BACKGROUND: Low energy availability (LEA) causes pathophysiology of the female athlete's body affecting the bone and reproductive health and was observed to have a high prevalence in recreational female athletes previously. The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between low energy availability in females questionnaire (LEAF-Q), bone mineral density (BMD), and postural stability in recreational athletes. METHODS: Recreational female athletes (n = 24, age: 23.71 ± 2.94, Tier I) completed LEAF-Q, postural stability measurement during quiet stance (Zebris platform FDM; GmbH) and their BMD was measured using DXA (Hologic QDR Horizon A). Non-parametric statistical tests were used to analyse the relationships between LEAF-Q, BMD, and postural stability and to compare differences between participants divided by the LEAF-Q score and its subscales. RESULTS: Risk of LEA was observed in 50% of recreational athletes participating in this study. Up to 46% of participants perceived menstrual bleeding changes related to training and 37.50% experienced menstrual dysfunction. Body composition and body weight fluctuations were observed to affect postural stability and BMD. With the risk score for LEA, the BMD and postural stability were not negatively affected in recreational athletes. However, the high number of recreational athletes in the risk score for LEA and menstrual dysfunctions highlights the need for public health programs aimed to increase awareness of LEA and its health consequences and for open communication about the menstrual cycle. Future longitudinal studies observing LEA, BMD, menstrual function, postural stability, and their interrelationship in female athletes are needed to increase the knowledge of this topic.
- MeSH
- absorpční fotometrie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kostní denzita * fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- posturální rovnováha fyziologie MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- relativní energetický deficit sportovce epidemiologie MeSH
- složení těla fyziologie MeSH
- sportovci * statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- sportovní úrazy patofyziologie epidemiologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mladý dospělý MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
BACKGROUND: Women are underrepresented in research focused on alcohol (e.g., Brighton, Moxham & Traynor, 2016; DOI 10.1097/JAN.0000000000000136) despite the changing patterns of alcohol consumption, which has been increasing in women in recent decades. The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between habitual alcohol consumption and centre of pressure (CoP) parameters during stance and gait while intoxicated by alcohol. METHODS: Thirty women (24.39 ± 2.93 years) participated in this study. All participants were asked to answer the AUDIT questionnaire. Stance and gait analysis were repeated under two conditions on a Zebris platform (FDM GmbH; Munich, Germany): when the participants were sober (0.00% breath alcohol concentration, BrAC) and when they were in an intoxicated state (0.11% BrAC). Participants were divided by their AUDIT score into a low-risk alcohol consumption group (n = 15; AUDIT score: 3 to 6) and a hazardous alcohol consumption group (n = 15; AUDIT score: 7 to 13). RESULTS: No statistical difference was observed in stance and gait parameters when comparing the low-risk and hazardous groups under 0.00% BrAC and 0.11% BrAC conditions. A statistically significant difference was observed when comparing 0.00% BrAC and 0.11% BrAC conditions within each group. This significant difference was found in CoP path length and CoP average velocity during quiet stance. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in CoP parameters during gait. An alcohol intoxication of 0.11% BrAC was not sufficient to cause statistically significant impairments in butterfly parameters of gait.
- MeSH
- chůze (způsob) MeSH
- dechové testy MeSH
- ethanol analýza MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- otrava alkoholem * MeSH
- pití alkoholu škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Alcohol contributes to a large number of diseases and health conditions related to injuries. The aim of our study was to evaluate gender differences in forward and backward gait when sober and at a breath alcohol concentration (BrAC) of 0.11%. Fifty females and fifty males participated in our study. The gait analysis was performed twice, when sober and after drinking a given amount of vodka mixed with orange juice. Under both conditions, participants were asked to walk forward and then backward on a Zebris platform. Multivariate analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the differences between genders when walking forward and backward. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks test was used to compare the differences between 0.00% BrAC and 0.11% BrAC. Spearman's Rho was used to analyze the relationship between the AUDIT score, anthropometrical characteristics and the subjective score of drunkenness and gait parameters. The results show different strategies to improve stability during gait in women and men when intoxicated with alcohol. When intoxicated, males in forward gait increase their stability by increasing their foot rotation, while females increase their step width. A decrease in balance-related variables was observed in females when walking backward with a BrAC of 0.11%. Additionally, females tended to perform an increase in balance-related gait variables when subjectively feeling more drunk in both forward and backward gait. Different strategies to maintain stability during gait were observed in women and men. The results of our study show that alcohol intoxication has a greater impact on gait in females who tended to perform an increase in balance-related variables with an increase in their subjective score of drunkenness.
