Ángel Denche-Zamorano, Damián Pereira-Payo, Daniel Collado-Mateo, José Carmelo Adsuar-Sala, Pablo Tomas-Carus, Jose Alberto Parraca
Background: People with fibromyalgia (FM) experience a range of symptoms (chronic widespread pain, fatigue, mood disorder, sleep problems, muscle stiffness) that promote deterioration of physical condition and function. With impaired physical function, fear of falling and risk of falling increases. This study evaluated physical function, self-perceived physical fitness, falls, quality of life, and the degree of disability caused by FM according to fear and risk of falling in Spanish adult women with FM. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 84 Spanish adult women with FM. Participants completed tests to assess their physical function and completed questionnaires to evaluate self-perceived physical fitness, falls, the disabling effect of FM, quality of life, fear of falling, and risk of falling. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to analyze possible intergroup differences (Mann-Whitney U test) and correlations between variables (Spearman's Rho). Results: Women with a fear of falling and at risk of falling presented a worse performance in physical tests, worse self-perceived physical fitness, greater number of falls, lower quality of life, and greater degree of disability due to FM. Weak and moderate correlations were found for fear of falling and fall risk and the variables of interest. However, no intergroup differences were found, nor significant correlations in all variables. Conclusions: Women with FM who present fear of falling and risk of falling tend to have worse performance in physical function tests, in addition to worse self-perceived physical fitness, higher number of falls, poorer quality of life, and greater disabling effect of FM.
背景:纤维肌痛(FM)患者会出现一系列症状(慢性广泛性疼痛、疲劳、情绪障碍、睡眠问题、肌肉僵硬),导致身体状况和功能恶化。随着身体功能受损,对跌倒的恐惧和跌倒的风险也会增加。本研究根据患有 FM 的西班牙成年女性对跌倒的恐惧和风险,对其身体功能、自我感觉体能、跌倒、生活质量以及 FM 导致的残疾程度进行了评估。研究方法横断面研究,涉及 84 名患有 FM 的西班牙成年女性。参与者完成了评估身体功能的测试,并填写了评估自我感觉体能、跌倒、FM致残影响、生活质量、跌倒恐惧和跌倒风险的问卷。采用非参数统计检验分析可能存在的组间差异(Mann-Whitney U 检验)和变量之间的相关性(Spearman's Rho)。结果害怕摔倒和有摔倒风险的女性在体能测试中表现较差,自我感觉体能较差,摔倒次数较多,生活质量较低,因患 FM 而致残的程度较高。研究发现,跌倒恐惧和跌倒风险与相关变量之间存在微弱和中等程度的相关性。但是,没有发现组间差异,也没有发现所有变量之间的显著相关性。结论是有跌倒恐惧和跌倒风险的女性 FM 患者往往在身体功能测试中表现较差,此外,她们的自我感觉体能也较差,跌倒次数较多,生活质量较差,FM 的致残率也较高。
{"title":"Physical Function, Self-Perceived Physical Fitness, Falls, Quality of Life and Degree of Disability According to Fear and Risk of Falling in Women with Fibromyalgia.","authors":"Ángel Denche-Zamorano, Damián Pereira-Payo, Daniel Collado-Mateo, José Carmelo Adsuar-Sala, Pablo Tomas-Carus, Jose Alberto Parraca","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030174","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> People with fibromyalgia (FM) experience a range of symptoms (chronic widespread pain, fatigue, mood disorder, sleep problems, muscle stiffness) that promote deterioration of physical condition and function. With impaired physical function, fear of falling and risk of falling increases. This study evaluated physical function, self-perceived physical fitness, falls, quality of life, and the degree of disability caused by FM according to fear and risk of falling in Spanish adult women with FM. <b>Methods:</b> Cross-sectional study involving 84 Spanish adult women with FM. Participants completed tests to assess their physical function and completed questionnaires to evaluate self-perceived physical fitness, falls, the disabling effect of FM, quality of life, fear of falling, and risk of falling. Nonparametric statistical tests were used to analyze possible intergroup differences (Mann-Whitney U test) and correlations between variables (Spearman's Rho). <b>Results:</b> Women with a fear of falling and at risk of falling presented a worse performance in physical tests, worse self-perceived physical fitness, greater number of falls, lower quality of life, and greater degree of disability due to FM. Weak and moderate correlations were found for fear of falling and fall risk and the variables of interest. However, no intergroup differences were found, nor significant correlations in all variables. <b>Conclusions:</b> Women with FM who present fear of falling and risk of falling tend to have worse performance in physical function tests, in addition to worse self-perceived physical fitness, higher number of falls, poorer quality of life, and greater disabling effect of FM.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432931/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142348210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrea Segreti, Chiara Fossati, Luigi Maria Monticelli, Daniele Valente, Dajana Polito, Emiliano Guerra, Andrea Zampoli, Giorgio Albimonti, Biagio Zampogna, Sebastiano Vasta, Rocco Papalia, Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, Fabio Pigozzi, Francesco Grigioni
