J. Hanimann, Daniel P. Fitze, T. Götschi, Melanie Gloor, E.D. de Bruin, Katrien De Bock, Reto Sutter, Jörg Spörri
{"title":"Patellar tendon complaints and shear wave velocity patterns in maturing alpine skiers","authors":"J. Hanimann, Daniel P. Fitze, T. Götschi, Melanie Gloor, E.D. de Bruin, Katrien De Bock, Reto Sutter, Jörg Spörri","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss046","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction \u0000Patellar tendinopathy is frequent in adolescent athletes and particularly accentuated in competitive alpine skiers (Fröhlich et al., 2020). Tendinopathies are characterized by long disease histories, and whether they can be healed completely is an open question (Kettunen et al., 2002). Three-dimensional (3D) shear wave elastography (SWE) has proven valuable in the early detection of tendinopathies (Götschi et al., 2023). The aims of this study were to (1) describe the longitudinal progression of patellar tendon complaint prevalence in competitive alpine skiers during adolescence, (2) compare the SWV patterns of skiers that were symptomatic four years ago with those with no history of patellar tendon complaints and (3) analyse whether shear wave velocity (SWV) average values correlate with SWV coefficient of variation (CV). \u0000Methods \u0000Forty-seven subjects were analysed in this 4-year follow-up study regarding their patellar tendon complaints and SWV patterns. Symptomatic and asymptomatic skiers were identified by clinical examinations including the criteria of pain sensation under loading and palpation-induced pain. SWV was determined by ultrasound-based 3D SWE. Prevalence differences were assessed using Pearson’s χ2 tests. Group differences in the SWV patterns were analysed using unpaired sample t tests. Correlations between SWV average and CV values were analysed by means of Pearson’s correlation coefficient. \u0000Results \u0000With proceeding adolescence, the prevalence of patellar tendon complaints significantly decreased from 29.8% at baseline assessment (13-16 years) to 12.7% at follow-up assessment (Pearson’s χ2 = 9.429; p = 0.002). Those skiers who were symptomatic at baseline but asymptomatic at the follow-up still had lower average SWV values and higher CVs than asymptomatic skiers with no history of patellar tendon complaints (p = 0.054 and p = 0.011, respectively). Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between the tendon SWV average values and their CVs (R = -0.55; p < 0.001). \u0000Discussion/Conclusion \u0000Despite the decreasing prevalence of patellar tendon complaints in youth competitive alpine skiers after their growth spurt, structural abnormalities appear to remain in asymptomatic subjects with a previous history of patellar tendinopathy, indicating potential long-term implications for mechanical tendon proprieties. The SWV average and CV values were negatively correlated, which underlines our hypothesis that a low SWV is associated with a high CV. This altogether may reflect the degenerative processes in patellar tendons affected by complaints in the early stages of a sports career. \u0000References \u0000Fröhlich, S., Peterhans, L., Stern, C., Frey, W. O., Sutter, R., & Spörri, J. (2020). Remarkably high prevalence of overuse-related knee complaints and MRI abnormalities in youth competitive alpine skiers: A descriptive investigation in 108 athletes aged 13-15 years. BMJ Open Sport & Exercice Medicine, 6(1), Aticle e0007","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"342 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139799228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sven Egger, M. Wälchli, Samuel Meyer, Wolfgang Taube
{"title":"Repetitive magnetic stimuli over the motor cortex impair long-term consolidation of a balance task by suppressing up-regulation of intracortical inhibition","authors":"Sven Egger, M. Wälchli, Samuel Meyer, Wolfgang Taube","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss039","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction \u0000Recent findings have demonstrated that low-frequency repetitive magnetic stimulations (rTMS) over the primary motor cortex (M1) impaired short-term consolidation of a balance task, underscoring the causal connection between M1 and the consolidation of balancing skills (Egger et al., 2023). However, the underlying neural mechanisms induced by rTMS and whether these adaptations endure over an extended period, encompassing multiple acquisition sessions, remain insufficiently elucidated (Censor & Cohen, 2011). So far, its is widely acknowledged that GABAergic processes play an important role for consolidation (Sanes & Donoghue, 2000), at the same time, are affected by learning balance skills (Mouthon & Taube, 2019; Taube et al., 2020). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the impact of rTMS on GABA-mediated short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) and to explore the role of M1 in the long-term consolidation of a balance task (i.e., across multiple acquisition sessions). \u0000Methods \u0000Thirty-one volunteers underwent six balance acquisition sessions on a rocker-board, each followed by either rTMS or sham rTMS based on group affiliation. During the first and last training session, SICI was measured twice; before the balance acquisition and after the application of rTMS or sham-rTMS to investigate potential short- and long-term adaptations in intracortical inhibition. Adaptations were assessed during the execution of the learned balance task and in a non-learning postural control task (i.e., stable upright stance). \u0000Results \u0000Regardless of group affiliation, all participants achieved comparable improvements within the balance acquisition sessions. However, consolidation varied between groups. In particular, between the third and the fourth acquisition session, as Tukey corrected post-hoc tests showed a significant decline in performance for the rTMS group (p = 0.006). Both short- (p = 0.014) and long-term (p = 0.038) adaptations in SICI were affected by rTMS: while the sham rTMS group upregulated SICI, rTMS led to reduced levels of inhibition. No neurophysiological effects were observed in the non-learning control task (upright stance). \u0000Discussion/Conclusion \u0000The interfering effect of rTMS on balance consolidation and on upregulation of SICI indicates that increased intracortical inhibition is an important mechanism to protect and engrave newly acquired motor memory. Importantly, adaptations in SICI were only apparent during the execution of the learned task. \u0000References \u0000Censor, N., & Cohen, L. G. (2011). Using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to study the underlying neural mechanisms of human motor learning and memory. The Journal of Physiology, 589(1), 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1113/jphysiol.2010.198077 \u0000Egger, S., Wälchli, M., Rüeger, E., & Taube, W. (2023). Short-term balance consolidation relies on the primary motor cortex: A rTMS study. Scientific Reports, 13, Article 5169. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-02","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"185 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139800902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann Christin Schneider, Lisa Hillebrecht, Julia Schmid, C. Schindera, Eva Katharina Brack, V. Benzing
{"title":"«KiKli Fit» – The effects of a specifically designed physical activity program on cognitive and motor performance in children with cancer: A multicenter crossover trial","authors":"Ann Christin Schneider, Lisa Hillebrecht, Julia Schmid, C. Schindera, Eva Katharina Brack, V. Benzing","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss017","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction\u0000Children with cancer are at an increased risk for various physical and cognitive challenges due to their illness and its treatment. A concerning observation is that young cancer patients often lead sedentary or even lying lifestyles, clearly failing to meet the WHO’s recommendation of 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (PA) daily. This is alarming considering that PA is essential for physical and mental health, e.g., for the development of motor skills and cognitive functions (Bull et al., 2020). However, PA promotion in acute care in Swiss pediatric oncology units is hardly existent. Therefore, the aim of this project is to develop and conduct a physical activity program in a pediatric oncology unit and investigate its effects on cognitive and motor performance.\u0000Methods\u0000Part A of this project involved a qualitative study conducted at the Inselspital Bern’s pediatric oncology unit, aiming to design a tailored PA therapy program. This part included patient interviews and staff surveys. Part B, which is ongoing, focuses on a forthcoming two-arm multicenter crossover-controlled trial. This trial will compare the exercise therapy and PA counseling (intervention group in Bern, n = 40) with standard treatment (control group in Basel, n = 40). Participants will be aged 6-18 years, newly diagnosed with cancer and undergoing cytotoxictreatment for at least six weeks. The 12-week program will consist of thrice-weekly, 45-minute sessions of individualized exercise, aligned with the SK2-guidelines, NAOK, and international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (Götte et al., 2022; Wurz et al., 2021). The sessions will focus on motor skills and cognitively challenging PA. In addition, children will receive 4 exercise counseling sessions. To evaluate the study, there will be three measurement points (once at admission, after twelve weeks of intervention and one follow-up after six months). The outcome measures include motor and cognitive performance, physiological and psychosocial functioning.