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How does sports medicine address the demands of specific athletes?,…
How does sports medicine address the demands of specific athletes?
Children and young athletes
Children and young athletes have specific demands that are addressed by sports medicine, such as medical conditions. Many children and young athletes are also prone to overuse injuries, such as repetitive and overuse injuries due to their development.
Medical Conditions in Children
Asthma
Asthma is a medial condition that involves inflammation within the airways, leading to contraction of the bronchioles limiting the air flow both in and out of the lungs. Asthma "attacks" may be triggered by pollution, pollen, physical activity and dust.
IMPLICATIONS - Can be induced by physical activity and is more likely to be triggered in longer durations of physical activity (1km>) then a shorter duration (100m.) Asthma attacks are usually proportionate to the intensity of excercise. Asthma should not stop a child's ability to participate, however there are precautions to follow to ensure their health and safety such as have access to ventolin and management of breaths throughout activity.
MANAGEMENT - Asthma Management Plans should be developed between child and their GP. This ensures education of management surrounding the condition whilst providing child with a ventolin puffer for asthma attacks. Excercise induced asthma may be minimised through proper warm up and cool down.
Epilepsy
Relates to the disruption of normal brain acitivity resulting in seizures. Brain nerve cells misfire and generate sudden, uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Unpredictable, can be subtle or conspicuous causing sudden loss of body control.
IMPLICATIONS:Epilepsy should not limit choice of sport or level of participation but the type of sport should be considered before the sport is selected. A supervisor should always be with an individual with epilepsy in all physical activities.
MANAGEMENT: Can be managed through medication. If they occur do not try to put any object in their mouth or try to stop them from seizing. This puts both parties at risk of harm. Try to protect the back of the head from hitting the ground. Ensure they are on level ground and away from anything that may possibly cause injury.
Diabetes: Medical condition most commonly found in children. There are two types:
Type 2: Medical condition caused by lifestyle, often brought on the physical inactivity and poor diet. It is a breakdown in the efficiency of insulin activity resulting in high levels of insulin and glucose in the blood. (Insulin is responsible for the transport of glucose from the blood into our tissue cells.
Type 1: insulin-dependent and early-onset diabetes caused by an autoimmune disorder. The body no longer produces insulin resulting in a build up of glucose in the blood.
IMPLICATIONS: Glucose levels in blood affects sports engagement because glucose is also an important energy source for the adenosine triphosphate production during sport participation. Muscles cells of children are opened for glucose trasnport without the need for insulin. This decrease vlood glucose and become problematic for diabetic kids. If glucose is too low = hypoglycaemic episode, but if too high = hyperglycaemic episode. Both may lead to death.
Hypoglycaemic (LOW) episodes - sudden onset, rapid heart rate, sweating, shaking, dizziness and unconsciousness. Provide sugary foods such as jelly beans or red frogs. Further food is then encouraged
Hyperglycaemic (HIGH) episodes occur slowly. Experience of thirst, vomiting, rapid pulse, rapid breathing, and drowsiness.
MANAGEMENT: Through inslune injections and sugary foods. Individuals with diabetes are encouraged to partciate in regular physical acitivty as it prevents attacks.
Thermoregulation
Temperature of young adults and children need to be monitored closely in sports that are performed in the heat or cold. Considerations such as appropriate clothing, time of day, availability of shade and access to fluid need to be considered to ensure the safety of the child. If not monitored, this can lead to hyperthermia or hypothermia.
For example, a game of soccer that is played on a hot day may break halves into quarters to improve access to fluids. Play earlier in the morning to avoid heat in the middle of the day. If a child were to be participating in snowboarding, appropriate clothing to maintain warmth and an adequate warmup is highly encouraged to prevent injury or sickness.
Hyperthermia: Refers to any heat induced condition such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke. MANAGEMENT: Lie individual in a cool place with circulating air, remove unnecessary clothing, sponge with cool water, provide water and seek medical aid. DRSABCD
Hypothermia is a cold induced condition. MANAGEMENT: DRSABCD. Lie the person down in warm dry place and avoid windy, wet and cold grounds. Remove wet clothing, ensure 000 is contacted and they are coverred with warm drinks.
Appropriateness of resistance training.
There are many myths surrounding resistance training regarding the stunt of growth. Every form of physical activities is no more dangerous than resistance training. If implemented correctly, this may have a positive affect on the child.
IMPLICATIONS: Resistance training increases muscular size, strength, power, and speed. Increase bone strength and help prevent injury. A qualified supervisor is encouraged to instruct in the safe training environment established by training guidelines.
MANAGEMENT: Should be managed by well-trained professionals when being used for children and young athletes. Proper first aid and follow u treatment should be brought upon as fast as possible.
