Increasing injuries as trampoline parks expand within Australia: a call for mandatory standards.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify an apparent increase in indoor trampoline park related injuries in children and young people across Australia, and to understand the implications for current regulatory standards. METHODS: Retrospective analyses of three state-based Injury Surveillance databases, identifying children and adolescents presenting to emergency departments between the years 2005 and 2017, who had sustained injuries during trampolining activity at an indoor trampoline park. RESULTS: Across the three datasets, 487 cases were identified. No cases were recorded prior to 2012, the year the first indoor trampoline park opened. At least half occurred among those aged 10-14 years. In Victoria, 58% were male, with 52% in Queensland and 60% in Western Australia being male, respectively. Hospital admission rates in these states were 15%, 11.7% and 14.5%, respectively. The most frequent injury types were dislocations, sprains and strains, followed by fractures, with some head and spinal injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Across several states in Australia, the incidence of indoor trampoline park related injuries is concerning, as these venues are increasing in number. Some injuries can be serious and result in lifelong disability for children or adolescents. Implications for public health: National safety standards that apply to indoor trampoline park operators are not currently mandatory; injury prevention efforts would be assisted if such standards were mandatory.

Injury rate and injury patterns in FIS World Cup Alpine skiing (2006-2015): have the new ski regulations made an impact?

BACKGROUND: New regulations for ski equipment were implemented prior to the 2012/2013 season in the International Ski Federation (FIS) Alpine World Cup (WC). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the new ski regulations on the rate and pattern of injuries by comparing data before (2006-2012) and after the implementation (2012-2015). METHODS: Injuries were recorded on the basis of the FIS Injury Surveillance System (FIS ISS) through retrospective interviews at the end of each of the nine WC seasons. All acute injuries that required medical attention were registered. Exposure was calculated on the basis of the official result lists. RESULTS: The absolute injury rate (injuries/100 athletes/season) was lower in the three seasons after the new ski regulations compared with the six seasons before (risk ratio (RR) 0.74, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.87). This was also the case for the relative injury rate (injuries/1000 runs) (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.98). These changes were evident for male skiers, not for female skiers. There was a lower absolute injury rate for upper body injuries (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.77), while no difference was found for lower extremity injuries (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.01). CONCLUSIONS: We found a lower rate of injuries in the three seasons after the new ski regulation compared with the six seasons before. However, the ability to draw conclusions on the effects of the equipment change in subgroups of sex, discipline or body part is restricted by the limited statistical power.

Environmental Success Factors or the Justification for the Prohibition of High-Tech Swimsuits in Swimming.

The scope of the study was to elaborate and represent different aspects of high-tech suits which influence the swimming results and to justify the change of swimming rules in 2009. Impact of environmental factors on the result should not be greater than the athlete's impact. Impact of high-tech suits greatly contributes to the development of technology, new materials and modern design of sports equipment. The paper describes the genesis of the high-tech swimsuits and provides an analysis of causes and consequences of its prohibition. The arguments against the suits have an effect on prohibition of different sports requisites and equipment in all sports. This prohibition directly affects the modern swimmers who will have difficulties in breaking the world records swimming in high-tech suits.

Percepción social de la importancia, el impacto y los beneficios esperados de la celebración de los Juegos Mediterráneos de Tarragona en 2017 / Social perceptions of the importance, impact and expected benefits of the mediterranean games to be held in Tarragona in 2017 / Percepção social da importância, impacto e benefícios expectáveis da celebração dos jogos mediterrâneos de tarragona em 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyse the evolution between 2009 and 2010 of residents of Tarragona’s perceptions of the importance, impact and expected benefits of hosting the 2017 Mediterranean Games in Tarragona. A questionnaire was administered to two random samples of residents of Tarragona one year apart. The results showed high percentages of people who felt that this sporting event is either quite important or very important from an economic, social and sporting perspective and that it also has a high local and regional impact, albeit not so much at a national or international level. The residents felt that hosting the Mediterranean Games in Tarragona would be quite a benefit to almost all areas that are influential in a city’s development (infrastructure, tourism, the economy, employment, sports and sports facilities), in addition to the advantages for political groups, athletes, and the organizing committee. The evolution of the two samples was negative for most aspects included in the survey. Lower means and percentages were observed in the ‘quite’ and ‘a lot’ categories for the 2010 sample. The results of this study are useful for events organizers in developing strategies to improve citizens’ involvement, participation and identification with events

