Creatine Usage and Education of Track and Field Throwers at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Universities.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the level of creatine use along with the perceived benefits and barriers of creatine use among collegiate athletes who participate in throwing events within the sport of track and field. A total of 258 throwers from National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institutions completed an online survey regarding creatine. The results provided baseline levels of creatine use and allowed for the analysis of factors related to athletic conference affiliation. Results indicate that creatine use remains to be a common (32.7%) practice among throwers with significantly higher levels of use among Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conference athletes (44.6%) than Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conference athletes (28.8%), χ² = 5.505, p = 0.019. The most common reasons for using creatine included a desire to improve/increase: strength (83.3%), recovery time (69.0%), and performance (60.7%). The most common perceived obstacles included contamination/quality control (39.5%), cost (33.3%), inconvenience (16.7%), and cramping (14.3%). A desire for additional education and training was noted through an expression of interest (55.6%) with significantly higher levels of interest from FBS athletes (65.6%) than FCS athletes (52.2%), χ² = 6.425, p = 0.039. However, the athletic departments provide nutritional supplement counseling at only 26.6% of the schools. Although the access to full-time nutritionist counsel was available at 57.3% of the schools, there was a significant difference (χ² = 9.096, p = 0.003) between FBS schools (73.7%) and FCS schools (51.7%).

An examination of preactivity and postactivity stretching practices of NCAA division I, NCAA division II, and NCAA division III track and field throws programs.

The purpose of this study is to determine the pre- and postactivity stretching practices of Division I, II, and III track and field throws programs. A 33-item survey instrument was developed to collect data regarding the warm-up and flexibility practices at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (n = 320), Division II (n = 175), and Division III (n = 275) universities. A total of 135 surveys were completed for a 17.5% return rate, and although the response rate was generally low, it did mirror the distribution percentages of the 3 divisions. Significant differences were found for the level of United States Track and Field (USATF) certification and the use of static stretching (SS) between throws (χ = 6.333, p = 0.048). Significance was also found for the USATF certification level and athletic trainer (AT) assistance in performing SS (χ = 13.598, p = 0.01). Significant differences were also found for the NCAA division levels and the use of soft tissue mobilization (χ = 5.913, p = 0.026). Although research supports dynamic warm-up/stretching over other forms of preactivity protocols, it seems that some track-and-field throws coaches are reluctant to completely discontinue preactivity SS. The results of this study suggest that it is necessary for track and field throws coaches to reevaluate their own practices, perhaps better aligning them with current research findings.

Impact of carbohydrate mouth rinsing on time to exhaustion during Ramadan: A randomized controlled trial in Jordanian men.

Mouth rinsing using a carbohydrate (CHO) solution has been suggested to improve physical performance in fasting participants. This study examined the effects of CHO mouth rinsing during Ramadan fasting on running time to exhaustion and on peak treadmill speed (Vpeak). In a counterbalanced crossover design, 18 sub-elite male runners (Age: 21 ± 2 years, Weight: 68.1 ± 5.7 kg, VO2max: 55.4 ± 4.8 ml/kg/min) who observed Ramadan completed a familiarization trial and three experimental trials. The three trials included rinsing and expectorating a 25 mL bolus of either a 7.5% sucrose solution (CHO), a flavour and taste matched placebo solution (PLA) for 10 s, or no rinse (CON). The treatments were performed prior to an incremental treadmill test to exhaustion. Three-day dietary and exercise records were obtained on two occasions and analysed. Anthropometric characteristics were obtained and recorded for all participants. A main effect for mouth rinse on peak velocity (Vpeak) (CHO: 17.6 ± 1.5 km/h; PLA: 17.1 ± 1.4 km/h; CON: 16.7 ± 1.2 km/h; P < .001, ηp2 = 0.49) and time to exhaustion (CHO: 1282.0 ± 121.3 s; PLA: 1258.1 ± 113.4 s; CON: 1228.7 ± 98.5 s; P = .002, ηp2 = 0.41) was detected, with CHO significantly higher than PLA (P < .05) and CON (P < .05). Oxygen consumption, heart rate, respiratory exchange ratio, and rating of perceived exertion were not significantly different between treatments or trials (P > .05). Energy availability from dietary analysis, body weight, and fat-free mass did not change during the last two weeks of Ramadan (P > .05). This study concludes that carbohydrate mouth rinsing improves running time to exhaustion and peak treadmill speed under Ramadan fasting conditions.

