Diseño y validación del cuestionario de evaluación de la calidad percibida en la gestión deportiva del futbol femenil / Desenho e validação do questionário para avaliação da qualidade percebida na gestão esportiva do futebol feminino / Design and validation of the questionnaire for the evaluation of the perceived quality in sports management of women’s soccer

El objetivo del presente trabajo es diseñar y validar la creación del cuestionario de evaluación de la calidad percibida en la gestión deportiva del futbol femenil. El muestreo fue intencional por conveniencia, con un total de 332 jugadoras y un rango de edad de entre los 18 y 51 años (M= 20.92; DE= 3.59). Se llevaron a cabo análisis de validez de constructo por medio de un análisis factorial exploratorio (AFE) así como un análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) seguido de análisis de fiabilidad y varianzamedia extractada. El instrumento creado fue el GEDECAFF. Los resultados de los análisis factoriales mostraron 36 ítems divididos en 4 factores: (1) Interacción con el entrenador, (2) Instalaciones, (3) Servicio de personal e (4) Institucional; los indicadores de pertinencia fueron apropiados y explican el 76.25% de la varianza total. Los índices de ajuste, error y chi cuadrado son adecuados CFI = .90, TLI = .89 y RMSEA = .07, χ2/gl = 2.17. Los resultados muestran que Alfa de Cronbach y Omega de McDonald por factores está por encima de .90. En conclusión, el cuestionario GEDECAFF presenta las propiedades psicométricas satisfactorias y atiende las necesidades de los servicios ofrecidos por los distintos clubes, dando oportunidad a la mejora continua de la calidad del servicio en el futbol femenil.(AU)

The purpose of this study is to design and validate the creation of the questionnaire for the evaluation of theperceived quality in the sports management of women's soccer. The sampling was intentional for convenience, with a total of 332 soccer players and an age range between 18 and 51 years (M = 20.92; SD= 3.59). Construct validity analyses were carried out using an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) as well as a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) followed by reliability analysis and extracted mean variance. The instrument created was the GEDECAFF. The result of the factor analysis showed 36 items divided into 4factors: (1) Interaction with a coach, (2) Facilities, (3) Personal service, and (4) Institutional; the relevance indicators were adequate, explaining 76.25% of the total variance. The fit and error indices are adequate CFI = .90, TLI = .89, and RMSEA = .07, regarding the χ2/df = 2.17. The results show that Cronbach's Alpha and McDonald's Omega by factors is above .90. In conclusion, the GEDECAFF questionnaire presents the appropriate psychometric properties and meets the needs of the services offered by the different women's soccer clubs, opening an opportunity for continuous improvement in the quality of service in women's soccer.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foivalidar a criação do questionário para avaliação da qualidade percebida na gestão desportiva do futebol feminino. A amostra foi intencional por conveniência, com um total de 332 jogadores de futebol e faixa etária entre 18 e 51 anos (M= 20.92; DP= 3.59). As análises de validade de construto foram realizadas por meio de uma análise fatorial exploratória (EFA), bem como uma análise fatorial confirmatória (CFA), seguida de análise de confiabilidade e variância média extraída. O instrumento criado foi o GEDECAFF. Os resultados das análises fatoriais mostraram 36 itens divididos em 4 fatores: (1) Interação com o formador, (2) Instalações, (3) Atendimento Pessoal e (4) Institucional; os indicadores de relevância foram adequados, explicando 76.25% da variância total. Os índices de ajuste e erro são adequados CFI = .90, TLI = .89 e RMSEA = .07, em relação ao χ2/df = 2.17. Os resultados mostram que o Alfa de Cronbach e o ômega do McDonald's por fatores estão acima de 0,90. Em conclusão, o questionário GEDECAFF apresenta as propriedades psicométricas adequadas e atende às necessidadesdos serviços oferecidos pelos diferentes clubes de futebol feminino, abrindo uma oportunidade de melhoria contínua na qualidade do serviço no futebol feminino.(AU)

