Daan van de Pol1, P Paul F M Kuijer2, Aart Terpstra3, Marja Pannekoek-Hekman3, Sena Alaeikhanehshir3, Olivier Bouwmeester3, R Nils Planken3, Mario Maas4. 1. Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Sports Medicine, The Hague Medical Center, HMC Antoniushove, The Netherlands. Electronic address: d.van.de.pol@mchaaglanden.nl. 2. Coronel Institute of Occupational Health, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 4. Academic Center for Evidence Based Sports Medicine (ACES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA) pathology (PCHAP), symptoms and associated risk factors, in elite volleyball players, and to suggest profiles for clinical management and monitoring. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A questionnaire assessed symptoms of digital ischemia (DI) in the dominant hand and risk factors among 278 elite indoor and beach volleyball players of whom 6.1% (17/278) was diagnosed with PCHAP using ultrasound. Odds Ratios (OR) including 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: All 278 players completed the questionnaire. Three participants with PCHAP were symptomatic (18%). Ninety-three of 96 symptomatic participants had no PCHAP (OR=0.39; 95% CI 0.13-1.13). Total years playing volleyball (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03-1.25) and age (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.00-1.29) were dose-response related risk factors: a volleyball career of ≥17 years and age of ≥27 years were associated with a 9-fold and 14-fold increased risk of PCHAP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The volleyball career duration and age are dose-response related risk factors for PCHAP among elite indoor and beach volleyball players. DI symptoms are prevalent in a minority of athletes with PCHAP (3/17; 18%). To enable worldwide standardized care for these athletes at risk, four profiles for clinical management and monitoring have been suggested based on questionnaire and ultrasound outcomes.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between posterior circumflex humeral artery (PCHA) pathology (PCHAP), symptoms and associated risk factors, in elite volleyball players, and to suggest profiles for clinical management and monitoring. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A questionnaire assessed symptoms of digital ischemia (DI) in the dominant hand and risk factors among 278 elite indoor and beach volleyball players of whom 6.1% (17/278) was diagnosed with PCHAP using ultrasound. Odds Ratios (OR) including 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using binary logistic regression. RESULTS: All 278 players completed the questionnaire. Three participants with PCHAP were symptomatic (18%). Ninety-three of 96 symptomatic participants had no PCHAP (OR=0.39; 95% CI 0.13-1.13). Total years playing volleyball (OR 1.14; 95% CI 1.03-1.25) and age (OR 1.17; 95% CI 1.00-1.29) were dose-response related risk factors: a volleyball career of ≥17 years and age of ≥27 years were associated with a 9-fold and 14-fold increased risk of PCHAP, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The volleyball career duration and age are dose-response related risk factors for PCHAP among elite indoor and beach volleyball players. DI symptoms are prevalent in a minority of athletes with PCHAP (3/17; 18%). To enable worldwide standardized care for these athletes at risk, four profiles for clinical management and monitoring have been suggested based on questionnaire and ultrasound outcomes.