Prediction of Handball Players' Performance on the Basis of Kinanthropometric Variables, Conditioning Abilities, and Handball Skills.

Handball (team handball) is a multifactorial sport. The aims of this study were (i) to analyse anthropometric variables, conditioning abilities, and handball skills in club handball players according to age and sex, and (ii) to develop multivariate models explaining club handball performance from a multidimensional perspective. Two hundred and twenty six handball players (age 16.9 ± 4.0 years, 54% males) participated in the study. The players belonged to under-14, under-16, under-19, and A teams. They were evaluated with a battery of 18 tests covering kinanthropometry, conditioning abilities, and handball skills. A one-way ANOVA with a Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to investigate differences between teams, and a t-test for differences between the sexes. For each team, a discriminant analysis was performed to determine differences between performance levels. The results showed little differences between the U19 and A teams in any of the variables studied in either men or women, and that the lowest values corresponded to the U14 team. The differences according to sex were clear in the kinanthropometric and conditioning variables, but much less so in handball skills. The eight multivariate models that were constructed classified successfully from 48.5 to 100% of the sample using at most three variables (except for the women's A team whose model selected six variables). Conditioning variables were most discriminating in men, and handball skills in women. This would seem to reflect the different performance profiles.

Correlates of Sedentary Behaviour in Adults with Intellectual Disabilities-A Systematic Review.

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) are at high risk for high levels of sedentary behaviour. To inform the development of programmes to reduce sedentary behaviour, insight into the correlates is needed. Therefore, the aim of this study is to review the evidence on correlates of sedentary behaviour in adults with ID. We performed a systematic literature search in Ovid Medline, Ovid Embase, Web of Science and Google Scholar up to 19 January 2018, resulting in nine included studies that were published from 2011 to 2018. Correlates were categorized according to the ecological model. Studies predominantly focused on individual level correlates. Of those correlates studied in more than one study, having epilepsy was associated with less sedentary behaviour and inconsistent results were found for sex, genetic syndromes, weight status, physical health, mobility, level of ID, and mental health. Of the few interpersonal and environmental factors studied, only living arrangements were studied in more than one study, with inconsistent results. To date, we have limited and inconclusive evidence about correlates of sedentary behaviour in adults with ID. Only when future studies unravel correlates and determinants, across all domains of the ecological model, will the potential opportunities to improve health by reducing sedentary behaviour come within reach.

Anthropometric Characteristics, Physical Fitness, and Throwing Velocity in Elite women's Handball Teams.

Saavedra, JM, Kristjánsdóttir, H, Einarsson, IÞ, Guðmundsdóttir, ML, Þorgeirsson, S, and Stefansson, A. Anthropometric characteristics, physical fitness, and throwing velocity in elite women's handball teams. J Strength Cond Res 32(8): 2294-2301, 2018-The aims of this study were (a) to analyze anthropometric, physical fitness, and throwing speed in women elite handball players of different ages and (b) to develop a multivariate model explaining handball performance from a multidimensional perspective. Eighty women handball players (18.2 ± 4.0 years in age) from national team selections participated in the study. The players belonged to A Team, under-19, under-17, and under-15 national teams. All were evaluated by basic anthropometry, physical fitness tests, and handball throwing speed. A 1-way analysis of variance was used to establish the differences between teams with a Bonferroni post hoc test. For each team, a discriminant analysis was performed to determine the predictor variables of performance. Pearson's simple correlation coefficients were calculated between each of the variables. The results of this particular study showed that (a) between the A Team and the U19 team, there were only differences in mass, countermovement jump (CMJ), medicine ball throw, and yo-yo test, (b) the A Team and U19 predictive models correctly classified 76 and 90% of the samples, respectively, with the variables involved being mass and body mass index (A Team) and 30-m sprint and 7-m throwing speed (U19 team), and (c) the 7- and 9-m throwing speeds were correlated with each other and with stature, mass, CMJ, and medicine ball throw (0.367 ≤ r ≤ 0.533; 0.001 ≤ p ≤ 0.05). These results could help improve coaches' knowledge of elite female teams, in particular, in the country where the study was conducted and in others of similar characteristics.

Definitions, measurement and prevalence of sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities - A systematic review.

