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Darvin, Lindsey, Alicia Cintron, and Meg Hancock. "¿Por qué jugar? Sport socialization among Hispanic/Latina female NCAA division I student-athletes." Journal of Amateur Sport 3, no. 2 (July 25, 2017): 27–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.17161/jas.v3i2.6460.
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Representation of Hispanics/Latinas in intercollegiate athletics is lacking. During the 2014-2015 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) athletic season, only 2.2 percent of all female Division I student-athlete’s identified as Hispanic or Latina (NCAA, 2015). This low percentage of Hispanic/Latina female participants calls into question how these young women become involved in athletics and sustain their involvement within sport. While previous research has examined the socialization processes of youth athletes and parents of youth athlete participants, there is little research aimed at examining these processes for elite-level athlete participants (Dorsch, Smith, & McDonough, 2015; Greendorfer, Blinde, & Pellegrini, 1986;). Thus, the aim of this current study was to examine the potential factors that may have contributed to consistent sport participation for an elite group of Hispanic/Latina female athletes throughout their youth and collegiate careers. Participants for this study identified as current NCAA Division I Hispanic/Latina female student-athletes. Results showed that family, specifically parents and siblings, contributed to socializing Hispanic/Latina athletes into sport, while family and coaches contributed to the persistence of their athletic endeavors. Findings also show a sense of cultural indifference, youth coaches who invested in the participants long-term, and a significant involvement of the patriarch of the family in their athletic success.
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Bermon, Stéphane, Pierre Yves Garnier, Angelica Lindén Hirschberg, Neil Robinson, Sylvain Giraud, Raul Nicoli, Norbert Baume, et al. "Serum Androgen Levels in Elite Female Athletes." Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 99, no. 11 (November 1, 2014): 4328–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1210/jc.2014-1391.
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Objective: Prior to the implementation of the blood steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport, we measured the serum androgen levels among a large population of high-level female athletes as well as the prevalence of biochemical hyperandrogenism and some disorders of sex development (DSD). Methods and Results: In 849 elite female athletes, serum T, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, androstenedione, SHBG, and gonadotrophins were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry high resolution or immunoassay. Free T was calculated. The sampling hour, age, and type of athletic event only had a small influence on T concentration, whereas ethnicity had not. Among the 85.5% that did not use oral contraceptives, 168 of 717 athletes were oligo- or amenorrhoic. The oral contraceptive users showed the lowest serum androgen and gonadotrophin and the highest SHBG concentrations. After having removed five doped athletes and five DSD women from our population, median T and free T values were close to those reported in sedentary young women. The 99th percentile for T concentration was calculated at 3.08 nmol/L, which is below the 10 nmol/L threshold used for competition eligibility of hyperandrogenic women with normal androgen sensitivity. Prevalence of hyperandrogenic 46 XY DSD in our athletic population is approximately 7 per 1000, which is 140 times higher than expected in the general population. Conclusion: This is the first study to establish normative serum androgens values in elite female athletes, while taking into account the possible influence of menstrual status, oral contraceptive use, type of athletic event, and ethnicity. These findings should help to develop the blood steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport and to refine more evidence-based fair policies and recommendations concerning hyperandrogenism in female athletes.
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Sorrigueta-Hernández, Alba, Barbara-Yolanda Padilla-Fernandez, Magaly-Teresa Marquez-Sanchez, Maria-Carmen Flores-Fraile, Javier Flores-Fraile, Carlos Moreno-Pascual, Anabel Lorenzo-Gomez, Maria-Begoña Garcia-Cenador, and Maria-Fernanda Lorenzo-Gomez. "Benefits of Physiotherapy on Urinary Incontinence in High-Performance Female Athletes. Meta-Analysis." Journal of Clinical Medicine 9, no. 10 (October 10, 2020): 3240. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/jcm9103240.
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Introduction: High performance female athletes may be a risk group for the development of urinary incontinence due to the imbalance of forces between the abdomen and the pelvis. Pelvic floor physiotherapy may be a useful treatment in these patients. Objectives: (1) To identify the scientific evidence for pelvic floor (PF) dysfunctions that are associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in high-performance sportswomen. (2) To determine whether pelvic floor physiotherapy (PT) corrects UI in elite female athletes. Materials and methods: Meta-analysis of published scientific evidence. The articles analyzed were found through the following search terms: (A) pelvic floor dysfunction elite female athletes; (B) urinary incontinence elite female athletes; (C) pelvic floor dysfunction elite female athletes physiotherapy; (D) urinary incontinence elite female athletes physiotherapy. Variables studied: type of study, number of individuals, age, prevalence of urinary incontinence described in the athletes, type of sport, type of UI, aspect investigated in the articles (prevalence, response to treatment, etiopathogenesis, response to PT treatment, concomitant health conditions or diseases. Study groups according to the impact of each sport on the PF: G1: low-impact (noncompetitive sports, golf, swimming, running athletics, throwing athletics); G2: moderate impact (cross-country skiing, field hockey, tennis, badminton, baseball) and G3: high impact (gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, ballet, aerobics, jump sports (high, long, triple and pole jump)), judo, soccer, basketball, handball, volleyball). Descriptive analysis, ANOVA and meta-analysis. Results: Mean age 22.69 years (SD 2.70, 18.00–29.49), with no difference between athletes and controls. Average number of athletes for each study was 284.38 (SD 373,867, 1–1263). The most frequent type of study was case-control (39.60%), followed by cross-sectional (30.20%). The type of UI was most often unspecified by the study (47.20%), was stress UI (SUI, 24.50%), or was referred to as general UI (18.90%). Studies on prevalence were more frequent (54.70%), followed by etiopathogenesis (28.30%) and, lastly, on treatment (17.00%). In most cases sportswomen did not have any disease or concomitant pathological condition (77.40%). More general UI was found in G1 (36.40%), SUI in G2 (50%) and unspecified UI in G3 (63.64%). In the meta-analysis, elite athletes were found to suffer more UI than the control women. In elite female athletes, in general, physiotherapy contributed to gain in urinary continence more than in control women (risk ratio 0.81, confidence interval 0.78–0.84)). In elite female athletes, former elite female athletes and in pregnant women who regularly engage in aerobic activity, physiotherapy was successful in delivering superior urinary continence compared to the control group. The risk of UI was the same in athletes and in the control group in volleyball female athletes, elite female athletes, cross-country skiers and runners. Treatment with PT was more effective in control women than in gymnastics, basketball, tennis, field hockey, track, swimming, volleyball, softball, golf, soccer and elite female athletes. Conclusions: There is pelvic floor dysfunction in high-performance athletes associated with athletic activity and urinary incontinence. Eating disorders, constipation, family history of urinary incontinence, history of urinary tract infections and decreased flexibility of the plantar arch are associated with an increased risk of UI in elite female athletes. Pelvic floor physiotherapy as a treatment for urinary incontinence in elite female athletes, former elite female athletes and pregnant athletes who engage in regular aerobic activity leads to a higher continence gain than that obtained by nonathlete women.
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Haugen, Thomas A., Paul A. Solberg, Carl Foster, Ricardo Morán-Navarro, Felix Breitschädel, and Will G. Hopkins. "Peak Age and Performance Progression in World-Class Track-and-Field Athletes." International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 13, no. 9 (October 1, 2018): 1122–29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2017-0682.
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The aim of this study was to quantify peak age and improvements over the preceding years to peak age in elite athletic contestants according to athlete performance level, sex, and discipline. Individual season bests for world-ranked top 100 athletes from 2002 to 2016 (14,937 athletes and 57,049 individual results) were downloaded from the International Association of Athletics Federations’ website. Individual performance trends were generated by fitting a quadratic curve separately to each athlete’s performance and age data using a linear modeling procedure. Mean peak age was typically 25–27 y, but somewhat higher for marathon and male throwers (∼28–29 y). Women reached greater peak age than men in the hurdles and middle- and long-distance running events (mean difference, ±90% CL: 0.6, ±0.3 to 1.9, ±0.3 y: small to moderate). Male throwers had greater peak age than corresponding women (1.3, ±0.3 y: small). Throwers displayed the greatest performance improvements over the 5 y prior to peak age (mean [SD]: 7.0% [2.9%]), clearly ahead of jumpers, long-distance runners, hurdlers, middle-distance runners, and sprinters (3.4, ±0.2% to 5.2, ±0.2%; moderate to large). Similarly, top 10 athletes showed greater improvements than top 11–100 athletes in all events (1.0, ±0.9% to 1.8, ±1.1%; small) except throws. Women improved more than men in all events (0.4, ±0.2% to 2.9, ±0.4%) except sprints. This study provides novel insight on performance development in athletic contestants that are useful for practitioners when setting goals and evaluating strategies for achieving success.
