Prevalence of lower limb pain and disability in football, hockey, and floorball players.

BACKGROUND: Currently there are not enough studies that compared frequent types of collective sports with regard to the prevalence of pain and disability of the lower limb. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of lower limb pain and disability in team sports players. METHODS: 388 athletes with average age 27.26 ± 4.69, from sports clubs at the national level were included in the study. The Oxford Hip Score was used to determine the prevalence of hip pain. The International Knee Documentation Committee was used to determine the prevalence of knee pain. The Foot and Ankle Disability Index was used to determine the prevalence of ankle pain. RESULTS: Hockey players had a prevalence of hip pain of 97.2% and a 14.3 times higher risk of developing hip pain compared with football and floorball players. Floorball players had a 81.9% prevalence of knee pain, with a 3.8 times higher the risk of knee pain compared with football and hockey. Floorball players had a 62.3% prevalence of ankle pain and a 1.8 times higher the risk of developing ankle pain compared with football and hockey players. CONCLUSIONS: The highest percentage of knee 81.9% and ankle 62.3% pain, as well as the greatest risk of pain, was found among floorball players. Hockey players had the highest prevalence (97.2%) and risk of developing hip pain.

Comparative Risk Analysis of Low Back Pain among Professional Football, Ice Hockey, and Floorball Athletes.

BACKGROUND Low back pain (LBP) is a common concern among professional athletes, potentially hindering performance and career longevity. However, comparative assessments of LBP prevalence and severity across various sports remain scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with LBP in 388 professional athletes, including football, ice hockey, and floorball players. MATERIAL AND METHODS Conducted from June 2021 to September 2022, this cross-sectional study incorporated 388 athletes from national elite clubs, including football (n=148), ice hockey (n=179), and floorball (n=61). The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), comprising sections like pain intensity, self-care, lifting, walking, sitting, standing, sleeping, sexual life, social life, and traveling, was employed to evaluate spinal pain and disability. RESULTS The study found no significant disparities in the LBP assessment among the groups. The relative risk (OR) of LBP and disability varied among the sports: football players displayed a lower risk (OR=0.49; 95% CI 0.32-0.74, P≤0.001), while ice hockey players had a higher risk (OR=2.18; 95% CI 1.45-3.29, P≤0.001) compared to the others. In contrast, the risk for floorball players (OR=0.82; 95% CI 0.47-1.41) did not significantly deviate from that of the other two sports. CONCLUSIONS LBP prevalence stood at 42.6% for football players, 60.1% for ice hockey players, and 49.2% for floorball players. Among these, ice hockey players exhibited a 2.18-fold increased risk of developing LBP and associated disability when compared to their football and floorball counterparts.

The association between muscle mass quantity and its quality in physically active older women.

In this study, the authors aim to determine whether lower limb strength is related to lower limb lean mass and whether this relationship is affected by lower limb functionality in physically active older women. Twenty-six women underwent measures of knee muscles strength and lean mass of lower limbs. Bilateral strength of the knee flexors and extensors was measured by an isokinetic dynamometer. The concentric peak torque was measured at an angular velocity of 60°/s. Lean mass of the lower limbs was measured by bio-impedance analysis. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed significant association between the strength of the knee flexors and lean mass on non-dominant limb only (r = .427, p = .03). Researchers revealed that strategies aiming to prevent lean mass and muscle strength losses should be specifically targeted to individual muscles or muscle groups, even in physically active older women. To improve overall mobility, the strengthening of larger muscle such as hamstring is crucial.

Advancing age is associated with more impaired mediolateral balance control after step down task.

