The learning of sprint hurdles: A comparative study on increasing contextual interference and blocked practice schedules.

The contextual interference (CI) approach has proposed that a random order of practice for motor skills is superior in facilitating learning compared to a blocked arrangement of practice trials. Two groups of physical education students learned sprint hurdles, employing either an increasing CI practice schedule (n = 23) or a blocked practice schedule (n = 23). In both the practice schedules, the same exercises were used in a different trial order during each learning session. Eleven practice sessions were conducted over a period of six weeks, with two days of practice per week. Ten and 40 days after the acquisition phase, a retention and transfer test were conducted. The results showed no differences between the two practice schedules during the retention tests. However, students practicing with an increasing CI arrangement performed better on the delayed transfer test compared to students which practiced with a blocked schedule. Specifically, the increasing CI group more effectively (p < 0.05) cleared the hurdles due to a lower take-off step angle and longer step length than the blocked practice group. Although utilizing an increase in CI during the learning phase of sprint hurdling produced more persistent learning effects relative to a traditional blocked practice schedule for adult novice learners, further research is warranted to explore the CI effect across a broader range of sport skills.

The fundamental motor skill proficiency among Polish primary school-aged children: A nationally representative surveillance study.

OBJECTIVES: With the premise that physical education classes should promote physical activity by teaching and learning fundamental motor skills, this study aimed to evaluate the fundamental motor skill proficiency of primary school students and determine the level of achievement of established learning outcomes for fundamental motor skills, as specified in the Polish National Physical Education Curriculum. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used for this study. The sample consisted of 2605 children and adolescents enrolled in grades 1-3 (ages 7-9, n = 1165), 4-6 (ages 10-12, n = 837), and 7-8 (ages 13-14, n = 603), including 1353 boys and 1252 girls. The Fundamental Motor Skills in Sport test, a qualitative and process-oriented assessment tool, was used to evaluate fundamental motor skills. The Fundamental Motor Skills in Sport test evaluates the following movement skills: hurdles, jumping rope, forward roll, ball bouncing, ball throwing and catching, and kicking and stopping a ball. RESULTS: The desired level of overall fundamental motor skill proficiency was achieved by only 2 % of students. An elementary level of fundamental motor skill proficiency was demonstrated by an additional 3.5 % of students. Further, the results showed that only 10-30 % of students had achieved mastery or were close to achieving mastery in a given fundamental motor skill. The skill with the lowest level of proficiency was jumping rope, which only 11 % of students had mastered or were near to mastering. CONCLUSIONS: The present study of a large, nationally representative sample of primary school students in Poland indicates that the vast majority (approximately 94 %) of them demonstrated insufficient fundamental motor skill proficiency. This may greatly hinder effective, safe, and healthy participation in lifelong physical activity.

The Effect of an Active Break Intervention on Nonspecific Low Back Pain and Musculoskeletal Discomfort during Prolonged Sitting among Young People-Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: The most recent evidence has shown that the pandemic of COVID-19 caused an increasing problem with spinal pain in the population of teenagers and young adults. This may be explained by prolonged sitting times in flexed positions with electronic devices. Positions maintained for a prolonged time cause overloading of soft tissue and discogenic symptoms. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the active break program in reducing musculoskeletal discomfort and LBP (low back pain) among young people. METHODS: This will be a randomized controlled study. The participants will be recruited from Bachelor's course students of the Physical Education Department aged 18-25 years. The participants will be assigned to an experimental group (with an active break) and a control group. The group with an active break with lumbar and hip extension exercises will be recommended to take a break for every 30 min of sitting. The control group will receive self-care recommendations. The primary outcomes will be pain intensity (Visual Analogue Scale), disability index (Oswestry Disability Index), and perceived musculoskeletal discomfort during prolonged sitting (Borg scale), assessed at baseline and after the intervention, and the Global Perceived Effect, only assessed after the 12-week intervention. The secondary outcome will be a Post-Intervention Questionnaire (a 5-item self-completed questionnaire), only assessed after the 12-week intervention. RESULTS: Our main research outcome-exercise protocols and interventions-will lead to the development of recommendations and protocols for the LBP population. It is important to determine the effect of interventions that are feasible and effective in addressing LBP and perceived musculoskeletal discomfort in young people. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study examining the effect of active breaks with proposed lumbar and hip extension exercises on reducing or decreasing LBP in students based on a search of the literature. Exercises and recommendations will be the basis for developing proprietary preventative and therapeutic programs, which will be implemented in selected educational institutions.

