The effect of environmental conditions on the physiological response during a stand-up paddle surfing session

Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) surfing entails riding breaking waves and maneuvering the board on the wave face in a similar manner to traditional surfing. Despite some scientific investigations on SUP, little is known about SUP surfing. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological response during SUP surfing sessions and to determine how various environmental conditions can influence this response. Heart rate (HR) of an experienced male SUP surfer aged 43 was recorded for 14.9 h during ten surfing sessions and synced with on board video footage to enable the examination of the effect of different surfing modes and weather conditions on exercise intensity. Results indicated that the SUP surfer’s HR was above 70% of HRmax during 85% of each session, with the greatest heart rates found during falls off the board (~85% HRmax) and while paddling back to the peak (~83% HRmax). Total time surfing a wave was less than 5%, with the majority of time spent paddling back into position. Wind speed positively correlated with HR (r = 0.75, p < 0.05) and wave height negatively correlated with wave caching frequency (r = 0.73, p < 0.05). The results highlight the aerobic fitness for SUP surfing, where wave riding, paddling back to the peak, and falls appear to be associated with the greatest cardiovascular demand and demonstrate that environmental conditions can have an effect on the physiological response during SUP surfing sessions

Interactive cervical motion kinematics: sensitivity, specificity and clinically significant values for identifying kinematic impairments in patients with chronic neck pain

Chronic neck pain has been consistently shown to be associated with impaired kinematic control including reduced range, velocity and smoothness of cervical motion, that seem relevant to daily function as in quick neck motion in response to surrounding stimuli. The objectives of this study were: to compare interactive cervical kinematics in patients with neck pain and controls; to explore the new measures of cervical motion accuracy; and to find the sensitivity, specificity, and optimal cutoff values for defining impaired kinematics in those with neck pain. In this cross-section study, 33 patients with chronic neck pain and 22 asymptomatic controls were assessed for their cervical kinematic control using interactive virtual reality hardware and customized software utilizing a head mounted display with built-in head tracking. Outcome measures included peak and mean velocity, smoothness (represented by number of velocity peaks (NVP)), symmetry (represented by time to peak velocity percentage (TTPP)), and accuracy of cervical motion. Results demonstrated significant and strong effect-size differences in peak and mean velocities, NVP and TTPP in all directions excluding TTPP in left rotation, and good effect-size group differences in 5/8 accuracy measures. Regression results emphasized the high clinical value of neck motion velocity, with very high sensitivity and specificity (85%–100%), followed by motion smoothness, symmetry and accuracy. These finding suggest cervical kinematics should be evaluated clinically, and screened by the provided cut off values for identification of relevant impairments in those with neck pain. Such identification of presence or absence of kinematic impairments may direct treatment strategies and additional evaluation when needed

Characterizing Movement Patterns of Older Individuals with T2D in Free-Living Environments Using Wearable Accelerometers

(1) Background: Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) is associated with reduced muscle mass, strength, and function, leading to frailty. This study aims to analyze the movement patterns (MPs) of older individuals with T2D across varying levels of physical capacity (PC). (2) Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among individuals aged 60 or older with T2D. Participants (n = 103) were equipped with a blinded continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system and an activity monitoring device for one week. PC tests were performed at the beginning and end of the week, and participants were categorized into three groups: low PC (LPC), medium PC (MPC), and normal PC (NPC). Group differences in MPs and physical activity were analyzed using non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis tests for both categorical and continuous variables. Dunn post-hoc statistical tests were subsequently carried out for pairwise comparisons. For data analysis, we utilized pandas, a Python-based data analysis tool, and conducted the statistical analyses using the scipy.stats package in Python. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. (3) Results: Participants in the LPC group showed lower medio-lateral acceleration and higher vertical and antero-posterior acceleration compared to the NPC group. LPC participants also had higher root mean square values (1.017 m/s2). Moreover, the LPC group spent less time performing in moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and had fewer daily steps than the MPC and NPC groups. (4) Conclusions: The LPC group exhibited distinct movement patterns and lower activity levels compared to the NPC group. This study is the first to characterize the MPs of older individuals with T2D in their free-living environment. Several accelerometer-derived features were identified that could differentiate between PC groups. This novel approach offers a manpower-free alternative to identify physical deterioration and detect low PC in individuals with T2D based on real free-living physical behavior

The Compatibility of Children with Obesity to Self-Report Aspects of Physical Activity Domains

Questions about the different aspects of physical activity (PA) are commonly asked in the clinical setting, yet their compatibility for use with children, particularly children with obesity (OB) is uncertain. Our aim was to investigate different PA-related questions when compared to an objective maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) or validated questionnaires. For this study, 33 normal-weight (NW) (5 to less than 85% BMI percentile) and 35 OB (≥95% BMI percentile) children responded to three self-report PA questions evaluating PA domains (exercise capacity, limitations, and the maintenance of an active lifestyle); they also completed a maximal CPET and two validated questionnaires: the New York Heart Association (NYHA) questionnaire and the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The results regarding the NW children were highly compatible with their self-reports about exercise capacity (85%), whereas the compatibility was low (40%) in the OB group (p < 0.001). Both OB and NW groups had moderate compatibility between the self-report and objective findings regarding their exercise limitations and lifestyle with no significant differences between the groups. These findings suggest that it is inadvisable to rely on a single-item question by which to assess PA in OB children, and no definite conclusions regarding PA status should be drawn. NW children are more compatible with self-reporting their overall exercise capacity, with more limited compatibilities observed when self-reporting their limitations or lifestyle

Aerobic Upper-Limb Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia: Does It Work?

