Validity and reliability of the My Jump 2 app for detecting interlimb asymmetry in young female basketball players.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the validity and reliability of the My Jump 2 app for the assessment of interlimb jump asymmetry in young female basketball players. Methods: Nine athletes (age 15 ± 0.9 years; weight 62.9 ± 5.8 kg; height 173.6 ± 6.1 cm) performed single-leg drop jumps (DJs) and both-leg drop jumps on a force plate (Kistler Quattro jump) and were simultaneously recorded on two smartphones using the My Jump 2 app. Jump height from flight time and contact time data were statistically analyzed to evaluate the validity of two different camera settings, drop jump performance, and interlimb jump asymmetry in basketball players. The testing was repeated after 1 week for test retest reliability. Results: High test-retest reliability [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) > 0.88] was observed in DJ height. High correlation between the force plate and the My Jump 2 app was observed in DJ height (r = 0.99) and DJ contact time (r = 0.98). For the interlimb jump height asymmetries, mean differences were 0.6 percentages for the My Jump 2 app and the force plate, respectively (p = 0.77). Inter-device reliability revealed almost perfect correlation for the DJ height (ICC = 0.99, r = 0.98). Conclusion: The My Jump 2 app is a valid and reliable tool to assess drop jump performance and interlimb asymmetry in young female basketball players.

The Role of Motivation and Physical Self-Concept in Accomplishing Physical Activity in Primary School Children.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this research is to identify correlations of motivation and physical self-concept with physical activity among students of younger school age, as well as the level of prediction of motivation and physical self-concept with physical activity of students in physical education classes. METHODS: The sample of respondents consisted of 411 students of the third and fourth grades from the territory of the Zlatibor district. A modified Self-Regulation Questionnaire was used to assess students' motivational orientations, while appropriate subscales of the Self-perception Profile for Children measuring instrument were used to assess physical self-concept. Physical activity is shown as volume and intensive physical activity (vigorous physical activity (VPA)), measured with a Suunto memory belt pedometer and heart-rate monitor. RESULTS: Boys' motivational predictor variables accounted for 14% (volume) and 28% (VPA) of their physical activity in class, with intrinsic motivation, introjective regulation (just for the level of physical activity), and identified regulation as the most important determinants of physical activity. For girls, the identified regulation variable (from the system of motivational predictor variables) was shown to be the primary predictor variable on both criterion variables (R2 = 0.34 and 0.36). CONCLUSION: The teaching of physical education for students of younger school age should be conceived by creating a motivational climate, in order to encourage physical activity.

The Influence of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Shooting Performance in Elite Deaflympic Athletes: A Case Series.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to improve motor learning in numerous studies. However, only a few of these studies have been conducted on elite-level performers or in complex motor tasks that have been practiced extensively. The purpose was to determine the influence of tDCS applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on motor learning over multiple days on 10-m air rifle shooting performance in elite Deaflympic athletes. Two male and two female elite Deaflympic athletes (World, European, and National medalists) participated in this case series. The study utilized a randomized, double-blind, SHAM-controlled, cross-over design. Anodal tDCS or SHAM stimulation was applied to the left DLPFC for 25 min with a current strength of 2 mA concurrent with three days of standard shooting practice sessions. Shooting performance was quantified as the points and the endpoint error. Separate 2 Condition (DLPFC-tDCS, SHAM) × 3 Day (1,2,3) within-subjects ANOVAs revealed no significant main effects or interactions for either points or endpoint error. These results indicate that DLPFC-tDCS applied over multiple days does not improve shooting performance in elite athletes. Different stimulation parameters or very long-term (weeks/months) application of tDCS may be needed to improve motor learning in elite athletes.

An Intervention of 12 Weeks of Nordic Walking and Recreational Walking to Improve Cardiorespiratory Capacity and Fitness in Older Adult Women.

(1) Background: The main aim of this study was to examine the effect of an intervention of 12 weeks in three groups on anthropometric measurement and heart rate (HR) variables, fitness index, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in older women. (2) Methods: In total, 166 Serbian adult women, aged 50 to 69 years old, participated in this study, comprising a control group (60 participants, µage = 57.8 + 6.6), Nordic-walking (NW) group (53 participants, µage = 57.5 + 6.8), and recreational-walking (RW) group (53 participants, µage = 57.8 + 6.6) in a physical fitness programme for 12 weeks. (3) Results: Anthropometric measurement variables were measured using a stadiometer and an electronic scale. The data showed differences in walking heart rate (bt/min) (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.088) between control, NW, and RW groups in the pretest analysis. Moreover, there were significant differences in walking heart rate (bt/min) (η2 = 0.155), heart rate at the end of the test (bt/min) (η2 = 0.093), total time of fitness index test (min) (η2 = 0.097), fitness index (η2 = 0.130), and VO2max (η2 = 0.111) (all, p < 0.001) between control, NW, and RW groups in the posttest analysis. (4) Conclusions: NW group training resulted in slightly greater benefits than RW group training. The present study demonstrated that both groups could act as modalities to improve the functionality and quality of life of people during the ageing process, reflected mainly in HR variables; UKK test measurements, and VO2max. It also contributes to the extant research on older women during exercise and opens interesting avenues for future research.