Prevalence of obesity and behaviors associated with the development of metabolic disease among medical practitioners in Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The health status of medical practitioners can potentially impact their ability to counsel patients. The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of obesity and behaviors associated with the development of metabolic disease among medical practitioners in the country of Jordan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants were 748 (male n = 285, 32.3 years ± 7.3, female n = 463, 29.7 years ± 5.7) randomly selected pharmacists, nurses, physicians, medical lab technicians, and radiation specialists from a variety of medical institutions in Jordan. A short 25-item validated instrument was chosen for this investigation. After the survey was administered and data were tabulated, one-way analysis of variance and Pearson's Chi-square analysis were conducted to examine differences in reported risk behaviors (low physical activity [PA], smoking) and obesity by gender, age and medical specialty. RESULTS: Descriptive analysis revealed that 20.9% of the participants self-reported as smokers of cigarettes, 47.9% were either overweight or obese, and 52.9% reported no days of planned PA on average per week. The results suggested a difference in body mass index (BMI) classification (F = 17.9, P ≤ 0.001) and smoking (F = 5.33, P = 0.021) by age. Mean age associated with being underweight was 26.4 years for normal weight 29.3 years for overweight 31.6 years and finally for obese was 34.5 years. Chi-square test resulted in differences by gender (χ(2) > 50, P ≤ 0.001) for BMI (males: 26.4 ± 3.7; females: 24.6 ± 3.7), PA (males no planned PA 61.1%, females 47.9%) and smoking (males 43.1% smokers, females 7.1%). Researchers discovered that medical specialty was related to differences in reported smoking (χ(2) = 26.5, P ≤ 0.001) and days of planned PA (χ(2) = 24.2, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Within the population of medical practitioners there is still a high incidence of obesity and risk behaviors associated with metabolic diseases. It also appears that these incidence rates are greater among men, with increasing age, and among certain medical specialties.

A Pilot Study Exploring the Quadratic Nature of the Relationship of Strength to Performance among Shot Putters.

The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the quadratic nature of the relationship between the strength and throwing distance in the shot put. A survey was sent to throws coaches with Master Coach or USA Track and Field Level III distinction to examine fifty-three collegiate and elite throwers (24 male, 29 female). The coaches reported the thrower's personal best shot put distance and preseason weight room 1RM for bench press, power clean, and squat exercises. Relationship between distance and 1RM was determined via general linear model polynomial contrast analysis and regression. Data analysis showed significant linear and quadratic trends for distance and 1RM power clean for both male (linear: p≤0.001, quadratic: p≤0.003) and female (linear: p≤0.001, quadratic: p=0.001) elite and collegiate shot put athletes. Analysis also provided a quadratic equation to compare personal best distance and 1RM power clean. The power clean was found to be more closely related to shot put distance as compared with squat and also with bench press, which is the least related. Based on the results of this investigation, in addition to strength exercises such as the squat and bench press, power exercises such as the power clean should also be incorporated into strength and conditioning programs of shot put athletes for optimal performance.

Offensive tactical thinking level of wheelchair basketball players in Arab countries.

The purpose of this study was to assess the appropriateness of offensive tactical decision-making of Arab basketball players, and to determine if there are differences in the appropriateness of offensive tactical decision-making within the various disability classifications of Arab basketball players. A twenty-question survey was formulated to assess decision-making in offensive tactical situations in wheelchair basketball players. Participants in the present study were 108 athletes from 10 Arab national teams participating in wheelchair basketball. The mean offensive tactical thinking level of wheelchair basketball players in the 20 different situations in the Arab countries ranged between 1.38-2.84, and the standard deviations for these 20 means ranged from 0.41 to 0.90. The total mean of all tactical situations was 2.33, which is moderate thinking level. The influence of the disability classification on the offensive tactical thinking of wheelchair basketball players was addressed by examining the data via a one-way ANOVA. The ANOVA revealed no significant differences among disability classifications/categories in tactical thinking (F(3, 104)=1.12, p=0.34). This study represents the first attempt to identify why Arab nations have not consistently qualified for the Paralympics or World Championships. These findings indicate that the moderate offensive tactical thinking level of wheelchair basketball players on Arab national teams may be part of the reason that performances of these teams have not been as strong as they would like.