Assessment of Physical Fitness Levels of Elderly Turkish Males over 60 Years

The purpose of this study was to assess the physical fitness level of independent-living Turkish males aged from 60 to > 80 years. 849 healthy and physically independent male adults participated in this study voluntarily. Participants divided into five age groups as 60–64, 65–69, 70–74, 75–79 and >80. SFT protocol that included six items (chair stand test, arm curl test, 2 min step test, chair sit and reach test, back scratch test, 8 foot up and go test), was administered to each participant to assess their physical fitness level. Findings from this study indicated that physical fitness level of participants decreased through the aging process. Almost in all test items of SFT, 60–64 age group had better scores than that of the other age groups

The Examination of the Heart Rate Recovery after Anaerobic Running in Soccer Players

The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate recovery depending on anaerobic running. A total of 23 professional soccer players who were player of Turkish Super Leagues, were examined. Anaerobic Run test was applied to the soccer players and their heart rates were recorded before running, just after running, in 3rd and 6th minutes of recovery period. Any statistical differences were not found between the heart rates before run and in 6th minute after run (p>0.05). On the other hand, there was a statistical difference between the heart rates before run, after run and in 3rd minute after run; the heart rates after run and before run; the heart rates in 3rd and 6th minutes of recovery (p0.05). In conclusion, even if the increase of heart rate occurring after anaerobic run doesn’t completely return to normal in 3rd minute of recovery, it will supply the athlete with a suitable condition for the second loading with regard to efficient rest. It is thought that a rest over 3 minutes should be given for athletes to make the heart rate after anaerobic run return to normal

Effect of Ballistic Warm-up on Isokinetic Strength, Balance, Agility, Flexibility and Speed in Elite Freestyle Wrestlers

The aim of this study is eff ect of ballistic warm-up on isokinetic strength, balance and some parameters in male elite freestyle wrestlers. Thirteen elite freestyle wrestlers at the age of 20.15±2.11 yrs, with 174.54±7.14 cm height and 81.67±15.36 kg weight participated in the study. Measurements were performed two diff erent warm-up protocols. Running protocol at submaximal level on the treadmill for 10 minutes was applied for every wrestler. Ballistic Warm-up protocol involved 13 diff erent movements for multi-muscle groups lasting for 10 minutes. Flexibility, speed, agility, balance, hand grip and isokinetic leg strength parameters were measured. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was performed to fi nd the diff erence between the protocols. Consequently, diff erences were found in fl exibility, right hand grip strength, right posteromedial and posterolateral balance, left posteromedial and posterolateral balance, left and right hamstring and quadriceps strength parameters. Ballistic warm-up protocol can be more eff ective in many parameters, especially strength compared to ordinary warm-up

Plasma Growth Hormone and Prolactin Levels in Healthy Sedentary Young Men after Short-Term Endurance Training under Hot Environment

Pituitary hormones play an important role energy expenditure and body temperature regulation during exercise. The aim of the stu¬dy was to investigate the effect of two different endurance training in ambient temperature (30.76 ± 1.71oC and 57.92 ± 5.80% r.h.) on plasma growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) levels in non-trained healthy subjects. Twenty-four untrained healthy men participated in an 8-wk progressive two different endurance-training program. Subjects were divided into two groups: an in¬ter¬val running group (IR), and continuous running group (CR). Both groups were performed 3 days/wk. Growth hormone, PRL and VO2max levels were assessed at the beginning and the end of the training period. Body temperature (TB) was also measured at the be¬ginning and immediately after each training. The exercise type affected plasma PRL (8.52 vs. 6.50 ng/ml IR and CT groups, P 0.38). Plasma GH level at the end of training pro¬gram increased from 0.42 to 1.48 ng/ml and 0.58 to 0.67 ng/ml for IR and CR groups. Expectedly, both training types increased TB, at a greater rate for IR group than CR group. In conclusion, an 8-wk regular exercise result in an increase in plasma PRL level, with¬out altering plasma GH level, which accompanied by elevated body temperature, regardless of the individual’s sporting rou¬ti¬ne. These suggest that untrained individuals could benefit from a regular exercise program as much as those doing the routine sport

