Effect of Nordic Walking on Functional Ability and Blood Pressure in Elderly Women

The aim of the study was to analyze the effects produced by the use of experimental program (Nordic polewalking) on functional abilities in elderly women. Three-month polewalking led to reduction in the pulse rate at rest, diastolic and systolic blood pressure at the level of significance of 0.01 (p=0.000). Polewalking improved the values of fitness index (FITIND) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) at the level of significance of 0.01 (p=0.000). On final measurement, three variables, i.e. pulse rate at rest – HRR (E=73.42 vs. C=79.68), systolic blood pressure – BPS (E=118.42 vs. C=123.65) and diastolic blood pressure – BPD (E=79.04 vs. C=83.54), showed lower results in experimental group compared with control group. On final measurement, experimental group showed higher values of the FITIND (E=81.79 vs. C=62.66) and VO2max (E=21.83 vs. C=16.81) variables as compared to control group. Accordingly, such a moderate physical activity, which is not too vigorous yet intensive enough to induce favorable changes, appears to be recommendable for elderly women. The present study included 60 women from the Novi Sad community, mean age 58.5±6.90 years, mean body mass 70.9±15.32 kg and mean body height 164.8±7.24 cm. Study population was divided into two groups of 30 subjects: experimental (E) group and control (C) group. The experimental program was performed three times a week for three months. The Nordic walking program was so designed for the performers to be in the aerobic work zone throughout the exercise. Nordic walking with poles was performed over three months. Study results revealed functional abilities of the study women to have modified during the longitudinal process

Correlation of Parental Socioeconomic Status Indicators with Morphological and Motor Dimensions of Preschool Children

Measuring instruments for assessment of parental socioeconomic status, anthropometric characteristics and motor abilities were used in a sample of 643 preschool children aged 4–6 years and their parents, recruited from preschool institutions in several towns in Voivodina, Serbia. The aim was to analyze the correlation of parental socioeconomic status indicators with morphological and motor dimensions of preschool children. Study results showed the socioeconomic status of the children’s families to be relatively homogeneous, with no statistically significant differences in any of the socioeconomic status indicators between families with male and female children. Male and female children differed significantly in the overall space of anthropometric and motor variables, and to a lesser extent in individual variables. The general morphological factor treated as the children’s growth and development, and general motor factor were qualitatively comparable. The correlations of socioeconomic factor with general morphological and motor factors of the children were not statistically significant, with the exception of motor factor in 6-year-old male children, at elementary school enrolment. Study results suggested the differences in biological growth and development and motor development recorded in preschool children from Voivodina, Serbia, to be attributable to hereditary factor rather than socioeconomic and environmental factors. Inclusion of older children and use of more socioeconomic status indicators along with some additional indicators should probably yield more reliable results on the issue

24-weeks Pilates-aerobic and educative training to improve body fat mass in elderly Serbian women

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in anthropometric measurements using an aerobic and Pilates exercise program which lasted 24 weeks.Method: This was a clinical intervention study of 303 women over the age of 60 living in Novi Sad, Serbia. Changes in body mass index and skinfold thickness were estimated through height, weight, and anthropometric measurements. The program comprised Pilates exercises for upper- and lower-body strength, agility, and aerobic capacity.Results: Fat mass (FM) improved significantly (pre-test, 32.89%, 8.65; post-test, 28.25%, 6.58; P0.05), but there was a higher correlation between FM (%) and waist–hip ratio (rho, 0.80; P<0.01).Conclusion: A mixed program of aerobics and Pilates, controls and improves baseline muscle mass and decreases FM values, without causing deterioration during practice and follow-up exercises.This study was funded by the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development in Novi Sad, and was entitled “The Influence of physical activity on risk factors in the working population” (number: 114-451-2337/2011-01)

Relationship between BMI and Skinfold Thicknesses to Risk Factors in Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women

Studies conducted on children and adults have pointed to the correlation of BMI (kg/m2) with risk factors for certain diseases. Other studies have stressed a more intense correlation between the risk factors and indicators of subcutaneous fat obtained in other ways. The aim of the study was to compare the intensity of correlation between the risk factors and triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness in relation to BMI. The study included 53 postmenopausal and 107 premenopausal women, the risk factors were assessed upon systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glucose concentration, triglyceride and cholesterol levels. Statistically significant differences were established in almost all variables referring to premenopausal and postmenopausal women, except in body height, subscapular skinfold thickness and triglyceride concentration. Significant correlation with the risk factors was detected in BMI and both skinfold thicknesses, while the subscapular thickness correlates more intensively with the risk factors than it is the case with the triceps thickness. The results indicate that BMI equally correlates with risk factors as well as skinfold thickness

Physical Fitness Comparison and Quality of life between Spanish-Serbian Elderly Women through a Physical Fitness Program

The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness and quality of life related to the health of a sample population of older adult women from Spain and Serbia (60-69 years). A total of 127 female participants of physical fitness programs from Spain (64.33±3.26) and Serbia (63.00±2.88) have participated. Physical fitness, quality of life and socio-demographic characteristics were evaluated by Senior Fitness Test, SF-36 Health Survey and socio-demographic questionnaire, respectively. The anthropometric characteristic was measured by corporal measurement. The physical fitness program comprised exercise of strength, agility and aerobic capacity, centering on the Pilates’ program and Aerobic dance. Mean body mass index was 33.6±7.4 kg·m-2 in the Spanish participants and 25.1±2.6 kg·m-2 from the Serbian participants (P<0.001). Similarly, mean waist circumference and body weight of Spanish women was higher than Serbian (P<0.001; P<0.05, respectively). Spanish women perceived lower quality of life dimensions than Serbian women, such as physical functioning, social functioning and general health (P<0.001), general health (P<0.01) and vitality (P<0.05). Serbian participants experienced higher physical fitness, such as upper body flexibility (P<0.05), lower body flexibility, agility and aerobic endurance (P<0.001). In conclusion, Serbian women were found to have better levels of physical fitness and quality of life than Spanish women. Furthermore, endurance fitness has 73% of explained variance with age, body mass index and fat mass

THE INFLUENCE OF BODY COMPOSITION AND AGE ON THE BLOOD PRESSURE OF FEMALES OF DIFFERENT AGES

Genetic factors play an important role, but most important of all is their interaction with metabolical syndromes, specifically obesity. So far it has been confirmed in certain studies that blood pressure value is connected to age and obesity.  The aim of his study was to determine whether or not there is a relation between body composition and age that affects systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Material and methods: The data from the current research have been collected within the scientific research project titled “Anthropological status and physical activity of the population in Vojvodina”, which was realized by the Faculty of Sports and Physical Education in Novi Sad, financed by the Provincial Secretariat for Science and Technological Development. Based on 102 female participants, aged 20 to 49, from the city of Novi Sad, an assessment of blood pressure and body composition parameterswas conductedusing a digital camera OMRON M4-1 and bioelectric impedance Maltron 920. The relations between the studied variables were examined using Pierson’s correlation analysis and a regression analysis. Results: Based on the gathered multiple correlation coefficients (R) and other parameters (F tests and statistical significance P), it can be concluded that there in fact is a certain correlation between the prediction system of variables, body composition and the criteria, blood pressure assessment variables. By analyzing the coefficients of regression, individual influences of the variables of the prediction system on the criteria variables were noted. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that an obvious influence of body composition onsystolic and diastolic pressure exists. This study also suggests that the percentage of fat in the body is a better indicator of blood pressure than age.

EFFECTS OF WEIGHT LIFTING ON MUSCULAR POWER OF FEMALES

Physical non-activity and bad life style are common among young people nowadays, and they cause many problems with which female could meet. Fitness clbus have unique possibility to ensure time, staff and space for physical activity of young people, and in that way help the promotion of their health. The status of dynamometric power of upper and lower extremities and torso. On the sample of 52 female students aged between 20 and 24. All tests showed statisticaly significiant effect in final measurement compared to initial measurement, after a eight week training treatment

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES OF GIRLS AND THEIR PARENTS WITH GIRLS` ATTITUDES PHYSI CAL ACTIVITY

The re se arch was con duc ted on the sam ple of 222 pa rents of ele men tary school - girls, aged 6-7 years from No vi Sad, Som bor, Srem ska Mi tro vi ca, Bač ka Pa lan ka and Zre nja nin. Physi cal ac ti vi ti es of ma le chil dren and the ir pa rents we re al so eva lu a ted by the ir pa rents. That is the ti me when chil dren can con sti tu te ha bits for physi cal exer ci ses. Pas si ve at ti tu de of fe ma le chil dren to wards physi cal exer ci ses are the con se qu en ces of the sa me at ti tu des sha red by pa rents. Wit hin re se arch it is fo und out that the re is a hu ge im por tan ce of pa rents’ par ti ci pa tion in chil dren’s ac ti vi ti es. That in clu des how much chil dren are physi cal ac ti ve per we ek

EVALUATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL ABILITIES OF TRAINEES OF NORDIC WALKING WITH UKK2-TEST

The research included (N=60) females from the territory of Municipality of Novi Sad. The sample of individuals included females of the average age of 58.5 ±6.90, average body mass of 70.9 kg±15.32, and average body height of 164.8 m±7.24. The walking test of 2 kilometres of length offers the possibility to determine the Fitness Index (general ability) and evaluate maximal consumption of oxygen VO2max. Since the individuals were older, very demanding tests were not recommendable, so we chose UKK test of 2 kilometre walking. Although it engages great muscle groups, it is not considered a risky activity which can bring to quick body exhaustion. Nordic walking is very convenient for intensifying of the training, and the important thing is that it protects joints. The use of sticks off-loads the whole passive composition for moving, such as ligaments and connective tissues, back and joints (especially knees), for some 15 to 35 tonnes per hour. Because of that, Nordic walking is ideal as a rehabilitation sport for people with orthopaedic disorders. The protocol of the test requires observation of the air temperature in the span of 5 - 25°C, moderate humidity, casual clothes or sweat suit and appropriate clothes and sneakers, and 5 to 10 minutes of warm-up: stretching of the spine muscles, legs muscles, and fast walking of 200 meters. After such preparations, the test starts, and each individual sets own tempo of walking. After 2 kilometres, we measure achieved time and the value of the puls

AGE AND BODY COMPOSITION OF PHYSICALLY ACTIVE FEMALES

During the process of aging at female population, certain changes in body composition take place. Those changes are inevitable and mainly biologically conditioned (Nassis & Geladas (2003); Heymsfield, Lohman, Wang & Going, 2005). Previous researches confirmed positive effects of regular exercising and programmed exercising on body composition. Promotion of motor and functional abilities, and consequently morphological characteristics, application of appropriate recreational activities, greatly influences “delay” of aging and rules which this process is bringing (Mišigoj-Duraković, 2006). The aim of this research was to establish whether there are statistically significant variances in body composition between the groups of individuals that actively exercise, and in relation to the age. The sample of individuals was made of 49 women in total (30-49 years of age) that actively exercise in the fitness club „World Class“, Novi Sad. The individuals were grouped in two sub-samples, in relation to the age. The first sub-sample was made of individuals of 30-39 years of age (N=21), and the second sub-sample of individuals of 40-49 years of age (N=28). Application of t test for independent samples established statistically significant variances between pairs of groups in variables Body weight, Fat mass and Body mass index (p<0,05)