Comparative Analysis of Morphological Indicators of Street Workout Athletes with Different Training Experience

Purpose. The purpose of the article is a comparative analysis of the morphological indicators of street workout (StW) athletes with different training experience (TE). Materials and methods. The study involved StW athletes (n = 27). Athletes were divided into two groups: StW-1 (n = 13, age 15.15 ± 0.44 years, TE 1.56 ± 0.22 years); StW-2 (n = 14, age 16.57 ± 0.48 years, TE 2.64 ± 0.53 years). The body length and body mass were measured; the level and harmony of physical development were evaluated. The regression method was used. The handgrip was evaluated by hand dynamometry indicators Camry EH101 electronic dynamometer (China). The handgrip was measured by the maximum grip frequency in 10 s the electronic device "Kepai" (China). The content of muscle and adipose tissue were determined by the body composition monitor OMRON BF-511 (Japan). Results. The average value of the strength index in the StW-1 was more than 60%, and in the StW-2 was more than 70%. The StW-2 had a significant excess of the hand dynamometry, power index, impulse index of both hands; index of static and dynamic grip of the left hand; specific weight of muscles. The average level of physical development was observed in (61.54 ± 13.49)%, above the average was observed in (23.08 ± 11.69)% of StW-1. Harmonious physical development had (38.46 ± 13.49)%. In StW-2, the average level of physical development had (64.29 ± 12.81)%, above the average had (21.43 ± 10.97)%. Harmonious physical development had (50.00 ± 13.36)%. In StW-1 (46.15 ± 13.83)% had a normal fat content and a fat level below normal. In StW-2, the normal fat content had (30.77 ± 12.80)%, and the low adipose tissue content was (69.23 ± 12.80)%. Conclusions. All athletes had a high content of muscle tissue. It was confirmed the specific effect of StW on the body of athletes. Grip strength, specific weight of muscle component are predictors of success. The information content of the proposed indices for monitoring the functional state of athletes was confirmed.

Peak Torque Prediction Using Handgrip and Strength Predictors in Men and Women With Motor Complete Spinal Cord Injury

Objectives: To establish predictive equations for peak torque of muscle groups with totally and partially preserved innervation in individuals with motor complete spinal cord injury (SCI), based on hand dynamometry and strength predictor variables. Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted at a rehabilitation hospital consecutively recruited 108 men and women with SCI. All participants performed maximum peak torque tests for shoulder abduction/adduction (isokinetic), trunk flexion/extension (isometric), and handgrip strength testing (hand dynamometer) to establish predictive peak torque equations. The primary outcomes were peak torque variables. Handgrip strength, age, injury level, time since injury, age at injury, body mass, height, body mass index, and physical activity level were the secondary outcomes used as strength predictor variables. Results: Handgrip strength was a predictor variable for shoulder abduction/adduction peak torque. The best predictive models for shoulder abduction/adduction peak torque exhibited R2 = 0.57 and R2 = 0.60, respectively (p ≤ .05). Injury level showed the highest significant predictive capacity for trunk flexion/extension peak torque models (R2 = 0.38 and R2 = 0.29; p ≤ .05). Conclusion: Shoulder abduction/adduction peak torque predictive equations may be an alternative for use in an accessible strength tool (hand dynamometry) to evaluate training and rehabilitation programs. Trunk flexion/extension peak torque equations exhibited moderate correlations and high standard error of the estimates and should be used with caution.

Plasma C-Terminal Agrin Fragment as an Early Biomarker for Sarcopenia: Results from the Genofit Study

Barriers associated with direct muscle quantification have prevented a consistent implementation of therapeutic measures for sarcopenia. Recently, the relevance of circulating C-terminal agrin fragment (CAF) as an accessible screening method alternative for sarcopenia has gained credence. Accordingly, this study aimed to verify the pertinence of plasma CAF as a biomarker for sarcopenia. Three-hundred healthy adults aged between 50-83 years took part in this study. Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Body composition was assessed using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, while muscle strength was examined using hand dynamometry. Plasma CAF concentrations were determined using a commercially available ELISA kit. CAF concentrations were significantly associated with appendicular lean mass (ALM), but not grip strength (p=0.028, p=0.575, respectively). Plasma CAF concentrations were significantly elevated in sarcopenic individuals compared to non-sarcopenic (p<0.001). Overall, individuals with low grip strength or low ALM displayed significantly higher CAF levels compared to healthy controls, after adjusting for age and body mass index (p=0.027, p=0.003, respectively). In males, those with low grip strength or low ALM had significantly elevated CAF levels (p=0.039, p=0.027, respectively), while in females, only those with low ALM had significantly raised CAF concentrations, compared to healthy controls (p=0.035). Our findings illuminate the potential relevance of CAF as an accessible biomarker for skeletal muscle health. CAF determination may enhance clinical practise by facilitating more widespread treatment strategies for sarcopenia. Nevertheless, future research is needed to confirm the diagnostic pertinence of CAF concentrations in screening for sarcopenia.

