RxPG News : Sports Medicine

How exercise changes structure and function of heart

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:00:00 PST

For the first time researchers are beginning to understand exactly how various forms of exercise impact the heart. Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) investigators, in collaboration with the Harvard University Health Services, have found that 90 days of vigorous athletic training produces significant changes in cardiac structure and function and that the type of change varies with the type of exercise performed. Their study appears in the April Journal of Applied Physiology.

Active seniors curb health care costs

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:00:00 PST

Group Health seniors are not only sweating to the oldies in local health clubs. They are also keeping health care costs down, according to a study by researchers at Group Health and the University of Washington (UW). The study appears in the January 2008 issue of the journal Preventing Chronic Disease.

Sports medicine programs benefit from pulmonologist on staff

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

(Chicago, IL, October 22, 2007) � Despite the high prevalence of asthma among athletes, a new study finds that the majority of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sports medicine programs do not have a pulmonologist on staff. The study presented at CHEST 2007, the 73rd annual international scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), found that less than 25% of NCAA-affiliated athletic trainers report having a pulmonologist on their sports medicine program staff. However, the presence of a pulmonologist on staff increased the likelihood of a program�s adherence to national asthma management guidelines, which may, ultimately, improve the clinical care of athletes with asthma.

Marines land at UO, leave with plans to wear Oregon-made training suits

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Oct. 10, 2007) -- A few came. They ran. They left. As a result of their August visit the U.S. Marine Corp begins training in 2008 in new running suits chosen after tests of competing products in the University of Oregon's environmental chamber.

The 'arms' race: Adult steroid users seek muscles, not medals

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

The majority of non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users are not cheating athletes or risk-taking teenagers. According to a recent survey, containing the largest sample to date and published in the online open access publication, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, the typical male user is about 30 years old, well-educated, and earning an above-average income in a white-collar occupation. The majority did not use steroids during adolescence and were not motivated by athletic competition or sports performance.

British attitudes to exercise show misleading guidelines 'should be changed'

Tue, 09 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

British adults now believe that moderate activity is more beneficial than vigorous exercise, according to new research by the University of Exeter and Brunel University. Although most large studies show that the greatest health benefits are derived from regular participation in vigorous activities, such as jogging and competitive sports, 56% of men and 71% of women now believe moderate activities, like walking, are most beneficial. The first study to investigate attitudes to moderate and vigorous activity since Government physical activity guidelines changed in the mid 1990s, this research is now published in Preventive Medicine.

How pitching changes little leaguers' shoulders

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 04:00:00 PST

At this year's Little League World Series, new rules for the first time forced players to limit the number of times pitchers could throw the ball, and coaches had to strategize how pitchers were used more carefully.

High school footballers wearing special helmets to monitor brain injuries

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

As they root for the home team from the bleachers this fall, high school gridiron fans in the small Illinois town of Tolono don�t necessarily see anything out of the ordinary down on the field.

Computer models help raise the bar for sporting achievement

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Computer models now under development could enhance the design of sports equipment to help people of all abilities realise their sporting potential.

Advanced technologies aim to transform the coaching of top athletes

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Groundbreaking research now under way in the UK could help our leading athletics coaches deliver outstanding results in the years ahead.

Leading-edge body sensor could help produce sporting champions

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

A revolutionary unobtrusive sensor that collects and immediately transmits data from the human body could boost British sporting success in future.

Speedier skis on course for World Cup glory

Thu, 13 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Skis equipped with an ingenious new self-waxing device that enables them to travel quicker could make a dramatic entry onto the skiing scene in the 2008/09 World Cup season.

USC researcher identifies stem cells in tendons that regenerate tissue in animal model

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Athletes know that damage to a tendon can signal an end to their professional careers. But a consortium of scientists, led in part by University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry researcher Songtao Shi, has identified unique cells within the adult tendon that have stem-cell characteristics,including the ability to proliferate and self-renew. The research team was able to isolate these cells and regenerate tendon-like tissue in the animal model. Their findings hold tremendous promise for the treatment of tendon injuries caused by overuse and trauma.

