Tibia functionality and Division II female and male collegiate athletes from multiple sports

Background Bone strength is developed through a combination of the size and shape (architecture) of a bone as well as the bone’s material properties; and therefore, no one outcome variable can measure a positive or negative adaptation in bone. Skeletal robusticity (total area/ bone length) a measure of bones external size varies within the population and is independent of body size, but robusticity has been associated with bone strength. Athletes may have similar variability in robusticity values as the general population and thus have a wide range of bone strengths based on the robustness of their bones. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if an athlete’s bone strength and cortical area relative to body size was dependent on robusticity. The second aim was to determine if anthropometry or muscle function measurements were associated with bone robusticity. Methods Bone variables contributing to bone strength were measured in collegiate athletes and a reference group using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the 50% tibial site. Bone functionality was assessed by plotting bone strength and cortical area vs body size (body weight x tibial length) and robustness (total area/length) vs body size. Bone strength was measured using the polar strength-strain index (SSIp). Based on the residuals from the regression, an athlete’s individual functionality was determined, and two groups were formed “weaker for size” (WS) and “stronger for size” (SS). Grip strength, leg extensor strength and lower body power were also measured. Results Division II athletes exhibited a natural variation in (SSIp) relative to robusticity consistent with previous studies. Bone strength (SSIp) was dependent on the robusticity of the tibia. The bone traits that comprise bone strength (SSIp) were significantly different between the SS and WS groups, yet there were minimal differences in the anthropometric data and muscle function measures between groups. A lower percentage of athletes from ball sports were “weaker for size” (WS group) and a higher percentage of swimmers were in the WS group. Discussion A range of strength values based on robusticity occurs in athletes similar to general populations. Bones with lower robusticity (slender) were constructed with less bone tissue and had less strength. The athletes with slender bones were from all sports including track and field and ball sports but the majority were swimmers. Conclusions Athletes, even after optimal training for their sport, may have weaker bones based on robusticity. Slender bones may therefore be at a higher risk for fracture under extreme loading events but also yield benefits to some athletes (swimmers) due to their lower bone mass.

Download Full-text

Systems genetics in diversity outbred mice inform BMD GWAS and identify determinants of bone strength

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-23649-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Basel M. Al-Barghouthi ◽

Larry D. Mesner ◽

Gina M. Calabrese ◽

Daniel Brooks ◽

Steven M. Tommasini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Bone ◽

Bone Strength ◽

Human Genetics ◽

Association Studies ◽

Systems Genetics ◽

Genome Wide Association Studies ◽

Mineral Density ◽

Diversity Outbred ◽

Wide Range ◽

Genetics Of Osteoporosis

AbstractGenome-wide association studies (GWASs) for osteoporotic traits have identified over 1000 associations; however, their impact has been limited by the difficulties of causal gene identification and a strict focus on bone mineral density (BMD). Here, we use Diversity Outbred (DO) mice to directly address these limitations by performing a systems genetics analysis of 55 complex skeletal phenotypes. We apply a network approach to cortical bone RNA-seq data to discover 66 genes likely to be causal for human BMD GWAS associations, including the genes SERTAD4 and GLT8D2. We also perform GWAS in the DO for a wide-range of bone traits and identify Qsox1 as a gene influencing cortical bone accrual and bone strength. In this work, we advance our understanding of the genetics of osteoporosis and highlight the ability of the mouse to inform human genetics.

Download Full-text

A three-dimensional musculoskeletal model of the dog

10.1101/2020.07.16.205856 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Heiko Stark ◽

Martin S. Fischer ◽

Alexander Hunt ◽

Fletcher Young ◽

Roger Quinn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Experimental Data ◽

