Pre-competition Period Research Articles

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ЦИФРОВЫХ ИНФОРМАЦИОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ ДЛЯ СНИЖЕНИЯ РИСКОВ ПРИ ПРОВЕДЕНИИ АВТОМОБИЛЬНЫХ СПОРТИВНЫХ СОРЕВНОВАНИЙ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ РАЛЛИ)

The article considers: the issues of improving safety during the conduct of automobile sports competitions (on the example of a rally), the method of managing an automobile sports com-petition (on the example of a rally) using digital information technologies. The data on the number of participants in the Russian Rally Championship and Cup are given. A monitoring system is proposed for conducting an automobile sports competition (on the example of a rally). It also considers the additional impact on reducing risks during the rally through the use of digital information technologies in the pre-competition period and their use by rally security services.

Incidence and burden of injury at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games held during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study of 66 045 athlete days

ObjectiveTo describe the epidemiology of injuries at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, including injuries sustained in the new sports of badminton and taekwondo.MethodsInjury data were obtained daily via the established...

Incidence and burden of illness at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games held during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study of 66 045 athlete days

ObjectiveTo describe the incidence and burden of illness at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which was organised with strict COVID-19 countermeasures.MethodsDaily illnesses were recorded via the web-based injury and illness...

Monitoring of the Training Load and Well-Being of Elite Rhythmic Gymnastics Athletes in 25 Weeks: A Comparison between Starters and Reserves.

The objective of this study was to monitor the training loads (TL) and well-being of elite rhythmic gymnastics (RG) athletes, as well as compare these variables between starters and reserve gymnasts during 25 weeks of training. Ten athletes from the Brazilian national RG team (17.4 ± 1.1 y of age) were monitored during the general preparatory period (GPP), specific preparatory period (SPP), and pre-competitive period (PCP). The internal TL was quantified with the use of sessional ratings of perceived exertion (sRPE). We assessed well-being daily with a well-being scale. The TL, duration, monotony, and strain were calculated weekly. We found that the internal TL and session durations were 9242 ± 2511 AU and 2014 ± 450 min, respectively. The internal TL, strain, and monotony were greater in the PCP than in the GPP and SPP for starters. In the SPP, there were statistical differences in internal TL (p = 0.036) and strain (p = 0.027) between starters and reserves. In the PCP, there were also statistical differences between starters vs. reserves athletes regarding internal TL (p = 0.027) and strain (p = 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in well-being between the periods assessed. In conclusion, RG athletes display a higher TL magnitude during the PCP, whereas only reporting non-significant minor variations in well-being. In addition, there is a discrepancy in the TL between starters and reserves.

Reducing perceived stress in competition training for adolescent athletes through relaxation techniques

This study assessed the stress perceived by athletes and performance dancers in the pre-competitive period in adolescents and young adults. In order to build adequate functional mechanisms for managing stress in young athletes and dancers, a mental preparation, a good psychological preparation, is necessary. The obtained results demonstrate that the level of stress perceived in the pre-competitive period of adolescent athletes can be reduced and the level of self-esteem can be improved, applying an Intervention Program through psychological relaxation techniques.

Dynamics of psychophysiological functions of young representatives of precision-target sports at different stages of the training process

The purpose of the work is to provide a description of the structure of the psychophysiological functions of young hockey players and a comparative characterization of the development of neurodynamic indicators in hockey players and representatives of cyclical sports.
 Material and methods. Psychophysiological testing was carried out using the computer program "Psychodiagnostics", as well as the program developed under the leadership of V.S. Ashanina The research was conducted twice: at the end of the pre-competitive period and at the end of the competitive period.
 The results. changes in the structure of the relationship of psychophysiological indicators among themselves according to the data of correlation and factor analysis were found. Both in the first and in the second testing, the investigated indicators comprised 4 factors. But the indicators included in each factor and the percentage values ​​of each factor were slightly different for the first and second testing. In the second testing, i.e. at the end of the competitive period, indicators of simple reactions to sound came to the fore in the structure of the relationship of psychophysiological indicators, while in the pre-competitive period simple reactions to light came to the fore.
 Conclusions. The role of complex reactions in the structure of the relationship of psychological indicators increases during the transition from the pre-competition to the end of the competition period. This indicates an increase in the role of mental processes with an increase in the skill of the players.

