Benefits Of Sport Participation Research Articles

‘They’ve just never been involved in it’: what senior athletes think about older people who do not participate in sport

ABSTRACT To date, despite the many recognised benefits of participation in sport, many older people do not participate in it. This study explored the opinions about barriers to participating in sport among non-active older people from the perspective of 463 senior athletes (M = 61.4, SD = 5.5 years) engaged in competitive sports. Participants completed a questionnaire including an incomplete sentence regarding the reason why many older people do not play sports. We analysed their answers using content analysis and performed bivariate analyses to determine possible associations with the sociodemographic and participatory characteristics of the sample. The results highlighted a range of perceived barriers which mostly related to past and present opportunities, and contained significant variations according to age, country of residence, and years participating in sports. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the way in which senior athletes perceive the barriers for the initiation of non-active older people in sports participation which could inform potential measures to promote greater participation in sport as a meaningful leisure activity among this age group.

Status of Sports and Games in Public Secondary Schools in Temeke Municipality, Tanzania

Research suggests that sports have the capacity to connect youth to positive development adult models, provide development opportunities, and promote the learning and application of life skills. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of sports and games in public secondary schools in Temeke Municipality. The objectives were to explore the kinds of sports and games practiced in public secondary schools and to assess the infrastructures and facilities of sports and games in public secondary schools. The study was guided by social development theory, which insists on interaction with peers as an effective way of developing skills and strategies. The study used a mixed method approach and a descriptive survey research design. The sample involved 106 participants, including 1 ward education officer, 6 school heads, 12 teachers, and 87 students. The data were collected through an interview guide, questionnaires, and documentary review. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data. It was revealed that in all sampled secondary schools, the sports and game practices were almost the same, such as football, netball, and volleyball. However, these facilities were observed to be below the required standard. On the basis of the findings, the study concluded that the status of sports and games in secondary schools in Temeke is wanting, given the limited number of facilities and infrastructure for sports and games. Therefore, stakeholders should ensure that secondary schools have adequate infrastructure to enable students to realize the benefits of participation in sports and games.

Sport Participation for Adults Aged 50 + Years: A Socioecological Analysis.

Sport participation can play a key role in older adults' successful aging as it provides an enjoyable opportunity for leisure-time physical activity. Research focusing on the benefits of sport participation in later life and facilitators for involvement has been increasing in the past several years. Drawing on the socioecological model, this study investigated select socioecological factors that predict older adults' sport participation from a holistic perspective. An online survey provided quantitative data from 1203 adults aged 50 and older across the United States. Results from logistic regression analyses showed that personal characteristics, individual behavior, environment/policy, and life course effects were significant predictors of sport participation in later life. The findings in this study enhance our understanding of factors related to older adults' sport participation and are also of value to practitioners seeking to promote sport participation among older adults.

Understanding parents’ motives for, and beliefs about, enrolling three-to-five-year-old children into organised sporting programs

ABSTRACT In contemporary society, parents enrol children into organised sport from as young as three years of age. Although the benefits of sport participation are well documented, it is important to acknowledge early sport involvement can also prompt an increase injury risk, psychological burnout and/or sport dropout. Yet little is known about why parents enrol preschool aged children into organised sport, especially from a sociological perspective. Using a social constructionist theoretical framework, this study sought to explore parent motives for, and beliefs about, enrolling young children (aged three-to-five years) into organised sporting programs. The objectives of this study were to [1] understand the socially constructed motives, beliefs and attitudes that lead parents to encourage children into organised sport programs; [2] explore parents’ perceived benefits and challenges of engaging children into organised sport; and [3] identify broader social and cultural forces that influence parental decision-making surrounding young children’s contemporary sport participation. Individual, semi-structured interviews with 16 parents of children aged three-to-five years were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes developed from the analysis including the notions of urgency, futureproofing, and the sporting family. The results suggest that parental decision-making can be influenced by broader sociocultural, contextual, historical, and political forces which are perceived to construct, maintain, and perpetuate powerful ideologies that encourage children’s early sport involvement. From a social constructionist theoretical perspective, the findings highlight how social and health-related discourses, government programs, and past experiences emerge as dynamic yet highly influential forms of disciplinary power relating to parental decision-making. Recommendations for policymakers, researchers and parents are discussed.

