Science

• Autonomic nervous system activity assessment in recreational half marathon runners

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  Autonomic nervous system activity assessment in recreational half marathon runners

  Author(s)

  Michal Botek, Pavel Stejskal, Michal Šafář, David Smékal

  Date

  2011-01-03

  Source

  Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica, Vol 41, No 1 (2011)

  BACKGROUND: Spectral analysis (SA) of heart rate variability (HRV) is considered to be a non invasive method for the quantification of autonomic cardiac activity in relationship to the sinoatrial node. It is well known that autonomic regulation is affected by various stress factors such as anxiety and/or physical activity. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pre-competitive anxiety on the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity and, further, to monitor the time course of ANS recovery as well as perceived fatigue during 24 hours of a post-half marathon period in amateur runners. METHODS: The SA HRV method was used for the evaluation of autonomic cardiac regulation. ANS activity was assessed one week before a competition and on the day of the competition. During the post-competition period ANS activity was measured at the 1st, the 12th, and the 24th hour. ANS activity was represented by the standard spectral parameters and complex indexes of SA HRV. Precompetition anxiety was evaluated by means of a modified Likert 10 point scale. The competitors’ subjective feelings of fatigue were scored on a 6 point scale. RESULTS: Perception of anxiety was significantly higher on the day of the competition than one week before the competition. The significant decrease in the complex index of sympathovagal balance on day of the competition implies l for and testifies to an increase in sympathetic activity. No significant differences between any selected HRV variables at the 12th hour as well as at the 24th hour of recovery compared to both pre-competition levels were found. Perceived fatigue remained significantly elevated up to the 24th hour of recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that elevated pre-competitive anxiety induced sympathetic predominance in autonomic regulation particularly during the period of orthostatic stimulation. ANS activity returned to its pre-competition level during the 12th hour after the finish of the competition. It is evident that the causes of soreness or fatigue do not markedly affect ANS activity during a later phase of recovery.

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• Cardiovascular and Coordination Training Differentially Improve Cognitive Performance and Neural Processing in Older Adults

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  Cardiovascular and Coordination Training Differentially Improve Cognitive Performance and Neural Processing in Older Adults

  Author(s)

  Claudia Voelcker-Rehage, Ben Godde, Ursula M. Staudinger

  Date

  2011-05-25

  Source

  Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 2011. 5: 26

  Recent studies revealed a positive influence of physical activity on cognitive functioning in older adults. Studies that investigate the behavioral and neurophysiological effects of type and long term duration of physical training, however, are missing. We performed a 12-month longitudinal study to investigate the effects of cardiovascular and coordination training (control group: relaxation and stretching) on cognitive functions (executive control and perceptual speed) in older adults. We analyzed data of 44 participants aged 62–79 years. Participants were trained three times a week for 12 months. Their physical and cognitive performance was tested prior to training, and after 6 and 12 months. Changes in brain activation patterns were investigated using functional MRI. On the behavioral level, both experimental groups improved in executive functioning and perceptual speed but with differential effects on speed and accuracy. In line with the behavioral findings, neurophysiological results for executive control also revealed changes (increases and reductions) in brain activity for both interventions in frontal, parietal, and sensorimotor cortical areas. In contrast to the behavioral findings, neurophysiological changes were linear without indication of a plateau. In both intervention groups, prefrontal areas showed decreased activation after 6 and 12 months when performing an executive control task, as compared to the control group, indicating more efficient information processing. Furthermore, cardiovascular training was associated with an increased activation of the sensorimotor network, whereas coordination training was associated with increased activation in the visual–spatial network. Our data suggest that besides cardiovascular training also other types of physical activity improve cognition of older adults. The mechanisms, however, that underlie the performance changes seem to differ depending on the intervention.

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• COMT gene polymorphisms, cognitive performance, and physical fitness in older adults

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  COMT gene polymorphisms, cognitive performance, and physical fitness in older adults

  Author(s)

  Claudia Voelcker-Rehage, Albert Jeltsch, Ben Godde, Sandra Becker, Ursula M. Staudinger

  Date

  2015-04-11

  Source

  Psychology of Sport and Exercise

  Abstract
  Objective

  It is well known that genetic predispositions might influence cognitive performance, particularly in older adults. One gene related to executive functioning is the COMT gene with met/met carriers outperforming val/val carriers in cognitive tasks. Further, it has been shown that fitness is positively related to cognitive functioning in older adults. As both, the COMT genotype and physical exercise have been shown to influence dopamine availability and as changes in dopamine metabolism seem to play a key role in cognitive aging, the aim of this study was to analyze the association of the COMT gene polymorphisms with the relationship between fitness and cognition.

