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Objective: Mid‐life cardiovascular risk factors are associated with later cognitive decline. Whether repetitive head injury among professional athletes impacts cardiovascular risk is unknown. We investigated associations between concussion burden and postcareer hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes among former professional American‐style football (ASF) players. Methods: In a cross‐sectional study of 4080 professional ASF players conducted between January 2015 and March 2022, we used an mulitsymptom concussion symptom score (CSS) and the number of loss‐of‐consciousness (LOC) episodes as a single severe symptom to quantify football‐related concussion exposure. Primary outcomes were hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes, defined by current or recommended prescription medication use. Results: The prevalence of hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes among former players (52 ± 14 years of age) was 37%, 34%, and 9%. Concussion burden was significantly associated with hypertension (lowest vs. highest CSS quartile, odds ratio (OR) = 1.99; 95%CI: 1.33–2.98; p < 0.01) and high cholesterol (lowest vs. moderate CSS, OR = 1.46, 95%CI, 1.11–1.91; p < 0.01), but not diabetes. In fully adjusted models, the prevalence of multiple CVD was associated with CSS. These results were driven by younger former players (≤ 40 year of age) in which the odds of hypertension were over three times higher in those in the highest CSS quartile (OR = 3.29, 95%CI: 1.39–7.61; p = 0.01). Results were similar for LOC analyses. Interpretation: Prior concussion burden is associated with postcareer atherogenic cardiovascular risk profiles among former professional American football players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Professional ice hockey players may contract irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Aims: To investigate the presence of contact allergy (CA) in professional ice hockey players in Sweden. Methods: Ten teams from the two top leagues were assessed for potential occupational exposure to sensitizers. Exactly 107 players were patch tested with an extended baseline series and a working series, in total 74 test preparations. The CA rates were compared between the ice hockey players and controls from the general population and dermatitis patients. Results: One out of 4 players had at least one contact allergy. The most common sensitizers were Amerchol L 101, nickel and oxidized limonene. CA was as common in the ice hockey players as in dermatitis patients and significantly more common than in the general population. Fragrances and combined sensitizers in cosmetic products (fragrances + preservatives + emulsifier) were significantly more common in ice hockey players compared with the general population. Conclusion: The possible relationship between CA to fragrances and cosmetic products on the one hand and the presence of dermatitis on the other should be explored further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Thermoplastic mouthguards have been a reliable means of protection against impacts and shocks for a century. Although orofacial injuries are prevalent among basketball players, many athletes still avoid using mouthguards due to concerns regarding impaired breathing, speech interference, and nausea. This study aims to compare basketball players' subjective assessments of two different thicknesses of custom‐made mouthguards (MGs) with boil‐and‐bite MGs (B&B MG). Material and Methods: A total of 60 systematically healthy male professional basketball players, without active orthodontic treatment, were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups: Group 1 (received B&B MGs; n = 20), Group 2 (received custom‐made MGs with a 3 mm thickness [ethyl vinyl asetat]; n = 20), and Group 3 (received custom‐made MGs with a 5 mm thickness; n = 20). To evaluate MG comfort and usability, 12 key factors, including comfort, fit, stability, tiredness, thirsting, oral dryness, nausea, speaking, breathing, drinking, ease of wear and removal, and inclination to chew, were assessed. The athletes were made to rate these factors using a 10 cm‐long Visual Analog Scale, measured at three‐time intervals, and the values for both inter‐group and intra‐group were compared. Results: Data from 48 basketball players were retrieved, and data analysis revealed that B&B MGs had the least favorable parameter values. Among the B&B MG group, stability was reported to be poorer during the initial measurement (p <.05). In the second measurement, B&B MGs showed significantly lower values for comfort, stability, tiredness, speaking, and inclination to chew (p <.05). During the third measurement, the B&B MG group exhibited significantly reduced values for comfort, breathing, drinking, and speaking (p <.05). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was observed between 3 and 5 mm thickness MGs in these measurements. Conclusions: Custom‐made MGs with different thicknesses consistently outperformed B&B MGs in all measurements, indicating the potential to tailor MG thickness based on sport, age, professional level of athlete, and presence of other protective equipment. While custom‐made mouthguards are considered the gold standard, dentists who provide B&B MGs can lead to cost savings while maintaining protection and encouraging athletes to use higher‐quality custom‐made mouthguards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The potential consequences of repeated concussions in sport are well documented. However, it remains unclear whether the cumulative impact of sports‐related concussions differs between different contact sports. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the cumulative effects of sports‐related concussions on clinical and neurocognitive health in different contact sports. Materials and Methods: In a prospective multicenter study, we examined 507 (74 females) active professional athletes between 18 and 40 years of age from five different contact sports (soccer, handball, American football, basketball, and ice hockey). Data collection involved concussion history, clinical symptom evaluation, neurocognitive assessment, and the collection of other sports‐related information. Composite scores were built for clinical symptoms (such as neck pain and balance disturbances) and for neurocognitive symptoms (such as memory and attention impairments). Results: Athletes having suffered 3+ concussions in the past showed disproportionally higher clinical symptom severity than athletes with less than three concussions across all sports. The level of clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions indicated mild impairment. The number of past concussions did not affect neurocognitive performance. Discussion: Repeated sports‐related concussions appear to have a cumulative impact on clinical—but not cognitive—symptom severity. Although clinical symptom burden in athletes with 3+ concussions in the past was not alarmingly high yet in our sample, increased caution should be advised at this point. Despite few exceptions, results are similar for different contact sports, suggesting a similar multidisciplinary concussion management across all types of sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injuries are serious and potentially career‐ending. Reconstruction surgery and extended rehabilitation typically follow, but some athletes never attain the same level of sport performance. The psychosocial experiences of athletes who sustain ACL injuries and their cognitive appraisal, emotional and behavioral responses to the injury, and reconstruction require further attention during the different recovery phases. The aim is to explore these psychosocial experiences, social support needs and sources thereof of competitive athletes who sustained unilateral ACL ruptures and underwent reconstruction surgery. Semi‐structured interviews with six competitive rugby players (M age: 22.3 ± 2.92 years), elicited information at seven time‐points. We analyzed the qualitative information through thematic analysis. Five common themes emerged: (1) cognitive appraisal, (2) emotional responses (negative and positive affective responses), (3) behavioral responses, (4) social support needs and sources thereof, and (5) adversity‐induced identity expansion (athletic and person‐centered identities). In‐vivo quotes gave a rich description of the athletes' experiences throughout the "long, long journey" to return‐to‐sport. These findings may sensitize and assist sports healthcare professionals, coaches, teammates, family, and friends to explore various psychosocial experiences throughout the injury and recovery period. Phase‐appropriate psychosocial support or referral to sport psychology services is recommended to enhance the recovery process, improve long‐term physical and mental health, and subsequent performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a person‐centered approach, the present study aimed to investigate the coping profiles of adolescent football players involved in elite football training centers. The purposes were to (1) identify coping profiles based on the reported use of multiple coping strategies in response to competitive stress, (2) explore whether emotional competencies and psychological need satisfaction would predict coping profile membership, and (3) examine the extent to which coping profiles were differently associated with individual and team perceived stress, interpersonal coping, and