In-season weightlifting training exercise in healthy male handball players: Effects on body composition, muscle volume, maximal strength, and ball-throwing velocity

This study assessed the impact of 8 weeks biweekly in-season weightlifting training on the strength, throwing ability, and body composition of healthy male handball players. Twenty players (age: 21.2 ± 0.7 years, height: 1.83 ± 0.08 m, body mass: 83.3 ± 7.5 kg, body fat: 13.2 ± 1.4%, upper limb muscle volume: 3.16 ± 0.16 L) were randomly allocated between experimental (EG) and control (CG) groups. Measures of one-repetition maximal strength included bench press, pull-over, snatch, and clean and jerk. Throwing velocity was investigated by standing, running, and jump throws, and the power of the upper limbs was estimated from the total distance of a 3-kg medicine ball overhead throw. Muscle volumes were estimated anthropometrically. Training sessions comprised 3–4 sets of explosive weightlifting exercise at 75%–90% of 1RM (repetition maximum). Significant interaction effects (time x group) were found for all strength and throwing variables, ranging from ηp2 = 0.595 (pull-over) to ηp2 = 0.887 (medicine ball throw), with the largest between-group difference (more than 40%, Δd = 6.65) and effect size (d = 6.44) for the medicine ball throw, and the smallest (about 23%, Δd = 1.61) for the standing shot performance. Significant interaction effects were also detected for all anthropometric parameters (body mass: ηp2 = 0.433; body fat: ηp2 = 0.391; upper limb muscle volume: ηp2 = 0.920, with an almost 20% gain of muscle volume). It can be concluded that 8 weeks of biweekly in-season weightlifting training yielded substantial increases of muscle volume, maximal strength of the upper limbs, and ball throwing velocity in healthy handball players relative to their standard training program. View Full-TextAcknowledgments: This work was supported by the Sport Science Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.Scopu

Effect of verbal instruction on motor learning ability of anaerobic and explosive exercises in physical education university students

This study investigated the effect of motor learning with informational feedback into response to anaerobic exercises with and without motor learning tasks in handball physical education university students. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (EG, n = 10) and control group (CG, n = 10). Measurements of T-half test, 15-m and 30-m sprints, and ZIG-ZAG test were assessed in both groups before (T1), between (T2) a 4-week intervention program, and after (T3) an 8-week intervention program, which included agility and speed teaching with (EG) or without (CG) informational feedback (i.e., verbal instruction). The test-retest reliability for all tests was excellent, and the ICC ranged from 0.76 (ZIG-ZAG test) to 0.99 (Agility T test). The interday measurement error was clearly below 1% in all tests (CV range: 0.2–0.8). Time effects for the Agility T test (p = 0.012, η2p = 0.245) and the 15-m sprint (p = 0.035, η2p = 0.190) were found. For the Agility T test, a total interaction effect (p = 0.001, η2p = 0.380) and a partial interaction effect were calculated between T2 and T3 (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.603). A large effect size (d = 0.87) was observed in the EG from T2 to T3. The second relevant (d ≥ 0.5) effect size was calculated for the parameter sprint 30 m. The CG showed a significant sprint performance reduction from T2 to T3 (d = −0.60; parameter: sprint 30 m). All other effect sizes were less than 0.44. The ZIG-ZAG test revealed the largest main and partial effect sizes for all parameters. The EG showed the largest improvement (d = 2.00) between T2 and T3. The results demonstrate that motor learning with informational feedback improves performances of Agility T test, sprint, and ZIG-ZAG performance. It appears that a well-formulated verbal instruction may induce performance enhancement in young trainees in educational environment.The publication of this article was funded by the Qatar National Library. We thank Professor Mohamed Souhaiel Chelly [Research Unit (UR17JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society,” Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of “La Manouba,” Tunisia] for his valuable experimental help

