Association of in-competition injury risk and the degree of rapid weight cutting prior to competition in division I collegiate wrestlers

Collegiate women's wrestling body fat percentage and minimum wrestling weight values: time for revisiting minimal body fat percent?

BACKGROUND

The estimation of body fat percentage (BF%) in wrestling is used to determine the minimum wrestling weight (MWW) and lowest allowable weight class (MWC) in which wrestlers are eligible to compete. A 12% minimum threshold is currently used for women wrestlers, yet a potential increase for safety has been discussed. Because of the novelty of collegiate women's wrestling, there is a paucity of literature available on the body composition norms of this population. The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive summary of BF% and MWW values of female wrestlers and how MWW values would change with the use of different BF% thresholds.

METHODS

Data from the 2022-2023 collegiate season were retrospectively analyzed resulting in a sample of 1,683 collegiate women wrestlers from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA, n = 868) and the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA, n = 815). All wrestlers completed skinfold assessments for weight certification at the start of the competition season. The skinfold values were used to estimate BF% using the Slaughter skinfold prediction equation. Frequency statistics and descriptive analysis were performed to compute normative MWW and BF% profiles. BF% thresholds of 12% (12MWW) and the BF% value defined as the lowest 5th percentile, which would be considered unusually lean, were used to determine the resulting MWW and MWC for each method. The lowest recorded weight and weight class division throughout the season was also recorded for each wrestler.

RESULTS

There was a positively skewed (0.94) and platykurtic (1.86) distribution of MWW values. The median ± interquartile range BF% for all wrestlers was 27.4 ± 10.22%, with 17% BF representing the 5th percentile. Only 354 out of 1,579 (22.4%) wrestlers competed in their lowest allowable weight class, based on the 12MWW. Of these 354 wrestlers, the mean BF% was 21.3 ± 5.2% at weight certification with only n = 17 being at or below 12% body fat and an average weight loss of 11.1 ± 8.8 lbs. from the time of weight certification. Throughout the season, wrestlers competed at weights that were, on average (mean ± SD), 19.4 ± 16.9 lbs. higher than their 12MWW (95% CI: 18.6, 20.2 lbs. p < 0.001; effect size [ES] = 1.1), 13.4 ± 19.0 lbs. higher than the 17MWW (p < 0.001; ES = 0.70), and 8.7 ± 8.3 lbs. lower than their weight at the certification (95% CI: 8.3, 9.1 lbs. p < 0.001; ES = 1.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly all BF% values were well above the 12% threshold used to determine MWW. Increasing the minimum BF% threshold from 12% to 17% would affect a small percentage of wrestlers, likely reduce the need for excessive weight cutting, and minimize the deleterious health effects of an athlete at such a low BF%.

Prevalence and predictors of musculoskeletal injuries among gym members in Bangladesh: A nationwide cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Participating in physical exercise is advantageous for maintaining optimum health, improving physical capacity, decreasing the likelihood of chronic diseases, and promoting overall wellbeing.

AIM

This study aimed to find out the prevalence and factors that contribute to musculoskeletal injuries among individuals who participated in fitness activities at the gym.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 1123 gym members, both male and female, aged between 18 and 50 years, from selected fitness centers in Bangladesh. Musculoskeletal injuries were assessed using the Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire. Binary logistic regression identified the gym members' predictors of musculoskeletal injuries.

RESULTS

The highest prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries at the low back (36.6%) was seen among the eight body sites, followed by the shoulder (24.7%) and knee (17.1%). Males (aOR 2.589, CI 1.18 to 5.65) and those who go to the gym to lose weight (aOR 3.859, CI 0.91 to 16.33) and for physical fitness (aOR 1.895, CI 1.07 to 3.35) had a greater risk of musculoskeletal injury. Participants who carried out strength training exercises (aOR 4.10, CI 2.74 to 6.19) had a four-fold increased risk of musculoskeletal injuries than those who did not. Furthermore, higher adjusted odds of musculoskeletal injuries were found for the potential causes of injuries in incorrect holding (aOR 1.69, CI 1.10 to 2.60), overweight lifting (aOR 2.00, CI 1.30 to 3.08), lack of workout knowledge (aOR 3.56, CI 2.09 to 5.85), and insufficient information from the trainer (aOR 5.66, CI 1.84 to 17.39).

CONCLUSION

Musculoskeletal injuries are highly prevalent among gym-goers in Bangladesh. The back was the most often injured area, followed by the shoulder and knee. It is important to exhibit caution and take extra care while doing strength training activities in order to avoid injury. Prior to engaging in gym-based activities, it is essential to have a thorough understanding of proper exercise knowledge.