Nine Months of a Structured Multisport Program Improve Physical Fitness in Preschool Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Research in preschool children that investigates the impact of different exercise interventions on physical fitness is limited. This pre-post study was aimed at determining if participation in a nine-month structured multisport program (MSG; n = 38) could enhance physical fitness components compared to a formal exercise program (control group (CG); n = 36) among preschool children. Physical fitness was assessed using standardized tests (the standing long jump, sit and reach, 20 m sprint, sit-ups for 30 s, bent-arm hang, medicine ball throw (MBT), grip strength, 4 × 10 m shuttle run, and 20 m shuttle run tests). The structured multisport program involved fundamental/gross and fine motor skills and ball game-based exercises twice a week. The control group was free of any programmed exercise except for the obligatory program in kindergartens. A mixed ANOVA demonstrated significant group-by-time interaction effects for the 4 × 10 m shuttle run, standing long jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, grip strength, and sit and reach tests (p < 0.05). There was no significant group-by-time interaction effect for the 20 m sprint test (p = 0.794) or for the 20 m shuttle run test (p = 0.549). Moreover, the MSG and CG performance in the MBT and 20 m shuttle run tests improved to a similar extent from pre- to post-test. Our results indicate that compared to the formal plan, the structured multisport program led to a sustained improvement in physical fitness in healthy 5-to-6-year old children.

Effects of group exercise on functional abilities: Differences between physically active and physically inactive women.

BACKGROUND: Aerobic exercises to music can have a positive effect on functional and motor skills of an exerciser, their health, as well as an aesthetic and socio-psychological component. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the effects of reactive exercising in a group on functional capabilities in physically active and physically inactive women. METHODS: A prospective study included 64 healthy women aged 40-60 years. The sample was divided into the experimental group (N= 36), i.e. physically active women who have been engaged in recreational group exercises at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education, University of Novi Sad, Serbia, and the control group (N= 28), which consisted of physically inactive women. All the participants were monitored using the same protocol before and after the implementation of the research. All women had their height, weight and body mass index measured as well as their spiroergometric parameters determined according to the Bruce protocol. RESULTS: A univariate analysis of variance has shown that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental group and the control group in maximum speed, the total duration of the test, relative oxygen consumption, absolute oxygen consumption and ventilation during the final measurement. After the training intervention, the experimental group showed improvements in all the parameters analyzed compared with pretest values. CONCLUSION: The recreational group exercise model significantly improves aerobic capacity and functioning of the cardiovascular system. Therefore, it is essential for women to be involved more in any form of recreational group exercising in order to improve functional capacity and health.

Somatotype characteristics of normal-weight and obese women among different metabolic subtypes.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a well known risk factor for the development of metabolic abnormalities. However, some obese people are healthy and on the other hand some people with normal weight have adverse metabolic profile, therefore it can be assumed that there is a difference in physical characteristics amongst these people. The aim of this study was to establish whether there are somatotype differences between metabolically healthy and metabolically obese women who are obese or of normal weight. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Study included 230 women aged 44.76 ± 11.21y. Metabolic status was assessed according to IDF criteria, while somatotype was obtained using Heath & Carter method. RESULTS: Significant somatotype differences were observed in the group of women with normal-weight: metabolically healthy women had significantly lower endomorphy, mesomorphy and higher ectomorphy compared to metabolically obese normal-weight women (5.84-3.97-2.21 vs. 8.69-6.47-0.65). Metabolically healthy obese women had lower values of endomorphy and mesomorphy and higher values of ectomorphy compared to 'at risk' obese women but the differences were not statistically significant (7.59-5.76-0.63 vs. 8.51-6.58-0.5). Ectomorphy was shown as an important determinant of the favorable metabolic profile (cutoff point was 0.80). CONCLUSION: We concluded that, in addition to fat mass, metabolic profile could be predicted by the structure of lean body mass, and in particular by body linearity.

Effects of Pilates-Interventional Program on Calcaneus-Bone Density Parameters of Adult Women / Efectos de un Programa de Intervención de Pilates Sobre Parámetros de Densidad Ósea en el Calcáneo de Mujeres Adultas

Physical exercise has a positive influence on bone tissue and therefore, is recommended in order to prevent the bone mass loss during the aging process. Similarly, normally practice of exercise potentially prevents the incidence of osteoporosis and bone fractures in adult women. In order to evaluate the differences of a Pilates-Interventional Program on parameters of bone density (right and left calcaneus) for six months, a total of 22 women (48.18±9.59) participated in the study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was estimated by the broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) and the speed of sound signals (SOS), through "Sahara" sound device. The BUA showed significant difference in the right and the left leg (both, P< 0.01), the SOS of the right leg (P<0.05), whereas the BMD was not proved to be statistically significant at the end of the treatment. In conclusion, the bone mineral density by BUA increased, while the speed of sound of the right leg decreased. Thus, our findings might imply a better level of bone strength after a specific intervention focused on the Pilates method.

