The Physiological Assessment and Analysis of the Physical Demand of Riding a Snowmobile

Background: Insufficient physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous chronic diseases and premature mortality, and the challenge of meeting recommended PA guidelines is exacerbated in the winter. Snowmobiling can potentially contribute to PA accumulation, but the objective metabolic and physical demands are unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the physical demands of riding a snowmobile. Methods: Habitual snowmobile riders responded to a survey describing a typical ride (n = 4015). Using this data, terrain-specific testing courses were created, and recreational snowmobile riders (n = 40) participated in a scaled representative ride (21 [8] min) while aerobic metabolism (VO2) and muscular fatigue were quantified. Results: The mean VO2 while riding, irrespective of terrain, was 18.5 (8.4) mL·kg−1·min−1, with significant differences based on geographic location (13.4 [5.2] vs 25.7 [6.6] mL·kg−1·min−1, P < .001). Muscular fatigue was apparent in maximal handgrip (−7% [8%], P < .001) across both riding terrains, but not lower body power, suggesting a greater influence of an upper body strength component. Conclusions: Snowmobiling is an activity that generally falls within the moderate-intensity activity range and involves both aerobic fitness and muscular strength. There were substantial differences in demand between terrains, suggesting that additional benefits may be conferred from mountain riding as it was more metabolically demanding.

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Secular trends in health-related physical fitness among 11–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 to 2014

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90745-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mario Kasović ◽

Lovro Štefan ◽

Vilko Petrić

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽

Upper Body ◽

Lower Body ◽

Body Strength ◽

Health Related ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Lower Body Power

AbstractThe main purpose of the study was to analyze secular trends of health-related physical fitness in 7–14-year-old Croatian children and adolescents from 1999 and 2014. In this observational cross-sectional study, we recruited 5077 children and adolescents between ages 11 and 14 (50.8% girls) from five primary schools located in the capital city of Zagreb. Physical fitness performance was tested from 1999 until 2014. Physical fitness performance included: (1) body-mass index (measure of body size), (2) standing broad jump (measure of lower-body power), (3) polygon backwards (measure of general coordination and agility), (4) sit-ups in 60 s (measure of upper-body strength), (5) sit-and-reach test (measure of flexibility) and (6) 6-min run test (measure of cardiorespiratory fitness). Boys performed better in all physical fitness tests, except for sit-and-reach test (p < 0.001). In boys, between 1999 and 2014, body size, upper-body strength and coordination/agility increased, while flexibility, lower-body power and cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. During the same period, girls experienced an increase in body size, lower-body power, upper-body strength, coordination/agility and flexibility, while cardiorespiratory fitness decreased. This study shows that cardiorespiratory fitness, flexibility and coordination/agility decrease, while upper-body strength increases in both sexes. These findings should serve as an avenue for national monitoring system to screen and track biological development in children and adolescents.

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A Comparative Analysis of the Fitness of Collegiate Dancers as compared to Collegiate Volleyball and Softball Players

American Journal of Undergraduate Research ◽

10.33697/ajur.2017.003 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Leanna Miller ◽

Fred Miller III

Keyword(s):

Physical Fitness ◽

Upper Body ◽

Fitness Components ◽

Physical Demands ◽

Training Adaptations ◽

Leg Strength ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Comprehensive Comparison ◽

Dance Medicine

Few studies directly compare the various fitness components of collegiate dancers and athletes in acknowledged sports. The limited studies that do exist fail to consider certain variables or to assess multiple fitness components. The purpose of this study was to provide a more comprehensive comparison of collegiate dancers and collegiate volleyball and softball players. We used multiple fitness components as an indicator of the comparative physical demands of these activities, to assess whether the physical demands of collegiate dance may warrant a comparable level of medical support as afforded to the volleyball and softball players. Thirty dancers and thirty volleyball and softball players were tested using six different measurements of physical fitness commonly used in athletic assessments at universities. A two-tailed independent t-test was performed to determine differences between dancers and athletes in each fitness component. Three tests revealed significant differences between the groups, with the dancers having a lower percent body fat and greater flexibility, and the athletes having greater relative upper body strength. No significant differences were found in relative leg strength, core strength, or estimated VO2max. The results of the current study suggest that dance provides training adaptations equivalent to traditional intermittent sports and thus support the use of similar levels of medical care for collegiate dancers to that afforded to collegiate volleyball and softball players. KEYWORDS: Physical Fitness; Dance; Dance Medicine; Athletics; Dance Health Benefits

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Comparison of Anthropometry, Upper-Body Strength, and Lower-Body Power Characteristics in Different Levels of Australian Football Players

The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research ◽

10.1519/jsc.0000000000000682 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 826-834 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Johann C. Bilsborough ◽

Kate G. Greenway ◽

David A. Opar ◽

Steuart G. Livingstone ◽

Justin T. Cordy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Upper Body ◽

Football Players ◽

Lower Body ◽

Power Characteristics ◽

Body Strength ◽

Australian Football ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Lower Body Power ◽

Different Levels

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Aerobic fitness, upper-body strength and agility predict performance on an occupational physical ability test among police officers while wearing personal protective equipment

