Characteristics of Competitive Baton Twirling Athletes

Competitive baton twirling is a sport that combines elements of gymnastics, dance and ballet while necessitating cardiovascular endurance, muscular endurance and power, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, kinesthetic awareness, timing and choreography. Approximately one million baton twirlers participating in the sport in the United States. Despite considerable participation in competitive baton twirling, little is known about the characteristics of the athletes. This work documents demographic and behavioral characteristics of competitive baton twirlers. Questionnaires were completed by 169 female twirlers from across the Unites States and Canada. Respondents reported a mean (± SD) age of 18.07 yrs. (±6.08) and height of 63.89 in (±6.24), weight 133.56 lbs. (±32.49), BMI (22.92), GPA 3.73 (±0.31), years of competing 8.02 yrs. (±1.81). All (100%) qualified respondents reported experiencing injury due to competing in or training for baton. The extent of the injuries reported varied greatly. A diversity of training, recovery, hydration, and nutrition habits were also reported. These findings indicate that the competitive baton twirlers that participated in this research are adolescent females, diverse in physical profile, of normal BMI, high academic achievers, dedicated athletes, consistently overcome injuries and train by diverse means. Future research may consider the long-term physical effects and an association with mental health competitive baton twirling has on the athletes.

Anthropometric Measurements, Metabolic Profile and Physical Fitness in a Sample of Spanish Women with Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Exercise training has proven to be effective for treatment of metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aims of this study were to compare anthropometric measurements, metabolic profile and physical fitness between active and sedentary women with type 2 diabetes, and to analyse relationships between anthropometry and metabolic profile and components of physical fitness (balance, flexibility, strength and endurance). Methods: Cross-sectional research on 28 women with type 2 diabetes. Amount of daily physical activity, BMI, waist circumference, HbA1c, fibrinogen, hs-CRP, tiptoe dynamic balance, static balance, finger floor distance, abdominal, upper and lower limb strength and walking cardiovascular endurance were recorded. Results: Age: 58.5 ± 7.8. Overall, 16 subjects were physically active and 12 were sedentary. Active subjects had lower BMI (p = 0.033) and better cardiovascular endurance (p = 0.025). BMI and waist circumference were not influenced by any physical fitness component. HbA1c, fibrinogen and hs-CRP were related with worse dynamic balance (p = 0.036, 0.006 and 0.031, respectively). Conclusions: Active women had lower BMI and showed a better performance in cardiovascular endurance. Tiptoe dynamic balance impairments were related to worse glycaemic control, hypercoagulation and inflammatory state.

Fitness Fights Fires: Exploring the Relationship between Physical Fitness and Firefighter Ability

Background: Regular exercise in firefighters may be effective in preventing or attenuating ill health (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, and obesity), as well as improving their firefighting ability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between physical fitness and firefighting ability. Methods: Male firefighter recruits’ (n = 89; age = 27.1 ± 4.2 yrs) physical fitness and firefighting ability were assessed at Week 1 and Week 7 during a basic firefighting training academy. Physical fitness was assessed via 1.5 mile run time, sit-up and push-up repetitions, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) bench press test, vertical jump height, and sit-and-reach flexibility, while firefighting ability was assessed via completion time on a firefighting skills test. Results: Fitness predicted significant variance in firefighting ability at Week 1 (R2= 0.46; p < 0.01) and Week 7 (R2 = 0.46; p < 0.01), after accounting for age and body mass index. Cardiovascular endurance accounted for 22.4% (FΔ (1, 85) = 25.75) and 39.3% (FΔ (1, 85) = 55.53) while muscular endurance accounted for an additional 19.0% (FΔ (3, 82) = 10.34) and 6.3% (FΔ (3, 82) = 3.2) unique variance in firefighting ability at Week 1 and Week 7, respectively. Conclusions: Given the strong association between fitness and firefighting performance, municipal departments may want to focus on increasing fitness levels among firefighters.

Behaviours involved in the role of victim and aggressor in bullying: Relationship with physical fitness in adolescents

Physical fitness is related to well-being and health. Adolescence is a key period in the psychological and social development of the person, in which interpersonal relationships gain strength, being bullying a type of violence that can affect the personality of those involved. At present, there is not enough research to determine the relationships between bullying and physical condition. The purpose of this study is to find out if there are any relationships among physical fitness, victimisation, and aggression in bullying, and to identify these behaviours. This is a descriptive study done in 1035 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (M = 14.67, SD = 1.49). The European Bullying Intervention Project Questionnaire (EBIPQ) scale was used, and anthropometric characteristics of weight and height were measured. In addition, physical fitness tests from the Eurofit battery, sit-and-reach, 30-second sit-ups, horizontal jump, manual dynamometry, and 20-meter Multistage Shuttle Run Test (SRT) were included. The relationships between variables were analysed using Spearman correlations, linear regressions, and ordinal regressions. The most relevant findings indicate an inverse relationship between being a victim of bullying and having a better cardiorespiratory cardiovascular endurance. These also show a direct relationship between being a bully and skeletal muscle strength measured through the horizontal jump, 30-second sit-ups, and manual dynamometry tests. Theoretically, we can conclude that physical condition can be considered a predictor to consider in bullying. Specifically, cardiorespiratory fitness, in addition to its multiple physical and mental benefits, may be a protective element against bullying victimisation. In contrast, muscular strength, especially in boys, may be an important predictor, especially in the physical component, of aggression in bullying.

