Magnitude of stress reported by basketball referees

723 basketball referees responded to a survey that assessed stress related to officiating. Mean reported ratings were between "very little" and "moderate amount"; only 4% reported high stress. Results are consistent with other accounts, suggesting that most sport officials experience low occupational stress.

The impact of Magic Johnson's HIV serostatus disclosure on unmarried college students' HIV knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and sexual behavior

Unmarried heterosexual college students' HIV knowledge, attitudes, risk perception, and sexual behavior were assessed before and after "Magic" Johnson revealed his HIV-positive serostatus. Students examined after the disclosure showed a small, though statistically significant, increase in scores on HIV knowledge. Analyses did not reveal any other differences between the pre- and postdisclosure samples. Several differences between men's and women's scores were found, however. In addition, participants in both groups demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward HIV and people with HIV disease; rated their risk of future HIV infection as none to minimal; and reported frequently engaging in vaginal, oral, and anal intercourse without the use of condoms. These results suggest that Magic's disclosure did not significantly affect these students' attitudes, risk perception, or sexual behavior and that such students continue to engage in behaviors that may put them at risk for HIV infection.

Ventilatory thresholds during wheelchair exercise in individuals with spinal cord injuries

The ventilatory thresholds of 30 male wheelchair athletes were determined from their respiratory and metabolic responses to a continuously progressive exercise protocol to peak oxygen uptake on a wheelchair ergometer. The peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), ventilatory threshold in 1 min-1 (VTL), and ventilatory threshold expressed as a percentage of peak VO2 (VT%) were measured for all subjects. Statistical analyses of selected subsamples were used to note sport and functional ability level differences in these variables. Analysis of peak VO2 by functional classification (old International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation system; classes 1A-5, plus an amputee class) indicated that paraplegic (classes 2-5) and the amputee class athletes (2.48 1 min-1) were higher than tetraplegic (classes 1A-1C) athletes (0.95 1 min-1). The paraplegic and amputee classes were combined for a comparison of peak VO2 by sport which showed that track athletes (2.80 1 min-1) were higher than basketball players (2.41 1 min-1) who were higher than athletes from other sports (1.88 1 min-1). The VTL analyses demonstrated differences similar to the peak VO2 analyses. The VT% analyses, however, showed no sport differences, but the tetraplegic athletes had higher VT% values (87%) than the paraplegic plus amputee group (69%).

Harnessing the heightened public awareness of celebrity HIV disclosures: "Magic" and "Cookie" Johnson and HIV testing

This article investigates the impact NBA basketball star Earvin ("Magic") Johnson's HIV disclosure had on changes in demand for HIV counseling and testing services in New York State's 61 Anonymous HIV Counseling and Testing sites. Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted on weekly data from over 34,000 clients seeking anonymous HIV counseling and testing services from January 1991 to June 1992, to determine whether demand for these services changed as a result of the disclosure. Results indicated that immediately following the HIV disclosure, there was a substantial increase in service demand, which transcended all sex, race, age, and most HIV risk-related boundaries. Seven months later, demand had not returned to pre-disclosure levels. The strong impact on females, coupled with additional data analyses in obstetrical settings, suggests that previous research has been too narrow in focus, and that the effect of Johnson's HIV disclosure has been enhanced, in part, by the publicity surrounding his wife and baby. The importance of harnessing the heightened public awareness of celebrity HIV disclosures is discussed.

Occupationally embedded exercise versus rote exercise: a choice between occupational forms by elderly nursing home residents

OBJECTIVES

The provision of options in the occupational form that encourages meaningful choices and subsequent purposeful occupational performances is a basic premise of occupational therapy. This study examines the preferences of elderly nursing home residents when presented with an occupationally embedded exercise versus a rote exercise and addresses the methodological problems identified in similar past research.

METHODS

Fifty-two elderly nursing home residents were presented with a choice between an occupationally embedded exercise that involved unilateral dunking of a small, spongy ball into a basketball hoop and a rote exercise that involved moving the arm above the head in a simulation of the dunking exercise. Both exercises required flexion of the shoulder joint. Random assignment of the 52 subjects into one of four groups controlled for the order of the presentation of the exercises and the order of the choice statements.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine percent of the subjects chose the occupationally embedded exercise. Analysis with the significance of a proportion statistic revealed a statistically significant difference (z = 2.77; p (one-tailed) = .003).

CONCLUSION

Results were consistent with the hypothesis that elderly nursing home residents would tend to choose the occupationally embedded exercise. To further confirm this basic premise of occupational therapy, future studies that investigate therapeutic patterns of movement embedded in common occupations are recommended.

