athlete's assessment

Evaluation of muscle strength imbalance can be an important element in optimizing the training process of soccer players. The purpose of the study was to examine isokinetic peak torque (PT) and total work (TW) exerted by both knee extensors (quadriceps or Q) and flexors (hamstrings or H), intra-limb imbalance and the magnitude and direction of inter-limb asymmetry in top elite senior (n = 109) and junior (n = 74) soccer players. An isokinetic dynamometry was used to measure maximum peak torque of quadriceps (PT-Q) and hamstrings (PT-H) at an angular velocity of 60° ·s-1, as well as the total work for extensors (TW-Q) and flexors (TW-H) at an angular velocity of 240° ·s-1 in the dominant (DL) and non-dominant leg (NDL) during concentric muscle contraction...

BACKGROUND: Professional cycling puts significant demands on the respiratory system. Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a common problem in professional athletes. Small airways may be affected in isolation or in combination with a reduction in forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1 ). This study aimed to investigate isolated exercise-induced small airway dysfunction (SAD) in professional cyclists and assess the impact of this phenomenon on exercise capacity in this population...

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between perceived coach-created empowering and disempowering motivational climate and doping likelihood among athletes and whether the attitudes towards doping and doping self-regulatory efficacy mediates these relationships. METHODS: Athletes (N = 948; 50% male; mean age, 20.32, SD = 2.45) recruited from a variety of sports completed questionnaires assessing their perceptions of coach-created motivational climate, attitudes towards doping, doping self-regulatory efficacy, and doping likelihood...

This study aimed to characterize and compare force production and muscle activity during four flywheel deadlift exercises (bilateral [Bi] vs. unilateral [Uni]) with different loading conditions (vertical [Ver] vs. horizontal [Hor]). Twenty-three team-sport athletes underwent assessments for exercise kinetics (hand-grip force), along with surface electromyography (sEMG) of the proximal (BFProx) and medial biceps femoris (BFMed), semitendinosus (ST), and gluteus medius (GM). Mean and peak force were highest ( p < 0...

The scope of this pilot study was to assess the feasibility of using the laser imaging detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology for contactless 3D body scanning of sports athletes and deriving anthropometric measurements of the lower limbs using available software. An Apple iPad Pro 3rd Generation with embedded LiDAR technology in combination with the iOS application Polycam were used. The effects of stance width, clothing, background, lighting, scan distance and measurement speed were initially assessed by scanning the lower limbs of one test person multiple times...

Poor oral health is an important concern for athletes, as it can affect both general health and athletic performance. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of activity in chlorinated water on oral health in elite swimmers compared to non-swimming athletes. This cross-sectional study included 101 swimmers and 100 other athletes aged 13-26 years with a minimum training intensity of five hours per week (for at least the preceding two years). Oral health was assessed using the approximal plaque index (API) and the decayed/missing/filled teeth (DMFT) index...

Motivational climate is known to relate to individual behaviors, emotions, and thoughts. Hedonic or subjective well-being includes self-assessed positive affect (i.e., pleasant affect, moods, and emotions), negative affect (i.e., unpleasant affect, moods, and emotions), and life or domain-specific satisfaction. The aim of this review was to quantify the relationships between task and ego motivational climate scales and measures representing hedonic well-being with sports participants. Potential moderators of the motivational climate and hedonic well-being were examined...

The development of mental toughness in student athletes within sports schools is crucial for identifying strengths and improving weaknesses to optimize performance. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a mental toughness development program for basketball sports school students. Sixty-two male student athletes, aged 15.83 ± 0.37 years, participated, with 30 in the experimental group and 32 in the control group. They completed the Mental Toughness Questionnaire 48 (MTQ48) before and after the 6-week intervention program...

PURPOSE: To assess children's physical function and subjective knee status 1 and 3 years after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. It was hypothesised that there was no difference between the operated and normal legs in relation to physical strength and function, that there was <-2 mm side-to-side difference in knee laxity, and that the subjective knee function was better 3 years after ACL reconstruction compared to 1 year after. METHODS: Children (<16 years of age) who had an ACL reconstruction had follow-up with physical function tests (four hop tests and strength measurement in a power rig [PR]), anterior knee laxity (measured using a Rolimeter) and patient-reported outcome measures (Pedi-International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score [KOOS]-Child) 1 and 3 years postoperatively...

High levels of fat-free mass (FFM) are favorable for athletes and are related to sport performance. However, fat-free mass index (FFMI), which includes adjustments for height, may offer a better way to characterize FFM beyond raw values. As FFMI is understudied relative to sport, the purpose of the current study was to assess position and age group differences in FFMI among collegiate American football players. National Collegiate Athletic Association DIII (n=111) football players underwent body composition assessment via bioelectrical impedance analysis...

