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Methods@#Patients who underwent PCLF and received postoperative cervical collars from 2018 to 2020 were included in this retrospective cohort study. Their data were compared with an age- and sex-matched group of subjects who did not receive collars after PCLF during the same period. Pain intensity (using the Visual Analog Scale), Neck Disability Index, and quality of life (using 36-item Short Form Health Survey) of the patients were compared at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. @*Results@#A total of 36 patients who received cervical collars after surgery and 40 controls were included. At baseline and 1-month follow-up, there were no differences in pain intensity, functional status, and quality of life between the groups. However, at 3 months postoperatively, the quality of life of the subjects with no orthosis was higher than those who received cervical collars (p =0.01). At 6- and 12-month follow-up, there were no differences between the groups in pain intensity, functional status, and quality of life. @*Conclusions@#No difference in the pain intensity and functional status of patients who used cervical collars and controls was shown in our study. Patients who did not wear cervical collars had a higher quality of life during the 3-month postoperative evaluation. Future prospective, well-controlled studies with longer follow-ups are needed to further investigate the effects of cervical orthosis on the clinical outcome of patients after PCLF.
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Many studies have investigated the prevalence of neck pain (NP) and its risk factors in the general population. However, the prevalence of NP among athletes has not yet been systematically investigated. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence of NP in athletes. A comprehensive search was conducted in September 2015 using PubMed, Ovid SP Medline, ISI, and Google Scholar. We included studies in English that reported the prevalence of NP in an athletic population during a defined period of time. We assessed the risk of bias in studies due to various definitions of NP, response rates, and reliability of the study instruments. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies' quality and performed data extraction. Of 1,675 titles identified, eight articles were assessed for risk of bias, and six with low or moderate risk were included. NP was shown to be prevalent in athletes, with a 1-week prevalence ranging from 8% to 45%, a 1-year prevalence ranging from 38% to 73%, and a lifetime prevalence of about 48%. The prevalence of NP in athletes is high. More studies regarding the prevalence and risk factors of NP may be useful for planning educational programs and developing appropriate rehabilitation protocols and preventive guidelines. Researchers are encouraged to perform epidemiologic studies in athletes with a low risk of bias.
Subject(s)
Humans , Athletes , Bias , Epidemiologic Studies , Neck Pain , Neck , Prevalence , Rehabilitation , Risk Factors , SportsABSTRACT
Athletes are usually skilled in physical aspects of sports; they are widely involved in physical conditioning, technical and tactical training. However they usually ignore the psychological and cognitive skills linked to their performance. Sport imagery is a well known fundamental skill that has a critical role in how a player performs and shows his/her competency during a real world game. On the other hand football as a complex team sport includes several skills linked to physical and psychological properties. We aimed to study the effect of cognitive imagery on elite football players through league competitions in two separate studies. Twenty two youth players and Twenty two adult players randomly assigned to imagery and control groups. Players in intervention group received 12 weeks training program for specific cognitive imagery and general cognitive imagery. Imagery training program focused on an important component of football performance as "successful passing". Players in control group were assigned to a waiting list with no intervention. In order to evaluate outcome variable we assessed successful passing in real competetions as player performance in both pre and post test occasions. Findings of study in youth participants showed that young players in intervention group improved the performance of passing compared to control players [OR=1.41, P<0.000, CI 95%: 1.17, 1.69]. In contrary, Imagery performance in adult group remained unchanged in spite of an increasing trend in performance [OR=1.07, P>0.05, CI 95%: 0.82, 1.4]. These results showed that cognitive imagery intervention can affect elite soccer players' performance. This effect is more prominent in youth age football players.
