Thesis (M.Sc.( Sports Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation)) --Sefako Makgatho Medical University, 2013. / Introduction: Soccer predisposes its players to a number of injuries which could adversely affect the player’s career if relevant management is not instituted. The aim of the study was to develop a profile of soccer injuries amongst the premier soccer teams in Lesotho and determine a need for physiotherapy intervention. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive survey was used. Simple random selection was used to select a total of 201 soccer players from 12 premier teams participated in the study. Inferential statistics were performed using ANOVA, ANCOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient tests to determine the relationship of the players’ injuries, contributing factors and their management. Questionnaire’s validity and reliability were established by physiotherapist working with athletes. Results: The lower limb is the commonly affected body part with the ankle sustaining most injuries (36.4%). Common types of injuries were muscle strains (32.4%) and ligament sprains (23.0%). Mechanisms of injury during competitive games and training sessions include being tackled (25.2%); landing, tackling and overuse. Injuries sustained are treated sometimes by medical personnel (43.7%), traditional or home remedies (41.7%) and physiotherapist (29.6%). Ankle injuries are associated with self- treat (p= 0.020). There is a strong significant relationship between the mode of treatment (not physiotherapy) and common injuries that occurred amongst the players (p<0.05). The common mechanism of injury is also association with the common injuries that occurred (p<0.05). Conclusion and implications: Injuries occurring amongst soccer players in the Lesotho Premier Soccer League are sprains and strains and no consistent management is available for the injured players. The type and severity of common injuries indicate their impact on the soccer sporting activity. The injured player ceases activity immediately after injury. Soccer fraternity need to pay attention to provision of physiotherapy services and players have to be educated regarding appropriate injury prevention and management strategies.

Being involved in soccer in Rwanda at both national and international level exposes soccer players to the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to identify common soccer injuries among the 1st and 2nd division soccer teams in Rwanda and to establish the need for physiotherapy intervention. This deals with the first two stages of injury prevention, which included identification and description of the extent of the problem and the identification of factors and mechanisms that play a part in the occurrence of injuries.

Achieving adequate and appropriate recovery from exercise is essential in ensuring optimal performance during repeated bouts of exercise. The use of various recovery interventions has become popular in an attempt to enhance subsequent performance and accelerate post-exercise recovery. The application of various post-exercise hydrotherapy interventions has become increasingly popular, however, the majority of current recovery practices appear to be based largely on anecdotal evidence as opposed to rigorous scientific research or evidence based findings. Physiologically, various hydrotherapy protocols have been shown to affect the body via fluid shifts (interstitial to intravascular space), changes in blood flow and cardiovascular function, and reductions in oedema. The possible psychological effects of water immersion must also be considered, with athletes commonly reporting reduced sensations of fatigue and soreness following immersion. Current literature suggests both hydrostatic pressure and water temperature to be important factors influencing the success of hydrotherapy. The overall aim of the present thesis was to enhance current knowledge and understanding with regards to the physiological and performance effects of various forms of hydrotherapy, used as a post-exercise recovery intervention. Initially, four cold water immersion interventions were compared to active recovery, performed between two bouts of high intensity cycling in hot environmental conditions. Effectiveness of recovery was determined via performance in a subsequent exercise bout; in addition, core body temperature, lactate, and heart rate were recorded. The remaining studies were designed to investigate the effects of cold water immersion, hot water immersion, contrast water therapy, and passive recovery 4 (control) following exercise-induced fatigue and exercise-induced muscle damage. Rate of recovery was assessed through changes in performance, core body temperature, thigh girths, blood markers, and perceived exertion/soreness. The results of the combined studies indicate cold water immersion to be more effective than active recovery when performed immediately post-exercise between two bouts of high intensity cycling in hot environmental conditions. Additionally, both cold water immersion and contrast water therapy were effective in aiding recovery from exercise-induced fatigue and exercise-induced muscle damage. Performance variables indicated an improved maintenance or return of performance following these recovery protocols. The present studies have provided additional information to the limited knowledge base regarding the effect of post-exercise hydrotherapy interventions, specifically, the effect of such interventions on subsequent athletic performance. In conclusion, cold water immersion and contrast water therapy appear to be superior to hot water immersion, active recovery, and passive recovery following fatiguing and muscle damaging exercise. Functional and physiological recovery was enhanced following the use of these two recovery protocols.

Being involved in soccer in Rwanda at both national and international level exposes soccer players to the risk of injury. The aim of this study was to identify common soccer injuries among the 1st and 2nd division soccer teams in Rwanda and to establish the need for physiotherapy intervention. This deals with the first two stages of injury prevention, which included identification and description of the extent of the problem and the identification of factors and mechanisms that play a part in the occurrence of injuries.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 94-101).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-101). Also available in print.

A significant problem of the 21st century, across different countries, is currently insufficient physical activity and a large increase in obesity . Influence of physical impairment on the prevalence of obesity is proven. At this time the physical activity is not sufficient for biological needs of man and as a result of this is a threat to the human species. With the alarming rise of health problems, which results from improper lifestyle , against all the progress in medical science, these conditions are a reality of modern civilization. Physical activity with its health benefits is one of the key topics of health education. In this thesis, the state of physical activity among female students of The Faculty of Education, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, both day and part-time bachelor's and master's degree program is monitored by using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The theoretical part deals with concepts such as physical activity and a summary of the activities practiced out in a unit of time and definition and classification of them. Another two chapters are devoted to the health benefits of physical activity and another aspects of physical activity in relation to health. The practical part of this thesis analyzes in detail the results of the standardized questionnaire IPAQ, which monitors the activity of the individual within seven days. Female Students responded to 27 questions , which were divided into four part evaluation exercise. A separate part of the evaluation was the time spent sitting and personal anamnesis of the respondent. The evaluation was processed using simple statistical method and recorded in a bar graph.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Southern California, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 235-269).

Orientador: Benedito Sérgio Denadai / Banca: Renato de Sousa Almeida / Banca: Sergio Ricardo de Abreu Camarda / Banca: Fabrizio Caputo / Banca: Mauro Gonçalves / Resumo: Exercícios intensos e/ou não habituais, realizados através de contrações excêntricas, ocorrem constantemente em nossas vidas, os quais podem resultar em dores musculares imediatas ou tardias, com um marcado e prolongado efeito sobre nossa capacidade funcional. Desta forma, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar o efeito do exercício excêntrico (EE), associado com dano muscular, sobre as propriedades mecânicas do músculo e índices de aptidão aeróbia. Metodologicamente o experimento foi dividido em 1 e 2. No primeiro experimento, doze homens (21,7±2,3 anos) saudáveis, não treinados, foram avaliados, através de três contrações voluntárias máximas (CVM), no pico de torque (PT) isocinético do quadríceps, e correspondente, pico da taxa de desenvolvimento de torque (pico TDT), pico da taxa de desenvolvimento de velocidade (pico TDV) e impulso contrátil (IC) a 60º.s-1 antes e após 24h e 48h de um protocolo de exercícios excêntricos de dez séries de dez repetições máximas. No segundo experimento, vinte homens (24,4±3,5 anos) saudáveis e não treinados foram divididos em dois grupos, de acordo com a cadência realizada no ciclismo (50 rpm e 100 rpm), e avaliados para a cinética de consumo de oxigênio ( O2) e eficiência mecânica bruta (EB) e de trabalho (ET), através de três transições de ciclismo com duração cada uma de 6min a 90% do limiar de lactato precedidas de 4min a 0W, antes e após 24h e 48h do protocolo de EE. Nos dois experimentos os indicadores indiretos de dano muscular de dor muscular tardia (DMT), atividade da creatina quinase (CK) plasmática e pico de torque isocinético concêntrico (PT) foram significantemente alterados 24h e 48h após o protocolo de exercícios excêntricos, em relação aos valores de base. No primeiro experimento o PT (-15,3%, p=0,002), pico TDT (-13,1%,. p=0,03) e IC (-29,3%,. p=0,01) diminuíram significantemente... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Intense and/or unusual exercises, related to eccentric contractions are constant in our lives, resulting in immediate or delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and may have a marked and prolonged effect on our functional capacity. Thus, this study was to analyze the effect of eccentric exercise (EE), associated with muscle damage, on the mechanical properties of muscle and indices of aerobic fitness. Methodologically the experiment was divided into 1 and 2. In the first experiment, twelve (21.7 ± 2.3 years) healthy untrained men subjects were assessed at peak torque (PT) isokinetic quadriceps, and the corresponding peak rate of torque development (peak RTD), peak rate velocity development (peak RVD) and contractile impulse (CI) at 60o. s-1 before and after 24h and 48h isokinetic EE protocol of 10 sets of 10 repetitions. In the second experiment, twenty (24.4 ± 3.5 years) healthy and untrained men were divided into two cycling cadence groups (50 rpm and 100 rpm) and evaluated for the pulmonary oxygen uptake ( O2) kinetics and gross (GE) and work (WE) mechanical efficiency through 3 transitions cycling lasting each of 6 min at 90% lactate threshold preceded by 4min at 0W, before and after 24h and 48h protocol EE. In both experiments, DOMS (DMT), activity of creatine quinase (CK) in plasma and peak isokinetic concentric torque (PT) was significantly altered at 24h and 48h after the eccentric exercise protocol. In the first experiment, the PT (-15.3%, p = 0.002), peak RTD (-13.1%. p = 0.03) and CI (- 29.3%. p = 0.01) decreased significantly to 24h and peak RVD not changed. After 48h, PT (-7.9%, p = 0.002) and CI (-29.2%, p = 0.003) were maintained less values but RTD recovered to baseline values. RTD normalized to PT (% CVM.s-1) measured at 30 ms (24h = 580.5%, p = 0.01 and 48h = 681.3%, p = 0.006) and 100 ms (48h = 623.3 %, p = 0.009) the onset of contraction was higher than the previous... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Resting heart rate (RHR) is positively related with mortality. Regular exercise causes a reduction in RHR. The aim of the systematic review was to assess whether regular exercise or sports have an impact on the RHR in healthy subjects by taking different types of sports into account. A systematic literature research was conducted in six databases for the identification of controlled trials dealing with the effects of exercise or sports on the RHR in healthy subjects was performed. The studies were summarized by meta-analyses. The literature search analyzed 191 studies presenting 215 samples fitting the eligibility criteria. 121 trials examined the effects of endurance training, 43 strength training, 15 combined endurance and strength training, 5 additional school sport programs. 21 yoga, 5 tai chi, 3 qigong, and 2 unspecified types of sports. All types of sports decreased the RHR. However, only endurance training and yoga significantly decreased the RHR in both sexes. The exercise-induced decreases of RHR were positively related with the pre-interventional RHR and negatively with the average age of the participants. From this, we can conclude that exercise—especially endurance training and yoga—decreases RHR. This effect may contribute to a reduction in all-cause mortality due to regular exercise or sports.