Reproducibility of speed, agility and power assessments in elite academy footballers

Purpose: Fitness testing is a visible part of many youth and senior football programs (Pyne et al. 2014). A high priority is given to physical assessments that relate to the demands of match performance (Rampinini et al. 2007). However somewhat surprisingly, the reproducibility of common assessments using elite football cohorts are not widely reported in the literature (Pyne et al. 2014). Field test assessments of speed, agility and power not only provide an indicator of sport-specific power producing ability but can also be used for diagnostic purposes to identify whether an athlete is suffering from fatigue, functional / non-functional overreaching or overtraining (Meeusen et al. 2013). The purpose of this study was to ascertain the reproducibility of testing protocols used to monitor speed, agility and power capabilities within elite academy footballers. Methods: Ten male apprentice professional football players (mean ± SD: age = 17.1 ± 0.7 years, stature = 1.83 ± 0.09 m, mass: 77.8 ± 8.2 kg) participated in the study. All participants completed three separate identical trials with a day’s recovery interspersed between each trial. Each trial consisted of the following assessments; a countermovement jump test (CMJ), a seated medicine ball throw test (Throw), a 40 m run sprint test (40 m), which incorporated a 0-10 m assessed phase (10 m) and the arrowhead agility test (Agility). Results: Findings from One-way ANOVA tests indicated that performance was unchanged across the three trials for all assessments (P > 0.05). Mean typical error as a percentage (TE %) [90 % confidence intervals (CI)] across the assessments indicated highly acceptable reproducibility; CMJ = 3.2% (2.5-4.7), Throw = 1.4% (1.0-2.0). 10 m = 1.6% (1.3-2.4), 40m = 1.4% (1.1-2.0), Agility = 0.9% (0.7-1.3). Conclusion: Elite academy footballers were found to have consistent performance for assessments of speed, agility and power across three trials. Typical error was found to be low for all assessments indicating a high level of reproducibility across repeated trials (Hopkins et al. 2001). Therefore, these assessments can be confidently used in the physical fitness monitoring of elite academy footballers

The effect of a 10-week complex training programme, utilising optimal PAP recovery duration, on the sprint, power and agility capabilities of elite academy footballers

Purpose: Complex training alternates a high-load strength exercise (85%> of 1RM) with an explosive or plyometric exercise, set-to-set, in the same session. This method is supported by the assumption of a post-activation-potentiation (PAP) of the neuromuscular system. Acute PAP has been shown to occur at 8-min following the performance of high-load exercise (Kilduff et al., 2008). However, the effect of the implementation of this practice (8-min PAP recovery period) within a prolonged training programme is unknown. The study aimed to investigate the effects of a 10-week complex training program, utilising optimal PAP recovery period, on the sprint, power and agility capabilities of elite academy footballers. Methods: Seventeen male apprentice academy football players were randomly assigned to two training groups, which both completed two training sessions per week for 10-weeks. A complex training group (CT) (n = 9) undertook a training program consisting of four different complex-exercise pairs; Four high-load resistance exercises (3 sets x 3 repetitions at 85% 1RM) (HRE) with two plyometric exercises (PLYO), and two Olympic-lifting style exercises (OLSE) for a total of four complex pairs. An 8-min recovery period following each HRE exercise was provided to allow for optimal PAP of the PLYO/OLSE. A normal training group (NT) (n = 8) performed the same exercises and total session volume as the CT group, however all of the PLYO/OLSE were executed prior to performance of the HRE exercises. Participants completed both pre and post-training intervention physical assessments; a countermovement jump test (CMJ), a seated medicine-ball throw test (Throw), a 40-m run sprint test (40-m), which incorporated a 0-10-m assessed phase (10-m) and the arrowhead agility test (Agility). Results: Findings from repeated-measures ANOVA tests indicated that CMJ performance significantly improved within the CT group (3.4% increase; P = 0.003) after the training intervention, while no improvement occurred for the NT group. Both groups significantly improved 10-m, 40-m and Throw post intervention, with no distinct differences in magnitude of improvement between groups. Agility performance was unchanged from pre to post intervention for both groups. Conclusion: A complex training programme, utilising an optimal PAP recovery period, resulted in significant improvements in jump performance in elite academy footballers. However these improvements in jump performance did not occur for footballers undertaking the same program without utilisation of PAP. This suggests that frequent longitudinal potentiation of plyometric and power training via high-load strength training resulted in specific adaptation and enhancement of jumping ability

Old English macian, Its Origin and Dissemination

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/66612/2/10.1177_007542428601900105.pd

Cost Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination in Older Adults: A Critical Review of Economic Evaluations for the 50- to 64-Year Age Group

Several recent studies have assessed the benefits of extending influenza vaccination programmes, which are currently targeted primarily at those aged over 65 years, to those aged 50-64 years. We identified and reviewed all cost-effectiveness studies of influenza vaccination in those aged 50-64 years published before July 2008. While the studies suggest that vaccination in this age-group is likely to be cost effective, these results were dependent on several key assumptions. The estimates of serious outcomes due to influenza and the estimates of vaccine effectiveness (VE) against these outcomes were found to have the most influence on cost effectiveness. However, due to factors including mismatches between the measure of VE and the outcome under consideration, as well as various other data limitations, there is significant uncertainty around these key assumptions that was not well explored. There was a failure in some studies to report fundamental inputs such as discount rates. Overall, there was a general lack of transparency in the studies and, consequently, the conclusions around the cost effectiveness of influenza vaccine in those aged 50-64 years must be interpreted with caution.

The cost-effectiveness of a universal influenza vaccination program for adults aged 50-64 years in Australia

Currently the Australian government funds universal influenza vaccine for all those aged >= 65 years under the National Immunisation Program (NIP). Annual. vaccination rates in those aged 50-64 years are significantly Lower than vaccination rates in those aged >= 65 years, and currently Less than half those at high-risk of influenza-related complications aged 50-64 years are immunised. This study used a decision tree model to examine the cost-effectiveness of Lowering the age threshold for the influenza NIP in Australia to include those aged 50-64 years. From a healthcare payer perspective, a new influenza vaccination policy would cost $8908/QALY gained. From a societal perspective, a new influenza vaccination policy would cost$833.8/QALY gained. From a governmental perspective, a new influenza vaccination policy would cost $22,408/QALY gained. The most influential parameters in deterministic sensitivity analysis included: probability of death due to influenza, vaccine efficacy against mortality, vaccine uptake, vaccine cost, and vaccine administration cost. Influenza vaccination for people aged 50-64 years appears highly cost-effective, and should be a strong candidate for funding under the NIP (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved