J Sport Med Phys Fit
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J Sport Med Phys Fit · Sep 2010
The effect of 6-week combined agility-balance training on neuromuscular performance in basketball players.
The study evaluates the effect of 6-week combined agility-balance training on neuromuscular performance in basketball players. ⋯ It may be concluded that balance exercises performed simultaneously with reaction tasks represent an effective means for improvement of neuromuscular performance in elite athletes.
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J Sport Med Phys Fit · Jun 2009
Nerve conduction studies of the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves in elite ice hockey players.
The peripheral nerves of the upper extremity are exposed to acute and chronic mechanical injuries in ice hockey players, because of the high repetition of motions, high muscular forces and extreme shoulder positions. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of ice hockey playing on the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves crossing the upper arm region. ⋯ The authors suggest two plausible causes for prolonged radial nerve DML: direct compression by the hypertrophied triceps muscle and stretching of the arm. The study suggests it is likely that a combination of skeletal muscle hypertrophy and excessive biomechanical demands on neurological structures during ice hockey matches may be a major etiologic factor in compression of the axillary, musculocutaneous and radial nerves.
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J Sport Med Phys Fit · Mar 2009
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudySupervised exercise versus non-supervised exercise for reducing weight in obese adults.
The prevalence of obesity is rising. Because obesity is positively associated with many health related risks and negatively associated with life expectancy this is a threat to public health. Physical exercise is a well known method to lose fat mass. Due to shame of their appearance, bad general condition and social isolation, starting and continuing physical exercise tends to be problematic for obese adults. A supervised training program could be useful to overcome such negative factors. In this study we hypothesized that offering a supervised exercise program for obese adults would lead to greater benefits in body fat and total body mass reduction than a non-specific oral advice to increase their physical activity. ⋯ Stimulation of physical activity alone seems to result in a slight short term body mass and fat mass reduction in obese adults who are eager to lose weight. Supervised exercise under supervision of a qualified fitness instructor leads to a larger decrease.
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J Sport Med Phys Fit · Dec 2008
Comparative StudyCardiac autonomic profile in different sports disciplines during all-day activity.
Physical training and sport activity have a beneficial effect on cardiac autonomic activity. However, the exact impact of different types of sports disciplines on cardiac autonomic function is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardiac autonomic profile in different sports discplines and to determine their impact on cardiac autonomic function by using heart rate variability (HRV), a noninvasive electrocardiographic (ECG) analysis of the sympatho-vagal balance. ⋯ Both endurance and team playing athletic activity induce during all-day a high parasympathetic tone (higher RMSSD, pNN50 and HF, and lower LF/HF ratio). However, only endurance athletic activity has a particularly high global HRV (higher SDNN), indicating thereby that this type sports discipline may have a more substantially favorable effect on the cardiac autonomic profile.
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J Sport Med Phys Fit · Jun 2008
Relationship of obesity with physical activity, aerobic fitness and muscle strength in Flemish adults.
The aim of this study was to analyse differences in physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength between normal weight, overweight and obese adults and to investigate the role of physical activity variables in the analyses of differences in CRF and muscle strength between these groups. ⋯ This study confirms the lower level of physical activity and the impaired CRF and knee strength in obese adults compared to their lean counterparts. This study also sustains the importance of measuring WC and CRF during clinical examinations.