Validity and Reliability of a Smartphone and Digital Inclinometer in Measuring the Lower Extremity Joints Range of Motion

In clinical settings, available valid and reliable tools are important components in evaluating the lower extremity range of motion. Although the digital inclinometer is highly reliable compared to the universal goniometer, its availability and high cost impede its extensive use. Nowadays, smartphone applications have become widely available to clinicians for assessing the joint range of motion. The present study aims to assess the validity and intra-rater reliability of the smart- phone application “Clinometer” for measuring hip, knee, and ankle sagittal ranges of motion, using the digital inclinom- eter as the reference standard. Active hip, knee flexion and ankle dorsiflexion and plantarflexion range-of-motion mea- surements were recorded in 102 young, healthy female participants on two separate occasions using Clinometer and a digital inclinometer. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were used to evaluate the smartphone application’s validity against the digital inclinometer. To assess the reliability of the Clinometer app, the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable difference (MDD) were used. Clinometer displayed excellent validity when compared to the digital inclinometer for hip and knee movements (r>0.90), while ankle ROM displayed moderate validity (r = 0.52-0.57). Additionally, Clinometer demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC > 0.90) for hip and knee sagittal plane motion and moderate reliability for the ankle sagittal plane motion (ICC = 0.53–0.67). Cli- nometer is a portable, low-cost, valid, and reliable tool for assessing active hip and knee range of motions and can be easily incorporated into clinical settings; however, it cannot be used interchangeably for ankle measures.

Effects of Mentha Piperita Essential Oil Uptake or Inhalation on Heart Rate Variability and Cardiopulmonary Regulation during Exercise

This study compares the effects of the uptake or inhalation of 50uL Mentha piperita (MP) essential oil for 10 days on heart rate variability (HRV) and cardiopulmonary regulation during various exercise intensities. Forty-eight healthy male subjects were randomly assigned to MP uptake (MPU; n=16), MP inhalation (MPI; n=16), and control group (C; n=16). All participants were measured resting HRV, respiratory, cardiovascular, and metabolic parameters during aerobic, anaero- bic, and graded exercise tests (GXT) before and after treatment. There were significant increases in the low-frequency area (LFa; 1.8±0.1 vs 2.2±0.2 ms²), the ratio of low frequency to respiration frequency area (LFa/RFa; 0.9±0.1 vs 1.3±0.1) at resting and carbon dioxide production (VCO 2 ; 41.2±4.0 vs 49.2±6.8 mL/min -1 /kg -1 ), ventilation per minute (V E ; 80.2±4.3 vs 97.5±5.5 L/min -1 ), and respiratory rate (RR; 38.2±1.9 to 44.3±2.1 breath/min -1 ) in an anaerobic test following MPU inter- vention. In GXT, maximal carbon dioxide production (VCO 2max; 51.9±3.5 to 59.1±6.4 mL/min -1 /kg -1 ), maximal ventilation per minute (V Emax ; 126.4±6.5 to 138.4±5.4 L/min -1 ) and maximal respiratory rate (RR max ; 52.7±3.6 to 60.1±2.3 breath/min -1 ) significantly increased in MPU. The correlations of ΔLFa with ΔVCO 2max , ΔV Emax , and ΔRR max in the MPU group were signifi- cant. Continuous uptake or inhalation of 50uL MP oil for 10 days does not improve aerobic capacity and maximal exercise performance, but 10 days’ uptake of MP essential oil increased sympathetic activity at rest and may relate to respiratory regulation under high-intensity exercise.

Efficacy of the WATERinMOTION Aquatics Exercise Programme on the Body Weight and Composition of Sedentary Older Women with Overweight/Obesity

Some controversy remains regarding the effects of aquatic exercise on body weight and composition. The purpose of this study was to determine the short-term impacts of the WATERinMOTION aquatics exercise program on body weight and composition without nutritional intervention in sedentary older women with overweight/ obesity. The study was developed as a quasi-experimental project (pre/post-study). Forty-four inactive women were volunteers from a convenience sample with a mean age of 71.1±5.7 years (Ukraine, 2019). Participants were allocated randomly into two groups: WATERinMOTION (n=22) or a control group (n=22). Meanwhile, the WATERinMOTION group performed the WATERinMOTION exercise programme with two weekly sessions of 55 minutes each. The control subjects did not participate in any physical exercises. They were asked to perform their routine activities during the study. Both programmes lasted one month. Height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fat mass (FM), total body water (TBW), and free fat mass (FFM) were the anthropometric variables that were measured pre/post-study. The analysis found statistically significant differences in body weight (-0.7, P=0.004), BMI (-0.3, P=0.002), and FM (-0.6, P=0.03) between the pre and post measurements of the WATERinMOTION group. Moreover, the comparison of groups at post revealed a significant difference in body weight (P˂0.001), BMI (P˂0.001), TBW (P=0.005), FM (P˂0. 001), FFM (P=0.003), and WC (P=0.007). The WATERin- MOTION programme, which is not associated with nutritional monitoring, showed significant benefits for losing weight and the body composition of sedentary older women who are overweight and/or obese.

