Athletes Of Different Sports Research Articles

Patterns of thermal normality of the knee joint in professional athletes of different sports

Patterns of thermal normality of the knee joint in professional athletes of different sports

B - 54 Concussion Symptomology Reporting by Sport

Abstract Objective To investigate whether post-concussion symptomology differs between the following sports: basketball, cheerleading, soccer, and volleyball. Method A multivariate ANCOVA was conducted between the four sports, basketball, cheer, soccer, and volleyball, on post-concussion symptom reporting. Sex, handedness, age, level of education, number of concussions, past psychiatric treatment, and diagnosis of ADHD, autism, and dyslexia were controlled for. The basketball group (N = 86, 37.3% male, 62.7% female, Mage = 19.89). The cheerleading group (N = 78, 22.9% male, 77.1% female, Mage = 19.73). The soccer group (N = 160, 44% male, 56.0% female, Mage = 19.47). The volleyball group (N = 52, 100% female, Mage = 19.47). Post-hoc analyses were conducted to see which sports significantly differed in symptom reporting. Results There were significant differences in post-concussion symptom reporting between the four sports on symptoms of “balance problems” (p = 0.018, ηp2 = 0.027), “trouble falling asleep” (p = 0.002, ηp2 = 0.040), and “sleeping less than usual” (p = 0.005, ηp2 = 0.035). Post-hoc analysis revealed that volleyball players had significantly higher reports of balance problems when compared to basketball players. Cheerleaders had significantly higher reports of “trouble falling asleep” than basketball, soccer, and volleyball players. Cheerleaders had significantly higher reports of “sleeping less than usual” when compared to basketball and soccer players following a concussion. Discussion The study revealed that concussion symptoms vary depending on the sport, likely due to differences in mechanics, collision frequency, and protective measures. This emphasizes the need for customized concussion management for athletes in different sports to enhance safety and well-being..

Isokinetic strength testing with different biomechanical demands on core strength: a comparison of military competitive athletes and soldiers with high occupational physical strain

It is known that anthropometric data (weight, height, BMI, waist circumference and WHtR) and male gender are positively correlated with greater core strength, while age is negatively correlated. For competitive athletes with no significant differences in the anthropometric data stated above, there have hardly been any studies in which isometric core strength in a seated position is quantitatively compared among athletes in different sports. This study aimed to analyse different sports in well-trained athletes using military competitive sports as an example with regard to possible differences in core strength. For this purpose, Parachuting (n=28), Military Pentathlon (n=34) and Ski Platoon (n=38) groups were compared with regard to isokinetic core strength using dynamometry in seated position. In addition to the comparison of anthropometry and isokinetic results with descriptive statistics, ANOVA and Welch-ANOVA were used to compare the means of absolute and weight-adjusted core strength. It was shown that the Ski Platoon group had significantly higher flexion peak torque values than the Military Pentathlon and Parachuting groups. Even when adjusted for weight, the values were significantly higher than those measured in the Military Pentathlon group but not significantly higher than those in the Parachuting group. For extension peak torque, it was found that the Military Pentathlon group had significantly lower values than the Ski Platoon group and, in the weight-adjusted analysis, significantly lower values than the Parachuters. Using the example of competitive military sports, this study was able to show that there are significant differences in isokinetic core strength even among professional competitive athletes.This knowledge should be used to carry out detailed quantitative analyses of core strength, even in well-trained professional athletes, to find applications for prevention or to coordinate compensating exercises.

Acute Effects of Kickboxing K1 Matches on Hematological Parameters of Kickboxers.

While there is clear evidence in the literature that the hematological parameters in athletes of different sports are affected by exercise and varying loads, to our knowledge, there are limited studies on the real impact of kickboxing matches on kickboxers' hematological parameters. In this context, this cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the acute changes in the hematological parameters of kickboxers following K1 matches. With the participation of 10 kickboxing K1 athletes, the hematological parameters, including the WBC, Plt, Neut, Lymph, Mono, RBC, Hgb, Hct, CK, La, and glucose levels, were examined before and after matches. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare the pre-test and post-test hematological parameters of the participants. The findings indicated statistically significant differences in the post-match WBC, Plt, Neut, Lymph, CK, La, and glucose levels, while no statistically significant differences were observed in the RBC, Hct, Hgb, and CK levels (p < 0.05). These results not only emphasize the complexity of physiological changes in athletes, but also show consistency with various findings in the literature, while contradicting some. Therefore, it is highlighted that further research is needed to understand the effects of K1 matches on hematological parameters.

