Asian Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume:2 Issue: 1, Mar 2011

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in a young athlete is rare, but catastrophic. Exercise acts as a risk factor for SCD in people with cardiovascular disease. A diversity of cardiovascular disorders including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, congenital coronary anomalies, arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, dilated cardiomyopathy, aortic rupture due to Marfan syndrome, myocarditis, valvular disease and electrical disorders (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome), as well as commotio cordis represent the common causes of SCD in young athletes.As the outcome of lethal cardiovascular disorders is not reversible except in few cases, effective measures should be addressed to reduce the burden of sudden cardiac death in young athletes. Currently, two types of recommendations are proposed by American and European countries.It seems that there are some special considerations in Asia, entirely different from North America or Europe, which warrant more comprehensive research on epidemiology and etiology of SCD in young Asian athletes by country and evaluation of current national preventive strategies and their achievements in decreasing the risk. Using these data and considering regional restrictions, an expert group will be able to plan a practical and feasible preventive strategy.

This study was performed to assess and compare the effects of Pilates exercise on flexibility and lumbo-pelvic movement control between the Pilates training and control groups. A randomized single-blinded controlled design was utilized in the study. Forty healthy male and female volunteers (mean age 31.65 ± 6.21 years) were randomly divided into Pilates-based training (20 subjects) and the control groups (20 subjects). The Pilates group attended 45-minute training sessions, 2 times per week, for a period of 8 weeks. Flexibility and lumbo-pelvic stability tests were determined as outcome measures using a standard "sit and reach test" and "pressure biofeedback" respectively at 0, 4 and 8 weeks of the study. The results showed that the Pilates training group improved flexibility significantly (P<0.001) during time intervals. This effect was also significantly greater than the control group for both 4 weeks and 8 weeks of the training period (P<0.001). There were 65% and 85% of the subjects from Pilates group passing the lumbo-pelvic stability test at 4 and 8 weeks of training periods respectively. No subjects from the control group passed the test at any stages. Pilates can be used as an adjunctive exercise program to improve flexibility, enhance control-mobility of trunk and pelvic segments. It may also prevent and attenuate the predisposition to axial musculoskeletal injury.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relation between anthropometric variables and total race time including split times in 184 recreational male Ironman triathletes. Body mass, body height, body mass index, lengths and circumferences of limbs, thicknesses of skin-folds, sum of skin-fold thicknesses, and percent body fat were related to total race time including split times using correlation analysis and effect size. A large effect size (r>0.37) was found for the association between body mass index and time in the run split and between both the sum of skin-folds and percent body fat with total race time. A medium effect size (r=0.24-0.36) was observed in the association between body mass and both the split time in running and total race time, between body mass index and total race time, between both the circumference of upper arm and thigh with split time in the run and between both the sum of skin-folds and percent body fat with split times in swimming, cycling and running. The results of this study showed that lower body mass, lower body mass index and lower body fat were associated with both a faster Ironman race and a faster run split; lower circumferences of upper arm and thigh were also related with a faster run split.

To measure the time needed to teach a series of martial arts techniques to proficiency. Fifteen volunteer subjects without any prior martial arts or self-defense experience were recruited. A panel of martial arts experts selected 21 different techniques including defensive stances, arm blocks, elbow strikes, palm strikes, thumbs to eyes, instep kicks and a carotid neck restraint. The critical elements of each technique were identified by the panel and incorporated into a teaching protocol, and then into a scoring system. Two black belt martial arts instructors directed a total of forty-five 45-minute training sessions. Videotaped proficiency testing was performed weekly. The videotapes were reviewed by the investigators to determine the proficiency levels of each subject for each technique. The mean number of sessions necessary to train individuals to proficiency ranged from 27 to 38.3. The techniques were rated by the average number of training sessions needed for an individual to develop proficiency in that technique. Using this system, the most difficult techniques seemed to be elbow strikes to the rear, striking with thumbs to the eyes and arm blocking. In this study 29 hours of training was necessary to train novice students to be proficient in 21 offensive and defensive martial arts techniques. To our knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to measure the learning curves involved when teaching martial arts techniques.