Strength Asymmetries in Young Elite Sailors: Windsurfing, Optimist, Laser and 420 Classes

Strength asymmetries in the upper and lower limbs may affect the body movements of the joints or limbs. Although asymmetries in the upper limbs have been studied in sailors, those in lower limbs have not been evaluated in this sport population. The aims of this study were: (i) to analyze lower limb asymmetries in young elite sailors in order to quantify the magnitude of asymmetry between limbs for variables that were established as reliable in a healthy population, and (ii) to evaluate the presence of differences between classes and sexes in inter-limb asymmetries in elite youth sailors. Sixty-eight young Spanish elite sailors (9–19 years of age) participated voluntarily in our study. Single-leg vertical countermovement jump (VCJ), single-leg horizontal countermovement jump and hand dynamometry tests were used to evaluate the strength of the upper and lower limbs. More than 50% of the sailors presented asymmetries in the lower limbs. The boys’ group and Optimist class presented a greater percentage of strength asymmetry.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND METHODICAL ASPECTS OF INDIVIDUALIZATION OF HEALTH IMPROVING FEMALE TRAINING

Aim. The paper deals with theoretical and experimental substantiation of an individual approach to health-improving female training. Materials and methods. A specific individual orientation of training effects for women aged from 21 to 35 years was determined depending on their somatotypes: asthenic (n = 14), normosthenic (n = 18) and hypersthenic (n = 16). Individual somatotype-based health-improving training programs were implemented by 48 women during a nine-month macrocycle. The following research methods were used: anthropometric measurements, somatotyping, control and pedagogical tests, a set of biomedical methods, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. Distinctive somatotype features, body composition, functional status, physical fitness were determined in women engaged in shaping. The asthenic type is characterized by the smallest weight and height, as well as body circumference measurements, vital capacity, hand dynamometry, and body composition data. The hypersthenic type is described by the highest figures for the parameters studied. The normosthenic somatotype is distinguished by average data. Assessment of physical development, functional status and physical fitness in women demonstrated deviations from standard values for most indicators. The individualized method of developing health-improving female training programs based on somatotype characteristics provided statistically significant positive dynamics of physical development, body composition, functional status, physical fitness compared with the initial values. Conclusion. The focus of health-improving training programs for women aged from 21 to 35 years is determined based on morphofunctional and conditioning features that are specific for various somatotypes.

Bioimpedance phase angle as a marker of sarcopenia in elderly women with multiple comorbidities

Rationale: The progressive decline in skeletal muscle strength and function during aging can lead to disability and premature death. It is of interest to evaluate the potential of bioimpedance phase angle (PhA) as an instrumental marker of sarcopenia in clinical practice.Aim: To identify an association between the phase angles determined by the bioimpedance analysis of body composition, with functional activity parameters in elderly women with multiple comorbidities.Materials and methods: The study included 146 elderly women (aged 75 to 84 years, mean age 79.44±2.56 years). Assessments consisted of the Charlson comorbidity index, “Vozrast ne pomekha” (Age is not a hindrance) questionnaire, the Barthel index, the sit-to-stand five-repeat test, the standardized 4-meter walking speed test, and bioimpedance analysis of body composition (ABC02, Medass, Russia). Muscle strength parameters were assessed by wrist dynamometry with a mechanical wrist dynamometer. The hand dynamometry index was calculated by dividing the hand grip strength by the patient's squared height. According to the EWGSOP2 guidelines for the critical cur-off for hand dynamometry, the patients were divided into two groups: those with the hand grip strength>16 kg (n=41) and those with<16 kg (n=105).Results: There were significant correlations of PhA with age (r=-0.369; p=0.017), the results of the screening questionnaire “Vozrast ne pomekha” (Age is not a hindrance) (r=-0.359; p=0.023), Barthel index (r=0.375; p=0.018), hand dynamometry (r=0.395; p=0.014), hand dynamometry index (r=0.340; p=0.021), lean body mass (r=0.414; p=0.009), musculoskeletal mass (r=0.819; p<0.001), proportion of musculoskeletal mass (r=0.796; p<0.001), walking speed (r=0.670; p<0.001), and the results of the sit-to-stand test (r=-0.541; p<0.001). Sarcopenia was diagnosed in 61 women (41.8%). There were also significant differences in age, hand dynamometry results, hand dynamometry index, walking speed and results of the sit-to-stand test between the two groups depending on their hand grip strength.Conclusion: The use of hand dynamometry, physical activity tests, and bioimpedance phase angle can be used in clinical practice to diagnose sarcopenia.

