Office Aerobics: Assessing Fitness Without Fuss

Flexibility and Strength Measures in Children Participating in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Program

In brief: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a structured rehabilitation program on the strength and flexibility of children with surgically corrected congenital heart disease. Twelve children (eight boys, four girls) participated in one-hour exercise classes, two times per week for 12 weeks. Results showed minimal changes in upper extremity strength, but lower extremity strength improved 10% and 5% on the right and left sides, respectively. Flexibility improved about 25% in the lower extremities. Improvement was also noted in neck flexion, hip and oblique rotation, hamstring and low back stretch, and heel cord stretch. These findings indicate that this type of program can improve strength and flexibility in children who have undergone complex heart surgery and may help them achieve a more normal life-style.

Maturity Assessment: A Viable Preventive Measure Against Physical and Psychological Insult to the Young Athlete?

In brief: Maturity assessment is often cited as an important part of the preparticipation health examination (PHE) for student-athletes. However, maturity assessment apparently is not routinely included in the PHE in most states. This literature review indicates the value of maturity assessment as a way to reduce the risk of physical and psychological insult to young athletes. Maturity assessment can be used to match adolescents for participation in contact sports and to determine when a youth is experiencing the growth spurt, which may make him or her more susceptible to injury. Accordingly, maturity assessment should be included in the PHE, and schools and community organizations should develop procedures for requesting and using maturity information.

The adolescent athlete: a musculoskeletal update

Adolescent athletes are participating in new and popular sports. What are today's musculoskeletal concerns for these athletes? The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on what is currently known about the young athlete and how contributing factors of injury have changed accordingly. Preventative measures are included. A review of recent literature and discussions of the relevant anatomical concerns (musculoskeletal), issues and trends in sport, and sport medicine philosophies are provided. The summary suggests that because adolescent athletes are being exposed to new sports in different ways, critical questions concerning the effects of sports are essential to insure a safer athletic environment.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1983;5(1):20-25.

Fitness Testing in Family Practice

In brief Family physicians can and should help patients establish individualized wellness programs. The author explains a successful format used for five years by a private family physician practice in Kansas. The group stresses preventive medicine and prescribes regular aerobic exercise to encourage positive life-style changes in exercise, diet, and cigarette smoking.

On-Field Physician Assessment of High School Football Injuries

In brief: This study analyzed junior and senior high school football injuries with on-the-field evaluation and data collection by physicians. More injuries occurred during varsity than freshman games, and contusions, sprains, strains, and other orthopedic injuries to the extremities were the most common. There was only one concussion in 31 games. This low incidence may be due to more effective football helmets. More injuries occurred on rainy days and muddy fields in this study, which contrasts with previous reports. The authors conclude that the average of one significant injury every five games suggests the need for continued medical coverage at football games.

Preparticipation health screening of young athletes. Results of 1268 examinations

The major purpose of the preparticipation physical examination of athletes is to screen for conditions that could predispose the athlete to injury or death. However, this examinations offered to many of the athletes in this country fail to adequately accomplish this. This study analyzed the preparticipation health exams of prospective sports participants from all public schools in Richmond County, Georgia for two consecutive years. We sought to identify the components of a preparticipation exam which most accurately identified athletes who were at risk of sustaining injury. The most frequently reported problems on the health history were previous injuries, previous hospitalizations, and joint problems. These were consistent over the two years. The problems recorded most frequently on the physical exam involved the lower extremities, mouth, teeth, heart, eyes, and genitalia. However the prevalence of abnormalities found during the first year of the study was significantly lower than that identified in the second study. Analysis of the findings resulted in a more standardized approach to the examination and in an improved examination form.

The uniqueness of the young athlete: musculoskeletal injuries

There is considerable difference in the management of musculoskeletal injuries in the pediatric athlete. The biomechanical characteristics of the growing bone react differently to applied stresses. Plastic deformation, green-stick, torus, and epiphyseal fractures are types seen only in the pediatric age group. The pediatric athlete fortunately has a much greater remodeling capacity, thus, altering the approach to the treatment of injuries. An understanding of the different types of injuries in the skeletally immature athlete is essential for those treating this age group.