Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac disease, usually asymptomatic for a lo... more Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac disease, usually asymptomatic for a long time. BAV has an incidence of 0.9% to 2% in the general population [1] as well as in competitive athletes [2], with strong male prevalence [2, 3]. As a congenital cardiac disease, BAV can be associated in different percentage with other aortic abnormalities, including aortic dilatation [4, 5], coartaction [6], and acute dissection[7] and other cardiovascular malformations like mitral valve prolapsed interventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus [8] Despite the progressive enlargement with age of the aortic tract in BAV has been confirmed from several authors [9] either in general population or in athletes, a new interesting aspect regarding the possible involvement of the myocardial structure of the left ventricle chamber is recently emerging. Anyway t he natural history of BAV is not yet completely clarified. The natural course of BAV results to be more interesting mainly ...
Purpose: The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max are currently used to evaluate the athlete’s pe... more Purpose: The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max are currently used to evaluate the athlete’s performance while the Aerobic Threshold (AerT). (for blood lactate of 2 mmol/litre). has been recently used. The aim of this study it is to compare VO2 max, AT and AerT of different sports. Methods: A group of 41 athletes (16 soccer. 10 basket and 15cyclists) and 9 healthy subjects were submitted to a Cardio Pulmonary Test (CPT). The AerT. AT (in three different methods: V-slope, Ventilatory Equivalents, Respiratory Exchange Ratio) and VO2max were evaluated. The statistical analysis was performed with T student test (P< 0.05 significant). Results: The AT values. were in athletes statistically different vs controls. On the contrary the AerT values were higher only in the cyclist group. Conclusions: The results confirm the consistency of the methods to calculate the AT. Only in cyclist the AerT measure seems to give an additional information in evaluating the cardiovascular performance. T...
Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality... more Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality of life in people practising this one. Epidemiological clinical and laboratory studies have in fact provided many evidences on capacities of Physical Exercise to reduce morbidity and mortality in several diseases. Although only few Italian and European people regularly follow this program and therefore it remains the main issue on behalf of the health institutions. The physical exercise “as prescription”, requires a careful medical evaluation and a specific recommendation in terms of intensity and quantity. At the same time it is also important to inform every patients how to maintain or to regain their health and physical efficiency, and to avoid the activities that could be contraindicated. This matter is a peculiar competence on behalf of Sport Medicine discipline. Material and methods. At our Sport Medicine Center University of Florence-Italy, it has been recently appointed a plan t...
Background. The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max the basic parameters used to evaluate the at... more Background. The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max the basic parameters used to evaluate the athlete’s performance. More recently the role of Aerobic Threshold (AerT), corresponding to blood lactate of 2 mmol/litre and identified as the first cleft in the ventilatory curve of the cardiopulmonary test ( CPT), is not yet clarified. The aim of this study it is to compare VO2 max, AT and AerT in three different kinds of sport with the same dynamic load. Materials and Methods. A group of 41 athletes (16 soccer players, 10 professionals basket players and 15cyclists) were studied with a maximal CPT. The AerT, AT and VO2max were evaluated. Particularly for the AT, three different methods V-slope, Ventilatory Equivalents, Respiratory Exchange Ratio were used. The statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA test and a P value <.05 was considered significant. Results. The AT data, obtained in three methods, were substantially in overlapping; anyway there have been demonstrated higher v...
Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality... more Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality of life in people practising this one. Epidemiological clinical and laboratory studies have in fact provided many evidences on capacities of Physical Exercise to reduce morbidity and mortality in several diseases. Although only few Italian and European people regularly follow this program and therefore it remains the main issue on behalf of the health institutions. The physical exercise “as prescription”, requires a careful medical evaluation and a specific recommendation in terms of intensity and quantity. At the same time it is also important to inform every patients how to maintain or to regain their health and physical efficiency, and to avoid the activities that could be contraindicated. This matter is a peculiar competence on behalf of Sport Medicine discipline. Material and methods. At our Sport Medicine Center University of Florence-Italy, it has been recently appointed a plan t...
Background: Heart rate (HR, express in bpm) is normally used to quantify and establish the intens... more Background: Heart rate (HR, express in bpm) is normally used to quantify and establish the intensity of the training. Oxygen pulse , that is the ratio between oxygen uptake (VO2) and HR (measured as ml/bpm/kg), is normally used during exercise to asses the stroke volume. Both they increase progressively with the max O2 consumption (VO2max) and therefore with the intensity of the effort. Normally the degree of the intensity of the physical exercise derived indirectly from the Anaerobic threshold (AT approximately around 70% VO2max ) and Aerobic threshold (AerT approximately 40% of the VO2max ) level. The study was aimed to verify among three different kinds of sport, any possible dissimilarities of the HR level in comparison with the intensity the effort. Methods: Three groups of athletes (16 soccer, 10 basket and 15cyclists) and 9 healthy subjects, as control group, were submitted to a Cardio Pulmonary Test. AerT, AT, VO2max, O2 pulse and HR corresponding at three different levels o...
