Elite Sport Participation Research Articles

Participation in Elite Sport in Youth and Its Impact on Lifelong Bone Health

Participation in Elite Sport in Youth and Its Impact on Lifelong Bone Health

Early sport specialization impact on rates of injury in collegiate and professional sport participation: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Early sport specialization (ESS) is prevalent among adolescent athletes aspiring for elite status. However, the impact of ESS on sports injury (SI) rates during their collegiate and professional careers remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluate the effect of ESS on SI rates during high-level sport participation. Data sources Search included PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, ERIC, and Medline. Study selection PRISMA guidelines were followed to identify peer-reviewed articles published until 01 August 2023. Eligible studies reported numbers of athletes in collegiate and professional teams, including national, in ESS and their counterpart category, along with the portion with at least one SI. Studies on concussion or non-contact injuries, or without explicit injury reports during elite sport participation were excluded. Of 526 studies, 13 met the criteria, and 5 were included in the quantitative analysis. These studies reported SIs on collegiate and professional athletes. A total of 3087 athletes were analyzed (ESS = 45%). The overall effect showed that ESS athletes had a lower odds ratio (OR = 0.7) of a SI during high-level sport participation, but this finding was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Results demonstrated that ESS athletes had a lower odds ratio (OR = 0.7) of a SI during elite sport participation, but the effect was not statistically significant. Articles with clear reports are scarce, and thus limit the impact of the findings in this study. High heterogeneity was evident in this analysis, largely due to lack of standardized terminology, evaluation, and data representation. Prospective studies that consider diverse athlete population of the same sport are warranted.

The perspective of current and retired world class, elite and national athletes on the inclusion and eligibility of transgender athletes in elite sport

ABSTRACT There has been limited empirical study allowing athletes to voice their opinions on transgender participation in elite sport. This study surveyed 175 national, elite and world class athletes eligible to compete in the female category regarding transgender inclusion and eligibility. The study compared current Olympic versus current Olympic Recognised sports, elite versus world class, and current versus retired Olympic sport athletes. Most athletes favoured biological sex categorisation (58%) and considered it unfair for trans women to compete in the female category, except for precision sports. This view was held most strongly by world class athletes regarding their own sport (77% unfair, 15% fair). For trans men inclusion in the male category, most athletes considered it fair, except for Olympic sport athletes regarding contact sports (49% unfair, 27% fair) and sports heavily reliant on physical capacity (53% unfair, 29% fair). Notwithstanding those views, athletes (81%) believed sporting bodies should improve inclusivity for transgender athletes. Opinion varied somewhat according to career stage, competitive level and sport type. Nevertheless, athletes in the present study favoured categorisation by biological sex and did not support trans women eligibility for the female category in sports reliant on performance-related biological factors that differ between sexes.

Rates and Levels Of Elite Sport Participation at 5 Years After Revision ACL Reconstruction

Rates and Levels Of Elite Sport Participation at 5 Years After Revision ACL Reconstruction

Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction in recreational athletes: a cross-sectional survey.

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) affects many women and participation in elite sport and high-impact exercise has been reported as a potential risk. However, few studies have investigated the effects of exercising at recreational levels on PFD. Our aim was to investigate levels of PFD in women exercising at, or above, UK guidelines for health and compare them with levels in non-exercisers. Data on levels of PFD and potential risk factors (age, hormonal status, body mass index, constipation, parity, forceps delivery, and recreational exercise) were collected using a cross-sectional survey distributed via social media. The International Consultation Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Urinary Incontinence Short Form was used to estimate prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI). Selected questions from the ICIQ vaginal symptom and bowel symptom questionnaires were used to estimate prevalence of anal incontinence (AI) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Logistic regression analysis was used to compare exercisers and non-exercisers after adjusting for potential confounders. We recruited 1,598 adult women (1,141 exercisers and 457 non-exercisers). The majority were parous. High prevalence of UI (70%), AI (52%) and POP (18%) was reported. No significant association was found between recreational exercise and PFD despite adjustment for confounders, or further investigation regarding exercise involving impact, although some increased reporting of AI was seen in those exercising for over 10hoursper week. High levels of all PFD were reported but no significant association was found between recreational exercise and symptoms. However, data suggest that women modify their exercise regimes as required. Few symptomatic women sought professional help.