Subject(s)
Humans , Adolescent , Adult , Eidetic Imagery , Soccer , Adolescent , Adult , CognitionABSTRACT
Prevalence of obesity and overweightness in different societies is increasing. Role of physical activity in weight loss and also prevention from some chronic diseases has been discussed previously. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of two different aerobic exercises [intermittent and continuous exercises] while prescribed with concurrent calorie-restrict diet on the weight loss and body fat of overweight and obese females. Fifteen individuals in intermittent group performed 40 min moderate Intensity exercise in 3 bouts per day for 5 days per week; the 15 participants of continuous group exercised a single 40 min bout per day, 5 days per week. Also, 15 participants were included in control group without exercise program. A self-monitoring calorie-restrict diet was recommended to all participants. The body fat percentage, waist circumference, and also skin fold thickness of all participants were assessed at baseline and 12[th] weeks. The reduction of weight and BMI of participants in intermittent group [-3.33 +/- 1.80 and -1.34 +/- 0.70, respectively] was significantly more than comparable changes in continuous group [-1.23 +/- 1.60 and 0.49 +/- 0.65, respectively] [P = 0.048 and 0.041, respectively]. After the intervention, there was no significant difference between case and controls in terms of body fat percentage, waist circumference, and sum of skin fold thickness. It seems that moderate intensity intermittent exercise for more than 150 min/ week is more efficient than continuous exercise in weight loss of obese and overweight women
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In light of provided progresses in ultrasound measurements of lateral abdominal muscles, an important role for these muscles, particularly transverse abdominis [TrA] muscle in stability of the spine has been suggested. Some authors have found significant correlations between body mass index [BMI] and thickness of these muscles. The aim of this study was to examine possible association between different methods of measurements of fatness and lateral abdominal muscles thicknesses, employing ultrasound imaging in healthy subjects. Ninety healthy male volunteers aged 18 to 38 [mean = 31.37, standard deviation = 5.09] who met our inclusion criteria participated in this study. BMI, skin fold thickness, weight and waist circumference were assumed as the major outcomes for measurement of fatness of the subjects. Employing ultrasound measurements, the thickness of TrA, internal oblique [Int Obl] and external oblique [Ext Obl] muscles were also measured. We found positive significant relation between Ext Obl muscle thickness and all methods of measurements of fatness. Reversely, the results show that Int Obl muscle thickness significantly decreases with the rise of all methods of fatness measurement except weight which had no significant correlation with Int Obl thickness. No significant relation between the TrA muscle thickness and different measurements of the fatness of the subjects were found. In the studies investigate the thickness of lateral abdominal muscles; the authors try to match the participants of different groups of their study regarding the BMI. We found that both waist circumference and skin fold thickness measurements might be assumed as surrogate of BMI, in aim of matching the participants on Ext Obl muscle thickness
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This study was performed to determine the possible causes and mechanisms of fatalities among Iranian mountaineers during climbing. By contacting several sources, deceased mountaineers were identified. Data about the causes and mechanism of death was retrospectively obtained using a standard questionnaire for each case. A total of 29 deaths were identified from March 2006 to June 2010. Deceased subjects had a mean age of 39 years [SD: 12.8, Range: 20-67]. Falling was the most common accident leading to death of outdoor enthusiasts [n=14, 48%]. Asphyxia [n=6, 24%] was the most common cause of death among the subjects, followed by heart attack, internal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage and hypothermia [17%, 17%, 17% and 10%, respectively]. Our findings suggest that education of medical service providers of the climbing groups on facing victims in high altitude areas, where they have limited resources, can be particularly helpful. In addition, a national program to educate mountaineers might help to reduce fatalities
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The objectives of this study were a] to develop a physical activity program for nursery schools, and b] to evaluate the effects of this program on fundamental movement skills of preschool age children in Iran. In this quasi-experimental study 147 children from five nursery schools in five different cities in Iran were enrolled. A physical activity program was developed for nursery children. Trained nursery physical activity instructors conducted the program for 10 weeks for all subjects. The levels of gross motor development of all subjects were measured before intervention and after 10 weeks physical activity program employing the Test of Gross Motor Development edition 2 [TGMD-2]. The participants in this study had a mean [SD] age of 4.95 [0.83] years. At the end of the study, scores of subjects at all components of TGMD-2 [including locomotor, object control, sum of standard scores and gross motor quotient] were significantly improved compared to the baseline scores [P<0.001]. Based on descriptive rating of the "Gross Motor Quotient" in the base line, 11.5% of subjects were superior/very superior [GMQ >120] and after 10 weeks intervention this rate was increased to 49.7% of all subjects. It seems that the developed physical activity program conducted by trained nursery physical activity instructors could be an effective and practical way of increasing levels of fundamental movement skills of preschool children in Iran
