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Motivation to study Laws of the Game and Competition Rules – An empirical study in National Portuguese Football Referees
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Background The aim of the study was to determine the preferences in the use of nutritional supplements
and the correctness of their selection in training among recreational athletes attending
classes at the gym.
Material/Methods A group 169 of recreational athletes was surveyed in ”AWF Warszawa” and ”Warszawianka”
gyms; they were 26.6 years old ±6.48 yrs and had 4 years ±4.57 of training experience. The
diagnostic survey method was used, with questionnaires developed by the authors of this
study.
Results A significantly smaller proportion of respondents declared the use of supplements. The
supplementation declared most often involved the use of chain amino acids (BCAA), highprotein supplements and creatine. A small proportion of the respondents declared the use
of carbohydrate supplements. Respondents declared taking more than one supplement at
the same time. Most often the protein supplements were combined with BCAA, creatine,
vitamins and minerals. A lack of knowledge manifested itself in many declarations such
as taking supplements with similar composition at the same time, the consumption of
excessive doses of certain substances, not knowing rules for maintaining the correct
proportions of the basic ingredients of a diet or a need for supplementation with certain
substances, depending on the type of exercise. Athletes wanted to achieve one to two
training goals in their classes, but the selection of supplements to help achieve these goals
was wrong. There was no significant preference given to the type of exercise (aerobic,
strength), indicating that many types of exercise were to be implemented in parallel during
one training session.
Conclusions The use of supplements among recreational athletes is not as widespread as is commonly
thought. The declared supplementation had a standard structure. The number of substances
used at the same time is lower than in athletes in high sports classes. A widespread lack of
knowledge of the training process can eliminate the effects of supplementation. It can also
cause harm to health and nutritional deficiencies. The implementation of properly selected
training goals may be impossible when supplementation is chosen poorly. Although it is
permissible to perform different types of exercise in a training session, the exercise choices
made by recreational athletes often seem accidental.
Key words Supplements, physical activity, training
Background
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by adverse changes in body composition, which are associated with poor clinical outcome and physical functioning. Whilst size is the key for muscle functioning, changes in muscle quality specifically increase in intramuscular fat infiltration (myosteatosis) and fibrosis (myofibrosis) may be important. We investigated the role of muscle quality and size on physical performance in non-dialysis CKD patients.
Methods
Ultrasound (US) images of the rectus femoris (RF) were obtained. Muscle quality was assessed using echo intensity (EI), and qualitatively using Heckmatt’s visual rating scale. Muscle size was obtained from RF cross-sectional area (RF-CSA). Physical function was measured by the sit-to-stand-60s (STS-60) test, incremental (ISWT) and endurance shuttle walk tests, lower limb and handgrip strength, exercise capacity (VO2peak) and gait speed.
Results
A total of 61 patients (58.5 ± 14.9 years, 46% female, estimated glomerular filtration rate 31.1 ± 20.2 mL/min/1.73 m2) were recruited. Lower EI (i.e. higher muscle quality) was significantly associated with better physical performance [STS-60 (r = 0.363) and ISWT (r = 0.320)], and greater VO2peak (r = 0.439). The qualitative rating was closely associated with EI values, and significant differences in function were seen between the ratings. RF-CSA was a better predictor of performance than muscle quality.
Conclusions
In CKD, increased US-derived EI was negatively correlated with physical performance; however, muscle size remains the largest predictor of physical function. Therefore, in addition to the loss of muscle size, muscle quality should be considered an important factor that may contribute to deficits in mobility and function in CKD. Interventions such as exercise could improve both of these factors.
In this paper, I will draw on the different notions of the cyborg to explore the normative implications of technology use in sport. To do so, I will first analyze the colloquial notion of the cyborg (Section 1). Then, I will differentiate between transhuman cyborgs, which are enhanced human beings who keep their defining human characteristics intact from the impact of technology, from posthuman cyborgs, which are beings whose involvement with technology blurs the line between what is human and what is not (Section 2). By applying the transhuman/posthuman distinction to sport, I will differentiate transhuman sport from posthuman sport. These two notions of sport will provide the basis for analyzing two conceptions of the cyborg-athlete: the transhuman cyborg-athlete and the posthuman one (Section 3). To conclude, I will identify the transhuman cyborg-athlete as the prevailing notion of the cyborg in contemporary sports and will present the main normative challenges that each conception of the cyborg-athlete raises.
We describe and analyse the incidence and nature of bullying behaviours in male adolescent athletes (n = 1458), from 9 different sports, and 97 sport clubs, across Portugal. We collected information about the prevalence of roles in bullying, types of bullying, the frequency and duration of episodes, the location and activities in which they occur, the number of athletes involved, the feelings of those involved, communication of victims and bullies about their involvement in bullying episodes, the reasons ascribed, coping strategies and victim support sources. Altogether about 10% of athletes reported having been victimized, 11% participated in bullying episodes as bullies, and 35% as bystanders. Bullying episodes were usually characterized by low frequency and low duration and were most frequently verbal bullying inside the sport club. However, when episodes became repeated and with long duration,this tended to generalize to multiple types of bullying (especially verbal and social) and multiple places where episodes occurred, in sport clubs and also in competition. We conclude that bullying in youth sport training is an important topic; there is a need for both prevention and early broadly based intervention which involves coaches, peers and family.
Background:
Suboptimal physical activity levels and tolerance, poor motor skills and poor physical health are demonstrated in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We speculate that social interaction and communication deficits in children with ASD are two major factors that hinder these children from actively participating in group physical activities. While previous studies have demonstrated that exercise intervention improves motor skills and behavioral outcomes in children with ASD, these programs tend to focus only on a single sport, which may not cater to the interests of different children with ASD. In this protocol, a game-based exercise training program designed by a multi-disciplinary team (pediatrics, physical education and psychology) will be implemented by front-line healthcare providers trained following the train-the-trainer (TTT) model and subjected to validation.
Method:
Using a randomized controlled trial design, the effectiveness of the game-based exercise program will be examined for 112 young children with ASD. These children were randomly assigned to two groups, which will be tested and trained in either one of the two arms of the waitlist conditions (control and intervention). The assessment of physical and psychological traits will be conducted at baseline (pre-test), at 16-weeks (post-treatment) and at 32-weeks (follow-up) of the program.
Discussion:
Most of the interventions designed for ASD children target either their psychological traits or physical conditions, without bridging the two states. With the recognition of bidirectional relations between mental and physical health, the present game-based exercise program which includes multiple level of difficulties was developed to equip ASD children with the necessary skills for engaging in sustainable team sports or even professional sport training. The program, if effective, will provide an entertaining and engaging training for whole-person development among children with ASD.
