Elite athletes' experiences of musculoskeletal pain management using neuroanatomical dry needling: A qualitative study in Swedish track and field.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate how elite track and field athletes with a history of musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) describe their perceptions of clinical treatments based on dry needling guided by a neurological map (neuroanatomical dry needling (naDN)). DESIGN: Qualitative study. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted with eight elite Swedish track and field athletes (6 males, 2 females, median age 28.5) treated at a clinic specialised in MSKP management. All interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The data were structured and analysed using a thematic method. RESULTS: The athletes approached clinical MSKP treatment from a performance-orientated perspective. They explained that they inevitably suffered MSKP episodes due to the intense physical demands of their sport. The use of naDN was considered an integral part of their sports practice and the study clinic's services were readily utilised when MSKP caused minor reductions in physical capacity. The athletes appreciated an unambiguous anatomical diagnosis, preferably supported by imaging scans, as this increased their confidence in clinical services. They valued the naDN treatment as it was perceived to provide fast-acting analgesia that enabled rapid return-to-play. These factors combined to reduce performance-related stress. CONCLUSIONS: Elite track and field athletes with a history of MSKP sought and appreciated clinical treatment with naDN largely because it provided fast-acting analgesia that enabled rapid return-to-play at a high-performance level. These athletes' expectations of MSKP diagnosis and management appear incongruent with current research indicating that MSKP sensitivity within the nervous system does not accurately reflect musculoskeletal tissue state or recovery following tissue damage.

Impact of the talent development environment on the wellbeing and burnout of Caribbean youth track and field athletes.

This study examined the perceived talent development environment (TDE) of youth track and field athletes within the Caribbean region and explores the relationship with their subjective wellbeing and burnout levels. A sample of 400 Caribbean youth track and field athletes (male = 198, and female = 202; age 13-20 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Athletes responded to a survey which included the Talent Development Environment Questionnaire (TDEQ-5), the World Health Organization Wellbeing Index (WHO-5) and the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Structural equation modelling showed that a positive and supportive TDE was associated with better athlete wellbeing and lower athlete burnout. Moreover, gender and hours of training moderated relationships of athletes' perceptions of their development environment with wellbeing and burnout levels respectively. Furthermore, there was a positive association between the support network and athlete wellbeing, while holistic quality preparation was negatively associated with athlete burnout. Development environments perceived as supportive and geared towards a holistic athlete-centred approach were associated with better athlete wellbeing and lower burnout.

Influencia de la música y la compañía sobre la percepción del esfuerzo y el estado de ánimo en corredores amateur / Influence of music and company on perception of effort and mood in amateur runners / Influência da música e da acompanhamento na percepção de esforço e estado de ânimo em corredores amadores

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la influencia de la música y la presencia de compañía sobre el estado de ánimo y la percepción subjetiva de esfuerzo en corredores amateur. Para la evaluación de los aspectos psicológicos se utilizó el Cuestionario POMS en su versión reducida de 29 ítems y el Test Borg en su versión CR-10. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 12 participantes adultos (6 hombres y 6 mujeres). Los sujetos realizaron tres pruebas de carrera en cinta: en solitario, con música y acompañado, con una velocidad y tiempo controlados. Cada prueba duró 21 minutos. Se midió el estado de ánimo previo y posterior a la tarea así como la percepción de esfuerzo cada siete minutos y la frecuencia cardíaca cada minuto. Esta información permite utilizar las condiciones de práctica de ejercicio físico para asegurar la calidad durante el ejercicio

The aim of the study was to analyze the influence of music and company on mood and rate of perceived exertion in amateur runners. POMS questionnaire in short version (29 items) and Borg test in CR-10 version were employed to measure psychological variables. The sample was composed by 12 participants (6 men and 6 women). Each participant performed three tests: run alone, run with music or run accompanied, with a speed and time controlled. Each test lasted 21 minutes. Mood state was measured before and after each test. The perceived exertion was measured each seven minutes and the heart rate during each minute. Various changes over mood state and rate of perceived exertion were mainly found because of contextual influences (music or company). This information allows the use of practical conditions in order to ensure the efficacy in the exercise and the adherence to the activity program

O objetivo do estudo foi analizar a influência da música e da presença de companhia sobre a percepção subjetiva do e estado de ânimo em corredores amadores. Para a avaliação dos aspecto psicológicos foi utilizado o Questionário POMS na sua versão reduzida de 29 items e o Teste Borg na sua versão CR-10. A amostra esteve composta por 12 participantes adultos (6 homens e 6 mulheres). Os sujeitos realizaram três testes de corrida em fita: sozinhos, com música e acompanhados, com velocidade e tempo controlados. Cada teste durou 21 minutos. O estado de ânimo previo e posterior a tarefa, bem como a percepção do esforço cada sete minutos e a freqüência cardíaca a cada minuto foram medidos. Foram encontradas mudanças que indicaram a influência do contexto (música ou acompanhamento) no estado de ânimo e a percepção subjetiva do esforço. Esta informação permite usar as condições de prática do exercício físico para garantir a eficácia durante o exercício e a adesão ao programa da atividade física