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Sullivan, Claire F. "Gender Verification and Gender Policies in Elite Sport." Journal of Sport and Social Issues 35, no. 4 (November 2011): 400–419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0193723511426293.
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Sex-segregated sports require governing bodies to clearly and accurately place athletes in two categories, one labeled “men” and the other labeled “women.” Sports governing bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) used sex testing procedures to attempt to verify the sex of athletes competing in women’s events. In 2004, the IOC introduced the Stockholm Consensus to regulate the inclusion of, primarily, male-to-female transsexual athletes, to compete at the Olympic Games. These governing bodies, and others, are dealing with society’s basic categorization of humans and thus are entangled in attempts to scientifically and medically define sex. This article will focus on the history and implications of gender-verification testing and gender policy on notions of “fair play” and athlete eligibility.
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Chow, Bik C. "Moving on? Elite Hong Kong Female Athletes and Retirement from Competitive Sport." Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal 10, no. 2 (October 2001): 47–81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.10.2.47.
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The purpose of the research was to study the transitional experiences of elite female athletes who are going through the process of athletic retirement. Using a life history approach, six former and six current athletes in Hong Kong were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were utilized based on the Schlossberg’s (1981, 1984) transition model. Data were analyzed using typology and constant comparison methods. Diversity and commonality in the experiences of women withdrawing from elite sports competition were found. The life history approach was effective in illustrating the ways in which Hong Kong female athletes feel and think about career end, with a transition from competition to retirement evident as part of career passing. Content analysis of interviews revealed several salient themes related to sports retirement. Key distinctions across projected and experienced retirement were associated with a woman’s being an immigrant athlete, entering early into sport, and pursuing an education. Athlete status also affected transition to retirement and lifestyle after an elite sports career.
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López de Subijana, Cristina, Javier Ramos, Carlos Garcia, and Jose L. Chamorro. "The Employability Process of Spanish Retired Elite Athletes: Gender and Sport Success Comparison." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 15 (July 29, 2020): 5460. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17155460.
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The aims of the study were: (i) to describe the work integration after retirement in elite athletes, (ii) to compare the working integration of women and men, and Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, and (iii) to specify the factors that affect their employment status and current monthly income. A total of 476 former elite athletes were surveyed. Non-parametric statistics were applied to compare the differences between groups and a classification tree analysis was performed for the dependent variables. The former elite athlete’s unemployment rate was better than the general population. At the gender comparison, a wage gap appeared between women and men. At the comparison between Olympic and non-Olympic athletes, the link to first employment differed in both groups. In the prediction models, finishing higher education arose as a key factor of the working status and the monthly salary. Among those without higher education studies, planning arose as a factor determining their salary, while among those with high qualifications, gender was the key factor. This study supports the importance of a holistic view of athletic career development and it offers practical insights into the process of reaching first employment after retirement.
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Castaldelli-Maia, João Mauricio, João Guilherme de Mello e. Gallinaro, Rodrigo Scialfa Falcão, Vincent Gouttebarge, Mary E. Hitchcock, Brian Hainline, Claudia L. Reardon, and Todd Stull. "Mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes: a systematic review on cultural influencers and barriers to athletes seeking treatment." British Journal of Sports Medicine 53, no. 11 (May 15, 2019): 707–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-100710.
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ObjectiveTo summarise the literature on the barriers to athletes seeking mental health treatment and cultural influencers of mental health in elite athletes.DesignSystematic reviewData sourcesPubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, SportDiscus (Ebsco), and PsycINFO (ProQuest) up to November 2018.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesQualitative and quantitative original studies of elite athletes (those who competed at the professional, Olympic, or collegiate/university levels), published in any language.ResultsStigma, low mental health literacy, negative past experiences with mental health treatment-seeking, busy schedules, and hypermasculinity are barriers to elite athletes seeking mental health treatment. Cultural influencers of mental health in elite athletes include: (1) the lack of acceptance of women as athletes; (2) lower acceptability of mental health symptoms and disorders among non-white athletes; (3) non-disclosure of religious beliefs; and (4) higher dependence on economic benefits. Coaches have an important role in supporting elite athletes in obtaining treatment for mental illness. Brief anti-stigma interventions in elite athletes decrease stigma and improve literary about mental health.ConclusionThere is a need for various actors to provide more effective strategies to overcome the stigma that surrounds mental illness, increase mental health literacy in the athlete/coach community, and address athlete-specific barriers to seeking treatment for mental illness. In this systematic review, we identified strategies that, if implemented, can overcome the cultural factors that may otherwise limit athletes seeking treatment. Coaches are critical for promoting a culture within elite athletes’ environments that encourages athletes to seek treatment.
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Hirschberg, Angelica Lindén. "Female hyperandrogenism and elite sport." Endocrine Connections 9, no. 4 (April 2020): R81—R92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/ec-19-0537.
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Emerging evidence indicates that testosterone, which can increase muscle mass and strength, stimulates erythropoiesis, promotes competitive behaviour, and enhances the physical performance of women. Indeed, the levels of testosterone within the normal female range are related to muscle mass and athletic performance in female athletes. Furthermore, among these athletes, the prevalence of hyperandrogenic conditions, including both polycystic ovary syndrome and rare differences/disorders of sex development (DSD), which may greatly increase testosterone production, are elevated. Thus, if the androgen receptors of an individual with XY DSD are functional, her muscle mass will develop like that of a man. These findings have led to the proposal that essential hyperandrogenism is beneficial for athletic performance and plays a role in the choice by women to compete in athletic activities. Moreover, a recent randomized controlled trial demonstrated a significant increase in the lean mass and aerobic performance by young exercising women when their testosterone levels were enhanced moderately. Circulating testosterone is considered the strongest factor to explain the male advantage in sport performance, ranging between 10 and 20%. It appears to be unfair to allow female athletes with endogenous testosterone levels in the male range (i.e. 10–20 times higher than normal) to compete against those with normal female androgen levels. In 2012, this consideration led international organizations to establish eligibility regulations for the female classification in order to ensure fair and meaningful competition, but the regulations are controversial and have been challenged in court.
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Davis, Caroline, and Shaelyn Strachan. "Elite Female Athletes with Eating Disorders: A Study of Psychopathological Characteristics." Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 23, no. 3 (September 2001): 245–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jsep.23.3.245.
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Some have claimed that the similarities between athletes with eating problems and women with eating disorders (ED) include only symptoms such as dieting and fear of weight gain, and do not extend to the psychopathological characteristics associated with these disorders. However, studies used to support this viewpoint have relied on comparisons between “eating-disturbed” athletes and clinically diagnosed ED patients, a method that confounds diagnostic classification with athlete status. The present study held ED classification constant by comparing ED patients who had been involved in high-level competitive athletics with nonathlete ED. No significant differences were found between the groups on any measures of psychopathology or eating-related symptoms; this suggests that if an athlete develops an eating disorder, her psychological profile is no different from others with this disorder.
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Spencer, Matt, Thomas Losnegard, Jostein Hallén, and Will G. Hopkins. "Variability and Predictability of Performance Times of Elite Cross-Country Skiers." International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 9, no. 1 (January 2014): 5–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2012-0382.
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Analyses of elite competitive performance provide useful information for research and practical applications.Purpose:Here the authors analyze performance times of cross-country skiers at international competitions (World Cup, World Championship, and Olympics) in classical and free styles of women’s and men’s distance and sprint events, each with a total of 410–569 athletes competing in 1–44 races at 15–25 venues from seasons 2002 to 2011.Methods:A linear mixed model of race times for each event provided estimates of within-athlete race-to-race variability expressed as a coefficient of variation (CV) after adjustment for fixed or random effects of snow conditions, altitude, race length, and competition terrain.Results:Within-athlete variability was similar for men and women over various events for all athletes (CV of 1.5–1.8%) and for the annual top-10 athletes (1.1–1.4%). Observed effects of snow conditions and altitude on mean time were substantial (~2%) but mostly unclear, owing to large effects of terrain (CV of 4–10% in top-10 analyses). Predictability of performance was extremely high for all athletes (intraclass correlations of .90–.96) but only trivial to poor for top-10 athletes (men .00–.03, women .03–.35).Conclusion:The race-to-race variability of top-ranked skiers is similar to that of other elite endurance athletes. Estimates of the smallest worthwhile performance enhancement (0.3× within-athlete variability) will help researchers and practitioners evaluate strategies affecting performance of elite skiers.
