Fatigue Conditions Research Articles

Tired of ACL Injures: A Review of Methods and Outcomes of Neuromuscular Fatigue as a Risk Factor for ACL Injuries

Background/Objectives: One potential risk factor that remains especially contentious in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury literature is the role of neuromuscular fatigue in ACL injury risk. Therefore, the purposes of this review are (i) to present the research and practical concepts of lower extremity neuromuscular fatigue; and (ii) to review the literature relating to neuromuscular fatigue as an ACL injury risk factor and mechanism. Methods: A structured review was performed in the Medline database using a search strategy that included terms such as “anterior cruciate ligament injury” and “knee injuries” combined with terms such as “injury” and “fatigue”. Articles were included if they included young healthy participants (18–35) and made a comparison between non-fatigued and fatigued states that were assessed with at least one lower extremity biomechanical variable associated with ACL injury risk. Results: Overall, there were 67 studies included, accounting for 1440 participants (627 male and 813 female) across a variety of sports and activities. Of these, 53 (79%) reported a post-fatigue change in the kinematics, kinetics, neuromuscular, and/or other (e.g., proprioceptive) outcomes that indicate that the participants would be at an increased risk of an ACL injury. The most common argument against fatigue as a risk factor is that ACL injuries do not tend to occur later in a game or season, when it is assumed that athletes would be most fatigued. Conclusions: The evidence presented in this review suggests that localized neuromuscular fatigue is a risk factor, among multiple factors, for ACL injuries, providing another modifiable risk factor that should be considered when developing ACL injury risk reduction interventions.

Impact on global health status, quality-sexual life and chronic fatigue state of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in women who are BRCA1/2 mutation carriers: experience from a third level italian center.

Objective: BRCA 1 and 2 mutation carriers are invited to follow intensive clinical and instrumental surveillance programs or are offered prophylactic ovarian surgery. These recommendations impact many aspects of their lives. The primary objective of this study was to assess the overall quality of life (HRQoL) before and after prophylactic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). Secondary objectives were investigating sexual health (SH) and fatigue severity state (FSS). Design: This was a single-center, retrospective observational, study. Setting: Women who underwent surgical treatment of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy between 2018 and 2024 at “DAI Materno Infantile” of Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria “Federico II” of Naples were included. Methods: These patients were tracked down to undergo specific questionnaires, such as “Global Health Status and Quality of Life Scale (QOL) (EORTC QLQ-C30)”, “EORTC Sexual Health Questionnaire (QLQ-SH22), and “Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS)”, to evaluate their psychological, sexual and general physical condition impact before the surgery, 3 and 6 months later. Results: The overall mean QoL score was 88.3±29.8 (mean + standard deviation), and this score worsened when the surgery was performed at 3 months (p <.0001) with a score of 51.7±30.7 with a mean difference (MD) of 36.6 points; instead, when we evaluated at 6 months, the overall mean QoL score was 73.1±24.3 with an MD of 21.4 points. FSS reported a score of 2.7±1.15 vs 4.2±1.59 (p<.0001) vs 3.5±1.43 (p<.0001), respectively, before and 3-6 months after surgery. EORTC QLQ-SH22 before and after treatment showed statistically significant changes in sexual satisfaction (p<.0001). Conclusion: BSO may impact the quality of life regardless of the hormonal status of patients related to age or menopause, both about the functional evaluation and the psychological and emotional assessment report. The physical change related to the surgical procedure is associated with a mental shift that affects both the physical and sexual energy of our patients in the first 3 months postoperatively, with a slight improvement of these data at 6 months.

EEG-Based Fatigue State Evaluation by Combining Complex Network and Frequency-Spatial Features.

