A number of genetic and environmental factors influence athletic performance. Cardiovascular fitness is an important factor of athletic success, and ACE gene is a good candidate for regulating cardiac and vascular function. Because younger subjects have less chance of being exposed to environmental factors than older ones, genetic factors have a relatively greater influence on younger subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene between Korean young controls and athletes. By association study, there were no significant differences in genotype and allele distributions between two groups, respectively (P> 0.05). When stratified by sporting disciplines, the significant difference in distribution was not also detected in our study (P> 0.05). These results do not support the hypothesis that the I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene is associated with endurance performance in Korean young subjects.
Alleles ; Athletes* ; Athletic Performance ; Genotype ; Humans ; Sports

Background: Strength of leg musculature is crucial to generate propulsive force during rowing. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of isokinetic dominant leg strength and 2 km time trial on stationary rowing ergometer among male national rowers. Methods: Seventeen male national rowers were recruited for the study. Their hip and knee isokinetic strength were determined in the sagittal plane at 60°/s angular velocity. The relationship between the hip and knee strength, and 2 km time trial performance were evaluated using Pearson correlation. Results: The national rowers completed the 2 km time trial duration in 7.20±0.39 minutes. The hamstring to quadriceps ratio (H:Q) was significantly correlated to 2 km time trial performance (r=-0.491, p=0.045). No other significant relationships between hip and knee isokinetic strength and 2 km time trial performance were observed. Conclusion Increased isokinetic knee strength ratio (H:Q) may enhance 2 km time trial performance among male national rowers. Other isokinetic variables of hip and knee isokinetic strength were not significantly related to 2 km time trial.
Hip ; Knee ; Muscle Strength ; Athletic Performance

High load is concentrated on Satba wearing area of Ssireum athletes during the tournament. Muscular injuries in this area may seriously affect the athletic performance. We report a case of a 21-year-old Ssireum athlete who was experiencing pain in his left thigh (Satba wearing area) during a tournament due to the migrating mass effect of a partial ruptured semitendinosus muscle occurred approximately 6 months before. Herein is described the clinical results after surgical intervention with an added review of the relevant literature.
Athletes ; Athletic Performance ; Humans ; Muscles ; Rupture ; Thigh ; Young Adult

Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to living organisms. Evaluation of sporting techniques such as running biomechanics and swim stroke biomechanics and understanding of the biomechanics of different sporting activities is a vital foundation for the sports medicine practitioners. The purpose of this article is to provide the clinicians with relevant and easily applicable descriptions of the common sporting techniques. The key for the better sports performance and prevention of injury is exercising with correct biomechanics. Understanding normal sporting biomechanics makes the clinician to apply injury prevention strategies. Biomechanics of lower limb including standing, walking, running and biomechanics of upper limb during throwing and overhead activities are described.
Athletic Injuries ; Athletic Performance ; Biomechanics ; Lower Extremity ; Running ; Sports ; Sports Medicine ; Stroke ; Tennis ; Upper Extremity ; Walking

Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to living organisms. Evaluation of sporting techniques such as running biomechanics and swim stroke biomechanics and understanding of the biomechanics of different sporting activities is a vital foundation for the sports medicine practitioners. The purpose of this article is to provide the clinicians with relevant and easily applicable descriptions of the common sporting techniques. The key for the better sports performance and prevention of injury is exercising with correct biomechanics. Understanding normal sporting biomechanics makes the clinician to apply injury prevention strategies. Biomechanics of lower limb including standing, walking, running and biomechanics of upper limb during throwing and overhead activities are described.
Athletic Injuries ; Athletic Performance ; Biomechanics ; Lower Extremity ; Running ; Sports ; Sports Medicine ; Stroke ; Tennis ; Upper Extremity ; Walking

