337 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)
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
PROTEIN SUPPLEMENT USE AMONG NETSURFERS VISITING HEALTH AND FITNESS COMMUNITY: FINDINGS FROM AN INTERNET-BASED SURVEY
No full textIntroduction It is largely known that protein supplement (PS) use is a widespread and accepted practice by athletes and people who
attend commercial gyms (Bianco et al., 2011). However, only few studies have been carried out in order to investigate supplement use
and lifestyle in netsurfers of health and fitness community. For this reason the purpose of this preliminary study was to investigate the use
of PS, age and lifestyle of people who visited a specific Italian sporting website: www.fitnessa360.com. Methods 273 subjects netsurfing
in the www.fitnessa360.com completed the 6-item online-questionnaire about age, gender, daily cigarette consumption, protein supplement
use, information source about use of PS and sitting time per day. All data were analyzed by a preliminary descriptive statistical
analysis. Results The survey showed that subjects, of which 170 males and 103 females, declared an age of 15-20 years (11%), 21-30 years
(8%), 31-40 years (72%), 41-50 years (4%), 51-60 years (3%), 61-70 years (0%), 71-80 years (0%), 81-90 years (2%). When examining the daily
cigarette consumption, we found that the majority of the subjects claimed not to smoke (66.0%) and to take SP (62%). Moreover, 60% of
participants did not specify the information source about use of SP. Only 37% of sample declared to use SP. Moreover, examined data
showed that 15%, 40%, 30%, 12% and 2% of subjects spent sitting time per day 1-3 h, 3-5 h, 5-8, 8-10, >10 h respectively. Discussion This
preliminary analysis showed that netsurfers of the used health and fitness Italian community mainly appear to be office workers with
healthy lifestyle. Indeed in agreement with Nagaya et al. (2007), that showed a coexistence between smoking and sedentary lifestyle, we
found that the majority of participants (66%) did not to smoke. Moreover, protein supplementation does not appear to interest the
netsurfers of the used sporting website heavily. An online survey can be a low-cost, efficient, and confidential modality to investigate the
netsurfers’ lifestyle of sporting websites. However only by a dissemination strategy of this questionnaire from other Italian sporting websites
we could investigate the lifestyle of their netsurfers. References: Bianco A, Mammina C, Paoli A, Bellafiore M, Battaglia G,
Caramazza G, Palma A, Jemni M. (2011). J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 8(1), 25. Nagaya T, Yoshida H, Takahashi H, Kawai M. (2007). Nicotine Tob
Res, 9(10), 1027-3
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
Indagine sugli effetti dell'attività ludico-motoria nello sviluppo motorio e cognitivo dei bambini della scuola dell'infanzia
No full textL’obiettivo del presente studio è stato quello di valutare l’influenza di un programma di attività motorie sullo sviluppo delle abilità motorie e dei pre-requisiti della lettura e della scrittura in bambini di 3-5 anni delle scuole dell’Infanzia del Comune di Palermo. Centottanove bambini sono stati divisi in 3 gruppi: un gruppo che non ha seguito alcun intervento e due gruppi che hanno seguito un programma motorio rispettivamente della durata di 52 e 180 ore. Le abilità di locomozione e di controllo degli oggetti sono state misurate con il test of gross motor development, i pre-requisiti della lettura e della scrittura con il PRCR-2. Il programma motorio ha aumentato significativamente la prestazione motoria e le abilità cognitive dei due gruppi intervento in maniera dipendente dalla durata del programma rispetto al gruppo controllo. E’ stata osservata inoltre una correlazione positiva tra le abilità motorie e quelle cognitive. Pertanto, l’attività motoria può essere uno strumento efficace per favorire l’apprendimento scolastico di tutti i bambini e, ancora di più, di quelli con disturbi specifici di apprendimento
HUMAN BALANCE EVALUATION IN SUBJECTS WITH CERVICAL INJURIES COMPARED TO HEALTHY SUBJECTS: RESULTS OF A PILOT STUDY
No full textIntroduction It is very important that forensic medicine properly calculates the biological damage not only through the disturbance indicated
by the patient, but more accurately through instrumental diagnosis. Our aim was to verify through posturography the qualitative
and quantitative alterations of postural stability in subjects with cervical trauma, compared to the control group. Methods We analysed 78
subjects, selecting 42 volunteers and distinguishing a control group of 22 normal men (NM) and a group of 20 men (WM) with a positive
anamnesis of whiplash injury for six months. Through a force platform, we recorded the Centre of Pressure (CoP) movements of these
groups, both with their eyes open, and closed. The data was used to compare between the two groups, with both open and closed eyes.