The fus test: a promising tool for evaluating fundamental motor skills in children and adolescents.

Fundamental motor skills (FMS) are essential for enjoyable, confident and skillful participation in physical activity across the lifespan. Due to the alarming low level of FMS proficiency in children and adolescents worldwide, the development of motor competency is an urgent issue for physical education. The promotion and implementation of a systematic process of teaching and learning FMS should be a physical education priority. Accordingly, effective assessment tools for evaluating FMS should be adopted or developed. Because FMS assessment for both children and adolescents need further effective solutions, the primary aim of this study was to develop the new age-related test of FMS (Fundamental Motor Skills in Sport test, in Polish: Test Fundamentalnych Umiejetnosci Ruchowych w Sporcie, FUS). The secondary aim of this study was to establish validity and inter-rater, intra-rater, test-retest reliabilities and internal consistency of the FUS test. The FUS test involves six sport skill-based tasks: hurdling, jumping rope, forward roll, ball bouncing, throwing and catching a ball, and kicking and stopping a ball. Two hundred sixty-four Polish students in grades 1-3 (7-9 yrs; n = 81), 4-6 (10-12 yrs; n = 89) and 7-8 (13-14 yrs; n = 94), including 139 girls and 125 boys completed the FUS test. The content validity index for all items was notably high. Both inter-rater and intra-rater reliability showed substantial to almost perfect agreement, with observed agreements for FUS skills between 78.5 and 93.1%. Ball bouncing had a moderate correlation with the forward roll and throwing and catching, while other correlations were low or insignificant. ICC values, ranging from 0.95 to 0.97, confirmed excellent test-retest reliability. The results of our study provide evidence that the FUS test is valid, reliable, and feasible to administer in school settings. Therefore, this tool test has the potential to support deliberate practice and improve motor competence by providing a standardized and structured approach to measuring FMS among school-aged children and adolescents.

"Conscious Nine Months": Exploring Regular Physical Activity amongst Pregnant Women-A Qualitative Study Protocol.

Despite a clear and convincing evidence base and strong recommendations for pregnant women to maintain regular moderate physical activity throughout pregnancy, many of them reduce or discontinue exercise altogether. This is due to pregnancy-related difficulties and barriers. The aim of this protocol is to describe a qualitative research methodology for a study exploring the experiences of women who managed to achieve the recommended levels of physical activity throughout their pregnancy by regularly participating in a specially designed "Conscious nine months" exercise programme. A qualitative descriptive design will be used, including semi-structured in-depth literature-based interviews, together with thematic analysis. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) guidelines will be used. In-depth individual interviews (60-90 min) with exercise programme participants, used together with a thematic analysis process, will allow for a better understanding and exploration of what enabled the participants to achieve such high adherence to the overall exercise programme. The chosen methodology offers a structured way for researchers to explore the experiences and factors that influence the ability of pregnant women to be physically active, enabling research into how pregnant women can be supported to remain active during this special, often challenging time in life.

Hemoglobin Levels and Platelet Counts after Hysteroscopy Due to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding.

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is a condition defined as all uterine bleeding that differs from physiological menstruation. The etiology of AUB has been classified by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). It includes structural categories, such as endometrial polyps, adenomyosis, leiomyomas, hyperplasia, and malignant neoplasms, and non-structural categories, i.e., hemorrhages due to congenital and acquired coagulopathies, ovarian dysfunction, disorders of the local endometrial hemostasis mechanism with normal organ structure, iatrogenic causes, and due to other poorly defined causes. This is a retrospective study based on the medical data of a group of 543 women aged 21−88 years (52.81 ± 11.79) (p < 0.01) hospitalized at the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department in Biala Podlaska, Poland. These patients underwent an hysteroscopy procedure due to excessive uterine bleeding of varied, FIGO-divided etiology. The results show the dependence of postoperative hemoglobin and platelet count on the etiology of bleeding and the age of the women. The majority of patients had normal hemoglobin and platelet counts after the procedure, while moderate anemia was the most common disorder. It occurred most frequently in patients undergoing hysteroscopy due to heavy menstrual bleeding.