How Heavy Lifting Lightens Our Lives: Content Analysis of Perceived Outcomes of Masters Weightlifting.

Although the benefits of sport participation for older adults has been well-documented, the traditionally masculine sport of weightlifting has only recently become popular among older women, who now participate at rates comparable to men in the United States. This study describes the self-reported effects of participating in Masters-level Olympic weightlifting on other aspects of life. Contrasting with previous studies of Masters athletes in other sports, the gender balance and broad age range of our sample allowed us to explore whether the self-reported impact of sport on older adults was similar or different across age groups (35–44, 45–59, 60, and older) for both men and women. A total of 352 (191 women, 159 men, 2 other) who completed a survey of Masters lifters registered with the United States national organization (USAW) responded to an open-ended question about how weightlifting has affected other aspects of their life. Across gender and age categories, responses indicated that weightlifting has a positive impact on physical health (strength, mobility, fitness) and on psychological (mental health benefits, stress reduction) and social aspects such as community connections. Female lifters mentioned psychological benefits such as increased confidence and help with stress and depression more commonly than male lifters; older lifters were more likely than middle-aged lifters to mention physical health benefits. Competition was a prominent theme across genders and age groups. The themes mentioned by participants are consistent with previous literature on sports that are less strongly gender-typed than weightlifting.

The Benefits and Barriers of Sport for Children From Low-Income Settings: An Integrative Literature Review

The purpose of this integrative review was to examine the existing literature about the emotional and social benefits, as well as barriers and facilitators to sport participation for children from low-income settings. Thematic analysis was performed yielding three major themes: (1) emotional benefits of sport participation; (2) social benefits of sport participation; and (3) barriers and facilitators to sport participation. Overall, the thirteen studies showed positive emotional and social benefits for sport participation; however, one study found decreased mental health and one reported no significant findings. Facilitators such as psychological safety and social support are needed to encourage sport participation as significant barriers to sport participation continue to exist for children from low-income settings. Future areas of research include more longitudinal studies related to the role of sport, the environment, coaching style, and investigation into why participation rates continue to be decreased for children from low-income settings despite added social supports.

Parent Perceptions of the Benefits of Sport Participation: A Mixed-methods Approach

Objective: Objective PA-12 of Healthy People 2030 is focused on an increase in sport participation among youth. Organized leisure-time sport participation (OLSP) can be a valuable source of physical activity for children and adolescents. The ability of programs to provide important benefits to children may play a role in parent decisions to enroll their child in these programs. Methods: In the present study, we gathered demographics, sport participation, and parent-reported (N = 452) benefits of sport participation as part of a survey investigating OLSP behaviors. Results: We found no differences in sport participation by sex or race/ethnicity. However, children from lower income homes were less likely to participate in sport than those from higher income homes (p < .001). Health and exercise, socialization, teamwork, and leadership skill development were the most common benefits reported by parents. Other benefits included practice/skill building/self-esteem, fun, reduced screen time, exposure to a role model, stress relief, and recognition. Conclusions: These benefits should be emphasized in OLSP programs and used for marketing and promotion to increase participation in OLSP to achieve objective PA-12.

Is walking netball an effective, acceptable and feasible method to increase physical activity and improve health in middle- to older age women?: A RE-AIM evaluation

BackgroundPhysical activity is a modifiable risk factor for health and wellbeing, all-cause mortality and healthy aging. However, for middle- to older-age females less is known about the benefits of sports participation on these outcomes. Further, the acceptability and feasibility of setting-up, implementing and maintaining sports-based programmes for an aging population is an understudied area of inquiry. The current study used the RE-AIM framework to investigate a nationwide Walking Netball (WN) programme.MethodsThe evaluation used a mixed-methods approach incorporating a multiple-baseline study, quasi-experimental study, programme monitoring data and qualitative studies to evaluate the programme in the Women’s Institutes (WI) in England. Data were analysed using multilevel growth modelling, mixed-design ANOVAs, multilevel regression, t-testing, and thematic analysis. Data were triangulated to address each dimension of the RE-AIM framework.FindingsThe programme reached 1.4% (n = 3148) of the WI population across 82.0% of WI regions in England and attracted inactive members at risk of ill-health. WN contributed to adaptations in physical function, mental health and wellbeing, social isolation, quality of life and increased physical activity. The adoption of the programme was successful with 87.7% WN groups’ maintaining participation beyond the 20-session initial delivery phase. Adoption was effective because of its set-up, peer-mentorship and long-term delivery; these factors likewise shaped implementation. Adapting and tailoring WN to the varying characteristics of participants within the WI and the facilities available, along with training delivery staff and providing resources are key programme components. The Walking Netball programme can be maintained through promotion within the local community, sustainable funding, inter-WI competitions, festivals and networks, multiple-hosts and continued host development.ConclusionsWN was found to be an acceptable, feasible and effective intervention to increase physical activity and improve health in middle- to older- aged women. Future programmes may consider adapted styles of set-up and delivery. These include adapting to people, places and spaces through personalised support and providing a range of resources. Future designs may seek to understand how participation can contribute to healthy aging through longitudinal research beyond 12-months.Study registrationThe evaluation protocol was published in Open Science Framework in December 2018 prior to follow-up data collection being collected (https://www.osf.io/dcekz). Date of registration: 17 December 2018.

