Pain management in sports medicine: Use and abuse of anti-inflammatory and other agents

Over the last two decades, the health benefits associated with increased physical activity have been established.1 However, with increased participation in physical activity comes a subsequent increase in sports and exercise related injury. It is estimated that there are over 4.2 million visits to the emergency rooms for sport and exercise related acute injury in the United States alone, and at least that number of visits due to chronic sport and exercise related injury.2,3 This article will focus on the use of pharmacological agents in the acute management of these injuries

Jet lag and environmental conditions that may influence exercise performance during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa

The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be held in South Africa in June/July 2010. This is the largest international sports event ever to be held in this country. At this time 32 international football teams, with their management and supporters, will travel to South Africa. These players and visitors will be exposed to changes in time zones (those travelling from continents in the East and West) as well as different environmental conditions. In particular, for the players, the achievement of peak sporting performance during this event is most important. It is well established that, in order to achieve peak exercise performance, many variables need to be optimised. These variables include physical and mental training, rest, nutrition, team dynamics and tactics. However, adjustments to differences in time zones as well as environmental factors on and around the playing field can also have a significant impact on exercise performance. In this review, the potential effects of “jet lag”, as well as several important environmental conditions, on exercise performance will be discussed. The climatic, atmospheric and weather conditions that are likely to be prevalent in each of the South African host cities at the time of the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be reviewed. Finally, practical recommendations to deal with the effects of jet lag, as well as guidelines to optimise performance under different environmental conditions that are expected during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, will be provided

Common injuries in cycling: prevention, diagnosis and management

No Abstract. South African Family Practice Vol. 47(7) 2005: 14-1

Books

LOCALISATION OF BRAIN LESIONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL FUNCTIONS*Mariani Foundation Paediatric Neurology: 9. Edited by D Riva and A Benton. Pp. vi + 165. Illustrated. £39. John Libbey & Co Ltd. 2000. ISBN 0-86196-599x.SPORTS ENDOCRINOLOGY Contemporary Endocrinology. Edited by Michelle P Warren and Naama W Constantini. Pp. x + 486. US$ 135. The Humana Press. 2000. ISBN 0-89603-586-7.SPORTS MEDICINE HANDBOOK* Edited by Roger Hackney and Angus Wallace. Pp. x + 495. Illustrated. £75. 1999. BMJ. ISBN 0-7279-1031-0

Prevalence of androgenicanabolic steroid use in adolescents in two regions of South Africa

Objective. To determine the prevalence of androgenicanabolic steroid (AAS) use  among schoolchildren in two geographically separate regions of South Africa.Design. Self-reported questionnaire.Population. Standard 10 schoolchildren (16 - 18 years) were selected, 1 136 from region A and 1 411 from region B.Results. The prevalence of AAS use in the overall populationwas 14.4/1 000. There were significant diHerences in prevalence of AAS use between the two regions (5.9/1 000 v. '22.7/1 000; P < 0.0005). There was significantly higher use in males (28.2/1 000) compared with females (0.7/1 000) (p < 0.005). Gymnasia were the most common source of AAS. Although there were regional diHerences in general knowledge about AAS, general knowledge scores were low across all the groups. Male sports participants who used AAS experienced significantly higher  pressure to perform than their non-user counterparts in both regions.Conclusions. Regional differences in AAS use and general knowledge about AAS need to be considered before a meaningful programme can be implemented to reduce the use of AAS by South African schoolchildren

Transient receptor potential channels and exercise-associated muscle cramping : a tale of multiple complexities

In an important study published in 2010, Miller et al.[1] showed that the duration of muscle cramping was reduced by administration of oral pickle juice immediately following electrically induced muscle cramps in hypohydrated humans. The authors concluded that this effect could not be explained by rapid restoration of body fluids or electrolytes and suggested that it reflected a neutrally mediated reflex originating in the oropharyngeal region and inhibiting the firing of α motor neurons of the cramping muscle. This observation led to the hypothesis that the mechanism by which pickle juice attenuated exercise-induced muscle cramping (EAMC) may involve stimulation of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels. These TRP channels have been found in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT), including the oropharyngeal region. Here we explore some of the methodological considerations related to a novel approach to study EAMC in the laboratory, EAMC as a more complex clinical entity than previously considered, and the complexity of TRP channels and their possible role in EAMC.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-45982018-09-30Sports Medicin

Symptom number and reduced preinfection training predict prolonged return to training after sars-cov-2 in athletes: Aware IV

Symptom Number and Reduced Preinfection Training Predict Prolonged Return to Training after SARS-CoV-2 in Athletes: AWARE IV. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 55, No. 1, pp. 1-8, 2023. Purpose: This study aimed to determine factors predictive of prolonged return to training (RTT) in athletes with recent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. Athletes not vaccinated against COVID-19 (n = 207) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (predominantly ancestral virus and beta-variant) completed an online survey detailing the following factors: demographics (age and sex), level of sport participation, type of sport, comorbidity history and preinfection training (training hours 7 d preinfection), SARS-CoV-2 symptoms (26 in 3 categories; “nose and throat,” “chest and neck,” and “whole body”), and days to RTT. Main outcomes were hazard ratios (HR, 95% confidence interval) for athletes with versus without a factor, explored in univariate and multiple models. HR < 1 was predictive of prolonged RTT (reduced % chance of RTT after symptom onset). Significance was P < 0.05. Results: Age, level of sport participation, type of sport, and history of comorbidities were not predictors of prolonged RTT

Medical encounters among 94,033 race starters during a 16.1-km running event over 3 years in the Netherlands: SAFER XXVI

BACKGROUND : There are limited data on the medical encounters (MEs) occurring during mass community-based running events of shorter distances (10-21.1 km). The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and nature of MEs during the largest mass participation running event in the Netherlands. HYPOTHESIS : We hypothesize that the incidence and nature of MEs will be similar to other running events. STUDY DESIGN : Descriptive epidemiological study over 3 years of a 16.1-km (10-mile) running event. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE : Level 4. METHODS : We investigated a total of 94,033 race starters at the 2017-2019 Dam tot Damloop (16.1 km), a point-to-point road race from Amsterdam to Zaandam, the Netherlands. All MEs were recorded by race medical staff on race day each year. MEs were retrospectively coded by severity, organ system, and final specific diagnosis (2019 consensus statement definition on mass community-based events). Incidence (I) per 1000 starters (95% CIs) were calculated for all MEs and serious/life-threatening MEs. RESULTS : The overall incidence (per 1000 starters) of all MEs was 2.75 (95% CI, 2.44-3.11), the overall incidence of serious/life-threatening MEs was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.00-1.45; 44% of MEs). Heat illnesses accounted for most MEs: hypothermia I = 0.54 (95% CI, 0.41-0.71) and hyperthermia I = 0.46 (95% CI, 0.34-0.62). Central nervous system MEs were also common (dizziness/nausea, I = 0.79; 95% CI 0.63-0.99), followed by the cardiovascular system MEs (exercise-associated postural hypotension, I = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.26-0.51). CONCLUSION : The overall incidence of MEs was low compared with longer-distance races (21.1-90 km), but the incidence and relative frequency of serious/life-threatening MEs (44% of all MEs) was much higher. Heat illness (hypothermia and exertional heat stroke) accounted for most serious/life-threatening MEs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE : There is a need to implement prevention strategies and interventions by specialized medical practitioners in this and similar events.IOC Research Center (South Africa).https://journals.sagepub.com/home/SPHhj2022Sports Medicin