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At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

Vascular complications in high-performance athletes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience with the diagnosis and management of vascular injuries in a group of high-performance athletes. METHODS: Between June 1994 and June 2000, we treated 26 patients who sustained vascular complications as a result of athletic competition. Clinical presentation, type of athletic competition, location of injury, type of therapy, and degree of rehabilitation were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 23.8 years (range, 17-40). Twenty-one (81%) patients were men, and five (19%) were women. Athletes included 8 major-league baseball players, 7 football players, 2 world-class cyclists, 2 rock climbers, 2 wind surfers, 1 swimmer, 1 kayaker, 1 weight lifter, 1 marksman, and 1 volleyball player. There were 14 (54%) arterial and 12 (46%) venous complications. Arterial injuries included 7 (50%) axillary/subclavian artery or branch artery aneurysms with secondary embolization, 6 (43%) popliteal artery injuries, and 1 (7%) case of intimal hyperplasia and stenosis involving the external iliac artery. Subclavian vein thrombosis (SVT) accounted for all venous complications. Five of the seven patients with axillary/subclavian branch artery aneurysms required lytic therapy for distal emboli, and six required operative intervention. All popliteal artery injuries were treated by femoropopliteal bypass graft with autogenous saphenous vein. The external iliac artery lesion, which occurred in a cyclist, was repaired with limited resection and vein patch angioplasty. All 12 patients with SVT were treated initially with lytic therapy and anticoagulation. Eight patients required thoracic outlet decompression and venolysis of the subclavian vein. Thirteen arterial reconstructions have remained patent at an average follow-up of 31.9 months (range, 2-74). One patient with a popliteal artery injury required reoperation at 2 months for occlusion of his bypass graft. Eleven of the patients with an arterial injury were able to return to their prior level of competition. All of the patients with SVT have remained stable without further venous thrombosis and have returned to their usual level of activity. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes are susceptible to a variety of vascular injuries that may not be easily recognized. A high level of suspicion, a thorough workup including noninvasive studies and arteriography/venography, and prompt treatment are important for a successful outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Bone quality in the lumbar spine in high-performance athletes.

Little is known about the influence of high-performance training on the bone quality of the lumbar spine, in particular, the effects on bone mineral density (BMD) in athletes with high weight-bearing demands on the spine. Measurements were therefore performed in internationally top-ranked high-performance athletes of different disciplines (weight lifters, boxers, and endurance-cyclists). The measurements were carried out by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and the results compared with the measurements of 21 age-matched male controls. The BMD of the high-performance weight lifters was greater than that of the controls by 24% (0.252 g/cm2) on the AP view by 23% (0.200 g/cm2) on the lateral view (P < 0.01), while difference in BMD between the boxers and the controls was +17% (0.174 g/cm2) on the AP view and +19% (0.174 g/cm2) on the lateral view. The BMD of the lumbar spine in all endurance cyclists was lower than that in the controls (AP view -10%, 0.105 g/cm2; lateral view -8%, 0.067 g/cm2; P > 0.05). The results show that training program stressing axial loads of the skeleton may lead to a significant increase of BMD in the lumbar spine of young individuals. Other authors' findings that the BMD of endurance athletes may decrease are confirmed. Nevertheless the 10% BMD loss of cyclists was surprisingly high.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endofibrosis of iliac arteries in high-performance athletes: diagnostic approach and minimally invasive endovascular treatment.

The aim of this article is to report our experience in the diagnosis of two cases of iliac artery endofibrosis or arteriopathy, a rare entity occurring in high-performance athletes, presenting with intermittent claudication (right-sided in both) after maximal exercise. External iliac artery endofibrosis or arteriopathy is a likely diagnosis in competitive athletes free of cardiovascular risk factors who present with leg claudication. Arteriography and a papaverine-assisted mean pressure gradient across the iliac arteries of more than 10 mmHg is a useful diagnostic approach. Moreover, balloon angioplasty of the iliac artery in that patient, in whom a pressure gradient was detected, resulted in symptomatic relief for 2 months followed by mild symptom recurrence. Thus, although balloon angioplasty is feasible and safe, it might not be adequate to treat this entity and, thus, its value remains undefined.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

The optimal training load for the development of dynamic athletic performance.

This study was performed to determine which of three theoretically optimal resistance training modalities resulted in the greatest enhancement in the performance of a series of dynamic athletic activities. The three training modalities included 1) traditional weight training, 2) plyometric training, and 3) explosive weight training at the load that maximized mechanical power output. Sixty-four previously trained subjects were randomly allocated to four groups that included the above three training modalities and a control group. The experimental groups trained for 10 wk performing either heavy squat lifts, depth jumps, or weighted squat jumps. All subjects were tested prior to training, after 5 wk of training and at the completion of the training period. The test items included 1) 30-m sprint, 2) vertical jumps performed with and without a countermovement, 3) maximal cycle test, 4) isokinetic leg extension test, and 5) a maximal isometric test. The experimental group which trained with the load that maximized mechanical power achieved the best overall results in enhancing dynamic athletic performance recording statistically significant (P < 0.05) improvements on most test items and producing statistically superior results to the two other training modalities on the jumping and isokinetic tests.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Mood responses to athletic performance in extreme environments.

