Epidemiology of injuries in elite Korean handball athletes: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to report injury patterns associated with training activities of South Korean elite handball athletes. METHODS: We prospectively collected data (stratified by sex, handball position, and injury location) on site from elite handball athletes between January and December 2019 at the Korea Training Center, South Korea. We used χ2 tests and one-way analysis of variance to compare groups. Simple linear regression was conducted to determine associations between pain score and recovery time. RESULTS: We included 188 (96 male and 92 female) athletes who sustained 767 injuries (annual average, 4.08 injuries/athlete) during the study. Female athletes had a higher (P<0.001) injury incidence rate (6.21/1000 h) than male athletes (4.39/1000 h). Most injuries occurred in the lower extremities (50.2%). The injured body areas differed by handball position (P<0.001), and injury severity differed according to sex (P<0.001), with injuries in men typically resulting in a longer recovery time. Pain score and recovery time differed (both P<0.001) depending on the injured tissue type. Pain score was the highest and recovery time longest for ligament injuries; muscle injuries resulted in a high pain score but a relatively short recovery time. An increase in pain score of 1 was associated with an increase in recovery time of approximately 1.59 days. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that our data increase the understanding of the types and severity of injuries sustained by elite Korean handball athletes. These data should be incorporated into programs that aim to reduce the incidence of sports injuries and enhance athletic performance.

Differences in attention, hand dexterity, and lower extremity activities in the presence or absence of a time limit.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate how a time limit affects day-to-day tasks such as attention, hand dexterity, and sit to standing and sitting activity. The grounds for using a time limit as a method of learning tasks related to daily living are examined based on the results of this investigation. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects consisted of 51 healthy college students (20 males and 31 females). The task performance time for SESSION 1, in which there was no time limit, was measured and the task duration privately recorded. The task performance for SESSION 2 was then measured with a time limit of the same duration as the time recorded for SESSION 1. Attention was measured using the trail-making test, hand dexterity using the Purdue pegboard test, and lower extremity activity using the sit to standing and sitting test. [Results] The levels for the attention, hand dexterity, and lower extremity activities were high in the environment in which a time limit was set. The differences between the genders depending on the presence or absence of a time limit was insignificant. [Conclusion] A time limit environment can be used as a task-training method for attention, hand dexterity, and lower extremity activities.

Effect of mat pilates exercise on postural alignment and body composition of middle-aged women.

[Purpose] This study attempted to examine whether Pilates is an effective exercise for improving the postural alignment and health of middle-aged women. [Subjects and Methods] The participants in this study were 36 middle-aged women (20 in the experimental group, 16 in the control group). The experimental group participated in Pilates exercise sessions three times a week for 12 weeks. Body alignment and composition measurements before and after applying the Pilates exercise program were performed with a body composition analyzer and a three-dimensional scanner. [Results] Postural alignment in the sagittal and horizontal planes was enhanced in the Pilates exercise group. Trunk alignment showed correlations with body fat and muscle mass. [Conclusion] The Pilates exercises are performed symmetrically and strengthen the deep muscles. Moreover, the results showed that muscle mass was correlated with trunk postural alignment and that the proper amount of muscle is critical in maintaining trunk postural alignment.

Kinematic characteristics of the lower extremity during a simulated skiing exercise in healthy participants.

[Purpose] Currently, various simulators are produced and used for athlete's exercise, rehabilitation, and training. In this study, we analyzed the kinematic factors of sectional and total movements in healthy participants by providing group-dependent information during simulated exercise. [Subjects and Methods] Participants in this study included 26 male adults (non-experts and experts); experts held a certificate issued by the Korea Ski Instructors Association. The elapsed times in each phase, the difference in the lower extremity angles, and muscle activity were computed through analysis of kinematic factors. [Results] We observed that motions in the experts took shorter time to perform than that in non-experts, and showed larger variation of lower limb joint angle in most events during simulated skiing. There were also significant group-dependent differences in the peak and mean EMG values during simulated skiing. [Conclusion] A non-expert's posture leads to enhanced muscle activity to keep the lower body in balance. We suggest the following training guideline: initially, non-experts should maintain appropriate range of motion with lower-intensity exercise to improve muscle endurance. It can be useful in providing preliminary data for future training and rehabilitation studies, as well as improvements in muscle strength and balance.

Cardiorespiratory endurance evaluation using heart rate analysis during ski simulator exercise and the Harvard step test in elementary school students.

