Free Achilles tendon strain during selected rehabilitation, locomotor, jumping, and landing tasks.

A better understanding of the strains experienced by the Achilles tendon during commonly prescribed exercises and locomotor tasks is needed to improve efficacy of Achilles tendon training and rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study was to estimate in vivo free Achilles tendon strain during selected rehabilitation, locomotor, jumping, and landing tasks. Sixteen trained runners with no symptoms of Achilles tendinopathy participated in this study. Personalized free Achilles tendon moment arm and force-strain curve were obtained from imaging data and used in conjunction with motion capture and surface electromyography to estimate free Achilles tendon strain using electromyogram-informed neuromusculoskeletal modeling. There was a strong correspondence between Achilles tendon force estimates from the present study and experimental data reported in the literature (R2 > 0.85). The average tendon strain was highest for maximal hop landing (8.8 ± 1.6%), lowest for walking at 1.4 m/s (3.1 ± 0.8%), and increased with locomotor speed during running (run 3.0 m/s: 6.5 ± 1.6%; run 5.0 m/s: 7.9 ± 1.7%) and during heel rise exercise with added mass (BW: 5.8 ± 1.3%; 1.2 BW: 6.9 ± 1.7%). The peak tendon strain was highest during running (5 m/s: 13.7 ± 2.5%) and lowest during walking (1.4 m/s: 7 ± 1.8%). Overall findings provide a preliminary evidence base for exercise selection to maximize anabolic tendon remodeling during training and rehabilitation of the Achilles tendon.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our work combines medical imaging and electromyogram-informed neuromusculoskeletal modeling data to estimate free Achilles tendon strain during selected rehabilitation, locomotor, jumping, and landing tasks in trained middle-distance runners. These data may potentially be used to inform Achilles tendon training and rehabilitation to maximize anabolic tendon remodeling.

Unlocking the Role of Exercise on CD4+ T Cell Plasticity.

A hallmark of T cell ageing is a loss of effector plasticity. Exercise delays T cell ageing, yet the mechanisms driving the effects of exercise on T cell biology are not well elucidated. T cell plasticity is closely linked with metabolism, and consequently sensitive to metabolic changes induced by exercise. Mitochondrial function is essential for providing the intermediate metabolites necessary to generate and modify epigenetic marks in the nucleus, thus metabolic activity and epigenetic mechanisms are intertwined. In this perspective we propose a role for exercise in CD4+ T cell plasticity, exploring links between exercise, metabolism and epigenetic reprogramming.

The Utility of the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire to Detect Markers Consistent With Low Energy Availability-Related Conditions in a Mixed-Sport Cohort.

The Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) was validated to identify risk of the female athlete triad (triad) in female endurance athletes. This study explored the ability of the LEAF-Q to detect conditions related to low energy availability (LEA) in a mixed sport cohort of female athletes. Data included the LEAF-Q, SCOFF Questionnaire for disordered eating, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived body composition and bone mineral density, Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, blood pressure, and blood metabolic and reproductive hormones. Participants were grouped according to LEAF-Q score (≥8 or <8), and a comparison of means was undertaken. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of the overall score and subscale scores were calculated in relation to the triad and biomarkers relevant to LEA. Fisher's exact test explored differences in prevalence of these conditions between groups. Seventy-five athletes (18-32 years) participated. Mean LEAF-Q score was 8.0 ± 4.2 (55% scored ≥8). Injury and menstrual function subscale scores identified low bone mineral density (100% sensitivity, 95% confidence interval [15.8%, 100%]) and menstrual dysfunction (80.0% sensitivity, 95% confidence interval [28.4%, 99.5%]), respectively. The gastrointestinal subscale did not detect surrogate markers of LEA. LEAF-Q score cannot be used to classify athletes as "high risk" of conditions related to LEA, nor can it be used as a surrogate diagnostic tool for LEA given the low specificity identified. Our study supports its use as a screening tool to rule out risk of LEA-related conditions or to create selective low-risk groups that do not need management as there were generally high negative predictive values (range 76.5-100%) for conditions related to LEA.

Prevalence of impaired physiological function consistent with Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S): an Australian elite and pre-elite cohort.

