Sport Nutrition Knowledge, Attitudes, Sources of Information, and Dietary Habits of Sport-Team Athletes

Nutrition knowledge (NK) is one of several factors needed to establish proper eating habits and is especially important for athletes. The aims of this study were the following: to assess the NK of athletes from the Fútbol Club Barcelona; and to study its possible association with self-perceived level of NK, attitude towards nutrition, sources of information, and some dietary habits. We performed a cross-sectional study in two parts. First, we assessed the NK of elite athletes (n = 264) and compared it to the NK of technical teams of different sports (n = 59) and non-athletes (n = 183) of different ages and levels of education. Second, we investigated the associations between NK and other variables. To assess NK, we used a previously validated questionnaire Nutrition Knowledge Questionnaire for Young and Adult Athletes (NUKYA). Athletes showed a low median score (25.1 points), similar to the scores obtained by high school students (19.5) and university Philosophy students (29.0), and significantly lower than the scores of the sports technical team (58.5, p < 0.05) and final year students of Human Nutrition and Dietetics (74.6, p < 0.05). Moreover, we found statistically significant associations between NK and self-perceived level of NK (n = 240, r = 0.2546, p = 0.0001) intake of fruits and vegetables (n = 111, r = 0.2701, p = 0.0041), and intake of discretionary food (n = 111, r = -0.2008, p = 0.0001). Athletes with lower scores tended to overestimate their competence in nutrition (Dunning-Kruger effect). We concluded that NK of athletes needs to be improved through education plans that should consider aspects such as the proper selection of information resources and the importance of not consuming supplements without the adequate prescription. Incorporation of technical team and families to the education plan should be considered

Ankle sprain versus muscle strain injury in professional men's basketball: a 9-year prospective follow-up study

Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Perfil psicofisiológico de rendimiento en nadadores basado en la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y en estados de ansiedad precompetitiva

This study analyzed the influence of competition stress on the psycho-physiological state of a group of swimmers. The CSAI-2 inventory was used and a spectral analysis was conducted to relate precompetitive state anxiety with heart rate variability (HRV). Results showed that with a higher level of pre-competitive anxiety, HFms2 and HF nu. parameters related with parasympathetic activity decreased significantly (p 0.05), whereas LF/HF% parameters related with sympathetic activity significantly increased (p0.01). Performance was significantly enhanced under these conditions (p 0.05). An HRV analysis can be used as a quick, non-invasive technique to assess objectively competitive stress and its related performance. The determination of the profile of each individual's psycho-physiological state is proposed in terms of the IZOF model (Hanin, 2003)

Lesión de "tennis leg" asociada a rotura parcial del tendón de Aquiles

La rotura de la porción distal del músculo gemelo interno también es conocida como la lesión de "tennis leg". Es frecuente que esta patología esté asociada a la rotura del músculo sóleo o la del músculo plantar delgado, así como la trombosis venosa profunda. Presentamos el caso de un jugador profesional de baloncesto con antecedentes de tendinopatía aquílea y bursitis retrocalcánea que presenta un "tennis-leg" asociado a una rotura parcial del tendón de Aquiles

La força pot predir el rendiment i la lesionabilitat al bàsquet professional?

Amb l’objectiu de conèixer les relacions existents entre la força, el rendiment esportiu i la lesionabilitat en un equip masculí de bàsquet professional, es realitza un estudi prospectiu, observacional i descriptiu d’anàlisis d’estadístiques (71 partits), test de mig esquat (n = 7) i patologia lesional, monitoritzant la temporada 09/10, on es relacionen les dades obtingudes de cada jugador referents al rendiment esportiu per partit (valoració estadística), les mitjanes de força, velocitat i potència de cada mesocicle i la lesionabilitat. La tècnica estadística utilitzada ha estat la correlació a partir del paràmetre rho de Spearman. Aquestes correlacions entre força i lesionabilitat mostren que a valors de força més elevats hi ha més lesions: amb 80 kg són molt significatives per a lesions totals (LT) i potència (rho = 0,898; p = 0,006), i significatives per força (rho = 0,823; p = 0,023) i velocitat (rho = 0,774; p = 0,041); la velocitat amb 90 kg es relaciona amb lesions time loss (TL) (rho = 0,878; p = 0,009), i la potència amb 100 kg, amb lesions totals (LT) (rho = 0,805; p = 0,029) i V100 (rho = 0,898; p = 0,006) molt significativament. I la relació entre força i rendiment és significativament negativa en 5 dels 7 mesocicles, és a dir, a menys força, més rendiment. En conclusió, durant l’execució del mig esquat, hi ha valors de força adients per rendir millor i lesionar-se menys: de 800 N a 1.050 N i amb càrregues de 80 kg a 90 kg.With the aim of determining the relationship between strength, sports performance and injury rates in a men’s professional basketball team, we performed a prospective, observational and descriptive study of statistical analysis (71 matches), half squat test (n = 7) and injury pathology by monitoring the 09/10 season, where the data obtained for each player with respect to sports performance per game (statistical evaluation), average strength, speed and power in each mesocycle and injury rates were related. The statistical technique used was correlation based on Spearman’s rho parameter. These correlations between strength and injury rates show that at higher strength values there are more injuries: at 80 kg they are very significant for total injuries (TI) and power (rho = 0898; p = 0.006), and significant for strength (rho = 0823; p = 0.023) and speed (rho = 0.774, p = 0.041); speed at 90 kg is very significantly associated with time-loss (TL) injuries (rho = 0878; p = 0.009) and power at 100 kg with total injuries (TI) (rho = 0805; p = 0.029) and V100 (rho = 0898; p = 0.006). Furthermore, the relationship between strength and performance is significantly negative in five of the seven mesocycles, i.e., less strength means more performance. In conclusion, during the execution of half squats, there are strength values which are suitable for performing better and being injured less, ranging from 800 N to 1050 N and with loads of 80 kg to 90 kg

¿La fuerza puede predecir el rendimiento y la lesionabilidad en el baloncesto profesional?

Con el objetivo de conocer las relaciones existentes entre la fuerza, el rendimiento deportivo y la lesionabilidad en un equipo masculino de baloncesto profesional, se realiza un estudio prospectivo, observacional y descriptivo de análisis de estadísticas (71 partidos), test de media sentadilla (n = 7) y patología lesional, monitorizando la temporada 09/10, donde se relacionan los datos obtenidos de cada jugador referentes al rendimiento deportivo por partido (valoración estadística), las medias de fuerza, velocidad y potencia de cada mesociclo y la lesionabilidad. La técnica estadística utilizada ha sido la correlación a partir del parámetro rho de Spearman. Estas correlaciones entre fuerza y lesionabilidad muestran que a valores de fuerza más elevados hay más lesiones: con 80 kg son muy significativas para lesiones totales (LT) y potencia (rho = 0,898; p = 0,006), y significativas por fuerza (rho = 0,823; p = 0,023) y velocidad (rho = 0,774; p = 0,041); la velocidad con 90 kg se relaciona con lesiones time loss (TL) (rho = 0,878; p = 0,009), y la potencia con 100 kg, con lesiones totales (LT) (rho = 0,805; p = 0,029) y V100 (rho = 0,898; p = 0,006) muy significativamente. En conclusión, durante la ejecución de la media sentadilla, hay valores de fuerza acordes para rendir más y lesionarse menos: de 800 N a 1050 N y con cargas de 80 kg a 90 kg