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The period of confinement due to the Covid-19 virus has not only affected the general population, but also sport in general. The objective of this study was to investigate the emotional and adaptive consequences of rowers who compete nationally and internationally. A quantitative descriptive study was carried out with a non-probabilistic sample, based on convenience sampling, known as a snowball. One hundred and ninety-three rowers who competed nationally and internationally participated in the study, with an average age of 19.49 years. The results showed that the rowers reacted with more unpleasant moods than the rowers. It was also found that stressful thoughts were associated with states of greater anxiety, anger or depressive feelings, while the best training conditions and the acceptance of confinement rules were inversely associated with negative mood states. Linear regression analysis showed that stressful thoughts, along with behavior and motivation problems during lockdown, predicted the level of total mood disturbance.
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Early in the pandemic, cancer centers across the nation and Oregon canceled their cancer support programs as non-essential medical care. Breast cancer patients were forced to look elsewhere for essential assistance and community support to move along their cancer journeys. Pink Lemonade Project (PLP), a Vancouver, WA based community based nonprofit, helped fill the gaps and expanded its local support for breast cancer patients. A virtual format allowed PLP to serve more individuals with our psychological, emotional and financial support programs. Next, PLP convened an informal coalition of all the local breast cancer support organizations including those that offer breast cancer support programs, community including dragon boating and rowing, and others that serve broader communities and more people of color. Then, as Komen National announced its restructuring, and closed the Oregon-Southwest Washington affiliate in Spring 2021, Pink Lemonade Project stepped up again to maintain two locally-grown Komen programs that met critical community need-the MBC Dinner Series and the Treatment Access Program (TAP), a transportation assistance program that served all of Oregon and reduced the geographic barrier to care. Through the coalition, PLP heard patients express concern that they were receiving outdated information and were struggling more to find needed support and resources from their providers. Understandably, nurse navigators and social workers could not maintain and/or update patient resources while they assisted COVID patients. The goal of the coalition was to increase communication across the organizations and to share more event schedules for the ease of patients to understand what support programs are available. This session, delivered by an all breast cancer patient panel, will give an overview of Pink Lemonade Project;its programs that helps with psychological, emotional, community and financial support for breast cancer patients, survivors and those living with metastatic breast cancer;and will highlight the results from the patient point of view of the systematic review of the contents of 6 regional health systems new patient binders and present recommendations for consistent, community-wide content for all future breast cancer patients. The project's main strength was that Pink Lemonade Project could draw upon on an existing coalition of local, community-based breast cancer organizations to help update and standardize breast cancer support information from the patient point of view. Then by acting as a neutral convener, PLP could request and receive the binders from all the region's healthcare providers to help standardize and update the community resources across all the region's cancer centers. The result is that any new breast cancer patient, regardless of where their access to care is, can receive consistent community-based information and resources. Another result of this project showed the importance of the partnership of healthcare and human service agencies, especially in a post-pandemic world. As the pandemic continues to strain healthcare, community-based nonprofits have a unique role to help coordinate community resources and improve the quality of life for those affected by breast cancer.
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Objective: As part of Epilepsy Connections' role in providing support to people affected by epilepsy, we aim to raise awareness of epilepsy at a community/grassroots level, with particular focus on: (1) school communities through our Schools Project/Seizure-Smart Schools;and (2) providing fun activities for families affected by childhood epilepsies (FACE). We recognise that for young people with epilepsy (YPE) to live their lives to the full, their needs go much further than the clinical involvement of their healthcare teams. Our objectives were (1) To promote knowledge of epilepsy, seizures and how to help when a seizure happens'so that YPE can go about their lives, confident that the people around them are informed and respectful;and (2) to provide fun activities for YPE and their families. Method(s): (1) Age-appropriate playground-based activities (message games, story time/roleplay/drama, arts and crafts, using hands-on brain/neuron models) for nursery/primary classes, and workshops for secondary/college students/school staff;(2) large-scale public events (virtual festivals and face-to-face) in collaboration with the Glasgow Science Centre, and EPNA Congress in Glasgow;(3) bespoke, supported days out for individual families;(4) Three residential trips to Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre since September 2021, for families new to us and those already accessing our services. Result(s): (1) Engagement with thousands of participants;(2) YPE and families took part in fun, adventurous outdoors activities (canoeing, gorge walking, climbing, abseiling, forest and beach walks), got together for meals, informal peer support and family disco! Conclusion(s): Families value having breaks and activities in a supportive, inclusive and bespoke way. We re-modelled how we provide our activities within school communities and with FACE, to reflect COVID-19 protective measures. Nonetheless, the ongoing impact of COVID-19 restricts opportunities to engage.