Participation in Physical Activity is Associated with Well-being in European University Students

This study’s objective was to analyse the associations between physical activity (PA) and well-being in a rep- resentative sample of European university students. This cross-sectional study was based on data from the European Social Survey round 6, 2012, comprising 3,143 European university students (1456 men and 1687 women) from 27 countries, with a mean age of 21.3±2.9 years. Socio-demographic data, PA, health perception, and the six dimensions of well-being were self-reported. Men reported practising PA more often than women did (4.4±2.2 versus 4.1 ± 2.2, p<0.001) and had better health perception (4.2±0.7 versus 4.1 ± 0.8, p<0.001) and total well-being score (5.5±1.2 versus 5.2 ± 1.3, p<0.001). PA frequency was linearly associated with health perception (p<0.001) as well as the overall well-being score (p<0.001). There is a positive association between PA and the well-being of European university students. This emphasizes the importance of PA in the university students’ lifestyle and the need to develop programmes that reduce physical inactivity.

Differences in Subject-Specific Competences between Slovenian and Italian Physical Education Teachers

This cross-sectional study was designed to analyse the differences between the subject-specific competenc- es of Slovenian and Italian physical education (PE) teachers. The participants, 669 Slovenian and 484 Italian PE teachers, evaluated their professional competences with a self-administered questionnaire on a four-level Likert scale. A t-test for independent samples indicates differences in the self-evaluations of the majority of sub- ject-specific competences between both groups. However, in almost all items, Slovenian PE teachers evaluate their competences higher. A multivariate analysis of variance, used to identify the role of some socio-demo- graphic factors (state, gender, years of service), shows that the state has the highest impact on the differences between self-efficiency of both groups (p<0.001, Eta2=0.531). The greatest differences (Cohen's d > 0.8) are observed on those competences that relate to some of the narrower aspects of PE didactics. The reasons for the perceived differences can be found in some historical and social events, length of education, the different orientation of PE teacher education programmes, and the different responses of both countries to educational policies. The present study outcomes may aid in updating initial PE teacher training and designing a creative system of continuous professional development.

Supplementation with Ziziphus Jujuba Suppresses Apoptosis Signals in Neutrophils after Acute Exercise

It is suggested that jujube might benefit exercise-induced immune fluctuations, specifically on neutrophils’ apoptosis regulation, but its cellular mechanism is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of one-week supplemen- tation with Ziziphus jujuba on pro- and anti-apoptotic protein levels of neutrophils in response to a session of circuit resistance exercise. Fourteen young, healthy male students completed a session of circuit resistance exercise (75% 1RM, nine exercises, three sets) in two groups (n=7). While one group received a placebo, the other group was supplemented with jujube (0.5 g/kg body weight suspended in 2.5 cc distilled water) started a weekday before the exercise session. Blood samples were collected 30 minutes before, immediately, and two hours after the exercise. Neutrophils were col- lected and pro- (Calpain-1, Bax, Caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic (Calpastatin, XIAP) proteins measured with ELISA. In- tracellular calcium ([Ca 2+ ]i) was assessed using the Atomic Absorption/ Flame Emission method. Repeated-Measures ANOVA was used for the interaction effects of TIME×GROUP (3×2) at the significance level (p) of 0.05. The SPSS software was used for analyses. Levels of ([Ca 2+ ]i), expression of calpain-, and caspase-3 were increased in response to circuit resistance exercise (p<0.05). In contrast, supplementation with jujube suppressed these changes (p<0.01). The data indicate that a single session of intensive circuit resistance exercise elevated apoptosis signalling in human neutrophils with the involvement of [Ca 2+ ]i-Calpastatin-Calpain axis upstream caspase-3. Supplementation with the jujube solution attenuated cell death signalling, possibly by providing energy for neutrophils. Otherwise, the improvement of the anti- oxidant status might be protective against ROS-induced apoptosis during exercise.