Background: A knee injury in an athlete leads to periods of forced exercise interruption. Myocardial work (MW) assessed by echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) are two essential methods for evaluating athletes during the period following injury. However, compared to pre-surgery evaluations, the variations in cardiovascular parameters and functional capacity assessed by these methods after surgery remain unclear. Methods: We evaluated 22 non-professional athletes aged 18-52, involved in prevalently aerobic or alternate aerobic/anaerobic sports activities, who were affected by a knee pathology requiring surgical treatment. The evaluation was performed at rest using transthoracic echocardiography, including MW assessment, and during exercise using CPET. Each athlete underwent the following two evaluations: the first before surgery and the second after surgery (specifically at the end of the deconditioning period). Results: Resting heart rate (HR) increased significantly (from 63.3 ± 10.85 to 71.2 ± 12.52 beats per minute, p = 0.041), while resting diastolic and systolic blood pressure, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in the first second did not show significant changes. Regarding the echocardiographic data, global longitudinal strain decreased from -18.9 ± 1.8 to -19.3 ± 1.75; however, this reduction was not statistically significant (p = 0.161). However, the global work efficiency (GWE) increased significantly (from 93.0% ± 2.9 to 94.8% ± 2.6, p = 0.006) and global wasted work (GWW) reduced significantly (from 141.4 ± 74.07 to 98.0 ± 50.9, p = 0.007). Additionally, the patients were able to perform maximal CPET at both pre- and post-surgery evaluations, as demonstrated by the peak respiratory exchange ratio and HR. However, the improved myocardial contractility (increased GWE and decreased GWW) observed at rest did not translate into significant changes in exercise parameters, such as peak oxygen consumption and the mean ventilation/carbon dioxide slope. Conclusions: After surgery, the athletes were more deconditioned (as indicated by a higher resting HR) but exhibited better resting myocardial contractility (increased GWE and reduced GWW). Interestingly, no significant changes in exercise capacity parameters, as evaluated by CPET, were found after surgery, suggesting that the improved myocardial contractility was offset by a greater degree of muscular deconditioning.
{"title":"Changes in Cardiopulmonary Capacity Parameters after Surgery: A Pilot Study Exploring the Link between Heart Function and Knee Surgery.","authors":"Andrea Segreti, Chiara Fossati, Luigi Maria Monticelli, Daniele Valente, Dajana Polito, Emiliano Guerra, Andrea Zampoli, Giorgio Albimonti, Biagio Zampogna, Sebastiano Vasta, Rocco Papalia, Raffaele Antonelli Incalzi, Fabio Pigozzi, Francesco Grigioni","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030172","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030172","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: A knee injury in an athlete leads to periods of forced exercise interruption. Myocardial work (MW) assessed by echocardiographic and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) are two essential methods for evaluating athletes during the period following injury. However, compared to pre-surgery evaluations, the variations in cardiovascular parameters and functional capacity assessed by these methods after surgery remain unclear. <b>Methods</b>: We evaluated 22 non-professional athletes aged 18-52, involved in prevalently aerobic or alternate aerobic/anaerobic sports activities, who were affected by a knee pathology requiring surgical treatment. The evaluation was performed at rest using transthoracic echocardiography, including MW assessment, and during exercise using CPET. Each athlete underwent the following two evaluations: the first before surgery and the second after surgery (specifically at the end of the deconditioning period). <b>Results</b>: Resting heart rate (HR) increased significantly (from 63.3 ± 10.85 to 71.2 ± 12.52 beats per minute, <i>p</i> = 0.041), while resting diastolic and systolic blood pressure, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in the first second did not show significant changes. Regarding the echocardiographic data, global longitudinal strain decreased from -18.9 ± 1.8 to -19.3 ± 1.75; however, this reduction was not statistically significant (<i>p</i> = 0.161). However, the global work efficiency (GWE) increased significantly (from 93.0% ± 2.9 to 94.8% ± 2.6, <i>p</i> = 0.006) and global wasted work (GWW) reduced significantly (from 141.4 ± 74.07 to 98.0 ± 50.9, <i>p</i> = 0.007). Additionally, the patients were able to perform maximal CPET at both pre- and post-surgery evaluations, as demonstrated by the peak respiratory exchange ratio and HR. However, the improved myocardial contractility (increased GWE and decreased GWW) observed at rest did not translate into significant changes in exercise parameters, such as peak oxygen consumption and the mean ventilation/carbon dioxide slope. <b>Conclusions</b>: After surgery, the athletes were more deconditioned (as indicated by a higher resting HR) but exhibited better resting myocardial contractility (increased GWE and reduced GWW). Interestingly, no significant changes in exercise capacity parameters, as evaluated by CPET, were found after surgery, suggesting that the improved myocardial contractility was offset by a greater degree of muscular deconditioning.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432772/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142348208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gabriele Santilli, Francesco Ioppolo, Massimiliano Mangone, Francesco Agostini, Andrea Bernetti, Sara Forleo, Sara Cazzolla, Anna Camilla Mannino, Alessio Fricano, Antonio Franchitto, Samanta Taurone, Antonello Ciccarelli, Marco Paoloni
