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In the largest study describing the link between participation in football and the likelihood of a reported diagnosis of Parkinson’s, Researchers at the BU CTE Center used a large online dataset of people concerned about having Parkinson’s and found that participants with a history of playing organized football had a 61% greater chance of having a reported diagnosis of Parkinson’s or Parkinson’s.

In this study, the researchers evaluated 1,875 sports participants: 729 men who played football, mainly at the amateur level, and 1,146 men who played non-soccer sports and who served as a control group. Participants took part in Fox Insight, a longitudinal online study of people with and without Parkinson’s, sponsored by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

Notably, researchers found a link between playing football and a greater chance of receiving a diagnosis of parkinsonism or Parkinson’s, even after taking into account known risk factors for Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, the data revealed that players with longer careers and who played at higher levels of competition were more likely to have a reported diagnosis of parkinsonism or Parkinson’s. Football players who played at the college or professional level had a 2.93 higher odds of receiving a PD diagnosis compared to those who just played at the youth or high school level. The age of first exposure to football was not associated with the likelihood of having a reported parkinsonism or Parkinson’s diagnosis.

“Playing tackle football could be a contributing risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, especially among people already at risk due to other factors (e.g. family history). However, the reasons for this relationship are not clear and we also know that not everyone who plays tackle football will develop neurological disorders later in life, meaning that many other risk factors are at play,” says corresponding author Michael L. Alosco, PhD, associate professor of neurology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

The researchers also emphasized that they compared the football players to another group of athletes, a notable strength of the study. Furthermore, most participants played tackle football exclusively at the amateur level, which contrasts with most research to date that has focused on professional athletes.

“Previous research has focused on the association between American football and the risk of CTE. But similar to what has been historically seen in boxers, American football could also influence the risk of other neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease,” says Hannah Bruce , MSc, first. author and research specialist at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

The researchers acknowledge several limitations to their findings and caution that the work is still preliminary. It was a convenience sample of people who were enriched for having Parkinson’s disease and who were largely white, limiting the generalizability of the findings. Parkinson’s diagnosis was also self-reported by participants via online assessments, but no objective in-person evaluations were conducted.

This work was in collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the sponsor of Fox Insight. The Fox Insight study was used to collect and aggregate the data used in this manuscript. Grant funding also came from NINDS (U54NS115266; K23NS102399).

Although the device has not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it could fill an important niche among athletes, doctors, trainers and coaches concerned about the long-term effects of repeated sports-related concussions. These include chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.

The headset — patented by UCSF and licensed by MindRhythm, a medical technology company — recorded changes in what the researchers call “headpulse,” which are subtle forces exerted on the skull as the heart contracts.

The researchers observed how the device performed in 101 young adults who played Australian Rules Football and had suffered 44 concussions. The results appeared on August 11, 2023 JAMA network opened.

On average, the changes detected by the headset lasted twelve days longer than the players’ symptoms.

“We found a mismatch between the symptoms and the changes in biometrics recorded by the device,” said Cathra Halabi, MD, of the UCSF Department of Neurology and the Weill Institute for Neurosciences, the study’s first author. “This raises concerns about relying on symptoms for return-to-play decisions. Delays may be recommended for symptom-free athletes if head pulse abnormalities persist.”

Researchers said the headset should be used in conjunction with medical expertise.

“We believe it can provide crucial objective biometric measurements that can be used by athletes and medical professionals to decide when to return to play,” said senior author Wade S. Smith, MD, PhD, chief of the UCSF Neurovascular Division and co -author. founder of MindRhythm. “The headset is also used to monitor athletes afterwards to ensure measures remain within the normal range.”

Concussion is at risk when physical activity is resumed

Exercising with a concussion puts the brain at increased risk of damage. “There is a rare condition called second impact syndrome, where a second concussion shortly afterward can cause almost immediate brain death,” Smith said.

More commonly, playing sports with a concussion can result in an increased risk of subsequent brain injury, due to symptoms such as slowed reaction time, impaired balance, or impaired vision.

“Recurrent concussions that occur in close succession can lead to more debilitating symptoms that last longer, keeping athletes out of the game,” Halabi said.

Although the headset was tested in young adults, its use may eventually be expanded to minors. MindRhythm hopes to receive FDA approval within a year, says co-founder and CEO John Keane. “The plan is to make the technology available to the medical community, with the most likely areas of interest being sports medicine and concussion clinics,” he said.

Concussed athletes may be able to record their own biometric measurements, the researchers noted. Doctors or sports trainers would monitor the data remotely and provide advice on when it is safe to resume sports and other physical activities.

Dynamic versus static stretching are two common methods for warming up and improving flexibility, but they serve different purposes and are best suited for different situations. Understanding the right type of stretching before and after activity is essential to improve performance and prevent injuries. When young athletes engage in physical activity, they are often encouraged by coaches and parents to stretch prior to the activity. The aim is to prepare the muscles for exercise and reduce the risk of injuries.