Body Size ◽

Degrees Of Freedom ◽

Inverse Dynamics ◽

Musculoskeletal Model ◽

Muscle Synergy ◽

Locomotor System ◽

Wide Range ◽

Joint Load

AbstractDogs are an interesting object of investigation because of the wide range of body size, body mass, and physique. In the last several years, the number of clinical and biomechanical studies on dog locomotion has increased. However, the relationship between body structure and joint load during locomotion, as well as between joint load and degenerative diseases of the locomotor system (e.g. dysplasia), are not sufficiently understood. In vivo measurements/records of joint forces and loads or deep/small muscles are complex, invasive, and sometimes ethically questionable. The use of detailed musculoskeletal models may help in filling that knowledge gap. We describe here the methods we used to create a detailed musculoskeletal model with 84 degrees of freedom and 134 muscles. Our model has three key-features: Three-dimensionality, scalability, and modularity. We tested the validity of the model by identifying forelimb muscle synergies of a beagle at walk. We used inverse dynamics and static optimization to estimate muscle activations based on experimental data. We identified three muscle synergy groups by using hierarchical clustering. Predicted activation patterns exhibited good agreement with experimental data for most of the forelimb muscles. We expect that our model will speed up the analysis of how body size, physique, agility, and disease influence joint neuronal control and loading in dog locomotion.

Download Full-text

The body-size dependence of mutual interference

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2014.0261 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 20140261 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

John P. DeLong

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Body Size ◽

Size Dependence ◽

Empirical Support ◽

Mutual Interference ◽

The Body ◽

Wide Range ◽

Stabilizing Effect ◽

Body Sizes ◽

Size Scales

The parameters that drive population dynamics typically show a relationship with body size. By contrast, there is no theoretical or empirical support for a body-size dependence of mutual interference, which links foraging rates to consumer density. Here, I develop a model to predict that interference may be positively or negatively related to body size depending on how resource body size scales with consumer body size. Over a wide range of body sizes, however, the model predicts that interference will be body-size independent. This prediction was supported by a new dataset on interference and consumer body size. The stabilizing effect of intermediate interference therefore appears to be roughly constant across size, while the effect of body size on population dynamics is mediated through other parameters.

Download Full-text

Is Predicted Data a Viable Alternative to Real Data?

The World Bank Economic Review ◽

10.1093/wber/lhz007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 34 (2) ◽

pp. 485-508

Author(s):

Tomoki Fujii ◽

Roy van der Weide

Keyword(s):

Financial Burden ◽

Real Data ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Double Sampling ◽

Individual Level ◽

Financial Costs ◽

Level Data ◽

Statistical Precision ◽

Wide Range ◽

Poverty And Health

Abstract It is costly to collect the household- and individual-level data that underlie official estimates of poverty and health. For this reason, developing countries often do not have the budget to update estimates of poverty and health regularly, even though these estimates are most needed there. One way to reduce the financial burden is to substitute some of the real data with predicted data by means of double sampling, where the expensive outcome variable is collected for a subsample and its predictors for all. This study finds that double sampling yields only modest reductions in financial costs when imposing a statistical precision constraint in a wide range of realistic empirical settings. There are circumstances in which the gains can be more substantial, but these denote the exception rather than the rule. The recommendation is to rely on real data whenever there is a need for new data and to use prediction estimators to leverage existing data.

Download Full-text

Age of First Exposure to American Football and Behavioral, Cognitive, Psychological, and Physical Outcomes in High School and Collegiate Football Players

Sports Health A Multidisciplinary Approach ◽

10.1177/1941738119849076 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 332-342 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Benjamin L. Brett ◽

Daniel L. Huber ◽

Alexa Wild ◽

Lindsay D. Nelson ◽

Michael A. McCrea

Keyword(s):

High School ◽

Clinical Outcome ◽

Outcome Measures ◽

Collegiate Athletes ◽

American Football ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Football Players ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Intermediate Outcomes ◽

Collegiate Football

Background: Although some studies have observed a relationship between age of first exposure (AFE) to American football and long-term outcomes, recent findings in collegiate athletes did not observe a relationship between AFE and more intermediate outcomes at early adulthood. This, however, requires independent replication. Hypothesis: There will be no association between AFE to football and behavioral, cognitive, emotional/psychological, and physical functioning in high school and collegiate athletes. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Level of Evidence: Level 3. Methods: Active high school and collegiate football players (N = 1802) underwent a comprehensive preseason evaluation on several clinical outcome measures. Demographic and health variables that significantly differed across AFE groups were identified as potential covariates. General linear models (GLMs) with AFE as the independent variable were performed for each clinical outcome variable. Similar GLMs that included identified covariates, with AFE as the predictor, were subsequently performed for each clinical outcome variable. Results: After controlling for covariates of age, concussion history, race, and a diagnosis of ADHD, earlier AFE (<12 vs ≥12 years) did not significantly predict poorer performance on any clinical outcome measures (all P > 0.05). A single statistically significant association between AFE group and somatization score was recorded, with AFE <12 years exhibiting lower levels of somatization. Conclusion: In a large cohort of active high school and collegiate football student-athletes, AFE before the age of 12 years was not associated with worse behavioral, cognitive, psychological, and physical (oculomotor functioning and postural stability) outcomes. Clinical Relevance The current findings suggest that timing of onset of football exposure does not result in poorer functioning in adolescence and young adults and may contribute to resilience through decreased levels of physically related psychological distress.

