Cornelia Blank

Sport injuries and illnesses during the first Winter Youth Olympic Games 2012 in Innsbruck, Austria

Background Data on the injury and illness risk among young elite athletes are of utmost importance, because injuries and illnesses can counter the beneficial effects of sports participation at a young age, if children or adolescents are unable to continue to participate because of residual effects of injury or chronic illness. Objective To analyse the frequencies and characteristics of injuries and illnesses during the 2012 Innsbruck Winter Youth Olympic Games (IYOG). Methods We employed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury surveillance system for multisport events, which was updated for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010. All National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were asked to report the daily occurrence (or non-occurrence) of newly sustained injuries and illnesses on a standardised reporting form. In addition, information on athletes treated for injuries and illnesses by the Local Organizing Committee medical services was retrieved from the medical centre at the Youth Olympic Village and from the University hospital in Innsbruck. Results Among the 1021 registered athletes (45% women, 55% men) from 69 NOCs, a total of 111 injuries and 86 illnesses, during the IYOG, were reported, resulting in an incidence of 108.7 injuries and 84.2 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes, respectively. Injury frequency was highest in skiing in the halfpipe (44%) and snowboarding (halfpipe and slope style: 35%), followed by ski cross (17%), ice hockey (15%), alpine skiing (14%) and figure skating (12%), taking into account the respective number of participating athletes. Knee, pelvis, head, lower back and shoulders were the most common injury locations. About 60% of injuries occurred in competition and about 40% in training, respectively. In total, 32% of the injuries resulted in an absence from training or competition. With regard to illnesses, 11% of women and 6% of men suffered from an illness (RR=1.84 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.78), p=0.003). The respiratory system was affected most often (61%). Conclusions Eleven per cent of the athletes suffered from an injury and 9% from illnesses, during the IYOG. The presented data constitute the basis for future analyses of injury mechanisms and associated risk factors in Olympic Winter sports, which, in turn, will be essential to develop and implement effective preventive strategies for young elite winter-sport athletes.

Evaluation of West-Austrian junior athletes’ knowledge regarding doping in sports

SummaryBackgroundAn important factor while developing efficient doping prevention strategies is to identify relevant target groups, to evaluate the state of knowledge about this topic as well as to evaluate motivations behind using prohibited substances. Measures to prevent doping substances abuse have to be supported in early stages of childhood.PurposeThe aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the knowledge of Tyrolean junior athletes about doping in sport. Next to the knowledge, their attitudes in regard to doping practices have also been a focus of this project.MethodsWithin a prospective cross-sectional study, Tyrolean junior athletes aged between 14 and 19 years (n = 408) were anonymously questioned by distributing questionnaires in three Tyrolean sport schools as well as two Tyrolean sport-training centers. To collect the data, an anonymous questionnaire with close-ended questions was used. Next to sociodemographic data, questions also evaluated the knowledge about prohibited substances as well as attitudes and behaviors towards doping. The concept was set up based on contents of comparable studies and publications.ResultsThe knowledge about doping among junior athletes was moderate. The consumer behavior of the young athletes on the other hand has turned out to be satisfactory. Nevertheless, the overall knowledge especially regarding potential negative side effects of doping agents is poor.ConclusionsTo incorporate an effective doping-prevention strategy, improved education, particularly in terms of side effects, is clearly needed. To achieve sustainable doping-prevention effects, focus has to be generally set on education within the frame of junior competitive sport.ZusammenfassungGrundlagenEin wichtiger Gesichtspunkt bei der Entwicklung von greifenden Doping Präventionsstrategien ist die Ermittlung relevanter Zielgruppen, die Erhebung des Kenntnisstandes sowie die Beweggründe für Doping und Medikamentenmissbrauch. Präventive Maßnahmen, die dem Doping entgegen wirken, müssen deshalb bereits im Kinder- und Jugendsport gefördert werden.Zweck der StudieZiel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, erstmals Bezug nehmend auf Tirol/Österreich, den Ist-Zustand über den Wissensstand der 14- bis 19-jährigen Tiroler NachwuchssportlerInnen zum Thema „Doping im Sport“ zu eruieren, sowie deren Einstellungen und Meinungen zu Doping zu ermitteln.MethodikIm Rahmen einer prospektiven Querschnittstudie wurden jugendliche NachwuchssportlerInnen aus drei Tiroler Sportschulen und zwei Tiroler Sportleistungszentren (n = 408) mittels einer Fragebogenerhebung befragt. Als Messinstrument diente ein anonymisierter Fragebogen mit geschlossenem Fragenformat. Neben soziodemografischen Angaben wurden das Wissen und die Einstellungen zu Doping und Medikamenten im Sport abgefragt. Das Konzept des Fragebogens orientierte sich hauptsächlich an Inhalten, die bereits in einer vergleichbaren Studie beschrieben wurden.ErgebnisseDer Wissensstand zum Thema „Doping im Sport“ sowie die Einstellungen und der Stellenwert zu Doping bei den Tiroler NachwuchssportlerInnen sind grundsätzlich als moderat einzustufen. Das Konsum-verhalten der Tiroler NachwuchssportlerInnen kann als zufriedenstellend eingeschätzt werden. Was den Kenntnisstand über die gesundheitlichen Auswirkungen und Folgen diverser Substanzen und Dopingmittel betrifft, sind Wissenslücken festzustellen.SchlussfolgerungenAus den Ergebnissen lässt sich schließen, dass im Zuge einer Intensivierung der Dopingprävention eine Auseinandersetzung mit den Nebenwirkungen von diversen Substanzen und Doping-mitteln dringend notwendig ist. Überdies muss künftig im Sinne einer nachhaltigen Dopingprävention verstärkt in die Aufklärung im Jugendleistungssport als elementarer Bestandteil einer wirksamen Dopingbekämpfung investiert werden.

Story behind meldonium–from pharmacology to performance enhancement: a narrative review

Recent reports from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) indicate an alarming prevalence in the use of meldonium among elite athletes. Therefore, in January 2016, meldonium was added to WADAs prohibited list after being monitored since 2015. Meldonium has been shown to have beneficial effects in cardiovascular, neurological and metabolic diseases due to its anti-ischaemic and cardioprotective properties, which are ascribed mainly to its inhibition of ß-oxidation and its activation of glycolysis. Despite its widespread use, there are only a few clinical studies or clinical trials available. Meldonium is registered in most Baltic countries and is easily accessible through the internet with no serious adverse effects reported by the manufacturer so far. Among athletes, meldonium is used with the purpose of increasing recovery rate or exercise performance. The benefit of taking meldonium in view of performance enhancement in athletes is quite speculative and is discussed without sound scientific evidence. This narrative review provides a detailed overview of the drug meldonium, focusing on the main topics pharmacology and biochemical actions, clinical applications, pharmacokinetics, methods of detection and potential for performance enhancement in athletes.

Medical services at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games 2012 in Innsbruck/Austria

Background The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) are a new format designed by the International Olympic Committee. So far no reference data are available regarding the organisation or implementation of the medical services that were needed for the Winter Youth Olympic Games that took place for the first time in Innsbruck 9–24 January 2012. Objectives (1) To provide insight into what is needed to prepare for such a complex high level sporting event from a medical perspective, (2) to provide data on medical services for future organising committees and (3) to provide information on different National Olympic Committee (NOC) delegation structures and the consequences of registering a National Olympic Committee Team Physician. Methods A medical information system in the form of a patient data-management system was developed with all involved parties to standardise data collection. All medical encounters occurring at any IYOGOC medical service centre (including physiotherapy and psychology facilities) were tracked and collected in daily reports. Data evaluation was prepared based on different interest groups (Athletes, National Olympic Committees, Workforce, International Olympic Committee and Media) and analysed. Results 327 medical encounters (42.8% athletes; out of these, 57.9% were accounted to athletes with own NOC team physician) were seen during the YOG 2012. The total number of hospital transports was 27.3%, of which 8.9% were hospitalised with an average length of 1.9 nights. Physiotherapy usage was low with only 19 medical encounters resulting in a referral to physiotherapy accounting for 67 treatments during the entire YOG. Psychological care service was not used at all. The main reason for illnesses was disorders of the respiratory system (28.8%), injuries mostly affected upper extremities (49.6%) and were mostly diagnosed with lacerations and contusions (26.2%). Injury (70.7%) and illness (29.3%) incidences in athletes were slightly lower than previous studies showed. 40.0% of NOC delegations registered their own team physicians, which led to a significant difference in usage frequency of medical service (–3%, p=0.012). Conclusions Medical service coverage at the first Winter Youth Olympic Games seemed to be appropriate. No disaster or epidemic disease challenged the medical service plan. Future organising committees could use the provided data as a reference for their planning efforts.

Health Psychological Constructs as Predictors of Doping Susceptibility in Adolescent Athletes

Background Doping is a highly relevant problem in sport, even in adolescent athletes. Knowledge of the psychological factors that influence doping susceptibility in young elite athletes remains sparse. Objectives This study investigated the predictive potential of different health-psychological constructs and well-being on doping susceptibility. The main hypotheses to be tested were positive associations of fear of failure, external locus of control, and ego-oriented goal orientation as well as negative associations of confidence of success, task orientation, internal locus of control, and performance motivation with doping susceptibility. Low levels of well-being are furthermore expected to be associated with doping susceptibility. Methods Within this cross-sectional study, 1,265 Austrian junior athletes aged between 14 and 19 years responded to a paper-pencil questionnaire. Results Performance motivation was a negative, while depressive mood, self-esteem, fear of failure and ego-oriented goal orientation were positive predictors of doping susceptibility. In addition, participants who were offered performance enhancing substances in the past were particularly susceptible to doping. Conclusions The study corroborates the predictive value of classical psychological constructs in doping research, initially analyzed in view of adult athletes, also for adolescents’ doping susceptibility.

Does leisure time negatively affect personal health

Against all assumptions, leisure and vacation appear to not be recuperative to the same extent for all people. The phenomenon of becoming ill on weekends and/or during vacation has been termed “leisure sickness”. Attempts to understand this problem can be found in the current literature. Vacation for the wrong motivations or a mismatch between leisure activity and personality are some of the reasons. Other reports show associations between similar health-affecting patterns and personality traits or increased stress, but these factors have not been directly linked to leisure sickness before. Indeed, leisure sickness is not a specific defined illness yet but is more an accumulation of different symptoms that lead to indisposition. If leisure sickness is not only a phenomenon but is actually a real illness, it is seriously preventing people from the benefits of leisure time on the one hand and directly affects vacation experience with respect to destination, hotel and other tourism products on the other hand. Therefore, leisure sickness deserves further investigation.

Importance of wellness quality criteria and positioning of wellness cooperation brands

The aim of this work is to investigate a correlation among wellness guest groups and the importance of the quality criteria of wellness cooperation brands. Further aim is to analyse whether relationships between the wellness cooperation brands and the wellness guest groups exist. Two-step cluster analysis was used to classify wellness guest groups. The numerous and similar quality criteria of the wellness cooperation brands were gathered in 50 items and converged in eight quality factors by means of principal component analysis. Uni-factorial variance analysis was used to determine the differences in individual quality factors between the wellness guest groups. This study shows that wellness guests can be classified into four wellness guest categories. The wellness guest groups place different demands on the quality criteria. This study provides evidence for possible positioning strategies by wellness cooperation brands.

Performance-enhancing substance use in university students: motives, attitudes, and differences in normative beliefs

Abstract Research investigating the use of performance-enhancing substances (PES) in recreational sports is underrepresented. Studies examining this specific group are needed to elucidate prevalence of use, and to define factors that motivate or predict use. The aim of the current research was to evaluate the motives, attitudes, and beliefs of legal, recreational, and prohibited substance use in university students. In a cross-sectional approach, an online questionnaire was answered by 571 university students (mean age 23.7 years, SD 4.9; 49.7% female; 52.7% members of a sports club; 34.9% actively participated in competitions), who were physically active at least 3 hours per week in at least one kind if sport. Of the individuals polled, 24.9% used legal nutritional supplements and 9.4% used prohibited performance-enhancing substances (PPES) as defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Users displayed lower compliance to social norms. The most common motives cited were staying awake and enhancing physical performance. Some of the motives for using PES in recreational sports seem to be similar to those in professional sports, whereas others may be unique to the learning environment. Normative beliefs may have an equally important influence on consumption of PES in the recreational sport and cognitive enhancement setting, similar to the professional sports setting.

Injuries in Austrian football players: Are they an issue?

PURPOSE AND HYPOTHESIS  With its load characteristics, the team sport of football places high physical demands on players and thus is associated with a high risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to collect information about injuries suffered by football players in Austria during training or matches to enable participating clubs to learn about injuries. METHODS  One hundred and forty-five players from seven teams with age ranging from 16 to 38 years participated in this prospective study during the 2015/16 season. Injury surveillance was conducted according to the consensus statement of Fuller et al. (2006). RESULTS  During the period of study, a total of 83 injuries were recorded, which represents an overall incidence of 4.5 injuries/1000 hours (2.3 injuries/1000 hours in training and 14.2 injuries/1000 hours of match play). There was a significant difference for older age in injured players compared to non-injured players (p = 0.019). No differences in BMI were detected (p = 0.427). Ninety-four percent of all injuries occurred in the lower extremity, with the thigh (25.8 %), ankle (19.3 %) and knee (13.3 %) being the major locations of injuries. Muscle tendon injuries were the most common non-contact injuries (78.9 %). CONCLUSION  Lower extremity injuries are the most common injury in Austrian football. The incidence of muscle injuries is high, especially injuries of the posterior thigh. There are promising preventive strategies for the most common injury types. The implementation of these strategies is essential in order to reduce the incidence or recurrence of these football injuries.

Short Vacation Improves Stress-Level and Well-Being in German-Speaking Middle-Managers—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Stress in the work place has a detrimental effect on people’s health. Sufficient recovery is necessary to counteract severe chronic negative load reactions. Previous research has shown that vacationing for at least seven consecutive days provided an efficient recovery strategy. Yet, thus far, the effects of short vacations and the mode of vacation (whether at home or in a new environment) have rarely been studied. We investigated the immediate and long-term effects of a short vacation (four nights) on well-being and perceived stress and whether the mode of vacation impacted on these results. Data was obtained from 40 middle managers (67.5% men and 32.5% women). The intervention group (n = 20) spent a short vacation in a hotel outside their usual environment. The control group (n = 20) spent their vacation at home. Results indicated that one single short-term vacation, independent of the mode, has large, positive and immediate effects on perceived stress, recovery, strain, and well-being. Strain levels decreased to a greater extent in the intervention group compared to the control group. The effects can still be detected at 30 days (recovery) and 45 days (well-being and strain) post-vacation. Encouraging middle management employees to take short vacations seems to be an efficient health promotion strategy; environmental effects seem to play a minor role.