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Sex hormones, central nervous system and pain
No full textThe aim of the present review, which highlights some relationships between sex hormones, the CNS and pain, is to provide reference points for discussion on one of the most intriguing aspects of pain pathophysiology: the presence of sex differences in the response threshold to phasic painful stimuli and in the incidence of chronic pain syndromes. The first part of the review deals with sex steroids and their mechanisms of action. In the second part, the connections between sex steroids, the CNS and pain are illustrated to introduce possible areas of discussion in the study of sex differences in experimental and clinical pain
Incidence of fencing injuries. Analysis of a survey of elite fencers
No full textAim. This study evaluated the incidence of injuries in adult elite fencers (over age 18 years).
Methods. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed to the 432 adult fencers taking part in the second national
qualification tournament (Foggia, 18-20 April 2008). The questionnaire contained items on sex, age, height, body
weight, weapon, weapon arm, weekly practice (hours, sessions, bouts), type and duration of warm-up, competition level,
number, location and type of injury sustained in the last three years and whether the injury occurred during practice
or competition. Of the 432 fencers who received the questionnaire, 218 (50.5%) responded; six questionnaires were
discarded because incomplete or incorrectly compiled.
Results. Of the 212 athletes whose questionnaires were used in the final analysis, 122 were males and 90 females; 138
were epée, 53 foil, and 20 sabre fencers; 52 (25%) were left-handed (40 males and 12 females), with a higher proportion
of left-handed male than female fencers (32.8% versus 13.3%; P=0.002). International level fencers (N.=78) practiced
more than national level fencers (N.=129) in the number of sessions (4.7±1.4 versus 3.5±1.5; P<0.001) and
weekly hours (12h24min±6h13min versus 7h49min±4h39min; P<0.001). The total number of injuries was 202, with
a mean annual risk of injury of 31.8%. The most common injuries were thigh muscle strains (28.2%); ankle sprains (14.9%),
knee tendinitis (7.4%), and Achilles tendinitis (5%). Occurrence of injury was associated with competitive level
(P=0.010), with a higher incidence among those at the international level, and with weapon arm: the mean annual risk
of injury was 40.4% in left-handed and 29.0% in right-handed fencers (P=0.026).
Conclusion. The higher incidence of injuries among the left-handed fencers may be because they compete against an
opponent using the opposing hand. Further study is needed to establish which aspects (technical, tactical, postural or
others) may be related to greater use of musculoskeletal structures in left-handed fencers and related increased risk of
injury
The contribution of underwater kicking efficiency in determining "turning performance" in front crawl swimming
No full textAIM: The aim of this study was to analyze the effects: 1) of maximal velocity (vout max) and acceleration (aout max) attained during the turn; 2) of deceleration (-aglide) and glide efficiency (GE) in the gliding phase after the turn; and 3) of the efficiency (hF) of the dolphin kick in determining the velocity and acceleration in the first 5 and the following 10 m after a turn (v5,
v5-15, a5 and a5-15) in a 100 m simulated front crawl race.
METHODS: The experiments were conducted on 13 swimmers (7M/5F) and all the above mentioned parameters were derived from underwater kinematical analysis. RESULTS: The 100 m times were smaller the larger v5, v5-15, a5 and a5-15. In
turn, v5, v5-15, a5 and a5-15 were significantly related to vout max and aout max as well as to ηF and GE (R>0.57, P<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Data reported in this study indicate that in the first 5-15 m after the turn, velocity is essentially sustained by the force generated by the swimmer on the pool wall but also indicate the importance of an efficient dolphin kick (and of a streamlined glide) in determining the values of velocity and acceleration in this phase of the race
Body mass and physical exercise: Metabolic and neuroendocrine implications of leptin in athletes
No full textAtrial septal defect and training-induced changes in loading conditions: Clinical management and implications for competitive athletes
No full textAtrial septal defect (ASD) is the most common congenital heart disease in adults. When right heart dilation occurs, prompt closure should be considered. In the athletic population, however, the management of ASD can be challenging. Indeed, while the traininginduced haemodynamic effects on the right heart of an athlete with open ASD are not well known, possible device-related consequences may occur after percutaneous closure. We report the case of a competitive athlete with secundum ASD in which changes in the training regime significantly affected the right heart. Prompt normalisation of right ventricular size and of pulmonary artery pressures was demonstrated 2 months after percutaneous ASD closure
Effects of Local Corticosteroid Injection on Electrical Properties of Aβ-Fibers in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
No full textVery few data are available on the structural and functional effects of corticosteroids on peripheral nerve fibers. This paper is addressed to verify possible changes in the functional properties of myelinated Aβ fibers of the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) after a local injection of triamcinolone acetate. Thirteen subjects affected by mild CTS and 13 controls were selected. Clinical, electrophysiological, and ultrasonographic (cross sectional area: CSA) data of the median nerve were quantified at 0 (pre-injection), and 1 month after triamcinolone injection at wrist. We analyzed the input-output curves constructed by plotting the response amplitude as a function of stimulus intensity. After corticosteroid injection, all patients experienced symptom relief, the median nerve CSA decreased, and the plateau value of the input-output curve was significant higher than before the treatment. Pre injection, we observed a significant inverse correlation between median nerve CSA and plateau value of the input-output curve, which remained significant even after the corticosteroid injection. The Aβ fibers with higher electrical threshold undergo conduction recovery after local corticosteroid injection. In CTS, combined mechanisms might contribute to resolution of symptoms: anti-edema/anti-inflammatory action and direct effect on the electrical properties of the nerve fibers
Changes in mood states and salivary cortisol levels following two months of training in elite female water polo players
No full textPsychological and physiological markers have been used to maximize competitive sport preparation. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two months of training and competitions on mood states and salivary cortisol diurnal variation in 15 female elite water polo players. The results demonstrated that the β coefficient values of the regression slope of cortisol values on sampling time was significantly flatter following the training period. The values of the area under the cortisol curve (AUC) 'with respect to ground' (AUCg) and those of the β coefficients of the slope of the diurnal change in cortisol levels were highly negatively correlated. The slope correlated positively with the dysfunctional Profile of Mood States scale and negatively with the functional scale. AUCg correlated negatively with dysfunctional factors and positively with the vigor index. These findings support the hypothesis that subclinical hypocortisolism and a flattened diurnal rhythm of cortisol may play a role in determining dysfunctional mood states
Chapter 12 - Bioenergetics of Cyclic Sport Activities in Water: Swimming, Rowing, and Kayaking
No full textIn this chapter the determinants of C (the energy cost of locomotion) in aquatic sport activities will be presented and discussed with a particular focus on swimming (with different strokes) and on boat locomotion (e.g., rowing and kayaking). At variance with locomotion on land, a large proportion of the power provided by the muscles is necessarily wasted to transfer water kinetic energy not useful for propulsion. Thus the concept of propelling efficiency (the ratio of power output useful for propulsion to total power output) is fundamental to understand these modes of locomotion. Furthermore, even if the literature provides all data needed to calculate C in this environment, it is quite difficult to estimate physical activity energy expenditure of aquatic sport activities because of the multiplicity of factors that affect energy expenditure in water (e.g., mode of locomotion, speed, gender, age, and technical skill)
Left ventricular non-compaction and hypertrabeculation in the athlete: Distinguishing between pathology and physiology
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