Association between back-leg-chest muscle strength and kicking speed in soccer players: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have been performed on soccer kicks and stressed the significance of strength/power and coordination between the agonist and antagonist muscles of the lower limb. Along with accuracy, speed is also an important factor in a successful kick. It is reported that trunk musculature, hip and knee extensors of the non-kicking extremity, and hip adductors of the kicking side have a role in increasing the foot velocity while kicking. Since muscles do not work in isolation while kicking and several muscle groups of the leg and trunk have been reported to have a role in high-speed kicks, therefore measuring the combined strength of the leg, trunk, and arm muscles will be an appropriate method to examine their association with the kicking speed. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the combined strength of the lower extremities, back, chest, and arm muscles with the kicking speed of soccer players. METHODS: Forty male soccer players (mean age 15.7 years) participated in the study. The back-leg-chest (BLC) dynamometer (Baseline, New York, NY, USA) and the mobile camera measured isometric muscle strength and kicking speed, respectively. The BLC dynamometer measured the isometric strength of the knee, hip, back extensors, and arm muscles. The kicking speed was measured by asking participants to kick a football in three directions - right, middle, and left - from 11 meters. RESULTS: Significant (P<0.001) negative correlations of isometric strength of the back, leg, chest, and arm muscles and kicking speeds were found in all three directions. In all three correlations, Pearson's correlation coefficient was -0.989. Simple linear regression results showed that 97.8% (adjusted R2) of the variance observed in kicking speed (KS; RT), KS (MD), and KS (LT), was explained by the movement in BLC muscle strength values. CONCLUSIONS: Kicking speeds in the right, middle, and left directions were negatively associated with the isometric strengths of the back, leg, chest, and arms muscles, measured using the BLC dynamometer, in participating soccer players.

Iodine nutritional status among school children in selected areas of Howrah District in West Bengal, India.

This article is a study on iodine nutritional status among 1627 school children aged 6-12 years, along with biochemical analysis of iodine of 200 urine samples, 50 drinking water samples and 175 salt samples carried out in certain randomly selected areas of the district Howrah in Gangetic West Bengal. Results indicate that the entire region is clinically goitre endemic having goitre prevalence 38%; however the median urinary iodine level was 25 microg/dl indicating no biochemical iodine deficiency, 70% salt samples had a recommended level of iodine and the region was found to be environmentally iodine sufficient. Consumption of dietary goitrogen and hard drinking water may have the possible role for the persistence of endemic goitre in the region.

Bioavailability of iodine and hardness (magnesium and calcium salt) in drinking water in the etiology of endemic goitre in Sundarban delta of West Bengal (India).

Endemic goitre has been reported from the ecologically diverse Sundarban delta of West Bengal (India). To study the etiological factors for the persistence of endemic goitre, bioavailability of iodine and hardness of water used for drinking in the region were evaluated because these common environmental factors are inversely and directly related with goitre prevalence in several geographical regions. For the present study from 19 Community Development Blocks of Sundarban delta, 19 areas were selected at random. From each area at least 8 drinking water samples were collected and analyzed for iodine and the hardness (calcium and magnesium salt content). Iodine content in the drinking water samples was found in the range from 21 to 119 mg/L and total hardness of drinking water was found to range from 50 to 480 ppm. Presence of magnesium salt was found higher than the calcium salts in most of the samples. These findings suggest that the entire delta region is environmentally iodine sufficient but water is relatively hard and thus possibility of hardness of water for the persistence of endemic goitre may not be ruled out.

