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Shoulder Strength In Division I Baseball Pitchers Over the Course of the Season
No full textThe high rate of injuries in baseball pitchers has been linked to increased pitch velocity. Monitoring arm health through shoulder strength testing may link weakness with dysfunction or fatigue. PURPOSE: To measure shoulder strength at three points during the season (pre, mid, post) and identify shoulder muscle weakness. METHODS: Participants (N=14) were Division I baseball pitchers (age=20.36±2.13; weight=92.36±3.96 kg; height=188.32±4.66 cm). Participants were asked not to stretch or warm up prior to testing. Shoulder strength (flexion [FLX], internal rotation [IR], external rotation [ER], and scapular retraction [SR]) was assessed using an Activforce2 handheld dynamometer. For FLX, participants lay supine with the arm at their side, and the device was placed on the volar wrist. For IR, participants lay supine with the arm in 90/90, dynamometer on the volar wrist, and elbow stabilized. For ER, participants lay prone in 90/90, head facing the researcher, with the device on the dorsal wrist and posterior shoulder stabilized. For SR, participants lay prone with the arm in 90/90, head facing the researcher, with the dynamometer on the distal posterior humerus while the opposite posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS) was stabilized. Participants exerted force for three seconds for three total trials. Peak force was averaged and normalized to player’s weight [Strength (N)/Body Weight (kg)]. Repeated measures ANOVA with Holm’s post hoc analyzed pre-, mid-, and post-season strength differences. Effect size (ω2) is interpreted as small (≤0.01), medium (≥0.06), and large (≥0.14). RESULTS: FLX strength decreased significantly (p=0.008) between pre-mid and pre-post (pholm=0.050 and pholm=0.034, respectively) with a small effect size (ω2=0.048). SR strength was significant (p\u3c0.002) and had a medium effect size (ω2=0.121). SR strength decreased significantly with a medium effect size (ω2=0.121) from pre-mid, pre-post, and mid-post (pholm=0.049, pholm=0.006, and pholm=0.004, respectively). IR and ER strength did not significantly differ during the season. CONCLUSION: FLX and SR strength declined significantly across the season, but IR and ER showed no significant change. Monitoring shoulder strength throughout the season is valuable for assessing cumulative fatigue in pitchers
Evaluation of BMI Accuracy in Predicting Elevated Body Fat in Law Enforcement Officers
No full textExcess body fat may place unnecessary physiological stress on the body and negatively impact the wellbeing of law enforcement officers (LEOs). It is crucial to have an accurate predictor of body fat status to guide programming that promotes healthy body fat levels. This is especially important for LEOs who may be sitting for extended periods (e.g., researching, writing reports) or must respond suddenly to address a physically demanding task (e.g., pursuing a suspect). PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the specificity and sensitivity of BMI compared to skinfold measures of body composition in active LEOs. METHODS: Twenty-three active male LEOs (40.4 ± 9.2 y, 178.7 ± 6.8 cm, 93.0 ± 11.7 kg) voluntarily completed a 7-site skinfold test (7-SKFT) to evaluate body composition (%BF) and had their height and weight recorded to determine BMI. Skinfold measurements were taken using a spring-loaded caliper at seven standardized sites (chest, midaxillary, tricep, subscapular, abdomen, suprailiac, and mid-thigh). The 7-SKFT scores were converted to %BF using established equations and 7-SKFT were used as the gold standard comparison. The %BF and BMI values were coded to indicate overfat or obese status using established criteria: 1) BMI scores \u3e25, and 2) %BF scores less than the 50th percentile based on current age. Sensitivity (cases where BMI and 7-SKFT classified an individual as overfat or obese) and specificity (cases where neither BMI or 7-SKFT classified an individual as overfat or obese) were calculated using the crosstabs program in SPSS version 30 (IBM Corp). RESULTS: The rate of overfat or obese for BMI was considerably higher than that determined by %BF (82.6% and 8.7% respectively). Compared to %BF, BMI showed 100% sensitivity and 10.5% specificity. For the BMI scores in the current study, the false positive rate was 89.5% and the false negative rate for overfat or obese was 0%. CONCLUSION: Similar to prior research in firefighters this study highlights the limitation with using BMI measures as indicators of excess body fat. BMI does not differentiate between muscle mass and fat mass, which could lead to inaccurate classification. Therefore 7-SKFT measures as opposed to screening tools like BMI are recommended when conducting assessments to guide health- and fitness-driven interventions in LEOs
Effects of an Acute Dietary Capsaicin Intervention on Ambulatory Blood Pressure with Sex and Condition Differences: Preliminary Findings
