ScienceDaily: Sports Medicine News

Become a marathon runner with the protein PGC-1alpha

Tue, 14 May 2013 11:27:27 EDT

Even with a greater muscle mass, a sprinter cannot win a marathon. His specially-trained and strengthened muscles will fatigue faster than the endurance-trained muscles of a long distance runner. Medical researchers have now shown that during endurance exercise the protein PGC-1alpha shifts the metabolic profile in the muscle.

Research supports laws that require bicyclists to wear helmets

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Bicycle helmets save lives and their use should be required by law. That's the conclusion of a new study.

High school athletes say concussions won't sideline them

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:54:54 EDT

Many high school football players say it's OK to play with a concussion even though they know they are at risk of serious injury, according to a new study.

Camaraderie of sports teams may deter bullying, violence

Sun, 05 May 2013 07:37:37 EDT

As schools around the country look for ways to reduce violence and bullying, they may want to consider encouraging students to participate in team sports, according to a new study.

Muscle adaptation of transition to minimalist running

Thu, 02 May 2013 14:24:24 EDT

As barefoot and minimalist running become increasingly popular, a new study is looking at how muscles are affected by the transition from traditional footwear.

Dehydration is a problem in combat sports

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:17:17 EDT

Athletes in combat sports often try to shed body weight in order to compete against lighter and smaller opponents. A new doctoral thesis points to the human body’s limited ability to quickly recover following extensive short-term weight loss. Almost half of the studied athletes were severely dehydrated on the morning of their matches. Nevertheless, the athletes seem to focus on the mental advantages of the method.

Proper cleat choice gives turf injuries the boot

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:18:18 EDT

Injury on the playing field often is caused by the interaction between the athlete's shoe and the field surface.

More severe concussion symptoms lead to longer recovery time

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Most children who suffer from sports-related concussions recover within a few days. However, in a small number of children, symptoms can last for a month or more. Although there have been numerous theories as to what might predict a longer recovery time, there is no definitive answer as to why it takes some children longer to recover. Researchers have attempted to identify risk factors that might predispose some children with concussions to longer recovery times.

Study links genetic marker to post-concussion neurocognitive function in contact sports

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:21:21 EDT

A new study is coming one step closer to finding out whether or not an athlete’s genetic makeup determines the severity of post-concussive brain function.

Effectiveness of early sport specialization limited in most sports, sport diversification may be better approach at young ages

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:26:26 EDT

Ever-increasing requirements for success in competitive sports has created added pressure for young athletes to train with greater intensity at earlier ages. The goal to become the next Olympian or more commonly, to obtain a college scholarship, motivates many parents to encourage their children to specialize in one sport at a young age. This has resulted in an increased demand for year-round sport training programs, facilities and products. But is this approach really an effective way to generate long-term success in competitive athletics?

Formula can calculate a person's speed by just looking at their footprints

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:12:12 EDT

Scientists have designed an equation that provides a highly accurate estimate of an individual's speed based on stride length. They used data from professional athletes and walking and running experiments on a beach in order to come up with the equation. The result has applications in the study of fossil trackways of human footprints.

Platelet-rich plasma is most effective treatment for chronic heel pain, study suggests

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:08:08 EDT

New research aims to find an effective treatment for the two million Americans suffering annually from moderate-to-severe heel pain.

Breast pain issue for one in three female marathon runners

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 11:06:06 EDT

One in three female marathon runners is likely to suffer breast pain (mastalgia) during the course of the event, suggests new research.

Screening NCAA athletes for sudden cardiac death risk

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

A new study supports the addition of electrocardiogram (ECG) screening to the standardized pre-participation exams for athletes to better identify cardiac abnormalities that lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD) – the leading cause of death in athletes during sport.

Accuracy and reliability of ecg interpretation by physicians is limited, study suggests

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Incorporating an electrocardiogram (ECG) during pre-participation screening for athletes has demonstrated a reduction in incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD); however, it remains controversial in the United States due to minimal usage and high false-positive readings. New research suggests this is due to the challenges in the accuracy and reliability of physicians’ ability to read ECGs.