Relation between grip strength and radial bone mineral density in young athletes

In this study, we evaluated the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle strength in young athletes who had not yet experienced age-related bone loss. Radial BMD and grip strength were measured in 10 male college wrestlers, 16 female college basketball players, and 12 female college tennis players. Radial BMD was measured in the distal and middle radius by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Isometric grip strength was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer. The dominant forearm was examined in the amateur wrestlers and basketball players for grip strength and BMD. Both forearms were examined in the tennis players. A significant positive correlation was found between radial BMD and grip strength in the dominant forearm, and between radial BMD and body weight. Moreover, to eliminate a possible effect of body weight on radial BMD, we compared radial BMD with grip strength in both the dominant and nondominant arm of 12 college tennis players. Grip strength in the dominant forearm was significantly greater than in the nondominant forearm. The midradial BMD of the dominant forearm was also significantly higher than in the nondominant forearm. Based on these findings, we conclude that grip strength is one of the determinant factors of radial BMD in the dominant forearm of young college athletes.

Effects of goal-setting interventions on selected basketball skills: a single-subject design

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a goal-setting intervention program on selected components of basketball performance over the course of a competitive season. A multiple-baseline, single-subject design was used with baseline observations on various performance components (e.g., turnovers, rebounds), collected for four elite college basketball players during their first eight games of the season. At the midseason break, these players selected one aspect of their play that they felt would benefit from improvement. A goal-setting program was designed based on the goal attainment scaling procedure recommended by Smith (1988), whereby subjects generated numerical targets for their chosen components. Performance components were then assessed for the next eight games as they had been in the preintervention phase. Following the intervention, 3 of the 4 subjects showed consistent improvements in their targeted areas of performance. Also, there were no outcome changes in the performance components that weren't targeted by the subjects. The findings suggest that future studies may benefit from achieving greater ecological validity and utilizing alternative designs to the traditional nomothetic approaches which may tend to mask positive intervention effects on certain individuals.

Magic Johnson and public attitudes toward AIDS: a review of empirical findings

The public announcement of HIV seropositivity and early professional retirement of basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson acted as a naturalistic experimental manipulation of media representations of persons living with HIV infection. This article reviews empirical studies of psychological and behavioral changes that occurred following the announcement. Several studies reported substantial increases in public interest in HIV/AIDS-related information and public awareness of AIDS, as well as changes in high-risk behaviors. Increases in calls to AIDS hotlines and increased rates of HIV antibody testing were also observed. However, most effects were short-lived, subsiding within three weeks of the announcement, and few changes in AIDS-related knowledge or personal risk perceptions were reported. Patterns of results indicated different levels of impact among high- and low-risk groups and among ethnic groups. Findings across studies are consistent with previous research on media effects on public attitudes and theories of risk perception.

Dietary habits of athletes in Bahrain

This study describes the dietary habits of athletes involved in four common sports in Bahrain (football, handball, volleyball and basketball). A sample of 304 athletes was obtained from 14 first class clubs. It was found that 28% of athletes skipped breakfast, and only 39% consumed breakfast daily. Foods eaten before competition were similar to those consumed by other family members, indicating that athletes did not eat any specific diet before events. There were some differences in meal patterns among athletes of various sports. In general, athletes allowed enough time between a meal and competition (2.8-3.1 hours). About half of them consumed water only at restbreak, while the rest consumed fruit drinks, tea and oranges in addition to water. Some (3%) did not consume any fluid. A small proportion of the athletes (4%) used vitamins and protein supplements. Mass media (53.6%) and coaches (20.1%) were the primary sources of nutrition information for athletes. It is suggested that information on nutrition and physical performance should be introduced in all educational programmes for both athletes and coaches.

Physical education teachers' behaviors as related to pupils' psychosocial development in curricular and extracurricular settings

The purpose of this study was to examine whether teachers' behaviors related to pupils' psychosocial development would differ when physical education teachers taught curricular physical education lessons and when they coached extracurricular school teams. Subjects were 22 physical education teachers who taught and coached basketball in northeastern Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. One physical education lesson on basketball and one basketball practice were videotaped for each subject. These tapes were then coded for frequency of teachers' reactive and spontaneous behaviors with the Coaching Behavior Assessment System. A one-way analysis of variance test indicated that there was no statistically significant difference between the rates teachers used all behaviors during lessons and practices. Hotelling-Lawley trace tests and subsequent repeated-measures multivariate analysis of variance indicated that teachers provided significantly higher rates of punitive mistake-contingent technical instruction, general technical instruction, and general encouragement during extracurricular practices and used a significantly higher rate of behaviors aimed at keeping control during curricular lessons. Unlike previous research on skill-related behaviors, the results did not indicate that teachers' performance suffered dramatically during curricular lessons when compared with performance in extracurricular practices.