La finalidad de este estudio fue analizar la evolución entre los años 2009 y 2010 en la percepción de los tarraconenses sobre el grado de importancia, el impacto y los beneficios esperados de la celebración de los Juegos Mediterráneos de Tarragona en 2017. Se recogieron dos muestras de ciudadanos con un año de diferencia. Los resultados mostraron porcentajes elevados de personas que consideraban que este evento deportivo tiene bastante o mucha importancia económica, social y deportiva, así como una elevada repercusión a nivel local y autonómico, aunque no tan relevante a nivel estatal e internacional. Los tarraconenses consideraron que casi todas las áreas o sectores que influyen en el desarrollo de la ciudad (infraestructuras, turismo, economía, ocupación, práctica deportiva e instalaciones deportivas), los grupos políticos, los deportistas y el comité organizador se beneficiarían bastante o mucho de la celebración de los Juegos Mediterráneos en su ciudad. Asimismo la evolución entre las dos muestras fue negativa para la mayoría de aspectos consultados, observándose medias y porcentajes inferiores en las categorías de bastante y mucho para la muestra de 2010. Los resultados de este estudio son útiles a los organizadores del evento para desarrollar estrategias que permitan mejorar la implicación, participación e identificación de los ciudadanos con el evento

A finalidade deste estudo foi analisar a evolução entre os anos 2009 e 2010 na percepção dos tarraconenses sobre o grau de importância, impacto e benefícios expectáveis da celebração dos Jogos Mediterrâneos de Tarragona em 2017. Foram recolhidas duas amostras de cidadãos com um ano de diferença. Os resultados revelaram percentagens elevadas de pessoas que consideravam que este evento desportivo tem bastante ou muita importância económica, social e desportiva, assim como uma elevada repercussão a nível local e na comunidade autónoma, embora não tão relevante a nível estatal e internacional. Os tarraconenses consideraram quase todas as áreas ou sectores que influem no desenvolvimento da cidade (infraestruturas, turismo, economia, ocupação, prática desportiva e instalações desportivas), os grupos políticos, os desportistas e o comité organizador beneficiariam bastante ou muito da celebração dos Jogos Mediterrâneos na sua cidade. Contudo, a evolução entre as duas amostras foi negativa para a maioria dos aspectos analisados, observando-se médias e percentagens inferiores nas categorias bastante e muito para a amostra de 2010. Os resultados deste estudo são úteis aos organizadores do evento para que possam desenvolver estratégias que permitam melhorar a implicação, participação e identificação dos cidadãos com o evento

Análisis de los proyectos de investigación concedidos por el Consejo Superior de Deportes (2006-2012), desde una perspectiva de género / Análise dos projectos de investigação concedidos pelo concelho superior do desporto (2006-2012), a partir de uma perspectiva de género / Gender-based analysis of research projects approved for funding by the "Consejo Superior de Deportes" (2006-2012)