Competition at elite level can require athletes to perform optimally in extreme environmental conditions. This review focuses on mood responses in such conditions and proposes practical guidelines for those working with athletes. Different environments are considered, including altitude and extreme heat and cold. Performing in extreme heat, cold or at altitude can produce a stress response characterized by increased negative mood and relatively poor performance. Positive adaptations to extreme conditions can be accelerated, but the rate of adaptation appears to be highly individualized. Monitoring mood responses to training under normal conditions provides a basis for identifying the psychological effects of extreme conditions. It is suggested that practitioners carefully monitor the interplay between vigour, fatigue and depressed mood. Reductions in vigour and increases in fatigue are normal responses to hard training, but other aspects of mood disturbance, especially symptoms of depressed mood--however small--may be indicative of a maladaptive response, and practitioners should consider intervening when such symptoms first appear.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed1998

Circadian rhythms, athletic performance, and jet lag.

Rapid air travel across several time zones exposes the traveller to a shift in his/her internal biological clock. The result is a transient desynchronisation of the circadian rhythm, called jet lag, lasting until the rhythm is rephased to the new environmental conditions. The most commonly experienced symptoms are sleep disorders, difficulties with concentrating, irritability, depression, fatigue, disorientation, loss of appetite, and gastrointestinal disturbance. Apart from the decrements in mental and physical performance directly consequent on such symptoms, competitive athletes are also exposed to the additional negative consequences of a shift from the optimal circadian window of performance. A brief summary of the possible negative effects of jet lag on athletic performance and potentially alleviating strategies is given.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2002

Effect of aging on male and female master athletes' performance in strength versus endurance activities.

Aging has traditionally been associated with several functional declines within the musculoskeletal system. In this study, we characterized and compared age-related changes in performance in power and endurance activities (ie, power-lifting, stationary rowing). From age 25 to age 85, men's and women's rowing performance decreases 29%; from age 25 to age 55, men's rowing performance decreases 0.12% per year, and women's performance decreases 0.23% per year. The pattern of decline in power-lifting performance is characterized by earlier onset and more rapid progression. During the fourth decade, men's and women's power-lifting performance decreases 3% per year; thereafter, their performance decreases 1% per year. The difference between the age-related change rates for rowing and power-lifting is statistically significant (P = .05). The older athletes' performance in both activities suggests that the capacity for significant function in activities requiring power and endurance persists throughout life in individuals who train and who remain in good health. That strength decreases more rapidly than endurance capacity points to the importance of resistance exercises for minimizing muscle weakness in an aging population.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Hematological changes and athletic performance in horses in response to high altitude (3,800 m).

This study had two goals: 1) measure hematologic changes with high-altitude acclimatization in horses; and 2) assess the effect of 9 days at high altitude on subsequent athletic performance at low altitude. Six horses performed standardized exercise tests on a dirt track (before and during time at altitude) and treadmill (pre- and postaltitude exposure). Resting and immediate postexercise blood samples were measured for blood volume, lactate, red cell number, packed cell volume, and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) concentrations at 225 m, over a 9-day period at 3,800 m, and shortly after returning to 225 m. Acclimatization produced increases in total red cell volume (38.2 +/- 2.4 to 48.1 +/- 2.9 ml/kg, P = 0.004) and DPG/hemoglobin concentrations (19.4 +/- 1.7 increased to 29.4 +/- 0. 4 micromol/g, P = 0.004). Two performance variables, heart rate recovery postexercise and lactate recovery, were faster after acclimatization.

2,3-Diphosphoglycerate↗
PubMed1988

Implications of exercise testing for prediction of athletic performance: a contemporary perspective.

One of the most fundamental beliefs in exercise physiology is that performance during maximum exercise of short duration is limited by the inability of the heart and lungs to provide oxygen at a rate sufficiently fast to fuel energy production by the active muscle mass. This belief originates from work undertaken in the 1920's by Hill and Lupton. A result is that most, if not all, of the studies explaining the effects of exercise training or detraining or other interventions on human physiology explain these changes in terms either of central adaptations increasing oxygen delivery to muscle or of peripheral adaptations that modify the rates of oxygen or fuel utilization by the active muscles. Yet a critical review of Hill and Lupton's results shows that they inferred but certainly did not prove that oxygen limitation develops during maximal exercise. Furthermore, more modern studies suggest that, if such an oxygen limitation does indeed occur during maximal exercise, it develops in about 50% of test subjects. Thus, an alternative mechanism may need to be evoked to explain exhaustion during maximal exercise in a rather large group of subjects. This review proposes that the factors limiting maximal exercise performance might be better explained in terms of a failure of muscle contractility ("muscle power"), which may be independent of tissue oxygen deficiency. The implications for exercise testing and the prediction of athletic performance are discussed.

