ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Indian sportspersons have reported several antidoping rule violations with several cases suggesting inadvertent use of prohibited substances. This study was designed to evaluate the anti-doping knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst elite Indian sportsmen to suggest future interventions. METHODS: This study conducted at a Sports institute used an anonymized questionnaire to survey 181 male (18-35 years old) elite young athletes' attitudes toward performance-enhancing substances and anti-doping rules. RESULTS: Athlete awareness regarding antidoping agencies and antidoping rule violations was poor. 40% or less reported receiving antidoping updates. All reported improvement in antidoping knowledge and attitude changes after attending updates. Health is more important than sporting performance for 80% or more. Very low percentage reported consumption of banned substances amongst themselves and team mates. One-third of these athletes reported not having being tested for banned substances. Athletes who have attended antidoping sessions exhibit significantly higher knowledge levels and a significantly higher 80% reported consulting their Team doctor before any therapeutic drug use as compared with non-attendees. CONCLUSION: Indian elite athletes report low awareness about anti-doping rules and prohibited substances with low proportion of athletes reporting doping and being tested for doping. Grass root level education, supplement regulation, trained athlete support personnel and accessible reference material seems to be the way forward.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Sports Medicine is an upcoming postgraduate speciality in India. A MD Sports Medicine specialist is expected to contribute in the prevention of sports injuries, sportsmen training and enhancement of performance apart from being involved in planning of conduct of sports events amongst many other roles and responsibilities. This requires hands-on training and acquisition of skill sets required to perform these roles. The National Medical Council of India highlights the need for a competency based curriculum and has laid down guidelines for the course. There was a felt need to develop Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) and milestones based on the prescribed curricula and develop a portfolio for continuous monitoring of the achievement of these EPAs. METHODS: A five step model was done by experts in the field to prepare the EPAs, milestones and portfolio. This consisted of faculty development, identification of the EPAs and milestones and portfolio preparation. RESULTS: 114 EPAs and 961 milestones were identified by the subject experts. The portfolio was developed with the help of specialists and faculty of the field of sports medicine, and medical educationists. CONCLUSION: Post graduate medical education is mandated to be competency based. A portfolio has been developed in the current exercise for use in a competency based post-graduate curriculum in sports medicine. This will help in the better implementation of CBME in the country.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Body cooling has been used to increase sporting performance and enhance recovery. Several studies have reported improvement in exercise capacities using forearm and hand cooling or only hand cooling. Wrist cooling has emerged as a portable light weight solution for precooling prior to sporting activity. The Astrand test for aerobic performance and the Wingate test for anaerobic performance are reliable and accurate tests for performance assessment. This study conducted on elite Indian athletes analyses the effects of wrist precooling on aerobic and anaerobic performance as tested by the Astrand test and the Wingate test before and after wrist precooling. METHODS: 67 elite sportsmen were administered Wingate and Astrand test under standardised conditions with and without wrist precooling using a wrist cooling device (dhamaSPORT). Paired t-test was applied to study effect on aerobic [VO2 (ml/min/kg)] and anaerobic performance [peak power (W/kg) and average power (W/kg)] and Cohen's d was used to calculate effect size of wrist precooling. RESULTS: After wrist precooling, significant increase of 0.22 (p = 0.014, 95% CI: 0.047, 0.398) in peak power (W/kg) and 0.22 (p < 0.0001, 95% CI: 0.142, 0.291) was observed in average power (W/kg). Although, an increase of 1.38 (p = 0.097, 95% CI: -0.225, 3.012) was observed in VO2 (ml/min/kg), wrist precooling was not significantly effective in aerobic performance. Wrist cooling effect size was smaller in VO2 (Cohen's d = 0.21), peak power (Cohen's d = 0.31) and it was larger in average power (Cohen's d = 0.71). CONCLUSION: Results show wrist precooling significantly improves anaerobic than aerobic performance of elite sportsmen.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Lower limb explosive power is an important motor quality for sporting performance and indicates use of anaerobic energy systems like stored ATP and Creatine phosphate system. Weightlifting, Fencing and Wrestling use it for monitoring and identification of potential sportsmen. The Wingate test and Standing Broad Jump (SBJ) test are reliable and accurate tests for its assessment. This study conducted on elite Indian sportsmen tries to analyse feasibility of use of the SBJ test in sports and military medicine when Wingate test is impractical. METHODS: 95 elite sportsmen (51 Fencers, 17 Weight lifters and 27 Wrestlers) of a sports institute were administered Wingate cycle ergometer test and SBJ under standardised conditions. The results were analysed for mass and inter-discipline correlation. RESULTS: Analysis using Pearson's correlation showed significant positive correlation between Peak power (r = 0.446, p < 0.0001) and SBJ (distance) in all sportsmen. Inter-sport correlation showed positive correlation between SBJ and peak power (r = 0.335, p < 0.016) in Fencers and between SBJ, peak power (r = 0.686, p < 0.002) in Weightlifters. Bland-Altman plot analysis showed that about 94% pairs of peak power and SBJ were within limits of agreement for each discipline as well as among all sportsmen. CONCLUSION: The test results show definite correlation and SBJ test can be used as a field test in performance monitoring, talent identification, military recruit screening and injury prevention.
