Subgroup Of Athletes Research Articles

Inflammation and cognitive performance in elite athletes: A cross-sectional study

Functional cognition is relevant for athletic success and interdependent with physical exercise, yet despite repeatedly demonstrated inflammatory responses to physical training, there are no studies addressing the relationship between cognition and inflammation in athletes. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between cognitive performance and selected inflammatory, and further physiological biomarkers in elite athletes. Data from 350 elite athletes regarding cognitive performance (processing speed, selective attention, working memory, cognitive flexibility), systemic inflammatory markers, metabolic hormones, growth factors, tissue damage markers, and micronutrients (e.g., ferritin, 25-OH-vitamin D), as well as physiological, subjective ratings of recovery and stress were analysed by correlative and multiple regression analyses. Results show that across all athletes variance in processing speed, selective attention, and working memory, could be best explained through a combination of metabolic hormones with physiological and psychological indicators of stress, and in cognitive flexibility through vitamin D levels. Only for the subgroup of athletes from closed-skill sports, the ratio TNF-α:IL-10 significantly contributed to explanation of variance in working memory and cognitive flexibility. In general, found correlations point to the importance of inflammatory balance and sufficient long-term nutrient supply for unaffected cognitive performance.

Longitudinal trajectories of intensity and direction of emotions among athletes in sports competitions: do defense mechanisms matter?

ABSTRACT Objectives This study explored whether several subgroups of athletes representing distinct trajectories of intensity and direction of pleasant and unpleasant emotions (anger, anxiety, dejection, excitement, and happiness) could be shown to exist within the latent growth analysis (LCGA). A secondary objective was to examine whether athletes belonging to distinct trajectories of intensity and direction of emotions reported distinct scores of adaptive defense mechanisms (ADM) and maladaptive defense mechanisms (MDM). Design A longitudinal four-wave measurement design was used in the present study. Method 380 athletes completed the sports emotion questionnaire direction across four measurement times and the defense style questionnaire at the beginning of the season. Results Results of LCGAs revealed several distinct emotional trajectories for each emotion intensity and emotion direction. Moreover, athletes belonging to distinct (adaptive or maladaptive) trajectories reported significantly different scores of ADM and MDM. Higher scores of ADM were reported by athletes belonging to adaptive trajectories of the direction of emotions. Conclusions Sports psychologists should try to promote ADM and defensive flexibility to help athletes perceive their emotions as facilitative.

Morality- and Norm-Based Subgroups of Disability-Sport Athletes Differ on Their Anticipated Guilt and Intentions Toward Doping.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether subgroups of disability-sport athletes exist on morality- and norm-based doping cognitions and whether these groups differ in anticipated guilt or doping intentions. A survey was completed by 186 athletes (Mage = 37.5years, 78.0% male, 45.1% wheelchair basketball) assessing norms, doping moral disengagement, anticipated guilt, and intentions to dope. Cluster analysis revealed four distinct subgroups of athletes, including one potentially high-risk subgroup characterized by relatively high scores on doping moral disengagement, subjective norms, and descriptive norms. One-way analysis of variance revealed significantly lower anticipated guilt in two athlete subgroups characterized by relatively higher doping moral disengagement than the other two subgroups. Moreover, the potentially high-risk group had a greater proportion of athletes showing some presence of intention to dope. This study suggests there is a small subgroup of disability-sport athletes at elevated risk of doping who might benefit from targeted antidoping interventions.

Profiles of Mental Well- and Ill-Being Among Elite Athletes: Associations With Sport-Related Demands and Resources

The aim of the present study was to identify profiles of elite athlete mental well- and ill-being and study how the profiles (i.e., subgroups of athletes) differed in sport-related demands and resources. A total of 259 Finnish elite athletes (n = 170 active and n = 89 retired) completed quantitative self-report inventories. Through cluster analysis, four profiles of mental well- and ill-being were identified. Profile 1 was overrepresented by retired, older, and male athletes, and characterized by good mental well-being. Profile 2 consisted mainly of active athletes who reported mild risk for alcohol abuse. Profile 3 consisted mainly of women who displayed possible presence of an eating disorder. Profile 4 was typical of young athletes with mental ill-being. The balance between sport-related demands and resources appeared to be the healthiest in Profile 1 and worst in Profile 4. The present findings are beneficial for those who work with and/or provide psychological support to athletes.

