Characteristics Of Athletes Research Articles

Identification of Potential Injury Risk Factors and Prediction Model Construction of Athletes using Data Mining Algorithm

Identification of potential injury risk factors and construction of prediction models for athletes using data mining algorithms involve analyzing various factors such as biomechanical, physiological, and environmental variables to determine their correlation with injury occurrences. Data mining techniques, such as decision trees, logistic regression, or neural networks, are then applied to identify patterns and relationships within the data. By integrating this information, predictive models can be developed to forecast the likelihood of athletes sustaining injuries based on their individual characteristics and training conditions. This paper introduces a novel approach for athlete injury risk prediction using the Noninvasive Data Mining Model with Multi-relational and Multi-dimensional Clustering (Ni-DMMMC) algorithm. By leveraging advanced data mining techniques, Ni-DMMMC aims to identify hidden relationships between various athlete characteristics, including biomechanical risk, training load, physiological markers, and environmental factors, to predict injury susceptibility accurately. Through multi-relational and multi-dimensional clustering, the algorithm effectively categorizes athletes into distinct clusters based on their unique risk profiles. These clusters provide valuable insights into the diverse injury risk profiles present within athlete populations, enabling targeted intervention strategies and personalized athlete management approaches. The proposed approach holds significant promise for enhancing injury prevention efforts, optimizing athlete performance, and improving overall well-being in sports medicine practice. athletes in Cluster 1 exhibit high biomechanical risk (0.85), moderate training load (0.60), low physiological markers (0.25), and moderate environmental risk (0.45), while athletes in Cluster 2 display moderate biomechanical risk (0.70), high training load (0.90), high physiological markers (0.80), and low environmental risk (0.30). These numerical values serve as indicators for assessing an athlete's injury risk profile comprehensively.

Model characteristics of physical fitness of taekwondo players at the stage of basic training

The purpose of the study was to study the characteristics of physical fitness and develop model characteristics of taekwondo athletes at the stage of basic training. The results. The analysis of the physical fitness of taekwondo athletes showed that the average indicators of physical fitness of taekwondo athletes at the stage of basic training of the 2nd year of training are better than those of athletes of the 1st year from 3.39 to 14.28%. The largest differences between the groups of 14.28% are observed in the pistol test for 30 s on the left leg and 11.56% - swing with the right leg forward for 15 s, and the smallest 3.51% in the 20 m s gait test. Statistically significant differences were established according to the Student's test t=2.25–2.68 at p <0.05, in tests: speed-power index (ratio of jump length to height) t=2.25; left leg swing forward in 15 s, t=2.33; swing with the right leg forward in 15 seconds, t=2.68. The model performance characteristics of flexibility tend to decrease in the range between the ideal and minimum values by 21.75% and 20.92% in the transverse split and longitudinal split tests for the left leg, respectively, but it is found that the indicators for the longitudinal split for the right leg differ by 0.29%

A Longitudinal Mixed Methods Case Study Investigation of the Academic, Athletic, Psychosocial and Psychological Impacts of Being a Sport School Student Athlete

