Athletic Fields Research Articles

A novel characterisation protocol of mechanical interactions between the ground and a tibial prosthesis for long jump

The mechanical study of Running Specific Prostheses (RSPs) is often limited to the blade. The setup developed and presented herein is a simple experiment, based on a mechanical testing machine and a camera, that assesses two indicators relevant to coaches and athletes in the field of athletics: secant stiffness and energy dissipation. The influence of four parameters on global prosthesis behaviour is evaluated: the load line offset, the prosthesis-ground angle, the sole type and the flooring type. The load line offset and the flooring type have little to no influence on their behaviour. The prosthesis-ground angle impacts the stiffness: an increase in the angle brings a significant decrease in stiffness, which strongly impacts the performance. The type of sole modifies the kinematics of the blade tip’s interaction with the ground. However, this effect is less likely to enhance the sports practice since athletics imposes the use of spikes. The camera images allow assessing the local behaviour of the sole, thus enabling to follow its strain through the compression process.

Association Between Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings and Time to Return to Sport After Muscle Injuries in High-Level Youth Athletes.

To describe the relationship between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings and time to return to sport (RTS) from muscle injuries in youth athletes. Prospective collection of injury surveillance data over 6 seasons (2014-2015 to 2019-2020) and reanalysis of MRIs by a radiologist blinded to RTS time after the data collection period. National sports academy and sports medicine hospital. Male youth (11-19 years) athletes participating in the football (soccer) or athletics (track and field) programs with a muscle injury. Magnetic resonance imaging findings (eg, grade and location) in time-loss muscle injuries. Injury incidence, distributions, and RTS time. In total, 353 time-loss muscle injuries were recorded for 1089 athlete-seasons, of which 85 satisfied our inclusion criteria (MRI within 14 days). Return to sport time was significantly longer for reinjuries compared with index injuries. Associations between MRI findings and RTS time were specific to the muscle group, with significant differences in RTS time observed between categories of structure, location, and grade. The largest number of injuries was to the hamstrings (n = 46), where injuries involving the tendon were more severe than those involving the myotendinous junction and muscle, proximal injuries were more severe than mid-portion and distal, and longer RTS time was observed for higher injury grade ( P < 0.05). Muscle injuries in youth are diverse and cannot be treated as a single injury type. Specific injury durations can be expected depending on injury characteristics such as reinjury, location, structure, and grade.

Occurrence and risk assessment of PAHs from athletic fields under typical rainfall events.

Six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene (Nap), fluorene (Flu), phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Fla), pyrene (Pyr), and chrysene (Chr) were detected in runoff from five athletic fields during three rainfall events. The event mean concentration (EMC) of ∑6PAHs ranged from 3.96 to 23.23 μg/L, which was much higher than the EMC in urban traffic area runoff. Except for Nap, the PAH concentrations followed in the order of artificial turf > badminton court > basketball court > plastic runway > optennis court. The surface characteristics of the athletic fields, such as the composition of materials and roughness, played an essential role in the release of PAHs. ∑6PAHs concentration during the 2nd rainfall event (July 22nd) was the highest among the three rainfall events, indicating that high rainfall intensity facilitated the PAHs release. PAHs during three rainfall events showed little first flush effect except for the artificial turf during the 2nd (22nd July) and 3rd (29th July) rainfall events. The first flush effect could be affected by rainfall characters, PAH properties, and surface characteristics of athletic fields. Ecological risk assessment showed that PAHs in runoff corresponded to moderate-to-high risk, while health risk assessment showed that PAHs could pose a potential carcinogenic danger to human health via dermal contact.

