Our objective was to detect possible differences in red blood cell (RBC) deformability of elite athletes performing different types of sports and being of different age and gender.182 athletes were included in this cross-sectional study. RBC deformability was measured using the laser-assisted optical rotational cell-analyzer. Maximal elongation index (EI _max) and shear stress at half-maximum deformation (SS _1/2) were calculated. The ratio SS _1/2 /EI _max (EI _Ratio) was calculated with low values representing high RBC deformation. Hematocrit (Hct) and mean cellular volume (MCV) were determined in venous blood. Overall RBC deformability did not differ between male and female athletes but, when separated by age of the subjects, RBC deformability increased with age in male but not in female athletes. RBC deformability was lower in Combat sports compared other sport groups. Hct was higher in male compared to female athletes while no difference was observed for MCV. MCV and Hct increased with increasing age. A negative correlation was found between the EI _Ratio and MCV and between EI _Ratio and Hct. Conclusion: RBC deformability is influenced by age and endurance rate of the sport which suggests that the RBC system may adapt to changing conditions such as adolescence with the onset effects of sex hormones or physical exercise.

Background: In patients with haemophilia (PwH), most frequently affected joints are the ankle, knee and elbow. Due to improved factor therapy in the last decades, these previous findings have to be verified in Germany.Aim: The aim of this study is to detect the most affected joint, evaluate the significance of the source of pain and determine the point prevalence of back pain in Germany today.Patients and methods: In a retrospective study, data of n = 300 patients with severe moderate and mild haemophilia were evaluated regarding the most affected joint, the most common source of pain, and the point prevalence of back pain. An anamnesis questionnaire and the German Pain Questionnaire were used for this assessment.Results: The most affected joint in German PwH is still the ankle (41%), followed by the knee (27%) and the elbow (11%). The most common source of pain is also the ankle joint (32%). Back pain was also identified as one of the most common sources of pain, which is comparable to the elbow (elbow:15%; back:13%). The point prevalence in PwH for back pain was significantly higher compared to the general German population (P = .031).Conclusion: Our data showed that the ankle is still the most affected joint and the most common source of pain in Germany. These results also showed the relevance of back pain as a pain source. The evaluations also demonstrated the high point prevalence of back pain in PwH. Future therapies should also focus on the spine because joint changes affect posture.

Purpose: Acute physical activity leads to exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of four different exercise intensities on EIH. Methods: 25 male (age: 24.7 ± 3.0) subjects underwent four different exercise sessions on a bicycle ergometer for 30 min each at 60, 80, 100, and 110% of the individual anaerobic threshold on separate days in a randomized crossover design. Before, as well as 5- and 45-min post-exercise, pain sensitivity was measured employing pain pressure thresholds (PPT) at the elbow, knee, and ankle joints as well as the sternum and forehead. Besides, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) was conducted using thermal test- and conditioned stimuli before, 5-, and 45-min post-exercise. Results: A main time effect was observed regarding PPT at all landmarks except for the forehead with higher values observed 5 and 45 min post-exercise compared to the pre-values. Yet, no interaction effects occurred. CPM did not change in response to any of the intensities used. Conclusion: EIH occurs 5 and 45 min after exercise regardless of the intensity used at the joints and sternum which might be explained by local pain-inhibiting pathways and probably to a limited degree by central mechanisms, as no hypoalgesia was observed at the forehead and no changes in CPM occurred.

Background: Haemophilia is a congenital bleeding disorder going along with disease‐specific joint complications and general health implications attributed to the lack of daily movement. Recent guidelines recommend physical activity for people with haemophilia (PwH). Yet, aerobic exercise in PwH is little studied and seldomly prescribed by clinicans.Aim: The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the safety, feasibility and health‐related efficiency of AE in PwH.Methods: A systematic literature search according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted (PubMed, Web of Science). Inclusion criteria were defined using PICOS. Methodological quality was assessed via TESTEX.Results: Out of 789 studies identified, seven studies (three randomized controlled, two controlled, two single‐group prospective trails) were included. The TESTEX mean score was 8.1 (±3.8). AE was realized as aquatic exercise, nordic walking, treadmill running, bicycle riding and swimming. Neither bleeding rates nor the factor amount increased and AE led to diverse health‐related improvements.Conclusions: Little research has been conducted evaluating AE in PwH. Yet, AE can be considered as safe and feasible when being supervised by experts. However, disease‐specific recommendations for AE are difficult to provide. Therefore, experts can currently only back AE recommendations on experience and nonhaemophilia‐specific general guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Red blood cell (RBC) deformability and blood viscosity are essential to ensure optimal microcirculation and may contribute to athletic performance. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute responses of density fractionated young, middle old an

Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH) refers to an acute reduced pain perception after exercise. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the effect of a single aerobic exercise session on local and remote EIH in healthy individuals, examining the role of exercise duration, intensity, and modality. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) are used as the main measure, applying the Cochrane risk of bias tool and GRADE approach for certainty of evidence assessment. Mean differences (MD; Newton/cm²) for EIH effects were analysed. Thirteen studies with 23 exercises and 14 control interventions are included (498 participants). Most studies used bicycling, with only two including running/walking and one including rowing. EIH occurred both locally (MD = 3.1) and remotely (MD = 1.8), with high-intensity exercise having the largest effect (local: MD = 7.5; remote: MD = 3.0) followed by moderate intensity (local: MD = 3.1; remote: MD = 3.0). Low-intensity exercise had minimal impact. Neither long nor short exercise duration induced EIH. Bicycling was found to be effective in eliciting EIH, in contrast to the limited research observed in other modalities. The overall evidence quality was moderate with many studies showing unclear risk biases.