Asian Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume:10 Issue: 2, Jun 2019

This study investigated whether naproxen has an ergogenic effect on neuromuscular performance. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial was conducted on 11 resistance-trained men who performed one strength-training session after taking 500 mg of naproxen and another session after taking a placebo. Participants performed three sets of the horizontal bench press with a load of 90% of repetition maximum (RM) to concentric failure. Outcome variables included number of repetitions, workload, fatigue index (FI), and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Results showed a statistically insignificant reduction in the number of repetitions for placebo when compared to naproxen, amounting to a relative difference of 44.89%. DOMS was lower in the naproxen group, but differences between conditions were not statistically significant. A statistically significant treatment effect was found for workload, favoring naproxen treatment. A statistically significant difference was found for FI between the second and third sets compared to the first set, with results favoring naproxen. We concluded that naproxen helps enhance neuromuscular outcomes in an acute high-intensity strength training bout.

Anthropometric variables are highly related to physical performance, being used for the control and monitoring of athletes in different sports. However, whether anthropometric characteristics of female and male athletes bear a different effect on fitness must be determined. To relate anthropometric characteristics and fitness of female in comparison with male athletes. College athletes (n = 189, 112 males) were assessed in weight, height, body mass index, lower and upper body power, agility, and endurance. Males had greater weight and height than female athletes (17 kg and 17 cm, respectively), as well as fitness performance in all tests. In both males and females upper body power was positively correlated with body mass and height (P < 0.05). In addition, agility was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with height in males and body mass in females. Aerobic fitness show a negative correlation (P < 0.05) with body mass in males. Anthropometric characteristics of female and male athletes bear a different effect on fitness.

In accordance with the multiple causes of impingement syndrome being a major injury of the swimmers' shoulder, choosing an effective method in preventing shoulder injury is important. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of eight weeks open and closed kinetic chain exercises on muscle torque of internal and external rotators of shoulder in elite swimmers. In this study, 45 swimmers were selected based on the inclusion criteria and divided randomly and equally into three groups of open chain, closed chain exercises, and control. Both open and closed chain groups performed their own exercises three times a week for eight weeks, but no upper extremity exercises were given to the control group. Before the training, the pick torque of the external and internal rotators of shoulder were measured by the isokinetic HUMAC NORM machine at various speeds of 60, 120 and 180 degrees/s. After eight weeks of practice, the variables were re-measured. Shapiro-Wilk test was used for data normalization, one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc testes were used accordingly to compare the groups and to show the intra-group difference (P < 0.05). The results of this study showed that eight weeks of open and closed chain training improved the torque of internal and external shoulder rotator muscles at 60, 120 and 180 degrees per second (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference between open chain and closed chain exercises, and the effect of open chain was more than closed chain training (P < 0.05). According to this study, it can be concluded that open and closed kinetic chain exercises improve the torque of the external and internal rotating muscles in swimmers. They also suggest that kinetic chain exercises are more effective than closed kinetic chain exercises in this regard so could be prescribed for swimmers.

Human heredity is known to determine about 50% of heart rate variability (HRV) based on a twin study; however, genetic polymorphisms causing increased HRV in athletes are not known. This article is aimed at studying the associations of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) Ala55Val (rs660339) and UCP3-55C/T (rs1800849) polymorphisms with heart rate variability (HRV) in trained oarsmen. HRV indices (standard deviations of NN intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), HF, LF, VLF), stroke index and cardiac index of the young oarsmen (age 17.6 ± 1.6 years old, n = 23) were determined by impedance cardiography method in the supine and standing positions. The maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) was examined with a rower ergometer by means of a gas analyzer. Polymorphisms of the UCP2 Ala55Val and the UCP3-55T/C were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and length analysis of restriction products. It was found that both polymorphisms were not associated with VO2max. The UCP2 Val/Val genotype compared to the combined variant (Ala/Ala + Ala/Val) containing the 55 Ala allele, as well as the UCP3 T/T genotype compared to the combined variant (C/T + C/C) containing the -55C allele were associated with low HR and increased HRV: SDNN, RMSSD and HF vagal indices in the supine position. Moreover, the athletes with the UCP3-55T/T genotype had a pronounced increase in heart rate (ANOVA, P < 0.001) and a decrease in stroke index (ANOVA, P = 0.005) in response to active orthostasis compared to C/T and C/C genotypes. The UCP2 Val/Val and the UCP3 T/T genotypes may be genetic markers of increased HRV in the highly trained athletes, suggesting an influence of these UCP2/UCP3 polymorphisms on autonomic cardiovascular regulation.