Legal Certainty to Protect Sport Industry Company Related to Technological Doping Among Athletes in Athletics

This study aims to analyze the legal problems of the phenomenon of technological doping in athletic sports, legal certainty for the protection of sports industry companies related to the phenomenon of technological doping among athletes in athletic sports, and the impact of world athletics policies on patent enforcement. The author uses normative legal research methods with a statutory approach and a conceptual approach that is analyzed qualitatively with descriptive methods sourced from primary, secondary, and tertiary legal materials. The results of the study indicate that the legal problem of the phenomenon of technological doping in athletic sports is that there is no legal certainty regarding the characteristics of the elements of the use of sports equipment technology which is considered to provide unfair advantages for athletes in competition. So that regulations are needed that can explain how technology is considered to be able to provide unfair advantages in competition. Legal certainty for the protection of sports industry companies related to the phenomenon of technological doping among athletes in the field of athletics is through the examination of sports equipment by independent experts, the availability of products in general sales, the suitability of shoe soles based on a predetermined thickness, and sanctions against athletes and delegation members. However, the policies in World Athletics may result in the reduction of exclusive rights owned by inventors to products that have obtained patents. So that to obtain maximum benefits in patent registration for athletic sports products, it is necessary to consider several things including the originality of the invention against other products, the potential harm caused, and consideration of the time between patent filing and sales to the open market.

Bibliometric analysis of the effects of mental fatigue on athletic performance from 2001 to 2021.

To explore the research hot topics and main contents in the field of the influence of mental fatigue on athletic performance, and to provide new ideas and directions for future research in this field. Using CiteSpace and VOSviewer visualization tool software core collection of Web of Science database to TS = ("mental fatigue" OR "mental exertion" OR "cognitive fatigue" OR "Cognitive exertion" OR "mental exhaustion" OR "mental tiredness") AND ("athletic performance" OR "technical skill*" OR "Skill*" OR "technique" OR "decision making" OR "performance") AND ("Humans") searched for the influence of mental fatigue on athletic performance from 2001 to 2021 to conduct visual analysis. Research hot topics were analyzed from the aspects of high-impact countries/regions, institutions, authors, high-frequency keywords, and mutation terms. A total of 658 publications were identified finally, and there has been an increasing trend in the annual number of publications, with the United States ranking first in the number of publications and influence. Future research will focus on promoting the application of EEG technology as an objective indicator for assessing mental fatigue, exploring effective methods and measures for pharmacological or non-pharmacological interventions against fatigue, and focusing on the effects of mental fatigue on endurance performance, technical skills, and sports-related decision-making. The results of the present study help us understand the status of the mental fatigue and athletic performance field and its recent developments.

A portable and reliable tool for on-site physical reaction time (RT) measurement

The drop-stick test system (DTS) invention has the capability to measure reaction accurately for sideline mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) assessment. The reaction time (RT) measurements showed moderate to good inter-instrument reliability with an overall ICC of 0.82 (95 % CI 0.78–0.85). RT is a useful biomarker of mTBI or concussion, but existing technologies in controlled laboratory environments are not feasible for assessments in the field. With wearable technologies and wireless connection with smartphones, it is now easier to conduct RT assessments on the field. The purpose was to develop a portable DTS involving wearable inertial sensors translatable from the laboratory to the sideline assessments on athletic fields. This project investigated if RT measurements using sensors are reliable metrics when compared to the gold-standard motion capture laboratory-test. The intent was to invent and assess the reliability of a clinical DTS using sensors in conjunction with an easy RT measurement protocol. The integrated inertial sensors in the DTS have the potential to reliably capture RT, allowing it to more easily translate into the training room or field environment.

Analysis of sports competition anxiety among Indian physical education courses athletics (track and field) players: A pilot study

This study was conducted to analyze Sports competition anxiety among Physical Education course athletics players for that total subjects (N=10), eight male and two female of Athletics were randomly selected from different colleges of physical education in India and SCAT Martens (1997) questionnaire was used to gather data from them. In which the average score was 20.4±3.4. We found most of them were in the average category so, this was concluded that Indian physical education course athletics players are better in controlling their anxiety level.