subjective team performance, as well as demographic characteristics. A sample of 416 young French football players (males = 282; females = 134; Mage = 16.2; SDage = 1.2) from 12 elite football training centers participated in this study. Latent profile analysis results yielded three coping profiles allowing players to be grouped according to their preferences for a combined use of certain strategies (i.e., low copers, high disengaged copers, and high task copers). Results provided further insight into each coping profile membership by indicating the role played by intrapersonal emotional competence and psychological need satisfaction. Finally, differences between coping profiles have been shown in terms of individual perceived stress intensity, interpersonal coping approach, and gender. These findings provide a deeper understanding of adaptive coping profiles within a population of adolescent football players involved in elite training centers. Implications for developing and tailoring psychoeducational interventions for adolescent football players exhibiting a maladaptive coping profile (i.e., disengagement‐oriented coping profile) are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muscle typology is heterogeneous among national level football (soccer) players, but positional differences remain unclear. Furthermore, fast typology (FT) individuals fatigue more than slow typology (ST) individuals in lab conditions. Therefore, we investigated if muscle typology is different between playing positions and if the decay in high‐intensity activities from the first to the second half is larger in FT football players than in ST players. We estimated muscle typology in 147 male professional football players by measuring soleus and gastrocnemius muscle carnosine via proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Players were classified as ST, intermediate typology (IT) or FT and categorized as goalkeeper, center back, full back, midfielder, winger or forward. Across four seasons in‐game distances covered in multiple running speed, acceleration and deceleration zones were collected during the first and second half. We found no differences in muscle typology between positions (p = 0.412). FT players covered 10.9% more high acceleration distance (>3 m.s−2) in the first half than ST players (p = 0.021) and high acceleration distance decay was larger for FT players (−12.4%) than ST (−7.7%; p = 0.006) and IT players (−7.3%; p = 0.010). Moreover, the decline in distance covered in several high‐intensity zones tended to be larger in FT players (−11.2% high‐intensity >15 km.h−1; −12.7% high deceleration <−3 m.s−2; −11.5% medium acceleration 2‐3 m.s−2) than in ST players (−7.1% high‐intensity; −8.1% high deceleration; −8.1% medium acceleration; 0.05 < p < 0.1). In conclusion, possessing a particular muscle typology is not required to play any football position at the national level. However, there are indications that FT players might fatigue more toward the end of the game compared to ST players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We conducted a cross‐sectional study investigating whether sport identification predicts different forms of collective action intentions aimed to redress the unfavourable condition faced by disadvantaged individuals. In doing so, moral perceptions (moral convictions, moral violation and moral obligation) were tested as mediators. Participants were young football players from the grassroots of a professional Italian club (N = 111). Results revealed that sport identification was indirectly associated with greater willingness to engage in both normative and non‐normative solidarity‐based collective action via stronger moral obligation perceptions; moral convictions mediated the relationship between sport identification and normative collective action, while no mediation effects emerged for moral violation. We discuss findings in relation to collective action and sport research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in matrix remodeling, as well as in ligament integrity. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a severe and frequent knee injury in sports. The aim of this study was to investigate polymorphisms within the MMP3 gene with the predisposition for noncontact ACL rupture in the Croatian professional athletes. One hundred eighty‐seven (95 with ACL rupture occurring through a noncontact mechanism and 92 asymptomatic controls) unrelated Caucasians were recruited between 2016 and 2017. All participants were genotyped for three single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) within the MMP3 gene: rs591058 C/T, rs650108 A/G, and rs679620 G/A using the pyrosequencing method. For all three investigated SNPs, genotype frequencies have significantly differed between cases and controls. The MMP3 rs591058 TT (p = 0.0012, odds ratio [OR] = 38.541, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.7024–8.7254), rs650108 GG (p = 0.0051, OR = 23.338, 95% CI = 1.2899–4.2226) and rs679620 AA (p = 0.0030, OR = 34.750, 95% CI = 1.5266–7.9101) genotypes, as well as haplotype variant T‐G‐A (p = 0.0104, OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.13–2.59) were significantly overrepresented in cases compared to controls. These results support association between functional variants within the MMP3 gene and the risk of ACL rupture. Still, further research is needed to corroborate these results in a larger population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to analyze the effect of a head‐to‐head virtual race on 20‐km time trial performance in well‐trained mentally fatigued cyclists. A total of 24 male professional cyclists participated in the present study, which was conducted in a within‐factors design [four experimental conditions × four times (throughout 20‐km time trial cycling)]. An avatar representing the participant on the racecourse was visible during the time trials. Then, a second virtual avatar representing the opponent was projected onto the screen in the mental fatigue head‐to‐head and control head‐to‐head experimental conditions. Measurements [rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, and eye‐tracking measures (i.e., pupil diameter)] were performed every 5‐km throughout the 20‐km time trial. As a result, impaired total time, power output, and cadence throughout the 20‐km cycling time trial were found for mental fatigue compared to mental fatigue head‐to‐head, control head‐to‐head, and control conditions (p < 0.05). Also, impaired 20‐km time trial performance (total time, power output, and cadence) was found for mental fatigue head‐to‐head compared to control head‐to‐head (p < 0.05). Moreover, lower RPE was found for the control and control head‐to‐head conditions than mental fatigue head‐to‐head and mental fatigue experimental conditions (p < 0.05). Higher pupil diameter was also found for mental fatigue head‐to‐head, control head‐to‐head, and control than the mental fatigue experimental condition (p < 0.05). In summary, the overall performance throughout the 20‐km cycling time trial was improved by the presence of a virtual opponent for the mentally fatigued cyclists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research tested the impact of score line, spectator presence and game location on athletes' non‐verbal behaviour (NVB). Two studies (N = 240; N = 160) tested whether the NVB of soccer players differed as a function of score line, spectator‐presence and game location by asking participants to guess the current score, the dominance, pride and confidence of soccer players in videos. Results demonstrated that NVB ratings were more negative when the athletes were trailing (less dominant, less proud, and less confident) compared to leading. Study 1 showed more non‐verbal expressiveness (social facilitation) of pleasant feelings (being in a high lead) and lower expressiveness (social inhibition) of negative feelings (trailing) in the presence of spectators. Study 2 indicated that leading at away games led to higher non‐verbal expressiveness, whereas leading at home games led to less non‐verbal expressiveness in the presence of a supportive audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To analyse glycaemic patterns of professional athletes with type 1 diabetes during a competitive season. Materials and Methods: We analysed continuous glucose monitoring data of 12 professional male cyclists with type 1 diabetes during exercise, recovery and sleep on days with competitive exercise (CE) and non‐competitive exercise (NCE). We assessed whether differences exist between CE and NCE days and analysed associations between exercise and dysglycaemia. Results: The mean glycated haemoglobin was 50 ± 5 mmol/mol (6.7 ± 0.5%). The athletes cycled on 280.8 ± 28.1 days (entire season 332.6 ± 18.8 days). Overall, time in range (3.9‐10 mmol/L) was 70.0 ± 13.7%, time in hypoglycaemia (<3.9 mmol/L) was 6.4 ± 4.7% and time in hyperglycaemia (>10 mmol/L) was 23.6 ± 12.5%. During the nights of NCE days, athletes spent 10.1 ± 7.4% of time in hypoglycaemia, particularly after exercise in the endurance zones. The CE days were characterized by a higher time in hyperglycaemia compared with NCE days (25.2 ± 12.5% vs. 22.2 ± 12.1%, p =.012). This was driven by the CE phase, where time in range dropped to 60.4 ± 13.0% and time in hyperglycaemia was elevated (38.5 ± 12.9%). Mean glucose was higher during CE compared with NCE sessions (9.6 ± 0.9 mmol/L vs. 7.8 ± 1.1 mmol/L, p <.001). The probability of hyperglycaemia during exercise was particularly increased with longer duration, higher intensity and higher variability of exercise. Conclusions: The analysis of glycaemic patterns of professional endurance athletes revealed that overall glycaemia was generally within targets. For further improvement, athletes, team staff and caregivers may focus on hyperglycaemia during competitions and nocturnal hypoglycaemia after NCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Professional and amateur athletes might have veneer restorations. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of mouthguards on veneered anterior restorations. Methods: A nonlinear dynamic analysis was performed to simulate conditions during an impact with or without a custom‐made mouthguard. Using a computer‐aided design (CAD) software, a slice of a human maxilla was designed containing an upper right central incisor. The model was composed of mucosa, cortical bone, trabecular bone, periodontal ligament, dentin, enamel, and pulp tissue. The enamel was prepared (feather design), restored with an indirect veneer (1.0 mm thickness), and duplicated to simulate both conditions with or without a mouthguard (4 mm thickness). Both models were subdivided into finite elements using the computer‐aided engineering (CAE) software. Frictionless contacts were used, and an impact was simulated in which a rigid sphere hit the model at 1 m s−1. Fixation was defined at the base of the bone. The elastic modulus of the veneer was assessed by using five different restorative materials (resin composite, hybrid ceramic, zirconia‐reinforced lithium silicate, lithium disilicate, and zirconia). Von Mises stress, minimal principal stress, and maximum principal stress (in MPa) were obtained and plotted for visual comparison. Results: Von‐Mises results showed higher stress concentrations in the veneer's cervical labial region for models without a mouthguard. Observing the quantitative results for each model, the highest compressive (709 MPa) and tensile (58 MPa) stresses occurred in the situation without a mouthguard with a zirconia veneer, while the lowest occurred in resin composite veneer with a mouthguard (8 and 5 MPa). The mouthguard was able to reduce the stresses in the tooth structure and it also reduced the risk of fracture in all conditions. Conclusions: Mouthguards were beneficial in reducing the effects of dental trauma regardless of the restorative material used to manufacture the indirect veneer, since they act by dampening the generated stresses during the trauma event. Equal impact stresses on a mouthguard will lead to higher stresses in veneered teeth with more rigid restorative materials leading to a less protective effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose was to compare by each training the mental load and fatigue reported by semiprofessional soccer players comparing between regular season phase and the play‐offs. Fifty‐three players (Mage = 24.59 years) for two teams participated during the 2020/21 season. Mental load was measured with a Likert questionnaire. Mental fatigue was quantified with a Visual Analogue Scale. Four trainings were recorded each week (Monday = MD+1, Wednesday = MD‐4, Thursday = MD‐3 and Saturday = MD‐1), with a competitive match on Sunday across 10 weeks (five dates of regular season – five dates of play‐offs). A Linear Mixed Model was performed with R‐studio, using the training days and the competitive phase as independent variables. The influence of time played as co‐variable was also checked. Results showed MD+1 as the more mentally fatiguing day in both phases, although MD‐4 were the training with higher mental load reported (p = 0.001). Comparing phases, mental fatigue was significantly higher during the play‐offs (p = 0.037). With regard time played, players that did not usually play showed a decrease in mental load during the play‐offs. Then, we recommend coaches to use recovery strategies for mental fatigue, avoid mentally fatiguing tasks close to competition and considerer the time played as a factor which may contribute to individual differences in player mental fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative narrative study aimed to examine how a family of origin influenced the professional self of Colombian students pursuing a profession in family therapy. Few research studies have investigated the development of self among native Spanish speakers from Colombia. Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in clinical psychology and family therapy internships (N = 16) from the Colombian cities of Medellín, Pereira, and Santa Marta participated in this study. Data collection using personal diaries, family albums, autobiographies, and in‐depth interviews served as sources for narrative analysis. Two themes and four subthemes representing positive and negative aspects of influences of families of origin helped organize the findings. Student experiences illustrate abilities, skills, and potentialities in the narratives. Implications for clinical training and future research recommendations highlight a path forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, former NFL player and current commentator Michael Irvin shared why he believes Brady felt the need to return. The Sport Marriage: Women Who Make It Work By Steven M. Ortiz (University of Illinois Press, 2020) On February 1st, 2022, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady announced his retirement after playing 22 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Closer attention to variation by race seems particularly important given how at least 70% of NFL and NBA players identify as African American and around 30% of MLB players identify as Latino (Tower, [6]). [Extracted from the article]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a violent environment on mental health and the impact of a sport for social development (SSD) program on quality of life, mental distress symptoms, and heart rate variability (HRV). HRV and psychometric data were measured from 20 men professional athletes assisted by the SSD and 20 men living in the same violent community. The comparison of groups revealed greater sympathetic parameters of HRV, positive affect, and quality of life in the SSD group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the quality of life in the SSD group was positively predicted by positive affect, while in the control group the quality of life was negatively predicted by their history of traumatic events. Both groups reported high levels of exposure to traumatic events and posttraumatic stress symptoms. However, this study demonstrates the benefits of SSD programs in mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown created new stressors that could potentially attenuate mental wellbeing (MW) in athletes, who are already susceptible to poor MW. This study aims to describe fluctuations to MW during "lockdown" and subsequent "return to sport" protocols, in comparison to the normal "in-season" in professional soccer. Twenty-five English Premier League (EPL) soccer players completed the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) every two weeks, during the 2019/2020 season, and every week during "lockdown" and "return to training" for 28 weeks. The duration of each physical activity (PA) session completed was recorded. No significant differences were found for MW between time points (In-season, lockdown, return to training and the restart) (51.5 ± 5.6 vs. 50.7 ± 4.8 vs. 50.8 ± 5.7 vs. 50.7 ± 5.6 (p > 0.05)) respectively. Individually, differences were identified; in-season weekly session duration (243 ± 38 min) was higher than during lockdown (180 ± 62 min) (p < 0.05). During lockdown, weekly MW scores were related to the previous 7-day number of sessions (r = 0.151) and active min (r = 0.142) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, participants that exercised >250 min in lockdown, had higher MW scores (52.46 ± 4.65) than <250 min (50.35 ± 6.55) (p < 0.05). MW responses to lockdown were best understood on an individual basis. Additionally, PA only had a measurable effect on MW when >250 min. Further, stressors imposed upon players during an EPL season, are potentially greater than those inflicted by the lockdown. Implications for monitoring MW in EPL soccer players and the potential inclusion of an in-season break are discussed. Highlights Mental Wellbeing Responses, as measured by the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing scale did not change significantly at a group level across the four phases of the season. However, on an individual level changes were evident. There was a decline in the trend of wellbeing scores during in-season, return to training and the restart, but an increase in wellbeing scores during lockdown. Physical Activity had a measurable effect on wellbeing, when physical activity was >250 min during lockdown. These findings highlight the need for individual monitoring of wellbeing and longitudinal monitoring in sport to identify decline in wellbeing and implement intervention. In addition, the prescription of physical activity >250 min per week during lockdown in trained athletes may promote positive mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate whether (semi-)professional cyclists' execution of a training programme differs from the coach's designed training programme. Also, the study sought to ascertain, in instances where the training sessions were indeed executed as designed by the coach, whether the perception of the cyclists differed from the intention of the coach. This study highlights the differences between the coach and the individual cyclist. In total, 747 training sessions were collected from 11 (semi-)professional cyclists. Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) and session Rating of Perceived Exertion (sRPE) were compared with intended RPE (iRPE) and intended sRPE (isRPE), planned by the coach. Pearson's correlation, regression coefficients and Typical Error of Estimate (TEE) were used to identify differences between the executed and planned training sessions. Moderate to large TEEs were noted between executed and intended sRPE, which indicates that cyclists do not always execute the training programme planned by the coach. Furthermore, when the training was executed as planned by the coach, very large correlations but moderate to very large TEEs were noted between cyclists' (s)RPE and the coach's i(s)RPE, with unique individual regression coefficients. This indicates that the relationship between RPE and iRPE is unique to each cyclist. Both the different execution and perception of the training programme by the individual cyclists could cause an impaired training adaptation. Therefore, the coach must pay attention to the perception of training sessions by the individual cyclist. Improved individual management of training load could result in the optimisation of the proposed training programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review presents state‐of‐the‐art knowledge and identifies knowledge gaps for future research in the area of exercise‐associated modifications of infection susceptibility. Regular moderate‐intensity exercise is believed to have beneficial effects on immune health through lowering inflammation intensity and reducing susceptibility to respiratory infections. However, strenuous exercise, as performed by professional athletes, may promote infection: in about half of athletes presenting respiratory symptoms, no causative pathogen can be identified. Acute bouts of exercise enhance the release of pro‐inflammatory mediators, which may induce infection‐like respiratory symptoms. Relatively few studies have assessed the influence of regularly repeated exercise on the immune response and systemic inflammation compared to the effects of acute exercise. Additionally, ambient and environmental conditions may modify the systemic inflammatory response and infection susceptibility, particularly in outdoor athletes. Both acute and chronic regular exercise influence humoral and cellular immune response mechanisms, resulting in decreased specific and non‐specific response in competitive athletes. The most promising areas of further research in exercise immunology include detailed immunological characterization of infection‐prone and infection‐resistant athletes, examining the efficacy of nutritional and pharmaceutical interventions as countermeasures to infection symptoms, and determining the influence of various exercise loads on susceptibility to infections with respiratory viruses, including SARS‐CoV‐2. By establishing a uniform definition of an "elite athlete," it will be possible to make a comparable and straightforward interpretation of data from different studies and settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human platelet polyphosphate (polyP) is a multifunctional molecule; however, its functions are not yet fully understood. A recent study demonstrated that similar to skeletal muscle, polyP is involved in energy metabolism in platelets, which suggests that well‐trained athletes may exhibit elevated platelet polyP levels for energy storage. To test this hypothesis, we quantified platelet polyP along with NADH, a component involved in ATP production in non‐trained and well‐trained male Japanese participants of the same generation. Washed platelets were prepared from the venous blood of young, healthy, non‐athletes, and professional soccer players (pro‐athletes). NADH and polyP levels were spectrophotometrically determined using tetrazolium reduction and fluorometrically determined using 4′,6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole at the excitation/emission wavelengths of 425/525 nm. Body weight and impedances were measured simultaneously. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation coefficient. Although basal metabolic rate levels were significantly higher, platelet polyP levels were significantly lower in pro‐athletes than in that in non‐athletes. No significant differences were detected in other body compositions or platelet indices between the two groups. The pro‐athlete group showed a moderate, nearly significant correlation (R = 0.439; p = 0.0512) between platelet polyP and NADH levels. Taken together with the weak correlation data between polyP and body mass index, it is suggested that platelet polyP levels may be influenced by platelet and body energy metabolic activity. Further biochemical studies are needed to elucidate this mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep promotes health, well-being, recovery and athletic performance. As a consequence, sleep problems in athletes may have detrimental effects. Previous investigations showed that professional athletes often reported to suffer of poor sleep quality and insomnia (e.g. difficulties falling asleep and/or maintaining sleep). However, psychological variables exacerbating and maintaining insomnia in professional athletes as well as its mechanistic pathways are still largely unknown. Available literature mostly focused on effects of sport-related variables, such as evening training and stimulant consumption on athletes' sleep. Instead, the contribution of cognitive and emotional variables globally associated with insomnia in athletes in clinical models has been largely neglected. To address these limitations, this study explored the associations between emotional experience, pre-sleep arousal, pre-sleep worry and rumination and insomnia severity in a sample of 210 (25.93 ± 6.68 years) male professional soccer players. Bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and structural equation modelling with manifest variables (path analysis) were computed. Results showed that insomnia severity was associated with stimulants consumption, pre-sleep arousal, negative emotions, positive emotions, and pre-sleep worry/rumination (all p <.05). Path analysis showed that relationship between stimulant consumption, emotional experience, worry/rumination and insomnia was mediated by pre-sleep arousal (p <.05). Our results suggest that preventive and interventional studies in professional soccer players would benefit from considering global cognitive-emotional variables as targets of interventions. Insomnia was associated with greater stimulants consumption, pre-sleep arousal, negative emotions, pre-sleep worry/rumination, and lower positive emotions. Path analysis showed that pre-sleep arousal mediated the relationship between stimulant consumption, emotional experience, worry/rumination and insomnia severity. Cognitive-emotional and behavioural factors as well as sport-related variables were important predictors of insomnia in professional soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women comprise 28% of faculty in academic departments of emergency medicine (EM) and 11% of academic chairs. Professional development programs for women are key to career success and to prevent pipeline attrition. Within emergency medicine, there is a paucity of outcomes‐level data for such programs. Objectives: We aim to measure the impact of a novel structured professional development curriculum and mentorship group (Resident and Faculty Female Tribe, or RAFFT) within an academic department of EM. Methods: This prospective single‐center curriculum implementation and evaluation was conducted in the academic year 2020–2021. A planning group identified potential curricular topics using an iterative Delphi process. We developed a 10‐session longitudinal curriculum; a postcurriculum survey was conducted to assess the perceived benefit of the program in four domains. Results: A total of 76% of 51 eligible women attended at least one session; for this project we analyzed the 24 participants (47%) who attended at least one session and completed both the pre‐ and the postsurvey. The majority of participants reported a positive benefit, which aligned with their expectations in the following areas: professional development (79.2%), job satisfaction (83.3%), professional well‐being (70.8%), and personal well‐being (79.2%). Resident physicians more often reported less benefit than expected compared to fellow/faculty physicians. Median perceived impact on career choice and trajectory was positive for all respondents. Conclusions: Success of this professional development program was measured through a perceived benefit aligning with participant expectations, a positive impact on career choice and career trajectory for participants in each career stage, and a high level of engagement in this voluntary program. Recommendations for the successful implementation of professional development programs include early engagement of stakeholders, the application of data from a program‐specific needs assessment, early dissemination of session dates to allow for protected time off, and structured discussions with appropriate identification of presession resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The link between football (soccer) headings and dementia risk is a concern given the popularity of this sport worldwide. To assess this link, the cognitive ability of former professional players was tested and self‐reported estimates on heading frequency were collected. Methods: A survey was co‐designed with former players to gather demographics data; information on playing career, including playing position; estimates of total head injuries sustained in training and match play; and estimates of heading frequency during training and match play. Data then were collected by post from 60 males (mean age = 67.5; SD = 9.5), who had played professionally for teams in England. In addition to the survey, each individual also completed the Test Your Memory (TYM) self‐administered cognitive test to evaluate overall ability. Results: Bayesian and traditional linear regression analyses were carried out using the TYM score as outcome. Predictors were estimated career head injuries and estimated career headers, while we controlled for age and reported non‐football head injuries. The results of our analyses showed that estimated career headers, but not estimated career head injuries, predicted TYM scores. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide direct evidence supporting a link between heading the ball and cognitive impairment in retired professional football players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soon after the Covid19 pandemic hit, sports were halted, resulting in a natural hiatus ripe for collective memory practices. For basketball culture, this remembrance predominantly took the form of nostalgia, mostly for the 1990s and the Michael Jordan era through ESPN's series The Last Dance; when professional men's basketball is considered to have been better. In this paper, we ask what this perceptional superiority signifies. We find that the nostalgic story of '90s NBA, told by fans and media pundits, has three characteristics. First, the game was tougher, competitive, not amicable, less globalized, hence, more masculine. Second, team loyalty mattered more in the past and hence players stayed with a sole team, as they tried to defeat worthy rivals. Third, the sport was apolitical. We argue that this sporting nostalgia, which intersects with dominant ideas about masculinity, competition, celebrity, and American society's "apolitical" relationship to sport, is used as a cultural corrective to police the actions of current Black NBA players on and off the court. Through the juxtaposition of lead characters of Michael Jordan and Lebron James, nostalgia is used as a racialized symbolic boundary marker to reinforce and produce the "right" professional Black athlete deserving of public adoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is little research examining how individuals' daily experience during a pandemic affects their daily mental health status and work performance. To address this knowledge gap, we invoke conservation of resources theory to propose a resource‐based framework explaining how individuals' daily COVID‐19 intrusive experience affects their daily mental health status (depression and anxiety) and work performance via its effect on daily psychosocial resource loss and gain; We further examine whether their supervisors' daily visionary leadership behaviour alleviates the adverse impacts of daily COVID‐19 intrusive experience. Results, based on daily diary data from 139 football players (or soccer players) at 15 professional football clubs over 5 days during the COVID‐19 pandemic, provided support for our predictions. Our study extends the literature by providing previously undocumented evidence on daily within‐person variations in mental health status and work performance during a pandemic and by offering theory‐driven insights into the mediating and moderating mechanisms involved in within‐person variations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AASs) as performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs), once restricted to professional athletes, now includes amateurs and regular gym visitors. AAS use is associated with psychopathology, yet this relationship is complex and not fully understood. We aimed to assess the presence of AASs and other misused substances in athletes' biological samples and link toxicological to psychopathological findings. Methods: A multicentre, cross‐sectional study in fitness centres in Italy recruited 122 professional and amateur athletes training in several sports (84 men; age range = 18‐45 years). Athletes completed questionnaires, interviews, and toxicology testing for AASs, other PIEDs, illicit drugs, and non‐prescribed psychotropics. Toxicology was conducted in blood, urine, and hair. Results: Self‐reported and toxicologically detected use rates of AASs and other misused substances showed slight‐to‐fair agreement (Fleiss' κ = 0.104‐0.375). There was slight‐to‐moderate agreement among the three biological samples used for AAS testing (κ = 0.112‐0.436). Thirty‐one athletes (25.4%) tested positive for AASs. More sport hours/week, narcissistic or antisocial personality disorders, and higher nonplanning impulsiveness scores predicted AAS use (pseudo‐R2 = 0.665). AAS users did not differ significantly from non‐users in major psychopathology, but their Hypomania Checklist‐32 score, which also predicted AAS use, was significantly higher (p < 0.001), suggesting increased odds for cyclothymic disorder or subthreshold hypomania. Conclusions: Our results have implications for studying AAS users, as they identify a cluster of variables that may be relevant in future understanding of AAS use risks (e.g., personality disorders). Possible disagreements between AAS assessment methods should be considered when implementing harm reduction interventions, such as needle and syringe distribution, health education, and counselling, as well as surveillance programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the risk of mortality from mental disorders and suicide in professional sports associated with repeated head impacts. Methods: A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and SPORTDiscus (since inception to June 8, 2021) to find studies comparing the incidence of mortality from mental disorders or suicide in former or active professional athletes of sports characterized by repeated head impacts vs athletes with no such exposure or the general non‐athletic population. Results: Seven retrospective studies of moderate‐to‐high quality that included data from boxers and from basketball, ice hockey, soccer, and National Football League (NFL) players, respectively (total = 27 477 athletes, 100% male) met all inclusion criteria. Former male NFL players (n = 13 217) had a lower risk of mortality from mental disorders (standard mortality rate [SMR] = 0.30; 0.12–0.77; p = 0.012) and suicide (SMR = 0.54; 0.37–0.78; p < 0.001) than the general population. This finding was also corroborated in male soccer players (n = 13,065; SMR = 0.55; 0.46–0.67; p < 0.001). Male athletes participating in sports associated with repeated head impacts (n = 18,606) had also a lower risk of all‐cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality (all p < 0.01) than the general population. Conclusions: Participation of male athletes in American football or soccer at the professional level might confer a certain protective effect against mortality from mental disorders or suicide, besides its association with a lower risk of all‐cause, CVD, or cancer‐related mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The study explores male footballers' experiences of Mental Skills Training (MST) – usually carried out by sports psychologists, and counselling (Herzog & Hays, 2012). Method: This research's aim begged a qualitative approach – interpretative phenomenological analysis. Semi‐structured, audio‐recorded interviews were used with seven participant‐footballers. Findings: Participants faced a number of unique challenges throughout their career and consider support pivotal for their success in the industry. Parental and institutional support were key sources for support. Participants experienced counselling as a safe and reliable space, where the therapeutic relationship extended beyond football‐related issues. Participants explained that MST can be self‐taught, is a direct hands‐on approach, can be practised whilst injured, and a first point of contact with other services and forms of therapeutic support. Views on their expectations of MST and counselling services varied: either compatible and should be delivered by the same person, or different and should delivered separately. Participants identified others' perceptions as possible challenges for footballers accessing MST and counselling. Recommendations: Participants recommended further research with other athletes, with footballers from diverse countries and cultures, with other helping professionals, with leaders, with managers and sponsors of football, and with sports in general. Participants suggested counsellor‐training in sport psychology, sports psychologists and counsellors' participation in sporting contexts, and developing working relationships with kindred professions. They also argued for awareness campaigns with the general public and with stakeholders. An amendment to the local national policy should incorporate mental and social well‐being of athletes as a priority for sporting institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This research explored the experience of footballers who had experienced a sports‐related injury and sought psychological and/or counselling support. What interventions did athletes find helpful/not