How University Athletics Can Impact Mental Health among Student Athletes at the University of Evansville

In recent years, the NCAA student athlete population in the United States has surpassed 500,000, and is continuing to rise each year [1]. These student athletes work their entire lives academically and athletically to reach the ultimate goal: competing in university athletics. However, when these athletes reach university, they are met with non-stop training, homework, exams, and evolving social lives. We have conducted a study at the University of Evansville evaluating how participation in university athletics may impact mental health status among these student athletes, as well as measuring players’ awareness of accessible mental health resources. Over fifty percent of participants reported experiencing at least one mental health condition while competing in their sport;eighty percent reported having knowledge of the mental health resources available to them on campus, however, nearly thirty percent of those knowledgeable reported not knowing how to access these resources. This has indicated a gap in awareness and utilization of mental health resources among student athletes at the University of Evansville.

Injury and illness in short-course triathletes:A systematic review

Background:Determining the incidence and prevalence of injury and illness in short-course triathletes would improve understanding of their etiologies and therefore assist in the development and implementation of prevention strategies.This study synthesizes the existing evidence on the incidence and prevalence of injury and illness and summarizes reported injury or illness etiology and risk factors affecting short-course triathletes.Methods:This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Studies reporting health problems(injury and illness)in triathletes(all sexes,ages,and experience levels)training and/or competing in short-course distances were included.Six electronic databases(Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials,MEDLINE,Embase,APA PsychINFO,Web of Science Core Collection,and SPORTDiscus)were searched.Risk of bias was independently assessed by 2 reviewers using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale.Two authors independently completed data extraction.Results:The search yielded 7998 studies,with 42 studies eligible for inclusion.Twenty-three studies investigated injuries,24 studies investigated illnesses,and 5 studies investigated both injuries and illnesses.The injury incidence rate ranged 15.7-24.3 per 1000 athlete exposures,and the illness incidence rate ranged 1.8-13.1 per 1000 athlete days.Injury and illness prevalence ranged between 2%-15%and 6%-84%,respectively.Most injuries reported occurred during running(45%-92%),and the most frequently reported illnesses affected the gastrointestinal(7%-70%),cardiovascular(14%-59%),and respiratory systems(5%-60%).Conclusion:The most frequently reported health problems in short-course triathletes were:overuse and lower limb injuries associated with running;gastrointestinal illnesses and altered cardiac function,primarily attributable to environmental factors;and respiratory illness mostly caused by infection.

Increased number of symptoms during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes is associated with prolonged time to return to full sports performance—AWAREⅧ

Purpose The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with prolonged time to return to full performance(RTFP)in athletes with recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2)infection.Methods Prospective cohort study with cross sectional analysis.A total of 84 athletes with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection assessed at a coronavirus disease 2019 recovery clinic gave a history of age,sex,type/level of sport,co-morbidities,pre-infection training hours,and 26 acute SARS-CoV-2 symptoms from 3 categories(“nose and throat”,“chest and neck”,and“whole body”/systemic).Data on days to RTFP were obtained by structured interviews.Factors associated with RTFP were demographics,sport participation,history of co-morbidities,pre-infection training history,and acute symptoms(type,number).Outcomes were:(a)days to RTFP(median,interquartile range(IQR))in asymptomatic(n=7)and symptomatic athletes(n=77),and(b)hazard ratios(HRs;95%confidence interval)for symptomatic athletes with vs.without a factor(univariate,multiple models).HR<1 was predictive of higher percentage chance of prolonged RTFP.Significance was p<0.05.Results Days to RTFP were 30 days(IQR:23–40)for asymptomatic and 64 days(IQR:42–91)for symptomatic participants(p>0.05).Factors associated with prolonged RTFP(univariate models)were:females(HR=0.57;p=0.014),endurance athletes(HR=0.41;p<0.0001),co-morbidity number(HR=0.75;p=0.001),and respiratory disease history(HR=0.54;p=0.026).In symptomatic athletes,prolonged RTFP(multiple models)was significantly associated with increased“chest and neck”(HR=0.85;p=0.017)and“nose and throat”(HR=0.84;p=0.013)symptoms,but the association was more profound between prolonged RFTP and increased total number of“all symptoms”(HR=0.91;p=0.001)and“whole body”/systemic(HR=0.82;p=0.007)symptoms.Conclusion A larger number of total symptoms and specifically“whole body”/systemic symptoms during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection in athletes is associated with prolonged RTFP.

Review and update on the management of triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries in professional athletes

Triangular fibrocartilage complex injuries are common in amateur and professional sports.These injuries are mainly caused by acute or chronic repetitive axial loads on the wrist,particularly on the ulnar side and in association with rotations or radial/ulnar deviations.In order to treat professional athletes,a detailed specific knowledge of the pathology is needed.Moreover,the clinician should fully understand the specific and unique environment and needs of the athletes,their priorities and goals,the type of sport,the time of the season,and the position played.An early diagnosis and appropriate management with the quickest possible recovery time are the uppermost goals for both the athlete and the surgeon.A compromise between conservative vs surgical indications,athletes’needs and expectations,and financial implications should be achieved.Arthroscopic procedures should be timely planned when indicated as they could allow early diagnosis and treatment at the same time.Conservative measures are often used as first line treatment when possible.Peripheral lesions are treated by arthroscopic repair,whilst central lesions are treated by arthroscopic debridement.Further procedures(such as the Wafer procedure,ulnar osteotomies,etc.)have specific indications and great implications with regard to rehabilitation.

The Influence of Swimming Athletes’ Burnout on Their Sports Participation Motivation in Hunan, China

Objective:This study aims to explore the effect of swimming athletes’burnout on their sports motivation in Hunan University,China.It seeks to understand how burnout influences various motivational factors,providing insights for optimizing swimming sports courses and enhancing student participation.Method:Employing random sampling,the study surveyed 260 swimming athletes from Hunan University.The research utilized a questionnaire divided into three parts:demographic information,the Athlete Burnout Questionnaire(ABQ),and the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory(IMI).Pearson’s r correlation analysis was conducted using SPSS to examine the relationships between burnout dimensions and motivational factors.Results:The study found significant correlations between a reduced sense of accomplishment and various motivational dimensions,including“interest/enjoyment,”“perceived competence,”“perceived choice,”and particularly“perceived tension.”Physical exhaustion showed a significant correlation only with“perceived tension,”indicating a strong link between psychological stress and physical fatigue.Sports devaluation was significantly correlated with“perceived tension,”suggesting that psychological stress impacts athletes’valuation of their sport.Conclusion:The findings highlight the complex interplay between burnout and motivation in swimming athletes.Psychological stress,as indicated by“perceived tension,”emerges as a key factor influencing both the physical and emotional aspects of burnout.The study underscores the need for holistic training approaches that balance physical training with psychological well-being,personalized coaching,and supportive environments to enhance intrinsic motivation and manage stress effectively.

Management and prevention of acute and chronic lateral ankle instability in athletic patient populations

Acute and chronic lateral ankle instability are common in high-demand patient populations. If not managed appropriately, patients may experience recurrent instability, chronic pain, osteochondral lesions of the talus, premature osteoarthritis, and other significantlong-term disability. Certain populations, including young athletes, military personnel and those involved in frequent running, jumping, and cutting motions, are at increased risk. Proposed risk factors include prior ankle sprain, elevated body weight or body mass index, female gender, neuromuscular deficits, postural imbalance, foot/ankle malalignment, and exposure to at-risk athletic activity. Prompt, accurate diagnosis is crucial, and evidence-based, functional rehabilitation regimens have a proven track record in returning active patients to work and sport. When patients fail to improve with physical therapy and external bracing, multiple surgical techniques have been described with reliable results, including both anatomic and nonanatomic reconstructive methods. Anatomic repair of the lateral ligamentous complex remains the gold standard for recurrent ankle instability, and it effectively restores native ankle anatomy and joint kinematics while preserving physiologic ankle and subtalar motion. Further preventative measures may minimize the risk of ankle instability in athletic cohorts, including prophylactic bracing and combined neuromuscular and proprioceptive training programs. These interventions have demonstrated benefit in patients at heightened risk for lateral ankle sprain and allow active cohorts to return to full activity without adversely affecting athletic performance.

Posterior shoulder instability in the athletic population: Variations in assessment, clinical outcomes, and return to sport

Posterior instability of the shoulder is becoming an increasingly recognized shoulder injury in the athletic population. Diagnostic elements, such as etiology, directionality, and degree of instability are essential factors to assess in the unstable athletic shoulder. Concomitant injuries and associated pathologic lesions continue to be a significant challenge in the surgical management of posterior shoulder instability. Return to sport and previous level of play is ultimately the goal for every committed athlete and surgeon, thus subpopulations of athletes should be recognized as distinct entities requiring unique diagnostic, functional outcome measures, and surgical approaches.

Effects of Fiber Supplementation for Four Weeks on Athletic Performance in Japanese College Athletes: A Case Study—Measurement of the Athletic Performance, Salivary Biomarkers of Stress, and Mood, Affect Balance

Aim: In this study, we explored the effects of dietary fiber on athletic performance. Methods: Twenty healthy college athletes (male/female, 1/1) consumed 6 grams of dietary fiber (Fiberpro, Taiyo Lab Inc., Tokyo) daily for four weeks and were evaluated for their athletic performance, salivary biomarkers of stress (α-amylase activity pre-post exercise, cortisol, melatonin, and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels), and mood/affect using the Profile of Mood State 2nd edition (POMS 2&reg;). Measurements were taken at baseline (before supplementation), at Week 4 (after 4 weeks of supplementation), and at Week 8 (4 weeks after the completion of supplementation). Results: Results showed that athletic performance and exercise-induced elevation in salivary α-amylase activity improved with Fiberpro supplementation in both men and women. Further, the Anger-Hostility scale in POMS was significantly elevated in men;in women, an increase in Vigor-Activity score, a single index of positive mood, was noted. These findings suggest that Fiberpro may induce differential affective responses in men and women. Meanwhile, Fiberpro did not affect the normal diurnal changes in salivary melatonin and SIgA levels, but it appeared to augment the normal circadian patterns of cortisol, an effect that persisted for a month without Fiberpro intake. We propose that boosting fiber intake in young, healthy athletes may improve gut microbiota and confer resilience against stress.

Heart Failure Prediction in Athletic Heart Remodeling among Long Distance Runners

Background: Physical activity has a cardinal role in preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the changes that occur to the cardiac muscle in athletes is still doubtful whether it is only an adaptation to exercise or a concealed pathological condition. Most of these changes are well documented in apparently healthy heart and characterized by cardiac enlargement with Brady-arrhythmias specially individuals participating in long distance runners with exercise capacity without signs of cardiovascular disease. Methods: The study searched the subclinical myocardial necrosis by comparing two groups of young marathon runners, both groups were chosen from Al Gizera youth center in January 2018. First group included adults above the age of 18 years and ran for 12 km. and the second was under 18 years and ran for about 8 km. Both groups were volunteered for this study. They are monitored carefully with blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate and their blood samples were collected pre- and post-race immediately for assessment of cardiac markers NTproBNP, Galectin-3 and cTnI. Results: All cardiac markers were elevated post exercise compared to that achieved in pre-exercise regardless age of athletes. Also, pre-exercise adult results were higher in galectin-3 and cTnI but not in proBNP while there is no difference in the acute response in both groups. These results revealed micro cardiac necrosis due to long run exercise with possible bad prognosis. Conclusions: It is important to develop risk assessment and prediction methods for screening the young athletes and consider the term athletic heart as a subclinical disorder rather than physiological adaptation.

Athletic Participation and Academic Achievement of High School Students: A Longitudinal Study of Athletic and Non-Athletic Participants

The majority of extant research studies have established that high school students’athletic participation is positively associated with several educational outcomes,including academic performance.However,the effect of long-term athletic participation on academic performance remains unclear.Using a longitudinal data of 220 students from a high school in eastern Massachusetts of the United States,this study has revealed that athletic participants in this school started with a statistically significant higher GPA than non-participants in the first year of study,and have continued to be higher in the following two years,lag behind significantly,however,in academic achievement growth from their nonparticipation counterparts.The results of the study call for thoughtful decision-making regarding sports programs and athletic policies,proper guidance and adequate support for athletes and an optimal sport-academic culture in American high schools.

The good,the bad,and the ugly of consumer sleep technologies use among athletes:A call for action

1.Introduction For athletes,the quality and quantity of sleep are essential elements for optimizing recovery and subsequent performance.1 Unfortunately,athletes frequently face challenges getting sufficient,high-quality sleep.2 A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of 81 studies involving 1830 athletes concluded that compared to healthy non-athletes,athletes'sleep duration was shorter with poorer sleep efficiency.

Ultimate Olympics Records in Athletics Using Extreme Value Theory

Extreme value theory provides methods to analyze the most extreme parts of data. We used the generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution to predict the ultimate 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4 × 100 m relay, and long jump records of male gold medalists at the Olympics. The diagnostic plots, which assessed the accuracy of the GEV model, were fitted to all event records, validating the model. The 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 4 × 100 m, and long jump records had negative shape parameters and calculated upper limits of 9.58 s, 19.18 s, 42.97 s, 36.71 s, and 9.03 m, respectively. The calculated upper limit in the 100 m (9.58 s) was equal to the record of Usain Bolt (August 16, 2009). The 100 m and 200 m world records were close to the calculated upper limits, and achieving the calculated limit was difficult. The 400 m and 4 × 100 m relay world records were almost equal to the calculated upper limits and the 500-year return level estimate, and slight improvement was possible in both. At the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, in the 100 m, 200 m, and 4 × 100 m, in one year the probability of occurrence for a record was about 1/30. In the 400 m and long jump, it was about 1/20. In the 100 m, 200 m, and 4 × 100 m relay, more difficult records show that a fierce battle has taken place.

SPECULATION ON DEVELOPING TOUR RESOURCES OF THE TOURNAMENT ATHLETICS IN HARBIN CITY

The exploitation and utilization of the tour resources of tournament athletics, including skiling, boat sailing, archery, ice engraving, snow engrav ing, has become a new trend of the development of Chinese tourism. Due to the un ique cold climate and superior geographic location,Harbin is a promising city f or developing tour resources of tournament athletics. Based on the analysis of t he superiority and peculiarity of Harbin,the speculation on development of tour resources of tournament athletics in Harbin is proposed as follows:1) Harbin s hould develop its special tour resources of tournament athletics associated with needs of market; 2) Harbin should take the advantages of rich resources and dev elop ice and snow entertainment in winter and travel for sight-seeing and spend ing summer; 3) the adjustment of the layout of ice and snow resources should be based on the idea of taking Harbin as the center and all-side opening at the la rge scale in the way of radiation; 4) tourism should be developed by the combine d efforts of various departments to make feasible plan, and the organizers shoul d pay much attention to ensuring the safety of tourists.

Association between ACTN3 R577X genotype and risk of non-contact injury in trained athletes:A systematic review

Purpose:The aim of this study was to review,systematically,evidence concerning the link between the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and the rates and severity of non-contact injuries and exercise-induced muscle damage in athletes and individuals enrolled in exercise training programs.Methods:A computerized literature search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed,Web of Science,and SPORTDiscus,from inception until November 2020.All included studies compared the epidemiological characteristics of non-contact injury between the different genotypes of the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism.Results:Our search identified 492 records.After the screening of titles,abstracts,and full texts,13 studies examining the association between the ACTN3 genotypes and the rate and severity of non-contact injury were included in the analysis.These studies were performed in 6 different countries(Spain,Japan,Brazil,China,the Republic of Korea,and Italy)and involved a total participant pool of 1093 participants.Of the studies,2 studies involved only women,5 studies involved only men,and 6 studies involved both men and women.All the studies included were classified as highquality studies(≥6 points in the Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro)scale score).Overall,evidence suggests there is an association between the ACTN3 R577X genotype and non-contact injury in 12 investigations.Six studies observed a significant association between A CTN3 R577X polymorphism and exercise induced muscle damage:2 with non-contact ankle injury,3 with non-contact muscle injury,and 1 with overall non-contact injury.Conclusion:The present findings support the premise that possessing the ACTN3 XX genotype may predispose athletes to a higher probability of some non-contact injuries,such as muscle injury,ankle sprains,and higher levels of exercise-induced muscle damage.

Lower serum magnesium concentration and higher 24-h urinary magnesium excretion despite higher dietary magnesium intake in athletes:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Magnesium plays a critical role in the human's life activities and energy metabolism. This study aimed to evaluate the magnesium status of athletes via a systematic review of cross-sectional studies. A comprehensive systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Library electronic databases, and other sources before April 5, 2021. Fourteen studies were included in the systematic review, involving 855 athletes and 521 control subjects. Serum magnesium concentration was significantly lower in athletes(mean difference(MD):-0.04 mmol/L;95% confidence interval(CI):-0.06 to-0.01;P = 0.02)in spite of significantly higher dietary magnesium intake(MD: 51.72 mg/day;95% CI: 14.62 to 88.83;P = 0.006). Meta-analysis showed that 24-h urinary magnesium excretion in athletes was significantly higher than that in the untrained population(MD: 0.76 mmol/day;95% CI: 0.11 to 1.41;P = 0.02). Despite higher total dietary magnesium intake, athletes generally have lower serum magnesium concentration and higher 24-h urinary magnesium excretion, demonstrating that the magnesium requirement of athletes is higher than the untrained population. It is necessary to carry out a dietary assessment and nutrition counseling to help athletes adopt proper diets to meet their nutritional needs in exercise.

Investigating the Effect of COVID-19 Infection on Professional Athletes’ Post-Infection with a Focus on Fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Introduction and Objectives: COVID-19 has been reported to cause long-term sequela including persistent fatigue and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) in the general population. However, it remains to be seen if similar effects are observed in an athlete population. The aetiology and pathophysiology are poorly understood but is thought to be multi-factorial. Patient reported outcome measures are commonly used to improve patient-centred outcomes (PROMs). They are essential to assess patient quality of life post-COVID infection. This paper aims to assess the effect of COVID-19 on athletes’ long-term fatigue and CFS and identify the PROMs used to characterise this. Methodology: Articles were selected for extraction based on the eligibility criteria and PRISMA guidelines. The inclusion criteria required papers to assess competitive athletes over eighteen years of age who were clinically diagnosed with COVID-19. Articles were extracted to assess different variables including type of sport, type of athlete and ethnicity. Key terms were obtained using MeSH trees and utilised with Web of Science and NCBI Pubmed. Papers were graded by quality using the Hawker quality assessment tool. Results and Discussion: Forty articles (N = 40) were identified for full-text screening (N = 8). Eight were selected for extraction based on the eligibility criteria. Data was obtained on athlete characteristics, sport characteristics, properties of PROM measurement techniques and fatigue presentation. Male athletes were found to be 10% - 50% more likely than female athletes to suffer from persistent fatigue symptoms (N = 2). Persistent fatigue was present in 9% - 10% Athletes from mixed backgrounds and genders (N = 2). Initial fatigue was documented to be between 47% - 56% (N = 2). A heterogenous range of PROMs were utilised to assess symptoms including fatigue and excluded emotional or mental fatigue. Conclusion: COVID-19 is associated with signs of persisting fatigue and potentially CFS in athlete populations. More work needs to be done to develop standardised and validated PROMs specific to CFS.

Heart Rate Variability as an Indicator of Stress in Students’ Athletes

Introduction: The wellbeing of student’s athletes has a paramount importance, a prolonged period of cognitive and physical performance that characterizes the life of student’s athletes often leads to fatigue, and a psychobiological state that increases the risk of injury and accidents. The use of Heart rate variability (HRV) has become increasingly popular as a non-invasive methodology that provides an indirect insight into the autonomic nervous system. HRV can be utilized as a diagnostic tool in detection of autonomic nervous system impairment and sympatho-vagal imbalance. HRV technology is employed to monitor the internal response of athletes to workload and identify athletes’s psychophysical stress to predict and therefore prevent injuries. Objective: The objective of the investigation is to establish whether the use of Polar H10 sensor heart rate monitors worn by athletes in a sitting position (inclination 60 degrees) during periods characterized by stress can provide a valid and non-invasive method to assess the psychophysiological state during sports competition and school exams. Method and Statistics: In the study, the HRV of 12 basketball students athletes and 4 students non-athletes was analyzed as a control group. The autonomic nervous system activity was assessed based on heart variability parameters (HRV): SDNN, rMSSD, LF, HF, and LF/HF. The measurements were made after establishing the baseline at rest, during the training phase (CT), competition phase (CC) and during the acute phase of stressors due to school exams coinciding with the competitive season (CC + E). Results: Compared to the respective values prior to the stress of the competitions and exams, a significant decrease in HRV indices was found: SDNN (P Conclusions: The analysis and examination of the data on the sample of the student population also showed a statistically significant correlation between decreased cardiac variability and injuries or indisposition to physical exertion.

Assessment of functional prognosis of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in athletes based on a body shape index

BACKGROUND A healthy body shape is essential to maintain athletes’sports level.At present,little is known about the effect of athletes’body shape on anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction(ACLR).Moreover,the relationship between body shape and variables such as knee joint function after operation and return to the field has not been well studied.AIM To verify the relationship between a body shape index(ABSI)and the functional prognosis of the knee after ACLR in athletes with ACL injuries.METHODS We reviewed 76 athletes with unilateral ACL ruptures who underwent ACLR surgery in the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University between 2017 and 2020,with a follow-up period of more than 24 mo.First,all populations were divided into a High-ABSI group(ABSI>0.835,n=38)and a Low-ABSI group(ABSI<0.835,n=38)based on the arithmetic median(0.835)of ABSI values.The primary exposure factor was ABSI,and the outcome indicators were knee function scores as well as postoperative complications.The correlation between ABSI and postoperative knee function scores and postoperative complications after ACLR were analyzed using multifactorial logistic regression.RESULTS The preoperative knee function scores of the two groups were similar.The surgery and postoperative rehabilitation exercises,range of motion(ROM)compliance rate,Lysholm score,and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score of the two groups gradually increased,whereas the quadriceps atrophy index gradually decreased.The knee function scores were higher in the Low-ABSI group than in the High-ABSI group at the 24-mo postoperative follow-up(P<0.05).In multifactorial logistic regression,ABSI was a risk factor of low knee joint function score after surgery,specifically low ROM scores(odds ratio[OR]=1.31,95%confidence interval[CI][1.10-1.44];P<0.001),low quadriceps atrophy index(OR=1.11,95%CI[0.97-1.29];P<0.05),low Lysholm scores(OR=2.34,95%CI[1.78-2.94];P<0.001),low symptoms(OR=1.14,95%CI[1.02-1.34];P<0.05),low activity of daily living(OR=1.34,95%CI[1.18-1.65];P<0.05),low sports(OR=2.47,95%CI[1.78-2.84];P<0.001),and low quality of life(OR=3.34,95%CI[2.88-3.94];P<0.001).ABSI was also a risk factor for deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb(OR=2.14,95%CI[1.88-2.36],P<0.05]and ACL recurrent rupture(OR=1.24,95%CI[0.98-1.44],P<0.05)after ACLR.CONCLUSION ABSI is a risk factor for the poor prognosis of knee function in ACL athletes after ACLR,and the risk of poor knee function after ACLR,deep vein thrombosis of lower limb,and ACL recurrent rupture gradually increases with the rise of ABSI.