With the recent worldwide increase in ski helmet use, new market trends are developing, including... more With the recent worldwide increase in ski helmet use, new market trends are developing, including audio helmets for listening to music while skiing or snowboarding. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether listening to music with an audio ski helmet impairs reaction time to peripheral stimuli. A within-subjects design study using the Compensatory-Tracking-Test was performed on 65 subjects (36 males and 29 females) who had a mean age of 23.3 ± 3.9 years. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, we found significant differences in reaction times between the 4 test conditions (p=0.039). The lowest mean reaction time (± SE) was measured for helmet use while listening to music (507.9 ± 13.2 ms), which was not different from helmet use alone (514.6 ± 12.5 ms) (p=0.528). However, compared to helmet use while listening to music, reaction time was significantly longer for helmet and ski goggles used together (535.8 ± 14.2 ms, p=0.005), with a similar trend for helmet and ski goggles used together while listening to music (526.9 ± 13.8 ms) (p=0.094). In conclusion, listening to music with an audio ski helmet did not increase mean reaction time to peripheral stimuli in a laboratory setting.
All-out exercise tests lasting the duration of a judo match, i.e., 5 minutes, regarding arm and l... more All-out exercise tests lasting the duration of a judo match, i.e., 5 minutes, regarding arm and leg performance have barely been introduced. We hypothesised that, besides body composition, arm and leg performance, derived from 5 minutes lasting all-out ergometric tests, would be of importance for success in judo competitions.
Objective of this study was to evaluate the actual helmet use on Austrian ski slopes depending on... more Objective of this study was to evaluate the actual helmet use on Austrian ski slopes depending on various factors as gender, age, and nationality, used type of gear, skiing ability and risk taking behaviour on slopes. In total, 63% of all observed subjects used ski helmets. However, significant differences have been found with regard to age, nationality, and skiing ability. While 78% of participants younger than 20 years used helmets, only 53% of those over 60 years were wearing ski helmets. Helmet use was significantly higher in locals compared to foreigners (75 vs. 52%) and in more skilled skiers compared to less skilled skiers (67 vs. 47%). No significant differences have been found with regard to gender, used type of gear, and risk taking behaviour. Thus, future helmet campaigns should also be aimed at older people, ski guest from other nations, and less skilled skiers.
Oral contraceptive use and menstrual cycle phase are suggested to influence the risk of anterior ... more Oral contraceptive use and menstrual cycle phase are suggested to influence the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female athletes. However, only few data are available for recreational sports. Therefore, female recreational skiers with a non-contact ACL injury and age-matched controls completed a self-reported questionnaire relating to menstrual history, oral contraceptive use and previous knee injuries. Menstrual history data were used to group subjects into either preovulatory or postovulatory phases of menstrual cycle. Our findings suggest that oral contraceptive use did not show any protective effect against ACL injuries nor did self-reported previous knee injuries show any association with ACL injury rate in recreational alpine skiing. Analysis of menstrual history data revealed that recreational skiers in the preovulatory phase were significantly more likely to sustain an ACL injury than were skiers in the postovulatory phase.
ABSTRACT In alpine skiing, knee injuries show marked sex differences, as female recreational skie... more ABSTRACT In alpine skiing, knee injuries show marked sex differences, as female recreational skiers have a 2-fold greater incidence of knee injuries and a 3-fold higher ACL injury risk than male skiers. General preventive recommendations to reduce the incidence of ski injuries include avoiding fatigue. However, no study has yet examined to which extent ACL injuries in female recreational skiers are related to perceived fatigue. Therefore, 68 ACL injured female skiers and 136 matched controls were interviewed about skiing time and perception of fatigue in legs and the whole body at the time point of accident and questioning, respectively. In addition, skiing ability, self estimated fitness level, quantity and quality of breaks per run, sleeping quality, and group skiing and skill level of group members have been recorded. Patients and controls differ significantly regarding the duration of skiing as about 81% of ACL injuries occurred within the first 3 hours (odds ratio = 4.4; P < 0.001). In patients about 71% and in controls about 27% felt no fatigue or a trace of fatigue in their legs at the time of injury and questioning, respectively (P < 0.001). No other factors showed a significant difference. Therefore, fatigue seems no major risk factor for an ACL injury in female recreational skiing.