- MeSH
- chůze (způsob) MeSH
- chůze MeSH
- dechové testy metody MeSH
- ethanol MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- otrava alkoholem * MeSH
- sexuální faktory MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The aim of this study was to rapidly review the literature on the prevalence of menstrual disorders in female athletes from different sports modalities. Articles were searched in the Web of Science and PubMed database in May 2022. A total of 1309 records were identified, and 48 studies were included in the final stage. The menstrual disorders described in the included studies were primary (in 33% of included studies) and secondary amenorrhea (in 73% of included studies) and oligomenorrhea (in 69% of included studies). The prevalence of menstrual disorders among the studies ranged from 0 to 61%. When data were pooled according to discipline (mean calculation), the highest prevalence of primary amenorrhea was found in rhythmic gymnastics (25%), soccer (20%) and swimming (19%); for secondary amenorrhea in cycling (56%), triathlon (40%) and rhythmic gymnastics (31%); and oligomenorrhea in boxing (55%), rhythmic gymnastics (44%) and artistic gymnastics (32%). Based on the results of this review, the study supports the literature of the higher prevalence of menstrual disorders in gymnastics and endurance disciplines. However, team sports modalities such as volleyball and soccer also presented a considerable percentage of menstrual disorders compared to the general population. It reinforces the importance of coaches and physicians paying attention to athletes' menstrual cycle as the occurrence of menstrual disorders can be associated with impairment on some health components.
OBJECTIVES: Barefoot shoes have recently become a popular alternative to conventional shoes among the parents of pre-school children. As the long-term effect of habitual shoe-wearing on the foot is still unclear, the aim of this study was to compare the arch index, dynamic foot anthropometry and gait parameters in toddlers who had been habitually wearing barefoot shoes or conventional shoes since their first steps. METHODS: 30 toddlers- 15 habitually wearing barefoot shoes (BF group) and 15 habitually wearing conventional shoes (N-BF group)-participated in this study. Each child was measured twice during the study. The first data collection session occurred within one month after the first five consecutive unsupported steps were performed by the toddler. The second data collection session occurred seven months after this event. At each data collection session, the toddler was instructed to walk barefooted at its natural speed over an Emed® platform (Novel GmbH, Germany). The Emed ® software generated data regarding the arch index, dynamic foot anthropometry, foot progression angle, contact area, contact time, peak pressure and maximum force. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the differences between the 1st and 2nd data collections. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the differences between the BF and N-BF groups. RESULTS: The results of this study show a higher plantar arch and a smaller foot progression angle in the BF group. The forefoot width in both the BF and N-BF groups remained proportional to the foot length after seven months of independent walking. CONCLUSIONS: These findings may encourage parents and caregivers to introduce barefoot shoes or create a habitual barefoot time for their child.
- MeSH
- biomechanika MeSH
- chůze (způsob) MeSH
- chůze MeSH
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- noha (od hlezna dolů) * MeSH
- obuv * MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- Check Tag
- dítě MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- předškolní dítě MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze factors affecting spatio-temporal gait parameters in elderly people of both genders and different ages with different risks of fall, fall history, and medications. Patients and Methods: A total of 210 community-dwelling older adults (156 females, 54 males; mean age 72.84±6.26 years) participated in this study. To assess the risk of falls, the Downton Fall Risk Index was used. An additional question about medication intake (all prescribed drugs) was asked. To assess the spatio-temporal gait parameters, the Zebris FDM platform was used. Gait parameters and Downton Fall Risk Index, stratified by participants' history of falls, multiple medication use (0/1/2+), gender, age, and medication categories, were statistically analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: When comparing different medication categories, a Downton Fall Risk Index score indicating a high risk of falls was observed in the psychotropic medication category (3.56±1.67). A gait velocity suggesting a higher risk of falls (≤3.60 km/h) was observed in the psychotropic (2.85±1.09 km/h) and diabetes (2.80±0.81 km/h) medication categories, in the age groups 70-79 years (3.30±0.89 km/h) and 80+ years (2.67±0.88 km/h), and in participants using two or more medications (3.04±0.93 km/h). Conclusion: The results of this study confirm previous observations and show that higher age and multiple medication negatively affect the gait, and that the higher risk of falls is associated with psychotropic and diabetes medication use. These results provide important information for future fall preventive programs for the elderly that would be especially beneficial for elderly people taking psychotropic and diabetes medication.
- MeSH
- chůze (způsob) * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- psychotropní léky MeSH
- rizikové faktory MeSH
- samostatný způsob života * MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
This study aimed to analyse the kinematic differences in gait between three groups of toddlers who differed in their weeks of independent walking (IW) experience, but not in anthropometrical characteristics, to determine the relationship between walking experience without the side effect of morphological differences on gait parameters. Twenty-six toddlers participated in this study. Depending on the week of their IW, toddlers were divided into three groups: Group 1 (1-5 weeks of IW), Group 2 (6-10 weeks of IW), and Group 3 (11-15 weeks of IW). Each toddler walked barefooted over a 2-m long pathway, and 3D kinematic data were obtained. A decrease in the upper limb position, hip flexion, and step width, i.e., changes towards the adult gait pattern, were observed in Group 3. Less experienced walkers exhibited a wider step width despite no statistically significant difference in body mass and height between groups. Results of this study show no statistically significant difference in step length between groups, suggesting that step length is more related to height than to the walking experience. The increased step length in more experienced walkers reported in previous studies may therefore be a result of different heights and not walking experience.
