Oxidative stress and motion sickness in one crew during competitive offshore sailing.

Competitive Offshore Ocean Sailing is a highly demanding activity in which subjects are exposed to psychophysical stressors for a long time. To better define the physiological adaptations, we investigated the stress response of subjects exposed to 3-days long ocean navigation with disruption of circadian rhythms. 6 male subjects were involved in the study and provided urine and saliva samples before setting sail, during a single day of inshore sailing, during 3-days long ocean navigation, and at the arrival, to measure oxidative stress, cortisol, nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and metabolic response. Motion Sickness questionnaires were also administered during the navigation. The crew suffered a mean weight loss of 1.58 kg. After the long navigation, a significant increase in ROS production and decrease in total antioxidant capacity and uric acid levels were observed. Lipid peroxidation, NO metabolites, ketones, creatinine, and neopterin levels were also increased. Furthermore, a significant increase in cortisol levels was measured. Finally, we found a correlation between motion sickness questionnaires with the increase of NOx, and no correlation with cortisol levels. Physical and psychological stress response derived from offshore sailing resulted in increased oxidative stress, nitric oxide metabolites, and cortisol levels, unbalanced redox status, transient renal function impairment, and ketosis. A direct correlation between motion sickness symptoms evaluated through questionnaires and NOx levels was also found.

Gathering your 'sea legs': Extended durations in an offshore environment increases postural sway excursions.

BACKGROUND: Mal de debarquement (MdD), or often called 'sea legs', is the perception of self-motion after exposure to passive movement such as being on a boat at sea. Previous studies highlight sensory re-organization difficulties and postural control impairments after disembarking from sea travel in experienced crew members. However, the impact of MdD in individuals with minimal offshore experience, defined as participating in less than 2 offshore excursions per year, has not been investigated. RESEARCH QUESTION: Does exposure to boat motion while at sea alter static postural control after disembarking in individuals with minimal offshore experience? METHODS: Healthy adults (n = 24) with minimal offshore experience had their static balance assessed on a force platform before (PRE) and after (POST) a 7-h deep sea fishing excursion. Static balance was tested in eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), eyes open on a foam surface (EOF), and eyes closed on a foam surface (ECF) conditions. Sway excursions, sway velocity and sway variability in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions were computed and then compared PRE/POST using a paired t-test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Significant increases in ML sway excursion (p = 0.004), ML sway range (p < 0.001), ML sway variability (p < 0.001), AP sway excursion (p = 0.045), AP sway range (p = 0.020), and AP sway variability (p = 0.030) were observed at POST during EOF. Significant increases in ML sway excursion (p = 0.027), AP sway excursion (p = 0.020), and AP sway variability (p = 0.014) at POST were also observed during ECF. No differences were found in the EO condition (p > 0.05). SIGNIFICANCE: Increases in postural sway excursion and variability were observed in individuals with minimal offshore experience after disembarking. Our findings suggest sensory re-organization difficulties in order to maintain an upright posture in challenging sensory conditions are dependent on vestibular and somatosensory inputs following exposure to boat motion at sea.

Competition warm-up strategies in sub-elite and elite flat-water sprint kayak athletes.

This study compared warm-up strategies employed by sub-elite and world-class elite sprint kayak athletes, evaluating their impact on subsequent race performance. Forty-seven (n = 33 male, n = 14 female) athletes competing at a National Sprint Kayak Championships had Global Navigation Satellite System devices fitted to their kayak to measure speed, distance and stroke rate during the on-water warm-up before racing (OWWU), and during racing. The OWWU total duration, average/peak speeds and stroke rates, and the time spent in speed-zones classified based upon athletes' relative race-pace (low-to-moderate, moderate-to-high, and race-specific) were compared between events, sexes, and athlete standard. The relationship of these variables to subsequent race performance, expressed as a percentage of the best time-to-completion for each event (%racebest), was also examined. Women spent greater OWWU time at moderate-to-high and race-specific speeds compared to men prior to 200-m and 500-m races (P ≤.001). Sub-elite men reported greater total OWWU duration for 200-m and 500-m (P ≤.025), but not for 1000-m races (P >.05) compared to elite men. Finally, %racebest had large inverse correlations to OWWU peak speed for men's 200-m (r = -.53), and average stroke rate for women's 500-m races (r = -.50). This study provides valuable insight for competition warm-up routines based upon data from an elite athlete population.

Exploring Health Demographics of Female Collegiate Rowers.

CONTEXT: Limited information exists about health patterns among female rowers at the collegiate level. Furthermore, the element of weight class (lightweights classified as <130 lb [59 kg]) as a factor in the physical and mental health of female collegiate athletes has not been investigated, despite weight requirements in sport being a risk factor for the female athlete triad. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypotheses that (1) components of the female athlete triad were more prevalent in lightweight than in openweight rowers; (2) perceived stress levels were greater in lightweight than in openweight rowers; and (3) rowers who were unable to row due to injury had greater perceived stress levels than uninjured athletes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twelve collegiate women's rowing programs consisting of 6 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I openweight and 6 Intercollegiate Rowing Association-level lightweight teams. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 158 female collegiate rowers (78 lightweight, 80 openweight). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): An electronic survey addressing injury history, diet and eating habits and body image (according to the triad screening questionnaire), stress levels (Perceived Stress Scale), and athlete identity (Athlete Identity Measurement Scale) was administered. RESULTS: Lightweight rowers reported limiting or carefully controlling foods more frequently than openweight rowers (41.9% to 29.9%, P = .013). A history of an eating disorder was more prevalent among lightweight than openweight rowers (25.7% to 13.0%, P = .048). Prevalences of stress fractures and menstrual irregularities did not differ between weight classes. Lightweight and openweight rowers' scores on the Perceived Stress Scale (16.0 ± 9.9 and 17.3 ± 6.4, respectively) were not different. Injured rowers scored higher on the Perceived Stress Scale (19.4 ± 7.2) than did uninjured rowers (16.6 ± 5.72). CONCLUSIONS: Weight class did not contribute to differences in the prevalence of female athlete triad components or perceived stress, although lightweight rowers were more likely to have a history of eating disorder. Injury may be a risk factor for increased stress in this population.

"One stroke, with twenty-two people": exploring prostate cancer survivors' participation in dragon boating.

Purpose: This study qualitatively explores prostate cancer survivors' experience in joining a dragon boating team and its possible impact on their wellbeing.Design: Qualitative data analysis.Sample: Eleven prostate cancer survivors from a dragon boat team.Methods: Semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis.Findings: The findings support physical benefits of dragon boating, however, the positive impact on the men's psychosocial wellbeing was more salient. Participation in dragon boating was important for establishing a social support system and positively reframing their cancer experience.Practice Implications: Dragon boating is a novel health promotion strategy for men with PC. Seeking to replicate the positive characteristics of dragon boating in the design of future physical activity interventions should be explored.

Flush Drowning as a Cause of Whitewater Deaths.

INTRODUCTION: Most recreational whitewater fatalities are caused by fixed underwater entrapment or by "flush drowning," an obscure term frequently associated with high-volume rivers, continuous rapids, cold water, and a lack of prolonged underwater entrapment. Although entrapment drowning is typically associated with submersion hypoxia, flush drownings likely involve diverse mechanisms of death; as such, a concise definition is elusive. This said, certain risk factors may be predictively associated with flush drownings. We attempt to further characterize causes of fatal river accidents and possible effects of water temperature on injury pattern. METHODS: We reviewed river mortality data collected from the American Whitewater Association accident database comparing fatal whitewater accident trends in the Rocky Mountain region versus the Southeastern United States. We limited data from the Southeast to the months of June through August to create a warm water cohort. We then divided lethal accidents into flush drowning, entrapment submersion, or miscellaneous events, defining each category in specific terms. RESULTS: Flush drownings were more common in the Rocky Mountains than in the Southeast subgroup and involved older victims on average than entrapment drowning or miscellaneous events. Entrapment drownings were common in both regions, primarily occurring at fallen trees or rock formations. CONCLUSIONS: Flush drownings appear to occur more frequently in older persons. Although hypothetical, the relative increase in flush drowning in the Rocky Mountains might partly be the result of colder water temperatures. If the cause of flush drowning is better understood, safety in whitewater recreation may be improved.

Cyclic movement execution and its influence on motor programmess.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to discover the relationship between the performance of different mechanical movements of rowers, and define its effect on the motor programs of the cyclic movement in athletes living in rural and urban areas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two male rowers participated in the experiment using a rowing ergometer (Concept2, USA). The experiment consisted of 3 tests examining the maximal power of the pull-ups (MPbpu). The movement mechanogram was registered with a specialized complex Noraxon's 3D MyoMotion (Noraxon Inc., USA). The software of the complex allowed calculation of the values of the joint angles from the accelerometer data. The Origin Lab 8.5 program was used for the mathematical and statistical processing of the signals from the mechanograms. RESULTS: It was found that all experiment participants had a stepped controlled increase in the power of single bar pull-ups leading to a corresponding proportional increase in the frequency of rowing - test 1 and, conversely, a stepped controlled increase in the rowing frequency accompanied by a proportional increase in the power of the bar pull-ups - test 2. The involuntary dependence of the power and the rate was due to the peculiarities of the central cyclic movement programming, according to which the forces and durations of the active and passive bar pull-ups phases were interconnected and regulated together. The voluntary power-rate dependence control led to the breakdown of these links in the motor program of cyclic movements and to the separate control of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Motor programs in cyclic movement may be created in the same pattern in tope level sport and recreation, as well in different environmental conditions - gym halls (movement simulators), professional and recreational water sport tracks.

Risk factors associated with life jacket wear among adult canoeists and kayakers in the United States, 1999-2017.

Drowning is the most common cause of death in recreational boating. Life jackets prevent drowning, yet adult wear rates remain relatively low on most types of boats. Canoes and kayaks are among the least used boat types, yet maintain the third and first highest annual boating-related drowning rates in 2012, respectively. This 1999-2017 study collected data from 124 study sites across the US. Life jacket wear was calculated for 13 dichotomized risky and non-risky variables, using Chi-square tests. A count variable based on number of risks was created, and Cochran-Armitage trend tests examined linearity in life jacket use. Three illustrative variables for each boat type were represented in tree diagrams. Kayakers had higher wear rates than canoeists among all variables observed. For both boats, the majority of risky conditions had higher life jacket wear rates than their non-risky alternatives. As the number of risks increased, life jacket wear rate increased. Boaters seemingly conduct a mental assessment of risk to determine whether to wear a life jacket.