[Purpose] Efficient management using exercise programs with various benefits should be provided by educational institutions for children in their growth phase. We analyzed the heart rates of children during ski simulator exercise and the Harvard step test to evaluate the cardiopulmonary endurance by calculating their post-exercise recovery rate. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects (n = 77) were categorized into a normal weight and an overweight/obesity group by body mass index. They performed each exercise for 3 minutes. The cardiorespiratory endurance was calculated using the Physical Efficiency Index formula. [Results] The ski simulator and Harvard step test showed that there was a significant difference in the heart rates of the 2 body mass index-based groups at each minute. The normal weight and the ski-simulator group had higher Physical Efficiency Index levels. [Conclusion] This study showed that a simulator exercise can produce a cumulative load even when performed at low intensity, and can be effectively utilized as exercise equipment since it resulted in higher Physical Efficiency Index levels than the Harvard step test. If schools can increase sport durability by stimulating students' interests, the ski simulator exercise can be used in programs designed to improve and strengthen students' physical fitness.

Comparisons of social interaction and activities of daily living between long-term care facility and community-dwelling stroke patients.

[Purpose] This study was conducted to compare the correlation between social interaction and activities of daily living (ADL) between community-dwelling and long-term care facility stroke patients. [Subjects and Methods] The Subjects were 65 chronic stroke patients (32 facility-residing, 33 community-dwelling). The Evaluation Social Interaction (ESI) tool was used to evaluate social interaction and the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills (AMPS) measure was used to evaluate ADL. [Results] Both social interaction and ADL were higher in community-dwelling than facility-residing stroke patients. There was a correlation between ESI and ADL for both motor and process skills among facility-residing patients, while only ADL process skills and ESI correlated among community-dwelling patients. In a partial correlation analysis using ADL motor and process skills as control variables, only process skills correlated with ESI. [Conclusion] For rehabilitation of stroke patients, an extended treatment process that combines ADL and social activities is likely to be required. Furthermore, treatment programs and institutional systems that can improve social interaction and promote health maintenance for community-dwelling and facility-residing chronic stroke patients are needed throughout the rehabilitation process.

Immediate effects of the activation of the affected lower limb on the balance and trunk mobility of hemiplegic stroke patients.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the activation of the affected lower limb on balance and the trunk hemiplegic mobility of stroke patients. [Subjects] The gait group (GG) consisted of 6 subjects with hemiplegia and the non-gait group (NGG) consisted of 6 hemiplegic subjects. [Methods] The subjects in both groups were given foot facilitation training once for 30 min. The Spinal Mouse was used to measure the spinal alignment and the Berg balance scale (BBS) and sensory tests were also performed. [Results] In the GG, the sacral hip in upright to flexion, the lumbar spine in upright to extension, and the sacral hip and lumbar spine in flexion to extension showed significant increases in their angles after the intervention. In addition, there was a significant increase in the angle of the lumbar spine during extension from an upright position in the NGG. The BBS scores of both groups also increased significantly. [Conclusion] The intervention resulted in improvements in the angle of anterior pelvic tilt in the GG, and subjects in the NGG showed more extension of the thorax, which was regarded as compensation to avoid falling forward when flexing from an upright position. However, when extending backward from an upright position, both groups tended to control balance by using more lumbar flexion to keep the center of mass (COM) within the base of support (BOS). Both groups had better BBS scores.

Analysis of the risk factors of musculoskeletal disease among dentists induced by work posture.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to ergonomically evaluate the work posture of dentists to examine their subsequent risk of developing musculoskeletal diseases. [Subjects and Methods] Scenes in which the three dentists performed procedures at their dental clinics were videotaped. The videotapes of the dentists' work postures were evaluated and analyzed by using the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) and Quick Exposure Check (QEC). [Results] The RULA analysis of the dentists' work posture indicated, "improvement required" in the posture used to treat the anterior and "instant improvement required" in the posture used to treat the maxillary second molar. Of all the work postures studied, the risk was considered particularly high in the lower back and neck, implying prominent problems in these body parts. The QEC analysis showed that the worst work posture was that required to treat the maxillary second molar, which led to a high risk of neck problems and vibrations. [Conclusion] The neck area has the highest risk of developing musculoskeletal disease. Hence, regular rests and the provision of information regarding muscle strengthening exercise for the neck are necessary.

Changes in respiratory function following intermittent living in the upland environment and the lowland environment.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study is to examine the effects on respiratory function and oxygen saturation of intermittent life in the uplands at an altitude above sea level of approximately 850 m. [Subjects and Methods] The study subjects were on 100 female student subjects attending a university located in the uplands. The subjects' oxygen saturation, heart rates and respiratory functions were measured at the university, which has campuses both in the uplands and the lowlands. [Results] Freshmen showed differences in oxygen saturation, heart rate, and most respiratory function items between the different altitudes; however, seniors did not exhibit any differences. There were no differences in oxygen saturation and heart rate between the uplands and the lowlands either group. In the uplands, peak forced expiratory flow was shown to be high in the seniors, who also had better cardiopulmonary function. [Conclusion] Senior students, who had been exposed to the upland environment for a longer period of time, generally showed better respiratory function. Therefore, alternating living between the uplands and the lowlands can be said to improve an individual's respiratory function.