BACKGROUND: To prevent the risk of stair descent falls and associated injuries in the older adults, it is important to understand the factors that affect this frequent locomotion of daily living. The fact that falls are in most cases the result of the interaction between intrinsic and extrinsic factors is very often underestimated when designing test protocols. RESEARCH QUESTION: This study aimed at evaluating balance control during and immediately after step down onto an unstable surface. METHODS: Physically active men and women aged 60-69 years (n = 28) and 70-79 years (n = 18) were asked to perform a step down onto a foam pad and stand still for 30 s (restabilization phase). Centre of pressure (CoP) velocity and standard deviation of CoP sway in anteroposterior and mediolateral direction were evaluated during the step down (CoP VAP, CoP VML, CoP SDAP, CoP SDML) and in the first 5 s of restabilization (CoP VAP5, CoP VML5, CoP SDAP5, CoP SDML5). In addition, time to complete step was investigated. RESULTS: Participants aged 70-79 years presented worse ML balance control after step down onto an unstable surface than their younger counterparts. This was represented by the significantly higher values of CoP SDML5 and CoP VML5 (p = 0.022 and p = 0.017). No other significant differences were detected. SIGNIFICANCE: Age is associated with a more significant ML center of pressure velocity and sway after step down onto a foam pad in physically active older adults. Exercises aimed at improving ML balance control in unstable conditions should be the subject of physical interventions even in older adults with overall good state of health and physical fitness.

Association between Educational Level and Physical Activity in Chronic Disease Patients of Eastern Slovakia.

AIMS: This study aimed to investigate selected chronic diseases patients with different educational attainment regarding their awareness of and compliance with recommended physical activity. METHOD: This cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2018 to February 2019 in cooperation with chronic diseases clinics in eastern Slovakia. The study involved 893 patients. RESULTS: People with higher education apparently recognise to a greater extent the importance of nutrition, diet, and the role of physical activity in treating their disease. Moreover, they have knowledge of physical exercises appropriate for their disease. Conversely, a noticeably higher number of less educated patients reported receiving general, respectively detailed information about the importance of physical activity in treating their disease. Differences in awareness of appropriate exercises and their implementation were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The results fail to prove educational attainment being a key determinant of chronic diseases. However, it can be reasonably argued that lower educational attainment may be a reliable risk signal of chronic diseases in later life.

Influence of sports groups on the risk of stress urinary incontinence in sportswomen.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate sports groups on the risk of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in sportswomen and its impact on their quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. The group consisted of 249 sportswomen with a mean age of 22.18 ± 6.11 years. We used the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q) and the Quality of Life Assessment Questionnaire Concerning Urinary Incontinence (Contilife) were used for evaluation. We divided the sports into the following six groups: 1. Functional mobilization sports (FMS); 2. Strength sports (SS); 3. Aesthetic-coordination and sensory-concentration sports (ACS); 4. Heuristic-individual and martial arts (HIS + MAS); 5. Heuristic-collective sports with a hockey stick (HCS-A); and 6. Heuristic-collective sports with a ball (HCS-B). RESULTS: The symptoms of SUI according to the ICIQ-UI SF were 1.80 ± 2.93. The estimate of the relative risk (OR) of developing SUI was most significant in the FMS group (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.04-3.68; p < 0.03). Other sports groups did not pose a significant relative risk of developing SUI and had a lower incidence of SUI. In SS was OR = 0.77, in EKS, OR = 0.69, in (HIS + BS), OR = 1.26, in (HKS-A) was OR = 0.63, in (HKS-B) was OR = 1.02. There were no significant differences between the groups in the overall score of the Contilife, which assesses quality of life. CONCLUSION: The Functional mobilization sports group had a 1.96 times higher risk of SUI compared to that in other sports groups.

The Relationship between Overweight and Overactive Bladder Symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Several authors have investigated the relationship between obesity - assessed only by body mass index (BMI) - and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between body fat percentage (BFP) and the severity of OAB symptoms with an impact on quality of life. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 206 overweight women; they were university students (BMI = 25.8 ± 3.0) with an average age of 30.6 ± 2.4 years. Body composition analysis was used, including assessment of BFP, visceral fat area (cm2/level), and other parameters. OAB symptoms were evaluated with an OAB questionnaire (OAB-q), voiding diary, and quality of life scale (I-QoL). RESULTS: Ninety women had a BFP >32% and 116 had a BFP <32%. The voiding diary and OAB-q confirmed significant differences in 24-h daytime and nighttime frequency of voiding and average urine volume during the day. The OAB-q symptom score was lower in the group with BFP <32%. I-QoL recorded significantly worse parameters in the group with BFP >32% (p < 0.01). The Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale significantly correlated with BFP (r = 0.466, p < 0.001). Women with a BFP above 32% had a 1.95 times greater chance of developing OAB (odds ratio = 1.95, 95% CI = 1.09-3.52, p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Young women with a BFP >32% were 95% more likely to have OAB than other young women with a BPF <32%.

