Read more about the article Sports and ageing with osteoarthritis post joint replacement

Sports and ageing with osteoarthritis post joint replacement

Regular sports activity is not only healthy for cardiovascular and psychological reasons, but it is neither a risk factor for increased risk for osteoarthritis, except for posttraumatic osteoarthritis due to sports injuries. But there are few hints that excessice sports activity may lead to increased risk for osteoarthritis. Therefore, adapted and moderate sports activity can be recommended and should be promoted for osteoar­thritis or after total joint replacement of the lower extremity. This leads to increased functional and subjective outcome.

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Read more about the article Osteoporosis and fracture risk in the elderly athlete: current guidelines

Osteoporosis and fracture risk in the elderly athlete: current guidelines

Eine «Low Energy Fraktur» ist das wichtigste klinische Symptom einer Osteoporose. Der ältere Sportler weist ein geringes Risiko für das Eintreten dieses Ereignisses auf. Die mit der sportlichen Aktivität verbundenen Stösse und Belastungen auf den Knochen wirken einem drohenden Abbau von Knochensubstanz nämlich entgegen. Sollte es im Rahmen der sportlichen Aktivität dennoch zur Fraktur kommen, dann entspricht der Unfallmechanismus in aller Regel nicht den Kriterien einer «Low Energy Fraktur».

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Read more about the article Strength training and ageing: background, goals and implementation

Strength training and ageing: background, goals and implementation

In recent decades, increasingly greying societies have been noticed in industrialized nations. The rise in medical care necessary to manage the health of this aging population will ensue huge financial burdens on the healthcare system. The increase of age-specific diseases, compounded by declines in neuromuscular performance constitute two key reasons for a rise in the medical care of older people. Current scientific knowledge reveals that a consequence of aging is the loss of muscle mass and thus, a decrease in maximum and explosive strength.

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Read more about the article The elderly athlete in the sports medicine consultation

The elderly athlete in the sports medicine consultation

Senior sportsmen and -women still participate in great numbers in sport events, particularly in endurance sports. Among the participants of the Jungfrau Marathon 2014 were 43% of the 3046 runners older than 50 years. These persons beeing active in sports have age related sportmedical problems. With four case reports the article tries to give concrete propositions to the sportsmed physician. Some of the graphics and tables are particularly appropriate for the counselling of active seniors in sports.

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Read more about the article Sports for prevention of dementia and age-related loss of function

Sports for prevention of dementia and age-related loss of function

As a consequence of the demographically related increase of dementia prevalence, modifiable risk factors are gaining in importance as possible preventative measures. Medical treatment cannot yet heal dementia. The effects of vascular risk factors as well as behaviour and lifestyle changes on cognitive decline are the subject of a wide range of current literature. The role of physical activity has proved to be especially beneficial. Multiple studies with different study designs describe direct or indirect positive effects of physical activity on cognitive abilities. The positive effects of physical activity are particularly notable in cognitive domains such as attention or executive functions, which are often impaired in dementia.

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Read more about the article The heart of master athletes: benefits and risks

The heart of master athletes: benefits and risks

Regular physical activity (PA) is a cornerstone of good health in the ageing population. Cardiorespiratory fitness is an important surrogate marker for survival. In primary cardiovascular disease prevention, PA is considered an effective mono­therapy with beneficial effects on the cardiovascular risk profile (e.g. lipid profile, blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, body composition) and endothelial function. In secondary prevention, PA is an addition to, rather than a replacement for evidence-based medication.

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Read more about the article Psycho-educational group discussions: effective tool to reduce overload in adolescents facing a dual career challenge in sports/arts and studies?

Psycho-educational group discussions: effective tool to reduce overload in adolescents facing a dual career challenge in sports/arts and studies?

Pendant les années 2011–2013, 151 jeunes talents sportifs et artistes du programme pour talents sportifs et artistiques du Canton du Tessin («Programme pour talents SMS») ont participé à un projet de suivi de leur santé sur le plan psychologique. Les objectifs visés par ce projet étaient l’évaluation du risque de surcharge psychologique de la population observée et le test de l’efficacité d’une intervention psycho-éducative de groupe pour réduire ce risque. Les jeunes talents – subdivisés en un groupe intervention (n=28) et un groupe contrôle (n=123) – ont rempli un questionnaire d’entrée (PRE), mesurant les paramètres psychologiques tels que l’anxiété, les motivations intrinsèques, ainsi que quatre facteurs de burnout et la perception d’un conflit d’intérêt entre pratique sportive/artistique et études. 8 mois après, ils ont été à nouveau interrogés au moyen du même questionnaire (POST), complété par des questions d’évaluation finale. Les réponses aux questionnaires d’entrée ont permis de montrer que 57.6% de l’ensemble des jeunes talents sont potentiellement à risque de surcharge psychologique.

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Read more about the article Validation of an electronic jumping ability measurement device for handball specific jumps

Validation of an electronic jumping ability measurement device for handball specific jumps

The aim of this study was to examine the validity of the electronic jump measurement system Training TesterTM to measure team handball specific jump performance. For this reason, standing reach height and team handball jump specific reach height were determined simultaneously with the Training TesterTM and a motion capture system as criterion measure. The Training TesterTM slightly underestimated the variables of interest. This can be explained by the relative small measuring zone of the Training TesterTM in comparison to the motion capture system. However, the correlation coefficients between both measurement methods were found to be very high.

