Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Feb 2010
Morphological changes in hind limb muscles elicited by adjuvant-induced arthritis of the rat knee.
We investigated qualitative and quantitative changes in rat hind limb muscles caused by complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced knee joint pain. One week after CFA injection, muscle atrophy was induced only on the CFA-injected side. Wet weight of the rectus femoris (RF) and soleus (SOL) muscles were significantly decreased by 20% and 19%, respectively. ⋯ Interestingly, sarcomere hypercontraction, indicating overexercise, was observed to a limited extent in the SOL muscles on the control side. In conclusions, knee joint pain can trigger the rapid development of muscle atrophy with degenerative changes not only in thigh but also calf muscles. This indicates that early interventions to inhibit joint pain or inflammation may prevent muscle atrophy.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Dec 2009
Rock climbing injury rates and associated risk factors in a general climbing population.
The objective was to examine injury rates and associated risk factors in a representative sample of climbers. A random sample (n=606) of the Swedish Climbing Association members was sent a postal survey, with an effective response rate of 63%. Self-reported data regarding climbing history, safety practices and retrospective accounts of injury events (recall period 1.5 years) were obtained. ⋯ The multivariate analysis showed that overweight and practicing bouldering generally implied an increased primary injury risk, while there was a higher re-injury risk among male climbers and a lower risk among the older climbers. The high percentage of overuse injuries implies that climbing hours and loads should be gradually and systematically increased, and climbers regularly controlled for signs and symptoms of overuse. Further study of the association between body mass index and climbing injury is warranted.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Jun 2009
Exercise-induced skeletal muscle deoxygenation in O-supplemented COPD patients.
This study was designed to assess quadriceps oxygenation during symptom-limited and constant-load exercise in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and healthy age-matched controls. Thirteen male COPD patients [FEV(1): 43 +/- 5% predicted (mean +/- SEM)] and seven healthy male controls performed an incremental exercise test at peak work rate (WR) and a constant-load test at 75% peak WR on a cycle ergometer. Quadriceps hemoglobin saturation (StO2) was measured by continuous-wave near-infrared spectrophotometry throughout both exercise tests. ⋯ However, when StO2 was normalized relative to the WR, the slope of change in StO2 during exercise was nearly identical between COPD patients and healthy subjects (0.47 +/- 0.10%/W and 0.51 +/- 0.04%/W, respectively). During constant-load exercise, the kinetic time constant of StO2 desaturation after the onset of exercise (i.e., equivalent to time to reach approximately 63% of StO2 decrease) was not different between COPD patients and healthy subjects (19.0 +/- 5.2 and 15.6 +/- 2.5 s, respectively). In O2-supplemented COPD patients, peripheral muscle oxygenation for a given work load is similar to that in healthy subjects, thus suggesting that skeletal muscle O2 consumption becomes normal for a given O2 delivery in COPD patients
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Apr 2009
Comparative StudyMuscular strength, functional performances and injury risk in professional and junior elite soccer players.
Muscle strength and anaerobic power of the lower extremities are neuromuscular variables that influence performance in many sports activities, including soccer. Despite frequent contradictions in the literature, it may be assumed that muscle strength and balance play a key role in targeted acute muscle injuries. The purpose of the present study was to provide and compare pre-season muscular strength and power profiles in professional and junior elite soccer players throughout the developmental years of 15-21. ⋯ New trends in rational training could focus more on the risk of imbalance and implement antagonist strengthening aimed at injury prevention. Such an intervention would benefit not only athletes recovering from injury, but also uninjured players. An interdisciplinary approach involving trainers, a physical coach, and medical staff would be of interest to consider in implementing a prevention programme.
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Scand J Med Sci Sports · Oct 2008
Randomized Controlled TrialPhysical activity counteracts increased whole-body protein breakdown in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with increased whole body protein breakdown and low-grade systemic inflammation. We aimed to determine if physical training of patients with COPD induces anti-inflammatory effects and decreases whole-body protein breakdown. Nineteen subjects with severe (FEV(1)=31+/-1) COPD were randomized into a training group (n=9) and a control group (n=10). ⋯ At baseline, the concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-18 in plasma were increased in subjects with COPD compared with healthy subjects (P<0.05) and leucine rate of appearance (R(a)) was approximately 15% greater (P<0.05) in subjects with COPD. Training had no effect on the plasma concentration of inflammatory markers but decreased leucine R(a) in subjects with COPD by approximately 10% (P<0.05). In conclusion, 7 weeks of physical training markedly improved endurance in patients with COPD and accelerated whole-body protein breakdown in patients with COPD was attenuated by physical training independent of changes in inflammatory markers.