Intense, specialized training in young athletes linked to serious overuse injuries

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:25:25 EDT

Young athletes who specialize in one sport and train intensively have a significantly higher risk of stress fractures and other severe overuse injuries, according to the largest clinical study of its kind.

Clenbuterol in livestock farming may affect results of doping controls in sport

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 11:40:40 EDT

The illegal use of clenbuterol in livestock farming may affect the results of doping controls in sport, a new study concludes.

New training package could help doctors cut rates of sudden cardiac death in athletes

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 18:23:23 EDT

New training modules guide doctors on how to recognize ECG changes that indicate problems rather than healthy cardiac adaptation.

Vocal cord disorder often mistaken for asthma in elite athletes

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 19:24:24 EDT

Athletes with a vocal cord disorder that restricts breathing are more likely to be misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated for exercise-induced asthma.

Walking can lower risk of heart-related conditions as much as running

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:02:02 EDT

Walking can lower the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes as much as running. The more people walked or ran each week, the more their health benefits increased.

College athletes twice as likely to have depression than retired collegiate athletes

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:01 EDT

A survey of current and former college athletes finds depression levels significantly higher in current athletes, a result that upended the researchers' hypothesis.

Young baseball pitchers shouldn't overdo it

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 16:11:11 EDT

Following a few basic guidelines can help young pitchers avoid overuse injuries, says orthopedic surgeon and former minor league pitcher Michael Freehill.

New study aims to prevent sports-related brain injury in youngsters

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:53:53 EDT

Ice hockey accounts for nearly half of all traumatic brain injuries among children and youth participating in organized sports who required a trip to an emergency department in Canada, according to a new study.

Is global warming slowing Boston Marathon winning times?

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

Researchers recently looked into whether the effects of climate change can be found in the winning times of Boston Marathon runners.

Pathological thickening of the cardiac wall halted

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:08:08 EDT

The heart responds to the increased stress caused by chronically raised blood pressure, for example, by thickening its wall muscle. In the late stage of this condition, a risk of heart failure arises. Scientists have now succeeded in identifying a key molecule in the molecular signalling cascade responsible for this growth. Based on this discovery, they managed to achieve a significant reduction in cardiac wall thickening in animal experiments. In addition, they managed to partly reduce existing thickening of the cardiac wall.

Physical activity during youth may help reduce fracture risk in old age

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Get out there and regularly kick that soccer ball around with your kids, you may be helping them prevent a broken hip when they are older, say researchers.

Docking technique to repair torn elbow ligament yields favorable results in adolescent baseball players

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:15:15 EDT

A new study found that a surgical procedure known as the “docking technique” to repair a torn elbow ligament in teenage athletes yielded favorable results.

Platelet rich plasma significantly improves clinical outcomes in patients with tennis elbow

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 08:14:14 EDT

Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy has been used to manage pain associated with torn tendons, muscles and ligaments, mostly in athletes, at all levels. Though it has anecdotally been successful, the evidence to support its efficaciousness is weak. Researchers evaluate the clinical value of PRP versus an active control group to determine its effectiveness in managing the pain and tenderness associated with tennis elbow.

Test to gauge severity of concussions

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:20:20 EDT

Neurologists have taken a promising step toward identifying a test that helps support the diagnosis of concussion. Their research has shown that autonomic reflex testing, which measures involuntary changes in heart rate and blood pressure, consistently appear to demonstrate significant changes in those with concussion.

Cushioned heel running shoes may alter adolescent biomechanics, performance

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 09:14:14 EDT

Many of today's running shoes feature a heavy cushioned heel. New research found that these shoes may alter an adolescent runner's biomechanics (the forces exerted by muscles and gravity on the skeletal structure) and diminish performance.

Elite athletes also excel at some cognitive tasks

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:16:16 EDT

New research suggests that elite athletes -- Olympic medalists in volleyball, for example -- perform better than the rest of us in yet another way. These athletes excel not only in their sport of choice but also in how fast their brains take in and respond to new information -- cognitive abilities that are important on and off the court.