From athlete to entrepreneur? – Investigating the influence of sport characteristics on athlete’s entrepreneurial orientation competencies

ABSTRACT Purpose/Rationale This study aims to test to what extent athletes of different demographics, sports types, and sports skills differ in their entrepreneurial competencies. Design/Methodology/Approach We assessed athletes’ entrepreneurial competencies using a social entrepreneurship scale by Capella-Peris. We used principal component analysis and reliability testing to classify entrepreneurial competencies and One-way-ANOVA to distinguish athlete subgroups by entrepreneurial competencies (n = 189). Findings The study finds significant differences depending on national origin, age and educational background. Furthermore, athletes participating in closed skill sports have higher team-oriented creativity than those engaged in open skill sports. Relevant avenues for future research are highlighted. Finally, validated constructs of entrepreneurship competencies cannot be applied to the sport context. In contrast to the three-factorial construct by Capella-Peris, we suggest five reliable entrepreneurship competencies. Practical Implications The findings are beneficial for practitioners involved in sport entrepreneurship education. Athletes and coaches are advised on how to plan their entrepreneurial activity depending on prevalent competencies set in their sports field to best prepare them for this potential alternative career path. Research contribution The proposed more specific entrepreneurship competencies in the context of sport provide a foundation for future research in the increasingly important field of sport entrepreneurship. Originality/Value This paper provides important data and avenues for reflection on how to tailor entrepreneurial education programmes for athletes from different personal and sporting backgrounds.

A Case Study of the Short-Term Development of Body Composition and Substrate Utilization Following Prolonged Low-Intensity Ski Trekking with Inadequate Energy Intake in Svalbard

This case study aimed to examine the short-term development of body composition and substrate utilization (i.e., contribution of fat and carbohydrates to energy supply) following prolonged low-intensity ski trekking (LIST) with inadequate energy intake in an Arctic region. For 23 days, two highly aerobically fit, male recreational athletes (24 and 26 years) performed ~2 – 11 hours of LIST each day, while pulling supply sledges (initially ~80 kg) across the length of Svalbard’s largest island, Spitsbergen (~640 km). We estimated body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). For evaluation of substrate utilization, we analyzed pulmonary respiratory gas-exchange ratio (RER) using an ergospirometry system during treadmill trekking (ski trekking simulation). Results indicated that the energy intake of each participant during this unsupported expedition was ~21.4 MJ·day-1 (~5107 kcal·day-1), of which ~33% (~5.0 g·kg-1·day-1), ~51% (~3.4 g·kg-1·day-1), and ~16% (~2.4 g·kg-1·day-1) came from carbohydrates, fat, and proteins, respectively. Body mass decreased by 7.2 kg (8.4%) in Subject A, and 4.4 kg (5.2%) in Subject B. Absolute fat mass decreased by 5.4 kg (37%) and 4.7 kg (30%) in Subject A and Subject B, respectively, whereas the changes in fat-free mass (–1.8 kg in Subject A, and +0.3 kg in Subject B) were within the random measurement error of the BIA analyser. Changes in RER in Subject A (–0.01 to –0.02 units) were within the random measurement error, whereas the RER data in Subject B were not interpretable due to excessive fluctuations in ventilatory equivalent for oxygen. In conclusion, this study indicates that short-term, prolonged LIST, performed with an energy deficit corresponding to a weight loss of ~2 kg·week-1, can lead to leaner body composition without notable changes in fat-free mass in well-trained, male recreational athletes. Furthermore, substrate utilization does not appear to be affected by short-term, prolonged LIST in this subgroup of athletes.

