Analysis and relationship between the anthropometric and somatotype characteristics and cardiovascular capacity in amateur mountain runners: a pilot study

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the anthropometrical and cardiovascular characteristics of short course trail runners and analyze the associations, if any, between both anthropometric and cardiovascular features of amateur trail runners. Material and method: Anthropometrical evaluation and an incremental maximum test with 10% of grade on a treadmill were performed on a group of 10 short distance amateur trail runners. Results: Significant negative correlations were found between the body max index (BMI) and the speed at VT1 (Vel VT1) (r = -0,95, p < 0,001), or the time to reach VT1 (r = -0,91, p = 0,002) and between the body fat percentage and the respiratory exchange ratio at VT2 (r = -0,80, p = 0,016) or the time to reach VT2 (r = -0,83, p = 0,01). Calf circumference was also found to be positively associated with oxygen consumption at VT1 (r = 0,74, p = 0,037), at VT2 (r = 0,90, p = 0,002) and with the maximal oxygen uptake (r = 0,85, p = 0,007). Conclusions: Results indicate that both body fat percentage and calf circumference could be related to the performance on an incremental test protocol with inclination in amateur trail runners.

Desportos de Inverno Adaptados

Physical exercise is generally recommended. Specific populations have particular needs, but physical exercise is also highly recommended for people with motor, sensory or cognitive disabilities. There are currently adaptive sports, including winter sports. Participation in adaptive sports improves cardiovascular capacity, contributes to integration in the community and decreases pain intensity, leading to improved quality of life. Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and ice hockey are the most popular paralympic winter sports. The medical teams working with Paralympic winter sports athletes face several challenges such as the need to tailor the adaptative material to the athlete, prevent acute traumatic injuries and treat chronic diseases.

Perceived Barriers to Blood Flow Restriction Training

Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is increasing in popularity in the fitness and rehabilitation settings due to its role in optimizing muscle mass and strength as well as cardiovascular capacity, function, and a host of other benefits. However, despite the interest in this area of research, there are likely some perceived barriers that practitioners must overcome to effectively implement this modality into practice. These barriers include determining BFR training pressures, access to appropriate BFR training technologies for relevant demographics based on the current evidence, a comprehensive and systematic approach to medical screening for safe practice and strategies to mitigate excessive perceptual demands of BFR training to foster long-term compliance. This manuscript attempts to discuss each of these barriers and provides evidence-based strategies and direction to guide clinical practice and future research.

The Relationship between VO2max, Power Management, and Increased Running Speed: Towards Gait Pattern Recognition through Clustering Analysis

Triathlon has become increasingly popular in recent years. In this discipline, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) is considered the gold standard for determining competition cardiovascular capacity. However, the emergence of wearable sensors (as Stryd) has drastically changed training and races, allowing for the more precise evaluation of athletes and study of many more potential determining variables. Thus, in order to discover factors associated with improved running efficiency, we studied which variables are correlated with increased speed. We then developed a methodology to identify associated running patterns that could allow each individual athlete to improve their performance. To achieve this, we developed a correlation matrix, implemented regression models, and created a heat map using hierarchical cluster analysis. This highlighted relationships between running patterns in groups of young triathlon athletes and several different variables. Among the most important conclusions, we found that high VO2max did not seem to be significantly correlated with faster speed. However, faster individuals did have higher power per kg, horizontal power, stride length, and running effectiveness, and lower ground contact time and form power ratio. VO2max appeared to strongly correlate with power per kg and this seemed to indicate that to run faster, athletes must also correctly manage their power.

Determinants of the Cardiovascular Capacity of Amateur Long-Distance Skiers during the Transition Period

The aim of this study was to identify determinants of the cardiovascular capacity of 16 male amateur long-distance skiers during the transition period. These factors can vary from amateur marathon skiers, who represent a sort of midpoint between inactive people and professional athletes. Cardiovascular capacity depends mainly on the volume and intensity of the training, which are different between these groups. Finding the factors affecting heart condition of amateur athletes can be an important element in their health care and can help the athletes to achieve their full performance potential. Therefore, ergospirometric and hematological tests were performed. As a result, predictors for volume oxygen uptake were determined using a regression model, which included the following variables: the percentage of monocytes (p = 0.031), the concentration of sodium (p = 0.004), and total calcium (p = 0.03). All these parameters negatively affected VO2 max. Biochemical and physiological monitoring of amateur athletes can help to protect their health and prepare them properly for their training. The growing popularity of long-distance competitions among middle-aged amateur athletes and the lack of guidance on how to assess their health indicate the need for further research.

Asociación entre la composición corporal y la condición física en estudiantes de grado sexto, pertenecientes a la institución educativa moderna de Tuluá, Colombia año 2019 (Association between body composition and the physical condition in sixth grade st

El siguiente estudio, tuvo como finalidad, determinar la correlación entre la composición corporal y la condición física en niños de sexto grado de la Institución Educativa de Tuluá, Colombia. El estudio fue no experimental, descriptivo y de alcance correlacional. La valoración de la composición corporal, se realizó mediante el índice de masa corporal y el porcentaje de grasa (fórmula de Slaughter y Lohmann). La condición física, se determinó por medio de la batería Fitnessgram. La muestra fue de 193 niños y niñas, entre ocho y 12 años. Los resultados se determinaron, por medio de estadísticos descriptivos y correlación de Pearson. Estos resultados, evidenciaron una r=-0,52 y -0,72 para niño y niña respectivamente, entre el porcentaje de grasa y la capacidad cardiovascular. Las correlaciones entre el índice de masa corporal y peso corporal, con el porcentaje de grasa fueron, r=0,59 niña 0,76 y niño y r=0,46 niña y 0,67 niño respectivamente, indicando que, a mayor masa corporal mayor grasa. La correlación entre masa grasa y el test de barra fija fue inversa, pero no alta, r=-0,23 y -0,24, sin embaro, cuando este test se correlacionó con el índice de masa corporal, dicha correlación fue mayor, r=-0,57 y -0,78, reflejando que, la masa corporal, afectó la resistencia en la barra. La flexibilidad y agilidad, no se alteraron por la masa grasa, r < 0,20. Como conclusión, se evidencia que, la masa grasa puede disminuir la capacidad cardiovascular y resistencia a la fuerza, sin embargo, la flexibilidad y la velocidad-agilidad pueden no alterarse. Abstract. The following study aimed at determining the correlation between body composition and physical condition in sixth grade students from the high school Institución Educativa Moderna in Tuluá, Colombia. It was carried as a non-experimental, descriptive, and correlational study. The assessment of body composition was carried out using the body mass index and the fat percentage based on Slaughter and Lohmann formula. Physical condition was determined by using the Fitnessgram battery. The sample consisted of 193 boys and girls, around eight and 12 years old. The results were determined by means of descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. These results showed r = -0.52 and -0.72 for boys and girls respectively, after correlating the percentage of fat and cardiovascular capacity. The correlation of their body mass index and their body weight, towards the percentage of fat were: r = 0.59 girl, 0.76 boy and r = 0.46 girl and 0.67 boy respectively, indicating that, the higher the body mass the higher the increase of fat. The correlation between fat mass and the fixed bar test was inverse, but not high: r = -0.23 and -0.24. However, when this test was correlated with the body mass index, that correlation was higher: r = -0.57 and -0.78, reflecting that the body mass affected the resistance at the bar. Flexibility and agility were not altered by fat mass: r <0.20. In conclusion, it is evidenced that fat mass can decrease cardiovascular capacity and resistance to strength, however, flexibility and speed-agility may not be altered.

Compromised thermal tolerance of cardiovascular capacity in upstream migrating Arctic char and brown trout—are hot summers threatening migrating salmonids?

Heat waves are threatening fish around the world, leading sometimes to mass mortality events. One crucial function of fish failing in high temperatures is oxygen delivery capacity, i.e. cardiovascular function. For anadromous salmonids, increased temperature could be especially detrimental during upstream migration since they need efficiently working oxygen delivery system in order to cross the river rapids to reach upstream areas. The migration also occurs during summer and early autumn exposing salmonids to peak water temperatures, and in shallow rivers there is little availability for thermal refuges as compared to thermally stratified coastal and lake habitats. In order to shed light on the mechanisms underpinning the capacity of migrating fish to face high environmental temperatures, we applied a physiological and molecular approach measuring cardiovascular capacities of migrating and resident Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) in Northern Norway. The maximum cardiovascular capacity of migrating fish was significantly lower compared to the resident conspecifics. The onset of cardiac impairment started only 2°C higher than river temperature, meaning that even a small increase in water temperature may already compromise cardiac function. The migrating fish were also under significant cellular stress, expressing increased level of cardiac heat shock proteins. We consider these findings highly valuable when addressing climate change effect on migrating fish and encourage taking action in riverine habitat conservation policies. The significant differences in upper thermal tolerance of resident and migrating fish could also lead changes in population dynamics, which should be taken into account in future conservation plans.