Perfectionism, Mood States, and Choking in Asian University Baseball Players under Pressure during a Game.

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among mood states, perfectionism, and choking, and to identify a mediating effect of perfectionism on the relationship between mood states and choking experienced by Asian university baseball players in extremely stressful situations during a game. Data collected from a total of 209 male university baseball players were analyzed using SPSS 21 and AMOS 21 statistical software. The mean age of study subjects was 20.25 years. Results are as follows. First, mood states had a positive influence on perfectionism. Second, mood states had no significant influence on choking. Third, perfectionism had a positive influence on choking. Lastly, perfectionism had a complete mediating effect on the relationship between mood states and choking. The study findings will provide basic data to relieve athletes' psychological burdens, and prevent manifestations of extreme perfectionism and choking, which can ultimately help athletes maintain high self-control of their mood states and perfectionism for better performance.

Comparative kinematic analysis of the baseball pitching motions of high school athletes in relation to pitching conditions.

To analyze changes in pitching motions in relation to pitching conditions during practice versus game comparatively, seven high school over-throwing pitchers served as subjects in this study, who then performed pitches in various conditions. Data were processed using the statistical analysis program SPSS 21.0, and the moving distances and angles of the joints at the point of ball release were analyzed using repeated measurements one-way analysis of variance, followed by Bonferroni post hoc tests. Statistical significance was determined at P<0.05, and the following conclusion was obtained. According to the pitching conditions, the elbow joint was lengthened, and the torso leaned towards the nonpitching arm during pitching. Further, the pitching stride increased, causing the forward transfer of the landing foot and the pitching hand. Based on these observations, it is important to establish a pitching training method that minimizes inconsistency in pitching motions by simulating game-like conditions during pitching practices and developing various training programs. Further investigation is required for a comprehensive mechanical analysis of muscle usage and damage in pitching motions in relation to various pitching conditions.

Body mass, nonspecific low back pain, and anatomical changes in the lumbar spine in judo athletes.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study of a specific population. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and coprevalence of nonspecific low back pain (nsLBP) and lumbar radiological abnormalities (LRA) in judo athletes. BACKGROUND: nsLBP and LRA occur frequently in judo athletes. High body mass has been reported to be associated with both nsLBP and LRA. METHODS AND MEASURES: The subjects comprised 82 male judo athletes (mean +/- SD age, 20.1 +/- 0.9 years) from 3 weight categories: lightweight (n = 29), middleweight (n= 31), and heavyweight (n = 22). The presence of nsLBP was evaluated using a questionnaire. LRA were examined using plain-film radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging. The prevalence of nsLBP and LRA were compared among weight categories. RESULTS: The prevalence of nsLBP in the lightweight, middleweight, and heavyweight categories was 34.5%, 32.3%, and 40.9%, respectively. For LRA, prevalence for the 3 weight categories was 65.5%, 90.3%, and 90.9%, respectively (middle-weight and heavyweight greater prevalence than lightweight [P<.05]). The prevalence of LRA in athletes with nsLBP in each category was 50.0%, 100%, and 88.9%, respectively (middleweight greater prevalence than lightweight [P<.05]). The prevalence of LRA in athletes without nsLBP in each category was 73.7%, 85.7%, and 92.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of LRA was approximately 90% in the middleweight and heavyweight categories, which was greater than for the lightweight category. There was a large coprevalence of nsLBP and LRA. However, many judo athletes without nsLBP had LRA. The presence of LRA may not have a direct association with nsLBP.

Trunk muscle strength and disability level of low back pain in collegiate wrestlers.