Preparing the body for physical activity

A thorough warm-up is intended to prepare the body for physical activity by:

• Increase in core body temperature
• Stimulates blood flow to the arms and legs
• Improving coordinated movement
• Improving range of motion
• Develop body awareness of joint position sense and movement
• Using movement to increase the flexibility of muscles and tendons

Dynamic stretching:

1. Goal: Dynamic stretching involves moving your muscles and joints through a range of motion to increase blood flow, warm up your body, and prepare your muscles and joints for physical activity. It is usually used as part of a warm-up routine before exercise or vigorous exercise.
2. Technology: Dynamic stretching exercises are performed by actively moving your limbs and muscles without assuming a static position. These stretches mimic the movements you perform during your activity. Examples include leg swings, arm circles, walking lunges, high knees and butt kicks.
3. Advantages:
   • Increases blood flow and heart rate.
   • Improves joint mobility and flexibility.
   • Improves neuromuscular coordination.
   • Prepares your body for more intense activities.
   • Reduces the risk of injuries by increasing muscle elasticity.

Static stretching:

1. Goal: Static stretching is used to improve overall flexibility and lengthen muscles. It involves holding a stretched position for an extended period of time, usually 15-30 seconds or more, without any bouncing or dynamic movement. It is often used for a post-exercise cooldown or as part of a general flexibility routine.
2. Technology: Static stretching involves stretching a specific muscle or muscle group to the point of mild discomfort and holding the position without movement. Common static stretches include touching your toes while sitting, stretching your calf against a wall or a standing quad stretch.
3. Advantages:
   • Increases flexibility and range of motion.
   • Helps with muscle relaxation and stress reduction.
   • It can relieve muscle pain and tension.
   • Promotes better posture and body awareness.
   • Best suited for cooldown or recovery after exercise.

To design dynamic stretching programs:

• Exercise continuously, usually in rounds for a total of 10-15 minutes
• Vary the program depending on the athlete’s level
• Start slow and progress to faster and more advanced movements
• Avoid movements that are too intense and tire the muscles.
• Take in the whole body and imitate movements used in specific sports

To design static stretching programs:

• Stay in one position per muscle group
• Hold the stretch for 20-30 seconds
• Repeat the stretch 2-3 times per muscle group
• Treat all muscle groups used in the specific sport

When should you use dynamic versus static stretching?

Dynamic stretching: Use dynamic stretching as part of your warm-up routine before activities that require strength, speed or agility. It is especially useful for sports such as basketball, football or sprinting, which require explosive movements. Dynamic stretching ensures that your muscles and joints are ready for the demands of such activities.

Static stretching: Reserve static stretching for after your workout or as a separate flexibility routine. It helps improve overall flexibility and can be useful for activities such as yoga or Pilates. Static stretching can also be beneficial for relaxation and stress reduction.

Remember that stretching should be done safely and should not cause pain or discomfort. It is essential to warm up your body before doing static stretches to prevent injuries. Incorporating both dynamic and static stretching into your fitness routine can help you maintain optimal flexibility and reduce the risk of injury during physical activities.

For help designing a stretching program, contact a Foothills Sports Medicine Clinic near you and schedule an appointment.

General information

Post-stroke patients with motor dysfunction who were hospitalized in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of our hospital from January 1, 2020 to January 1, 2022, aged 50 to 70 years old, were selected.

Inclusion criteria: [12] ① The patient met the diagnostic criteria for stroke established at the Fourth National Academic Conference on Cerebrovascular Diseases in 1995, [13, 14] and stroke was diagnosed as the primary disease on CT or MRI. ② The time between disease onset and enrollment ranged from two weeks to three months. ③ The patient’s vital signs were stable and the patient was conscious, able to understand the instructions and cooperate with the rehabilitation training. ④ The patient’s score on the Kinesthetic and Visual Imagery Questionnaire (KVIQ) was ≥ 25 points. ⑤ The patient signed the required informed consent form. ⑥ Age between 50 and 70 years.

Exclusion criteria: [14] ① The patient suffered from severe cardiac, hepatic or renal insufficiency, a malignant tumor, etc. ② The patient suffered from impaired consciousness, aphasia, mental disorder or severe cognitive impairment. ③ The patient has had other craniocerebral diseases or traumatic sequelae in the past. ④ The patient has previous severe osteoarticular disorders causing abnormal trunk function.

Finally, a total of 100 patients with stroke and motor dysfunction were included, and they were divided into a control group and a trial group according to the random number table, with 50 cases in each group. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in general data such as gender, age, disease course and KVIQ between the two groups, and they were comparable. See Table 1 for details. This study was approved by the local ethics committee (approval number: 2018-ethical review-189) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided written informed consent.

Treatment methods

The patients in the control group underwent routine rehabilitation therapy and remained in the supine position in the same environment for the same amount of time as the combined trunk motor imagery therapy. Meanwhile, the trial group received both routine rehabilitation therapy and combined trunk motor imagery therapy.

Routine rehabilitation therapy

The training included proper limb positioning, neuromuscular promotion techniques, such as the proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique (PNF), Rood’s approach, motor relearning, occupational therapy, daily living training and traditional therapy. The participants received routine rehabilitation therapy for five hours a day, five times a week, for a period of four weeks.

