elite sports – Seite 6

elite sports sports medicine supplements

Seasonal variation of vitamin D levels in Swiss athletes

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is very prevalent in world population and growing evidence shows that also athletes are affected. Vitamin D deficiency causes beside bone disorders, musculoskeletal pain, muscle weakness and is associated with many other health disorders. For athletes in particular it may impair training and performance, prolong recovery and increase risk of injury. We therefore analyzed vitamin D levels in Swiss athletes focusing on prevalence according to age, gender, seasonal variations, indoor or outdoor sports, sunscreen use and vitamin D supplementation. Methods: This study was performed in a convenient sample of 655 Swiss Olympic athletes over one year.

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Iron Deficiency in sports – definition, influence on performance and therapy

Iron deficiency is frequent among athletes. All types of iron deficiency may affect physical performance and should be treated. The main mechanisms by which sport leads to iron deficiency are an increased iron demand, an elevated iron loss and a blockage of iron absorption due to hepcidin bursts. As a baseline set of blood tests, haemoglobin, haematocrit, mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular haemoglobin (MCH) and serum ferritin levels are the important parameters to monitor iron deficiency. In healthy male and female athletes >15 years, ferritin values <15µg/l are equivalent to empty, values from 15 to 30µg/l to low iron stores. Therefore a cut-off of 30µg/l is appropriate.

elite sports performance sports science

High relevance of difference in trail characteristics for average running times in orienteering

Background Orienteering takes place in a range of different areas including mountains and woodlands, whereby motoric and coordinative requirements on the orienteers differ strongly depending on the respective terrain. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in average speed of orienteers in three terrain types in Switzerland: Alps, Jura and Mittelland.

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Performance analysis in orienteering with consideration of both cognitive and physical aspects

The diagnostic protocol presented here allows orienteers to compare themselves to others in the sample and to analyse the proportion of physical and technical skills in their overall performance. In order to test the protocol 3 female and 11 male leisure athletes completed two short orienteering courses, one with four control points (distance 0.80 km, altitude 5 m) and one with eight (distance 1.95 km, altitude 40 m). The average running time was 6 min and 40 sec (± 2 min 18 sec) on the short and 17 min 36 sec (5 min ± 1 sec) on the long course when orienteering. After courses were marked with the optimum route running times decreased, as expected, to 3 min 45 sec (± 48 sec) on the short and 9 min 21 sec (± 1 min 19 sec) on the long course.

elite sports sports and youth preparticipation sports injury team management

Epidemiology and prevention of injuries in young sportsmen. A 35 year observational study of the sport and art classes in the Canton of Geneva

Injury prevention is a priority in the field of sports medicine and in physical activity promotion, in particular for youth. Injuries can lead to long term handicaps and disengagement from physical activity. The follow up of young sportsmen in the canton of Geneva over the last 35 years has permitted to get an idea of the prevalence of injuries in young sportsmen and allows a comparison with the general population. It has also permitted to get an idea of the influence prevention has had on injuries.

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Effects of cold water immersion or contrast on post-exercise recovery in acyclical sports : a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Les différentes techniques d’immersion, en eau froide ou en eau contrastée représentent un fort intérêt pour les sportifs afin d’optimiser leur récupération. Un manque de consensus existe quant aux effets de ces modalités de récupération. Objectif: évaluer les effets des deux interventions à 24 heures post effort musculaire dans les sports acycliques. Méthode: revue systématique et méta-analyse. Quatre bases de données explorées (Pubmed, Cinahl, Web of Science, Cochrane). Indicateurs observés: courbatures (DOMS: Delayed onset Muscle Soreness), créatine kinase (CK), et capacités fonctionnelles.

elite sports sports and youth coaching maturation selection talent

The influence of familial factors on the development of young football players to elite level

The process by which young talents develop to become top-class players once they reach the age of maximum performance is influenced by numerous factors. Among the exogenous factors, the family plays a central role. In the context of a research project carried out in cooperation with the Swiss Football Association SFV, 159 former members of the national youth football team were interviewed retrospectively, among other things concerning their family circumstances. The study is interested in understanding two issues.

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New findings in performance diagnostics for amateur cross-country skiers

We suggest that leisure cross country skiers can also profit from a serious endurance capacity diagnostic. The aim of this study was to establish a reliable and valid protocol in order to make serious recommendation for training schedule of athleths. In order to analyze the relationship between endurance performance and the technic specific capabilities of cross country skiing aiming to allow valid recommendations participants had to absolve two test protocols. The first test consisted of detecting running pace on a treadmill at a 4 mmol/l blood lactate concentration. Second, participants had to absolve a Coopertest in skating technique on flat ground allowing to measure maximum distance absolved during 12 minutes and maximum heart rate.

elite sports performance exercise physiology sports nutrition supplements sports science

Caffein bars pre time trial improve performance and reduce perceived effort

The intake of caffeine from tablets, coffee and energy drinks has shown to benefit endurance performance, whereas the effect of caffeine bars has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the aim of the study was to examine endurance performance, metabolism and perceived exertion following the co-ingestion of caffeine and carbohydrates in the form of bars.

elite sports performance exercise physiology load sports science

Mountain vs city marathon: a discussion around the concept of effort and kilometers

The aim of this study was to investigate differences in course times of a mountainmarathon (Napfmarathon) versus a city Marathon. Therefore all participants of Napfmarathon were screened concerning a double participation on a city marathon (Zürich, Winterthur, Lausanne, Luzern) and the course time were compared. Of key interest was the influence of ascents and descents which were quantified according to guidelines of Youth & Sport (Jugend + Sport / Jeunesse et Sport), whereby in first approximation 100 meter of ascent, 150 meter of descent (more than 20%) and 1 km of horizontal distance were taken as a simallar performance correlat.