The influence of Finnish sauna treatments on the concentrations of nitric oxide, 3-nitrotyrosine and selected markers of oxidative status in training and non-training men.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of repeated Finnish sauna baths on the concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) and 3-nitrotyrosine in relation to pro-oxidative and antioxidative status in young males with different physical activity levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was performed on healthy males (aged 20-25 years), representing the training (T, N = 10) and non-training groups (NT, N = 10). The protocol included a series of 10 sauna baths during 3 weeks. One bath consisted of three 15-min sessions, with 2 min recovery. Before the first and the 10th treatment, measurements of body composition, blood pressure, rectal temperature, and plasma concentrations of the total pro-oxidative and antioxidative status, 3-nitrotyrosine and NOx were performed. RESULTS: A significant increase in physiological parameters during sauna treatments, as well as a significant decrease in the total antioxidative status before the 10th bath, were observed in both groups. The series of sauna baths caused a significant increase in the total antioxidative status in the T group, and a decrease in the total oxidative status in the NT group. A significant decrease in 3-nitrotyrosine in both groups before the last treatment, and also in the T group after the last treatment, was noted. In both groups, a significant increase in NOx concentrations was observed after the first bath. CONCLUSIONS: A series of sauna baths contributes to the improvement in the prooxidative/ antioxidative balance. The increased production of nitric oxide may lead to a better vascular relaxation and blood flow. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(2):173-85.

Effect of an exercise programme for reducing abdominal fat on overactive bladder symptoms in young overweight women.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The effect of exercise in relation to overweight and overactive bladder (OAB) in young women has not been sufficiently supported by studies. The objective of our study was to reduce symptoms of OAB through a 3-month exercise programme in young overweight women with OAB. The sample consisted of 70 women (mean age 26.7 ± 4.8 years), 36 being treated and 34 in the control group. METHODS: We used a body composition analyser with the assessment of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) (kg), body fat mass (BFM) (kg), body fat percentage (BFP) (%), visceral fat area (VFA) (cm²/level) and the waist/hip circumference index (WHR). OAB symptoms were evaluated using a voiding diary, the overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q) and the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS). The intervention was a programme for the reduction of abdominal fat (PRAF), with elements of aerobic training, strengthening of the abdominal muscles and stretching. RESULTS: In the OAB symptoms assessed through the voiding diary (number of voidings per 24 h, nocturia, mean voided volume) as well as in the OAB-q and PPIUS scales after training, significant differences were reported in favour of the treatment group [number of voidings per 24 h: treatment vs. control group, baseline 9.1 ± 0.3 vs. 8.6 ± 0.3, final 6.9 ± 0.2 vs. 8.1 ± 0.2, p < 0.0001; mean voided volume per 24 h (ml): treatment vs. control group, baseline 154.2 ± 9.1 vs. 162.2 ± 9.3, final 201.3 ± 9.3 vs. 164.1 ± 9.6, p < 0.0001] with a large effect size (ES). In the body composition analysis after training, significant differences were also reported in favour of the treatment group in the reduction of body mass index (BMI), BFP and VFA (p < 0.0001), with a large ES. CONCLUSIONS: Body composition analysis confirmed a reduction of BMI, body weight, body fat percentage, visceral abdominal fat, the WHR index and waist circumference in favour of the treatment group after the 12-week PRAF exercise programme. A reduction in OAB symptoms was also objectively confirmed following the PRAF exercise programme.