Trial registration:
This study is registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ( ChiCTR-IOR-17011898 ). Registered 6thJuly 2017.
Stress is one of the world's largest health problems, leading to exhaustion, burnout, anxiety, a weak immune system, or even organ damage. In Germany, stress-induced work absenteeism costs about 20 billion Euros per year. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Central Federal Association of the public Health Insurance Funds in Germany ascribes particular importance to stress prevention and stress management as well as health enhancing measures. Building on current integrative and embodied stress theories, Creative Arts Therapies (CATs) or arts interventions are an innovative way to prevent stress and improve stress management. CATs encompass art, music, dance/movement, and drama therapy as their four major modalities. In order to obtain an overview of CATs and arts interventions' efficacy in the context of stress reduction and management, we conducted a systematic review with a search in the following data bases: Academic Search Complete, ERIC, Medline, Psyndex, PsycINFO and SocINDEX. Studies were included employing the PICOS principle and rated according to their evidence level. We included 37 studies, 73% of which were randomized controlled trials. 81.1% of the included studies reported a significant reduction of stress in the participants due to interventions of one of the four arts modalities.
Background:
Supervised exercise interventions produce the largest improvements in patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors but their scalability has been questioned. Telephone counseling has been proposed as a more feasible alternative but its impact on exercise behavior and health outcomes have been modest. Basing telephone counseling exercise (TCE) interventions on the theoretical advances described in the multi-process action control framework (M-PAC) may improve these outcomes.
Purpose:
To assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a M-PAC-based TCE intervention for increasing aerobic exercise behavior in hematologic cancer survivors (HCS).
Methods:
We recruited 51 HCS who were randomized to either a weekly TCE group (n = 26) or a self-directed exercise (SDE) group (n = 25). Participants completed online measures of self-reported aerobic exercise behavior, quality of life (QoL), fatigue, and program satisfaction at baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks).
Results:
Adherence to the TCE intervention was 93% and retention was 100%. Participants receiving TCE increased their weekly aerobic exercise by 218 min compared to 93 min in the SDE group [mean-adjusted between-group difference (MBGDadj) = 139, 95%CI = 65 to 213, p < .001, effect size (d) = 2.19]. Clinically meaningful QoL improvements favored the TCE group for mental health (MBGDadj = 3.7, 95%CI = - 0.4 to 7.9, p = .08, d = 0.42) and mental health component (MBGDadj = 3.6, 95%CI = - 0.8 to 8.1, p = .10, d = 0.35) subscales.
Conclusions:
The 12-week TCE intervention substantially increased exercise behavior and may have meaningfully improved QoL in HCS.
Implications for cancer survivors:
Though more definitive trials are needed, remote TCE interventions based on the M-PAC may improve exercise behavior and QoL in HCS and perhaps other cancer survivor groups.
Trial registration number:
Clinical Trials ID: NCT03052777.
Initiating and responding to peers are social communication behaviors which are challenging for students with autism. We reviewed intervention studies set in mainstream elementary schools, which targeted these behaviors and reported on intervention outcomes as well as the resources required for their implementation. A total of 22 studies met the criteria for inclusion. Findings suggest that school-based interventions can increase the frequency and duration of initiating and responding behaviors in elementary school aged students with autism. These interventions were resource-intensive and usually delivered by researchers or teaching assistants away from the classroom. Future research should build on this emerging evidence base to consider interventions which could be implemented by classroom teachers as part of the classroom program.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to assess post-match perceived exertion, feeling and wellness according to the match outcome (winning, drawing or losing) in professional soccer players.
Methods:
Twelve outfield players were followed during 52 official matches where the outcomes (win, draw or lose) were noted. Following each match players completed both a 10-point scale rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and an 11-point scale rating of perceived feeling. Rating of perceived sleep quality, stress, fatigue and muscle soreness were collected separately on a 7-point scale the day following each match.
Results:
Player RPE was higher by a very largely magnitude following a loss compared to a draw or a win and higher by a small magnitude after a draw compared to a win. Players felt more pleasure after a win compared to a draw or loss and more displeasure after a loss compared to draw. The players reported a largely and moderately better-perceived sleep quality, less stress and fatigue following a win compared to draw or a loss, and a moderately bad-perceived sleep quality, higher stress and fatigue following a draw compared to a loss. In contrast, only a trivial-small change was observed in perceived muscle soreness between all outcomes.
Conclusion:
Matches outcomes moderately to largely affect RPE, perceived feeling, sleep quality, stress and fatigue whereas perceived muscle soreness remains high regardless of the match outcome. However, winning a match decreases the strain and improves both pleasure and wellness in professional soccer players.
Background:
Athletic performance can be substantially enhanced with supplements and functional food which are considered by scientists as efficient, safe and legal, such as protein, carbohydrate and protein-carbohydrate supplements, isotonic sports drinks, carbohydrate-protein bars, carbohydrate bars, creatine and caffeine.
Objective:
The study is aimed at an analysis and evaluation of the prevalence of using effective ergogenic aids (creatine, caffeine, isotonic drinks, carbohydrates, and proteins) in a group of Polish professional athletes.
Material and methods:
The research was conducted on 600 athletes (216 women, 384 men) practicing various sports disciplines; the younger group (18-23 years old) consisted of 307 people, while the older one (24-35 years old) was comprised of 293 subjects. A questionnaire was used with questions concerning the frequency and types of consumed supplements.
Results:
Nearly half of the athletes (48,2%) admitted to taking supplementation, of which 36.7% consumed the supplements occasionally and 11.5% continually. The majority of the group (75.4%) claimed to be consuming isotonic drinks, which were the most commonly chosen nutritional aid enhancing physical performance, most frequently supplementing the diet in a continuous manner (41.2%). The least frequently used supplement was creatine, chosen by only one in three interviewees (34,5%). The ergogenic aids were used more often by men than women (50.5% vs. 44.1%), and so were nutrients based on proteins (51.8% vs. 32.0%), carbohydrates (60.7% vs. 46.8%), protein-carbohydrates (45.6% vs. 32.9%), as well as creatine (39.8% vs. 25.0%). The studies showed the inessential difference in the frequency of taking supplementation based on the interviewees' age (0.4%).
Conclusions:
Competitors who use supplements over those who choose not to, seems to reflect the continuous lack of the athletes' sufficient awareness of the effectiveness, safety, and health benefits of dietary supplementation that enhances physical performance.
Key words:
supplements, dietary supplementation, sport, performance-enhancing substances, athletes.
PURPOSE:
To investigate how the viscoelastic characteristics of muscles (non-neural tone, elasticity and stiffness) vary as a function of age and gender in a sample of track and field master athletes. To compare these findings with data on related sedentary subjects in literature.
