E-cycling and health benefits: A systematic literature review with meta-analyses

publishedVersio

Associations between biological maturity level, match locomotion, and physical capacities in youth male soccer players

Introduction: Biological maturity level has shown to affect sport performance in youths. However, most previous studies have used noninvasive methods to estimate maturity level. Thus, the main aim of the present study was to investigate the association between skeletal age (SA) as a measure of biological maturation level, match locomotion, and physical capacity in male youth soccer players. Method: Thirty-eight Norwegian players were followed during two consecutive seasons (U14 and U15). Match locomotion was assessed with GPS-tracking in matches. SA, assessed by x-ray, physical capacities (speed, strength and endurance) and anthropometrics were measured in the middle of each season. Analysis of associations between SA, match locomotion, and physical capacities were adjusted for the potential confounding effect of body height and weight. Results: In matches, positive associations were found between SA and maximal speed and running distance in the highest speed zones. Further, SA was associated with 40 m sprint time and countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and with intermittent-endurance capacity after adjusting for body height (U14). Associations between SA and leg strength and power, and between SA and absolute VO2max were not significant after adjusting for body weight. There was no association between SA and total distance covered in matches. Conclusion: Biological maturity level influence match locomotion and performance on physical capacity tests. It is important that players, parents and coaches are aware of the advantages more mature players have during puberty, and that less mature players also are given attention, appropriate training and match competition to ensure proper development.publishedVersio

Rola symboliki psa i wilka w systemie inicjacji militarnej Irlandii epoki heroicznej / ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1991 t.35 z.1

ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1991 t.35 z.1, s.57-8

Interpretacje przeszłości w legendach. Przyczynek do historii lokalnej w świadomości mieszkańców wsi / ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1982 t.26 z.2

ETNOGRAFIA POLSKA 1982 t.26 z.2, s.181-20

National Trends in Cycling in Light of the Norwegian Bike Traffic Index

National and international strategies and recommendations are intended to increase physical activity in the general population. Active transportation is included in interdisciplinary strategies to meet these recommendations. Cycling seems to be more health enhancing than walking for transportation since cycling seems to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and associated risk factors. Furthermore, the health benefits of cycling are proven to outrun the risk of injuries and mortality. Politicians seem to approve costly infrastructure strategies to increase the amount of cycling in the population to improve public health and shift to more sustainable travel habits. A linear relationship between cycle-friendly infrastructure and the amount of commuter cycling has been demonstrated. However, in Norway and on a global level, there is a lack of robust evaluations of actions and sensitive monitoring systems to observe possible change. Therefore, we aimed to develop the Norwegian bike traffic index and describe the national, regional, and local trends in counted cycle trips. We used a transparent methodology so that the index can be used, developed, and adapted in other countries. We included 89 stationary counters from the whole country. Counters monitored cycling from 2018 onward. The index is organized at local, regional, and national levels. Furthermore, the index is adjusted for population density at the counter level and presented as ratio of counted cycle trips, comparing 2018 to subsequent years. The index is presented as a percentage change with 95% confidence intervals. In Norway, counted cycle trips increased by 11% from 2018 (100, 100–100) to 2020 (111.0, 106.2–115.1), with large geographical differences. In Southern Norway, there was a significant increase of 23%, and in Northern Norway, there was a nonsignificant decrease by 8% from 2018 to 2020. The indices may indicate possible related effects of local to national cycling strategies and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Norwegian travel habits in urban areas

Validation of a Modified Submaximal Balke Protocol to Assess Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Individuals at High Risk of or With Chronic Health Conditions—A Pilot Study

Objectives: This study aims to validate a submaximal treadmill walking test for estimation of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) in individuals at high risk of or with chronic health conditions. Method: Eighteen participants (age 62 ± 16 years; VO2max 31.2 ± 5.9 ml kg−1 min−1) at high risk of getting or with established chronic diseases performed two valid modified Balke treadmill walking protocols, one submaximal protocol, and one maximal protocol. Test duration, heart rate (HR), and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured during both tests. VO2max was measured during the maximal test. VO2max was estimated from the submaximal test by multiple regression using time to RPE ≥ 17, gender, age, and body mass as independent variables. Model fit was reported as explained variance (R2) and standard error of the estimate (SEE). Results: The model fit for estimation of VO2max from time to RPE ≥ 17 at the submaximal test, body mass, age, and gender was R2 = 0.78 (SEE = 3.1 ml kg−1 min−1, p ≤ 0.001). Including heart rate measurement did not improve the model fit. Conclusions: The submaximal walking test is feasible and valid for assessing cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with high risk of or chronic health conditions

Running Performance and Position is Not Related to Decision-Making Accuracy in Referees

We aimed to assess if running performance is related to decision-making accuracy in referees. We also investigated the relationships between movement, position, decision-making and time of infringement. The study included 347 free kicks and penalties awarded during all 15 home field matches for one team in the Norwegian top league. Movement and position were measured by a radio-based positioning system, and two external experts analysed the video clips. The referees made the correct decision in 98% of the assessed foul situations. There were no associations between the correctness and running speed at the time of the infringements or total distance accumulated during the 30 s prior to the infringement (p>0.08). Decision-making accuracy was not associated with the referees’ position in relation to the infringements (p=0.82) or the area where the infringements occurred (p=0.28). Most foul play incidents were sanctioned in the central area of the field (84%) where the distance to the infringements was shorter (13.4 m, 95% CI 12.8–14.0) than in the lateral areas (21.9 m, 95% CI 20.4–23.4). Norwegian top referees were practically always right when they interfered, possess the necessary fitness to avoid fatigue that would influence decision-making accuracy, and maintain adequate positional ability throughout the matches

Effects of climbing- and resistance-training on climbing-specific performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the effects of climbing and climbing-and-resistance-training on climbing performance, and strength and endurance tests. We systematically searched three databases (SPORTDiscus, SCOPUS, and PubMed) for records published until January 2021. The search was limited to randomized-controlled trials using active climbers and measuring climbing performance or performance in climbing-specific tests. Data from the meta-analysis are presented as standardized difference in mean (SDM) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Eleven studies are included in the systematic review and five studies compared training to a control group and could be meta-analyzed. The overall meta-analysis displayed an improvement in climbing-related test performance following climbing-specific resistance training compared to only climbing (SDM = 0.57, 95%CI = 0.24–0.91). Further analyses revealed that finger strength (SDM = 0.41, 95%CI 0.03–0.80), rate of force development (SDM = 0.91, 95%CI = 0.21–1.61), and forearm endurance (SDM = 1.23, 95%CI = 0.69–1.77) were improved by resistance-training of the finger flexors compared to climbing training. The systematic review showed that climbing performance may be improved by specific resistance training or interval-style bouldering. However, resistance-training of the finger flexors showed no improvements in strength or endurance in climbing-specific tests. The available evidence suggests that resistance-training may be more effective than just climbing-training for improving performance outcomes. Importantly, interventional studies including climbers is limited and more research is needed to confirm these findings