The proportion of traffic accidents caused by fatigue driving is increasing year by year, which has aroused wide concerns for researchers. In order to rapidly and accurately detect drivers' fatigue, this paper proposed an electroencephalogram (EEG)-based fatigue state evaluation method by combining complex network and frequency-spatial features. First, this paper constructed a complex network model based on the relative wavelet entropy to characterize the correlation strength information between channels. Then, the differential entropy and symmetry quotient were respectively calculated to extract frequency and spatial features. Then, the brain heat map combined the complex network and frequency-spatial features with different dimensions together as the fusion features. Finally, a convolutional neural network-long short-term memory (CNN-LSTM) neural network was used to evaluate the three-class fatigue states of the EEG data in the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) Emotion EEG Dataset (SEED)-VIG dataset, and it was validated on the dataset on the Mendeley Data website. The experimental results of SEED-VIG dataset show that the average classification accuracy of three-class fatigue states, namely, awake, tired and drowsy, reaches 96.57%. The average classification accuracy on the dataset on the Mendeley Data website reaches 99.23%. This method has a best evaluation performance compared with the state-of-the-art methods for the three-class fatigue states recognition. The experiment results validated the feasibility of the fatigue state evaluation method based on the correlations between channels and the frequency-spatial features, which is of great significance for developing a driver fatigue detection system.

External trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) Exhibits relaxation effects in fatigue states following napping deprivation.

In the face of inevitable declines in alertness and fatigue resulting from sleep deprivation, effective countermeasures are essential for maintaining performance. External trigeminal nerve stimulation (eTNS) presents a potential avenue for regulating alertness by activating the locus coeruleus and reticular activating system. Here, we conducted a within-subject study with 66 habitual nappers, subjecting them to afternoon nap-deprivation and applying either 20-minute of 120Hz eTNS or sham stimulation. We compared participants' performance in PVT and N-back tasks, subjective fatigue level and alertness ratings, and changes in heart rate variability, cortisol, and salivary alpha-amylase before and after stimulation. The results revealed a significant decline in PVT and N-back tasks performance, along with increased subjective fatigue levels in the sham stimulation group. In contrast, the eTNS stimulation group maintained behavioral performance, with lower post-stimulation fatigue levels than sham group. After stimulation, the eTNS group exhibited decreased mean R-R interval and elevated LF/HF ratios, i.e., a shift in autonomic nervous system activity towards sympathetic dominance, and a significant reduction in cortisol levels, indicating a state of relaxation alleviating drowsiness. These findings suggested that 120Hz eTNS stimulation might induce a relaxing effect, and thereby alleviate fatigue while preserving alertness and cognitive performance.

Experimental Study on Bond Fatigue Between Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Bars and Seawater–Sea Sand Concrete Under Seawater Immersion and Dry–Wet Cycle Conditions

The durability of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) bars in marine environments is essential for their application in seawater–sea sand concrete (SWSSC), especially under cyclic loading conditions. While previous studies primarily focused on static bonding performance, the effects of seawater immersion and dry–wet cycles on bond fatigue behavior at CFRP–SWSSC interfaces remain underexplored. This study investigated the bond fatigue performance of CFRP bars and SWSSC under seawater immersion and dry–wet cycling conditions. Eighteen CFRP bar-SWSSC bond specimens were divided into three categories and prepared for static and fatigue pull-out tests. The effects of varying stress levels (fatigue upper load/static bond ultimate load) after seawater immersion and dry–wet cycling on fatigue failure modes, bond–slip behavior, and fatigue characteristics were evaluated. The results show that seawater immersion and dry–wet cycling significantly degrade the performance of bonds between CFRP bars and SWSSC, with an average bond strength reduction of 10.31%. These conditions reduce fatigue cycles and stiffness while increasing bond–slip (relative displacement at the bar–concrete interface) and residual–slip (displacement after unloading). Moreover, dry–wet cycling has a greater negative impact on fatigue bond performance than seawater immersion. Higher fatigue stress levels exacerbate damage and crack propagation at the CFRP–SWSSC interface, leading to significant increases in both bond–slip and residual-slip. Under similar conditions, higher stress levels enhance bond stiffness. However, excessively high stresses may lead to bond fatigue failures. Using experimental data and existing fatigue bond–slip constitutive models, a customized model for CFRP bars in SWSSC was developed. These findings highlight that marine environments and fatigue loading severely impair bond performance, thereby emphasizing the importance of careful design for marine applications. The proposed model offers a reliable framework for predicting bond–slip behavior under fatigue conditions, enhancing the understanding of CFRP–SWSSC interactions and supporting the design of durable marine infrastructure.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the anti-fatigue mechanism of BCAA-enriched egg white peptides: the role of the gut-muscle axis.

