National Strategy for Preventing Injuries from Skiing and Snowboarding in Switzerland

Skiing and snowboarding are very popular sports in Switzerland. However, every year, around 67,000 skiers and 18,000 snowboarders are injured so seriously that they need medical treatment. Moreover around 8 people die on the slopes in Switzerland. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the burden of injuries in snow sports. The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (bfu) developed a strategy that utilized scientifically-based injury prevention, using an effect-oriented prevention cycle. The aim of this study is to present this systematic and evidence-based strategy for snow sports.

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Use of Platelet-rich Plasma for the Treatment of Patellar and Achilles Tendinopathies

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the effectiveness of Platelet-Rich Plasma Injection (PRP) for Achilles and patellar tendinopathy refractory to conventional conservative treatments. For this, we compared the data from 34 patients treated with one or two injections of PRP. Pain, functional ability, athletic recovery and satisfaction of patients were evaluated.

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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.

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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.

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Influence of performance capacity on perceived effort

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the ability to perceive an Exertion quantified through BORG-Scale (6-20) and endurance level. Therefore 16 females and 28 males completed a lactate performance diagnostic as well as a 5000 meter course. Subjective Perception of effort was quantified according to BORG Scale (6-20). Participants were sex-divided and grouped in well endurance trained participants and not endurance trained participants. The analysis showed no clear differences between the two groups. Generally, lactate showed a closer correlative relationship with subjective perceived exertion than heart rate.

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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.

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Influence of vigorous interval training and adaptation of brain cortical activity

Due to methodological and technical challenges brain cortical activity has rarely been investigated during endurance exercise. In this respect, it is not surprising that effects of an acute bout of interval training on central nervous activity have not been examined yet. Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to characterize acute adaptations of brain cortical activity and established parameters to a high intensity endurance session. In a laboratory study sixteen endurance-trained cyclists completed an exercise bout including 3 interval series on a high-performance bicycle ergometer. Changes in cortical activity were recorded with quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) and analyzed in five specific frequency ranges (theta, alpha-1, alpha-2, beta-1, beta-2).

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Importance of movement and sports in schools of central Switzerland

This paper highlights the findings of a comparative cross-sectional study in the cantons of Uri (UR) and Schwyz (SZ). In this study, participating in sports and daily physical activity among 5th grades were observed trough selected indicators. The study was conducted in autumn 2012 and 2013 and included a randomly selected sample of 161 pupils in Uri (10.6±0.7 year olds) and 261 pupils in the canton of Schwyz (10.7±0.7 year olds). In both regions, a high rate of participation in free time sports activities could be detected: 68.8% (UR) and 70.1% (SZ) of all the children involved are members of a sports club, with more than half of them, being active, both in and outside of sports club.

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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.

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