1,721,179 research outputs found
Acute effects of different administration order of stretching exercises: effects on range of motion and cross-over effect
No full textBACKGROUND: The aim of this manuscript is to investigate if stretching exercise administration order may influence outcomes pertinent to range of movement (roM). METHODS: A total sample of 108 participants was randomized into five groups. Eight sets of unilateral static stretching (SS) of 30s duration each with a 30s rest were administered to the right leg. One group underwent SS of the knee extensors (KE), another to the knee flexors (KF), another first to the KE and then to the KF, another first to the KF and then to the KE while the last group was used as control (CG). Each group was assessed for roM of both lower limbs for either the Ke and Kf motion (passive hip extention [phe] and passive straight leg raise [pSlr], respectively). Measures were assessed before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 15 minutes after the intervention (T2). reSulTS: No differences were observed for time (T0 vs. T1 vs. T2) for all measures in the cG for both limbs. Time-x-group interactions were observed only in the intervention limb (P<0.0007 and 0.004, ES 0.73 and 0.55, for KE and KF, respectively). Within the intervention limb, a significant increase in the PHE was observed from T0 to T1 only in the KE and KF/KE groups. For measures of the PSLR, a significant increase was observed from T0 to T1 only in the KF and KE/KF groups. No differences neither for time or group were observed in the control limb. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight that exercise administration order has an effect on ROM outcomes. Measures of ROM significantly increase only for the last stretched muscle in each intervention group. No crossover effect was observed in the contralateral limb. (Cite this article as: Thomas E, Scardina A, Nakamura M, Bellafiore M, Bianco A. Acute effects of different administration order of stretching exercises: effects on range of motion and cross-over effect. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2024;64:95-102. DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.23.15289-3)
Does Stretching Training Influence Muscular Strength? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis and Meta-Regression
No full textThomas, E, Ficarra, S, Nunes, JP, Paoli, A, Bellafiore, M, Palma, A, and Bianco, A. Does stretching training influence muscular strength? A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression. J Strength Cond Res 37(5): 1145-1156, 2023 - The aim of this study was to review articles that performed stretching training and evaluated the effects on muscular strength. Literature search was performed using 3 databases. Studies were included if they compared the effects on strength following stretching training vs. a nontraining control group or stretching training combined with resistance training (RT) vs. an RT-only group, after at least 4 weeks of intervention. The meta-analyses were performed using a random-effect model with Hedges' g effect size (ES). A total of 35 studies (n = 1,179 subjects) were included in this review. The interventions lasted for a mean period of 8 weeks (range, 4-24 weeks), 3-4 days per week, applying approximately 4 sets of stretching of approximately 1-minute duration. The meta-analysis for the stretching vs. nontraining control group showed a significant small effect on improving dynamic (k = 14; ES = 0.33; p = 0.007) but not isometric strength (k = 8; ES = 0.10; p = 0.377), following static stretching programs (k = 17; ES = 0.28; p = 0.006). When stretching was added to RT interventions, the main analysis indicated no significant effect (k = 17; ES = -0.15; p = 0.136); however, moderator analysis indicated that performing stretching before RT sessions has a small but negative effect (k = 7; ES = -0.43; p = 0.014); the meta-regression revealed a significant negative association with study length (β = -0.100; p = 0.004). Chronic static stretching programs increase dynamic muscular strength to a small magnitude. Performing stretching before RT and for a prolonged time (>8 weeks) can blunt the strength gains to a small-to-moderate magnitude. Performing stretching in sessions distant from RT sessions might be a strategy to not hinder strength development
The relationship between motor timing, reaction time and academic achievements in primary school children.
No full textAim: Recent studies have reported a correlation between motor skills and school performance, which is different according to the type of motor ability or academic subject examined (Fernandes et al, 2016; Bellafiore et al., 2016). The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between motor timing, reaction time and achievements in mathematics and Italian in sedentary and active children.
Methods: Seventy-eight children (8.55±1.43 years old, 28.93±5.74 kg weight, 126.54±4.74 cm height and 19.30±2.62 kg/m2 BMI) were randomly recruited by a primary school of Palermo, 68% of them practiced a sport outside the academic hours. The motor timing was measured with the finger and foot tapping test, while the reaction time with the ruler drop test. The outcomes in mathematics and Italian were collected at the end of the first four months of academic year. For parametric parameters the differences were examined with T-test; while for non-parametric parameters Mann-Whitney test was used and they considered significant with p<0.05. The correlations between motor skills and school performance were analyzed by Pearson's test and r was considered significant with p<0.05.
Results: Active children showed higher academic results in mathematics and Italian than sedentary ones. The outcomes of motor timing and reaction time were better in active than sedentary children. We did not find any correlation between the reaction time and the performance in Italian and mathematics. Conversely, there was a significant and negative correlation between the finger and foot timing and the achievements of both subjects.