U.S. Paralympic Hopeful's Athletic Identity and How It Has Been Affected by the Sport Disruption of COVID-19.

The purpose of this study was to explore the status of Paralympic hopefuls' athletic identity and how this identity was impacted by the training and competition cessation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews that explored the experiences of 29 Paralympic hopefuls who compete in thirteen different Paralympic sports. A thematic analysis yielded two superordinate themes: a) Prominent athletic identity, multiplicity over exclusivity; b) Various Impact on AI: Mental adaptation helps overcome the lack of sport participation. Participants in this study possessed prominent strong athletic identities from the benefits of sport participation. Their prioritized athletic role still remains despite setbacks due to the pandemic. However, athletes identified with multiple roles rather than an exclusive athletic identity during COVID-19. As for the impacts on identity, the severity of challenges are determined by the mindset of the athletes. All of the athletes experienced a decreased amount of time and physical participation in their sport. Paralympians whose sole focus was on the loss of physical participation were impacted the most. Athletes who felt unchallenged did so because of their mental adaptation. Through a positive outlook and mentality, athletes were able to effectively cope and not dwell on the negative aspects brought on by the pandemic. In conclusion, having a strong AI did not necessarily coincide with a negative impact on identity from COVID-19, and those who do not possess a strong AI felt their AI was unchallenged by the pandemic. More importantly, Paralympians' mindset of how they view and interpret their AI is crucial to how the individual's AI is affected by the sport disruption of COVID-19.

DIFFERENCES IN QUALITY OF LIFE, SLEEP, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN ADOLESCENT ATHLETES BEFORE AND DURING COVID-19

Background:The benefits of sport participation and physical activity within adolescent populations has been well established, including improved physical and psychological health, social functioning, and sleep quality.1-3 However, mandated stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an abrupt cessation of school and sport participation for many adolescent athletes. This sudden suspension of sports, physical activity and peer/social interaction may have negative implications on adolescent anxiety and fatigue, as well as peer relationships and sleep quality.Purpose:(1) Compare quality of life and sleep quality measures in adolescent athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic to measures obtained 1-2 years earlier. (2) Assess physical activity and social interaction behavior during the two weeks prior to school closure compared to a two-week period during school closure.Methods:Participants first completed Patient Reported Outcome Measurement System (PROMIS) anxiety, fatigue, and peer relationship short forms, and the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) during pre-participation sport physical evaluations (May 2018 or 2019), and again during May or June (2020). Physical activity and social interaction were assessed at the second timepoint by asking participants to retrospectively report behaviors during the two weeks prior to school closure, and during the two weeks preceding questionnaire completion. We compared outcomes using paired samples t-tests (continuous outcome variables) and McNemar’s test (categorical outcome variables). All statistical tests were two-sided and evaluated at a significance level of α = 0.05.Results:A significant portion (92%) of participants (n=39; 16.2±0.9 years of age; 64% female; 499±177 days between assessments) reported sport cessation due to COVID-19 (Table 1). Compared to pre-COVID assessments, participants reported significantly higher anxiety and fatigue scores, and significantly worse sleep quality after school and sport cessation (Figure 1). Physical activity frequency and duration were significantly reduced in the two weeks prior to questionnaire completion compared to the two weeks before sport and school closure (Table 2). No significant difference was found for quality of peer relationships (Figure 1), although characteristics of peer/social interactions differed significantly between timepoints.Conclusion:Following recent stay-at-home orders, high school athletes reported more anxiety and fatigue, worse sleep quality, and less physical activity compared to assessments obtained in the Spring of 2018 or 2019. The abrupt cessation of school and sport participation due to COVID-19, in combination with other life factors, likely contributed to reductions in physical activity, worse sleep quality, changes in social interaction, elevated levels of anxiety, and increased fatigue among high school athletes.