\u0000Results\u0000Initial findings from the qualitative study indicate a strong patient and staff interest in exercise therapy. The study also provided valuable insights for developing and implementing the intervention.\u0000Discussion/conclusion\u0000The results will reveal important insights relevant to research and practice. Adopting a research perspective, the results will shed light on the effects of PA on cognitive performance in acute cancer care. Adopting a more applied perspective, PA has been neglected in Swiss pediatric oncology units so far. Therefore, this study may contribute to proof the effectiveness of PA for childhood cancer patients and thus help implementing it in standard care in the long term.\u0000References\u0000Bull, F. C., Al-Ansari, S. S., Biddle, S., Borodulin, K., Buman, M. P., Cardon, G., Carty, C., Chaput, J.-P., Chastin, S., Chou, R., Dempsey, P. C., DiPietro, L., Ekelund, U., Firth, J., Friedenreich, C. M., Garcia, L., Gichu, M., Jago, R","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"94 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139801306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jan M. Anderegg, Stefanie L. Brefin, Claudio R. Nigg, David Koschnick, Claudia Paul, S. Ketelhut
{"title":"Load and recovery monitoring in Swiss top-level youth soccer players: Exploring the associations of a new web application-based score with recognised load measures","authors":"Jan M. Anderegg, Stefanie L. Brefin, Claudio R. Nigg, David Koschnick, Claudia Paul, S. Ketelhut","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss020","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction\u0000Systematic assessment of load and recovery in athletes is essential for effectively adjusting various training demands and their corresponding recovery measures (Kellmann et al., 2018), thereby reducing the risk of nonfunctional overreaching, overtraining, and potential subsequent injuries and illnesses (Bourdon et al., 2017; Kellmann et al., 2018; Taylor et al., 2012). The information obtained from the assessment can support athletes, coaching staff, and their medical teams in the tightrope act between performance optimisation and injury risk reduction. The expert consensus in the field of load and recovery monitoring and other research emphasises the importance of employing a multivariate approach for assessing load and recovery (Bourdon et al., 2017; Kellmann et al., 2018). Various physiological and psychological measures should be used for this purpose (Heidari et al., 2019). In team sports, it is also required that these assessments be carried out quickly, non-invasively, and with minimal added burden on the athletes (Thorpe et al., 2017). In this research project, we developed a web application-based Load and Recovery Score (LRS) and evaluated its relationship with established load parameters. It is assumed that specific training and match load variables correlate negatively with the following day’s LRS when controlled for intra-subject variability.\u0000Methods\u000078 female and male athletes from the U18, U19 and U21 teams of the Swiss soccer club “BSC Young Boys” were selectively recruited. 71 players (32.4% female) with an average age of 17.9 years (SD = 1.2) were monitored over a minimum period of 35 days. A repeated-measure design by means of a five-to-seven-week prospective longitudinal data collection was used in this study. The dependent variable (LRS) and four other independent load variables were repeatedly measured over time in the same athletes. The LRS comprises eight subscales integrated into an interval-scaled score ranging from 0 to 120. A higher score indicates a better recovery state and lower loads. The players recorded values for these eight different subscales daily using the web application. The subscales include questions drawn from various previously validated questionnaires related to the player’s 1) Physical capability, 2) General state of regeneration, 3) Muscular stress, 4) Fatigue, 5) Mood, and 6) Sleep quality, contributing to the recovery component of the score. Additionally, there are two load subscales pertaining to the player’s 7) Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and their 8) Acute:Chronic Workload Ratio (ACWR). The entries are either directly recorded on an ordinal scale (0-6) or are converted to conform to this scale level. Daily logs are incorporated into the different subscale values using a specific algorithm. The algorithm is informed by current research recommendations and is a proprietary business secret. The independent variables included the subjective Player- and Trainer – Session Rating of Perc","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"57 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139801661","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Guia Tagliapietra, Tom Citherlet, Antoine Raberin, Giorgio Manferdelli, B. Krumm, Benjamin J. Narang, N. Bourdillon, T. Debevec, Guido Giardini, Grégoire P. Millet