Leveraging Information Technology for Rapid Product Development in Sports Equipment: A Sport Psychology Perspective / Aprovechamiento de la tecnología de la información para el desarrollo rápido de productos en equipos deportivos: una perspectiva de la psicología del deporte

Athletes constantly push the limits of their talents in the competitive world of sports, where greatness is the goal. Sports equipment, which has developed from simple tools into complex extensions of the athlete, is at the center of this quest. Information technology is now driving innovation in sports equipment, with developments like computer-aided design and data analytics. Sports gear affects the athlete's mental state and is more than a physical accessory. This research investigates the integration of sport psychology and information technology in the design of sporting goods. It demonstrates how these seemingly unrelated fields work together to produce a comprehensive strategy that improves equipment performance and supports players' psychological well-being. The intersection of sport psychology and information technology is the basis of our investigation. Due to this synergy, technology can now collect and analyze information on athletic performance and psychological states. As a result, athletes and their gear have a close relationship since the equipment is tailored to each athlete's unique characteristics. By satisfying both physical and psychological requirements, this integration enables athletes to perform at previously unheard-of heights.(AU)

Evaluating the influential factors for life preserver donning tests.

Life preservers often play a vital role in ensuring passenger safety in water-related accidents, while the difficulty of donning life preservers has been repeatedly proved even in a donning test. To evaluate the influencing factors for life preserver donning tests, 109 college students and 42 villagers were chosen as subjects. A total of fourteen variables with seven categorical variables and seven continuous variables were considered as potential influencing factors. T-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA, for three or more categories) were used to judge whether grouping in categorical variables had a significant effect on the donning performance. Then all variables were offered into the stepwise linear regression (SLR) to evaluate the influential factors for life preserver donning tests. Results showed that four of fourteen variables, including gender, instruction condition, age group, and tool test time (representing the subject's flexibility), had a significant effect on the donning performance. To evaluate the relationship between the donning performance and influencing factors, models of the retrieving time, the opening time, and the donning time were built based on the SLR analysis. The paper also highlights recommendations for modification of the donning test procedure, which helps to improve the validation and reliability of life preserver donning tests.

Trends in the wear of personal flotation devices (PFDs) in the UK 2009-2017.

Around 372 000 people drown every year globally. In countries, such as the UK, a large proportion of these deaths are due to recreational boating accidents, and a dominant factor influencing the outcome is whether the person was wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). The rate of PFD wear is low around the world, with reported rates ranging from 5% to 40%. In an effort to combat this, the UK has been running an education campaign since 2009 to try and increase PFD wear. In this contribution, 9 years of observational data show that the educational efforts have had little impact on the rate of wear over time. Activity type and age both influenced wear rates, with kayakers and children significantly more likely to wear PFDs. This study shows that education has been ineffective and there needs to be some consideration of regulatory approaches in order to reduce drowning.

Herramientas para la gestión efectiva de los guantes sanitarios / No disponible

No disponible

Are automatic systems the future of motorcycle safety? A novel methodology to prioritize potential safety solutions based on their projected effectiveness.

