SWIMMING CLASSES IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ OPINION

The role of modern physical education is not only to develop motor abilities of the students, but most of all prevent them from epidemic youth diseases such as obesity or postural defects. Positive attitudes to swimming as a long-life physical activity, instilled in adolescence should be beneficial in adult life. The group of 130 boys and 116 girls of 7th grade junior high school (mean age 14.6) was asked in the survey to present their opinion of obligatory swimming lessons at school. Students of both sexes claimed that they liked swimming classes because they could improve their swimming skills (59% of answers) and because of health-related character of water exercises (38%). 33% of students regarded swimming lessons as boring and monotonous, and 25% of them complained about poor pool conditions like chlorine smell, crowded lanes, too low temperature. Majority of the surveyed students saw practical role of swimming in saving others life

El efecto de las vacaciones de verano sobre la composición corporal y la fuerza muscular respiratoria en nadadores púberes

[Abstract] Changes in daily routine and decrease in physical activity during summer holidays period, often result in body weight gain in school-age children. However, the impact of summer break on body composition in athlete children has not been thoroughly investigated. The current study was aimed at identifying possible changes in body composition and respiratory muscle strength after an 8-week summer break in age-group swimmers. Eighteen girls and fifteen boys ages 10-13 years (mean 11.6±1.0) participated in the study. The measurements were taken in June and repeated in September the same year. Body composition was assessed with an InBody 720 analyzer, and respiratory muscle strength was assessed with a MicroRPM device. A fifty-meter front-crawl test was conducted to induce respiratory muscle fatigue. All analyzed body composition parameters; i.e., body mass, body mass index, tissue, and muscle components increased substantially after the summer break (p0.05). It can be concluded that 8-week summer break had an effect on body composition parameters in juvenile swimmers, but no effect on their respiratory muscle strength was apparent. Studies involving a greater number of participants engaged in various sports activities are needed to better understand the effect of summer break on anthropomorphic and respiratory parameters in youth athletes.[Resumen] Los cambios en la rutina diaria y la disminución de la actividad física durante el periodo de vacaciones de verano, suelen provocar un aumento de peso corporal en los niños en edad escolar. Sin embargo, no se ha investigado a fondo el impacto de las vacaciones de verano en la composición corporal de los niños deportistas. El presente estudio tenía como objetivo identificar los posibles cambios en la composición corporal y la fuerza muscular respiratoria tras unas vacaciones de verano de 8 semanas en nadadores jovenes. Dieciocho niñas y quince niños de 10 a 13 años (media de 11.6±1.0) participaron en el estudio . Las mediciones se realizaron en junio y se repitieron en septiembre del mismo año. Se evaluó la composición corporal con un analizador InBody 720 y la fuerza muscular respiratoria con un dispositivo MicroRPM. Se realizó una prueba de crol frontal de cincuenta metros para inducir la fatiga de los músculos respiratorios. Todos los parámetros de composición corporal analizados, es decir, la masa corporal, el índice de masa corporal, el tejido y los componentes musculares, aumentaron sustancialmente tras el descanso estival (p0.05). Se puede concluir que las vacaciones de verano de 8 semanas tuvieron un efecto sobre los parámetros de composición corporal en los nadadores juveniles, pero no se observó ningún efecto sobre su fuerza muscular respiratoria. Se necesitan estudios con un mayor número de participantes que practiquen diversas actividades deportivas para comprender mejor el efecto de las vacaciones de verano en los parámetros antropomórficos y respiratorios de los deportistas juveniles

KINEMATIC VARIABLES AND BLOOD ACID-BASE STATUS IN THE ANALYSIS OF COLLEGIATE SWIMMERS’ ANAEROBIC CAPACITY

Short duration repeated maximal efforts are often used in swimming training to improve lactate tolerance, which gives swimmers the ability to maintain a high work rate for a longer period of time. The aim of the study was to examine the kinematics of swimming and its relation to the changes in blood acid-base status and potassium level. Seven collegiate swimmers, with at least 6 years of training experience, volunteered to participate in the study. The test consisted of 8 x 25 m front crawl performed with maximum effort. The rest period between repetitions was set to five seconds. Blood samples were taken from the fingertip at rest, after warm-up and in the 3rd minute after completion of the test. The swimming was recorded with a video recorder, for later analysis of time, velocity and technique (stroke index). Based on the swimming velocity results, the obtained curve can be divided into rapid decrease of velocity and relatively stable velocities. The breaking point of repetition in swimming velocity was assumed as the swimming velocity threshold and it was highly correlated with the decrease of the blood acid-base status (pH r=0.82, BE r=0.87, HCO3- r=0.76; p<0.05 in all cases). There was no correlation between stroke index or fatigue index and blood acid-base status. Analysis of the swimming speed in the 8 x 25 m test seems to be helpful in evaluation of lactate tolerance (anaerobic capacity) in collegiate swimmers

Mediterranean diet and dietary supplementation as possible predicting variables of weight management: an update of the protein project

Introduction: The Mediterranean diet is known to support the prevention of several chronic diseases and excessive weight gains. However, relevant investigations were performed in a clinical setting. The aim of this study was therefore to understand the effects of protein supplements intake on body mass index (BMI) in healthy active individuals following the Mediterranean diet. Materials and methods: A face-to-face questionnaire was administered to 667 subjects, 627 living in a Mediterranean area (MD) and 40 in a non-Mediterranean area (NMD); questionnaire enquired dietary behaviours, including a comparison between dietary patterns and protein consumption between these two populations and within each population. Results: Dietary patterns significantly varied between the MD and NMD populations (p < 0.001), although, BMI was not significantly different. The major significant differences were found between the BMI of protein supplement users and non-protein supplement users within and between the two populations (p < 0.01). No differences were found between the BMI of the protein supplement users of MD and NMD, while moderate differences were displayed between the non-supplement users of the two populations (p<0.05).Conclusions: The Mediterranean diet does not appear to affect BMI. However, BMI significantly differed between protein supplement users and non-protein supplements users indicating a direct influence of such products on body weight and consequently BMI