Effect of Oral Supplementation with L-Carnitine on Performance Time in a 5000 m Race and Responses of Free Fatty Acid and Carnitine Concentrations in Trained-Endurance Athletes

This study was designed to determine the effect of oral supplementation with L-carnitine on the performance time in a 5000 m race. In addition, free fatty acid, blood carnitine, lactate, and glucose responses to the race following the supplementation period were measured. Twenty male trained-endurance athletes were randomly divided into two groups (L-carnitine, n = 10 (22.13 ± 2.66 yrs) or placebo, n = 10 (21.63 ± 2.23 yrs)). The study was performed with a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-group, in which participants ingested an L-carnitine supplement or a placebo 2 × 1.5 g/day for 3 weeks. Athletes completed a 5000 m race before and after the supplementation period. Blood samples were collected from each athlete before and after the race, preand post-supplementation to measure the physiological responses. Data showed that there were no differences in performance time before (p=0.624) and after (p=0.407) supplementation period between groups and within a group (p>0.05). No differences existed in physiological responses between groups after supplementation before beginning the race (p>0.05), except for the blood carnitine level, which was significantly higher in the L-carnitine than the placebo (P=0.001) group. After the finish of the race, however, data showed better physiological responses in response to L-carnitine supplementation compared to the placebo group (p<0.05). In conclusion, although L-carnitine supplementation increases blood carnitine concentration, it has no beneficial effect on performance time of 5000 m race probably due to the short duration of the race; it might also have no ergogenic effect.

Factors that Differentiate Winning and Losing in Men’s University Basketball

The objective of this study is to analyse the game-related statistics that differentiate winning and losing teams, according to the finale game scores in a men’s university basketball league. Samples were gathered from the archival data of the 2019–2020 regular season of the league. Sixteen game-related statistics were analysed: two- and three-point field-goals (both successful and unsuccessful), free-throws (both successful and unsuccessful), defensive and offensive rebounds, assists, steals, turnover, blocks, second-chance points, fast break points, fouls committed and received. The data were clustered into different game types based on the final outcome point differences: all games, balanced games (11 points and below) and unbalanced games (12 points and above). Discriminant function analysis was conducted to identify the performance indicators that classify winning and losing games. The results revealed that winning and losing in balanced games were discriminated by successful two-point field goals, unsuccessful two-point field goals, unsuccessful three-point field goals, successful free-throws, assists, steals, blocks, second-chance points, fast-break points, fouls committed, and fouls received. For unbalanced games, winning and losing were distinguished by successful two-point field goals, successful three-point field goals, successful free-throws, unsuccessful free-throws, defensive rebounds, blocks, fast-break points, and fouls received. In conclusion, offensive and defensive indices are critical to winning and losing in university-level basketball.

Physical Demands in Three Different Basketball Competitions Played By the Same Under-18 Players

The goal of this study was to compare the physical demands of the same team in three different basketball com- petitions (EBA league (EBA), U18 regional league (U18L), and a U18 international tournament (U18T)) during the same season. Data from eleven U18 players (age: 16.92 ± 0.67 years) were collected using inertial movement units. As external load variables, Player Load (PL), accelerations (ACC), decelerations (DEC), changes of direction (COD), and jumps (JUMP) were expressed in their total (t) and high intensity (h) values. The analysis of variances (ANOVA) and effect size (ES, Cohen’s d) with their respective 90% confidence intervals were applied to identify differences between the competitions. U18T showed the highest values in PL, tACC, tDEC, hDEC, tCOD, tJUMP, and hJUMP (small to moderate ES). However, the hACC and hCOD values were greater in EBA (small ES) than in U18L and U18T. In conclusion, all three competitions presented different external load demands for the same group of players. This data could help basketball coaches to optimize the training process based on the competition in which their team plays. Furthermore, data could also indicate the most suitable competition for players’ development.

The Effects of Aquatic Watsu Therapy on Gross Motor Performance and Quality of Life for Children with Cerebral Palsy

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Immersion and Watsu® therapy protocols on children with cerebral palsy. Gross motor function (GMF), spasticity (MAS), and Quality of Life (QoL) parameters of twenty-three children (age: 7.5±2.8, BMI: 17±3.7) were measured. Subjects received Watsu® therapy and Immersion protocols in Watsu-Immersion (W-I, n=12) and Immersion-Watsu (I-W n=11) groups in different periods based on a crossover design. The subjects received sessions for 30 minutes twice a week during 10-week experimental periods. The results were investigated with independent sample t-test and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests, which showed that there was no evidence of carryover effects in GMFM 88 and QoL. In contrast, Watsu® improved GMFM 88 (p<0.05), Quality of Life (p<0.05), and MAS-Upper spasticity (p<0.05), scores significantly compared to immersion. The current results demonstrated the specific benefits of Watsu® therapy on children with CP, confirming the previous anecdotal reports. We recommend Watsu® as a safe and well-accepted complementary intervention for the management of CP.