A type of antioxidant may not be as safe as once thought

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 04:00:00 PST

Charlottesville, Va., Sept. 4, 2007 - Certain preparations taken to enhance athletic performance or stave off disease contain an anti-oxidant that could cause harm. According to new research at the University of Virginia Health System, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an anti-oxidant commonly used in nutritional and body-building supplements, can form a red blood cell-derived molecule that makes blood vessels think they are not getting enough oxygen. This leads to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), a serious condition characterized by high blood pressure in the arteries that carry blood to the lungs. The results appear in the September issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

UC's Fry informs fantasy football fans

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

It's fantasy football season! And just in time for the frenzy, Assistant Professor Michael Fry and student Andrew Lundberg have published their results. It amounts to this: you have a set of choices that people can make. All you really want to know � in fantasy and in real drafts � is what set of players is not going to be available when your turn comes up.

Scientists tackle mystery mountain illness

Tue, 21 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Experts at the University are studying an illness known as HAPE (high altitude pulmonary oedema), which causes fluid to build up in the lungs can and can occur from as low as 2,500 metres, affecting people of all age groups and fitness levels.

Understanding hypertension in African Americans proves elusive

Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Exercise cannot reduce a sodium-retaining hormone in African Americans known to potentially cause hypertension, found Michael D. Brown, Ph.D., the senior author of a study in the September issue of Experimental Physiology. Brown is an associate professor of kinesiology at Temple Universityï¿½s College of Health Professions.

Older climbers face uphill battle on Mount Everest

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

In this era of not surrendering to age, some claim that 60 is the new 40. But new research shows that 60 year olds cannot keep up with 40 year olds on Mount Everest and suffer a sharply higher chance of dying if they do reach the summit.

Traditional Chinese exercises may increase efficacy of flu vaccine

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 04:00:00 PST

Move on mosquitoes. Step aside sweat bees. Before long, another unwelcome, but predictable, pest will return: the dreaded, oft-spotted flu bug.

Sports hernia repair technique coupled with innovative rehabilitation program speeds return to play

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- Surgical repair of athletic hernia using tension-free mesh and a standardized rehabilitation protocol are successful in returning athletes to competition, according to new research released today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Sports hernia repair surgery plus innovative rehab program helps athletes return to play

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

St. Louis, July 15, 2007 In recent years, sports hernias have sidelined many high-level athletes for months and, occasionally, prevented a return to competitive sports all together. New research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows that surgical repair of sports hernias using tension-free mesh, coupled with an innovative rehabilitation program, successfully returned athletes to competition in 93 percent of cases.

Tennis elbow procedure demonstrates long-term success

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- Arthroscopic treatment of tennis elbow has shown to be successful at long-term follow-up, according to new research released today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Women and arthritis sufferers have poorer short-term recovery from arthroscopic knee surgery

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- The factors associated with poor short-term recovery from knee surgery appear to be different than those found to mar long-term outcome from the same surgery, according to new research released today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Groin injuries averted by preseason injury prevention

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- Professional soccer players who participated in a special preseason groin injury prevention program had fewer groin injuries during that subsequent season than those who were not in the program, according to new research released today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Neoprene sleeve equal to knee brace during recovery from ACL surgery

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

CALGARY, Alberta -- Users of functional knee braces and neoprene sleeves have similar recoveries from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, according to new research presented today at the 2007 Annual Meeting of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine at the Telus Convention Center (July 12-15).

Catastrophic head injury three times greater in high school vs. collegiate football players

Tue, 03 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

Rosemont, Ill. The incidence of catastrophic head injuries in football is dramatically higher at the high school level than at the college level, according to a study published in the July issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Understanding smooth eye pursuit

Mon, 02 Jul 2007 04:00:00 PST

PHILADELPHIA -- Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have shed new light on how the brain and eye team up to spot an object in motion and follow it, a classic question of human motor control. The study shows that two distinctly different ways of seeing motion are used one to catch up to a moving object with our eyes, a second to lock on and examine it.

Biofeedback on abnormal mechanics lowers risk for stress fractures, pain under kneecap

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

More than seven out of 10 runners will sustain an injury over the course of a year, many of these injuries preventable without any adverse effects on running distance or performance, according to Dr. Irene Davis, director of the Running Injury Lab at the University of Delaware, and director of Research for Drayer Physical Therapy Institute.

