Emilia Latour

Background and Study Aim. Students are prone to spine overloading, as they often spend prolonged periods in unfavorable postures. They tend to struggle with balancing study time and leisure physical activity. The head and neck regions are particularly rich in proprioceptors. Prolonged forward head posture (protraction) can lead to balance disturbances. This, in turn, affects gait and overall body posture. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of a series of corrective active head exercises on gait, a fundamental form of movement, in a group of healthy university students. Material and Methods. Gait patterns were assessed in 10 healthy male full-time students with an average age of 22.8 years (SD = 1.1). The assessment was based on the regional distribution of plantar pressure across two measurement sessions. One session was conducted before, and one after performing 10 active head retractions. Gait changes were analyzed in ten foot regions for 200 steps of each participant. Results. After 10 cervical retractions, a decrease in pressure, ground reaction force, contact time, and area values was observed in the 1st metatarsal head (1MTH). Conversely, an increase in these quantities was found in the toes. Additionally, there was a tendency toward a decrease in the contact area of the heel and 3rd metatarsal head (3MTH), along with increased contact time in the midfoot. Performing 10 neck retractions altered gait by inducing heel supination. It also increased hallux involvement in propulsion and widened the base of toe support. Conclusions. Even a few movements that correct head protraction have an immediate effect on whole-body movement. This effect suggests potential benefits of incorporating neck retractions into physical education programs for students. Even when time-consuming forms of regular exercise are not feasible, performing just a few neck-correcting movements can positively impact overall body movement.

Introduction and purpose: The balance between catabolic and anabolic processes is crucial for achieving optimal athletic performance and maintaining the health of athletes. The cortisol-to-testosterone ratio (C/T) is a commonly used indicator to assess this balance, as it allows for monitoring the equilibrium between these two hormones. This literature review aims to evaluate the utility of T/C ratio in monitoring this balance, providing insights into its relevance for athletic training and performance. The paper is based on a relevant review of literature about the practical aspects of measuring the C/T ratio and its correlation with athletic performance, recovery, overtraining, and training adaptation were analyzed. Description of the state of knowledge: The cortisol-to-testosterone ratio is a useful indicator for evaluating between catabolic and anabolic states in athletes. It can be practically applied to fine-tune training regimens and help prevent overtraining.However, its effectiveness is dependent on various factors, including individual variability and the influence of external factors such as sleep. Summary:The C/T ratio remains a valuable tool for assessing the metabolic-anabolic balance in athletes. Practical aspects of measurement and interpretation are essential for its effective application. Continued research is needed to refine the use of this biomarker across different sports and training contexts.

Introduction In the past few years, the popularity of climbing and the number of its new recreational enthusiasts increased. It became clear that there are more types of trauma than finger injuries that should be commonly associated with the sport. This overview focuses on meniscus tears as a prevalent underestimated complaint of climbers. Aim of the studyWe aim to bring attention to meniscus lesions and deal with mechanisms of knee injury in climbing while considering the current views on the structure, function, types of lesions, treatment methods, and results in light of topical literature. Materials and methodsThe methodology for the literature search involved using the keywords: ''meniscus tears'', ''climbing injury'', ''bouldering'', ''arthroscopy'', and ''meniscus repair''. The phrases were searched in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases. ConclusionsWe concluded that climbers should recognise acute and chronic meniscus lesions as a concern requiring training breaks, possibly further diagnosis, and adequate treatments. Moreover, awareness of the risk of this type of injury in climbing should be raised, and preventive action should be taken to limit the number of new cases.

The search for optimal osteoporosis treatments continues, as the medications currently used in clinical therapy carry a risk of rare but acute side effects. New knowledge about etiopathogenetic pathways and osteoporosis biomarkers enabled the exact examination of various oral substances, often previously recognised for their positive impact on bone mass growth. A cross-section of novel reports from this year on the applications of many orally administered substances is presented. Diet, gut microbiota aspect, functional food, diabetes drug – empagliflozin and a variety of substances known from Chinese traditional medicine are now characterized in the context of the possible mechanism of treating or preventing osteoporosis. The progress of bone mass density and quality-regulating pathways recognition led to the finding of multiple orally administered substances with favorable mediation properties. The precise diagnosis of the substances' working mechanisms approves their potential use in new formulations of clinical treatments. Presently only used in diet supplementation, the orally administrated antiosteoporotic substances are potential core ingredients of modernized medications, provided their presumptive adverse effects are ruled out.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes, though rare, is the leading cause of exercise-related mortality and poses significant concern due to the symbolic health and vitality of athletes. This review examines the epidemiology, causes, and prevention strategies of SCD in athletes. SCD, defined as sudden death presumed to be of cardiac origin within one hour of symptom onset, affects athletes variably depending on age, race, and type of sports. Key causes include hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in younger athletes, and coronary artery disease (CAD) in older athletes. Ion channelopathies and structural heart diseases also contribute significantly. Preparticipation screening (PPE) involving ECGs, lifestyle adjustments, and medical interventions are critical in prevention. Continuous research and adaptive guidelines are essential for safeguarding athletes against these fatal events. Keywords: sudden cardiac death, athletes, sports, exercise, cardiovascular diseases, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, ion channelopathies, long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, preparticipation screening, electrocardiogram (ECG), risk factors, prevention strategies.