Medicina dello sport; rivista di fisiopatologia dello sport
E’ noto come l’esercizio fisico rappresenti il più efficace metodo di prevenzione primaria e seco... more E’ noto come l’esercizio fisico rappresenti il più efficace metodo di prevenzione primaria e secondaria nei confronti di molte patologie, disfunzioni e sindromi degenerative. La conoscenza degli effetti dell’attività fisica, fanno dell’esercizio fisico un importante presidio terapeutico indicato non solo per il mantenimento di una buona efficienza fisica, ma anche per la prevenzione e la cura di molte patologie. Nonostante ciò, oggi solo una minoranza della popolazione italiana ed europea, pratica in modo regolare un’attività fisica. La Medicina dello Sport ha tra i suoi obiettivi principali quello di creare nei confronti della popolazione generale un reale interesse verso l’attività fisica inserita all’interno del proprio stile di vita. Attività fisica che, al pari di un farmaco, può avere bisogno di una valutazione medica e di una precisa prescrizione in termini di intensità e quantità per ogni singola tipologia di utente. E’ importante anche che ciascun individuo sia a conoscenza...
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by "n... more Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by "noncaseating granulomas" in different organs. Clinical signs are variable and dependent on the organ involved. Although it is often asymptomatic in athletes, considering the high level of athletic performance and the related risks due to the potential heart involvement, a particular diagnostic flow-chart to consider some other diagnoses is required. The present case report aimed to focus on the clinical approach in case of a progressive weakness associated with a reduction in global performance of an athlete. Since October 2008 a 33-year-old Scandinavian professional soccer player has shown splitting headache, fever and impaired exercise tolerance. Despite some clinical aspects and symptoms that could address diagnosis of granulomatosis according to the current guidelines, the first hypothesis was indicative of a possible viral infection. Therefore, the athlete had received a drug-th...
Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac disease, usually asymptomatic for a lo... more Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a common congenital cardiac disease, usually asymptomatic for a long time. BAV has an incidence of 0.9% to 2% in the general population [1] as well as in competitive athletes [2], with strong male prevalence [2, 3]. As a congenital cardiac disease, BAV can be associated in different percentage with other aortic abnormalities, including aortic dilatation [4, 5], coartaction [6], and acute dissection[7] and other cardiovascular malformations like mitral valve prolapsed interventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus [8] Despite the progressive enlargement with age of the aortic tract in BAV has been confirmed from several authors [9] either in general population or in athletes, a new interesting aspect regarding the possible involvement of the myocardial structure of the left ventricle chamber is recently emerging. Anyway t he natural history of BAV is not yet completely clarified. The natural course of BAV results to be more interesting mainly ...
Purpose: The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max are currently used to evaluate the athlete’s pe... more Purpose: The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max are currently used to evaluate the athlete’s performance while the Aerobic Threshold (AerT). (for blood lactate of 2 mmol/litre). has been recently used. The aim of this study it is to compare VO2 max, AT and AerT of different sports. Methods: A group of 41 athletes (16 soccer. 10 basket and 15cyclists) and 9 healthy subjects were submitted to a Cardio Pulmonary Test (CPT). The AerT. AT (in three different methods: V-slope, Ventilatory Equivalents, Respiratory Exchange Ratio) and VO2max were evaluated. The statistical analysis was performed with T student test (P< 0.05 significant). Results: The AT values. were in athletes statistically different vs controls. On the contrary the AerT values were higher only in the cyclist group. Conclusions: The results confirm the consistency of the methods to calculate the AT. Only in cyclist the AerT measure seems to give an additional information in evaluating the cardiovascular performance. T...
Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality... more Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality of life in people practising this one. Epidemiological clinical and laboratory studies have in fact provided many evidences on capacities of Physical Exercise to reduce morbidity and mortality in several diseases. Although only few Italian and European people regularly follow this program and therefore it remains the main issue on behalf of the health institutions. The physical exercise “as prescription”, requires a careful medical evaluation and a specific recommendation in terms of intensity and quantity. At the same time it is also important to inform every patients how to maintain or to regain their health and physical efficiency, and to avoid the activities that could be contraindicated. This matter is a peculiar competence on behalf of Sport Medicine discipline. Material and methods. At our Sport Medicine Center University of Florence-Italy, it has been recently appointed a plan t...