The impact of different intensities of exercise on body weight reduction and overactive bladder symptoms- randomised trial.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate the effect of a 3-month exercise programme with two different intensities on the reduction of body weight and body fat percentage in overweight women with overactive bladder symptoms (OAB). STUDY DESIGN: randomised controlled study. The sample consisted of 77 overweight women with OAB symptoms, with an average age of 26.2 years. Body mass index (BMI) measurements confirmed if women were overweight. Participants were split into two groups, as follows: Group 1 (programme with high intensity) (n = 39) and group 2 (programme with low intensity) (n = 38). For evaluation of body composition, we used Bioelectric impedance analysis with assessment of body fat percentage (BFP) and visceral fat area (VFA). OAB symptoms were evaluated using a voiding diary, an overactive bladder questionnaire (OAB-q) and the Patient Perception of Intensity of Urgency Scale (PPIUS). The intervention was a Programme for Reduction of Abdominal Fat, aimed at reducing abdominal fat with elements of aerobic training, strengthening of the surface and deep abdominal muscles and stretching. RESULTS: Group 1 lost body weight and showed a reduction in Body Fat Percentage (BFP) of more than 5%, whereas group 2 did not. Significant differences in OAB symptoms (p < 0.01) were recorded after training in favour of group 1 (number of voiding per 24 h changed from 8.92 ± 1.7 to 6.87 ± 0.40, OAB-q SS from 11.36 ± 8.57 to 1.46 ± 3.4). In the body composition assessment, significant differences (p < 0.001) were recorded after training in favour of group 1, in terms of BMI, BFP, WFA and body weight reduction. CONCLUSION: The high intensity exercise programme for reducing abdominal fat (PRAF) significantly reduces overweight and mild symptoms of OAB after 12 weeks.

Comparison of body composition and overactive bladder symptoms in overweight female university students.

OBJECTIVES: To compare body composition in young overweight women with OAB compared to women without OAB, and to determine the severity of the symptoms of OAB, as well as to investigate the impact of OAB on quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 1932 enrolled women classed as overweight (BMI:25-29.9).From this sample, 276 women were recruited. Of these, 206 women with an average age of 30.6 ± 20.4 years and an average BMI of 25.8 ± 3.0 were confirmed to be overweight. We used the Voiding Diary, the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire(OAB-q),and the Incontinence Quality of Life (I-QoL) scale. Body composition was measured using direct segmental multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis, with assessment of: skeletal muscle mass(kg)(SMM), body fat mass (kg)(BFM), body fat percentage (%)(BFP), visceral fat area (cm2/level)(VFA), and waist to hip ratio(WHR). RESULTS: The voiding diary and OAB-q results confirmed OAB in 102 women. There was no significant difference in BMI between groups. The body composition analysis showed significant differences in BFP, VFA, and WHR, with higher values in the OAB group(p < 0.01). SMM, however, was higher in the group without OAB(p < 0.01). Recorded I-QoL scores showed worse parameters in the OAB group(p < 0.001). Women with a body fat percentage above 32% have a 1.95 times greater chance of developing OAB. Odds ratio [OR] = 1.95,(95%CI:1.09-3.52,p < 0.02). CONCLUSION: Body fat percentage, visceral fat area, and waist to hip ratio were significantly higher in overweight women with OAB, compared with women without OAB and a comparable BMI.

The impact of physical activity measured by the International Physical Activity questionnaire on the prevalence of stress urinary incontinence in young women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of SUI symptoms in sportswomen (with a high intensity of physical activity) and non-sportswomen (with a low intensity of physical activity), according to the estimated intensity of physical activity in metabolic equivalents using the IPAQ questionnaire. Another goal was to identify relationships between SUI symptoms, intensity of physical activity, and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 1005 participants were enrolled into the study. We used the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-UI SF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life scale (I-QoL) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). RESULTS: Out of the 1005 participants, the final sample of 557 women is the result of the adoption of exclusion criteria. The sample consisted of 557 women (270 sportswomen and 287 non-sportswomen) with an average age of 20.9 ± 2.8 years. The ICIQ-UI SF confirmed slight urinary leakage in 33 (6.14%) sportswomen and 11 (2.04%) non-sportswomen. The risk of reporting SUI was higher in the sportswomen group (odds ratio: 3.49; 95% CI: 1.727-7.064, p < 0.001). Significant positive correlation was observed between SUI (assessed by ICIQ-UI SF) and high intensity physical activity (in metabolic equivalents (r = 0.242, p < 0.01). Significant negative correlation was observed between SUI and quality of life (I-QoL) (r = -0.648, p < 0.001). OAB symptoms were not present in the monitored groups. (OAB - q - SS in sportwomen were 4.3 ± 5.4, in non-sportwomen 4.5 ± 4.9, p = 0.265). CONCLUSIONS: Sportswomen with high-intensity physical activities in metabolic equivalents measured by the IPAQ have a greater chance of reporting SUI than non-sportswomen, resulting in a negative impact on quality of life.

