Identifying sex-specific injury predictors as a key factor in maintaining optimal physical activity levels

Abstract

BACKGROUND Optimal physical activity is known to reduce cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine system diseases and, as a consequence, improve quality of life. An important risk factor for reinjuries during normal exercise is the initial connective tissue pathology. The variety of clinical dysplastic manifestations significantly complicate the timely diagnosis of this comorbidity. AIM To establish pathognomonic sex-specific dysplasia phenotypes that indicate a particular sensitivity to physical exertion. METHODS The study involved 117 participants with recurrent musculoskeletal injuries that occurred during normal exercise. There were 67 women (57.26%) and 50 men (42.74%), which made it possible to compare the presence of the identified signs between sexes. A validated questionnaire was used to screen their connective tissue status. RESULTS Ranking the most commonly revealed dysplasia signs depending on their clinical significance made it possible to establish pathognomonic sex-specific phenotypes that indicated a particular susceptibility to injuries. Individualized programs of optimal physical activity are necessary for men with chest deformities, flat-valgus feet, dolichostenomelia, arachnodactylia, hemorrhoids, abdominal muscle diastasis and recurrent hernias. In women, special sensitivity to physical exertion was associated with a combination of signs such as asthenic body, joint hypermobility, overly soft auricles, thin hyperelastic skin, atrophic striae, telangiectasias and varicose veins. Of particular importance were universal signs such as gothic palate, scoliosis, kyphosis, leg deformities, temporomandibular joint crunching, and moderate to high myopia. CONCLUSION Participants’ connective tissue condition should be considered when designing optimal physical activity programs. Identifying the established sex-specific dysplasia phenotypes will allow timely optimization of training loads, thus reducing the risk of injury.

Injuries in the context of physical education: A systematic literature review

“…Exercisebased injury prevention programs for children and adolescents offer benefits as they can significantly reduce the risk of injuries statistically and have a positive impact in practice [52]. Tailoring training programs to the participants' connective tissue conditions and gender can help prevent injuries during physical activities [53]. Other research findings suggest that male students should focus on muscle development, while females should work on reducing body fat to minimize injury risks [54].…”