  Design

  We used a cross-sectional design.

  Method

  Sixty-eight healthy older adults between 62 and 79 years of age were analyzed in this study. DNA was extracted from capillary blood samples. Participants performed a modified version of the Flanker Task as an indicator of executive control and a battery of motor and physical tests as indicators of fitness.

  Results

  Hierarchical regression analyses revealed a positive influence of overall fitness and an interactive effect of fitness and COMT polymorphisms on Flanker accuracy performance. Val/val carriers revealed the highest positive correlation between fitness and cognition.

  Conclusions

  Our data suggest that particularly val/val allele carriers benefit from exercise by improved cognitive functioning whereas met/met carriers already perform closer at their optimum level.

  Keywords
  ExerciseGenotypeAgingExecutive functioningDopaminePhysical activity

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• Condition and body constitution of soccer players in category U19 before and after completing a preparatory period

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  Condition and body constitution of soccer players in category U19 before and after completing a preparatory period

  Author(s)

  Zdeněk Botek, Aleš Gába, Michal Lehnert, Miroslava Přidalová, Renata Vařeková, Michal Botek, František Langer

  Date

  2010-02-01

  Source

  Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica, Vol 40, No 2 (2010)

  BACKGROUND: The level of one’s conditioning predisposition and somatic factors are one of the main components determining the quality of an individual’s performance in soccer. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in selected motor, functional and somatic parameters of soccer players in category U19, who completed the long used model of a training program employed in the preparatory period of soccer players. METHODS: The monitored group was composed of 14 players from SK Sigma Olomouc in category U19. The categories being evaluated comprised: their starting and acceleration speeds in the 10 m, 30 m and 30 m sprint with a flying start, the vertical jump, the isokinetic muscular strength of the knee joint and their maximum aerobic capacity. Of the monitored somatic factors attention was mainly focused on body height and weight, percentage of body fat, quantity of fat free mass and the overall amount of water in their bodies. RESULTS: From the spectrum of examined motor and functional parameters the only value that changed significantly with the players was the average value of VO2max from 56.65 to 58.85 ml.kg–1.min–1 (p = 0.04). Among the somatic factors a significant decrease was seen with the values of the Body Mass Index from 22.51 to 22.28 kg.m–2 (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the context of the players’ performance the expected changes of the monitored parameters were not observed. It is believed that the traditional model of soccer players’ preparation does not lead to the desired changes in conditioning and somatic parameters.

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• Determination of the vagal threshold and changes of it’s using

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  Determination of the vagal threshold and changes of it’s using

  Author(s)

  Michal Botek, Pavel Stejskal, Jakub Krejčí, Aleš Jakubec, Aleš Gába

  Date

  2008-02-04

  Source

  Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica, Vol 38, No 2 (2008)

  Exercise intensity causes changes in the activity of both branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) as involved in cardiovascular system regulation. Reduction in vagal activity and an increase in sympatho-adrenal activity is associated with an increase in death risk from both cardiac and arrhythmic causes during exercise. The main aim of this work was to develop a simple mathematic algorithm for determination of critical exercise intensity, at which, if exceeded, the cardiovascular system starts to be influenced dominantly by rising sympathetic activity including catecholamine and a significant withdrawal in cardiac vagal activity (vagal threshold – TVA) occurs. The testing group consisted of 10 volunteers (men). Their mean age was 27.24 ± 3.23 years and the mean value of their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was 50.24 ± 4.63 ml•kg–1•min–1. ANS activity was monitored by the microprocessor diagnostics system VarCor PF 7 and assessed by a non invasive spectral analysis (SA) of heart rate variability (HRV) method. The power of the high frequency component (PHF) was calculated by integrating the area under the power spectral density curve in the frequency range from 0.15 to 0.5 Hz. Changes in autonomic cardiac regulation were assessed during walking in the steady state with exercise intensities ranging from 20 to 70% of maximal heart rate reserve (MHRR) on the treadmill. Each exercise intensity increases of about the 10% MHRR in a range from 20 to 70% MHRR led to a significant decrease in vagal activity. A designed mathematic algorithm for detecting the deflection point of the vagal activity during incremental exercise intensity revealed TVA at 43.63 ± 4.66% MHRR. We can state that the designed algorithm for detection of TVA enables an estimation of such a “safe” intensity, when the vagal activity is still preserved and sympathetic activity does not markedly rise up during exercise. The estimation of TVA could be recommended especially for the exercise prescription for patients with both reduction HRV, and at risk for sudden cardiac death.

