Weighty matters

The latest position stand from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) on weight loss and the prevention of weight regain highlights the continuing battle with obesity and overweight in the North American population. According to the statement “overweight and obesity affects more than 66% of the adult population and is associated with a variety of chronic diseases”. The Canadian Academy of Sports & Exercise Medicine (CASEM) discussion paper on physical inactivity in children and adolescents indicates that “over the past several decades, obesity has increased by 54% in children 6 to 11 years old and 39% in adolescents 12 to 17 years old”.

Recommendations from these organizations for weight loss and preventing weight gain include:

• 150-250 minutes per week of moderately vigorous physical activity should be sufficient for preventing weight gain greater than 3%
• physical activity lasting longer than 150 minutes per week usually results in modest weight lossc
• consistent physical activity is the best predictor of sustained weight management following weight loss
• most studies demonstrate that combining caloric restriction (diet) and physical activity in a weight management program has encouraging weight loss results
• exercise programs combining aerobic training and resistance exercise show superior results for weight and fat loss

All the more reason for us to get out there and get active!

For more information on physical activity and body weight contact SIRC.

SIRC is at the 2011 CASEM Conference in Newfoundland!

by Brandie Adams, SIRC Reference Librarian
onsite at the CASEM Conference 2011

Today is the first official day of the Canadian Academy of Sport & Exercise Medicine CASEM Conference in St. John’s Newfoundland. Pre-conference activity has been going on since Monday with the Team Physician and Anti-Doping sessions. The SIRC Anti-Doping newsletter went out yesterday and there has been lots of positive buzz with it, which is great to hear! Last night was the reception to kick things off. There are lots of familiar faces and some new ones who stopped by to say hello and ask questions so it is shaping up to be an exciting few days.

Social media is on the agenda as CASEM attendees are embracing Twitter and Facebook. Several physicians have mentions retweeting and forwarding SIRC Newsletters, like the special issue on Lightning in June.

Fantastic!!

The Achilles Heel of the Achilles Tendon

The Achilles tendon is the large fibrous tissue that connects the heel to the muscles of the lower leg.  Named after Achilles, the ancient Greek hero of the Trojan War who was invulnerable except for one spot on his heel, it is the thickest and strongest tendon in the body, so that it can connect with the most powerful muscle group in the body - the calf muscles (plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles) to the heel bone (calcaneus).  The tendon is vital to such activities as walking, running and jumping, and it’s the sudden explosive starts in sports such as basketball, tennis and racquetball that does the most damage to a tendon that is weak and thinned with age or under-use. An acute rupture of the Achilles tendon can happen to any level of athlete whether world class or recreational. However, research indicates that typically it is the “weekend warrior” male athlete between ages 30 and 50 with no previous tendon issues and is intermittently active, who suffers from this type of injury. 

Diagnosis of a ruptured Achilles tendon is made in a variety of ways.

• Typically the patient will say that it felt like they were kicked or shot behind the ankle.
• Presence of a gap in the tendon. However swelling can disguise the gap in acute ruptures.
• Conduct a Thompson test. With the patient lying face down and feet hanging off the edge of the examination table, the test is positive if there is no plantar flexion of the foot when the adjacent calf is squeezed. Likewise, the test is negative if the foot moves in a plantar flexion direction signifying that the muscles that the tendon is still attached.

Treatment options for an Achilles tendon rupture include surgical and non-surgical approaches and among the medical profession, opinions are divided as to which is preferred.

A few ways to possible prevent Achilles tendon injuries are:

• Begin any new physical activity programs slowly over time.
• Do not use equipment you are not familiar with.
• Wear appropriate footwear.
• Don’t be the “weekend warrior.” Exercise regularly.
• Try to limit the amount of time exercising on hard surfaces, such as concrete.

For more information on sports medicine injuries, please contact SIRC.

SIRC at the CASEM Conference!

The SIRC virtual resource centre is on the road this week in Kelowna, BC attending the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM) conference. It is great talking to the sports medicine community and helping them out with their questions in the area of sport medicine and preventive health interventions.

Some of the topics being discussed include:

• Exercise as a modality for chronic disease prevention 
• Exercise as disease management 
• Concussion research, prevention and management (including adaptations for women and youth) 
• Ethics for team physicians 
• Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) research 
• Advocating for healthy lifestyles 

SIRC is pleased to be in partnership with CASEM to support medical professionals working in the area of sport and active living through SIRC membership.

Great conference CASEM!!