Supporting positive change in lifestyle behaviours is a priority in tackling the health inequalities experienced by adults with intellectual disabilities. In this systematic review, we examine the evidence on the definition, measurement and epidemiology of sedentary behaviour of adults with intellectual disabilities. A systematic literature search of PUBMED, EMBASE, MEDLINE and Google Scholar was performed to identify studies published from 1990 up to October 2015. Nineteen papers met the criteria for inclusion in the systematic review. Many researchers do not distinguish between insufficient physical activity and sedentary behaviour. None of the studies reported the reliability and validity of the methods used to measure sedentary behaviour. Sedentary time, assessed objectively, ranged from 522 to 643min/day: higher than in adults without intellectual disabilities. This first-ever review of sedentary behaviour and intellectual disabilities found that at present the evidence base is weak. Studies calibrating accelerometer data with criterion measures for sedentary behaviour are needed to determine specific cut-off points to measure sedentary behaviour in adults with intellectual disabilities. Researchers should also examine the reliability and validity of using proxy-report questionnaires to measure sedentary behaviour in this group. A better understanding of sedentary behaviour will inform the design of novel interventions to change lifestyle behaviours of adults with intellectual disabilities.

Physical activity during school and after school among youth with and without intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about physical activity (PA) among children with intellectual disability (ID) or their reasons to take part in PA and sport. AIMS: To investigate PA and PA patterns during school and after school among Icelandic children with mild-to-severe ID. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Ninety-one children with ID and a matched group of 93 typically developed individuals (TDI) took part. PA was assessed with accelerometers and a questionnaire was used to collect data on PA behavior. RESULTS AND OUTCOMES: TDI children were more active and less sedentary than children with ID (p<0.001). Both sexes with ID were more active and less sedentary during school than after school (p<0.003) but no difference was found among TDI children. Children with ID (60%) were more likely to name weight loss as a reason to participate in PA than TDI children (34%, p=0.002) but a higher proportion (96%) of TDI children than children with ID (50%) participated in PA to improve skills (p<0.001). CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Children with ID depend more on schools to accumulate their PA and their reasons for PA participation differ from TDI children. This needs to be considered when designing and implementing PA promotion campaigns for children with ID.

[Physical activity and physical condition of Icelandic primary and secondary school children with intellectual disability]. / Hreyfing og líkamlegt ástand íslenskra grunnskólabarna med proskahömlun.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about physical activity, body composition and metabolic risk factors among children with intellectual disability (ID). The purpose of this study was to investigate their physical condition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Children with ID (n=91) and a randomly selected age-and-gender matched group of 93 typically developed individuals (TDI) participated and the groups were compared on physical activity, fitness, body composition, blood pressure, blood lipids, and glycemic control. RESULTS: Children with ID were shorter (-8.6 cm, p<0.001), had greater skinfolds (p<0.001), diastolic blood pressure (22.7 mm, p=0,006), and body fat percentage (4.0 percentage points, p=0.008) than TDI children. Boys with ID had larger waist circumference than TDI boys (6.3 cm, p=0.009) but no difference was found among the girls. Higher proportion (41%) of children with ID than TDI children (19%) were categorized as obese (p=0.006) based on body fat percentage. No children with ID reached the recommended daily 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous physical activity compared to 40% of the TDI children. Only 25% of children with ID achieved the recommended levels for fitness, whereas the same proportion was 75% among TDI children. Over 20% of the children with ID had elevated waist circumference, 34% elevated blood pressure, 13-21% elevated metabolic risk factors in the blood, and 7% were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. These prevalences were lower among the TDI children. CONCLUSION: Physical condition of children with ID is poor and inferior to their TDI peers. Further studies are needed to investigate the reasons underlying the poor physical health among children with ID and how it can most effectively be enhanced.

Differences in physical activity among youth with and without intellectual disability.

INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about physical activity (PA) and PA patterns measured with objective methods among children with intellectual disability (ID). PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate PA and PA patterns among Icelandic school children with mild-to-severe ID. METHODS: A sample of 91 children with ID and a randomly selected age- and sex-matched group of 93 typically developed individuals (TDI) took part in the study. Basic anthropometric measurements were attained, and PA was assessed with ActiGraph accelerometers for 7-10 consecutive days. A questionnaire was used to collect data on PA behavior. RESULTS: Although children with ID were 40% less physically active and spent 9% more time sedentary than their TDI peers, there was interaction between group and sex (P < 0.05). TDI boys were more active and less sedentary than TDI girls (P < 0.05), but no sex differences were found among children with ID on any PA variable. In addition, there was no difference between workday PA and weekend PA among children with ID. Only 16% of children with ID walked or biked to school, whereas the proportion was 74% among TDI children (P < 0.001). Similarly, a lower fraction (33%) of children with ID took part in 2 h·wk or more in sports compared with TDI children (76%, P < 0.001). No children with ID met the recommendation of 60 min of daily moderate-to-vigorous PA, whereas 40% of the TDI children met the recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: PA of children with ID is considerably lower than that among their TDI peers, and there seem to be no sex differences in PA and PA patterns among children with ID. The fact that no children with ID met the recommended daily MVPA calls for special PA measures in this group.