Perfil antropométrico y fisiológico de atletas puertorriqueños: softbol femenino / Anthropometric and physiologic profile of Puerto Rican athletes: female softball

This study was conducted to describe and compare various anthropometric, body composition, cardiorespiratory, metabolic and neuromuscular characteristics of 12 female athletes, members of the Puerto Rico national softball team. The subjects were divided into three categories according to their game specific requirements (game position): infielders (n = 5), outfielders (n = 4), and pitchers (n = 3). The mean and standard deviations of all the variables in each group was calculated. These athletes demonstrated high levels of body fat and below optimal levels of flexibility, cardiorespiratory endurance, and muscular strength and endurance. The results revealed deficiencies in the health related fitness components and in the physical preparation for sports competition. These results also suggest that the subjects are at risk for the development of cardiovascular diseases, sport injuries, and poor sport performance

Morbilidad durante los XVI Juegos Deportivos Centroamericanos y del Caribe: Delegación de Puerto Rico, México 1990 / Morbidity during the XVI Central American and Caribbean Games: Puerto Rico delegation, Mexico 1990

The health services offered to the Puerto Rican Delegation during the XVI Central American and Caribbean Sports Games in México in 1990 included: medical, dental and psychological assistance, physical therapy and services on the playing field. From the consultation sheets completed during the Games we obtained information about the use of these services. The 336 members of the Puerto Rico Delegation in the village at México City had 1,838 encounters with the health team. Of these, 991 were medical consults, 55 group therapies, 466 physical therapy sessions and 326 encounters in the sports venues. Among the encounters for medical evaluation the most frequent problems were athletic injuries (318; 32.1 percent), respiratory problems (240; 24.2 percent), gastrointestinal conditions (126; 12.7 percent) and dental services (119; 12.0 percent). The most frequent athletic injuries were first degree strains (83; 26.1 percent), tendinitis (56; 17.6 percent), contusions (42; 13.2 percent), myositis (40; 12.6 percent) and first degree sprains (28; 8.8 percent). The health problems found were diversed and in the majority of cases mild in character, which can be attend by adequately trained on sports health primary health professionals

Fisiologia de la mujer durante el ejercicio / Female physiology during exercise

Las repuestas fisiológicas y adaptaciones de la mujer al ejercicio dependen de sus características morfológicas y funcionales, determinadas genéticamente, y de su nivel de acondicionamiento físico. La mujer demuestra respuestas funcionales cuantitativamente diferentes a las del hombre durante elejercicio submáximo y máximo pero exhibe adaptaciones al entrenamiento cualitativamente similares. Gran parte de la diferencia en a ejecutoria atlética entre la mujer y el hombre en eventos que requieren una lata potencia aeróbica o anaeróbica se debe a diferencias en estructura y composición corporal: la mujer promedio es de menor estatura y peso, y posee menos masa mucular. Esta características influyen en la respuesta fisiológica de los sistemas musculo-esqueletal, cardiovascular, y respiratório durante el ejercicio. En este artículo se describen las respuestas fisiológicas de la mujer durante el ejercicio, la relación de estas respuestas con las características morfológicas y las diferencias del sexo masculino. Además, se discuten las adaptaciones que ocurren con el entrenamiento físico