Composición corporal y somatotipo de rugbistas chilenos y su relación con la posición de juego / Body composition and somatotype of chilean rugby players and their relationship with the game position

RESUMEN: El objetivo del estudio fue describir las características morfoestructurales, por posición de juego, en rugbistas de la región de Valparaíso, Chile. La estatura, peso, índice de masa corporal (IMC) y otros 25 parámetros antropométricos fueron obtenidos desde 121 rugbistas competitivos (24,2 ± 4,9 años), siguiendo los estándares de medición de la Sociedad Internacional para el Avance de la Kinantropometría (ISAK). La composición corporal fue descrita en 5 componentes a través del método propuesto por Kerr, estos son masa muscular, adiposa, residual, ósea y piel. El uso del somatotipo descrito por Carter y Heath, permitió describir los componentes de endomorfía, mesomorfía y ectomorfía. Para comparar las características morfoestructurales de los rugbistas por posición de juego, estos fueron separados en forwards y backs. El peso corporal, la estatura sentado y de pie, el IMC y la sumatoria de 8 pliegues fueron mayores en los forwards que los backs (p<0,0001). En relación a las masas corporales, el tejido adiposo y muscular absoluto fueron mayores en los forwards que en los backs (P< 0,01), no así el relativo. El somatotipo evidenció mayor endomorfía y mesomorfía, y menor ectomorfía, en los forwards 4,8-6,9-0,7 (1,8-1,3-0,8) que los backs 3,7-6,1-1,2 (1,8-1,1-0,8) con P<0,01. En conclusión, la posición de juego en el rugby es determinante en la definición de características físicas básicas y morfológicas. El mayor peso corporal de los forwards respecto a los backs se encuentra influenciado por la presencia de más tejido muscular y adiposo. Esto último se relacionó con un mayor componente mesomórfico y endomórfico del somatotipo, y menor del ectomórfico, en los forwards. A pesar de estas diferencias ambos grupos se encuentran en una clasificación de endo-mesomorfo.

SUMMARY: The objective of the study was to describe the morpho-structural characteristics according to playing position, in rugby players from the region of Valparaíso, Chile. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and other 25 anthropometric parameters were obtained from 121 competitive rugby players (24.2 ± 4.9 years), following the recommendations of the International Society for the advancement of Kinanthropometry. The body composition was described in 5 components through the method proposed by Kerr, they are muscle, fat, residual, bone and skin. The somatotype described by Carter and Heath, allowed to describe the components of endomorphy, mesomorphy and ectomorphy. To compare the morphostructural characteristics of the rugby players by playing position, these were separated into forwards and backs. Body weight, sitting and standing height, BMI and S 8-fold were higher in the forwards than the backs (p <0.0001). In relation to body mass, adipose tissue and absolute muscle were higher in the forwards than in the backs (P <0.01), but not in the relative. The somatotype showed significant differences in the averages of the three components between forwards 4.8-6.9-0.7 (1.8-1.3-0.8) and backs 3.7-6.1-1, 2 (1.8-1.1-0.8) with P <0.01. In conclusion, the playing position in rugby is decisive in the definition of basic physical and morphological characteristics. A higher body weight of the forwards versus backs is influenced by a greater muscle and adipose tissues. Latter was related to a greater mesomorphic and endomorphic component of the somatotype, and lower ectomorphic in the forwards. Despite these differences, both groups are classified as endo-mesomorph.

Influence of expiratory positive airway pressure on cardiac autonomic modulation at rest and in submaximal exercise in COPD patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) on heart rate variability (HRV) indices at rest and during 6-min walk test (6MWT) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Fifteen moderate to severe COPD patients were randomized and evaluated with and without (Non-EPAP) a 5 cmH2O EPAP device. Respiratory rate (RR) was collected at rest (5 min), during the 6MWT (5 min), and at recovery (5 min). Indices of HRV were computed in the time domain, in the frequency domain, and nonlinear analysis. For EPAP and Non-EPAP during the 6MWT, we found an increased mean heart rate (HR) (P=0.001; P=0.001) while mean RR (P=0.001; P=0.015) and RR tri index decreased (P=0.006; P=0.028). Peripheral oxygen saturation (P=0.019) increased at rest only in the EPAP group. In EPAP, correlations were found between forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and low frequency (LF) sympathetic tonus (P=0.05; r=-0.49), FEV1 and high frequency (HF) parasympathetic tonus at rest (P=0.05; r=0.49), lactate at rest and LF during the 6MWT (P=0.02; r=-0.57), and lactate at rest and HF during 6MWT (P=0.02; r=0.56). Through a linear regression model, we found that lactate at rest explained 27% of the alterations of LF during 6MWT. The use of 5 cmH2O EPAP improved autonomic cardiac modulation and its complexity at rest in COPD patients. Although it did not influence the performance of the 6MWT, the EPAP device caused alterations in resting lactate concentration with an effect on sympatho-vagal control during the test.

Autonomic control of heart rate after exercise in trained wrestlers.

