Quadrupedal movement training improves markers of cognition and joint repositioning

Introduction - Exercise, and in particular balance and coordination related activities such as dance, appear to have positive effects on cognitive function, as well as neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Quadrupedal gait training is a movement system requiring coordination of all four limbs that has previously been associated with cognitive development in children. There is currently little research into the effect of complex QDP movements on cognitive function in adults. Purpose - To determine the effects of a novel four-week quadrupedal gait training programme on markers of cognitive function and joint reposition sense in healthy adults. Methods - Twenty-two physically active sports science students (15 male and 7 female) were divided into two groups: a training group (TG) and a control group (CG). All participants completed the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (WCST) and were tested for joint reposition sense before and after a four-week intervention, during which time the TG completed a series of progressive and challenging quadrupedal movement training sessions. Results - Participants in the TG showed significant improvements in the WCST, with improvements in perseverative errors, non-perseverative errors, and conceptual level response. This improvement was not found in the CG. Joint reposition sense also improved for the TG, but only at 20 degrees of shoulder flexion. Conclusions - Performance of a novel, progressive, and challenging task, requiring the coordination of all 4 limbs, has a beneficial impact on cognitive flexibility, and in joint reposition sense, although only at the specific joint angle directly targeted by the training. The findings are consistent with other studies showing improvements in executive function and joint reposition sense following physical activity

ANTROPOLOŠKE, HEMATOLOŠKE I KARDIO-FIZIOLOŠKE VARIJABLE FIZIČKI AKTIVNIH DEČAKA I DEVOJČICA

Physical activity (PA) is stimulatory physiologic stress for the human body and regular PA induces significant changes in many physiological, biochemical and anthropological parameters. The aim of this study is to determine the values and the differences among the cardio-physiological, hematological and anthropological parameters for different age and gender subgroups in healthy physically active children and an adolescent population. An anthropometric evaluation (Matiegka protocol), hematological analysis i.e., red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin level, hematocrit, and ergometrical testing (Brus protocol) were made. Regarding mass and height until the age of 12 (U12), girls were heavier and taller than boys. The mean values for relative muscle mass in all the groups of boys and girls of different ages are in the optimal range (>50%) and indicate well developed muscle mass. There are no differences between the same age subgroups for this anthropometric parameter between the boys and girls. All the subgroups of girls of different ages showed higher body fat percent than their male siblings. Among the girls, RBC variables did not show a difference in the age subgroups. Regarding gender, all RBC variables were significantly higher among the male groups, except the U12. Cardio-physiological parameters of heart frequency at rest, exercise time duration and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), were significantly higher among the boys. In all age-based male subgroups VO2max was higher among the older boys. Conclusion: This study has shown age related changes in anthropological, hematological and ergometrical parameters in a male and female young active population. The girls showed significantly lower levels of cardio-physiological fitness which can be contributed either to gender and lower volume of PA.Fizička aktivnost (FA) predstavlja stimulativni fiziološki stres za ljudsko telo koja izaziva značajne promene u mnogim fiziološkim, biohemijskim i antropološkim parametrima. Cilj ovog istraživanja je da se utvrde vrednosti i razlike kardio-fizioloških, hematoloških i antropoloških parametara različitih starosnih i polnih podgrupa zdrave fizički aktivne dece i adolescenata. Sprovedena je antropometrijska procena (Matiegka protokol), hematološka analiza, tj. broj eritrocita (RBC), nivo hemoglobina, hematokrit i ergometrijsko testiranje (Brus protokol). Što se tiče mase i visine tela do 12. godine (U12), devojčice su bile teže i više od dečaka. Srednje vrednosti relativne mišićne mase u svim uzrasnim kategorijama dečaka i devojčica su u optimalnom rasponu (>50%) i ukazuju na dobro razvijenu mišićnu masu. Ne postoje razlike između podgrupa istog uzrasta za navedeni antropometrijski parametar između dečaka i devojčica. U svim uzrasnim kategorijama devojčicama je utvrđen veći procenat telesne masnoće u odnosu na njihove vršnjake. RBC varijable devojčica nisu se razlikovale u uzrasnim kategorijama. Što se tiče pola, vrednosti svih varijabli RBC bile su značajno veće u muškim grupama, osim u U12. Kardio-fiziološki parametri broj otkucaja srca u mirovanju, vreme vežbanja i maksimalna potrošnja kiseonika (VO2max), bili su značajno veći kod dečaka. VO2max je bio veći kod starijih dečaka u odnosu na mlađe dečake. Zaključak: Ovo istraživanje je pokazalo promene u antropološkim, hematološkim i ergometrijskim parametrima mlade i aktivne populacije muškog i ženskog pola. Devojčicama je utvrđen značajno niži nivo kardio-fiziološke kondicije, čemu mogu doprineti pol i manji obim FA

Body composition and maximal oxygen consumption in adult soccer players in the Republic of Macedonia

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between active and passive body mass components and maximal aerobic consumption (VO2max) in adult male soccer players.Methods: The study involved seven hundred (700) male soccer players, mean age 25.06 ± 4.41 years (range 18 to 35), divided in six age groups. Body composition was assessed according the anthropometric protocol by Matiegka, and relative muscle mass (MM%), bone (BM%) and fat (BF%)  and absolute muscle mass (MMkg), bone (BMkg) and fat (BFkg) components were calculated. The Bruce protocol (incremental multistage treadmill test) was used for the estimation of maximal oxygen consumption.Results: Mean values of body mass components for total sample were as follows: muscle mass (MM%)= 52.75 ± 2.63%, bone mass (BM%)=16.63 ± 1.29% and body fat (BF%)=14.12 ± 1.54%.  Mean VO2max was 48.89±5.17 ml/kg/minute. Relative muscle mass (MM%) showed similar values across age different groups (ANOVA: F=2.174; p=0.06) while absolute muscle mass (MMkg) showed tendency of increment with age (ANOVA: F=2.136; p=0.01). Body fat (BFkg and BF%) was statistically higher in the older groups (ANOVA F=3.737; p<0.01; ANOVA F=4.117; p<0.01). Weak positive correlation between VO2 max and muscle component (r=0.243; p<0.001) and a weak negative correlation between VO2max and body fat (r=-0.08;p<0.05) were found.Conclusions: Our results confirm the assumption that subjects with larger muscle mass have greater endurance and higher maximal oxygen consumption compared to subjects with larger body fat component.

Body composition and maximal oxygen consumption in adult soccer players in the Republic of Macedonia

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between active and passive body mass components and maximal aerobic consumption (VO2max) in adult male soccer players. Methods: The study involved seven hundred (700) male soccer players, mean age 25.06 ± 4.41 years (range 18 to 35), divided in six age groups. Body composition was assessed according the anthropometric protocol by Matiegka, and relative muscle mass (MM%), bone (BM%) and fat (BF%)  and absolute muscle mass (MMkg), bone (BMkg) and fat (BFkg) components were calculated. The Bruce protocol (incremental multistage treadmill test) was used for the estimation of maximal oxygen consumption. Results: Mean values of body mass components for total sample were as follows: muscle mass (MM%)= 52.75 ± 2.63%, bone mass (BM%)=16.63 ± 1.29% and body fat (BF%)=14.12 ± 1.54%.  Mean VO2max was 48.89±5.17 ml/kg/minute. Relative muscle mass (MM%) showed similar values across age different groups (ANOVA: F=2.174; p=0.06) while absolute muscle mass (MMkg) showed tendency of increment with age (ANOVA: F=2.136; p=0.01). Body fat (BFkg and BF%) was statistically higher in the older groups (ANOVA F=3.737; p<0.01; ANOVA F=4.117; p<0.01). Weak positive correlation between VO2 max and muscle component (r=0.243; p<0.001) and a weak negative correlation between VO2max and body fat (r=-0.08;p<0.05) were found. Conclusions: Our results confirm the assumption that subjects with larger muscle mass have greater endurance and higher maximal oxygen consumption compared to subjects with larger body fat component.

Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis of Body Composition in Karate Athletes Regarding The Preparatory Period // Analiza telesnog sastava karatista bioelektričnom impedansom pre i posle pripremnog perioda

The aim of the paper was to asses changes in body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) methodology in members of national karate team after teen week preparatory training period. The investigation was carried out on 11 male karate contestants, aged 18 to 28 years mean age (21.82± 3.58). The body composition was analyzed with In Body 720. The BIA outcomes were divided in 3 group of variables: body fluid and body composition variables, obesity diagnose variables and segmental analysis variables. All BIA variables were insignificantly higher at second measuring (p>005). Only Body mass index (BMI=24.1 vs 24.55); mineral (4.69 kg vs 4.77 kg) and osseous (3.85 kg vs 3.92 kg), were significantly higher (p≤0.05) after preparatory period. Body fat mass (BFM=10.34 kg vs 10.75 kg, p=0.329) and body fat percent (BF%= 12.73 vs13.22%) insignificantly increased after preparatory period. The skeletal mass has changed from 40.03kg to 40.55kg (p=0.276). Body composition analysis, changes in weight, BMI and body fluids are essential for weight categories dependent sports such as karate. Positive changes in body components and in body fluids suggest that the training process during the preparatory period did not show negative effects on body components and the hydration of the karate athletes