Analysis of water sports injuries admitted to a pediatric trauma center: a 13 year experience.

BACKGROUND: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children and adolescents. Injuries occurring during boating and recreational water sports are poorly described in the literature. Herein, we compare injuries from water sports to those resulting from motor vehicle collisions, which are better described in existing literature. METHODS: A retrospective review of 1935 consecutive pediatric trauma patients, as defined by age < 18 years, admitted to a single level-1 pediatric trauma center between January 2000 and August 2013 was performed. Patients were divided into two cohorts based on the mechanism of injury: water sports injury (WSI) or motor vehicle collision (MVC). Demographics, injury descriptors, and outcomes were reviewed for each patient. Categorical variables were compared by Chi square or Fisher's exact test, and continuous by t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Parametric data are reported as mean ± standard deviation and nonparametric as median (interquartile range). Significance was set at alpha level 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 18 pediatric patients were admitted for WSI and 615 for MVC during the study period. Among those with WSI, mean age was 12 ± 4 years, mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 11 ± 10, and mean Revised Trauma Score (RTS) was 7.841(IQR 6.055-7.841). 44% of WSI occurred by personal watercraft (Jet Ski, WaveRunner), 39% by boat, and 17% by other means (e.g., diving, tubing, kite surfing). Overall, the most common WSI included skin/soft-tissue lacerations (59%), head injury/concussion (33%), tendon/ligament lacerations (28%), and extremity fractures (28%). Compared to 615 patients admitted for MVC, age, sex, race, Glasgow Coma Scale, ISS, RTS, spleen and liver laceration rates, neurosurgical consultation, ICU admission, ICU and total length of stay, and mortality were similar. Patients with WSI were more likely to be tourists (44% vs. 5%, p < 0.001). Those with WSI showed a significantly higher requirement for any surgical intervention (61% vs. 15%, p = 0.001). The rate of open fracture (28% vs. 6%, p = 0.006) and, subsequently, orthopedic procedures (39% vs. 17%, p = 0.027) were also higher in the WSI group. CONCLUSION: Overall, water sports injuries are similar in in-hospital mortality to motor vehicle collisions. They are more likely to result in penetrating trauma and more likely to require surgical intervention. Primary and secondary prevention strategies should specifically target personal watercraft usage and tourist populations.

Lake tourism fatalities: a 46-year history of death at Lake Powell.

Background: This study investigates tourist mortality at Lake Powell over a 46-year period. To date no comprehensive long-term investigation examining the relationship between the lake environment and tourist mortality exists. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all tourist fatalities between 1959 and 2005. Results: There were 351 fatal incidents resulting in 386 deaths between 1959 and 2005. Over the 46-year period, the average number of fatalities was 8.4 (±5.26) per year. Out of all fatalities, 282 were classified as accidental, 80 were classified as natural deaths, 13 were suicides and 5 were classified as homicides. Males accounted for 80% of fatalities and tourists aged 20-29 years and 10-19 years accounted for 36% of all fatalities. The highest number of fatalities was recorded in July (74), May (64), August (63) and June (59). Out of all accidental deaths, boating (29%) and swimming (22%) were the most common pre-death activities. High winds capsizing boats and carbon monoxide poisoning from boat engines were common factors contributing to 31 boating fatalities. Fatigue and exhaustion contributed to 22 swimming deaths. Conclusions: Recreational boating and swimming account for over half of all accidental deaths. Tourists visiting Lake Powell for recreational purposes should be informed of the risks associated with the lake environment.

Physiological and Perceived Responses in Different Levels of Exergames in Elite Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: Exergames have been suggested to increase the public's physical activity and to benefit cardiovascular health, particularly among the youth. However, not many studies compared the physiological and perceived responses between exergames and the authentic sports especially for elite athletes. This study aimed to investigate the physiological and perceived responses in different levels of Nintendo® Wii Fit™ U rowing exergames in one group of elite rowing athletes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All participants were asked to perform the authentic rowing on the indoor rowing machine on the first day and to play the rowing exergames on the second day, in three levels with 1 hour rest between levels. Oxygen consumption (VO2), lactate concentration, heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and muscle soreness scale (MSS) of the elite athletes were measured in three levels of rowing exergames and were compared with those measured in indoor rowing. RESULTS: Percentages of HR ranged from 57% to 64% and from 67% to 82% of peak HR in males and females, respectively. Percentages of RPE and MSS obtained from the three levels of rowing exergames ranged from 34% to 55% and from 2% to 33% of the peak RPE and the peak MSS, respectively, in authentic rowing. CONCLUSION: Physiological and perceived responses of elite rowing athletes could not reach their highest response in authentic rowing even for the hard level of exergames. This study contributed direct data on the physiological benefits of exergames against authentic rowing.