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Yao Y, Niu X. Physical fitness characteristics of elite freestyle skiing aerials athletes. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304912. [PMID: 38843216 PMCID: PMC11156283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the physical fitness characteristics of elite freestyle skiing aerials athletes, thereby enhancing the understanding of exercise physiologists, sports scientists, and coaches regarding the demands in this discipline. METHODS After health screenings, 29 athletes from the Chinese National Freestyle Skiing Aerials Team were divided into elite and general groups, including males and females. Physical fitness indexes were determined through literature reviews, expert interviews, and the Delphi method, followed by physical fitness tests assessing body morphology, physiological function, and physical quality. Data normality was verified using the Shapiro-Wilk test. Differences between the two groups were then evaluated using independent sample t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests, after which effect sizes were calculated to assess the magnitude of the differences. RESULTS Significant body morphology differences were noted between elite and general groups in fat-free body weight, leg, and waist circumferences (P < 0.05). Male athletes in the elite group exhibited a significantly lower percentage of body fat (P < 0.05), whereas the reduction in body fat percentage among female elite athletes was not statistically significant. In terms of physiological function assessment, elite athletes demonstrated superior performance in both maximum anaerobic capacity and relative maximum anaerobic capacity compared to their counterparts in the general group (P < 0.05). Notably, the difference in maximum anaerobic capacity was highly significant among male athletes (P < 0.01), and the relative maximum anaerobic capacity among female athletes was also markedly significant (P < 0.01). Regarding physical quality indexes, elite athletes outperformed those in the general group in all aspects except for the quick v-up and 12-minute run tests (P < 0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION Elite athletes exhibit superior physical fitness characteristics compared to general athletes, attributable to differences in age, years of training, and their participation in ongoing specialized physical training within structured, cyclical programs. Specifically, elite athletes demonstrated higher fat-free body weight, larger waist and leg circumferences in terms of body morphology. Particularly, male athletes showed a trend towards lower body fat percentage. Physiologically, they exhibited stronger anaerobic metabolism capabilities. In terms of physical quality, elite athletes displayed superior limb strength, lower limb explosive power, and specialized core strength, along with better speed, agility, and overall coordination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwei Yao
- School of Sports Training, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuesong Niu
- School of Social Sports, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
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Yao Y, Niu X. Construction of a physical fitness evaluation index system and model for high-level freestyle skiing aerials athletes in China. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295622. [PMID: 38064528 PMCID: PMC10707543 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to enhance the competitive level of Chinese freestyle skiing aerials athletes by developing a specialized physical fitness evaluation index system and model tailored for high-level Chinese athletes. This system intends to provide theoretical references and training monitoring schemes in preparation for the 25th Milan Winter Olympics. METHODS A study was conducted on 29 high-level Chinese freestyle skiing aerials athletes. Physical fitness test indexes were selected using a literature review, expert interviews, and questionnaire surveys, and athletes were tested. Athletes were ensured to be in optimal physical condition before testing. Based on the test results, the representative indexes of the evaluation system are finally determined by combining R-type clustering analysis, multiple linear regression analysis. Determine index weights through weight questionnaires and normalization, and develop evaluation standards through methods such as percentile counting and weighted scoring. RESULTS Physical fitness evaluation system for Chinese freestyle skiing aerialists includes three aspects: evaluation index, index weight, and evaluation standard. The evaluation indexes include 3 first-level, 11 second-level, and 11 third-level indexes of body form, physiological function, and physical quality. In the evaluation weight, physical quality is ranked first, and physiological function and body form rank second and third, respectively. The evaluation standard consists of a scoring evaluation standard and a rating evaluation standard. Based on the index system, this study constructs the general and ideal physical fitness model of China's high-level freestyle aerials athletes. CONCLUSION The constructed physical fitness evaluation system effectively represents physical fitness development status of high-level freestyle skiing aerials athletes, providing a basis for creating personalized training plans. The established model serves as a reference for athletes' physical fitness development objectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwei Yao
- School of Sports Training, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuesong Niu
- School of Social Sports, Shenyang Sport University, Shenyang, China
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Wu Y, Dai R, Yan W, Ren S, Ao Y. Characteristics of Sports Injuries in Athletes During the Winter Olympics: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Orthop J Sports Med 2023; 11:23259671231209286. [PMID: 38107844 PMCID: PMC10722932 DOI: 10.1177/23259671231209286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Athletes in the Winter Olympic Games are subject to high injury rates given the physical demands of sports. Comprehensive data regarding injury characteristics in these athletes are limited. Purpose To summarize and analyze data regarding the incidence and characteristics of sports injuries occurring in the Winter Olympic Games. Study Design Scoping review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods A systematic review of the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases was conducted. Included were studies reporting the incidence of sports injuries during the Winter Olympics Games from 1995 through 2021. From 168 studies initially retrieved, 4 studies (8824 athletes, 1057 injured athletes) were included. A single-group meta-analysis of sports injury characteristics was performed, with subgroup analysis performed according to the different sports, injury locations, and injury types. Injury severity (time lost from sport) and mechanism were also assessed. Result The overall injury incidence rate (IIR) during the Winter Olympic Games was 9.6% (95% CI, 4.1%-19.8%). Snow sports were associated with the highest IIR (11.3%), with the top 3 events being the snowboard cross event in snowboarding (31.4%), the aerials event in freestyle skiing (28.6%), and the slopestyle event in snowboarding (27.7%). The most common injury locations were the knee (IIR = 20.0%; 95% CI 17.9%-22.0%), head (IIR = 10.6%; 95% CI, 9.4%-11.9%), and ankle (IIR = 8.2%; 95% CI 7.8%-8.7%). The most common injury types were contusion/hematoma/bruise (IIR = 29.9%; 95% CI 29.7%-30.0%), sprain (dislocation, subluxation, instability, ligamentous, rupture) (IIR = 21.9%; 95% CI 21.4%-22.3%), and strain (muscle rupture, tear, tendon rupture) (IIR = 11.3%; 95% CI 11.0%-11.6%). Regarding injury severity, most athletes had no time lost from sport (64.5%); 24.0% lost fewer than 7 days, and 11.5% lost more than 7 days. The most common injury mechanism was noncontact-related injury (63.3%). Conclusion In Winter Olympics sports, snow-sport injuries were more common than those associated with other sports, and the most common injury location was the knee. Most injuries did not require time loss, and the most were noncontact-related injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China
- Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Ruilan Dai
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China
- Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wenqiang Yan
- Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Ren
- Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yingfang Ao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine, Institute of Sport, Exercise and Health, Tianjin University of Sport, Tianjin, China
- Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Sports Injuries, Beijing, China
- Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Zang W, Fang M, Zhang X, Xiao N, Wang S, Mu L. Exploring the Epidemiology of Injuries in Athletes of the Olympic Winter Games: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Sports Sci Med 2023; 22:748-759. [PMID: 38045742 PMCID: PMC10690501 DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2023.748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
This study sought to provide a comprehensive assessment of the incidence of sports injuries among athletes participating in the Olympic Winter Games and to investigate contributing factors. We gathered injury data from athletes participating in the recent four Olympic Winter Games, incorporating details on the sports event, sex, injury location, and type. Through a meta-analysis, we calculated the injury incidence rates for each sport and examined the influence of sex and the type of sport on these incidence rates. Out of 11,197 registered athletes, we documented 1,304 sports injuries. The sports events with the highest injury rates were freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, and ice hockey, with the most frequent injury locations being the knees, thoracic/lumbar/back regions, and the wrist/hand/fingers. Contusions, hematomas, and bruises were the most prevalent injuries, followed by strains (including muscle rupture, tearing, or tendon rupture) and sprains (covering dislocations, subluxations, and ligament ruptures). In the Olympic Winter Games, events such as freestyle skiing, snowboarding, alpine skiing, bobsleigh, and ice hockey pose a particularly high risk. Predominant injury sites include the knee, spine/back, and wrist and hand, with injuries ranging from contusions and hematomas to strains and sprains. For effective injury prevention, it is crucial to emphasize proper medical resource allocation, specialized training for medical personnel, and meticulous venue maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanli Zang
- Postgraduate School, University of Harbin Sport, Harbin, China
| | - Mingqing Fang
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xianzuo Zhang
- Department of orthopedics, the first affiliated hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ningkun Xiao
- Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department of Immunochemistry, Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, Russia
| | - Su Wang
- Department of Sports Science, University of Harbin Sport, Harbin, China
| | - Liang Mu
- Postdoctoral Research Station, Harbin sport University, Harbin, China
- Winter Olympic College, Harbin sport University, Harbin, China
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Injuries and Illnesses During the 53rd FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf: A Prospective Cohort Study. Clin J Sport Med 2023; 33:e1-e7. [PMID: 36730291 DOI: 10.1097/jsm.0000000000001108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE For the 3 Nordic ski disciplines of cross-country skiing, Nordic combined, and ski jumping, data on injuries and illnesses during major sporting events only exist from the Winter Olympics of 2010 to 2018. So far, an investigation has not been conducted during the Nordic World Ski Championships. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. SETTING Fédération Internationale de Ski (FIS) Nordic World Ski Championships 2021 in Oberstdorf, Germany. PARTICIPANTS Overall, 663 athletes from 65 nations participated in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2021. The study population included 344 athletes from 32 nations. INTERVENTIONS National medical teams were invited to report daily all newly incurred or exacerbated injuries and illnesses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES All reported injuries and illnesses that occurred during the championships from February 23 until March 7, 2021, were analyzed. Injury and illness rates were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS The 32 reporting nations returned 88.4% of the daily report forms. The incidence of injuries was 4.7 (95% CI, 2.4-6.9) per 100 athletes in the 3 Nordic ski disciplines. The incidence of illness was also 4.7 (95% CI, 2.4-6.9) per 100 athletes with a relative proportion of infection-related illnesses of 31.3%. CONCLUSIONS Although the incidence of injuries of the Nordic disciplines was comparable with those of the 2010 to 2018 Winter Olympics, the incidence of illnesses was lower than during the previous 3 Winter Olympic Games with a lower rate of infection-related illnesses. This might be caused by the high hygiene measures due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
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Relationship of Training Factors and Resilience with Injuries in Ski Mountaineers. Sports (Basel) 2022; 10:sports10120191. [PMID: 36548488 PMCID: PMC9782121 DOI: 10.3390/sports10120191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Ski mountaineering is an increasingly popular sport with a relatively high risk of injury. Therefore, several studies have analyzed factors related to the likelihood of injury, including athlete characteristics, training, resilience and equipment. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify factors that may influence injury risk. A 15-minute online survey was sent to various ski mountaineering groups of different ages and levels. Both the Mann-Whitney U test and odds ratio analysis were performed in order to analyze the data. Results from 104 skiers showed that most injuries occurred in the lower extremities, especially in the knee (29.6%). The findings indicated that skiers who had suffered an injury performed in more competitions per year (p = 0.046), more ski mountaineering sessions per week (p = 0.022) and fewer core training sessions per week (0.029), although core training and competition were not statistically significant factors. Likewise, non-injured athletes had fewer pairs of skis (p = 0.019), which were also wider (p = 0.04). However, no difference was found for warm up and resilience between both groups (p = 0.275). In conclusion, it is important to implement preventive measures based on these factors, even if more research is needed.
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