OBJECTIVE: Motorcycle riders are involved in significantly more crashes per kilometer driven than passenger car drivers. Nonetheless, the development and implementation of motorcycle safety systems lags far behind that of passenger cars. This research addresses the identification of the most effective motorcycle safety solutions in the context of different countries. METHODS: A knowledge-based system of motorcycle safety (KBMS) was developed to assess the potential for various safety solutions to mitigate or avoid motorcycle crashes. First, a set of 26 common crash scenarios was identified from the analysis of multiple crash databases. Second, the relative effectiveness of 10 safety solutions was assessed for the 26 crash scenarios by a panel of experts. Third, relevant information about crashes was used to weigh the importance of each crash scenario in the region studied. The KBMS method was applied with an Italian database, with a total of more than 1 million motorcycle crashes in the period 2000-2012. RESULTS: When applied to the Italian context, the KBMS suggested that automatic systems designed to compensate for riders' or drivers' errors of commission or omission are the potentially most effective safety solution. The KBMS method showed an effective way to compare the potential of various safety solutions, through a scored list with the expected effectiveness of each safety solution for the region to which the crash data belong. A comparison of our results with a previous study that attempted a systematic prioritization of safety systems for motorcycles (PISa project) showed an encouraging agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Current results revealed that automatic systems have the greatest potential to improve motorcycle safety. Accumulating and encoding expertise in crash analysis from a range of disciplines into a scalable and reusable analytical tool, as proposed with the use of KBMS, has the potential to guide research and development of effective safety systems. As the expert assessment of the crash scenarios is decoupled from the regional crash database, the expert assessment may be reutilized, thereby allowing rapid reanalysis when new crash data become available. In addition, the KBMS methodology has potential application to injury forecasting, driver/rider training strategies, and redesign of existing road infrastructure.

Validation and psychometric properties of the commitment to hip protectors (C-HiP) index in long-term care providers of British Columbia, Canada: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: If worn during a fall, hip protectors substantially reduce risk for hip fracture. However, a major barrier to their clinical efficacy is poor user adherence. In long-term care, adherence likely depends on how committed care providers are to hip protectors, but empirical evidence is lacking due to the absence of a psychometrically valid assessment tool. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional survey in a convenience sample of 529 paid care providers. We developed the 15-item C-HiP Index to measure commitment, comprised of three subscales: affective, cognitive and behavioural. Responses were subjected to hierarchical factor analysis and internal consistency testing. Eleven experts rated the relevance and clarity of items on 4-point Likert scales. We performed simple linear regression to determine whether C-HiP Index scores were positively related to the question, "Do you think of yourself as a champion of hip protectors", rated on a 5-point Likert scale. We examined whether the C-HiP Index could differentiate respondents: (i) who were aware of a protected fall causing hip fracture from those who were unaware; (ii) who agreed in the existence of a champion of hip protectors within their home from those who didn't. RESULTS: Hierarchical factor analysis yielded two lower-order factors and a single higher-order factor, representing the overarching concept of commitment to hip protectors. Items from affective and cognitive subscales loaded highest on the first lower-order factor, while items from the behavioural subscale loaded highest on the second. We eliminated one item due to low factor matrix coefficients, and poor expert evaluation. The C-HiP Index had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.96. A one-unit increase in championing was associated with a 5.2-point (p < 0.01) increase in C-HiP Index score. Median C-HiP Index scores were 4.3-points lower (p < 0.01) among respondents aware of a protected fall causing hip fracture, and 7.0-points higher (p < 0.01) among respondents who agreed in the existence of a champion of hip protectors within their home. CONCLUSIONS: We offer evidence of the psychometric properties of the C-HiP Index. The development of a valid and reliable assessment tool is crucial to understanding the factors that govern adherence to hip protectors in long-term care.

Prophylactic Ankle Bracing in Military Settings: A Review of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Within athletics and the military, ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries with the potential for long-term functional deficits. Incidence rates for ankle sprains within the military are one of the leading causes of limited duty days, especially during basic combat training, parachute training exercises, and in cadet populations. In 2008, the Department of Defense U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine report recommended that military personnel should wear semirigid ankle braces during parachuting, basketball, soccer, and other similar high-risk activities to reduce ankle sprain injuries. This recommendation was developed using a majority of athletic references with limited data stemming from military works. Of these included military studies, none presented data on ankle braces and their effects on performance, especially in military-specific environments. The purpose of this review was to provide an up-to-date account on the use of ankle braces in military populations and effects on performance measures. METHODS: A comprehensive online systematic review of the literature was conducted to delineate the current use of ankle braces in the military and how they specifically affect functional performance measures. The scope of this study eliminated military studies that were not prospective in nature or did not incorporate subjects wearing military equipment (i.e., combat boots). FINDINGS: It was determined that little progress has been made in validating the use of semirigid ankle braces in military populations other than in instances such as parachuting and only in reducing the number ankle injuries. To date, only one study has looked specifically at the use of ankle braces and its effects on performance measures in a military sample. DISCUSSION: With the high incidence rate and increased risk for subsequent reinjury, ankle sprains are an economic and force readiness burden to the U.S. Armed Forces. This study was conducted to determine whether additional literature was available for the use of ankle braces on performance measures in the military. It was determined that there is a scarcity of information currently available on the use of ankle braces in military populations, outside of parachuting activities. The Department of Defense recommendation of using semirigid ankle braces may ultimately be beneficial to a multitude of high-risk military activities, but further research must be conducted to determine possible detrimental performance effects.