Bioactive peptides rich in branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) are an effective way to alleviate fatigue conditions, but the deep mechanism remains unclear. This study investigated the anti-fatigue effect of branched-chain amino acid-enriched egg white peptides (BEWPs) through the gut-muscle axis by gut bacteria and untargeted metabolomic analyses. The results demonstrated that BEWPs enhanced exercise endurance and strength by also promoting gastrocnemius development in mice. Furthermore, there was a reduction in oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and the accumulation of unexpected metabolites generated under fatigue conditions. The intake of BEWPs increased the abundances of Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and unclassified_f_Lachnospiraceae, while decreasing the abundance of Bacteroides. BEWPs also regulated the levels of key metabolites in mouse muscles, including L-glutamic acid by arginine biosynthesis and bile secretion pathways. Notably, Spearman's correlation analysis indicated that there was a significant correlation between these altered metabolites, microbial populations, and indicators of fatigue. In summary, our research demonstrated that BEWPs alleviated fatigue through the gut-muscle axis, which provided new insights into fatigue management and prevention.

Effects of β-glucans on fatigue: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several clinical trials suggest that β-glucans may reduce feelings of fatigue, however the results of clinical trials are inconsistent. Additionally, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses have assessed the effects of β-glucans on fatigue. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of β-glucans on fatigue in healthy subjects through a systematic review and meta-analysis. PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from database inception to March 15, 2024. The inclusion criterion was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the effects of β-glucans on healthy subjects' fatigue, vigor, and mood state. To assess risk of bias, we employed the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for the standardized mean difference (SMD). Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1,449 participants were included, and 12 studies provided data suitable for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed that β-glucans significantly reduced feelings of fatigue (SMD = -0.32, 95% CI = -0.53 to -0.12; p = 0.0021), increased vigor (SMD = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.26-0.66; p < 0.0001), and improved mood state (SMD = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.11-0.53; p = 0.0026) compared to the placebo group. The results of the systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that β-glucans may be effective in reducing feelings of fatigue in healthy individuals. However, the number of studies included is insufficient, suggesting that further clinical trials are needed to validate this effect.

Synergetics Principles of the Regularity of the Development of Microcracks in Elements of the Friction Units

In the study of tribological processes the highly nonequilibrium states of crystal lattice arise inside the frictional contact. It is no longer described by Hooke’s law, and undergoes a local structural transformation, besides its movement toward the equilibrium occurs as a synergetic process. However, the application of purely synergetics within the framework of continuum mechanics, by itself leads to the conflicting conclusions. The synergetic principles and the fractal approach of physical mesomechanics allow to describe kinetics of the plastic deformation and fatigue of various materials under different loading conditions from a single point of view, including the cyclic loading of tribocoupling, controlling of points of the bifurcation. In this paper, the stress-strain state of brake disks of transportation vehicles is analyzed to prevent the occurrence of microcracks on their working surfaces and the model is developed for studying nonstationary friction modes and fracture of contacting elements. The concept of metal fatigue is developed within the framework of physical mesomechanics. The proposed model explains the change in the mechanism of crack propagation under conditions of low-cycle fatigue of metal-polymer friction pairs when air enters the crack, and leads to the oxidation of fracture surfaces with the formation of a film. Perhaps, in this case, the formation of surfaces with a subgrain structure occurs.

Is intense exercise bad for your mind? Subjective, behavioral and physiological responses to a cognitive effort to failure

