide, including athletes. The aim of our study was to assess injury occurrence among TKD-ITF athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire survey was conducted among Polish TKD-ITF elite athletes, competitors at national and international level, aged 14 years and over. The obtained information concerned the first year of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, during the most severe social restrictions. RESULTS: The data was collected from 119 ITF athletes: 59 men (50%) and 60 women (50%), mean age 19.4±7.7 years. Thirty-two respondents (27%) reported sport-related injury. The most common injury was joint sprain or dislocation, and lower limb as location. Independent risk factors of TKD-related injury were male sex (OR=3.38, P=0.023), number of prior injuries (OR 4.47, P<0.0001), and participation in competitions (OR=7.78, P<0.011). The majority of injured athletes reported long-lasting post-injury symptoms and recurrence of an injury in the same location. Moreover, post-COVID symptoms, such as rapid fatigue and chest pain were more often reported by athletes from the injury group.CONCLUSIONS: Taekwondo-ITF is associated with a significant prevalence of sport-related injuries. Additionally, Sars-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in the appearance of new factors which had a negative influence on the athletes’ health.

INTRODUCTION: Infectious diseases pose a significant risk to athletes, especially professional athletes, due to the nature of their training, travel, and close contact with other individuals. The athletic environment, characterized by crowded training facilities, shared equipment, and frequent exposure to large groups of people, can create a setting at increased risk for the transmission and spread of various infectious agents.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Our study aims to systematically review the role of vaccination in athletes, mainly focusing on professional athletes. We will focus on the evidence in the literature regarding the infectious risk of vaccine-preventable diseases and the recommendations relating to vaccine prophylaxis. The Scopus, MEDLINE/PubMed, and ISI Web of Knowledge were systematically searched. Research articles, brief reports, letters, and editorials published between January 1st, 2003, and May 15th, 2023, were included in our search.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Vaccination plays a pivotal role in reducing the incidence and severity of vaccine-preventable illnesses among athletes. Infectious diseases can profoundly impact athletes’ health and disrupt their training schedules and competitions, leading to financial losses and posing a risk to the broader sports community.CONCLUSIONS: Sports federations have a responsibility to provide guidelines and support to athletes regarding vaccination and preventive measures. By prioritizing athletes’ health and implementing comprehensive strategies, the impact of infectious diseases on athletes can be minimized, and safe and secure competitions can be ensured.

BACKGROUND: Each year, exams to become a police officer are held by the Police Academy Directorate in our country and various musculoskeletal injuries are seen during the preparation period. The aim of this study was to determine the musculoskeletal injury profiles of individuals training for police recruitment exams.METHODS: This study was a descriptive and retrospective study. This study was planned to be multicentric and was carried out in the three-sports medicine outpatient clinics. Individuals who trained for police recruitment exams, and applied to sports medicine outpatient clinics due to musculoskeletal injury/injuries were assessed. The participant’s age, gender, symptoms, onset of symptoms, injured body region, and injury types were recorded. Diagnosis were classified according to the Orchard Sports Injury and Illness Classification System (OSIICS) v.13.RESULTS: Data from 137 patients (100 females, 37 males) were analyzed. The mean age was 24±2.2 years. A total of 210 injuries occurred. The annual injury incidence rate was 21.74 per 1000 hours of training. The most frequently injured body region was the lower leg (N.=52, 31%). Almost half of injury-related musculoskeletal disorders (N.=96, 46%) were classified as muscle/tendon injuries, followed by bone injuries (N.=47; 22%) and cartilage/synovium/bursa (N.=32; 15%).CONCLUSIONS: Muscle-tendon injuries are the most common injury type in individuals training for the police recruitment exams.

BACKGROUND: Three-dimensional movement reconstruction systems, based on the use of infrared cameras capable of recognizing and capturing 3-D movement, are the standard in the biomechanical study of sporting actions. In this study, the knowledge and expertise inherent in sports medicine and engineering applied to sport were used for occupational risk assessment. In Italy, in 2020, muscularticular problems accounted for 69% of the problems reported to INAIL: these pathologies are correlated with bad posture. Using a methodology peculiar to sports medicine applied in the study of postural adjustment and gait analysis, therefore, the different working postures assumed at the video terminal typically employed by the staff of the leading international “E-commerce company” were subjected to analysis.METHODS: Four subjects (2 males and 2 females; age: 33.0± 12.9 years; stature 175.6± 0.07 cm; body weight 70.8± 8.87 kg) were evaluated in the laboratory of the Institute of Sports Medicine and Science of CONI by a three-dimensional optoelectronic system (SMART-DX 7000, BTS Bioengineering, Milan, Italy).RESULTS: The video terminal stations were characterized by three work surfaces of different heights: 73 cm for “sitting” positions, 100cm and 110cm for “standing” positions. The postures for the “sitting” position: 1) standard: correct posture as per D.Lgs.81/08; 2) leaning: with head bent forward towards the monitor; 3) slouching: “tired at the end of the day” and for the “standing” positions: 4) standard: correct posture; 5) leaning: with head bent forward towards the monitor. The angles (at knee, elbows, ankles, back created between C7-sacro-knee, head, visual, head-shoulder) and distances (forehead-monitor; acromion-monitor) were measured.CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the data collected compared the different postures with the standard sitting position, the normative term of reference. The best “standing” posture is the one that also includes a rest under one of the feet, which brings the angles studied closer to those of the standard position. The standing position alone, however, exposes the back to “overload” and, therefore, the use of a bar stool of between about 72 to 85 cm high is suggested. This paper demonstrates how the methodology of movement analysis typical of sports medicine integrates with the ergonomic assessment needs of occupational medicine, needs that are and will become increasingly important in the management of workers who are called upon to extend their careers well beyond the age of 60.