Upper extremity peripheral nerve entrapments among wheelchair athletes: prevalence, location, and risk factors

Wheelchair athletes commonly experience hand pain and numbness. This investigation studied the prevalence, location, and risk factors of upper extremity peripheral nerve entrapment among wheelchair athletes. Clinical and electrodiagnostic assessments were performed on both upper extremities of 28 wheelchair athletes and 30 able-bodied controls. Included in the assessment were short-segment stimulation techniques of the median nerve across the carpal tunnel and the ulnar nerve across the elbow. By clinical criteria, the prevalence of nerve entrapment among the wheelchair athletes was 23%, whereas it was 64% electrodiagnostically. The most common electrodiagnostic dysfunction was of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel (46%), and the portion of the nerve within the proximal carpal tunnel was most frequently affected. Ulnar neuropathy was the second most common entrapment electrodiagnostically (39%) and occurred at the wrist and forearm segments. Disability duration correlated significantly with electrophysiologic median nerve dysfunction.

Wheelchair propulsion: functional ability dependent factors in wheelchair basketball players

The aim of this study was to examine the user-related parameters, 1) force generation 2) maximal aerobic power and 3) propulsion technique, in respect to functional ability level [ISMWSF] wheelchair basketball classification: groups 1, 2 and 3) of 40 elite wheelchair basketball players. Isometric (position on the handrims = -30, 0 degrees, +30 degrees and +60 degrees) and dynamic force application (velocities = 0.56, 0.83 and 1.11 m.s-1) on the handrims (test 1) was measured by means of a computerised wheelchair simulator, with the subjects sitting in a standardised position. Each subject performed a maximal exercise test (test 2) on a motor driven treadmill at 1.67 m.s-1 and four subsequent submaximal tests (test 3) at two exercise levels (60 and 80% of individual VO2) and two velocities (1.11 and 2.22 m.s-1) with constant power output. In tests 2 and 3, cardiorespiratory and kinematic data were recorded simultaneously. Although no significant differences between functional ability groups were found in relation to force application on the handrims, three different force application strategies were observed (test 1). Maximal aerobic capacity and power output (test 2) differed significantly (p < 0.05) between groups 1 and 2 and between groups 1 and 3. No differences in mechanical efficiency were observed between the three functional ability groups, irrespective of changes in wheelchair velocity and external load (test 3). Propulsion technique was not proven to be functional ability dependent although remarkable differences in movement pattern were observed, especially during the recovery phase.

Aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold of wheelchair basketball players

This study evaluated the aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold of national level Israeli wheelchair basketball players. Subjects were tested working on a wheelchair rolling on a motor driven treadmill and on an arm cycle ergometer. Metabolic and cardiopulmonary parameters were measured during graded maximal exercise tests. Blood lactic acid (LA) concentration was measured in the intervals between loads during the test on the wheelchair. Heart rate (HR) and % heart rate reserve (%HRR) corresponding to the anaerobic threshold (4 mM blood LA) were evaluated while working on the wheelchair rolling on a motor driven treadmill. While working on the wheelchair the following peak exercise values were obtained: VO2 = 24.7 ml.kg/min, VE = 92.09 l/min HR = 181.5 b/min and R = 1.22. Values corresponding to the anaerobic threshold were found to be, HR = 139 b/min and %HRR = 57.02. Low correlations were obtained between peak exercise VO2 and VE measured while working on the wheelchair and those measured with arm cycle ergometer (r = 0.57 p = 0.137 and r = 0.4 p = 0.233 respectively). As athletes, subjects in the present study may be classified as having a low aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold. It is also concluded that the ergometer type may have an important influence on test results.

The somatotype of medium class Italian basketball players

The aim of this observational study was to determine the somatotype of average basketball players (BP) and to compare them with the values found in relevant literature. Thirty-eight Italian members of "B" and "C" BP league teams were measured according to the Health/Carter anthropometric somatotype method. Since our group was, on average, made up of mesomorphic-ectomorphs (2.2-3.2-3.8), it appeared to be quite well suited to the sporting activity undertaken. However, the comparison carried out for the anthropometric variables and the somatotype scores found for higher level athletes, show that their physique lacks some of the characteristics needed to excel.

Preadolescents' perceptions of AIDS before and after Earvin Magic Johnson's announcement

Compared sixth graders' AIDS concerns before and after Magic Johnson announced that he tested HIV-positive. Examined perceptions of self/other vulnerability (optimistic bias) using questionnaires (Study A) and interviews (Study B). Also examined AIDS worries mentioned in open-ended interviews (Study C). Studies A and B revealed a substantial degree of optimistic bias. Study C showed that AIDS is a prime concern of school-age students, mentioned under free or context-cued conditions by about 50%. There was little detectable effect of the publicity; the sole before--after difference in three studies was one increase in self- and other-vulnerability to AIDS--an increase attributable, with marginal significance, only to girls. Discussed implications for health promotion and differences between assessment approaches.