Footwear and offloading interventions to prevent and heal foot ulcers and reduce plantar pressure in patients with diabetes: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Footwear and offloading techniques are commonly used in clinical practice for preventing and healing of foot ulcers in persons with diabetes. The goal of this systematic review is to assess the medical scientific literature on this topic to better inform clinical practice about effective treatment. METHODS: We searched the medical scientific literature indexed in PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and the Cochrane database for original research studies published since 1 May 2006 related to four groups of interventions: (1) casting; (2) footwear; (3) surgical offloading; and (4) other offloading interventions. Primary outcomes were ulcer prevention, ulcer healing, and pressure reduction. We reviewed both controlled and non-controlled studies. Controlled studies were assessed for methodological quality, and extracted key data was presented in evidence and risk of bias tables. Uncontrolled studies were assessed and summarized on a narrative basis. Outcomes are presented and discussed in conjunction with data from our previous systematic review covering the literature from before 1 May 2006. RESULTS: We included two systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 32 randomized controlled trials, 15 other controlled studies, and another 127 non-controlled studies. Several randomized controlled trials with low risk of bias show the efficacy of therapeutic footwear that demonstrates to relief plantar pressure and is worn by the patient, in the prevention of plantar foot ulcer recurrence. Two meta-analyses show non-removable offloading to be more effective than removable offloading for healing plantar neuropathic forefoot ulcers. Due to the limited number of controlled studies, clear evidence on the efficacy of surgical offloading and felted foam is not yet available. Interestingly, surgical offloading seems more effective in preventing than in healing ulcers. A number of controlled and uncontrolled studies show that plantar pressure can be reduced by several conservative and surgical approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Sufficient evidence of good quality supports the use of non-removable offloading to heal plantar neuropathic forefoot ulcers and therapeutic footwear with demonstrated pressure relief that is worn by the patient to prevent plantar foot ulcer recurrence. The evidence base to support the use of other offloading interventions is still limited and of variable quality. The evidence for the use of interventions to prevent a first foot ulcer or heal ischemic, infected, non-plantar, or proximal foot ulcers is practically non-existent. High-quality controlled studies are needed in these areas.

Acute Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy.

Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy (CN) is one of the most challenging foot complications in diabetes. Common predisposing and precipitating factors include neuropathy and increased mechanical forces, fracture and bone resorption, trauma and inflammation. In the last 15 years, considerable progress has been made in the early recognition of the acute Charcot foot when the X ray is still negative (stage 0 or incipient Charcot foot). Recent advances in imaging modalities have enabled the detection of initial signs of inflammation and underlying bone damage before overt bone and joint destruction has occurred. Casting therapy remains the mainstay of medical therapy of acute CN. If timely instituted, offloading can arrest disease activity and prevent foot deformity. In cases with severe deformity, modern surgical techniques can correct the unstable deformity for improved functional outcome and limb survival. Emerging new studies into the cellular mechanisms of severe bone destruction have furthered our understanding of the mechanisms of pathological bone and joint destruction in CN. It is hoped that these studies may provide a scientific basis for new interventions with biological agents.

What's new in wound treatment: a critical appraisal.