A Scoping Review of Transgender Policies in the 15 Most Commonly Played UK Professional Sports

There has been much debate recently on the participation of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) athletes in sport, particularly in relation to fairness, safety and inclusion. The 2021 IOC Framework on Fairness, Inclusion and Non-discrimination acknowledges the central role that eligibility criteria play in ensuring fairness, particularly in the female category, and states that athletes should not be excluded solely on the basis of their TGD identity. To identify policies that address TGD athlete participation in the 15 major United Kingdom (UK) sporting organisations and to summarise the evidence for each of these policies. A scoping review of TGD policies from the 15 major UK sporting organisations. Eleven of the governing bodies had publicly available TGD policies. Most of the sporting associations drew guidance from the official 2015 IOC Consensus Meeting on Sex Reassignment and Hyperandrogenism, particularly with regard to physiological testosterone levels. Many organisations referenced their policies as a guide for decision making but stated that they ultimately made case-by-case decisions on an athlete's eligibility. Relevant considerations not addressed in most policies included pre- versus post-pubertal athletes, justification for testosterone thresholds, the length of time out of competitive action (if any) for transitioning athletes, the irreversible advantage from male puberty (if any), the responsibility for and frequency of follow up for hormonal testing and the consequences for athletes outside set testosterone limits. There is a lack of consensus among the top 15 UK sporting organizations relating to elite sport participation for TGD athletes. It would be useful for sport organizations to work together to develop greater standardization/consensus for TGD athlete policies, taking into consideration fairness, safety and inclusion in each sport.

Beyond the medals: a cross-sectional study exploring retired elite female athletes’ health

ObjectivesLittle is known about the impact of elite sport participation on long-term athlete health. We aimed to: (1) describe musculoskeletal, mental health, reproductive/endocrine and cardiovascular characteristics in retired elite female...

Rates and Levels of Elite Sport Participation at 5 Years After Revision ACL Reconstruction

Background: There is a paucity of data regarding return to play (RTP), level of competition, and longevity of play after revision of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR) in elite athletes. Purpose: To report RTP rates and competition levels in elite athletes at the point of RTP, as well as at 2 and 5 years after revision ACLR, and the effect of meniscal and chondral pathology at revision surgery on these outcomes. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A retrospective review of a consecutive series of all revision ACLRs undertaken by the senior author between 2009 and 2019, with a minimum 2-year follow-up, was carried out. Outcome measures were RTP rates and competition level. Results: A total of 49 knees in 48 elite athletes met the inclusion criteria. After revision ACLR, 43 (87.8%) elite athletes achieved RTP, of whom 75.5% were at the same level. At 2 years after surgery, 39 (79.6%) were still playing, 25 (51%) at the same level; at 5 years after surgery, 20 (44.4%) were still playing, 9 (20%) at the same level. Elite athletes with <50% thickness or no articular cartilage lesions were more likely to RTP (94.6% vs 66.7%; P = .026), as well as return to the same competition level (83.8% vs 50%; P = .047), compared with those with ≥50% thickness chondral lesions. Those without medial meniscal pathology were more likely to RTP at the same level after revision surgery (94.4% vs 64.5%; P = .036). The median time elite athletes continued to play after revision ACLR was 73 months (95% CI, 43.4-102.6); 23 months at the same level (95% CI, 13.6-32.4). The probability of still playing at 5 years after surgery was 55.9%, with a 22.5% chance of maintaining preinjury competition level. Conclusion: In elite athletes, RTP rates and competition level decreased over time after revision ACLR. The presence of >50% thickness chondral pathology was associated with lower RTP rates and competition level at RTP time, while medial meniscal pathology was associated with lower competition level at RTP.

Country profile: sport policy in Uganda

ABSTRACT Explicitly tracing the current sport system structure, status and policy framework, this article is set out to review and provide a broad understanding of Uganda’s sports policies. It examines historical overview, government involvement, administrative setup and the wider sport policy setting including the funding mechanisms, elite sport participation and performance, legal framework, key trends, and emerging sport policy issues. The article offers an up-to-date overview of Uganda’s sport policy landscape largely since it gained its independence from the colonial rulers in 1962. However much Uganda is regarded as one of the African sports powerhouses, relatively little research has been published on both its earlier and contemporary sport policies, and even less on the implementation, administration, management and performance of elite sport. It argues that the main ambitions and priorities of the Ugandan government should not only be concentrated on attaining mass sports participation, elite sport success, national identity, economic transformation and a healthy and active population but rather on striking a balance between them. The article delineates the starting point for improving sports development through reshaping Uganda’s sport policy.