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SINGH, Bhupinder. "Investigation of Cognitive Abilities of Indian Sport Women." Asian Journal of Physical Education & Recreation 13, no. 2 (December 1, 2007): 56–62. http://dx.doi.org/10.24112/ajper.131830.
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LANGUAGE NOTE | Document text in English; abstract also in Chinese.
At the elite level of participation of sports the brain has to be equally tuned with the brawn for attaining the peak level performance. Rather, it is higher cortical functioning of the athlete, which helps in judging, analyzing, estimating and calculating the information at the time of execution of highly precised movements during the competition. Taking in view these facts the emphasis of sports psychology researches in these days is shifting towards the cognitive assessment of the players in the laboratory conditions. A substantive probe has taken place in this respect in male athletes however the female athletic population is still awaiting scientific consideration. Taking cognizance of this situation the present study was conducted on 192 National level Female Athletes belonging to Athletics (Track & Field), Badminton, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Gymnastics, Handball and Hockey. These female athletes were assessed on the parameters of visual and auditory reaction time, visual perceptual accuracy and visual concentration. All the subjects were individually tested with the help of Electronic Chronoscope, Muller-Lyer Illusion test and Knox-Cube Imitation test. The standard procedure of testing was followed throughout the testing programme. The results revealed number of inter group differences in the cognitive abilities of female athletes. While comparing individual and team game female athletes differences were found only in reactionability.
本文旨在探討印度女子運動選手的認知能力，192名印度女子國家隊選手接受測試，結果顯示，個人與隊際項目出現一些較明顯的差異。
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Casolino, Erika, Cristina Cortis, Corrado Lupo, Salvatore Chiodo, Carlo Minganti, and Laura Capranica. "Physiological Versus Psychological Evaluation in Taekwondo Elite Athletes." International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 7, no. 4 (December 2012): 322–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.7.4.322.
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Purpose:To anticipate outstanding athletic outcomes, the selection process of elite athletes simultaneously considers psychophysiological and technical parameters. This study aimed to investigate whether selected and nonselected athletes for the Italian national taekwondo team could be discriminated by means of sportspecific performances and psychophysiological responses to training.Participants:5 established Italian national athletes and 20 elite Italian taekwondo black belt athletes (9 women, 16 men; age 23.0 ± 3.1 y; body mass 67.0 ± 12.1 kg).Methods:To update the Italian national-team roster, the 20 elite athletes participated in a 1-wk selection camp (7 training sessions). Selected athletes (n = 10) joined established national athletes during the following 3-wk national training period (7 training sessions/wk). During the 1-wk selection camp, differences (P < .05) between selected and nonselected athletes in performances, heart-rate responses, blood lactate accumulation [La], subjective ratings of perceived exertion (session RPE), and mood were examined. During the 3-wk national training period, differences (P < .05) in mood between selected and established national athletes were investigated.Results:With respect to nonselected athletes, selected athletes responded better to training in terms of session RPE (P = .047) and [La] (P = .046). No difference in performance and mood between subgroups emerged. After the 3-wk national training period, differences (P = .035) emerged for confusion, with decreases in the established national athletes and increases for recently selected athletes.Conclusions:Session RPE and [La] seem to be more effective than psychological measures in discriminating between elite taekwondo athletes. Evaluation of mood could be effective in monitoring athletes’ response to national training.
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Balen, Ivete, Maressa P. Krause, Birgit Keller, Carla Cristina Tagliari, Cintia L. N. Rodacki, and Ricardo W. Coelho. "Psychophysiological Stress In Women Athletes Elite Tennis Players." Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 49, no. 5S (May 2017): 713. http://dx.doi.org/10.1249/01.mss.0000518897.75811.d2.
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English, Colleen. "Elite Women Athletes and Feminist Narrative in Sport." Sport, Ethics and Philosophy 14, no. 4 (May 25, 2020): 537–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2020.1767185.
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Pelliccia, A. "Athlete's heart in women. Echocardiographic characterization of highly trained elite female athletes." JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 276, no. 3 (July 17, 1996): 211–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.276.3.211.
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Wang, Ying, Ji He Zhou, and Long Fei Zhao. "Kinematics Analysis on the Last Exertion Skills of Chinese Woman Javelin Thrower Lv Huihui." Applied Mechanics and Materials 464 (November 2013): 441–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.464.441.
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Chinese women javelin thrower Lv Huihui won the championship of China Long Throw Open in 2013. However, there was still a large gap between her result and the world record. In order to improve her stroking techniques and enrich technological theories, we used advanced three-dimension picture to take up Lv Huihuis spell throw in game site. We also made three-dimension analysis on the last exertion skill and got the kinematics parameter to compare with the foreign elite women javelin thrower. The results show that Lv Huihuis stretch angel is 13.8° smaller than world elite athletes. Her flexibility is not so good that she cant do the full bow action completely. As for the last left knee stretching process, Lv Huihui and other Chinese elite athletes get the results of 5.3°and 10.2 °, while world elite athletes get 16°. It shows that Chinese athletes left knee stretching is not good. Lv Huihuis release speed is 23.36m/s, better than the Chinese athletes average level 21.36m/s, but this speed is much slower than the world elite athletes release speed 24.80m/s. It is the major reason that makes Lv Huihui remain a large gap with the world elite athletes.
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Senefeld, Jonathon W., and Sandra K. Hunter. "Are masters athletic performances predictive of human aging in men and women?" Movement & Sport Sciences - Science & Motricité, no. 104 (2019): 5–12. http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/sm/2019018.
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Human aging particularly after ∼70 years, is associated with declines in physical function and athletic performance, that are accelerated in part by age-associated declines in physical activity and exercise training. Because elite athletes maintain high levels of physical activity across the lifespan, older athletes (Masters) may present as a proxy for healthy human aging. Although longitudinal studies are most informative about human aging, there are substantial practical challenges to conducting longitudinally designed research. Masters athletic records and comparisons of performance across age groups can serve as a practical and unique probe to predict the trajectory of human function throughout the lifespan. While useful, the cross-sectional comparison of elite athletic performance across different age groups, however, has inherent limitations in predicting healthy human aging, particularly among women. This review presents evidence that (1) there is a progressive age-related decline in world class performances in freestyle swim swimming, marathon, and triathlon, that accelerates into very old age (∼70 years), and (2) lower participation rates of women relative to men results in an overestimation of the age-related decline in athletic performance particularly in very old women. Thus, while useful, there are some limitations to predicting biological aging among women using current Masters Athletic performances.
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Lian, Østein B., Lars Engebretsen, and Roald Bahr. "Prevalence of Jumper's Knee among Elite Athletes from Different Sports: A Cross-sectional Study." American Journal of Sports Medicine 33, no. 4 (April 2005): 561–67. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0363546504270454.
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Background The prevalence of jumper's knee across different sports has not been examined, and it is not known if there is a gender difference. Data from surgical case series indicate that there may be a high prevalence in sports with high speed and power demands. Hypothesis The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of jumper's knee in different sports among female and male athletes and to correlate the prevalence to the loading characteristics of the extensor mechanism in these sports. Study Design Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 4. Methods The authors examined approximately 50 Norwegian male and female athletes at the national elite level from each of the following 9 sports: athletics (male athletes: high jump, 100- and 200-m sprint), basketball (male athletes), ice hockey (male athletes), volleyball (male athletes), orienteering (male athletes), road cycling (male athletes), soccer (male and female athletes), team handball (male and female athletes), and wrestling (male athletes). The examination included an interview on individual characteristics (weight, age, height, and training background), a clinical examination, and self-recorded Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment score from 0 (worst) to 100 (best). Results The overall prevalence of current jumper's knee was 14.2% (87 of 613 athletes), with a significant difference between sports with different performance characteristics (range, 0%-45%). In addition, 51 athletes (8%) reported previous symptoms. The prevalence of current symptoms was highest in volleyball (44.6% ± 6.6%) and basketball (31.9% ± 6.8%), whereas there were no cases in cycling or orienteering. The prevalence of current jumper's knee was lower among women (5.6% ± 2.2%) compared with men (13.5% ± 3.0%; χ2 test, P =. 042). The duration of symptoms among athletes with current jumper's knee (n = 87) was 32 ± 25 (standard deviation) months, with a Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment score of 64 ± 19. Conclusion The prevalence of jumper's knee is high in sports characterized by high demands on speed and power for the leg extensors. The symptoms are often serious, resulting in long-standing impairment of athletic performance.
