• Asian Spine Journal
• /
• v.12 no.6
• /
• pp.1146-1153
• /
• 2018

Many studies have investigated the prevalence of neck pain (NP) and its risk factors in the general population. However, the prevalence of NP among athletes has not yet been systematically investigated. We aimed to systematically review the prevalence of NP in athletes. A comprehensive search was conducted in September 2015 using PubMed, Ovid SP Medline, ISI, and Google Scholar. We included studies in English that reported the prevalence of NP in an athletic population during a defined period of time. We assessed the risk of bias in studies due to various definitions of NP, response rates, and reliability of the study instruments. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies' quality and performed data extraction. Of 1,675 titles identified, eight articles were assessed for risk of bias, and six with low or moderate risk were included. NP was shown to be prevalent in athletes, with a 1-week prevalence ranging from 8% to 45%, a 1-year prevalence ranging from 38% to 73%, and a lifetime prevalence of about 48%. The prevalence of NP in athletes is high. More studies regarding the prevalence and risk factors of NP may be useful for planning educational programs and developing appropriate rehabilitation protocols and preventive guidelines. Researchers are encouraged to perform epidemiologic studies in athletes with a low risk of bias.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.188-194
• /
• 2022

Background: Medial elbow laxity develops in throwing athletes due to valgus forces. Medial elbow instability in professional, collegiate, and high school athletes is well documented; however, the medial elbow of young throwing athletes has received less attention. This study investigated the medial elbow and common flexor tendon during applied elbow valgus stress of youth baseball players. Methods: The study included 15 participants. The medial elbow width and thickness of the common flexor tendon were measured on ultrasound images. Results: No significant side differences in medial elbow width or common flexor tendon were found at rest or under applied valgus stress. At rest, the medial elbow joint width was 3.34±0.94 mm on the dominant side and 3.42±0.86 mm on the non-dominant side. The dominant side increased to 3.83±1.02 mm with applied valgus stress, and the non-dominant side increased to 3.96±1.04 mm. The mean flexor tendon thickness was 3.89±0.63 mm on the dominant side and 4.02±0.70 mm on the non-dominant side. Conclusions: These findings differ from similar studies in older throwing athletes, likely because of the lack of accumulated stress on the medial elbow of youth throwing athletes. Maintaining elbow stability in young throwing athletes is a vital step to preventing injury later in their careers.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2019

[Purpose] The goal of this study was to review data on physical activity level (PAL), a crucial index for determining estimated energy requirement (EER), calculated as total energy expenditure (TEE, assessed with doubly labeled water [DLW]) divided by resting metabolic rate (RMR, PAL = TEE/RMR) in female athletes and to understand the methods of assessing athletes' EERs in the field. [Methods] For the PAL data review among female athletes, we conducted a PubMed search of the available literature related to the DLW method. DLW studies measuring TEE and RMR were included for the present review. [Results] Briefly, the mean PAL was 1.71 for collegiate swimmers with moderate training, which was relatively low, but the mean PAL was 3.0 for elite swimmers during summer training camp. This shows that PAL can largely vary even within the same sport depending on the amount of training, and the differences in PAL were remarkable depending on the sport. Aside from the DLW method, there is currently no research tool related to athletes' EERs that can be used in the field. [Conclusion] Briefly, the mean PAL was 1.71 for collegiate swimmers with moderate training, which was relatively low, but the mean PAL was 3.0 for elite swimmers during summer training camp. This shows that PAL can largely vary even within the same sport depending on the amount of training, and the differences in PAL were remarkable depending on the sport. Aside from the DLW method, there is currently no research tool related to athletes' EERs that can be used in the field.

• Korean Journal of Applied Biomechanics
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.275-281
• /
• 2015