Reliability and validity of "My Jump 2" application for countermovement jump free arm and interlimb jump symmetry in different sports of professional athletes.

Vertical jumping is an important evaluation tool to measure muscle strength and power as well as lower limb symmetry. It is of practical importance and value to develop and utilize a portable and low-cost mobile application (APP) to evaluate jumping. The "My Jump 2" app is an iPhone camera-based application for measuring jumping movements, which is applied to the countermovement jump (CMJ) vertical jumps of the lower limbs of athletes in different sports. The validity of this application and previous versions applied to different forms of vertical jump tests has been preliminarily demonstrated in different population, which has an obvious progress in research. Therefore, the reliability and validity of the jump height, time of flight parameters and symmetry of the CMJ vertical jump of athletes in different sports are needed to be verified by more experiments. The purpose of this study is to verify whether "My Jump 2" can effectively and reliably assess jump height, flight practice and lower limb symmetry in CMJAM (countermovement jump free arm) tests in fencing, swimming and diving athletes. Seventy-nine fencers, swimmers and divers with training experience participated in this study. They completed a total of three CMJAM vertical jump and lower limb symmetry tests in 1 day, while being assessed by using the "My Jump 2" application and a force platform. The intra-group correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to verify reliability, while the Cronbach's alpha and coefficient of variation (CV%) was used to analyze the stability of the CMJAM vertical jump test over three jumps. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to verify the strength of the relationship between methods (i.e., concurrent validity), and the Bland-Altman plot was used to represent consistency, meanwhile, the t-test was used to determine the systematic bias between methods. Compared with the force platform, the cumulative height values of the total number of jumps (r = 0.999; p = 0.000), the cumulative time to vacate (r = 0.999; p = 0.000) for the CMJAM test obtained by the "My Jump 2" application, the height (ICC = 0.999-1, p = 0.000), the time to vacate flight (ICC = 0.999-1, p = 0.000), contact time symmetry (ICC = 0.976-0.994, p = 0.000), and flight time symmetry (ICC = 0.921-0.982, p = 0.000), respectively. Showed high correlation between the results of "my jump 2" app and the force platform. The "My Jump 2" application is a valid tool to assess CMJAM vertical jump and lower limb symmetry in fencing, swimming and diving athletes with training experience.

Sport-specific Differences in Cartilage Treatment.

Articular cartilage defects in the knee are common in athletes who have a variety of loading demands across the knee. Athletes of different sports may have different baseline risk of injury. The most studied sports in terms of prevalence and treatment of cartilage injuries include soccer (football), American football, and basketball. At this time, the authors do not specifically treat patients by their sport; however, return to sports timing may be earlier in sports with fewer demands on the knee based on the rehabilitation protocol. If conservative management is unsuccessful, the authors typically perform a staging arthroscopy with chondroplasty, followed by osteochondral allograft transplantation with possible additional concomitant procedures, such as osteotomies or meniscal transplants. Athletes in a variety of sports and at high levels of competition can successfully return to sports with the appropriate considerations and treatment.

Left Ventricular Trabeculation: Arrhythmogenic and Clinical Significance in Elite Athletes

