It has been suggested that athletes with longer fingers and larger hand surfaces enjoy stronger grip power. Therefore, some researchers have examined a number of factors and anthropometric variables that explain this issue. To our knowledge, the data is scarce. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hand dimensions, hand shape and some anthropometric characteristics on handgrip strength in male grip athletes and non-athletes. 80 subjects aged between 19 and 29 participated in this study in two groups including: national and collegian grip athletes (n=40), and non-athletes (n=40). Body height and mass were measured to calculate body mass index. The shape of the dominant hand was drawn on a piece of paper with a thin marker so that finger spans, finger lengths, and perimeters of the hand could be measured. The hand shape was estimated as the ratio of the hand width to hand length. Handgrip strength was measured in the dominant and non-dominant hand using a standard dynamometer. Descriptive statistics were used for each variable and independent t test was used to analyze the differences between the two groups. The Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to evaluate the correlation between studied variables. Also, to predict important variables in handgrip strength, the linear trend was assessed using a linear regression analysis. There was a significant difference between the two groups in absolute handgrip strength (p<0.001) and handgrip/height ratio (p<0.001). The indices of body height, body mass, lean body mass and body fat content (p<0.001) were significantly greater in grip athletes. All hand variables except FS1-4 (p>0.05) were significantly different between the groups (p<0.001). After controlling body mass all hand anthropometric characteristics except thumb length (r=0.240, p= 0.135), hand shape (r=−0.029, p=0.858), middle finger length (r=0.305, p=0.056) and forearm circumference (r=0.162, p=0.319) significantly correlated with handgrip strength in grip athletes, but not in non-athletes, except for forearm circumference (r=0.406, p=0.010). The results showed that handgrip strength and some of the hand dimensions may be different in athletes who have handgrip movements with an object or opponent in comparison to non-athletes. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between handgrip strength and most of the hand dimensions in grip athletes. Therefore, these can be used in talent identification in handgrip-related sports and in clinical settings as well.

These results show an increased insulin level in non-diabetics ones and overall importance of insulin effect in pathogenesis of skin tags.

Objective Structural deformities can impair different body functions, and kyphosis is one of the most common postural deformities. It seems that kyphosis induces unfavorable effects on the respiratory system. Impairment of pulmonary function, in turn, affects spirometer indices significantly. Some previous studies have indicated a positive influence of corrective structural exercise on kyphosis. Recently, respiratory muscle exercises were considered as one of the treatment methods of pulmonary disease. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the influence of structural corrective and respiratory exercises, for a period of six weeks, on cardiorespiratory indices of male children, afflicted with kyphosis Methods & Materials The study population included male students in the age group of 10-12 years in the city of Bandarabbas. After obtaining signed consent forms from their parents, 34 boys with kyphosis were selected using the convenience sampling method. The extent of kyphosis among the participants was measured using flexicurve. Only kyphosis cases with an angle of 40 or more were selected, assimilated, and divided into three groups. The first group underwent structural corrective exercises (n=10), the second group partook in respiratory muscle exercises (n=12), and the third group was the control group (n=12) in accordance with kyphosis level. Respiratory indices including inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC), and forced expiratory volume in 1st second (FEV 1) were measured using the spirometer, and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max) was measured using a 20 m shuttle test before and 24 hours after the last session of exercise/training. Exercise/training was undertaken for six weeks, with three sessions per week and progressively. The findings were evaluated using SPSS software version 21. After confirming the normality of the findings with the help of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to statistically compare post-experiment variables of the three groups by controlling the possible influence of pre-experiment variables. Results The results of the study indicated that IRV (P=0.001), ERV (P=0.001), FVC (P=0.001), and MVV (P=0.001) increased significantly in the respiratory exercise group compared with the control. Similarly, IRV (P=0.001), ERV (P=0.001), FVC (P=0.007), and MVV (P=0.001) also increased significantly in the respiratory exercise group compared with the structural corrective exercise group. But, there was no significant difference in FEV1 (P=0.126), VO 2max (P=0.490), and kyphosis degree (P=0.380) between the study groups. Conclusion According to our findings, it can be concluded that there is an improvement in cardiopulmonary function indices following respiratory exercises. Keeping in mind the ease with which they can be performed and the fact they do not require special devices, it can be firmly stated that respiratory muscle exercises are more efficient than othe...

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Background: PPAR-γ and PRDM16 proteins have key role in the metabolism of adipose tissue and the conversion of white tissue to brown adipose tissue. But, the role of exercise on these two important proteins has not been studied in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous training on the level of PPAR-γ and PRDM16 proteins in the adipose tissue in overweight male Sprague-Dawley rats with diabetes. Methods: In this study, 16 two-month old Sprague-Dawley rats with an average weight of 270±20 g were selected and randomly divided into two groups: control (n=8) and continuous training (n=8). The training group exercised according to the training program 4 days a week for 8 weeks while the control group did not have a training program. Independent t-test was used to analyze the data. Findings: There was a significant increase in the expression of PPAR-γ (P=0.004) and PRDM16 (P=0.0001) proteins in the training group compared to control group. Conclusion: Considering the increase of PPAR-γ and PRDM16 proteins in adipose tissue after continuous exercise and the important role of these two proteins in the fat metabolism, aerobic exercise can be an important mechanism for reducing this tissue in obese individuals and converting white tissue to brown.