Introduction Most previous research has investigated if a cognitive task reduces the time a person can perform a posterior physical exercise (Holgado et al., 2023). However, no previous research has investigated if performing an intense physical exercise reduces the time a person can complete a cognitive task with an adequate level of performance. The aim of this study was to assess the subjective, behavioral and brain activity responses of performing an intense physical exercise on a posterior cognitive task until failure. Methods In a pre-registered, randomized, within-participant design experiment, 29 physically active participants completed a cognitive task until failure after running at 90% maximal aerobic speed until failure or after walking for 10 min (control condition). During the cognitive task, brain activity was recorded with an electroencephalogram and brain complexity was quantified. Multidimensional subjective experience was assessed with the Temporal Experience Tracing method (TET) (Jachs et al., 2022). Sequential Bayesian analysis for the main hypothesis (intense physical exercise reduces cognitive task performance) until it reached strong evidence in favor of the alternative hypothesis (BF10 &gt; 6), or the null hypothesis (BF10 &lt; 1/6) were conducted. Results The physical exercise induced a reduction in maximal force generating capacity and increased rate of perceived exertion compared to the control condition, evidencing the presence of fatigue. The total duration to complete the cognitive task in both conditions were 4755.8 s (95% CI 3326.8 - 5107.8) and 4308.2 s (95% CI 3902.9 - 5481.2) for the control and experimental conditions, respectively with no difference across sessions (BF10 = 0.329). Subjective experience analysis identified two distinct clusters of task-related feelings, but the time spent in these experiential states did not differ between conditions. However, cognitive task performance was better in the in the phases of low subjective demands. Brain complexity was lower after the physical fatigue condition, indicating a potential shift in physiological states, although neither behavioral performance nor subjective feelings were affected. Discussion/Conclusion In conclusion, our study did not find evidence that short intense physical exercise negatively affected negatively the duration participants could sustain an adequate (or optimal) cognitive effort. However, it offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of psychological and subjective states during such tasks.

Influence of psychological resilience on compassion fatigue in nurses in the operating room: a cross-sectional study in China

ObjectiveTo investigate the current state of compassion fatigue among operating room nurses, analyze the factors influencing compassion fatigue (particularly psychological resilience), and provide a basis for developing a compassion fatigue intervention program for operating room nursing managers.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2022. A total of 258 operating room nurses were surveyed using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale and the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). The ProQOL demonstrated internal consistency reliability, with Cronbach’s α values ranging from 0.75 to 0.88 across its three subscales. The Cronbach’s α coefficient for the RSA was 0.91.ResultsScores on various dimensions of compassion fatigue among operating room nurses were as follows: the total score was 84.07 (standard deviation [SD] = 7.74), with a mean score of 28.02. 92 nurses (35.5%) had no compassion fatigue or only mild compassion fatigue, whereas 166 nurses (64.3%) experienced moderate or greater compassion fatigue. The total score for psychological resilience was 112.9 (SD = 6.47), with a mean score of 18.82. Factors influencing compassion fatigue included the relationship between labor and personnel, the number of night shifts per week, and mental resilience. The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05).ConclusionCompassion fatigue among nurses in the operating room is severe and is mainly influenced by factors such as night shift work, the relationship between labor and personnel, and mental resilience. Appropriate interventions are recommended to address these factors and reduce nurses’ compassion fatigue.Clinical trial numberNot applicable.

A study of the effect of fatigue state on soccer players’ shooting movements based on Mediapipe

Soccer is recognized as one of the most widely played and commercially significant sports globally. An athlete’s performance is typically impaired during states of fatigue. Investigating the body mechanics of soccer players under states of fatigue can provide insights for coaches regarding the physical capabilities and movement deficiencies of their athletes. This understanding can facilitate the adjustment of game strategies and the development of tailored training regimens following competitive matches. Advancements in artificial intelligence have led to the maturation of image recognition technologies, which are increasingly applied across various industries, including promising applications within the realm of soccer. Consequently, this study analyzed a cohort of 5 amateur soccer players (mean age 19.8 years; mean height 1.82 m; mean weight 73.6 kg). The study involved participants who completed 10 shootings on goal as a control group before the implementation of a fatigue protocol, followed by an additional 10 shootings on goal as an experimental group after the completion of the fatigue protocol. Mediapipe image recognition tools and high-speed cameras were utilized to capture data on the various skeletal nodes of the athletes’ bodies and the velocity of the shooting ball, which were subsequently analyzed. The results of the study revealed that when in a state of fatigue, there were significant alterations in the angular displacement of the hip and knee joints in comparison to the ankle joint during shooting by soccer players. The decreased angular displacement of the hip and knee joints resulted in inferior contact between the foot and the ball, as well as a reduction in the speed applied to the ball, leading to a decline in shooting accuracy and ball speed. The findings substantiate the impact of fatigue on the shooting movements of athletes.

