Lumbar spine, sport and actual treatment.

Low back pains are very frequent in athletes by microtraumatisms and sudden efforts. The prolapse of the nucleus pulposus is created. After the failure of correct medical treatment, some new technics give good results: chemonucleolysis, trans-cutaneous nucleotomy, microdiscectomy. These techniques permit a faster and more active return to effort. The choice must be perfect: clinical examination and imagery manage this advance.

[Physical activities and bone mass in women]. / Activités physiques et masse osseuse chez la femme.

The mechanism and its effects on the bone mass are discussed. The bone disorders of spacemen show the necessity of physical constraints. The intensive physical exercise can increase disturbances in the bone remodeling. But the hormonal disorders (amenorrhea, oligomenorrhea) which are made by intensive and top level physical activities, increase indirectly the bone remodeling and decrease the bone mass. The effects of a moderate physical activity are more discussed. Nevertheless, an increasing of the bone mass peak is admitted. In the adult and postmenopausal women, the data are more uncertain and discussed. But, an adapted moderate regular physical activity for each people authorizes certainly a bone gain. It is favorable to prevent osteoporosis, its fractures and reduce the social cost.

Double blind comparative study of piroxicam and indomethacin in acute locomotor affections linked with sports activity.

181 patients suffering from acute locomotor affections linked with sports activities were included in a multi-center study. The indications most frequently seen were sprains and tendinitis. 92 patients received piroxicam in a daily dosage of 4 capsules (40 mg) during the first two days, then 20 mg during the following days. 89 patients received a daily dose of indomethacin in a daily dose of 6 capsules (150 mg) for the first two days, and then 100 mg daily thereafter. Treatment lasted from 5 to seven days. Efficacy was judged to be very good or good in 89% of the patients treated with piroxicam against 76% of those treated with indomethacin, a statistically significant difference. Tolerance was also judged better with piroxicam. 4 patients suffered side effects with piroxicam, of which one stopped treatment after the second administration due to allergic reaction. 18 patients treated with indomethacin suffered from side effects, of which 5 stopped the treatment. In total, the use of piroxicam seems particularly interesting in sports medicine in comparison with indomethacin.

[Comparative double-blind study of Bi-Profenid and oxyphenbutazone in sports pathology]. / Etude comparative à double insu di Bi-Profénid et de l'oxyphenbutazone en pathologie du sport.

Effectiveness and tolerance of ketoprofen in sustained-release tablets (Bi-Profenid 150 mg) were investigated in a double blind trial in 44 athletes who had recently sprained an ankle. Patients were given either 300 mg Bi-Profenid or 400 mg oxyphenbutazone daily for seven days. Treatment regimens were assigned at random. Results were assessed as excellent or good in 85% of patients given Bi-Profenid and 50% of those given oxyphenbutazone. Spontaneous pain resolved in 19 patients receiving Bi-Profenid and in 6 under oxyphenbutazone. Decrease in pain upon physical examination and in articular circumference was significantly greater with Bi-Profenid as compared with oxyphenbutazone. The chance of rapidly resuming sport was better with Bi-Profenid. Tolerance was excellent in 68.2% of patients with Bi-Profenid and 59% of those with oxyphenbutazone. This investigation thus emphasizes the value of Bi-Profenid in sport pathology.

[Epicondylalgia]. / Les épicondylagies.

The authors review several aspects of epicondylalgiae, considering this condition under the angle of pathology, etiology, semiology and clinical examination. Using electrophysiological methods, they attempt better to define the data allowing a precise electrological and topographical diagnosis. A classification of the electromyographical syndromes associated with epicondylalgiae is provided. Finally, the various types of treatments which have been proposed according to the etiology of this condition are discussed.

[Testicular secretions of androgens after prolonged physical effort in man]. / Sécrétion testiculaire d'androgènes après effort physique prolongé chex l'homme

Variations in plasma testosterone, dihydrotestosterone. delta 4 androstenedione, LH, FSH and cortisol were measured before and after 6 succesive effort tests in 11 male subjects. Testicular secretion and the extra-hepatic consumption of androgens are increased by the haemodynamic conditions of effort but plasma levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone fall with repeated effort, indicating a progressive imbalance between production and consumption. These variations suggest that the testis, rather than glucocorticoid function of the adrenal, might play a major limiting role, psychological and metabolic, in tolerance of prolonged effort.