Updated sports concussion guideline: Athletes with suspected concussion should be removed from play

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:14:14 EDT

With more than one million athletes now experiencing a concussion each year in the United States, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has released an evidence-based guideline for evaluating and managing athletes with concussion. This new guideline replaces the 1997 AAN guideline on the same topic.

How chronic stress accelerates Alzheimer’s disease

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:50:50 EDT

Why does chronic stress lead to increased risk for dementia? The answer may lie in the elevation of stress steroids that is seen in the brain during stress, a researcher suggests.

Single concussion may cause lasting brain damage

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:26:26 EDT

A single concussion may cause lasting structural damage to the brain, according to a new study.

What impact does a day of roller derby have on our skin microbiome? Skaters skin microbiomes get mixed up 'bouting'

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:26:26 EDT

The human skin is home to countless microorganisms that we can't see, but these microbes help define who we are. Our invisible passengers -- known as the skin microbiome -- contribute to our health in numerous ways including educating our immune system, protecting us from pathogens, and mediating skin disorders. In a new study, researchers investigated how the skin microbiome is transmitted between players in a contact sport, using roller derby as their model system.

Steroids may help reduce deaths from all types of tuberculosis

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 09:24:24 EDT

The routine use of steroids to treat tuberculosis may help reduce deaths from all types of the disease, according to a new review of existing research.

No good evidence that mouthguards and helmets ward off concussion

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:11:11 EDT

Mouthguards and helmets can help ward off other serious head and facial injuries, but there is no good evidence that they can help prevent concussion, and paradoxically, they may even encourage players to take greater risks.

ECG screening for competitive athletes would not prevent sudden death, experts say

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:42:42 EDT

The risk of cardiovascular sudden death was very small and only about 30 percent of the incidence were due to diseases that could be reliably detected by pre-participation screening, even with 12-lead ECGs, according to new research in a US high school athlete population.

Whoa there! Quick switch to 'barefoot' shoes can be bad to the bone

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 09:25:25 EST

A new study from a team of exercise science professors found that runners who transition too quickly to 'barefoot' running shoes suffer an increased risk of injury to bones in the foot, including possible stress fractures.

Computer model may help athletes and soldiers avoid brain damage and concussions

Tue, 05 Mar 2013 14:57:57 EST

Concussions can occur in sports and in combat, but health experts do not know precisely which jolts, collisions and awkward head movements during these activities pose the greatest risks to the brain. To find out, engineers have developed a powerful new computer-based process that helps identify the dangerous conditions that lead to concussion-related brain injuries. This approach could lead to new medical treatment options and some sports rule changes to reduce brain trauma among players.

Why your brain tires when exercising

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 15:18:18 EST

For the first time ever, a research team is able to explain why our brains feel tired when we exercise. By mapping the mechanism behind so-called central fatigue, the researchers are hoping, among other things, to learn more about how to identify doping use.

Antibody response linked with rejection in pediatric kidney transplant recipients

Thu, 28 Feb 2013 17:14:14 EST

A transplanted kidney has a finite life expectancy because it often becomes the target of the recipient's immune system, which may mount antibodies that attack the organ. Because there is a critical need to extend the life of transplanted organs -- especially in children, who can face two to three kidney transplants in their lifetime -- researchers recently examined the role of this antibody-mediated injury in rejection and the effectiveness of medications to prevent it.

Steroid injection may lead to worse outcomes in patients with spinal stenosis

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 12:09:09 EST

For patients with spinal stenosis, epidural steroid injections (ESI) may actually lead to worse outcomes—- whether or not the patient later undergoes surgery, according to a new study.

Vitamin C is beneficial against the common cold, review suggests

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 08:23:23 EST

According to an updated review on vitamin C and the common cold, vitamin C seems to be particularly beneficial for people under heavy physical stress. In five randomized trials of participants with heavy short-term physical stress, vitamin C halved the incidence of the common cold. Three of the trials studied marathon runners, one studied Swiss school children in a skiing camp and one studied Canadian soldiers during a winter exercise. Furthermore, in a recent randomized trial carried out with adolescent competitive swimmers, vitamin C halved the duration of colds in males, although the vitamin had no effect on females.