OBJECTIVES: Athlete health, training continuity and performance can be impeded as a result of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). Here we report the point prevalence of symptoms described by the RED-S model in a mixed-sport cohort of Australian female athletes. METHODS: Elite and pre-elite female athletes (n=112) from eight sports completed validated questionnaires and underwent clinical assessment to assess the point prevalence of RED-S symptoms. Questionnaires included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire (DASS-21), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), SCOFF questionnaire for disordered eating, Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), and a custom questionnaire on injury and illness. Clinical assessment comprised resting metabolic rate (RMR) assessment, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-derived body composition and bone mineral density, venous and capillary blood samples, and the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI 7.0.2). Descriptive prevalence statistics are presented. RESULTS: Almost all (80%) participants (age 19 (range 15-32) years; mass 69.5±10.3 kg; body fat 23.1%±5.0%) demonstrated at least one symptom consistent with RED-S, with 37% exhibiting between two and three symptoms. One participant demonstrated five symptoms. Impaired function of the immunological (28%, n=27), haematological (31%, n=33) and gastrointestinal (47%, n=51) systems were most prevalent. A moderate to high (11%-55%) prevalence of risk of low energy availability was identified via RMR and LEAF-Q, and identified mental illnesses were prevalent in one-third of the assessed cohort. CONCLUSION: Symptoms described by the RED-S model were prevalent in this cohort, supporting the need for improved awareness, monitoring and management of these symptoms in this population.

The Free Achilles Tendon Is Shorter, Stiffer, Has Larger Cross-Sectional Area and Longer T2* Relaxation Time in Trained Middle-Distance Runners Compared to Healthy Controls.

Tendon geometry and tissue properties are important determinants of tendon function and injury risk and are altered in response to ageing, disease, and physical activity levels. The purpose of this study was to compare free Achilles tendon geometry and mechanical properties between trained elite/sub-elite middle-distance runners and a healthy control group. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure free Achilles tendon volume, length, average cross-sectional area (CSA), regional CSA, moment arm, and T2* relaxation time at rest, while freehand three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) was used to quantify free Achilles tendon mechanical stiffness, Young's modulus, and length normalised mechanical stiffness. The free Achilles tendon in trained runners was significantly shorter and the average and regional CSA (distal end) were significantly larger compared to the control group. Mechanical stiffness of the free Achilles tendon was also significantly higher in trained runners compared to controls, which was explained by the group differences in tendon CSA and length. T2* relaxation time was significantly longer in trained middle-distance runners when compared to healthy controls. There was no relationship between T2* relaxation time and Young's modulus. The longer T2* relaxation time in trained runners may be indicative of accumulated damage, disorganised collagen, and increased water content in the free Achilles tendon. A short free Achilles tendon with large CSA and higher mechanical stiffness may enable trained runners to rapidly transfer high muscle forces and possibly reduce the risk of tendon damage from mechanical fatigue.

The Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and National Eating Disorders Collaboration (NEDC) position statement on disordered eating in high performance sport.

Identification, evaluation and management of disordered eating (DE) is complex. DE exists along the spectrum from optimised nutrition through to clinical eating disorders (EDs). Individual athletes can move back and forth along the spectrum of eating behaviour at any point in time over their career and within different stages of a training cycle. Athletes are more likely to present with DE than a clinical ED. Overall, there is a higher prevalence of DE and EDs in athletes compared with non-athletes. Additionally, athletes participating in aesthetic, gravitational and weight-class sports are at higher risk of DE and EDs than those in sports without these characteristics. The evaluation and management of DE requires a cohesive team of professional practitioners consisting of, at minimum, a doctor, a sports dietitian and a psychologist, termed within this statement as the core multidisciplinary team. The Australian Institute of Sport and the National Eating Disorders Collaboration have collaborated to provide this position statement, containing guidelines for athletes, coaches, support staff, clinicians and sporting organisations. The guidelines support the prevention and early identification of DE, and promote timely intervention to optimise nutrition for performance in a safe, supported, purposeful and individualised manner. This position statement is a call to action to all involved in sport to be aware of poor self-image and poor body image among athletes. The practical recommendations should guide the clinical management of DE in high performance sport.

Genomewide Association Study of Acute Anterior Uveitis Identifies New Susceptibility Loci.