Cross cultural adaptation, validity and reliability of the Greek version of the Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire-2 (VMIQ-2)

The VMIQ-2 has been proven a valid and useful psychometric tool to measure the ability of vividness of movement imagery in sports. However, no validity study has been reported in Greek. The purpose of the present study was to examine the validity and reliability of the VMIQ-2 into Greek in adult athletes derived from various sports activities and different athletic levels. The VMIQ-2-GR (n = 160) was examined for translation, construct and discriminant validity, and also for internal consistency and test–retest reliability. CFA did not show acceptable global fit indices and only the index of (x2/df) showed an acceptable fit. The resulting factors of the EFA highlighted the discrepancy between the Greek version and the original version of the VMIQ-2. The results of the discriminant validity confirmed that the VMIQ-2-GR was well discriminated between subgroups of athletes and, therefore, showed a good discriminant validity. The Cronbach a coefficient was excellent at both measurements (> 0.92 in all cases for all factors). The Spearman rho correlation coefficients were statistically significant (< 0.001) with values > 0.47. The findings of the VMIQ-2–GR suggest that it is a valid and reliable tool and it can be used by sports psychologists, sports physiotherapists, coaches and researchers who aim to apply MI in the Greek athletic population.

Immunological indexes for assessing parameters of cardiovascular system in athletes of different qualification

Timely diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases is based on markers that detect changes in the athlete’s body at an early stage of disease. To implement this task, it is important to use novel laboratory techniques. We have carried out a comparative determination of immunological markers, specific antibodies to angiotensin, bradykinin, histamine, dopamine, serotonin and functional indicators of the cardiovascular system in athletes of various qualifications. The object of study included athletes of the Russian national teams who underwent an in-depth examination (IME) as part of medical survey. The participants were divided into groups depending on the sport arts and qualifications. Representatives of the group “Cyclic sports” included athletes without a category of 30 people and 29 qualified athletes (1st step, Candidate Master, Master of Sports, etc.). The “Combat sports” group consisted of 32 people without a category and 31 athletes with qualifications similar to those indicated above. Athletes of “Speed-strength” sports are represented by a group of 31 people without a category and 29 athletes with qualifications. The functional parameters of the cardiovascular system included analysis of heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, which were compared with control values established for the athletes. The immunological indexes were determined in blood serum of the athletes and in subjects from control group by means of the solid-phase ELISA method using conjugated antigens of angiotensin, bradykinin, histamine, dopamine, serotonin for absorption on the plates. To compare the indexes, a control group of 30 people without cardiovascular symptoms was examined. Diastolic blood pressure for athletes of cyclic sports and combat sports was below the control values, and, for athletes of speed-strength sports, it was higher than in control group. A decrease in diastolic blood pressure for the above subgroup of athletes may indicate characteristic adaptive physiological changes in myocardium. The levels of immune-related indexes for serotonin, dopamine for the athletes of all groups corresponded to the control values. The only exception concerned qualified athletes of cyclic sports, which significantly differed from the normal values, compared to athletes without a sports category. Significantly high immunological parameters for histamine and angiotensin did not depend on the athlete’s qualification. In athletes involved in speed-strength sports, the levels of indexes for bradykinin did not differ from the normal values, and, for athletes in cyclic sports and combat sports, they significantly exceeded the norm.We have shown that different levels and types of sports activities affect the performance of cardiovascular system in their own way. The changes in immunological parameters reflect regulatory state of cardiovascular system. Accordingly, their simultaneous increase against the control may indicate participation in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The differences in their levels for athletes involved in combat sports, cyclic and speed-strength sporting activities show deeper changes in regulatory systems associated with duration and level of physical activities.

Gut microbiota and inflammation patterns for specialized athletes: a multi-cohort study across different types of sports.