Sitting volleyball is a Paralympic team sport in which players use their upper limbs and hands to move and slide across the playing court. The objective of this study was to determine the differences in physical performance tests between the men and women of Brazilian sitting volleyball national team players. Fifteen sitting volleyball national team players, (seven men, age = 33.7 ± 6.2 years; body mass = 88.4 ± 21.4 kg; body height = 1.74 ± 0.36 m) and (eight women, age = 29.6 ± 8.3 years; body mass = 75.9 ± 17.1 kg; body height = 1.73 ± 0.08 m) with similar time and volume of training, participated in this study. As a physical performance evaluation, five test trials were conducted for each player which included (1) modified agility t-test (MAT), (2) speed & agility test (SAT), (3) speed & endurance test (SET), (4) seated chest pass (SCP) and (5) handgrip (HG). Data were analyzed for normality, using Shapiro-Wilk’s test, and then a student t-test was used to examine the discrepancy of performance tests among the male and female players. Cohen’s effect size (d) was calculated for each result. There were statistically significant differences, between the men and women of the Brazilian sitting volleyball players with higher values for men in MAT (27 %, P = 0.001), SAT (22 %, P = 0.008), SET (23 %, P = 0.008) and SCP (19 %, P = 0.03) scores. Results showed that male players had higher scores in the five performance tests, but according to the effect size calculations there was no significant difference between male players and female players in HG performance.

Football players often experience muscle fatigue leading to impaired performance in the middle of the game. Watermelon contains citrulline which may detox ammonia and lactic acid in the urea cycle thus could help relieve muscle fatigue. This study analyzed the effect of watermelon beverage ingestion on fatigue index (FI) in young-male, recreational football players. A randomized, 2-periods crossover design involving 26 young-male, recreational football players aged 15 - 17 years was performed. They consumed 500 mL of watermelon beverage in 1 of the 2 periods, and 500 mL of red sucrose syrup as placebo in the other for 7 days respectively. Running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST) was conducted to measure FI, a day before and on the seventh day of the intervention. Consuming 500 mL of watermelon beverage for 7 days decreased FI significantly (P = 0.001); however, placebo ingestion for 7 days had no significant effect in changing FI (P = 0.495). Watermelon beverage ingestion could relieve muscle fatigue in young-male, recreational football players. They are advised to consume 500 mL of watermelon beverage prior and until the end of the match session for 7 consecutive days to help relieving muscle fatigue and reaching the highest performance.

Betatrophin is a β-cell proliferation marker produced as a result of irisin expression. It is regarded as a therapeutic indicator of diabetes due to elevated insulin secretion. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 2 different intensities of combined training on the levels of irisin, betatrophin, and insulin in women with type 2 diabetes. In this study, 26 female patients with type 2 diabetes were divided into 3 groups of combined high-intensity training, combined moderate-intensity training, and control. The training groups participated in combined training at high or moderate intensities for 8 weeks. The variance analysis test and the Duncan post-hoc test were applied to analyze the data (P > 0.05). Combined training at 2 intensities of moderate and vigorous led to a rise in the levels of irisin, betatrophin, and insulin. Exercise intensity was a determining factor for these elevated levels insofar as combined high-intensity training resulted in higher levels of these hormones than combined moderate-intensity training. It appears that participating in relatively high-intensity training programs may be beneficial for diabetic patients inasmuch as they increase the levels of irisin, betatrophin, and then, insulin.