Motor image therapy

The motor imagery therapy training consisted of six steps: [4, 14] ① Illustration of the task: The therapist first demonstrated and explained the content of the imagery training, asking the patients to carefully observe and identify which part of the limb was ‘active’, what kind of movement was to be performed, and the normal movement to master. feeling. ② Preview: Patients were asked to re-imagine the relevant movements. ③ Motor imagery: Patients listened to the motor imagery instruction tape and practiced the imagery. ④ Rehabilitation training: the patients repeatedly practiced the movements of imagery training. ⑤ Problem solving: The patients learned relevant skills through repeated practice. ⑥ Practical application: the patients convert relevant skills into practical skills. Before the motor images, a video of a normal person’s trunk movements was shown, including stable trunk movements with a Bobath ball, and balance movements while sitting, standing, and reaching to move a water cup. The 10-minute video and audio were shown to patients via a computer in a quiet treatment room. During each training session, patients were instructed to close their eyes and sit on a comfortable chair with their bodies relaxed. The patients then imagined the movement of their body based on the specific motor imagery instructions in the video. During the treatment, the therapist occasionally interrupted the patients to ask questions, to see if they could concentrate on the images of the physical movement. At the end of the session, the patients were asked to refocus their attention on their surroundings, after which they were sent back to their room and asked to feel their physical being. The patients were then asked to pay attention to the environmental sounds. Finally, the narrator counted down from 10 to 1, and the patients were asked to open their eyes when the countdown reached 1. A motor imagery video was shown only during the first treatment, after which the patients underwent motor imagery training according to the motor imagery. guidelines for imagery. The motor imagery therapy sessions were conducted for 30 minutes each, with a frequency of five times per week, for a total of four weeks.

Observation indicators and evaluation methods

The evaluation of the patient’s trunk control was performed before treatment and four weeks after treatment using Sheikh trunk control evaluation. The simple Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), the Berg rating scale (BBS), and the balance feedback trainer were used to evaluate the motor and balance functions of the patients. In addition, before and after treatment, the sEMG signals of the bilateral erector spinae and rectus abdominis in the maximum flexion and extension range at a uniform speed under the sitting position were measured by sEMG signals. All evaluations were performed in a blinded manner by the same evaluator.

Sheik Hull Check Evaluation

Sheikh is a scale for evaluating the ability to control the trunk. It involves four movements: turning from the supine position to the hemiplegic side, turning to the healthy side, sitting upright from the supine position and maintaining balance in a sitting position on the bed. The scoring method is: 0 points for non-completion, 12 points for completion but needing some assistance (grasping or leaning on an object), and 25 points for normal completion. A higher total score indicates better trunk control.

BBS rating

The balance function is divided into 14 items, from easy to difficult, and each item is scored based on a five-point scale: 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4. The highest score is 4 points and the lowest score is 0 points. . The highest integral score is 56 points, the lowest is 0 points. The higher the score, the better the balance function.

Evaluation of motor functions

FMA is used to evaluate motor function in patients. The highest score is 100. The higher the score, the better the patients’ motor functioning will be.

Evaluation of balance feedback training equipment

The ProKin 254P (PK-254P) balance feedback training device, manufactured by TecnoBody Ltd., Italy, was used to test the postural stability of the patients. Stability tests were performed in standing position with eyes open using the static mode of the PK-254P balancer. The standard standing posture includes: ① Bilaterally symmetrical standing with A1A5 as central axis. ② The patients raise their heads and look straight ahead. ③ Both upper limbs are naturally placed on either side of the body. ④ The medial edges of both feet are 10 cm apart and the highest point of the bilateral arches is on axis A3A5. Observation parameters are as follows: movement length, movement area, mean front-back movement speed, and mean left-right movement speed.

sEMG signal acquisition

While the patients are seated on a square stool, their trunk is subjected to anterior flexion and posterior extension in the maximum range at uniform velocity. The Shanghai NCC 8-channel sEMG signal acquisition system was used to acquire the bilateral erector spinae and rectus abdominis myoelectric signals. The electrodes were taped to the 3 cm lateral opening on the left and right sides of the L3 spinous process (erector spinae) and the 3 cm lateral opening on the left and right sides 3 cm above the navel (rectus abdominis). The conductive diameter of the electrodes was 1 cm and the distance between the electrodes was 2 cm. Dandruff and oil were removed with a fine gauze and alcohol before testing. The root mean square (RMS) of myoelectric signals was then analyzed. The test was repeated three times with an interval of 30 seconds to obtain the average value. The RMS of the bilateral rectus abdominis and erector spinae of the two groups was evaluated before treatment and four weeks after treatment.

static analysis

SPSS software version 16.0 was used to analyze the data. The measurement data is expressed as (\(\bar x \pm s\)). Parametric statistics were applied when the data collected met the assumptions of homogeneity of variance and normal distribution. When these assumptions were not met, non-parametric statistics were used. The paired sample T-test was used for pre- and post-treatment comparison within the same group, while the independent sample T-test was used for between-group comparison, and P< 0.05 indicated that the difference was statistically significant.