Mayo Clinic solves painful puzzle of UT ligament split tear in wrist

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

ROCHESTER, Minn. - - A Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon has discovered a common cause of debilitating wrist pain - a split tear of the UT ligament - that can be reliably detected through a simple physical examination and can be fully repaired through an arthroscopically guided surgical procedure. The findings are published in the April issue of the American Journal of Hand Surgery.

Officiating bias, influenced by crowds, affects home field advantage

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 04:00:00 PST

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 3, 2007 The roar of the crowd may subconsciously influence some referees to give an advantage to the home team, according to a study that examines the results of over 5,000 soccer matches in the English Premier League. The matches were played between 1992 and 2006, and involved 50 different referees, each of whom had officiated at least 25 games within that time period.

The psychology of baseball

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 04:00:00 PST

Its the seventh game of the World Series bottom of the ninth inning, your team is down 4-3 with runners on second and third and youre on deck. You watch as your teammate gets the second out. That means youre up with a chance to win a championship for your team...or lose it.

Modified ligament surgery improves outcomes for baseball pitchers, other athletes

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST

In the largest study of its kind, surgeons at Hospital for Special Surgery have determined that by modifying a classic ligament surgery, they can return more athletes, such as baseball players, to their prior level of competition. The modified surgery repairs a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL), which links and stabilizes bones of the lower and upper arm where they meet at the elbow.

RAND study finds walking more likely in neighborhoods with more 4-way intersections

Tue, 27 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST

People are more likely to walk when they live in neighborhoods where there are more four-way intersections and a diverse mixture of businesses, according to a RAND Corporation study issued today.

Female lacrosse players at higher risk than males for head, face and eye injuries

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST

Rosemont, Ill. February 1, 2007 -- Despite playing a game with less physical contact, female lacrosse players in high school and college sustain a higher rate of injuries to the head, face, and eye than their male counterparts, according to a study published in the February issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

First national review of pediatric soccer injuries finds 1.6 million ER visits over 13-year span

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 05:00:00 PST

Rosemont, Ill. February 1, 2007 -- Girl soccer players may be sustaining more injuries than boys, but boys are twice as likely to be hospitalized for their injuries, according to the first comprehensive look at U.S. emergency room data on youth soccer injuries. The review appears in the February issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

RAND study of Los Angeles County neighborhoods and their impact on children enters second phase

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST

Researchers are knocking on doors across Los Angeles County asking families to take part in the latest phase of a RAND Corporation study that is examining the impact neighborhoods have on children and families.

Does endurance exercise promote life-threatening changes in athletes' hearts?

Sun, 21 Jan 2007 05:00:00 PST

Some high-level athletes who take part in endurance sports can develop a rare but life-threatening condition called ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in which the heart beats at an abnormal rate and rhythm. Now, a new study has shown that most of the athletes with VA have dysfunctional right ventricles.

On the golf tee or pitcher's mound, brain dooms motion to inconsistency

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST

If you've ever wondered why your golf swings, fastballs or free throws don't quite turn out the same way each time, even after years of practice, there is now an answer: It's mostly in your head. That's the finding of new research published in the Dec. 21 issue of the journal Neuron by electrical engineers at Stanford University.

Getting people to move -- challenges in promoting physical activity

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST

Programs that discourage smoking have been reasonably successful. However, public health programs that encourage physical activity have not. While the benefits of regular physical activity are well documented in the medical literature and the problems associated with a sedentary lifestyle are even more apparent, public health officials struggle for methods to promote increased physical activity that will work in American society. In a study published in the January 2007 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, researchers examine the challenges in promoting physical activity in a society less and less inclined to walk, run or exercise.

Improperly sized tennis racket grip doesn't cause tennis elbow

Fri, 01 Dec 2006 05:00:00 PST

Rosemont, Ill. December 1, 2006 Researchers apparently have gotten a grip on the relationship between the development of tennis elbow (tendonitis) and the size of the grip on the racket a player uses.