Left ventricular (LV) trabeculations (LVTs) are common findings in athletes. Limited information exists regarding clinical significance, management, and outcome. The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence and morphologic characteristics of LVTs in elite athletes, with a focus on clinical correlates and prognostic significance. We enrolled 1,492 Olympic elite athletes of different sports disciplines with electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and exercise stress test. Individuals with a definite diagnosis of LV noncompaction (LVNC) were excluded; we focused on athletes with LVTs not meeting the criteria for LVNC. Four hundred thirty-five (29.1%) athletes presented with LVTs, which were more frequent in male athletes (62.1% vs 53.5%, P=.002) and Black athletes compared with Caucasian (7.1% vs 2.4%, P<.0001) and endurance athletes (P=.0005). No differences were found with relation to either the site or extent of trabeculations. Endurance athletes showed a higher proportion of LVTs and larger LV volumes (end-diastolic and end-systolic, respectively, 91.5±19.8mL vs 79.3±29.9mL, P=.002; and 33.1±10mL vs 28.6±11.7mL, P=.007) and diastolic pattern with higher E wave (P=.01) and e' septal velocities (P=.02). Ventricular arrhythmias were found in 14% of LVTs versus 11.6% of athletes without LVTs (P=.22). Neither the location nor the LVTs' extension were correlated to ventricular arrhythmias. At 52±32months of follow-up, no differences in arrhythmic burden were observed (11.1% in LVT athletes vs 10.2%, P=.51). Left ventricular trabeculations are quite common in athletes, mostly male, Black, and endurance, likely as the expression of adaptive remodeling. In the absence of associated clinical abnormalities, such as LV systolic and diastolic impairment, electrocardiogram repolarization abnormalities, or family evidence of cardiomyopathy, athletes with LVTs have benign clinical significance and should not require further investigation.

Assessment of Motor Fitness Metrics among Athletes in Different Sports: An Original Research

Background. Motor fitness is one of the keys to athletes’ success and is the initial factor mixed with game-specific technique and tactics that has an impact on game performance. All athletes should incorporate these elements into their sport and game actions. Study purpose. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in motor fitness metrics among university-level male athletes participating in various sports. Materials and methods. Sixty (60) male athletes, ranging in age from 18 to 25 years, were selected from six different sports: Athletics, Basketball, Cricket, Football, Handball, and Volleyball. Each group consisted of 10 athletes who had competed at the inter-university level. The research focused on six key fitness metrics: agility, speed, power, arm strength, abdominal muscle strength, and cardiovascular endurance. Appropriate testing methods and instruments were used to measure these parameters. Statistical analysis, including one-way ANOVA and post hoc LSD tests, was performed to identify significant differences between the groups. A significance level of 0.05 was set for the study. Results. The results showed statistically significant differences among the groups in agility (F(5,54) = 4.776, p&lt;0.001), speed (F(5,54) = 5.602, p&lt;0.000), and cardiovascular endurance (F(5,54) = 3.578, p&lt;0.007). However, no significant differences were observed for power (F(5,54) = 2.079, p&gt;0.082), arm strength (F(5,54) = 1.368, p&gt;0.251), and abdominal muscle strength (F(5,54) = 1.947, p&gt;0.102). According to the post hoc (LSD) test findings, each group’s agility, speed, and cardiovascular endurance parameters were compared to each other to check the significance level. Conclusions. In summary, the study has revealed that agility, speed, and cardiovascular endurance were significantly different among athletes in various sports, whereas power, arm strength, and abdominal muscle strength were not. The findings suggest that athletes and coaches should prioritize sport-specific fitness components to improve game performance.

Heart rate variability, recovery and stress analysis of an elite rally driver and co-driver during a competition period.

To ensure both optimal health and performances, monitoring physiological and psychological states is of main importance for athletes. It is well known that monitoring heart rate variability and using validated questionnaires is useful for monitoring both the health and training status of athletes of different sports. Motorsports such as rally require high levels of physical and mental preparation thus information about psychophysiological status of rally athletes is fundamental. The aim of this study was to assess the autonomic regulation, stress, recovery conditions of one driver and one co-driver competing at the Italian National Rally Championship during their competition period. Heart rate variability parameters, acute recovery and stress states were assessed the day before, during the two days of race and the day following the races. Results showed that driver and co-driver had a sharp decrease of mean RR intervals, root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats, and standard deviation of the N-N interval during race days, while the stress index showed the inverse trend, and this behaviour was clearly visible in the Poincaré plots and power spectrum density graphs. The acute recovery and stress states questionnaire showed significant differences in recovery and stress scoring for the driver but not for the co-driver, although the trends were similar. This study describes the psychophysiological demands of a rally competition period suggesting that a daily evaluation of heart rate variability, recovery, stress states is useful for monitoring health status in rally athletes and could be implemented to make decision about training and recovery strategies.

The Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Disorders, Anxiety and Body Awareness in Elite Athletes

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the most common musculoskeletal disorders in athletes and to investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal complaints and sport-related anxiety and body awareness. Methods: This study, which was designed using the relational screening method as a quantitative research, was conducted using the online survey method (via Google Forms). The study included 80 athletes aged 18-35 years, who were actively involved in elite level sport. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire was used to assess musculoskeletal disorders, the Sports Anxiety Scale-2 (SAS-2) to assess anxiety, and the Body Awareness Questionnaire (BAQ) to assess body awareness. Results: There was a significant difference in somatic anxiety levels between the athletes who experienced musculoskeletal pain and those who did not (p&amp;lt;0.05). The somatic anxiety levels of athletes with musculoskeletal disorders were found to be higher than those without musculoskeletal disorders. A weak correlation at a high level of significance was found between athletes' somatic anxiety levels and the number of areas of complaint reported in the last 12 months and athletes' somatic anxiety levels (p&amp;lt;0.01). With the body awareness status of the athletes; while a positive significant weak level relationship was found with somatic anxiety level (p&amp;lt;0.05), a negative negative relationship was found with concentration disorganisation at a high level of significance ( p&amp;lt;0.05). Conclusion: It was observed that athletes with musculoskeletal disorders had higher levels of somatic anxiety and that the number of regions in which the athlete experienced complaints was related to the level of somatic anxiety; there was no relationship between body awareness levels and musculoskeletal complaints. A multidisciplinary study with a psychological perspective is important for the clinical care and support of elite athletes in different sports.

Sports-Related Injuries in Adolescent Athletes: A Systematic Review.

Sports participation among adolescents is increasing, offering numerous health benefits and exposing them to the risk of sports-related injuries. This paper aims to understand that the prevalence and risk factors associated with these injuries are crucial for effective injury prevention and the overall well-being of adolescent athletes. This systematic review synthesizes the existing literature on sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes. A comprehensive search was conducted, yielding 11 relevant studies. The studies were analyzed to determine the prevalence of injuries and identify associated risk factors. A qualitative synthesis of the findings was performed. The included studies collectively highlight the significant burden of sports-related injuries among adolescent athletes, with prevalence rates ranging from 34.1% to 65%. Specific risk factors associated with these injuries include body mass index (BMI), physical activity patterns, age, gender, sport type, previous injuries, and training practices. Obese adolescents, those engaged in excessive weekly practice hours, younger athletes, and females were found to be at higher risk. Certain sports, such as soccer and football, exhibited higher injury rates. Sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes are a multifaceted issue influenced by various factors. Tailored injury prevention strategies are essential, considering the specific needs of adolescent athletes in different sports and age groups. Interventions should encompass physical and educational components, emphasizing proper warm-ups, protective equipment use, and injury prevention education. Longitudinal studies and standardized injury reporting systems are needed to monitor injury trends and evaluate prevention strategies effectively. This systematic review contributes to our understanding of sports-related injuries in adolescent athletes and underscores the importance of evidence-based injury prevention efforts.

Be Aware of the Benefits of Drafting in Sports and Take Your Advantage: A Meta-Analysis.

In competitive sports, optimizing performance is the key. An interesting venue to explore is to consider drafting as a pacing strategy. The purpose of this study is to identify the magnitude of drafting benefits for biomechanical, physiological, and psychobiological parameters in and between athletes in cycling, kayaking, running, skating, skiing, and swimming. A systematic review and meta-analysis. Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases. In total, 205 studies were found, from which 22 were relevant (including 232 participants and 548 observations). Methodological quality was high for all the included articles. The meta-analyses for all parameters indicated strong evidence for a benefit of drafting, with moderate effects between leading and drafting athletes found for the heart rate (3.9%), VO2 (8.9%), power output (11.3%), and rating of perceived exertion (10.4%). Large effect sizes were found for blood lactate (24.2%), VE (16.2%), and EMG (56.4%). A moderator analysis showed differences between sports on the effect of drafting with most benefits in cycling. Discussion. Based on the observed effects of drafting in the biomechanical, physiological, and psychobiological parameters, it can be considered as an element of pacing, a strategy to conserve energy and optimize performance. There is strong evidence that drafting benefits athletes, with varying levels of effect for athletes in different sports. Knowledge about the magnitude of benefits can be used to improve training sessions, race strategies, and performance in competition.