BackgroundSport schools are popular environments for simultaneously delivering education and sport to young people. Previous research suggests sport school involvement to have impact (i.e. the positive/negative, intended/unintended and long/short-term outcomes, results and effects) on student athlete’s holistic (i.e. academic, athletic, psychosocial and psychological) development. However, previous research is limited by (1) cross-sectional methods, (2) limited multidimensional assessments, (3) lack of consideration for athlete characteristics (e.g. sex) and (4) failure to evaluate how sport school features affect student-athlete impacts.ObjectivesThe study, using a mixed methods case study approach, aims to (1) longitudinally evaluate the impact of sport school involvement on the holistic development of student athletes, (2) evaluate the impact on holistic development by student-athlete characteristics and (3) explore the features and processes of the sport–school programme that drive/facilitate holistic impacts.MethodsA longitudinal mixed methods design was employed across one full academic school year (33 weeks). Six data-collection methods (i.e. online questionnaire, physical fitness testing battery, academic assessment grades, log diaries, field notes/observation and timeline diagram/illustration) were used to assess the academic, athletic, psychosocial and psychological impacts for 72 student athletes from one sport school in the United Kingdom (UK).ResultsStudent athletes developed positive long-term holistic overall impacts (i.e. academically, athletically and personally), including maintaining stable and relatively high levels of sport confidence, academic motivation, general recovery, life skills, resilience and friends, family and free time scores. Despite positive impacts, juggling academic and sport workload posed challenges for student athletes, having the potential to lead to negative holistic impacts (e.g. fatigue, stress and injury). Positive and negative impacts were linked to many potential features and processes of the sport school (e.g. academic and athletic support services versus insufficient training load build-up, communication, coordination, flexibility and planning). Furthermore, when considering student-athlete characteristics, females had lower sport confidence, higher general stress and body image concerns and less general recovery than males and student athletes who played sport outside the school had lower general recovery.ConclusionsThis mixed method, longitudinal study demonstrated sport school involvement resulted in many positive academic (e.g. good grades), athletic (e.g. fitness development), psychosocial (e.g. enhanced confidence) and psychological (e.g. improved resilience) impacts attributed to the academic and athletic support services provided. However, juggling heavy academic and athletic workloads posed challenges leading to negative impacts including fatigue, pressure, stress and injury. Furthermore, holistic impacts may be sex dependent and further support may be required for female student athletes in sport school environments. Overall, these findings demonstrate the complex nature of combining education and sport commitments and how sport schools should manage, monitor and evaluate the features of their programme to maximise the holistic impacts of sport–school student athletes.

Analysis of injury characteristics in youth elite football athletes in Indonesia

Background: Football is the most popular sport globally, with approximately 200,000 professional players and 240 million amateur players. It is a high-intensity intermittent sport that can lead to fatigue, increasing the risk of injury. Unfortunately, injuries in young athletes are still not widely studied, making not much data available. This study tries to fill the gap by investigating the characteristics of injuries in young football athletes in Indonesia. In addition, it attempts to determine the relationship between BMI, exposure time to training and matches on injuries. Methods: This study used a retrospective cohort design with a survey method on EPA (Elite Pro Academy) U14, U16, and U18 youth football athletes from 18 teams in each age group. The data were collected from 838 young footballers as the sample. Results: This study found no association between BMI and injury (p > 0.05), while exposure time did have an association with injury (p < 0.05). Based on the injury location, sports injuries were mostly found in the ankle 273 (39%). The highest injury type was contusion 36%, followed by strain 25% and sprain 18%. Regarding severity, most cases were classified as minor injuries (4-7 days), with 299 (43%). The defender position had the most injuries, 188 (35%). Osgood Schlatter was most prevalent in athletes aged 13, with 29 cases. Meanwhile, the total injury incidence is 3.9/1000 hours. Conclusions: This study found that training exposure time was associated with the number of injuries. It also recorded that most injuries occur in the lower limbs, especially ankle ligament injuries. The defender received high attention as it is considered the most vulnerable position. Finally, the peak incidence of Osgood Schlatter occurred at the age of 13. Keywords: sports injuries, injury incidence, youth football athletes, Osgood Schlatter

How Elite Athletes with a Spinal Cord Injury Sweat during Exercise-An Exploratory Study.

Sweat and thermal responses in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) are impaired depending on lesion characteristics. This is particularly problematic for athletes and may ultimately lead to reduced performance. This exploratory study investigated the feasibility of field-usable methods to objectively collect data relevant to sweat response in elite athletes with SCI. Differences in sweat response were also evaluated for different athlete characteristics. Measurements were performed during exercise and included core temperature (Tc), heart rate, urine specific gravity, fluid intake, sweat rate, and sweat electrolyte concentration. Differences for sex, lesion level (tetraplegia versus paraplegia), motor impairment (complete versus incomplete), and sport type (endurance versus team/skill) were evaluated. Fifteen athletes (median (Q1-Q3) age, 30 (28-36) years; three females; 11 with complete lesions) were included. Endurance athletes were measured during indoor performance tests (n = 10), whereas team/skill athletes were measured during training sessions (n = 5). In the mixed exercise intensities, the average Tc was 37.7 (37.3-37.8) °C and the average heart rate was 126 (100-146) bpm. Dehydration, defined as a urine specific gravity > 1.020 ng/mL, was prevalent in six athletes before exercise and in five athletes after exercise. The sweat rate was lower in athletes with tetraplegia (p = 0.02) and in team/skill athletes (p = 0.008). Collecting sweat and thermal response data from athletes with SCI in the field is feasible. Given the suboptimal hydration status of many athletes, raising awareness of the importance of hydration seems valuable.

