Dynamic balance in former elite male athletes and in community control subjects.

Dynamic balance was studied in 105 former elite athletes (aged 45-68) and in 966 community control subjects (aged 27-67). Subjects walked barefoot along a 5-m-long test track, stepping only on two pads which they alternately put down in front of them and picked up from behind while standing on one foot. A better test result (short completion time) was associated with lower body mass index (in both groups), with jumping height and physical activity during the previous year (in former athletes), and with younger age, better general health, and better perceived physical fitness (in control subjects). Test results in former athletes were, on average, comparable to those of 24-30 years younger community control subjects.

Associations of isometric and isoinertial trunk muscle strength measurements and lumbar paraspinal muscle cross-sectional areas.

The relationships of dynamic and static trunk muscle strength measurements and muscle geometry are studied. Physiologically, isometric muscle strength is directly related to muscle cross-sectional area. We measured isometric and isoinertial trunk muscle strength of 111 former elite male athletes, aged 45-68, by Isostation B-200. Paraspinal muscle cross-sectional areas were measured from axial magnetic resonance images at the L3-L4 level. Isometric and isoinertial torques were closely related, but angular velocities were not predicted by isometric maximal torque. The area of the psoas muscles correlated with isometric maximal flexion, as well as with isoinertial maximal torque. angular velocity, and power in flexion (r = 0.24-0.27). The area of the extensor group correlated with isometric maximal extension and with isoinertial maximal torque and power in extension (r = 0.24-0.25). We conclude that dynamic and static strength measurements are closely related, with angular velocity giving additional information on muscle function. Paraspinal muscle cross-sectional area is one determinant of isometric and isoinertial trunk muscle strength.

Lifetime musculoskeletal symptoms and injuries among former elite male athletes.

We studied the lifetime occurrence of musculoskeletal symptoms in former elite male athletes: 29 weight-lifters, 31 soccer players, 28 long-distance runners, and 29 shooters, 45-68 years of age. The proportion of subjects with monthly back pain during the past year was smaller among runners than among the other athletes, although not statistically significant. Monthly back pain was more common in weight-lifters with lifetime training hours above the median as compared with those below the median. The average intensity of the worst back pain during the past year was clearly higher in weight-lifters and soccer players, than in runners and shooters. Knee pain at least once a month during the past year was reported by 52% (CI 33-70%) of the soccer players, 31% (CI 15-51%) of the weight lifters, 21% (CI 8-41 %) of the runners, and 17% (CI 6-36%) of the shooters (p = 0.019). Soccer players had the highest number of sports-related knee injuries (p < 0.0001). Past knee injuries were associated with knee pain in later adulthood (p = 0.048). More runners reported having had hip pain episodes during their lifetime than other athletes, but no differences were found in the occurrence of hip pain during the past year. In conclusion, compared with shooters, athletes formerly exposed to heavy exercise did not report more frequent back pain during the past year, whereas a high intensity of back pain was typical of soccer players and weight-lifters. A predisposition to knee injuries in soccer players appears to increase the risk of future knee pain. Similarly, knee pain later in life seems to be more common in weight-lifters than in runners and shooters. Long-distance runners, on the other hand, are prone to an increased lifetime risk of hip pain.