El ejercicio físico tiene una influencia positiva en el tejido óseo y por consiguiente, es recomendado a la hora de prevenir pérdida de masa ósea durante el envejecimiento. Igualmente, la práctica regular de ejercicio previene la osteoporosis y fractura de huesos en población adulta y mayor. Con el fin de evaluar las diferencias de parámetros en la densidad ósea (huesos calcáneos derecho e izquierdo) tras un programa de intervención Pilates de 6 meses, un total de 22 mujeres (48,18±9,59) participaron en el estudio. La densidad mineral ósea (DMO) fue estimada mediante la atenuación ultrasónica de banda ancha (AUBA) y la velocidad de las señales del sonido (VSS) a través del dispositivo de sonido "Sahara". La AUBA mostró diferencias significativas en ambos calcáneos (P<0,01), la VSS obtuvo diferencias significativas en el calcáneo derecho (P<0,5) y la DMO no mostró significancia alguna tras el programa de intervención. En conclusión, el calcáneo incrementó mediante medición AUBA mientras que VSS fue significativo en el calcáneo derecho. Nuestros resultados podrían implicar un mejor nivel de fuerza del calcáneo después de una intervención específica con Pilates.

ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENCES IN BLOOD PRESSURE OF WOMEN BELONGING TO DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.

INTRODUCTION: One of the risk factors for the occurrence of arteriosclerosis and coronary heart diseases is physical inactivity. Together with hypokinesia, excessive feeding, age and other factors, make a multifactorial cause of cardiovascular disease. Positive effects of physical activities have been proved in the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of coronary heart diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study included 119 women from 20 to 76 years of age. All subjects vere nonsmokers who did not have a cardiovascular disease, and were divided into five different age groups. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was measured by the digital blood pressure measuring device with cuff OMRON M4-1. The evaluation of blood pressure was performed at the Faculty of Sport and Physical Education in Novi Sad. The data processing was done by the statistical package SPSS 20.0. RESULTS: According to the obtained data it can be concluded that there are statistically significant differences in both individual and general system of the observed variables in different age groups. In addition, there are statistically significant differences between pairs of groups, which were observed when comparing with the oldest age group. CONCLUSION: The programmes of prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases should decrease the influence of risk factors and improve diagnostics and therapy of cardiovascular diseases.

Relationship between BMI and skinfold thicknesses to risk factors in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Studies conducted on children and adults have pointed to the correlation of BMI (kg/m2) with risk factors for certain diseases. Other studies have stressed a more intense correlation between the risk factors and indicators of subcutaneous fat obtained in other ways. The aim Of the study was to compare the intensity of correlation between the risk factors and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness in relation to BMI. The study included 53 postmenopausal and 107 premenopausal women, the risk factors were assessed upon systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose concentration, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Statistically significant differences were established in almost all variables referring to premenopausal and postmenopausal women, except in body height, subscapular skinfold thickness and tryglyceride concentration. Significant correlation with the risk factors was detected in BMI and both skinfold thicknesses, while the subscapular thickness correlates more intensively with the risk factors than it is the case with the triceps thickness. The results indicate that BMI equally correlates with risk factors as well as skinfold thickness.

Effect of nordic walking on functional ability and blood pressure in elderly women.

The aim of the study was to analyze the effects produced by the use of experimental program (Nordic polewalking) on functional abilities in elderly women. Three-month polewalking led to reduction in the pulse rate at rest, diastolic and systolic blood pressure at the level of significance of 0.01 (p = 0.000). Polewalking improved the values of fitness index (FITIND) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) at the level of significance of 0.01 (p = 0.000). On final measurement, three variables, i.e. pulse rate at rest - HRR (E = 73.42 vs. C = 79.68), systolic blood pressure - BPS (E = 118.42 vs. C = 123.65) and diastolic blood pressure - BPD (E = 79.04 vs. C = 83.54), showed lower results in experimental group compared with control group. On final measurement, experimental group showed higher values of the FITIND (E = 81.79 vs. C = 62.66) and VO2max (E = 21.83 vs. C = 16.81) variables as compared to control group. Accordingly, such a moderate physical activity, which is not too vigorous yet intensive enough to induce favorable changes, appears to be recommendable for elderly women. The present study included 60 women from the Novi Sad community, mean age 58.5 +/- 6.90 years, mean body mass 70.9 +/- 15.32 kg and mean body height 164.8 +/- 7.24 cm. Study population was divided into two groups of 30 subjects: experimental (E) group and control (C) group. The experimental program was performed three times a week for three months. The Nordic walking program was so designed for the performers to be in the aerobic work zone throughout the exercise. Nordic walking with poles was performed over three months. Study results revealed functional abilities of the study women to have modified during the longitudinal process.