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The pathophysiology of primary benign exertional headache [EH] is not still clearly defined. Some researchers have suggested an impaired vascular response as the etiology of this disorder. In this study we investigated whether there are any differences in blood pressure [BP] and heart rate [HR] of the subjects in course of the static and dynamic exercises and the treadmill stress test between those with and without EH. From university students, 22 patients with EH [mean age: 19.8 +/- 2.10, Female to Male: 7:15] and 20 normal subjects [mean age: 19.3 +/- 1.97, Female: Male: 8:12] were recruited. All the subjects performed the static and dynamic exercises at 30 and 20 percent of the maximal voluntary contraction [MVC] and Bruce treadmill stress test according to the standard protocols. HR and BP of all the cases at the baseline and during and immediately after each test were measured. No significant difference was found between the mean rise of HR, systolic and diastolic BP of the subjects with and without EH in static and dynamic exercises and also treadmill stress test. It seems that between those with and without EH, there is no significant difference in rise of HR and BP response to static and dynamic exercises and treadmill stress test. Further studies are required to find the pathophysiology and risk factors of EH
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Regarding negative effects of air pollution on health and athletic performance, this study was run to determine the trend of hourly changes of air pollutants in Tehran [2004 to 2008] and recommend exercise advices for athletes and patients. After getting data from 7 air pollutant monitoring stations, the hourly means of air pollutant concentrations were measured and converted to Air Quality index [AQI] values. To find the cleanest and the most polluted hours in exercise places [parks and stadiums], map of Tehran air pollution was created using data from monitoring stations and Arc GIS software. Exercise advices were recommended according to latest American College of Sports Medicine [ACSM] standpoints. Fine particles less than 10 micrometer [PM10], carbon monoxide [CO] and ozone [O3] were major air pollutants in Tehran. Hourly concentration changes of PM10 were minimal and beyond the desired level. Overall, the cleanest hours were early morning [before 7 am] and then 17 to 18. It is better to perform physical activities in early hours of morning [before 7 am] in Tehran. Regarding the existence of air pollution in all hours of day and night, efforts to reduce air pollution are critical
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As the field of off-road cycling is usually remote areas with limited access to medical care, off-road cyclists are at higher risk of animal attacks and related injuries. We report two cases of dog attacks in off-road cycling and discuss the basic principles in prevention and management of such incidents. The cyclists received all 5-dose regimen of the rabies vaccine and returned to sport after 6 weeks. During 6-month follow-up period, no complications were observed. To reduce the probability of dog attacks and its complications, the off-road cyclists should be familiar with some basic principles. They should also be educated about initial on-site management of the related injuries, which may have a great impact on decreasing further complications
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Rabies Vaccines , Dogs , AthletesABSTRACT
Despite the acknowledged impact of imagery on performance, ecologically sound studies investigating imagery and its effects on performance subcomponents in real games are surprisingly limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of imagery training on passing improvement in elite soccer players. Sixty nine soccer players taking part in the national championship leagues in four age categories including U16, U19, U21 and over 21 randomly assigned to the imagery and control groups. Interventional group participants completed 8 weeks, video-aided, cognitive imagery program on how to make a perfect soccer pass. Performance analysis through close video analysis showed that successful pass rate increased significantly in intervention group compared to control [OR=1.19, P=0.002, [95%]CI=1.06, 1.33]. Further analysis revealed that the results are statistically significant in U16 and U21 but not other categories. We concluded that successful soccer passing through real competitions as a multidimensional and critical open skill could be enhanced by an ecologically sound method of mental imagery
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adolescent , Young Adult , Adult , Athletic Performance/psychology , SoccerABSTRACT
Weight loss in wrestling has been found to be an interesting issue for researchers. In this regard, complications of weight loss in wrestlers before the competitions and their weight gain in course of competitions have been debated in previous studies. The objective of this study was to investigate the extent of weight gain and to estimate the percentage of body fat in participants in the Tehran high school male wrestling championship. This study was a cross sectional survey. Subjects were participants of the Tehran high school male wrestling championship [n=365]. Weight gain in course of competitions and body fat levels [based on skin fold measurements] of subjects were measured. Between the first weigh-in of the wrestlers which was done one day before the competitions and the second weigh-in which was conducted immediately before the first round of their first competition [20 hours], 69% of subjects gained on average 1.3 +/- 0.9 kg [range: 0.1 to 6.10 kg] or 2.2 +/- 1.7% of the wrestler's weight [range: 0.1 to 9.3]. Among the subjects, the mean of fat body percentage was found to be 15.2%. Rapid weight loss for matches were prevalent among subjects. It was also found that Iranian wrestlers have a relatively higher body fat percentage in comparison to American wrestlers. Therefore, it can be concluded that weight loss behaviour of these wrestlers should be changed from using dehydration methods to using gradual methods of weight loss such as fat reduction methods
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Adolescent , Adipose Tissue , Weight Gain , Cross-Sectional Studies , Skinfold Thickness , Body WeightABSTRACT
Obesity is a major health problem all around the world. On the other hand, few people, especially women, are physically active to the levels recommended by Healthy People 2010 web site managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The objective of this study was to compare the potential effects of intermittent and continuous exercise programs combined with concurrent calorie restriction diets on lipid profile and fasting blood sugar in overweight and obese females. Forty-five women with a sedentary life style and a BMI greater than 25 kg/m2, were randomly assigned to one of the three groups [15 subjects in each group]: a] 40 minutes of medium-intensity intermittent exercise [64-76% of maximal heart rate], 3 bouts per day for 5 days a week, b] a single bout of a 40-minute continuous exercise per day for 5 days a week, C] the non-exercising control group. A self-monitored calorie restricted diet was recommended to all participants by a dietitian. The lipid profile, fasting blood sugar and blood pressure of all participants were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks after the intervention period. After the intervention, there were no significant differences among the groups in terms of lipid profile [cholesterol [P=0.94], triglyceride [P=0.62]] fasting blood sugar [P=0.054], systolic blood pressure [P=0.84] or diastolic blood pressure [P=0.30]. There seems to be no significant differences between short term continuous and intermittent aerobic exercise programs in improving lipid profile, fasting blood sugar or blood pressure both in overweight and obese women
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The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Ramadan fasting on body composition, calorie intake and physical performance in young female athletes undertaking training sessions during Ramadan. Twelve voluntary female athletes [15-27 years old] were assigned to the research. A prospective study was conducted to investigate the athletes on four different occasions: one week before Ramadan [T1], the second [T2] and fourth [T3] weeks of Ramadan, and two weeks after the end of Ramadan [T4]. Food intake, body composition and physical performance [agility, balance and explosive leg power] were investigated on each occasion. Further, Physical performance was assessed by agility, vertical jump and balance tests. There was a significant main effect for time for body composition indices. A significant decrease was observed in weight [P=0.01] and body mass index [BMI] [P=0.01] in T2 compared with T1, further decrease in weight [P<0.001] and BMI [P<0.001] was observed in T3 compared to T1. Calorie intake decreased significantly in T3 compared with T1 [P=0.008], and increased significantly in T4 compared with T3 [P=0.04]. There was a significant main effect for time for agility performance [P=0.03], but no significant main effect for time was observed for vertical jumping [P=0.1] and balance performance [P=0.3]. This study has found that Ramadan fasting could affect the body composition, but not physical performance in female athletes during Ramadan
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Muslim athletes may continue training and competing while they are fasting. There is a concern about negative effects of fasting on sports performance. This study aimed to investigate the influence of two training time frames on athletes' body composition and performance during Ramadan fasting. An observational study was conducted and thirty four male volunteer athletes from different sports including volleyball, karate, taekwondo and football were assigned in two groups. The first group included 14 elite athletes who during Ramadan voluntarily participated in training sessions at 1 hour before Iftar [BI] and the second group of 20 elite athletes who during Ramadan participated in training sessions at 3 hours after Iftar [AI]. Testing was performed one week before; in the first and fourth weeks of Ramadan and one week after Ramadan. Weights, heights and skinfold thickness were assessed at each time point and body mass index was calculated. Each player was assessed for agility and explosive strength as well. The mean weight and body mass index of both groups decreased significantly during Ramadan [P<0.001]. Performance variables were not negatively affected by fasting in BI or AI group athletes. Weight reduction might come with either BI or AI training schedules in Ramadan. Daytime or evening training did not inversely affect the agility and power performances in a group of elite athletes during Ramadan fasting
