Physical activity characterization:Does one site fit all?

Background: It is evident that a growing number of studies advocate a wrist-worn accelerometer for the assessment of patterns of physical activity a priori, yet the veracity of this site rather than any other body-mounted location for its accuracy in classifying activity is hitherto unexplored. Objective: The objective of this review was to identify the relative accuracy with which physical activities can be classified according to accelerometer site and analytical technique. Methods: A search of electronic databases was conducted using Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar. This review included studies written in the English language, published between database inception and December 2017, which characterized physical activities using a single accelerometer and reported the accuracy of the technique. Results: A total of 118 articles were initially retrieved. After duplicates were removed and the remaining articles screened, 32 full-text articles were reviewed, resulting in the inclusion of 19 articles that met the eligibility criteria. Conclusion: There is no 'one site fits all' approach to the selection of accelerometer site location or analytical technique. Research design and focus should always inform the most suitable location of attachment, and should be driven by the type of activity being characterized

Physical activity of six-year-old children in the opinion of their mothers

The aim of the study was to determine the level of kindergarteners’ physical activity on the basis of their mothers’ opinions. The level of physical activity was assessed in relation to the child’s gender and mother’s educational background. The research was conducted in 2009 at public kindergarten no. 4 in Stargard Szczeciński. All mothers of 6 year-old children attending the above mentioned kindergarten were surveyed constituting a research group of 68. Fifty-six per cent of the mothers were bringing up six-year-old boys, whilst forty-four per cent had daughters of this age. The diagnostic survey method with the usage of anonymous questionnaire was applied in the research. The conducted research revealed that in most cases mothers’ educational background did not influence the level of kindergarteners’ physical activity. The majority of mothers, regardless of their educational background, believed that their children willingly participate in physical activities. In both boys and girls, irrespective of the mothers’ educational background, swimming, cycling and playground activities were the most popular forms of spending leisure time actively

ANTHROPOMETRIC DETERMINANTS OF ROWING ERGOMETER PERFORMANCE IN PHYSICALLY INACTIVE COLLEGIATE FEMALES

The aim of the study was to evaluate anthropometric characteristics as determinants of 500 m rowing ergometer performance in physically inactive collegiate females. In this cross-sectional study, which included 196 collegiate females aged 19-23 years not participating in regular physical activities, body mass (BM), body height (BH), length of upper limbs (LA), length of lower limbs (LL), body mass index (BMI), slenderness index (SI), and the Choszcz-Podstawski index (CPI) were measured and a stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed. Participants performed 500 m maximal effort on a Concept II rowing ergometer. BM, BH, LA, LL, and the BMI, SI and CPI indices were found to be statistically significant determinants of 500 m performance. The best results (T) were achieved by females whose BH ranged from 170 to 180 cm, with LA and LL ranging from 75 to 80 cm and 85 to 90 cm, respectively. The best fitting statistical model was identified as: T = 11.6793 L R – 0.1130 L R 2 – 0.0589 L N 2 + 29.2157 CPI 2 + 0.1370 LR·LN - 2.6926 LR·CPI – 211.7796. This study supports a need for additional studies focusing on understanding the importance of anthropometric differences in rowing ergometer performance, which could lead to establishing a better quality reference for evaluation of cardiorespiratory fitness tested using a rowing ergometer in collegiate female

Wpływ różnych czynników na poziom alfa1-antytrypsyny u żrebiąt pełnej krwi angielskiej

Acute phase proteins (APP) are an integral part of the acute phase response. Alpha 1 antitrypsin is considered to be one of the most important acute-phase protein activated by trauma, stress, or inflammatory processes. The objective of the present study was to estimate the impact of various factors (sex, month of life and sire effect) on concentration of alpha 1 antitrypsin in serum of Thoroughbred foals. A total of 624 samples, collected from 39 foals were obtained in monthly intervals from first to 16 month of life and measured by STIC method (specific trypsin inhibitory captivity). The obtained results indicated the significant impact of analyzed age periods on the AAT level. Furthermore, the variation in AAT level in analyzed periods corresponded to significant changes in foals diet and maintaining. Alpha 1 antitrypsin concentration was also affected by sire effects and sex of foals. In the most investigated age periods, the impact of sire on alpha 1 antitrypsin content in serum of his progeny has been shown. The obtained results might be useful in explanation of differences in serum AAT concentration in foals during early ontogenesis which probably is a critical period that has an influence on racing performance of young horses.Wpływ różnych czynników na poziom alfa-1-antytrypsyny u źrebiąt pełnej krwi angielskiej. Białka ostrej fazy (APP) są integralną częścią tzw.: odpowiedzi ostrej fazy na stan zapalny. Alfa-1-antytrypsyna (ATT) jest uważana za jedno najważniejszych białek ostrej fazy aktywowane przez uraz, stres lub procesy zapalne. W związku z tym celem niniejszego badania była ocena wpływu różnych czynników (płeć, miesiąc życia i ojciec) na stężenia ATT w surowicy krwi źrebiąt pełnej krwi angielskiej. Materiał do badań stanowiło 624 próbek kri, zebranych od 39 źrebiąt będących potomstwem czterech ogierów, uzyskanych w odstępach miesięcznych od pierwszego do 16 miesiąca życia. Stężenie ATT oznaczono metodą STIC. Uzyskane wyniki wskazały na znaczący wpływ wieku źrebiąt na poziom AAT. Co więcej, różnice w poziomie AAT w analizowanych okresach przypadały w okresach znaczących zmian u źrebiąt. Ponadto w większości badanych okresów, wykazano wpływ ojca na stężenie ATT u potomstwa. Uzyskane wyniki mogą być przydatne w celu wyjaśnienia różnic w koncentracji AAT w surowicy krwi u źrebiąt w okresie wczesnej ontogenezy która jest krytycznym okresem, mającym wpływ na wyniki użytkowe młodych koni

