Análisis de la edad sobre la fiabilidad de pruebas fitness en mayores / Analysis of Age on Fitness Reliability in Elderly

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo analizar la fiabilidad de varias pruebas de condición física en adultos mayores en función de la edad. Los participantes fueron 135 mujeres mayores entre 60 y 90 años y se distribuyó en 5 grupos de edad. Todos los participantes realizaron una batería de pruebas de condición física con un intervalo entre mediciones de 1 semana. Los índices de fiabilidad obtenidos en las pruebas dinamometría bi-manual y 6 minutos caminando fueron excelentes ICC> 0,90, mientras que en el resto fueron buenos (ICC 0,70-0,89). No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el error de medida de estas pruebas entre grupos de edad. Se concluye que la fiabilidad de las pruebas de condición física utilizadas en población adulto mayor no varía significativamente en función de la edad

The aim of this study was to analyze if age affects the reliability of some fitness test widely used in elderly adults. Participants were 135 elderly women aged between 60 and 90 years old distributed into 5 age groups. All participants performed twice a battery of fitness tests with an interval between measurements of 1 week. The reliability indexes obtained in the bi-handgrip tests and 6 minutes walking were excellent (ICC> 0.90), while the rest were good (ICC 0.70-0.89). No statistically significant differences were found in the measurement error of these tests between age groups. It is concluded that age does not significantly affect to the reliability of the analyzed fitness tests

Whole body vibration training improves vibration perception threshold in healthy young adults: A randomized clinical trial pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Loss of foot sensitivity is a relevant parameter to assess and prevent in several diseases. It is crucial to determine the vibro-tactile sensitivity threshold response to acute conditions to explore innovative monitor tools and interventions to prevent and treat this challenge. The aims were: 1) to analyze the acute effects of a single whole body vibration session (4min-18Hz-4mm) on vibro-tactile perception threshold in healthy young adults. 2) to analyze the 48 hours effects of 3 whole body vibration sessions on vibro-tactile perception threshold in healthy young adults. METHODS: A randomized controlled clinical trial over 3 sessions of whole body vibration intervention or 3 sessions of placebo intervention. Twenty-eight healthy young adults were included: 11 experimental group and 12 placebo group. The experimental group performed 3 sessions of WBV while the placebo group performed 3 sessions of placebo intervention. RESULTS: The vibro-tactile threshold increased right after a single WBV session in comparison with placebo. Nevertheless, after 3 whole body vibration sessions and 48 hours, the threshold decreased to values lower than the initial. CONCLUSIONS: The acute response of the vibro-tactile threshold to one whole body vibration session increased, but the 48 hours short-term response of this threshold decreased in healthy young adults.

Technical player profiles related to the physical fitness of young female volleyball players predict team performance.

AIM: This study is divided into three sequential stages: identification of fitness and game performance profiles (individual player performance), an assessment of the relationship between these profiles, and an assessment of the relationship between individual player profiles and team performance during play (in championship performance). METHODS: The overall study sample comprised 525 (19 teams) female volleyball players aged 12-16 years and a subsample (N.=43) used to examine study aims one and two was selected from overall sample. Anthropometric, fitness and individual player performance (actual game) data were collected in the subsample. These data were analyzed through clustering methods, ANOVA and independence chi-square test. Then, we investigated whether the proportion of players with the highest individual player performance profile might predict a team's results in the championship. Cluster analysis identified three volleyball fitness profiles (high, medium, and low) and two individual player performance profiles (high and low). RESULTS: The results showed a relationship between both types of profile (fitness and individual player performance). Then, linear regression revealed a moderate relationship between the number of players with a high volleyball fitness profile and a team's results in the championship (R2=0.23). CONCLUSION: The current study findings may enable coaches and trainers to manage training programs more efficiently in order to obtain tailor-made training, identify volleyball-specific physical fitness training requirements and reach better results during competitions.

Prediction of correlates of daily physical activity in Spanish children aged 8-9 years.

The aims of the study were (a) to examine the associations between the daily physical activity (PA) of 8- to 9-year-old children and their parents, and (b) to examine what effect the child's daily PA has on its cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), body mass index (BMI), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The sample consisted of 1021 persons [351 children (8.73 ± 0.69 years in age) and 670 parents]. Pedometers were used to evaluate PA in parents and their children over the course of 4 days (Thursday-Sunday), with the instructions on how to wear the pedometers for 24 h a day. Also evaluated were height, weight, BMI, CRF (via the maximal multistage 20-m shuttle run test), and HRQoL (via the EQ-5D-Y questionnaire). Associations between these variables were studied using path model techniques. The father's PA predicts his child's daily PA. This in turn predicts the child's lower BMI, CRF, and perceived quality of life. The findings suggest that the role model of a physically active father positively influences the child's PA habits, and hence that the family environment can have an important part to play in promoting health.

Musculoskeletal fitness and health-related quality of life characteristics among sedentary office workers affected by sub-acute, non-specific low back pain: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the level of musculoskeletal fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in sedentary office workers with sub-acute, non-specific low back pain, and compare the results with reference data for healthy sedentary office workers. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Occupational secondary prevention setting. PARTICIPANTS: One-hundred and ninety sedentary office workers: 118 suffering from sub-acute, non-specific low back pain (47 men and 71 women) and 72 age-matched healthy controls (30 men and 42 women). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were assessed using a musculoskeletal fitness battery (sit-and-reach test, hand grip strength, lumbar and abdominal trunk muscle endurance, and back scratch test), the EuroQol-5D-3L, Oswestry Disability Questionnaire, and Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire. Data for both genders and conditions were compared. RESULTS: Subjects with low back pain achieved lower scores in most of the fitness tests compared with healthy, age-matched controls. Trunk flexor and extensor endurance demonstrated the greatest difference in both men {flexion: median difference 59 [95% confidence interval (CI) 26 to 90]seconds; extension: median difference 24 [95% CI 20 to 68]} and women [flexion: median difference 59 (95% CI 5 to 85.50)seconds; extension: median difference 41 (95% CI 30 to 55)seconds]. Differences in HRQoL were also demonstrated between groups for both men and women, with the exception of the pain/discomfort dimension in women. CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary office workers with sub-acute, non-specific low back pain had lower musculoskeletal fitness than healthy, age-matched controls, with the main difference found in endurance of the trunk muscles. HRQoL was also lower in workers with low back pain.