El objetivo del presente trabajo es analizar los proyectos de investigación concedidos por el Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD), desde una perspectiva de género. Para ello se analizaron el total de proyectos de investigación concedidos por el CSD (N = 185) entre los años 2006-2012, a partir de la página web del CSD. De cada uno de los proyectos se analizaron las siguientes variables: a) Institución; b) Tipo de institución; c) Región; d) Disciplina; e) Cuantía; y f) Sexo del Investigador Principal (IP). Los resultados más significativos señalaron que: a) en el 21,08% de los proyectos de investigación concedidos por el CSD la IP es mujer, frente al 78.92%; b) 136 investigadores, 55 instituciones, y 15 comunidades autónomas, han recibido al menos un proyecto del CSD; c) la institución que mayor número de proyectos ha recibido ha sido la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, seguido de la Universidad Europea de Madrid; d) los proyectos se han concedido principalmente a Universidades públicas, seguido de Universidades privadas; e) la comunidad de Madrid es la que mayor número de proyectos ha recibido; f) La disciplina que mayor número de proyectos del CSD recibe es la de Interdisciplinar, seguido de Medicina del deporte, Didáctica y Gestión; g) la media de la cuantía obtenida por proyecto es de 11151.21 euros, de manera que los proyectos que reciben mayor cuantía son en los que los IP son hombres, de universidades privadas, de la comunicad autónoma de Extremadura y Navarra, y de la disciplina de Biomecánica, Interdisciplinar y Teórica del entrenamiento. Estos datos pretenden dar a conocer el panorama en la concesión de proyectos el CSD, y podrán ser utilizadas tanto por expertos en políticas de investigación el ámbito deportivo, como por los posibles participantes en dichas convocatorias

The aim of this paper is to conduct a gender-based analysis of research projects approved for funding by the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD). For this purpose, we analysed all research projects approved for funding by the CSD (N = 185) between the years 2006-2012, taking the information from the CSD's website. For each of the research projects, the following variables were analysed: a) the institution; b) type of institution; c) region; d) discipline; e) amount of funding; and f) gender of the main researcher (MR). The most significant results indicated that: a) in 21.08% of the projects, the main researcher was female; b) 136 researchers, 55 institutions, and 15 regions have had at least one project approved by the CSD; c) the institution with the highest number of approved research projects was Madrid's Universidad Politécnica, followed by the same city's Universidad Europea; d) research projects by state universities were mainly approved for funding, followed by private ones; e) the Madrid region is the region with the highest number of approved research projects; f) the discipline for which most research projects were approved was the field of sports performance, followed by sports medicine, teaching and management; g) the average amount of funding awarded per research project was 11,151.21 euros and the projects that receive higher amounts have a male main researcher, are conducted by state universities, are in the Extremadura region, and are awarded for the fields of biomechanics, sports performance and training. This data is aimed at offering an insight into the approval of projects by the CSD, and it can be used both by sports research policy experts and potential participants in research projects

O objectivo do presente trabalho é analisar os projectos de investigação concedidos pelo Concelho Superior do Desporto (CSD), numa perspectiva de género. Para tal, foram analisados o total de projectos de investigação concedidos pelo CSD (N = 185) entre os anos 2006-2012, a partir da página Web do CSD. De cada um dos projectos foram analisadas as seguintes variáveis: a) Instituição; b) Tipo de Instituição; c) Região; d) Disciplina; e) Quantia; e f) Género do Investigador Principal (GIP). Os resultados mais significativos assinalaram que: a) em 21.08% dos projectos concedidos pelo CSD a IP é mulher, face aos 79.82%; b) 136 investigadores, 55 instituições e 15 comunidades autónomas, receberam pelo menos um projecto do CSD; c) a instituição que maior número de projectos recebeu foi a Universidade Politécnica de Madrid, seguida da Universidade Europeia de Madrid; d) os projectos foram concedidos principalmente a Universidades públicas, seguido de Universidades privadas; e) a comunidade de Madrid é a que recebeu maior número de projectos; f) a disciplina que maior número de projectos recebe é a de Performance Desportiva, seguida da Medicina do Desporto, Didáctica e Gestão; g) a média da quantia obtida por projecto é de 11151.21 euros, sendo que os projectos que recebem maior quantia são de IP homens, de universidades privadas, da comunidade autónoma da Estremadura e Navarra, e a disciplina de Biomecânica, Performance e Treino Desportivo. Estes dados pretendem dar a conhecer o panorama da concessão de projectos do CSD, e podiam ser utilizados tanto por especialistas em políticas de investigação no âmbito desportivo, como por possíveis participantes investigadores

