In order to examine the physical and physiological demands of water polo, we assessed the profile of elite water polo players. Nineteen male professional water polo players (age: 25.5+/-5.0 years, height: 184.5+/-4.3 cm body mass: 90.7+/-6.4 kg) underwent body composition assessment by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We also evaluated peak oxygen consumption VO2peak, lactate threshold (LT), energy cost of swimming (C s), anaerobic capacity and isokinetic shoulder strength. Body fat (%) was 16.8+/-4.4, lean mass (LM) 75.1+/-4.9 kg and bone mineral density (BMD) 1.37+/-0.07 g.cm(-2) . VO2peak was 57.9+/-7 ml.kg(-1). min(-1) . LT was identified at 3.9+/-0.7 mmol.l(-1) at a swimming velocity (v) of 1.33+/-0.05 m.s(-1) with a heart rate of 154+/-7 bpm, corresponding to an intensity of 83+/-9 of VO2peak. The average C s of swimming at the LT was 1.08+/-0.04 kJ.m(-1).C s at LT was correlated to body mass index (BMI) (r=0.22, P=0.04) and to swimming performance at 400 m (r=0.86, P=0.01) and 4 x 50 m (r=0.84, P<0.01). Internal rotator muscles were stronger compared to the external rotators by a 2:1 ratio. This study provides a quantitative representation of both physical and physiological demands of water polo and proposes a comprehensive battery of tests that can be used for assessing the status of a team.

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BACKGROUND: Elite water polo athletes undergo heavy training programs throughout the year, but especially to prepare major competitions, such as the Olympics. Optimal athletic performance is a result of many factors, including proper management of the intensity and volume of training, nutrition and recovery between training sessions. When training is excessive in relation to recovery may occur non functional overreaching (NFO). NFO can degenerate into overtraining syndrome (OTS) resulting in a decrease in athletic performance, with likely changes in body weight and body composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Body Composition (BC) and the tolerance to intense training supported by diet meal plans and to highlight any difference between athletes selected for the OG and not selected ones. METHODS: Twenty-one male elite water polo athletes, 26 to 34 years of age, participated in the study. For three months before the Olympics, athletes have carried out an intense training period based on a detailed program. Only 13 athletes (OA) participated to OG, 8 were excluded (NOA). Body weight and height were measured and body mass index was calculated. BC and phase angle was evaluated at the half of first (T0), second (T1) and third (T2) month of training. Also blood analyses were collected at T0 and food intake assessed in all the evaluations. Measurements were carried out at three selected time points throughout the training period (12 weeks), which marked variations in the volume and intensity of the training load.RESULTS: Data analyses showed no statistical difference among the three measurements performed for body weight, body composition and phase angle in all OA group. Furthermore, there was not statistically significant differences between the OA and NOA group for weight, body mass index, body composition and phase angle.

Fractures, especially if articular and periarticular, are frequently associated to functional and clinical disabling outcomes and chronic pain. In particular, the injuries with loss of bone, ligament, and/or tendon tissue in which the full recovery of the wound area is not obtained are the worst anatomical/pathological conditions to heal. In this study, three different biological materials were used as regenerative approaches to rebuild the medial malleolus fracture of the ankle in which loss of bone, ligament, and tendon tissue occur. In particular, the morselized human bone tissue was combined with the human dermis decellularized, both augmented with homologous platelet-rich plasma. The magnetic resonance imaging study with contrast at the follow-up showed a signal compatible with vascularization of the tissue without sign of degeneration. Our new regenerative approach in which different biological materials were combined together showed a good choice of treatment for the reconstruction of not repairable outcome of a fracture.