Occurrence of Injuries Among Female Athletes in Different Sports: Their Causes and Types

The article presents the results of a study aimed at identifying the main causes and types of injuries, both during training and during the competitive period, among female athletes of different age groups involved in a number of types of modern women's sports. Injuries and injuries of the musculoskeletal system of athletes are considered, with the involvement of the bones, ligamentous-tendon and muscular apparatus of athletes in the traumatic process, primarily the girdle of the upper and lower extremities, the chest, various parts of the spine, as well as the soft tissues of the body.

Quadriceps strength, patellar tendon quality, relative load exposure, and knee symptoms in male athletes before the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries cause knee instability, knee pain, weight-bearing adjustments, and functional deficits but their association to patellar tendon quality is unknown. Our purpose was to investigate quadriceps strength, patellar tendon quality, relative load exposure, perceived knee stability, knee pain, extension angle, and time from ACL injury; in addition to examining their relative associations. Injured and uninjured legs of 81 male athletes of different sports with a unilateral ACL injury (18-45 years) were examined. Participants reported location and intensity of knee pain and their perceived stability using a numerical rating scale (NRS 0-10). Strength was tested with an isokinetic device. Tendon quality was measured using ultrasound tissue characterization. Means ± standard deviation (SD) of perceived knee stability, knee extension angle, knee pain, isokinetic quadriceps strength in relation to body mass, proportion of echo-types (I-IV), tendon volume, and number of days from ACL injury to assessment are reported. Values of effect sizes (ES) and correlations (rs) were calculated. ACL injured leg demonstrated reduced reported knee stability (6.3 ± 2.5), decreased knee extension angle (-0.7 ± 3.1° vs. -2.7 ± 2.2°; ES = 0.7; P < 0.001), greater knee pain (NRS 3.1 ± 2.2 vs. 0.0 ± 0.1; ES = 2.0; P < 0.001), and 22% lower quadriceps strength (228.0 ± 65.0 vs. 291.2 ± 52.9 Nm/kg: ES = 1.2; P < 0.001) as compared to the uninjured leg. However, patellar tendons in both legs displayed similar quality. Quadriceps strength was associated with stability (rs = -0.54; P < 0.001), pain (rs = -0.47; P < 0.001), extension angle (rs = -0.39; P < 0.001), and relative load exposure (rs = -0.34; P < 0.004). Echo-types distribution was beneficially associated with time from ACL injury (rs range: -0.20/ -0.32; P < 0.05). ACL injured athletes displayed knee pain, extension deficit, and weaker quadriceps in the injured leg. While there were no differences in patellar tendon quality between legs, longer time from ACL injury showed better tendon quality.

Monitoring Changes in Lower-Limb Strength and Power in Elite Athletes With the Countermovement-Jump and Keiser Leg-Press Tests.

To determine the utility of countermovement-jump and Keiser leg-press tests for tracking changes in elite athletes of different sports. Elite athletes of the Norwegian Olympic Federation (126 individuals from 18 sports) performed countermovement-jump and Keiser tests on 2 to 11 occasions between 2014 and 2021. Separate analyses were performed for male and female alpine skiing, male and female handball, male ice hockey, and males and females of other sports. Means and standard deviations of consecutive change scores were combined with short-term error of measurement (3.7%-7.0%) and smallest important changes (2.0%-3.6%, defined by standardization) to determine the proportions of athletes who experienced decisive changes in 2 senses: first, the athlete did not get substantially worse or better (>90% chance of either), and second, the athlete did get substantially worse or better (>90% chance of either). Averaged over sports, Keiser peak power and relative peak power had the highest proportions of decisive changes in the first (60% and 55%) and second senses (25% and 28%). The velocity intercept of the force-velocity relationship had the lowest proportions in the first and second senses (29% and 11%), while jump height, Keiser mean power, relative mean power, the force intercept, and the slope of the force-velocity relationship had similar proportions (40%-53% and 15%-21%). With the possible exception of the Keiser test velocity intercept, the proportions of observed decisive changes in elite athletes using Keiser measures and countermovement-jump height between tests appear adequate for the measures to be useful for routine monitoring.