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• Effect of allicin on peripheral blood cell dna damage in human body after exhaustive exercise

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  Effect of allicin on peripheral blood cell dna damage in human body after exhaustive exercise

  Author(s)

  Dongmei Liu; Shengli Liang; Lina An

  Date

  2015-09-04

  Source

  Carpathian Journal of Food Science & Technology . 2015, Vol. 7 Issue 3, p86-92. 7p.

  Abstract:
  This study was designed to observe the effect of allicin tonic on peripheral blood cell DNA damage as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH) and methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) activities in serum after exhaustive exercise, and explore the mechanism of allicin in anti-DNA oxidative damage. Totally 16 healthy male athletes were randomly divided into control group and experimental group, with 8 athletes in each group. Each group was treated with oral administration of placebo and garlicin capsules fourteen days before exercise; then all subjects took part in Bruce exhaustive exercise scheme after tonic, and blood was sampled for anticoagulation before and after tonic and immediately after exercise respectively. Peripheral blood cell DNA damage in human body was detected with single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE), and SOD activity, content of GSH and MDA were measured in plasma. Results showed that levels of DNA damage and oxidative stress in two groups had no significant difference before and after tonic (P>0.05); furthermore, athletes’ peripheral blood cell DNA damage detected immediately after exercise in experimental group was obviously lower than that after exhaustive exercise in control group, and its MDA level, SOD and GSH content decreased significantly compared with exhaustive control group (P<0.001, P<0.05, P<0.05). However, SOD, GSH and MDA level detected immediately after exercise in control group increased notably in comparison with those before exercise, and DNA damage intensified apparently (P<0.001). Thus, it can be concluded that exhaustive exercise is able to induce the increase of peripheral blood cell DNA damage in human body as well as MDA level of lipid peroxidative product, and mediate the over expression of SOD and GSH antioxidant enzyme activities. In addition, allicin is believed to be capable of improving antioxidant ability of body, reducing free radical level, also relieving and preventing DNA damage caused by oxidative stress in exercise.
  Copyright of Carpathian Journal of Food Science & Technology is the property of Carpathian Journal of Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder’s express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.

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• Interobserver variability of ankle-brachial index measurements at rest and post exercise in patients with intermittent claudication

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  Interobserver variability of ankle-brachial index measurements at rest and post exercise in patients with intermittent claudication

  Author(s)

  Herman van Langer, Johan van Gurp, Leonie Rubbens

  Date

  2009-09-07

  Source

  Vascular Medicine. 2009; 14:221

  The ankle–brachial index (ABI) post exercise is claimed to play a complementary role in the diagnosis or exclusion of intermittent claudication (IC). The interobserver variability of ABI measurements at rest and post exercise in patients with typical symptoms of IC is the subject of this study with emphasis on ABI post exercise. ABI at rest and post exercise were measured in both legs of 20 patients with typical symptoms of IC. After 15 minutes of rest these measurements were repeated by another observer. Analysis according to Bland–Altman was performed on 40 paired leg measurements at rest and 40 paired leg measurements post exercise. The average ABI at rest for the first observer was 0.84 (standard deviation ±0.18) and for the second was 0.84 (±0.17). Post-exercise averages were 0.73 (±0.25) and 0.74 (±0.27), respectively. The standard deviation of the ABI difference between observers was 0.08 at rest and 0.15 post exercise. The interobserver variability of the ABI was 10% at rest and 21% post exercise. The interobserver variability post exercise is an important given when rules are defined about how the ABI post exercise translates into a more reliable and objective diagnosis of IC.