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Background: Researches are linking Biological Maturation (BM) with the performance of adolescent rowers from both genders. Despite this, there is still not enough information about the influence of BM advancement correlating to sports, aerobic and anaerobic performance in adolescent athletes at the sport modality rowing. Objective: Investigate the influence of Biological Maturation on sports performance and aerobic and anaerobic power in adolescent rowing athletes. Methods: A longitudinal observational study, developed over 3 years, with a sample of 52 adolescents, rowing athletes, of both genders (61% male and 39% female) mean age of 16.0 ± 0.5 years old at the start and 18.4 ± 0.5 years old at the end of the study. Analysis was performed once a year. BM was evaluated through maturational groups generated from Age Peak Height Velocity; maximum aerobic power [VO2Max (ml/kg/min)] and mean anaerobic power (Watts) through the ergometer test (indoor rowing); peak anaerobic power (Watts) through a mathematical model derived from competition time, to determine sports performance analyzed the race time during world championship tryouts. Results: The advancement of BM influenced the reduction of the test time and increase of the mean anaerobic power (Watts) in indoor rowing (η2p > 0.36, p < 0.05), as well as an improvement in performance in sports competition (η2p > 0.35, p < 0.05). However, the advancement of BM did not affect VO2Max (ml/kg/min) in young elite rowing athletes of both sexes (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Advances in biological maturation have been shown to influence the anaerobic and sports performance (reduction of the execution time in 2,000-m) of adolescent rowing athletes of both genders.
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Introduction: Lung cancer symptoms and secondary effects of cancer treatments impact quality of life and induce patients to excessive rest and lack of physical activity resulting in severe deconditioning. Exercise has been shown to increase performance status, strength, endurance and reduce emotional issues in lung cancer patients. Despite these benefit this approach is a poorly utilized strategy and several barriers must be overcome due to limited data, lack of awareness of the benefits of exercise, and limited patient motivation. Several programs of adapted physical activity are developing to support lung cancer patients during oncological treatments, adopting a personalized approaches. Rowing programs have been reported in cancer survivors to reduce risk factors and the impact of treatments complications, particularly lymphedema in breast cancer survivors. A pioneering program of adapted physical activity was developed by a multidisciplinary team in collaboration with an association for the support of cancer patients (Sicilian Association for Oncological Support), using rowing in patients with active metastatic cancer, to evaluate feasibility, response of patients, and to increase awareness of the benefits of physical activity in the fight against lung cancer. Methods: The program was launched in December 2019 from the idea of a young world rowing champion, but the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of this project, which was subsequently developed from March 2021 to July 2021. The team was composed by oncologists, sports medicine specialists, two coaches specialised in adapted physical activity programs and a cardiologist. The voluntary logistic assistance was warranted by the rowing society “Canottieri Peloro”, which effectively allowed the project to be carried out, providing patients with equipment, a specialised team doctor and a well-equipped gym. In this preliminary experience we managed to include a small number of patients to assess the feasibility/validity of this approach and improve patients’ needs and satisfaction. Results: Four patients affected by metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations joined the project (1 M/3 F;median age was 59.5, range 47-68;ECOG PS: 1). All patients presented well-controlled and mild symptoms related to the disease (cough, dyspnea, bone or chest pain) and were receiving active oncological treatments (first line EGFR-TKI: 2 patients;second line EGFR-TKI and maintenance chemotherapy). After a baseline clinical, oncological and cardiological evaluation personalized training program was developed. Briefly, indoor training and individual rowing sessions have been administered to patients. All patients reported full adherence to the training, developing a growing motivation and interest in improving physical performance. We did not recorded any worsening of symptoms or problems related to cancer treatments. The full contact with water and nature and the peculiar backwards motion of rowing had a positive impact on patients, that enjoyed the experience, reducing their anxiety for the future. Conclusions: This preliminary experience, previous developed as a support activity for lung cancer patients, might pave the way for further exploration of the role of rowing in this setting and promote a pivotal project to better define specific programs for metastatic cancer patients to improve compliance and response to cancer treatments. Keywords: Lung cancer, Adapted physical activity, Rowing