Results During the closed eyes test, those subjects with cervical injuries, displayed a significant increase in anterior-posterior oscillation
velocity (p<0.05) compared to the control group, with a significant reduction (p<0.01) of ratio between Shifting Length (SL) of CoP on the
polygon support and total envelop area (EA, mm2) of CoP movements in the polygon support (SL/EA-ratio, mm-1). During the closed eyes
test, subjects with cervical injury showed a significant anterior shifting of the mean position of CoP compared to the other group performing
the open eyes test. Discussion Our results suggest that posturographic tests can be used to assess and confirm human body imbalance
in subjects with whiplash injury. Further studies with more subjects from both sexes are necessary to confirm this pilot study. References
Endo K, Suzuki H, Yamamoto K: Consciously postural sway and cervical vertigo after whiplash injury. Spine. 2008, 33(16):E539-42.
Pomara F, Bianco A, Petrucci M, Vaccarino F, Bellafiore M, Battaglia G, Palma A: Whiplash injure and human body balance: a force
platform analysis. Minerva Medicolegale 2010 Marzo;130(1):1-5. Sjostrom H, Allum JH, Carpenter MG, et al: Trunk sway measures of
postural stability during clinical balance tests in patients with chronic whiplash injury symptoms. Spine 2003, 28:1725-34
THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN MANAGEMENT OF BODY WEIGHT IN PSYCHOTIC SUBJECTS
No full textPsychotic subjects live an unhealthy lifestyle that tends to reinforce the metabolic syndrome (1). It is known, indeed, that antipsychotic treatments stimulate appetite (2) and induce weight gain (3). Several therapeutic approaches including psycho-educational behavioral interventions and exercise training programs have been elaborated in order to manage antipsychotic-induced weight gain (4,5). Wirshing et al. (2006) elaborated a specific project based on oral presentations in order to educate psychotic subjects about lifestyle changes they can adopt to reduce weight gain. They showed that patients with mental illness are able to benefit from educational presentations about nutrition and a healthy lifestyle (4). Moreover, the prospective naturalistic study of Poulin et al. (2007) investigated the efficiency of a controlled physical activity program and a nutritional counseling in psychotic patients. They found that a weight control program including unstandardized exercise could effectively manage body weight and metabolic syndrome in subjects receiving atypical antipsychotic treatments (5).
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of soccer practice on the self reported health quality of life (SRHQL), sports performance (SP) and body weight (BW) control in subjects with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Twenty-three male subjects were recruited in the Psychiatric Departments of Local Health of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) and randomized into either a control group (CG) and the trained one (TG). All patients participated in the local project “Calciapensieri”. Two subjects of TG were excluded from study because did not attend 80% of training period; instead 3 patients of CG were not subjected to post-test. For these reasons, eighteen overweight male subjects, of which 10 trained psychotics (age: 36.00±5.00 yrs.; weight: 77.44±13.60 kg; height: 164.44±7.00 cm; BMI: 28.55±4.06) and 8 no-trained psychotics (age: 35.00±4.00 yrs.; weight: 76.71±09.75 kg; height: 163.42±4.99 cm; BMI: 28.65±2.62), were considered in this study. TG was trained for 12 weeks by two soccer training sessions/week. CG did not perform any physical activity during experimental period. Body weight (BW), BMI, SRHQL and SP were evaluated before and after experimental period. SRHQL was assessed using SF-12 questionnaire measuring physical (PCS-12) and mental (MCS-12) component summary scores.
After the training period, TG showed a relevant decrease by 4.6% in body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) compared to baseline. On the contrary, CG showed an increased BW and BMI by 1.8% from baseline to post test. Moreover, at 12 weeks we found that control patients increased significantly their BW than trained ones (∆= 5.4%; p<0.05). After the training period, comparing TG’s SF-12-scores from baseline to post-test, we found an improvement by 10.5% and 10.8% in PCS and MCS respectively. In addition, TG’s SF improved significantly (p<0.05) from baseline to post-test compared to CG (6).