Purpose: Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is a common intraocular inflammatory disease. AAU occurs in 30% to 50% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and both conditions are strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27, implying a shared etiology. This study aims to apply genomewide association study (GWAS) to characterize the genetic associations of AAU and their relationship to the genetics of AS. Methods: We undertook the GWAS analyses in 2752 patients with AS with AAU (cases) and 3836 patients with AS without AAU (controls). There were 7,436,415 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) available after SNP microarray genotyping, imputation, and quality-control filtering. Results: We identified one locus associated with AAU at genomewide significance: rs9378248 (P = 2.69 × 10-8, odds ratio [OR] = 0.78), lying close to HLA-B. Suggestive association was observed at 11 additional loci, including previously reported AS loci ERAP1 (rs27529, P = 2.19 × 10-7, OR = 1.22) and NOS2 (rs2274894, P = 8.22 × 10-7, OR = 0.83). Multiple novel suggestive associations were also identified, including MERTK (rs10171979, P = 2.56 × 10-6, OR = 1.20), KIFAP3 (rs508063, P = 5.64 × 10-7, OR = 1.20), CLCN7 (rs67412457, P = 1.33 × 10-6, OR = 1.25), ACAA2 (rs9947182, P = 9.70 × 10-7, OR = 1.37), and 5 intergenic loci. The SNP-based heritability is approximately 0.5 for AS alone, and is much higher (approximately 0.7) for AS with AAU. Consistent with the high heritability, a genomewide polygenic risk score shows strong power in identifying individuals at high risk of either AS with AAU or AS alone. Conclusions: We report here the first GWAS for AAU and identify new susceptibility loci. Our findings confirm the strong overlap in etiopathogenesis of AAU with AS, and also provide new insights into the genetic basis of AAU.

Inflammation and Oral Contraceptive Use in Female Athletes Before the Rio Olympic Games.

This study investigated the association between synthetic ovarian hormone use [i.e., the oral contraceptive (OC) pill] and basal C-reactive protein (CRP), peripheral blood immune cell subsets, and circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in elite female athletes. Elite female athletes (n = 53) selected in Rio Summer Olympic squads participated in this study; 25 were taking an OC (AthletesOC) and 28 were naturally hormonally cycling (AthletesNC). Venous blood samples were collected at rest for the determination of sex hormones, cortisol, CRP, peripheral blood mononuclear memory and naïve CD4+ T-cells, CD8+ T-cells and natural killer cells, as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations. C-reactive protein concentrations were elevated (p < 0.001) in AthletesOC (median = 2.02, IQR = 3.15) compared to AthletesNC (median = 0.57, IQR = 1.07). No differences were reported for cortisol, cytokines, or PBMC immune cell subsets, although there was a trend (p = 0.062) for higher IL-6 concentrations in AthletesNC. Female Olympians had substantially higher CRP concentrations, a marker of inflammation and tissue damage, before the Rio Olympic Games if they used an OC. Future research should examine the potential consequences for athlete performance/recovery so that, if necessary, practitioners can implement prevention programs.

A missense mutation in the MLKL brace region promotes lethal neonatal inflammation and hematopoietic dysfunction.

MLKL is the essential effector of necroptosis, a form of programmed lytic cell death. We have isolated a mouse strain with a single missense mutation, MlklD139V, that alters the two-helix 'brace' that connects the killer four-helix bundle and regulatory pseudokinase domains. This confers constitutive, RIPK3 independent killing activity to MLKL. Homozygous mutant mice develop lethal postnatal inflammation of the salivary glands and mediastinum. The normal embryonic development of MlklD139V homozygotes until birth, and the absence of any overt phenotype in heterozygotes provides important in vivo precedent for the capacity of cells to clear activated MLKL. These observations offer an important insight into the potential disease-modulating roles of three common human MLKL polymorphisms that encode amino acid substitutions within or adjacent to the brace region. Compound heterozygosity of these variants is found at up to 12-fold the expected frequency in patients that suffer from a pediatric autoinflammatory disease, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO).

Glucocorticoid prescribing habits of sports medicine physicians working in high-performance sport: a 30-nation survey.

OBJECTIVES: Glucocorticoids are commonly prescribed in medicine. When administered via certain routes, glucocorticoids are prohibited for incompetition use by WADA. The glucocorticoid prescribing habits of sports medicine doctors have not been reported. METHODS: An online survey was distributed internationally to physicians working in high-performance sports. The survey queried the doctors about their use of glucocorticoids with athletes and their understanding of WADA's regulations regarding glucocorticoid use in competition. RESULTS: 603 sports medicine doctors from 30 different countries participated. The majority (>85%) routinely injected glucocorticoids and/or prescribed glucocorticoids by other routes. There were substantial differences in the common routes of injection as well as types of glucocorticoid used among the physicians from various countries. A relatively small percentage of sports doctors (<25%) accurately identified which routes of glucocorticoid administration are prohibited in competition by WADA. There was a great variation in how long before competition the use of glucocorticoids would cause the doctor to consider applying for a therapeutic use exemption (TUE). A better understanding of the clearance rates of glucocorticoids from athletes' bodies would greatly aid sports medicine doctors' decisions on how and when to apply for a TUE. A small number of doctors had observed side effects of glucocorticoid administration, with the majority of side effects being minor in nature. CONCLUSION: Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed by sports physicians. There is a need to better educate sports physicians on the current WADA regulations in relation to glucocorticoid administration.