Regular high-intensity exercise can cause changes in athletes' gut microbiota, and the extent and nature of these changes may be affected by the athletes' exercise patterns. However, it is still unclear to what extent different types of athletes have distinct gut microbiome profiles and whether we can effectively monitor an athlete's inflammatory risk based on their microbiota. To address these questions, we conducted a multi-cohort study of 543 fecal samples from athletes in three different sports: aerobics (n = 316), wrestling (n = 53), and rowing (n = 174). We sought to investigate how athletes' gut microbiota was specialized for different types of sports, and its associations with inflammation, diet, anthropometrics, and anaerobic measurements. We established a microbiota catalog of multi-cohort athletes and found that athletes have specialized gut microbiota specific to the type of sport they engaged in. Using latent Dirichlet allocation, we identified 10 microbial subgroups of athletes' gut microbiota, each of which had specific correlations with inflammation, diet, and anaerobic performance in different types of athletes. Notably, most inflammation indicators were associated with Prevotella-driven subgroup 7. Finally, we found that the effects of sport types and exercise intensity on the gut microbiota were sex-dependent. These findings shed light on the complex associations between physical factors, gut microbiota, and inflammation in athletes of different sports types and could have significant implications for monitoring potential inflammation risk and developing personalized exercise programs. IMPORTANCE This study is the first multi-cohort investigation of athletes across a range of sports, including aerobics, wrestling, and rowing, with the goal of establishing a multi-sport microbiota catalog. Our findings highlight that athletes' gut microbiota is sport-specific, indicating that exercise patterns may play a significant role in shaping the microbiome. Additionally, we observed distinct associations between gut microbiota and markers of inflammation, diet, and anaerobic performance in athletes of different sports. Moreover, we expanded our analysis to include a non-athlete cohort and found that exercise intensity had varying effects on the gut microbiota of participants, depending on sex.

The Dutch language short Anterior Cruciate Ligament—Return to Sport after Injury scale has good to excellent construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability when assessing athletes undergoing rehabilitation after ACL injury or ACL reconstruction

ObjectivesTo examine the validity and reliability of the Dutch language short Anterior Cruciate Ligament—Return to Sport after Injury scale (short ACL-RSI-NL) in recreational athletes undergoing rehabilitation after ACL injury or ACL reconstruction (ACLR). MethodsThe original 12-item version of the ACL-RSI had been translated into Dutch. Short ACL-RSI-NL items were derived from this 12-item Dutch version. Content validity was evaluated by a team consisting of eight ACL experts and eight athletes. A cohort of 115 athletes with ACL injury or after ACLR completed the short ACL-RSI-NL and related questionnaires at various time points during their rehabilitation. Construct validity (hypothesis testing using Spearman correlations), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), floor and ceiling effects (percentage of athletes having the lowest or highest score possible), and structural validity (exploratory factor analysis) were evaluated in the entire ACL athlete group. Test-retest reliability (using intra-class correlation, ICC; standard error of measurement, SEM; smallest detectable change, SDC, at both group and individual levels) was investigated in a subgroup of athletes with a stable outcome on psychological readiness within a two-week interval (n ​= ​27). ResultsThe short ACL-RSI-NL demonstrated good construct validity (83% of hypotheses confirmed). Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's alpha 0.84), and there were no floor and ceiling effects (≤13.9% lowest or highest score). Test-retest reliability was good (ICC 0.89 with 95% CI 0.77–0.95, SEM 6.93, SDC individual level 19.2, SDC group level 3.7). Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the presence of a single underlying factor (accounting for 56.4% of the total variance of the score). ConclusionThe short ACL-RSI-NL exhibited good to excellent construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. An averaged score ranging from 0 to 100 can be used to measure psychological readiness to return to sport. The short ACL-RSI-NL has potential for use in day-to-day practice to assess the psychological readiness of recreational athletes to return to sport after ACL injury or ACLR during their rehabilitation process. Level of evidenceLevel II.