Data on the injury and illness risk among young elite athletes are of utmost importance, because ... more Data on the injury and illness risk among young elite athletes are of utmost importance, because injuries and illnesses can counter the beneficial effects of sports participation at a young age, if children or adolescents are unable to continue to participate because of residual effects of injury or chronic illness. To analyse the frequencies and characteristics of injuries and illnesses during the 2012 Innsbruck Winter Youth Olympic Games (IYOG). We employed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury surveillance system for multisport events, which was updated for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010. All National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were asked to report the daily occurrence (or non-occurrence) of newly sustained injuries and illnesses on a standardised reporting form. In addition, information on athletes treated for injuries and illnesses by the Local Organizing Committee medical services was retrieved from the medical centre at the Youth Olympic Village and from the University hospital in Innsbruck. Among the 1021 registered athletes (45% women, 55% men) from 69 NOCs, a total of 111 injuries and 86 illnesses, during the IYOG, were reported, resulting in an incidence of 108.7 injuries and 84.2 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes, respectively. Injury frequency was highest in skiing in the halfpipe (44%) and snowboarding (halfpipe and slope style: 35%), followed by ski cross (17%), ice hockey (15%), alpine skiing (14%) and figure skating (12%), taking into account the respective number of participating athletes. Knee, pelvis, head, lower back and shoulders were the most common injury locations. About 60% of injuries occurred in competition and about 40% in training, respectively. In total, 32% of the injuries resulted in an absence from training or competition. With regard to illnesses, 11% of women and 6% of men suffered from an illness (RR=1.84 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.78), p=0.003). The respiratory system was affected most often (61%). Eleven per cent of the athletes suffered from an injury and 9% from illnesses, during the IYOG. The presented data constitute the basis for future analyses of injury mechanisms and associated risk factors in Olympic Winter sports, which, in turn, will be essential to develop and implement effective preventive strategies for young elite winter-sport athletes.
ABSTRACT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may develop hypercapnia and h... more ABSTRACT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may develop hypercapnia and hypoxia, two main determinants of cerebral blood flow. The current authors tested whether cerebrovascular regulation was altered in mild COPD, modified by manoeuvres acutely improving autonomic cardiovascular modulation or influenced by smoking habit. In 15 eucapnic normoxic mild COPD patients (eight smokers) and 28 age-matched controls (14 smokers), midcerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCFV), end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (P(ET,CO2)), arterial oxygen saturation (S(a,O2)), ECG and blood pressure at rest were monitored during progressive hypercapnic hyperoxia, isocapnic hypoxia, slow breathing and oxygen administration. MCFV, arterial baroreflex and dynamic MCFV-blood pressure relationships were compared by phase analysis. COPD and control smokers showed higher MCFV (when corrected for P(ET,CO2)), lower cerebrovascular resistance index and lower sensitivity to hypercapnia than nonsmokers, with equal sensitivity to S(a,O2) and similar phase analysis. Arterial baroreflex was depressed in all COPD patients. Slow breathing and oxygen administration improved baroreflex sensitivity and reduced MCFV in all COPD patients. Patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease show autonomic dysfunction. Chronic smoking induces cerebral vasodilation and impairs cerebrovascular control. All abnormalities can be partly corrected by improving the cardio- and cerebrovascular autonomic modulation, suggesting that functional autonomic abnormalities are already present at an early stage of disease.
With the recent worldwide increase in ski helmet use, new market trends are developing, including... more With the recent worldwide increase in ski helmet use, new market trends are developing, including audio helmets for listening to music while skiing or snowboarding. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether listening to music with an audio ski helmet impairs reaction time to peripheral stimuli. A within-subjects design study using the Compensatory-Tracking-Test was performed on 65 subjects (36 males and 29 females) who had a mean age of 23.3 ± 3.9 years. Using repeated measures analysis of variance, we found significant differences in reaction times between the 4 test conditions (p=0.039). The lowest mean reaction time (± SE) was measured for helmet use while listening to music (507.9 ± 13.2 ms), which was not different from helmet use alone (514.6 ± 12.5 ms) (p=0.528). However, compared to helmet use while listening to music, reaction time was significantly longer for helmet and ski goggles used together (535.8 ± 14.2 ms, p=0.005), with a similar trend for helmet and ski goggles used together while listening to music (526.9 ± 13.8 ms) (p=0.094). In conclusion, listening to music with an audio ski helmet did not increase mean reaction time to peripheral stimuli in a laboratory setting.
All-out exercise tests lasting the duration of a judo match, i.e., 5 minutes, regarding arm and l... more All-out exercise tests lasting the duration of a judo match, i.e., 5 minutes, regarding arm and leg performance have barely been introduced. We hypothesised that, besides body composition, arm and leg performance, derived from 5 minutes lasting all-out ergometric tests, would be of importance for success in judo competitions.
Objective of this study was to evaluate the actual helmet use on Austrian ski slopes depending on... more Objective of this study was to evaluate the actual helmet use on Austrian ski slopes depending on various factors as gender, age, and nationality, used type of gear, skiing ability and risk taking behaviour on slopes. In total, 63% of all observed subjects used ski helmets. However, significant differences have been found with regard to age, nationality, and skiing ability. While 78% of participants younger than 20 years used helmets, only 53% of those over 60 years were wearing ski helmets. Helmet use was significantly higher in locals compared to foreigners (75 vs. 52%) and in more skilled skiers compared to less skilled skiers (67 vs. 47%). No significant differences have been found with regard to gender, used type of gear, and risk taking behaviour. Thus, future helmet campaigns should also be aimed at older people, ski guest from other nations, and less skilled skiers.
