On-Field Tests for Patients After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Scoping Review

Background: After anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), a patient’s physical capacities, such as (repeated) sprint performance, agility performance, and intermittent endurance performance, are often reduced because of detraining effects. Monitoring the progression of these physical capacities is essential for specific training goals before patients return to complex team sports. Purpose: To map the existing literature regarding on-field tests for (repeated) sprint performance, agility performance, and intermittent endurance performance in patients after ACLR. Study Design: Scoping review; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: A search was performed in 4 electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycInfo, following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines for scoping reviews. Results: There were 11 studies that met the inclusion criteria and described a total of 14 on-field tests for patients after ACLR. Overall, 2 tests were described for sprint performance, 11 tests were related to agility performance, and 1 test was performed for intermittent endurance performance. Conclusion: The results of this scoping review provide an overview of on-field tests to monitor sport-specific progression and to set performance-specific training goals for patients after ACLR before returning to complex team sports.

Relationships between Strength and Step Frequency with Fatigue Index in Repeated Sprint Ability

Force−velocity profile (FVP) and repeated-sprint ability (RSA) tests are indicators of physical capacities in most team sport players. The purpose of this study was to examine the stride kinematics during a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test and to analyze the relationship between Bosco’s force−velocity profile (FVP) and RSA performance in elite female field hockey players. Thirteen elite-female players performed both RSA (six 30 m maximal sprints) and jumping (CMJ weighted and body weight) tests. Sprinting time fatigue indexes during a 30 m RSA test were correlated with step frequency fatigue indexes (r > 0.7; p < 0.01). CMJ50 showed a large relationship with sprint time fatigue indexes. FV50 showed a very large relationship with sprint time fatigue indexes (r > 0.7; p < 0.01), and a large relationship with the step frequency fatigue indexes (r > 0.5; p < 0.05). This study highlighted two possible ways to improve fatigue indexes in RSA, with the aim of maximizing the distances covered at high-intensities during the matches: (a) strength training and (b) focusing on step frequency during speed training.

Para taekwondo

Sport and physical activity can play significant role in the lives of persons with disabilities. Participating in sports can improve their health and physical capacities, promote constructive use of their time, as well as provide a better way to integrate and be included in the community. The aim of this qualitative study was to gain insight into perspectives of six coaches regarding their work as para taekwondo trainers. The results present the challenges in the coaches’ work, ways of dealing with difficulties related to para taekwondo training, and positive training outcomes. The challenges faced by coaches indicate acceptance of the abilities of the athletes, ascribed incompetence to athletes with disabilities, lack of trust in the abilities of athletes among people in their social environment, and aggressive behaviour exhibited by persons with intellectual disabilities. Other challenges include limited financial resources, the importance of becoming aware of one’s own prejudice about the capabilities of individuals with disabilities, and building relationships with athletes with disabilities. The coaches deal with difficulties related to para taekwondo training by educating themselves and others, applying an individualised approach to training, cooperating with people from the social environment of athletes with disabilities, and considering the work done with athletes with disabilities as a reward. They recognise positive training outcomes for athletes with disabilities through improvements in bodily functioning, better self-image, and further inclusion in the community.

Stretching and Multicomponent Training to Functional Capacities of Older Women: A Randomized Study

Background and Purpose: The real benefits of stretching when used as training for the older adult population and for developing other physical capacities are still uncertain. Thus, the objective of the present work is to investigate the effects of stretching training combined with multi-component training on the physical capacities of physically inactive older women. Methods: Women aged 60 to 70 years were randomized into three groups: multicomponent training (MT), multicomponent training combined with flexibility training (CT), and control group (CG). Both training interventions were carried out for 14 weeks, with two weekly sessions. Participants were assessed for agility, muscle strength (sitting and standing and elbow flexion/extension), and cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk). Results and Discussion: Multicomponent training with flexibility presented a very large effect on the variables of strength, agility, and aerobic fitness, while multicomponent training had a medium effect on agility and a large and very large effect on muscle strength variables. This is the first study in the literature to analyze the effect of flexibility training, associated with multicomponent training, on other physical capacities. Conclusions: The results of the current study suggest that adding flexibility training to a multicomponent training program generates additional benefits to the development of other physical capacities.