Mental skills comparison between elite sprint and endurance track and field runners according to their genetic polymorphism: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Achieving excellence in track and field athletes requires specific mental skills. The aim of the present study was to compare the mental skills between elite sprint and endurance athletes. METHODS: Forty elite athletes (age 20.55±2.22 years, body mass 74.8±7.9 kg, height 1.70±0.1 m) participated in the present study. The athletes were classified into two groups according to their genetic polymorphism to physical activity: Endurance group (allele I, N.=20) and power group (allele D, N.=20). The mental skills were assessed by means of Ottawa Mental Skill Assessment Tool-3 inventory (OMSAT-3: based in foundation mental skills, psychosomatic skills, and cognitive skills subscales) before the competition period. Furthermore, genetic data were also collected. Sprint and endurance runners were participating in Tunisian National championship. RESULTS: The results showed a significant difference between elite sprint and endurance runners in the foundation mental and psychosomatic skills subscales (all, P<0.05). Typically, the present study revealed that goal setting, commitment, stress reactions, fear control, imagery, competition planning and mental practice were significantly higher among the elite sprint runners compared to the endurance runners (all, P<0.05). Findings from this study could confirm the widely acclaimed research assumption that mental skills, such as goal setting, commitment and mental practice, are the predictor variables of power performances, while endurance performances are associated with different mental skills components. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, the results may inform applied practitioners regarding the differences in mental skill demands between power and endurance athletes and the genetic predisposition of practitioners.

A conditional process model of the effect of mindfulness on 800-m personal best times through pain catastrophising.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness and 800-m personal best (PB) times through pain catastrophising and to see whether the magnitude and direction of the relationship depended on gender. One hundred and nine participants reported their gender, completed measures of mindfulness (MAAS) and pain catastrophising (PCS) and reported PB 800 m times that were standardised based on current world records. Results revealed moderate-sized relationships between the predictor variables and standardised 800 m PB. The size of these relationships reduced after we controlled for gender. The follow-up, conditional process analysis - revealed significant direct and indirect effects that confirmed that pain catastrophising partially mediated the relationship between mindfulness and 800 m PB and that gender moderated the indirect paths. The indirect path between mindfulness and pain catastrophising was consistent with existing literature. However, the path between pain catastrophising and standardised 800 m PB was positive for females and negative for males. The different direction of the relationship could suggest that pain catastrophising could be performance enhancing for females.

Imagery use of athletes in individual and team sports that require open and closed skill.

This study compared use of imagery in elite male and female athletes in open and closed and individual or team sports. A total of 151 elite Turkish athletes ages 15 to 29 years old (males' M age=20.7 yr., SD=3.3; females' M age=20.0 yr., SD=3.5) from open-team sports (n=66), open-individual sports (n=26), and closed-individual sports (n=59) completed the sport imagery questionnaire. A significant multivariate effect of sport type was found. Univariate analyses indicated that male and female athletes in team open-skill sports and individual closed-skill sports used more motivational general-mastery imagery than did athletes in individual open-skill sports.

Successful talent development in track and field: considering the role of environment.

Track and field includes a number of high-intensity disciplines with many demanding practices and represents a motivational challenge for talented athletes aiming to make a successful transition to the senior elite level. Based on a holistic ecological approach, this study presents an analysis of a particular athletic talent development environment, the IFK Växjö track and field club, and examines key factors behind its successful history of creating top-level athletes. The research takes the form of a case study. Data were collected from multiple perspectives (in-depth interviews with administrators, coaches and athletes), from multiple situations (observation of training, competitions and meetings) and from the analysis of documents. The environment was characterized by a high degree of cohesion, by the organization of athletes and coaches into groups and teams, and by the important role given to elite athletes. A strong organizational culture, characterized by values of open co-operation, by a focus on performance process and by a whole-person approach, provided an important basis for the environment's success. The holistic ecological approach encourages practitioners to broaden their focus beyond the individual in their efforts to help talented junior athletes make a successful transition to the elite senior level.

Conscious processing and the process goal paradox.

The three experiments reported here examined the process goal paradox, which has emerged from the literature on goal setting and conscious processing. We predicted that skilled but anxious performers who adopted a global movement focus using holistic process goals would outperform those who used part-oriented process goals. In line with the conscious processing hypothesis, we also predicted that performers using part process goals would experience performance impairment in test compared with baseline conditions. In all three experiments, participants performed motor tasks in baseline and test conditions. Cognitive state anxiety increased in all of the test conditions. The results confirmed our first prediction; however, we failed to find unequivocal evidence to support our second prediction. The consistent pattern of the results lends support to the suggestion that, for skilled athletes who perform under competitive pressure, using a holistic process goal that focuses attention on global aspects of a motor skill is a more effective attentional focus strategy than using a part process goal.

Internal imagery training in active high jumpers.

The main purpose of this study was to examine whether the use of internal imagery would affect high jumping performance for active high jumping athletes. Over a period of six weeks, a group of active high jumpers were trained with an internal imagery program for a total of 72 minutes. This group was compared to a control group consisting of active high jumpers that only maintained their regular work-outs during the same time period. Four variables were measured; jumping height, number of failed attempts, take-off angle, and bar clearance. There was a significant improvement on bar clearance for the group that trained imagery (p < 0.05) but not for the control group. No other differences were found. The results suggest that internal imagery training may be used to improve a component of a complex motor skill. Possible explanations and future recommendations are discussed.