First Report of Pyricularia oryzae Causing Gray Leaf Spot of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in Oregon

Gray leaf spot of perennial ryegrass ( Lolium perenne), caused by Pyricularia oryzae, is a devastating turfgrass disease in many regions of the United States. In 2021, P. oryzae was detected for the first time in Oregon, causing disease on a perennial ryegrass athletic field. This report describes the occurrence of gray leaf spot and pathogenicity testing on the original infected cultivar mixture. The confirmation of this pathogen in Oregon could have management implications for turfgrass managers of the state.

Improving the Technique of Basic Athleticism Exercises

The article deals with the problems of training instructors and trainers-teachers in athletics and insufficient terminological literacy of specialists in the field of athletics and strength training. The purpose of the article is to identify the main mistakes in the use of universal athletics and find ways to cover them. Proposal of analysis of such basic errors during execution with disclosure of the reasons for their occurrence. The review presents the main areas of work for passenger cars to eliminate possible errors when performing basic exercises.

Universal prevention through a digital health platform reduces injury incidence in youth athletics (track and field): a cluster randomised controlled trial

ObjectivesTo examine whether universal prevention via a digital health platform can reduce the injury incidence in athletics athletes aged 12–15 years and if club size had an influence on the...

Risks of the Athletic Field Revisited: Report of Unusual Occurrences of Cardiac Arrest and Sudden Death in Professional Soccer Players

BackgroundSudden deaths in competitive athletes are highly visible but potentially preventable events that generate great interest amongst the cardiovascular community and general public. MethodsInternet searches were performed using a combination of keywords and operators to produce search results for sudden death or cardiac arrest on the field in professional soccer players. ResultsWe identified 35 male professional soccer players (mean age 26 ± 5 years) who experienced collapse and cardiac arrest on the field (most during matches) in Europe from December 2002 to February 2022 with 63% in the last 6 years. Twenty-five have died on the field or later in a hospital despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Of the 10 survivors, eight were implanted with cardioverter-defibrillators for secondary (n = 6) or primary (n = 2) prevention and returned to full competition; five of the 8 required successful device therapy during matches or training. ConclusionsCardiac arrest and sudden death can occur not uncommonly in professional athletes highly trained over decades and participating at an elite sports level. Our observations also underscore the importance of targeted preparticipation cardiovascular screening, and availability of external defibrillators on the playing field.

Biography of a Neighbourhood Ball Park: Development and Decline of Stodgell Park since 1926

The local ballpark was an important community gathering place during the first half of the twentiethcentury. Textual sources evidence that Stodgell Park in Windsor, Ontario was one of many parks inauguratedduring that era of strong interest and investment in community athletic fields, serving a dual purpose as gatheringplaces for community events. Postwar changes in community and cultural dynamics brought a declinein park use for community events, which was followed by a decline in their use for baseball. Recently, the parkhas been reduced to grass and a small playground, a symptom of diminished importance of public spaces andorganizations in city culture.

Carbon Sequestration in Turfgrass-Soil Systems.

Plants are key components of the terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycle. Atmospheric CO2 is assimilated through photosynthesis and stored in plant biomass and in the soil. The use of turfgrass is expanding due to the increasing human population and urbanization. In this review, we summarize recent carbon sequestration research in turfgrass and compare turfgrass systems to other plant systems. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stored in turfgrass systems is comparable to that in other natural and agricultural systems. Turfgrass systems are generally carbon-neutral or carbon sinks, with the exception of intensively managed areas, such as golf course greens and athletic fields. Turfgrass used in other areas, such as golf course fairways and roughs, parks, and home lawns, has the potential to contribute to carbon sequestration if proper management practices are implemented. High management inputs can increase the biomass productivity of turfgrass but do not guarantee higher SOC compared to low management inputs. Additionally, choosing the appropriate turfgrass species that are well adapted to the local climate and tolerant to stresses can maximize CO2 assimilation and biomass productivity, although other factors, such as soil respiration, can considerably affect SOC. Future research is needed to document the complete carbon footprint, as well as to identify best management practices and appropriate turfgrass species to enhance carbon sequestration in turfgrass systems.