Physical inactivity is more prevalent among women than men, varies by ethnic group, and becomes increasingly prevalent with age. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a 12-week exercise program on the cardiovascular disease risk and fitness of Iranian middle aged women. This was a randomized controlled trial study. Participants in the training group (n=20) performed treadmill running exercise at a high intensity (70-80% of maximum heart rate, 0% grade) for 30 min/day, 3 days/week. On the other hand, participants in the control group (n=20) were asked to maintain their habitual lifestyle and not change their activity or dietary habits. Measurements of body mass index, waist/hip ratio, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and lipoprotein subtractions were taken before program and after 12 weeks. Changes in 10-year risk scores for coronary heart disease were calculated using Framingham risk equation. Significant decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, reduction in 10-year risk of coronary heart disease, and reduction in lipid levels were found within the training group between baseline and 12-week measurements. No changes were found in these parameters within the control group. The study provides evidence for the positive effects of exercise training on the reduction of cardiovascular disease risks among women aged 40-55 years.

Lipocalin-2 (Lcn2) a newer adipocyte-secreted acute phase protein was recently reported to be correlated with potential effects in obesity and inflammation. The reactions of this protein in progressive exercise have not yet been evaluated. This study was designed to compare the serum Lcn2 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels after participating in an acute bout of treadmill protocol in obese and normal-weight men. Nine obese (aged: 43.2±4.6 yrs and body mass index (BMI): 31.4±1.6 kg/m2) and 9 normal-weight (aged: 42.9±4.4 yrs and BMI: 23.03±1.7 kg/m2; mean ± SD) sedentary men that have been selected randomly through volunteers, performed a single bout of exercise with a treadmill Bruce protocol. Before the exercise, Lcn2 level in obese was higher than normal-weight individuals (P<0.05). A significant increasing in Lcn2, hs-CRP, white blood cells (WBC) and insulin resistance index were observed after the exercise in two groups (P<0.05). The level of Lcn2, hs-CRP and WBC were, also, elevated in obese than normal-weight subjects after the exercise (P<0.05). It seems Lcn2 and other inflammatory markers were elevated in obese and normal-weight men after participating in one exhaustive progressive exercise. These changes in obese men were considerable.

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of selected exercises on motor development in elementary school third grade girl students in Ahwaz City, Iran. The present study was semi-experimental, performed as field and using experimental and control groups. The statistical population included all third grade girl students of elementary schools of Ahvaz city (10,500 subjects). Forty of whom were randomly selected (cluster stage) and then were divided randomly into two experimental (N=20, M age=8.9 ± 0.49) and control (N=20, M age=8.9 ± 0.48) groups. Experimental group was given training for eight weeks, 3 sessions per week and each session lasting 45 minutes. To measure motor development, the Test of Gross Motor Development, edition2 (TGMD-2; 2002) was applied. Statistical analysis was performed using independent t-test and paired t-test. The results showed statistically significant differences between control and experimental groups regarding locomotion skills (8.433, P< 0.05), manipulation skills (10.951, P < 0.001) and overall motor development (13.203, P< 0.001). In fact, selected exercises impacted on the motor development of subjects and led to their motor development progress. The selected exercises can be used as an appropriate plan to improve motor skill development in third grade of elementary school.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by "noncaseating granulomas" in different organs. Clinical signs are variable and dependent on the organ involved. Although it is often asymptomatic in athletes, considering the high level of athletic performance and the related risks due to the potential heart involvement, a particular diagnostic flow-chart to consider some other diagnoses is required. The present case report aimed to focus on the clinical approach in case of a progressive weakness associated with a reduction in global performance of an athlete. Since October 2008 a 33-year-old Scandinavian professional soccer player has shown splitting headache, fever and impaired exercise tolerance. Despite some clinical aspects and symptoms that could address diagnosis of granulomatosis according to the current guidelines, the first hypothesis was indicative of a possible viral infection. Therefore, the athlete had received a drug-therapy resolving the headache and fever. However, because of the persisting weakness, several other clinical possibilities were evaluated following a more complete diagnostic flow-chart, blood and instrumental exams. This case report focuses on the substantial absence of symptoms during the granulomatosis disease, which makes the differential diagnosis to be often complicating. Indeed, several additional exams are required in order to establish the presence of "Non-evolutive sarcoidosis- stage I", for which the therapy is not mandatory.