Background: Chronic lateral epicondylitis (LE), also known as tennis elbow, affects 1-3% of the population, primarily those over 40 years old. Most cases resolve with conservative treatments, but some require more advanced interventions. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as a non-surgical treatment option, utilizing either low- or high-energy levels to alleviate pain and improve function. Objective: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-energy versus high-energy ESWT in the treatment of chronic LE, focusing on pain relief and functional improvement. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted including patients treated for chronic LE between 2021 and 2024. Participants were divided into two groups: low-energy ESWT (0.10 mJ/mm2) and high-energy ESWT (0.20 mJ/mm2). Both groups received 2400 pulses at a frequency of 6 Hz once a week for three weeks. Pain and functional outcomes were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire (PRTEE) at the baseline, three months (T1), and six months (T2) post-treatment. Results: Forty-six patients participated, with 24 in the low-energy group and 22 in the high-energy group. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were similar across groups. At T1 and T2, the low-energy group showed significantly greater reductions in the VAS scores (T1: 4.45 ± 0.8 vs. 3.6 ± 1.7, p = 0.04; T2: 3.2 ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 ± 1.1, p = 0.004) and PRTEE scores (T1: 34.3 ± 6.9 vs. 26.8 ± 11.9, p = 0.03; T2: 25.3 ± 6 vs. 17.6 ± 9, p = 0.005). Significant treatment-time interactions were observed for both the VAS and PRTEE scores, indicating sustained improvements in the low-energy group. Conclusions: Low-energy ESWT was more effective than high-energy ESWT in treating chronic LE, providing greater and longer-lasting pain relief and functional improvement. These findings suggest that low-energy ESWT should be preferred in clinical practice for managing this condition. Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and randomized controlled trials to confirm these results and explore the underlying mechanisms of differential efficacy between energy levels.
{"title":"High Versus Low-Energy Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Lateral Epicondylitis: A Retrospective Study.","authors":"Gabriele Santilli, Francesco Ioppolo, Massimiliano Mangone, Francesco Agostini, Andrea Bernetti, Sara Forleo, Sara Cazzolla, Anna Camilla Mannino, Alessio Fricano, Antonio Franchitto, Samanta Taurone, Antonello Ciccarelli, Marco Paoloni","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk9030173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Chronic lateral epicondylitis (LE), also known as tennis elbow, affects 1-3% of the population, primarily those over 40 years old. Most cases resolve with conservative treatments, but some require more advanced interventions. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as a non-surgical treatment option, utilizing either low- or high-energy levels to alleviate pain and improve function. <b>Objective</b>: This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-energy versus high-energy ESWT in the treatment of chronic LE, focusing on pain relief and functional improvement. <b>Methods</b>: A retrospective observational study was conducted including patients treated for chronic LE between 2021 and 2024. Participants were divided into two groups: low-energy ESWT (0.10 mJ/mm<sup>2</sup>) and high-energy ESWT (0.20 mJ/mm<sup>2</sup>). Both groups received 2400 pulses at a frequency of 6 Hz once a week for three weeks. Pain and functional outcomes were measured using a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Patient-Rated Tennis Elbow Evaluation Questionnaire (PRTEE) at the baseline, three months (T1), and six months (T2) post-treatment. <b>Results</b>: Forty-six patients participated, with 24 in the low-energy group and 22 in the high-energy group. Baseline demographics and clinical characteristics were similar across groups. At T1 and T2, the low-energy group showed significantly greater reductions in the VAS scores (T1: 4.45 ± 0.8 vs. 3.6 ± 1.7, <i>p</i> = 0.04; T2: 3.2 ± 1.2 vs. 2.1 ± 1.1, <i>p</i> = 0.004) and PRTEE scores (T1: 34.3 ± 6.9 vs. 26.8 ± 11.9, <i>p</i> = 0.03; T2: 25.3 ± 6 vs. 17.6 ± 9, <i>p</i> = 0.005). Significant treatment-time interactions were observed for both the VAS and PRTEE scores, indicating sustained improvements in the low-energy group. <b>Conclusions</b>: Low-energy ESWT was more effective than high-energy ESWT in treating chronic LE, providing greater and longer-lasting pain relief and functional improvement. These findings suggest that low-energy ESWT should be preferred in clinical practice for managing this condition. Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and randomized controlled trials to confirm these results and explore the underlying mechanisms of differential efficacy between energy levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11432994/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142348209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
María Serna-Martínez, Sandra Ribes-Hernández, Ignacio Martínez-González-Moro