helpful for coping with such an experience? Method: Drawing upon the principles of phenomenology, hermeneutics, and ideography, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to provide insight into the athletes' experiences and their personal perceptions of the injury. Semi‐structured interviews with six Maltese top‐level football players who have sustained and overcome a sports‐related injury were used for the collection of data. Findings: The athletes' appraisals of their injury were explored, and their attitudes towards the different forms of support received and the psychological interventions used were identified. Despite the psychological support sought and received on a personal level, the participants suggested that their mental health was often overlooked by their clubs, leaving them with feelings of helplessness and insecurity. Recommendations: Recommendations, which can be adopted to create sports environments that promote athletes' psychological well‐being, are presented. These include recruiting professional service providers such as counsellors and sport psychologists within clubs, as well as the promotion of such services to diminish the stigma around athletes' mental health. Since sport psychologists usually focus on sports' performance enhancement, it may be wise for clubs to create transdisciplinary teams, which include other health professionals, such as counsellors, for more in‐depth one‐to‐one counselling related to readiness to play. This suggests the implementation of holistic sport education programmes promoting mental well‐being. Recommendations for further research are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this study were to: (1) identify the representative external load profile of match-play in Spanish professional soccer players by principal components analysis (PCA), and (2) analyse the effect of match location (home vs away), match outcome (win vs draw vs loss) and length of the microcycle (5 vs 6 vs 7 vs 8 vs 9 days) on the external load profile. Data were collected during one season consisting of 42 matches in LaLiga 123 and 11 external load variables were selected after the PCA. TD, total distance covered; DIS0–6: distance from 0 to 6 km/h; DIS21–24: distance from 21 to 24 km/h; HSRD: high-speed running distance above 21 km/h; HSRA: total of high-speed running actions above 21 km/h; VMAX: maximum speed in km/h; Sprints: total of actions above 24 km/h; ACC: total of accelerations; ACCG-avg: average accelerometer G-force; ACCMAX: maximum acceleration (m/s2); DECMAX: maximum deceleration (m/s2). Match location had an impact on HSRD (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05), DIS0–6 (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05), and ACCMAX (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05). Match outcome had a relation to TD (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05), DIS0–6 (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05) and HSRD (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05). Length of the microcycle had an impact on TD (p < 0.01; ES = 0.05), DIS0–6 (p < 0.01; ES = 0.11), ACC (p < 0.01; ES = 0.04) and VMAX (p < 0.01; ES = 0.04). This study provides coaches a selection of variables for match-play analysis, which could represent two-thirds of external load profile. Then, professionals should consider that these contextual variables could have an impact on the external load profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigates the social factors affecting playing through pain and injury of professional athletes, using Akers's social learning theory (SLT). Methods: Propositions of SLT were examined using a sample of 784 athletes from Rasht and Bandar Anzali in Iran. Results: Findings from structural equation modeling indicated that the social learning components (i.e., differential association, differential reinforcement, imitations, and definitions) predicted 33 percent of the variance in athletes' playing through pain and injury. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that athletes' playing through pain and injury is determined by the social setting in which the athlete plays, through his or her interactions with other sports culture members, the internalization of desirable definitions, imitation of others, and the assessment of personal and social benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's ability to engage in pretend play is important for healthy development. However, relative to cognitive play features, only a handful of studies have examined the influence of affect expression in pretend play on child development. This study evaluated prospective relations of 250 preschoolers' (Mage = 49.05 months, SD = 2.95; 50% female; 46% Latinx) expressions of prosocial and aggressive affect themes in solitary pretend play with their prosocial and aggressive behaviors in laboratory and school settings two years later. Prosocial and aggressive affect themes in preschoolers' pretend play evidenced specific and positive relations with prosocial and aggressive behaviors in the laboratory two years later, but not with teacher‐reported behaviors in school. Multigroup analyses indicated these relations did not vary as a function of child gender, ethnicity‐race, or poverty status. This study illustrates the complexity and behavioral significance of children's affect expression in pretend play. Implications for understanding children's play and social development include the need to consider affective (in addition to cognitive) play features, including specific affect themes in pretend play, as a potential window into children's behavioral strengths and vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gary Bloom, the first psychotherapist to work in a professional football club, discusses how he has adapted his traditional psychotherapeutic training to match the demands of working with elite athletes, providing support for their performance improvement and more widely, their emotional and mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is a unique presentation of common injury in a young professional athlete. The sensitivity of typical acute clinical signs in athletes is not known. Adequate splinting and early graded mobilization are key for successful rehabilitation, which was shorter than reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum neurofilament light chain (NF‐L) levels in former professional contact sports athletes with multiple concussions (ExPro) as a potential biomarker of neurodegeneration and predictor of white‐matter (WM) abnormality progression. Methods: Concentrations of NF‐L in the serum of fifty‐two cognitively normal ExPro and twenty‐one healthy controls (HC) with no history of concussions were measured using single molecule array (Simoa) technology. Both groups underwent neuroimaging at the time of serum collection. Eighteen of the participants in the ExPro underwent follow‐up imaging after 2 years. Results: Levels of serum NF‐L were not significantly different between the ExPro and HC. However, in the ExPro group, NF‐L levels were positively correlated with the mean diffusivity (MD) of corpus callosum (CC) and fornix, and total ventricular volume. Moreover, NF‐L levels in the ExPro group at the first visit were positively correlated with the amount of increase in CC MD at the 2‐year follow‐up. Conclusions: NF‐L levels reflect neuronal changes in the ExPro group and predict the extent of decrease in white matter integrity over time. Serum NF‐L might be a biomarker of neurodegeneration and WM abnormality progression in ExPro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of mental fatigue on passing decision-making in professional soccer athletes. A controlled and counterbalanced cross-over design was adopted consisting of three visits with a 1-week interval between sessions. Twenty professional soccer male athletes participated in three randomized conditions divided into three visits: control, 15-min Stroop task, and 30-min Stroop task. Inhibitory control was accessed by the Stroop task (accuracy and response time) before and after induced mental fatigue protocol. The athletes played a training match (90-min) following the experimental conditions. The Game Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) was used for the passing decision-making analysis. The GPAI analysis showed impaired passing decision-making performance following the 30-min Stroop task compared with the 15-min and control condition (F(2,17) = 6.99, p =.01). Moreover, an increase in response time during the Stroop task was found following 30-min Stroop task condition (F(2,17) = 6.57, p =.03) compared to 15-min of Stroop task and control conditions. Prolonged cognitive tasks may be considered a mediating factor in passing decision-making performance in male professional soccer athletes throughout a full-length training match. Thus, athletes should avoid highly demanding-cognitive tasks before a soccer match. Future studies are required to explore more ecological cognitive tasks to induce mental fatigue (i.e. smartphones and video-games) and their effects on other performance indicators (e.g. physical, technical, tactical) in a full-length training match setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: There is limited literature on the use of optical coherence tomography in the assessment of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness in sports‐related repetitive mild traumatic brain injury. Background: To evaluate RNFL thickness in professional