"Looking for a Golden Needle in the Haystack": Perspectives on Talent Identification and Development in Paralympic Sport.

Despite rapid increases in research on talent identification and development in able-bodied sports, there remains limited knowledge regarding how talent is identified and developed in Paralympic contexts. The purpose of this study was to capture the perspectives of experts (coaches, high-performance managers, and pathway specialists) working in elite Paralympic sport to better understand how they conceptualize, measure, and develop talent. Eight coaches and three performance directors from six Paralympic sports, along with two pathway specialists from Paralympics Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. The results suggest impairment type and, therefore, classification are key indicators of identification and anticipated success, highlighting the importance of educating talent selectors in these areas. In addition, familial (e.g., overprotectiveness, sporting background) and biopsychosocial factors (e.g., resilience, work-ethic, sport-specific skills, other life commitments) were noted as being influential when selecting athletes. There were concerns regarding the disproportionately low number of female athletes in the system, suggesting a need for new initiatives to support early-entry points for female athletes (e.g., education on the benefits of sport participation, supportive environments). High-performance staff also lacked resources to better understand the nuances associated with different impairments and their implications (physiological response to training, associated psychological stresses from injury, identity change). Recruitment strategies included “talent search” days, collaborations with school programs and rehabilitation centers, and helping local clubs support “drop-in” athletes. However, limited funding impacted the sustainability of programs, resulting in a regular turnover of staff, loss of intellectual property, and a weakened pathway system. Results from this study generated several practical implications and future directions for research.

Socio-cultural Determinants of Students’ Participation in Sport; Implications for the Development of University Sport in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan

This research was carried out to explore the socio-cultural determinants of students’ sports participation at university level of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This cross-sectional survey research study was conducted on 264 students of both Public and Private sector universities through stratified random probability sampling. After exclusion of unusable questionnaires, 256 correctly filled questionnaires were used in the data analysis. A valid and reliable self-administered structured questionnaire encompassing all the aspects of the study was used for collecting required data. The questionnaire consisted of two parts; a) personal information b) questions about social-cultural determinants of students’ sport participation. A computer software of SPSS, version 24 was used to analyze the collected data. Results indicated a moderate negative correlation between socio-cultural determinants and students’ sports participation (P=0.03, r=-0.57). Also, the students’ sports participation was negatively predicted by socio-cultural determinants (p < .05). In addition, female student-athletes reported higher mean score compared with male student-athletes on socio-cultural determinants of students’ sports participation (p < .05). Given the negative relationship between socio-cultural determinants and students’ sports participation, it is necessary to create awareness among parents, teachers and eminent scholars regarding the benefits of sports participation. This can be done with the help of local seminars and public speaking in different parts of the province.

Collision and Contact Sport Participation and Quality of Life Among Adolescent Athletes.

Researchers investigating collision and contact sport participation during high school have found mixed results. Understanding the association between current contact and collision sport participation and quality-of-life outcomes can enhance our knowledge about the risks and benefits of sport participation. To examine quality-of-life outcomes among high school athletes who reported participation in collision and contact sports in the year preceding assessment compared with no- or limited-contact sport athletes. Cross-sectional study. Preparticipation physical examination. High school athletes 13 to 18 years of age. We obtained sport participation and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pediatric-25 outcomes, which assess self-reported, quality-of-life domains in the preceding 7 days (ie, state assessment). Our grouping variable was collision and contact versus no- or limited-contact sport participation during the year preceding assessment. We used multivariable linear regression models to identify the associations between PROMIS scores and collision and contact sport participation and adjusted for sex; age; history of bone, muscle, ligament, or tendon injury; history of acute fracture or dislocation; and history of concussion. A total of 143 (51%) athletes reported collision and contact sport participation (24% female, mean age = 15.1 ± 1.7 years) and 138 (49%) reported no- or limited-contact sport participation (66% female, mean age = 15.4 ± 1.2 years). A higher proportion of collision and contact sport athletes reported a history of time loss for bone, muscle, ligament, and tendon injuries (51% versus 29%, P < .001) and for acute fracture or dislocation (46% versus 26%, P < .001) than did no- or limited-contact athletes. After adjusting for covariates, we found that collision and contact sport participation was significantly associated with lower state anxiety (β = -1.072, 95% confidence interval = -1.834, -0.310, P = .006) and depressive (β = -0.807, 95% confidence interval = -1.484, -0.130, P = .020) symptom scores. Collision and contact sport athletes reported fewer anxiety and depressive symptoms in the week preceding evaluation than did no- or limited-contact sport athletes, but they had more extensive orthopaedic injury histories. Potential benefits and risks are associated with collision and contact sport participation. These data reinforce the need to examine the assumption that youth collision and contact sports are associated with negative quality of life.

