Evolving peak period,match movement,and performance demands in elite women’s Australian football

ObjectivesGiven the dearth of research available on the elite women’s Australian football (AFLW) competition, this study aimed to observe the position-specific peak movement demands of AFLW players and assess whether any seasonal changes have occurred in movement- or performance-based metrics over the initial three years of competition.DesignObservational longitudinal design.MethodsData were collected on one team across the initial three seasons of the AFLW competition. Global position system units were used to obtain the movement demands while performance metrics were obtained from an external statistical provider. Peak movement demands were determined using a rolling period analysis of 1?10 min durations. Mixed models were used to assess the influence of season and position on movement- and performance-based metrics.ResultsPeak period high speed running (HSR, >14.4 km/h), but not total distance (TD), differed between playing positions, with midfielders covering the greatest peak period movements (p < 0.01). No seasonal changes were observed for peak periods of TD or HSR for any positions. Various mean running movements observed seasonal changes and positional differences (p < 0.01), albeit with small effect sizes. No performance-based metric differed by position. Seasonal changes were observed for handballs and uncontested possessions only (p < 0.01), with trivial effect sizes.ConclusionsThe small differences in on-field movement patterns and performance characteristics of AFLW players observed across seasons and between positional groups gives confidence that practitioners can continue to prescribe whole team rather than position-specific movement and technical training. External factors such as modification to competition structure and rules, or a change in team focus, may mask developments in this competition and warrants continued investigation.     

Osteomyelitis, acute and chronic

In certain patient populations, osteomyelitis is a significant clinical problem. The judicious use of plain film radiographs and radionuclide bone imaging by the imaging consultant has a critical role in the early detection and diagnosis of osteomyelitis. This complementary imaging approach produces the highest and greatest accuracy in the documentation of skeletal infections. Inadvertent delay in the initiation of appropriate therapy can be obviated utilizing these imaging techniques and undue morbidity averted.     

Predictive modelling of the physical demands during training and competition in professional soccer players

ObjectivesThe present study aimed to predict the cut-off point-values that best differentiate the physical demands of training and competition tasks including friendly matches (FM), small sided games (SSG), large sided games (LSG), mini-goal games (MG) and ball circuit-training (CT) in professional soccer players.DesignExperimental randomized controlled trial.MethodsFourteen professional players participated in all tasks with the CT, SSG and MG consisting of 8 repetitions of 4-min game play, interspersed by 2-min of active recovery. The training data were compared to the first 32-min of the LSG and two competitive FM per player. All movement patterns from walking to sprint running were recorded using 10 Hz GPS devices while player perception of exertion was recorded via a visual analogue scale, post-task. Decision tree induction was applied to the dataset to assess the cut-off point-values from four training drills (SSG, LSG, MG, and CT) and FM for every parameter combination.ResultsDistance covered during jogging (2.3–3.3 m/s; >436 m), number of decelerations (≤730.5) and accelerations (≤663), and maximum velocity reached (>5.48 m/s) characterized the physical demands during competition (FM) with great variability amongst training drills.ConclusionThe use of these novel, cut-off points may aid coaches in the design and use of training drills to accurately prepare athletes for soccer competition.     

Attenuation of acute and chronic pulmonary emboli

PURPOSE: To compare retrospectively the attenuation coefficients of acute and chronic pulmonary embolism (PE). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained, and informed consent was waived. The study was compliant with requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. All patients with chronic PE, from July 2001 to January 2004, were identified via a radiology report search system; of the 39 identified, 25 were excluded because the thrombi were too small to measure or were obscured by streak artifacts or because there was no corroborative evidence of chronic PE. Of 27 consecutive patients with acute PE who were also identified, two were excluded because of streak artifacts. The final study group included six women and eight men with chronic PE (mean age, 50 years; range, 26-76 years) and 11 women and 14 men with acute PE (mean age, 61 years; range, 33-83 years) (P = .01 for age). Images were acquired with a four-detector row computed tomographic scanner and 1.25-mm collimation. Two readers made independent attenuation measurements of the largest thrombus in each patient at a workstation. Statistical analysis included calculation of means and standard deviations, the t test, and the Bland-Altman test. RESULTS: Reader 1 found mean attenuation of 90 HU +/- 30 (range, 54-155 HU) for chronic PE and 33 HU +/- 15 (range, 6-63 HU) for acute PE (P < .001). Reader 2 found mean attenuation measurements of 83 HU +/- 32 (range, 32-135 HU) for chronic PE and 33 HU +/- 14 (range, 13-65 HU) for acute PE (P < .001). The mean attenuation for both readers was 33 HU for acute PE (95% confidence interval: 26, 41 HU) and 87 HU for chronic PE (95% confidence interval: 66, 107 HU). The Bland-Altman test demonstrated agreement between readers. CONCLUSION: The mean attenuation measurement in chronic PE is significantly higher than in acute PE.