rugby league players. RNFL thinning may serve as a proxy for wider white matter degeneration. Design: Cross‐sectional observational study. Participants: Thirteen retired Australian professional rugby league players were recruited. Methods: Participants underwent binocular optical coherence tomography to measure RNFL thickness. Each participant underwent a complete ophthalmic assessment to exclude concurrent disease. Main Outcome Measures: RNFL thickness of each eye were compared with a normative database. Results: Participants had played professional Rugby League for 18 years on average and reported sustaining 15 sports‐related concussions throughout their career. The RNFL in participants was four micrometres thinner than that of matched normative data. Cohort average RNFL thickness was reduced in 12 out of 14 optical coherence testing parameters. These findings were statistically significant in the left inferonasal [P =.013] and left nasal [P =.006] sectors. There was no statistically significant relationship between RNFL thickness and other visual measures. Conclusions and Relevance: This study is the first to demonstrate RNFL thinning in a cohort of retired Australian professional Rugby League players. RNFL changes have been shown to correlate with cerebral white matter loss and neurodegeneration. Optical coherence tomography may serve as a safe and economical means of screening for repetitive traumatic brain injury related neurodegeneration in contact sport athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone stress injuries are commonly due to repetitive loading, as often described in competitive athletes or military recruits. The underlying pathophysiology of bone stress injuries is multifactorial. The present cross‐sectional study investigated (i) cortical and trabecular bone microstructure as well as volumetric bone mineral density in subjects with bone stress injuries at the tibial diaphysis, measured at the distal tibia and the distal radius by means of high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (CT), (ii) areal bone mineral density using dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry as well as calcaneal dual X‐ray absorptiometry and laser, and (iii) the influence on bone turnover markers of formation and resorption at the early phase after injury. A total of 26 Caucasian male professional soldiers with post‐training bone stress injury at the tibial diaphysis were included (case group). A total of 50 male, Caucasian professional soldiers from the same military institution served as controls (control group). High‐resolution peripheral quantitative CT revealed a higher total area at the radius within the case group. Cortical bone mineral density was reduced at the radius and tibia within the case group. The trabecular number and trabecular thickness were reduced at the tibia in the case group. The trabecular network was more inhomogeneous at the radius and tibia within the case group. Calcaneal dual X‐ray absorptiometry and laser was significantly reduced in the case group. This study quantified differences in bone microstructure among otherwise healthy individuals. Differences in bone microarchitecture may impair the biomechanical properties by increasing the susceptibility to sustain bone stress injuries. © 2019 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 37:2516–2523, 2019 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field study conducted with professional athletes (N = 420, 72.2% men, Mage = 25.14) examined the antecedents of stress linked to career termination. We hypothesized that stress linked to career termination may be affected by the type of passion (harmonious and obsessive) athletes develop for their sport activity, and that this passion may be affected by regulatory mode orientations (locomotion and assessment) and need for closure (NFC). The present findings confirm our hypotheses that locomotion positively predict stress linked to career termination through a partial mediation of harmonious passion, while assessment and NFC negatively predict stress through the mediation of obsessive passion. In conclusion, this study provides further information to existing intervention programs aimed at preventing the negative consequences related to athletes' career termination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ninety percent do not see a need for further intervention for breathlessness, and less than one in 20 suggest specific breathlessness treatments. Keywords: breathing; breathlessness; dyspnoea EN breathing breathlessness dyspnoea 187 188 2 01/18/23 20230201 NES 230201 Breathing is making a comeback. In Long COVID, breathlessness is a common symptom, often occurring with preserved lung function but reduced exercise capacity (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12931-021-01814-9) and displaying features of a disordered breathing pattern (https://bmjopenrespres.bmj.com/content/9/1/e001126). [Extracted from the article]

The ability to make fast, accurate decisions is an essential skill for all who play sport. However, measuring this ability has proved difficult for coaches and talent identification practitioners. Pattern recognition (a key factor in decision making) has commonly been measured using pattern recall tasks. This study aimed to understand whether accuracy when recalling rugby union patterns is a valid measure of on-field decision making performance. In Study 1, professional players recalled structured patterns of players from still images (N = 20) viewed for 5 s. On-field decision-making markers, including coaches' rankings of decision-making ability, playing position, number of years playing professionally and total number of years playing rugby union, were used as predictor variables of recall accuracy. Results showed that only total number of years playing rugby union was correlated with recall accuracy, suggesting that caution is necessary when adopting these tasks for talent identification purposes. The structured stimuli used in Study 1 were not representative of a true rugby union game, so Study 2 tested novice and expert players on a pattern recall task that included structured, semi-structured and unstructured rugby union patterns. Experts were significantly more accurate than novices when recalling structured and semi-structured patterns; however, there were no differences when recalling unstructured patterns. It was concluded that structured and semi-structured patterns should be used in future studies to test whether pattern recall tasks can be used for talent identification in rugby union. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the consequences of repeated concussions from high impact sports such as football, soccer, hockey, wrestling,rugby, and lacrosse, particularly concussion among high school girls. Topics discussed include the association between downhill skiing, martial arts, horse riding, and parachuting and traumatic brain injury (TBI), a study by National Football League (NFL) on brain damage among football players, and development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

This article questions organizations' (clubs, teams, etc) responsibility in doping use from the case of anti‐doping rules violations (ADRVs) sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale in professional cycling. We built a database with 271 caught riders among 10 551 professional riders employed from 2005 to 2016 in the three first world divisions. We developed a time‐discrete event history model with a multilevel perspective to consider if the ADRV is related to the characteristic of a rider's career path (level 1) and/or the team by which the rider is employed (level 2). Our results confirm two hypotheses: Beginning a career before 2005 or after the age of 22 increased the risk of being caught. Each additional year in the pack increased the risk, despite the fact that a sanctioned rider's career duration average is 7.8 years (3.9 for the others). These caught riders have experienced a more tumultuous career with team changes and an interrupted path. A 2.45 Median Odds Ratio led us to assert a team effect on ADRV. By a team residual effect calculation, we identify 17 teams with a significant effect within the 129 that experienced an ADRV. Our results allow us to emphasize that to understand doping we must take into account work and employment condition, as well as team's organization. This approach completes the dominant "methodological individualism" perspective that considers athletes as analytical units and provides guidelines to the anti‐doping bodies that focus their action on individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wrist movements have been identified as an important factor in producing a successful golf swing, with their complex motion influencing both club head velocity and orientation. However, a detailed analysis of wrist angles is lacking in the literature. The purpose of this study was to determine kinematics across wrists and club head characteristics during the golf swing under weak, neutral and strong grip conditions. Twelve professional male golfers executed 24 shots using a driver under three grip conditions. A six degrees of freedom analysis of the hand with respect to the distal forearm was performed using a 10-camera three-dimensional motion capture system. Differences in joint angles were explored using repeated measures ANOVAs at key swing events (onset, top of backswing and impact), in addition club head velocity and clubface angle at impact were also explored. Main findings revealed significant differences in flexion/extension and internal/external rotation for both wrists at all swing events, whereas fewer significant interactions were found in ulnar/radial deviation across grips for both wrists at all events. Clubface angle only differed significantly between the weak and the strong and neural grips, presenting a more 'open' clubface to the intended hitting direction. This study is the first to explore tri-planar wrist movement and the effect of different grips, such analysis has implications for coaching knowledge and practice and should inform future research into different aspects of skill, technique analysis and may inform injury mechanisms/prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body position is known to alter power production and affect cycling performance. The aim of this study was to compare mechanical power output in two riding positions, and to calculate the effects on critical power (CP) and W′ estimates. Seven trained cyclists completed three peak power output efforts and three fixed-duration trial (3-, 5- and 12-min) riding with their hands on the brake lever hoods (BLH), or in a time trial position (TTP). A repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that mean power output during the 5-min trial was significantly different between BLH and TTP positions, resulting in a significantly lower estimate of CP, but not W′, for the TTP trial. In addition, TTP decreased the performance during each trial and increased the percentage difference between BLH and TTP with greater trial duration. There were no differences in pedal cadence or heart rate during the 3-min trial; however, TTP results for the 12-min trial showed a significant fall in pedal cadence and a significant rise in heart rate. The findings suggest that cycling position affects power output and influences consequent CP values. Therefore, cyclists and coaches should consider the cycling position used when calculating CP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the unique energetic demands of professional young collision sport athletes, accurate assessment of energy balance is required. Consequently, this is the first study to simultaneously investigate the energy intake, expenditure and balance of professional young rugby league players across a pre-season period. The total energy expenditure of six professional young male rugby league players was measured via doubly labelled water over a fourteen-day assessment period. Resting metabolic rate was measured and physical activity level calculated. Dietary intake was reported via Snap-N-Send over a non-consecutive ten-day assessment period, alongside changes in fasted body mass and hydration status. Accordingly, energy balance was inferred. The mean (standard deviation) difference between total energy intake (16.73 (1.32) MJ.day−1) and total energy expenditure (18.36 (3.05) MJ.day−1) measured over the non-consecutive ten-day period was unclear (−1.63 (1.73) MJ.day−1; ES = 0.91 ± 1.28; p = 0.221). This corresponded in a most likely trivial decrease in body mass (−0.65 (0.78) kg; ES = 0.04 ± 0.03; p = 0.097). Resting metabolic rate and physical activity level across the fourteen-day pre-season period was 11.20 (2.16) MJ.day−1 and 1.7 (0.2), respectively. For the first time, this study utilises gold standard assessment techniques to elucidate the distinctly large energy expenditures of professional young rugby league players across a pre-season period, emphasising a requirement for equally large energy intakes to achieve targeted body mass and composition adaptations. Accordingly, it is imperative that practitioners regularly assess the energy balance of professional young collision-sport athletes to ensure their unique energetic requirements are achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to quantify the food intake of an International Cyclist Union (UCI) World Tour professional cyclist team and to analyse changes in body composition during the Tour of Spain. Nine male professional road cyclists (31.3 ± 3.0 years) volunteered to participate in the study. Nutritional data were collected each day throughout the 3-week Tour by two trained investigators who weighed the food ingested by the cyclists. Mean nutritional intake of the cyclists was as follows: carbohydrate, 12.5 ± 1.8 g/kg/day of body weight (BW) (65.0 ± 5.9%); fat, 1.5 ± 0.5 g/kg/day BW (17.9 ± 5.6%); and protein, 3.3 ± 0.3 g/kg/day BW (17.1 ± 1.6%). Intake of all micronutrients, except for folate, vitamin D and potassium (which were 78.7%, 46% and 84% of Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), respectively), exceeded the RDA. Height, weight, skinfolds, circumferences and diameters were taken following the guidelines outlined by the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry. Body density, body fat percentage, muscle mass, total muscle mass and fat mass of the arms and thighs were calculated. Percentage body fat, fat mass and upper arm fat mass significantly decreased (p <.05) after the Tour independent of the equation method used in the calculations. Total muscle mass remained unchanged. Generally, this sample of cyclists consumed more protein and less fat than the recommended amount and had low weight, BMI and fat mass. It is suggested that sports nutritionists design personalised diets in order to maintain a correct proportion of nutrients as well as controlling possible anthropometrical changes that could affect performance.  [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Right ventricular (RV) adaptation is a common finding in the athlete's heart. The aim of this study was to establish the extent of RV structural and functional adaptation in elite and academy professional footballers compared to age‐matched controls. Methods and Results: A total of 100 senior and 100 academy elite footballers and 20 senior and 19 academy age‐matched controls were recruited. All participants underwent 2D, Doppler, tissue Doppler, and strain (ε) echocardiography of the right heart. Structural indices were derived and indexed allometrically for individual differences in body surface area. Standard RV function was assessed alongside peak RV ε and strain rate (SR). Senior football players had larger scaled RV structural parameters than academy players for the RV outflow (RVOTplax) (32.7 ± 4.2 and 29.5 ± 4.0 mm(m2)0.326, P < 0.001), the proximal RV outflow (RVOT1) (26.6 ± 3.5 and 24.7 ± 3.9 mm(m2)0.335, P < 0.001), the basal RV inflow (RVD1) (33.1 ± 4.1 and 30.7 ± 3.2 mm(m2)0.404, P = 0.020), RV length (RVD3) (66.5 ± 6.1 and 62.9 ± 5.1 mm(m2)0.431, P < 0.001), and RV diastolic area (RVDarea) (16.9 ± 2.6 and 15.7 ± 2.6 mm(m2)0.735, P < 0.001). Both academy and senior football players demonstrated larger scaled structural RV parameters in comparison with age‐matched controls. Systolic SR (SRS) was lower in the senior players compared to academy players in the mid (−1.52 ± 0.49 and −1.41 ± 0.34 L/s, P = 0.019) and apical (−1.97 ± 0.74 and −1.72 ± 0.42 L/s, P = 0.025) wall regions, respectively. Conclusion: Right ventricular structural adaptation occurs in both senior and academy football players with senior players having larger RV dimensions. Although senior players have slightly lower peak SRS than academy players, all global ε and SR are within normal ranges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To measure dental caries, erosive tooth wear (ETW), periodontal health, self‐reported oral health problems and performance impacts in a representative sample of UK elite athletes from different sports using standardized conditions clearly defined clinical indices and a measure of impact on performance with evidence of validity in sport. Methods: Cross‐sectional study, with single, calibrated examiner, conducted in the local facilities of elite and professional UK athletes (UCL ethics number 6388/001). Main oral measures: dental caries (ICDAS), erosive tooth wear (BEWE), periodontal health (BPE) and athlete‐reported performance impacts. Results: We recruited 352 athletes from eleven sports. The mean age was 25 years (range 18‐39), and 67.0% were male. We found caries (ICDAS code ≥3) in 49.1% of athletes, ETW (BEWE score of ≥7) in 41.4%, gingival bleeding on probing/presence of calculus (BPE score 1 or 2) in 77.0% and pocket probing depths of at least 4 mm (BPE score 3 or 4) in a further 21.6%. One in five athletes reported previous wisdom teeth problems. The odds of having caries were 2.4 times greater in team sport than endurance sport (95% CI 1.3‐3.2). The odds of having erosion were 2.0 times greater in team sport than endurance sport (95% CI 1.3‐3.1). Overall, 32.0% athletes reported an oral health‐related impact on sport performance: oral pain (29.9%), difficulty participating in normal training and competition (9.0%), performance affected (5.8%) and reduction in training volume (3.8%). Other impacts were difficulty with eating (34.6%), relaxing (15.1%) and smiling (17.2%). Several oral health problems were associated with performance impacts. Conclusions: This is the first large representative sample study of oral health in athletes from different sports at elite level. Although experience of oral disease differs by sport, the prevalence, in UK elite and professional athletes, is substantial, with common self‐reported performance impacts. Regular screening and use of effective oral health promotion strategies may minimize performance impacts from poor oral health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]