Background. The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max the basic parameters used to evaluate the at... more Background. The Anaerobic Threshold (AT) and VO2 max the basic parameters used to evaluate the athlete’s performance. More recently the role of Aerobic Threshold (AerT), corresponding to blood lactate of 2 mmol/litre and identified as the first cleft in the ventilatory curve of the cardiopulmonary test ( CPT), is not yet clarified. The aim of this study it is to compare VO2 max, AT and AerT in three different kinds of sport with the same dynamic load. Materials and Methods. A group of 41 athletes (16 soccer players, 10 professionals basket players and 15cyclists) were studied with a maximal CPT. The AerT, AT and VO2max were evaluated. Particularly for the AT, three different methods V-slope, Ventilatory Equivalents, Respiratory Exchange Ratio were used. The statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA test and a P value <.05 was considered significant. Results. The AT data, obtained in three methods, were substantially in overlapping; anyway there have been demonstrated higher v...
Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality... more Background. It is note that physical activity can improve the general performance and the quality of life in people practising this one. Epidemiological clinical and laboratory studies have in fact provided many evidences on capacities of Physical Exercise to reduce morbidity and mortality in several diseases. Although only few Italian and European people regularly follow this program and therefore it remains the main issue on behalf of the health institutions. The physical exercise “as prescription”, requires a careful medical evaluation and a specific recommendation in terms of intensity and quantity. At the same time it is also important to inform every patients how to maintain or to regain their health and physical efficiency, and to avoid the activities that could be contraindicated. This matter is a peculiar competence on behalf of Sport Medicine discipline. Material and methods. At our Sport Medicine Center University of Florence-Italy, it has been recently appointed a plan t...
Background: Heart rate (HR, express in bpm) is normally used to quantify and establish the intens... more Background: Heart rate (HR, express in bpm) is normally used to quantify and establish the intensity of the training. Oxygen pulse , that is the ratio between oxygen uptake (VO2) and HR (measured as ml/bpm/kg), is normally used during exercise to asses the stroke volume. Both they increase progressively with the max O2 consumption (VO2max) and therefore with the intensity of the effort. Normally the degree of the intensity of the physical exercise derived indirectly from the Anaerobic threshold (AT approximately around 70% VO2max ) and Aerobic threshold (AerT approximately 40% of the VO2max ) level. The study was aimed to verify among three different kinds of sport, any possible dissimilarities of the HR level in comparison with the intensity the effort. Methods: Three groups of athletes (16 soccer, 10 basket and 15cyclists) and 9 healthy subjects, as control group, were submitted to a Cardio Pulmonary Test. AerT, AT, VO2max, O2 pulse and HR corresponding at three different levels o...
Medicina dello sport; rivista di fisiopatologia dello sport
E’ noto come l’esercizio fisico rappresenti il più efficace metodo di prevenzione primaria e seco... more E’ noto come l’esercizio fisico rappresenti il più efficace metodo di prevenzione primaria e secondaria nei confronti di molte patologie, disfunzioni e sindromi degenerative. La conoscenza degli effetti dell’attività fisica, fanno dell’esercizio fisico un importante presidio terapeutico indicato non solo per il mantenimento di una buona efficienza fisica, ma anche per la prevenzione e la cura di molte patologie. Nonostante ciò, oggi solo una minoranza della popolazione italiana ed europea, pratica in modo regolare un’attività fisica. La Medicina dello Sport ha tra i suoi obiettivi principali quello di creare nei confronti della popolazione generale un reale interesse verso l’attività fisica inserita all’interno del proprio stile di vita. Attività fisica che, al pari di un farmaco, può avere bisogno di una valutazione medica e di una precisa prescrizione in termini di intensità e quantità per ogni singola tipologia di utente. E’ importante anche che ciascun individuo sia a conoscenza...
Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by "n... more Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by "noncaseating granulomas" in different organs. Clinical signs are variable and dependent on the organ involved. Although it is often asymptomatic in athletes, considering the high level of athletic performance and the related risks due to the potential heart involvement, a particular diagnostic flow-chart to consider some other diagnoses is required. The present case report aimed to focus on the clinical approach in case of a progressive weakness associated with a reduction in global performance of an athlete. Since October 2008 a 33-year-old Scandinavian professional soccer player has shown splitting headache, fever and impaired exercise tolerance. Despite some clinical aspects and symptoms that could address diagnosis of granulomatosis according to the current guidelines, the first hypothesis was indicative of a possible viral infection. Therefore, the athlete had received a drug-th...
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