Control Mechanisms of Sensorimotor System on Manipulation of Proprioceptive Inputs During Balance Maintenance

Proprioceptive inputs have crucial roles in control of the posture. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of interfering with these signals on postural stability by ice-induced anaesthesia and local calf muscle fatigue. Seventeen healthy young individuals participated in this study to stand quietly and on an unstable platform under normal, anaesthesia, and fatigue conditions. A force platform calculated excursions of centre of pressure. Stabilogram-diffusion analysis was utilised to evaluate how body controls the posture with and without proprioceptive inputs. Time intervals of using the sensory feedback is significantly increased by anaesthesia in quiet standing (430 ms, p = 0.034) to note more delayed use of sensory information in a closed-loop. Additionally, fatigue significantly increased the time intervals of using sensory feedback during standing on the unstable platform (290 ms, p = 0.016). Interestingly, sensory interventions had no effect on the stability of the open-loop control of posture (short-term control), but they significantly influenced the closed-loop control (long-term control) (p < 0.004). Specifically, fatigue led to increased instabilities when the body used sensory inputs during both quiet standing (p = 0.021) and standing on the unstable platform (p = 0.041). These findings highlight the importance of proprioception in balance control for healthy individuals. Interfering with proprioceptive inputs, either through anaesthesia or fatigue, resulted in instabilities during balance maintenance. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying postural control, emphasising the significance of proprioceptive inputs. Understanding how proprioception affects balance maintenance may have implications for rehabilitation strategies, injury prevention, and the development of interventions to improve postural stability.

Study on exhaled volatile organic compounds identifying cognitive fatigue induced by N-back task in healthy young adults.

Cognitive fatigue in specific occupations may present a risk to personal safety. The study aimed to explore the characteristic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath in response to cognitive fatigue, to provide a scientific basis for the non-invasive exhaled breath diagnostic techniques for cognitive fatigue assessing. Thirty healthy young adults were recruited and assigned to complete two 1.5-hour cognitive fatigue-inducing trials of the N-back task and one control trial of low emotion film watching of the same duration time. The Chalder Fatigue Scale was employed to assess the cognitive fatigue of the subjects before and after the induction and film watching. Exhaled VOCs were collected and detected using a Bio-VOC sampler and Thermal Desorption Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy method. The differences in exhaled VOCs between the pre- and post-induction and film watching was evaluated using either the paired t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. It was found that the scale scores of the task group (n = 50) significantly increased after the induction, whereas no such findings were observed in the control group (n = 10), indicating that the cognitive fatigue state of the task group was effectively induced through the performance of the N-back task. A total of 15 VOCs were identified in the exhaled breath samples of the task group. And only the level of isoprene changed significantly from 339.77 ± 162.21 μg/m³ to 604.18 ± 230.75 μg/m³ with the induction of cognitive fatigue. In contrast, the change of isoprene in the control group was not statistically significant. The study demonstrated that after inducing cognitive fatigue by N-back task in healthy young subjects, isoprene levels in exhaled breath increased significantly. It suggests that isoprene could be considered a characteristic volatile organic compound in exhaled breath associated with cognitive fatigue.

Understanding fatigue among Japanese patients with inflammatory bowel disease: insights from international comparisons and meta-analysis.

Fatigue is a common symptom in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) scale has demonstrated reliability and validity in assessing fatigue in patients with IBD and is used worldwide. This study aimed to examine the current state of fatigue among Japanese patients with IBD using the FACIT-F scale and to compare these findings with data from global studies through a systematic review. Data from 488 patients with IBD treated at a specialized IBD clinic were analyzed. Patient characteristics, such as sex, age, disease duration, disease activity, FACIT-F scores, and sleep duration, were collected. A literature search identified 8 studies that met our inclusion criteria for an international comparison. A meta-analysis was performed on the Fatigue Subscale (FS) scores of FACIT-F to estimate the pooled mean. The mean FACIT-F (FS) score in this study was 39.9 ± 8.6. Four variables were significantly associated with fatigue: low Emotional Well-Being subscale scores, sleep duration < 6 hours, albumin level below the reference value, and being unmarried. The meta-analysis revealed that the pooled mean score was 40.2 (95% confidence interval, 39.5-40.9), and between-study heterogeneity was moderate (I2 = 41%). The FACIT-F (FS) scores and related factors in Japanese patients with IBD demonstrated a similar trend to those in other countries. These findings can be used to identify patients in need of support and to consider interventions for modifiable factors. This study will help promote international collaborative research.