Effects of Kinesio taping on lower limb biomechanical characteristics during the cutting maneuver in athletes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

To determine the effects of Kinesio taping (KT) on the biomechanical characteristics of the lower limbs during the 90° cutting maneuver in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) athletes. Eighteen ACLR athletes were recruited and subjected randomly to three taping conditions, KT, placebo taping (PT), and no taping (NT), followed by a 90° cutting test. A nine-camera infrared high-speed motion capture system (Vicon, T40, 200 Hz) was used to record the kinematic parameters of the lower limbs during the cutting maneuver, and a three-dimensional dynamometer (Kistler, 1000 Hz) was used to record the kinetic parameters of the lower limbs. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was conducted to compare the differences in the lower limb kinematic and kinetic characteristics of ACLR athletes subjected to these interventions. During the landing phase, the knee valgus angle reduced significantly with KT than with NT (95% confidence interval = -1.399 to -0.154; P = 0.025), whereas no significant difference was observed between PT and NT (95% confidence interval = -1.251 to 0.217; P = 0.236). No significant differences were observed in the other kinematic variables among the three taping conditions (P > 0.05). During the landing phase, no significant differences in the kinetic variables were observed among the three taping conditions (P > 0.05). Although KT does not improve the kinetic variables of athletes after ACLR during the 90° cutting maneuver, it reduces the knee valgus angle, which could reduce the risk of secondary ACL injury.

Associations between objective measures of performance-related characteristics and perceived stress in young cross-country skiers during pre-season training

ABSTRACT Monitoring performance-related characteristics of athletes can reveal changes that facilitate training adaptations. Here, we examine the relationships between submaximal running, maximal jump performance (CMJ), concentrations of blood lactate, sleep duration (SD) and latency (SL), and perceived stress (PSS) in junior cross-country skiers during pre-season training. These parameters were monitored in 15 male and 14 females (17 ± 1 years) for the 12-weeks prior to the competition season, and the data was analysed using linear and mixed-effect models. An increase in SD exerted a decrease in both PSS (B = -2.79, p ≤ 0.01) and blood lactate concentrations during submaximal running (B = -0.623, p ≤ 0.05). In addition, there was a negative relationship between SL and CMJ (B = -0.09, p = 0.08). Compared to males, females exhibited higher PSS scores and little or no change in performance-related tests. A significant interaction between time and sex was present in CMJ with males displaying an effect of time on CMJ performance. For all athletes, lower PSS appeared to be associated with longer overnight sleep. Since the females experienced higher levels of stress, monitoring of their PSS might be beneficial. These findings have implications for the preparation of young athletes’ competition season.

Gut microbiota are differentially correlated with blood pressure status in African American collegiate athletes: A pilot study.

Hypertension (HTN) is common among athletes and the most recent epidemiologic data reports that cardiovascular (CV) sudden death is significantly greater in African Americans (AAs). Gut microbial dysbiosis (a poorly diverse stool microbial profile) has been associated with HTN in sedentary people but microbial characteristics of athletes with HTN are unknown. Our purpose was to differentiate microbiome characteristics associated with BP status in AA collegiate athletes. Thirty AA collegiate athletes were stratified by normal BP (systolic BP (SBP) ≤130 mmHg; n = 15) and HTN (SBP ≥130 mmHg; n = 15). 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed on stool samples to identify microbes at the genus level. We did not observe any significant differences in alpha diversity, but beta diversity was different between groups. Principal coordinate analysis was significantly different (PERMANOVA, p < 0.05, R = 0.235) between groups. Spearman rank correlations showed a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between systolic BP and abundances for Adlercreutzia (R = 0.64), Coprococcus (R = 0.49), Granulicatella (R = 0.63), and Veillonella (R = 0.41). Gut microbial characteristics were associated with differentially abundant microbial genus' and BP status. These results will direct future studies to define the functions of these microbes associated with BP in athletes.