Conclusions: These results suggest the training of motor rhythm might be an exciting and enjoyable strategy to ease the learning of mathematics and Italian in the primary schools.
Reference
Fernandes VR et al. (2016) Motor coordination correlates with academic achievement and cognitive function in children. Front Psychol. 7:318.
Bellafiore M et al. (2016) Effects of a ludic-motor program on motor development and early literacy skills in preschool children. IJAE 121:58
Editorial: Ageing and physical activity: a multidimensional approach with new technology
Full text linkMath/School Anxiety and Sport Participation. A Correlational Study From the Abmove! Project
Full text linkParticipation in sports activities yields substantial benefits for individual well-being, potentially mitigating anxiety symptoms. This study is part of the PNRR 2022 project ABMOVE! funded by the European Union – Next Generation EU and examines the relationship between participation in sports activities and perceived anxiety levels in a large-scale sample of Italian students. This preliminary analysis offers insights into anxiety profiles and sports engagement, generating implications for educational practice
Motor Learning in Response to Different Experimental Pain Models Among Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review
Full text linkLearning new movement patterns is a normal part of daily life, but of critical importance in both sport and rehabilitation. A major question is how different sensory signals are integrated together to give rise to motor adaptation and learning. More specifically, there is growing evidence that pain can give rise to alterations in the learning process. Despite a number of studies investigating the role of pain on the learning process, there is still no systematic review to summarize and critically assess investigations regarding this topic in the literature. Here in this systematic review, we summarize and critically evaluate studies that examined the influence of experimental pain on motor learning. Seventeen studies that exclusively assessed the effect of experimental pain models on motor learning among healthy human individuals were included for this systematic review, carried out based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) statement. The results of the review revealed there is no consensus regarding the effect of pain on the skill learning acquisition and retention. However, several studies demonstrated that participants who experienced pain continued to express a changed motor strategy to perform a motor task even 1 week after training under the pain condition. The results highlight a need for further studies in this area of research, and specifically to investigate whether pain has different effects on motor learning depending on the type of motor task
Lower limb muscle activation pattern in male soccer players with lumbar hyperlordosis
No full textObjective: the aim of the current study was to compare the lower limb muscle activation pattern in soccer players with and without lumbar hyperlordosis during single-leg squat performance. Methods: thirty male collegiate soccer players (15 with and 15 without lumbar hyperlordosis) performed the SLS task. Surface EMG was used to record the activation of eleven lower limb muscles. The activation of these muscles reduces to 100 points during the SLS cycle, where 50% demonstrates the maximum knee flexion, and 0% and 99% demonstrate the maximum knee extension. Results: soccer players with lumbar hyperlordosis had higher muscle activation than those with normal lumbar lordosis in gluteus maximus, biceps femoris, and medial gastrocnemius. By contrast, they had lower gluteus medius, vastus medialis oblique, rectus femoris, soleus, and medial gastrocnemius (only in the final ascent phase of the SLS) muscle activity than the normal group during the SLS. Conclusion: this alteration may negatively affect targeted muscle performance during the SLS. Subsequent study is required to specify whether such an alteration in the lower limb muscle could be accompanied by injury in soccer players and change in their athletic performance
The effect of time-of-day and sleep deprivation on postural control: A systematic review
No full textBackground: Postural control (PC) can be affected by circadian rhythm and sleep deprivation, whereby it has been reported the result of PC measurement in clinical and experimental situations can be influenced by both factors. It has been suggested sleepiness can result in deficiency in PC, which in turn can lead to occupational accidents and subsequent injuries. This is while no study critically reviews or summarizes findings surrounding this topic in the literature. Research question: Is there any significant effect of sleep deprivation and circadian rhythm on PC variables among healthy individuals? Methods: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase were used to detect relevant studies. Only studies that examined the effect of time of day and/or sleep loss on PC among healthy individuals were included in this systematic review. Results: Forty-nine studies were included based on the inclusion criteria. Both circadian rhythm and sleep loss had a significant effect on PC, whereas there are inconsistent findings for optimal postural control regarding time of day. In terms of sleep deprivation, all investigations indicated that sleep loss deteriorates PC. Significance: The current systematic review represents a significant effect of circadian rhythm and sleep deprivation on PC, whereby it is suggested that clinicians and researchers consider these factors when measuring PC since it may affect the result of research and clinical test. Moreover, PC may be worsened through sleeplessness; however, some studies revealed there is no linear relationship between time of wakefulness and deteriorating PC due to the influence of circadian rhythm. Hence, while PC, as an objective tool, can help to detect those who are sleep deprived, which in turn can lead to prevent possible musculoskeletal injuries, further studies are needed to reveal more understanding about the effect of sleep loss and circadian rhythm on PC
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