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• Kinematical analysis, pole forces and energy cost of Nordic walking: Slope influence

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  Kinematical analysis, pole forces and energy cost of Nordic walking: Slope influence

  Author(s)

  Zdeněk Svoboda, Pavel Stejskal, Aleš Jakubec, Jakub Krejčí

  Date

  2011-01-24

  Source

  Acta Universitatis Palackianae Olomucensis. Gymnica, Vol 41, No 2 (2011)

  BACKGROUND: Several studies concerning Nordic walking (NW) have been reported on however previous investigations have usually focused only on physiological variables or on the kinematics of a moving subject with poles. Until now, only one study that observed the generation of upper limb force acting on a pole has been presented. In our pilot study NW was observed in a more comprehensive manner by means of physiological and biomechanical methods. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the pilot study was to compare biomechanical and physiological variables during walking without and with poles on the different slopes of the ground. METHODS: One healthy man participated in the study. During treadmill walking, basic temporal, angle, force, energy expenditure and exercise intensity variables were observed. The subject completed two 9 minute tests (NW, normal walking) consisting of three periods of three minutes walking on various slopes of the ground (0 %, 5 %, 10 %). RESULTS: NW on all slopes of the ground, in comparison with walking without poles, the result was lesser hip flexion, knee flexion and ankle dorsal flexion and greater hip extension. Maximal plantar flexion during NW was not influenced by the slope of the ground (in contrast to walking without poles). During NW, frequency decreased on all slopes of the ground. Support impulse and maximal force utilization of the poles showed various differences for right and left limbs. The values of oxygen consumption and heart rate for NW were, in comparison with walking without poles, higher in all experimental situations. CONCLUSIONS: The slope of the ground influences both walking without poles and NW. The reason is greater moving of the centre of mass in a vertical direction. During NW the examined person solved increased energy demands at gentle increases in the slope only by an enhancement of the work of lower limbs, whereas during the overcoming of a major inclination, to maintain the stated speed, it was necessary to enhance the involvement of the upper limbs.

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• More Automation and Less Cognitive Control of Imagined Walking Movements in High- Versus Low-Fit Older Adults

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  More Automation and Less Cognitive Control of Imagined Walking Movements in High- Versus Low-Fit Older Adults

  Author(s)

  Ben Godde, Claudia Voelcker-Rehage

  Date

  2010-05-11

  Source

  Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. 2010; 2: 139

  Using motor imagery, we investigated brain activation in simple and complex walking tasks (walking forward and backward on a treadmill) and analyzed if the motor status of older adults influenced these activation patterns. Fifty-one older adults (64–79 years of age) were trained in motor execution and imagery and then performed the imagination task and two control tasks (standing, counting backward) in a horizontal position within a 3T MRI scanner (first-person perspective, eyes closed). Walking backward as compared to walking forward required larger activations in the primary motor cortex, supplementary motor area, parietal cortex, thalamus, putamen, and caudatum, but less activation in the cerebellum and brainstem. Motor high-fit individuals showed more activations and larger BOLD signals in motor-related areas compared to low-fit participants but demonstrated lower activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Moreover, parietal activation in high-fit participants remained stable throughout the movement period whereas low-fit participants revealed an early drop in activity in this area accompanied by increasing activity in frontal brain regions. Overall, walking forward seemed to be more automated (more activation in cerebellum and brainstem), whereas walking backward required more resources, e.g., for visual-spatial processing and sensorimotor control. Low-fit subjects in particular seemed to require more cognitive resources for planning and controlling. High-fit subjects, on the contrary, revealed more movement automation and a higher “attention span.” Our results support the hypothesis that high fitness corresponds with more automation and less cognitive control of complex motor tasks, which might help to free up cognitive resources.

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• Physical and motor fitness are both related to cognition in old age

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  Physical and motor fitness are both related to cognition in old age

  Author(s)

  Claudia Voelcker-Rehage, Ben Godde, Ursula M. Staudinge

  Date

  2010-01-12

  Source

  European Journal of Neuroscience. Volume 31, Issue 1, pages 167-176, January 2010

  The benefits of fitness for cognitive performance in healthy older adults have repeatedly been demonstrated. Animal studies, however, have revealed differential relationships between physical and motor fitness and brain metabolism. We therefore investigated whether for older humans different dimensions of fitness are differentially associated with cognitive performance and brain activation patterns. Seventy-two participants (mean age 68.99 years, SD = 3.66; 52 females) completed four psychometric tests reflecting two primary abilities of higher cognitive functioning (executive control, perceptual speed) and a battery of fitness tests comprising two fitness dimensions (physical and motor fitness). We found that not only physical fitness indexed by cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength, but also motor fitness including movement speed, balance, motor coordination and flexibility showed a strong association with cognitive functioning. Additionally, functional brain imaging data revealed that physical and motor fitness were differentially related to cognitive processes. Results are discussed with regard to the compensation hypothesis and potential consequences for intervention work.