The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness ◽

10.23736/s0022-4707.19.09482-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (11) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Eduardo Frio Marins ◽

Leo Cabistany ◽

Charles Bartel ◽

J. Jay Dawes ◽

Fabrício Boscolo Del Vecchio

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Fitness ◽

Police Officers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Upper Body ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Physical Ability ◽

Ability Test ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength

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Influences of Differing Menarche Status on Motor Capabilities of Girls, 13 To 16 Years: A Two-Year Follow-Up Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18115539 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (11) ◽

pp. 5539

Author(s):

Barry Gerber ◽

Anita E. Pienaar ◽

Ankebe Kruger

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Upper Body ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Motor Fitness ◽

Body Strength ◽

The Status ◽

Hand Eye Coordination ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

D Values

Puberty and the onset of menarche influences the motor performance of girls. However, the magnitude of these influences during varying maturity status, is not clear. This longitudinal study over two years aimed to investigate differences in motor fitness between early and late developing girls based on pre- and post-menarche status. A convenience sample (n = 58) of girls aged 13.51 ± 3.51, divided by means of the Status Quo method into pre (n = 13) and post-menarche (n = 45) groups, was used. Motor fitness was tested once annually by standardized protocols. Basic statistics, independent t-testing and a repeated measures ANOVA with a post hoc Bonferonni correction were used (p < 0.05 = statistical significance). Effect sizes were determined by Cohen’s d-values. Only explosive upper body strength differed significantly between groups during baseline, favoring post-menarche girls. Initially, post-menarche girls showed advantages in hand-eye coordination and speed (p > 0.05) with pre-menarche girls performing better in agility and explosive leg strength (p > 0.05). At 15.51 years, no significant, between-group differences were found. Pre-menarche girls surpassed post-menarche girls in hand-eye coordination and 0–40 m speed and post-menarche girls displayed higher explosive leg and upper body strength scores (p > 0.05). Our data show that the potential to excel in sport based on motor capabilities can only be accurately estimated 1–2 years after reaching menarche.

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EFFECT OF A 10-WEEK MILITARY TRAINING PROGRAM ON UPPER BODY STRENGTH IN MALE AND FEMALE RECRUITS

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/00005768-198504000-00069 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 17 (2) ◽

pp. 195 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L. E. M. Hart ◽

C. L. Allen ◽

K. M. Cox

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Military Training ◽

Upper Body ◽

Male And Female ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength

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An Eye Tracking Examination of Men’s Attractiveness by Conceptive Risk Women

Evolutionary Psychology ◽

10.1177/1474704917690741 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 147470491769074 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ray Garza ◽

Roberto R. Heredia ◽

Anna B. Cieślicka

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Mexican American ◽

Hispanic Women ◽

Fat Distribution ◽

Upper Body ◽

Body Hair ◽

Body Strength ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Visual Attraction ◽

Physical Shape

Previous research has indicated that women prefer men who exhibit an android physical appearance where fat distribution is deposited on the upper body (i.e., shoulders and arms) and abdomen. This ideal physical shape has been associated with perceived dominance, health, and immunocompetence. Although research has investigated attractability of men with these ideal characteristics, research on how women visually perceive these characteristics is limited. The current study investigated visual perception and attraction toward men in Hispanic women of Mexican American descent. Women exposed to a front-posed image, where the waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and hair distribution were manipulated, rated men’s body image associated with upper body strength (low WCR 0.7) as more attractive. Additionally, conceptive risk did not play a strong role in attractiveness and visual attention. Hair distribution did not contribute to increased ratings of attraction but did contribute to visual attraction when measuring total time where men with both facial and body hair were viewed longer. These findings suggest that physical characteristics in men exhibiting upper body strength and dominance are strong predictors of visual attraction.

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Comparison of upper body strength gains between men and women after 10 weeks of resistance training

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.1627 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e1627 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paulo Gentil ◽

James Steele ◽

Maria C. Pereira ◽

Rafael P.M. Castanheira ◽

Antonio Paoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resistance Training ◽

Peak Torque ◽

Elbow Flexor ◽

Upper Body ◽

Men And Women ◽

Body Strength ◽

Before And After ◽

Upper Body Strength ◽

Few Data ◽

Flexor Strength

Resistance training (RT) offers benefits to both men and women. However, the studies about the differences between men and women in response to an RT program are not conclusive and few data are available about upper body strength response. The aim of this study was to compare elbow flexor strength gains in men and women after 10 weeks of RT. Forty-four college-aged men (22.63 ± 2.34 years) and forty-seven college-aged women (21.62 ± 2.96 years) participated in the study. The RT program was performed two days a week for 10 weeks. Before and after the training period, peak torque (PT) of the elbow flexors was measured with an isokinetic dynamometer. PT values were higher in men in comparison to women in pre- and post-tests (p< 0.01). Both males and females significantly increased elbow flexor strength (p< 0.05); however, strength changes did not differ between genders after 10 weeks of RT program (11.61 and 11.76% for men and women, respectively;p> 0.05). Effect sizes were 0.57 and 0.56 for men and women, respectively. In conclusion, the present study suggests that men and women have a similar upper body strength response to RT.

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