Journal of Sports Medicine & Doping Studies

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament rupture is a common knee injury, especially in sportsmen. Rupture of the anterior cruciate knee ligament necessitates rehabilitation. If good operative results and intensive pre- and post-operative rehabilitation lead to an optimal outcome, patients can return to the pre-injury level of sports activity in the short term.
Objective: Muscle strength and stability of anterior cruciate ligament in reconstructed knees have been bilaterally compared with hamstring tendon autograft at 6 months following surgery.
Methods: Sixty-five patients, 44 men, and 21 women, participated in the study. The outcome measures consisted of isokinetic strength findings, balance, hop index and KT-1000 for knee laxity.
Results: A small difference between the operated and non-operated knees in isokinetic, balance (Mean of average difference between operated and non-operated leg was 1.036), hop index (Mean of average difference between operated and non-operated leg was 0.8540), and KT-1000 values (Mean of average difference between operated and non-operated leg was 2.238) was noted at 6 months after the surgery. The average deficit of the peak torque in the operated knee at angular velocity 240° was 13.4% for extensor muscles and 7.8% for flexor muscles.
Conclusion: Reconstructed knees with flexor tendons exhibit similar results as opposite, non-operated knees. Full weight bearing and no use of brace after surgery is advised. Good surgery technique and intensive pre- and post-surgery rehabilitation are very important. Six months after surgery patients are allowed to go back to sports activity.

Objective: To observe how a short vigorous exercise influences certain coagulation and fibrinolytic parameters in sportsmen and sportswomen.
Design: Pre-post parallel-groups.
Setting: Heart Centre and Department of Laboratory of Medicine, University Pécs, H-7623, Hungary
Participants: A total of 31 healthy individuals (mean age [+SD] 35 + 8 years; 18 males, 13 female), participated in the study at the Heart Centre of the University of Pécs. Participants were active and well-trained active sportsmen (and women) continuously involved in competitive sports activities (basketball, handball or water polo) for at least 10 years.
Main Outcome Measures: All participants performed an exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Venous blood samples were obtained for rotational thrombelastometry (ROTEM).
Results: In the case of sportsmen significant differences were obtained related to physical exercise in certain nonactivated thrombelastometry (NATEM) measurements. After exercise, the mean clotting time (CT) was shorter (329.3 ± 85.3 vs. 276.7 ± 91.7 seconds, P=0.041) and the maximum clot firmness (MCF) was broader (53.7 ± 4. vs. 60.4 ± 13.7 mm, P=0.034) than before exercise. In sportswomen mean CT was shorter (292.9 ± 65.2 vs. 247.8 ± 105.9 seconds, P=0.04), and the MCF was broader after exercise (59.0 ± 4.1 vs. 65.2 ± 9.7 mm, P=0.04) by NATEM measurements.
Conclusions: A tendency for a post-exercise hypercoagulation state following a short-term strenuous exercise has been documented.

Introduction: Rib stress fractures result from a nutcracker action on the ribs as the load on the blade is counteracted by the posterior scapular muscles. One of many factors is the proportion of force production from the arms in relation to the legs. If the arms give more the load on the ribs is greater.
Methods: This study sought to find a simple rowing ergometer test which is functional but accurately reflects the ratio of force contribution between the arms and the rest of the body. The new test was used to establish normative data for the protocol and a re-test study was conducted to investigate the reliability of the test protocol.
Results: The results were gender specific with men having a higher arm contribution percentage than women. Both groups were tested at two ratings 18 strokes/min and 26 strokes/min (s/m). Both groups had a lower arm contribution at the faster rating. At 18 strokes per min, the women averaged 21.85% of their power from their arms compared with 27.8% in the men. At 26 s/m the women averaged 18.35% and the men 23.2%. However, these figures are contrasted with an average from the cohort of normal (no history of rib issues) elite rowers who produced only 10% of their power from their arms at 18 s/m and 7.47% at the higher rating of 26 s/m. Test re-test validity showed the test is reliable to 1.8%.
Conclusion: This test could be used as a training aid to modify technique and a screen to look for subjects at risk. The recommendation of the co-author and experienced coach, Rob Baker, is that using results from this test at 18 s/m; the arm contribution of non-elite rowers should aim not to exceed 20% in women and 25% in men. Elite rowers should aim for 10%.