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Disturbances in Brain Physiology Due to Season Play: A Multi-Sport Study of Male and Female University Athletes.

ABSTRACT: High-performance university athletes experience frequent exertion, resulting in disrupted biological homeostasis, but it is unclear to what extent brain physiology is affected. We examined whether athletes without overtraining symptoms show signs of increased neurophysiological stress over the course of a single athletic season, and whether the effects are modified by demographic factors of age, sex and concussion history, and sport-related factors of contact exposure and season length. Fifty-three university-level athletes were recruited from multiple sports at a single institution and followed longitudinally from beginning of season (BOS) to end of season (EOS) and 1 month afterwards, with a subset followed up at the subsequent beginning of season. MRI was used to comprehensively assess white matter (WM) diffusivity, cerebral blood flow (CBF), and brain activity, while overtraining symptoms were assessed with Hooper's Index (HI). Although athletes did not report increased HI scores, they showed significantly increased white matter diffusivity and decreased CBF at EOS and 1 month afterwards, with recovery at follow-up. Global brain activity was not significantly altered though, highlighting the ability of the brain to adapt to exercise-related stressors. Male athletes had greater white matter diffusivity at EOS, but female athletes had greater declines in CBF at 1 month afterwards. Post-season changes in MRI measures were not related to change in HI score, age, concussion history, contact exposure, or length of athletic season. Hence, the brain shows substantial but reversible neurophysiological changes due to season play in the absence of overtraining symptoms, with effects that are sex-dependent but otherwise insensitive to demographic variations. These findings provide new insights into the effects of training and competitive play on brain health.

SUBMITTER: Churchill NW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8044759 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Our study aimed to investigate changes of different markers for routine assessment of fatigue and recovery in response to high-intensity interval training (HIIT).22 well-trained male and female team sport athletes (age, 23.0 ± 2.7 years; V?O2 max, 57.6 ± 8.6 mL · min · kg(-1)) participated in a six-day running-based HIIT-microcycle with a total of eleven HIIT sessions. Repeated sprint ability (RSA; criterion measure of fatigue and recovery), countermovement jump (CMJ) height, jump efficiency in a multiple rebound jump test (MRJ), 20-m sprint performance, muscle contractile properties, serum concentrations of creatinkinase (CK), c-reactive protein (CRP) and urea as well as perceived muscle soreness (DOMS) were measured pre and post the training program as well as after 72 h of recovery.Following the microcycle significant changes (p < 0.05) in RSA as well as in CMJ and MRJ performance could be observed, showing a decline (%? ± 90% confidence limits, ES = effect size; RSA: -3.8 ± 1.0, ES = -1.51; CMJ: 8.4 ± 2.9, ES = -1.35; MRJ: 17.4 ± 4.5, ES = -1.60) and a return to baseline level (RSA: 2.8 ± 2.6, ES = 0.53; CMJ: 4.1 ± 2.9, ES = 0.68; MRJ: 6.5 ± 4.5, ES = 0.63) after 72 h of recovery. Athletes also demonstrated significant changes (p < 0.05) in muscle contractile properties, CK, and DOMS following the training program and after the recovery period. In contrast, CRP and urea remained unchanged throughout the study. Further analysis revealed that the accuracy of markers for assessment of fatigue and recovery in comparison to RSA derived from a contingency table was insufficient. Multiple regression analysis also showed no correlations between changes in RSA and any of the markers.Mean changes in measures of neuromuscular function, CK and DOMS are related to HIIT induced fatigue and subsequent recovery. However, low accuracy of a single or combined use of these markers requires the verification of their applicability on an individual basis.

Project description:BackgroundThere is debate about the magnitude of geometrical remodeling [i.e., left ventricle (LV) cavity enlargement vs. wall thickening] in the heart of elite athletes, and no limits of normality have been yet established for different sports. We aimed to determine sex- and sport-specific normative values of LV dimensions in elite white adult athletes.MethodsThis was a single-center, retrospective study of Spanish elite athletes. Athletes were grouped by sport and its relative dynamic/static component (Mitchell's classification). LV dimensions were measured with two-dimensional-guided M-mode echocardiography imaging to compute normative values. We also developed an online and app-based calculator ( https://sites.google.com/lapolart.es/athlete-lv/welcome?authuser=0 ) to provide clinicians with sports- and Mitchell's category-specific Z-scores for different LV dimensions.ResultsWe studied 3282 athletes (46 different sports, 37.8% women, mean age 23 ± 6 years). The majority (85.4%) showed normal cardiac geometry, particularly women (90.9%). Eccentric hypertrophy was relatively prevalent (13.4%), and concentric remodeling or hypertrophy was a rare finding (each < 0.8% of total). The proportion of normal cardiac geometry and eccentric hypertrophy decreased and increased, respectively, with the dynamic (in both sexes) or static component (in male athletes) of the sport irrespective of the other (static or dynamic) component. The 95th percentile values of LV dimensions did not exceed the following limits in any of the Mitchell categories: septal wall thickness, 12 mm (males) and 10 mm (females); LV posterior wall, 11 mm and 10 mm; and LV end-diastolic diameter, 64 mm and 57 mm.ConclusionsThe majority of elite athletes had normal LV geometry, and although some presented with LV eccentric hypertrophy, concentric remodeling or hypertrophy was very uncommon. The present study provides sport-specific normative values that can serve to identify those athletes for whom a detailed examination might be recommendable (i.e., those exceeding the 95th percentile for their sex and sport).

Project description:Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is a painful and limiting condition of the hip that is often seen in young athletes. Previous studies have reported a higher prevalence of this disorder in male athletes, but data on the structural morphology of adolescent and young adult female athletes, specifically those involved in dance, are lacking.(1) To investigate the radiographic morphology of FAI deformities in adolescent and young adult female single-sport dance and nondance athletes and (2) to examine the differences in the radiographic findings between these 2 groups.Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.A retrospective chart review of 56 female single-sport athletes 10 to 21 years of age with a diagnosis of FAI within a single-sports medicine division of a pediatric academic medical center was performed. Acetabular index (AI), lateral center-edge angle (LCEA), crossover sign, and ischial spine sign were measured bilaterally on anteroposterior radiographs; alpha angle (AA) was measured on lateral films, and anterior center-edge angle (ACEA) was measured on false-profile films. Independent t tests and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare mean angle measurements between dance and nondance athletes. Dichotomized categorical variables and crossover and ischial spine signs were analyzed between dance and nondance athletes by applying a chi-square test. Statistical significance was set as P < .05 a priori.Significant differences in angle measurements were noted. AA was significantly lower in the dancers compared with the nondance athlete group (49.5° ± 6.0° vs 53.9° ± 7.3°, P = .001). The LCEA and ACEA of dance athletes were significantly greater compared with nondance athletes (33.8° ± 6.7° vs 30.9° ± 5.8° [P = .016] and 36.0° ± 8.1° vs 32.3° ± 7.0° [P = .035], respectively). No significant difference in AI was seen between the 2 cohorts (5.0° ± 4.0° for dancers vs 5.9° ± 3.4° for nondancers, P = .195).Significant differences existed in the radiographic bony morphology of young female single-sport dance athletes compared with nondance athletes with FAI. In dance athletes, symptoms were seen in the setting of normal bony morphology.

Project description:ContextFemale endurance athletes exhibit an increased risk of the female athlete triad (Triad) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). The triad and RED-S are conditions that involve the health and performance consequences of low energy availability. Few authors of studies to date have assessed the knowledge that athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers (ATs) have regarding the Triad or RED-S. Proper education has been shown to be effective in increasing knowledge of sports medicine concerns for athletes, yet no known continuing education programs for the Triad or RED-S exist at collegiate institutions.ObjectiveTo assess the knowledge, confidence, and educational impact of identifying, screening, treating, and preventing the Triad or RED-S.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingAn evidence-based online survey was developed and administered via Qualtrics.Patients or other participantsFemale collegiate cross-country athletes (n = 275, age = 20 ± 1 years), collegiate cross-country coaches (n = 55, age = 34 ± 9 years), and ATs working with cross-country teams (n = 30, age = 36 ± 11 years).Main outcome measure(s)Knowledge, confidence, and educational impact scores were assessed among groups using analysis of variance. Independent t tests were calculated to determine differences in impact scores between people who had or had not received education on the topic.ResultsFemale cross-country athletes' total knowledge, confidence, and educational impact scores (mean scores = 25.00 ± 5.27, 95.42 ± 28.83, and 18.81 ± 7.05, respectively) were different from those of coaches (mean scores = 26.92 ± 5.02, 111.35 ± 24.14, and 22.41 ± 6.33, respectively) and ATs (mean scores = 28.66 ± 4.02, 117.67 ± 22.53, and 23.93 ± 5.69, respectively; P < .05).ConclusionsKnowledge, confidence, and educational impact scores regarding Triad or RED-S were lowest in female cross-country athletes and highest in ATs. These findings support the call for education, which should be regarded as the primary tool for increasing knowledge, to improve the prevention and treatment of the Triad or RED-S.

Project description:Bone strength is developed through a combination of the size and shape (architecture) of a bone as well as the bone's material properties; and therefore, no one outcome variable can measure a positive or negative adaptation in bone. Skeletal robusticity (total area/ bone length) a measure of bones external size varies within the population and is independent of body size, but robusticity has been associated with bone strength. Athletes may have similar variability in robusticity values as the general population and thus have a wide range of bone strengths based on the robustness of their bones. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if an athlete's bone strength and cortical area relative to body size was dependent on robusticity. The second aim was to determine if anthropometry or muscle function measurements were associated with bone robusticity.Bone variables contributing to bone strength were measured in collegiate athletes and a reference group using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the 50% tibial site. Bone functionality was assessed by plotting bone strength and cortical area vs body size (body weight x tibial length) and robustness (total area/length) vs body size. Bone strength was measured using the polar strength-strain index (SSIp). Based on the residuals from the regression, an athlete's individual functionality was determined, and two groups were formed "weaker for size" (WS) and "stronger for size" (SS). Grip strength, leg extensor strength and lower body power were also measured.Division II athletes exhibited a natural variation in (SSIp) relative to robusticity consistent with previous studies. Bone strength (SSIp) was dependent on the robusticity of the tibia. The bone traits that comprise bone strength (SSIp) were significantly different between the SS and WS groups, yet there were minimal differences in the anthropometric data and muscle function measures between groups. A lower percentage of athletes from ball sports were "weaker for size" (WS group) and a higher percentage of swimmers were in the WS group.A range of strength values based on robusticity occurs in athletes similar to general populations. Bones with lower robusticity (slender) were constructed with less bone tissue and had less strength. The athletes with slender bones were from all sports including track and field and ball sports but the majority were swimmers.Athletes, even after optimal training for their sport, may have weaker bones based on robusticity. Slender bones may therefore be at a higher risk for fracture under extreme loading events but also yield benefits to some athletes (swimmers) due to their lower bone mass.

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Disturbances in Brain Physiology Due to Season Play: A Multi-Sport Study of Male and Female University Athletes.

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