METHODS:
A total of 390 athletes (aged 35-99) were assessed during the European Master Athletics Indoor Championship 2016. A non-invasive measurement device called MyotonPro was used to measure tone, stiffness, and elasticity in the biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscles at rest. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the correlation between age and the measured parameters. To compare our results with previously reported data, we stratified participants according to gender and age.
RESULTS:
Tone was found to not be dependent on age, whereas stiffness was found to be age dependent. Elasticity was found to be both physical activity and age dependent. Tone (only for men), elasticity, and stiffness were lower in master athletes than in sedentary subjects.
CONCLUSIONS:
Tone, elasticity, and stiffness change with aging; nevertheless, our findings suggest that physical activity can delay the effects of muscular aging, improving fitness in older people.
Monitoring the load placed on athletes in both training and competition has become a very hot topic in sport science. Both scientists and coaches routinely monitor training loads using multidisciplinary approaches, and the pursuit of the best method- ologies to capture and interpret data has produced an exponential increase in empirical and applied research. Indeed, the eld has developed with such speed in recent years that it has given rise to industries aimed at developing new and novel paradigms to allow us to precisely quantify the internal and external loads placed on athletes and to help protect them from injury and ill health. In February 2016, a conference on “Monitoring Athlete Training Loads—The Hows and the Whys” was convened in Doha, Qatar, which brought together experts from around the world to share their applied research and contemporary prac- tices in this rapidly growing eld and also to investigate where it may branch to in the future. This consensus statement brings together the key ndings and recommendations from this conference in a shared conceptual framework for use by coaches, sport-science and -medicine staff, and other related professionals who have an interest in monitoring athlete training loads and serves to provide an outline on what athlete-load monitoring is and how it is being applied in research and practice, why load monitoring is important and what the underlying rationale and prospective goals of monitoring are, and where athlete-load monitoring is heading in the future.
Background
Exergames are a new form of rehabilitation that combine the characteristics of physical exercise and the benefits of non-immersive virtual reality (VR). Effects of this novel therapy in women fibromyalgia are still unknown. The objective was to evaluate the effects of exergame-based intervention on mobility skills, balance and fear of falling in women with fibromyalgia.
Methods
This study was a randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation. Seventy-six women with fibromyalgia were divided into two groups: the exercise group received an eight week intervention based on exergames, while the control group continued their usual activities. Mobility skills were evaluated using the timed up and go test, while balance was assessed using the functional reach test, and the CTSIB protocol. Fear of falling was evaluated on a scale of 0–100 (0, no fear; 100, extreme fear). Measurements were performed before and after the intervention. A repeated-measures linear mixed model was used to compare the effects of the intervention between the two groups.
Results
The exercise group was significantly quicker than the control group in the timed up and go test (MD, −0.71; 95% CI [−1.09–0.32]; p < 0.001). There were also significant improvements in functional reach and a reduced fear of falling (MD, 4.34; 95% CI [1.39–7.30]; p = 0.005 and MD, −9.85; 95% CI [−0.19–−0.08]; p = 0.048, respectively).
Discussion
The improved TUG observed herein was better than the smallest real difference. Based on the results on mobility skills, balance and fear of falling, exergames may be an effective tool as a therapy for women with fibromyalgia.
There is a growing body of literature dealing with the ethical issues of conducting digital- and Internet-based research, yet relatively little has been written about social media, apps and wearable devices. Using three empirical case studies of ethical challenges and dilemmas in the context of physical education, this clear gap in understanding is addressed. The case studies reveal that ethical issues unique to digital research are, (i) the questionable involvement of human subjects, (ii) the traceability of individuals and data, and (iii) the diverse interactional capabilities of digital technologies. Large numbers of participants, the international nature of research and legal matters are also ethical issues intensified by the use of social media, apps, and wearable devices. To address such ethical issues, a culturally responsive relational and reflexive approach to ethics is signposted as one way forward. New insights from the case studies were also provided on the types of ethical procedures researchers might follow. Yet despite this paper providing novel understandings on digital- and Internet-based ethics within sport, exercise and health, in order to advance research and practice the importance of embarking on a professional wide digital research ethics debate is stressed.
An increasing number of sports use, what we call, technological umpiring aids to support their umpires and referees respectively. In order to create a basis for further investigations, the aim of this review is to survey the respective literature to extract universal issues of these aids, which are used in different ways in a wide range of settings. Therefore we identified 23 studies, of which the majority was published in the current decade. These studies also embraced, beside empirical works, contributions of the fields of philosophy and jurisprudence. Based on the approaches and findings of the selected studies we identified seven major issues: the underlying phenomena, usage patterns, accuracy, standard of review, influence on the nature of the game, material as well as immaterial costs and the amount of authority that is granted to the umpiring aid. Further, we found regularly some overlapping between these issues, but also that some matters of interest haven’t even been touched so far, for example studying the influence of technological umpiring aids on stakeholders’ opinions. Empirical as well as theoretical evaluations of technological umpiring aids have to deal with this complexity. As this seems to be neglected currently, we suggest that further studies should show awareness of this in their approaches as well as in their conclusions.
Background
The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature to evaluate empirical support for the use of exercise as an evidence-based practice (EBP) for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), aged 1–21 years, using the Adapted Physical Activity Taxonomy (APAT) (1).
Method
A systematic review of research, published within the past 10 years and accessible in SPORTDiscus, ProQuest Nursing, Science Direct, ERIC, Ovid MEDLINE, and PsychINFO databases, was conducted following seven inclusion criteria. An initial 169 articles were identified of which 23 articles were found that met the inclusion criteria including implementation of an exercise intervention for participants diagnosed with ASD and utilization of an experimental/quasi experimental, correlational, single–subject, or qualitative research design. These 23 articles were evaluated using the APAT to determine the quality of the research and the strength of the recommendation in establishing exercise as an EBP.
Results
Of the 23 articles evaluated, 17 employed an experimental/quasi experimental design, 1 article employed a correlational design, and 5 articles employed a single-subject design. Only one article (2) was found to meet the minimum overall quality indicator of moderate (i.e., Level 2) when evaluated on the APAT. In total, 13 of the 23 articles (57%) had method sections evaluated as weak, and 17 of the 23 articles (74%) had results sections evaluated as weak.
Conclusion
From the findings of this systematic review, and in accordance with the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (3) definition of an EBP, it appears that exercise can be considered an EBP for school-aged children with ASD. However, this recommendation is based solely on moderate evidence from one well-designed and well-implemented experimental study; therefore, generalization is still pending further similar findings. Recommendations for future research are offered.