Tetraplegic wheelchair basketball

Tetraplegic wheelchair basketball was started in the Kanagawa Rehabilitation Center (KRC) as a recreational sport for tetraplegics in 1980. In this game, there are two goals on each side, thus we call it 'twin basketball'. One goal is of ordinary height and the other is low. Three ways of shooting and two ways of dribbling are allowed according to the player's level of tetraplegia and technical skill. The first official game was held in 1983. Since then, the game has been taken up in several areas of Japan. The first All Japan championship game was held in 1987, ten teams including 98 tetraplegics attending. Five years later, in the sixth championship game, 18 teams including 171 tetraplegics attended. As official physicians, we have examined the physical condition and technical skills of all players since 1987. All players are classified, and assigned points from 1 to 4.5. The total number of points of five players in one team are limited to 11.

Arterial pseudoaneurysm of the ankle after plantar flexion-inversion injury. A rare complication and its non-invasive diagnosis

We report a case of arterial pseudoaneurysm over the lateral side of the ankle caused by plantar flexion-inversion injury and discuss the aetiology of this rarely seen complication. In the English orthopaedic literature, our case is the first of the very few previously reported cases with a similar aetiology which was examined and confirmed by colour Doppler ultrasound.

Physiological changes arising from a training programme in under-21 international netball players

Physiological and anthropometric measurements were taken on 21 members of an under-21 international squad of mean age 18.9 years. The aims of the investigation were (i) to examine the physiological status of players according to playing unit; and (ii) to quantify the changes arising from a four-month training programme. Maximal/peak oxygen uptake was assessed using an incremental test to exhaustion during treadmill running. Anaerobic performance was measured using the 30s Wingate test. Significant differences occurred between playing units in height (p < 0.001), body mass and FVC (p < 0.05), but not in skinfolds or any of the expressions of aerobic or anaerobic performance (p > 0.05). As a consequence of the training programme significant differences were evident in height (169.7 v 170.1 cm, p < 0.01), body mass (62 v 64 kg, p < 0.05), FVC (4.3 v 4.51, p < 0.01), and anaerobic performance (p < 0.01). Increases in VO2 max (3.3 v 3.51.min-1) were not significant (p > 0.05). Standard deviation scores illustrated that aerobic and anaerobic performances were of roughly the same magnitude before training (-0.35 v -0.29, p > 0.05), but that after training the dominant performance was anaerobic (+0.11 v +1.48, p < 0.01).

Earvin "Magic" Johnson's HIV serostatus disclosure: effects on men's perceptions of AIDS

The effects of celebrity self-disclosure of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity on perceptions of HIV and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were investigated. AIDS-related interest and knowledge measures were collected from 468 men before and after basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson's self-disclosure of HIV seropositivity. Increased interest in AIDS paralleled media coverage of the announcement, with the most substantial effects occurring within 2 weeks. Perceived impact of the disclosure was greatest among African-American men and men who had not previously known someone with HIV-AIDS. Celebrity self-disclosure appears to affect perceptions through mechanisms similar to those involved in personally knowing someone infected with HIV.

Rhythmicity, ritual, and motor performance: a study of free throw shooting in basketball

The purpose of this study was to determine the importance of timing during an auto-communicative ritual to successful performance. Eight members of a university varsity basketball team served as subjects for this study. Each subject performed 15 free throws in each of four different conditions. Condition 1 required subjects to use their standard free throw ritual prior to shooting. Condition 2 required subjects to maintain the relative timing of ritual behaviors but reduce the absolute time of the ritual by one-half. Condition 3 required that relative timing be maintained but that the absolute time of the ritual be doubled. Condition 4 required the same behaviors and the same absolute time as the standard ritual but that the relative time of the ritual be altered. Data were collected with a 16-mm high-speed camera. Types of behaviors, timing aspects of the ritual, successful attempts, and shot mechanics were dependent measures. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of dependent measures and Fisher's scores from correlation coefficients of dependent measures indicate that relative timing of behaviors (rhythmicity) is more important to success than the absolute time of rituals. Behaviors most important to free throw success are those that may be totally controlled by the subject and yet remain stable with changing conditions.