Background: Nordic walking (NW) is a physical sports activity that has been sufficiently studied from the point of view of health, but physiological and performance analyses have not been so much. Objectives: With this study, we intend to analyse the physical work areas, according to ventilatory thresholds, that occur during a NW competition. Methods: Four participants of different characteristics anthropometrics (weight 57.6-85.6 kg; height 165.8-178 cm; and fat percentage 14.5-21.5%) gender (3 males and 1 female) and age (15-57 years) who participated in the NW regional championship have been chosen, and their electrocardiographic tracing was recorded using a NUUBO® device throughout the race, obtaining average and maximum heart rates (HR) in eight sections of the circuit. Previously, in the laboratory, a maximal stress test was performed to determine the maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory threshold (VT). With these data, four work areas were obtained. Results: Most of the sections of the circuit were conducted with average HRs in zone 2a (above average between VT1 and VT2 but below VT2) and peak HRs in zone 3 (between VT2 and VO2max). Conclusions: We conclude that, with the data collected on HR, VO2max, and VT, the training zones obtained can be related to the heart rates in the different sections of the circuit. This can be used to improve the sports performance of the walkers.
{"title":"Oxygen Consumption, Ventilatory Thresholds, and Work Zones in Nordic Walking Competitors.","authors":"María Serna-Martínez, Sandra Ribes-Hernández, Ignacio Martínez-González-Moro","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030171","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030171","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> Nordic walking (NW) is a physical sports activity that has been sufficiently studied from the point of view of health, but physiological and performance analyses have not been so much. <b>Objectives:</b> With this study, we intend to analyse the physical work areas, according to ventilatory thresholds, that occur during a NW competition. <b>Methods:</b> Four participants of different characteristics anthropometrics (weight 57.6-85.6 kg; height 165.8-178 cm; and fat percentage 14.5-21.5%) gender (3 males and 1 female) and age (15-57 years) who participated in the NW regional championship have been chosen, and their electrocardiographic tracing was recorded using a NUUBO<sup>®</sup> device throughout the race, obtaining average and maximum heart rates (HR) in eight sections of the circuit. Previously, in the laboratory, a maximal stress test was performed to determine the maximum oxygen consumption (VO<sub>2</sub>max), the first (VT1) and second (VT2) ventilatory threshold (VT). With these data, four work areas were obtained. <b>Results:</b> Most of the sections of the circuit were conducted with average HRs in zone 2a (above average between VT1 and VT2 but below VT2) and peak HRs in zone 3 (between VT2 and VO<sub>2</sub>max). <b>Conclusions</b>: We conclude that, with the data collected on HR, VO<sub>2</sub>max, and VT, the training zones obtained can be related to the heart rates in the different sections of the circuit. This can be used to improve the sports performance of the walkers.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417892/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289250","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Tommaso Di Libero, Lavinia Falese, Annalisa D'Ermo, Beatrice Tosti, Stefano Corrado, Alice Iannaccone, Pierluigi Diotaiuti, Angelo Rodio
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors, negatively impacting mental and physical health. Engaging in physical activity at home during quarantine became essential to counteracting these adverse effects. To develop appropriate physical activity programs, assessing individuals' fitness levels and the impact of inactivity is crucial. This study aims to compare motor abilities-including flexibility, balance, reaction time, cardiovascular endurance, and lower and upper limb strength-assessed both in-person and remotely, to determine the accuracy and repeatability of self-administered tests. Methods: A total of 35 young subjects (age 24.2 ± 1.97 years, BMI 22.4 ± 2.61 kg/m2) participated in this study. Each participant underwent a battery of motor ability tests designed to assess various fitness components. The tests were administered twice for each subject: once in a laboratory setting and once remotely at home. The sequence of tests was randomly assigned to ensure unbiased results. Both the in-person and remote assessments were used to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of self-administered tests. Results: The comparison of test results between the laboratory and remote settings revealed percentage differences ranging from 5% to 10%. This variation is considered an acceptable margin of error, suggesting that the tests conducted remotely were relatively accurate when compared to those performed in a controlled laboratory environment. Conclusions: The findings indicate that remote fitness testing is a promising method for evaluating motor abilities. With an acceptable margin of error, remote assessments can be effectively used to personalize training programs based on individuals' physiological characteristics. This approach may be particularly beneficial during times of limited access to fitness facilities, such as during quarantine, or for individuals seeking more flexible fitness evaluation methods.