Background: The association of physical activity on dementia and its subtypes have remained controversial in the literature and have continued to be a subject of debate in the research community. A systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal studies on the relationship between physical activity and the risk of cognitive decline, all cause dementia, Alzheimer's disease and vascu-lar dementia among non-demented subjects are considered. Methods: A comprehensive literature search in all the available databases was conducted up until April 2016. A well defined inclusion and exclusion criteria were developed with focus solely on prospective studies ≥ 12 months. The overall sample from all the studies is 117410 with the highest follow-up time of 28 years. The analyses are performed with a Bayesian parametric (the Copas selection) and nonparametric (the Dirichlet process) models. Results: Our analysis reveal a protective effect of 21% for high physical activity (PA) on all cause dementia with an odds ratio of 0.79, 95% CI (0.69,0.88), a higher and better protective effect of 38% for alzheimer's disease with an odds ratio of 0.62, 95% CI (0.49,0.75), a 33% for cognitive decline with odds ratio of 0.67, 95% CI (0.55, 0.78) and a non-protective effect for vascular dementia of 0.92, 95% CI (0.62, 1.30). A similar protective effect is observed for moderate against no/low PA. Conclusion: Findings from this study, suggest that physical activity though protective, vary from one disease to another. Physical activity is more protective against Alzheimer's disease than it is for all cause dementia, vascular dementia and cognitive decline.
Cooperating teachers' teaching perspectives and participation in initial teacher education have been frequently considered as ways to understand teachers' learning trajectories and professional identity at workplace settings (Clarke and Jarvis-Selinger, 2005; Clarke et al.2014; Lave and Wenger, 1991). A case study approach was employed to examine the challenging supervisory experiences of a highly experienced physical education cooperating teacher that led to the reconstruction of her professional identity. Data were collected throughout a one-year school placement and included three semi-structured interviews with the cooperating teacher and the cooperating teacher's daily journals entries. Analysis was informed by grounded theory coding procedures. Themes included: (i) the challenge of changing entrenched teaching and mentoring practices to connect with pre-service teachers; (ii) reconfiguring mentorship to expand pre-service teachers' limited teaching ideias and range of teaching tools; and (iii) the possibility of practicing different mentoring strategies for different 'types' of pre-service teachers. We infer that con-textual factors and teaching perspectives play a role in the cooperating teacher's legitimate peripheral participation in teacher education and constitutes elements of her professional identity development.
Individual athletes, coaches and sports teams seek continuously for ways to improve performance and accomplishment in elite competition. New techniques of performance analysis are a crucial part of the drive for athletic perfection. This paper discusses the ethical importance of one aspect of the future potential of performance analysis in sport, combining the field of biomedicine, sports engineering and nanotechnology in the form of 'Nanobiosensors'. This innovative technology has the potential to revolutionise sport, enabling real time biological data to be collected from athletes that can be electronically distributed. Enabling precise real time performance analysis is not without ethical problems. Arguments concerning (1) data ownership and privacy; (2) data confidentiality; and (3) athlete welfare are presented alongside a discussion of the use of the Precautionary Principle in making ethical evaluations. We conclude, that although the future potential use of Nanobiosensors in sports analysis offers many potential benefits, there is also a fear that it could be abused at a sporting system level. Hence, it is essential for sporting bodies to consider the development of a robust ethically informed governance framework in advance of their proliferated use.
Professional sport in the United States has widely adopted biometric technologies, dramatically expanding the monitoring of players’ biodata. These technologies have the potential to prevent injuries, improve performance, and extend athletes’ careers; they also risk compromising players’ privacy and autonomy, the confidentiality of their data, and their careers. The use of these technologies in professional sport and the consumer sector remains largely unregulated and unexamined. We seek to provide guidance for their adoption by examining five areas of concern: (1) validity and interpretation of data; (2) increased surveillance and threats to privacy; (3) risks to confidentiality and concerns regarding data security; (4) conflicts of interest; and (5) coercion. Our analysis uses professional sport as a case study; however, these concerns extend to other domains where their use is expanding, including the consumer sector, collegiate and high school sport, the military, and commercial sectors where monitoring employees is viewed as useful for safety or to maximize labor potential.
Many children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have notable difficulties in motor, speech and language domains. The connection between motor skills (oral-motor, manual-motor) and speech and language deficits reported in other developmental disorders raises important questions about a potential relationship between motor skills and speech-language deficits in ASD. To this end, we examined data from children with ASD (n = 1781), 2-17 years of age, enrolled in the Autism Speaks-Autism Treatment Network (AS-ATN) registry who completed a multidisciplinary evaluation that included diagnostic, physical, cognitive and behavioral assessments as part of a routine standard of care protocol. After adjusting for age, non-verbal IQ, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication use, and muscle tone, separate multiple linear regression analyses revealed significant positive associations of fine motor skills (FM) with both expressive language (EL) and receptive language (RL) skills in an impaired FM subgroup; in contrast, the impaired gross motor (GM) subgroup showed no association with EL but a significant negative association with RL. Similar analyses between motor skills and interpersonal relationships across the sample found both GM skills and FM skills to be associated with social interactions. These results suggest potential differences in the contributions of fine versus gross motor skills to autistic profiles and may provide another lens with which to view communication differences across the autism spectrum for use in treatment interventions.
This article identifies and analyzes the content of rivalry discourses between two MMA fighters - Ronda Rousey and Cris Cyborg - conveyed on the website of Tatame magazine. Using content analysis proposed by Bardin (2009), 77 recording units and 11 categories were identified. After analysis, we concluded that the dispute that may take place in the ring and the content of speeches that precede it reflect the position of each of the actors in the sports field structure and in the MMA subfield. © 2016, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. All rights reserved.
Background
With technological developments and modernised sedentary lifestyles has come an increase in diseases associated with inactivity such as obesity and other non-communicable diseases. Emerging evidence suggests that time spent sedentary may also interact with mental health. This systematic review examined the associations between sedentary behaviour and mental health problems among adolescents. Methods
This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and applied a quality assessment tool for quantitative studies to identity best available evidence. Following stringent search strategy of the databases; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Global Health, Health Source: Nursing and Academic Edition, MEDLINE, PsychARTICLES and PsycINFO, we identified 32 articles eligible for review. ResultsAll studies reported leisure screen time among adolescents, and two thirds of identified studies examined depressive symptomatology. Other mental health measures were; anxiety symptoms, self-esteem, suicide ideation, loneliness, stress, and psychological distress. Strong consistent evidence was found for the relationship between both depressive symptomatology and psychological distress, and time spent using screens for leisure. Moderate evidence supported the relationship between low self-esteem and screen use. Poorer mental health status was found among adolescents using screen time more than 2–3 h per day, and gender differences exist. Essential information was missing for quality of evidence including heterogeneity in mental health and screen time-based measures, and self-report data collection methods. Conclusions
The findings are of particular significance given the global public health concern of lifestyle-attributed diseases and the possibility for novel approaches to mental health. Future research should examine the psychological impact of reducing time spent using screens for leisure among adolescents, whilst accounting for possible confounding factors such as physical activity and dietary behaviours. It is critical that the reciprocal relationship between lifestyle behaviours and mental health is represented in both the psychiatric and public health forum.
