BACKGROUND: Tensiomyography (TMG) is a relatively new technique that assesses the contractile properties of muscles in response to a single electrical stimulus. This study aimed to evaluate the contractile properties of the gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles in amateur soccer players using TMG. METHODS: We recruited 41 male soccer players (high school group, n=21; college group, n=20). The gastrocnemius medialis (GM), gastrocnemius lateralis (GL), and TA muscles of both lower extremities were assessed using TMG. The maximal displacement (Dm), delay time, contraction time (Tc), sustained time, and half-relaxation time were obtained and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: First, both groups showed low Dm for the GM and TA muscles, which indicated high stiffness of the muscle tone. Second, the Tc and contraction velocity (Vc) were high for all muscles, except for the GL showing lower speed than the other muscles, which represented the sports-specific characteristics of the soccer players. Third, there were no significant differences in the measurement variables between the dominant and non-dominant sides, except for the Tc of the GM in high school athletes and Vc of the TA in college athletes. CONCLUSIONS: These results reflected the sports-specific needs and characteristics of soccer players. A risk of injury is associated with a high degree of stiffness, and various methods for preventing it should be considered.
Athletes ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscle Contraction ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Muscles ; Soccer

Ischemic colitis primarily affects the elderly with underlying disease, but it rarely occurs in young adults with risk factors, such as coagulopathy or vascular disorder. Moreover, it is extremely rare in the very young without risk factors. This paper presents a patient with ischemic colitis associated with heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis after intense exercise under high-temperature conditions. A 20-year-old man presented with mental deterioration after a vigorous soccer game for more than 30 minutes in sweltering weather. He also presented with hematochezia with abdominal pain. The laboratory tests revealed the following: AST 515 U/L, ALT 269 U/L, creatine kinase 23,181 U/L, BUN 29.1 mg/dL, creatinine 1.55 mg/dL, and red blood cell >50/high-power field in urine analysis. Sigmoidoscopy showed ischemic changes at the rectum and rectosigmoid junction. A diagnosis of ischemic colitis and rhabdomyolysis was made, and the patient recovered after conservative and fluid therapy. This case showed that a diagnosis of ischemic colitis should be considered in patients who present with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea after intense exercise, and appropriate treatment should be initiated immediately.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Erythrocytes ; Fluid Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Heat Stroke ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Rectum ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Risk Factors ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Soccer ; Weather ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether an active rehabilitation program that involves repetitive effortful muscle contractions, including core stability, balancing exercises, progressive resistance exercises, and running activities, after a sports hernia, is effective. METHODS: Forty soccer players with sports hernias were randomly divided into two equal groups: group A (active rehabilitation program) and group B (conventional treatment). The methods of assessment included a visual analog scale (VAS) and hip internal and external range of motion assessments. Group A received conventional treatment (heat, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and mobilization) plus an active rehabilitation program, while group B received only conventional treatment. Three treatment sessions were given each week for 2 months. Evaluations were performed pre- and post-treatment. RESULTS: A decrease in VAS was seen in both groups at the end of treatment, 80.25% in group A and 41.93% in group B. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.0001), whereas there were no statistical differences in internal and external rotation between the groups at the end of treatment (p>0.05). After treatment, an improvement in outcome measures of group A compared to group B (p=0.01) was seen. Thirteen patients in group A and only three patients in group B returned to sports activities without groin pain. CONCLUSION: Active rehabilitation was effective for sports hernia management measured by a decrease in pain and the return to sports.
Exercise ; Groin ; Hernia ; Hip ; Humans ; Massage ; Muscle Contraction ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Rehabilitation ; Return to Sport ; Running ; Soccer ; Sports ; Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of adding Nordic exercise as post-training in decreasing hamstring initial, recurrent injuries rates, and their severity. METHODS: In this randomly controlled trial study, 34 professional football players aged 21 to 35 years were randomly assigned into two groups (17 players each) from Sporting clubs at Alexandria, Egypt. For group one, Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) was performed pre-training and post-training. For group two, NHE was only performed pre-training. The control group was the same team during the previous season. Length of the trial was 12 weeks. The Australian football association injury form was used to collect incidence of injuries for each subject in both groups. RESULTS: Pooled results based on total injuries showed that group one had significantly less hamstring initial injuries (92% less) than the previous season, while group two had 80% less initial injuries and 85% less recurrent injuries than previous season. Regarding the severity of injuries in term of mean number of absent days, it was 1 day for group one and 2.7 days for group two while it was 7.95 days for the previous season during total risk time of 116.3±13.2 and 117.6±5.7 exposure hours for group one and group two, respectively. CONCLUSION: The use of NHE as a prevention protocol was effective in reducing all hamstring injuries with the use of NHE during pre-training and post-training having the greatest effect.
Egypt ; Football ; Incidence ; Leg Injuries ; Recurrence ; Seasons ; Soccer ; Sports

