Competing with injuries: injuries prior to and during the 15th FINA World Championships 2013 (aquatics).

BACKGROUND: Injury and illness surveillance is the foundation for the development of prevention strategies. OBJECTIVE: To examine injuries among the aquatic disciplines in the 4 weeks prior to and during the 2013 FINA World Championships. METHODS: The study was comprised of two components: (1) a retrospective athlete survey recording injuries in the 4 weeks prior to the Championships and (2) a prospective recording of injuries and illnesses by the medical teams of the participating countries and the local host medical team. RESULTS: One-third of the 1116 responding athletes reported an injury/physical complaint in the 4 weeks prior to the Championships. Significantly more women (36.7%) than men (28.6%) reported injuries. Divers reported the highest rate of injury/physical complaints (55.7%). At the start of the Championships, 70% of injured respondents (n=258) were still symptomatic; however, full participation was expected by 76%. During the Championships, 186 new injuries were reported (8.3/100 registered athletes) with the highest injury incidence rate in water polo (15.3/100 registered athletes). The most common injured body part was the shoulder (21%). A total of 199 illnesses were reported during the Championships (9.0/100 registered athletes) with the most common diagnosis of illness being gastrointestinal infection. Environmental exposure (allergy, otitis and jellyfish stings) was responsible for 27% of all illnesses in open water swimming. CONCLUSIONS: Injuries pose a significant health risk for elite aquatic athletes. A prospective study would improve understanding of out-of-competition injuries. Future injury and illness surveillance at FINA World Championships is required to direct and measure the impact of prevention strategies.

Effect of a whole-body vibration training modifying the training frequency of workouts per week in active adults.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of whole-body vibration by varying the training frequency (2 or 3 sessions per week) on the development of strength, body composition, and mechanical power. Forty-one (32 men and 9 women) recreationally active subjects (21.4 ± 3.0 years old; 172.6 ± 10.9 cm; 70.9 ± 12.3 kg) took part in the study divided in 2 experimental groups (G2 = 2 sessions per week, G3 = 3 sessions per week) and a control group (CG). The frequency of vibration (50 Hz), amplitude (4 mm), time of work (60 seconds), and time of rest (60 seconds) were constant for G2 and G3 groups. Maximum isokinetic strength, body composition, and performance in vertical jumps were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the training cycle. A statistically significant increase of isokinetic strength was observed in G2 and G3 at angular velocities of 60, 180, and 270°·s. Total fat-free mass was statistically significantly increased in G2 (0.9 ± 1.0 kg) and G3 (1.5 ± 0.7 kg). In addition, statistically significant differences between G3 and CG (1.04 ± 1.7%) (p = 0.05) were found. There were no statistically significant changes in the total fat mass, fat percentage, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density in any of the groups. Both vibration training schedules produced statistically significant improvements in isokinetic strength. The vibration magnitude of the study presented an adaptation stimulus for muscle hypertrophy. The vibration training used in this study may be valid for athletes to develop both strength and hypertrophy of the lower limbs.

A comparison of the isometric force fatigue-recovery profile in two posterior chain lower limb tests following simulated soccer competition.

AIM: To evaluate the reliability of isometric peak force (IPF) in a novel "long-length" 90°Hip:20°Knee (90:20) strength test and to compare the simulated soccer match induced fatigue-recovery profile of IPF in this test with that of an isometric 90°Hip:90°Knee (90:90) position test. METHODS: Twenty semi-professional soccer players volunteered for the study of which 14 participated in the first part of the study which assessed 90:20 reliability (age = 21.3 ± 2.5 years, height = 1.79 ± 0.07 m, body mass = 73.2 ± 8.8 kg), while 17 completed the second part of the study evaluating fatigue-recovery (age 21.2±2.4 yrs., height = 180 ± 0.09 m, body mass 73.8 ± 8.9 kg). We evaluated the inter-session reliability of IPF in two 90:20 test protocols (hands on the wall (HW); and hands on chest (HC)) both performed on two occasions, 7 days apart. We then assessed 90:20 (HC) and 90:90 IPF immediately before (PRE) and after (POST) after a simulated soccer match protocol (BEAST90mod) and 48 (+48 h) and 72 hours (+72 h) later. RESULTS: Part one: the 90:20 showed moderate to high overall reliability (CV's of 7.3% to 11.0%) across test positions and limbs. CV's were lower in the HW than HC in the dominant (7.3% vs 11.0%) but the opposite happened in the non-dominant limb where CV's were higher in the HW than HC (9.7% vs 7.3%). Based on these results, the HC position was used in part two of the study. Part two: 90:20 and 90:90 IPF was significantly lower POST compared to PRE BEAST90mod across all testing positions (p<0.001). IPF was significantly lower at +48 h compared to PRE in the 90:20 in both limbs (Dominant: p<0.01,Non-dominant: p≤0.05), but not in the 90:90. At +72 h, IPF was not significantly different from PRE in either test. CONCLUSIONS: Simple to implement posterior IPF tests can help to define recovery from competition and training load in football and, potentially, in other multiple sprint athletes. Testing posterior chain IPF in a more knee extended 90:20 position may provide greater sensitivity to fatigue at 48 h post simulated competition than testing in the 90:90 position, but also may require greater degree of familiarization due to more functional testing position.

