Low Back Pain and Associated Factors among Italian Equestrian Athletes: a Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Low back pain (LBP) is a widespread condition in sport; it can lead to high treatment costs, dropping out of training and competition, decreased quality of life, and limitations to performance. Moreover, a large number of sport athletes suffer from chronic low back pain (CLBP). Among equestrian athletes low back pain is accepted as a symptom immanent to the sport.Methods. The study is a cross-sectional survey conducted using an online cloud-based software among competitive Athletes members of the Italian Equestrian Sport Federation older than 18 years old (n = 40932).Results. 886 athletes participated in the survey: 21.90% were male and 78.10% were female.LBP had a prevalence of 91.6% and 74.2% for life-time and 1-year respectively, while CLBP had a prevalence of 23.9%.000 Prevalence of LBP is 61% in Show-jumping, 13.6% in Dressage, 6.3% in Eventing, 2.9% in Horse Country Riding and 2.2% in Reining.Weight has a positive association with LBP (O.R. 1.05 95% CI = [1.02, 1.09] p < 0.05), while age has a negative association (O.R. 0.95 95% CI = [0.94, 0.98] p < 0.05).Practicing activity more than 5-6 hours a week has a positive association with CLBP (O.R. 1.21 95% CI = [1.05, 1.4] p < 0.05). CLBP is associated with interrupted activity (p < 0.001), drugs consumption (p < 0.001) and restriction in participation (p < 0.001).Conclusions. LBP and CLBP are very common conditions in equestrian athletes and their prevalence is higher compared to general population. LBP is more frequent in show-jumping compared to other disciplines. Age and weight are associated with lifetime LBP, with, respectively, a negative and positive association. Athletes with CLBP showed more disability in activities of daily living (ADLs) and tendency to suspend sports more frequently

Importance of the Actiheart individual calibration to estimate energy expenditure during field activities

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Non-linear Identification of a Benchmark Steel-Concrete Composite Structure Subjected to Pseudo-Dynamic Tests

CD-ROM paper n. 184

Non-linear Identification of a Benchmark Steel-Concrete Composite Structure Subjected to Pseudo-Dynamic Tests

CD-ROM paper n. 184

A randomized trial of colchicine for acute pericarditis

BackgroundColchicine is effective for the treatment of recurrent pericarditis. However, conclusive data are lacking regarding the use of colchicine during a first attack of acute pericarditis and in the prevention of recurrent symptoms. MethodsIn a multicenter, double-blind trial, eligible adults with acute pericarditis were randomly assigned to receive either colchicine (at a dose of 0.5 mg twice daily for 3 months for patients weighing >70 kg or 0.5 mg once daily for patients weighing 70 kg) or placebo in addition to conventional antiinflammatory therapy with aspirin or ibuprofen. The primary study outcome was incessant or recurrent pericarditis. ResultsA total of 240 patients were enrolled, and 120 were randomly assigned to each of the two study groups. The primary outcome occurred in 20 patients (16.7%) in the colchicine group and 45 patients (37.5%) in the placebo group (relative risk reduction in the colchicine group, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.30 to 0.72; number needed to treat, 4; P<0.001). Colchicine reduced the rate of symptom persistence at 72 hours (19.2% vs. 40.0%, P=0.001), the number of recurrences per patient (0.21 vs. 0.52, P=0.001), and the hospitalization rate (5.0% vs. 14.2%, P=0.02). Colchicine also improved the remission rate at 1 week (85.0% vs. 58.3%, P<0.001). Overall adverse effects and rates of study-drug discontinuation were similar in the two study groups. No serious adverse events were observed. ConclusionsIn patients with acute pericarditis, colchicine, when added to conventional antiinflammatory therapy, significantly reduced the rate of incessant or recurrent pericarditis