Background: Aerobic exercise reduces pain sensitivity, a phenomenon known as exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH); however, little is known about EIH when the upper limbs are aerobically exercised. This study aimed to test the acute effect of a single aerobic upper-limb exercise on pain threshold and pain intensity in healthy participants, with two different protocols for controlling intensity. Methods: 31 participants performed two 20 min exercise sessions a week apart. In each session, the intensity was controlled by a target heart rate (THR) of 60% of heart rate reserve or by a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of 7/10 on the Borg scale. Pain threshold for pressure (PPT) heat (HPT) and pain intensity in response to Tonic Heat Pain (THP) were measured pre- and post-exercise. To examine the effect of exercise in each protocol on pain sensitivity, rmANOVA was conducted. Results: Pain sensitivity remained unchanged following arm exercise in both protocols (PPT, p = 0.67; HPT, p = 0.56; and THP p = 0.39). Higher HR in the THR protocol was demonstrated with a significant protocol X time, interaction effect (F(3) = 11.194 p &lt; 0.004). Conclusions: Moderate&ndash;high-intensity upper-limb aerobic exercise did not affect pain sensitivity in healthy individuals. Exercise intensity when controlled by THR showed a higher mean heart rate compared to exercise intensity based on RPE

Aerobic Upper-Limb Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia: Does It Work?

Background: Aerobic exercise reduces pain sensitivity, a phenomenon known as exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH); however, little is known about EIH when the upper limbs are aerobically exercised. This study aimed to test the acute effect of a single aerobic upper-limb exercise on pain threshold and pain intensity in healthy participants, with two different protocols for controlling intensity. Methods: 31 participants performed two 20 min exercise sessions a week apart. In each session, the intensity was controlled by a target heart rate (THR) of 60% of heart rate reserve or by a rate of perceived exertion (RPE) of 7/10 on the Borg scale. Pain threshold for pressure (PPT) heat (HPT) and pain intensity in response to Tonic Heat Pain (THP) were measured pre- and post-exercise. To examine the effect of exercise in each protocol on pain sensitivity, rmANOVA was conducted. Results: Pain sensitivity remained unchanged following arm exercise in both protocols (PPT, p = 0.67; HPT, p = 0.56; and THP p = 0.39). Higher HR in the THR protocol was demonstrated with a significant protocol X time, interaction effect (F(3) = 11.194 p Conclusions: Moderate–high-intensity upper-limb aerobic exercise did not affect pain sensitivity in healthy individuals. Exercise intensity when controlled by THR showed a higher mean heart rate compared to exercise intensity based on RPE

The Effect of Incorporating an Exergame Application in a Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program on Physical Activity and Fitness Indices in Children with Overweight and Obesity

Children with overweight/obese (OW/OB) have low physical activity (PA) levels and excessive daily screen times. Although access to personal smartphones may complicate restricting sedentary screen time, these devices may be used to promote PA and improve fitness. Therefore, we aim to examine the impact of incorporating an exergame application (APP) into an existing weight management program on BMI, physical activity, fitness levels, and attitude toward PA among OW/OB children. Seventy-nine children (51% girls), median age 10 years, completed an established 5-month weight management program. The intervention included structured PA sessions (2/week), nutritional, and behavioral counseling. An exergame app was installed on the smartphones of the intervention group (APP, n = 32). BMI, physical fitness, PA level, and attitudes toward PA were assessed before and after the intervention. BMI decreased (p &lt; 0.0001) in both groups by 0.67 kg/m2 (Q1, Q3: &minus;1.36&ndash;0.12). There were improvements in more fitness components in the APP group than controls, with significantly greater improvements in aerobic fitness (p = 0.038), speed and agility (p = 0.01), and leg strength endurance (p = 0.05) compared to controls. PA levels increased similarly in both groups during the intervention period. The incorporation of an exergame application leads to more significant improvements in fitness components. These findings support the use of exergame apps to improve fitness in OW/OB children

Neutrophil function response to aerobic and anaerobic exercise in female judoka and untrained subjects

Effets de deux protocoles d'exercice, un effort aérobie de 20 minutes à 70 - 80% de la fréquence cardiaque maximale, et un exercice de type anaérobie, le test de Wingate, sur le système immunitaire d'athlètes féminines pratiquant le judo, comparées à un groupe de femmes non entraînées