Physical Activity Behaviors and Physical Work Capacity in University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Objective. The COVID-19 pandemic led to restricted access to sports and recreation facilities, resulting in a general decrease in physical activity. Many studies present the results of on-line questionnaires conducted during the pandemic, but there are few reports of objectively measured indicators of physical condition. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the changes in physical work capacity, body composition, and physical activity behaviors in university students during 14 weeks of lockdown. Material and Methods. Twenty students of Tourism and Recreation (13 female and 7 male) participated in the study. The first examination was conducted in November 2020, and the second in March 2021. Body composition was assessed with a Tanita 418 MA device. The students performed the PWC 170 cycling test and completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (short version) on-line. Results. Neither physical work capacity nor body composition parameters changed substantially during the analyzed period. In the female students, vigorous physical activity decreased significantly, but no substantial changes occurred in weekly metabolic equivalent of task. In male students, walking days and metabolic equivalent of task decreased, but the changes were not significant. Conclusions. Fourteen weeks of COVID-19 lockdown had little effect on the body composition, physical work capacity level, and physical activity habits of Tourism and Recreation students. Studies with larger groups of participants should verify the current conclusions, and care should be taken when extrapolating to other populations

Effect of COVID-19 Lockdown on Cardiovascular Health in University Students

Background: A decrease in physical activity levels among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic is well-documented in the literature. However, the effect of lockdown restrictions on cardiovascular fitness has not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: The aim of the study was to assess the possible changes in cardiovascular fitness among university students during a 14-week period of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thirteen female and seven male tourism and recreation students participated in the study. Examinations were conducted in November 2020 and in February/March 2021. Students performed the PWC170 test on a cycling ergometer. Maximal oxygen consumption was calculated based on the PWC170 test results. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured at rest, as well as in the 1st and 5th minute of post-exercise recovery. Results: No substantial changes were observed in maximal oxygen consumption level when comparing autumn and winter indices. Male students presented elevated blood pressure whereas female students presented normal blood pressure. Heart-rate and blood-pressure indices did not show substantial alternations in examined students during analyzed period. Conclusions: Fourteen weeks of lockdown had little effect on the cardiovascular health of tourism and recreation students

Changes in Body Composition and Anthropomorphic Measurements in Children Participating in Swimming and Non-Swimming Activities

Background. Physical activity is a well-known means of obesity prevention, but the relationship between exercise frequency and body composition in children has not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the body composition of children aged 11–12 who regularly performed swimming and other sports as an organized extra-curricular physical activity for a 12-week period. Methods: The study included 46 students who attended swimming classes and 42 students who participated in training activities in other sports, including, but not limited to, football, basketball and athletics. Body height and body composition were measured using a Tanita BC 418 MA analyzer. The students individually reported their rate of perceived exertion during training using the Pictorial Children’s Effort Rating Table PCERT scale. Results: The weekly volume of training was substantially higher in the group of swimmers than in that playing other sports (12.3 h/week vs. 5.2 h/week, p &lt; 0.01). After 12 weeks of training, body height and weight significantly increased in both groups (p &lt; 0.001). However, the BMI value and adipose tissue content only increased in the group of non-swimmers. Swimmers perceived greater exertion during training than non-swimmers (7.1 vs. 5.8 on the PCERT scale, p &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: In early pubescent children, engaging in vigorous exercise such as swimming for at least 10 h a week may restrain the growth of adipose tissue. However, the variety of exercises that are typical of team sports, if performed for no more than 5 h a week, may be insufficient to restrain adipose tissue growth

The role of visual message in accustoming 5–6-year-old children with aquatic environment

Cel badań. Celem badań była ocena skuteczności zastosowania wzbogaconej metody wizualnej w procesie adaptacji do środowiska wodnego dzieci 5–6-letnich. Materiał i metody. Dwie grupy dzieci: eksperymentalna (n = 38) i kontrolna (n = 33) uczestniczyły w 20 lekcjach pływania, realizując identyczny program nauczania. W grupie eksperymentalnej wprowadzono wzbogacony przekaz wizualny, prezentując przed każdą lekcją filmy, fotografie i rysunki związane z tematem zajęć. Test umiejętności pływackich przeprowadzono w obu grupach dwukrotnie: po 10 i po 20 lekcjach. Wyniki. W obu terminach badań w grupie eksperymentalnej stwierdzono istotnie wyższy poziom umiejętności pływackich w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną. Wnioski. Zastosowanie wzbogaconego przekazu wizualnego może wpływać na zwiększenie poziomu opanowania podstawowych umiejętności pływackich u dzieci 5–6-letnich.Background. In the available literature, there are few publications referring to verbal or visual methods for teaching swimming in children, especially of kindergarten age. The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of applying enriched visual message in accustoming 5–6-year-old children with aquatic environment. Material and methods. Two groups of children: experimental (n = 38) and control (n = 33) participated in a 20-hour swimming course, according to the same curriculum. The experimental group was additionally provided with enriched visual message: before each lesson, the children were presented movies, photographs and pictures concerning the current topic. In both groups, the children’s swimming skills were evaluated twice: after 10 and after 20 lessons. Results. On both examination dates, swimming skills were significantly higher in the experimental group when compared with the control group. Conclusions. The application of enriched visual message may raise the level of acquiring basic swimming skills in 5–6-year-old children