{"title":"The effects of the menstrual cycle on the physiological responses to exercise in eumenorrheic women at high-altitude","authors":"Guia Tagliapietra, Tom Citherlet, Antoine Raberin, Giorgio Manferdelli, B. Krumm, Benjamin J. Narang, N. Bourdillon, T. Debevec, Guido Giardini, Grégoire P. Millet","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss077","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction \u0000The acute mountain sickness (AMS) prevalence increases with altitude; i.e.,10-25% at 2,500 m and 50-85% at ~5,000 m (Bärtsch & Swenson, 2013). Women are more likely affected by AMS than men (Richalet et al., 2012). AMS can affect exercise performance. However, the effects of the menstrual cycle (MC) on physiological responses to exercise and on tolerance to high-altitude (HA) remain underexplored. It has been reported that ovarian hormones stimulate ventilation in normoxic conditions (Saaresranta & Polo, 2002). Early findings suggest that running economy is lower in the mid-luteal (ML) compared to the early-follicular (EF) phase in normoxia (Goldsmith & Glaister, 2020). However, cycling efficiency at HA has not been explored yet. Thus, we investigated the effects of acute HA exposure on ventilatory responses at rest and during exercise in healthy females during two different phases of their MC. \u0000Methods \u0000Sixteen eumenorrheic women (age: 33 ± 7 yr; MC length: 27 ± 2 days; not taking any hormonal contraceptive) took part in this study. First, over a 6-month period, the participants’ MC were monitored using a calendar method. Then, they reached the Torino Hut (3,375 m) by cable car and spent one night at HA on two different MC phases; i.e., during the early-follicular (EF; MC day 4 ± 1) and the mid-luteal (ML; day 20 ± 2) phases. Each time, they underwent a submaximal (1.2 W/kg) test on a cycle ergometer ~17 h after arrival at HA. In addition to this, participants filled in two questionnaires, the Lake Louise AMS Score and the Groningen Sleep Quality Scale, ~16 h after arrival at HA. \u0000Results \u0000Resting ventilation was significantly higher during EF compared to ML (15.2 ± 1.9 vs. 13.2 ± 2.5 L/min, p = 0.039), while no differences were found for ventilation during exercise (53.9 ± 13.2 vs. 53.5 ± 13.4 L/min, p = 0.695), cycling efficiency (21.7 ± 0.0% vs. 19.8 ± 0.0%, p = 0.244), saturation at rest (92.4 ± 1.3 vs. 91.3 ± 3.2%, p = 0.142) and during exercise (87.2 ± 5.7 vs. 89.0 ± 4.0%, p = 0.528). Moreover, no differences in the Lake Louise AMS (2.2 ± 1.5 vs. 1.7 ± 1.5, p = 0.266) or Groningen (8.0 ± 3.3 vs. 7.5 ± 3.4, p = 0.668) scores were noted between the two MC phases. \u0000Discussion/Conclusion \u0000Despite a slightly higher resting ventilation during EF, when both oestrogens and progesterone are at their lowest levels, there were no differences in ventilatory responses to exercise and in AMS between the different phases of the MC. Consequently, there is currently very little evidence to aptly recommend a specific MC phase for mountaineering or any other HA activities (Burtscher et al., 2023). Further investigations are requested to assess whether other physiological responses to HA may be influenced by hormonal variations. \u0000References \u0000Bärtsch, P., & Swenson, E. R. (2013). Acute high-altitude illnesses. New England Journal of Medicine, 368, 2294–2302. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1214870 \u0000Burtscher, J., Raberin, A., Brocherie, F., Malates","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139801791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Schilling, R. Weibel, E. Giannouli, D. Infanger, A. Sofios, S. Gisler, C. Röcke, T. Rantanen, E. Portegijs, C. Schuster-Amft, A. Mai, A. Schmidt-Trucksäss, T. Hinrichs