Hamstring Muscle Injuries and Hamstring Specific Training in Elite Athletics (Track and Field) Athletes.

Objective: We aimed to describe hamstring muscle injury (HMI) history and hamstring specific training (HST) in elite athletes. A secondary aim was to analyse the potential factors associated with in-championships HMI. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study to collect data before and during the 2018 European Athletics Championships. Injury and illness complaints during the month before the championship, HMI history during the entire career and the 2017–18 season, HST (strengthening, stretching, core stability, sprinting), and in-championship HMI were recorded. We calculated proportions of athletes with HMI history, we compared HST according to sex and disciplines with Chi2 tests or ANOVA, and analysed factors associated with in-championship HMI using simple model logistic regression. Results: Among the 357 included athletes, 48% reported at least one HMI during their career and 24% during the 2017–18 season. Of this latter group, 30.6% reported reduced or no participation in athletics’ training or competition at the start of the championship due to the hamstring injury. For HST, higher volumes of hamstring stretching and sprinting were reported for disciplines requiring higher running velocities (i.e., sprints, hurdles, jumps, combined events and middle distances). Five in-championship HMIs were recorded. The simple model analysis showed a lower risk of sustaining an in-championships HMI for athletes who performed more core (lumbo-pelvic) stability training (OR = 0.49 (95% CI: 0.25 to 0.89), p = 0.021). Conclusions: Our present study reports that HMI is a characteristic of the athletics athletes’ career, especially in disciplines involving sprinting. In these disciplines, athletes were performing higher volumes of hamstring stretching and sprinting than in other disciplines. Further studies should be conducted to better understand if and how HST are protective approaches for HMI in order to improve HMI risk reduction strategies.

Influence of irrigation frequency and nitrogen concentration on Tifway 419 bermudagrass in Brazil

Tifway 419 Bermudagrass is widely used on athletic fields, requiring irrigation and fertilization for its maintenance; however, little information is available for Bermudagrass management in tropical countries, as Brazil. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of irrigation frequency and nitrogen (N) fertilization on the development of Tifway 419 Bermudagrass. The experiment was carried in 2019, applying two irrigation frequencies (daily and every two days) and five N concentrations of 0, 42.19, 63.28, 105.47 and 126.56 kg N ha-1 divided into three 30-day increments. Photosynthetic pigments, grass height, accumulated dry mass, relative chlorophyll index, regeneration rate, root length, and dry mass of root, rhizome and stolon were analyzed. The best result was observed in between 63.28 and 105.47 kg N ha-1 (15% N) and irrigated every two days. The treatment maintains the green color of the grass. Maximum Bermudagrass regeneration rate was observed within this interval, and the root length and dry mass of roots, rhizomes and stolons were higher compared to the highest concentration.

Using agronomic data to minimize the impact of field conditions on player injuries and enhance the development of a risk management plan

An important aspect of facility management is the development of a comprehensive risk management plan. Player safety has only recently been a consideration when developing a risk management plan. Field conditions have not received much attention as it relates to player safety. Several injuries at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia raised questions about the playing surface being the cause. The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of established athletic field agronomic measures to predict injuries from football fields and soccer pitches. Logistic regression was used to predict injury based upon soil compaction, soil moisture, surface firmness, and turfgrass quality. Results indicate that athletic fields that met good standards had the lowest probability of injury and injury probability is the highest when field conditions are considered poor. These results provide parameters facility and athletic field managers can use to determine whether an athletic field demonstrates a low risk of injury, needs to be improved, or a game should be canceled.

Effect Of Eccentric Training And Isolytic Contraction To Improve Flexibility Of Quadriceps In Recreational Marathoners.

In the field of athletics, running is one of the most popular activities having beneficial health effects as well as negative effects during sports injury. Not only elite marathoners, but recreational marathoners have various lower limb musculoskeletal injuries that occur quite frequently which produces an adverse effect over the performance of the marathoners. Studies have suggested that the most common muscles that were affected were quadriceps group of muscles as well as the hamstrings muscles. The main mechanism behind the injury to the quadriceps muscles is the strong contraction of the muscle against the forced flexion action of the knee joint which is commonly seen in runners in a downhill marathon. Some of the risk factors that are responsible for the quadriceps muscle strains are inadequate stretching, muscle imbalance of the lower extremity and inadequate warm-up before vigorous exercise. Objective of this study was to find out the effect of eccentric training and whether isolytic contraction helps to improve the flexibility of the quadriceps muscle and joint range of motion of knee as well as hip joint. A total of 30 subjects were selected for the study from Krishna College of Physiotherapy. The subjects were divided into two groups namely, group A and group B consisting of 15 subjects each. Demographic data, assent and consent was taken from the marathoners that were selected according to the inclusion criteria. Pre and post assessment was taken on the basis of both active range of motion of the hip joint, active range of motion of knee joint, Manual Muscle Test of the quadriceps and Ely’s test for quadriceps before and after 6 weeks (total 16 sessions) of the treatment respectively. The session lasted for a time period of 45 mins. After the data was collected, evaluation and interpretation of collected data was done thoroughly. The subjects under the eccentric training protocol were found to have more effect compared to the ones in the group consisting of isolytic contraction protocol. The conclusion of this study was that significant effect of eccentric training and isolytic contraction helps to improve the flexibility of the quadriceps muscle and joint range of motion.

Contemporary Challenges and Opportunities for Improved Lawn Weed Management: Insights from U.S. Lawn Care Operators

Lawns provide valuable ecological, economic and social services. Both the quantity and quality of the turfgrass affect the level of the services delivered. Unwanted weed infestations can degrade lawn quality and decrease the value of these services for lawn users and others. For example, Brosnan et al. reported that athletic fields with weed cover not only decreased aesthetic quality but also resulted in increased surface hardness and a concomitant increase in potential athlete injuries and soil erosion. Contemporary research pertaining to pest influences on lawn quality and management responses is sparse. We hope to begin filling that gap with findings from a recent study of U.S. lawn care operators about the challenges and opportunities omanaging Poa annua, an emergent threat to sustainable lawn management (USDA-NIFA Specialty Crops Research Initiative (SCRI) Grants Program (award #: 2018-51181-28436). Estimates for residential- and commercial-lawn cover in the United States (U.S.) range from 58,000 km2 to 120,000 km2 with total turfgrass cover (inclusive of golf courses, parks, schools, roadsides) estimated at 163,800 km2. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) estimated that there are 20,436 km2 of grassed rights of way (roadsides) in the U.S. The total U.S. urban area in 2010 was estimated at 802,053 km2. Together, we can estimate turf cover between 7 and 18% of U.S urban areas, including lawns as the primary turf surface along with parks, athletic fields, golf courses, and roadsides. The professional lawn care industry employed 295,000 workers and represented an $18.5 billion market value in 2002. Despite its size, the U.S. lawn care industry defies simple characterization in part due to its heterogeneity. Lawns may provide valuable ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat, water infiltration, and moderation of the urban heat-island effect as well as aesthetics and open space for recreation. Apart from offering economic and ecological services, lawns and their management can be an important component of community social character and culture. Effective weed management in lawns assures sustainable delivery of all of these services, such that lawns are uniform and free from potentially troublesome weed species, such as Poa annua which ranks as the #1 most troublesome weed in turfgrass systems.