Objective : In order for Taekwondo athletes to perform destructive kicking performance, they are expected to have Taekwondo-specific muscle properties such as high muscle strength and power. The purpose of this study was to investigate the joint angle-dependent force-producing property of Taekwondo athletes' knee extensor muscles, which is one of the primary muscle groups involved in kicking performance. Method : Ten Taekwondo male athletes (age: $19.9{\pm}0.7yrs$, height: $180.6{\pm}6.2cm$, body mass: $75.9{\pm}8.9kg$, career: $9.2{\pm}2.9yrs$.) and 10 healthy male non-athletes (age: $26.3{\pm}2.6yrs$, height: $174.2{\pm}4.8cm$, body mass: $72.8{\pm}7.7kg$) participated in this study. Subjects performed maximum isometric knee extension at knee joint angles of $40^{\circ}$, $60^{\circ}$, $80^{\circ}$, and $100^{\circ}$ (the full knee extension was set to $0^{\circ}$) with the hip joint angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $80^{\circ}$ (the full extension was set to $0^{\circ}$). During the contractions, knee extension torque using an isokinetic dynamometer simultaneously with muscle activities of the rectus femoris (RF), and the vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) using surface electromyography were recorded. Based on the torque values at systematically different knee-hip joint angles, the joint torque-angle relationships were established and then the optimal joint angle for the knee extensor was estimated. Results : The results of this study showed that the isometric knee extension torque values were greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group at all hip-knee joint angle combinations (p<.05). When the hip joint was set at $80^{\circ}$, the peak isometric torque was greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($313.61{\pm}36.79Nm$ and $221.43{\pm}35.92Nm$, respectively; p<.05) but the estimated optimum knee joint angles were similar ($62.33{\pm}5.71^{\circ}$ and $62.30{\pm}4.67^{\circ}$ for the Taekwondo athletes and non-athlete group, respectively). When the hip joint was set at $0^{\circ}$, the peak isometric torque was greater for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($296.29{\pm}45.13Nm$ and $199.58{\pm}25.23Nm$, respectively; p<.05) and the estimated optimum knee joint angle was larger for the Taekwondo athletes compared with the non-athlete group ($78.47{\pm}5.14^{\circ}$ and $67.54{\pm}5.77^{\circ}$, respectively; p<.05). Conclusion : The results of this study suggests that, compared with non-athletes, Taekwondo athletes have stronger knee extensor strength at all hip-knee joint angle combinations as well as longer optimum muscle length, which might be optimized for the event-specific required performance through prolonged training period.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.619-629
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics between athletes and non-athletes with eating disorders (ED)/disordered eating(DE) and to investigate predictors for ED/DE. 376 female collegiate athletes and 567 college women participated in the study. After using subject selection criteria to detect ED/DE, 243 athletes were considered as either ED (n=22) or DE (n=221). In the non-athletes group, 37 cases of ED and 242 cases of DE were detected. Along with the EDEQ and EDI-2, participants completed a demographic questionnaire, SATAQ, and RSES. The results indicated that the mean seperation between the two groups with ED existed in seven variables including BMI perceived, BMI ideal, EDEQ mean, eating scale, weight scale, perfectionism, and self-esteem. In addition, the means of six variables including BMI perceived, BMI ideal, perfectionism, SATAQ score, awareness, and self-esteem were significantly different between the two groups with DE. Significant predictors for ED/DE were drive for thinness and self-esteem in the non athletes while drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, self-esteem, internalization, and perfectionism were the predictors in the athletes within the ED/DE group. The results suggest that drive for thinness and self-esteem were the essential predictors for ED/DE in the two groups. in the athletes with ED/DE, the predictors were more complicated than those in the non-athletes with ED/DE.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.235-240
• /
• 2019

Ulnar collateral ligament injuries of the elbow are frequent among overhead athletes. The incidence of ulnar collateral ligament reconstructions (UCLRs) in high-level players has increased dramatically over the past decade, but the optimal technique of UCLR is controversial. Surgeons need to manage the patients' expectations appropriately when considering the mode of treatment. This article reviews current studies on the management of ulnar collateral ligament injuries, particularly in overhead athletes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.37-43
• /
• 1981

In the present study, an effort was directed to elucidate the effect of the physical training on the pulmonary function. Twenty-four male athletics major students who have undergone regular physical training for more than five years were randomly chosen as the athletic subjects, and 12 regular male students who have not been engaged in any form of regular physical exercise or training were chosen as the non-athletic subjects, and a comparison was made between the two groups. The following were mainly observed by spirometry for the study; respiratory rate, tidal volume, vital capacity, maximum voluntary ventilation(MVV), forced expiratory volume for 1 second$(FEV_1)$, percent $FEV_1$ to forced vital capacity$(FEV_1%)$, forced expiratory flow for initial 1 liter$(FEF_{0.2-1.2}L)$, and forced mid-expiratory flow$(FEF_{\;25-75}%)$. The results obtained are summarized as follow. 1) The respiratory rate, tidal volume, and vital capacity showed no significant difference between athletes and non-athletes. The MVV in athletes was significantly (p<0.01) increased to $148.1{\pm}3.1\;L/min$ comparing with $118.3{\pm}9.1\;L/min$ in non-athletes. 2) $FEV_1$ was $3.310{\pm}0.070\;L$ in athletes and $2.779{\pm}0.104$ in non-athletes; $FEV_1%\;83.63{\pm}1.29%$ in athletes and $75.33{\pm}1.75%$ in non-athletes, both showing significant(p<0.01) increase in athletes. 3) $FEF_{0.2-1.2}L$ was $297.1{\pm}13.5\;L/min in athletes and $222.7{\pm}15.0\;L/min$ in non-athletes; $FEF_{\;25-75}%$ was $3.543{\pm}0.109\;L/sec$ in non-athletes, both showing significant(p<0.01) increase in athletes. 4) Some discussions were made on these results. The lung volumes showed no significant difference between the two groups. But MVV, $FEV_1$, $FEV_1%$, $FEF_{0.2-1.2}L$ and $FEF_{25-75}%$ in athletes were significantly(p<0.01) higher than in non-athletes. It is therefore concluded that the athletes have more powerful respiratory muscles, or higher compliance of the lung and thorax than the non-athletes.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.249-260
• /
• 1990