Work-related burnout and its associated factors among kindergarten teachers: a multi-center cross-sectional study in Ethiopia.

Work-related burnout is a state of severe physical and mental fatigue and exhaustion resulting from unmanaged prolonged work stress. Kindergarten teachers are at higher risk of work-related burnout compared to other teaching professionals, due to their dual roles as both caregivers and educators for young children. The demands and stresses of these combined responsibilities, coupled with factors such as low salaries, contribute to an increased risk of burnout in this population. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate work-related burnout prevalence and associated factors among kindergarten teachers in Dessie City, Northeast Ethiopia. An institution-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in March and April of 2024. A sample of 422 kindergarten teachers was recruited using simple random sampling techniques. A standardized, self-administered Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was utilized to measure work-related burnout. We used EpiData V4.6 and SPSS V26 for data entry and analysis, respectively. A bivariable logistic regression analysis (p-value < 0.2) was performed to find factors associated with work-related burnout. Variables found significant in the bivariable analysis were then exported into a multivariable logistic regression model to identify statistically significant variables at a p value < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. The response rate was 95% (401/422). 97.5% of the participants were female, and the participants' mean (standard deviation) age was 28.5 years (SD ± 5.8). In the past 6 months, the total prevalence of WRB was 39.7% [95% CI (34.8, 44.6)]. Work-family conflicts [AOR: 2.81; 95% CI (1.77, 4.45)], working conditions [AOR: 1.63; 95% CI (1.03, 2.56)], perceived stress [AOR: 1.91; 95% CI (1.21, 3.01)], job dissatisfaction [AOR: 1.75, 95% CI (1.10, 2.79)], and kindergarten type [AOR: 1.66; 95% CI (1.02, 2.68)] were factors significantly associated with WRB. According to this study, a significant number of kindergarten teachers were affected by burnout due to their working nature. To address this issue, interventions focused at reducing work-family conflicts, increasing job satisfaction, and improving the school environment are necessary to support teachers' well-being, benefiting both young students and the broader educational landscape.

A Deep Learning Approach for Mental Fatigue State Assessment.

This study investigates mental fatigue in sports activities by leveraging deep learning techniques, deviating from the conventional use of heart rate variability (HRV) feature analysis found in previous research. The study utilizes a hybrid deep neural network model, which integrates Residual Networks (ResNet) and Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) for feature extraction, and a transformer for feature fusion. The model achieves an impressive accuracy of 95.29% in identifying fatigue from original ECG data, 2D spectral characteristics and physiological information of subjects. In comparison to traditional methods, such as Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and Random Forests (RFs), as well as other deep learning methods, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), the proposed approach demonstrates significantly improved experimental outcomes. Overall, this study offers a promising solution for accurately recognizing fatigue through the analysis of physiological signals, with potential applications in sports and physical fitness training contexts.

Effect of fatigability on sprint time performance and force-velocity profile according to maturity status in young rugby players.

Little is known about the influence of fatigue in repeated overground sprinting on force-velocity properties in children and adolescents, while this ability to repeat sprints is important for future progress in rugby union. Sprint time decline is commonly used to assess fatigability. However, it does not provide data on biomechanical aspects of sprint performance such as maximal power, force, and velocity production. As sprint time performance and force-velocity properties do not linearly change during adolescence, considering maturity status is important. This study aimed to assess the effect of fatigue on sprint time performance fatigability, force-velocity parameters, and mechanical effectiveness according to maturity status. A group of fifteen boys (12.5 ± 0.5 years) children and a group of seventeen boys (15.1 ± 0.6 years) adolescent rugby players completed seven blocks, consisting of a 30-meter sprint followed by five minutes of high-intensity exercise with one minute of passive recovery. The force-velocity parameters were calculated at each sprint, and performance decrement was assessed using a fatigue index. A main effect of block repetition was found for maximal power output, maximal force, maximal velocity, 30-meter sprint time, fatigue index and mechanical effectiveness parameters with large effect sizes (p <0.001; [Formula: see text] = 0.19 to 0.47) and without a main effect of maturity status (p = 0.37 to 0.99; [Formula: see text] = 0.00 to 0.05). This could be explained by the modalities (duration, intensity, recovery) of the protocol and the training level of the adolescent group. For both groups, the decrease in maximal power output was due more to a reduction in maximal velocity than force, and mechanical effectiveness was negatively impacted. Coaches could prioritize the training of horizontal force at high velocity under fatigue conditions, as this ability tends to be the most affected. They could also incorporate training on mechanical effectiveness as this is a determinant in team sports.

