Journal of Sport Sciences and Health Research
Volume:4 Issue: 9, 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of acute injuries of professional dragon boat female athletes. 50 dragon boat female athletes (mean ± SD: age 22.6±2.9 years, weight 58±5.9 kg, height 160 cm)‎ participated in this study. An injury record form was used to collect and record injury information (incidence, causes, time of incidence and type of injury)‎. Chi Square was used to analyze data. The results of this study showed that muscle cramp was the most common type of injury and the least common type of injury was dislocation and inflation of bursa (each 0.8%) and the difference among these injuries was significant (X2=266.19, P<0.05). Overtraining (18.8%) and insufficient wam-up (11.96%) were the main causes of injuries before training and competitions and the difference between them was significant (X2=66.84, P<0.05). There was a significant difference among injured areas in dragon boat athletes, that is, lower back, fingers and shoulder were the most injured areas (X2=123.93, P<0.05). Most injuries occurred during training than competitions (107 vs. 9) and the difference was significant (X2=82.79, P<0.05). There was a significant difference in the recorded injuries among different components of competitions, that is, the athletes of 1000m and 2000m running had the most injuries (35 and 32 injuries respectively)‎ and the difference in different dragon boat components was significant (X2=31.14, P<0.05). The paddlers who were mostly sitting in four middle rows and three front rows of the boat had more injuries and this difference was significant (X2=23.43, P<0.05). Most injured athletes continued their activity without recovery after injury (56.63%) and the difference was significant (X2=105.45, P<0.05). In conclusion, muscle cramp was the most common type of injury and most injuries occured during training and overtraining was the main cause of injuries. So, coaches are recommended to pay more attention to training type and duration to minmize the injuries.

The scapula influences shoulder performance. In fact, scapula posture has a direct relationship with scapula stability and muscular power. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of a training program on rounded shoulder abnormality (RS) and scapula posture in female students. A posture grid was used to select the girls with rounded shoulders (RS); 20 students with RS (10.78±0.7 years, 143.7±5.37 cm, 34.5±4.93 Kg) were randomly selected and completed the consent form. Rounded shoulder was measured by double square and inter-scapula distance by Vernier caliper. According to shoulder posture (the shoulder distance from the wall), subjects were divided into two control and experimental groups. To determine the strength of scapula stabilizers, lateral scapular test (LSST) was used. Experimental subjects performed the treatment protocol including stretch-strength training for six weeks, three days a week. Data analysis showed that rounded shoulder significantly decreased by 12% (p= 0.008) in the experimental group, but there was no significant difference in the control group (p=0.462). Inter-scapula distance in the experimental group significantly decreased by 9% (p=0.001), but there was no significant difference in the control group (p=0.177). The result of symmetry of scapula bones in zero and 45 degree angles in the experimental group was significant (p=0.028). The results showed that the selected corrective exercises improved rounded shoulder posture, distance and symmetry of scapula bones (the increase of strength of scapula stabilizers) of girls aged between 10 and 12 with RS.

Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a common condition athletes suffer from. One of the predictive factors of this syndrome is reduced activity ratio of vastus medialis oblique (VMO) to vastus lateralis (VL). The aim of this descriptive study was to compare the electromyographic activity ratio of vastus medialis oblique to vastus lateralis during maximum voluntary isometric contraction of quadratus femoris on Biodex between athletes with and without patellofemoral pain syndrome. For this purpose, 16 national team male athletes (volleyball, handball and taekwondo) with patellofemoral pain syndrome aged between 18 and 30 and 16 healthy male athletes voluntarily participated in this study. EMG activity of VMO and VL muscles were recorded by surface electrodes and telemetric EMG system on Biodex at 15, 30 and 45 degrees of knee flexion and VMO: VL EMG activity ratio was calculated. To compare muscle activity ratio between the two groups, t test was used. The results showed no significant difference in the electrical activity of VMO and VL muscles in knee flexion angles between athletes with and without patellofemorl pain syndrome (P>0.05). The EMG ratio of VMO:VL was higher than 1 in both groups, but this ratio was higher in healthy athletes. Finally, it seems that sporting activities as a preventive factor impede disturbance of electrical activity of VMO that prevent reduction of VMO: VL ratio.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of core stability training on the Y balance test components in indoor soccer players of Mazandaran University. 24 subjects (age 22.67 yr, weight 70.12 kg, height 1.75 m and BMI 22.70) from Mazandaran University were voluntarily participated and randomly divided into experimental (n=12) and control(n=12) groups. At the onset of the study, the dynamic balance was measured by Y balance test and core stability by some field core stability tests. Experimental group performed the core stability protocol three days per week for six weeks while control group did not perform any training. At the end of the protocol, dynamic balance and core stability were measured again. Independent t test was used to analyze data. The results of Y balance test showed a significant difference in anterior and posterior-interior and no significant difference in posterior-exterior components between the two groups. In addition, significant differences were observed in scores of Sorensen test, trunk flexion, right bridge and hip abduction between the two groups. It can be concluded that core stability training can improve interior and posterior-interior components of Y balance test through strengthening core stability indexes and more training should be applied in posterior-exterior components.

The aim of this study was to compare the electromyography of leg muscles and the peak vertical ground reaction forces during single leg drop landing of men with genu varum deformity and normal knee. 26 physical education male students participated in this research, including 13 subjects with genu varum and 13 with normal knee. Electromyographic activity of some leg muscles along with the data of ground reaction forces were measured. Genu varum deformity was measured and recorded by a caliper. Subjects performed single-leg landing from 30cm height onto a force platform. Landing motions were divided into two phases: 100 ms preceding ground contact and 100 ms after ground contact (absorption phase). Independent t test was administered for the statistical analysis of data using SPSS software 16 (P≤0.05). The results showed no significant difference in the activity of the soleus, medial gastrocnemius and anterior tibialis muscles during pre-landing phase ((P0.76), (P0.09) and (P0.77) respectively). No significant difference was found in the activity of soleus and anterior tibialis muscles during absorption phase ((P≤0.68) and (P0.92) respectively). However, the activity of medial gastrocnemius was significantly different between the groups (P0.04). No significant difference was found in the peak vertical ground reaction force during metatarsal contact (P0.22). However, the peak vertical ground reaction forces in calcaneus contact (P 0.003) between the groups were significantly different. The results showed that subjects with genu varum had lower activity in medial gastrocnemius muscle during the absorption phase of landing which may insert bigger forces into their lower extremity in comparison with normal subjects; in long-term, this may result in injury and occurrence of articular degenerative diseases.