UNLABELLED: This study presents somatotype data on a team sport with chronic and diverse sporting demands. The aims were to (1) characterize a somatotype profile for Division II (DII) track and field athletes (n=54) by sex, class, and events; (2) determine if somatotype changed across the season; (3) determine if changes differed based on class or sex; and, (4) assess potential differences in somatotype between sexes. METHODS: Anthropometrics (height, weight, body composition, somatotype) were evaluated after a competitive indoor season and immediately before the outdoor conference championships (41 days)...

This case report details an integrated rehabilitation plan implemented for a professional badminton player who presented with issues of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) dysfunction and a lateral ankle sprain. The integrated approach aimed to address both musculoskeletal issues, considering their potential reciprocal influences on biomechanics and functional performance. The athlete underwent a thorough initial assessment, including clinical examination, imaging, and biomechanical analysis. Treatment began with targeted interventions for acute ankle sprain management, such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation (RICE) followed by progressive exercises to restore ankle stability and range of motion (ROM)...

The aim of this review is to evaluate existing isokinetic testing protocols for the shoulder in tactical occupations, document their shoulder strength profiles, and determine any associations to shoulder injury. Four electronic databases were searched (Medline/Pubmed, Ovid/Emcare, CINAHL/Ebsco and Embase) using the keywords police OR law enforcement, firefighter, military, AND isokinetic. Articles were eligible if they had at least one cohort of a tactical population and included isokinetic testing of the glenohumeral joint...

No study has assessed supramaximal (over 100% 1RM) back squat variations as a potentiating stimulus in collegiate throwers. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a supramaximal Anderson (bottom-up) quarter squat potentiating stimulus would improve discus throw performance in Division I throwers compared to a dynamic warm-up alone. Nine NCAA division I thrower athletes (age: 20.1±1.4 years; 1RM back squat/body weight: 2.5±0.4 kg) randomly completed two sessions separated by at least 72 hours...

The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on the effect of CGs versus non-CGs (such as regular socks) or versus placebo garments on 1) the incidence of lower extremity sports injuries and 2) subjective ratings of fatigue and biomechanical variables in athletes at participating in any sport that required any level of running performance, given that fatigue-related biomechanical alterations may increase the risk of sports injuries. This study was a systematic review with meta-analyses...

The effects of hypopressive exercise (HE) on dynamic balance have never been studied. We aimed to study the effects of a HE program on dynamic balance, posterior chain kinematics and expiratory peak flow on female competitive roller skaters over a 6-week training period. Twenty competitive female roller-skaters (13-22 years of age, SD 2.25) performed a 30-minute HE session once weekly before the regular roller-skating practice for 6 weeks. The HE program consisted of breathing and postural awareness exercises in addition to 5 basic HE poses performed three times each...

BACKGROUND: An updated National Hockey League (NHL) concussion protocol (NHLCP) was established in the 2016-2017 season to mitigate the negative outcomes of sport-related concussions. However, few studies on the effects of implementing the NHLCP have been performed. PURPOSE: To define concussion incidence and investigate differences in NHL player performance after a concussion during periods before and after NHLCP implementation and assess the financial impact on NHL teams associated with NHLCP implementation...

College athletes, especially in weight class sports, often experience energy deficits. Athletes competing in weight class sports such as wrestling are at greatest risk for deficiencies and little is known about the relationships between body composition, nutrient intake, and performance in these athletes. The purposes of this study were to (1) quantify macronutrient and micronutrient intake of pre-season male collegiate wrestlers and compare to estimated needs, and (2) examine relationships among nutritional intakes, body composition, and performance measurements of strength and anaerobic capacity...

UNLABELLED: Myofascial release is a popular therapy technique used to manipulate connective muscle tissue to become more pliable. The maintenance of body posture relies on mechanoreceptors located in connective tissue, thus manipulation of connective tissue should affect postural control. The effects of this phenomenon have not been well studied, leaving room for this investigation. PURPOSE: To observe if postural sway scores changed before and after foam rolling proximal (quadriceps and hamstrings) in comparison to distal (calves) muscles...

First-time lateral ankle sprains often lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI), with 47% facing recurrent injuries, emphasizing the need for preventive measures. Side-cutting movements in sports pose a risk for CAI individuals due to potential biomechanical control alterations. While the hop-stabilization warm-up program has proven effective in preventing ankle sprains, its specific acute impact on CAI individuals lacks substantial evidence. This study employed a crossover design with eight CAI participants (23 ± 3...