Research in Sports Medicine最新文献

Elite-level American football and rugby union have growing clinical and legal concerns over player safety. A comparison of current indicative trends in concussion and head acceleration events (HAEs) in elite-level American football and English rugby union was undertaken. Elite-level rugby union players have a greater number of professional playing years and matches available in an English season than their American football counterparts. Elite-level rugby union players in England have a greater number of concussions reported per match and a higher proportion of concussions occurring during training sessions, based on National Football League (NFL) and Rugby Football Union (RFU) injury reports. Preliminary findings indicate that elite-level rugby union players in England experience a higher incidence of HAEs per player match over lower and higher magnitude thresholds than American football positional counterparts. Taken collectively, current evidence indicates a trend towards greater reported exposure in elite-level English rugby union across several key metrics.

This study investigated whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) optimizes the upper limb functional performance in a para-athlete with spinal cord injury (SCI). A right-handed para-athlete specializing in shotput, discus, and javelin throw with an incomplete SCI participated. The tDCS was applied in the left primary motor cortex twice-weekly for 5 weeks (20 min/session), associated with sport-specific training. Shoulder medial (MR) and lateral rotators (LR) isometric torque, handgrip and key pinch strength, and the specific functional performance were evaluated pre- and post-intervention. There were increases in the Shoulder MR and LR torque increased for both the dominant (22% and 39%) and non-dominant (36% and 6%) limbs. There was a increase in the Peak and mean forces sustained during maximal handgrip (11% and 7%) and key pinch (280% and 210%) increased in the dominant hand, as well as the shotput (11%) and javelin throw (3%) performance. The tDCS protocol may enhance the upper limb functional performance in a para-athlete with SCI.

In the specific conditions of elite sport, eating habits, stress and intense physical activity influence the parameters of a normal oral bacterial flora. The diseases linked to these disturbances are generally caries and periodontal diseases, which combine to destroy teeth and periodontium. As these diseases progress, bacteria can colonize distant organs via the bloodstream from the sites of dental colonization and increase the levels of circulating inflammatory markers. These conditions influence the biological parameters necessary for well-being and performance. The aim of this review is to update knowledge on how oral dysbiosis can lead, for example, to musculotendinous injuries, and to highlight the importance of diagnosis during the dental examination and prevention messages for athletes. In sports medicine, particular attention needs to be focused on the oral condition of the athlete, to detect the sometimes-silent dental affections responsible for injury and under-performances.

This study examines the clinical oral health status of professional football players in Greece and France. Oral health is crucial to athletes' well-being, as poor oral hygiene and related conditions, such as carious teeth and gingivitis, can lead to pain, infections, and a decline in athletic performance. This study focused on professional football players, examining key oral health indicators, including carious teeth, gingivitis, and teeth needing extraction. Age groups and gender comparisons were made, especially within the French cohort. The results show statistically significant differences between French and Greek players, particularly in terms of carious teeth and tooth extractions. Gingivitis was prevalent in both populations, with no significant differences. These findings underscore the importance of targeted dental interventions for professional athletes to maintain optimal oral health.

The restoration of teeth traumatized through sporting injuries is dependant on the speed of which the patient is seen, the degree of trauma, materials available and the prognosis of the teeth involved. Whilst being a rare event the loss of teeth due to sporting trauma, adds to the complexity of the restorative process and the decision making by the clinician and the patient. From a simple restorative procedure, such as repairing a small fracture of a tooth with a composite filling material to providing an implant supported prosthesis to replace lost teeth, the patient is committed to restorative dental procedures for the remainder of their life. With this in mind, the type of restorative treatment delivered to the injured athlete needs to be carefully selected, planned and undertaken to give a predictable, aesthetic and functioning restoration for a prolonged period of time.

Oral health problems have been reported by athletes to negatively affect their performance, therefore improved oral health has the potential to enhance performance. Reduced performance due to poor oral health is unacceptable and preventable. A rapid literature review was undertaken. Oral diseases such as caries, erosive tooth wear and periodontal diseases do not present with pain in their early stages, and athletes may delay a dental check or even treatment until they perceive a problem. Oral health promotion in sport is most likely to be successful if it is embedded within overall athlete general health and performance promotion. Most members of the athlete support team are not experts in this area and therefore specialist input is needed. Regular checks, provided through oral health screening, are important, not only to identify oral diseases at an early stage but as an opportunity to enhance motivation towards a high standard of oral health.

This article explores the complex interaction between sport, nutrition and sustainable foods, emphasizing how a diet based on principles of sustainability can support athletic performance, promote rapid post-training recovery and contribute to injury prevention. In addition, the long-term impact of these nutritional choices on athletes' health and the environment is analysed, offering an integrated view that connects the well-being of the individuals with the global health. Through a critical review of existing scientific literature, as well as through the examination of case studies and experimental research, this work aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential benefits of a sustainable diet for athletes. In particular, it highlights how specific dietary choices can, on one hand, optimize physical performance and, on the other hand, contribute to a more ethical and responsible lifestyle, in line with the growing demand for global sustainability. We also focused on how dentists, particularly those specialized in sport, also play a fundamental role in early diagnosis and in educating and guiding the most correct choices.

The role of the sports dentist has evolved particularly over the past 15 years. The traditional role of dealing with dental trauma in the dental surgery environment has now been extended to include working with the sports medicine specialists at sporting events, looking into the prevention or sporting dental trauma, regular screening, looking at nutrition and having an educational role with the athletes and wider sporting family. The risk of dental diseases amongst elite athletes has been shown to be higher than the normal population. Therefore, the sports dentist needs to be able to advise these athletes how to minimize the risks and how to mitigate against routine dentine diseases. The study aims to highlight the changing role of the sports dentist and investigate how these practitioners integrate with the sports medicine teams, at sporting events and during downtime from events.

The role of a sports mouthguard has been well established as one of protecting teeth from trauma particularly during contact sports. The aim of this study is to review the roles of sports mouthguard at both an elite and recreational level. From the history of the first mouthguards, to a modern custom-made mouthguard, the role of the mouthguard has expanded. This review will look at the development of the mouthguard, the materials used to manufacture modern mouthguards and the different types available to elite and recreational athletes from a variety of sports. The mouthguard is now recognized as an essential piece of preventative equipment by many authors. This article shows that comfort, respiration and speech are not negatively affected by a well-fitting mouthguard. Many sports do not mandate the use of mouthguards but those that do have seen a significant reduction in oro-facial trauma incidence.

Sports play an important and positive role in the lives of millions of children and adolescents worldwide. The risk of injuryin this case, dental injuries, is an ever-present danger to the participants, particularly those we who choose contact sports. Children and adolescents are unique athletes as they are continually growing and developing, and the treatment of traumatic dental injuries must be specific for the age of the individual player. Preventive rules and equipment, especially athletic mouthguards must be tailored to the special needs of a particular athlete in a particular sport at a particular age.