{"title":"Increasing habitual walking in mobility-limited older adults through a personalized GIS-based intervention","authors":"R. Schilling, R. Weibel, E. Giannouli, D. Infanger, A. Sofios, S. Gisler, C. Röcke, T. Rantanen, E. Portegijs, C. Schuster-Amft, A. Mai, A. Schmidt-Trucksäss, T. Hinrichs","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss068","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss068","url":null,"abstract":"Background \u0000Ample evidence supports the health benefits of low-intensity physical activity such as walking, which is universally accessible and impacted by neighbourhood environmental factors like green spaces and availability of local amenities. \u0000Aim \u0000The MOBITEC-Routes project will investigate the effects of an individualized GIS-based walking intervention on physical and psychosocial functioning in mobility-limited older adults. \u0000Methods \u0000A randomized controlled trial to promote habitual walking will take place. The sample will include 130 inactive, chronically ill, mobility-limited older adults. The intervention will combine professional consultations with map-based planning and behaviour change techniques derived from the Health Action Process Approach. \u0000Results \u0000Expected outcomes include increase in participants’ daily step count, physical activity levels, physical function, life space mobility, self-efficacy, social participation, and quality of life. \u0000Conclusion \u0000MOBITEC-Routes is poised to offer new insights into personalized GIS-based interventions’ effectiveness in improving mobility and overall well-being in older adults with mobility impairments.","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"109 12","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139802173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Raphael Stieger, Romano Keller-Meier, Grazia Lang, Siegfried Nagel
{"title":"Professionalisation and governance in Swiss sports clubs – Establishing a club office","authors":"Raphael Stieger, Romano Keller-Meier, Grazia Lang, Siegfried Nagel","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss011","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction\u0000Sports clubs in Switzerland face increasing expectations and challenges from internal and external stakeholders. Therefore, more and more sports clubs professionalise their structures and processes, e.g., by establishing a club office with (part-time) employees. Since there is little knowledge in the sports management literature about the causes, forms and consequences of establishing a club office, this study answers the following research questions based on the multi-level framework from Nagel et al. (2015): Why and how do Swiss sports clubs establish a club office? What are the consequences of establishing a club office?\u0000Methods\u0000We selected five Swiss sports clubs in the context of a multiple case study design (Yin, 2014). Case selection aimed to include sports clubs of varying sizes, sports and professionalisation types. Data were collected through document analysis, expert interviews with decision-makers and focus groups with club members. Data were analysed using causation coding (Miles et al., 2014).\u0000Results\u0000Findings show different causes for establishing a club office. The main reason was to relieve volunteer board members. The various causes imply different roles and responsibilities of the established club office. While in some sports clubs, the club office is primarily responsible for administrative tasks, in others, it is also responsible for sponsorship. This circumstance explains why some sports clubs did not have to increase their membership fees to finance the club office because they could increase their sponsorship revenue. Although the club office staff is paid in all sports clubs, the volume of work varies. However, the paid staff often works more than agreed (“volunteer professionals”). Regarding the consequences, all sports clubs that established a club office are satisfied with their decision. Positive consequences are that a “place to go” was created for internal and external stakeholders, and many club processes are more efficient now. However, establishing a club office with (part-time) employees raises the question of strategic and operational responsibilities and decision-making power.\u0000Discussion/Conclusion\u0000The findings offer several implications for sports clubs that want to establish a club office. At the same time, the study provides further research perspectives. First, it might be insightful to analyse if there are any relevant differences in whether a sports club transforms its secretariat into a club office or establishes a club office for the first time. Second, there are further changes regarding the organisational structures and processes that are worth looking at when analysing the establishment of a club office, such as creating an executive/management board or employing a (paid) CEO. To conclude, it might be interesting to analyse sports clubs that have established a club office but shut it down after a while.