Search

Background: The aim of this investigation was to examine the prevalence of back injuries in competitive squash players., Experimental Design: a retrospective analysis was made using a cross-section of current competitive squash players (survivor population)., Setting/participants: an attempt was made to distribute a questionnaire on back injuries to all competitive squash players registered in the Otago provincial area, New Zealand, (n = 1047), of which 495 questionnaires were returned (47.3% compliance)., Interventions: variables were cross-tabulated and analysed via descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, chi-analyses of trend and chi 2 tests of significance., Measures: the questionnaire obtained information on demographics, the level of play (ability), overall volume of play (average frequency and duration of all exposures), plus the occurrence and severity of back injury., Results: Nearly 52% of the sample reported they had suffered back injury. Of these, 33.5% claimed squash initiated their injury, 20.6% claimed squash exacerbated a previous back injury and the remaining 45.9% felt that squash had no detrimental effect on their back injury. Significantly higher frequencies of back injury were observed in males (56.5% compared to 46.4% in females, p = 0.033), in players of higher grade (p = 0.006),and with increased frequency (p = 0.01), but not duration of play (p = 1.0)., Conclusions: These results suggest that the greater activity and possible over-reaching for the ball associated with higher levels of play may increase the risk of back injury and provides tentative support for the notion that back injuries in squash players might be related to periods of relative over-use.

Objective: This study enquired about the knowledge and reported use of sport science in elite Olympic class sailors., Experimental Design: The sailors responded to a simple questionnaire., Setting: The questionnaire was administered as part of an introductory seminar on sport science during a training camp., Participants: The participants were 28 (22 male, 6 female) elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors., Interventions: None., Measures: The questionnaire asked whether or not they used a training race diary, enquired about their current and past injuries and their knowledge and use of sport science in the areas of nutrition, psychology and physical training., Results: Only ten (36%) of the sailors kept a training/race diary. Whilst only four (14%) had a current injury, sixteen (57%) reported an injury in the previous three years. The injuries were in the lower back (45%), knee (22%), shoulder (18%), and arm (15%). Although nineteen (68%) of the sailors had experienced dehydration during racing, the average volume of fluid reported to be taken on a four hour sail was only 0.9 litre, of which only an average of 0.7 litres (77%) was reported to be drunk. All the sailors reported being sometimes (46%) to very often (3%) anxious before races and sometimes (43%) to always (7%) being frustrated with their own mistakes. Only one sailor reported never having negative thoughts whilst fifteen (53%) reported having them sometimes, and seven (25%) often or very often. Twenty-four (86%) of the sailors reported that they sometimes had a loss of concentration near the end of the race. Whilst eighteen (64%) reported practising relaxation and seventeen (61%) reported practising visualisation as a mental skill, only five (18%) practised progressive mental relaxation, two (7%) practised meditation and none practised yoga. Seventeen (61%) undertook strength/circuit training, ten (36%) flexibility and twenty-one (75%) off water aerobic training. Twenty-four (86%) reported undertaking on-water aerobic training., Conclusions: The results indicate that there is considerable scope for improvement in the knowledge and use of sports science amongst elite New Zealand Olympic class sailors.