Comparison of the physical fitness of karate and taekwondo elite athletes

Introduction. A coach compiles and determines a training program based on the physical fitness profile of the athlete. Central Sulawesi taekwondo and karate athletes have been undergoing independent training since mid-2020. Objective of the study. This study aims to investigate the comparison in physical fitness of elite athletes in taekwondo and karate Research methods. This study uses a causal-comparative method, where the researcher seeks to determine the cause or effect of the differences that occur between groups. The sample of this research is 20 elite athletes. Evaluation of physical abilities or physical fitness is an instrument used to measure the physical fitness of taekwondo and karate athletes. An independent sample t-test was used for comparison of independent samples. Research result and Conclusion. The results and conclusions of the study indicate that descriptively the speed, endurance of abdominal muscle strength, and endurance of thigh muscle strength, agility, flexibility, leg reaction speed, and cardiovascular endurance of taekwondo athletes are higher than karate athletes, while for leg muscle strength and breathing karate athletes are higher than taekwondo athletes. Sig value. (2 tailed) or p-value <0.05, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference in the variable components of physical fitness, abdominal muscle strength, agility, flexibility in leg reaction speed, and cardiovascular endurance between taekwondo athletes and karate athletes. Whereas in the variable components of physical fitness, speed, endurance, thigh muscle strength, and leg and respiratory muscle strength, there were no significant differences between taekwondo athletes and karate.

AN IMPACT OF LAND AEROBICS AND WATER EXERCISE ON CARDIO VASCULAR ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE AMONG COLLEGE MEN STUDENTS

The purpose of the study was to find out the Impact of Land Aerobics and Water Exercise on Cardio Respiratory Endurance Performance among college men Students. To attain the purpose Sixty (N=60) College men students were selected. The subjects were selected equally into three groups of 20 each namely; land aerobics group, water aerobics group and control group. Cardiovascular endurance was selected as dependent variable for this study and it was assessed by Cooper’s 12 minutes run/walk test. The training was resisted to 12 weeks and the number of sessions was limited to 3 days per week. The data for pre and post intervention was taken. Independent ‘t’ test showed significant differences (0.05 Level) in Cardiovascular endurance among the groups. Land Aerobics are superior than Water Aerobics in Cardiovascular endurance. The present study demonstrated that differences in Cardiovascular endurance among Land and Water Aerobic and Control group. Land Aerobic Exercise may have potential role of increasing Cardiovascular endurance. KEYWORDS: Land Aerobics, water Aerobics Cardiovascular endurance.

Differences in Health-Related Fitness Variables between Adult Athletes and Non-Athletes with Down Syndrome: A Descriptive Study

The main purpose of this study is to present objective data on the differences in anthropometrics and fitness variables between adult athletes and non-athletes with Down Syndrome (DS) members of the “Down Cordoba Association” (DCA), after adjusting for confounders. Twenty-seven adults, 7 athletes and 20 non-athletes with DS, participated in this study. Health-related fitness variables were measured with tests validated for this population. First, the characteristics of the subjects according to sex and sports practice are presented. Athletes present significantly higher values for height (p = 0.010) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.005). Furthermore, male athletes compared to male non-athletes have lower values in % of body fat (p = 0.030), and in waist (p = 0.031) and hip (p = 0.041) circumferences. Furthermore, athletes have better values in tests of strength, cardiovascular endurance (66.60 ± 47.66 vs. 32.31 ± 24.49 (s); p = 0.037), and agility, but not in flexibility. Significant differences were only found in cardiovascular endurance. As a conclusion, the practice of sports among the users of the “Down Córdoba Association” in general leads to better health-related fitness values. Therefore, we encourage the guardians of people with DS in this association to motivate them to practice sports because this practice will more likely improve their overall health.

Vo2Max and Agility to Futsal Dribbling Technique Skills

This study aims to determine the effect of VO2max and agility on basic futsal technical skills. This study is a regression correlation study on how much influence the VO2max variable and the agility variable have on dribbling skills. The study population was the students who took futsal extracurricular activities at SMP Negeri 9 Malang. The samples were taken by random sampling. The number of samples used was 35 students who took futsal extracurricular activities. The results of this research partially indicate that there is a negative and significant effect (p> 0.05) of VO2max on ball dribbling skills as indicated by the t test results of -8.969 with a regression coefficient of -0.135, and agility towards ball dribbling skills is shown from the t test results of 2,416 with a regression coefficient of 2,333. There is a significant effect (p <0.05) of agility on ball dribbling skills as indicated by the t test results of 2.416 with a regression coefficient of 0.106. Meanwhile, simultaneously (simultaneously) on the ball dribbling skills a significant effect is shown by the F value of 51.477. Based on the results of data analysis in research on VO2max and agility towards ball dribbling skills, it can be concluded that collectively (simultaneously) there is a significant effect on the level of cardiovascular endurance (VO2Max) and Agility on the dribbling skills of futsal extracurricular members of SMP Negeri 9 Malang.