Physical fitness classification standards for polish early education teachers

This study determined the general fitness level of female early education teachers (EETs) (N=217) based on fitness test standards, and compared the results with those of preschool children (N=700), early elementary school children (n=1306) and female early education university students (FEEUSs) (N=303) in Poland. All participants were subjected to height and weight measurements and their BMI scores were determined. Based on eight motor fitness tests, the general physical fitness level of EETs was ‘average’, based on the classification standards in Podstawski's Test. The scores of the EETs were ‘poor’ in three motor tests, ‘average’ in four tests and ‘good’ in only one test. The EETs scores were significantly poorer than early elementary school children in 4x10m shuttle run, sit-ups in 30s, bent arm hang on bar and a 1-minute Burpee test. The results of the EETs were significantly below those of FEEUSs in the standing long jump, 4x10m shuttle run, sit-ups in 30s, medicine ball backward throw and downward bend from astanding position. Physical fitness plays a very important role in the daily work of EETs. Recruitment principles for early education programmes should be revised to include fitness tests and early education curricula should be expanded to include physical education classes.Key words: Early education teachers (EETs); Female university students; Six- to nine-year-olds; General physical fitness; Classification standards

Differences in cardiorespiratory responses of young and senior male endurance athletes to maximal graded exercise test

Within recent years the popularity of sportive activities amongst older people, particularly competitive activities within certain age groups has increased. The purpose of this study was to assess the differences in the cardiorespiratory output at anaerobic threshold and at maximal power, output during an incremental exercise, among senior and young athletes. Ten elderly male subjects [mean (SD) age: 68.45 ± 9.32 years] and eight young male subjects [mean (SD) age: 25.87 ± 5.87 years] performed an incremental exercise test on a treadmill ergometer. No significant differences in body size were evident; however, the differences between the groups for peak power (451.62 ± 49 vs. 172.4 ± 32.2 W), aerobic capacity (57.97 ± 7.5 vs. 40.36 ± 8.6 mL kg-1 min-1), maximal heart rate (190.87 ± 9.2 vs. 158.5 ± 9.1 beats min-1), peak blood lactate (11 ± 1.7 vs. 7.3 ± 1.4 mmol L-1), and % VO2max at ventilatory thresholds (93.18 ± 4.3 vs. 79.29 ± 9.9%) were significantly lower in the senior athletes. The power output at anaerobic threshold was also higher (392 ± 48 vs. 151 ± 23 W) in the young athletes, explaining the significant difference in terms of performance between these groups. We have observed an evident deterioration in some of the cardiovascular parameters; however, the submaximal exercise economy seems to be preserved with aging. Exercise economy (i.e. metabolic cost of sustained submaximal exercise) was not different considerably with age in endurance-trained adults

Acute Cardiorespiratory and Metabolic Responses to Incremental Cycling Exercise in Endurance- and Strength-Trained Athletes

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of a progressive submaximal cycling exercise on selected cardiorespiratory and metabolic variables in endurance and strength trained athletes. The sample comprised 32 participants aged 22.0 ± 0.54 years who were assigned into three groups: an endurance trained group (END, triathletes, n = 10), a strength trained group (STR, bodybuilders, n = 10), and a control group (CON, recreationally active students, n = 12). The incremental cycling exercise was performed using a progressive protocol starting with a 3 min resting measurement and then a 50 W workload with subsequent constant increments of 50 W every 3 min until 200 W. The following cardiometabolic variables were evaluated: heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and blood lactate (BLa−). We found the between-group differences in metabolic variables (the average RER and BLa−) were statistically significant (Tukey’s HSD test: CON vs. STR, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively; CON vs. END, p < 0.001; END vs. STR, p < 0.001). RER and BLa– differences in all groups depended on the workload level (G-G-epsilon = 0.438; p < 0.004 and G-G-epsilon = 0.400; p < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in cardiorespiratory variables between endurance- and strength-trained groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that acute cardiorespiratory responses at each of the four submaximal workloads were comparable in endurance- compared to strength-trained athletes, but significantly different compared to recreationally active men. However, there were significant differences in the metabolic responses of RER and BLa−. Based on our findings we recommend that endurance-trained athletes follow a concurrent training program, combined strength and endurance training, to improve neuromuscular parameters and thus optimize their economy of movement and endurance-specific muscle power capacity