Download Full-text

Do Different Methods Yield Equivalent Estimations of Brain Size in Birds?

Brain Behavior and Evolution ◽

10.1159/000509383 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 113-122

Author(s):

Diego Ocampo ◽

César Sánchez ◽

Gilbert Barrantes

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Brain Size ◽

Brain Mass ◽

Wide Range ◽

Evolutionary Studies ◽

Relative Brain Size ◽

Using Data ◽

Endocranial Volume ◽

The Brain ◽

Size Estimates

The ratio of brain size to body size (relative brain size) is often used as a measure of relative investment in the brain in ecological and evolutionary studies on a wide range of animal groups. In birds, a variety of methods have been used to measure the brain size part of this ratio, including endocranial volume, fixed brain mass, and fresh brain mass. It is still unclear, however, whether these methods yield the same results. Using data obtained from fresh corpses and from published sources, this study shows that endocranial volume, mass of fixed brain tissue, and fresh mass provide equivalent estimations of brain size for 48 bird families, in 19 orders. We found, however, that the various methods yield significantly different brain size estimates for hummingbirds (Trochilidae). For hummingbirds, fixed brain mass tends to underestimate brain size due to reduced tissue density, whereas endocranial volume overestimates brain size because it includes a larger volume than that occupied by the brain.

Download Full-text

Comparing three body condition indices in amphibians: a case study of yellow-bellied toad Bombina variegata

Amphibia-Reptilia ◽

10.1163/017353710x518405 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 558-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

Rodica Plăiaşu ◽

Tibor Hartel ◽

Raluca Ioana Băncilă ◽

Dan Cogălniceanu ◽

Joost Smets

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Body Condition ◽

Condition Index ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Direct Measurements ◽

Wide Range ◽

Bombina Variegata ◽

Condition Indices ◽

Three Body

AbstractBody condition is important because it is correlated with population and habitat quality parameters. Since the direct measurements are either lethal or unreliable, a wide range of non-lethal body condition indices has been proposed. The aim of our study was to apply and compare three body condition indices (Fulton's index, relative body condition mass index and residual index) using body size indicator – body mass data for 24 populations of the yellow bellied toad (Bombina variegata). The condition index should be independent of body size indicator, in this case snout vent length (SVL). Therefore we tested all three indices for the statistical independence of SVL and for the normality of distribution. Fulton's index violated the independence assumption, whereas the relative body condition mass index did not have a normal distribution. Residual index was found both independent of SVL and normally distributed. Moreover, the residual index highlighted biological significant differences on the basis of altitude and season. Our results recommend the residual index as a useful tool in amphibian monitoring and conservation.

Download Full-text

Spectrum of acute clinical characteristics of diagnosed concussions in college athletes wearing instrumented helmets

Journal of Neurosurgery ◽

10.3171/2012.8.jns112298 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 117 (6) ◽

pp. 1092-1099 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

Ann-Christine Duhaime ◽

Jonathan G. Beckwith ◽

Arthur C. Maerlender ◽

Thomas W. McAllister ◽

Joseph J. Crisco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Collegiate Athletes ◽