Dehydration, skeletal muscle damage and inflammation before the competitions among the elite wrestlers

[Purpose] The present study aimed to identify weight-loss and hydration levels before competitions among elite wrestlers and determine the skeletal muscle damage and inflammation levels after dehydration. [Subjects] Seventy-two elite wrestlers who participated in the Turkish Wrestling Championship. [Methods] With the help of specialists, 5 cc of blood were drawn from the forearm veins of the wrestlers. Laboratory analyses of Na(+), BUN, Glucose, CK, LDH, AST, ALT, C-RP levels were performed. Using a mathematical formula for hydration the POsm levels of the athletes were calculated. [Results] The wrestlers were divided into two groups based on hydration status. There were significant correlations between hydration indicators of Na(+), BUN and PBWL values. There were significant differences between AST, LDH, CK values and skeletal muscle damage indicators of the two groups, but there were no significant differences between the inflammation levels and C-RP values of the groups. [Conclusion] No differences existed in inflammation levels among the wrestlers, although dehydrated wrestlers suffered from higher level of skeletal muscle damage than wrestlers who were not dehydrated

Effect of 15 days zinc loading upon zinc, lactic acid and creatine kinase levels of wrestlers

WOS: 000246955400100In order to investigate the effect of zinc loading upon the performance of the sportsmen, some wrestlers were subjected to a 15 d zinc loading and completion period training and their effects on lactic acid, zinc and creatine kinase levels were monitored at rest and after heavy exercise. The study covered 20 wrestlers in University wrestling team. The average ages of the wresters was 23.1 +/- 2.46 years for group I and 20.8 +/- 1.16 years for group II. The average weights and height of the groups I and II are 81.4 +/- 18.18 kg and 173.50 +/- 9.61 cm and 72.6 +/- 5.67 kg and 169.47 +/- 8.65 cm, respectively. The MaxVO(2) values of group I and group II were 2.82 +/- 0.20 L/min and 2.70 +/- 0.10 L/min, respectively. Group 11 (the control group) was given fruit juice during the 15 d experimental period while the Group I (the experimental group) was administered 2 mg/kg day Zn with fruit juice in the same period. The blood samples necessary for the determination of plasma zinc, lactic acid, creatine kinase and hemograms levels were taken from the. wrestlers prior to the zinc loading at resting (D1, D2) and after being subjected to a cycling exercise(D2, K2). The second stage was taking the blood samples after 15 d of loading zinc again at resting (D3, K3) and after cycling exercise (D4, K4). The arithmetic means and standard deviations of the data obtained were computed and 't' test was applied to the differences between the dependent and independent groups and the data were evaluated at p < 0.05 and < 0.01 significance level. It was determined that the administration of zinc increased the muscle strength of the wrestlers and has a positive effect against exhaustion and on performance by inhibiting the lactic acid release following a 15 d competition period training. The increased levels of zinc were both due to the administration of zinc and heavy training. However the CK levels of the wrestlers were found to be effected from the training but insensitive to zinc loading

Dehydration, skeletal muscle damage and inflammation before the competitions among the elite wrestlers

{[}Purpose] The present study aimed to identify weight-loss and hydration levels before competitions among elite wrestlers and determine the skeletal muscle damage and inflammation levels after dehydration. {[}Subjects] Seventy-two elite wrestlers who participated in the Turkish Wrestling Championship. {[}Methods] With the help of specialists, 5 cc of blood were drawn from the forearm veins of the wrestlers. Laboratory analyses of Na+, BUN, Glucose, CK, LDH, AST, ALT, C-RP levels were performed. Using a mathematical formula for hydration the POsm levels of the athletes were calculated. {[}Results] The wrestlers were divided into two groups based on hydration status. There were significant correlations between hydration indicators of Na+, BUN and PBWL values. There were significant differences between AST, LDH, CK values and skeletal muscle damage indicators of the two groups, but there were no significant differences between the inflammation levels and C-RP values of the groups. {[}Conclusion] No differences existed in inflammation levels among the wrestlers, although dehydrated wrestlers suffered from higher level of skeletal muscle damage than wrestlers who were not dehydrated