Epidemiology of Patellar Tendinopathy in Athletes and the General Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Patellar tendinopathy (PT) mainly affects athletes who use the tendon for repeated energy storage and release activities. It can have a striking impact on athletes' careers, although data on its real prevalence and incidence are sparse. Research efforts should start from the results of reliable and updated epidemiological research to help better understand the impact of PT and underpin preventative measures. To determine the prevalence and incidence of PT in athletes and the general population. Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. A systematic review of the literature was performed on January 17, 2022, and conducted according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The PubMed, Web of Science, and Wiley Cochrane Library databases were searched for epidemiological reports of any evidence level and clinical studies reporting data on the incidence or prevalence of PT for the 11,488 retrieved records. The primary endpoint was the prevalence and incidence of PT in sport-active patients. The secondary endpoints were PT prevalence and incidence in subgroups of athletes based on sex, age, sport type, and sport level played, as well as the same epidemiological measures in the general population. A total of 28 studies, with 28,171 participants, were selected and used for the qualitative and quantitative analysis. The general and athletes' populations reported an overall PT prevalence of 0.1% and 18.3%, respectively. In athletes, the prevalence of PT was 11.2% in women and 17% in men (P = .070). The prevalence of PT in athletes <18 years was 10.1%, while it was 21.3% in athletes ≥18 years (P = .004). The prevalence of PT was 6.1% in soccer players, 20.8% in basketball players, and 24.8% in volleyball players. Heterogeneous PT diagnostic approaches were observed. Higher prevalence values were found when PT diagnoses were made using patient-reported outcomes versus clinical evaluations (P = .004). This review demonstrated that PT is a common problem in the male and female sport-active populations. There are twice as many athletes aged ≥18 years than there are <18 years. Volleyball and basketball players are most affected by PT.

The sacroiliac dysfunction and pain is associated with history of lower extremity sport related injuries

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to examine the association of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction and pain with overuse and acute lower limb and pelvic girdle injuries of Iranian basketball players.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, basketball-related injury data were collected during 2019–2020 from 204 basketball players of the Iranian league using the online Information Retrospective Injury Questionnaire. A researcher then performed ten clinical tests to assess SIJ dysfunction and pain (five tests for dysfunction and five tests for pain). Data analysis was performed by logistic regression at the confidence interval of 95%.ResultsWithin our sample (n = 204), injury rates were calculated across sub-groups of athletes that had only SIJ pain (n = 19), only SIJ dysfunction (n = 67), both SIJ pain and dysfunction (n = 15) or no SIJ complaints (n = 103). Across these groups, a total of 464 injuries were reported. SIJ pain group reported 80 injuries (17.2%), SIJ dysfunction group reported 210 injuries (45.2%), both SIJ pain and dysfunction group reported 58 injuries (12.5%, and the no SIJ pain or SIJ dysfunction group reported 116 injuries (25.0%). Participants with SIJ pain were more likely to report previous pelvic girdle injuries (overuse: odds ratio (OR): 0.017; 95% CI: 0.005–0.56; p < 0.001 and acute: OR: 0.197; 95%CI: 0.101–0.384; p < 0.001) and also lower limb injuries (overuse: OR: 0.179, 95%CI: 0.082–0.392, p < 0.001). Participants with SIJ dysfunction only were likely to report acute pelvic girdle injuries (OR: 0.165; 95%CI: 0.070–0.387; p < 0.001) and acute lower limb injuries (OR: 0.165; 95%CI: 0.030–0.184; p < 0.001).ConclusionThe presence of SIJ dysfunction and pain is associated with a history of acute and overuse injuries in the pelvic girdle and lower limb. Thus, SIJ dysfunction and pain should be specifically evaluated and addressed when designing rehabilitation programs for sports-related injuries.