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Read more about the article Apophysiopathies – a review of the literature and new directions

Apophysiopathies – a review of the literature and new directions

Apophysitis are part of the growth-related diseases within youth athlete population. Despite their high incidence within this growing cohort, many doubts remain. The physiopathology is still debated. Initially, the fragmentation of the ossification center was seen as the main factor of the disease. For few years, this theory has been questioned due to consistent signs of tendon suffering. Apophysitis may have some negative long-term effect on a sporting career. There is currently poor scientific evidence on the optimal management and no treatment has been widely accepted.

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Read more about the article Effectiveness of an online tailored intervention on determinants and behaviour to prevent ­running related sports injuries: a randomised controlled trial

Effectiveness of an online tailored intervention on determinants and behaviour to prevent ­running related sports injuries: a randomised controlled trial

Objective. Sports injuries are one of the most common injuries in the modern Western society. In line with the increased interest in eHealth, a tailor-based online injury prevention intervention was developed to influence determinants and actual sports injury preventive behaviour. An effect study was carried out among runners. Methods. Runners between 18 and 35 years were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=109) or control group (n=105). Participants in the intervention group were invited to visit the website for 30 minutes. Those in the control group were invited to read magazines that did not contain information about running, injuries or other sport related issues for 30 minutes.

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Read more about the article Physical Activity Promotion in Health Care Settings: the “Exercise is Medicine” Global Health Initiative Perspective

Physical Activity Promotion in Health Care Settings: the “Exercise is Medicine” Global Health Initiative Perspective

Physical inactivity constitutes the fourth leading cause of death globally. Health systems are being called to respond to the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and help deliver on the promise of prevention approaches. Substantial evidence exists in support of multi-prong physical activity counseling, prescription and referral strategies, in particular those linking clinical and community-based resources, to help increase physical activity (PA) levels. In late 2007, the “Exercise is Medicine” (EIM) initiative was established by the American College of Sports Medicine to institutionalize PA promotion into the US healthcare system.

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Read more about the article “Exercise is Medicine” in Latin America: training health care professionals in physical activity prescription

“Exercise is Medicine” in Latin America: training health care professionals in physical activity prescription

Health care professionals (HCPs) play an important role promoting healthy habits to patients, yet they lack knowledge, training and self-efficacy to effectively prescribe physical activity (PA). In 2011, the “Exercise is Medicine” Latin American Regional Center developed a one-day (8 hours) in-person course on PA and exercise prescription for HCPs, with theoretical and practical components. Contents include evidence-based health benefits of PA, screening for major risk factors, key behavioral change strategies, basic exercise testing, and prescription and referrals principles.

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Read more about the article Exercise in Medicine in Russia

Exercise in Medicine in Russia

Noncommunicable diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases and cancers, and external causes account for more than 80% of mortality in Russia. The leading causes of death and disability are directly associated with behavioural risk factors, physical inactivity being one of them. Until a few years ago, a clear standard recommendation on physical activity (PA) counselling for general practitioners did not exist in Russia. In 2010, the guidelines on physical activity counselling for primary health care providers were developed. On the basis of these guidelines the national recommendations on PA were developed in 2011.

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Read more about the article Physical activity promotion in primary health care in Slovenia

Physical activity promotion in primary health care in Slovenia

In Slovenia, the role of general practitioners in counselling physical activity for prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well recognized. The role of general practitioners in advising healthy lifestyle for individuals who are at risk of developing CVD is formally defined in the National Program for Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, which has been running since 2001. Part of the program is counselling on healthy lifestyle including physical activity, performed in all health centres across the country. First a screening and medical examination is performed. In case of higher risk for CVD (>20%) the physician should give advice on the particular risk factor and direct patients to health-education centres, where they can participate in healthy lifestyle workshops lead by health professionals.

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Read more about the article Exercise Referral in Germany

Exercise Referral in Germany

Primary care physicians in Germany are potentially in a pivotal position to provide physical activity counselling and exercise referral for their patients. The preventative prescription scheme dates back to the late 1970s. This scheme called “green prescription” (Grünes Rezept), however, could not be established as exercise referral scheme in primary care on a regular and systematic basis. After the German Medical Association (Bundesärztekammer), the German Association for Sports Medicine and Prevention (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Sportmedizin und Prävention) and the German Olympic Sports Federation (Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund) had developed the standardized national quality criteria of Physical Activity on Prescription in a joint effort, the German Medical Association has adopted them in 2011 and now recommends them to the Medical Associations of the Federal States for implementation.

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Read more about the article Experiences in physical activity promotion in health care settings for primary prevention in the UK

Experiences in physical activity promotion in health care settings for primary prevention in the UK

In addition to the delivery of primary care services, recent changes to the NHS in the United Kingdom have placed increasing responsibility on GPs for the commissioning of the full range of health services from prevention through to clinical interventions and rehabilitation. Whilst historically there has always been an expectation that primary care professionals were ideally placed to provide support for prevention as well as treatment, their active engagement in the promotion of physical activity has remained largely superficial.

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