Oral contraceptive use and menstrual cycle phase are suggested to influence the risk of anterior ... more Oral contraceptive use and menstrual cycle phase are suggested to influence the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in female athletes. However, only few data are available for recreational sports. Therefore, female recreational skiers with a non-contact ACL injury and age-matched controls completed a self-reported questionnaire relating to menstrual history, oral contraceptive use and previous knee injuries. Menstrual history data were used to group subjects into either preovulatory or postovulatory phases of menstrual cycle. Our findings suggest that oral contraceptive use did not show any protective effect against ACL injuries nor did self-reported previous knee injuries show any association with ACL injury rate in recreational alpine skiing. Analysis of menstrual history data revealed that recreational skiers in the preovulatory phase were significantly more likely to sustain an ACL injury than were skiers in the postovulatory phase.
ABSTRACT In alpine skiing, knee injuries show marked sex differences, as female recreational skie... more ABSTRACT In alpine skiing, knee injuries show marked sex differences, as female recreational skiers have a 2-fold greater incidence of knee injuries and a 3-fold higher ACL injury risk than male skiers. General preventive recommendations to reduce the incidence of ski injuries include avoiding fatigue. However, no study has yet examined to which extent ACL injuries in female recreational skiers are related to perceived fatigue. Therefore, 68 ACL injured female skiers and 136 matched controls were interviewed about skiing time and perception of fatigue in legs and the whole body at the time point of accident and questioning, respectively. In addition, skiing ability, self estimated fitness level, quantity and quality of breaks per run, sleeping quality, and group skiing and skill level of group members have been recorded. Patients and controls differ significantly regarding the duration of skiing as about 81% of ACL injuries occurred within the first 3 hours (odds ratio = 4.4; P < 0.001). In patients about 71% and in controls about 27% felt no fatigue or a trace of fatigue in their legs at the time of injury and questioning, respectively (P < 0.001). No other factors showed a significant difference. Therefore, fatigue seems no major risk factor for an ACL injury in female recreational skiing.
Data on the injury and illness risk among young elite athletes are of utmost importance, because ... more Data on the injury and illness risk among young elite athletes are of utmost importance, because injuries and illnesses can counter the beneficial effects of sports participation at a young age, if children or adolescents are unable to continue to participate because of residual effects of injury or chronic illness. To analyse the frequencies and characteristics of injuries and illnesses during the 2012 Innsbruck Winter Youth Olympic Games (IYOG). We employed the International Olympic Committee (IOC) injury surveillance system for multisport events, which was updated for the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver 2010. All National Olympic Committees (NOCs) were asked to report the daily occurrence (or non-occurrence) of newly sustained injuries and illnesses on a standardised reporting form. In addition, information on athletes treated for injuries and illnesses by the Local Organizing Committee medical services was retrieved from the medical centre at the Youth Olympic Village and from the University hospital in Innsbruck. Among the 1021 registered athletes (45% women, 55% men) from 69 NOCs, a total of 111 injuries and 86 illnesses, during the IYOG, were reported, resulting in an incidence of 108.7 injuries and 84.2 illnesses per 1000 registered athletes, respectively. Injury frequency was highest in skiing in the halfpipe (44%) and snowboarding (halfpipe and slope style: 35%), followed by ski cross (17%), ice hockey (15%), alpine skiing (14%) and figure skating (12%), taking into account the respective number of participating athletes. Knee, pelvis, head, lower back and shoulders were the most common injury locations. About 60% of injuries occurred in competition and about 40% in training, respectively. In total, 32% of the injuries resulted in an absence from training or competition. With regard to illnesses, 11% of women and 6% of men suffered from an illness (RR=1.84 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.78), p=0.003). The respiratory system was affected most often (61%). Eleven per cent of the athletes suffered from an injury and 9% from illnesses, during the IYOG. The presented data constitute the basis for future analyses of injury mechanisms and associated risk factors in Olympic Winter sports, which, in turn, will be essential to develop and implement effective preventive strategies for young elite winter-sport athletes.
ABSTRACT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may develop hypercapnia and h... more ABSTRACT Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may develop hypercapnia and hypoxia, two main determinants of cerebral blood flow. The current authors tested whether cerebrovascular regulation was altered in mild COPD, modified by manoeuvres acutely improving autonomic cardiovascular modulation or influenced by smoking habit. In 15 eucapnic normoxic mild COPD patients (eight smokers) and 28 age-matched controls (14 smokers), midcerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCFV), end-tidal carbon dioxide tension (P(ET,CO2)), arterial oxygen saturation (S(a,O2)), ECG and blood pressure at rest were monitored during progressive hypercapnic hyperoxia, isocapnic hypoxia, slow breathing and oxygen administration. MCFV, arterial baroreflex and dynamic MCFV-blood pressure relationships were compared by phase analysis. COPD and control smokers showed higher MCFV (when corrected for P(ET,CO2)), lower cerebrovascular resistance index and lower sensitivity to hypercapnia than nonsmokers, with equal sensitivity to S(a,O2) and similar phase analysis. Arterial baroreflex was depressed in all COPD patients. Slow breathing and oxygen administration improved baroreflex sensitivity and reduced MCFV in all COPD patients. Patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease show autonomic dysfunction. Chronic smoking induces cerebral vasodilation and impairs cerebrovascular control. All abnormalities can be partly corrected by improving the cardio- and cerebrovascular autonomic modulation, suggesting that functional autonomic abnormalities are already present at an early stage of disease.
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Papers by Elena Pocecco