Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Jan 2018
Microcirculation after Achilles tendon rupture correlates with functional and patient-reported outcomes.
Patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) display an extended healing process with varying clinical outcome. Poor microcirculatory blood flow has been suggested to be a significant factor for the healing process. However, whether microcirculation may predict healing outcome has been mostly unknown. ⋯ Furthermore, enhanced patient-reported outcome, ATRS, at 3 months, was associated with an elevated ratio of maximum to resting blood flow (r=.809, P=.015) in the uninjured limb. Blood flow in early tendon healing is associated with long-term patient-reported and functional outcomes after ATR. The microcirculatory blood flow of both the healing and contralateral Achilles tendon seems to determine the healing potential after injury.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Jan 2018
Review Meta AnalysisThe effect of sclerotherapy and prolotherapy on chronic painful Achilles tendinopathy-a systematic review including meta-analysis.
Chronic painful Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a common disorder among athletes. Sclerotherapy (ST) and prolotherapy (PT) are two promising options among the numerous other conservative therapies. As their efficacy and potential adverse effects (AE) are still unclear, we systematically searched, analyzed, and synthesized the available literature on ST and PT for treating AT. ⋯ Only one serious AE and two minor AEs were reported in the entire literature. This systematic review suggests that ST and PT may be effective treatment options for AT and that they can be considered safe. Long-term studies and RCTs are still needed to support their recommendation.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Jan 2018
Blood flow after contraction and cuff occlusion is reduced in subjects with muscle soreness after eccentric exercise.
Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) occurs within 1-2 days after eccentric exercise, but the mechanism mediating hypersensitivity is unclear. This study hypothesized that eccentric exercise reduces the blood flow response following muscle contractions and cuff occlusion, which may result in accumulated algesic substances being a part of the sensitization in DOMS. Twelve healthy subjects (five women) performed dorsiflexion exercise (five sets of 10 repeated eccentric contractions) in one leg, while the contralateral leg was the control. ⋯ Compared with pre-exercise (day 0), reduced PPT (~25%, P<.002), MVC (~22%, P<.002), ATA diameter (~8%, P<.002), ATA post-contraction/occlusion blood flow (~16%, P<.04), and intramuscular peak blood flow (~23%, P<.03) were found in the DOMS leg on day 2 but not in the control leg. These results showed that eccentric contractions decreased vessel diameter, impaired the blood flow response, and promoted hyperalgesia. Thus, the results suggest that the blood flow reduction may be involved in the increased pain response after eccentric exercise.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Jan 2018
Examining the effects of rational emotive behavior therapy on performance outcomes in elite paralympic athletes.
Traditionally a psychotherapeutic intervention, rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT) is receiving increasing attention within the extant literature as an intervention to enhance the athletic performance and psychological well-being of competitive athletes. Whilst the benefits of REBT on psychological health are established, less is understood about the effects on athletic performance. This study aimed to examine the immediate and maintained effects of REBT on physiological, psychological, and performance outcomes with elite Paralympic athletes. ⋯ Furthermore, social validation data indicated greater self-awareness, emotional control, and enhanced focus during competition as a result of the REBT intervention. This study contributes to growing literature supporting the efficacy of REBT as an intervention that not only facilitates psychological health but also enhances athletic performance. Results are discussed with reference to theory, limitations, and future recommendations.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Jan 2018
Autonomic testing for prediction of competition performance in Paralympic athletes.
While we now appreciate that autonomic dysfunction can impact wheelchair rugby performance, this is currently not being assessed during classification, largely due to lack of a standardized and evidence-based strategy to assess autonomic function. Our aim, therefore, was to establish the optimal autonomic testing protocol that best predicts cardiovascular capacity during competition by comprehensively examining autonomic function in elite wheelchair rugby athletes with cervical SCI and thereby enhance the standardized classification. Twenty-six individuals with cervical SCI (C4-C8; AIS A, B, C) participated in this study during the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, Canada. ⋯ Conversely, International Wheelchair Rugby Federation classification was poorly associated with in-competition peak heart rate (R2 =.204; P<.05). Autonomic testing provides deep insight regarding preserved autonomic control after SCI that is associated with performance in elite wheelchair rugby athletes. As such, incorporating assessments of cardiovascular capacity in classification will help to ensure a level playing field and may obviate the need for practices such as boosting to gain an advantage due to poor cardiovascular control.