Phys ed class more effective when there's more talking

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:00:00 PST

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A new approach to traditional high school gym class dramatically increases how often teens exercise outside of school.

Regular, moderate exercise reduces the risk of colds in postmenopausal women

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 04:00:00 PST

SEATTLE -- Postmenopausal women who want to decrease their risk of colds would be well advised to dust off their sneakers and get moving, suggests a new study led by researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Concussion in athletes: Can they accurately evaluate their own condition?

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 04:00:00 PST

Rosemont, Ill. What did Trent Green say and when did he say it?, sports medicine doctors may be asking after the Kansas City Chiefs' starting quarterback suffered a severe head injury in last Sunday's Chiefs-Bengals game. New research suggests Green's assessment of his own condition may not be as accurate as the read-out from a computer.

Amateur boxing linked to brain cell injury

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 04:00:00 PST

A study of 14 Swedish amateur boxers suggests that they have higher levels of certain chemicals in their cerebrospinal fluid in the days following a bout, indicating injuries to neurons and other cells important to brain function, according to a report in the September issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.

Pressure to be more muscular may lead men to unhealthy behaviors

Thu, 10 Aug 2006 04:00:00 PST

Columbus , Ohio -- Women are not the only ones in American society who feel pressure to achieve the perfect body.

Few young competitive athletes survive sudden cardiac arrest

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 04:00:00 PST

The study is the first of its kind to look at the timing and details of resuscitating young competitive athletes who experienced SCA, a sudden and lethal arrhythmia causing an abrupt loss of heart function.

Natural pine bark extract relieves muscle cramp and pain in athletes and diabetics

Thu, 15 Jun 2006 04:00:00 PST

With the millions of athletes worldwide, this truly is a profound breakthrough and extremely significant for all individuals interested in muscle cramp and pain relief with a natural approach. These findings indicate that Pycnogenol can play an important role in sports by improving blood flow to the muscles and hastening post-exercise recovery, said Dr. Peter Rohdewald, a lead researcher of the study.

Good physical function linked to Alzheimer's delay

Mon, 22 May 2006 04:00:00 PST

This study followed 2,288 Group Health members age 65 and older for six years. At the start, none showed any signs of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. The researchers contacted the participants every two years, assessing physical and mental functioning. By six years, 319 participants had developed dementia, including 221 with Alzheimer's disease. The participants whose physical function was higher at the start of the study were three times less likely to develop dementia than were those whose physical function was lower.

New computer model of football can help NFL coaches call the next play, evaluate players

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 04:00:00 PST

Just what I need, groans every harassed head coach. Another critic.

'Adventure Therapy' effective in maintaining weight-loss in older teens

Tue, 28 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST

Since weight gain in adolescence has been associated with a number of health problems in adulthood, we wanted to find a program that could offer teens an effective weight-loss strategy, says lead author Elissa Jelalian, PhD, a child psychologist with the BHCRC and Brown Medical School.

Animal models show that anabolic steroids flip the adolescent brain's switch for aggression

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 05:00:00 PST

Neuroscientists are deeply concerned about rising adolescent abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs), given the National Institute on Drug Abuse's estimate that nearly half a million eighth- and 10th-grade students abuse AASs each year. Not only do steroids set kids up for heavier use of steroids and other drugs later in life, but long-term users can suffer from mood swings, hallucinations and paranoia; liver damage; high blood pressure; as well as increased risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer. Withdrawal often brings depression, and recent research suggests that some AASs may even be habit-forming.

New study finds anabolic steroids may be addictive

Tue, 13 Dec 2005 05:00:00 PST

Most people use anabolic steroids to enhance their physical performance, but they deny that steroids may be addictive, noted lead researcher Ruth Wood, PhD, Professor of Cell and Neurobiology at USC. Unlike other commonly abused drugs, the primary motivation for steroid users is not to get high, but rather to achieve enhanced athletic performance and increased muscle mass. The complex motivation for steroid use makes it difficult to determine the addictive properties of anabolic steroids in humans. Our goal was to create an experimental model of addiction where athletic performance and other reinforcing effects are irrelevant.