The Effectiveness Of Warmup Programs For Lower Extremity Injury Prevention In Basketball: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE: Given the many benefits of sports participation, leading experts have called for attention to factors that might inhibit youth participation. Basketball is the most popular team sport among youth in the US; the popularity of basketball translates to a large absolute number of basketball related injuries. The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence to support the effectiveness of neuromuscular warmup-based strategies for preventing lower extremity injuries (LEIs) in basketball. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature. We searched the PubMed and Cochrane Library databases, and focused on English-language randomized controlled trials, non-randomized comparative trials, and prospective cohort studies. We included studies that tested neuromuscular and/or balance-focused warmup interventions among basketball players, and that assessed at least one type of LEI as a primary outcome. We critically appraised the quality of the included studies and abstracted data on the interventions, populations, exposures and outcomes. We contacted the authors of five of the studies to obtain details about the interventions or outcome data specific to basketball athletes. RESULTS: Thirteen studies testing neuromuscular interventions for LEI prevention in basketball athletes were included in this review. They reported significant protective effects for the following LEIs: ankle injuries (significant in 4/9 studies that assessed this outcome); ACL injuries (2/4 studies); a general knee injury outcome (1/5 studies); and overall LEIs (composite; 5/7 studies). Non-significant results were almost universally directionally favorable. CONCLUSIONS: Neuromuscular interventions that require minimal equipment are an appealing injury prevention strategy in youth sports. In soccer, the FIFA 11+ warmup program has been rigorously studied and proven effective when adoption and adherence is strong. Overall, the evidence is supportive of warmups for LEI prevention in basketball. However, most studies are underpowered, intervention components are varied, and adoption and adherence is often low. More work is needed to validate the necessary and sufficient warmup activities, and to maximize adoption and sustained adherence to these strategies over time.

Adolescent hockey players' predispositions to adopt sport and exercise behaviours: An ecological perspective.

Organized sport yields many cognitive, social and physical benefits and is one of the most popular types of physical activity for children and adolescents. Despite the benefits of sports participation, a substantial proportion of adolescents fail to meet Canadian guidelines regarding physical activity. In this regard, it is relevant to understand the mechanisms underlying the adoption of various active behaviours. This study aims to identify the predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors that potentially influence 4 categories of active behaviours using the Youth Physical Activity Promotion model (YPAP). Data was drawn from 416 male adolescent hockey players (Mage = 15.4; SD = 2) who completed a pre-validated questionnaire. Structural equation modeling and interaction analyses were performed to explain the contribution of each determinant. Findings reveal that there are different behavioural patterns based on the type of activity. The interaction between attitudes and environmental factors was a key predictor for each type of behaviour. Perceived competence was associated with more recreational activities, whereas the support of parents and coaches determined involvement in ice hockey. This study refined our understanding of physical activity participation among adolescents already involved in organized sports and emphasized the importance of considering multiple factors surrounding their environment. Several practical recommendations are made to improve young athletes' predisposition to practice physical activity in an organized sports setting.

Do the benefits of participation in sport and exercise outweigh the negatives? An academic review.

Public health campaigns promote regular exercise and physical activity. These campaigns are founded on global recommendations that a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise is required, on a weekly basis, to maximise physical and mental health. However, participation in all forms of sports and physical activity has inherent risks that need to be considered by both health practitioners making activity recommendations and the people participating. This review examines biological, psychological and social benefits and harms of the three highest participation physical activities: walking/running, multidirectional sports and resistance exercise. While the remaining evidence indicates that the positives do outweigh the negatives, it demonstrates that moderate amounts of exercise provide the most optimal balance and that potential harms are typically associated with low or high participation.

The burden of hospitalized sports-related injuries in children: an Australian population-based study, 2005\u20132013

BackgroundThere is concern about recent increase and severity of sports-related injuries in children. Despite the benefits of sports participation, injuries may carry long-term health consequences. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and types of hospitalized sports-related injuries in children.MethodsPopulation-based study of all acute sports-related injuries requiring hospitalization in children 5 to 15 years of age in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, 2005–2013. Health information was obtained from the NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection, a census of all hospital admissions from public and private hospitals. Children with a recorded ICD10-AM injury code (S00-T79) and sport-related activity code (U50-U70) were included. Prevalence and trend in injuries by age group, sporting code, body region affected and type of injury were assessed.ResultsThere was a total of 20,034 hospitalizations for sports-related injuries (2.7% of all hospitalizations in children aged 5–15 years), involving 21,346 recorded injuries in 19,576 children. The overall population hospitalization period prevalence was 227 per 100,000 children aged 5–15 years in 2005–2013, remaining stable over time (RR 0.99; 95% CI 0.98–1.00). Football codes such as rugby league/union and soccer combined represented nearly two thirds of the total (60%). The most common body regions affected were the forearm (31%) head (15%) and hand injuries (13%). Fractures accounted for 65% of injuries followed by dislocations (10%) and traumatic brain injury (10%). Compared to other age groups, children aged 5–8 years had double the proportion of shoulder (15% vs. 7%) while 13–15 year olds had higher proportion of lower-leg (14% vs. 8%) and knee (6% vs.2%) injuries. One in seven injuries sustained while playing rugby league/union, baseball and hockey were traumatic brain injuries. A total of 444 (2.2%) of children had more than one hospitalization for sports-related injuries.ConclusionOn average, six children were hospitalized every day for sports-related injuries in the last decade with trends remaining stable. The most common sports involved were football codes, one in three injuries involved the forearm and two thirds were fractures. These findings can be used to inform health policy and sporting governing bodies to target preventive interventions and promote safe sports participation in children.

Biobanding: A New Paradigm for Youth Sports and Training.

Sports programs are an important activity for children and adolescents. They provide opportunities for regular engagement in physical activity, the development of motor skills, teaching values and life skills, and enhanced physical and psychological health. The benefits of sports participation are not, however, automatic. Negative experiences can result in a range of harmful outcomes, including injury; increased risk of eating disorders, and violence and aggression, including sexual abuse; poor sportsmanship; perceptions of low competence; and burnout. Pediatricians are often the medical professionals who know their patients best and are thus well placed to advise on the potential benefits and risks associated with sports participation. The significance of individual differences in biological maturation on children’s involvement in sports and physical activity is well documented. Maturity-associated variation in size, strength, and power plays a significant role in the popular sports, such as soccer, American football, baseball, and ice hockey, among others. Success in these sports tends to favor boys who mature early, as documented many years ago in a survey of participants in the Little League World Series.1 Corresponding trends among female youth participants tend to favor girls who mature later in distance running, gymnastics, ballet, figure skating, and diving. Girls who mature in advance of their peers are more likely to drop out of sports and be … Address correspondence to Alan D. Rogol, MD, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, 685 Explorers Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22911. E-mail: adr{at}virginia.edu

Exercise participation and shared decision-making in patients with inherited channelopathies and cardiomyopathies

Sports eligibility and disqualification of patients with cardiac diseases are important considerations for adult and pediatric cardiologists. The 2005 guidelines that addressed this issue have recently been revised and updated, and the new guidelines advocate for a shared decision-making approach in which the well-informed athlete and family participate in the discussion. In this review, we focus on the benefits of sports participation and review the revised guidelines related to sports participation in patients with channelopathies and cardiomyopathies.

Is the Sky Falling? The Persistent Effects of Concussion

Sport concussion has been thrust into the national spotlight with growing concern over both the acute and chronic risk for injury. While much has been learned and applied to medical practice in the previous decade, how the injury may affect individuals years later remains largely unknown. The opaqueness of the unknown has led some to ask if certain sports should be banned. Without immediate answers, what is currently known must be extrapolated and the risks and benefits of sport participation must be balanced.