{"title":"Physiological Profile Assessment and Self-Measurement of Healthy Students through Remote Protocol during COVID-19 Lockdown.","authors":"Tommaso Di Libero, Lavinia Falese, Annalisa D'Ermo, Beatrice Tosti, Stefano Corrado, Alice Iannaccone, Pierluigi Diotaiuti, Angelo Rodio","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030170","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030170","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to reduced physical activity and increased sedentary behaviors, negatively impacting mental and physical health. Engaging in physical activity at home during quarantine became essential to counteracting these adverse effects. To develop appropriate physical activity programs, assessing individuals' fitness levels and the impact of inactivity is crucial. This study aims to compare motor abilities-including flexibility, balance, reaction time, cardiovascular endurance, and lower and upper limb strength-assessed both in-person and remotely, to determine the accuracy and repeatability of self-administered tests. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 35 young subjects (age 24.2 ± 1.97 years, BMI 22.4 ± 2.61 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) participated in this study. Each participant underwent a battery of motor ability tests designed to assess various fitness components. The tests were administered twice for each subject: once in a laboratory setting and once remotely at home. The sequence of tests was randomly assigned to ensure unbiased results. Both the in-person and remote assessments were used to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of self-administered tests. <b>Results</b>: The comparison of test results between the laboratory and remote settings revealed percentage differences ranging from 5% to 10%. This variation is considered an acceptable margin of error, suggesting that the tests conducted remotely were relatively accurate when compared to those performed in a controlled laboratory environment. <b>Conclusions</b>: The findings indicate that remote fitness testing is a promising method for evaluating motor abilities. With an acceptable margin of error, remote assessments can be effectively used to personalize training programs based on individuals' physiological characteristics. This approach may be particularly beneficial during times of limited access to fitness facilities, such as during quarantine, or for individuals seeking more flexible fitness evaluation methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417732/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background/Objectives: Previous evidence has shown that American football headgear (e.g., facemasks, visors/eye shields) differentially impairs reaction time (RT) to visual stimuli, most notably in peripheral fields of view. However, this has only been established with stationary RT testing, which may not translate to gameplay situations that require gross motor skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to build upon previous findings to elucidate the effects of various American football headgear on gross motor visuomotor drill performance. Methods: Division 1 NCAA football players (n = 16) with normal/corrected-to-normal vision participated and completed two experiments (EXP), each with differing conditions: EXP1- Varying facemask reinforcement and EXP2- Varying visor/eye shield light transmittance. In EXP1, participants completed an agility test for the following conditions: baseline/no helmet (BL), helmet + light (HL), helmet + medium (HM), and helmet + heavy (HH) face mask reinforcement. In EXP2, participants completed an agility test for the following conditions: baseline/no helmet (BL), helmet + clear visor (HCV), helmet + smoke-tinted visor (HSV), and helmet + mirrored visor (HMV). For each condition in EXP1 and EXP2, participants completed a reactive agility task using a FITLIGHT trainer system where five poles were equipped with a total of ten LED sensors and were placed in a semi-circle 1 m around a center point. Participants were asked to step and reach with their hands to hit each ten lights individually as fast as possible upon illumination. Each reactive agility test was repeated for a total of three attempts. Results: Average reaction time was analyzed and compared between conditions and according to visual fields of interest (e.g., central vs. peripheral). Results from EXP1 showed that compared to BL, reactive agility was worsened by HL (p = 0.030), HM (p = 0.034), and HH (p = 0.003) conditions. No differences between facemask conditions existed for overall performance (p > 0.05). For EXP2, HCV (p < 0.001), HSV (p < 0.001), and HMV (p < 0.001) conditions resulted in worsened reactive agility performance compared to BL. No differences between visor conditions existed for overall performance (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, these findings suggest that American football headgear impairs reactive agility, which could result in worsened game performance and safety. Future studies investigating training strategies to overcome impairments are warranted.