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Castanier, Carole, Valérie Bougault, Caroline Teulier, Christelle Jaffré, Sandrine Schiano-Lomoriello, Nancy Vibarel-Rebot, Aude Villemain, et al. "The Specificities of Elite Female Athletes: A Multidisciplinary Approach." Life 11, no. 7 (June 26, 2021): 622. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/life11070622.
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Female athletes have garnered considerable attention in the last few years as more and more women participate in sports events. However, despite the well-known repercussions of female sex hormones, few studies have investigated the specificities of elite female athletes. In this review, we present the current but still limited data on how normal menstrual phases, altered menstrual phases, and hormonal contraception affect both physical and cognitive performances in these elite athletes. To examine the implicated mechanisms, as well as the potential performances and health risks in this population, we then take a broader multidisciplinary approach and report on the causal/reciprocal relationships between hormonal status and mental and physical health in young (18–40 years) healthy females, both trained and untrained. We thus cover the research on both physiological and psychological variables, as well as on the Athlete Biological Passport used for anti-doping purposes. We consider the fairly frequent discrepancies and summarize the current knowledge in this new field of interest. Last, we conclude with some practical guidelines for eliciting improvements in physical and cognitive performance while minimizing the health risks for female athletes.
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Moesch, Karin. "Reasons for Career Termination in Danish Elite Athletes: Investigating Gender Differences and the Time-point as Potential Correlates." Sport Science Review 21, no. 5-6 (December 1, 2012): 49–68. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/v10237-012-0018-2.
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Abstract Introduction: Career termination, an inevitable step in every athlete’s career, has received increased attention within sport psychological research. A career termination that results in psychological problems is of special concern for sport federations, organizations and clubs. Research has shown that it is crucial to consider an athlete’s the reason for career termination. There is evidence that the causes of an involuntary and unplanned career termination are disadvantageous for athletes’ well-being. There are many important aspects of career termination, such as cultural and social aspects, gender, and the time-point of the occurrence. The present study therefore aims at investigating the causes of career termination and possible correlates with gender and the time-point thereof among Danish elite athletes. Method: Data was gathered from 68 retired Danish elite athletes about their reasons for career termination and about its time-point. A qualitative analysis with the reasons mentioned by the athletes was performed. Moreover, t-tests and chi-square tests were conducted to analyze differences between males and females, and among athletes ending their career at different time-points in their career. Results: The results revealed 10 different reasons given for career termination with lack of motivation, injury or health problems and family related reasons being the top three. Female athletes mentioned that they ended their career due to family-related reasons more often than their male peers. More than a third of all athletes ended their career before their perceived achievement of peak performance. Financial reasons seemed to be of more importance for career termination for athletes ending their career before or at peaking, whereas family-related reasons were more often mentioned by athletes during or after their performance peak. Discussion and conclusion: The results of the study provide an overview of the career termination reasons of Danish elite athletes, which can provide practitioners and organizations with helpful insight when designing respective interventions. When planning such interventions it could be advantageous to deliver specific support for women to enable them to optimally combine family life with an elite sport career.
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D’Lauro, Christopher, Brian R. Johnson, Gerald McGinty, C. Dain Allred, Darren E. Campbell, and Jonathan C. Jackson. "Reconsidering Return-to-Play Times: A Broader Perspective on Concussion Recovery." Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 6, no. 3 (March 1, 2018): 232596711876085. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2325967118760854.
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Background: Return-to-play protocols describe stepwise, graduated recoveries for safe return from concussion; however, studies that comprehensively track return-to-play time are expensive to administer and heavily sampled from elite male contact-sport athletes. Purpose: To retrospectively assess probable recovery time for collegiate patients to return to play after concussion, especially for understudied populations, such as women and nonelite athletes. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Medical staff at a military academy logged a total of 512 concussion medical records over 38 months. Of these, 414 records included complete return-to-play protocols with return-to-play time, sex, athletic status, cause, and other data. Results: Overall mean return to play was 29.4 days. Sex and athletic status both affected return-to-play time. Men showed significantly shorter return to play than women, taking 24.7 days (SEM, 1.5 days) versus 35.5 days (SEM, 2.7 days) ( P < .001). Intercollegiate athletes also reported quicker return-to-play times than nonintercollegiate athletes: 25.4 days (SEM, 2.6 days) versus 34.7 days (SEM, 1.6 days) ( P = .002). These variables did not significantly interact. Conclusion: Mean recovery time across all groups (29.4 days) showed considerably longer return to play than the most commonly cited concussion recovery time window (7-10 days) for collegiate athletes. Understudied groups, such as women and nonelite athletes, demonstrated notably longer recovery times. The diversity of this sample population was associated with longer return-to-play times; it is unclear how other population-specific factors may have contributed. These inclusive return-to-play windows may indicate longer recovery times outside the population of elite athletes.
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Kristjánsdóttir, Hafrún, Petra Sigurðardóttir, Sigurlaug Jónsdóttir, Guðlaug Þorsteinsdóttir, and Jose Saavedra. "Body Image Concern and Eating Disorder Symptoms Among Elite Icelandic Athletes." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16, no. 15 (July 31, 2019): 2728. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152728.
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The aim of this study was to analyse body image concerns and symptoms of eating disorders in elite Icelandic athletes according to their sex, and sport practiced. The participants were 755 athletes (24.8 ± 3.5 years in age) who compete at the highest possible level in Iceland. Representing 20 different sports, they were divided into five sports groups. Three questionnaires were used: the Body Shape Questionnaire to assess body image concerns; the Bulimia Test-Revised to assess the main symptoms of bulimia; and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire to identify disordered eating attitudes and behaviours. A chi-squared test was used to analyse differences in prevalence of body image concern and eating disorders, a t-test for the differences between men and women, and a one-way ANOVA to compare the different sports. The main findings were that 17.9% of the athletes presented severe or moderate body image dissatisfaction, and 18.2% (25.3% of the women) were above the clinical cutoff for body image concern. Women’s scores were higher than men’s (whole sample and ball games) in all variables except restraint. These results seem to point to the existence of a real problem that athlete, coaches, doctors, and institutions need to take into account.
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Walton, Courtney C., Simon Rice, Caroline X. Gao, Matt Butterworth, Matti Clements, and Rosemary Purcell. "Gender differences in mental health symptoms and risk factors in Australian elite athletes." BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine 7, no. 1 (March 2021): e000984. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000984.
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ObjectivesTo examine gender differences in the reporting of, and contributors to, mental health symptoms.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional observational study of adult athletes within a national elite sporting system (n=523; women=292;56%), who completed a battery of assessments including measures of mental health and adverse life events. Group differences across a range of scores were examined, followed by gender-stratified bootstrapped linear regression and meta-regression on measures where gender differences were observed.ResultsWomen athletes reported higher rates of mental health symptoms, and lower rates of mental well-being, although there were no differences in general psychological distress or life satisfaction. Women reported experiencing several adverse life events at higher rates than men; particularly interpersonal conflict, financial hardship and discrimination. Low self-esteem was consistently associated with poorer mental health outcomes for all athletes. While a range of factors were associated with poor mental health in men or women athletes, meta-regression suggested that experiencing financial difficulty and social media abuse were more uniquely associated with mental health symptoms in men.ConclusionGender differences in mental health in elite athletes are apparent. Approaches to increasing well-being are required in elite sport.
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Korobeinikova, L. "Gender features of presentation of neurodynamic function in elite combat athletes." Bulletin of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Series: Biology 68, no. 3 (2014): 18–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.17721/1728_2748.2014.68.18-21.
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To study the neurodynamics features in elite athletes from a gender perspective. The used of the following methods "Sensory-motor reaction", "Functional mobility of nervous processes", "Reaction to a moving object", "Endurance of the nervous system." The two groups of elite judokas with different sexes were studied. Revealed that male athletes higher performance and better visual perception of the effectiveness of visual information processing, the study of neural function, compared with women, which suggests the presence of cognitive component depending on the perception and processing of information from the floor in athletes. It is revealed that the male athletes, in terms of information load, better perform spontaneous, high-speed, but not enough trained motor actions, as compared to women.
