ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH15
INTRODUCTION: Football (soccer) is one of the most popular sports, practiced by millions of people all around the world. Regular recreational football is considered one of the best long-term guarantees of good health [1], having important potential as health-promoting activity also for solid organ transplant recipients [2]. Thus, the World Transplant Games Federation is working to improve the lives of transplant patients by encouraging participation in Olympic-type events, promoting the 1st Transplant Football World Cup which took place on September 2024 in Cervia (Italy). The aim of this study is to investigate the epidemiology of this type of new competition. METHODS: Matches were played according to FIFA rules for 7-man teams, with some modifications to safeguard the athletes’ transplanted organs. Teams consisted of a maximum of 16 female and male players of all ages. Matches lasted 20 minutes with unlimited substitutions. Two regular FIFA pitches of 60 x 40 m, with a 3 m goal were utilized at the same time. Two sports physicians were always present, providing medical assistance along with an ambulance to deal with any emergencies. They filled out a form specifically designed to collect information about any request for medical intervention (RfMI). RESULTS: Eleven teams participated involving 172 transplanted players of kidney (N=103; 60%), liver (N=25; 15%), bone marrow (N=18; 10%), heart (14; 8%), kidney-pancreas (N=7; 4%), lung (N=5; 3%). They played 35 matches corresponding to 326 hh 40 min exposition. RfMI were 28 (16% of the participants), involving 13 (52%) liver, 9 (9%) kidney, 3 (21%) heart, 2 (11%) bone marrow and 1 (14%) kidney-pancreas recipients. They were 26 males, and 2 females, aged 36.0±11.1 years, playing as defenders (10), strikers (8), midfielders (6) and goalies (4). Mechanisms of injury were by noncontact (n=12; 43%), indirect contact (n=9; 32%), direct contact (n=7; 25%). Injuries were classified as: acute (n=23; 82%), acute on chronic (n=4; 12%) and chronic (1; 4%), and as: contusions (n=9; 32%), sprains (n=6, 21%), muscle strain (n=5; 18%), abrasions (n=4; 14%), foot tendinopathy, wound from shoe studs, minor concussion and big toe infection (n=1; 4%, each one). RfMI incidence was 85.7/1000 h (117.4-54.0; ±95%CI); time loss injuries (TLI) were 17, with incidence of 52.0/1000 h (76.8-27.3). All injuries were treated on site, except the wound sent to hospital. CONCLUSION: Despite the high incidence of TLI, only four injuries were of moderate severity (8-28 days) and no injuries to the transplanted organs were reported. The risks for a recreational footballer represent far less of a danger than the much greater threat posed by a lack of exercise. References: 1. Krustrup P, et al. Recreational soccer as a health promoting activity: a topical review. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010;20(suppl 1):1e13. 2. Totti V, et al. Quality of life and energy expenditure in transplant recipient football players. Transplant Proc. 2013;45(7):2758-60.
Read CV Valentina TottiECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH15
INTRODUCTION: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a group of neuromuscular disorder that typically affects the distal motor and sensory nerves, resulting in muscle atrophy and weakness [1]. The challenge for coaches lies in increasing muscle size and strength due to the inability to increase workloads. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a 4-week moderate load resistance training combined with blood flow restriction (ML-BFR) on upper body muscle size and strength, and swimming performance in a world-class paralympic swimmer with CMT. METHODS: A multi-paralympic gold medallist female para swimmer (32y, 49.94kg) with CMT completed 8 sessions of ML-BFR training across 4 weeks. For each session, the participant performed 4 exercises (60% 1RM, 3-4 sets, 5-6 repetitions, 90s passive rest between sets) with a pneumatic cuff placed around the most proximal portion of the arm, and pressure set at 50-60% of arterial occlusion pressure (AOP). Pressure was only fully released upon completion of the final set of each exercise. Pre- and post-measurements included: 1) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine muscle cross-sectional area (CSA), 2) one-repetition maximum (1RM) testing, 3) mean concentric velocity (MVC) outputs at submaximal loads and 4) 100m swim time trial. RESULTS: Muscle CSA of both bicep brachii (0.7%) and pectoralis major (13.0%) increased whereas triceps brachii (-6.0%) latissimus dorsi (-0.8%) CSA decreased. 1RM for all exercises increased: 2.6% lat pulldown, 5.26% bench pull, 3.03% bench press and 6.25% shoulder press. MVC in both lat pulldown and bench press also improved 5.05% and 6.35% respectively. Swim performance time lowered by 11.5%. CONCLUSION: Conclusion: Results of the present study indicated that ML-BFR leads to strength increases but did not allow for a definitive conclusion of the hypertrophic response of ML-BFR training. Due to the single pre-post design of this study, it was unknown whether the changes in swimming performance were a result of BFR or specific sport training effect. Future research with a single case experimental design over multiple training blocks is warranted to fully understand the effects of BFR on muscle hypertrophy and strength.
Read CV Jei Min TangECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH15
INTRODUCTION: Para-karate is modality of karate focused on developing discipline of “kata” for wheelchair athletes, visually impaired (VI) athletes and athletes with intellectual impairments (II) and is a fully integrated part of operations of World Karate Federation (WKF) [1]. There are three categories for individual kata: visually impaired (VI: K10), intellectually impaired (II) – IQ less than 75 (II: K21) and Down Syndrome (DS: K22). These categories are divided into sport classes. A compensation points are given according to degree of impairment assessed by expert WKF classifiers during classification session. The system aims to determine who is eligible to compete at Paralympic Games, while ensuring that it is not degree of impairment but sporting excellence that ultimately determines which athlete or team is victorious [2]. A closer view into performance during a balance test offers practitioners better understanding of the differences among classes of para-karate athletes. This information can be a valuable clue to the detailed performance deficiencies. Intentional addressing in the training process can lead to an increase in sports performance [3]. METHODS: Fifty-eight top-level para-karate athletes participated in the study (VI: n=23, aged 30.0 ± 8.7; II: n=16, aged 26.5 ± 5.2, DS: n=17, aged 27.5 ± 6.4). We aimed at differences among classes in parameters of 30 second balance test: parallel stance, opened eyes, hands on hips and no manipulation. Athletes were instructed to step on plates, standing still for 30 seconds, maintaining eye contact with the picture on the wall in front of them during test. All completed 2 attempts with resting interval of 60 seconds. We took best attempt for statistical analysis. We used device Kistler Force plates. Parameters obtained were total path [mm] and velocity [mm.s-1] of centre of pressure (COP). Athletes performed test as a classification session of World Para-karate championship 2023. For statistical analysis we used Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: We found significant differences among classes for total path H(2) = 13.21, P ˂ .001, and revealed significant differences between VI and II (U = 70.5, p < .001) and II and DS (U = 217, p = .035) and no differences between VI and DS (p = .112), as well for total area H(2) = 12.93, P ˂ .002, we revealed significant differences between VI and II (U = 129, p = .047) and VI and DS (U = 76.0, p ˂ .001) and no differences between VI and II (p = .184). CONCLUSION: VI athletes showed a significantly higher rate of COP movement during the test compared to mentally disabled karatekas of both groups showing need for working on the stability in strength and conditioning preparation. Among mentally disabled athletes, II athletes showed more pronounced fluctuations of COP in multiple directions (medio-lateral and antero-posterior) but at a lower velocity compared to DS group, suggesting better control of the COP movement for II athletes.
Read CV Radovan HadžaECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH15