The -174 G/C polymorphism [rs1800795] of the IL6 gene is a candidate to explain individual variations in health and exercise related phenotypes. We compared -174 G/C genotypic and allelic frequencies in three groups of men of the same Caucasian (Spanish) descent: elite endurance athletes (cyclists, runners; n=100); elite power athletes (jumpers, throwers, sprinters; n=53) and non-athletic contr...

Weight-control behaviour is commonly observed in a wide range of elite sports, especially leanness sports, where control over body weight is crucial for high peak performance. Nonetheless, there is only a fine line between purely functional behaviour and clinically relevant eating disorders. Especially the rapid form of weight manipulation seems to foster later eating disorders. So far, most st...

CONTEXT The use of high tibial osteotomies (HTOs) in elite and professional athletes has been slow to gain acceptance by both the athlete and the surgeon because it is generally thought that return to competitive sports will be unlikely. Conversely, HTOs have been used extensively and effectively in managing degenerative knee arthrosis in the less active recreational patient with varus deformit...

Elite sporting performance results from the combination of innumerable factors, which interact with one another in a poorly understood but complex manner to mould a talented athlete into a champion. Within the field of sports science, elite performance is understood to be the result of both training and genetic factors. However, the extent to which champions are born or made is a question that ...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of a dietary reference intake (DRI) predictive equation for estimated energy requirements (EER) in female college tennis athletes and non-athlete students using doubly labeled water (DLW) as a reference method. MATERIALS/METHODS Fifteen female college students, including eight tennis athletes and seven non-athlete subj...

BACKGROUND Understanding of an athlete's lifespan is limited with a much more sophisticated knowledge of their competitive careers and little knowledge of post-career outcomes. In this review, we consider the relationship between participation at elite levels of sport and mortality risk relative to other athletes and age- and sex-matched controls from the general population. Our objective was t...