Development of prototypes in sport: A systematic review

This study systematically reviewed the available scientific evidence pertaining to the different types of prototypes available, discussed their current use, and present and future applications in sports science. The electronic databases National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Web of Science™ and Scopus were searched from January 2016 to September 2021. Of the 750 articles identified, 714 articles were excluded based on title and abstract and/or for duplicates. Moreover, of the 36 articles selected, 11 articles (30.5%) were related to the development of prototypes for carrying out tactical-technical or physical performance analyzes of athletes in different sports, 22 articles (61.1%) were related to the creation of “equipment or clothing” prototypes used in sports activities and three articles (8.3%) were related to the creation of prototypes that aim to improve the technical performance of athletes. It was concluded that the development of prototypes in sport had a significant impact on the monitoring of athletes in the field of sport sciences. The prototypes provide coaches and technical professionals with the monitoring of physiological, tactical-technical, and physical parameters in real time during training and sports competitions. These parameters can be used for recognition of movement patterns and prevention of potential injuries, such as concussion and fatigue.

Methods to calculate lower-body stretch–shortening cycle utilization in the vertical jump: Which is the best for athletes of different sports?

This study aimed to verify if different stretch–shortening cycle (SSC) methods, obtained by the vertical jump test, present the same characteristics through consistency and agreement analysis, and to compare the SSC methods between athletes of different sports. Three hundred and forty-one male athletes of three sports groups (combat sports, team sports, and runners) participated in this study. Athletes performed the countermovement jump and squat jump tests to identify the SSC using three methods: reactive strength index (RSI), pre-stretch augmentation percentage (PSA), and eccentric utilization ratio (EUR). The results demonstrated very large correlations between the methods for jump height (r = 0.96–0.98) and power output (r = 0.95–0.98), almost perfect agreement for jump height (k = 0.86–0.91) and substantial to almost perfect agreement for power output (k = 0.77–0.92). The RSI, PSA, and EUR were higher in team sports than combat sports for jump height (P = 0.006, P = 0.008, P = 0.007, respectively), EUR was higher for team sports than combat sports for power output (P = 0.041). The methods of SSC are strongly correlated and present excellent agreement. Team sports athletes presented greater use of SSC compared to combat sports regardless of the method. Cette étude visait à vérifier si différentes méthodes de cycle d’étirement–raccourcissement (CDR), obtenues par le test de saut vertical, présentent les mêmes caractéristiques par une analyse de cohérence et d’accord, et à comparer les méthodes CDR entre des athlètes de sports différents. Trois cent quarante et un athlètes masculins de trois groupes sportifs (sports de combat, sports d’équipe et coureurs) ont participé à cette étude. Les athlètes ont effectué les tests de saut de contre-mouvement et le saut de squat pour identifier le CDR en utilisant trois méthodes : l’indice de force réactive (IFR), le pourcentage d’augmentation avant l’étirement (PAL) et le taux d’utilisation excentrique (TUE). Les résultats ont démontré de très grandes corrélations entre les méthodes pour la hauteur de saut (r = 0,96–0,98) et la puissance de sortie (r = 0,95–0,98), un accord presque parfait pour la hauteur de saut (k = 0,86–0,91) et un accord substantiel à presque parfait pour la puissance de sortie (k = 0,77–0,92). Le IFR, le PAL et le TUE étaient plus élevés dans les sports d’équipe que les sports de combat pour la hauteur de saut (p = 0,006, p = 0,008, p = 0,007, respectivement), le CDR était plus élevé pour les sports d’équipe que les sports de combat pour la puissance (p = 0,041). Les méthodes de CDR sont fortement corrélées et présentent un excellent accord. Les athlètes de sports d’équipe ont présenté une plus grande utilisation du CDR par rapport aux sports de combat, quelle que soit la méthode.

Gut microbiota and inflammation patterns for specialized athletes: a multi-cohort study across different types of sports.