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Pettersson, Stefan, Marianne Pipping Ekström, and Christina M. Berg. "Practices of Weight Regulation Among Elite Athletes in Combat Sports: A Matter of Mental Advantage?" Journal of Athletic Training 48, no. 1 (January 1, 2013): 99–108. http://dx.doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-48.1.04.
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Context The combination of extensive weight loss and inadequate nutritional strategies used to lose weight rapidly for competition in weight-category sports may negatively affect athletic performance and health. Objective To explore the reasoning of elite combat-sport athletes about rapid weight loss and regaining of weight before competitions. Design Qualitative study. Setting With grounded theory as a theoretical framework, we employed a cross-examinational approach including interviews, observations, and Internet sources. Sports observations were obtained at competitions and statements by combat-sport athletes were collected on the Internet. Patients or Other Participants Participants in the interviews were 14 Swedish national team athletes (9 men, 5 women; age range, 18 to 36 years) in 3 Olympic combat sports (wrestling, judo, and taekwondo). Data Collection and Analysis Semistructured interviews with 14 athletes from the Swedish national teams in wrestling, judo, and taekwondo were conducted at a location of each participant's choice. The field observations were conducted at European competitions in these 3 sports. In addition, interviews and statements made by athletes in combat sports were collected on the Internet. Results Positive aspects of weight regulation other than gaining physical advantage emerged from the data during the analysis: sport identity, mental diversion, and mental advantage. Together and individually, these categories point toward the positive aspects of weight regulation experienced by the athletes. Practicing weight regulation mediates a self-image of being “a real athlete.” Weight regulation is also considered mentally important as a part of the precompetition preparation, serving as a coping strategy by creating a feeling of increased focus and commitment. Moreover, a mental advantage relative to one's opponents can be gained through the practice of weight regulation. Conclusions Weight regulation has mentally important functions extending beyond the common notion that combat-sport athletes reduce their weight merely to gain a physical edge over their opponents.
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Tomschi, Fabian, Hannah Ottmann, Wilhelm Bloch, Marijke Grau, and Hans-Georg Predel. "Brachial and central blood pressure and arterial stiffness in adult elite athletes." European Journal of Applied Physiology 121, no. 7 (March 13, 2021): 1889–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04662-z.
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Abstract Purpose Measures of arterial stiffness (AS) and central blood pressure (BP) are indicators for cardiovascular health and possess a high prognostic value in the prediction of cardiovascular events. The effects of physical training are widely unexplored in the context of competitive, high-performance sports. Therefore, we aimed to present possible reference values of brachial and central BP and of AS of adult elite athletes compared to a control group. Methods A total of 189 subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. Of these were 139 adult elite athletes (70 male, 69 female) performing on top-national and international level, and 50 control subjects (26 male, 24 female). Resting brachial and central BP and aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured and were compared in terms of sex, sport category, and age of the athletes. Results Results show no difference between athletes and controls in any parameter. Women exhibit lower brachial and central BP and AS values compared to men. PWV is positively correlated with age. Evaluation of the parameters according to the different sport categories showed that endurance athletes exhibit lower BP and PWV compared to other athletes. Conclusions This study presents brachial and central BP and PWV values of athletes, suggesting that high-performance sport does not negatively impact AS. The proposed reference values might support a more detailed evaluation of elite athlete’s cardiovascular and hemodynamic system and a better assignment to possible risk groups.
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Masson, Geneviève, and Benoît Lamarche. "Many non-elite multisport endurance athletes do not meet sports nutrition recommendations for carbohydrates." Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism 41, no. 7 (July 2016): 728–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/apnm-2015-0599.
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Little is known regarding the dietary intake of non-elite athletes involved in multisport endurance events. The primary objective of this observational study was to characterize the dietary intake of non-elite athletes participating in winter triathlon (snowshoeing, skating, and cross-country skiing), winter pentathlon (winter triathlon sports + cycling and running), Ironman (IM: swimming, cycling, running), and half-distance Ironman (IM 70.3) in relation with current sports nutrition recommendations. A total of 116 non-elite athletes (32 women and 84 men) who had participated in one of those events in 2014 were included in the analyses. Usual dietary intake was assessed using a validated online food frequency questionnaire. Participants (22–66 years old) trained 14.8 ± 5.3 h/week, on average (±SD). Only 45.7% [95% confidence interval, 36.4%–55.2%] of all athletes reported consuming the recommended intake for carbohydrates, with the highest proportion (66.7%) seen in IM athletes. On the other hand, 87.1% [79.6%–92.6%] of all athletes reported consuming at least 1.2 g protein·kg−1·day−1, while 66.4% [57.0%–74.9%] reported consuming more than 1.6 g protein·kg−1·day−1. The proportion of athletes consuming the recommended amount of protein was highest (84.6%) among IM athletes. There was no difference in the proportion of athletes achieving the recommended carbohydrate and protein intakes between men and women. These findings suggest that many non-elite multisport endurance athletes do not meet the current recommendations for carbohydrates, emphasizing the need for targeted nutritional education. Further research is needed to examine how underreporting of food intake may have affected these estimates.
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Casagrande, Pedro de Orleans, Danilo Reis Coimbra, and Alexandro Andrade. "BURNOUT IN ELITE TENNIS PLAYERS OF DIFFERENT JUNIOR CATEGORIES." Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte 24, no. 2 (March 2018): 121–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1517-869220182402181208.
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ABSTRACT Introduction: Burnout syndrome manifests in athletes in the form of three main symptoms/characteristics: emotional and physical exhaustion, sport devaluation, and reduced sense of accomplishment. Faced with the need to achieve optimum performance, young tennis players are exposed to several stressors than can lead to burnout, yet few reports on burnout in tennis have been researched. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze burnout in elite tennis players in different junior categories (CAT14, CAT16, CAT18). Methods: A total of 130 athletes, including 102 men (x=15.14±1.3) and 28 women (x=15.04±1.13), were selected for this cross-sectional study. Burnout was measured using a version of the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ). Results: CAT18 tennis players had higher rates of overall burnout and sport devaluation compared with CAT16 and CAT14 players. CAT14 and CAT16 players had higher scores for “reduced sense of accomplishment,” in association with sport devaluation. Conclusion: Differences found in CAT18 players may reflect the demands of transition from the junior to the professional circuit. Reduced sense of accomplishment should be monitored in athletes, to prevent burnout and cessation of sports activities. Level of Evidence III; retrospective comparative.
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Sobal, Jeffery, and Leonard F. Marquart. "Vitamin/Mineral Supplement Use among Athletes: A Review of the Literature." International Journal of Sport Nutrition 4, no. 4 (December 1994): 320–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijsn.4.4.320.
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Vitamin/mineral supplements are often used by athletes as ergogenic aids to improve performance. This paper reviews studies of the prevalence, patterns, and explanations for vitamin/mineral supplement use among athletes. Fifty-one studies provided quantitative prevalence data on 10,274 male and female athletes at several levels of athletic participation in over 15 sports. The overall mean prevalence of athletes’ supplement use was 46%. Most studies reported that over half of the athletes used supplements (range 6% to 100%), and the larger investigations found lower prevalence levels. Elite athletes used supplements more than college or high school athletes. Women used supplements more often than men. Varying patterns existed by sport. Athletes appear to use supplements more than the general population, and some take high doses that may lead to nutritional problems. Sport nutritionists should include a vitamin/mineral supplement history as part of their dietary assessment so they can educate athletes about vitamin/mineral supplements and athletic performance.
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Park, Ki Jun, and Brian Byung Song. "Injuries in female and male elite taekwondo athletes: a 10-year prospective, epidemiological study of 1466 injuries sustained during 250 000 training hours." British Journal of Sports Medicine 52, no. 11 (November 10, 2017): 735–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2017-097530.
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ObjectivesWe aimed to determine the injury patterns associated with training activities in elite South Korean taekwondo athletes training for the Olympic Games.MethodsWe collected data prospectively from 2007 to 2016 at the Korea National Training Center in Seoul, South Korea. A sports injury was defined as acute or chronic musculoskeletal signs and symptoms due to taekwondo activities during training sessions. Athletes were assessed by an on-site sports medicine specialist. The elite taekwondo athletes were stratified according to sex, weight class (flyweight, featherweight, welterweight and heavyweight), injury location (body region and site) and injury severity (mild or level I, requiring treatment for 1–3 days; moderate or level II, requiring treatment for 4–7 days; or severe or level III, requiring treatment for ≥8 days).ResultsAthlete exposure was 56 160 training sessions that took 249 600 hours. 1466 injuries were recorded in 283 athletes, with an average of 4.6 injuries per athlete annually. Of these, more than half (56%) were mild injuries, with most injuries occurring in the lower extremities (65.5%), followed by injuries to the trunk (16%), upper extremities (14%) and head and neck area (4%). Among these athletes, women had higher injury rates in the featherweight and welterweight categories (P≤0.0001), but there were no sex differences in other weight categories. In general, female athletes and male athletes experienced a comparable risk of injury (relative ratio: 1.55; 95% CI 0.89 to 2.68).ConclusionIn elite South Korean taekwondo athletes, most injuries occur in the lower extremities and were graded as minor. Injury severity depended on weight class.
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Marsh, Herbert W., Clark Perry, Chris Horsely, and Lawrence Roche. "Multidimensional Self-concepts of Elite Athletes: How Do They Differ from the General Population?" Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology 17, no. 1 (March 1995): 70–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jsep.17.1.70.
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A broad cross-section of elite athletes (n = 83) was compared to a normative sample (n = 2,436) of nonathletes on the 13 self-concept scales for the Self-Description Questionnaire III (SDQIII). On these scales athletes had substantially higher Physical Ability self-concepts than nonathletes, but did not differ on Physical Appearance self-concepts. There were smaller differences favoring athletes on social scales (Same Sex, Opposite Sex, and Parent Relationships), Global Esteem, and the total self-concept. Group differences were not statistically significant for the academic scales (Math, Verbal, Academic, and Problem Solving) and Emotional self-concept, whereas nonathletes had marginally higher Spiritual and Honesty self-concepts. Athlete/nonathlete differences varied somewhat according to gender, generally favoring women athletes. Because the pattern of group differences (e.g., large differences in Physical Ability and minimal differences in Academic self-concept scales) is reasonably similar to a priori predictions, the results provide further support for the construct validity of SDQIII responses.
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Hodler, Matthew R., and Cathryn Lucas-Carr. "“The Mother of All Comebacks”." Communication & Sport 4, no. 4 (July 24, 2016): 442–59. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/2167479515583480.
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Swimmer Dara Torres’s comeback to her sport at 41 years of age was a prominent story from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. While her record making swims made her comeback an athletic success, the importance of her comeback extends beyond her athletic accomplishments. Media representations of Torres during her comeback construct her body and the lifestyle that produced it as inspirational—or fitspirational. Although the term circulates widely in U.S. popular culture, and despite its importance in reframing what a woman’s ideal body is and how it is achieved, fitspiration has not received much attention from scholars. In this article, we use the constructed narrative of Torres’s 2008 comeback to demonstrate how notions of individualism, self-monitoring practices, personal responsibility, and empowerment in conjunction with long-standing ideological portrayals of women athletes erase social inequalities and perpetuate heteronormative ideals. The constructed narrative produces her as a fitspirational figure whom American women should emulate. Furthermore, this process transforms Torres from an elite athlete to a mom who used sport to regain her fitness. Her status as an elite athlete is marginalized and her body becomes attainable through the representation of her age and motherhood as barriers that can be overcome through self-monitored consumptive practices.
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Håkansson, Anders, Caroline Jönsson, and Göran Kenttä. "Psychological Distress and Problem Gambling in Elite Athletes during COVID-19 Restrictions—A Web Survey in Top Leagues of Three Sports during the Pandemic." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 18 (September 14, 2020): 6693. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17186693.
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COVID-19 and lockdown strategies may affect mental health and addictive behavior differently in the population, and elite athletes are among the professions clearly affected by the pandemic. This study in top elite athletes aimed to study current perceived psychological influence from COVID-19 and symptoms of depression, anxiety and changes in alcohol drinking, gambling behavior and problem gambling in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. This web survey included athletes in top leagues of soccer, ice hockey and handball in Sweden (N = 327, 62% men). A total of 66% and 51% were worried about the future of their sport or about their own future in sports, respectively. Feeling worse psychologically during the pandemic was common (72% of women, 40% of men, p < 0.001); depression criteria were endorsed by 19% of women and three percent of men (p < 0.001); anxiety criteria by 20% of women and five percent of men (p < 0.001). Reporting increased gambling during the pandemic was associated with gambling problem severity. Moderate-risk or problem gambling was seen in 10% of men and none of the women (p < 0.001). Depression and anxiety were associated with feeling worse during the COVID-19 pandemic and with concern over one’s own sports future. In conclusion, COVID-19-related distress is common in elite athletes and associated with mental health symptoms. Gambling increase during the pandemic was rare, but related to gambling problems, which were common in male athletes. The calls for increased focus on COVID-19-related concerns in athletes and on problem gambling in male athletes.
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de Subijana, Cristina López, Larisa Galatti, Rubén Moreno, and Jose L. Chamorro. "Analysis of the Athletic Career and Retirement Depending on the Type of Sport: A Comparison between Individual and Team Sports." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 24 (December 11, 2020): 9265. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249265.
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The type of sport practiced may shape the athletic career, considered as the period in which an athlete is dedicated to obtaining their maximum performance in one or more sports. The aim of this study was to compare athletic careers and retirement in individual and team sports. Four hundred and ten former elite athletes (38.5 ± 7.6 years) answered an ad hoc questionnaire; 61.5% were men and 38.5% women; 45.1% were from individual sports, while 54.9% were from team sports. It emerged that the age of maximum sports performance and the retirement age occurred significantly later in team sports than in individual sports (U = 15,042 and U = 12,624.5, respectively p < 0.001). Team sports athletes combined their athletic career with work to a greater extent than those from individual sports (χ2 (3, N = 408) = 14.2; p = 0.003; Cv = 0.187). Individual sports athletes trained more hours per week (30.0 ± 11.7 h) than those involved in team sports (19.2 ± 10.7 h; U = 9682; p < 0.001). These athletes (team sports) were in a better economic and working situation at retirement transition (χ2 (3, N = 406) = 23.9; p < 0.001; Cv = 0.242). Individual sports athletes perform physical activity more frequently than team sports athletes (U = 16,267.5; p = 0.045), while team sports athletes participate more actively in veteran competitions (χ2 (1, N = 390) = 3.9; p = 0.047; Cv = 0.104) and more frequently attend events as spectators (χ2 (1, N = 390) = 8.4; p = 0.004; Cv = 0.151). dual career support providers should be aware that team sports athletes enjoy a longer athletic career, and they are in a better position to face the retirement transition than individual sports athletes.
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Townsend, Mary Beth, Robert J. Sauers, and Carl B. Weiss. "FITNESS EVALUATION: Physical Fitness Evaluation of Elite Women Rugby Athletes." National Strength & Conditioning Association Journal 14, no. 5 (1992): 42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1519/0744-0049(1992)014<0042:pfeoew>2.3.co;2.
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Korhonen, Marko T., Harri Suominen, and Antti Mero. "Age and Sex Differences in Blood Lactate Response to Sprint Running in Elite Master Athletes." Canadian Journal of Applied Physiology 30, no. 6 (December 1, 2005): 647–65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/h05-146.
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The effect of age and sex on anaerobic glycolytic capacity in master athletes is currently unclear. To study this issue, we determined blood lactate concentrations after competitive sprint running in male and female master athletes of different age. Eighty-one men (40-88 yrs) and 75 women (35-87 yrs) participating in the sprint events (100-m, 200-m, 400-m) in the European Veterans Athletics Championships were studied. Blood samples were taken from the fingertip and analysed for peak lactate concentration ([La]bpeak). The [La]bpeak following 100-m to 400-m races showed a curvilinear decline (p < 0.001-0.05) with age in both men and women. However, the age related differences in the [La]bpeak were not significant before 70 years of age. No significant sex related differences were found in [La]bpeak for any sprint event. The [La]bpeak correlated significantly (p < 0.001-0.05) with running times in all sprint distances except for the age-controlled correlation in men for the 100-m and 200-m. In conclusion, the present study showed age but not sex differences in blood lactate response to competitive sprint running in master athletes. Although the [La]bpeak level of the athletes was considerably higher than that reported for untrained men and women, these cross-sectional findings suggest that anaerobic energy production from glycolysis declines in later years and may be a factor in the deterioration in sprint performance. Key words: aging, anaerobic metabolism, exercise performance
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Lundqvist, Carolina, and Fredrik Sandin. "Well-Being in Elite Sport: Dimensions of Hedonic and Eudaimonic Well-Being Among Elite Orienteers." Sport Psychologist 28, no. 3 (September 2014): 245–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/tsp.2013-0024.