CHANGING THE LEVEL OF GENERAL AND SPECIAL PHYSICAL PREPAREDNESS OF CHERLIDERS IN THE PRE- COMPETITION PERIOD

Cheerleading is a relatively new sport that has its own classification, is actively developing and has a large number of fans. Therefore, the issues of sports training of athletes are relevant, especially in the pre-competition period. Athletes from the cheerleading department of the specialized training group of the first year of study took part in the study. The study lasted for 6 months and covered two pre-competition periods: the Cup and the Cheerleading Championship of Ukraine.In the process of research, athletes performed general development exercises, as well as specially directed exercises to develop the necessary physical qualities. Technical characteristics such as flexibility, jumping, coordination, strength, endurance are important for the preparation of a cheerleader. Testing of general and special physical fitness was conducted twice. The first stage was held after three months of training in the pre-competition period for the Cup of Ukraine, the second - after six months of training before the Championship of Ukraine in cheerleading. A twine test was used to test and evaluate flexibility. To determine the strength endurance used the test of flexion and extension of the arms in a emphasis lying down. Flamingos were used to test coordination skills. To determine the level of special physical fitness of the cheerleader, we tested cher-jumps, lip-jumps and turns. The obtained results showed that the standards used were improved in the athletes of the study group. Studies of assessing the level of general and special physical fitness of cheerleaders of the group of specialized training in the pre-competition periods showed the following results: increased the number of athletes with a high level of general and special physical fitness from 63 % to 70 %; the number of above-average athletes decreased from 25 % to 22 %; the average level of general and special physical fitness also decreased from 10 % to 8 %. The level of general and special physical fitness is below average in the pre-competition period after 6 months of training was not recorded. Thus, the study showed positive changes in the standards of general and special physical fitness in the pre-competition period.

Evaluation of the Dietary Profile of Basketball Players in the Senior First Division Teams of Côte d’Ivoire

Introduction: Diet plays a fundamental role in the performance of athletes in general and basketball players in particular. For a better understanding of the nutrition of the athlete, this work aimed to evaluate the diet of Ivorian female basketball players in pre-competitive periods.
 Methodology: A retrospective frequency questionnaire survey was conducted from December 6, 2020 to the end of February 2021, on 86 female basketball players in the senior categories (17-35 years) playing in the first division. The collection of socio-demographic, anthropometric and dietary data before the competition was obtained for each team.
 Results: The study showed that 38.38% of the female basketball players had no side activities while 61.62% had a side activity. In general, 84.88% of the players had a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) compared to 06.98% overweight and 2.33% obese. The energy requirements of the women's teams were between 2427 and 2810 Kcal. The overall amount of energy consumed at breakfast in the pre-competitive period was below the required standards, while the amount of energy consumed at lunch and dinner was above the required standards for the players.
 Conclusion: In sum, the senior female basketball players of Côte d'Ivoire have a poor dietary profile. Nutritional interventions would be preferable for them in order to improve their nutritional knowledge on the one hand, and the distribution of caloric foods consumed during their different daily meals on the other hand, and to meet their energy needs.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Solutions to the Physical Fitness Challenge.

