Assessment of the association between sleep disturbance and physical performance in adolescent girls

International audienceThe relationship of sleep parameters and physical performances was assessed in young female handball players. Under 14 (13.44 ± 0.5 years), and under 17 (16.0 ± 0.8 years). Sleep patterns were evaluated using: Sleep quality (PSQI), insomnia (ISI) and sleepiness (ESS), questionnaires. Stork balance tests with open-eyes (OEB) and closed-eyes (CEB) were assessed. Squat-jump (SJ), standing broad jump (SBJ), five jump (FJT) and T-agility tests were determined. A positive correlation was found in U14 between the PSQI and ESS with agility time (r = 0.43 and 0.34, respectively), while a negative correlation was found between ISI and both: OEB (r = -0.48), and CEB (r = -0.38). For the U17, a negative correlation was found between ESS and CEB (r = -0.33). Results suggest that the quality of sleep related with age should be taken into consideration because it may affect balance and agility in young female handball players

Reference Values of Physical Performance in Handball Players Aged 13–19 Years: Taking into Account Their Biological Maturity

Biological maturity status significantly influences success in handball, impacting an athlete’s performance and overall development. This study aimed to examine the anthropometric and physical performance variables concerning age and maturity status, establishing reference values for physical performance among Tunisian players. A total of 560 handball players (309 males and 251 females aged 13–19 years) were categorized based on maturity status: early (n = 98), average (n = 262), and late (n = 200), determined through Mirwald and colleagues’ equations. Anthropometric, physical fitness, and physiological data were collected for reference value creation. Our findings revealed significantly higher anthropometric parameters (p = 0.003) in late-maturing athletes compared to their early-maturing counterparts. Post-pubertal athletes showed significantly superior (p = 0.002) jumping ability, change of direction, and aerobic performance compared to their pre-pubertal peers. Additionally, male athletes outperformed females in both fitness (p = 0.001) and aerobic (p = 0.001) performance. A notable age-by-maturity interaction emerged for most performance outcomes (η2 ranging from 0.011 to 0.084), highlighting increased sex-specific differences as athletes progressed in age. Percentile values are provided for males and females, offering valuable insights for coaches and sports scientists to design personalized training programs. Understanding a player’s performance relative to these percentiles allows trainers to tailor workouts, addressing specific strengths and weaknesses for enhanced development and competitiveness

Mid-Term and Long-Lasting Psycho–Cognitive Benefits of Bidomain Training Intervention in Elderly Individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment

Background: This study investigated whether combining simultaneous physical and cognitive training yields superior cognitive outcomes compared with aerobic training alone in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and whether these benefits persist after four weeks of detraining. Methods: Forty-four people with MCI (11 males and 33 females) aged 65 to 75 years were randomly assigned to an 8-week, twice-weekly program of either aerobic training (AT group, n = 15), aerobic training combined with cognitive games (ACT group, n = 15), or simply reading for controls (CG group, n = 14). Selective attention (Stroop), problem-solving (Hanoi Tower), and working memory (Digit Span) tasks were used to assess cognitive performances at baseline, in the 4th (W4) and 8th weeks (W8) of training, and after 4 weeks of rest (W12). Results: Both training interventions induced beneficial effects on all tested cognitive performance at W4 (except for the number of moves in the Hanoi tower task) and W8 (all p p p > 0.05). Concerning neuropsychological assessments, comparable beneficial effects were recorded following both training regimens (all p Conclusions: The greater mid-term and long-lasting effects of combined simultaneous physical–cognitive training underscores its potential as a cost-effective intervention for the prevention and management of cognitive decline. While these results are valuable in guiding optimal physical and mental activity recommendations for adults with MCI, further neurophysiological-based studies are essential to offer robust support and deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying these promising findings