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This study examined subjective (SWB), psychological (PWB) and social well-being (Social WB) at a global and sport contextual level among ten elite orienteers (6 women and 4 men, median age = 20.4, range 18–30) by employing semistructured interviews. Athletes described SWB as an interplay of satisfaction with life, sport experiences and perceived health combined with experienced enjoyment and happiness in both ordinary life and sport. SWB and PWB interacted, and important psychological functioning among the elite athletes included, among other things, abilities to adopt value-driven behaviors, be part of functional relationships, and to self-regulate one’s autonomy. The ability to organize and combine ordinary life with elite sport, and the use of strategies to protect the self during setbacks was also emphasized. For a comprehensive theoretical understanding of well-being applicable to elite athletes, the need for a holistic view considering both global and sport-specific aspects of WB is discussed.
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Ránky, Márta, Ferenc Köteles, Csaba Nyakas, György Bárdos, and Attila Szabo. "A 90 DAY SUPPLEMENTATION OF POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS (PUFA) HAS BENEFITS ON HEALTH MEASURES AND EXERCISE PERFORMANCE." Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences 1, no. 104 (2017): 36–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.33607/bjshs.v1i104.15.
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Background. Fish oil contains essential fatty acids that are linked to better cardiovascular health and even the prevention of sudden cardiac death in athletes. The purpose of this work was to examine the effects of 90 days of fish oil supplementation in elite-, leisure-, and non-athletes on body fat percent, body mass index (BMI), blood cholesterol and triglycerides, heart rate and blood pressure, and on exercise performance. Method. Three groups of participants were tested with 12 equally distributed men and women in each: elite- athletes, leisure-athletes, and non-athletes. Participants received body weight-adjusted commercially available fish oil over 90 days. These nutritional supplements were taken in the morning, immediately following breakfast. Results. The findings revealed that compared to the baseline, body fat percent decreased in all the three groups (p = .034), however, blood cholesterol and the cholesterol/high density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio increased (p < .05), with the elite-athletes showing the largest increase. Exercise performance, in terms of the time of running to voluntary exhaustion, increased (p = .05), but the largest benefits were observed in non-athletes (22%) in contrast to leisure- athletes (4%) and elite-athletes (1%), which could be linked to a ceiling effect. No statistically significant changes were observed in any other anthropometric, physiological, or biochemical measures. Conclusion. These findings suggest that 90 days of fish oil supplementation may benefit body composition and increase exercise performance, especially in non-athletes, and increases cholesterol, as well as cholesterol/HDL ratio levels, primarily in elite-athletes. Based on these results, it appears that fish oil supplementation yields greater benefits in non-athletes than in athletes.
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de Bruin, A. P. (Karin), and Raôul R. D. Oudejans. "Athletes’ Body Talk: The Role of Contextual Body Image in Eating Disorders as Seen Through the Eyes of Elite Women Athletes." Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology 12, no. 4 (December 1, 2018): 675–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2018-0047.
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The aim of the study was to investigate if and how body image, taken from a contextual perspective, contributes to the eating disorder history. This qualitative study investigated the process of eating disorder development in eight elite women athletes in at-risk sports. The results showed that the relationship between eating disorder symptomatology and the sports environment was clearly recognized by the elite women athletes. Contextual body image, more specifically negative body-evaluations and upward body comparisons, appeared as an important factor in the development of eating disorders, particularly in the athletic context. It became clear that the two aesthetic and two endurance athletes as well as the two weight-class athletes in rowing described quite negative body evaluations in the context of sport, while some of them also recognized an impact of body image experiences in daily life. However, for both judokas, their eating disorder had nothing to do with their body image but was attributed to the weight-classes in their sport and accompanying weight making. Several unique trajectories and individual eating disorder histories were distinguished which confirms the value of taking a qualitative approach in investigating eating disorders in sport. We also discovered links between what the athletes had reported as contributors to their eating disorder history and how they told their stories by combining content analysis and narrative inquiry. Furthermore, the present study also highlights several critical aspects for prevention and treatment that should support sport federations and clinical sport psychologists in taking appropriate actions to deal more effectively with eating disorders in athletes.
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Bostancı, Ö., E. Karaduman, and M. H. Mayda. "Investigation of self confidence levels in elite extreme athletes." Physical education of students 23, no. 3 (May 24, 2019): 106–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.15561/20755279.2019.0301.
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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine self-confidence levels of extreme sports athletes in terms of variables such as gender, sport experience and sports level. Methods: A total of 1660 athletes in skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, motor-car and motor-bike racing participated in the study. “Self-confidence scale” developed by Akın (2007) was used to find out athletes’ characteristics of self-belief, being able to control emotions and taking risks. Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis test were used for data analysis. Results: Skiers and motor-car racers were found to have the highest self-confidence values, while snowboarders had the lowest values. Although there were less women in the study, significance was found only in external self-confidence in favour of women (p<0.05). Significant association was found between self-confidence values in terms of sport experience and sports level (p<0.05). Conclusions: Extreme sports should be generalized, supported and introduced to raise successful and self-confident individuals. This will contribute to the fast development of these sports which are known as dangerous sports throughout the world.
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McKean, Mark R., and Brendan J. Burkett. "The Influence of Upper-Body Strength on Flat-Water Sprint Kayak Performance in Elite Athletes." International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance 9, no. 4 (July 2014): 707–14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2013-0301.
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Dry-land strength training is a fundamental component for elite kayak performance. The aims of this research were 3-fold: 1st, to determine the relationship between performance time and strength scores for elite kayakers; 2nd, to identify how strength changes (gains or losses) over 3 training y relate with changes in performance time for elite kayakers; and 3rd, to compare the progression in performance times for elite athletes with the top 3 performers from the national championships. The performance data for 15 elite male and 10 elite female kayakers were collected over 2 y. This group was reduced to 9 men and 8 women in the 3rd and final year. There were direct and significant correlations between strength scores and performance times across the 3 y. Bench-press 1RM increased by 34.8% for men and 42.3% for women. Over the 3 seasons, mean 1000-m time decreased by approximately 4.8%, 500-m times decreased by 7.3% (women), and 200-m times decreased by 9.1%. The women’s 500-m changed from 11.9% difference from medalists to within 1.1% during the 3 y. During the 3 y of this study a change in 1-repetitionmaximum (1RM) bench press of 13% for men and 6.5% in women coincided with a change in performance times of 1%. For 1RM pull-up a change of 10% in men and 2.3% in women coincided with a change in performance times of 1%.
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Oleshko, V. G., Young TanSung, and I. P. Vasilishyn. "Dynamics of Formation of Sport Skill China Weightlifters Elite Group." Ukraïnsʹkij žurnal medicini, bìologìï ta sportu 5, no. 5 (November 1, 2020): 413–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.26693/jmbs05.05.413.
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The paper considers the dynamics and pace of development of sportsmanship of China's strongest weightlifters of the elite group of different sexes by analyzing the age limits and characteristics of training at the main stages of long-term improvement. The age limits for the start of weightlifting classes for boys and girls in China, the age limits in which they became winners of the National Weightlifting Championships, the age limits for these athletes to be among the world leaders in weightlifting in their weight class, the age limits for achieving their best athletic performance in the training stages, and the age limits for ending their athletic careers. The terms of preservation of the highest achievements of Chinese weightlifters of different groups of weight categories and sex during their sports career are given. Results and discussion. The period of entry of Chinese male and female weightlifters into the group of world leaders after participating in national championships begins in men aged 22-23 (on average after 1-2 years), and among women aged 18-21, respectively (on average after 0.5-1 year). The age at which weightlifters of the elite group of different genders maintain high sports results and end their careers were studied. For men, it is in the groups of weight categories at 28-31 years, while for women, respectively, it is 2-3 years less, i.e. at 26-28 years, respectively. If we count the number of years during which weightlifters of different sexes of the elite group of China retain their athletic achievements, then they are: 17-18 years for men, and 15.5-16.5 years for women. The ratio of achievements in the snatch to the clean and jerk (within the amount of total) in weightlifters of the elite group of different groups of weight categories and sex is analyzed to determine the predominant focus of training at the stage of maximum realization of individual capabilities. It is established that the increase in competitive results of male weightlifters of the elite group of China is carried out mainly due to the growth of achievements in the exercise of speed snatch, and female weightlifters, respectively, due to the growth of achievements in strength training – the clean and jerk. The majority of China's elite male weightlifters (44.0%) reach the highest results for a sports career at the age of 20-23 years, and 35.0% of athletes reach them at the age of 24-27 years. The majority of elite athletes in China achieve the highest results at a younger age of 20-23 (60.0%) years, at the age of 16-19 years (27.0%). Conclusion. Different age limits and rates of development of sportsmanship in men and women of China's elite group involves the choice of different approaches to modeling and control of the main characteristics of training at the main stages of long-term improvement
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de la Parte, Alejandro, Francesca Monticelli, Víctor Toro-Román, and Francisco Pradas. "Differences in Oral Health Status in Elite Athletes According to Sport Modalities." Sustainability 13, no. 13 (June 29, 2021): 7282. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su13137282.