Maturational effect on physical capacities and anabolic hormones in under-16 elite footballers: a cross-sectional study

Purpose The purposes of this study were to describe the fitness and hormonal levels according to playing time (PT) (i.e., PT during season less (PT1) or more (PT2) than 50% of the total time) and maturation level (ML) (i.e., normal (ML1) and early maturity levels (ML2)), and to analyze the differences between groups for the measures of aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, power performance, and hormonal concentrations. Methods Twenty-four youth footballers of a U16 team participated in this study. Anthropometric measures, maturity status, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), maximal oxygen uptake, fatigue index, and countermovement jump were collected. Results Significant differences were found between both PT and ML groups for maturational status, aerobic capacity, power performance, and IGF1 concentrations. The interaction of PT and ML revealed significant differences for maturity offset and power performance. When using the skeletal age as a covariant, the previously significant differences found were reduced only to the fatigue index measure. Conclusions The response variables analyzed in the present study seem to be influenced by PT and ML. This must be considered when planning training, and coaches must be sensible to these effects as they may assume a preponderant role in PT.

Physical Efficiency Tests: Information for Teachers and Sports Coaches

The purpose of the research was to determine the physical and gestural state of students between eight and nine years of age in a Peruvian educational institution, as well as to provide Physical Education teachers with useful scales to evaluate what concerns physical abilities. and motor skills by age, from simple but validated tests, called Physical Efficiency Tests. It is a descriptive cross-sectional investigation. For this, the physical capacities resistance, strength, speed and flexibility were measured; managing to measure up to two capacities per session, also bringing together capacities that are directly proportional, such as resistance with flexibility and strength with speed. Population: 100% of the students participating in the study (95) distributed in 54 girls and 41 boys. For data collection, Microsoft Excel and SPSS v.25 were used. Conclusions: The results show that Peruvian Physical Education teachers do not have the necessary tools to know how much they can increase or decrease the internal and external loads of physical activity on their students. A deterioration in the conditional capacities and motor skills of the evaluated population is observed. Participating students are at levels of physical efficiency below expectations, especially those who are in the third and fourth levels.

Investigating the Effects of Am rap and Classic Cross-fit Training in Freestyle Wrestlers on Physical Fitness Parameters

This study aims to investigate anaerobic strength alterations of wrestlers who perform AMRAP (As many reps as possible) and Classic CrossFit pieces of training. The research was implemented on 32 male wrestlers who were challenged in the Turkish Wrestling 1st League in the season of 2018-2019. The volunteer participants taken part in test groups performed CrossFit models in the preseason for 8-weeks; Group I (Classic CrossFit) and Group II (CrossFit AMRAP). Bodyweight, height, and age values were recorded respectively by creating measuring parkour and arranged on MS Excel spreadsheet program. Two-factor variance analysis was used in repetitive measurements for identifying the differences between pre and final measuring anaerobic strength values of the participants. As findings, it was observed there was a significant difference in terms of group x time interaction dimension in back squat movement, 1 min on behalf of AMRAP. According to the simple effect test results, there were significant values in both groups. The numerical increase in some performance values of the AMRAP CrossFit training group after 8-weeks of training was more prominent than the classic CrossFit training group. In addition, AMRAP CrossFit training was effective in reducing body weight. Both models were found to have a positive effect on their physical capacities effectively. Although there are studies on CrossFit in the literature, there is no significant study on AMRAP and thus this study might be the pioneer in terms of contributions to the literature and lead to further comments on sports science as well. Thus, this study is significant to reveal the effectiveness of Amrap and CrossFit training on physical fitness parameters.