{"title":"American Football Headgear Impairs Visuomotor Drill Performance in Division I NCAA Football Athletes.","authors":"Christopher G Ballmann, Rebecca R Rogers","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030169","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030169","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Previous evidence has shown that American football headgear (e.g., facemasks, visors/eye shields) differentially impairs reaction time (RT) to visual stimuli, most notably in peripheral fields of view. However, this has only been established with stationary RT testing, which may not translate to gameplay situations that require gross motor skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to build upon previous findings to elucidate the effects of various American football headgear on gross motor visuomotor drill performance. <b>Methods:</b> Division 1 NCAA football players (n = 16) with normal/corrected-to-normal vision participated and completed two experiments (EXP), each with differing conditions: EXP1- Varying facemask reinforcement and EXP2- Varying visor/eye shield light transmittance. In EXP1, participants completed an agility test for the following conditions: baseline/no helmet (BL), helmet + light (HL), helmet + medium (HM), and helmet + heavy (HH) face mask reinforcement. In EXP2, participants completed an agility test for the following conditions: baseline/no helmet (BL), helmet + clear visor (HCV), helmet + smoke-tinted visor (HSV), and helmet + mirrored visor (HMV). For each condition in EXP1 and EXP2, participants completed a reactive agility task using a FITLIGHT trainer system where five poles were equipped with a total of ten LED sensors and were placed in a semi-circle 1 m around a center point. Participants were asked to step and reach with their hands to hit each ten lights individually as fast as possible upon illumination. Each reactive agility test was repeated for a total of three attempts. <b>Results:</b> Average reaction time was analyzed and compared between conditions and according to visual fields of interest (e.g., central vs. peripheral). Results from EXP1 showed that compared to BL, reactive agility was worsened by HL (<i>p</i> = 0.030), HM (<i>p</i> = 0.034), and HH (<i>p</i> = 0.003) conditions. No differences between facemask conditions existed for overall performance (<i>p</i> > 0.05). For EXP2, HCV (<i>p</i> < 0.001), HSV (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and HMV (<i>p</i> < 0.001) conditions resulted in worsened reactive agility performance compared to BL. No differences between visor conditions existed for overall performance (<i>p</i> > 0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> Overall, these findings suggest that American football headgear impairs reactive agility, which could result in worsened game performance and safety. Future studies investigating training strategies to overcome impairments are warranted.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417846/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289226","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
María Alejandra Camacho-Villa, Jhon Hurtado-Alcoser, Andrés Santiago Jerez, Juan Carlos Saavedra, Erika Tatiana Paredes Prada, Jeimy Andrea Merchán, Fernando Millan-Domingo, Carlos Silva-Polanía, Adrián De la Rosa
Background: In volleyball, the upper limb dimensions and grip strength greatly influence offensive and defensive movements during a match. However, the relationship between these parameters remains underexplored in elite female volleyball players. Objective: This study aimed to contrast the upper limb anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength (HGS) of female elite volleyball players against a control group. Methods: Selected upper limb anthropometric parameters and maximal HGS of 42 female volleyball players and 40 non-athletes were measured. Results: Players exhibited higher values in almost all variables studied than non-athletes. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001) except for body mass index and elbow and wrist diameters. Players showed a moderate correlation between dominant HGS and hand parameters (length r = 0.43 and breadth r = 0.63; p < 0.05). Weak correlations were identified with height, upper arm length, elbow diameter, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.38; p < 0.05). In the non-dominant hand, a moderate correlation with handbreadth (r = 0.55, p ≤ 0.01) and weak correlations with upper arm length, wrist diameter, hand length, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.35; p ≤ 0.05) was found. Conclusions: These findings underscore the importance of the upper limb anthropometric parameters as predictors of HGS and their utility in athlete selection. Future research should investigate biomechanical factors influencing HGS and injury prevention.