With the growing demand for the specialized care of wounds, there is an ever expanding abundance of wound care modalities available. It is difficult to identify which products or devices enhance wound healing, and thus, a critical and continual look at new advances is necessary. The goal of any wound regimen should be to optimize wound healing by combining basic wound care modalities including debridement, off-loading, and infection control with the addition of advanced therapies when necessary. This review takes a closer look at current uses of negative pressure wound therapy, bioengineered alternative tissues, and amniotic membrane products. While robust literature may be lacking, current wound care advances are showing great promise in wound healing.

When and how to audit a diabetic foot service.

Quality improvement depends on data collection and audit of clinical services to inform clinical improvements. Various steps in the care of the diabetic foot can be used to audit a service but need defined audit standards. A diabetes foot service should have risk stratification system in place that should compare to the population-based figures of 76% having low-risk feet, 17% moderate risk and 7% being at high risk of ulceration. Resources can then be directed towards those with high-risk feet. Prevalence of foot ulceration needs to be audited. Community-based studies give an audit standard of around 2%, with 2 to 9% having had an ulcer at some stage in the past. Amputation rates should be easier to measure, and the best results are reported to be around 1.5-3 per 1000 people with diabetes. This is a useful benchmark figure, and the rate has been shown to decrease by approximately a third over the last 15 years in some centres. Ulceration rates and ulcer healing rates are the ultimate outcome audit measure as they are always undesirable, whilst occasionally for defined individuals, an amputation can be a good outcome. In addition to clinical outcomes, processes of care can be audited such as provision of clinical services, time from new ulcer to be seen by health care professional, inpatient foot care or use of antibiotics. Measurement of clinical services can be a challenge in the diabetic foot, but it is essential if clinical services and patient outcomes are to be improved.

Innovations in plantar pressure and foot temperature measurements in diabetes.

Plantar pressure and temperature measurements in the diabetic foot primarily contribute to identifying abnormal values that increase risk for foot ulceration, and they are becoming increasingly more integrated in clinical practice and daily life of the patient. While plantar pressure measurements have long been present, only recently evidence shows their importance in ulcer prevention, as a data-driven approach to therapeutic footwear provision. The long-term monitoring of plantar pressures with the option to provide feedback, when alarming pressure levels occur, is a promising development in this area, although more technical and clinical validation is required. Shear is considered important in ulcer aetiology but is technically difficult to measure. Innovative research is underway to assess if foot temperature can act as a useful surrogate for shear. Because the skin heats up before it breaks down, frequent monitoring of foot temperature can identify these warning signals. This approach has shown to be effective in preventing foot ulcers. Innovation in diagnostic methods for foot temperature monitoring and evidence on cost effectiveness will likely facilitate implementation. Finally, monitoring of adherence to offloading treatment using temperature-based sensors has proven to be a feasible and relevant method with a wide range of possible research and patient care applications. These innovations in plantar pressure and temperature measurements illustrate an important transfer in diabetic foot care from subjective to objective evaluation of the high-risk patient. They demonstrate clinical value and a large potential in helping to reduce the patient and economic burden of diabetic foot disease.

Stakeholders' opinions on a future in-vehicle alcohol detection system for prevention of drunk driving.

