Gender aspects of connective tissue dysplasia as a basis for sports injuries prevention

Aim. The article aims to study the sex-dependent manifestations of connective tissue dysplasia in persons with recurrent injuries and to find algorithms for rapid diagnostics of male and female predisposition to injuries for effective injury prevention during physical education and sports activities. Materials and methods. A comprehensive medical-anthropological and instrumental examination of 78 people aged from 22 to 47 years with recurrent injuries of the musculoskeletal system associated with cyclic load was carried out. Male and female subgroups were formed. The revealed dysplastic changes were registered by using a specially developed questionnaire. Statistical analysis of the data obtained was conducted by using Microsoft Excel 2010. Results. Sex-dependent and universal criteria for the rapid diagnosis of predisposition to injuries were determined. It was proved that a special training program was required to males with dolichostenomelia, arachnodactylia, chest deformities, valgus flatfoot deformities, rectus abdominis diastasis, recurrent hernias and hemorrhoids. In females, attention should be paid to asthenic body type, joint hypermobility, soft auricles, thin skin, atrophic striae, telangiectasias and lower limb varicose veins. Sex-independent criteria such as high-arched palate, scoliosis, kyphoscoliosis, “crunch” in the temporomandibular joint, X- and O-shaped legs are of special diagnostic significance. Conclusion. Established criteria for the rapid diagnosis of predisposition to injuries will contribute to the timely planning of the training process, as well as therapeutic and preventive measures aimed at reducing the injuries during physical education and sports activities.