The present study was designed to assess the relevance of game-related performance factors as outcome
predictors in high-level volleyball. To carry out the analysis, the official box scores of 399 matches played by 47 different teams in four different European male professional volleyball leagues (Italy, Poland, Germany and Turkey) during the 2013-14 regular season were analyzed. A logistic mixed model was performed to determine the effects of different variables in matches’ outcomes. According to the multivariate analysis the following factors were significantly associated with winning matches: the number of scorers (OR = 1.32; CI: 1.09 – 1.59), service errors (OR = 0.91; CI: 0.87 – 0.95), service points (OR = 1.25; CI: 1.15 – 1.36), reception errors (OR =0 .79; CI: 0.74 – 0.84), the percentage of positive receptions (OR = 1.02; CI: 1.00 – 1.04) and blocked balls (OR = 1.17; CI: 1.11 – 1.26). Team category 2 (OR = 0.39; CI: 0.24 – 0.63) and team category 3 (OR = 0.15; CI: 0.09 – 0.25) were significantly associated with losing matches. These findings can contribute to a better understanding of performance indicators in professional volleyball, helping coaches and decision makers to better determine the importance of particular game factors.
Background
Poor cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Aim
To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between poor cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular disease risk in children and adolescents.
Methods
Systematic literature search (1980 to 11 April 2015) for studies that determined a cardiorespiratory fitness cut point that predicted cardiovascular disease risk in children and adolescents.
Results
We identified 7 studies that included 9280 children and adolescents (49% girls) aged 8?19?years from 14 countries. Cardiovascular disease risk was already present in boys (6?39%) and girls (6?86%). Boys with low fitness (<41.8?mL/kg/min) had a 5.7 times greater likelihood of having cardiovascular disease risk (95% CI 4.8 to 6.7). The comparable diagnostic OR for girls with low fitness (<34.6?mL/kg/min) was 3.6 (95% CI 3.0 to 4.3). The 95% confidence region of cardiorespiratory fitness associated with low cardiovascular disease risk ranges, 41.8?47.0?mL/kg/min in boys (eg, stages 6?8 for a boy aged 15 years) and 34.6?39.5?mL/kg/min in girls (eg, stages 3?5 for a girl aged 15 years). The cardiorespiratory fitness cut point to avoid cardiovascular disease risk ranged 41.8?mL/kg/min in boys and was 34.6?mL/kg/min in girls.
Fitness levels below 42 and 35?mL/kg/min for boys and girls, respectively, should raise a red flag. These translate to 6 and 3 stages on the shuttle run test for a boy and a girl, both aged 15 years, respectively. These cut points identify children and adolescents who may benefit from primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention programming.
Background:
Sufficient physical activity is important for solid organ transplant recipients (heart, lung, liver, kidney). However, recipients do not meet the recommended amount or required type of physical activity. The perceived barriers to and facilitators of physical activity in this population are largely unknown.
Methods:
Semi-structured in depth interviews were conducted with solid organ transplant recipients in order to explore experienced barriers and facilitators. Qualitative methodology with thematic line-by-line analysis was used for analysis, and derived themes were classified into personal and environmental factors.
Results:
The most important indicated barriers were physical limitations, insufficient energy level, fear, and comorbidities. The most frequently mentioned facilitators included motivation, coping, consequences of (in)activity, routine/habit, goals/goal priority, and responsibility for the transplanted organ. Neutral factors acting as a barrier or facilitator were self-efficacy and expertise of personnel. A comparison of barriers and facilitators between transplant recipient groups yielded no overt differences.
Conclusion:
Several personal and environmental factors were indicated that should be considered in intervention development to increase physical activity behavior in solid organ transplant recipients.
Recent player tracking technology provides new information about basketball game performance. The aim of this study was to (i) compare the game performances of all-star and non all-star basketball players from the National Basketball Association (NBA), and (ii) describe the different basketball game performance profiles based on the different game roles. Archival data were obtained from all 2013-2014 regular season games (n = 1230). The variables analyzed included the points per game, minutes played and the game actions recorded by the player tracking system. To accomplish the first aim, the performance per minute of play was analyzed using a descriptive discriminant analysis to identify which variables best predict the all-star and non all-star playing categories. The all-star players showed slower velocities in defense and performed better in elbow touches, defensive rebounds, close touches, close points and pull-up points, possibly due to optimized attention processes that are key for perceiving the required appropriate environmental information. The second aim was addressed using a k-means cluster analysis, with the aim of creating maximal different performance profile groupings. Afterwards, a descriptive discriminant analysis identified which variables best predict the different playing clusters. The results identified different playing profile of performers, particularly related to the game roles of scoring, passing, defensive and all-round game behavior. Coaching staffs may apply this information to different players, while accounting for individual differences and functional variability, to optimize practice planning and, consequently, the game performances of individuals and teams.
Motor activities, whether organized sports and physical education, sports training, leisure activities or competition, have at this age level, primary education, a strong playful time, pursuing both development and motor skills, physical fitness and especially the psycho-social. Through play and sports competition, the child can gain confidence and try new forms of communications so that he can express his potential and qualities.
Theory of social learning has shown that socialization is made best in the sports. According to specialists, practicing physical activities or sports influences youth personality and creates positive effects on body and mind.
Using sociological questionnaire method we tried to analyze the importance of motor activities in the process of socialization and social integration of students, the relationships established within the group and the influence of sport in group evolution.
Objetivo: Investigar o perfil antropométrico, ingestão alimentar e de suplementos de competidores e praticantes de MMA na fase de treino. Materiais e Métodos: Participaram da pesquisa 11 atletas do gênero masculino na fase de treino do MMA. Foram realizadas as avaliações antropométrica (peso, altura e dobras cutâneas), dietética (aplicação de três R24h) e consumo de suplementos e conhecimento dietético (questionário padronizado). Resultados: A idade média dos voluntários foi de 27,7±4,4. Segundo IMC, os voluntários foram classificados como sobrepeso (25,3kg/m2±3,0), porém em relação à porcentagem de massa gorda foram classificados como excelentes (10,8%±4,2). O consumo de macronutrientes foi inadequado em relação aos valores recomendados pela SBME. Houve um consumo reduzido de carboidratos (21,8%) e lipídios (16%). O consumo de proteínas foi duas vezes maior em relação às recomendações. Conclusão: A inadequação do consumo de macronutrientes pode gerar redução da performance física e aumentar o risco de desenvolvimento de doenças nutricionais. Mais estudos são necessários que correlacionem o desempenho físico e consumo alimentar, a fim de verificar os efeitos da inadequação alimentar na performance e saúde de atletas de MMA.
