Anger in adolescent boy athletes: a comparison among judo, karate, swimming and non athletes

Karate and judo are originally Japanese martial arts which may have different influences on adolescents' behavior. This study was conducted to examine the total anger rate and its subscale-reactive anger, instrumental anger, and anger control-rates in young karateka and judoka. A cross-sectional study was carried out in 11 to 19-year old boys. Adolescents included in the study were judoka [n=70], karateka [n=66], swimmers [n=59], and non athletes [n=96]. One stage cluster sampling method was used to select judoka, karateka, and swimmers from sport clubs in Tehran. Students of governmental schools at the same area were chosen as the non-athletes group. The "Adolescent Anger Rating Scale" questionnaire was utilized to assess the anger rate. The mean age of participants was 12.90[ +/- 2.06] years. The total anger rates were 45.40 [ +/- 5.61] in judoka, 41.53[ +/- 5.63] in karateka, 41.19[ +/- 5.33] in swimmers, and 45.44 [ +/- 8.58] in non athletes. In total anger scale karateka and swimmers had a significantly lower score compared to judoka and non athletes. In instrumental anger subscale the difference was significant just between karateka and non athletes. In reactive anger subscale judoka showed higher scores than swimmers. In anger control subscale the difference was significant between judoka and swimmers and also judoka and karateka. The difference of anger control between karateka and non athletes was significant. The findings of this study propose a difference in the anger rate between judoka and karateka. In contrary to the results of previous studies, judo training may have no influence on anger control, while karate training could be beneficial

Bone mineral changes and cardiovascular effects among female athletes with chronic menstrual dysfunction

Oligo/amenorrhea, as a part of the Female Athlete Triad has adverse effects on the athlete's bone mineral density [BMD] and cardiovascular system. Hypoestrogenism, due to suppression of hypothalamus-pituitary axis [HPA] as a result of energy imbalance, is the possible cause of the Triad. This study was designed based on following up and reassessment of elite female athletes who were diagnosed as menstrual dysfunction about two years ago. This study was conducted in three phase sections: 1] Reassess the pattern of menstrual cycle among athletes who reported menstrual dysfunction about two years ago; 2] Bone mineral density was measured twice in the same machine and same center with a two-year interval; 3] The laboratory data including blood glucose, lipid profile and inflammatory markers was assessed in phase 3. BMD of athletes did not change significantly after 25.5 months of oligomenorrhea P [spine] = 0.2, P [femur]=0.9. Mean of all cardiovascular factors was in the normal range except for high density lipoprotein [HDL] which was 49.28 [SD=9.18], however, most of the athletes had abnormalities in their lipid profile. Inverse relationship between the increase in the BMD of spine and total cholesterol [r =-0.49, P=0.04], Apolipoprotein A [r = -0.51 P=0.04], and very low density lipoprotein [VLDL] [r =-0.66, P=0.009]. Also correlation between BMD of spine and HbA1C [r =-0.70, P=0.003] were significant. Findings of this study show that negative changes in BMD and cardiovascular biomarkers of female athletes with functional hypothalamic menstrual dysfunction could occur if proper therapeutic intervention [including increase in calorie intake, decrease in exercise load or hormonal replacement] will not consider