Swedish Sports Confederation

Physiological characteristics such as VO2max, running economy (RE), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), maximal sprinting speed (MSS), anaerobic speed reserve (ASR), and player profiling (based on MSS and MAS) have been proven to be important for training prescriptions in football. However, previous studies on player profiling have neglected the absolute values of MSS and MAS. The objectives of this study were to compare the aforementioned physiological variables among player roles, create benchmarks, and provide normative data to help coaches categorize players, ultimately proposing a new player profiling method. We analyzed 195 male professional football players (50 forwards, 59 midfielders, 44 full-backs, and 42 center-backs). Multivariate analysis of variance with Tukey’s post hoc tests revealed positional differences. Center-backs exhibited lower VO2max than midfielders and full-backs. Both center-backs and forwards showed poorer RE and MAS compared to midfielders and full-backs. Full-backs achieved higher MSS than midfielders and center-backs, and forwards outperformed center-backs. Finally, midfielders demonstrated lower ASR than all other positions. Benchmarks based on T-scores for all variables were provided. Finally, in the new profiling method proposed—also based on T-scores—players were classified as “speed”, “endurance”, or “hybrid” if their MAS and/or MSS T-score exceeded 60, “in development” if both were below 45, and “average” if both scores were between 45 and 60 without any value above 60. The normative data provided can assist coaches in identifying specific areas for improvement in players’ physical conditioning—particularly valuable for youth athletes or those returning from injury. Additionally, the new profiling method offers insights into individual player characteristics, enabling more tailored and effective training interventions.

BackgroundSome studies suggest that elite athletes experience adverse mental health symptoms at rates commensurate with the general population, despite the well-established buffering effects of exercise. Within contact sports, such as ice-hockey, recurrent concussions may be a source of this discrepancy. We compared the point prevalence of various mental health outcomes with other athlete and general population samples, as well as investigated their relationship with concussive events.MethodsWe surveyed 648 active ice hockey players from the top two men’s tiers and the top women’s tier in Swedish elite ice hockey on lifetime concussive events, hazardous alcohol use, problematic social media use, depression, anxiety, and burnout.ResultsHazardous alcohol use was more prevalent among male ice hockey players (29.5% AUDIT-C ≥ 6) compared to other athlete and general population samples, while other mental health symptoms were less common. Female ice hockey players reported higher hazardous alcohol consumption (36.4% AUDIT-C ≥ 4) than another athlete sample and more burnout (19.1%) than the general population. After adjusting for covariates, athletes with 3+ concussive events had 2.1 times the odds of elevated depressive symptoms and 3.5 times the odds of elevated burnout symptoms compared to those with no concussion history. Treating lifetime concussive events as a continuous predictor revealed positive correlations with all outcomes except for hazardous alcohol use.ConclusionsMental health outcome rates among active elite ice hockey athletes differ from those of other athlete and general population samples, whilst concussive events may be particularly linked to elevated symptoms of depression and burnout.

Abstract This chapter closes the book with a brief summary of the book’s purpose, and a brief statement of the theoretical and empirical definitions of scale-ups. While we argue that our book is timely, we also acknowledge the limitations of our book, chief among which is the data limitation of missing values affecting our empirical analysis.

Abstract The book begins with an introduction to research on High-Growth Firms and scale-ups, focusing on the development of the literature, and observing that early work on scale-ups focused on anecdotal evidence and case studies. In contrast, this book seeks to develop a rigorous and general definition of scale-ups that is amenable to being applied to datasets of firm populations from different countries and time periods.

Abstract Background: The conventional biomarkers estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ki67, and Nottingham histologic grade (NHG) are used to classify breast cancer into its molecular subtypes, determine prognosis, and guide treatment. A preoperative core needle biopsy (CNB) is used to confirm the diagnosis and invasiveness of a breast lesion and forms the basis for characterizing the tumor in the case of neoadjuvant primary treatment, emphasizing the importance of obtaining reliable biomarker assessment from a diagnostic CNB. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the similarity between biomarker status assessed on a CNB compared to a medically untreated surgical specimen. Methods: Paired CNB and surgical specimens from 267 patients that were part of the prospective Sweden Cancerome Analysis Network- Breast (SCAN-B) cohort were studied. The concordance for the five biomarkers: ER, PgR, Ki67, HER2 and molecular subtype, between paired CNB and surgical specimen were investigated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and gene expression-based analytical methods (GEX). IHC data were collected from patient medical records and gene expression was measured by RNA sequencing. Cohen’s kappa and Mcnemar’s test were used to compare the concordance of biomarkers.Results: Moderate to very good levels of concordance were observed between the biomarker status obtained on a CNB compared with the paired surgical specimen for IHC (κappa range 0.474-0.917) and GEX (κappa range 0.528-0.776), respectively. However, a significant drift from low to high Ki67 status and from negative to positive HER2 status between the CNB and surgical specimen was observed when using IHC and GEX, respectively (McNemar p < 0.05 for both comparisons). Moderate to good concordance levels of biomarker status were generally obtained when comparing GEX and IHC status measured from the same type of sample (κappa range 0.484-0.649) except for Ki67 which consistently displayed poor concordance levels between IHC and GEX for both CNB and surgical specimen comparisons (κappa range 0.158-0.198). Notably, a significant shift from positive to negative ER status and high to low Ki67 status was observed when comparing IHC with GEX classification (McNemar p <0.001 for both comparisons). Conclusion: The tissue sampling and the method of biomarker analysis may affect the results of biomarker status and ultimately affect treatment decisions. The implications of using a preoperative CNB to determine biomarker status, prognosis, and treatment choice should be taken into consideration in neoadjuvant treatment settings. Citation Format: Hani Saghir, Srinivas Veerla, Martin Malmberg, Lisa Rydén, Anna Ehinger, Lao Saal, Johan Vallon-Christersson, Åke Borg, Cecilia Hegardt, Ingrid Hedenfalk, Susanne Dieroff-Hay, Christer Larsson, Niklas Loman, Siker Kimbung. How reliable are biomarkers assessed on a core needle biopsy? A study of paired core needle biopsies and surgical specimens in early breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-11.