Intravenous fluids and their use in sport: A position statement from the Australian Institute of Sport.

OBJECTIVE: The use of intravenous fluids in out-of-hospital settings has evolved from the practices used by military and emergency response teams. When used in the elite sporting environment, IV fluid use must comply with the World Anti-Doping Code. Uncertainty can arise as clinicians seek to balance the appropriate use of IV fluids in delivering athlete care against the need for World Anti-Doping Code compliance. DESIGN AND METHOD: This position statement reviews the current literature and incorporates clinical experiences to present best-practice recommendations on the clinical use of Intravenous fluids in the elite sport environment, framing recommendations in the context of the World Anti-Doping Code. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The World Anti-Doping Code restricts the use of Intravenous fluids in athletes under certain conditions. This report takes into account the World Anti-Doping Code and the risks of Intravenous fluid administration to provide guidelines around the judicious use of IV fluids for: 1. Treatment of severe dehydration in an athlete, 2. Management of exertional heat illness in an athlete, 3. Hypovolaemia because of trauma in sport, 4. Administering medications.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Freehand 3-D Ultrasound Provide Similar Estimates of Free Achilles Tendon Shape and 3-D Geometry.

The purpose of this study was to assess the similarity of free Achilles tendon shape and 3-D geometry between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and freehand 3-D ultrasound (3-DUS) imaging methods. Fourteen elite/sub-elite middle-distance runners participated in the study. MRI and 3-DUS scans of the Achilles tendon were acquired on two separate imaging sessions, and all 3-D reconstructions were performed using identical methods. Shape similarity of free Achilles tendon reconstructed from MRI and 3-DUS data was assessed using Jaccard index, Hausdorff distance and root mean square error (RMSE). The Jaccard index, Hausdorff distance and RMSE values were 0.76 ± 0.05, 2.70 ± 0.70 and 0.61 ± 0.10 mm, respectively. The level of agreement between MRI and 3-DUS for free Achilles tendon volume, length and average cross-sectional area (CSA) was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis. Compared to MRI, freehand 3-DUS overestimated volume, length and average CSA by 30.6 ± 15.8 mm3 (1.1% ± 0.6%), 0.3 ± 0.7 mm (0.6% ± 1.9%) and 0.3 ± 1.42 mm2 (0.4% ± 2.0%), respectively. The upper and lower limits of agreement between MRI and 3-DUS for volume, length and average CSA were -0.4 to 61.7 mm3 (-0.2% to 2.3%), -1.0 to 1.5 mm (-3.2% to 4.5%) and -2.5 to 3.1 mm2 (-3.5% to 4.3%), respectively. There were no significant differences between imaging methods in CSA along the length of the tendon. In conclusion, MRI and freehand 3-DUS may be considered equivalent methods for estimating shape and 3-D geometry of the free Achilles tendon. These findings, together with the practical benefits of being able to assess 3-D Achilles tendon shape and geometry in a laboratory environment and under isometric loading, make 3-DUS an attractive alternative to MRI for assessing 3-D free Achilles tendon macro-structure in future studies.

A profile of health, lifestyle and training habits of 4720 Australian recreational runners-The case for promoting running for health benefits.

ISSUE ADDRESSED: The aim of this study was to characterise lifestyle and training habits of a large cohort of Australian recreational runners. Understanding the health benefits of recreational running and differentiating between the habits of males and females may allow for the development of gender-specific messaging for promoting recreational running as a form of physical activity. METHODS: An online questionnaire was used to collect data from 4720 Australian recreational runners. Data on physical, lifestyle and training characteristics of male and female subgroups were compared using chi-square tests. Multiple logistic regression method was used to assess the effect of running experience on the reported clinically significant weight loss. RESULTS: The study cohort was 54.1% female and 45.9% male. Smoking was uncommon among surveyed runners. The most typical weekly running distance in the cohort was 20-40 km, usually distributed by 2-5 running sessions. Significantly more males than females reported running over 40 km per week (29.9% vs 18.9%, P < .001) and running at least six sessions per week (11.5% vs 6.7%, P < .001). The majority (72.9%) of runners had normal BMI, and the cohort reported a lower overweight/obesity rate than the Australian population. The logistic regression model indicated that commencing running may lead to a clinically significant weight loss irrespectively of sex, participation in other sports and injury history. CONCLUSION: Recreational running was associated with beneficial health outcomes. Commencement of running is associated with weight loss, and regular running supports healthy weight maintenance. Male and female runners had different running preferences which should be taken into account for physical activity promotion. SO WHAT?: Captured health outcomes associated with running and described sex differences in training patterns may assist in development of physical activity promotion programmes involving recreational running, particularly targeting weight loss and healthy weight maintenance.

