Skinfold thickness variation and associations with cardiorespiratory fitness in male soccer players of different ages

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to examine skinfold thickness (SKF) distribution in youth and adult male soccer players regarding cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the role of age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Participants were youth [n=83, age 16.2 (1.0) years, mean (standard deviation)] and adult male soccer players [n=121, 23.2 (4.3) years], who were tested for SKF on 10 anatomical sites and Conconi test was used to assess velocity at maximal oxygen uptake (vVO2max). RESULTS: A between-within-subjects analysis of variance revealed a small interaction between the anatomical site and age group on SKF (p=0.006, η2=0.022), where adolescents had larger cheek (+0.7 mm; p=0.022; 95% confidence intervals - CI  - 0.1, 1.3), triceps (+0.9 mm; p=0.017; 95% CI 0.2, 1.6) and calf (+0.9 mm; p=0.014; 95% CI 0.2, 1.5) SKF, while adults had larger chin (+0.5 mm; p=0.007; 95% CI 0.1, 0.8) SKF, and no difference was observed for the rest of the anatomical sites. No difference between adolescent and adult age groups was observed in average SKF (SKFavg) [9.0 (2.7) vs. 9.1 (2.5) mm; difference -0.1 mm; 95% CI, -0.8, 0.6; p=0.738]. Compared to adults, adolescents had a lower SKF coefficient of variation (SKFcv) [0.34 (0.10) vs. 0.37 (0.09); difference-0.03; 95% CI, -0.06, -0.01; p=0.020] and subscapular-to-triceps ration (STR) [1.08 (0.28) vs. 1.29 (0.37); difference-0.21; 95% CI, -0.31, -0.12; p<0.001]. The largest Pearson moment correlation coefficient between vVO2max and SKF was shown in the subscapular (r=-0.411; 95% CI, -0.537, -0.284; p<0.001) and the smallest in the patellar anatomical site (r=-0.221; 95% CI, -0.356, -0.085; p=0.002). In addition, vVO2max correlated moderately with SKFavg (r=-0.390; 95% CI, -0.517, -0.262; p<0.001) and SKFcv (r=-0.334; 95% CI, -0.464, -0.203; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, CRF was related to the thickness of specific SKF and the magnitude of thickness variation by the anatomical site (i.e., the smaller the variation, the better the CRF). Considering the relevance of specific SKF for CRF, their further use would be recommended for monitoring physical fitness in soccer players

Sleep in marathon and ultramarathon runners: a brief narrative review

INTRODUCTION Sleep is considered a fundamental biological function in humans necessary for recovery from daily physical activities. Considering the increasing popularity of long-distance running and participation in races such as marathons and ultramarathons, the aim of the present study was to review the relationship of such strenuous physical activities with sleep. METHODS A search of Scopus was performed on 24/6/2023 using the syntax [ABS (sleep) AND ABS (marathon)] to identify relevant papers, the references of which were hand-searched to find additional sources. RESULTS Optimal sleep has been shown to affect injury prevention and susceptibility to infection positively. In turn, participation in a marathon race may influence nocturnal autonomic modulation and disturb homeostasis. Ultramarathon races may have such a long duration that results in sleep deprivation even for several days, where sleep duration is quite below the physiological range. It seems that for ultramarathons of short duration, continuous running and sleep deprivation are beneficial for performance. In contrast, for races longer than 200 miles, it is necessary to develop sleep strategies to sustain performance. CONCLUSION In summary, the longer the distance of a running race, the greater the importance of an optimal sleep for race performance as well as the impact of a race on sleep

Physical exercise for a healthy pregnancy: the role of placentokines and exerkines

Complications such as diabetes and preeclampsia can occur during pregnancy. Moderate-intensity exercise can prevent such complications by releasing placentokines and exerkines, such as apelin, adiponectin, leptin, irisin, and chemerin. Exercise and apelin increase thermogenesis and glucose uptake in pregnancy by activating AMPK, PI3K, PGC-1α, AKT1, UCP3, and sarcolipin. Exercise increases apelin levels to reduce preeclampsia symptoms by increasing eNOS, NO, placental growth factor (PlGF), and VEGF and decreasing levels of fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng), and oxidative stress. A negative relationship has been reported between plasma leptin and VO$_{2}$peak/kg and VO$_{2}$peak in women with gestational diabetes. In active women, decreases in leptin levels reduce the risk of preeclampsia by ~ 40%. Higher adiponectin levels are associated with greater physical activity and lead to increased insulin sensitivity. Increased adiponectin levels in preeclampsia and exercise counteract inflammatory and atherogenic activities while also having vascular protective effects. Exercise increases irisin levels that correlate negatively with fasting glucose, insulin concentration, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels. Irisin augments mRNA expression levels of UCP1 and cell death-inducing DNA fragmentation factor-like effector A (cidea) to cause browning of adipose tissue, increased thermogenesis, and increased energy consumption. Irisin concentrations in mothers with preeclampsia in the third trimester negatively correlate with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Expression levels of chemerin, IL-6, and TNF-α are increased in gestational diabetes, and the increases in chemerin in late pregnancy positively correlate with the ratio of sFlt-1 to PlGF as a marker of preeclampsia. The effects of physical exercise on placentokines and exerkines in women at various stages of pregnancy remain poorly understood