The effects of a physical exercise program on fetal well-being and intrauterine safety.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a supervised physical exercise program on fetal well-being and intrauterine safety. Physical activity is recommended for healthy pregnant women. However, constant evaluation of fetal condition and development is recommended to ensure the safety of the exercise program. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized control trial study design. Sixty-six healthy pregnant women (age 24-35) with singleton gestation were randomly assigned to either an exercise group (EG, n = 34) or a non-active control group (CG, n = 32). The exercise program included 81 sessions (moderate intensity, 3 times per week, 50-60 min/session from weeks 13 to weeks 40/41 of pregnancy). Fetal well-being was assessed in weeks 32 and 37 of pregnancy. The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) was calculated to evaluate the safety of the exercise program for the fetus. RESULTS: The differences in the CPR ratio measurements between EG and CG groups in week 37 (p < 0.05) were observed. The increase in the CPR ratio was also shown in week 37 of pregnancy in comparison to week 32 (p < 0.01). Moreover, maternal heart rate was significantly lower in the exercise group as measured at 37 weeks (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm that regular and supervised exercise program throughout pregnancy does not affect fetal well-being and is safe for the fetus. Additionally, regular physical activity improves maternal physical fitness and cardiac efficiency which might aid at preparing pregnant women for natural labor.

The Effectiveness of Regular Exercise Programs in the Prevention of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus-A Systematic Review.

IMPORTANCE: Physical activity is recognized as one of the most important tools in the management of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review was to compare and analyze regular prenatal exercise programs and examine their effectiveness in the prevention of GDM. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The following databases were used: Academic Search Complete, Health Source-Consumer Edition, Health Source-Nursing/Academic Edition, Master File Premier, MEDLINE, and SportDiscus with full text. The inclusion criteria were as follows: a randomized study, regular training program throughout pregnancy, and supervised by a prenatal activity specialist. RESULTS: The 10 articles selected for the review were divided into 2 groups. The first group comprised 2 studies presenting successful interventions in the prevention of GDM, whereas the second group included 8 articles with no statistically significant effects of the training programs in GDM prevention. Beginning an exercise program at early stages of the pregnancy and high adherence were common features of the effective programs. CONCLUSIONS: When designing and carrying out the program, the beginning of the intervention and adherence should be considered. To increase adherence, the program should be attractive and it should meet the participants' needs. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This review might be used for identifying factors deciding whether an exercise program is an effective intervention to prevent the development of GDM. Moreover, it might also prove useful in the preparation of future guidelines for designing and implementing regular exercise programs effective in preventing GDM in pregnant women by gynecologists, obstetricians, midwives, trainers, and prenatal specialists.

The effect of green tea extract supplementation on exercise-induced oxidative stress parameters in male sprinters.

BACKGROUND: Although research suggests that antioxidant supplementation can protect against exercise-induced muscle damage and oxidative stress, also delayed post-exercise muscle recovery and hindered adaptation to training were reported in the supplemented athletes. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation on selected blood markers of oxidative stress and muscle damage in sprinters during preparatory phase of their training cycle. METHODS: Sixteen sprinters participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo (PL)-controlled crossover study, including two 4-week treatment periods with PL and GTE (980 mg polyphenols daily). The sprinters performed two repeated cycle sprint tests (RST; 4 × 15 s, with 1-min rest intervals), after PL and GTE supplementation. Blood was sampled before (at rest), 5 min after RST, and after the 24-h recovery. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase were measured in erythrocytes, and total polyphenols, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), uric acid (UA), albumin (AL), malondialdehyde (MDA), and creatine kinase (CK) were determined in blood plasma. RESULTS: Repeated cycle sprint test performed after PL induced an increase in MDA, TAC, and SOD. Moreover, an increase in UA, AL, and CK was observed after RST irrespective of experimental conditions (PL, GTE). Supplementation with GTE caused an increase in total polyphenols and TAC at rest, and a decrease in MDA and SOD after RST. No significant changes in sprint performance were noted after GTE, as compared to PL. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with GTE prevents oxidative stress induced by RST in sprinters. Furthermore, GTE supplementation does not seem to hinder training adaptation in antioxidant enzyme system. On the other hand, neither prevention of exercise-induced muscle damage, nor an improvement in sprint performance is noted after GTE administration.

Effects of Attentional Focusing Strategies on Muscular Power in Older Women.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of different foci of attention on parameters related to maximum muscular power in older women. Using a counterbalanced within-participant design, 23 physically active young-old women (age 59-69) completed a maximum effort cycle ergometer test following three types of verbal instructions. The external instruction (EXF) was designed to focus attention on moving the pedals as fast as possible, internal instruction (INF) directed attention toward moving the legs as fast as possible, and a control condition (CON) was created in which participants were instructed to perform the task to the best of their abilities. Results indicated that the EXF and CON conditions resulted in greater muscular power compared with the INF condition. Results also indicated that directing attention internally hindered muscular power performance in older women, which is consistent with the predictions of the constrained action hypothesis.