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A skilled control of postural stability is fundamental in many of the actions performed by volleyball athletes. The effectiveness in serving, forearm passing or setting the ball is affected by the athlete’s ability to control their dynamic balance. When referring to team sports, earlier studies have shown that balance and proprioception training have the potential to induce performance enhancement in selected components of physical fitness and some technical skills but only few of them focus on the field of volleyball. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a balance and proprioception training program on dynamic balance and volleyball skills of female volleyball players aged 13-15 years. The sample is consisted by 18 participants who were divided into an experimental group (EG, N=10) and a control group (CG, N=8). In addition to volleyball training, the EG followed an 8-week proprioception and balance training program (3 times/week). Dynamic balance test results were obtained, and participants were rated for the movement outcome (performance score: PS) and movement form (Technique score: TS) of their motor tasks in volleyball skills. Two-factor ANOVA with repeated measurements on the second factor was used to examine the effects of groups and measurements and their interactions. The dynamic balance of the EG showed a significant improvement (p = 0.009). There was an increase in PS for serve (p = 0.022) and TS in forearm-passing (p = 0.001) for the EG, but not for the setting skill (p > 0.05). The study reveals that a targeted proprioception and balance training program can improve the dynamic balance of youth female volleyball players and contribute to the improvement of the movement form of the forearm passing and the movement outcome of the serve skill. © JPES.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physical and technical performance characteristics of young athletes in soccer and basketball, as well as to see the differences in between sports. METHODS: Fifty-seven male players (soccer: N.=30, age 13.53±0.51 years; basketball: N.=27, age 13.56±0.51 years) participated in this study. Anthropometrical (height, weight, BMI, body fat), performance (VO2max, HRmax, perceived exertion, lactate concentration, 10-m and 20-m sprint, agility, vertical jump) and technical (passing, dribbling, shooting) tests were carried out. RESULTS: Anthropometrical, performance and technical tests showed a significant effect of sport type on height, weight, BMI, VO2max, HRmax, perceived exertion, 10m sprint, 20m sprint, vertical jump (P≤0.05), but a non-significant effect on agility (P=0.15) between soccer and basketball players. Soccer players showed significant moderate to strong correlation among the majority of performance and technical characteristics (P≤0.05) but not in basketball players, with the exception of the weak correlation observed between lay-up and VO2max, the weak to moderate correlation between lay-up, vertical jump and 10m sprint and the weak to moderate correlation between 20-m left hand dribbling, 10-m sprint and vertical jump respectively (P≤0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Basketball players indicated different level of anthropometric characteristics than soccer players who predominated in performance characteristics and showed a stronger relationship between performance and technical variables. Basketball players were taller and heavier than soccer players, while soccer players predominate in performance characteristics. Furthermore, a moderate to stronger relationship was found between performance and technical variables for soccer subjects but not in that scale for the basketball counterparts. © 2021 Edizioni Minerva Medica. All rights reserved.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of prolonged steady state swimming with a wetsuit, on thermoregulatory and behavioural responses, in water of 25°C. Ten male swimmers participated in two 75-min swim trials, in one wearing a neoprene wetsuit (WS), and the other a conventional swimsuit (SS). The swimming intensity was controlled at 70% of swimmers’ critical velocity (CV). Core (Tcore) and skin (Tsk) temperature, heart rate (HR), and behavioural modulators, were measured before, during and after swimming. A 2-way ANOVA for repeated measures with aFisher’s 2SD test was used for multiple comparisons and a paired t-test with a Tukey post hoc analysis for pre and post measurements at p

Background: Anastomotic leaks are associated with significant risk of morbidity, mortality and treatment costs after oesophagectomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate international variation in unit-level clinical practice and resource availability for the prevention and management of anastomotic leak following oesophagectomy.Method: The Oesophago-Gastric Anastomosis Audit (OGAA) is an international research collaboration focussed on improving the care and outcomes of patients undergoing oesophagectomy. Any unit performing oesophagectomy worldwide can register to participate in OGAA studies. An online unit survey was developed and disseminated to lead surgeons at each unit registered to participate in OGAA. High-income country (HIC) and low/middle-income country (LMIC) were defined according to the World Bank whilst unit volume were defined as < 20 versus 20-59 versus ≥60 cases/year in the unit.Results: Responses were received from 141 units, a 77% (141/182) response rate. Median annual oesophagectomy caseload was reported to be 26 (inter-quartile range 12-50). Only 48% (68/141) and 22% (31/141) of units had an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program and ERAS nurse, respectively. HIC units had significantly higher rates of stapled anastomosis compared to LMIC units (66 vs 31%, p = 0.005). Routine post-operative contrast-swallow anastomotic assessment was performed in 52% (73/141) units. Stent placement and interventional radiology drainage for anastomotic leak management were more commonly available in HICs than LMICs (99 vs 59%, p < 0.001 and 99 vs 83%, p < 0.001).Conclusions: This international survey highlighted variation in surgical technique and management of anastomotic leak based on case volume and country income level. Further research is needed to understand the impact of this variation on patient outcomes.

Wheelchair basketball is one of the most popular team sports for athletes with physical disabilities. The athletes’ performance appears to be affected by their anthropometric characteristics, especially those of the upper limbs, as well as by their palm strength in moving the wheelchair. Comparable studies conducted with basketball players without disabilities have demonstrated that palm lengths and peripheries affect palm strength. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of upper limb characteristics on palm strength, anaerobic capacity, and technical skills of wheelchair basketball players of varying classification. A total of 14 wheelchair basketball players participated in this study. Their anthropometric characteristics were measured, and a palm imprint was obtained to calculate palm lengths and peripheries. In addition, the athletes performed 8 tests of wheelchair propulsion and technical skills (5-m and 20-m sprint, lay-up, free throws, shots from four points, long pass, pass with accuracy, and dribbling). Lastly, their anaerobic power was assessed with a 30-s arm cranking test. Palm lengths and peripheries did not have any effect on the subjects’ handgrip strength and anaerobic capacity. However, right forearm length and right palm strength considerably affected the long pass. Moreover, the degree of disability was determined to affect certain skills such as the 5-m sprint, lay-up, and shots from four points. © 2020, Editura Universitatii din Pitesti. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: The role of nutrition is very crucial on both the performance and the well-being of both elite and professional athletes as well as the general non-athlete physically active population. The adequate knowledge in terms of nutrition and the application of this knowledge in the athlete's diet to achieve a well-balanced dietary plan for optimal performance is critical in sports. The aim of the current study was to investigate the nutritional habits and the knowledge of Greek elite and professional basketball athletes compared with age- and sex-matched physically active general population. METHODS: Personal and physiological characteristics as well as a record of nutritional habits and knowledge regarding nutrition were collected from male Greek, elite (N.=57) and professional (N.=69) basketball players [experimental groups] and from non-athlete, physically active age- and sex-matched individuals [control group] (N.=17). All the data was acquired during the competition period. The statistical analysis of the results was conducted via descriptive statistics, Student's t-tests and one-way ANOVA using GraphPad Prism 7 software. RESULT S: The results of the current study highlight that there is a knowledge gap regarding nutrition among elite and professional basketball players as well as general population. However, the results suggest that in most of the parameters, there are not any significant differences between the elite and the professional players but there is significant difference between the experimental groups (basketball players) and the general population (control group). CONCLUSIONS: Further education is required regarding nutrition in order to lead to improved attitudes, optimal performance and general well-being. ©2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA.

