Body Composition Asymmetry in University Rugby Players: Influence of Sex, Position, and Injury.

Context: Measures of side-to-side asymmetry in body composition may help identify players who are predisposed to lower limb injuries (LLI) or lower back pain (LBP). This study aimed to examine (1) side-to-side asymmetry in college rugby players according to sex and position and (2) whether side-to-side asymmetry is associated with LBP or LLI.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Body Composition Asymmetries in University Ice Hockey Players and Their Implications for Lower Back Pain and Leg Injury.

Resta, T, Frenette, S, Rizk, A, and Fortin, M. Body composition asymmetries in university ice hockey players and their implications for lower back pain and leg injury. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2830-2836, 2022-Right to left asymmetries in body composition have been examined across many sports, suggesting possible implications for lower back pain (LBP) and decreased level of performance.

Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Characteristics, Body Composition, and Injury in University Rugby Players.

Context: A smaller lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle was reported to be a strong predictor of lower limb injury in professional Australian Football League players. However, despite the high prevalence of low back pain (LBP) and lower limb injury in rugby players, their LM characteristics have yet to be explored.

Objective: To (1) examine LM characteristics in male and female university rugby players and their possible associations with LBP and lower limb injury and (2) investigate the relationship between LM characteristics and body composition in this group of athletes.

Seasonal Changes in Lumbar Multifidus Muscle in University Rugby Players.

Purpose: Although smaller lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) was reported to be a strong predictor of lower limb injury (LLI) in Australian Football League players, LMM morphology has not been investigated in rugby athletes. This study examined seasonal changes in LMM in rugby players and whether LMM characteristics were associated with low back pain (LBP) and LLI.

Methods: Ultrasound examinations of the LMM were acquired in 21 university-level rugby players (12 women, 9 men) at preseason and end-season.

The effect of low back pain and lower limb injury on lumbar multifidus muscle morphology and function in university soccer players.

Background: The lumbar multifidus muscle (LMM) plays a critical role to stabilize the spine. While low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint in soccer players, few studies have examined LMM characteristics in this athletic population and their possible associations with LBP and lower limb injury. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to 1) investigate LMM characteristics in university soccer players and their potential association with LBP and lower limb injury; 2) examine the relationship between LMM characteristics and body composition measurements; and 3) examine seasonal changes in LMM characteristics.

Ultrasonography of Lumbar Multifidus Muscle in University American Football Players.

Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to examine and compare lumbar multifidus (LM) muscle size, asymmetry, and function in university football players with and without low back pain (LBP). A secondary objective was to examine the relationship between LM characteristics and body composition in football players.

Methods: Ultrasound assessments of the LM muscle were performed in 41 university football players during the preseason.

Ultrasonography of multifidus muscle morphology and function in ice hockey players with and without low back pain.

Objectives: To examine the relationship between lumbar multifidus (LM) morphology, function, echo-intensity (EI) and body composition among a group of university level ice hockey players with and without low back pain (LBP).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University Research Centre.

Diurnal Variations in Psychological Distress in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between depressive symptoms severity and amplitude of diurnal variations in depression symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Design: Prospective, observational proof-of-concept study.

Methods: Fourteen participants with moderate/severe COPD completed a 20-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) estimating depressive symptoms severity.

Acute responses to exercise training and relationship with exercise adherence in moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The objectives of our study were to (i) compare, in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, acute responses to continuous training at high intensity (CTHI), continuous training at ventilatory threshold (CTVT) and interval training (IT); (ii) examine associations between acute responses and 12-week adherence; and (iii) investigate whether the relationship between acute responses and adherence is mediated/moderated by affect/vigour. Thirty-five COPD patients (forced expiratory volume in 1 second = 60.2 ± 15.

Using continuous data tracking technology to study exercise adherence in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is an important component in the management of respiratory diseases. The effectiveness of PR is dependent upon adherence to exercise training recommendations. The study of exercise adherence is thus a key step towards the optimization of PR programs.

Clinical impact of time of day on acute exercise response in COPD.

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the impact of time of day on the acute response to incremental exercise in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fourteen subjects (nine men) aged 71 ± 7 years with moderate to severe airflow obstruction (FEV1: 58 ± 13% predicted) followed a counterbalanced randomized design, performing three symptom-limited incremental cycling tests at 8:00, 12:00, and 16:00 hours on different days, each preceded by a spirometry. COPD medications were withdrawn prior to testing.

Mild cognitive impairment in moderate to severe COPD: a preliminary study.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a frequent feature of COPD. However, the proportion of patients with COPD with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is still unknown, and no screening test has been validated to date for detecting MCI in this population. The goal of this study was to determine the frequency and subtypes of MCI in patients with COPD and to assess the validity of two cognitive screening tests, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), in detecting MCI in patients with COPD.

Effect of body mass index on self-reported exercise-triggered asthma.

Introduction: Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) is common in individuals diagnosed with asthma, with 80% to 90% experiencing asthma symptoms during moderate exercise. Asthma has been linked to obesity such that obesity may be a risk factor for adult-onset asthma. Adults with asthma disclose comorbid obesity as one of the most common barriers to exercise.