{"title":"Handgrip Strength and Upper Limb Anthropometric Characteristics among Latin American Female Volleyball Players.","authors":"María Alejandra Camacho-Villa, Jhon Hurtado-Alcoser, Andrés Santiago Jerez, Juan Carlos Saavedra, Erika Tatiana Paredes Prada, Jeimy Andrea Merchán, Fernando Millan-Domingo, Carlos Silva-Polanía, Adrián De la Rosa","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030168","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030168","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> In volleyball, the upper limb dimensions and grip strength greatly influence offensive and defensive movements during a match. However, the relationship between these parameters remains underexplored in elite female volleyball players. <b>Objective:</b> This study aimed to contrast the upper limb anthropometric characteristics and handgrip strength (HGS) of female elite volleyball players against a control group. <b>Methods:</b> Selected upper limb anthropometric parameters and maximal HGS of 42 female volleyball players and 40 non-athletes were measured. <b>Results:</b> Players exhibited higher values in almost all variables studied than non-athletes. The differences were statistically significant (<i>p</i> < 0.001) except for body mass index and elbow and wrist diameters. Players showed a moderate correlation between dominant HGS and hand parameters (length r = 0.43 and breadth r = 0.63; <i>p</i> < 0.05). Weak correlations were identified with height, upper arm length, elbow diameter, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.38; <i>p</i> < 0.05). In the non-dominant hand, a moderate correlation with handbreadth (r = 0.55, <i>p</i> ≤ 0.01) and weak correlations with upper arm length, wrist diameter, hand length, and hand shape index (r = 0.32 to 0.35; <i>p</i> ≤ 0.05) was found. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings underscore the importance of the upper limb anthropometric parameters as predictors of HGS and their utility in athlete selection. Future research should investigate biomechanical factors influencing HGS and injury prevention.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417907/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
James M Wakeling, Stanislava Smiešková, Matej Vajda, Jan Busta
Background/objectives: Becoming an elite canoe slalom athlete requires thousands of hours of training, spread over many years. It is difficult to assess the correct balance between flatwater and whitewater training because differences in the paddle forces on these terrains are not known. The aim of this study was to describe paddle forces during canoe slalom training on flatwater and whitewater courses for the C1 canoe category.
Methods: Paddle forces for twenty C1 canoe slalom athletes were quantified during all-out figure-of-eight tests on a flatwater course and during race simulations on a whitewater course. Paddle forces were measured using strain gauges embedded in the paddle shaft and quantified by their force, impulse, and stroke durations.
Results: The mean force during the pull phase of the paddle strokes was not significantly different between the flatwater and whitewater courses; however, the longer pull phase durations led to a greater pull phase impulse when paddling on the whitewater course.
Conclusions: This study indicates that training for all-out runs on a whitewater course is more demanding for canoe slalom athletes than performing all-out trials on a flatwater figure-of-eight course. This evidence may help to develop effective training plans that are essential to reach the highest levels of the sport.
{"title":"A Comparison of Paddle Forces between Whitewater and Flatwater Training in C1 Canoe Slalom.","authors":"James M Wakeling, Stanislava Smiešková, Matej Vajda, Jan Busta","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030167","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030167","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Becoming an elite canoe slalom athlete requires thousands of hours of training, spread over many years. It is difficult to assess the correct balance between flatwater and whitewater training because differences in the paddle forces on these terrains are not known. The aim of this study was to describe paddle forces during canoe slalom training on flatwater and whitewater courses for the C1 canoe category.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Paddle forces for twenty C1 canoe slalom athletes were quantified during all-out figure-of-eight tests on a flatwater course and during race simulations on a whitewater course. Paddle forces were measured using strain gauges embedded in the paddle shaft and quantified by their force, impulse, and stroke durations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean force during the pull phase of the paddle strokes was not significantly different between the flatwater and whitewater courses; however, the longer pull phase durations led to a greater pull phase impulse when paddling on the whitewater course.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study indicates that training for all-out runs on a whitewater course is more demanding for canoe slalom athletes than performing all-out trials on a flatwater figure-of-eight course. This evidence may help to develop effective training plans that are essential to reach the highest levels of the sport.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417917/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Background/objective: Soccer is a multifactorial sport, requiring physical, psychological, technical, and tactical skills to succeed. Monitoring and comparing physical characteristics over time is essential to assess players' development, customize training, and prevent injury. The use of wearable sensors is essential to provide accurate and objective physical data.
Methods: In this longitudinal study, 128 male adolescent soccer players (from Under 12 to Under 19) were evaluated at two time points (pre- and post-season). Participants completed the Euleria Lab test battery, including stability, countermovement and consecutive jumps, agility, and quick feet tests. A single Inertial Measurement Unit sensor provided quantitative data on fifteen performance metrics. Percentage changes were compared to the Smallest Worthwhile Changes to assess significant changes over time.
Results: The results showed significant improvements in most variables, including a 19.7% increase in quick feet, 10.9% in stability, and 9.6% in countermovement jumps. In principal component analysis, we identified four principal components-strength-power, balance, speed-agility, and stiffness-that explained over 80% of the variance.