INTRODUCTION: Nutritional supplements, in addition to the athlete’s diet, are crucial for improving sports performance and the management of training and recovery. Supplements may provide a convenient source of energy and macronutrients and help prevent micronutrient deficiencies. Beta-alanine (BA) is a popular supplement thought to improve exercise performance in a variety of sports. The purpose of this umbrella review was to explore the evidence for the effect of BA supplementation on exercise performance.EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: A systematic literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed®, Web of Science®, and Scopus®, for studies published until 6th October 2022 and the searches were limited to systematic reviews or meta-analyses.EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eight articles met the criteria for inclusion in this review. Except for one study, which included only athletes, all studies included a mixed population of athletes and non-athletes. Five of these studies examined exercise performance, while the other two focused on fatigue resistance and body composition. The daily BA dosages in the research ranged from 1.2 to 7.0 g, while the intervention length varied from 4 days to 13 weeks. Apart from the body composition study, all of the other research included in this review suggested that BA supplementation had positive ergogenic effects. Exercise duration had a significant impact on the effect size of BA supplementation, with effects estimated to be greatest between 30 seconds to 10 minutes.CONCLUSIONS: BA supplementation had a positive effect on exercise performance in all systematic reviews/meta-analyses. It is effective for sports activities primarily in middle-distance events.

The endocrine system and physical activity are characterized by a bidirectional connection, in which they deeply influence each other. The somatotropic and gonadotropic axes contribute to physical performance both directly during activity and indirectly through their influence on the control mechanisms of the various metabolic patterns of the body. Throughout the process of growth both the excess and the lack of physical exercise can hamper the normal growth of children.

BACKGROUND: Bodybuilding athletes are more prone than other athletes to use high-protein diets. It is considered that a high-protein diet considerably affects renal functioning. This study examined the effects of a high-protein diet on the kidney function and morphology of bodybuilders over time.METHODS: Thirty-six male bodybuilders who trained an average of 3.5-6.5 hours a week for the previous two years participated in the study. Participants were separated into three groups based on their daily protein intake/body weight: group 1 (N.=8): 1.5-1.9 g/kg/day, group 2 (N.=16): 2-2.9 g/kg/day, and group 3 (N.=12): 3-4.5 g/kg/day. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Cr), and estimated glomerular filtration rate were measured (eGFR). In urine samples, the amounts of microalbumin, calcium, sodium, chloride, and potassium were analyzed. Sonography was employed in order to assess renal parameters, cortical thickness, and cortical echogenicity. Share wave elastography was used to calculate share wave velocity for each kidney (SWV).RESULTS: In all protein intake groups, kidney volume, cortical echogenicity, and cortical thickness were shown to be significantly increased (P<0.005). The group with the highest protein consumption had sonographic measurements that were considerably greater than the other groups (P<0.005). All protein intake groups had significantly higher levels of eGFR, BUN, and the BUN/cr ratio than the control group and the reference values. None of the athletes had symptoms and indicators of renal failure. There were no statistically significant differences in SWV across all comparisons (P>0.005).CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that a high-protein diet has dose-dependent structural and functional effects on the kidneys. Traditional kidney function tests and ultrasound findings are nonspecific because they cannot distinguish between metabolic adaptation and the onset of a pathological process. Radiologists should be aware of the kidney effects of high protein diet and should guide the athletes about the importance of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Trunk motion control may be an important factor affecting the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury by changing knee joint load during dynamic motion, there has been few studies investigating the influence of it on knee joint during sidestep cutting currently, and it has not been studied whether asymmetry between the dominant and non-dominant lower limbs in different trunk motion states during sidestep cutting. The objective of this study was to identify the leg laterality during sidestep cutting in trunk forward inclination state and to explore whether trunk forward inclination could reduce ACL injury risk.METHODS: Twenty healthy male college basketball athletes volunteered for this study. Each individual is required to complete sidestep cutting tasks in four states. They performed sidestep cutting using the dominant and non-dominant side with trunk forward inclination or natural position, respectively. Biomechanical testing equipment were used to synchronously collect knee biomechanics and myoelectricity data. A two-way (trunk motion × support side) ANOVA was used to analyze the influence of trunk motion control on knee biomechanics and myoelectricity and leg laterality.RESULTS: There was no leg laterality during sidestep cutting with trunk forward inclination state. During sidestep cutting with trunk forward inclination state, the knee flexion angle at initial contact (P=0.003 for the dominant side; P=0.011 for the non-dominant side), knee peak flexion angle (P=0.001 for the dominant side; P=0.000 for the non-dominant side) and H/Q ratio (P=0.048 for the dominant side) were significantly greater than trunk natural state.CONCLUSIONS: There was no leg laterality during sidestep cutting in trunk forward inclination state, and the trunk forward state may have a protective effect on the ACL during sidestep cutting, especially for the dominant side.