Adult and Aged
Maintaining the components of health are vital to decrease likelihood of development of illnesses. Pre-exisiting health conditions should be monitored and can impact performance capability, and ensuring current health is not minimised.
Heart conditions - Regular exercise is crucial to improve cardiovascular health of an individual who may have experienced heart attack or have a family history of CVD. Physical activity decreases the risk of developing a heart condition.
MANAGEMENT: Moderate intensity physical activity. Strength training programs will also be beneficial. Athletes and aged indivudlas need to monitor feelings of dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath and chest pain. In the case of these events, cease exercise immediately. Before beginning exercise, complete a stress test to check that it is safe to participate in sport and at what intensities are suitable and safe for you.
Golf, cycling, tennis dancing and aerobics are all low intensity, and beneficial as the intensity is modifiable.
Fractures and bone density
Poor bone density limit the sporting choices for indivduals as contact sports should be avoided. Powerful changes in direction can place stress on bones. E.g. rugby due to high impact tackles.
Weight bearing activities such as walking and running have a positive effect on bone density as the weight going through the bone causes physiological adaptation. Resistance training is beneficial as correct technique poses minimal risk to the adult and aged athlete with bone density issues.
Encourages social aspects of health as well as physical. Encourages balance, strength and co-ordination. E.g. Yoga.
Flexibility and joint mobility
Refer to the joint's ability to move through its full range of motion. Flexibility is ofte used to refer to the ROM across multiple joints or the entire body, whilst hoing mobility refers to specific joints.
Decreases the older athletes get and can affect everyday tasks like housework and physical activity. Stretching is vital before and after physical activity. Exercise and relieve arthritis and muscle aches. Decrease flexibility and joint mobility leads to increased injury risk, specifically sprains and strains.
Exercises should begin at low intensities and speeds and gradually increase. For example, an adult may be limited in flexibility and start to participate in yoga at beginners level. Slowly, move up in difficulty according to the instructor. Progression to different positions and balance. Slowly increases flexibility so that participation is optimised
Training programs should be low impact, taking into account possible medical conditions limiting mobility. E.g. swimming are gentle and slow and can assist improving various aspects of their health.
Female Athletes
Various medical issues can have an impact n the perfomance levels of health. Management of menstruation affects haemoglobin and iron levels, decreasing oxygen carrying capacity, intensity levels and motivation.
Under social pressures to look a particular way due to the social construct built around external beauty. This can have a negative impact on mental health, leading to eating disorders, affecting magnesium levels, and poor bone density.
Female Athlete Triad - The relationship between energy availability (eating disorders), menstruation (iron deficiency) and bone density.
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: Updated way to consider the impacts of energy deficiency for female athletes. Identified by reduced performance, excessive fatigue and missed menstrual periods.
Eating Disorders and Iron Deficiency:
Any female is subject to these, however it is very common in gymnastics and dancing, due to external pressure placed on women to look a specific way. Female athletes are more likely to develop eating disorders than men. This can result in bulimia, anorexia, due to social pressures or the results of demand.
Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is caused by decreased nutrient intake and loss of iron through menstruation. Iron is a key nutrient of performance and is required to allow haemoglobin. Calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium are also important in terms of bone density as females have weaker bones then men.
Affect the amount of energy and nutrition available to the female athlete. The lack can affect sports performance and choices for female athlete. They are psychologically driven which manifests the adoption of certain behaviours such as vomiting, starvation and binge eating.
Menstruation
Influenced by energy and nutrient availibility. If a female has no cycle (amenorrhea) then their oestrogen levels are often low which will decrease bone density. If cycle is normal, it can lead to iron deficiency if there are not adequate levels of iron. Working with a nutritionist can help monitor levels of iron and ensure their diet is assisting them to maximise their health.
Will affect training through inability to sustain long durations and the athlete will experience tiredness and low motivation.
Bone density
Bone density is medical measure of the amount of minerals per square centimetre of bone. Key measure to help determine the strength or fragility of the bone.
Impacted by the amount of calcium in the bones. Poor bone density is likely to lead to fractures and diseases such as osteoporosis.
ISSUE: Oestrogen levels drop, leading to lower mineral counts. Calcium intake is important to ensure bone development. Lack of mineral leads to fragility of the bone and makes fractures more likely to occur. Decrease motivation to participate. Can be improved though proper diet, weight bearing and exercise training.
Pregnancy
Highly encouraged to exercise and maintain health. Intensity of exercise must decrease in the third trimester. Exercise is encouraged during cooler parts of the day to avoid placing stress on developing foetus. Relaxin, can increase causing greater flexibility. Leading to greater range of joints.
Dashpoints
Core Question
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