Maximal cardiac output and oxygen uptake $(VO_{2max})$ were measured during treadmill exercise for seven top-class marathoners and nine non-athletes using impedance cardiograph developed by one of the authors (DW Kim). Results of this study are summarized as belows. 1) New shoes with sponge and silicon rubber attached to the soles were developed to reduce motion artifact during treadmill exercise. Ensemble everaging techneque with the developed shoes was also used to improve the measurement of stroke volume using impedance cardiography. 2) Maximal cardiac output of the athletes, 14.98 L/min, was significantly higher than that of the non-athletes, 13.46 L/min. As maximal heart rate of the marathoners is lower than that of non-athletes, stroke volume of the former is significantly larger than that of the latter. 3) $VO_{2max}$ of the marathoners, 59.38 ml/kg/min, was higher than that of the non-athletes, 40.22 ml/kg/min. At the anaerobic threshold. $VO_{2max}$ of the former was 62.3% of $VO_{2max}$ and this was significantly higher than that of the non-athletes, 57.2%, This results indicates that the marathoners have higher aerobic capacity than the non-athletes. 4) The marathoners showed larger $VO_2$ than the non-athletes at the same cardiac output, indicating that a-v $O_2$ of the former is higher than that of the latter. 5) Maximal systolic pressure of the marathoners was higher than that of the non-athletes, and so was maximal rate-pressure products. These results indicate that heart oxygen consumption rate $(hVO_2)$ of the marathoner is higher than that of the non-athletes is mainly due to higher stroke volume. And higher oxygen consumption of the marathoners is due to higher stroke volume. And higher oxygen consumption of the marathoners is due to their larger a-v $O_2$. The marathoners show both higher threshold and $VO_{2max}$. Especially, measurement of cardiac output during treadmill exercise by improved impedance cardiography is expected to contribute in study of cardiac function of athletes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.370-378
• /
• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Athletes generally desire changes in body composition in order to enhance their athletic performance. Often, athletes will practice chronic energy restrictions to attain body composition changes, altering their energy needs. Prediction of resting metabolic rates (RMR) is important in helping to determine an athlete's energy expenditure. This study compared measured RMR of athletic and non-athletic adolescents with predicted RMR from commonly used prediction equations to identify the most accurate equation applicable for adolescent athletes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 50 athletes (mean age of $16.6{\pm}1.0years$, 30 males and 20 females) and 50 non-athletes (mean age of $16.5{\pm}0.5years$, 30 males and 20 females) were enrolled in the study. The RMR of subjects was measured using indirect calorimetry. The accuracy of 11 RMR prediction equations was evaluated for bias, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis. RESULTS: Until more accurate prediction equations are developed, our findings recommend using the formulas by Cunningham (-29.8 kcal/day, limits of agreement -318.7 and +259.1 kcal/day) and Park (-0.842 kcal/day, limits of agreement -198.9 and +196.9 kcal/day) for prediction of RMR when studying male adolescent athletes. Among the new prediction formulas reviewed, the formula included in the fat-free mass as a variable [$RMR=730.4+15{\times}fat-free\;mass$] is paramount when examining athletes. CONCLUSIONS: The RMR prediction equation developed in this study is better in assessing the resting metabolic rate of Korean athletic adolescents.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.1-20
• /
• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze factors affecting suicidal ideation of athletes in middle and high school. Methods: The data in this study came from the survey which conducted to 500 students of physical education high school athletes and elite athletes in general school from the beginning of December 2009 to the end of January 2010 in Seoul and Kyunggi. Finally 436 cases was used. The dependant variable is suicidal ideation in this study. And the independent variables are socio-demographic factors, exercise-related factors, school and family environments, stress and depression factor. The analysis method is logistic regression analysis. Finally 436 cases was used. Results: First, the rate of suicidal ideation of athletes in middle and high school was 28.9%. Second, there were significant differences between stress and sex, grades, athletic career, kind of sport, sport skill level, the average exercise time per day, family circumstances, life satisfaction, future expectations. Third, there were significant differences between depression and sex, academic achievements, the average exercise time per day, family circumstances, life satisfaction, future expectations. Fourth, there were significant differences between suicidal ideation and sport skill level, academic achievements, the average exercise time per day, family circumstances, life satisfaction, future expectations. Fifth, the higher level of stress and degree of depression, the more increased the risk of suicidal ideation. Conclusions: Considering the close relationship between suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt, to reduce the suicidal ideation of athletes in middle and high school it is necessary to adjust exercising time properly and to promote life satisfaction. Also to overcome depression and stress support system should be established and to promote self-efficacy cognition strength program should be introduced in the school. So athletes in middle and high school should have confidence and self-confidence on the future.