Characteristics of Resting-State Electroencephalogram Network in α-Band of Table Tennis Athletes.

Table tennis athletes have been extensively studied for their cognitive processing advantages and brain plasticity. However, limited research has focused on the resting-state function of their brains. This study aims to investigate the network characteristics of the resting-state electroencephalogram in table tennis athletes and identify specific brain network biomarkers. A total of 48 healthy right-handed college students participated in this study, including 24 table tennis athletes and 24 controls with no exercise experience. Electroencephalogram data were collected using a 64-conductive active electrode system during eyes-closed resting conditions. The analysis involved examining the average power spectral density and constructing brain functional networks using the weighted phase-lag index. Network topological characteristics were then calculated. The results revealed that table tennis athletes exhibited significantly higher average power spectral density in the α band compared to the control group. Moreover, athletes not only demonstrated stronger functional connections, but they also exhibited enhanced transmission efficiency in the brain network, particularly at the local level. Additionally, a lateralization effect was observed, with more potent interconnected hubs identified in the left hemisphere of the athletes' brain. Our findings imply that the α band may be uniquely associated with table tennis athletes and their motor skills. The brain network characteristics of athletes during the resting state are worth further attention to gain a better understanding of adaptability of and changes in their brains during training and competition.

Показники динамічної рівноваги за методикою Star Excursion Balance Test у спортсменів різної кваліфікації з Кіокушин карате

Purpose: to test and compare the indicators of dynamic balance by the method of star excursion balance test in sportsmen of different qualification in Kyokushin karate. Material and methods. The results of the research were obtained at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture named after Ivan Boberskyi at the department of «Fencing, boxing and national martial arts» in the period October-November 2023. Qualified male Kyokushin karate fighters aged 18-22 years old in the amount of 21 people took part in the collection of experimental material, among which there were 13 representatives with a level of training 1-2 Dan, and 8 representatives with a level (student belts) not higher than 1 Kyu. Among the participants of the research there are champions and prize-winners of national and international competitions in Kyokushin karate. Methods of the research: the analysis of literary sources and materials from the Internet; measurement of basic anthropometrical indicators of sportsmen (height, weight, length of arms and legs); measurement of indicators of Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT); methods of mathematical statistics (calculation of statistical indicators of the arithmetic mean (Mean), standard deviation of the arithmetic mean (Std.Dev.), comparison of results by the statistical method Mann-Whitney U-test with the help of the standard package Statistica-7). Results: the advantage of anthropometrical indicators of group № 2 over group № 1 was established: 8 sportsmen with a level of fitness up to 1 Kyu have on average a little higher height, more body weight, longer arms and legs than 13 athletes with a level of 1-2 Dan. Highly skilled Kyokushin karate athletes with 1-2 Dan level of training outperform athletes with up to 1 Kyu level of training in most SEBT positions. The dominating advantage on average group indicators of SEBT of sportsmen of Kyokushin karate with a level of preparation 1-2 Dan over sportsmen with a level of preparation not higher than 1 Kyu testifies to regularity, and not accident of the received results. Conclusions. On the basis of objectively received indicators of Star Excursion Balance Test and anthropometrical data, it is possible to conclude that sportsmen of Kyokushin karate with a level of fitness 1-2 Dan at smaller anthropometrical indicators (height, weight, length of arms and legs) show better indicators of SEBT, than sportsmen with a level of fitness up to 1 Kyu. The Star Excursion Balance Test indicators reflect the amplitude characteristics of athletes' movements along with dynamic balance and are related to the skill level of athletes. Keywords: Kyokushin karate, qualification, single combat, Star Excursion Balance Test, dynamic balance.

