Comfortable pressure feeling and clothing pressure on abdomen

PurposeThe present study obtained the topography of perceptible (a perfect-fit feeling) clothing pressures from the chest to groin, when a stretching material provided hoop tension to the body surface of participants. Furthermore, the allowable pressure level was examined for the abdomen, which is pressed by underclothes on a daily basis.Design/methodology/approachParticipants were nine women aged 21.3 ± 1.2 years. Each participant's perception of pressure while wearing the experimental band was obtained in a questionnaire using a visual analog scale. Clothing pressure was measured employing a hydrostatic pressure-balancing method as participants adjusted the band length themselves to achieve two conditions: a perfect-fit and tight-fit on the abdomen.FindingsThe range of comfortable clothing pressure tightening provided by a 2.5 cm-wide elastic band on the abdomen was 0–5.6 hPa for under the bust, waist and groin, and 4.4–9.3 hPa for the chest, lower waist and hips. A nerve plexus of the autonomic nervous system and arteries are distributed over the body surface of the former body parts, which were thus sensitive to tightening around the abdomen.Originality/valueThe topography of perceptible clothing pressure was obtained when stretching material provided hoop tension to the body surface of the participant. The results of a participant questionnaire agreed with clothing pressure obtained using a hydrostatic pressure-balancing method that has a short-time constant and sensitive resolution. Furthermore, allowable pressure levels were proposed.

Experience in the use of tissue flossing for the prevention and treatment of muscle cramps

Introduction. Cramps are sudden, involuntary, painful tonic muscle spasms of individual muscles or muscle groups lasting from several seconds to several minutes. It occurs in patients of different age categories with a frequency of up to 37 %. Tissue flossing (flossing, voodoo flossing) is an effect on the musculature, tendons, fascia (myofascial structures) of the extremities with the help of a special elastic band circularly wound on the limb, and subsequent physical exercises in this condition in order to improve blood circulation in the limb segment, increase tissue mobility, elasticity and extensibility of muscle-fascial structures. Tissue flossing can help to increase the volume of movements in the joints, reduce pain and increase flexibility.The aim to study the effects of tissue flossing on the frequency and intensity of manifestations of cramps. Materials and methods. The publication was based on the materials obtained during the observation of 7 patients with cramps. The aggressive nature of the muscle spasms forced them to seek medical help. In order to assess the effect on the frequency and intensity of cramps, patients underwent circular winding of an elastic band on a limb segment (tissue flossing) in which cramps occurred, followed by physical exercises (mainly flexion and extension at a pace of one movement per second) without additional load (with their weight) for 1 minute. Then the elastic band was removed and the patient continued to perform the same movements also for a minute with a frequency of one movement per second. Patients performed exercises 1-2 times a day for 5-14 days.Results. In five out of seven patients, cramps did not resume after the first use of tissue flossing. In two of the seven patients, cramps stopped after 7 days of exercise use. At follow-up in one (out of seven) patients, cramps resumed 2 months after the use of tissue flossing, but with a lower intensity. In the other six (out of seven) patients in the subsequent follow-up period (from 14 days to 6 months), cramps did not resume.Conclusion. According to the preliminary results of observations, it can be assumed that the tissue flossing method is effective for preventing cramps of various genesis as an independent and additional method of treatment.

Effects of complex strength training with elastic band program on repeated change of direction in young female handball players: Randomized control trial

This study examined the effect of 10-week complex strength training with elastic band program on fitness components in young female handball players. Thirty-eight handball players aged 15.8 ± 0.2 years were randomly assigned to an experimental group or control group. The experimental group performed complex strength training with elastic band twice a week over 10 weeks, which included 8 workshops of progressing set length (number of sets) and band resistance for each specific exercise. Sessions were lasted approximately 35 min. The control group maintained regular in-season training. Tests included handgrip; back extensor; medicine ball throw; 30 m sprint times; Modified Illinois change-of-direction (Illinois-MT); four jump tests (squat jump, countermovement jump, countermovement jump with arms and five jump test; static (stork test) and dynamic (Y balance test) balance; and repeated sprint T-test. The experimental group enhanced all strength performance (handgrip right ( p < 0.001), handgrip left ( p < 0.001), back extensor strength ( p < 0.001) and medicine ball throw ( p < 0.001) compared to the controls); sprint performance (5 m ( p<0.001), 10 m ( p < 0.001), 20 m ( p < 0.001), and 30 m ( p < 0.001)); the change of direction (Illinois-MT ( p < 0.001)); jump performance (squat jump ( p < 0.001), countermovement jump ( p < 0.001), countermovement jump with arms ( p < 0.001), and five jump test ( p < 0.01)); and the repeated sprint T-test scores ( p<0.001in all scores). In contrast, no significant difference in both static and dynamic balance performance between experimental group and control group. Ten weeks of complex strength training with elastic band improve fitness components measures in young female handball players then habitual training.

Effects of contrast strength training with elastic band program on sprint, jump, strength, balance and repeated change of direction in young female handball players

Maximal strength, power and his derivates (sprint, change of direction repeatedly and jump) are considered as major determinants of success in elite handball players. Contrast strength training with elastic band (CSTEB) program is form of resistance training, and may play an important method of training to improve this quality. This study examined the effects of 10-week contrast strength training with elastic band (CSTEB) program on physical performance in young female handball players. Thirty participants (age: 15.7 ± 0.3 years; body mass: 63.7 ± 3.7 kg; body height: 166.8 ± 3.8 cm; body fat: 26.9 ± 3.4; and Maturity-offset: 2.9 ± 0.3 years) were randomly assigned between experimental group (EG; n = 15) and control group (CG; n = 15). Two-way analyses of variance (group × time) were assessed for handgrip; back extensor; medicine ball throw; 30-m sprint times; Modified Illinois change-of-direction (Illinois-MT); four jump tests [(squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement jump with arms (CMJA) and five jump test (5JT)]; static (stork) and dynamic (Y balance) balance tests; and repeated sprint T-test (RSTT). The EG enhanced all strength performance [handgrip right, handgrip left, back extensor strength and medicine ball throw (p < 0.001)] compared to CG. The EG enhanced all sprint performance. The EG also improved performance in the Illinois-MT. All jump performance improved significantly [SJ (p = 0.007), CMJ (p = 0.001) and CMJA (p = 0.001)] except 5JT in the EG. Of the same, 3 of 4 repeated sprint T-test scores [RSTT-Best-Time, RSTT-Mean-Time and RSTT-Total-Time] increased significantly in the EG relative to the CG. Conversely, there were no significant changes in balance performance between groups. It is concluded that 10-weeks of CSTEB improved physical performance (strength, sprint, change of direction, jump, and repeated change of direction) measures in young female handball players.