Injury and illness profiles in short-course triathletes – A systematic review

Introduction: A clear understanding of injury and illness aetiology and mechanisms in short-course triathletes (standard distance and below) provides a better opportunity to identify high risk subgroups of athletes within the sport and assist in the development and implementation of targeted prevention strategies.

Adolescent Athletes at Risk of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction: A Result of Training or Pre-Existing Asthma?

Exercise may trigger bronchoconstriction, especially in a group of athletes in whom bronchospasm during exercise is reported to occur more frequently than in nonathletes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and environmental risk factors contributing to exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) in adolescent athletes. A prospective study was conducted among a group of 101 adolescent athletes who underwent spirometry, exercise challenge, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurements, and allergy assessment. The study group was divided into three subgroups of athletes based on the most common sports environments: swimmers, “indoor” athletes, and “outdoor” athletes. The clinical evaluation demonstrated a high frequency of EIB in the study group. Moreover, a large proportion of the athletes in whom EIB was observed reported no pre-existing symptoms suggestive of bronchospasm or asthma. Among patients without a previous diagnosis of asthma, clinical evaluation confirmed 22% with positive exercise challenges, compared with 77% of adolescents with negative test results. Moreover, among the athletes with a history of asthma, 39% had positive exercise challenges. Both EIB and asthma are common conditions that affect adolescent athletes. Physicians should pay particular attention to this group, as the symptoms can lead to under- and overdiagnosis.

The Impact of Ethnicity on Athlete ECG Interpretation: A Systematic Review

Athlete ECG interpretation criteria have been developed and refined from research in athlete populations; however, current guidelines are based on available data primarily from Caucasian and Black athletes. This study aimed to assess the impact of ethnicity on ECG interpretation in athletes. A systematic review was conducted of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science databases, for papers that assessed athlete screening ECGs and compared findings on the basis of ethnicity. Fifty-one papers which compared ECGs from various ethnicities were included. Most studies assessed Black athletes against Caucasian athletes and found a greater prevalence of T-wave inversion (TWI) (2.6–22.8% vs. 0–5.0%) and anterior TWI (3.7–14.3% vs. 0.6–2.0%). Black athlete subgroups in Africa had TWI (20–40%) and anterior TWI (4.3–18.7%) at a higher prevalence than other Black athletes. Athletes who were defined as mixed-race, Asian, and Pacific Islander are potentially more like Black athletes than Caucasian athletes. Black ethnicity is known to have an impact on the accurate interpretation of athlete ECGs; however, there is nuance related to origin of both parents. Asian and Pacific Islander origin also may impact athlete ECG interpretation. Further research is required to assist in distinguishing abnormal and normal athlete ECGs in different ethnic populations.

Shoulder Pain, Function, and Ultrasound-Determined Structure in Elite Wheelchair-Using Para Athletes: An Observational Study.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between shoulder pain, physical examination, and tissue pathology in manual wheelchair users competing in elite sport. Eighty elite para athletes who used a manual wheelchair for daily mobility were recruited from international track (n = 40), field (n = 19), and powerlifting (n = 21) competitions. Athletes were surveyed regarding shoulder pain history and symptoms (Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI)), whereas independent blind observers measured signs (Physical Examination of the Shoulder Scale (PESS)) and tissue pathology (Ultrasound Shoulder Pathology Rating Scale (USPRS)). Relationships between measures for the total cohort and for subgroups defined by sporting discipline were calculated. A large proportion of athletes reported a history of upper limb pain (39% dominant and 35% nondominant). For the total cohort, WUSPI score was 22.3 ± 26.9, PESS score was 7.4 ± 6.7, and USPRS score was 5.2 ± 4.0. There were no USPRS score differences between athlete subgroups; however, track athletes had lower WUSPI and PESS scores, especially compared with field athletes. The first principal component explained most of the variance in the WUSPI and PESS, which were strongly correlated (r = 0.71), and the second orthogonal component explained the USPRS, which did not correlate with either the PESS (r = 0.21) or WUSPI (r = 0.20). Subgroup analysis showed that track athletes had lower symptom scores for a given physical examination score. Elite para athletes who use manual wheelchairs for daily mobility have a high prevalence of shoulder symptoms, positive signs on physical examination, and ultrasound-determined tissue pathology. Ultrasound-determined tissue pathology does not correlate with symptoms or signs. This information can help to guide clinicians in managing shoulder problems in this athlete population at high risk of injury.

