BACKGROUND: Among former Olympic-level athletes, engagement in different sport disciplines has been associated with mortality risk in subsequent years. However, limited evidence is available on whether engagement in different sport disciplines at a young age is associated with locomotive syndrome (LS) risk later in life. This study examined the relationship between engagement in different sport disciplines during university years and LS risk in older age among former university athletes. METHODS: Participants were 274 middle-aged and 294 older men alumni who graduated from a school of physical education in Japan. LS risk was defined as answering "yes" to any of the Loco-check questions. Data on university sports club membership were collected using questionnaires. University clubs were classified into three groups of cardiovascular intensity (low, moderate, high), following the classification system of sport disciplines by the American College of Cardiology. This classification considers the static and dynamic components of an activity, which correspond to the estimated percent of maximal voluntary contraction reached and maximal oxygen uptake achieved, respectively. University clubs were grouped based on the risk of bodily collision (no, yes) and extent of physical contact (low, moderate, high). Relationships between engagement in different sport disciplines and LS risk were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models, and adjusted for age, height, weight, joint disease, habitual exercise, and smoking and drinking status. RESULTS: Adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals associated with the low, moderate, and high cardiovascular intensity sports were 1.00 (reference), 0.48 (0.22-1.06, P = 0.070), and 0.44 (0.20-0.97, P = 0.042) in older men, respectively; however, there was no significant association between these parameters among middle-aged men. Engagement in sports associated with physical contact and collision did not affect LS risk in either group. CONCLUSIONS Engagement in sports associated with high cardiovascular intensity during university years may reduce the risk of LS in later life. Encouraging young people to participate in such activities might help reduce LS prevalence among older populations.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Athletes/statistics & numerical data* ; Exercise ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Locomotion ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mobility Limitation ; Motor Disorders/etiology* ; Postural Balance ; Prevalence ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Risk Factors ; Sports/statistics & numerical data* ; Syndrome ; Young Adult

Objectives: To explore the impact of strength sport on heart structure by echocardiography (ECHO) and cardiac resonance imaging (CMR). Methods: This is a case control study. A total of 14 male weightlifter athletes who underwent physical examination in Peking University Third Hospital from January 16, 2019 to November 1, 2019 were included in this study. Fourteen age-matched healthy Chinese men served as the control group. ECHO and CMR were used to detect the heart structure and function of the participants. Results: The age of athlete group was (21±3) years, and the training time was (9±4) years. The weekly exercise time of athlete group was more than 15 hours, while that of control group was less than 3 hours. ECHO-derived interventricular septal (IVS) thickness value ((9.3±1.3) mm vs. (8.1±0.5) mm, P=0.006) and CMR-derived IVS value ((11.0±1.5) mm vs. (10.0±0.5) mm, P=0.003) was both significantly higher in the athlete group than in the control group. For the athlete group, the indicators of left ventricular volume measured by ECHO (left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end diastolic volume index (LVEDVI), left ventricular end systolic volume, left ventricular end systolic volume index) and IVS thickness were significantly lower than those measured by CMR (all P<0.05). Left ventricular ejection fraction ((67.0±3.8)% vs. (59.0±3.9)%, P<0.001) and left ventricular global longitudinal strain ((19.3±2.9)% vs. (11.2±1.2)%, P<0.001) values measured by ECHO were significantly higher than those measured by CMR. There was no significant difference in the proportion of subjects with the left ventricular end diastolic diameter, LVEDV and LVEDVI above the upper limit of normal as measured by ECHOs and CMR (all P>0.05). IVS values measured by ECHO were all within the normal range, and CMR showed that 9 (9/14) weightlifter athletes had IVS>11 mm with a maximum thickness of 13.8 mm, which occurred in the inferoseptum. Conclusion: Weightlifter sport could result in thickening of the left ventricular inferoseptum, and CMR is superior to ECHO in detecting the thickening of the left ventricular wall, which serves as a helpful tool for sports medicine supervision.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletes ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Ventricular Septum ; Young Adult

Bilateral femoral neck stress fractures have been rarely reported. When diagnosed, they are usually limited to athletes or military personnel. A 35-year-old man, previously healthy, visited the emergency department for right inguinal pain. On physical examination, no external wound, tenderness or limitation of motion were found in either lower extremity. Plain radiography showed normal findings but an magnetic resonance image showed a linear fracture in the femoral neck. In this case, bilateral femoral neck stress fractures were found in a young non-athlete adult with no prior medical history of related injuries. Surgery is generally not performed for stress fractures but considering the patient's early mobilization and the need for quick reintegration into society, surgery was done in this case.
Adult ; Athletes ; Early Ambulation ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Fatigue ; Femur Neck ; Femur ; Fractures, Stress ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Military Personnel ; Physical Examination ; Radiography ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of slashpipe exercise on reducing the thickness of the left and right external oblique, internal oblique, transverse abdominis, erector spinae, and multifidus muscles.METHODS: A total of 29 healthy adult men and women were included in the study. They performed trunk flexion in the supine position and trunk extension in the prone position with a slashpipe and weight bar. The external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles were measured in the supine position, while the erector spinae and multifidus muscles were measured in the prone position. The data were analyzed using the SPSS ver 21.0 statistical program. The difference in thickness between the right and left sides of the trunk muscle was analyzed by repeated measures analysis. The statistical significance level was set to p<0.05.RESULTS: The results showed that the slashpipe exercise reduced significantly the difference in thickness of the oblique internus and erector spinae muscles compared to the weight bar exercise.CONCLUSION: The chaotic fluidity of the fluid filled inside the slashpipe could be used as sensory feedback information on body mal-alignment, which would have positively affected the symmetrical contraction of the trunk muscles as a trigger for self-correction. Therefore, it will have a useful effect not only on the health of the general public, but also on low back patients and athletes with muscle asymmetry.
Adult ; Athletes ; Feedback, Sensory ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Prone Position ; Supine Position

BackgroundMagnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides a unique, noninvasive diagnostic platform to quantify the physiological and biochemical variables of skeletal muscle at rest. This study was to investigate the difference in thigh skeletal muscles between snowboarding halfpipe athletes and healthy volunteers via multiparametric MR imaging.

MethodsA comparative study was conducted between 12 healthy volunteers and 14 snowboarding halfpipe athletes. MR scanning targeted the left leg at the level of the proximal thigh on a 3.0T MR system. The measured parameters compared between the two groups included T1, T2, T2* relaxation times, fat fraction (FF), and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps femoris and the hamstring muscles. Statistical analysis was carried out using independent sample t-test. Interrater reliability was also assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

ResultsIt was statistically equivalent between two groups in age, body mass index, thigh circumference, calf circumference, systolic blood pressure, and resting heart rate (all P > 0.05). However, the T1 and T2 values of the hamstring muscles in the athlete group were found to be significantly shorter than those in control group (T1: 1063.3 ± 24.1 ms vs. 1112.0 ± 38.2 ms in biceps femoris, 1050.4 ± 31.2 ms vs. 1095.0 ± 39.5 ms in semitendinosus, 1053.1 ± 31.7 ms vs. 1118.4 ± 40.0 ms in semimembranosus, respectively; T2: 33.4 ± 0.7 ms vs. 36.1 ± 1.9 ms in biceps femoris, 34.6 ± 2.0 ms vs. 37.0 ± 1.9 ms in semitendinosus, 36.9 ± 1.5 ms vs. 38.9 ± 2.4 ms in semimembranosus, respectively; all P < 0.05) although T2* relaxation time was detected with no significant difference. The FF of the hamstring muscles was obviously less than the control group (5.5 ± 1.9% vs. 10.7 ± 4.7%, P < 0.001). In addition, the quadriceps' CSA in the athlete group was substantially larger than the control group (8039.0 ± 1072.3 vs. 6258.2 ± 852.0 mm, P < 0.001). Interrater reliability was excellent (ICC: 0.758-0.994).

ConclusionMultiple MR imaging parameters indicated significant differences between snowboarding halfpipe athletes and healthy volunteers in the thigh skeletal muscles.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletes ; statistics & numerical data ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Muscle, Skeletal ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Skiing ; physiology ; Thigh ; diagnostic imaging ; physiology ; Young Adult

The recommendations outlined constitute the first clinical practice guidelines of the Korean Heart Rhythm Society regarding catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VA). This is a guideline PART 2, which includes VA in the structurally normal heart, inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes, VA related to congenital heart disease, as well as VA and sudden cardiac death observed in specific populations. In the structurally normal heart, treatment is guided by the occurrence of symptoms or the frequency of arrhythmias that cause ventricular dysfunction over time. Catheter ablation can be recommended in patients in whom anti-arrhythmic medications are ineffective. The sites of origin of arrhythmic activity are known to be the outflow tract, fascicles, papillary muscle, or the annulus. Specific cardiac channelopathies include congenital long QT and Brugada syndrome. This guideline discusses the diagnostic criteria, risk stratification, and treatment of these syndromes. We have included recommendations for adult congenital heart disease. Moreover, we have discussed the management of VA occurring in specific populations such as in patients with psychiatric and neurological disorders, pregnant patients, those with obstructive sleep apnea or drug-related pro-arrhythmias, athletes, and elderly patients.
Adult ; Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Athletes ; Brugada Syndrome ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Channelopathies ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Heart ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Papillary Muscles ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Ventricular Dysfunction

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to investigate the levels of heavy metals and self-rated health status of the national clay shooting athletes. METHODS: Fourteen subjects' blood lead level and index of liver damage (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl transferase) were measured. Heavy metal content in training environment was measured by collecting the buckshot fume. In addition, subjects completed a questionnaire assessing self-rated health status (Todai Health Index). RESULTS: Antimony and lead were detected much more than other heavy metals in the air of the shooting range. The average blood lead level of 14 subjects was significantly higher than the upper limit of normal Korean adults. Blood lead level of male is significantly higher than female and training frequency and the total training time per week were positively correlated to the blood lead level. In the result of survey on self-rated health, the higher the blood lead level, the lower the score of the common subjective physical symptoms. By age, the younger the subjects are, the higher the score of the common subjective symptoms. CONCLUSION: Although the level of heavy metals in fume of buckshot and blood lead was high, national clay shooting athletes thought that they are healthy.
Adult ; Alanine Transaminase ; Antimony ; Athletes* ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Metals, Heavy*

An ankle sprain is a relatively common sports-related injury but a severe open ankle sprain (SOAS) is very rare. A 27-year-old female athlete was injured during running and was hospitalized because of an inversed ankle injury with an open wound. She was diagnosed initially with an open-avulsion fracture at the tip of the fibula with an anterior talofibular ligament tear. The patient was finally diagnosed with SOAS from the surgical findings and literature review. SOAS should also be considered if there is a transverse open wound at the time of an ankle injury.
Adult ; Ankle ; Ankle Injuries ; Athletes ; Female ; Fibula ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Ligaments* ; Running ; Tears ; Wounds and Injuries

Pars interarticularis fracture is a common finding in young soccer players with low back pain. Spondylolysis in young adults involves a defect of the pars interarticularis, occurring as a result of repeated hyperextension and rotation. Here, we describe the case of a 26-year-old male elite soccer player who was diagnosed with L3 spondylolysis 2 years previously. He visited Incheon Himchan Hospital again because of low back pain. Radiographs showed consecutive spondylolysis at the L3 and L4 levels. Physicians should be aware that repeated performance of athletic movements, such as those during soccer, might lead to consecutive levels of spondylolysis.
Adult ; Athletes ; Fractures, Stress ; Humans ; Incheon ; Low Back Pain ; Male ; Soccer* ; Spondylolysis* ; Sports ; Young Adult

Carotid artery dissection is a significant cause of stroke in young patients. It may be asymptomatic and go undiagnosed, or minimal transient manifestations may follow, commanding a higher index of suspicion than ordinarily exists to avoid misdiagnosis. Reported herein is a 27-year-old man who suffered extracranial internal carotid artery dissection while practicing a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu submission maneuver. The patient's condition suddenly deteriorated one week later due to distal embolization and stroke. Despite endovascular treatment, with stenting of the cervical carotid artery, neurologic deficits remained. Of note, the objective in martial arts, which is to kill or incapacitate, has yet to be fully tempered in transitioning to sport. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, a relatively new and fast-growing form of martial art, places emphasis on submission maneuvers. Related injuries are not common knowledge and are poorly described in the literature. This account is intended to shed light on the risk of this discipline. Through education and improved supervision, vascular injuries of this nature and the potentially lethal or disabling consequences may thus be prevented in young athletes.
Adult ; Athletes ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Artery Injuries ; Carotid Artery, Internal* ; Carotid Artery, Internal, Dissection* ; Diagnostic Errors ; Education ; Humans ; Martial Arts ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Organization and Administration ; Sports ; Stents ; Stroke ; Vascular System Injuries