This study investigates the feasibility to use a passive marker motion capture system on ice to collect 3D kinematics of slap shots and one timers. Kinematic data were collected within a volume of ...

Introduction: Oxygen supplementation increases physical performance during strenuous work, as known for more than 100 years. There is no widespread use among athletes, which could be due to logistical challenges with gas supply when breathing over 200 L/min. We hypothesized that a positive effect could be reached with a moderate increase in alveolar PO2. If so, a technical solution here called “Oxelerator” could be constructed combining intermittent gas supply with oxygen concentrators running of electricity and a small bottle. Methods. This study describes the theoretical details regarding gas flow and consumption as well as a practical test of the Oxelerator when used during intense exercise by two athletes with high VO2 and work capacity. Results: The Oxelerator generates a peak gas flow of 32 L/min dosed intermittently in 400 - 700 ms boluses adjusted to the inspiratory phase of breathing, mixing oxygen with surrounding air. Theoretical calculations show that 1 liter tank suffice for 20 - 40 minutes of high intensity exercise and hyperoxic FEO2 while breathing above 200 L/min. The first subject ran on a treadmill at a VO2 of 4.64 L/min, RER 0.94. Then intermittent oxygen supplementation was initiated, and FEO2 reached 25.96% after 1 minute. The second subject rowed an ergometer at 330 W. VO2 stabilized at 5.67 L/min, with RER 0.91. After 1 minute of oxygen supplementation mixed expired FEO2 was 22.58% suggesting that inspired FO2 averaged 28 - 31%. Conclusions: A portable technical solution is proposed that enable intermittent O2 supplementation enough to increase end-expiratory FO2 during intense workloads. This will enable hyperoxic exercise for athletes.

Abstract The purpose was to determine running economy and lactate threshold among a selection of male elite football players with high and low aerobic power. Forty male elite football players from the highest Swedish division (“Allsvenskan”) participated in the study. In a test of running economy (RE) and blood lactate accumulation the participants ran four minutes each at 10, 12, 14, and 16 km•h−1 at horizontal level with one minute rest in between each four minutes interval. After the last sub-maximal speed level the participants got two minutes of rest before test of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Players that had a maximal oxygen uptake lower than the average for the total population of 57.0 mL O2•kg−1•minute−1 were assigned to the low aerobic power group (LAP) (n=17). The players that had a VO2max equal to or higher than 57.0 mL O2•kg−1•minute−1 were selected for the high aerobic power group (HAP) (n=23). The VO2max was significantly different between the HAP and LAP group. The average RE, measured as oxygen uptake at 12, 14 and 16km•h−1 was significantly lower but the blood lactate concentration was significantly higher at 14 and 16 km•h−1 for the LAP group compared with the HAP group.

BackgroundSailing is an Olympic sport practiced by both men and women of all ages. Despite being a popular sport, we have found no prospective studies investigating the injury incidence and training quantity such as found for other sports. The purpose of this study was to do an inventory over dinghy sailors’ training habits, injury incidence and type of injury.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, 45 sailors (17 women and 28 men), age 17–31 years, were included. 24 sailors belonged to the SWE Sailing Team and 21 were club sailors. All the participants kept a training diary, and once a month for 12 months they reported their training and injuries through a web-based questionnaire. Each time a sailor reported an injury, they were contacted by the researchers and an injury form was completed.ResultsThe SWE Sailing Team performed significantly (p=0.006) more physical training than the club sailor. There was no significant difference (p=0.7) in hours of sail training. A total of 144 injuries were reported. The most common injury location was the knee (19%), followed by the lower leg (13%) and shoulder (12%). 30% of the injuries occurred during physical training, 17% during sail training and 12% during sail racing.ConclusionsThe most common injury location was the knee. The largest proportion of injuries occurred during physical training and unspecified activities. The least number of injuries occurred during sail racing. The injury location was different between the older more experienced sailor (more upper extremity injuries) compared with the younger sailors (more trunk injuries).