Injuries in Male and Female Wrestlers

» With historical exclusion from the sport and lack of research on the subject, there is a paucity of data regarding the injury incidence, treatment, and recovery of female wrestlers as compared with their male counterparts.» Data demonstrate that female wrestlers are more likely to experience sprains/strains, whereas male wrestlers experience more concussions and fractures.» Variations in behavior and physiology including risk-taking habits and ligament laxity may contribute to differences in injury incidence between male and female wrestlers.» Rapid weight loss and eating disorders are important areas of future investigation for male and female wrestlers alike.

The Practice of Weight Loss in Combat Sports Athletes: A Systematic Review

The aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively assess the weight loss (WL) practices in different combat sports (CS). The review protocol was preregistered with PROSPERO [CRD42023487196]. Three databases were searched (Web of Science, EBSCOhost, and PubMed) until 8 December 2023. Eligible studies had to meet five criteria: they must have been (a) written in English, (b) published in a peer-reviewed journal, (c) used a survey design to investigate the WL practices of CS athletes, and (d) reported the WL methods used by athletes using a five-point scale. Twenty-six studies (3994 participants from 14 CS) were included. This review found that (1) WL is highly prevalent in CS athletes; (2) many CS athletes started losing weight for competition as teenagers two to three times a year; (3) CS athletes usually lose <5% body weight in 7-14 days before competition; (4) increasing exercise and gradually dieting are the most commonly used WL methods; and (5) the influence of scientific practitioners on athletes is negligible. The habitual practices of CS athletes may be relatively harmless, but in some special cases, CS athletes also perform extreme WL practices. Scientific practitioners have little influence on their WL practices, which may form a vicious cycle of non-qualified influence.

Direct and indirect impact of low energy availability on sports performance

Low energy availability (LEA) occurs inadvertently and purposefully in many athletes across numerous sports; and well planned, supervised periods with moderate LEA can improve body composition and power to weight ratio possibly enhancing performance in some sports. LEA however has the potential to have negative effects on a multitude of physiological and psychological systems in female and male athletes. Systems such as the endocrine, cardiovascular, metabolism, reproductive, immune, mental perception, and motivation as well as behaviors can all be impacted by severe (serious and/or prolonged or chronic) LEA. Such widely diverse effects can influence the health status, training adaptation, and performance outcomes of athletes leading to both direct changes (e.g., decreased strength and endurance) as well as indirect changes (e.g., reduced training response, increased risk of injury) in performance. To date, performance implications have not been well examined relative to LEA. Therefore, the intent of this narrative review is to characterize the effects of short-, medium-, and long-term exposure to LEA on direct and indirect sports performance outcomes. In doing so we have focused both on laboratory settings as well as descriptive athletic case-study-type experiential evidence.

Impact of Preparticipation Hypohydration on Cognitive Performance and Concussion-like Symptoms in Recreational Athletes

BACKGROUND

Sports-related concussion is a relevant risk of contact sports, with several million cases per year worldwide. Prompt identification is crucial to prevent complications and late effects but may be impeded by an overlap with dehydration-associated impairment of cognitive function. Researchers have extensively studied the effects of pronounced dehydration in endurance sports, especially in the heat. However, little is known about the effects of isolated and mild dehydration.

METHODS

Healthy recreational athletes underwent a standardized fluid deprivation test. Hypohydration was assessed by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and laboratory testing of electrolytes and retention parameters. Participants underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) with a cycle ramp protocol. Each participant served as their own control undergoing CPET in a hypohydrated [HYH] and a euhydrated [EUH] state. Effects were assessed using a shortened version of Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 3 (SCAT3).

RESULTS

Fluid deprivation caused a mild (2%) reduction in body water, resulting in a calculated body mass loss of 0.8% without alterations of electrolytes, serum-osmolality, or hematocrit. Athletes reported significantly more (1.8 ± 2.2 vs. 0.4 ± 0.7; p < 0.01) and more severe (4.4 ± 6.2 vs. 1.0 ± 1.9; p < 0.01) concussion-like symptoms in a hypohydrated state. Balance was worse in HYH by trend with a significant difference for tandem stance (1.1 ± 1.3 vs. 0.6 ± 1.1; p = 0.02). No relevant differences were presented for items of memory and concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Mild dehydration caused relevant alterations of concussion-like symptoms and balance in healthy recreational athletes in the absence of endurance exercise or heat. Further research is needed to clarify the real-life relevance of these findings and to strengthen the differential diagnosis of concussion.