Page 75 - University of Pretoria Research Review 2017

Foreword
Introductory Messages
DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGE
PEOPLE AND CONTEXTS
Non-communicable Diseases
The health and injuries of athletes
Martin Schwellnus and Christa Janse van Rensburg, The Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute
Chronic diseases of lifestyle, or non-communicable diseases (NCDs), represent the most important current and future health threat to both the developed and developing world. Researchers at the Sport, Exercise Medicine and Lifestyle Institute (SEMLI) are focussing their efforts on the effects of physical activity on health, and on the performance of athletes.
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
PLANET AND SUSTAINABILITY
Awards
Lead Researchers
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Professor Martin Schwellnus, Director of SEMLI,
and a team of researchers have published a study
that compared a cohort of long-distance runners
with a history of muscle cramping to a control group. Runners with a history of muscle cramping were
more likely to have a history of chronic disease, to use medication, to have a history of sports-related injury,
or to be experienced runners. The team concluded that clinicians should consider the possibility of underlying chronic disease when treating athletes who complain of exercise-related muscle cramping. The team also found that long-distance runners with a history of chronic diseases were more likely to use anti-inflammatory medication before and during race events. Their research highlights the importance of regular fitness and health checks for leisure athletes.
The researchers have also focused on the types of injuries that are more likely to occur during specific events. When they followed a cohort of cyclists in the 2014 Momentum 94.7 cycle challenge, they found that female and younger cyclists were more likely
to sustain trauma injuries and that adverse events, including trauma and cardiovascular illness, prevented cyclists from finishing the race. They suggest that this knowledge is vital for implementing safety measures during races and making sure that the correct medical support services are on duty. Pre-race screening of cyclists competing in a mass event in Cape Town also pointed to the need for interventions to be in place to prevent injuries and adverse effects.
Sport physicians at SEMLI have also profiled the incidence of injuries in a wide range of professional sports being played in South Africa. In one of their studies published in 2017, Professor Christa Janse van Rensburg, Head of Sports Medicine, and
co-researchers showed that professional football players in South Africa had low rates of injury. The
few who did sustain injuries were more likely to be injured during matches and knee injuries were the most common. In contrast, mixed martial arts athletes had higher rates of serious trauma to the head and traumatic brain injury compared, for example, to their American counterparts. The researchers identified a need to assess the quality of refereeing in South Africa to minimise the potential of serious brain injury.
Professional rugby players are also prone to contact injuries, which seem to be increasing as the level of competition increases. In a study also published in 2017, SEMLI researchers showed that the incidence of injuries in the Super Rugby Tournament is increasing over time, and that most injuries occur during matches. Given the high intensity of the game, rugby players who suffer severe injuries often struggle to regain their fitness and form, with long-term consequences.
Varsity Sports, Netball Tournament