0000000000278581
AUTHOR
Rikhard Mäki-heikkilä
showing 3 related works from this author
Acute respiratory infections hamper training and competition in cross-country skiers, especially in those with asthma
2023
Acute respiratory infections (ARinf) are one of the leading causes that prevent athletes from training and competing. The aim of this study was to investigate the burden of ARinfs during one season among cross-country skiers. All Finnish cross-country skiers enrolled in the largest national competitions in winter 2019 (n = 1282) were sent a postal questionnaire. A higher proportion of skiers with than without asthma had to refrain from competitions because of ARinf (76.9% vs. 62.2%, p = 0.011) but there was no significant difference in refraining from training (91.2% vs. 83.8%, p = 0.084). In skiers with asthma, the median duration of a single ARinf episode was longer (5.0 days, IQR 3.8–6.8…
Cross-country skiers often experience respiratory symptoms during and after exercise but have a low prevalence of prolonged cough
2023
Background Cross-country skiers train and compete during the winter for long periods of time in subfreezing conditions, which strains the airways and provokes respiratory symptoms. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of exercise-related symptoms and prolonged cough in competitive cross-country skiers versus the general population and to investigate the association between these symptoms and asthma. Methods A questionnaire was sent to Finnish cross-country skiers (n=1282) and a random sample of the general population (n=1754), with response rates of 26.9% and 19.0%, respectively. Results Both groups were mostly asymptomatic at rest, but symptoms were increased in both groups during an…
High training volume is associated with increased prevalence of non-allergic asthma in competitive cross-country skiers.
2022
BackgroundCross-country skiers have a high prevalence of asthma, but its phenotypes and association with success in competitions are not known.ObjectiveTo investigate, by means of a postal survey, the relative proportions of allergic and non-allergic asthma in competitive cross-country skiers compared with the general population, to study how performance level and training volume are related to asthma and its type and to assess the possible risk factors for allergic and non-allergic asthma in competitive skiers.MethodsAll Finnish cross-country skiers enrolled in the largest national competitions in winter 2019 (n=1282), and a random sample (n=1754) of the general population of the same age …