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of ankle TheraBand resistance training on dynamic balance index among elite male basketball players. This was a randomized trial performed on 24 male professional basketball players without lower extremity injury. The participants were selected using purposeful sampling and were randomly assigned into 3 groups of 8, including: (1) high-intensity resistance training using TheraBand (80% - 95% 1RM), (N = 8); (2) moderate-intensity resistance training using TheraBand (65% - 80% 1RM), (N = 8); and (3) control group with regular basketball training (N = 8). The groups were trained in three sessions for 8 weeks. Trial and error table for TheraBand resistance from American Physical Therapy Organization (APTA) 2012 was used to measure maximum 1RM in each participant. In addition, the dynamic balance index in the APSI (anterior - posterior stability index), MLSI (medial-lateral stability index) and OSI (overall stability index) were measured using Biodex stability system. Covariance analysis was used to analyze the data (P < 0.05). Results showed that the high-intensity resistance training and moderate-intensity resistance training significantly improved dynamic stability index in the anterior - posterior axis, medial - lateral axis and overall axis (P = 0.0001). No significant changes were observed in the anterior - posterior and medial - lateral axes after a detraining period (4 weeks), “durability rate”. However, the overall axis values of the dynamic balance index in the moderate intensity training group indicated a higher durability rate than the high intensity resistance training group after detraining (P = 0.02). It can be concluded that the high and moderate intensity resistance training improved dynamic balance index, and even moderate intensity resistance training was effective after a period of detraining, so it can be recommended for basketball players.

The external load associated with different formats of SSGs has been well studied, however it is necessary to know the effect of little-analyzed variables such as directionality or order in the training session. The objective of this study was to compare the physical demands of soccer small-sided games (SSGs) performed under different formats of the offensive game (with or without directionality) and timing regimens (beginning or end of a training session). Youth players (n = 10; age, 13.5 ± 0.5 years) were measured for total distance (TD), acceleration (ACC) and deceleration distance (DEC), and distances covered at different speeds during 5vs5 SSGs with different formats: (i) without directionality of the attack, where each team tried to maintain the possession of the ball (MAI); (ii) with goalkeeper (1GK), where the directionality of the attack was centered on scoring a goal; (iii) with free-directionality (2GKF), allowing the teams to attack any of the two goals defended by goalkeepers and; (iv) with assigned-directionality (2GKD), where teams defended a goal with the respective goalkeeper and attacked the opponent in the opposite side of the pitch. All SSGs formats were performed at the beginning and after a regular training session. The analysis of variance and Student’s t-test revealed that MAI increases TD, ACC, DEC, and distance covered at 8.1-18.0 km/h compared to 2GKD. Moreover, greater distance at low-speed and lower distance at high-speed was observed at the end of the training session. The SSGs emphasizing ball possession (MAI) can increase the physical demand of youth soccer players compared to other SSGs formats. In spite of reduced physical performance during SSGs with directionality towards the end of the training session, these conditioning games can be used to improve players’ soccer-specific endurance.

As golf becomes common, golf-related injuries become more widespread. Injury caused from hitting by a golf ball, resulting in a zygomatic arch fracture has not previously been described. In this report, zygomatic arch fracture caused by a golf ball is presented, and the basic mechanics of golf ball injuries are described. When a 38-year-old man was playing golf on a golf course, another player made a shot about 100 m behind him and the golf ball hit his left cheek. On physical examination, his left cheek was depressed and a contusion with a ball-mark was observed. His mouth opening was one and a half finger breadths. He felt pain and discomfort when clenching his jaw. Plain films and computed tomography of the facial bone showed a left zygomatic arch fracture. Under general anesthesia, the displaced fracture segments were reduced using a towel clip. Postoperatively, his mouth opening improved to 3 finger breadths. In the field, serious face or head injuries on the golf course may be prevented by informing other golfers and shouting the word “fore (look ahead; a term warning the flight of a golf ball)” when it appears possible that a golf ball may hit other players or spectators. Other players or spectators should turn their back to the source of the call, duck, and cover their face and head with their hands. When meet the patients hit by a golf ball, surgeons should aware of the possibility of the facial bone fractures including nasal bone or zygoma.