Multisensory perception is not influenced by previous concussion history in retired rugby union players

ABSTRACT Background To assess whether concussion history adversely affects multisensory integration, we compared susceptibility to the Sound-Induced Flash Illusion (SIFI) in retired professional rugby players compared to controls. Methods Retired professional rugby players ((N = 58) and retired international rowers (N = 26) completed a self-report concussion history questionnaire and the SIFI task. Susceptibility to the SIFI (i.e., perceiving two flashes in response to one flash paired with two beeps) was assessed at three stimulus onset asynchronies (70 ms, 150 ms or 230 ms).Logistic mixed-effects regression modeling was implemented to evaluate how athlete grouping, previous concussion history and total number of years playing sport, impacted the susceptibility to the SIFI task. The statistical significance of a fixed effect of interest was determined by a likelihood ratio test. Results Former rugby players had significantly more self-reported concussions than the rower group (p < 0.001). There was no impact of athlete grouping (i.e., retired professional rugby players and retired international rowers), years participation in elite sport or concussion history on performance in the SIFI. Conclusion A career in professional rugby, concussion history or number of years participating in professional rugby was not found to be predictive of performance on the SIFI task.

Pushing for change: a qualitative study of the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy

ObjectivesAthletes train and compete at the elite level during their reproductive years, yet sport policies that support pregnant athletes are lacking. The experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy are vastly...

Blind sports’ blind spot: The global epidemiology of visual impairment against participation trends in elite blind para sport

Background: It remains unknown whether access to elite blind sports opportunities is globally balanced or matches the prevalence of blindness/visual impairment (VI). The primary objective of this study was to determine the rate of elite blind sports participation in each world region registered in the International Blind Sports Federation’s (IBSA) and to assess its association with the global and regional prevalence of blindness/VI. The secondary objective was to determine the association between other covariates, such as age, vision class, and sex, with the number of IBSA-registered athletes from each region.Methods: A baseline estimate of blindness/VI data was established and used when comparing participation rates to blindness/VI rates. Descriptive statistics were used to describe sports participation and associated co-variates.Results: Among 123 member countries registered in IBSA, 31 did not have any completed registrations in blind sports, of which 22 had a prevalence of blindness/VI higher than the global average. During the summer season 2019, 738 (29.52%) IBSA athletes were female and 1762 (70.48%) were male.Conclusions: These results suggest elite blind/VI sport participation is limited independently from blindness/VI prevalence. Increasing blind-friendly sport resources, especially in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs), would improve the rate of elite sport participation among athletes with blindness/VI.

Are athletes addicted to their identity? The development and validation of the Athletic Identity Addiction (AIA) scale

The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the extent to which athletic identity is related to the tenets of addiction. Specifically, it was investigated whether athletes experience a behavioral addiction regarding their participation and involvement in sport. A total of 576 athletes (118 student-athletes, 458 former student-athletes) were included within a two-phase study. The first phase focused on crafting and testing the instrument, while the second phase refining the instrument for validity and reliability. Results indicated a four-factor solution comprising the Athletic Identity Addiction (AIA) scale: (1) mood alteration, (2) withdrawal, (3) life conflict, and (4) relapse. Concerns within the EFA led us to remove salience and tolerance before reaching the final model. Each of the four factors established within AIA is substantiated by previous studies outlining challenges faced by athletes. This research provides insight into deep seeded issues of athletic identity, indicating the importance of sport managers’ developing appropriate means for aiding athletes in transitioning from elite sport participation. Findings also provide future, alternative perspectives for researchers to examine athletic identity.

Cardiovascular Health of Retired Field-Based Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background:Retirement from elite sport participation is associated with decreased physical activity, depression, obesity, and ischemic heart disease. Although engagement in physical activity through sport is recognized as cardioprotective, an estimated one-quarter of deaths in American football players are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), predominately in players classified as obese.Purpose:To systematically investigate the cardiovascular health profile of retired field-based athletes.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:This review was conducted and reported in accordance with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines and preregistered with PROSPERO. Four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, and Web of Science) were systematically searched from inception to October 2018 using MeSH terms and keywords. Inclusion criteria were retired field-based athletes, age >18 years, and at least 1 CVD risk factor according to the European Society of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. Review articles were not included. Control groups were not required for inclusion, but when available, an analysis was included. Eligible articles were extracted using Covidence. Methodological quality was assessed independently by 2 reviewers using the AXIS tool. The accuracy of individual study estimates was analyzed using a random-effects meta-analysis.Results:This review yielded 13 studies. A total of 4350 male retired field-based athletes from 2 sports (football and soccer; age range, 42.2-66 years) were included. Eight studies compared retired athletes with control groups. Retired athletes had elevated systolic blood pressure in 4 of 6 studies; approximately 50% of studies found greater high-density lipoprotein, approximately 80% found lower triglyceride levels, and all studies found greater low-density lipoprotein for retired athletes compared with controls. The prevalence and severity of coronary artery calcium and carotid artery plaque were similar to controls. Retired linemen had double the prevalence of cardiometabolic syndrome compared with nonlinemen.Conclusion:The overall findings were mixed. Inconsistencies in the reporting of CVD risk factors and methodological biases reduced the study quality. Retired athletes had a comparable CVD risk profile with the general population. Retired athletes with an elevated body mass index had an increased prevalence and severity of risk factors. Significant gaps remain in understanding the long-term cardiovascular effects of elite athleticism.

Effects of different sport participations on prosocial and antisocial behaviors

People might mythically believe sport affecting on social behavior positively, and that an intensive participation could provide better social behavior to youth and society. In addition, some people have propagandized the myth to promote the positive utilization of sport. However, the literature has not provided an agreed consensus as to sport participation increasing prosocial behaviors and reducing antisocial behaviors. Given that, the present study attempted to examine the conflicting issue between the literature. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the effect of sport participation on prosocial and antisocial behavior in the comparison between the elite and the recreational. To achieve the purpose of this study, survey questionnaires were distributed, and 589 responses were analyzed using a factors analysis, a one-way MANOVA. The results were as followed. First, compared to most of the literature not specifying factors of prosocial and antisocial behaviors, the present study identified social behavior factors using an existing questionnaire. Second, there were differences in social behaviors between the elite sport participant and the recreational sport participant. Third, the recreational sport participation and the elite sport participation differ on prosocial behavior especially in high leadership, social facilitation, and high group cohesion. Fourth, the elite sport participant and the recreational sport participant have no significant difference on antisocial behaviors.

La psychologie du sport comme approche préventive

Sport participation can lead to positive development but also have negative consequences and lead to adversity. Sport psychology can be considered as a preventive approach while acting a various levels. The Development Model of Sport Participation (DMSP) postulates that early diversification and late specialisation can be beneficial both for elite level development and also to avoid negatives consequences of elite sport participation (such as overtraining or burnout). By taking into account the athletes’ social life and their athletic career project and transition experienced at athletic, psychological, academic/volitional, and financial level, sport psychology can help athlete to manage the challenges and make serene and informed decisions. And, the development of specific psychological characteristics and competences can help athletes to strive for excellence.

Youth athletes' sustained involvement in elite sport: An exploratory examination of elements affecting their athletic participation

In this exploratory study, we first intended to identify the underlying structure of components affecting the sport participation of 1258 elite youth athletes from the USA through a principal component analysis of 23 items related to motives and barriers to participation and created for this study. A six-component solution was proposed, including college and professional aspirations and competence beliefs, coach and peer relationships, pressures from parents and coach, intrinsic and self-determined extrinsic motivation, external barriers, and non–self-determined extrinsic motivation. Noteworthy differences by age, gender, and race on those retained components were also reported. Lastly, results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that 28% of the variance in sport enjoyment was explained by all retained components. Given the rapid growth of travel teams, this study provides a timely cross-sectional and multisport assessment of the state of elite youth sport in the USA. In consideration of optimistic outcomes observed in this study compared to alarming attrition trends commonly found in the elite youth sport environment, this study may serve as a reference as to the elements that influence sustained participation that is indispensable in today's youth sport landscape. Results also provided important theoretical contributions with respect to motivational processes underlying elite sport participation. Practical implications with regards to the influence of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and barrier elements on elite sport participation are also presented.

The Experience of Depression during the Careers of Elite Male Athletes.