Weight gain associated with abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome are the main collateral effects associated with modern second-generation antipsychotics treatments (7). We showed that regular physical activity could reduce antipsychotic medication-related weight gain and improve SRHQL and SP in psychotic subjects. However, there are only a few studies that evaluate the effects of exercise training on physical fitness of psychotic subjects. We suggest that it is need to speculate multifaceted interventions aimed at combining traditional pharmacologic treatments and alternative behavioural methods such as physical activity (6).
References
1. Kopp M. [Physical activity in persons with severe mental illness: research-based clinical recommendations]. Neuropsychiatrie: Klinik, Diagnostik, Therapie und Rehabilitation: Organ der Gesellschaft Österreichischer Nervenärzte und Psychiater. 2009;23(3):151–6.
2. Robinson RG, McHugh PR, Folstein MF. Measurement of appetite disturbances in psychiatric disorders. Journal of psychiatric research. 1975;12(1):59–68.
3. Planansky K, Heilizer F. Weight changes in relation to the characteristics of patients on chlorpromazine. Journal of clinical and experimental psychopathology. 20(1):53–7.
4. Wirshing DA, Smith RA, Erickson ZD, Mena SJ, Wirshing WC. A wellness class for inpatients with psychotic disorders. Journal of psychiatric practice. 2006;12(1):24–9.
5. Poulin MJ, Chaput JP, Simard V, Vincent P, Bernier J, Gauthier Y, Lanctôt G, Saindon J, Vincent A, Gagnon S, Tremblay A. Management of antipsychotic-induced weight gain: prospective naturalistic study of the effectiveness of a supervised exercise programme. The Australian and New Zealand journal of psychiatry. 2007;41(12):980–9.
6. Battaglia G, Alesi M, Inguglia M, Roccella M, Caramazza G, Bellafiore M, Palma A. Soccer practice as an add-on treatment in the management of individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment. 2013;9:595-603.
7. Stedman T, Welham J. The distribution of adipose tissue in female in-patients receiving psychotropic drugs. The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science. 1993;162:249–50
Editorial: Ageing and physical activity: a multidimensional approach with new technology
No full textSTUDY OF SAGITTAL SPINAL ROM IN ELDERLY WOMEN AFTER A SPECIFIC FLEXIBILITY-TRAINING PROGRAM
No full textThe reduction of spinal mobility is one luckless consequence of the aging process. In particular, scarcity of exercise appears to be the principal reason of aging-related spinal dysfunction syndrome, which is characterized by adaptive shortening of soft tissue and a partial loss of range of spinal motion (1). Several recommendations promoting the spinal flexibility in elderly people are based on stretching programs that include static and ballistic exercises and PNF techniques (2). Several studies showed that specific training programs could improve body balance (3), bodyweight distribution on feet (4), muscle strength and flexibility (5) in elders. In particular, Imagama et al. (2011) showed that spinal flexibility and resistance training programs may be able to affect positively primary factors related to quality of life, such as lumbar lordosis angle, sagittal balance and spinal ROM in middle-aged and elderly subjects (6).
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a specific flexibility training program on thoracic spinal range of motion (T-ROM) in female older subjects. Thirty older women were randomized into either a trained group [TG] (n: 17; age: 68.35±6.04 years; height: 1.54±0.06 m; weight: 64.78±10.16, kg, BMI: 27.28±3.08) and a control group [CG] (n: 13; age: 69.69±7.94 years; height: 1.57±0.06 m; weight: 68.42±8.18 kg, BMI: 27.88±2.81). Trained subjects were trained for 8 weeks by two sessions/week. In particular, every trained session included: a warm up period (~15 min), a training period (~50 min) including specific exercises to train spinal flexibility, cool down period (~15 min). Control subjects did not perform any programmed physical activity during the experimental period. Data were obtained before and after the experimental phase. Spinal ranges of motion were measured using SpinalMouse® (Idiag, Volkerswill, Switzerland), which is an electronic computer-aided device that measures sagittal spinal ROM and inter-segmental angles non-invasively (6). Each angle was measured three times in a neutral standing (nS) position, maximum extension (maxE) position and maximum bending (maxB) one, and average data were used.