In 2022, the FIFA World Cup has been scheduled to take place in Qatar in November and December, months which coincide with the in-season period of the European soccer season. This will be challenging for the staff of the participating national teams and the domestic clubs to which participating players are attached. The aim of this letter to the editor is to propose solutions on how to manage the associated challenges. Regular training and competition over the course of a season in European professional soccer is generally characterized by a pre-competition preparation period of five to six weeks, followed by two competition phases, interspersed with a winter break (Eliakim et al., 2018). Certain leagues such as the English Premier League do not typically have a winter break meaning that games are played almost continuously across the season. During World Cup years, there is usually an average of four to five weeks between the end of national domestic championships and the start of the World Cup tournament (Table 1, Figure 1) which traditionally takes place during the off-season period. However, in 2022, the FIFA World Cup has been scheduled to take place in November and December, months which coincide with the in-season period of the European soccer season (Figure 1). With the World Cup being staged during this part of the season, many national team players (notably those in the major European Leagues) will have just one week of preparation between the last match of their domestic leagues and the start of the World Cup tournament (November 20th, 2022). More precisely, the major European soccer leagues will interrupt match schedules between November 9th and 13th with differences in the number of games completed at this time of the season ranging from 14 to 17 across the various leagues (Table 2). The physical and mental demands placed on modern professional players have steadily risen over recent years due to an increase in the number of matches played during congested periods across the season (Anderson et al., 2016). Since the number of matches is not evenly distributed across the typical 40-week season, players can often compete in as many as three matches in a seven-day period. Aside from the physical and mental demands that are imposed during a match, players might experience insufficient recovery between these games; in part due to extensive travelling which can disrupt the sleep/wake cycle (Lastella et al., 2019). Indeed, poor quality of sleep and the stress induced by a match can negatively affect physical fitness and may even increase the risk of sustaining injuries and/or infections (Clemente et al., 2021) in the period leading up to the World Cup. National teams are composed of players from different leagues who have varying levels of exposure to match-play (e.g., starters, non-starters) in terms of the average weekly volume of soccer matches at their clubs (“Rapports - Observatoire du football CIES”). Moreover, both starters and non-starters are exposed to different external match and training loads (Anderson et al., 2016). External loads have previously been defined as the overall volume of activity that a player performs during both training sessions and matches (Ravé et al., 2020). There is evidence that this metric correlates with a player’s physical fitness status (Clemente et al., 2019) and their injury risk (Malone et al., 2017). Accordingly, it will be challenging for national teams to manage the fitness of players such that they are physically ready to play at the World Cup tournament. This is especially applicable to individuals who play in the major European leagues and we note a significant contrast between European match schedules and those on other continents. For example, in Major League Soccer (MLS) in North America, match schedules will be interrupted from November 5th, 15 days before the World Cup tournament begins. Similarly, in the Japanese J-League in Asia, Saudi Pro League and Qatar Star League, matches will be interrupted one month before the World Cup tournament begins, leaving more time for players on these continents to prepare. It is also important to note that the French, Spanish and English domestic championships will resume their match schedules on December 27th which is just ten days after the end of the World Cup (Figure 1). Clubs will clearly want their players to return uninjured and with sufficient fitness levels to resume domestic competition but these goals could be compromised by the aforementioned scheduling of the World Cup tournament.

Impact of plyometric sessions on agility for youth soccer players

Soccer is the most popular game in the world. It combines several elements and abilities. Agility is one of the most important abilities to perform well. The study aimed to investigates impact of some plyometric sessions on developing agility for youth soccer players. Twenty-eight soccer youth players (age, 15 ± 0.2 years) were divided randomly into two groups an experimental group and a control group. Both groups were tested pre-test by Illinois agility test, and the experimental group has got their training for four weeks in the pre-competition period by two sessions per week, while the control group has kept their own training. The post-test was applied after four weeks and it showed significant results between pre and post-test for the Illinois agility test which showed 4% of improvement in the experimental group (p=0.11), The control group showed 1.5% of agility improvement (p=0.34). The results showed that 4 weeks of plyometric training in a pre-competition period does not highly improve agility for youth soccer players for the sport requires agility continuously by changing body positions each moment of play, Researchers recommend giving agility more sessions during the preparation period.