ABSTRACT
Anthropometric, Food Intake and Consumption of Nutritional Supplements of Athletes and Competitors of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) from Araraquara
Aim: The aim of this study was investigated anthropometric profile, food and dietary supplements intake of the MMA competitors and practitioners during training. Materials and Methods: 11 male athletes in the training phase were performed anthropometric analysis of total body mass, height and skinfold. Food intake was measured by of the three 24hour registers. The intake of dietary supplements was measured by standardized questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the volunteers was 27.7 ± 4.4 years old. Regarding anthropometric assessment were classified as overweight according to BMI (25.3 ± 3.0 kg/m2). In relation to percentage of fat mass were excellent (10.8±4.2%). The macronutrients intake was inappropriate, reduced in 21.8% of carbohydrates and 16% of lipids. In relation protein intake there was twice of a higher. Conclusion: Inadequate intake of macronutrients and micronutrients can lead to reduced physical performance and increase the risk of developing nutritional diseases. More studies are needed to correlate the physical performance and food intake in order to verify the effects of food inadequacy in the performance and health of MMA athletes.
The aim of this article is to reflect on the original attributes that define planning in order to reformulate the concept of teaching units in Physical Education (PE), providing teachers with new structures of planning that allow them to achieve authentic outcomes. Some issues related to students’ learning are raised as regards the duration of a traditional teaching unit, as well as the total time amount and allocation dedicated to students’ learning. Based on previous psychological and learning theories, as well as on in-service teachers’ experience, four proposals of innovative teaching units are provided. Providing opportunities for significant and meaningful learning level in PE is not an easy task for teachers. The main objective of the proposals is to provide students with substantial learning experiences and to accomplish authentic outcomes by planning PE classes. Intermittent, alternated, irregular, and reinforced teaching units are analysed. The proposals focus on new approaches to time allocation in PE, and on a renovated concept of unit planning and curriculum design. Several applications for each type of teaching unit are shown in order to highlight PE teachers’ opportunities to innovate their planning. The proposals of intermittent, alternated, irregular, and reinforced teaching units could guide teachers through planning of PE based on related learning and may provide an effective tool for PE planning to overcome learning deficiencies attributed to traditional teaching units. © 2016, University of Zagreb - Faculty of Kinesiology. All rights reserved.
The aim of this study was to identify which variables were the best predictors of success in futsal ball possession when controlling for space and task related indicators, situational variables and the participation of the goalkeeper as a regular field player or not (5 vs. 4 or 4 vs. 4). The sample consisted of 326 situations of ball possession corresponding to 31 matches played by a team from the Spanish Futsal League during the 2010–2011, 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 seasons. Multidimensional qualitative data obtained from 10 ordered categorical variables were used. Data were analysed using chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. Overall, the highest ball possession effectiveness was achieved when the goalkeeper participated as a regular field player (p<0.01), the duration of the ball possession was less than 10 s (p<0.01), the ball possession ended in the penalty area (p<0.01) and the defensive pressure was low (p<0.01). The information obtained on the relative effectiveness of offensive playing tactics can be used to improve team’s goal-scoring and goal preventing abilities.
This article provides a status report on the global burden of cancer worldwide using the GLOBOCAN 2018 estimates of cancer incidence and mortality produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, with a focus on geographic variability across 20 world regions. There will be an estimated 18.1 million new cancer cases (17.0 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) and 9.6 million cancer deaths (9.5 million excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer) in 2018. In both sexes combined, lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (11.6% of the total cases) and the leading cause of cancer death (18.4% of the total cancer deaths), closely followed by female breast cancer (11.6%), prostate cancer (7.1%), and colorectal cancer (6.1%) for incidence and colorectal cancer (9.2%), stomach cancer (8.2%), and liver cancer (8.2%) for mortality. Lung cancer is the most frequent cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among males, followed by prostate and colorectal cancer (for incidence) and liver and stomach cancer (for mortality). Among females, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death, followed by colorectal and lung cancer (for incidence), and vice versa (for mortality); cervical cancer ranks fourth for both incidence and mortality. The most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death, however, substantially vary across countries and within each country depending on the degree of economic development and associated social and life style factors. It is noteworthy that high‐quality cancer registry data, the basis for planning and implementing evidence‐based cancer control programs, are not available in most low‐ and middle‐income countries. The Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development is an international partnership that supports better estimation, as well as the collection and use of local data, to prioritize and evaluate national cancer control efforts. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians 2018;0:1‐31. © 2018 American Cancer Society
Since becoming a teacher is a highly emotional path, it is fundamental to understand teachers’ emotional journeys while constructing their teacher professional identity. An ethnographic approach was employed to examine how the emotions experienced by physical education preservice teachers during formalised school placement contributed to the construction of their teacher professional identity. Data were collected throughout a ten-month school placement (i.e. an academic school year) and included researcher observations, researcher field notes, and semi-structured interviews with preservice teachers and their cooperating teacher. A thematic analysis was used in a process of constant comparison. Emotions were labelled using Zembylas’ three main categories: ideology; school culture; and power relations. A fourth category labelled physical education culture was created through an inductive thematic analysis to capture emotions deemed to align specifically to the teaching of physical education. With respect to ideology, preservice teachers alluded to positive emotions such as care for students, a sense of accomplishment and happiness. Challenging emotions included insecurity/anxiety, disappointment and anger/frustration. Related to school culture, while preservice teachers expressed a sense of belonging they also reported feeling powerless with respect to particular rules enforced by the school. Related to power relations, while preservice teachers were thankful for having a school structure guiding them they, at times, regretted the limited opportunity that such structure allowed them in cultivating agency. Becoming a physical education teacher triggered specific emotions such as practising safety within the gymnasium and a rise in confidence when recognised as a physical education teacher by other physical education teachers.
Objectives
This study described the variability in acceleration during a resistance training task, performed in horizontal inertial flywheels without (NOBALL) or with the constraint of catching and throwing a rugby ball (BALL).
Design and methods
Twelve elite rugby players (mean ± SD: age 25.6 ± 3.0 years, height 1.82 ± 0.07 m, weight 94.0 ± 9.9 kg) performed a resistance training task in both conditions (NOBALL AND BALL). Players had five minutes of a standardized warm-up, followed by two series of six repetitions of both conditions: at the first three repetitions the intensity was progressively increased while the last three were performed at maximal voluntary effort. Thereafter, the participants performed two series of eight repetitions from each condition for two days and in a random order, with a minimum of 10 min between series. The structure of variability was analysed using non-linear measures of entropy.