Ischemic colitis primarily affects the elderly with underlying disease, but it rarely occurs in young adults with risk factors, such as coagulopathy or vascular disorder. Moreover, it is extremely rare in the very young without risk factors. This paper presents a patient with ischemic colitis associated with heat stroke and rhabdomyolysis after intense exercise under high-temperature conditions. A 20-year-old man presented with mental deterioration after a vigorous soccer game for more than 30 minutes in sweltering weather. He also presented with hematochezia with abdominal pain. The laboratory tests revealed the following: AST 515 U/L, ALT 269 U/L, creatine kinase 23,181 U/L, BUN 29.1 mg/dL, creatinine 1.55 mg/dL, and red blood cell >50/high-power field in urine analysis. Sigmoidoscopy showed ischemic changes at the rectum and rectosigmoid junction. A diagnosis of ischemic colitis and rhabdomyolysis was made, and the patient recovered after conservative and fluid therapy. This case showed that a diagnosis of ischemic colitis should be considered in patients who present with abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea after intense exercise, and appropriate treatment should be initiated immediately.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Colitis, Ischemic ; Creatine Kinase ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Erythrocytes ; Fluid Therapy ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Heat Stroke ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Rectum ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Risk Factors ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Soccer ; Weather ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: This study is to investigate influence of tDCS on lower limb muscle activity and balance ability in soccer player. METHODS: Sessions were conducted with 15 subjects in tDCS group and 15 in action observation training group for 20 minutes, 5 sessions a week, for 8 weeks. All soccer players underwent 30 minutes of plyometric training before main exercise. To evaluate lower limb muscle activation, rectus femoris and biceps femoris were taken measure using surface electromyogram system and to evaluate balance ability, surface area, whole path length, limited of stability were measured using biorescue. RESULTS: Regarding balance shown in surface area, whole path length, limited of stability and muscle activation in rectus femoris and biceps femoris, tDCS group showed more significant change than action bservation training group. CONCLUSION: Therefore, intervention using tDCS is more effective in improving lower limb muscle activation and balance ability than action observation training.
Lower Extremity* ; Plyometric Exercise ; Quadriceps Muscle ; Soccer* ; Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation*

The incidence of avulsion fracture of ischial tuberosity is reported to present in 1.4%–4% of hamstring injuries. The injury mechanism is known to be caused by a sudden forceful hip flexion in the extended knee with eccentric load to the hamstrings. Although the majority of hamstring injuries are strains of the muscle, avulsion fracture of ischial tuberosity occurs rarely. In this report, a 13-year-old boy with avulsion fracture of ischial tuberosity is presented. Successful clinical outcome was achieved with careful conservative management. Previous literatures including operative indications are reviewed.
Adolescent ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ischium ; Knee ; Male ; Soccer*

This study aims to examine the effect of 8-week 11+ program on technical skills and balance abilities of high school soccer players. This study targeted 40 soccer players from G and K club in Gyeonggi-do and 20 players from G team and 20 players from K team were placed in the training group and the control group, respectively. For data analysis, variable values of the two groups before and after intervention were calculated as averages and standard deviations using the SPSS ver. 21.0 statistic program. For analyzing within-group differences, paired t-test was conducted and for analyzing between-group differences, independent sample t-test was conducted. The statistical significance level was set at 0.05. The major study findings are as follows. First, the 11+ program was more effective in improving Jug 200 and short pass ability than static stretching. Second, the 11+ program was more effective in the posteromedial and posterolateral areas of Y-balance test than static stretching. These results demonstrate that the 11+ program is relatively effective in improving technical skills and balance abilities of soccer players. Therefore, it is considered that it is important to introduce and distribute the 11+ program to leaders, who are responsible for enhancing skills of soccer players.
Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Muscle Stretching Exercises ; Postural Balance ; Proprioception ; Soccer* ; Statistics as Topic ; Warm-Up Exercise

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity level (PAL), the physical activity pattern and the energy expenditure in male and female elementary school soccer players using the accelerometer and the physical activity diary. METHODS: Twenty-five (male 11, female 14) elementary school soccer players (9–12 years) participated in this study. During their daily activities, they wore an accelerometer for seven days (five weekdays and two weekend days) and completed the physical activity diary for three days (two weekdays and one weekend day). PAL was calculated by using the physical activity diary and three equations (Pate Preschool, Freedson Children, and Freedson) were used to calculate the intensity of physical activity and energy expenditure from the counts of accelerometer. RESULTS: The average of physical activity by day of the week, CPM (Counts Per Minute) and METs (Metabolic Equivalents) were significantly higher in males (723.3 ± 149.2 CPM, 2.07 ± 0.18 METs) compared to females (505.6 ± 119.9 CPM, 1.79 ± 0.20 METs), but there was no significant difference in PAEE (Physical Activity Energy Expenditure) between the two groups (males: 15.5 ± 9.1 kcal/day, females: 11.5 ± 6.0 kcal/day). During weekdays, physical activity intensity was significantly higher in males compared to females at lunch time and training time than at other times. In both genders, the PAL was higher during weekdays (males 1.98, females 1.89) compared to weekend (males 1.62, females 1.61) (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study observations suggest the necessity to develop an accelerometer equation for accurately evaluating the physical activity of elementary school athletes.
Athletes ; Child ; Energy Metabolism* ; Female* ; Humans ; Lunch ; Male* ; Motor Activity* ; Soccer*

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