A Multifactorial, Criteria-based Progressive Algorithm for Hamstring Injury Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Given the prevalence of hamstring injuries in football, a rehabilitation program that effectively promotes muscle tissue repair and functional recovery is paramount to minimize reinjury risk and optimize player performance and availability. PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the concurrent effectiveness of administering an individualized and multifactorial criteria-based algorithm (rehabilitation algorithm [RA]) on hamstring injury rehabilitation in comparison with using a general rehabilitation protocol (RP). METHODS: Implementing a double-blind randomized controlled trial approach, two equal groups of 24 football players (48 total) completed either an RA group or a validated RP group 5 d after an acute hamstring injury. RESULTS: Within 6 months after return to sport, six hamstring reinjuries occurred in RP versus one injury in RA (relative risk = 6, 90% confidence interval = 1-35; clinical inference: very likely beneficial effect). The average duration of return to sport was possibly quicker (effect size = 0.34 ± 0.42) in RP (23.2 ± 11.7 d) compared with RA (25.5 ± 7.8 d) (-13.8%, 90% confidence interval = -34.0% to 3.4%; clinical inference: possibly small effect). At the time to return to sport, RA players showed substantially better 10-m time, maximal sprinting speed, and greater mechanical variables related to speed (i.e., maximum theoretical speed and maximal horizontal power) than the RP. CONCLUSIONS: Although return to sport was slower, male football players who underwent an individualized, multifactorial, criteria-based algorithm with a performance- and primary risk factor-oriented training program from the early stages of the process markedly decreased the risk of reinjury compared with a general protocol where long-length strength training exercises were prioritized.

[EFFECTS OF WHOLE-BODY VIBRATION TRAINING ON BODY COMPOSITION AND PHYSICAL FITNESS IN RECREATIONALLY ACTIVE YOUNG ADULTS]. / EFECTOS DE LAS VIBRACIONES DE CUERPO COMPLETO SOBRE LA COMPOSICIÓN CORPORAL Y LAS CAPACIDADES FÍSICAS EN ADULTOS JÓVENES FÍSICAMENTE ACTIVOS.

In the last decade, it has been suggested that whole- body vibration training (WBV) may increase neuromuscular performance and consequently affect the muscular improvement as either acute response to vibration or chronic adaptation training. Vibrating platforms generate frequencies from 5-45 Hz and vertical oscillations of 1-11 mm peak to peak, affecting more or less intensity acceleration changing by combining frequency and amplitude. Vibration training, in a session as various offers different results in regard to changes in body composition and in increasing the vertical jump, sprint, and the different manifestations of force development. These promising results await further research to establish parameters (duration, frequency and amplitude) with vibration stimulation in young active subjects. This literature review provides an update on the scientific evidence on the body vibrations in order to answer the question whether WBV, meaning the exercise by increasing the gravitational load collection, is a treatment option if the aim is to improve neuromuscular function, flexibility, balance, agility, coordination and body composition.

En la última década se ha sugerido que la práctica de ejercicio a través de las vibraciones de todo el cuerpo (WBV) puede incrementar el rendimiento neuromuscular y, consecuentemente, incidir en la mejora muscular, ya sea como respuesta aguda a la vibración o como adaptación crónica al entrenamiento. Las plataformas vibratorias generan frecuencias que van de 5 a 45 Hz y desplazamientos verticales de 1 a 11 mm de pico a pico, incidiendo en una mayor o menor aceleración modificando la intensidad al combinar frecuencia y amplitud. El entrenamiento vibratorio, tanto en una sesión como en varias, ofrece diferentes resultados en lo que se refiere a cambios en la composición corporal, así como en el incremento del salto vertical, la velocidad de carrera y las diferentes manifestaciones del rendimiento de la fuerza. Estos resultados tan prometedores aguardan futuras investigaciones que establezcan unos parámetros (duración, frecuencia y amplitud) con estímulo vibratorio en sujetos jóvenes activos. Esta revisión bibliográfica ofrece una recopilación actualizada de la evidencia científica sobre las vibraciones corporales con el fin de responder a la cuestión de si las WBV, entendidas como el ejercicio que incrementa la carga gravitacional, son una opción de tratamiento si el objetivo es mejorar la función neuromuscular, la flexibilidad, el equilibrio, la agilidad, la coordinación o la composición corporal.