Citation

Valenti M, Pontieri FE, Conti F, Altobelli E, Manzoni T, Frati L. Eur. J. Neurol. 2005; 12(3): 223-225.

Affiliation

Section of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Human Movement and Sports Science, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. valenti@cc.univaq.it

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, European Federation of Neurological Societies, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1468-1331.2004.00978.x

PMID

15693813

Abstract

An increased incidence of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) amongst soccer players in Italy has recently been reported. A case-control study (300 cases and 300 matched controls) was conducted to explore the association between ALS and physical/sports activities, with specific reference to trauma-related risk. Neither the practice of competitive sports nor sports-related traumas were found to be associated with an increased risk of ALS. The practice of physical activities or sports is not per se a risk factor for ALS. Our results exclude sports-related microtraumas as etiopathogenic factors in the natural history of ALS.

Language: en