Head Impact ◽

Ice Hockey ◽

Future Research ◽

Impact Event ◽

Head Impacts ◽

Presenting Symptoms ◽

Wide Range ◽

Impact Events ◽

Specific Impact

Object Concussive head injuries have received much attention in the medical and public arenas, as concerns have been raised about the potential short- and long-term consequences of injuries sustained in sports and other activities. While many student athletes have required evaluation after concussion, the exact definition of concussion has varied among disciplines and over time. The authors used data gathered as part of a multiinstitutional longitudinal study of the biomechanics of head impacts in helmeted collegiate athletes to characterize what signs, symptoms, and clinical histories were used to designate players as having sustained concussions. Methods Players on 3 college football teams and 4 ice hockey teams (male and female) wore helmets instrumented with Head Impact Telemetry (HIT) technology during practices and games over 2–4 seasons of play. Preseason clinical screening batteries assessed baseline cognition and reported symptoms. If a concussion was diagnosed by the team medical staff, basic descriptive information was collected at presentation, and concussed players were reevaluated serially. The specific symptoms or findings associated with the diagnosis of acute concussion, relation to specific impact events, timing of symptom onset and diagnosis, and recorded biomechanical parameters were analyzed. Results Data were collected from 450 athletes with 486,594 recorded head impacts. Forty-eight separate concussions were diagnosed in 44 individual players. Mental clouding, headache, and dizziness were the most common presenting symptoms. Thirty-one diagnosed cases were associated with an identified impact event; in 17 cases no specific impact event was identified. Onset of symptoms was immediate in 24 players, delayed in 11, and unspecified in 13. In 8 cases the diagnosis was made immediately after a head impact, but in most cases the diagnosis was delayed (median 17 hours). One diagnosed concussion involved a 30-second loss of consciousness; all other players retained alertness. Most diagnoses were based on self-reported symptoms. The mean peak angular and rotational acceleration values for those cases associated with a specific identified impact were 86.1 ± 42.6g (range 16.5–177.9g) and 3620 ± 2166 rad/sec2 (range 183–7589 rad/sec2), respectively. Conclusions Approximately two-thirds of diagnosed concussions were associated with a specific contact event. Half of all players diagnosed with concussions had delayed or unclear timing of onset of symptoms. Most had no externally observed findings. Diagnosis was usually based on a range of self-reported symptoms after a variable delay. Accelerations clustered in the higher percentiles for all impact events, but encompassed a wide range. These data highlight the heterogeneity of criteria for concussion diagnosis, and in this sports context, its heavy reliance on self-reported symptoms. More specific and standardized definitions of clinical and objective correlates of a “concussion spectrum” may be needed in future research efforts, as well as in the clinical diagnostic arena.

Download Full-text

Perception of Body Image and Dietary Habit Among Adults Aged 20–45 Years at Sunyani Metropolis

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa043_128 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 277-277

Author(s):

Jacob Setorglo ◽

Philip Narteh Gorleku ◽

Kyei Roselyn ◽

Kingsley Kwadwo Asare Pereko

Keyword(s):

Body Mass Index ◽

Body Image ◽

Body Size ◽

Body Mass ◽

Who Classification ◽

The Body ◽

World Health ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Sugar Consumption ◽

Normal Body

Abstract Objectives The study assessed the body size perception of respondents against the WHO body mass index and related the body sizes to fat and sugar consumption among 20–45-year-old adults. Methods The study design was a descriptive cross-sectional survey which involved 200 respondents aged 20–45 years, sampled conveniently. at Sunyani. Data on socio-demographic, fat and sugar consumption, anthropometry (weight in kg, height in cm) were collected. The weight and height data were later converted into body mass index using the World Health Organisation (WHO) classification. Sugar and fat intakes were measured by dietary food based assessment. (Analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 25. Proportions were presented for categorical values. Chi square test of association was used to determine relationship between the independent and the dependent outcome variable. Statistical significant was set at and P < 0.05. Results The mean age of the respondents was 35 years. About 35.0% of respondents were males and the rest 65.0% females. Sugar and fat consumption among the respondents were within the recommended dietary allowances. Although 75% of respondents had normal body mass index (kg/m2) and 21% were obese based on the WHO classification, Majority (43.0%) of them perceived their body weights were normal. About 48.1% perceived they are either obese or had normal body size. There was no statistically significant association between respondents’ perceived body image and socio-demographic characteristics except for marital status (X2 = 8.82, P = 0.044). There was no statistically significant association between body image perception and dietary intake of fat and sugar. Conclusions There is great disparity in the perception of respondents body image compared to the WHO classification and married women and men are more particular about how they look. Dietary components studied do not have any association with body image. Funding Sources None.

Download Full-text