\u0000References\u0000Miles, M. B., Hubermann, A. M., & Saldaña, J. (2014). Qualitative Data An","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"358 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139858294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Brain-IT: Targeting the brain using information technology for secondary prevention of mild neurocognitive disorder","authors":"P. Manser, E.D. de Bruin","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss021","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction\u0000A collaborative international guideline recommends physical exercise (PE) for the secondary prevention of mild neurocognitive disorder (mNCD; Veronese et al., 2023). PE is proposed to promote brain plasticity, maintain or increase cognitive reserve, and alleviate the pathological state in individuals with mNCD, which is characterized by an abnormal accumulation of proteins, excessive oxidative stress, metabolic disorder, and neuroinflammation within the brain (Lu et al., 2023). Individuals with mNCD often also have disrupted self-regulatory capacity to flexibly adapt to daily life challenges. This capacity is supported by the central autonomic network (CAN), which can be viewed as an integrated component of an internal regulatory system in which the brain controls visceromotor, neuroendocrine, and behavioral responses that are critical for goal-directed behavior, adaptability, and health (Thayer, 2009). To maximize the effectiveness of secondary prevention of mNCD, interventions should be designed to also target this network specifically. This could be achieved by combining motor-cognitive training with resonance breathing guided by heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF). HRV-BF training aims to increase cardiac autonomic control, enhance homeostatic regulation, and regulate emotional state. It is effective in improving cardiac autonomic control, cognitive functioning (in particular executive functions), and emotional regulation (i.e., by decreasing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress) across different age groups and clinical populations (Laborde et al., 2022; Lehrer et al., 2020). Evidence also supports a causal role of cardiac autonomic control in modulating plasma Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarkers (Min et al., 2023). Although HRV-BF has been suggested as a complementary treatment (Lehrer et al., 2020), its combination with motor-cognitive training remains to be investigated.\u0000Methods\u0000We systematically designed, developed, and evaluated a novel training concept (called ‘Brain-IT’) specifically for older adults with mNCD. It addresses the mechanism of action described above. The projects’ methodology (Manser & de Bruin, 2021) followed the guidelines of the Medical Research Council for the development and evaluation of complex interventions as well as the Multidisciplinary Iterative Design of Exergames (MIDE) - Framework. The Brain-IT project was structured in three phases. In phase 1, we systematically combined a comprehensive literature synthesis (Manser & de Bruin, 2021) with qualitative research including primary end users (older adults with mNCD), secondary end users (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, healthcare professionals), exergaming researchers, as well as experts from the exergaming industry (Manser et al., 2023) to specify a set of design requirements for the Brain-IT training concept. In phase 2, possible concepts were co-designed and elaborated based on the set of design requirements defined i","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"24 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139861203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nadège Zanou, Vincent Gremeaux, Nicolas Place, R. Lepers
{"title":"Cardiovascular and muscular plasticity in an endurance-master athlete following 12 weeks of detraining and retraining: A case study.","authors":"Nadège Zanou, Vincent Gremeaux, Nicolas Place, R. Lepers","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss084","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction \u0000This study aimed at examining the cardiorespiratory and muscular adaptations following 12 weeks of detraining and retraining in a 53-year-old endurance master athlete. \u0000Methods \u0000Data were collected before and after detraining and after retraining. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was evaluated during maximal cycling exercise. Proteins involved in muscle contraction, mitochondrial function and glycolysis were investigated using western blot analysis. \u0000Results \u0000VO2max decreased by 7% after detraining and was 5% greater than baseline after retraining. Detraining induced an important increase in the ryanodine receptor type 1 protein levels (RyR1, +44%) with a decrease in the protein levels of its stabilizer FKBP12 (-24%). We observed a 138% increase in the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum ATPase 1 protein and a 42% increase in the myosin heavy chain fast-twitch protein in response to detraining, suggesting transformation towards a more glycolytic phenotype. This was associated with depressed levels of the mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins, while the expression of the mitochondrial dynamic proteins appeared stimulated. Twelve weeks of retraining reversed almost all the alterations observed in muscle proteins, but specifically increased mitochondrial biogenesis, OXPHOS and antioxidant defense proteins as well as the glucose transporter 4 (Glut -4, +36%) and hexokinase (+100%) proteins levels compared to baseline. The mitochondrial dynamic proteins were further increased with the retraining. \u0000Discussion/Conclusion \u0000These data provide novel information on cardiorespiratory and muscular plasticity suggesting that highly endurance-trained athletes might show substantial muscular adaptations while retrained after a detraining period and call for more extensive clinical trials.","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"38 2-3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139861677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
P. Ritsche, M. Franchi, Jörg Spörri, Martin Keller, Neil J. Cronin, Oliver Faude
{"title":"Muscle geometry and its relevance for sports performance? A perspective of current findings and future opportunities","authors":"P. Ritsche, M. Franchi, Jörg Spörri, Martin Keller, Neil J. Cronin, Oliver Faude","doi":"10.36950/2024.2ciss023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.36950/2024.2ciss023","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction\u0000Lower limb muscle strength is an important predictor of sports performance, injury risk and frailty in ageing. The strength of a muscle is determined by its geometry and neuronal factors. Muscle geometry can be subdivided into architecture and morphology. Muscle morphology describes shape characteristics such as anatomical cross-sectional area (ACSA), thickness or volume (Maden-Wilkinson et al., 2021). Muscle architecture is determined by muscle fascicle length and the insertion angle of the muscle fascicles in the aponeuroses and describes the orientation of the muscle fibers relative to their force generation axis (Lieber & Friden, 2000). Muscle geometry is associated to physical performance and strength in humans (Maden-Wilkinson et al., 2021; Werkhausen et al., 2022) and is therefore a main research interest. A cost-effective and participant friendly method to validly and reliably assess muscle geometry is ultrasonography. However, a major limitation of ultrasonography is the subjectivity of image acquisition and the time-consuming image analysis (Ritsche et al., 2021; Ritsche, Wirth, et al., 2022; Ritsche et al., 2023). Moreover, image characteristics are massively influenced by the ultrasonography device used (Ritsche, Schmid, et al., 2022) as well as the muscle region scanned (Monte & Franchi, 2023). This poses constraints on the generalizability of existing automated image analysis approaches. The goal of this series of studies is therefore to optimize the ultrasonography acquisition and data analysis procedures by developing open-source software packages. Secondly, we aim to apply these methods in a sports performance context and describe the relevance of muscle geometry.\u0000Methods\u0000To streamline the time-consuming and subjective process of image analysis, we developed open-source and user-friendly software packages for muscle geometry analysis in lower limb muscles. We developed a semi-automated algorithm “ACSAuto” for assisted analysis of muscle ACSA using common image filtering processes (Ritsche et al., 2021). Given the limited generalizability and required user input of this approach, we developed two fully automated software applications, “DeepACSA” and “DL_Track_US”, using convolutional neural networks for more time efficient and robust analysis of lower limb muscle geometry (Ritsche et al., 2023; Ritsche, Wirth, et al., 2022; Ritsche et al., in press). We compared the predictions in an unseen test set to the current state-of-the-art, manual analysis, in order to evaluate the performance of our algorithms.\u0000To broaden the application of ultrasonography for evaluating muscle geometry in a sports context, we investigated the validity of a low-cost mobile ultrasonography device compared to a high-end counterpart in assessing various muscle architectural parameters in healthy adults (Ritsche, Schmid, et al., 2022).The mobile ultrasonography setup consisted of a smartphone and a portable probe, enabling practitioners high fle","PeriodicalId":415194,"journal":{"name":"Current Issues in Sport Science (CISS)","volume":"51 1-2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139861731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}