INTRODUCTION: There is a common understanding that driving under the influence of alcohol is associated with higher risk of being involved in crashes with injuries and possible fatalities as the outcome. Various countermeasures have therefore from time to time been taken by the authorities to prevent drunk driving. One of them has been the alcohol interlock. Up to now, interlocks have mainly been used by previously convicted drunk drivers and in the commercial road transport sector, but not in private cars. OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: New technology has today reached a level where broader implementation might be possible. To our knowledge, however, little is known about different stakeholders' opinions of a broader implementation of such systems. In order to increase that knowledge, we conducted a focus group study to collect in-depth thoughts from different stakeholders on this topic. Eight focus groups representing a broad societal span were recruited and conducted for the purpose. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The results show that most stakeholders thought that an integrated system for alcohol detection in vehicles might be beneficial in lowering the number of drunk driving crashes. They said that the system would probably mainly prevent driving by people who unintentionally and unknowingly drive under the influence of alcohol. The groups did, however, not regard the system as a final solution to the drunk driving problem, and believed that certain groups, such as criminals and alcoholics, would most likely find a way around the system. Concerns were raised about the risk of increased sleepy driving and driving just under the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit. The results also indicate that stakeholders preferred a system that provides information on the BAC up to the legal limit, but not for levels above the limit; for those, the system should simply prevent the car from starting. Acceptance of the system depended on the reliability of the system, on its ability to perform fast sampling, and on the analytical process, as well as the system's more or less inconspicuous placement and user-friendliness. The stakeholders thought that drivers would probably not voluntarily demand the system. So if broad implementation was desired, it would have to be made compulsory by legislation. As an incentive to increase demand, lower taxes and insurance premiums were suggested.

Foam padding in casts accommodates soft tissue swelling and provides circumferential strength after fixation of supracondylar humerus fractures.

BACKGROUND: Varying casting techniques are used after surgical treatment of pediatric supracondylar humerus fractures. The goals are to maintain fracture reduction, while accommodating soft tissue swelling and minimizing the risk of compartment syndrome. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of consecutive patients aged 0 to 14 years who underwent surgical treatment of supracondylar humerus fractures over a 9½-year period at a pediatric trauma center was performed. A new method of casting, in which one half inch sterile foam is applied directly to the skin and overwrapped by circumferential fiberglass, is presented and compared with traditional casts. RESULTS: A total of 541 consecutive patients were included. Foam had been used in 35% (190/541) of patients. Foam was used significantly more frequently in Gartland type 3 fractures (133/314 patients, 42%) than in type 2 fractures (57/227 patients, 25%) (P<0.001). Foam was also used more often in patients with preoperative neurovascular deficits (34/57, 60%) than in those without (156/484, 32%) (P<0.001). No patient in either group developed compartment syndrome postoperatively. Both patients in the study who required revision closed reduction and pinning were casted without foam, and one of these casts had been split. Reoperation was not associated with cast splitting (P=0.216) or foam use (P=0.543). CONCLUSIONS: For postoperative immobilization of supracondylar humerus fractures we present a new method of placing foam directly on the skin, followed by circumferential fiberglass casting. This method offers the theoretical advantage of the strength of a circumferential cast, plus the benefit of allowing for swelling. Although the novel foam and cast combination was used in more severe fractures, results were comparable to traditional casts and may reduce the need for cast splitting. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic-Level III.

Certificació de l'aptitud esportiva en l'edat pediàtrica / Certificación de la aptitud deportiva en la edad pediátrica / Preparticipation physical evaluation in children

Fonament: la certificació medicoesportiva té com a objectiu prevenir i diagnosticar possibles alteracions que poguessin condicionar la pràctica esportiva en l'infant i l'a-dolescent. L'aspecte més important és la prevenció de lamort sobtada, situació dramàtica que ha generat gran in-terès i al mateix temps ansietat, tant entre la població general com entre les diferents institucions esportives. Objectiu: establir un criteri de certificació medicoesportivaen l'edat pediàtrica, analitzant i argumentant la disparitatde criteris entre la proposta europea i l'americana. Mètode: revisió bibliogràfica. Conclusions: la pràctica esportiva en infants i adolescentsexigeix un control de salut portat a terme pel pediatre i unarevisió medicoesportiva que ha de fer l'especialista enmedicina de l'esport, i que permetrà la certificació de l'ap-titud esportiva. En aquesta revisió incidirem en l'historialclínic i en l'exploració dels aparells locomotor i cardiovascular, d'acord amb l'algoritme d'actuació de la propostacatalana de prevenció de la mort sobtada de l'esportista. Laresta de l'exploració mèdica per aparells no difereix de laque fa el pediatre de capçalera en els controls de salu