Noticing of unexpected events by adults with and without mental retardation

Adults without mental retardation commonly fail to notice nominally obvious aspects of naturalistic scenes (Becklen & Cervone, 1983). We replicated and extended this effect to adults with mild mental retardation. Adults with and without retardation viewed a 60-second videotape of an amateur basketball game. They were instructed to press a button whenever the ball was passed. At one point, a woman carrying an open umbrella walked bodily through the ongoing action. Becklen and Cervone found that only 35% of adults without retardation noticed this unexpected event and that noticing was not predicted by task performance prior to the woman's appearance. In the present study noticing rates for subjects without retardation were similar to those reported by Becklen and Cervone and noticing by subjects with mental retardation was at least as high. Task performance for subjects with mental retardation was significantly lower than that of subjects without retardation, but noticing was not predicted by task performance (prior to the unexpected event) for either group. Results were interpreted in the context of an ecological approach to attention.

The effects of increased shooting distance in the basketball jump shot

Three-dimensional video techniques (50 Hz) were used to obtain images of basketball jump shots from one of three distances--short range (group 1, n = 5); medium range (group 2, n = 5); long range (group 3, n = 5)--from the basket, as performed by members of the men's quarter-finalist teams at the games of the XVI Universiade in Sheffield in 1991. Fifteen sequences were digitized, beginning 20 frames prior to take-off to 10 frames after release. To facilitate analysis, the sequences were rotated about the ball position in the final frame so that the shot direction was parallel to one of the pre-defined orthogonal axes. Mean (+/- 1 S.D.) ball release speed was found to increase with distance from the basket (group 1 = 3.04 +/- 0.65 m s-1, group 2 = 4.71 +/- 0.74 m s-1, group 3 = 6.24 +/- 0.80 m s-1), while mean release angles were similar for all groups (group 1 = 48.8 +/- 10.1 degrees, group 2 = 47.8 +/- 5.8 degrees, group 3 = 51.9 +/- 5.5 degrees). The increased impulse necessary for the ball to reach the basket at increased shooting distances was derived from both an increase in angular velocity of the elbow joint of the shooting arm and an increased velocity of the centre of mass in the direction of the basket at release. Centre of mass speed at take-off was found to be influenced to a greater extent by the angular velocity of the ankle joint than that of the knee or hip joints.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Estimation of an individual equilibrium between lactate production and catabolism during exercise

During an incremental exercise test after a preceding bout of maximum exercise, blood lactate initially decreases to an individual minimum and then increases again. To determine whether this minimum represents an individual equilibrium between lactate production and catabolism during constant load exercise, the following field tests were performed: in 25 runners and five basketball players (series 1) the speed corresponding to the individual lactate minimum (LM) was measured in test 1 (incremental test after exercise induced lactic acidosis). On two occasions, two constant speed runs over 8 km were performed, one using the LM speed (LMS) (test 2), and another at a running speed of 0.2 m.s-1 above the LMS (test 3). Results of runners/basketball players: blood lactate concentration ([Lac-]B) in test 2 changed from 3.6/4.9 mmol.l-1 to 4.0/4.9 mmol.l-1 during the last 4.8 km, in test 3 from 4.6/4.6 mmol.l-1 to 6.5/6.9 mmol.l-1. These results indicate: 1) the LM speed in test 1 corresponds to a maximum lactate steady state speed during constant load exercise; 2) only a slight speed increase above the LM speed results in continuous marked [Lac-]B increase and earlier exhaustion. Variation of the increment duration in 13 males (series 2) shows no change of the LMS using 800-m and 1200-m increments (4.49 and 4.44 m.s-1) but a marked shift to higher speed using 400-m increments (4.96 m.s-1). Effects of low muscle glycogen stores on the LMS were determined in 10 males (series 3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Special considerations in the medical management of professional basketball players

The NBA basketball players are among the finest athletes in the world. That along with the increased popularity of the NBA has put a premium on the health of the players. The course of the season puts tremendous stress and strain on players. As medical illnesses occur, the physician may feel increased pressure to put the ill player back into the line-up. One cannot let the pressure for the player to return to activity interfere with good medical practice. At times, it is difficult to allow for the natural course of an illness, however, as discussed in this article, sometimes this is exactly what needs to be done. The temptation to overtreat is also seen in some team physicians. This too must be avoided. Along with proper treatment, there is the need for education of the athletes both in social interactions and in diet and life-style. Then we, as team physicians, can sit back and enjoy the performance on the court.

