Mukherjee, Swarup

Body composition is an important aspect of soccer fitness. There is a dearth of longitudinal data on the intraseasonal variation in the body composition parameters of youth professional soccer players especially of Asian origin. This study assessed the body composition profile of the Asian youth professional soccer players (n=20; Mean ± SD, age 17.5 ± 0.3 years, stature 1.73 ± 0.04 m, body mass 67.2 ± 7.5 kg) through the entire season. Body mass, percentage body fat (% BF), lean body mass (LBM) and bone mineral density (BMD) of outfield youth professional soccer players was determined using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) during the pre-season, early in-season and end mid-season respectively. Results showed that the Asian youth professional soccer players had similar anthropometric characteristics compared to Asian adult elite players but were shorter and lighter than European youth players. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in the % BF and a significant increase (p < 0.05) in LBM during the pre-season period. However, negative adaptations during the competition phase indicated that training and competition load was insufficient to improve or maintain the adaptations in the % BF and LBM. The whole body BMD significantly increased through the soccer season. Area-specific BMD of the pelvis and the lower limbs showed positive osteogenic adaptations during the soccer season. Our results showed that the body composition parameters of Asian youth professional soccer players change through the soccer season. Such data can expand the bases of comparison between different soccer playing populations and add to the prospects of research on soccer performance. Further studies on the effect of body composition parameters on different aspects of soccer performance are desirable.

This study was a prospective epidemiological investigation of upper limb injuries during the Men’s Field Hockey Junior World Cup 2009. 324 players were observed in 58 matches of the tournament. 28 upper limb-related injuries were documented. The injury incidence was 0.48 per match and 19 per 1000 match hours. Most injuries were due to contact with the ball and left hand was the most commonly injured part. Contusion was the commonest type of injury. The odds ratio for hand and wrist injuries in players not wearing gloves was 4.01(95% CI, 0.52-30.62) and the relative risk of hand and wrist injuries in players wearing gloves was 0.26 (95% CI, 0.03-1.92). Male youth hockey players are at a high risk of upper limb especially hand and wrist injuries during major international tournaments and that use of protective gloves can provide significant protection against hand and wrist injuries in the sport.

A 12-week randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of an education and exercise-based programme among competitive youth volleyball athletes. Forty-five participants were randomized into intervention (n = 23) and control groups (n = 22). The intervention group attended the “Education program for youth athletes” in Week 1 and the “Exercise program” over 12 weeks. The education programme improved participants’ knowledge scores concerning overuse injuries and the growth and maturation process during adolescence from baseline to Week 12 (p = .001). The exercise programme improved shoulder internal rotation range of motion after 12 weeks (p < .001). No significant improvements were observed for eccentric shoulder external rotation strength and thoracic rotation range of motion following the exercise programme in the intervention group. The education and exercise-based programme improved knowledge regarding overuse injuries and the adolescence growth process and shoulder internal rotation range of motion among youth volleyball athletes.

The four principal aims for the funded research were- (i) to elucidate the prevalence of physical activity and inactivity of Singaporean adolescent youths; (ii) to explain the relationships between physical activity, inactivity and metabolic syndrome and academic performance among Singaporean adolescents and (iii) to examine if 60 minutes of accumulated physical activity was sufficient to prevent insulin insensitivity among Singaporean adolescents and (iv) to examine the results of an intervention programme- PRIDE for PLAY- in raising the physical activity of adolescents in school.

The anthropometric and blood parameters of 229 Singaporean adolescent youths, aged 13–15 recruited from seven secondary schools, were examined. Out of these youths, 71.5% were of healthy weight, 14.7% were underweight, 8.9% were overweight and 4.9% were obese, based on the BMI-for-age for adolescents set by the Ministry of Education. Health measurements like waist circumference, resting blood pressure and blood parameters—triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, blood glucose derived from a fasted state, and insulin resistance—were obtained in accordance to standard international protocols. Clustered metabolic risk was used to quantify participants who were at significant risk of metabolic syndrome. Twenty-seven or 11.8% were identified as at-risk of metabolic syndrome CMR was significantly associated with body mass, waist circumference, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasted blood triglyceride, and fasted blood glucose. CMR was also moderately associated with IR. Waist circumference, percentage of body fat, and blood triglycerides and resting blood pressure were significantly correlated with IR. From the study, it was found that poor metabolic health is a concern among adolescent youths in Singapore, not only in those who were overweight or obese, but also in those who are of normal weight and underweight.

The purpose of this project was to utilise global-positioning system (GPS) technology to understand the physical demands of youth international field hockey. Methods: Sixteen male field hockey players (age 17.1 ± 0.6 y, stature 165 ± 11 cm, body mass 63.3 ± 6.6 kg, estimated VO2max, 52.6 ± 5.3 ml/kg/min) were investigated while competing in 6 matches at the 2011 Boy’s Under-18 Asia Cup. Each player wore a GPS unit during competition to track his movement. These movements were classified as either low-speed activity (<4.17 m/s) or high-speed activity (>4.17 m/s). Positional differences were analysed using magnitude-based Cohen’s effect size with modified qualitative descriptors. Results: Forwards covered the most distance per minute across total distance, low-speed activity and high-speed activity in the 6 youth international field hockey matches. For high-speed activity there was a “Large” difference between the Defenders and Midfielders and a “Very Large” difference between the Defenders and Forwards. Conclusion: In youth international field hockey, Forwards cover the greatest amount of distance and carry out the most high-speed activity, while Defenders perform the least amount of high-speed activity. This suggests that these playing positions are sufficiently different to warrant specialised positional training.

Aim Population-specific waist circumference (WC) percentiles are crucial for screening children at higher obesity-related metabolic risk. This study aimed to develop age- and gender-specific WC percentile curves for Singaporean children and adolescents. Methods 3029 participants (boys, 1506; girls, 1523) from different population strata of Singapore were recruited. Stature, weight and WC were measured and BMI calculated. Smoothed WC percentile curves and cut-offs for the 3rd, 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 85th, 90th, 95th, 97th were constructed using the Cole's LMS method. Results WC and BMI increased with age in both sexes and boys had higher WC than girls at every age. Comparison of 50th and 90th percentiles with other populations showed distinct difference in WC curve patterns and values of Singaporean children. Conclusions We present the first working WC percentile curves and age- and gender-specific cut-offs of Singaporean children and adolescents. These cut-offs and curves can serve as valuable reference for screening and identify children at a higher metabolic risk, for international comparisons and to better understand secular trends in paediatric obesity.

This study aimed to describe contemporary technology use, especially smartphones and tablets (mobile touch screen devices), and examine associations with musculoskeletal symptoms and visual health among adolescents in Singapore. A representative sample of 1884 adolescents (50.4% girls) from grades primary 5 to post-secondary (10–18 years old), recruited from 13 schools, completed an online questionnaire in class. Total technology use was high, with smartphone duration being highest (mean = 264 [SD = 243] min/day). Patterns of use, including multitasking and bout length, were influenced by gender, school level, type of device and activities. Musculoskeletal discomfort and visual symptoms were commonly reported. After adjusting for potential confounders, more hours/day of smartphone use was associated with increased risk of neck/shoulders, upper back, arms and wrist/hand discomfort (OR = 1.04[95%CI = 1.01–1.07] to 1.07[1.03–1.10]) and visual symptoms (OR = 1.05[1.02–1.08]), but was associated with decreased odds of myopia (OR = 0.97[0.94–0.99]). No significant associations were found for tablet use.