The topic of depression during the career of elite male athletes has been the subject of much public interest and attention in recent years. Despite numerous debates and personal disclosures within the media, there is a dearth of published research directly exploring the phenomenon. This study sought to explore how elite male athletes experience depression during their sporting careers. Eight former/current elite male athletes who had previously publically self-identified as having experienced depression while participating in sport were recruited for this study. A qualitative methodology was employed and each participant was interviewed using semi-structured interviews. Data analysis which was conducted using descriptive and interpretive thematic analysis uncovered three domains: (1) The emergence of depression, (2) The manifestation of symptoms of depression, and (3) Adaptive and Maladaptive proceesses of recovery. Findings from the current study reveal the nature of how male athletes experience, express, and respond to depression during their careers. Additionally, this is influenced by a myriad of factors embedded in the masculine elite sport environment. Implications are discussed particularly in relation to atypical expressions of depression not necessarily reflected on or in standard diagnostic criteria. Future research is encouraged to examine in depth moderating factors (e.g., athletic sense of identity and masculine elite sport environments) for the relationship between depression and participation in elite sport.

Impact of Player Injuries on Teams' Mental States, and Subsequent Performances, at the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Injuries are considered an inevitable by-product of participation in elite sport (Hurley et al., 2007), and over the past 30 years, psychologists have proposed a number of models to explain athletes' psychological reactions to their injuries. These models have included the grief model (Kubler-Ross, 1969; Rotella, 1988) and the cognitive appraisal models (Brewer, 1998; Wiese-Bjornstal et al., 1998). When examining the value of these models, researchers have identified a number of factors mediating athletes' responses to their injuries. Factors such as social support (Clement and Shannon, 2011) and perceived consequences of injuries for the athletes (Hurley et al., 2007) have been popular lines of investigation. A less popular avenue of research has been the impact of tournament-ending injuries on the mental states of remaining squad members called upon to perform without their injured colleagues. Given the lack of research in this area, it could be fruitful to discuss the potential impact of player attrition rates on their teams' mental states, and subsequent performances, using the Rugby World Cup 2015 (RWC 2015) as a case study. This case study is considered appropriate because many countries suffered serious injuries to some of their best players just before, or during, this RWC (Lewis, 2015). For example, the Irish team lost one of its most experienced players, Paul O'Connell, due to injury early in the tournament, as did South Africa, who was forced to play without captain, Jean De Villiers, from game three of the tournament. Similarly, the New Zealand “All Blacks” lost their experienced player, Tony Woodcock, due to injury before their quarter final match. Despite the loss of Woodcock, the New Zealand team was successful in defending its RWC title from 2011. Indeed in 2011, New Zealand played without four of its out-half players. Is it possible the New Zealand team did something different, compared to the other nations, to prepare successfully for both the RWC 2011 and 2015 tournaments? This paper will explore possible reasons why some of the other nations failed to perform to their potential at the RWC 2015. This paper is organized as follows: First, the mental challenges team players may have faced following the loss of influential players through injury will be discussed. The potential for emotional contagion to have permeated throughout such teams, and its possible impact on those teams' subsequent performances will dominate this discussion (Moll et al., 2010). Second, some possible areas for future research will be suggested, focusing on the role support staff (including coaches, medical staff, and sport psychologists) working with such teams might play in helping their teams to thrive in such circumstances in the future.

The Mental Health of Elite Athletes: A Narrative Systematic Review.

BackgroundThe physical impacts of elite sport participation have been well documented; however, there is comparatively less research on the mental health and psychological wellbeing of elite athletes.ObjectiveThis review appraises the evidence base regarding the mental health and wellbeing of elite-level athletes, including the incidence and/or nature of mental ill-health and substance use.MethodsA systematic search of the PubMed, EMBASE, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, Cochrane and Google Scholar databases, up to and including May 2015, was conducted.ResultsThe search yielded a total of 2279 records. Following double screening, 60 studies were included. The findings suggested that elite athletes experience a broadly comparable risk of high-prevalence mental disorders (i.e. anxiety, depression) relative to the general population. Evidence regarding other mental health domains (i.e. eating disorders, substance use, stress and coping) is less consistent. These results are prefaced, however, by the outcome of the quality assessment of the included studies, which demonstrated that relatively few studies (25 %) were well reported or methodologically rigorous. Furthermore, there is a lack of intervention-based research on this topic.ConclusionThe evidence base regarding the mental health and wellbeing of elite athletes is limited by a paucity of high-quality, systematic studies. Nonetheless, the research demonstrates that this population is vulnerable to a range of mental health problems (including substance misuse), which may be related to both sporting factors (e.g. injury, overtraining and burnout) and non-sporting factors. More high-quality epidemiological and intervention studies are needed to inform optimal strategies to identify and respond to player mental health needs.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0492-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.