Fundamento. La certificación médico-deportiva tiene como objetivo prevenir y diagnosticar posibles alteraciones que pudieran condicionar la práctica deportiva en el niño/a y adolescente. El aspecto más importante radica en la prevención de la muerte súbita, situación dramática que ha generado gran interés y al mismo tiempo ansiedad, tanto en la población general como en las diferentes instituciones deportivas. Objetivo. Establecer un criterio de certificación médico-deportiva, analizando y argumentando la disparidad de criterios entre la propuesta europea y la americana. Método. Revisión bibliográfica. Conclusiones. La práctica deportiva en niños/as y adolescentes exige un control de salud llevado a cabo por el pediatra y una revisión médico-deportiva realizada por el especialista en medicina del deporte, que permitirá la certificación de la aptitud deportiva. En esta revisión, incidiremos en el historial clínico, la exploración de los aparatos locomotor y cardiovascular, según el algoritmo del consenso catalán de prevención de la muerte súbita en deportistas. El resto de la exploración médica por aparatos no difiere de la que realiza el pediatra de cabecera en los controles de salud (AU)

Background. The aim of preparticipation physical evaluation for thletics is to prevent and diagnose conditions that would contraindicate the practice of sports for children and adolescents. The most important objective is to prevent sudden death, a dramatic situation that has generated great interest and anxiety in the general population as well as among athletic institutions. Objective. To define consensus criteria for preparticipation physical evaluation, considering the disparities between the European and the American proposals. Method. Literature review. Conclusions. The practice of sports in children and adolescents requires a medical evaluation for fitness by the pediatrician and by sports medicine. In this review, we focus on medical history and musculoskeletal and cardiovascular examination, following the guidelines of the Catalan consensus for prevention of sudden death in athletes. The rest of the medical examination does not differ from the exploration performed by the pediatrician in the routine health checks (AU)

Variations in home advantage in the national basketball leagues of europe

La ventaja de jugar en casa es un fenómeno estudiado en baloncesto, pero el análisis de las variaciones de este efecto por países es reducido. El objetivo del presente estudio consistió en comparar el efecto de jugar en casa en las ligas nacionales de Europa. Se analizaron 35 países registrando los partidos correspondientes a las temporadas de 2009-10 a 2011-12, la muestra total fue de 17.099 partidos. Los valores más elevados se encontraron en las ligas de Bosnia-Herzegovina y Croacia, donde más del 70% de los partidos fueron ganados por los equipos locales, la media de la ventaja de jugar en casa fue de 60.7%. El análisis tras controlar el equilibrio de la competición, así como las variables de distancia y población, los 10 países Balcánicos mostraron una ventaja de jugar en casa muy superior al resto de países (p < .001). Este efecto de los países Balcánicos añade un porcentaje estimado del 5.1 porcentaje a la ventaja de jugar en casa. El patrón encontrado muestra gran similitud con los valores encontrados en las ligas europeas de fútbol (media total del 61%), con unos valores de correlación positivos entre las ligas de fútbol y baloncesto en la ventaja de jugar en casa r = +.516. Las explicaciones de dichos resultados en fútbol son aplicables al baloncesto, donde el efecto sobre jugadores, árbitros y público incrementa el sentimiento de protección del territorio en los Balcanes debido a una larga tradición en conflictos étnicos y religiosos, así como por las localizaciones de equipos en zonas montañosas y alejadas de los núcleos poblacionales, haciendo mayor el efecto de la territorialidad (AU)

