Muscular development and physical activity as major determinants of femoral bone mass acquisition during growth

[EN] OBJECTIVES: To investigate to what extent bone mass accrual is determined by physical activity and changes in lean, fat, and total body mass during growth. METHODS: Twenty six physically active and 16 age matched control boys were followed up for three years. All subjects were prepubertal at the start of the survey (mean (SEM) age 9.4 (0.3) years). The weekly physical activity of the active boys included compulsory physical education sessions (80-90 minutes a week), three hours a week of extracurricular sports participation, and occasional sports competitions at weekends. The physical activity of the control group was limited to the compulsory physical education curriculum. Bone mineral content (BMC) and areal density (BMD), lean mass, and fat mass were measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: The effect of sports participation on femoral bone mass accrual was remarkable. Femoral BMC and BMD increased twice as much in the active group as in the controls over the three year period (p < 0.05). The greatest correlation was found between the increment in femoral bone mass and the increment in lean mass (BMC r = 0.67 and BMD r = 0.69, both p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis revealed enhancement in lean mass as the best predictor of the increment in femoral bone BMC (R = 0.65) and BMD (R = 0.69). CONCLUSIONS: Long term sports participation during early adolescence results in greater accrual of bone mass. Enhancement of lean mass seems to be the best predictor of this bone mass accumulation. However, for a given muscle mass, a greater level of physical activity is associated with greater bone mass and density in peripubertal boys.

Need certificaction in the field of sport

[EN] The need for stronger credentialing in the field of sports is recommended because of the complex issues modern sports face. A brief overview of the development of professional credentials/licensure is provided to set the rationale for the need for accreditation in the field of sports. The research reviewed supports the need for accreditation of both the individual professionals that serve sports and athletes and the schools and institutions as well. This research points to the similar developmental path that other licensed/credentialed professions have followed leading up to their regulation. Accreditation by the International association is offered as an answer to this need for certification.

Los sistemas complejos y el mundo del deporte

[ES] En el campo del deporte y del entrenamiento deportivo, un terreno particularmente multidisciplinar, pocos trabajos se han hecho hasta el momento desde la óptica de los sistemas complejos. Tampoco el mundo de la medicina ha asumido de forma sólida esta forma de entender el mundo. La tradicional visión del deporte y de las ciencias que lo alimentan es simple y siempre realizada desde un punto de vista lineal del mundo. Un fenómeno es lineal si la respuesta es proporcional al estímulo. Tratamos en este trabajo de plantear nuestro entorno desde el principio de la no-linealidad, del comportamiento caótico y de la interconexión de los procesos y los sucesos. Entendemos que esto nos ayudará a mejorar la idea que tradicionalmente nos determina la estructura del deporte y su propia lógica interna

Niveles de rendimiento y factores psicológicos en deportistas en formación. Reflexiones para entender la exigencia psicológica del alto rendimiento.

[ES] A pesar de que diferentes trabajos se han esforzado en identificar las variables que pueden estar en la base del alto rendimiento deportivo, no existe acuerdo todavía acerca de cuáles pueden ser verdaderamente las más relevantes. El presente trabajo de carácter exploratorio pretende comprobar la posible existencia de diferencias significativas a nivel psicológico, tomando como referencia algunas de las pruebas que habitualmente utilizan los psicólogos del deporte (POMS, CPRD, BREQ,...).

Ansiedad competitiva, competitividad y vulnerabilidad a la lesión deportiva: perfiles de riesgo

[ES] Se analiza en qué medida determinados perfiles de personalidad están asociados a la incidencia de lesiones deportivas. Se presenta un estudio cuantitativo de tipo descriptivo correlacional, con 453 deportistas (285 hombres y 168 mujeres) practicantes de deportes individuales y deportes de equipo.