Physical performance of elite wheelchair basketball players in armcranking ergometry and in selected wheeling tasks

This study compared the aerobic and the anaerobic performance of 11 elite Israeli wheelchair basketball players in arm ergometric tests and corresponding wheeling tasks, derived from basketball practice. The ergometric tests included a continuous aerobic maximal peak work capacity test (PWCmax), and a 30-second arm-all-out anaerobic test of mean anaerobic capacity (MANC) and peak anaerobic power (PANP). The wheeling tasks included a 428 meter race, slalom and 6-minute endurance race. We examined the relationship of performance variables to personal variables, age, bodyweight and classification as athletes. The results were analysed by Spearman correlation tables, revealing the following: (1) HRmax (maximal heart rate) correlated highly (r = .884-.962) with performance in all wheeling tasks; (2) no relationship was found between variables in the arm ergometric tests and variables in the wheeling tasks; (3) bodyweight correlated significantly with MANC and PWCmax (r = .817 and .783 respectively). This relationship was better than the other independent variables (classification and age). It is concluded that HRmax can be used for performance evaluation in wheelchair basketball practice, and that arm ergometric work capacity has only limited predictive value of performance in wheeling tasks.

A protocol for the health and fitness assessment of NBA players

The assessment of the health and fitness of elite basketball players should be a multidisciplinary process. We have described an organized, efficient, and comprehensive protocol for preseason physical evaluations that could be used at the university as well as professional level.

Changes in physical fitness profile in female basketball players during the competitive season including explosive type strength training

Ten female basketball players served as subjects in order to examine changes in a physical fitness profile during a 22-week official competitive season. Specific explosive type strength training (1-2 sessions per week) was utilized throughout the season. The present findings showed that the entire competitive season led to no systematic changes in the maximum oxygen uptake (from 48.0 +/- 6.6 to 47.0 +/- 6.0 ml.kg-1.min-1), in anthropometric characteristics or in maximal isometric force of the leg extensor muscles (from 2567 +/- 490 to 2622 +/- 747 N). However, significant (p < 0.05) increases occurred during the season both in the average power output during the first 15 s work in an anaerobic jumping test and in the maximal vertical jumping heights in the squat jump (from 21.7 +/- 2.3 to 24.2 +/- 2.4 cm) and in the counter movement jump (from 24.9 +/- 2.6 to 26.3 +/- 2.9 cm). A considerable change occurred also in the shape of the isometric force-time curve of the leg extensor muscles so that the times to produce submaximal force level shortened (p < 0.05). The individual changes during the competitive season both in the power output and in the times of rapid force production correlated negatively (p < 0.05) with the individual initial values recorded before the season. The present findings suggest that the prolonged competitive season in the present female basketball players seemingly placed sufficient demands on the athletes in energy production through aerobic processes to maintain their level of VO2max.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Telling the story: narrative in newspaper accounts of a men's collegiate basketball tournament

The concept of narrative or story is increasingly being used as s theoretical model for informing research dealing with a wide array of sociocultural phenomena, especially those concerned with communication. Narrative is prevalent in mass media accounts of many different kinds of events. The inherent serialized structure of sport is conducive to media coverage in narrative form. This article uses a narrative perspective to examine journalistic accounts of the 1982 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) men's basketball tournament. We found that the accounts contain three major components of narrative: theme, plot, and characters. Winning is the central theme, and it contributes to shaping the plot and characters. The plot is simple and straightforward and centers on the question, "Who will win?" The characters are relatively flat and lack robustness--players offer exceptional athletic skills to coaches who strategically blend their talents. A breakdown occurs between the goal of winning and the goal of entertaining spectators, and this highlights the short-term importance of winning and the longer term importance of performing to entertain spectators. The narrative supports capitalistic economic relations, stemming from the central theme of winning and its ties to competitive individualism, teamwork, and consumerism.

Muscle mass of competitive male athletes

The recent publication of the first validated equation for the estimation of muscle mass (MM) in men has made possible a comparison of MM in athletes from different sports. Limb girths and skinfold thicknesses were measured in 62 male athletes (aged 17-38 years) and 13 non-athletic males (aged 22-36 years). The MM (g) was calculated from the equation MM = S(0.0553 Gt2 + 0.0987 Gf2 + 0.0331 Gc2)-2445, where S is stature, Gt is the mid-thigh girth corrected for the front thigh skinfold thickness, Gc is the maximum calf girth corrected for the calf skinfold thickness and Gf is the uncorrected maximum forearm girth (all in cm). The athletes were classified as gymnasts (n = 10), basketball players (n = 10), body-builders (n = 10), track and field power athletes (n = 12), track and field long sprinters (n = 10) or distance runners (n = 10). The MM means ranged from 38.4 kg for the distance runners to 58.7 kg for the body-builders. Both body-builders and basketball players had significantly greater MM than gymnasts, long sprinters, non-athletic males and distance runners (P < 0.01). Also, MM was greater in track and field power athletes than in distance runners (P < 0.05). The MM as a percentage of body mass (%MM) ranged from 56.5% in the non-athletic group to 65.1% in the body-builders; body-builders scored higher than basketball players (P < 0.05), distance runners (P < 0.01) and the non-athletic group (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Osteoid osteoma of the os calcis in a teenage athlete

Osteoid osteomas are small, benign bone tumors most commonly located in the proximal femur or tibia. The classic presentation is localized pain increasing in severity at night, and relieved by the use of anti-inflammatory medications. In a young athlete complaining of foot pain, many conditions should be included in the differential diagnosis. A case of osteoid osteoma of the os calcis in a teenage basketball player is presented.

