Glenohumeral joint internal and external rotation range of motion in elite junior tennis players.

Objective measurement of range of motion of the glenohumeral joint is important for the rehabilitation and prevention of shoulder injury. The primary purpose of this study was to determine whether significant differences exist between the dominant (tennis playing) and nondominant extremity in active internal and external rotation range of motion in elite junior tennis players 11-17 years of age. Two hundred three elite junior tennis players (113 males, 90 females) were bilaterally measured for internal and external rotation at 90 degrees of abduction in a supine position with a specific methodology attempting to isolate glenohumeral motion, while minimizing or negating scapulothoracic motion. A standard universal goniometer was utilized to measure active range of motion (AROM). Dependent t tests were used to compare differences between extremities. No significant difference was found for males or females between the dominant and nondominant arm in external rotation. Analysis of internal rotation (AROM) differences showed significantly less (p < .001) internal rotation (AROM) on the dominant arm for both males and females. Significantly less (p < .001) dominant arm total rotational range of motion was also found in both males and females. The loss of dominant arm internal rotation (AROM) has clinical application for both the development of rehabilitation and preventative flexibility/range of motion programs.

Establishing percentiles for junior tennis players based on physical fitness testing results.

An important aspect of this study was the establishment of a data base. A broad data base allows for data on certain parameters to be greatly expanded and will also enhance the use and interpretation of statistical methods. A longitudinal study of these variables may also assist in monitoring the players' progress over a period of time, and can provide a useful supplement to subjective coaching appraisals. The means and standard deviation for each test were calculated according to the USTA age and gender groups, that is, 12s, 14s, and 16s for each separate gender. Additionally, the mean and standard deviations for the ages, heights, and weights of each grouping were also calculated. Once the means and standard deviations were calculated, percentile tables were developed for each of the USTA groupings (by age and gender). The percentiles for each USTA test are presented in Appendix 1. A percentile is defined as the point on the distribution below which a given percentage of the scores is found. Percentiles can provide a norm-referenced interpretation of an individual score within a distribution that often consists of scores from a comparable group of individuals. Using the USTA protocol, players and coaches now have a set of normative data by which individual player's fitness scores may be compared with participants of the USTA Area Training Centers (See appendix 1). From the test results, coaches and players can determine which fitness areas need to be improved for athletes on an individual basis. Specific training programs can then be designed based on an athlete's fitness testing results. Proper interpretation of the USTA fitness testing data base results can lead to an easy way to determine the relative position of a given fitness score in the distribution, recognizing weaker areas for the purpose of injury prevention and performance enhancement. Each player can be given a profile detailing their percentile rank relative to other area training center participants in their age group. Results of these fitness scores can prove to be of great assistance to coaches in designing proper training programs and may also give physicians some indication which weaknesses may potentially lead to injury. The sample player shown in Figure 1 and Table 2 is a right-handed female player ranked in the 12-years-old-and-under division. Her results clearly indicate very high scores in the agility and speed categories; however, her scores in the strength and power areas were significantly lower than other area training center participants in her age group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Hypertension and social factors in a developing country.

A coronary heart disease prevention study, implemented in and near Havana (Cuba), evaluated the correlation of social factors with major cardiovascular risk factors, including elevations in blood pressure, in order to improve treatment strategies and compliance. The protocol consisted of questionnaires, standardized measurements of blood pressure and cholesterol determination at a central laboratory. The assessment of social aspects was carried out as previously described in comparable preventive studies in the German Democratic Republic. Around 1200 people aged 30-50 years had been screened by home visits. Correlations were found between blood pressure elevation (as well as smoking and hypercholesterolaemia, at least in part) and education, but in the opposite direction compared with experience in the United States and Europe. The prevalence of hypertension (and mean blood pressure) was higher in qualified than unqualified people (especially in younger males). Sex was a more important factor than age. No conclusion can be drawn from the variations between urban and rural subjects because the observations were not complete.

[Long-term self-experimentation in the modification of blood cholesterol without the use of drugs]. / Nichtmedikamentöse Cholesterolbeeinflussung im Langzeit-Selbstversuch.

In the self-experiment from 27 December 1976 to 31 August 1981 the cholesterol level in the serum was not influenced by medicaments. 220 blood collections for the determination of cholesterol, uric acid and HDL-cholesterol were performed. By diet and permanent sport we succeeded in decreasing the cholesterol level from maximally 372 to 195 mg/dl. The body-weight was reduced from 84 to 68.7 kg. Cholesterol and body-weight relatively early followed the different feeding habits. HDL-cholesterol seems to be less favourable for preventive long-term observations. In contrast to the performance of the permanent sport it is very difficult to observe a definite nutritional form for a longer time. Possibly from this may be concluded to the compliance in our patients. The non-medicamentous influence on a hypercholesterolaemia may be performed by information at the level of the family doctor and in special dispensaries at district level.

[Social conditions and ischemic heart disease in the female]. / Soziale Bedingungen und ischämische Herzkrankheit der Frau.

In the development of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in women, there are a variety of factors which, possibly, may exert an influence. The recognition of such factors must be considered prerequisite to a preventive approach to the disease. Possible relationships between socio-economic conditions, in particular education level and occupation as well as marital status and number of children, with manifestations of IHD or presence of risk factors have been studied. Recently, results have been published from the Cottbus Prevention Study/GDR (CGPPS), the World Health Organization Project Eberbach-Wiesloch/FRG and US-American analyses (NHANES II). On evaluation of available data and assessment of the coronary risk profile in women, it should be taken into consideration that comparison is encumbered by the facts that the studies did not employ uniform definitions of socio-economic classification, risk factors and IHD and that they were subject to differing historical developments. Similar to that observed in men, arterial hypertension and overweight was seen significantly more frequently in women factory workers and rural women than in their more sophisticated counterparts. As in other studies, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia in women did not differ among the socio-economic stratifications. The number of smokers was significantly higher in those at the upper levels of education than in women factory workers and rural women or office workers and housewives. There was an inverse relationship between the level of education and mean arterial blood pressure. There was no relationship, however, between income and cholesterol levels. In women working at the lower levels of employment, there was a higher incidence of IHD.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[General, non-medicamentous treatment of arterial hypertension]. / Allgemeine, nichtmedikamentöse Behandlung des arteriellen Bluthochdrucks.

This review focuses on the following aspects of nonpharmacological management concerning elevation of blood pressure: historical development, highlights and theses, possibilities of intervention, as well as favorable observations, advantages (in early diagnosis), disadvantages, fields of application, and integration of this form of treatment into a comprehensive strategy of hypertension control at a population level. A selection of detailed results is elaborated including: possible failure in primary classification of elevated blood pressure and its consequences, the reducibility of the hypertension problem if nonpharmacological measures are generally used, risk factor prevalences in medical and non-medical university cadres, blood pressure reduction in a spa, and hemodynamic changes induced by nonpharmacological or combined antihypertensive treatment simultaneously with drugs. Finally, reference is made to international results, as well as to the importance of the relation between diagnosing and treating blood pressure elevation concomitantly with a simultaneous management of other main risk factors that must be influenced in order to reduce the cardiac risk in hypertensives.

Comparative studies in hypertension under different continental conditions.

Preventive studies were undertaken according to the same protocol (questionnaire, blood pressure and cholesterol assay standardized) integrated in the Public Health Services of the GDR and Cuba. In a German community (Cottbus-Land) 5,377 people (2,340 males/3,037 females) and in the Havana region 1,179 people (437 males/742 females), all aged 30-50 years, were followed up. The Germans revealed higher proportions of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, the Cubans those of (heavy) smoking. Conditioning factors, such as overweight, physical inactivity and psychic stress, were found to be quite differently distributed, explaining however only in part prevalence differences between the continental regions even when both sex and localization of living were considered separately.