Sleep in marathon and ultramarathon runners: a brief narrative review

IntroductionSleep is considered a fundamental biological function in humans necessary for recovery from daily physical activities. Considering the increasing popularity of long-distance running and participation in races such as marathons and ultramarathons, the aim of the present study was to review the relationship of such strenuous physical activities with sleep.MethodsA search of Scopus was performed on 24/6/2023 using the syntax [ABS (sleep) AND ABS (marathon)] to identify relevant papers, the references of which were hand-searched to find additional sources.ResultsOptimal sleep has been shown to affect injury prevention and susceptibility to infection positively. In turn, participation in a marathon race may influence nocturnal autonomic modulation and disturb homeostasis. Ultramarathon races may have such a long duration that results in sleep deprivation even for several days, where sleep duration is quite below the physiological range. It seems that for ultramarathons of short duration, continuous running and sleep deprivation are beneficial for performance. In contrast, for races longer than 200 miles, it is necessary to develop sleep strategies to sustain performance.ConclusionIn summary, the longer the distance of a running race, the greater the importance of an optimal sleep for race performance as well as the impact of a race on sleep

Nach 34 Jahren Beschwerden und Abklärungen sollte man noch an ein neurogenes Thoracic-Outlet-Syndrom denken

Zusammenfassung. Wir berichten über einen 52-jährigen Patienten, der während Jahren wegen Kopfschmerzen, Schmerzen im Bereich des Nackens und der Arme sowie Schwitzen in Behandlung war. Trotz verschiedener Therapieansätze gab es keine Besserung der Symptome. Die weiteren Abklärungen zeigten ein beidseitiges neurogenes Thoracic-Outlet-Syndrom (TOS) bei Status nach multiplen beidseitigen Rippenfrakturen nach Fenstersturz im Alter von 18 Jahren. Nach der Operation des beidseitigen neurogenen TOS waren die Kopfschmerzen im Verlauf fast vollständig verschwunden und das Schwitzen blieb aus. Die Operation hat zwar eine Besserung gebracht, die Indikation für eine solche Operation muss jedoch bei solchen eher unspezifischen Symptomen auch beim Vorliegen einer Kompressions-Situation in der Bildgebung immer mit grosser Zurückhaltung gestellt werden. Please Don’t Forget the Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Abstract. We report the case of a 52-year-old patient who was treated for years for headaches, pain in the neck and arms, and sweating. Despite various therapeutic approaches there was no improvement in the symptoms. Further investigations showed a bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome in the status after multiple bilateral rib fractures after a fall from a window at the age of 18. After the operation of a bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome, the headache disappeared almost completely and there was no more sweating

Cycling is the most important predictive split discipline in professional Ironman® 70.3 triathletes

Introduction: Our study examined 16,611 records of professional triathletes from 163 Ironman® 70.3 races across 97 countries (2004-2020). The aim was to identify the most predictive discipline—swim, bike, or run—for overall race time. Methods: We used correlation matrices to compare the dependent variable “finish time” with independent variables “swim time,” “bike time,” and “run time.” This analysis was conducted separately for male and female athletes. Additionally, univariate and multiple linear regression models assessed the strength of these associations. Results: The results indicated that “bike time” had the strongest correlation with finish time (0.85), followed by “run time” (0.75 for females, 0.82 for males) and “swim time” (0.46 for females, 0.63 for males). Regression models confirmed “bike time” as the strongest predictor of overall race time (R² = 0.8), with “run time” and “swim time” being less predictive. Discussion. The study concludes that in Ironman 70.3 races, “bike time” is the most significant predictor of overall race performance for both sexes, suggesting a focus on cycling in training and competition strategies. It also highlights a smaller performance gap between genders in swimming than in cycling or running