You’ll never walk alone: A cooperação como paradigma explicativo das dinâmicas das equipas desportivas / You´ll never walk alone: cooperation as an explanatory paradigm of the dynamics of sports teams

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo proporcionar una breve revisión del constructo de la cooperación deportiva, considerando la manifiesta escasez de la literatura en este campo. Además, se pretende presentar los instrumentos disponibles para la evaluación de la cooperación deportiva, así como la investigación realizada hasta la fecha. Finalmente, se trata de presentar algunos estudios que se hallan actualmente en ejecución y los desafíos futuros de esta línea de investigación. En conclusión, se justifica realzar la importancia de continuar en la profundización y la investigación en este ámbito, , dado que la cooperación puede ser considerada como un paradigma alternativo válido para la comprensión de las dinámicas de equipos deportivos, pero que aún necesita más evidencias empíricas y experimentales (AU)

This paper aims to provide a brief review of the construct of cooperation in sport, taking into account the manifest lack of literature in this field. Similarly, the objective is to present available tools for evaluating cooperation in sport, together with research conducted to date. Finally, we present some studies that are currently in progress and future challenges for this line of research. The importance of ongoing research in this field is highlighted, since cooperation can be considered to be a valid alternative paradigm for gaining an understanding of the dynamics of sports teams, with a need for further empirical and experimental evidence (AU)

Motor sport in France: testing-ground for the world.

The birth of the automobile in the late nineteenth century was greeted with a mixture of awe, scepticism and sometimes even disdain from sections of the European public. In this article, the steps taken in France to pioneer and promote this new invention are examined. Unreliable and noisy, the early automobile owes a debt of gratitude to the French aristocracy who organised and codified motor racing in an effort to test these new inventions while at the same time introduce them to a wider public. City-to-city races demonstrated the potential of the automobile before the initiative of Gordon Bennett proved to be the catalyst for the birth of international motor sport as we recognise it today. Finally this article looks at the special connection between Le Mans and the automobile. Le Mans has, through its 24-hour race, maintained a strong link with the development of everyday automobile tourism and offers the enthusiast an alternative to the machines that reach incredible speeds on modern-day closed circuits. This article examines how French roads were veritable testing grounds for the earliest cars and how the public roads of Le Mans maintain the tradition to this day.

Daredevils and early birds: Belgian pioneers in automobile racing and aerial sports during the belle époque.

During the belle époque, Belgium was a trend-setting nation in many domains, including motorised sports. Belgian automobile racers and pilots shattered world records and became international stars. Striking was the shift in sports. Indeed, around 1896, sporting members of the leisure class stepped from the bicycle into the automobile and, around 1908, from the automobile into the airplane. Although these motorised sports were extremely expensive, this article shows that sportsmen and sportswomen from the working class could achieve upward social mobility through their performances. The achievements of these motorised pioneers had a major impact and wide-ranging significance. They laid the foundations for the expansion of the automobile industry and the emergence of civilian and military aviation.

Pistol crossbow injuries.

This article describes the wounding potential of pistol crossbows to prepare nurses who may have to provide immediate care for patients with injuries from these inexpensive and readily available weapons.

Provision of enabling technology in professional sports.

Multiple-round golf tournaments are designed intentionally to separate individuals' scores as play proceeds. Variance analyses and consideration of individual differences (vs group mean effects) for a sample of professional events confirm that 3-, 4-, and 5-round tournaments show significantly increased variability (though stable means) from first to last rounds. It is argued here that the dispersion of scores increases as play proceeds because the more physically or mentally fit players emerge and continue to perform best. Furthermore, a marginal income analysis indicates that the average gain in earnings from a one-shot improvement in score is approximately $8,000. An interpretation based on fatigue, competition, and stress supports the Professional Golf Association's claim that provision of enabling devices, like a golf cart for disabled players, is also an enhancement and is thus unfair.