Energy Metabolism↗
PubMed1989

Abuse of drugs used to enhance athletic performance.

The ergogenic potential of drugs used by athletes to enhance performance is reviewed, and areas of involvement for pharmacists interested in the problem of drug abuse in athletics are described. Athletes use drugs for therapeutic and recreational purposes, as supposed ergogenic aids, and to mask the presence of other drugs during testing. Because many athletes train for competition and not for health, they may view the risk-to-benefit ratio of ergogenic drugs as favorable and may begin using them at an early age. Alcohol is the drug most commonly used by student athletes. Although alcohol has no ergogenic benefit, it is viewed as a caloric source and an anxiolytic. Amphetamines do not prevent exhaustion but may mask fatigue, which can have dangerous consequences. Anabolic steroids appear to increase strength but frequently cause adverse reactions, primarily involving the hepatic and endocrine systems. Beta-blocking agents have been shown to reduce anxiety, hand tremor, and heart rate in precision sports like archery, but susceptible persons may experience serious adverse effects. Caffeine improves the efficiency of fuel use and reduces fatigue; its use has been banned by several athletic organizations. Neither cocaine nor marijuana causes any increase in strength. Secretion of human growth hormone may be stimulated by a variety of agents, but evidence that any subsequent increases in size and weight occur is lacking. Other substances tried by athletes include vitamins and minerals, naloxone, albuterol, and human recombinant erythropoietin. Opportunities in sports pharmacy exists in the areas of information retrieval and interpretation, drug testing, legislation to reclassify drugs, education, and research.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Doping in Sports↗
PubMed1997

[Infection by hepatitis B and C viruses in high-performance athletes].

It is reported the possible relationship between the infection caused by viral agents of predominantly parenteral transmission, such as the hepatitis B virus (HBV), the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the sports practice. It was conducted a study of seroprevalence of the infection by HBV and HCV in Cuban high performance athletes. Only 1.3% of positivity to the HBV infection was found. This positivity is related to the sports discipline they practice and some considerations are made on this regard.

Athletic Injuries↗
PubMed2005

Insomnia and sleep disruption: relevance for athletic performance.

Insomnia is a common sleep complaint even in young adults and has important daytime consequences. Several subjective and objective tools are recommended to assess the magnitude of the problem and to try to find a cause. Chronic insomnia is often caused by precipitating factors, such as acute stress, work conditions, illness, and travel, and perpetuating factors, such as poor sleep hygiene, anxiety, and medications. Insomnia may have implications in athletic performance resulting from physical and cognitive effects. Several pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches are employed in the management of insomnia that have proven effective for short-term treatment. The pharmacologic approaches include the use of zolpidem and specific GABA agonists, benzodiazepines for specific indications, antidepressants, and melatonin. The nonpharmacologic approaches include stimulus control, sleep restriction, relaxation strategies, and cognitive behavioral therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Acute interleukin-6 administration impairs athletic performance in healthy, trained male runners.

Fatigue is an inevitable consequence of physical activity; yet its biological cause remains uncertain. During exercise, a polypeptide messenger molecule interleukin-6 (IL-6) is actively produced. Previously, the administration of recombinant IL-6 (rhIL-6) induced a heightened sensation of fatigue in healthy humans at rest. In contrast, anti-IL-6 receptor antibodies reduced the symptoms of chronic fatigue. In the present study, athletic performance during an exercise challenge consisting of a 10-km running time trial was significantly impaired in trained male runners following the administration of a low dose of rhIL-6 compared to the placebo trial.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Increased 137caesium whole body radioactivity in high-performance athletes.

A shadow shield whole body counter with automated gamma spectrum analysis is used in the division of nuclear medicine for the measurement of whole body radioactivity. After the radioactive fall-out in Austria caused by the Chernobyl accident the instrument has been extensively utilized for the assessment of the radiation level in the general population. In November of 1986 and 1987 the level of internal contamination with 137Cs in high-performance athletes was compared with a group of subjects practicing little or no sports. It was found that significantly higher contents of 137Cs were present in the athletes. Furthermore, it was found that within the groups of athletes male subjects had significantly higher internal 137Cs contamination per kilogram of body mass than the female subjects. An explanation for this is the different nutrition and the higher relative muscle mass of the athletes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Shoe supports and corrective shoes in performance athletes--a 3-year study in young cross-country skiers].

51 young cross-country skiers, members of the Swiss national team, were interrogated and examined relative to problems of the skeleton. In case of 36 athletes (71%), orthopedic corrections of the foot and leg position were effectuated. The annual controls showed a reduction of pain and decreased impairment of the capacity of sport from 62.7% to 21.9%. The painful inflammations decreased over the same period from 66.7% to 32%. In comparison with other epidemiologic studies without treatment, we can conclude that orthopedic corrections are efficient in the protection of high-performance athletes from overload lesions and probably from definitive lesions.

Adolescent↗