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• Running biomechanics in a long-term monitored recreational athlete with a history of Achilles tendon rupture

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  Running biomechanics in a long-term monitored recreational athlete with a history of Achilles tendon rupture

  Author(s)

  Daniel Jandacka, David Zahradnik, Karel Foldyna, Joseph Hamill

  Date

  2012-04-10

  Source

  BMJ Case Reports 2013; doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-007370

  This study represented a unique opportunity to understand changes in the human motion biomechanics during basic locomotion within a time interval of 4 years, when the monitored individual regained his original aerobic fitness, running performance and body mass index as prior to the injury. The participant visited the laboratory a month prior to the injury and during 4 years after the surgery. The surgery, subsequent rehabilitation and a 4-year running training programme in the studied recreational athlete did not completely eliminate the consequences of the Achilles tendon rupture. The function muscle deficit is namely manifested by a lower net plantar flexion moment and a lower net-generated ankle joint power during the take-off in the stance phase. The greater dorsal flexion in the affected ankle joint at the first contact with the ground and consequently higher peaks of ground reaction forces during running are consequences of the longer Achilles tendon in the affected lower extremity and weakened calf muscles.

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• Running with a minimalist shoe increases plantar pressure in the forefoot region of healthy female runners

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  Running with a minimalist shoe increases plantar pressure in the forefoot region of healthy female runners

  Author(s)

  S.A.Bergstra, B.Kluitenberg, R.Dekker, S.W. Bredeweg, K.Postema, E.R.Van den Heuvel, J.M.Hijman, S.Sobhani

  Date

  2014-06-21

  Source

  Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Volume 18, Issue 4, July 2015, Pages 463-468

  Abstract
  Objectives

  Minimalist running shoes have been proposed as an alternative to barefoot running. However, several studies have reported cases of forefoot stress fractures after switching from standard to minimalist shoes. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to investigate the differences in plantar pressure in the forefoot region between running with a minimalist shoe and running with a standard shoe in healthy female runners during overground running.

  Design

  Randomized crossover design.

  Methods

  In-shoe plantar pressure measurements were recorded from eighteen healthy female runners. Peak pressure, maximum mean pressure, pressure time integral and instant of peak pressure were assessed for seven foot areas. Force time integral, stride time, stance time, swing time, shoe comfort and landing type were assessed for both shoe types. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the data.

  Results

  Peak pressure and maximum mean pressure were higher in the medial forefoot (respectively 13.5% and 7.46%), central forefoot (respectively 37.5% and 29.2%) and lateral forefoot (respectively 37.9% and 20.4%) for the minimalist shoe condition. Stance time was reduced with 3.81%. No relevant differences in shoe comfort or landing strategy were found.

  Conclusions

  Running with a minimalist shoe increased plantar pressure without a change in landing pattern. This increased pressure in the forefoot region might play a role in the occurrence of metatarsal stress fractures in runners who switched to minimalist shoes and warrants a cautious approach to transitioning to minimalist shoe use.

  Keywords
  Overuse injuryFootwearBarefoot runningStress fractureLanding strategy

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• Supplementation with a polyphenolic blend improves post-exercise strength recovery and muscle soreness.

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  Supplementation with a polyphenolic blend improves post-exercise strength recovery and muscle soreness.

  Author(s)

  Kelli A. Herrlinger, Diana M. Chirouzes and Michael A. Ceddia

  Date

  2015-12-18

  Source

  food & nutrition research

  Abstract
  BACKGROUND:
  Exercise can initiate a cascade of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related events leading to delayed onset muscle soreness. Polyphenols possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
  OBJECTIVE:
  The current study examined the effects of a proprietary polyphenolic blend (PB), containing catechins and theaflavins, on exercise performance and recovery following an eccentric exercise challenge.
  DESIGN:
  Male participants (18-35 years of age) received placebo or PB at a low dose (PB-L, 1,000 mg/d) or high dose (PB-H, 2,000 mg/d) for 13 weeks. During the 13th week of supplementation, participants completed an eccentric exercise (40 min downhill treadmill run) followed by a strength assessment (peak torque on isokinetic leg extensions) pre-exercise, and 24, 48, and 96 h post-exercise. Muscle soreness (subjective questionnaire), markers of muscle stress (cortisol and creatine phosphokinase [CK]), and antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing ability of plasma [FRAP]) were also assessed.
  RESULTS:
  PB-H attenuated the decrease in peak torque observed in the placebo group from pre-exercise to 48 h (p=0.012) and 96 h (p=0.003) post-exercise. At 48 h post-exercise, PB-H reduced whole body and hamstring soreness (p=0.029) versus placebo. Chronic consumption of PB improved serum FRAP (p=0.039). As expected, serum cortisol and CK increased from pre- to post-exercise in all groups; however, by 96 h, cortisol and CK levels returned to pre-exercise levels following PB supplementation. At 96 h, the change in cortisol from pre- to post-exercise was significantly greater in placebo versus PB-H (p=0.039).
  CONCLUSION:
  These findings show that chronic consumption of PB improved antioxidant status, reduced markers of muscle stress, and promoted strength recovery post-exercise.
  KEYWORDS:
  antioxidant; catechins; cortisol; creatine phosphokinase; delayed onset muscle soreness; strength; theaflavins

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• The Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study: rationale and design

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  The Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study: rationale and design

  Author(s)

  John Cairney, Cheryl Missiuna, Brian W. Timmons, Christine Rodriguez, Scott Veldhuizen, Sara King-Dowling, Sarah Wellman, and Tuyen Le

  Date

  2015-12-21

  Source

  BMC Public Health

  Background

  Past studies have found that children with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) engage in less physical activity than typically developing children. This “activity deficit” may result in children with DCD being less physically fit and more likely to be overweight or obese, potentially increasing later risk for poor cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, the majority of DCD research has been limited to cross-sectional designs, leading to questions about the complex relationship among motor ability, inactivity and health-related fitness. Of the few longitudinal studies on the topic, determining precedence amongst these factors is difficult because study cohorts typically focus on mid to late childhood. By this age, both decreased physical fitness and obesity are often established. The Coordination and Activity Tracking in CHildren (CATCH) study will examine the pathways connecting DCD, physical activity, physical fitness, and body composition from early to middle childhood.

  Methods

  The CATCH study is a prospective cohort study. We aim to recruit a cohort of 600 children aged 4 to 5 years (300 probable DCD [pDCD] and 300 controls) and test them once a year for 4 years. At Phase 1 of baseline testing, we assess motor skills, cognitive ability (IQ), basic anthropometry, flexibility and lower body muscle strength, while parents complete an interview and questionnaires regarding family demographics, their child’s physical activity, and behavioural characteristics. Children who move on to Phase 2 (longitudinal cohort) have their body fat percentage, foot structure, aerobic and anaerobic fitness assessed. An accelerometer to measure physical activity is then given to the child and interested family members. The family also receives an accelerometer logbook and 3-day food dairy. At years 2 to 4, children in the longitudinal cohort will have all baseline assessments repeated (excluding the IQ test), and complete an additional measure of perceived self-efficacy. Parents will complete an ADHD index twice within the follow-up period. To assess the association between DCD, fitness and adiposity, our primary analysis will involve longitudinal growth models with fixed effects.

  Discussion

  The CATCH study will provide a clearer understanding of pathways between DCD and health-related fitness necessary to determine the types of interventions children with DCD require.

  Keywords: Body composition, Developmental coordination disorder, Early years, Health-related fitness, Movement difficulties, Motor skills, Obesity

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• The Effect of Stress and Recovery on Field-test Performance in Floorball.

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  The Effect of Stress and Recovery on Field-test Performance in Floorball.

  Author(s)

  H. T. D. van der Does, M. S. Brink, C. Visscher, B. C. H. Huijgen, W. G. P. Frencken, K. A. P. M. Lemmink, SMART Movements (SMART)

  Date

  2015-06-04

  Source

  International Journal of Sports Medicine. 36, 6, p. 460-465 6 p.