At baseline and after experimental period TG and CG were equivalent in age, anthropometric characteristics and Berg balance score. Moreover at baseline two groups showed similar ROMs during sagittal maximum bending and extension of spinal. We found a significant increase in thoracic ROM from nS to maxB position (p0.05).
In conclusion, our results suggest that well-organized flexibility training programs executed for eight weeks can improve spinal ROM from nS to maxB position and enhance the quality of life in older women. In agreement with the 2009 American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) position statement, we think there is a lack of consensus concerning the prescription of stretching exercises for elderly people (ACSM, 2009). For these reasons it is necessary to increase studies on potential benefits of flexibility-specific training interventions on range of motion (ROM) of elders’ spine.
References
1. Rider RA, Daly J. Effect of flexibility training on enhancing spinal mobility in older women. Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness. 1991; 31(2): 213-17.
2. Pollock ML, Gaesser GA, Butcher JA, Després JP, Dishman RK, Franklin BA, Garber CE. The recommended quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory and muscolar fitness, and flexibility in healthy adults. Medicine and science in sports and exercise.1998; 30(6):975-91.
3. Bellafiore M, Battaglia G, Bianco A, Paoli A, Farina F, Palma A. Improved postural control after dynamic balance training in older overweight women. Aging clinical and experimental research. 2011; 23(5-6):378-85.
4. Battaglia G, Bellafiore M, Bianco A, Paoli A, Palma A. Effects of a dynamic balance training protocol on podalic support in older women. Pilot Study. Aging clinical and experimental research. 2010; 22(5-6):406-11.
5. Seco J, Abecia LC, Echevarría E, Barbero I, Torres-Unda J, Rodriguez V, Calvo JI. A long-term physical activity training program increases strength and flexibility, and improves balance in older adults. Rehabilitation nursing. 2013; 38(1):37-47.
6. Imagama S, Hasegawa Y, Matsuyama Y, Sakai Y, Ito Z, Hamajima N, Ishiguro N. Influence of sagittal balance and physical ability associated with exercise on quality of life in middle-aged and elderly people. Archives of osteoporosis. 2011; 6(1-2):13-20.
7. Chodzko-Zajko WJ, Proctor DN, Fiatarone Singh MA, Minson CT, Nigg CR, Salem GJ, Skinner JS. Exercise and physical activity for older adults. American college of sports medicine. 2009; 41(7):1510-30
Performance profile analysis of unipedal paralympic sprinter: a case report
No full textThe principal goal of elite athlete is to compete in international sporting events like Olympic or Paralympic Games. For this reason, athletes submit to multi-year training program (Vaeyens R et al., 2009; Ratel S, 2011). However, there are individuals who qualify to compete in the Paralympics even without a sporting past. The aim of this work was to examine the performance profile of a female paralympic sprinter [age: 37 years; mass: 58.2 Kg; height: 1.61m; BMI: 22.45; athletic category: T44 (100 m; 200 m)] with a 1/3 right lower limb unilateral transtibial amputation since the age of 2 years and 6 moths and lacking a sporting history. In particular, we analyzed used macrocycle, workload profiles and recorded personal bests (PBs) before Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games. We showed that the sinusoidal pattern of used workload ranges in every mesocycle [speed resistance: 5-30%, coordination and technique: 20-50%, general strength: 10-50%, speed strength: 10-25%, flexibility: 5-10%] positively influenced athlete’s performance. Indeed, the sprinter recorded important PBs by 100 and 200 meters in eight races before Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games. Athlete reduced PBs by ~1 and ~4 seconds in 100 m and 200 m races respectively from Biella 2007 XXII Meeting to Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games [100-m PB= (Biella): 15.15s vs. (Beijing): 14.68s; 200-m PB= (Biella): 34.12s vs. (Beijing): 30.17s]. Methodological choices appear to have optimized sprinter’s predetermined psychomotor genetic potential. In according to Delecluse et al. (1995) we supposed that high levels of strength workload per mesocycle have been principal causes of athlete’s improved performance.
Vaeyens R et al. Talent identification and promotion programmes of Olympic athletes. J Sports Sci. 2009;27(13):1367-80.
Ratel S. High-intensity and resistance training and elite young athletes. Med Sport Sci. 2011;56:84-96.
Delecluse C et al. Influence of high-resistance and high-velocity training on sprint performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1995;27(8):1203-9
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