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To translate long form, interview-administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire [IPAQ] from English to Persian and evaluate its validity, reliability and reproducibility. A forward-backward translation procedure was followed to develop the Persian version of the IPAQ. A total of 218 respondents [53.7% women, aged 22-76 yr] completed the Persian version in Tehran, Iran. To examine the test-retest reliability, 48 healthy volunteers completed the IPAQ twice during a 7-day period. The PA indicators derived from the IPAQ were assessed for reliability and were compared with aerobic fitness and body mass index [BM1] for construct validity. n general, the questionnaire was received well and all domains met the minimum reliability standards [intra-class correlation [ICC]> 0.7], except for Leisure-time physical activity [PA]. Aerobic fitness showed a weak positive correlation with all of the PA results derived from the IPAQ. A significant correlation was observed between the IPAQ data for total PA and both aerobic fitness [r=0.33, P<0.001] and BMI [r=0.26, P<0.001]. Performing a known group comparison analysis, the results indicated that the questionnaire was discriminated well between the subgroups of the study samples expected to be different in their physical activity. The Persian version of the long form, interview-administered IPAQ had an acceptable reliability and validity for assessing total PA in our Iranian sample of individuals. It may be a useful instrument for generating internationally comparable data on PA
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , Translations , Language , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
Low back pain [LBP] is common among children and adolescents. In younger children particularly those under 3, LBP should be considered as an alarming sign for more serious underlying pathologies. However, similar to adults, non specific low back pain is the most common type of LBP among children and adolescents. In this article, a clinical algorithmic approach to LBP in children and adolescents is presented
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It is reported that some inflammatory markers are predictive factors for atherosclerosis in childhood and adolescence and cardiovascular disease in adulthood. We investigated whether markers of inflammation including: cytokine [Interleukin-6 [IL-6]], acute-phase reactant [C-reactive protein [CRP]], white blood cell [WBC] count and its subgroups are associated with maximal oxygen consumption [VO[2max]] in overweight and normal children. Subjects were 26 boys aged 11-14 years included in two groups of overweight [n=10] and normal weight [n=16] children. VO[2max] was measured employing an incremental graded exercise test. IL-6 and CRP levels as well as WBC count were measured. Multivariable regression was employed to evaluate whether inflammatory markers were associated with VO[2max]. Mean VO[2max] for all subjects [n=26] was 36.35 +/- 10.42 ml/kg/min. This rate was lesser for overweight subjects [25.77 +/- 5.04] than in normal weight children [41.54 +/- 5.96]. Log IL-6, log CRP, and WBC count were correlated with VO[2max]. Also subgroups of WBC including Leukocytes, Lymphocyte, Neutrophils, Monocytes and Eosinophils associated with VO[2max]. IL-6, CRP and WBCs were inversely associated with aerobic or cardiorespiratory fitness levels measured by VO[2max] in children. This was independent of BMI of the subjects
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Physical Fitness , Interleukin-6 , Leukocyte Count , Overweight , Obesity , Oxygen Consumption , ChildABSTRACT
Type 1 diabetic subjects without any complications and with a good control could participate in all levels of sports activities, both recreational and professional. But, there are some limitations for subjects who have chronic side effects of diabetes. A detail pre-participation physical examination is needed to find out these complications. All diabetics should be encouraged to perform suitable exercise and sports. To prevent acute diabetic side effects of exercise, hypo and hyperglycemia, diabetic athletes may need to adjust their nutrition and insulin dosage. Depending on the characteristics of the exercise, the ambient environment and the level of blood glucose before exercise, diabetic athletes need to consume some carbohydrate before, during and after exercise. Also, if the exercise takes more than 30 minutes, insulin should be reduced by 14-50%. Every athlete on the base of scientific recommendations, should find his or her own approach in the management of nutrition and insulin adjustment and integrity of them with exercise and sport. This could be achieved by trial and error