Comparison of functional and medical assessment in the classification of persons with spinal cord injury

For many reasons, persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) are classified according to a set of guidelines in which the term classification refers to a numeric value based on some selection of motor, sensory, and/or functional tests. The resulting classification is used as a means of quantifying the extent of neurological injury. Scales that focus on neurological injury (in the acute phase) differ from those that focus on functional ability (in the chronic phase). The relationship among these scales in grouping persons with SCI has not been ascertained. The purpose of the present study was to compare several classification systems within the same group of spinal cord injured subjects. Thirty subjects with traumatic SCI were classified by the same examiner and grouped according to three classification systems: 1) the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Scale; 2) the Bracken Scale; and, 3) the wheelchair basketball (BB) Sports Test. Calculation of Spearman's Rho correlation coefficients showed positive associations between the ASIA Scale and BB Sports Test (0.81). The Bracken Scale showed a negative correlation with the ASIA system (-0.66) and the BB Sports Test (-0.48). Of the three classification systems, the ASIA Scale showed the greatest discrimination in grouping subjects with SCI in both mixed (complete and incomplete), as well as incomplete injuries. It was clear that these three systems could result in different patterns of subject grouping and thus might affect the outcome of the clinical research studies.

Influence of training, sex, age and body mass on the energy cost of running

To highlight the influences of age, sex, body mass (mb) and running training on the energy cost of running (Cr) young basketball players [38 boys (BB) and 14 girls (BG), aged 14.2 (SD 0.3) and 12.2 (SD 1.9) years, respectively] were selected to be compared to middle-distance runners [27 men (MR) and 14 women (FR) aged 23.7 (SD 3.4) and 23.9 (SD 4.1) years, respectively]. The Cr was measured during a maximal treadmill test. In each group Cr and body mass (mb) and body height were negatively and significantly correlated. A stepwise regression showed that among both the body dimensions measured, mb was the most important factor in determining the variations of Cr. For the whole group (n = 93) the correlation coefficient was 0.72 (P < 0.0001). For a given mb, there was no significant difference between the Cr of BG, BB and MR: this result would support the hypothesis that the differences in Cr currently attributed to age, running training or sex differences are mainly related to mb. On the other hand, for a given mb, FR showed a significantly lower Cr than the basketball players (P < 0.01 for BG and BB) and than MR (P < 0.05), thus suggesting that women decrease their Cr as a response to running training more efficiently than do men.

Factors affecting university women's basketball coaches' timeout decisions

This study investigated the criteria that coaches of university women's basketball teams used when calling a timeout. Thirty-five of Canada's university coaches of women's basketball responded to Likert scale questions rating the importance of six factors in calling a timeout. Differences due to sex, coaching experience, and team success indicated that some factors were perceived to influence timeout decisions more than others. Specifically, responses from female coaches, coaches with less than 5 years of experience, and coaches whose teams were ranked in the CIAU's top 10 within the last 3 years indicated that they used offensive game events more frequently than their counterparts did. Interactions were also found for Experience x Gender and Experience x Gender x Success in the way that offensive game events were perceived, and for gender and success for the factor attentional state of players.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a college athlete

The greatest catastrophy in sports is an athlete's unexpected sudden death. Identifying those athletes at risk remains a great challenge to physicians performing preseason examinations. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of nontraumatic sudden death in athletes. Most cases of this diseased heart are diagnosed easily by echocardiography. The case presented exemplifies the attention to detail required to differentiate the borderline diseased heart from the conditioned athletic heart. Once a diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is made, further participation in intense physical exercise is discouraged. This recommendation is necessary despite the unknown relative sudden death risk for the minimal criteria cases.

The effect of exercise on anterior knee laxity in female basketball players

To study the effect of physical activities on the anterior laxity of the knee joint, the anterior knee laxity of female semi-professional basketball players was measured during a typical day. The participants worked in the office in the morning, and practiced in the afternoon, which included a 60 minute warm-up, followed by a 150 minute game style practice. The laxity was measured six times in one day at different activity levels. The anterior knee laxity did not change during sedentary work in the morning, but increased significantly with game style practice. After 1 1/2 hours the increased anterior knee laxity had not recovered completely. However, after five hours it had recovered completely.