Analysis of the Effects of Dietary Pattern on the Oral Microbiome of Elite Endurance Athletes.

Although the oral microbiota is known to play a crucial role in human health, there are few studies of diet x oral microbiota interactions, and none in elite athletes who may manipulate their intakes of macronutrients to achieve different metabolic adaptations in pursuit of optimal endurance performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the shifts in the oral microbiome of elite male endurance race walkers from Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australia, in response to one of three dietary patterns often used by athletes during a period of intensified training: a High Carbohydrate (HCHO; n = 9; with 60% energy intake from carbohydrates; ~8.5 g kg-1 day-1 carbohydrate, ~2.1 g kg-1 day-1 protein, 1.2 g kg-1 day-1 fat) diet, a Periodised Carbohydrate (PCHO; n = 10; same macronutrient composition as HCHO, but the intake of carbohydrates is different across the day and throughout the week to support training sessions with high or low carbohydrate availability) diet or a ketogenic Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF; n = 10; 0.5 g kg-1 day-1 carbohydrate; 78% energy as fat; 2.1 g kg-1 day-1 protein) diet. Saliva samples were collected both before (Baseline; BL) and after the three-week period (Post treatment; PT) and the oral microbiota profiles for each athlete were produced by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Principal coordinates analysis of the oral microbiota profiles based on the weighted UniFrac distance measure did not reveal any specific clustering with respect to diet or athlete ethnic origin, either at baseline (BL) or following the diet-training period. However, discriminant analyses of the oral microbiota profiles by Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) Effect Size (LEfSe) and sparse Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis (sPLS-DA) did reveal changes in the relative abundance of specific bacterial taxa, and, particularly, when comparing the microbiota profiles following consumption of the carbohydrate-based diets with the LCHF diet. These analyses showed that following consumption of the LCHF diet the relative abundances of Haemophilus, Neisseria and Prevotella spp. were decreased, and the relative abundance of Streptococcus spp. was increased. Such findings suggest that diet, and, in particular, the LCHF diet can induce changes in the oral microbiota of elite endurance walkers.

The Effects of Dietary Pattern during Intensified Training on Stool Microbiota of Elite Race Walkers.

We investigated extreme changes in diet patterns on the gut microbiota of elite race walkers undertaking intensified training and its possible links with athlete performance. Numerous studies with sedentary subjects have shown that diet and/or exercise can exert strong selective pressures on the gut microbiota. Similar studies with elite athletes are relatively scant, despite the recognition that diet is an important contributor to sports performance. In this study, stool samples were collected from the cohort at the beginning (baseline; BL) and end (post-treatment; PT) of a three-week intensified training program during which athletes were assigned to a High Carbohydrate (HCHO), Periodised Carbohydrate (PCHO) or ketogenic Low Carbohydrate High Fat (LCHF) diet (post treatment). Microbial community profiles were determined by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The microbiota profiles at BL could be separated into distinct "enterotypes," with either a Prevotella or Bacteroides dominated enterotype. While enterotypes were relatively stable and remained evident post treatment, the LCHF diet resulted in a greater relative abundance of Bacteroides and Dorea and a reduction of Faecalibacterium. Significant negative correlations were observed between Bacteroides and fat oxidation and between Dorea and economy test following LCHF intervention.

Oral Supplementation of Specific Collagen Peptides Combined with Calf-Strengthening Exercises Enhances Function and Reduces Pain in Achilles Tendinopathy Patients.