INTRODUCTION: Sleep has numerous important physiological and cognitive functions that may be particularly important to elite athletes. Sleep deprivation can have significant effects on athletic performance. However, there are few published data related to the amount of sleep obtained by elite athletes. We investigated sleep patterns of Korean women golfers using sleep-related questionnaires. METHODS: For this study, 98 Korean university women golfers and 46 age- and sex-matched controls were recruited. All subjects were asked to complete the self-administered sleep questionnaire consisting of questions about habitual sleep patterns (sleep onset time, sleep latency, awakening time in the morning, day time napping time), exercise habits, Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), validation of the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). RESULTS: The sleep onset time was significantly earlier (pm 23 : 05 +/- 00 : 52 and 00 : 14 +/- 00 : 51 ; t = 5.287, p < 0.001), the waking time was later (am 07 : 21 +/- 01 : 09 and 6 : 35 +/- 00 : 32; t = -2.715, p = 0.008), the weekday total sleep time was greater (417.77 +/- 78.18 minute and 351.52 +/- 77.83 minute ; t = 4.406, p = 0.001), and the daytime nap time was greater (77.73 +/- 41.28 minute and 20.22 +/- 33.03 minute ; t = 7.623, p < 0.001) in the golf athletes compared to the controls. The PSQI scores were significantly lower, but estimated sleep latency and ESS, ISS, PSS, and BAI scores were not different among the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that Korean university women golfers have good sleep patterns resulting in no difference in sleep-related stress compared to age- and sex-matched control students.
Anxiety ; Athletes ; Athletic Performance ; Female ; Golf ; Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sleep Deprivation ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

A physical activity plays a significant role in the well-being of children and adolescents. The preparticipation physical examination makes adolescents participate in sports program as safe as possible. A well designed exercise program can enhance growth and development of children. The best nutrition is essential to growth and development of children. Also it can enhance sports performance. But recently children obesity rapid increase and their physical strength decline due to excess calorie and poor physical activity in Korean. Therefore we need to develop the proper a preparticipation physical examination program. Children and adolescents are served a well balance food. And we need to make school and after school program which children exercise much more time.
Adolescent ; Athletic Performance ; Child ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Physical Examination ; Sports

A physical activity plays a significant role in the well-being of children and adolescents. The preparticipation physical examination makes adolescents participate in sports program as safe as possible. A well designed exercise program can enhance growth and development of children. The best nutrition is essential to growth and development of children. Also it can enhance sports performance. But recently children obesity rapid increase and their physical strength decline due to excess calorie and poor physical activity in Korean. Therefore we need to develop the proper a preparticipation physical examination program. Children and adolescents are served a well balance food. And we need to make school and after school program which children exercise much more time.
Adolescent ; Athletic Performance ; Child ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Physical Examination ; Sports

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Athletes generally desire changes in body composition in order to enhance their athletic performance. Often, athletes will practice chronic energy restrictions to attain body composition changes, altering their energy needs. Prediction of resting metabolic rates (RMR) is important in helping to determine an athlete's energy expenditure. This study compared measured RMR of athletic and non-athletic adolescents with predicted RMR from commonly used prediction equations to identify the most accurate equation applicable for adolescent athletes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 50 athletes (mean age of 16.6 +/- 1.0 years, 30 males and 20 females) and 50 non-athletes (mean age of 16.5 +/- 0.5 years, 30 males and 20 females) were enrolled in the study. The RMR of subjects was measured using indirect calorimetry. The accuracy of 11 RMR prediction equations was evaluated for bias, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Until more accurate prediction equations are developed, our findings recommend using the formulas by Cunningham (-29.8 kcal/day, limits of agreement -318.7 and +259.1 kcal/day) and Park (-0.842 kcal/day, limits of agreement -198.9 and +196.9 kcal/day) for prediction of RMR when studying male adolescent athletes. Among the new prediction formulas reviewed, the formula included in the fat-free mass as a variable [RMR = 730.4 + 15 x fat-free mass] is paramount when examining athletes. CONCLUSIONS: The RMR prediction equation developed in this study is better in assessing the resting metabolic rate of Korean athletic adolescents.
Adolescent* ; Athletes ; Athletic Performance ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Body Composition ; Calorimetry, Indirect ; Energy Metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Sports*

Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletic Performance ; psychology ; Back ; physiology ; Electromyography ; Exercise ; physiology ; Humans ; Imagery (Psychotherapy) ; Male ; Young Adult