Ecological strategy for soil contaminated with mercury

Aims The paper presents results from plot experiments aimed at the development of an ecological strategy for soil contaminated with mercury. Meadow grass (Poa pratensis) was tested on mercury contaminated soil in a former chlor-alkali plant (CAP) in southern Poland for its phytoremediation potential. Methods The stabilisation potential of the plants was investigated on plots without additives and after the addition of granular sulphur. Biomass production, uptake and distribution of mercury by plants, as well as leachates and rhizosphere microorganisms were investigated, along with the growth and vitality of plants during one growing season. Results The analysed plants grew easily on mercury contaminated soil, accumulating lower amounts of mercury, especially in the roots, from soil with additive of granular sulphur (0.5 % w/w) and sustained a rich microbial population in the rhizosphere. After amendment application the reduction of Hg evaporation was observed. Conclusions The obtained results demonstrate the potential of using Poa pratensis and sulphur for remediation of mercury contaminated soil and reduction of the Hg evaporation from soil. In the presented study, methods of Hg reduction on “hot spots” were proposed, with a special focus on environmental protection. This approach provides a simple remediation tool for large areas heavily contaminated with mercury

Comparative Analysis of Physical Activity, Performance-Related Health, and Academic Achievements in 11-to-13-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Qatar.

Age-related differences in physical activity (PA), maturity status (PHV), physical performance (PP), and academic achievement (AA) among schoolchildren in Qatar were examined. Sixty-nine students from a school in Doha were categorized into three equal (n = 23) groups: 11-year-old students (U11; male: n = 14), 12-year-old students (U12: male: n = 7), and 13-year-old students (U13: male: n = 11). The testing process comprised a medicine ball throw, Stork balance test, hand grip strength test, the T-half test (PP), GPA in Arabic, mathematics, science (AA), International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (PA), and Moore's equations (PHV). Relevant age-related differences (p < 0.001) were identified in mathematics, science, the T-half test, maturity, and arm span. Notably, differences between adjacent age groups were evident between U11 and U12, concerning arm span, maturity, mathematics, and science, and between U12 and U13 (the T-half test, mathematics, science). Concerning AP, the performance maxima were calculated for U12 (mathematics, science) and U11 (Arabic). Regarding PP, performance maxima were only observed for U13. Except for the moderate level, the highest levels of PA were detected in U13. Maturity status and anthropometric parameters did not differ significantly between age groups. However, AA demonstrated the most notable age-related differences. Specifically, mathematics showed substantial differences between adjacent age groups

Evaluierung der stationären Rehabilitation bei Patienten mit peripher-vestibulären Störungen

Einleitung: Die Rehabilitation bei Patienten mit peripher-vestibulären Störungen wurde bisher selten evaluiert. Überdies spielt die Physio- und Sporttherapie in der stationären Anwendung nur eine untergeordnete Rolle, so dass sich die diesbezüglichen Potenzen gegenwärtig nur schwer beurteilen lassen. Ziel dieser Untersuchung war die Evaluierung der Wirksamkeit der bislang durchgeführten stationären Rehabilitation bei Patienten mit peripher-vestibulären Störungen.Methoden: In einer quasiexperimentellen Längsschnittuntersuchung wurden 34 Patienten mit einem uni- bzw. bilateralen Ausfall des Gleichgewichtsorganes mit Hilfe der Posturographie und des DHI hinsichtlich ihrer Haltungsregulation und Befindlichkeit überprüft. Die 10tägige stationäre Rehabilitation beinhaltet eine rheologische Infusionstherapie sowie einfache physiotherapeutische Maßnahmen. Nach 12 und 30 Wochen wurde die Nachhaltigkeit der Intervention kontrolliert.Ergebnisse: Die posturographischen Ergebnisse zeigen signifikante Verbesserungen sowohl in den Parametern des motorischen Outputs als auch auf der Prozessebene der posturalen Subsysteme. Insbesondere das peripher-vestibuläre System, dass durch den Frequenzbereich F 2-4 (0.1-0.5 Hz) der Fourieranalyse parametrisiert wird, wies deutliche Verbesserungen auf. Bezüglich der Befindlichkeitsdimensionen ergaben sich in allen Dimensionen hochsignifikante Effekte insbesondere auf funktioneller Ebene.Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung: Die vorliegenden Untersuchungsergebnisse machen deutlich, dass sich die Haltungsregulation und Befindlichkeit der Patienten im Zuge der 10tägigen Rehabilitation deutlich verbessert. Erste Ergebnisse der Follow-up-Phasen deuten allerdings auf eine geringe Nachhaltigkeit der erzielten Effekte hin