Regular high-intensity exercise can cause changes in athletes' gut microbiota, and the extent and nature of these changes may be affected by the athletes' exercise patterns. However, it is still unclear to what extent different types of athletes have distinct gut microbiome profiles and whether we can effectively monitor an athlete's inflammatory risk based on their microbiota. To address these questions, we conducted a multi-cohort study of 543 fecal samples from athletes in three different sports: aerobics (n = 316), wrestling (n = 53), and rowing (n = 174). We sought to investigate how athletes' gut microbiota was specialized for different types of sports, and its associations with inflammation, diet, anthropometrics, and anaerobic measurements. We established a microbiota catalog of multi-cohort athletes and found that athletes have specialized gut microbiota specific to the type of sport they engaged in. Using latent Dirichlet allocation, we identified 10 microbial subgroups of athletes' gut microbiota, each of which had specific correlations with inflammation, diet, and anaerobic performance in different types of athletes. Notably, most inflammation indicators were associated with Prevotella-driven subgroup 7. Finally, we found that the effects of sport types and exercise intensity on the gut microbiota were sex-dependent. These findings shed light on the complex associations between physical factors, gut microbiota, and inflammation in athletes of different sports types and could have significant implications for monitoring potential inflammation risk and developing personalized exercise programs. IMPORTANCE This study is the first multi-cohort investigation of athletes across a range of sports, including aerobics, wrestling, and rowing, with the goal of establishing a multi-sport microbiota catalog. Our findings highlight that athletes' gut microbiota is sport-specific, indicating that exercise patterns may play a significant role in shaping the microbiome. Additionally, we observed distinct associations between gut microbiota and markers of inflammation, diet, and anaerobic performance in athletes of different sports. Moreover, we expanded our analysis to include a non-athlete cohort and found that exercise intensity had varying effects on the gut microbiota of participants, depending on sex.

Athlete Muscular Phenotypes Identified and Compared with High-Dimensional Clustering of Lower Limb Muscle Volume Measurements.

Athletes use their skeletal muscles to demonstrate performance. Muscle force generating capacity is correlated with volume, meaning that variations in sizes of different muscles may be indicative of how athletes meet different demands in their sports. Medical imaging enables in vivo quantification of muscle volumes; however, muscle volume distribution has not been compared across athletes of different sports. The goal of this work was to define "muscular phenotypes" in athletes of different sports and compare these using hierarchical clustering. Muscle volumes normalized by body mass of athletes (football, baseball, basketball, or track) were compared with control participants to quantify size differences using z -scores. z -Scores of 35 muscles described the pattern of volume deviation within each athlete's lower limb, characterizing their muscular phenotype. Data-driven high-dimensional clustering analysis was used to group athletes presenting similar phenotypes. Efficacy of clustering to identify similar phenotypes was demonstrated by grouping athletes' contralateral limbs before other athletes' limbs. Analyses revealed that athletes did not tend to cluster with others competing in the same sport. Basketball players with similar phenotypes grouped by clustering also demonstrated similarities in performance. Clustering also identified muscles with similar volume variation patterns across athletes, and principal component analysis revealed specific muscles that accounted for most of the variance (gluteus maximus, sartorius, semitendinosus, vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris). Athletes exhibit heterogeneous lower limb muscle volumes that can be characterized and compared as individual muscular phenotypes. Clustering revealed that athletes with the most similar phenotypes do not always play the same sport such that patterns of muscular heterogeneity across a group of athletes reflect factors beyond their specific sports.

Bioimpedance For Analysis of Body Composition in Sports

Phase angle (PhA), a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) parameter, has proven to be a proxy of body cell mass in athletes, but very few data are available on its segmental evaluation (upper and lower limbs). Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess whether whole-body and segmental PhA varied among elite male athletes of different sports and compared these to control groups. Additionally, this study plans to investigate its relationship with anthropometric and body composition parameters. Elite athletes practicing cycling, football (soccer) players, MMA players, and weightlifters considered as active subjects collected from February 2021 till August 2021 age of 18–35 years undergo anthropometric and BIA measurements using Bio-impedance Analyzer BIA450 of BIODYNAMIC®, USA, from the UTM facility. PhA (whole-body and upper and lower limbs) will be considered as raw BIA variable. A total of 24 participants were studied, with 12 participants as active group (athletes and sports) as 12 participants as inactive (control group). Data was also compared with healthy subjects with similar characteristics who were serving as inactive subjects. Both whole-body and limb PhA are significantly higher in active participants (athletes) compared to their respective control group (inactive participants). The average value of PhA for the active and inactive are 7.1 and 6.87, respectively. PhA was found to be positively correlated with BMI and fat-free mass (FFM) more in athletes than in controls and FFM were considered as the main determinant. Furthermore, the direct evaluation of PhA can be used as a marker of survival in different sports and physical activities while predicting the injury and health risk associated with certain physical activities.