Home advantage is a well established phenomenon in basketball, but little is known about its variability among different countries. The purpose of the study was to compare the magnitude of the home advantage in the national basketball leagues of Europe. Thirty-five countries were included and the final standings of league tables for the three seasons 2009-10 to 2011-12 analyzed, a total of 17,099 games. The advantage was highest in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, where over 70% of games were won by the home team, well above the mean for all countries (60.7%). After controlling for variations in the competitive balance of each league, as well as for proxy variables representing crowd size and travel distance, home advantage in the 10 Balkan countries was found to be significantly higher than elsewhere (p < 0.001). This Balkan effect added an estimated 5.1 percentage points to the home advantage. The pattern of results was very similar to a prior comparable study for football in Europe (overall average 61%), with a correlation between the football and basketball home advantage values of r = +.516. The explanation suggested for football is likely to apply also to basketball. That is, the effect on players, crowds and referees of an increased sense of territorial protection in Balkan countries due to the long history of conflict in the region, deep ethnic and religious rivalries and mistrust of outsiders, all heightened by the mountainous terrain and the isolation of many locations (AU)

Encuesta acerca de la utilización de fluoroscopia en el tratamiento del dolor. ¿Lo hacemos correctamente? / A survey on the use of fluoroscopy in the treatment of pain: Do we perform it correctly?

Objetivos. La fluoroscopia es una técnica que se utiliza habitualmente para procedimientos en tratamiento del dolor y de la que, a pesar de la importancia que tiene sobre la salud, se desconoce la forma de empleo entre los especialistas. Realizamos una encuesta nacional para evaluar su empleo. Material y métodos. Se diseñó y envió una encuesta de 15 preguntas relacionadas con el uso de la fluoroscopia en tratamiento del dolor a 105 Unidades de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento del Dolor en España, en 2008. Resultados. Se recibieron 63 encuestas con respuestas válidas (60%). La mayoría de los especialistas (66,6%) no habían recibido formación específica en fluoroscopia durante su residencia o en la formación en dolor. El 90% de los especialistas que respondieron realiza los procedimientos que requieren rayos x (Rx) en el quirófano. El 54,7% realiza menos de 10 procedimientos a la semana y solo un 12% realiza más de 20 procedimientos por semana. En relación con la protección radiológica, la mayoría no utiliza gafas protectoras (80%) y solo el 50% lleva guantes plomados. El 47% se coloca a menos de 0,5 m del paciente. La mayoría (76%) no informa acerca de la radiación ni lo incluye en el consentimiento (80%). Conclusiones. Existe una deficiente formación acerca del manejo de la fluoroscopia en el área de tratamiento del dolor y de ello se deriva que las medidas de protección radiológica adoptadas suelan ser insuficientes. Los tratamientos se suelen realizar en quirófano. Más de la mitad de los especialistas realizan menos de 10 procedimientos semanales con Rx. El control y seguimiento de los valores de radiación es insuficiente, así como la información y la protección ofrecida al paciente(AU)

Objectives. Fluoroscopy is technique that is commonly used for procedures in the treatment of pain, but despite its importance in healthcare, many specialists do not know how to use it. We conducted a national survey to evaluate its use. Material and methods. A questionnaire with 15 questions related to the use of fluoroscopy in the treatment of pain was designed and sent to 105 units that diagnosed and treated pain in Spain, in 2008. Results. A total of 63 (60%) questionnaires with valid responses were received. The majority of specialist (66.6%) had not received specific training on fluoroscopy or pain during their residency. Almost all (90%) of specialists who responded performed procedures that required X-rays in the operating theatre. Just over half (54.7%) performed less than 10 procedures a week, and only 12% performed more than 20 procedures per week. As regards radiation protection, the majority (80%) did not use protective glasses, and only 50% wore leaded gloves. Just under half (47%) were situated less than 0.5 metre from the patient. The majority (76%) did not inform about the radiation, nor was it mentioned in the informed consent (80%). Conclusions. There is a lack of information on the handling of the fluoroscope in the area of pain treatment, and this usually leads to the adoption of insufficient radiation protection measures. The treatments are usually performed in the operating theatre. More than half the specialists perform less 10 procedures per week with x-rays. The control and follow-up of radiation values is insufficient, as is the information and protection offered to the patient(AU)