INTRODUCTION/PURPOSE: Low back pain (LBP) is a frequent injury in athletes. This study examined the relationship between isokinetic trunk muscle strength and the functional disability level of chronic LBP. We particularly focused on the existence of radiological abnormalities (RA) in the lumbar region. METHODS: Subjects were 53 collegiate wrestlers. Trunk extensor and flexor muscle strength was measured at three angular velocities (60, 90, and 120degrees x s(-1)). The examined parameters for trunk muscle strength were peak torque, work, average torque, and average power. The disability level of LBP was estimated by using two questionnaires. Based on the RA evaluation with x-ray and MRI, all 53 wrestlers were assigned to two groups as the RA group (N = 35, 66%) and the non-RA group (N = 18, 34%). Correlations between trunk muscle strength and the disability level of LBP in each group were analyzed with Spearman's rank test. RESULTS: Without considering the disability level, there were 14 subjects with LBP (40%) in the RA group and 8 (44%) in the non-RA. Significantly correlated parameters with the disability level of LBP could be observed only when the subjects were restricted to the non-RA group. The correlated parameters with the two questionnaires were peak torque at 120degrees x s(-1), work at 60degrees x s(-1) and 90degrees x s(-1), and average torque at 90degrees x s(-1) and 120degrees x s(-1). There were no significantly correlated parameters in the RA group. None of the trunk flexor parameters were significantly correlated with the disability level of LBP. CONCLUSION: The relatively low strength of trunk extensors may be one of the factors related to nonspecific chronic low back pain in collegiate wrestlers.

Intraarticular inflammatory cytokines in acute anterior cruciate ligament injured knee.

To understand the dynamics of the intraarticular acute inflammatory phase of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injured knee, we analyzed the level of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-1ra, and IL-10) in joint fluid samples aspirated from 34 knees following an acute ACL injury. The samples were divided into the following five groups according to the duration from injury to aspiration: within 24 h (n=5), 2-3 days (n=14), 4-6 days (n=5), 7-9 days (n=5), 10-14 days (n=4), and 15-21 days (n=3). For comparison, 7 samples were also aspirated from 4 patients with osteoarthritis and 3 with postmenisectomy hydrops (chronic arthritis group). The highest levels of inflammatory cytokines were detected in the ACL-injury group within 24 h of the injury, and the levels decreased thereafter. While there were several patterns of decrease, nearly all of the inflammatory cytokines decreased to the level of that in the chronic arthritis group within 1 week. These dynamics are similar to those reported for inflammatory cytokines in wound fluid during wound healing, and suggest that the intraarticular healing process also progresses in ACL injured knees.

Level of the semitedinosus and gracilis muscle stumps following tendon harvesting: a cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: To establish the occurrence of regeneration of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons following their harvesting for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, we performed a simulation procedure using 12 lower extremities from six cadavers and studied the length of the muscle stumps that remained distally beyond the knee joint line and recorded their proximity to the popliteal fascia. RESULTS: Six of 12 semitendinosus and gracilis muscles remained beyond the joint line. Nine semitendinosus and eight gracilis muscle stumps were close to the popliteal fascia, while the other stumps were not. The semitendinosus and gracilis muscles that remained beyond the knee joint line and close to the popliteal fascia, even after tendon harvesting, are supposed to increase the likelihood of regeneration of the functional myotendinous junction, compared with muscles not extending to the joint line. CONCLUSIONS: We were convinced by these results of regeneration of the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons following tendon harvesting, which had been reported clinically.

Atrophy of semitzendinosus and gracilis and flexor mechanism function after hamstring tendon harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.

The cross-sectional areas of individual knee flexors and isokinetic flexion measurements were evaluated using computed tomography in 13 patients following semitendinosus and gracilis tendon harvest for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The atrophy of tendon-dissected muscles demonstrated variance with two peaks: >70% and <50%. In three patients whose semitendinosus and gracilis muscles displayed areas <50% of the contralateral area, the cross-sectional area of the entire flexor group and work at >75 degrees of knee flexion was 88.1% and 51.9%, respectively. Therefore, hamstring tendon harvest can induce atrophy of tendon-dissected muscles and decrease flexor function.

Three-dimensional virtual computed tomography imaging for injured anterior cruciate ligament.

Three-dimensional virtual imaging using reconstructed volume data from helical computed tomography was applied to examine injured anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) as a noninvasive diagnostic aid. Its diagnostic value for ACL injury was evaluated in 21 patients. These results were compared with those of arthroscopic findings. This new technique allowed visualization of the ACL in a three-dimensional form, similar to an arthroscopic image, and was 100% accurate in detecting ACL injuries in the present samples.