Vulnerability and stressors on the pathway to depression in a global cohort of young athletics (track and field) athletes

This research set out to identify pathways from vulnerability and stressors to depression in a global population of young athletes. Retrospective data were collected at age 18–19 years from Athletics athletes (n = 1322) originating from Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas. We hypothesised that sports-related and non-sports-related stressors in interaction with structural vulnerability instigate depression. Path modelling using Maximum likelihood estimation was employed for the data analysis. Depression caseness and predisposition were determined using the WHO-5 instrument. Thirty-six percent of the athletes (n = 480) returned complete data. Eighteen percent of the athletes reported lifetime physical abuse, while 11% reported sexual abuse. Forty-five percent of the athletes had recently sustained an injury. The prevalence of depression caseness was 5.6%. Pathways to depression caseness were observed from female sex (p = 0.037) and injury history (p = 0.035) and to predisposition for depression also through exposure to a patriarchal society (p = 0.046) and physical abuse (p < 0.001). We conclude that depression in a global population of young athletes was as prevalent as previously reported from general populations, and that universal mental health promotion in youth sports should include provision of equal opportunities for female and male participants, injury prevention, and interventions for abuse prevention and victim support.

SARS-CoV-2 associated cardiac abnormalities in elite athletes: results from the prospective, longitudinal COMMIT cohort

Funding AcknowledgementsType of funding sources: Other. Main funding source(s): Dutch National Olympic Committee & National Sports Federation (NOC*NSF) Dutch Heart FoundationBackground/IntroductionActive myocarditis is regarded as an absolute contra-indication to competitive sports. Subclinical SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis/myocardial damage has been demonstrated 2-5% in athletes. However, the prognosis in elite athletes after SARS-CoV-2 cardiac involvement, with potentially detrimental effects on recovery, is currently unknown.PurposeWe aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical course of cardiac abnormalities in elite athletes after SARS-CoV-2 infection.MethodsWe retrospectively and prospectively included elite athletes in the COMMIT (COvid-19 Myocardial Manifestations in Intensive Top-level sports) cohort. Outcomes of interest were 1) incidence and clinical course of cardiac abnormalities on CMR, defined as reduced EF, increased EDV, presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) (excluding hinge point fibrosis), increased T1 and/or T2 time); 2) clinically important arrhythmias defined as premature ventricular complex, (non-)sustained ventricular tachycardia on exercise ECG or 4-8 days Holter monitoring; 3) cardiac- symptoms/ events. SARS-CoV-2 infection was diagnosed with a positive- PCR or antibody test if unvaccinated.ResultsWe included 85 elite SARS-CoV-2 recovered athletes (34% women), mean age 26.5 (±7) years, with main athletic disciplines (≥10 hours/week) football (27%), cycling (12%), water polo (9%), field hockey (9%), and rowing (8%). Mean time between infection and CMR was 2.6 months (±3). Mean CMR LVEDV/BSA was 120.6 ml/m2 (±21), LVEF 57.3% (±5), RVEDV/BSA 126.2 ml/m2 (±22), RVEF 54% (±4), and 1/85 (1.2%) showed increased T1 time after infection. In 4/85 (4.7%) myocardial LGE was present (Figure 1 and 2). In cases with LGE, after 11 (±2) months of follow-up, one demonstrated complete resolution (i.e. no LGE present) after 3 months. One case showed persistent inflammation on three sequential CMRs (1, 3, 6 months post-COVID-19); at 9 months CMR demonstrated no inflammation, but persistent LGE. Two elite athletes had unchanged LGE, one at 3 months, and one at 5 and 9 months. No clinically important arrhythmias were found in athletes with LGE. At a mean follow-up of 7.8 (±3.3) months, no symptoms/events were reported, and all had returned to sports. Pre-/post-SARS-CoV-2 infection CMR was available in 13/85 athletes; in this subgroup, no pathologic LGE or clinically important changes in ventricular volumes/function were found.ConclusionThis longitudinal cohort of elite athletes demonstrates that infection with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with 4.7% of myocardial abnormalities, with varying clinical courses. There were no important arrhythmias, and we found no evidence of deleterious effects of sports after COVID-19. Prospective studies with comprehensive arrhythmia monitoring and long-term follow-up are needed to establish whether intensive sports is associated with long-term deleterious cardiac effects.Figure 1.Figure 2.