Conclusions: These findings align with previous studies assessing seasonal changes in adolescent soccer players, showing that the proposed test battery seems to be adequate to highlight physical performance changes and provide coaches with meaningful data to customize training and reduce injury rates.
{"title":"Seasonal Comparison of Pre-Adolescent Soccer Players' Physical Performance Using an Objective Physical Test Battery.","authors":"Giacomo Villa, Foivos Papaioannou, Manuela Galli, Veronica Cimolin","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030166","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objective: </strong>Soccer is a multifactorial sport, requiring physical, psychological, technical, and tactical skills to succeed. Monitoring and comparing physical characteristics over time is essential to assess players' development, customize training, and prevent injury. The use of wearable sensors is essential to provide accurate and objective physical data.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this longitudinal study, 128 male adolescent soccer players (from Under 12 to Under 19) were evaluated at two time points (pre- and post-season). Participants completed the Euleria Lab test battery, including stability, countermovement and consecutive jumps, agility, and quick feet tests. A single Inertial Measurement Unit sensor provided quantitative data on fifteen performance metrics. Percentage changes were compared to the Smallest Worthwhile Changes to assess significant changes over time.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed significant improvements in most variables, including a 19.7% increase in quick feet, 10.9% in stability, and 9.6% in countermovement jumps. In principal component analysis, we identified four principal components-<i>strength-power</i>, <i>balance</i>, <i>speed-agility</i>, and <i>stiffness</i>-that explained over 80% of the variance.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>These findings align with previous studies assessing seasonal changes in adolescent soccer players, showing that the proposed test battery seems to be adequate to highlight physical performance changes and provide coaches with meaningful data to customize training and reduce injury rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417703/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trevor J Dufner, Jonathan M Rodriguez, McKenna J Kitterman, Jennifer C Dawlabani, Jessica M Moon, Adam J Wells
Background/objectives: This study examined the differences in participant force production and pain between a squat maximal voluntary isometric contraction (IMVIC) performed with either a waist belt (WB) or full-body harness (FBH) on the Desmotec D.EVO isoinertial device (D.EVO). Agreement between FBH IMVIC and a traditional force plate squat MVIC (TMVIC) was also assessed.
Methods: Twenty adults completed FBH, WB, and TMVIC assessments on two separate occasions. Two-way treatment x time ANOVAs were conducted to compare force outputs and pain between treatments (FBH vs. WB) across time. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Associations between outcomes were determined using Pearson's r. Standard error of estimate, constant error, total error, and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement between IMVIC and TMVIC.
Results: FBH and WB IMVIC exhibited good to excellent reliability (ICC2,1 = 0.889-0.994) and strong associations (r = 0.813 and 0.821, respectively) when compared to TMVIC. However, agreement between FBH and TMVIC was poor. No significant interaction or main effects were observed for pain. FBH maximum isometric force (MIF) was significantly higher than WB MIF. WB IMVIC was the only significant predictor of TMVIC (R2 = 0.674).
Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the D.EVO should not be utilized as a replacement for a traditional MVIC setup.
{"title":"Full-Body Harness versus Waist Belt: An Examination of Force Production and Pain during an Isoinertial Device Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction.","authors":"Trevor J Dufner, Jonathan M Rodriguez, McKenna J Kitterman, Jennifer C Dawlabani, Jessica M Moon, Adam J Wells","doi":"10.3390/jfmk9030165","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk9030165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>This study examined the differences in participant force production and pain between a squat maximal voluntary isometric contraction (IMVIC) performed with either a waist belt (WB) or full-body harness (FBH) on the Desmotec D.EVO isoinertial device (D.EVO). Agreement between FBH IMVIC and a traditional force plate squat MVIC (TMVIC) was also assessed.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Twenty adults completed FBH, WB, and TMVIC assessments on two separate occasions. Two-way treatment x time ANOVAs were conducted to compare force outputs and pain between treatments (FBH vs. WB) across time. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients. Associations between outcomes were determined using Pearson's r. Standard error of estimate, constant error, total error, and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess agreement between IMVIC and TMVIC.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>FBH and WB IMVIC exhibited good to excellent reliability (ICC<sub>2,1</sub> = 0.889-0.994) and strong associations (r = 0.813 and 0.821, respectively) when compared to TMVIC. However, agreement between FBH and TMVIC was poor. No significant interaction or main effects were observed for pain. FBH maximum isometric force (MIF) was significantly higher than WB MIF. WB IMVIC was the only significant predictor of TMVIC (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.674).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our findings indicate that the D.EVO should not be utilized as a replacement for a traditional MVIC setup.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11417928/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142289244","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}