Return to Sport and Re-Injury Rate after Double-Bundle Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with at least Five Years of Follow-Up.

This study retrospectively evaluated the medium- and long-term results of patients submitted to double-bundle (DB) anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. A retrospective study of case series at a single center. Cases submitted to isolated ACL reconstruction with at least five years of follow-up were included. The following data were collected: demographic data; practice of competitive sport before the injury; previous surgery; injury/surgery in the contralateral knee; return to the practices of sports and level; re-injury (postoperative time; mechanism; need for surgery); and symptoms at the last clinical follow-up visit. Descriptive and sub-group analyses were performed. Sixty-nine patients were included; 52 men (75%), 49 athletes (71%), 47 (68%) with primary injury, mean age of 30 years (SD 10). The patients were followed up for an average of 8.7 years (minimum 5, maximum 11.8) after surgery. After the reconstruction, 67 (97%) returned to the sport; 75% at the same level as before the injury. Ten patients (14%) suffered re-injury after an average of 32 months (between 9 and 50 months). Regarding the outcome of re-injury, no statistically significant differences were found between subgroups of athletes vs non-athletes or primary injury vs revision surgery, despite a significant tendency towards increased re-injury levels in athletes. However, this tendency was not statistically significant. In our series of patients operated on with the double-bundle technique and with a long follow-up time, 14% presented re-injury, with no differences between primary and revision cases, and with a trend towards higher re-injury levels among the athletes in relation to the non-athletes. The rate of return to sport was satisfactory, with 97%, of which 75% were playing at the same level as before the injury.

Performance-enhancing drugs attitudes among young amateur Croatian athletes

Abstract Background Recent studies revealed that amateur athletes, especially young ones, have an increasing tendency of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) usage. The aim of this study was to explore PEDs attitudes among young, amateur Croatian athletes. Methods This cross-sectional questionnaire study was done in convenient sample of young amateur Croatian athletes during the August 2019 to January 2020 at the occupational and sports medicine office in Eastern Croatia. Performance Enhancement Attitudes Scale (PEAS) was used for evaluation of athletes' attitudes towards doping. Results There were 306 athletes median age 18.0 (interquartile range (IR) 15.0 - 21.0) years; 62.7% females and 37.3% males. According to the age there were 52.9% of adolescents (aged 13 to 18 years) and 47.1% of young adults (aged 19 to 24 years). Regarding the type of sport there were 19.6% of subjects who played individual sports and 80.4% of them who played team sports. Considering the length of sport engagement 49.7% of subjects were engaged in their sport for 1 to 5 years and 50.3% of them were engaged in their sport for 6 or more years. The prevalence of current PEDs usage was 1.3%, while past PEDs usage prevalence was 3.3%. Current PEDs usage was more frequent among young adults (P = 0.048) and athletes playing individual sports (P = 0.001). Athletes who were engaged in sports for 1 to 5 years had more permissive attitudes toward PEDs (P &amp;lt; 0.001) as measured by the PEAS. The study did not establish any correlation between current or past PEDs usage and attitudes toward PEDs. Conclusions PEDs usage is present among young Croatian amateur athletes. There is a need for interventions directed toward the prevention of PEDs usage in an observed subgroup of athletes. Key messages In order to be more effective doping prevention strategies should take into account athletes’ attitudes towards doping. Public awareness and knowledge about doping in sports should be increased in order to achieve more efficient anti-doping programs.

Basic psychological need profiles among adolescent athletes in intensive training settings: Relationships with sport burnout and engagement.