Introduction and purposeSleep is a critical component of an athlete's health, significantly influencing injury risk, performance, and recovery. It plays a vital role in the healing process, contributing to growth, repair, regeneration, and immunity. Current literature suggests that sleep quality impacts various aspects of athletic performance, including physical and cognitive abilities, recovery, injury risk, and mental well-being. This narrative review aims to explore the impact of sleep on the musculoskeletal system of athletes, particularly focusing on injury risk, performance, and recovery. It seeks to synthesize existing research to highlight the importance of sleep quality and duration in maintaining and enhancing athletic performance.Description of the state of knowledgeThe findings indicate that less than 7 hours of sleep is consistently associated with an increased risk of musculoskeletal injury, with athletes experiencing a 1.7 times higher risk if this sleep pattern persists for at least 14 days. Some studies also highlight that athletes obtaining fewer than 6 hours of sleep per day show significant performance declines and higher injury rates.SummaryWhile evidence clearly links certain sleep behaviors to increased musculoskeletal injury and pain, it is crucial to consider sleep as one aspect of an athlete's overall health and well-being. Adequate sleep is essential for optimal athletic performance, injury prevention, and recovery. Tailored sleep strategies should be integrated into training and recovery protocols to enhance the overall health and performance of athletes.

(1) Despite its high prevalence, the diagnostic delay of endometriosis is still estimated to be about 7 years. The objective of the present study is to understand the symptomatology of endometriosis in patients across various countries and to assess whether the severity of symptoms correlates with the diagnosed stage of disease. (2) An international online survey collected self-reported responses from 2964 participants from 59 countries. Finalization of the questionnaire and its distribution was achieved by cooperation with various organizations and centers around the globe. (3) Chronic pain presentation remarkably increased between Stage 1 and 2 (16.2% and 32.2%, respectively). The prevalence of pain only around and during menstruation was negatively correlated to the stage, presenting with 15.4% and 6.9% in Stages 1 and 4, respectively. Atypical presentation of pain was most commonly reported in stage 4 (11.4%). Pain related solely to triggering factors was the most uncommon presentation of pain (3.2%). (4) Characteristics of pain and quality of life tend to differ depending on the reported stage of the endometriosis. Further research may allow a better stage estimation and identification of patients with alarming symptomatic presentation indicative of a progressive stage, even those that are not yet laparoscopically diagnosed.

Background: Inconsistencies in measurements of cortisol response to stress have caused disagreements in the direction of the change in cortisol concentrations immediately after the onset of stress. Researchers typically observe increased cortisol levels in response to a stressor, perceiving occasional decreases as a sign of possible disorders. Reports indicate the relative ease of standardizing a physical stressor compared with a mental stressor, and cross-stressor adaptation is observable only in elite athletes. Methods: We investigated the cortisol response to top-intensity physical exertion by analyzing the course of the cortisol response, the changes in this response resulting from adaptation to intense exercise, and the possible convergence between the cortisol changes and body fat content. We examined 16 male athletes, members of the Polish National Rowing Team, competing in the World Rowing Championships, in top form, of an average training experience of seven years. The measurements were performed before and after the training camp preparatory to the Championships. We performed the measurements before and after the training camp preparatory to the Championships. Results: Before the camp, the athletes consistently reacted to the exertion test with a decrease in cortisol concentration and elevated cortisol levels after rest compared with baseline. After the camp, the post-exertion cortisol decrease as well as the post-rest cortisol elevation was much smaller and less consistent. Conclusions: The transient decrease in cortisol concentration at the onset of stress thus represents a physiological reaction, and the stress response counteracts the resulting cortisol deficiency to support cortisol availability during stress. Adaptation to stress enhanced this counteracting effect by (1) increasing the baseline cortisol concentration and (2) speeding up the response to its decline. This enhanced effect was boosted by adipose tissue.