Patient noncompliance to treatment regimen is a common problem for health service providers. Five personality variable subscales of the Millon Behavioral Health Inventory were related to trainer-judged adherence to treatment plans of 50 injured athletes. Multiple regression analysis showed only Somatic Anxiety was a significant predictor of adherence (r = -.427); injured athletes with high scores are less likely to adhere to treatment recommendations. Results suggest the promise of the MBHI as a diagnostic instrument for evaluating injured athletes and enhancing their treatment, and provide evidence for construct validity of the Somatic Anxiety subscale using a previously unstudied population.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Although it is common knowledge that regular exercise has many beneficial effects on the human body, it is also true that many highly competitive athletes neglect their health for the sake of performance. With this as a general objective for the study, women athletes of the Matie Athletics Club were recruited as subjects and were monitored and tested for several health-related parameters. Current results indicate that, although the average total cholesterol (TC) concentrations of the group were within normal ranges, quite a number of the sprint and field athletes had TC values regarded as a cardiovascular risk (> 5.2 mmol.l"). Serum testosterone levels of the sprint and field athletes were also higher than those of the distance athletes, but a correlation between TC and testosterone was not established. In general, cholesterol intake of women athletes was within the recommended daily allowance (RDA) prescriptions. The high-density lipoprotein fraction was also within the norm, but a better chemical pathological range had been expected. All haematological parameters were within the normal ranges of distribution, but the red blood cell count, haemoglobin concentration and hematocrit were on average lower than the standard average for females. Athletes, quite often, have higher plasma volumes than average and this can disguise normal haematological values and is described as sport anaemia. The current study has also indicated an iron deficiency (83% RDA) in the diet of female athletes in general. Thus the relatively low observed red blood cell count could not necessarily be attributed to sport anaemia. The energy intake was also poor and did not comply with the energy needs of the athletes. Bone mineral density (BMD) and plasma electrolytes were normal. Distance athletes had a higher BMD of the hip compared to the lumbar spine area. This is probably related to the stress to the hip associated with running. A correlation was observed between TC and BMD of the hip of eumenorrheal and amenorrheal athletes, which had not been observed before. The influence of the phase of the menstrual cycle on the immune system is controversial, and the results of the thesis confirm those of other studies that indicated no influence. In addition, it has been shown that the exogenous ingestion of glutamine, before the onset of exercise, can increase the plasma concentration thereof, and that the formerly observed decline (also seen in the current study) after intense exercise can be totally neutralized. This had not been reported before. The physiological significance of this has not been established, but the assumption is that a continuous adequate supply of glutamine will benefit the immune cells with regard to its reaction to pathogens. As reported by others, it has been shown that the ingestion of 5% glucose during long duration exercise eases the stress on the immune system, as both leucocytes and cortisol levels were attenuated compared to intake of a placebo. A new discovery, however, was that the ad libitum ingestion of glucose was not enough to produce desired significant results. The importance of this finding may have practical implications with regard to desirable amounts of glucose supplementation during races. In conclusion: Female athletes of club performance level are on general in a healthy condition, but are not excluded from the risk with regard to cholesterol. The screening of TC alone is insufficient with regard to competitive athletes, unless the sub-fractions are screened as well during routine medical examinations. Adjustments with regard to the energy and iron content of the diet are suggested. Supplementation of glutamine and glucose before and during exercise could be beneficial to the immune system. More studies with regard to the association of cholesterol with BMD are recommended. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel dit algemeen bekend is dat oefening groot voordele vir die gesondheid van die liggaam inhou, is dit ook so dat atlete wat hoogs kompeterend is hul gesondheid kan verwaarloos ten koste van prestasie. Dit was die oorkoepelende doel van hierdie studie om vroue-atlete van die Maties Atletiekklub as proefpersone te toets en te monitor vir verskeie gesondheidsverwante parameters. Huidige resultate dui daarop dat alhoewel die gemiddelde totale cholesterol (TC) van die groep binne die normale grense was, 'n hele aantal van die naelloop- en veldatlete het TC gehad wat oor die grens was wat as 'n risiko (> 5.2 mmol.l") vir kardiovaskulêre verwante siektes beskou kan word. Serumtestosteroon-konsentrasie van die naelloop- en veldatlete was ook hoër as dié van die langafstandatlete, maar dit het nie gekorrileer met TC nie. In die algemeen was die cholesterolinname van vroue-atlete binne die aanbevole dieettoelaag (ADT) voorskrifte. Die hoë-digtheid-lipoproteïenfraksie was ook binne die normale, maar nie volgens verwagting in 'n meer gunstige chemies-patalogies gebied van verspreiding nie. Alle hematologiese parameters was binne die normale grense, maar die gemiddelde rooibloedseltelling en hemoglobienkonsentrasie, asook die hematokrit was deurgaans laer as die standaard gemiddeld vir dames. Atlete het heel dikwels hoër plasmavolumes as normaal en dit kan normale hematologiese tellings verbloem en word beskryf as sportanemie. Die huidige studie het egter ook getoon dat 'n ystertekort (83% ADT) in die dieet algemeen in vroue-atlete kan voorkom en daarom kan die relatief lae rooiseltellings nie noodwendig aan sport anemie toegeskryf word nie. Die energie-inname was ook laag en het nie aan die energiebehoeftes voorsien nie. Beenmineraaldigtheid (BMD) en plasma-elektroliete was normaal. Langafstandatlete het 'n hoër BMD van die heupbeen teenoor die werwelkolom getoon wat waarskynlik verband hou met die stres wat deur hardloop op die heupbeen geplaas word. 'n Verband is ook gevind tussen die BMD van die heup en TC van eumenorreale en amenorreale atlete wat nie vantevore waargeneem is nie. Die invloed van die fase van die menstruale siklus op die immuunstelsel is kontroversieel en die bevindinge in die tesis dra by tot die stawing van studies wat geen invloed bevind het nie. Voorts is getoon dat die eksogene inname van glutamien voor die aanvang van oefening, plasmaglutamien kan verhoog en dat die verlaging daarvan, wat voorheen (asook in die huidige studie) na intense oefening waargeneem word, geheel en al teengewerk kan word. Dit is nog nie vantevore waargeneem nie, en mag 'n fisiologiese voordeel inhou vir die immuunselle ten opsigte van hul reaksie op patogene. Dit is huidig, ook soos voorheen, aangetoon dat die inname van 5% glukose tydens langdurige oefening die stres wat op die immuunsisteem geplaas word, verminder word. Dit, omrede beide die leukosiete en kortisolkonsentrasies laer was in vergelyking met 'n plaseboproefneming. 'n Nuwe bevinding is egter dat die onvoorgeskrewe inname van glukose nie genoegsaam is om dieselfde insiggewende resulaat te toon nie. Die belang van hierdie bevinding mag praktiese gevolge hê vir die gewenste voorskrifte van glukose-inname tydens wedlope. In opsomming: Vroue-atlete van klubprestasiegehalte is oor die algemeen gesond, maar is nie vrygespreek van risiko in terme van cholesterol nie. Die monitering van TC alleenlik is onvoldoende in kompeterende atlete en die subfraksies moet derhalwe deel wees van roetine ondersoeke. Dieetaanpassings ten opsigte van die energie- en ysterinhoud kan aanbeveel word. Supplementasie van glutamien en glukose voor en tydens oefening respektiewelik, kan voordelig wees vir die immuunsisteem. Verdere studies word aanbeveel in terme van die verbande tussen cholesterol en BMD.