Exercise-Associated Hyponatremia in Marathon Runners

Exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH) was first described as water intoxication by Noakes et al. in 1985 and has become an important topic linked to several pathological conditions. However, despite progressive research, neurological disorders and even deaths due to hyponatremic encephalopathy continue to occur. Therefore, and due to the growing popularity of exercise-associated hyponatremia, this topic is of great importance for marathon runners and all professionals involved in runners’ training (e.g., coaches, medical staff, nutritionists, and trainers). The present narrative review sought to evaluate the prevalence of EAH among marathon runners and to identify associated etiological and risk factors. Furthermore, the aim was to derive preventive and therapeutic action plans for marathon runners based on current evidence. The search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar using a predefined search algorithm by aggregating multiple terms (marathon run; exercise; sport; EAH; electrolyte disorder; fluid balance; dehydration; sodium concentration; hyponatremia). By this criterion, 135 articles were considered for the present study. Our results revealed that a complex interaction of different factors could cause EAH, which can be differentiated into event-related (high temperatures) and person-related (female sex) risk factors. There is variation in the reported prevalence of EAH, and two major studies indicated an incidence ranging from 7 to 15% for symptomatic and asymptomatic EAH. Athletes and coaches must be aware of EAH and its related problems and take appropriate measures for both training and competition. Coaches need to educate their athletes about the early symptoms of EAH to intervene at the earliest possible stage. In addition, individual hydration strategies need to be developed for the daily training routine, ideally in regard to sweat rate and salt losses via sweat. Future studies need to investigate the correlation between the risk factors of EAH and specific subgroups of marathon runners

Origin and age group of the fastest amateur triathletes competing in ‘Ironman Hawaii’ between 2003 and 2019

Little is known about the prevalent nationalities among the best-placed athletes participating in “Ironman Hawaii.” Moreover, the age at which athletes achieve their best performances remains unclear. The present study aimed to compare the prevalent nationalities among the athletes, their respective placement among the top five, and the performance difference between the different age groups in ‘Ironman Hawaii’ from 2003 to 2019. A total of 30 354 amateur triathletes were selected from the Obsessed Triathlete (OBSTRI) website. A “TOP 5” division filter was applied for further analysis, resulting in 1 851 athletes being included in this study. Among the male runners, Americans participated the most in Ironman events (39%), followed by Germans (10%). Among female runners, Americans participated the most (54%), followed by Australian runners (8%). Male Americans also featured most among the top five (30%), followed by Germans (16%). Female Americans were the most prevalent among the top five (47%), followed by Australian Americans (10%). There were no significant performance differences (p ​> ​0.05) between the 25–29 and 40–44 age groups for either sex. The 45–49 age group presented significantly worse performance than the 35–39 age group for both sexes (p ​< ​0.001). North Americans were the most performant and frequent participants in “Ironman Hawaii.” The expected performance decline due to aging was observed after 45 years in both sexes

Eine distale Radiusfraktur ist nicht einfach eine distale Radiusfraktur

Zusammenfassung. Wir berichten über eine 57-jährige Patientin mit einer distalen extraartikulären Radiusfraktur. Die Vermutung des Hausarztes war eine Osteoporose-assoziierte Fraktur, und eine interdisziplinäre Abklärung wurde in die Wege geleitet. Neben einer DXA-Messung wurden Differenzialdiagnosen für eine sekundäre Osteoporose in Betracht gezogen. In unserem Fall wurde im Rahmen einer Radiusfraktur eine sekundäre Osteoporose aufgrund eines Morbus Basedow sowie einer Vitamin-D-Insuffizienz diagnostiziert. A Distal Radius Fracture Is Not Simply a Distal Radius Fracture Abstract. We report on a 57-year-old female patient with a distal extra-articular radius fracture. The family doctor’s suspicion was an osteoporosis-associated fracture, and an interdisciplinary investigation was initiated. In addition to DXA measurement differential diagnoses for secondary osteoporosis were considered. In our case, secondary osteoporosis was diagnosed as part of Graves’ disease and insufficiency of vitamin D leading to a radius fracture

Der gesundheitliche Nutzen von Schwimmen in kaltem Wasser

Schwimmen in kaltem Wasser (15 °C und kälter) wird schon seit Langem regelmässig praktiziert. Anhänger dieses Prinzips sind der Meinung, es habe sehr viele gesundheitliche Vorteile. Wir müssen uns aber bewusst sein, dass Schwimmen in kaltem Wasser für den Ungeübten potenziell tödlich ist. In gewissen Situationen scheint das Schwimmen in kaltem Wasser einen positiven Effekt auf verschiedene Systeme wie das Herz­Kreislauf­System, das endokrine System, das Immunsystem und die Psyche zu haben. Einen Vorteil von Kaltwasserschwimmen auf die Gesundheit kann man nur erwarten, wenn man sich langsam an die Kälte herantastet und regelmässig im kalten Wasser schwimmt. Am besten geht ein Kaltwasserschwimmer mit den Jahreszeiten und schwimmt täglich in freien Gewässern