JOURNAL WATCH

HUMOUR AND LAUGHTER MAY INFLUENCE HEALTH: III. LAUGHTER AND HEALTH OUTCOMES. Bennett MP, Lengacher C. Evidence- based Complementary

and Alternative Medicine 2008;5:37–40

A review of how humour influences physiological and psychological wellbeing and its influence on health outcomes, including muscle tension, cardiorespiratory functioning and various stress physiology measures.

sportEX comment Compiling Journal Watch is

A DISTINCT PATTERN OF MYOFASCIAL FINDINGS IN PATIENTS AFTER WHIPLASH INJURY. Ettlin T, Schuster C, Stoffel R, Brüderlin A, Kischka U. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2008;89:1290–1293

The purpose of this study was to identify objective clinical examinations for the diagnosis of whiplash syndrome; it focused on trigger points. A total of 124 patients and 24 healthy subjects participated in the study. Among the patient group were people with whiplash- associated disorders (n=47), fibromyalgia (n=21), non-traumatic chronic cervical syndrome (n=17) and endogenous depression (n=15). Each patient and control subject had a manual examination for trigger points of the semispinalis capitis, trapezius pars descendens, levator scapulae, scalenus medius, sternocleidomastoideus and masseter muscles bilaterally. Results: Forty (85.1%) of the patients with whiplash had positive trigger points in the semispinalis capitis muscle. The patients with whiplash had a significantly higher prevalence of positive trigger points in the semispinalis capitis muscle than any of the control groups. For the other examined muscles, the prevalence of trigger points in the patients with whiplash did not differ significantly from the patients with fibromyalgia or non-traumatic chronic cervical syndrome, but it did differ from the patients with endogenous depression and the healthy controls.

sportEX comment This is a significant mapping of post-neck-trauma trigger-point patterns of distribution

and should give a focus for therapists seeking resolution of muscular problems. The semispinalis capitis muscle in particular is a target.

ACUTE EFFECTS OF SELF-SELECTED REGIMEN OF RAPID BODY MASS LOSS IN COMBAT SPORTS ATHLETES. Timpmann S, Ööpik V, Pääsuke M, Medijainen L, Ereline J. 2008;7:210–217

The purpose of the study was to assess the acute effects of the self-selected regimen of rapid body mass loss (RBML) on muscle performance and metabolic response to exercise in combat sports athletes. Seventeen male athletes reduced their body mass by 5.1±1.1% within three days. The RBML was achieved by a gradual reduction of energy and fluid intake and mild sauna procedures. A battery of tests was performed before (test one) and immediately after (test two) RBML. The authors included the measurement of the peak torque of knee extensors for three different speeds, assessment of total work (Wtot) performed during a three-minute intermittent intensity knee extension exercise and measurements of blood metabolites (ammonia, lactate, glucose, urea). Absolute peak torque was lower in test two compared with test one The peak torque in relation to body mass remained unchanged. Absolute Wtot was lower in test two compared with test one, as was Wtot in relation to body mass. Plasma urea concentration increased the concentration of ammonia in test two, while the plasma lactate and glucose responses to exercise were similar in tests one and two.

6

not always a satisfying activity but discovering this paper has opened up a new dimension in our search for performance research. The study of humour is a serious

subject – even Sigmund Freud wrote a book about jokes (Jokes and Their Relation to the Unconscious 1905). The reference lists of these papers cite some heavyweight psychology and nursing journals and include such gems as “The effect of mirthful laughter on stress and natural killer cell activity”, “Mirth and oxygen saturation levels of peripheral blood” and our favourite “A chuckle a day keeps the doctor away”. The paper has a discussion on laughter as exercise and its effects on muscle tone. The evidence suggests muscle relaxation occurs for 45 minutes after laughter. The implications of this are that banter in the treatment room may actually have a beneficial effect.

sportEX comment Those of you who followed the

Olympic Games in the summer may recall that a British boxing medal hope was sent home by his coach before competition because he struggled to make the weight. The coach maintained that it would have been dangerous to allow the boxer to complete following the necessary rapid weight loss. The authors conclude that the self-selected regimen of RBML impairs muscle performance in three-minute intermittent intensity exercise, and so it seems that the coach was right to protect his athlete – a tough decision but good for him.

sportEX dynamics 2008;18(Oct):4-6