Results
Mean changes (%; ±90% CL) of 4.64; ±3.1 g for mean acceleration and 39.48; ±36.63 a.u. for sample entropy indicated likely and very likely increase when in BALL condition. Multiscale entropy also showed higher unpredictability of acceleration under the BALL condition, especially at higher time scales.
Conclusions
The application of match specific constraints in resistance training for rugby players elicit different amount of variability of body acceleration across multiple physiological time scales. Understanding the non-linear process inherent to the manipulation of resistance training variables with constraints and its motor adaptations may help coaches and trainers to enhance the effectiveness of physical training and, ultimately, better understand and maximize sports performance.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore factors associated with body weight gain among British university students who were members of a slimming club.
Design/methodology/approach
Student members of a national commercial slimming programme completed an online survey about cooking ability, weight gain, eating habits and physical activity levels. Non-parametric statistical tests and regression analysis were employed to examine factors associated with weight gain.
Findings
The data set comprised 272 current students. The majority of students (67 per cent) reported weight gain between 3.2 and 12.7 kg during studying in university: 20.4 per cent reported to have gained >12.7 kg. Students commonly attributed their weight gain to academic stress and nearly all identified with needing support to learn to cook on a budget. Students reporting greatest weight gain had most frequent consumption of ready meals & convenience foods, take-away & fast foods and least frequent consumption of fruits & vegetables. Weight-stable students reported lowest consumption of alcohol and were most able to cook complex meals. Students who reported greatest weight gain reported lower physical activity levels. There were inter-correlations between cooking ability and lifestyle factors. In a multivariate model, low physical activity and frequent consumption of ready meals and convenience food independently predicted weight gain.
Weight gain was inversely associated with diet quality, cooking ability and physical activity with reliance on ready meals & convenience food and low physical activity particularly important. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these cross-sectional associations and to explore how the university setting may contribute to the effect.
Originality/value
The study adds additional perspective to understanding student weight gain at university in that it focuses on a body weight-conscious sub-group of the student population, as opposed to the general population of students.
In times of social and moral crises, sport has often been called to boost individual moral development. By the same token, outdoor activities are viewed as good educational practices to enhance environmental responsibility. However, the present paper argues that these physical activities are currently following the same technological development trend as the mainstream society, and challenges this trend itself in terms of sustainability by critically asking this question: Do outdoor activities really enhance environmental responsibility? The research supporting this paper is based on a qualitative inquiry using interviews with outdoor activities practitioners: mountain guides and white water sports instructors. The findings of this research show that environmental responsibility development depends on the sport contexts. It is fostered in slow and none-technological activities (e.g. trekking) and lowered in fast and technological activities (e.g. canoeing, kayaking). The paper concludes with the following paradox reached by the preliminary research results: the birth of modern technology calls for greater need of environmental responsibility, but it may also prevent its development at the same time.
Background: The social constructivist perspective emphasises that learning is a process of self-construction of knowledge in a social context. Game-centred approaches, such as teaching games for understanding, have been used in accordance with this perspective. The process of transferring learning responsibility takes place when the learner is building his/her own knowledge.
Purpose: the aim of this paper is to explore how progressively transferring responsibility for learning from the coach to the players occurs in an ecological learning environment. We address it describing the joint activity organisation and its dynamic evolution for a coaching sequence of rugby through the analysis of interaction between the players and the coach.
Participants and setting: Ten novice rugby players (aged 17–19) and a coach-researcher participated in this study. The study was conducted over a 6-week period with a total of 11 sessions, each of 90 minutes.
Research design: the research was designed as participant observation in a unique case study based on the observation of an ecological learning environment in a rugby club.
Data collection: We video- and audio-recorded the sessions. Transcripts of sessions, including all verbal exchanges and descriptions of participants’ motor performance, are the main source of data.
Data analysis: The unit of analysis is the segment of interactivity (SI). This is defined as the period of time within a session in which verbal exchanges and specific behaviours by participants are under the same instructional function. SIs are identified by analysis of interactivity that is generated during the learning process; they are not given in advance. In this study we analyse the evolution of the identified SIs during the 11-lesson unit in an interactivity map. The map depicts changes that occur during the learning process in relation to the transfer of learning responsibility from the coach to the players.
Results: we have identified six SIs: SI Activity Organisation, SI Guided Practice, SI Autonomous Practice, SI Discussion, SI Recapitulation and SI Transition. There was an evolution of these SIs over the course of the unit showing transfer of learning control from coach to learner. This was evident by a decrease in SIs Activity Organisation in conjunction with an increase in SIs of Guided and Autonomous Practice. We also show that reflection time is firstly organised around specific SI Discussion, but progressively transferred to reflection during the guided practice, mainly about tactical aspects.
Conclusions: In consonance with other research conducted in naturalistic physical education and sports contexts, we observe that the learning transfer process occurs but is neither linear nor progressive. We obtained specific evidences of this process, although we find abrupt changes in the shape of breakdowns and disruptions that make this process partially unpredictable. The consistent situations of discussion and reflection that appear in the SIs Discussion, Recapitulation and Guided Practice seem to play an important role that facilitates game understanding of learners. We consider the analysis of real teaching and learning settings to be of paramount importance to understand the educational influence that emerges in the knowledge construction in sports pedagogy.
This chapter introduces the use of fiber optic sensors in biomechanics applications. It starts by presenting the field of biomechanics and the technical reasons that make fiber optic sensors an interesting tool for measuring in biomechanics applications. It then explains the application of fiber optic sensors in biomechanics of rigid bodies, then to deformable bodies and finished with fluids, in particular intramuscular and intra-articular pressures. The chapter ends with final remarks about the application of fiber optic sensor technology in biomechanics.
In this paper, we examine the case of Ronda Rousey, a high profile female Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). We argue that Rousey represents a female athlete who can be considered a gender transgressor yet simultaneously a Glamazon. The case of Rousey will be applied to gender transgressor theories to demonstrate that Rousey counters traditional discourse which holds that exhibiting stereotypically masculine traits implies not being an authentic woman. Female fighters face criticisms for being “unfeminine” or “manly” because they participate in such an aggressive sport. Despite her gender divergent behaviour, as much as she transgresses, Rousey is also pinned by sporting and societal sexist culture that reinforces sex binaries and exposes pressures to adhere to hyperfemininity and heterosexual ideals. Finally, using the notions of self and power found in Michel Foucault’s later work as a springboard, we examine whether Rousey’s embrace of the Glamazon identity is an act of autonomy or evidence of false consciousness.
