JOURNAL WATCH

EFFECTS OF LEFT- OR RIGHT-HAND PREFERENCE ON THE SUCCESS OF BOXERS IN TURKEY. Gursoy R. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008;42:142–144

The study was based on a sample of 22

active, semi-professional or amateur male boxers who had been actively boxing for 4–15 years (mean 9.87

years), were aged 17–46 years (mean 32.25 years) and weighed 65–101 kg (mean 81.06 kg). They were divided into groups depending on their prominent hand. The status of left- or right-handedness was determined using the Oldfield (Edinburgh Handedness Inventory) Index. This asks the prevalence of how often each hand is used in writing, throwing, using scissors, using a knife (without a fork), using a spoon, using a computer mouse and striking a match.

The boxers were then categorised into two groups (win and defeat). The left-handed boxers had been involved in 75–800 fights (mean 120.6 fights), with 5–79 fights lost (mean 19.32 fights). The right-handed boxers had been involved in 50–820 fights (mean 127.8 fights),

with 23–78 fights lost (mean 42.25 fights). Left-handed boxers were found to be more successful than right-handed boxers.

sportEX comment The authors concluded that left-handed people should never be forced to “convert”

to right-handedness. Instead, they should be supported both verbally and in terms of their equipment, and they should be motivated, because the data obtained proved that left- handedness means success, especially in boxing. This is fair enough, except that it does not state whether the boxers are fighting similar-handed opponents, which may make a difference.

CRICKET BALL INJURY: A CAUSE OF SYMPTOMATIC MUSCLE HERNIA OF THE LEG. Gupta RK, Singh D, Kansay R, Singh H. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2008;42:1002– 1003

A 26-year-old male professional cricketer was injured by the direct hit of a high-speed cricket ball while trying to stop the ball with his

leg. He was treated with application of ice, analgesics, rest and a compression bandage for the first 24 hours, followed by analgesics and then a compression bandage. The symptoms of acute injury were over in 3–4 weeks. In the subsequent matches he reported acute pain in the leg after 2–3 hours of activity, which prevented further participation in the game. Over the next 2 years the patient was treated by different sports physicians and orthopaedic surgeons. He had numerous investigations, including plain radiography, a bone scan, coloured Doppler and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lumbar spine, none of which identified a problem. His symptoms worsened and he started getting an unbearable pain in the leg after walking for 400–500 m. Eventually he was seen by the authors, who noted a subtle swelling on resisted dorsiflexion and suspected a muscle hernia. Surgery discovered a deep facial defect, which was treated by fasciotomy, and the player made a full recovery. Unfortunately, so much time had elapsed that his professional career was over.

sportEX comment Another case study. Such studies tend to be discounted as being at the bottom of

the evidence pecking order, but they are excellent sources of information for practitioners, especially with rare cases. Fascial problems are often overlooked by clinicians, who focus on larger structures visible on the various scans. Soft-tissue therapists, however, know better. Speak up! The delay in diagnosis cost this player his livelihood.

6 MASSAGE AFTER

EXERCISE-RESPONSES OF IMMUNOLOGIC AND ENDOCRINE MARKERS: A RANDOMIZED SINGLE-BLIND

PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY.

Arroyo-Morales M, Olea N, Ruiz C, et al. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 2009 (to be published)

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of massage on endocrine and immune functions of healthy active volunteers after intense exercise. After repeated Wingate cycle tests, the effects of whole-body massage and placebo on salivary cortisol, immunoglobulin A (IgA) and total protein levels were compared using a between- group design. Sixty healthy active subjects (23 women, 37 men) underwent two exercise protocol sessions at least 2 weeks apart and at the same time of day. The first session familiarised participants with the protocol. In the second session, after a baseline measurement, subjects performed a standardised warm-up followed by three 30-second Wingate tests.

After active recovery, subjects

were randomly allocated to massage (40-minute myofascial induction) or placebo (40-minute sham electrotherapy) group. Saliva samples were taken before and after the exercise protocols and after recovery. In both groups, the exercise protocol induced a significant increase in cortisol, decrease in salivary IgA (sIgA), and increase in total proteins in saliva. Generalised estimating equations showed a significant effect of massage on sIgA rate, a tendency towards significant effect on salivary total protein levels, and no effect on salivary flow rate or salivary cortisol. The sIgA secretion rate was higher after the recovery intervention than at baseline among women in the massage group but similar to baseline levels among women in the placebo group.

sportEX comment The evidence base for the efficacy

of massage grows and grows. This article shows that massage may favour recovery from the transient immunosuppression state. It is of particular value between high-intensity training sessions or competitions on the same day.

sportEX dynamics 2009;20(Apr):4-6