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Oral health status may affect physical and sports performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the oral health status and oral health habits of elite athletes according to the performed sports type. A sample of 186 elite athletes divided into individual sports (n = 74; 53 men and 21 women; 24.9 ± 9.3 years) and team sports (n = 112; 97 men and 15 women; 24.5 ± 4.8 years) participated in the study. The decayed, missing, and filled teeth index (DMFT), the oral health impact profile (OHIP), and the diet assessment of caries risk (DACR) were evaluated to assess their oral health status. Athletes in individual modalities had a lower number in total teeth, healthy teeth, and restoration index (p < 0.05). Furthermore, this group showed a greater number of missing (p < 0.001) and decayed teeth (p < 0.05) and a greater DMFT index (p < 0.001). A relationship between sports modality and prevalence of malocclusions (p < 0.01), periodontal plaque (p < 0.05), and the habit of consuming energy drinks (p < 0.05) was also highlighted. Elite athletes who compete in individual sports presented a worse oral situation.
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Boden, Barry P., Donald T. Kirkendall, and William E. Garrett. "Concussion Incidence in Elite College Soccer Players." American Journal of Sports Medicine 26, no. 2 (March 1998): 238–41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/03635465980260021301.
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A unique aspect of soccer is the use of the head for directing the ball. The potential for resultant head injuries has been the focus of discussions worldwide. Prior work has attributed neuropsychologic deficits to the cumulative effects of heading, without evaluating concussion rates in soccer players. We prospectively studied the seven men's and eight women's varsity soccer teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference during two seasons to document concussion incidence. The 29 concussions diagnosed over the 2 years in 26 athletes, 17 (59%) concussions in men and 12 (41%) in women, resulted from contact with an opponent's head (8, 28%), elbow (4, 14%), knee (1, 3%), or foot (1, 3%); the ball (7, 24%); the ground (3, 10%); concrete sidelines (1, 3%); goalpost (1, 3%); or a combination of objects (3, 10%). Twenty concussions (69%) occurred in games; none resulted from intentional heading of the ball. The basic incidence was 0.96 concussions per team per season. The overall incidence was 0.6 per 1000 athlete-exposures for men, and 0.4 per 1000 athlete-exposures for women. By concussion grade, there were 21 (72%) grade 1, 8 (28%) grade 2, and no grade 3 concussions. These findings suggest that concussions are more common in soccer than anticipated and that acute head injuries may have potential for long-term neuropsychologic changes.
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Casanova, Natalina R., Bruno R. Travassos, Sandra S. Ferreira, Nuno D. Garrido, and Aldo M. Costa. "Concentration of salivary cortisol and testosterone in elite women football players." Kinesiology 52, no. 1 (2020): 1–9. http://dx.doi.org/10.26582/k.52.1.1.
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This study aims to evaluate the relation between salivary concentrations of cortisol (C), testosterone (T), the ratio T:C and the individual performance of top-level female soccer athletes during official matches. Eighteen female athletes from a national soccer team (age 23.06 ± 4.33 years) participated in the study. Four official matches were analysed and the on-field time of each player as well as the index of individual effectiveness were calculated. Players were classified in two clusters according to their individual performance (cluster 1 – poor individual performance; cluster 2 – good individual performance) using K-means and their hormonal variables were compared. The players of cluster 2 generally revealed higher values (p˂.05) in both the positive actions and individual effectiveness, when compared with the players of cluster 1. The players of both clusters presented identical values of C, T and T:C at the four evaluated matches. The athletes of cluster 2 showed a significant increase in C (p˂.05) and a significant decrease in T and T:C before the games lost (M2 and M5). However, there was no linear relation between the variation of both hormones during the matches and the individual performance of players. Performance in competition revealed significant differences between players, though with no apparent relation to the hormonal kinetics of C and T before and after the matches.
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Chino, Kentaro, Toshiyuki Ohya, Emika Kato, and Yasuhiro Suzuki. "Muscle Thickness and Passive Muscle Stiffness in Elite Athletes: Implications of the Effect of Long-Term Daily Training on Skeletal Muscle." International Journal of Sports Medicine 39, no. 03 (January 24, 2018): 218–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1055/s-0043-122737.
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AbstractTo examine the effect of long-term daily training on athletes’ skeletal muscle, this study determined the relation between their muscle thickness and passive muscle stiffness, and compared the muscle thickness and muscle stiffness between athletes and non-athletes. Participants were elite Japanese athletes (278 men, 200 women) from various sports and non-athletes (35 men, 35 women). Rectus femoris (RF) muscle thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasonography and was normalized to the total body mass (muscle thickness/body mass1/3). RF passive muscle stiffness (shear modulus) was assessed by ultrasound shear-wave elastography. There was a negligibly significant correlation between muscle thickness and muscle stiffness in male athletes (p=0.003; r=−0.18) but not in female athletes (p=0.764; r=0.02). Among men, muscle thickness was significantly greater in athletes than non-athletes (p<0.001), whereas muscle stiffness was significantly less in athletes than non-athletes (p=0.020). Among women, muscle thickness was significantly greater in athletes than non-athletes (p<0.001), whereas muscle stiffness did not differ significantly between athletes and non-athletes (p=0.412). These results suggest that the effect of long-term daily training performed by athletes on muscle stiffness is more complicated than that on muscle thickness.
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Young, Kevin, and Philip White. "SPORT, PHYSICAL DANGER, AND INJURY: THE EXPERIENCES OF ELITE WOMEN ATHLETES." Journal of Sport and Social Issues 19, no. 1 (February 1995): 45–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/019372395019001004.
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Skowron, Elizabeth A., and Myrna L. Friedlander. "Psychological Separation, Self-Control, and Weight Preoccupation Among Elite Women Athletes." Journal of Counseling & Development 72, no. 3 (January 2, 1994): 310–15. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.1994.tb00940.x.
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Darroch, Francine, Audrey R. Giles, and Roisin McGettigan-Dumas. "Elite Female Distance Runners and Advice During Pregnancy: Sources, Content, and Trust." Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal 24, no. 2 (October 2016): 170–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2015-0040.
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More elite female distance runners are opting to have children during their athletic careers. Despite this, there is a dearth of information regarding pregnancy and physical activity for elite level athletes. Further, current pregnancy physical activity guidelines are not relevant for this population`s needs. Two research questions frame this study: are elite female distance runners’ pregnancy informational needs being met?; where do they seek and find trustworthy advice on physical activity during pregnancy? Open-ended, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 women who experienced at least one pregnancy within the past five years, had achieved a minimum of the USA Track and Field 2012 Olympic Team marathon trials ‘B’ entry standard or equivalent performances for distance running events 1,500m or longer. The participants had between one—three children, hail from five countries and participated in 14 Olympic Games and 72 World Championships. Utilizing poststructuralist feminist theory and thematic analysis, our findings revealed that the participants received advice from three main sources, both in person and online: medical professionals, coaches, and other elite female distance runners. However, we found that they also received unsolicited advice and comments from community members where they lived. The participants identified fellow elite female distance runners as the most reliable and trustworthy sources of information, followed by medical professionals, then coaches. Ultimately, the women revealed a lack of formal sources they could turn to for trustworthy advice about how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy while continuing to train at a high intensity. These results illuminate the need to meet female elite athletes’ informational needs in terms of well-being during pregnancy.