(Low) Energy Availability and Its Association with Injury Occurrence in Competitive Dance: Cross-Sectional Analysis in Female Dancers.

Background and objectives: The risk of low energy availability is related to various health problems in sports. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify a possible association between various dance factors, anthropometrics/body build, and energy availability with injury occurrence in contemporary dancers. Materials and Methods: The participants were 50 female competitive dancers (19.8 ± 4.1 years of age). The independent variables included age, dance factors (amount of training and competitions per week–exposure time, experience in dance), anthropometrics/body composition (body height, mass, BMI, body fat percentage (BF%), and fat-free mass (FFM)), and energy availability score (EAS; evaluated by accelerometer-based measurement of energy expenditure and Dance Energy Availability Questionnaires). The dependent variables were the occurrence of (i) soft-tissue injuries and (ii) bone injuries. The measurements were obtained by experienced technicians during the pre-competition period for each specific dance discipline. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were calculated to identify the associations between independent variables and injury prevalence. Results: The results showed that EAS (OR = 0.81, 95% CI:0.65–0.91), age (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.1–2.46), higher BF% (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.04–1.46) and BMI (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.05–2.47) were correlated with soft-tissue injuries. Dancers who suffered from bone injuries reported higher exposure time (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.37) and had lower values of FFM (OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.56–0.98). Multivariate regression analyses evidenced a higher likelihood of soft-tissue injuries in older dancers (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.21–2.95) and the ones who had lower EAS (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71–0.95) while the exposure time was associated with a higher likelihood of bone injuries (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.39). Conclusions: In order to decrease the injury prevalence among dancers, special attention should be paid to maintaining adequate nutrition that will provide optimal available energy for the demands of training and performing. Additionally, the control of training volume should be considered in order to reduce traumatic bone injuries.

Modern Approaches for the Physical Training of Young Female Basketball Players

The study purpose was to substantiate, develop and test the effectiveness of the author’s program for physical training of young female basketball players in the pre-competition period of the macrocycle preparatory stage, and to experimentally test its effectiveness. 
 Materials and methods. The subjects were 15 young female basketball players born in 2007-2008, third year of study (1st year of study in the basic training group), members of the All-Ukrainian Youth Basketball League (AUYBL), who participated in the experimental program to improve their physical fitness. Three tests on six indicators of physical fitness were conducted. The results of a consecutive experiment for young basketball players during their training in the camp were analyzed and interpreted.
 Results. The author’s program for physical training of young female basketball players was developed and implemented during the training camp in order to increase their level of physical fitness and preparation for participation in the AUYBL competitions. The results of the study, which were obtained during a series of experiments, allowed to examine and analyze six indicators of physical fitness, and to substantiate the effectiveness of modern approaches to physical training of young female basketball players in the pre-competition period of the macrocycle preparatory stage. They were based on the minimization of additional workload and focused concentration of female athletes on the quality of specific exercises in a limited period.
 Conclusions. The analysis of the results, the indicators of physical fitness of young female basketball players, allows to state that the use of the author’s program for physical training makes it possible to record the improvement of physical fitness on tests that have speed-strength and strength orientation, namely: high jump, long jump, run for 40 s, flexion-extension of the arms at thrust lying for 30 s. According to the indicators of speed tests (20 m run and 60 m sprint), no statistically significant differences were recorded, with a tendency to their improvement.

Training Periodization, Methods, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Highly Trained and Elite Distance Runners: A Systematic Review.