A randomized controlled trial to evaluate utilization of physical activity recommendations among patients of cardiovascular healthcare centres in Eastern Slovakia: study design and rationale of the AWATAR study.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines on modifiable risk factors regarding cardiological patients are poorly implemented in clinical practice perhaps due to low health literacy. Several digital tools for improving lifestyle and behavioural intervention were developed. Our primary aim is to evaluate the effectiveness of a digital exercise prescription tool on the adherence to physical activity recommendations among patients with cardiovascular diseases. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial will be realized in cooperation with Cardiovascular Health Centres in Eastern Slovakia. Patients recruited through their cardiologists, will be randomised at 1:1 ratio to the three-months' experimental condition or control condition. The experimental group will receive standard lifestyle consultation leading to individually optimized prescription of physical activity. The control group will receive standard, usual-cardio-care lifestyle counselling, also in the domain of physical activity. The digital system will be used for optimized exercise prescription. The primary outcome is a change in the patient's adherence to exercise recommendations. Data will be collected in both groups prior to consultation and after 3 months. DISCUSSION: This study protocol presents background and design of a randomized control trial to investigate the effectiveness of a digital system-provide exercise prescription tool on the adherence to physical activity recommendations. An optimized exercise prescription that better reflects patient's diagnosis, comorbidities and medication can have a significant impact on secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. This trial can provide important evidence about the effectiveness of digital exercise guidance in everyday practice of cardiovascular healthcare. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered on 1st November, 2017 and is available online at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03329053 ).

Prevalence and risk of sport types to stress urinary incontinence in sportswomen: A cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to investigate the prevalence and risk of developing stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in each type of high-intensity sport, and the associated impact on quality of life in sportswomen. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and November 2016. The study included 278 sportswomen. The basic inclusion criteria were being nulliparous and engaging in high-intensity physical activity. The exclusion criteria were childbirth, surgical treatment of gynecological and urological illnesses and urinary tract infection. For evaluation were used: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Urinary Incontinence (ICIQ-UISF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL). RESULTS: The highest percentage of SUI was found in athletes (23.8%), followed by volleyball players (19.6%). We found that cumulative metabolic equivalent (MET) did not affect SUI, but the type of sport did. The risk of SUI was highest in volleyball sportswomen (odds ratio[OR] = 2.16,95% confidence interval[CI] = 0.96-4.89, P < 0.05) and athletes (OR = 2.56,95%CI = 0.87-7.51, P = 0.08). As assessed by the I- QOL, SUI in people who participated in fitness and athletics (e.g., basketball, volleyball and handball) had a negative impact on quality of life including behavior, psychosocial impacts and social embarrassment score. CONCLUSION: Volleyball players have a 116% chance of getting SUI compared to women who play other types of sports that were analyzed as part of this study. Healthcare professionals should inform the population of sportswomen with risk factors for SUI in order to implement preventive physiotherapy for strengthening pelvic floor muscles.

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in Females Performing High-Impact Exercises.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to monitor the prevalence of symptoms of stress (SUI) and mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) in sportswomen performing high-impact exercises. A further objective was to compare the symptoms of urinary incontinence (UI) and quality of life in sportswomen. We used the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ-SF), the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), the Urinary Incontinence Quality of Life Scale (I-QOL) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), short version. The group consisted of 503 sportswomen with a mean age of 21.1±3.6. The response rate was 71.15%. ICIQ-SF results confirmed mild difficulties with urine leakage in 72 (14.3%) sportswomen. Urinary leakage was not noted in 431 (85.7%) sportswomen. The OAB-q and I-QOL showed a significant difference, with pronounced symptoms of UUI and worse QOL in the group of sportswomen with urine leakage (p<0.000). The I-QOL recorded significantly worse parameters in the group of sportswomen with urine leakage (p<0.000). Prevalence of SUI was found in 68 (13.52%), and MUI was found in 4 (0.80%) sportswomen. Every seventh sportswoman (14.3%) in the study group had reported problems with UI when practising high-impact sporting activities, with a negative impact on QOL.