Exercise on land or in water?

Alain Boussuges1, Olivier Gavarry21French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, Brétigny sur Orge and UMR MD2, Aix-Marseilles University, Marseilles, France; 2Engineering Laboratory for Handicaps. South University of Toulon – Var, La Garde, FranceWe have read with interest the study published in the International Journal of General Medicine entitled “Hypotensive response after water-walking and land walking exercise sessions in healthy trained and untrained women” by Rodriguez et al.1 In this study, the authors investigated cardiovascular changes induced by walking in water in comparison with walking on land. Water exercises are commonly used in rehabilitation programs, particularly patients with mobility problems. Recently, some studies have suggested that exercise performed in water could improve cardiovascular function.2View original paper by Bocalini et al

Hyperoxia Improves Hemodynamic Status During Head-up Tilt Testing in Healthy Volunteers A Randomized Study

International audienceHead-up tilt test is useful for exploring neurally mediated syncope. Adenosine is an ATP derivative implicated in cardiovascular disturbances that occur during head-up tilt test. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of hyperoxia on adenosine plasma level and on hemodynamic changes induced by head-up tilt testing. Seventeen healthy male volunteers (mean age 35 AE 11 years) were included in the study. The experiment consisted of 2 head-up tilt tests, 1 session with subjects breathing, through a mask, medical air (FiO 2 ¼ 21%) and 1 session with administration of pure oxygen (FiO 2 ¼ 100%) in double-blind manner. Investigations included continuous monitoring of hemodynamic data and measurement of plasma adenosine levels. No presyncope or syncope was found in 15 of the 17 volunteers. In these subjects, a slight decrease in systolic blood pressure was recorded during orthostatic stress performed under medical air exposure. In contrast, hyperoxia led to increased systolic blood pressure during orthostatic stress when compared with medical air. Furthermore, mean adenosine plasma levels decreased during hyperoxic exposure before (0.31 AE 0.08 mM) and during head-up tilt test (0.33 AE 0.09 mM) when compared with baseline (0.6 AE 0.1 mM). Adenosine plasma level was unchanged during medical air exposure at rest (0.6 AE 0.1 mM), and slightly decreased during orthostatic stress. In 2 volunteers, the head-up tilt test induced a loss of consciousness when breathing air. In these subjects, adenosine plasma level increased during orthostatic stress. In contrast, during hyperoxic exposure, the head-up tilt test did not induce presyncope or syncope. In these 2 volunteers, biological study demonstrated a decrease in adenosine plasma level at both baseline and during orthostatic stress for hyperoxic exposure compared with medical air. These results suggest that hyperoxia was able to increase blood pressure during head-up tilt test via a decrease in plasma adenosine concentration. Our results also suggest that adenosine receptor antagonists are worth trying in neurocardiogenic syncope. (Medicine 95(8):e2876) Abbreviations: AR = adenosine receptor, APL = adenosine plasma level, BP = blood pressure, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, FiO 2 = fraction of inspired oxygen, HR = heart rate, HUT = head-up tilt test, LMM = linear mixed model, PO 2 = partial pressure of oxygen, SBP = systolic blood pressure

A cross-sectional study assessing the contributions of body fat mass and fat-free mass to body mass index scores in male youth rugby players

Background. In some sports such as rugby, a large body size is an advantage, and the desire to gain weight can bring young players to become overweight or obese. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the contribution of body fat mass index (BFMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) to body mass index (BMI) changes among young male rugby players (15-a-side rugby). Methods. The criteria of the International Obesity Task Force were used to define overweight and obesity from BMI. The method of skinfold thickness was used to assess percentage of body fat (%BF), BFMI, and FFMI. Excess body fat was defined by using BFMI and %BF above the 75th percentile. Data were grouped according to the age categories of the French Rugby Federation (U11, under 11 years; U13, under 13 years; U15, under 15 years) and to BMI status (NW normal-weight versus OW/OB overweight/obese). Results. Overall, 32.8% of the young players were overweight, and 13.8% were obese. However, 53% of young players classified as obese and overweight by BMI had an excess body fat by using BFMI above the 75th percentile. FFMI increased significantly between U11 and U13 in both groups, without significant change in BMI and BFMI. Both groups had similar significant gains in BMI and FFMI between U13 and U15, while BFMI only increased significantly in OW/OB (+ 18.5%). The strong correlations between BMI and %BF were systematically lower than those between BMI and BFMI. FFMI was strongly or moderately associated with BFMI. Conclusions. Chart analysis of BFMI and FFMI could be used to distinguish changes in body composition across age categories in young male rugby players classified as normal-weight, overweight, and obese by BMI

A Comparison of an Alternative Weight-Grading Model Against Chronological Age Group Model for the Grouping of Schoolboy Male Rugby Players

ObjectivesConcerns regarding marked differences in the weights and body composition of young rugby players competing within the same age groups have led to the suggestion of alternative models for grouping young players. The aims of this study were (1) to compare variance in the body size and body composition of schoolboy rugby players (9 to 14 years), across weight- and age-grading models, and (2) to identify morphotypes for the weight model using Hattori’s body composition chart.Materials and MethodsSkinfold thickness measurements were used to assess body fat mass (BF), fat-free mass (FFM), body fat mass index (BFMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). Standardized measure of height and weight were taken for all participants. Data were grouped according to the age categories of the French Rugby Federation (U11: Under 11 years, U13: Under 13 years, and U15: Under 15 years), and to the weight categories (W30–44.9; W45–59.9; and W60–79.9) carried out from 25th and 75th weight percentile in each age category. Body mass index status (NW normal-weight versus OW/OB overweight/obese) was considered. Extreme morphotypes are characterized from BFMI and FFMI in the weight-grading model on Hattori’s body composition chart.ResultsThe dispersion of anthropometric characteristics decreased significantly for the weight model, except for height in all groups and BFMI for U13. Among NW, 3, 1.8, and 0% upgraded; 18.2, 68.7, and 45.5% downgraded; among OW, 50, 21.5, and 12.5%; and among OB, 91.3, 83.3, and 74.6% upgraded, respectively, in U11, U13, U15. FFMI/BFMI were correlated in U11 (r = 0.80, p < 0.001), U13 (r = 0.66, p < 0.001), and U15 (r = 0.77, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation in W45–59.9 and low correlations in W30–44.9 (r = 0.25, p < 0.001) and W60–79.9 (r = 0.29, p < 0.001). Significant grading difference between the centroids (p < 0.05) and the distribution deviates from centroids of BFMI and FFMI (p < 0.0001) were noted between the two models. Thirteen players were located in adipo-slender, twenty-three in adipo-solid, twenty-two in lean-slender, and two located in the lean-solid morphotype in weight model.ConclusionA weight-grading model should be considered to limit mismatches in anthropometric variables. However, variations of body composition also persisted for this model. Hattori’s body composition chart allowed more detailed examination of morphological atypicalities among schoolboy rugby players

Les principales méthodes d'évaluation de la dépense énergétique journalière et de l'activité physique habituelle chez l'enfant et l'adolescent

Contains fulltext : mmubn000001_216583942.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)Promotores : J. Hoogkamp-Korstanje, J. Meis en B. de Pauw134 p

“Escapad” dance serious game: designing a therapeutic tool for elderly with Mild Cognitive Impairment

The care of elderly people with neurodegenerative diseases leading to cognitive disorders and dementia represents a major health issue. In this context, serious games (SGs) can improve cognitive functions efficiently. Exergames can boost cognitive functions such as attention and memory. In this population, negative feelings can be exacerbated by inadapted technological design. The aim of this study is to design and evaluate an adapted exergame named Escapad for older adults suffering from Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). As part of preliminary study, two versions of Escapad were used with both therapists and MCI patients, who rated version 2 as more adaptable. Hence, we have implemented Escapad to stimulate several cognitive domains in elderly people with MCI who have a depressive tendency. Our results showed a significant improvement in visuospatial abilities/executive functions (p=0.033), temporo-spatial orientation (p=0.048) and a significant reduction in depression (p=0.033). Technical aspects and game use are discussed in this paper

Activité physique habituelle, influence du sexe et des facteurs environnementaux

Analyse de l'influence du sexe, de l'âge et des conditions de vie (niveau socio-économique, rythmes scolaires, alimentation, température ambiante, altitude, origine ethnique) sur l'activité physique des enfants et des adolescents tout au long de leur développement. Interactions entre les facteurs biologiques, psychologiques et sociologiques

Heart rate recovery improves after exercise in water when compared with on land

International audienceBACKGROUND:Water immersion has demonstrated its effectiveness in the recovery process after exercise. This study presents for the first time the impact of water immersion on heart rate recovery after low-intensity cycle exercise.METHODS:Sixteen male volunteers were involved in the study. The experiment consisted of two cycling exercises: 1 h in ambient air and 1 h in water (temperature: 32 ± 0·2°C). The exercise intensity was individually prescribed to elicit around 35%-40% of VO2 peak for both conditions. Heart rate recovery was analysed according to recognized methods, such as the differences between heart rate at exercise completion and within the 2 min recovery period.RESULTS:Although the two exercises were performed both at same energy expenditure and heart rate, the indexes used to assess the fast and slow decay of the heart rate recovery were significantly shortened after exercise in water.CONCLUSION:The results of the present study suggest that cycling in thermoneutral water decreases the cardiac work after exercise when compared with cycling on land