Resilience as an integral component of action competence in internal medicine

Physicians in internal medicine are exposed to high levels of stress. Conditions of chronic emotional fatigue and burnout are widespread. Resilience, the ability to cope with difficult situations and to adapt to adverse circumstances, is essential. Resilient physicians remain calm, make clear decisions and are in a position to support the collegial environment as well as to requisition and utilize support themselves. Resilience can be described at a biological level and is influenced by biological mechanisms, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; , even resilience of patients should be more strongly considered in internal medicine. Resilient patients can cope better with the stress due to the disease and sequelae of the treatment, which not only facilitates the healing and regeneration process but also strengthens the adaptability to altered life situations in the case of newly occurring health challenges. Interventions that activate the individual coping strategies and social support can positively influence the course of chronic diseases. A high level of resilience contributes to the quality of patient care. In addition to biological factors, this is based particularly on psychological and social factors and can be specifically promoted and trained.

Adverse health outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among long-term adolescent and young adult (AYA) brain tumour survivors: results from the population-based SURVAYA study

PurposeAdolescent and young adult (AYA) malignant brain tumour (BT) survivors are at risk of adverse health outcomes, which may impact their health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study aimed to investigate the (1) prevalence of physical and psychological adverse health outcomes, (2) the HRQoL, and (3) the association of adverse health outcomes and HRQoL among long-term AYA-BT survivors. Adverse health outcomes and HRQoL were compared to other AYA cancer (AYAC) survivors.MethodsA cross-sectional secondary data analysis of the SURVAYA study among 133 AYA-BT and 3877 AYAC survivors was conducted. Participant self-reported adverse health outcomes and HRQoL scores were analysed and compared between the two populations. Associations with HRQoL were assessed using linear regression modelling with AIC-based backward elimination.ResultsAYA-BT survivors faced significant issues of fatigue (47.6%), future uncertainty (45.2%), and medical conditions like vision (34.4%), speech, taste, or smell (26.2%) impairments, cancer recurrence, and metastasis (25.4%). Neurocognitive symptoms were identified as BT-specific issues (13.6–33.6%). Compared to AYAC survivors, AYA-BT survivors reported significantly (p < 0.05) lower functioning scores on the role, cognitive, emotional, and social HRQoL, with cognitive (56.0%) and emotional (40.0%) domains being the most affected. Adverse health outcomes were negatively associated with HRQoL, ranging from small to large clinical relevance.ConclusionLong-term AYA-BT survivors were identified as a highly burdened population, affected by multifaceted issues and multidimensional detriments in HRQoL years beyond their cancer diagnosis. This study highlights the necessity of long-term follow-up and a holistic, multidisciplinary approach to survivorship care to ultimately improve the quality of AYA-BT survivorship.

Kinesio Taping does not Enhance Jump Performance and Muscle Activity in Female Athletes.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Kinesio Taping (KT) application on the single-leg counter-movement jump (CMJ) and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity in trained female athletes, in both resting and fatigued states. In this single-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial, twenty-four healthy trained female athletes were randomly assigned to either the KT (n=12) or the sham tape group (n=12). KT was applied using an inhibition technique on rectus femoris, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles of the dominant leg. A single-leg CMJ test and sEMG activity were recorded at baseline (no tape), as well as at 1 hour, 24 hours, and 48 hours after taping. To induce acute neuromuscular fatigue, a 30-second repetitive CMJ test was used to evaluate KT in fatigued states. In the resting states, both groups exhibited improvements in jump height, power, mean velocity, and sEMG activity (%EMGmax) over time, with no significant between-group differences. The single-leg CMJ performance was similarly decreased after the muscle fatigue protocol in both groups, showing no between-group differences. Our findings suggest that KT treatment does not appear to influence jumping performance, sEMG activity, or muscle fatigue in female athletes.