Comparative analysis of physical development indicators of young Sambo athletes and normative indicators for adolescents not involved in sports

The aimwas to study of anthropometric indicators to determine the level of physical development of adolescents engaged and not involved in sports.Material and methods.110 male athletes engaged in Sambo wrestling (average age 15.4±0.7) were examined. The study used methods of complex anthropometry and dynamometry. As the main indicators were estimated the length and weight of the body, indicators of the chest circumference and vital capacity of the lungs, the value of back and carpal dynamometry. Hand dynamometry was carried out on the device medical electronic dynamometer DMER-120-0.5. Back dynamometry was carried out on the device back dynamometer, DS-500.Results. In the study group, about 61 % of athletes in each age group have deviations from the weight norm in accordance with the Broca index. Despite active physical activity, about 30 % of the surveyed, in each age group, have a medium or weak physique. The tendency towards weight loss may be due to excessive exercise or insufficient nutrition and recovery.Conclusion. There is a decrease in the values of weight-growth indices, which indicate non-compliance with the basic principles (balance, adequacy) of the nutrition system, as the main part of the system of recovery of the young athlete and require a revision of approaches to the diet of Sambo athletes.

Studying of interconnectios of morphological functional indicators of students, who practice martial arts

Purpose: to study interconnections of students’ morphological functional indicators and their influence on level of sportsmanship. Material: in the research 17 students, practicing martial arts, participated. 62 indicators were determined: anthropometrical, goniometrical criteria of arms joints’ status; tapping test and maximal frequency of grabs in impulse mode. Results: we found that maximal contribution in system is made by hand dynamometry of right and left hands, body length and mass, chest circumference, width of shoulders; maximal frequency of grabs by right and left hands. It was confirmed that there are correlations between students’ morphological functional indicators. The highest contribution to formation of functional system is characteristic for anthropometric indicators. Results of maximal grabs in impulse mode made rather sufficient contribution in system’s formation that is confirmed by great quantity of correlations. Analysis of character, strength and orientation of correlations witnesses about informative potential of this test and permits to recommend it as screening for control of sportsmen’s state. Conclusions: we determined that indicators of hand dynamometry system formation illustrate that for martial arts wrestlers strong grab was very important. It is ensured by strength of hand muscles.

The Functional Classification and Field Test Performance in Wheelchair Basketball Players

Wheelchair basketball players are classified in four classes based on the International Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) system of competition. Thus, the aim of the study was to ascertain if the IWBF classification, the type of injury and the wheelchair experience were related to different performance field-based tests. Thirteen basketball players undertook anthropometric measurements and performance tests (hand dynamometry, 5 m and 20 m sprints, 5 m and 20 m sprints with a ball, a T-test, a Pick-up test, a modified 10 m Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test, a maximal pass and a medicine ball throw). The IWBF class was correlated (p<0.05) to the hand dynamometry (r= 0.84), the maximal pass (r=0.67) and the medicine ball throw (r= 0.67). Whereas the years of dependence on the wheelchair were correlated to the velocity (p<0.01): 5 m (r= −0.80) and 20 m (r= −0.77) and agility tests (r= −0.77, p<0.01). Also, the 20 m sprint with a ball (r= 0.68) and the T-test (r= −0.57) correlated (p<0.05) with the experience in playing wheelchair basketball. Therefore, in this team the correlations of the performance variables differed when they were related to the disability class, the years of dependence on the wheelchair and the experience in playing wheelchair basketball. These results should be taken into account by the technical staff and coaches of the teams when assessing performance of wheelchair basketball players.