Set shot shooting performance and visual acuity in basketball

Common sense suggests that decreasing visual acuity will have a negative effect on basketball shooting performance. To test the hypothesis that basketball shooting performance monotonically decreases with decreasing acuity, 19 subjects attempted 25 set shots from a fixed location at each of 5 different acuity levels: 6/6 or better and vision blurred (by optical defocus) to visual acuities of 6/12, 6/24, 6/48, and 6/75. Our results revealed a small but statistically nonsignificant decrease in shooting performance between the 6/6+ and 6/12 conditions. For visual acuities between 6/12 and 6/75, the number of baskets made remained constant. We conclude that decreases in visual acuity over the range of 6/6+ to 6/75 resulting from defocus do not significantly reduce set shot shooting performance.

The disclosure of celebrity HIV infection: its effects on public attitudes

OBJECTIVES

Despite the magnitude of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, studies have shown low levels of public concern about human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS. We investigated the effects of celebrity disclosure of HIV infection on the AIDS-related perceptions of urban men.

METHODS

Measures of AIDS-related perceptions were collected from 361 men waiting for mass transportation in downtown Chicago; 252 were assessed at three time points prior to and 109 were assessed at two time points after professional basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson's disclosure of his HIV infection.

RESULTS

Significant increases in concern about AIDS, interest in AIDS information, and talking with friends about AIDS occurred after celebrity disclosure of HIV infection.

CONCLUSIONS

Celebrity disclosure of HIV seropositivity demonstrated a marked change in AIDS-related perceptions among the men surveyed. Changes in awareness due to celebrity disclosure may lead to increased readiness to reduce risk and could be viewed as a window of opportunity for HIV prevention efforts.

A comparative study of the muscle strength and mass of the arm flexors and extensors in paraplegic and in non paraplegic basketball players

OBJECTIVES

to study the changes in the strength of the elbow flexors and extensors in paraplegic subjects, and the agonist/antagonist mass and strength ratio in paraplegic wheelchair users.

METHOD

10 paraplegic wheelchair basketball players were compared with 10 healthy basketball players. The 20 subjects underwent a clinical and dynamometric isokinetic assessment, and a CT scan measurement of the muscle cross-sectional surface area of the flexor and extensor muscles of the elbows.

RESULTS

there was an increase in muscle strength in paraplegic subjects. There was no significant difference in the agonist/antagonist ratio between the dominant and non dominant upper limb in paraplegics whereas such a difference was found in healthy subjects. The muscle mass was increased in the paraplegics, but a correlation between muscle mass and strength was only found in the healthy subjects.

The effect of 7 to 8 months of vitamin/mineral supplementation on the vitamin and mineral status of athletes

Blood indicators of eight vitamins (B1, B2, B6, C, E, A, B12, folate) and six minerals (Cu, Mg, Zn, Ca, P, Al) were measured in 86 athletes before and after a 7- to 8-month period of training. During this period half consumed a multivitamin/mineral supplement and a matched group took a placebo. Following the supplementation period, blood biochemical indicators of B1, B6, B12, and folate status all increased but there were no significant effects of supplementation on B2, C, E, and A, or on the blood levels of any of the minerals. The supplementation had no effect on red or white cell counts or on hemoglobin levels. Irrespective of the supplementation, some blood measures varied according to sex, females evidencing significantly higher values than males for vitamins C, E, copper, magnesium, and aluminium, with B2 being higher in males. It is concluded that 7 to 8 months of multivitamin/mineral supplementation increased the blood nutritional status of some vitamins but did not affect any blood mineral levels, and that some blood nutritional indicators may vary according to sex.

The effect of 7 to 8 months of vitamin/mineral supplementation on athletic performance

The effect of vitamin and mineral supplementation was studied over 7 to 8 months of training and competition in 82 athletes from four sports: basketball, gymnastics, rowing, and swimming. Matched subgroups were formed and a double-blind design used, with subgroups being given either the supplementation or a placebo. All athletes were monitored to ensure that the recommended daily intakes (RDI) of vitamins and minerals were provided by diet alone. Sport-specific and some common tests of strength as well as aerobic and anaerobic fitness were performed. Coaches' assessment of improvement was also obtained. The only significant effect of supplementation was observed in the female basketball players, in which the supplementation was associated with increased body weight, skinfold sum, and jumping ability. A significant increase in skinfold sum was also demonstrated over the whole group as a result of supplementation. In general, however, this study provided little evidence of any effect of supplementation to athletic performance for athletes consuming the dietary RDIs.