The objective of this study was to establish differences in vagal reactivation, through heart rate recovery and heart rate variability post exercise, in Brazilian jiu-jitsu wrestlers (BJJW). A total of 18 male athletes were evaluated, ten highly trained (HT) and eight moderately trained (MT), who performed a maximum incremental test. At the end of the exercise, the R-R intervals were recorded during the first minute of recovery. We calculated heart rate recovery (HRR60s), and performed linear and non-linear (standard deviation of instantaneous beat-to-beat R-R interval variability - SD1) analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), using the tachogram of the first minute of recovery divided into four segments of 15 s each (0-15 s, 15-30 s, 30-45 s, 45-60 s). Between HT and MT individuals, there were statistically significant differences in HRR60s (p <0.05) and in the non linear analysis of HRV from SD130-45s (p <0.05) and SD145-60s (p <0.05). The results of this research suggest that heart rate kinetics during the first minute after exercise are related to training level and can be used as an index for autonomic cardiovascular control in BJJW.

[Clinical characterization of 450 patients with cerebrovascular disease admitted to a public hospital during 1997]. / Caracterización clínica de 450 pacientes con enfermedad cerebrovascular ingresados a un hospital público durante 1997.

BACKGROUND: In Chile, cerebrovascular diseases are the fifth cause of death among men and the third cause among women. AIM: To assess the clinical features and management of patients with cerebrovascular disease admitted to a public hospital during 1997. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of clinical records of patients discharged with a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease. Those records in which there was discordance between the discharge diagnosis and the clinical picture were not considered in the analysis. RESULTS: Of the 563 discharges from the hospital with the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, 487 records were located and 450 were considered in the analysis. Fifty four percent of patients were male and ages ranged from 17 to 96 years old. Fifty-one percent of patients had an ischemic stroke, 34% a cerebral hemorrhage, 12% a subarachnoidal hemorrhage and 3% a transient ischemic attack. There was a history of hypertension in 64% patients and 20% had an adequate treatment. Eighteen percent were diabetics, 34% had a heart disease and 20% had a previous episode of stroke. Mean hospital stay was 6.3 days in the emergency room and 11 days in the neurology ward. Hospital infections appeared in 21% of patients (respiratory in 68% and urinary in 22%), lethality was 30.5% and a CAT scan was done in 94%. At the moment of admission, 10% of patients had an evolution of less than 2 hours, 27% had an evolution between 2 and 6 hours and nine cases were potential eligible for thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: This is a picture of the local features of patients with cerebrovascular diseases that can be used as a reference for future studies.

[Three pediatric cases of cutaneous loxoscelism in the rural area of Valdivia, Chile]. / Tres casos pediátricos de loxoscelismo cutáneo en zona rural de Valdivia, Chile.

Three cases of cutaneous loxoscelism in patients under two years of age from Valdivia are described. Clinical and epidemiological aspects of loxoscelism are commented.

[Prevalence of cigarette smoking in psychiatric patients]. / Prevalencia del consumo de cigarrillos en pacientes psiquiátricos.

In opinion of the WHO, AIDS and smoking are the two major epidemies, and smoking is the most important avoidable risk for health. According to epidemiological studies, smoking is a relevant risk factors connected to different types of cancers, as well as respiratory, cardiovascular, and mother-infant pathologies. In Chile 7% of the death toll can be blamed on smoking. The present information about cigarette consumption was obtained from the clinical record of 297 in-patients, discharged from the Psychiatric Clinic, University of Chile, between the year 1983 and the year 1985. Prevalence of smoking is 66.7%, with no difference per sex. 9.6% patients smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day. The prevailing clinical diagnoses are: Drug addiction (alcoholism excluded), 96.6%; schizophrenia, 81.7%; and alcoholism, 73.2%. Smoking is associated to a background of alcohol abuse, 78.9%, as well as other drug abuses, 89.7%: In other words, this is a statistically significant difference. In this study, it was found out that psychiatric in-patients were smoking more heavily than the general population--41%, and more heavily than somatic in-patients as well--42%.

Prevalencia del consumo de cigarrillos en pacientes psiquiátricos. / [Prevalence of cigarette smoking in psychiatric patients]

In opinion of the WHO, AIDS and smoking are the two major epidemies, and smoking is the most important avoidable risk for health. According to epidemiological studies, smoking is a relevant risk factors connected to different types of cancers, as well as respiratory, cardiovascular, and mother-infant pathologies. In Chile 7

of the death toll can be blamed on smoking. The present information about cigarette consumption was obtained from the clinical record of 297 in-patients, discharged from the Psychiatric Clinic, University of Chile, between the year 1983 and the year 1985. Prevalence of smoking is 66.7

, with no difference per sex. 9.6

patients smoke more than 20 cigarettes a day. The prevailing clinical diagnoses are: Drug addiction (alcoholism excluded), 96.6

; schizophrenia, 81.7

; and alcoholism, 73.2

. Smoking is associated to a background of alcohol abuse, 78.9

, as well as other drug abuses, 89.7

: In other words, this is a statistically significant difference. In this study, it was found out that psychiatric in-patients were smoking more heavily than the general population--41

, and more heavily than somatic in-patients as well--42

.