Injuries in the emerging sport of roundnet (Spikeball): a cross-sectional study of 166 players

ObjectivesTo describe injury frequency and characteristics in roundnet athletes and compare injury characteristics between elite and non-elite athletes.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was performed by convenience sampling recreational and competitive roundnet athletes...

Psychological typification and reaction of the cardiovascular system of endurance athletes to multisensory interference. Part 2: the relationship between the psychological characteristics of a successful athlete and the response of heart rate to stressors

The search for methods of profiling and selecting athletes in order to preserve health and improve performance is one of the most important tasks of scientific and methodological support for sports training. The purpose of the study is to assess the possibility of determining the psychophysiological types of athletes when testing for resistance to multisensory interference. These data can later be used in combined psychophysiological methods of sports selection. The aim of the study is to find out whether certain psychological types of athletes may have characteristic physiological features of reactions to hypoxia, as well as to assess the applicability of the methods used. 28 cyclical sports athletes — male skiers and swimmers from 13 to 26 years old (Q1 (25 %) 18,2; median (50 %) 19,0; Q3 (75 %) 20,7) of various levels of athletic qualification were examined. A test was performed with normobaric 10 % hypoxia with an analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Revealed: 1. differences in HRV profiles at rest and at the beginning of the hypoxic test in athletes of different sports qualifications, 2. certain combinations of personality traits of masters of cyclic sports correspond to characteristic HRV profiles. This study shows that the skill level of an athlete is reflected in the response to multisensory interference and the chosen research methods are adequate for the set goals. The limitations of this pilot study include the sample size, as well as the fact that only males participated in it. In the future, the authors plan to increase the sample depending on the size of the effect (at least 125 volunteers) to obtain more reliable data and qualitative conclusions.

Golden tears: A cross-country study of crying in the Olympics.

This article studies tears of joy by exploring data on the behavior of gold medalists of all 450 individual events at the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympic Games at the end of the medalists' respective competitions and during the medal ceremonies. We find that women cry more than men, older athletes cry more than younger athletes, athletes from the host country cry more at the end of the competition, and athletes cry more when they receive information on their victory immediately after completing their task. When looking at the socioeconomic characteristics of athletes' countries, we find that men from countries with larger female labor force participation rates cry more than men from countries with lower female labor force participation, and athletes from countries with higher religious fractionalization cry less than those from countries with lower fractionalization. Finally, we find no relationship between the wealth of a country and the propensity of its athletes of any gender to cry. We discuss possible mechanisms that drive our results and suggest future directions for observational studies on emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

A Qualitative Study on Psychological Skills Training Experiences of Rapid-fire Pistol Athletes

The objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to help high school athletes who lacked psychological skills a) overcome psychological difficulties in practice and competition situations and b) reach peak performance, and (2) to understand the effects of psychological skills training on perceived performance of high school rapid-fire pistol athletes. By using a purposive sampling method, this study selected four male rapid-fire pistol athletes from the shooting team of H High School in the Republic of Korea, who were registered with the Korea Sports Federation in 2021. A psychological skills training program was applied for 10 weeks to the treatment group, and this study integrated and analyzed data collected through individual in-depth interviews and participatory observation to test the effectiveness of the program. It was confirmed that the subjects learned how to overcome psychological and physical tension and anxiety by actively applying the acquired psychological skills on the field and improved their confidence in specific skills by using the 10- week psychological skills training, in-depth interviews, and participatory observation. It was also found that the level of personally expected performance increased. These results showed that the psychological skills training program had a partial and positive impact on the perceived performance of high school rapid-fire pistol athletes. It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as a meaningful basis for the development and application of more scientific and systematic psychological skills training programs optimized for each individual while considering the psychological characteristics of athletes.

Below or all the way to the peak? Oxygen uptake efficiency slope as the index of cardiorespiratory response to exercise-the NOODLE study.

Background: The ratio of oxygen uptake (VO2) to minute ventilation (VE) is described as the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES). OUES has been suggested as a valuable submaximal cardiorespiratory index; however, its characteristics in endurance athletes remain unknown. In this study, we a) investigated OUES between different time intervals, b) assessed their prediction power for VO2peak, and c) derived new prediction equations for OUES tailored for well-trained individuals. Materials and Methods: A total of 77 male (age = 21.4 ± 4.8yrs; BMI = 22.1 ± 1.6kg·m-2; peak oxygen uptake = 4.40 ± 0.64L·min-1) and 63 female individuals (age = 23.4 ± 4.3yrs; BMI = 23.1 ± 1.6kg·m-2; peak oxygen uptake = 3.21 ± 0.48L·min-1) underwent the cycling cardiopulmonary exercise test. OUES was measured at 75%, 90%, and 100% of exercise duration. Prediction power and new models were derived with the multiple linear regression method. Results: In male subjects, OUES [mL·min-1/L·min-1] from 75% = 4.53 ± 0.90, from 90% = 4.52 ± 0.91, and from 100% = 4.41 ± 0.87. In female subjects, OUES [mL·min-1/L·min-1] from 75% = 3.50 ± 0.65, from 90% = 3.49 ± 0.62, and from 100% = 3.41 ± 0.58. OUES did not differ between time intervals in male (p = 0.65) and female individuals (p = 0.69). OUES strongly predicts peak VO2 independently from the measuring interval (β = 0.71-0.80; R 2 = 0.50-0.63). The prediction model designed for elite athletes was OUES [mL·min-1/L·min-1] = -1.54 + 2.99; BSA [m2]-0.0014; (age [in years]; sex [1 = male, 2 = female]) (R 2 = 0.36). Conclusion: OUES enables an accurate prediction of peak cardiorespiratory fitness in elite endurance athletes. OUES is a feasible alternative to maximal exercise testing. A new prediction equation should be used for highly trained individuals. Physicians should understand OUES physiology to properly assess the cardiorespiratory response to exercise in athletic cohorts.

A Study of Racket Weight Adaptation in Advanced and Beginner Badminton Players.

The jump smash is the most aggressive manoeuvre in badminton. Racket parameters may be the key factor affecting the performance of jump smash. Previous studies have focused only on the biomechanical characteristics of athletes or on racket parameters in isolation, with less observation of the overall performance of the human-racket system. This study aims to explore the effects of different racket weights on neuromuscular control strategies in advanced and beginner players. Nonnegative matrix factorisation (NMF) was used to extract the muscle synergies of players when jumping smash using different rackets (3U, 5U), and K-means clustering was used to obtain the fundamental synergies. Uncontrolled manifold (UCM) analyses were used to establish links between synergy and motor performance, and surface electromyography (sEMG) was mapped to each spinal cord segment. The study found significant differences (P < 0.05) in the postural muscles of skilled players and significant differences (P < 0.001) in the upper-limb muscles of beginners when the racket weight was increased. Advanced players adapt to the increase in racket weight primarily by adjusting the timing of the activation of the third synergy. Combined synergy in advanced players is mainly focused on the backswing, while that in beginners is mainly focused on the frontswing. This suggests that advanced players may be more adept at utilising the postural muscles and their coordination with the upper-limb muscles to adapt to different rackets. In addition, the motor experience can help athletes adapt more quickly to heavier rackets, and this adaptation occurs primarily by adjusting the temporal phase and covariation characteristics of the synergies rather than by increasing the number of synergies.

Altered spontaneous regional brain activity in ventromedial prefrontal cortex and visual area of expert table tennis athletes.

Sports training may lead to functional changes in the brain, and different types of sports, including table tennis, have different influences on these changes. However, the effects of long-term table tennis practice on brain function in expert athletes are largely undefined. Here, we investigated spontaneous regional brain activity characteristics of expert table tennis athletes by using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare differences between 25 athletes and 33 age- and sex-matched non-athletes. We analyzed four metrics-amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF, regional homogeneity, and degree centrality-because together they identify functional changes in the brain with greater sensitivity than a single indicator and may more comprehensively describe regional functional changes. Additional statistical analysis was conducted to assess whether any correlation existed between brain activity and years of table tennis training for athletes. Results show that compared with non-athletes, table tennis athletes showed altered spontaneous regional brain activity in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and the calcarine sulcus, a visual area. Furthermore, the functional changes in the calcarine sulcus showed a significant correlation with the number of years of expert sports training. Despite the relatively small sample size, these results indicated that the regional brain function of table tennis athletes was associated with sports training-related changes, providing insights for understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the expert performance of athletes.