Iodine nutritional status of children in North East India.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the iodine nutritional status of school children in selected areas of Imphal West District of Manipur where endemic goitre and associated iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) are prevalent in the post-salt iodization period. METHODS: A total of 961 school children in the age group 6-12 yrs of both sexes were clinically examined for goiter from three study areas- one from rural block and two from urban areas. One hundred twenty urine samples were analysed for iodine and thiocyanate respectively. One hundred and five edible salt samples were also collected from the households to evaluate the iodine content. Drinking water samples from different sources were collected and iodine level was analysed to study the bioavailability of iodine in the region. RESULTS: The total goiter rate was 34.96% (Grade 1- 32.15%; Grade 2- 2.81%) showing that IDD is a severe public health problem. The median urinary iodine levels in the studied areas were in the ranges from 12.5-17.5 microg/dl indicating no biochemical iodine deficiency in the region. Mean urinary thiocyanate level was 0.839+/-0.33 mg/dl showing that the people consume sufficient foods containing thiocyanate precursors. About 82% salt samples had iodine level more than 30 ppm and the iodine content in salt samples less than 15 ppm was only about 3% indicating the salt samples at house hold contain adequate iodine. CONCLUSION: Iodine content in drinking water samples ranged from 1.8-2.6 microg/l showing that the studied region is environmentally iodine deficient. Inspite of the consumption of adequate iodine, the existing goiter prevalence among school children during post salt iodization phase ensures that environmental factors other than iodine deficiency may have the possible role in the persistence of endemic goiter in the population. The role of thiocyanate in this regard may not be ruled out.

Goitre prevalence and the state of iodine nutrition in the sundarban delta of north 24-parganas in West Benegal.

The main objective of this study was to assess the iodine nutritional status among school children (6-12 yrs) of Sundarban delta in North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal in eastern India. A total of 2050 children were clinically examined for goiter and 240 urine samples were analyzed for iodine and thiocyanate respectively; iodine content in 48 water samples and 210 salt samples were also measured. Results indicate that the studied region is clinically severely goiter endemic having goiter prevalence 33.1 % (grade 1: 30.4 %; grade 2: 2.7%),median urinary iodine level 200 mug/l indicating no biochemical iodine deficiency, 65.2 % salt samples contain recommended level of iodine and the iodine content in drinking water is sufficient while mean urinary thiocyanate level was 0.708+/-0.38 mg/dl. In spite of the consumption of adequate iodine, the existing goiter prevalence may be for the consumption of dietary goitrogens/antithyroid substances that possibly come through food and water.

Iodine nutritional status & prevalence of goitre in Sundarban delta of South 24-Parganas, West Bengal.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: In post salt iodization phase endemic goitre and associated iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) were found prevalent in a randomly selected rural area of Sundarban delta and its adjoining areas of West Bengal. The present investigation was thus undertaken to study the total goitre rate, urinary iodine and thiocyanate excretion pattern of the school going children, iodine content in edible salt and drinking water in the Sundarban delta of South 24-Parganas in West Bengal. METHODS: A total of 4656 school children (6-12 yr) were clinically examined for goitre from 13 different areas in the delta region. Urinary iodine and thiocyanate levels were measured in 520 (40 from each area) samples collected randomly to evaluate the iodine nutritional status and consumption pattern of dietary goitrogen. Simultaneously iodine content was determined in 104 (8 from each area) drinking water samples and 455 (35 from each area) edible salt samples collected from the areas. RESULTS: Children of all the areas were affected by endemic goitre. The prevalence rates were in the ranges from 25-61 per cent; overall goitre prevalence was 38.2 per cent (grade 1--34.0%; grade 2--4.2%). Median urinary iodine level in the studied areas was 225 microg/l (range 115-525 microg/l) indicating no biochemical iodine deficiency in the region. Mean urinary thiocyanate levels were in the range from 0.326-1.004 mg/dl. Iodine content in drinking water samples were in the ranges from 22-119 microg/l, and 55.6 per cent edible salt samples had iodine level above the recommended 15 ppm at the consumption point. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: The severity of endemic goitre was high in the studied population though the iodine nutritional status was found satisfactory in the region indicating no biochemical iodine deficiency. The people of the region consumed iodine through iodized salt but about 44 per cent of the salt samples at household level contained inadequate iodine, however their iodine intake was compensated through iodine in water and food. They also consumed dietary goitrogen. Environmental factors other than iodine deficiency may have possible role for the persistence of endemic goitre in the region. More investigations are thus necessary to arrive at certain definite cause of high goitre rates in this population.