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From theory to practice: operationalizing a climate vulnerability for sport organizations framework for heat hazards among US High schools.
Grundstein, AJ, Scarneo-Miller, SE, Adams, WM, Casa, DJ
Journal of science and medicine in sport. 2021;(8):718-722
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sport organizations must comprehensively assess the degree to which their athletes are susceptible to exertional heat illnesses (i.e. vulnerable) to appropriately plan and adapt for heat-related hazards. Yet, no heat vulnerability framework has been applied in practice to guide decision making. OBJECTIVES We quantify heat vulnerability of state-level requirements for health and safety standards affecting United States (US) high school athletes as a case study. DESIGN Observational. METHODS We utilize a newly developed climate vulnerability to sports organizations framework (CVSO), which considers the heat hazard of each state using summer maximum wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) in combination with an 18-point heat safety scoring system (18 = best policy). Heat vulnerability is categorized as "problem" [higher heat (>27.9°C) and lower policy score (≤9)], "fortified" [higher heat (>27.9°C) and higher policy score (>9)], "responsive" [lower heat (<27.9°C) and lower policy score (≤9)], and "proactive" [lower heat (<27.9°C) and higher policy score (>9)]. RESULTS Across the US, the mean WBGT was 28.4±2.4°C and policy score was 6.9±4.7. In combination, we observed organizations within each of the four vulnerability categories with 16% (n=8) in fortified, 16% (n=8) in proactive, 29% (n=15) in problem, and 39% (n=20) in responsive. CONCLUSIONS The CSVO framework allowed us to identify different degrees of vulnerability among the state's and to highlight the 29% (n=15) of states with immediate needs for policy revisions. We found the CSVO framework to be highly adaptable in our application, suggesting feasibility for use with other sports governing bodies.
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BRain health and healthy AgeINg in retired rugby union players, the BRAIN Study: study protocol for an observational study in the UK.
Gallo, V, McElvenny, D, Hobbs, C, Davoren, D, Morris, H, Crutch, S, Zetterberg, H, Fox, NC, Kemp, S, Cross, M, et al
BMJ open. 2017;(12):e017990
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Relatively little is known about the long-term health of former elite rugby players, or former sportspeople more generally. As well as the potential benefits of being former elite sportspersons, there may be potential health risks from exposures occurring during an individual's playing career, as well as following retirement. Each contact sport has vastly different playing dynamics, therefore exposing its players to different types of potential traumas. Current evidence suggests that these are not necessarily comparable in terms of pathophysiology, and their potential long-term adverse effects might also differ. There is currently limited but increasing evidence that poorer age-related and neurological health exists among former professional sportsmen exposed to repetitive concussions; however the evidence is limited on rugby union players, specifically. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We present the protocol for a cross-sectional study to assess the association between self-reported history of concussion during a playing career, and subsequent measures of healthy ageing and neurological and cognitive impairment. We are recruiting a sample of approximately 200 retired rugby players (former Oxford and Cambridge University rugby players and members of the England Rugby International Club) aged 50 years or more, and collecting a number of general and neurological health-related outcome measures though validated assessments. Biomarkers of neurodegeneration (neurofilaments and tau) will be also be measured. Although the study is focusing on rugby union players specifically, the general study design and the methods for assessing neurological health are likely to be relevant to other studies of former elite sportspersons. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has been approved by the Ethical Committee of London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (reference: 11634-2). It is intended that results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed medical journals, communicated to participants, the general public and all relevant stakeholders.
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Strategies for injury prevention in Brazilian football: Perceptions of physiotherapists and practices of premier league teams.
Meurer, MC, Silva, MF, Baroni, BM
Physical therapy in sport : official journal of the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports Medicine. 2017;:1-8
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To describe the physiotherapists perceptions and the current practices for injury prevention in elite football (soccer) clubs in Brazil. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Group of Science in Sports & Exercise, Federal University of Healthy Sciences of Porto Alegre (Brazil). PARTICIPANTS 16 of the 20 football clubs involved in the Brazilian premier league 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Physiotherapists answered a structured questionnaire. RESULTS Most physiotherapists (∼88%) were active in design, testing and application of prevention programs. Previous injury, muscle imbalance, fatigue, hydration, fitness, diet, sleep/rest and age were considered "very important" or "important" injury risk factors by all respondents. The methods most commonly used to detect athletes' injury risk were: monitoring of biochemical markers (100% of teams), isokinetic dynamometry (81%), questionnaires (75%), functional movement screen (56%), fleximetry (56%) and horizontal jump tests (50%). All clubs used strength training, functional training, core exercises and balance/proprioception exercises in their injury prevention program; and Nordic hamstring exercise and other eccentric exercises were used by 94% of clubs. "FIFA 11+" prevention program was adapted by 88% of clubs. CONCLUSION Physiotherapists perceptions and current practices of injury prevention within Brazilian elite football clubs were similar to those employed in developed countries. There remains a gap between clinical practice and scientific evidence in high performance football.
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Effect of high-speed running on hamstring strain injury risk.
Duhig, S, Shield, AJ, Opar, D, Gabbett, TJ, Ferguson, C, Williams, M
British journal of sports medicine. 2016;(24):1536-1540
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hamstring strain injuries (HSIs) are common within the Australian Football League (AFL) with most occurring during high-speed running (HSR). Therefore, this study investigated possible relationships between mean session running distances, session ratings of perceived exertion (s-RPE) and HSIs within AFL footballers. METHODS Global positioning system (GPS)-derived running distances and s-RPE for all matches and training sessions over two AFL seasons were obtained from one AFL team. All HSIs were documented and each player's running distances and s-RPE were standardised to their 2-yearly session average, then compared between injured and uninjured players in the 4 weeks (weeks -1, -2, -3 and -4) preceding each injury. RESULTS Higher than 'typical' (ie, z=0) HSR session means were associated with a greater likelihood of HSI (week -1: OR=6.44, 95% CI=2.99 to 14.41, p<0.001; summed weeks -1 and -2: OR=3.06, 95% CI=2.03 to 4.75, p<0.001; summed weeks -1, -2 and -3: OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.66 to 3.04, p<0.001; and summed weeks -1, -2, -3 and -4: OR=1.96, 95% CI=1.54 to 2.51, p<0.001). However, trivial differences were observed between injured and uninjured groups for standardised s-RPE, total distance travelled and distances covered whilst accelerating and decelerating. Increasing AFL experience was associated with a decreased HSI risk (OR=0.77, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.97, p=0.02). Furthermore, HSR data modelling indicated that reducing mean distances in week -1 may decrease the probability of HSI. CONCLUSIONS Exposing players to large and rapid increases in HSR distances above their 2-yearly session average increased the odds of HSI. However, reducing HSR in week -1 may offset HSI risk.