Fallout from nuclear testing shows that the Achilles tendon can't heal itself

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 11:20:20 EST

Notorious among athletes and trainers as career killers, Achilles tendon injuries are among the most devastating. Now, by carbon testing tissues exposed to nuclear fallout in post WWII tests, scientists have learned why: Like our teeth and the lenses in our eyes, the Achilles tendon is a tissue that does not repair itself.

Increase in dance-related injuries in children and adolescents

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:07:07 EST

A new study examined dance-related injuries among children and adolescents 3 to 19 years of age from 1991 to 2007.

Children with ACL injuries require special treatment

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:16:16 EST

Until a child's bones have fully matured (in girls, typically by age 14; in boys, age 16), an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament -- the primary, stabilizing ligament of the knee joint -- requires special consideration, treatment and care to ensure appropriate healing and to prevent long-term complications, experts say.

Optimized custom-made ski sledges

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:13:13 EST

At the 2014 Winter Paralympics, competitors will line up wearing optimized sit skis that are adapted to their individual needs.

Study identifies skiers who can be successfully treated without surgery after an ACL tear

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:37:37 EST

Roughly a quarter of recreational skiers who tear their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while hitting the slopes can be successfully treated without surgery, according to a new study.

Steroids help reverse rapid bone loss tied to rib fractures

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:36:36 EST

A series of studies found that steroid drugs, known for inducing bone loss with prolonged use, actually help suppress a molecule that’s key to the rapid bone loss process.

Water tubing-related injuries up 250 percent

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:21:21 EST

Water tubing, a recreational activity in which participants ride an inner tube which is pulled behind a boat by a tow rope, has grown in popularity in recent years. Unfortunately, the number of injuries related to this activity has also increased.

Health and law expert: NFL not alone in handling concussions as 'benign' problems

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:20:20 EST

If a lack of speed in tackling concussions warrants criticism, the NFL isn't the only player deserving a penalty, according to a new study. Neurologists were also slow in sounding the alarm, and for decades, concussions were viewed as a "benign phenomenon," according to researchers.

Botox beats steroids for painful foot condition, plantar fasciitis, study suggests

Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:20:20 EST

Plantar fasciitis is the most frequent cause of chronic heel pain, leaving many sufferers unable to put their best foot forward for months at a time. Now a Mexican study suggests that physicians should turn to Botox rather than steroids to offer patients the fastest road to recovery.

NFL players may be at higher risk for depression as they age

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:35:35 EST

National Football League (NFL) players may be at increased risk of depression as they age due to brain damage resulting from concussions, according to two new studies.

Muscle response of soccer players depends on their position on the field

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 08:55:55 EST

Soccor players display different muscle response parameters depending on the position that they hold on the field, according to a new study.

To prevent injuries, young athletes may need to play more just for fun

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 14:38:38 EST

One way to avoid injuries in young athletes may be for them to simply spend more time in unorganized free play such as pick-up games, a new has found. Researchers found that injured young athletes who play a single sport such as tennis spent much less time in free play and unorganized sports than uninjured athletes who play tennis and many other sports.

Female athletes three times more likely to suffer from anterior cruciate ligament ruptures

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 14:21:21 EST

Female athletes are three times more likely to suffer from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures, one of the most common knee injuries, compared to male athletes.

Cognitive deficits from concussions still present after two months

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:10:10 EST

The ability to focus and switch tasks readily amid distractions was compromised for up to two months following brain concussions suffered by high school athletes, according to a new study.

Second impact syndrome in a high school football player: Researchers use imaging findings to chronicle new details

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 11:48:48 EST

Image series and other data help researchers shed new light on the rare and devastating condition of second impact syndrome.

Mayo Clinic, USA Hockey to youth hockey players: 'Heads up, don't duck'

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:27:27 EST

USA Hockey, the national governing body for the sport, worked with Mayo Clinic to release a video with animation demonstrating the dangers of players ducking their heads as they crash into the boards during play. A training program called "Heads Up, Don't Duck" teaches players to automatically choose the safest posture for impact.