  Physical and psychosocial stress and recovery are important performance determinants. A holistic approach that monitors these performance determinants over a longer period of time is lacking. Therefore this study aims to investigate the effect of a player’s physical and psychosocial stress and recovery on field-test performance. In a prospective non-experimental cohort design 10 female Dutch floorball players were monitored over 6 months. To monitor physical and psychosocial stress and recovery, daily training-logs and 3-weekly the Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (RESTQ-Sport) were filled out respectively. To determine field-test performance 6 Heart rate Interval Monitoring System (HIMS) and 4 Repeated Modified Agility T-test (RMAT) measurements were performed. Multilevel prediction models were applied to account for within-players and between-players field-test performance changes. The results show that more psychosocial stress and less psychosocial recovery over 3-6 weeks before testing decrease HIMS performance (p0.05). More physical stress over 6 weeks before testing improves RMAT performance (p0.05). In conclusion, physical and psychosocial stress and recovery affect submaximal interval-based running performance and agility up to 6 weeks before testing. Therefore both physical and psychosocial stress and recovery should be monitored in daily routines to optimize performance.

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• The Influence of Aerobic Power on Repeated Anaerobic Exercise in Junior Soccer Players

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  The Influence of Aerobic Power on Repeated Anaerobic Exercise in Junior Soccer Players

  Author(s)

  Lukas Cipryan, Vojtech Gajda

  Date

  2011-06-28

  Source

  Journal of Human Kinetics. 2011 June; 28: 63–71

  The main purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between anaerobic power achieved in repeated anaerobic exercise and aerobic power. The study group consisted of 40 soccer players (age 17.3 ± 1.36 years). All participants performed 3 tests: a running-based anaerobic sprint test (RAST), a graded treadmill test (GXT), and a multistage fitness test (20mPST). A statistically significant correlation was found among peak power in the GXT and the maximum (r = 0.365, p=0.02), minimum (r=0.334, p=0.035) and average (r=0.401, p=0.01) power in the RAST. No relationships were found between VO2max obtained from both aerobic tests and any performance indices in the RAST. A statistically significant correlation was found between the VO2max obtained from the spiroergometry examination (GXT) and the calculated VO2max of 20mPST (r=0.382, p=0.015). In conclusion, the level of VO2max does not influence the performance indices in the RAST in elite junior soccer players. It is possible that the modification of anaerobic test protocol or a more heterogeneous study group would influence the results. The estimation of the VO2max in the 20mPST is too inaccurate and should not replace the laboratory spiroergometry examination.

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• Validity and Reproducibility of a New Treadmill Protocol: The Fitkids Treadmill Test.

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  Validity and Reproducibility of a New Treadmill Protocol: The Fitkids Treadmill Test.

  Author(s)

  Kotte EM, De Groot JF, Bongers BC, Winkler AM, Takken T.

  Date

  2015-02-11

  Source

  Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

  Abstract
  PURPOSE:
  This study aimed to investigate the validity and reproducibility of a new treadmill protocol in healthy children and adolescents: the Fitkids Treadmill Test (FTT).
  METHODS:
  Sixty-eight healthy children and adolescents (6-18 yr) were randomly divided into a validity group (14 boys and 20 girls; mean ± SD age, 12.9 ± 3.6 yr) that performed the FTT and Bruce protocol, both with respiratory gas analysis within 2 wk, and a reproducibility group (19 boys and 15 girls; mean ± SD age, 13.5 ± 3.5 yr) that performed the FTT twice within 2 wk. A subgroup of 21 participants within the reproducibility group performed both FTT with respiratory gas analysis. Time to exhaustion (TTE) was the main outcome of the FTT.
  RESULTS:
  V˙O2peak measured during the FTT showed excellent correlation with V˙O2peak measured during the Bruce protocol (r = 0.90; P < 0.01). Backward multiple regression analysis provided the following prediction equations for V˙O2peak (L·min) for boys and girls, respectively: V˙O2peak FTT = -0.748 + (0.117 × TTEFTT) + (0.032 × body mass) + 0.263, and V˙O2peak FTT = -0.748 + (0.117 × TTEFTT) + (0.032 × body mass) [R = 0.935; SEE = 0.256 L·min]. Cross-validation of the regression model showed an R value of 0.76. Reliability statistics for the FTT showed an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.985 (95% confidence interval, 0.971-0.993; P < 0.001) for TTE. Bland-Altman analysis showed a mean bias of -0.07 min, with limits of agreement between +1.30 and -1.43 min.
  CONCLUSIONS:
  Results suggest that the FTT is a useful treadmill protocol with good validity and reproducibility in healthy children and adolescents. Exercise performance on the FTT and body mass can be used to adequately predict V˙O2peak when respiratory gas analysis is not available.

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