The purpose of the present study was to define the maximal lactate steady state (MLSSmeas) in high-level male basketball players and to compare it with the lactate turnpoint (LTP) and the respective point derived form a prediction method (MLSScal). Twelve high-level basketball players underwent one maximal and several submaximal tests on a treadmill on different days where MLSS and LTP were measured. MLSSmeas was observed at 75% of the maximal treadmill speed, at 77% of VO2max, at 88% of HRmax and at [La-] of 3.7 mmol.l−1. No differences were observed between MLSSmeas and LTP in any of the measured variables. A good agreement was observed between MLSSmeas and LTP, as well as between MLSSmeas and MLSScal. Therefore, LTP and MLSScal are offered as acceptable approaches to predict MLSS, but not all the indices used to define MLSS presents high agreement between the methods used. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Introduction: Acute inguinal hernias are a common presentation as surgical emergencies, which have been routinely managed with open surgery. In recent years, the laparoscopic approach has been described by several authors but has been controversial amongst surgeons. We describe the laparoscopic approach to incarcerated/strangulated inguinal hernias based on a review of the literature with regards to its feasibility in laparoscopically managing the acute hernia presentation. Methods: A systematic literature search was carried out including Medline with PubMed as the search engine, and Ovid, Embase, Cochrane Collaboration, and Google Scholar databases to identify articles reporting on laparoscopic treatment, reduction, and repair of incarcerated or strangulated inguinal hernias from 1989 to 2008. Results: Forty-three articles were found, and 7 were included according to the inclusion criteria set. Articles reporting on the use of laparoscopy for the evaluation of the hernia but not reducing and repairing it, the use of the open technique, elective hernia repairs, pediatric series, review articles, and other kinds of hernias were excluded after title and abstract review. This resulted in 16 articles that were reviewed in full. Of these 16 articles, 7 reported on the use of the laparoscopic approach exclusively. From these 7 studies, there were 328 cases reported, 6 conversions, average operating time of 61.3 minutes (SD±12.3), average hospital stay of 3.8 days (SD±1.2), 34 complications (25 of which were reported as minor), and 17 bowel resections performed either laparoscopically or through a minilaparotomy incision guided laparoscopically. Conclusion: The laparoscopic repair is a feasible procedure with acceptable results; however, its efficacy needs to be studied further, ideally with larger multicenter randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: The current management of ischemic priapism that is refractory to conventional medical therapy is a form of shunt procedure that diverts blood away from the corpus cavernosum. We assessed the outcome of the T-shunt and intracavernous tunneling for the management of ischemic priapism. Materials and Methods: During a 36-month period 45 patients presented with prolonged ischemic priapism. Patients were divided into subgroups according to the duration of priapism. All patients had an unsuccessful primary treatment, and underwent a T-shunt and intracavernous tunneling with cavernous muscle biopsies. All patients completed an IIEF-5 (International Index of Erectile Function-5) questionnaire preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Results: Resolution of the priapism using a T-shunt and snake maneuver occurred in all patients with a priapism duration of less than 24 hours and in only 30% of those with priapism lasting more than 48 hours. After a 6-month median followup the IIEF-5 score was significantly reduced from a mean of 24 (range 23 to 25) preoperatively to 7.7 (range 5 to 24), which was related to the duration of the priapism (p

A best evidence topic was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether early laparoscopic cholecystectomy (ELC) in patients presenting with a short history of acute cholecystitis provides better post-operative outcomes than a delayed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (DLC). A total of 92 papers were found using the reported searches of which 10 represented the best evidence; 3 meta-analyses, 4 randomized control trials, 1 prospective controlled study and 2 retrospective cohort studies were included. The authors, date, journal, study type, population, main outcome measures and results were tabulated.No significant difference in complication or conversion rates were shown between the ELC and the DLC group, in the meta-analyses of Gurusamy et al, Lau et al and Siddiqui et al. The ELC group had a decreased hospital stay whereas the DLC group presented a considerable risk for subsequent emergency surgery during the interval period, with a high rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy. All three meta-analyses were based on the randomized control trials of Lo et al, Lai et al, Kolla et al and Johansson et al; the results of each study are summarized.We conclude that there is strong evidence that early laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis offers an advantage in the length of hospital stay without increasing the morbidity or mortality. The operating time in ELC can be longer, however the incidence of serious complications (i.e. common bile duct injury), is comparable to the DLC group. Larger randomized studies are required before solid conclusions are reached. © 2012 Surgical Associates Ltd.