The present study was undertaken in sportsmen of those groups of sports activities where weight training exercises constitute a major part of the training. Two groups consisting of 25 weight-lifters and 25 track and field athletes were studied to find out the effect of sports activities and lifting weights on the spine. 84% weight-lifters and 72% track and field athletes suffered from varying abnormalities. Incidence of backache in 25 weight-lifters was 40% and in 25 track and field athletes 48%. Radiological changes were more common in weight-lifters (84%) than in athletes (72%). Reduction in lumbar lordosis was found in three cases (12%) in both the groups. Obtuse angle deformity of vertebral margins was found in 11 cases (44%) amongst weight-lifters and six cases (24%) amongst athletes. Osteophytic formation was found in six cases (24%) in weight-lifters and four cases (16%) in athletes. Schmorl's node were noticed in five cases (20%) amongst weight-lifters and seven cases (28%) amongst athletes. The incidences of spondylosis and Schmorl's node were found only in those cases who had been doing weight training exercises for more than four years.
Somatotype ratings and percentage body fat of 131 elite Nigerian male athletes, average 24.2 years of age, and belonging to badminton (n = 18), basketball (n = 30), field hockey (n = 24), handball (n = 16), judo (n = 18), and soccer (n = 25) teams were determined. Basketball, handball and soccer players were taller and heavier, and had low percent fat values as compared with the other athletic groups. Judokas and hockey players were endomesomorphs. Other sports groups were predominantly ectomesomorphs.
Summary. Menstrual function was assessed in 475 Nigerian athletes in different sports and 606 non‐athletes. In general, irregular menstrual cycles and oligomenorrhoea or secondary amenorrhoea (O/A) were more common in the athletes (26% and 21%, respectively) than in the non‐athletes (18% and 8%, respectively). Menstruation was more regular and normal in the non‐athletes (50%) than in the athletes (22%). It was noted that menstrual dysfunction in the athletes was associated with significantly low body fat, body weight, relative weight for height, and the stress of sports activity. In the groups of athletes the ball game players (35%) and distance runners (51%) most commonly experienced O/A, whereas the incidence of dysmenorrhoea and menorrhagia was most prevalent in the swimmers (37%), and sprinters (42%). Menstrual disturbances were relatively more common in athletes who began training before the menarche (43%).
In an effort to describe the physique associated with regular involvement in sports activity, the somatotypes of a group of 51 elite male athletes comprising sprinters (n = 10), basketball (n = 12), soccer (n = 15), and field hockey (n = 14) players, and 11 male nonathletes were studied. The subjects' physiques were assessed using the Health-Carter anthropometric somatotype method. Analysis of variance and Newman-Keuls post hoc method were used to test for significant differences among the mean somatotype ratings of the groups. The findings indicated that the nonathletes (3.5) were significantly more endomorphic (P less than 0.05) than the soccer players (2.5) and sprinters (2.4). The sprinters (3.6) and basketball players (3.7) had markedly higher ectomorphic ratings (P less than 0.05) as compared with the hockey players (2.0). The mesomorphic component did not differentiate the groups. The differences observed among the groups which could be attributed to genetic and environmental influences reflect the variability in the morphological characteristics of athletes and nonathletes.
The study investigated the common types and sites of injuries which were sustained by male soccer, basketball and field hockey players during a period of 8 weeks of intensive training and competition. In all, 170 soccer players, 127 basketball players and 212 hockey players drawn from various clubs in Nigeria formed the subjects of the study, a total of 509 patients. Questionnaires on the prospective injury experience were handed over to the club members. A total of 630, 308 and 641 injuries were recorded in soccer, basketball and hockey respectively. In soccer the common injuries were sprains and strains (45.6%), bruises and cuts (27.0%) and concussion (15.2%). The lower limb had the highest number of injuries (49.1%). In basketball common injuries were sprains and strains (41.5%), bruises and cuts (26.7%) and swelling and blisters (22.1%). The most common site of injury was the upper limb which sustained 45.8% of the injuries. The common injuries in hockey were bruises and cuts (50.8%), swelling and blisters (21.5%) and sprains and strains (20.2%). The lower limb sustained the highest number of injuries (57.5%).
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