This study aimed to examine (a) whether subgroups of athletes with different levels of basic psychological need (BPN) satisfaction and frustration emerged; (b) if BPN profile differences existed on sex, years of experience, and number of hours of training; (c) the issue of changes of profiles overtime; and (d) whether athletes belonging to distinct BPN profiles differed on sport burnout and engagement. A sample of 367 adolescent athletes in intensive training centers participated in this study. Results of latent profile transition analyses revealed three profiles at each time points: Fulfilled, autonomy and competence moderately frustrated, and competence and relatedness highly frustrated profiles. Male athletes and athletes with more years of experience were more likely to belong to the autonomy and competence moderately frustrated profile in comparison to the other BPN profiles. Athletes who trained more hours a week were more likely to belong to the fulfilled profile in comparison to the autonomy and competence moderately frustrated profile. Individuals in fulfilled and autonomy and competence moderately frustrated profiles were especially likely to stay in their respective profile at Times 2 and 3, whereas individuals in competence and relatedness highly frustrated profile were less stable in their profile membership. Individuals from the fulfilled profiles reported lower scores of burnout and higher scores of engagement than the athletes from the two other BPN profiles. The opposite pattern of results was observed for the competence and relatedness highly frustrated profile. Overall, a BPN profile approach was found useful in understanding within-person combinations of BPN.

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PATELLAR INSTABILITY IN ADOLESCENT DANCERS

Background:Adolescent dancers may be a high-risk population for patellofemoral instability (PFI), but the condition remains under-investigated, to date, in this sub-group of athletes.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to (1) investigate the descriptive epidemiology of PFI in adolescent dancers, (2) analyze the efficacy of various patellar stabilization procedures within this population, and (3) compare PFI in dancers to a larger control group of matched, non-dancer athletes.Methods:A retrospective review of athletes, ages 10 to 19, who presented to a single tertiary care center with PFI between 2008 and 2017 was performed. Based on each patient’s primary sport, the cohort was divided into a dancer and a non-dancer control group. Demographics, clinical and radiologic features, surgical stabilization technique, and postoperative course and clinical outcomes were collected. Independent categorical groups were tested using chi squared and Fisher exact tests.Results:258 adolescent athletes were included, 41 of whom were dancers, all females. This group was therefore matched with a control group of similarly aged, all-female athletes with PFI (Table 1). 54 athletes had bilateral PFI, yielding 285 knees for analysis. There was no difference between dancer and non-dancer athletes’ age, BMI, laterality, mechanism of injury, nor number of preoperative instability events. However, dancers had lower Dejour Classifications (p=0.044), smaller patella inclination angles (20.9±8.14 versus 25.0±9.84; p=0.004), and smaller Caton-Deschamps Indices (1.18±0.161 versus 1.25±0.189; p=0.041).Among dancers, there was no association between surgical stabilization technique and rates of recurrent instability (p=0.418) nor re-stabilization procedures (p=1.0) (Table 2). However, dancers who underwent tibial tubercle osteotomy (TTO) had higher rates of subsequent, non-stabilization procedures (66.7%), all for implant removal, compared to those undergoing isolated medial retinacular repairs (MRP) (3.8%) (p<0.001).There was no difference between the dancer and non-dancer athletes’ rates of recurrent instability (p=0.297), re-stabilization procedures (p=0.061), nor subsequent non-stabilization procedures (p=0.242).Conclusions:Female dancers with PFI have similar demographic and clinical features as other female athletes with PFI, but have lower rates or less severe trochlear dysplasia, lateral tilt and patella alta. Therefore, the ligamentous laxity inherent in dancers may be a more powerful risk factor for PFI than other non-modifiable risk factors. Notably, the TTO was a powerful stabilization procedure for this sub-population with low rates of recurrent instability episodes and no revision stabilization procedures performed. Rates of implant removal surgery following TTO may be substantial, though this may be technique or surgeon dependent.Tables/Figures: