Marco Cardinale

Aspetar - Qatar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital | aspetar · Department of Research and Scientific Support

The aim of this review is to highlight two emerging concepts for the elite athlete using the resistance-training model: (i) the short-term effects of testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) on the neuromuscular system; and (ii) the dose-response training role of these endogenous hormones. Exogenous evidence confirms that T and C can regulate long-term ch...

In recent years, whole body vibration (WBV) has become an efficient complement or alternative to resistance training. Very limited data on the effects of different WBV protocols on anabolic hormones are available. In this study, we compared the growth hormone (GH), blood lactate (LA), and cortisol responses to different protocols involving WBV. Six...

Wearable, wireless near-infrared (NIR) spectrometers were used to compare changes in on-ice short-track skating race simulations over 1,500 m with a 3-min cycle ergometry test at constant power output (400 W). The subjects were six male elite short-track speed skaters. Both protocols elicited a rapid desaturation (∆TSI%) in the muscle during early...

Many sports require fine spatiotemporal resolution for optimal performance. Previous studies have compared anticipatory skills and the decision-making process in athletes; however, there is little information on visual skills of elite athletes, particularly hockey players. To assess visual skills of Olympic hockey players and analyze differences by...

It has been suggested that, because of the low sitting position in short-track speed skating, muscle blood flow is restricted, leading to decreases in tissue oxygenation. Therefore, wearable wireless-enabled near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology was used to monitor changes in quadriceps muscle blood volume and oxygenation during a 500-m race...

Purpose : This study aimed to characterize core-temperature (Tc) responses of swimmers competing at the 2024 3-km World Aquatics Masters Open Water Swimming Championships. Methods : Within a cross-sectional observational study design, swimmers (n = 48 [23 male, 25 female]) ingested a telemetric Tc pill 4 hours before their race. Water temperatures...

Purpose : This study examined the physical determinants of 60-m sprint and long jump (LJ) performance and differences between maturity groups in physical characteristics in young male track-and-field athletes. Methods : Competition results, countermovement jump, isometric leg press, 10-5 repeated jump test, and 50-m sprint were collected over 3 sea...

Please cite this article as: P.R. Brustio, M. Stival, M. Cardinale, et al., Performance pathways in elite middle-and long-distance track and field athletes: the influence of a successful youth, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport (2024), https://doi. Abstract word count: 249 Manuscript word count: 3321 Number of Tables: 1 Number of Figures: 2...

Objectives Studies identifying clinical and MRI reinjury risk factors are limited by relatively small sample sizes. This study aimed to examine the association between baseline clinical and MRI findings with the incidence of hamstring reinjuries using a large multicentre dataset. Methods We merged data from four prospective studies (three randomis...

This article discusses the impact of growth and maturation on track and field performance and injury risk in adolescent athletes. We share potential solutions to account for the differences that exist when looking at competition results at a youth level; how to monitor athletes in periods of high growth that can increase injury risk; and a case stu...

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions that prevented physical activity in public places. This study sought to conduct a comprehensive longitudinal analysis of how lockdown policies in an Arabian Gulf country influenced the patterns of physical activity during first wave. Methods In a longitudinal study design, members of the ongoi...

Diagnostic imaging is the predominant medical service sought for the assessment and staging of musculoskeletal injuries in professional sports events. During the 2022 FIFA Football (soccer) World Cup, a centralized medical care infrastructure was established. This article provides a comprehensive account of the radiological services implemented dur...

Objective The Football World Cup is among the biggest sporting events in the world, but data to inform the requirements of medical care for such tournaments are limited. This study describes the athlete and team medical services at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 . Methods Three different medical service entities were identified through a needs anal...

Objective To describe imaging-detected musculoskeletal injuries and image-guided interventional procedures during the 2022 FIFA football (soccer) World Cup. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of all radiologic examinations performed in a central medical facility for athletes was performed by two board certified musculoskeletal radiologis...

Football is a popular sport, but little is known about the youth-to-senior transition rates in elite players, particularly in large and successful countries. This study aims to investigate the youth-to-senior transition rate in the Italian national football team, both prospectively and retrospectively, and to explore if Relative Age Effects (RAEs)...

Purpose: To characterise thermoregulatory and performance responses of elite road-race athletes, while competing in hot, humid, night-time conditions during the 2019 IAAF World Athletic Championships. Method: Male and female athletes, competing in the 20 km racewalk (n=20 males, 24 females), 50 km racewalk (n=19 males, 8 females) and marathon (n=15...

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue can have a negative impact on performance, especially when it is not adequately monitored and there is not an appropriate workload to rest ratio [1]. This could result in non-functional overreaching and overtraining not only in players, but also in referees. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship...

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the career performance progression of elite early- and later-success international swimmers competing in sprint events (ie, 50 and 100 m). Methods: The career performance trajectories of 6003 swimmers (50.9% females; 58,760 unique records) competing in the 4 swimming strokes were evaluated. Swimmers with ear...

Purpose To determine associations between thermal responses, medical events, performance, heat acclimation and health status during a World Athletics Championships in hot-humid conditions. Methods From 305 marathon and race-walk starters, 83 completed a preparticipation questionnaire on health and acclimation. Core (T core ; ingestible pill) and s...

Regular physical activity (PA) is an effective preventative measure for diverse health risks among all age groups 1 . Global PA guidelines provide recommendations on the required levels for active lifestyle based on evidence-based behavioral benchmarks to increase awareness and reduce overall morbidity and mortality rates 2 . The Qatar National Phy...

Background Studies addressing risk factors for injuries in youth athletics are scarce and although growth and maturation represent potential risk factors for adolescent athletes, the available literature is inconclusive. Objective The aim of this study was to examine if growth rate, maturity status and maturity tempo are associated with injury ris...

Purpose: To provide the first scrutiny of adult height prediction protocols based on automated Greulich-Pyle and Tanner-Whitehouse (TW) skeletal ages applied to elite youth soccer players from the Middle East. Methods: We examined the application of modified Bayley-Pinneau (BoneXpert®), TW-II, and TW-III protocols using mixed-longitudinal data a...

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) it the virus causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Since the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020, cases have been increasing around the World with more than 3M deaths recorded and a daily number of COVID-19 cases >20 times higher tha...

Objectives To quantify the junior-to-senior successful transition rate in sprint swimming events in elite European performers. Design Retrospective analysis of publicly available competition data collected between 2004 and 2019. Method The yearly performance of 6631 European swimmers (females = 41.8% of the sample) competing in 50 and 100 m frees...

This second edition of Qatar National Physical Activity Guidelines is written as a practical guideline reference and not necessarily as a scientific resource. It outlines the most updated knowledge and best practices regarding physical activity as it relates to health. The intention of this content is to be an immediate and easy resource of informa...

Purpose: This study investigated (1) the transition rate of elite world-class throwers, (2) the age of peak performance in either elite junior and/or elite senior athletes, and (3) if relative age effect (RAE) influences the chance of being considered elite in junior and/or senior category. Methods: The career performance trajectories of 5108 th...

Aspetar Hospital Clinical Guidelines aiming at providing updated information regarding safe return to sports during the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The objective is to limit/mitigate the risk of further spread of infection and reduce health problems associated with COVID-19 both in sports and the society in general. It is intended that...

Purpose To characterise hydration, cooling, body mass loss, and core (T core ) and skin (T sk ) temperatures during World Athletics Championships in hot-humid conditions. Methods Marathon and race-walk (20 km and 50 km) athletes (n=83, 36 women) completed a pre-race questionnaire. Pre-race and post-race body weight (n=74), T core (n=56) and T sk (...

Background and Study Objectives Adequate sleep is essential to support preparation and recovery processes for training and competition in athletes. A limited number of studies have examined whether adolescents from the Middle-East meet the minimum age-specific recommendations ranging from 8 to 9 hours of night sleep based on objective measurements....

Purpose: To quantify how many of the top 50 under-18 (U18) sprinters in the world managed to become top 50 ranked as adult competitors. The authors also described the career trajectory of athletes ranked in the top 50 during either U18 or senior category. Methods: A total of 4924 male and female athletes competing in sprint races and ranked in t...

Objectives To describe the injury characteristics of male youth athletes exposed to year-round athletics programmes. Methods Injury surveillance data were prospectively collected by medical staff in a cohort of youth athletics athletes participating in a full-time sports academy from 2014–2015 to 2018–2019. Time-loss injuries (>1 day) were recorde...

This study aimed 1) to estimate the transition rate for top 50 ranked track and field jumpers 2) to compare the performance progression of top 50 ranked senior jumpers (top50 senior) to those who failed to be top 50 ranked in the senior category despite being top 50 ranked in the under 18 category (only U18) and 3) to verify if relative age effect...

Muscle oximetry based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and electromyography (EMG) techniques in adherent clothing might be used to monitor the muscular activity of selected muscle groups while exercising. The fusion of these wearable technologies in sporting garments can allow the objective assessment of the quality and the quantity of the musc...

Context: The application of infrared thermography to assess the effects of athletic training is increasing. It is not known if changes in skin temperature (Tsk) as assessed by infrared thermography are affected by the training load or the muscle soreness experienced by the athlete. Purpose: To describe the variations in Tsk in body areas affecte...

Background High volume power training (HVPT) involves high volumes of high-velocity resistance training, with the aim to improve repeated high-intensity efforts (RHIEs). Repeat power ability (RPA) is the ability to repeatedly produce maximal or near maximal efforts. Assessments of RPA using external loading may determine the ability to perform repe...

Injuries are common in elite adolescent athletics, but few studies have addressed risk factors for injury. Growth and maturation are potential risk factors in this population; however, the current body of literature is both inconclusive and considered at high risk of bias. The aim of this study was therefore to examine if growth rate, maturity stat...

Jones, TW, Shillabeer, BC, Ryu, JH, and Cardinale, M. Development in adolescent middle-distance athletes: a study of training loadings, physical qualities, and competition performance. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2019-The purpose of this study was to examine changes in running performance and physical qualities related to middle-distance pe...

Whole-body vibration and upper limb vibration (ULV) continue to gain popularity as exercise intervention for rehabilitation and sports applications. However, the fatiguing effects of indirect vibration stimulation are not yet fully understood. We investigated the effects of ULV stimulation superimposed on fatiguing isometric contractions using a pu...

Background: It has been established that injury incidence data and training load in table tennis is somewhat limited. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyse and report training load and injury incidence. This was established over a full season in highly trained youth table tennis athletes. We further aimed to establish what variables...

Abstract:Athletes who merit the title ‘elite’ are rare and differ both quantitatively and qualitativelyfrom athletes of lower qualifications. Serving and studying elite athletes may demand non-traditionalapproaches. Research involving elite athletes suffers because of the typical nomothetic requirements forlarge sample sizes and other statistical a...

Background: There is a shortage of longitudinal surveys in highly trained adolescent table tennis athletes reporting typical changes in performance related, haematological, and biochemical parameters. Objectives: The purpose of the study was to: (1) examine yearly variations of performance related parameters, and (2) report the variability of sel...

Zusammenfassung Verletzungen spielen eine gravierende Rolle im Hochleistungssport und treten sowohl im Training als auch im Wettbewerb auf. Handball ist ein Mannschaftssport mit hohen physischen Anforderungen und die Messung spezifischer Belastungen hat das Potenzial, Risikofaktoren für Verletzungen zu identifizieren. Nur wenige Studien haben dies...

Abstract Background Indirect vibration stimulation, i.e., whole body vibration or upper limb vibration, has been investigated increasingly as an exercise intervention for rehabilitation applications. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of graded isometric contractions superimposed on whole body vibration stimulation. Hence, t...

Although the role of vitamin D in calcium and bone metabolism is well documented, there is little clarity regarding the implications of low vitamin D status for inflammation, endothelial function, and antioxidant status in adolescent athletes. A prospective cohort study was conducted, and 44 male adolescent athletes, training at a sports academy in...

The effectiveness of visual training interventions for athletes has been questioned over the last few years. Few studies have shown the potential for generic visual skills to improve visual performance in the sport while most interventions seem to be unsuccessful. There is a paucity of studies involving elite performers exposed to visual training p...

The purpose of the present work was to present a case study on the influence of implementing a structured strength training intervention in adolescent middle distance athletes. An 8 wk strength training intervention was implemented concurrent to the group's middle distance training. Prior to and following the intervention a testing battery was impl...

Background Indirect vibration stimulation i.e. whole body vibration and upper limb vibration (ULV), are gaining popularity as exercise intervention for sports and rehabilitation applications. However, the fatiguing effects of indirect vibration stimulation are not yet fully understood. In addition, current vibration stimulation devices have a serie...

Squash is a sport characterised by complex physical, technical and tactical demands. Despite its increased popularity, there is presently no synthesis of the literature pertaining to the performance requirements of squash. As such, it is difficult to generate evidence-based guidelines for applied practitioners working with squash athletes. The purp...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe and analyse the performance career trajectories for Italian athletes that participated in sprint, hurdles, discus throw, and shot-put athletics events. Design: Retrospective study, data collected between 1994 and 2014. Methods: A total of 5929 athletes (female: n=2977, 50.2%) were included in t...

Exercise in microgravity is a necessary activity for astronauts to preserve skeletal muscles’ form and function. Due to the challenging work schedule on space flight as well as the environmental limitations, astronauts have limited time and limited equipment to perform specific physical activities able to stimulate the cardiovascular and neuromuscu...

BACKGROUND: The aim of study was to examine the acute physiological responses and their relationship with physiological characteristics of preadolescent male handball players. METHODS: Laboratory testing included anthropometric measurements and spiroergometry. Time motion analysis data were obtained through recording of player’s game activities and...

Background: Indirect vibration stimulation i.e. whole body vibration or upper limb vibration, has been suggested increasingly as an effective exercise intervention for sports and rehabilitation applications. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of whole body vibration (WBV) stimulation superimposed to graded isometric contract...

Although handball is a contact sport with a high risk of acute match injuries, their mechanisms have not yet been investigated. We aimed to describe the mechanisms of acute match injuries in elite male handball and evaluate referee performance in injury situations. Based on injury surveillance from the 24th Men′s Handball World Championship 2015 in...

Vibration exercise (VE) has been suggested as an effective training for improving muscle strength and coordination. However, the underlying physiological adaptation processes are not yet fully understood, limiting the development of safe and effective exercise protocols. To better understand the neuromuscular responses elicited by VE, we aimed at i...

The purpose of this study was to observe and report variations in several haematological and biochemical markers throughout an entire athletic season in a large cohort of adolescent athletes of Arab origin. Blood samples were collected from 72 adolescent male athletes at 4 selected time points during their training season. Results expressed in rela...

The purpose of this study was to observe and report variations in several haematological and biochemical markers throughout an entire athletic season in a large cohort of adolescent athletes of Arab origin. Blood samples were collected from 72 adolescent male athletes at 4 selected time points during their training season. Results expressed in rela...

Goalkeepers have a very important role in handball. In coaching communities it is well recognized that goalkeepers’ performances can predict team ranking in major tournaments. Despite this, few studies have been conducted on elite goalkeepers participating in World Championships. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyse goalkeepers’ save...

Purpose: Running performance is influenced by the interaction of biomechanical and physiological factors. Miniaturised accelerometers worn by the athlete can be used to quantify mechanical aspects of running and be used as a non-invasive tool to assess training status and progression. The aim of this study was to define and validate a method to as...

Title * Use of vibration stimulation superimposed on graded voluntary contraction inuces neuromuscular response in upper limbs

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare linear position transducer force plate-based methods and more complex combinations of those for calculation of power output in loaded squat jump. METHODS: Eight methods were used simultaneously in data collection: vertical ground reaction force (VGRF), ground reaction forces (GRF), 1 linear position...

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Some 20-odd years ago one of our mentors said, " You can't manage what you don't monitor, " words that still hold true today. Monitoring the load placed on athletes in both training and competition has become a " hot topic " in sport science, with journals displaying an exponential increase in empirical-and applied-research publications in this fie...

Monitoring the load placed on athletes in both training and competition has become a very hot topic in sport science. Both scientists and coaches routinely monitor training loads using multidisciplinary approaches, and the pursuit of the best method- ologies to capture and interpret data has produced an exponential increase in empirical and applied...

Background Handball is a contact sport with a high prevalence of acute injuries. Injuries often occur during high-speed movements involving several players, making it difficult to describe the exact mechanism of injury. Objective Describe the mechanisms of injury in elite male handball. Design Prospective video analysis. Setting During the men´s...

Introduction The idea that early sport success can be detrimental for long-term sport performance is still under debate. Therefore, the aims of this study were to examine the career trajectories of Italian high and long jumpers to provide a better understanding of performance development in jumping events. Methods The official long-jump and high-j...

Pearson correlation coefficients throughout the youth performance careers. In the S1 Table are reported the correlation coefficients for pair-wise ages and for personal best performance. (DOCX)

Regression analysis to predict adult best performance. In the S1 Table are reported the estimates of the independent factors annual best performance and annual rate of change for the prediction of the adult personal best performances. (DOCX)

di grandissima attualità. Nei testi il termine mul-tilateralità trova grandissimo spazio, ma la realtà dei fatti non sembra essere in linea con quanto recitano le pubblicazioni tecniche. È vero che le prestazioni nelle categorie allievi/e (16-17 anni) e juniores (18-19 anni) sono indubbiamente condi-zionate dall'età biologica e quelle nella categor...

Objectives Assess current practice and attitudes towards recovery in adolescent athletes. Design Questionnaires were administered either via print or online questionnaire. Participants Athletes and coaches from within Asia were surveyed (n = 112 & 53), with a comparative sample in the UK (n = 53 & 8). Main Outcome Measures The approaches and...

Vibration stimulation as an exercise intervention has been studied increasingly for its potential benefits and applications in sports, and rehabilitation. Vibratory exercise devices should be capable of generating highly precise and repeatable vibrations and should be capable of generating a range of vibration amplitudes and frequencies in order to...

Purpose: Handball is an Olympic sport played indoor by 6 court players and one goalkeeper with rolling substitutions. Limited data exist on elite players competing in a World Championship and virtually no information exits on the evolution of time-motion performance over the course of a long tournament. Therefore, the aim of this study was to anal...

The need to quantify aspects of training in order to improve training prescription has been the holy grail of sport scientists and coaches for many years. Recently, there has been an increase in scientific interest, possibly due to technological advancements and better equipment to quantify training activities. Over the last few years there has bee...

Purpose: An extensive battery of physical tests is typically employed to evaluate athletic status and/or development often resulting in a multitude of output variables. We aimed to identify independent physical predictors of elite skeleton start performance overcoming the general problem of practitioners employing multiple tests with little knowle...

This study evaluated the performance impact of routine warm-up strategies in elite Olympic amateur boxing athletes and physiological implications of the GAP between warm-up and boxing activity. Six male boxers were assessed while performing standardised pre-fight warm-up routines. Core and skin temperature measurements (Tcore and Tskin), heart-rate...

Remote ischaemic preconditioning is a non-invasive intervention with potential to protect a number of organs against ischaemia–reperfusion injury and possibly improve athletic performance. Little mechanistic evidence exists to support either limb choice or cuff inflation pressure that is most effective. This preliminary study aimed to establish the...

Dietary L-citrulline malate (CM) consumption has been suggested to improve skeletal muscle metabolism and/or contractile efficiency, which would be expected to predispose exercising individuals to greater fatigue resistance. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of CM supplementation on acid-base balance and high-intensity exercise p...