To determine whether extreme endurance exercise induces lipid peroxidation, we studied 14 athletes (5 females: 9 males) during a 50 km ultramarathon (trial 1) and during a sedentary protocol (trial 2) one month later. At dinner the evening before the race (or sedentary trial), subjects consumed vitamin E labeled with stable isotopes (75 mg each d₃-RRR and d₆-all rac-α-tocopheryl acetates). Blood samples were taken at baseline, 30 minutes pre-race, mid-race, post-race, 1 h post-race, 24 h post-race, and at corresponding times for each individual during trial 2. During the sedentary day of trial 2, subjects consumed the same amounts of race day foods, including ergogenic aids, that they had consumed in trial 1; vitamin E intakes were 77 ± 40 mg, and vitamin C 406 ± 169 mg. All 14 subjects completed the race; average time to completion was 390 ± 67 minutes. Plasma F₂-isoprostanes (F₂-I), labeled and unlabeled α-tocopherol, and ascorbic acid (AA) were measured. F₂-I increased from 76 ± 24 pg/ml pg/ml at pre-race to 117.4 ± 38.0 pg/ml (p<0.0008) at mid-race to 130 ± 54 pg/ml (p<0.0001) at post-race, then returned to baseline at 24 hours post-race; F₂-I were unchanged during trial 2. Deuterated d₃ α-tocopheryl (d₃ α-Toc) disappearance rates were faster (2.8x10⁻⁴ ± 0.5x10⁻⁴) during the race compared to the sedentary trial (2.3x10⁻⁴ ± 0.6x10⁻⁴; p < 0.03). Plasma AA increased from 75.2 ± 11.2 μM at pre-race to 157.7 ± 36.2 μM at race end (p<0.0001) and decreased to below baseline concentrations at 24 h post-race (40.4 ± 5.2 μM p<0.0001). AA levels also increased during trial 2. Despite increased plasma AA, F2-I increased during exercise, but not during the sedentary period. Additionally, vitamin E disappeared faster during the run compared to the sedentary protocol. Thus, extreme endurance exercise results in the generation of lipid peroxidation and increased vitamin E utilization. / Graduation date: 2001

This study examined the relationship between former collegiate athletes and former college students who did not participate in intercollegiate athletics to determine if there is any correlation between athletic participation and future health. Two groups of Ball State University faculty (42 former athletes and 32 non-athletes) were selected for this research, and the variables of quality of life and well-being were investigated through the Quality of Life Index and TestWell wellness inventory. Former athletes were found to have a higher level of wellness. Similarly, as a group, athletes were found to have a higher quality of life than former non-athletes. These findings do not support the quality of life findings by Morgan and Montoye (1984). / Fisher Institute for Wellness

The purpose of this study was to explore student athletes' weight-control behaviors. Data consisted of student athletes' responses to a modified version of the Michigan State Weight-Control Survey (Dummer, Rosen, Heusner, Roberts, & Counsilman, 1987). Specifically, the study was designed to explore the following research hypotheses: 1. There is no significant relationship between the weight-control behaviors of athletes competing in sports with weight restrictions (e.g., wrestling) and sports without weight restrictions (e.g., tennis). 2. There is no significant relationship between the weight-control behaviors of athletes competing in sports with subjective judging (e.g., diving) and sports with objective scoring (e.g., swimming). 3. There is no significant relationship between the weight-control behaviors of male athletes and female athletes. The sample was drawn from intact athletic teams at the university under study. All members of the selected teams were invited to participate. The results of this research contributed to both practice and research. Athletic department staff and coaches, student affairs practitioners, and health care practitioners were made more aware of weight-control issues for athletes and might design programs and services to address the issue. The study also lays the groundwork for future research. Scholars may wish to examine other elements of sport (e.g., level of competition, seasonal demands) and their effects on the weight-control behaviors of athletes. The results revealed that there is a significant relationship between weight-control behaviors and the type of weight restrictions (weight restricted versus non-weight restricted) a sport places on athletes (p < .05). There is also a significant relationship between the sex of athletes and the weight-control behavior that they engage in (P < .05). The relationship between the weight-control behaviors and the type of judging (subjective versus objective scoring) involved in the sport was also examined. Though the relationship was not significant at the p = .05 level, it was significant at the p = .1 level. The results of this research addressed an existing gap in the current body of knowledge. There is very little research about weight-control behaviors of athletes in specific groups of sports. Better understanding the demands that different types of sports place on athletes may enable future scholars and practitioners to better serve the population. / Master of Arts

No description available.

This study examined the prevalence of eating disorders within Division I and Division III intercollegiate athletic programs. A secondary purpose was to examine gender and sport differences. The participants, 191 head coaches from 31 purposefully selected colleges and/or universities, completed a respondent information sheet and questionnaire which were created specifically for the purposes of this study.A chi-square analysis indicated no difference in the prevalence of eating disorders between Division I and Division III athletes. The results also indicated that the female athletes had a higher proportion of eating disorders than the male athletes. Women's gymnastics and cross country and men's wrestling and cross country had higher proportions of eating disorders than the other sports examined. / School of Physical Education

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Purpose: Movement time is the time it takes an individual to perform an actual task. A faster and better movement can be invaluable in athletes using their upper limb. This study aims to see the immediate effect of a chiropractic adjustment on the segments innervating the upper limb, 05 to Ti spinal levels, to movement time in the upper limb, in athletes. Method: This study was a comparative study and consisted of two groups of fifteen. The participants were between the ages of eighteen and thirty five, with a half male to female ratio. The potential participants were examined and accepted according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The method of treatment administered to each participant was determined by group allocation. Group 1 received chiropractic adjustments to the segments innervating upper limb (C5-T1). Group 2 was the control group and did not receive treatment, only a rest period of ten minutes was given in between tests. Objective data findings were based on the above treatment protocols. Procedure: Treatment consisted of six treatment consultations with an additional follow up consultation over a three week period, with two consultations being performed per week interval. Objective data readings were taken at the beginning of the first, fourth and seventh consultations. Objective data was collected by the tapping task test and the movement time evaluator program. Analysis of collected data was performed by a statistician. The chiropractic adjustments used were based on restrictions identified during motion palpation and were applied on all the consultations. Results: Clinically significant results were found in group i, the treatment group. Showing a decrease in overall movement time, especially between visit i and visit 4, but also between visit 4 and visit 7. Group 2, the control group, showed a decrease in movement time before and after visit i, but this was only due to learning effect of performing the test for the second time. No statistical significance was found between visit 1 and visit 4 or visit 4 and visit 7.

Research suggests that female athletes, in particular, experience “sport-environment” pressures such as: weight, performance, and body image demands from their coaches, teammates, and judges. These influences in tandem with society’s portrayal of the thin ideal are thought to considerably increase the risk of developing disordered eating problems in this population. Although numerous studies have been conducted over the past decade on the prevalence of eating disorders and pathogenic weight control behaviors among female athletes, few have examined in detail the weight pressures that exist within the sport environment, such as whether or not (and how often) athletes are weighed by their coaches, and how athletes respond to those pressures in terms of weight management practices. In the proposed study, we will examine the weigh-in environment, weight satisfaction, weight management practices, menstrual health, and reported source of nutritional guidance. The sample includes 414 NCAA Division I female collegiate swimmers/divers and gymnasts drawn from 26 universities across the U.S. Participants anonymously completed a series of questionnaires as part of a larger study on student-athlete health and well-being. This study found that 41% of athletes were weighed, and most often by an athletic trainer in private. Despite most weigh-ins were reportedly conducted in a positive manner, the majority of the athletes who were weighed (75%) reported using at least one strategy to manage their weight prior to weigh-ins (e.g. restrict food, increase exercise). Athletes desire to lose weight, caloric intake, and menstrual cycles were not related to whether athletes were or were not weighed. The majority of athletes received qualified nutritional guidance about how to healthfully manage their weight. Overall, weighing is occurring in a more positive manner than expected; however, athletes are continuing to report using unhealthy weight management strategies at a high rate. It seems important for athletic departments to set policies regarding weighing and to continue to provide support and education to coaching and support staff regarding eating disorder identification, referral, and treatment.

The investigator made a comparative study of the health knowledge and health practices of participants in interscholastic athletics for boys and non-participants in a selected number of class A Texas high schools during the school session of 1948-1949.