Objective:
The present study aimed to contrast the mediating magnitude of self-efficacy and enjoyment connecting peer support and adolescents' physical activity (PA).
Methods:
Participants were 9th-12th grade students ( N = 409; 56.5% boys) who were randomly chosen from six public schools located in Fuzhou city in southeast China. The bootstrapping method in structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the direct and indirect effects of peer support on adolescents' PA.
Results:
Peer support did not directly impact PA. Rather, peer support indirectly influenced PA through either self-efficacy or enjoyment, with self-efficacy demonstrating a stronger mediating effect. Additionally, we found a significant serial mediating effect with enjoyment, and self-efficacy sequentially mediated the relationship between peer support and PA.
Conclusion:
The findings highlight the role of self-efficacy and enjoyment as mediators connecting peer support and PA. Self-efficacy seems to be more important, as it demonstrated a significantly greater mediating effect.
Federal regulations do not address the use of biometric technologies in sports. Professional athletes are considered employees, but student-athletes in collegiate sports have no protection from federal and state employment regulations. Representatives from amateur and professional sports should work together to promote sound ethical policies through the formation of a data governance council, whose goal would be to adopt best practices for the collection, use, and storage of biometric data, including those generated by wearable technologies. Until privacy safeguards are established by such a council, universities and the NCAA should discourage the sharing of biometric data among teams and conferences without the explicit consent of the player. Commercial use of individually identifiable biometric data collected from student-athletes should be permitted only with the athlete’s permission. Further research on the validity and interpretation of biometric data in amateur and professional sports is urgently needed and should include a more systematic approach to gathering information on the prevalence of biometric technologies and on existing privacy protections.
Foucault’s technologies of the self have been used by sociological scholars of sport for nearly two decades. Yet Markula’s seminal articulation of a feminist Foucauldian ethics in 2003 stands as a watershed publication, insofar as the majority of publications following this article have framed much of their analyses in relation to this work. In this article, then, I review sociological studies of sport and exercise that draw on Foucauldian ethics from Markula’s article onward, paying careful attention to how Foucault’s ethics and Markula’s Foucauldian feminism have been deployed. Although I interpret this body of work as productive and insightful, I offer a critical reading of the emphasis on explicit problematizations and, relatedly, develop a methodological critique of researchers’ reliance on interviews as a prime form of research method.
Observational and interventional studies indicate a direct link between the patients' physical activity and the extent of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). At present, there are no evidence-based recommendations for physical exercise in the acute dementia care settings. Hence, this systematic review investigates the effects of short-term exercise trials on BPSD. Trials with a length up to three months investigating the effects of structured exercise interventions on BPSD in acute dementia care settings were included. Five trials, referring to a total of N = 206 patients, met the inclusion criteria. The trial durations ranged from three up to twelve weeks. All trials conducted three sessions per week of 30 to 45 minutes. Three trials reported significant reductions of BPSD and differences in comparison to the pre-test and control groups. Out of the three trials investigating the effects of exercise interventions on depressive symptoms, one reported significant reduction and two reported no differences in pre-post analysis. Exercise represents a potentially worthwhile approach for the treatment of patients suffering from BPSD. Given the scarcity of available studies, more randomized controlled short-term exercise trials in acute dementia care settings are needed to define appropriate exercise recommendations for clinicians treating these patients.
Objectives:
Smartphone applications are increasingly used by researchers, coaches, athletes and clinicians. The aim of this study was to examine the concurrent validity and intra-rater reliability of the smartphone-based application, MyJump, against laboratory-based force plate measurements.
Design:
Cross sectional study.
Methods:
Participants completed counter-movement jumps (CMJ) (n=29) and 30cm drop jumps (DJ) (n=27) on a force plate which were simultaneously recorded using MyJump. To assess concurrent validity, jump height, derived from flight time acquired from each device, was compared for each jump type. Intra-rater reliability was determined by replicating data analysis of MyJump recordings on two occasions separated by seven days.
Results:
CMJ and DJ heights derived from MyJump showed excellent agreement with the force plate (ICC values range from 0.991 for CMJ to 0.993) However mean DJ height from the force plate was significantly higher than MyJump (mean difference: 0.87cm, 95% CI: 0.69-1.04cm). Intra-rater reliability of MyJump for both CMJ and DJ was almost perfect (ICC values range from 0.997 for CMJ to 0.998 for DJ); however, mean CMJ and DJ jump height for Day 1 was significantly higher than Day 2 (CMJ: 0.43cm, 95% CI: 0.23-0.62cm); (DJ: 0.38cm, 95% CI: 0.23-0.53cm).
Conclusion:
The present study finds MyJump to be a valid and highly reliable tool for researchers, coaches, athletes and clinicians; however, systematic bias should be considered when comparing MyJump outputs to other testing devices.
Body dissatisfaction is prevalent in women’s artistic gymnastics (WAG). Cross-sectional research points to social and individual risk factors, however it does not account for potential changes in body dissatisfaction during an athletic season. This study aimed to determine how gymnasts’ body dissatisfaction, risk factors for eating disorders, media internalisation, perfectionism and mood state change during pre-competition, competition and post-competition seasons and to identify how these psychosocial indicators impact on body dissatisfaction during the athletic year. The sample consisted of 20 Brazilian elite women’s artistic gymnasts aged 10–16 years. Data were obtained from a 9-month study using: Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ); Eating Attitude Test-26; Sociocultural Attitudes Towards Appearance Questionnaire-3 (SATAQ-3); Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (MPS); Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) and triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Body dissatisfaction was higher during the competition season and disordered eating, perfectionism and vigour values were higher in the pre-competition season. Disordered eating has been found as the strongest predictor of body dissatisfaction during all seasons, and mood state partly contributed to body dissatisfaction in the competitive season. Stakeholders should understand that body dissatisfaction and the prevalence of disordered eating may change over time.
Background:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal degeneration, vascular pathology and cognitive decline. Furthermore, deficits in cerebral glucose metabolism and insulin resistance are being increasingly recognized in AD. Many lifestyle-modifying approaches, including diet and exercise, have yielded promising results in modulating brain morphology and function for the prevention and early treatment of AD.
Objective:
This review focuses on the effects of physical exercise on rescuing cognition and limiting the progression of AD pathology. Specifically, the impact of exercise, in human and animal models of AD, on the stimulation and preservation of cognition, neurotransmission, neurogenesis, vasculature, glucose metabolism and insulin signaling is discussed.
Conclusion:
Studies have highlighted the potential of physical activity to improve overall brain health, which could delay or lessen AD-related cognitive deficits and pathology. Physical activity influences cognitive function, vascular health and brain metabolism, which taken together offers benefits for the aging population, including AD patients.