Schweizerische Zeitschrift fur Sportmedizin最新文献

The purpose of this study was to determine whether inferential or low-frequency stimulation can produce a stronger and less painful contraction of the quadriceps femoris muscle in 20 healthy subjects. Both currents used a pulse rate of 50 Hz. The perceived discomfort experienced with each type of electrical stimulation was quantified by the use of a visual analogue scale. An isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex) was used to assess peak torque. Paired t-test demonstrated that inferential stimulation was perceived to be significantly less uncomfortable than low-frequency stimulation and that inferential stimulation produced a significantly greater peak torque of muscle contraction than low-frequency stimulation. This study indicates that inferential stimulation can produce an electrically induced muscle contraction which is stronger and less unpleasant than low-frequency stimulation.

This paper summarizes the main findings of 3 publications of our group [2-4] examining fluid balance at high altitude. Of 57 mountaineers ascending from 1170 m to 4559 m within 22 to 77 hours, 24 developed acute mountain sickness (AMS) and 16 developed high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE). In 14 cases HAPE was preceded by symptoms of AMS. Independently of the amount of fluid intake, which varied from 2 to 4 l/24 h in these studies, subjects developing AMS showed decreased diuresis and natriuresis compared to healthy controls with similar fluid intake. Higher fluid intake resulted in greater urine output but did not prevent AMS. Higher plasma levels of aldosterone at rest and greater exercise-induced rises of plasma aldosterone and vasopressine may explain the increased water and salt retention in subjects with AMS. Whether these hormonal changes are secondary to a more severe hypoxemic stress or present a primary cause of AMS remains to be determined.

Although the rate of injuries in soccer is high, this sport puts children only at moderate risk of getting injured. In younger children this risk is very low but the number and severity of injuries increases with puberty. The most common cause for injuries is a collision with another player, the most common injury is distortion of the talocrural joint. Playing soccer indoors is more dangerous than playing outdoors. The danger of accidents and injuries can be reduced by preventive measures, such as weight categories in children leagues.

Intensive exercise affects digestion and absorption. Nevertheless, athletes involved in intensive endurance exercise are advised to ingest fluid and energy supplying nutrients, to compensate for the losses and to delay fatigue. The present review describes the effects of exercise on the gastrointestinal tract and the aspects which determine optimal fluid and nutrient delivery during exercise in different climatological and exercise conditions.

The authors draw up a tentative account of the physiological load a pilot bears during a Supercross event. Examination of heart frequency and blood lactate concentration curves during a series of races shows that this sport is not only highly stressful, but demands by the same token a muscular effort which has to be taken into account. Muscular work is of the mixed type, both aerobic and anaerobic, the share of the latter being of moderate importance, as it depends mainly on the technical proficiency of the driver.

Serious internal injuries of the knee make up today for the main share of alpine skiing casualties. As well the frequency of such mishaps, as the type of injury and the analysis of how the events happen to unfold, make obvious the requirement for a better protection of the knee joint, and more specifically, of the anterior cruciate ligament. The main role in this regard falls to the ski binding systems. To this end, adding a back fall release trigger, in introducing a vertical elasticity component, may be adequate to avoid the peak strength impulse which acts on the anterior cruciate ligament during an unprotected fall backwards.

Shoulder arthroscopy has grown considerably for several years in a row. The progress obtained nevertheless should not lead to an underrating of both clinical and para-clinical investigations. Arthroscopic technique as applied to the shoulder joint has now reached a mature state. Diagnostic benefits due to arthroscopy are scant because the recent development of medical imaging techniques made its usefulness less obvious. A great number of reliable therapeutic acts are currently performed as well in the glenohumeral joint, as in the sub-acromial space.

The remarkable spread and growth of mountain sports, as well as of their unfortunate succession of injuries sometimes give rise to medico-legal problems which up to now have been dealt with only in a very little number of publications. We discuss here briefly the main problems of setting up and organising the first aid and rescue squads and the resulting legal responsibility the health and medical staff may be exposed to.

A review of the current literature and of insurance data sources on sports injuries in Switzerland during the latest decade is presented. Epidemiological denominator data to determine the population-at-risk and the exposure time are scarce and it is therefore recommended that both the quantity and the quality of Swiss research in this field will be enhanced. It is also proposed that at least one academic institution in Switzerland would assemble systematically all available data of standard format on sports and recreational injuries to ensure a continuous analysis of these data.