No full textCardiovascular disease (CVD) is the foremost cause of death in the United States and worldwide; thus, understanding novel interventions (e.g., diet) to reduce CVD risk is of critical importance. Ambulatory BP monitoring allows assessment of cardiovascular responses under real-world conditions and may be superior to in-office BP in terms of CVD risk prediction. PURPOSE: This study examined the effects of an acute dietary capsaicin intervention on 24-hour peripheral BP and pulse pressure (PP), with attention to sex-specific responses, given prior evidence of sex differences in vascular function. METHODS: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled design, 70 healthy adults (36 females, 34 males; mean age: females = 26.3 ± 12.5 years, males = 25.1 ± 12.7 years) were assigned to either a placebo (PLA; n=34; two 500 mg psyllium husk capsules daily) or capsaicin (CAP; n=36; two 440 mg capsules, 880 mg/day total) group for six weeks. On average, females had a BMI of 24.6 ± 4.95, and males 25.4 ± 4.55. Participants wore a 24-hour ambulatory oscillometric BP monitor (Mobil-O-Graph, IEM). BP was recorded twice hourly during the day and once every hour at night. Measured variables included systolic and diastolic BP and dipping, and Pulse Pressure (PP). Two-way ANOVA (JASP) was used evaluated the main effects of sex, condition, and their interaction. Partial ω² quantified effect sizes. RESULTS: Total systolic BP showed significant main effects of sex and condition. Night systolic BP was significantly affected by condition. Total PP showed a significant sex effect, and day PP displayed a sex and condition interaction. Standard deviations of PP were significantly affected, with large effect size for total PP SD (ω²p = 0.154) and a medium effect for PP Day (ω²p = 0.069). No significant differences were found in systolic (PLA: 8.9 ± 20.6 vs. CAP: 13.6 ± 23.9 mmHg) or diastolic dipping (PLA: 18.5 ± 23.9 vs. CAP: 13.1 ± 22.1 mmHg). CONCLUSIONS: An acute dietary capsaicin intervention may have influence multiple BP parameters, particularly systolic BP, and PP, with notable sex differences. The lack of BP dipping effects indicates benefits may arise through mechanisms like autonomic control than circadian BP regulation. These findings emphasize the importance of considering sex in dietary interventions targeting vascular health
Comprehensive Fitness Assessment in a Professional Military Education Cohort: A Cross-Sectional Study
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 811-835, 2025. Military personnel face rigorous physical and cognitive demands critical for operational readiness and long-term health. This study evaluated body composition, cognitive performance, and physical fitness metrics in non-entry-level service members to inform tailored fitness interventions. This cross-sectional study analyzed data from Air Command Staff College personnel (N = 307; 89 females, 218 males; age: 37 ± 5 years) at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base. Participants completed assessments for body composition (body mass index [BMI], body fat percentage [%BF], fat mass index [FMI], fat-free mass index [FFMI]), flexibility (sit-and-reach test, functional reach test), cognitive performance (cognitive reaction time), power (countermovement jump), strength (grip strength, isometric midthigh pull), muscular endurance (plank), and aerobic fitness (Estimated VO₂max). Relationships between age, sex, and fitness variables were analyzed with regression models, with percentile ranking, and comparisons to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines. Age-related increases in BF% (r = 0.116, p = 0.045) and FMI (r = 0.129, p = 0.025) were observed, alongside declines in muscular strength, power, and endurance (all p \u3c 0.01). Females exhibited higher BF% and FMI, while males had greater FFMI and strength. Older participants had lower compliance with ACSM standards, indicating elevated health risks. Targeted interventions should address age- and sex-specific needs, focusing on preserving lean mass, strength, and cognitive agility. Baseline fitness data contributes to designing evidence-based programs that enhance long-term readiness and operational performance
Relationship between perceived limiter and respiratory compensation point in recreational runners
No full textPURPOSE: Endurance athletes report feelings of exertion related to central cardiorespiratory factors and peripheral muscular fatigue factors. Such perceptions are used in training load monitoring; yet, little work has demonstrated a link between these feelings of exertion and concrete physiological phenomena. This study investigated the relationship between primary perceived limiter and respiratory compensation point in recreational runners. METHODS: Twenty-eight recreationally active subjects (Males = 16; Females = 12) completed a maximal graded treadmill test that established V̇O2MAX and respiratory compensation point (RCP). Subjects returned to the lab to complete a constant speed time to exhaustion run 1% gradient steeper than their RCP. Following each run subjects indicated whether their primary perceived limiter as “Heart and Lungs” or “Leg Fatigue.” Subjects were grouped based upon their limiter during the second trial, and RCP was compared between groups using a two-sample t-test. A linear mixed-effects model assessed differences in peak V̇O2 between trials, and a general linear mixed model assessed differences in perceived limiter by visit. Significance for all analyses was set at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: No between-group differences were observed for RCP (Means: 86.1 ± 4.9% vs 84.4 ± 3.6% V̇O2MAX; p = 0.422); the linear mixed-effects model showed no effect for visit (Difference: -1.300 ± 0.805; p = 0.120), limiter (Difference: 0.117 ± 0.905; p = 0.898), or their interaction on V̇O2 (Difference: 0.223 ± 0.974; p = 0.821). There was no significant effect of visit on perceived limiter, albeit with large intersubject variability (Log Odds: 0.270 ± 0.740; p = 0.715). CONCLUSION: These data do not provide evidence to adjust training based on perceived limiter alone, as they do not support a link between limiter and RCP relative to V̇O2MAX. Further investigation into the context wherein these perceptions could provide such utility is warranted
The Effect of Long Distance Running on Perceived Stress in NCAA Division II Male Collegiate Athletes.
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