- MeSH
- biomechanika MeSH
- chůze (způsob) * MeSH
- chůze * MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
BACKGROUND: Foot to ground pressure changes in total hip arthroplasty patients' gait are not widely described, although they are sensitive to gait abnormalities and the distribution of plantar pressures may differ before and after the surgery. This study aimed to analyse longitudinally differences in plantar pressure during gait in total hip arthroplasty patients compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Eighteen males participated in this study. Eight males, who underwent unilateral total hip arthroplasty, participated at the data collection three times: 4 weeks before the surgery, 12 and 24 weeks after, and ten healthy controls. All participants were asked to walk over Emed platform. To compare differences between the affected and unaffected limbs, Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the difference between total hip arthroplasty patients and healthy controls. FINDINGS: Statistically significant differences between the affected and unaffected limb were observed only during the preoperative measurement in peak pressure at MH4 area and in the contact area at MH4 and big toe. When comparing total hip arthroplasty patients and controls, a difference in the contact time at MH2, MH3 and MH4 areas 12 weeks after surgery and at MH2 and MH4 24 weeks after the surgery were observed. INTERPRETATION: The shorter contact time at forefoot areas may indicate an alteration in the propulsive phase of the gait of both the affected limb and unaffected limb in total hip arthroplasty patients as a result of decreased terminal hip extension during the stance phase described in previous studies.
During pregnancy, an array of changes occurs in women body to enable the growth and development of the future baby and the consequent delivery. These changes are reflected in the range of motion of trunk, pelvis, lower limbs and other body segments, affect the locomotion and some of these changes may persist to the postpartum period. The aim of this study was to describe the changes affecting the gait during pregnancy and to determine the effect of tested footwear on kinematic gait characteristics during pregnancy as previous studies indicate that special orthopaedic insoles and footwear might be useful in prevention of the common musculoskeletal pain and discomfort related to pregnancy. Participants from the control group (n = 18), without any intervention, and the experimental group (n = 23), which was wearing the tested shoes, were measured at their 14, 28 and 37 gestational weeks and 28 weeks postpartum to capture the complete pregnancy-related changes in gait. The gait 3D kinematic data were obtained using Simi Motion System. The differences between the control and experimental group at the first data collection session in most of the analysed variables, as well as relatively high standard deviations of analysed variables indicate large individual differences in the gait pattern. The effect of tested footwear on kinematic gait pattern changes may be explained by its preventive effect against the foot arches falling. In the control group, changes associated previously with the foot arches falling and hindfoot hyperpronation were observed during advanced phases of pregnancy and postpartum, e.g. increase in knee flexion or increase in spinal curvature. For the comprehensive evaluation of the tested footwear on pregnancy gait pattern, future studies combining the kinematic and dynamic plantographic methods are needed.
- MeSH
- biomechanika MeSH
- chůze (způsob) fyziologie MeSH
- design vybavení metody MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- gestační stáří MeSH
- komplikace těhotenství prevence a kontrola MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- muskuloskeletální bolest prevence a kontrola MeSH
- ortézy nohy (od hlezna dolů) MeSH
- poporodní období fyziologie MeSH
- studie případů a kontrol MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- těhotenství MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
PURPOSE: In Special Olympics, athletes' foot deformities, abnormal postural patterns and overweight and obesity were observed to be more common than in the general population. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between body composition and foot posture index. Additionally, the effect of gender and other factors on the body composition and foot posture index in athletes with intellectual disability (ID) were analyzed. METHODS: 131 athletes with ID participated in this study: 36 table tennis players, 66 cross country skiers and 29 downhill skiers. Their body composition was assessed using the bioimpedance analysis InBody 230 (Biospace, Korea). The foot screening included the assessment of foot posture index, which evaluates the degree of pronated, supinated and neutral position of the foot, gait speed and the last part of the procedure consisted of a short questionnaire, providing the information about the type of housing, age, and the usage of orthotics. RESULTS: A low correlation between body composition and some of the foot posture index criteria was observed. The mean foot posture index score in athletes with ID was observed to be slightly pronated, as also described in the general population, with no statistically significant difference between female and male athletes. The gender differences were observed only in body composition. CONCLUSIONS: The high body weight and body fat percentage observed in this study highlight the need for healthy lifestyle education in athletes with ID.
- MeSH
- bydlení MeSH
- chůze (způsob) fyziologie MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mentální retardace MeSH
- noha (od hlezna dolů) fyziologie MeSH
- postižení * MeSH
- postura těla fyziologie MeSH
- složení těla fyziologie MeSH
- sportovci * MeSH
- sporty MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