This review aimed to determine (1)performance and training characteristics such as training intensity distribution (TID), volume, periodization, and methods in highly trained/elite distance runners and (2)differences in training volume and TID between event distances in highly trained/elite distance runners. A systematic review of the literature was carried out using the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Ten articles met the inclusion criteria. Highly trained/elite distance runners typically follow a pyramidal TID approach, characterized by a decreasing training volume from zone 1 (at or below speed at first ventilatory/lactate threshold [LT]) to zone 2 (between speeds associated with either both ventilatory thresholds or 2 and 4 mmol·L-1 LTs [vLT1 and vLT2, respectively]) and zone 3 (speed above vVT2/vLT2). Continuous-tempo runs or interval training sessions at vLT2 in zone 2 (ie,medium and long aerobic intervals) and those in zone 3 (ie,anaerobic or short-interval training) were both used at least once per week each in elite runners, and they were used to increase the number of either vLT2 or z3 sessions to adopt either a pyramidal or a polarized approach, respectively. More pyramidal- and polarized-oriented approaches were used by marathoners and 1500-m runners, respectively. Highly trained and elite middle- and long-distance runners are encouraged to adopt a traditional periodization pattern with a hard day-easy day basis, consisting in a shift from a pyramidal TID used during the preparatory and precompetitive periods toward a polarized TID during the competitive period.

MO302: The Correlation Between Serum and Urinary NGAL With Redox Biomarkers in Post-Ultramarathon Amateur Athletes

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Few studies have investigated the physiological alterations provoked by ultramarathon competition, particularly those related to redox balance, kidney function and NGAL regulation. A better understanding of the dynamics of these biomarkers during ultramarathons could be useful in the search of new biomarkers in the context of exercise physiology. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between oxidative stress and NGAL levels in blood and urine of amateur athletes before and after a 100-km ultramarathon. METHOD The sample was composed of seven athletes between the ages of 21 and 60 years, submitted to anthropometric evaluation, ergoespirometric testing, urine and blood sampling, biochemical and hormonal measurements, body weight measurement and subjective perception of effort (SPE)—–the perception was evaluated through a scale from 6 to 19 [1], along with verification of competition duration, besides the heart rate (HR), energy expenditure and oxygen consumption (VO2) during the event. The duration, the energy expenditure and the average HR of the competition were measured by a frequency meter (Polar, m200). The data provided was analyzed by the Polar Flow app platform. RESULTS The sample had an average BMI of 25.75 ± 3.20, a body fat percentage of 18.54% ± 4.35% and a VO2max of 48.87 ± 4.78. In the pre-competition period, no significant correlations (P > .05) were found between NGAL levels, in blood and urine and blood and urine biomarkers. In relation to the results obtained after competition, there were no significant correlations among of the NGAL levels and plasma biomarkers, except for the serum creatinine level (P < .05). The average duration of the competition (the average finishing time of the competitors) was 820.60 min (±117.00), during which the mean energy consumption was 2209.72 kcal (+951.97) and energy expenditure was 7837.16 kcal (+195.71), with an average HR of 127.85 (±12.02). CONCLUSION The data presented here did not support our initial hypothesis that the ultramarathon would cause oxidative stress and acute kidney injury. In addition, there was no significant correlation between oxidative stress biomarkers and NGAL in serum and urine, which suggests that NGAL is more sensitive to the inflammatory process than ROS levels.

Explosive Power of Lower Limbs of Acrobatic Rock and Roll Dancers

Summary Acrobatic rock and roll is dynamic sport dance where explosive power is very important ability. Aim. The aim of the thesis was to determine and compare the level of explosive power of the lower limbs of acrobatic rock and roll dancers. We assume that dancers from couple categories will reach a significantly higher level of explosive power of the lower limbs than dancers from ladies formations. Methods. The research sample consisted of 22 acrobatic rock and roll female dancers. To determine the level of explosive power of the lower limbs, we used a 10 s test on a jump ergometer. We used the non-parametric statistical method Mann Whitney U-test for independent files. Results. The female dancers from couple categories achieved better results in all parameters than dancers from ladies formations. The first examined parameter was the power in the active phase of the take off where the dancers from couples achieved 46.08 ± 5.32 W.kg−1, the dancers from ladies formations reached 38.13 ± 3.63 W.kg−1 (p ≤ 0.01, r = 0.64). The second examined parameter was the height of the jump, where dancers from couples achieved 28.91 ± 2.49 cm, dancers from ladies formations reached 25.92 ± 3.21 cm (p ≤ 0.05, r = 0.48). The last examined parameter was the rebound efficiency, where dancers from couples achieved 177.41 ± 25.62 cm.s−1, dancers from ladies formations reached 138.48 ± 15.96 cm.s−1 (p ≤ 0.01, r = 0.65). Conclusions. In addition to differences in the explosive power of the lower limbs, the results also pointed to the importance of development in all categories. We recommend dancers to include plyometric exercises and repeated rope skipping jumps in the pre-competition and competition period, after completing strength training.

Development of a Program for Regulating the Psychological States of Karate Athletes aged 8-14 Years in the pre-competition Period of Preparation.

The subject of the work is the development and implementation of a program for the regulation of negative psychological states of karate athletes from 8 to 14 years old. The purpose of this study is to develop an effective program aimed at correcting the negative psychological states of karate athletes from 8 to 14 years old during preparation for competitive activities. In our work, we analyze the methods of psychological regulation of karate athletes from 8 to 14 years old during the preparation for competitive activity. In the teaching of the karate section, there are a number of problems associated with a decrease in the cognitive activity of students, with a decrease in the level of health culture, which is due to a number of factors: improper nutrition of athletes, bad habits (alcohol, smoking), a small amount of sports in life (the development of physical inactivity), workload in training, etc. These factors force teachers to look for new ways in teaching and educating students. In this work, the psychological states of karate athletes from 8 to 14 years old for competitions were studied. We have developed a program for regulating the psychological states of karate athletes from 8 to 14 years of age in the pre-competition period of training by organizing work with model situations in which athletes can detect psychological difficulties associated with motivation to achieve success, anxiety and stress, as well as together with the coach to find ways to resolve them, during which there will be an increase in motivation to achieve success and stress resistance and reducing the level of anxiety. In the course of the study, after testing the program, changes in the level of anxiety (its decrease) and motivation (its increase) occurred in 83.3% of respondents.

Effects of Complex Vs. Compound Training on Competitive Throwing Performance.

Thomas, K, Spyridon, M, Nikolaos, Z, Angeliki-Nikolleta, S, Giorgos, K, Giorgos, G, and Gerasimos, T. Effects of complex vs. compound training on competitive throwing performance. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1866-1874, 2022-The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of complex (CPX; strength and power exercises in pairs) vs. compound (CPD; strength and power exercises in different days) training on competitive track and field throwing performance. Ten well-trained throwers (7 male throwers and 3 female throwers) followed a 34-week periodized training program including 2 preparation periods. During the winter 4-week, precompetition phase, athletes were randomly assigned to CPX or CPD groups, while the opposite assignment was performed during the spring precompetition phase (counterbalanced design). Before and after each training period competitive track and field throwing performance, shot put throws, snatch, squat and bench press 1 repetition maximum (1RM), vertical jumps, rate of force development (RFD), and body composition were evaluated. Competitive track and field throwing performance increased significantly by 5.4 ± 2.9% and 1.9 ± 1.7%, after CPX and CPD, respectively, with a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). Shot put throws and 1RM strength in bench press increased similarly after both programs (p < 0.05), but vertical jumps increased only after CPX training. CPX induced greater increases in 1RM strength in snatch and squat, RFD, and lean body mass compared with CPD (p < 0.005). The linear combination of training-induced changes in RFD 150ms, 1RM in squat, snatch, and total lean mass explained the 80% of the percentage increase in competitive track and field throwing performance (p = 0.007). These results suggest that 4 weeks of CPX training during the precompetition period induce greater increases in competitive track and field throwing performance, 1RM strength, power, and RFD compared with CPD training.

