[Injuries on vaulting]. / Verletzungen im Voltigiersport.

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: Using an online questionnaire, the injuries of 649 acrobats on horseback were recorded (636 female, 13 male, average age 20.8 years, average sports time 12.1 years). 64% of the athletes practised their sport in the upper and 34% in the lower performance classes. RESULTS: 62.7% of the athletes hurt themselves on vaulting at least once during their sports time. Most injuries occured at the lower limbs (57.5%), particularly on foot (31.2%) and knee (22.2%). At the upper limbs (26.1%), injuries were most often registered at hands (8.4%) and shoulders (6.0%). 16.4% of the athletes hurt themselves on trunk, head or neck. Main causes of injury were jumping off the horse and unfortunately landing (44%) or falling off the horse (36%). Ruptures most commonly occured (34%), followed by fractures (20%). Athletes were out of action because of their injury for 11.3 weeks on average. 42% of the respondents complained about chronic afflictions (knee 30.4%, trunk 17.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Prevention includes fall training, regular physical examinations and training of the trainers. Other measures are controversial (head protection) or still need to be improved (backprotectors).

[Epidemiology of doping in rural gyms in the district of Traunstein]. / Zur Dopingepidemiologie in ländlichen Fitnessstudios im Landkreis Traunstein.

AIM AND METHOD: To investigate epidemiology of doping in rural gyms, a total of 206 persons doing exercise in 5 different gyms in the district of Traunstein were interviewed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Nearly 5.0% of the surveyed persons take performance-enhancing drugs, mostly for aesthetic reasons or to rapidly build up strength. There are no gender or education-specific, yet agerelated significant differences in using doping substances. Significant factors influencing the intake of doping agents are the motivation for competition participation, the additional intake of protein supplements and nutritional supplements. 61.5% of the drug-abusers take anabolic steroids (testosterone). One athlete consumes growth hormones. 40.0% of drug-abusers administer medication in the form of an injection, 60.0% in the form of tabs. Costs per intake cycle are between 100 and 150 . The average body weight gain through the muscle mass increase is approximately 15 kg. Suppliers were friends (36.3%), the Internet (27.3%) and physicians (18.2%). The potential side effects are important cornerstones for the educational work in the prevention of doping.

Immediate Effects of Isolated Lumbar Extension Resistance Exercise (ILEX) on Spine Posture and Mobility Measured with the IDIAG Spinal Mouse System.

Posture and mobility are important aspects for spinal health. In the context of low back pain, strategies to alter postural anomalies (e.g., hyper/hypolordosis, hyper/hypokyphosis) and mobility deficits (e.g., bending restrictions) have been of interest to researchers and clinicians. Machine-based isolated lumbar extension resistance exercise (ILEX) has been used successfully for rehabilitation of patients suffering from low back pain. The aim of this study was to analyse the immediate effects of ILEX on spinal posture and mobility. In this interventional cohort study, the posture and mobility measures of 33 healthy individuals (m = 17, f = 16; mean age 30.0 years) were taken using the surface-based Spinal Mouse system (IDIAG M360©, Fehraltdorf, Switzerland). Individuals performed one exercise set to full exhaustion with an ILEX-device (Powerspine, Wuerzburg, Germany) in a standardized setup, including uniform range of motion and time under tension. Scans were made immediately before and after the exercise. There was an immediate significant decrease in standing lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis. No change could be observed in standing pelvic tilt. Mobility measures showed a significant decrease in the lumbar spine and an increase in the sacrum. The results show that ILEX alters spine posture and mobility in the short-term, which may benefit certain patient groups.

Isolated Lumbar Extension Resistance Exercise in Limited Range of Motion for Patients with Lumbar Radiculopathy and Disk Herniation-Clinical Outcome and Influencing Factors.

(1) Background: Reconditioning of the paraspinal lumbar extensor muscles by isolated lumbar extension resistance exercises (ILEX) has shown good clinical results for patients with chronic unspecific low back pain. However, the clinical value and safety for patients with specific spine pathologies is unclear. In this study, clinical outcome and influencing factors were retrospectively analyzed for patients with lumbar disk herniation (LDH) and radiculopathy. (2) Methods: 189 consecutive patients (123 men and 66 women; mean age, 36 years) with clinically diagnosed LDH and relative indications for surgery started a 9-week rehabilitation program (2x/week) including ILEX in limited range of motion (ROM) adjusted to patients' symptoms. Patients diagnosed with advanced levels of spine degeneration were excluded. Pain/radiculopathy (PR), influence on mental health (IOMH), satisfaction rates were measured via Numeric Rating Scales (NRS, 0-10), and overall clinical outcome was stated in % (100% = full recovery). Isometric extension strength was tested before and after the program. (3) Results: 168 patients (88.9%) completed the program. For 162 out of 168 patients (96.4%) there was a significant reduction of clinical symptoms, whereas 6 patients reported no changes in symptoms. Scores (mean) for symptom intensity decreased from 4.2 (±1.5) to 1.9 (±1.5) (p < 0.001), the impact on mental health decreased from 5.9 (±2.3) to 2.4 (±2.0) (p < 0.001). There was a (weak) correlation between lower scores for PR and IOMH before the study and better clinical outcomes; PR also weakly correlated with satisfaction. Other factors such as age, strength increase, level/location and number of LDH did not have a significant impact on the clinical results. (4) Conclusion: The results indicate that ILEX in limited ROM can be an effective treatment for the majority of patients with LDH. For patients with high pain levels, the results are less consistent, and surgery may be considered.