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SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: 180 residents in an internal medicine residency program DESCRIPTION: COVID-related restrictions on gathering have created challenges to community-building during residency, an important way to mitigate burnout. The ongoing stresses of the pandemic also have led to a sense of “languishing,” which can decrease engagement with everyday activities. To promote community and support resident- driven ideas, we created an innovative “ticket drop” and mini-grant program. Residents were invited to submit ideas for either ticket-based events in the city, or for mini-grants to lead a community-building activity. The Residency Well- Being Committee sponsored one event of each type per month based on evolving COVID guidelines. The committee advertised the ticket drops to all residents, purchased tickets, and allocated them by lottery to ensure equitable access. The initiative was funded by a departmental allocation to the residency program. EVALUATION: Ticket drop and mini-grant events generated many ideas from residents and were well-attended. Residents submitted 23 ideas in the first 6 months of the initiative, and we have been able to fund 1-2 per month. Ticket drop events to date included a professional baseball game, a special exhibit at an art museum, and an evening at the science academy. Residents receiving mini-grants have planned a ceramics night, an arcade game night, and a kayaking event. The intervention is ongoing, and we will present final descriptive data about participation as well as survey data about facilitators and barriers to success of each event and the overall effects of this initiative on social cohesion in residency. Early feedback suggests that identifying a resident champion for each event increases enthusiasm, and that having events preplanned overcomes the low motivation that is widespread during the lingering pandemic. Participants also noted learning about new cultural attractions in their city, which deepened connection with the wider community outside residency. Events were attended by residents at all levels of training and promoted cohesion across residency classes. For many events, the impact extended beyond tickets paid for by the residency, as other residents bought tickets for themselves or for their partners. DISCUSSION / REFLECTION / LESSONS LEARNED: Our residency ticket drop program is a relatively low-cost, low-effort, moderate-impact innovation that represents a sustainable way to increase connections in residency. A modest financial investment can have a large impact on community building if events are targeted to meet resident-identified priorities. Nurturing interests outside of medicine, such as in the arts, entertainment, or cultural attractions, may allow residents to further connect as humans with diverse interests as well as colleagues.
ABSTRACT
There is very little research on the anthropometric and physiological profiles of lower-ranked young female athletes, even though, in most rowing clubs, such rowers constitute the vast majority. Therefore, this study investigated the anthropometric and physiological profiles of young Hungarian female rowers of different age categories and sports rankings (international vs. club). Anthropometric and physiological profiles were created for 36 junior (15–16 years), 26 older-junior (17–18 years), and 8 senior (19–21 years) female rowers who were club and international ranked members of seven of the largest Hungarian rowing clubs. Rowers >17-years-old with international rankings significantly outperformed their age-group peers with club rankings in terms of power, absolute VO2 max, and time to cover 2000 m, among other differences, but such differences were not observed with junior rowers. In all age groups, the length of the athletes’ sports career was not significantly associated with differences in anthropometric and physiological characteristics. This study suggests that ranking is not associated with differences in the anthropometric and physiological characteristics of juniors. Thus, with non-elite juniors, it can be more difficult to predict competition outcomes based on differences in anthropometric and physiological profiles.