Pre-competitive overload period impairs parasympathetic modulation in athletes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe aim was to meta-analyze the effect of different type of overloads on parasympathetic modulation to the heart, assessed by root-mean-square difference of successive normal RR intervals (RMSSD) of athletes. MethodsThe analysis of the 14 studies selected (20 subgroups within studies), compared RMSSD of the same athletes before and after an overload period. ResultsRMSSD of athletes were lower at pre-competition compared to baseline (SMD = −0.50 [−0.83; −0.18], p = 0.002), while volume, volume plus intensity and post-competition overloads showed similar RMSSD than their respective normal load periods. ConclusionThe lower RMSSD during pre-competition overload, characterize an loss of homeostasis, and could be explained by the presence of pre-competition anxiety, stress, and higher psychological challenges in addition to the same physical stress present in the other types of overloads (i.e.: higher volume or training intensity).

Sports Injury and Physiotherapy Services in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games: Considerations and Potential Recommendations for Future Paralympics

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To highlight the demographic and clinical characteristics of injured athletes and non-athletes and the physiotherapy services provided during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Paralympic Games. <h3>Design</h3> Prospective descriptive epidemiology study. <h3>Setting</h3> Physiotherapy Department of Paralympic Village Polyclinic, Republic of Korea, during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympic Games. <h3>Participants</h3> The study group comprised 201 participants (51 athletes and 150 non-athletes) who were admitted to and utilized the polyclinic physiotherapy service from March 1 to March 20, 2018. <h3>Interventions</h3> The five major comprehensive physiotherapy services included advice (counseling, consultation, referral), therapeutic exercise, manual manipulative therapy, therapeutic modalities, and assistive (prophylactic) devices. The selection of physiotherapy service items was based on the recommendation and guidelines of International Olympic Committee (IOC)/IPC medical commissions and clinical evidence in current literature. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Types and number of patients and number of physiotherapy modalities used. <h3>Results</h3> Chronic injuries were the most common (n=100, 51%) in athletes and non-athletes. Anatomical injury site analysis revealed the spine and shoulder areas were injured with equal frequency for athletes (n=14, 54.9%) and non-athletes, with the frequencies of 36.7% (n=55) and 26% (n=39), respectively. The Pyeongchang WPG showed a high rate of athletes visiting the physiotherapy service during the pre-competition period (n=50, 33.3%), perhaps led to a lower incidence rate of traumatic injury. The physiotherapy treatment service analysis demonstrated that manual therapy (n=230, 35.4%) was most commonly utilized. <h3>Conclusions</h3> We established the importance of prophylactic and preventive physiotherapy services to reduce the risk of sports injuries during WPG. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors report no conflict of interest.

Weight loss practices and eating behaviours among female physique athletes: Acquiring the optimal body composition for competition.

Little is known about weight loss practices and eating behaviours in female physique athletes. This study investigated the weight loss history, practices, and key influences during the pre-competition period in a large cohort of female physique athletes stratified by division and experience level. Eating attitudes and behaviours were assessed to identify whether athletes were at risk of developing an eating disorder. Using a cross-sectional research design, female physique athletes (n = 158) were recruited and completed an anonymous online self-reported survey consisting of two validated questionnaires: Rapid Weight Loss Questionnaire and Eating Attitudes Test-26. Irrespective of division or experience, female physique athletes used a combination of weight loss practices during the pre-competition phase. Gradual dieting (94%), food restriction (64%) and excessive exercise (84%), followed by body water manipulation via water loading (73%) were the most commonly used methods. Overall, 37% of female physique athletes were considered at risk of developing an eating disorder. Additionally, 42% of female physique athletes used two pathogenic weight control methods with 34% of Figure novice athletes indicating binge eating once a week or more. The coach (89%) and another athlete (73%) were identified as key influences on athletes' dieting practices and weight loss. The prevalence of athletes identified with disordered eating symptoms and engaging in pathogenic weight control methods is concerning. In future, female physique athletes should seek advice from registered nutritionists to optimise weight management practices and minimise the risk of developing an eating disorder.