Electrical and structural remodelling in female athlete's heart: A comparative study in women vs men athletes and controls

BackgroundAthlete's heart is associated with physiological electrical and structural remodelling. Despite the plethora of data published on male athletes, solid data derived from female athletes, compared to male counterparts or sedentary women, are still scarce. ObjectivesWe aimed to analyze the electrical, structural, and functional characteristics of athlete's heart in female and male athletes vs sedentary controls. MethodsOlympic athletes and sedentary controls were evaluated by resting ECG and echocardiography. Athletes were divided into 4 different sports groups. ResultsThe study population included 1096 individuals (360 female athletes, 410 male athletes, 130 sedentary women and 196 sedentary men). Female athletes had lower resting heart rate, longer PR interval, higher voltage of R, and T waves and more frequently incomplete RBBB, left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, early repolarization, and anterior T-wave inversion as compared to controls.Biventricular cavity dimensions and LV wall thickness were greater in female athletes than in female controls. However, women showed a lower degree of training-induced structural remodelling than men. In female athletes, both cavity dimensions and LV wall thickness increased from those engaged in skill and power to mixed and endurance disciplines. However, in female athletes, contrary to males, the ECG changes were not significantly different according to the different types of sport discipline. ConclusionsHighly-trained women demonstrate relevant training-induced electrical and structural remodelling. However, the type of sport did not influence ECG parameters in women, contrary to men, while it impacted biventricular morphologic remodelling, with endurance athletes showing the greatest degree of adaptation.

The Relationship Between the Characteristics of Central Java Athletes in the Post-Sports Injury Recovery Period

This study aims to determine athletes' characteristics and the length of the recovery period after a sports injury. This research is cross-sectional; this sample is 50 athletes in an epidemiological study design that studies the relationship between athlete characteristics and recovery after sports injury. Based on statistical tests selected using chi-square with α = 0.05. Type of injury with lecture time 0.015 no relationship, Athlete age with lecture time 0.013 no relationship, Gender with lecture time 0.300 no relationship, Athlete nature with lecture time 0.001 no relationship, Training frequency with lecture time 0.348 no relationship, Length of competition with lecture time 0.050 no relationship, Player position with lecture time 0.297 no relationship, Playing techniques with lecture time 0.300 no relationship, Level of injury with lecture time 0.002 no relationship. This study concludes that there is a relationship between recovery time and age, athlete characteristics, and injury level. There is no relationship between recovery time and type of injury, gender, competition length, training frequency, player position, and playing techniques.

Pain Catastrophizing, Beliefs and Perception, and Their Association With Profiling Characteristics in Athletes.

Variables associated with pain catastrophizing and beliefs in athletes presenting with musculoskeletal pain and/or sports-related injuries are largely unexplored. We aimed to evaluate which anthropometric, sociodemographic, sporting, injury history, and care-seeking characteristics were associated with the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) and Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory (PBAPI) scores in athletes. This study followed a cross-sectional design. Three hundred and twelve athletes (40% females) from different sports and levels completed a questionnaire including demographic information, details regarding sports practice, injury history, health care use, PCS, and PBAPI. Univariable associations between PCS and PBAPI scores and each variable were assessed using linear regression. Variables with univariable associations where P < .05 were entered into multivariable regression models. The final multivariable model including gender, recurrent and persistent pain, a history of a severe atraumatic injury, and a history of more than 5 atraumatic injuries explained 14.9% of the variance in PBAPI scores. Performing a team sport and a history of more than 5 atraumatic injuries explained 5.1% of the variance in PCS scores. Gender, sporting, and injury history characteristics explained only a small portion of the variance in PCS and PBAPI scores, whereas having received healthcare support and the number of appointments did not. Most of the variance was left unexplained.