The current pilot study investigates whether oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides improves symptoms and tendon vascularisation in patients with chronic mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy in combination with structured exercise. Participants were given a placebo or specific collagen peptides (TENDOFORTE®) in combination with a bi-daily calf-strengthening program for 6 months. Group AB received specific collagen peptides for the first 3 months before crossing over to placebo. Group BA received placebo first before crossing over to specific collagen peptides. At baseline (T1), 3 (T2) and 6 (T3) months, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment⁻Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaires and microvascularity measurements through contrast-enhanced ultrasound were obtained in 20 patients. Linear mixed modeling statistics showed that after 3 months, VISA-A increased significantly for group AB with 12.6 (9.7; 15.5), while in group BA VISA-A increased only by 5.3 (2.3; 8.3) points. After crossing over group AB and BA showed subsequently a significant increase in VISA-A of, respectively, 5.9 (2.8; 9.0) and 17.7 (14.6; 20.7). No adverse advents were reported. Microvascularity decreased in both groups to a similar extent and was moderately associated with VISA-A (Rc²:0.68). We conclude that oral supplementation of specific collagen peptides may accelerate the clinical benefits of a well-structured calf-strengthening and return-to-running program in Achilles tendinopathy patients.

Recruitment and Participation of Recreational Runners in a Large Epidemiological and Genetic Research Study: Retrospective Data Analysis.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing capacity for remote collection of both data and samples for medical research, a thorough assessment is needed to determine the association of population characteristics and recruitment methodologies with response rates. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to assess population representativeness in a two-stage study of health and injury in recreational runners, which consisted of an epidemiological arm and genetic analysis. METHODS: The cost and success of various classical and internet-based methods were analyzed, and demographic representativeness was assessed for recruitment to the epidemiological survey, reported willingness to participate in the genetic arm of the study, actual participation, sample return, and approval for biobank storage. RESULTS: A total of 4965 valid responses were received, of which 1664 were deemed eligible for genetic analysis. Younger age showed a negative association with initial recruitment rate, expressed willingness to participate in genetic analysis, and actual participation. Additionally, female sex was associated with higher initial recruitment rates, and ethnic origin impacted willingness to participate in the genetic analysis (all P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The sharp decline in retention through the different stages of the study in young respondents suggests the necessity to develop specific recruitment and retention strategies when investigating a young, physically active population.

Prevalence of illness, poor mental health and sleep quality and low energy availability prior to the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

OBJECTIVE: Establish the prevalence of illness symptoms, poor sleep quality, poor mental health symptoms, low energy availability and stress-recovery state in an Olympic cohort late in the 3 months prior to the Summer Olympic Games. METHODS: Olympic athletes (n=317) from 11 sports were invited to complete questionnaires administered 3 months before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. These questionnaires included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Questionnaire, Perceived Stress Scale, Dispositional Resilience Scale, Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (REST-Q-52 item), Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and custom-made questionnaires on probiotic usage and travel. Multiple illness (case) definitions were applied. ORs and attributable fractions in the population were used. Factor analyses were used to explore the relationships between variables. RESULTS: The response rate was of 42% (male, n=47, age 25.8±4.1 years; female, n=85, age 24.3±3.9 years). Low energy availability was associated with sustaining an illness in the previous month (upper respiratory, OR=3.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 12). The main factor relating to illness pertained to a combination of anxiety and stress-recovery states (as measured by the REST-Q-52 item). All participants reported at least one episode of illness in the last month (100% prevalence). CONCLUSIONS: All participants reported at least one illness symptom in the previous month. Low energy availability was a leading variable associated with illness in Olympic-class athletes. The estimates duration of symptoms ranged from 2 to 7 days. Factor analyses show the interdependence of various health domains and support multidisciplinary care.

Genetic testing for exercise prescription and injury prevention: AIS-Athlome consortium-FIMS joint statement.

BACKGROUND: There has been considerable growth in basic knowledge and understanding of how genes are influencing response to exercise training and predisposition to injuries and chronic diseases. On the basis of this knowledge, clinical genetic tests may in the future allow the personalisation and optimisation of physical activity, thus providing an avenue for increased efficiency of exercise prescription for health and disease. RESULTS: This review provides an overview of the current status of genetic testing for the purposes of exercise prescription and injury prevention. As such there are a variety of potential uses for genetic testing, including identification of risks associated with participation in sport and understanding individual response to particular types of exercise. However, there are many challenges remaining before genetic testing has evidence-based practical applications; including adoption of international standards for genomics research, as well as resistance against the agendas driven by direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies. Here we propose a way forward to develop an evidence-based approach to support genetic testing for exercise prescription and injury prevention. CONCLUSION: Based on current knowledge, there is no current clinical application for genetic testing in the area of exercise prescription and injury prevention, however the necessary steps are outlined for the development of evidence-based clinical applications involving genetic testing.