Garcia-Gil, M, Torres-Unda, J, Esain, I, Duñabeitia, I, Gil, SM, Gil, J, and Irazusta, J. Anthropometric parameters, age, and agility as performance predictors in elite female basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1723-1730, 2018-In addition to technical, tactical, and psychological skills, performance in playing basketball depends on anthropometry and physical fitness. However, limited information is available regarding such features in women. We hypothesized that anthropometry and physical fitness are associated with female basketball performance, and consequently, performance could be predicted using the results of certain anthropometric measures and fitness tests. Body parameters (age, height, body mass, skinfold thicknesses, limb perimeters, and lengths) were measured. Physical fitness capacities (jumping, agility with and without the ball, and speed) were measured by specific tests. In addition, game performance was assessed using technical statistics (rebounds, assists, and points) and the performance index rating (PIR). Teams ranked better in the regular season had smaller mean fat skinfold thickness and spent less time in the agility tests (T-Drill). Correlation analyses indicated that players with better PIR were older, taller, and had a longer arm span and greater contracted arm perimeter (CAP). Furthermore, those players had better results in the T-Drill test. Multiple regression analysis indicated that combined age, height, CAP, fat skinfold thickness, and time in T-Drill test yielded a strong predictor of PIR per time played. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that some anthropometric and physical fitness characteristics of female elite basketball teams and players are highly associated with performance-related parameters. In addition, a regression model has been developed to predict the performance of female basketball players.
Three months of a detraining period in older people who habitually undertake supervised activities is enough to produce a decline in dynamic balance and also quality of life. To avoid the deleterious effect of periods of cessation of supervised exercise, as a suggestion, specifically designed exercises could be prescribed for an older population, with emphasis on balance exercises.
BackgroundThe effects of regular exercise on physical functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have been thoroughly studied. In contrast, little is known about the changes which occur following cessation of activity (detraining). Here, we have investigated the effect of a 3 month detraining period on HRQOL and on handgrip strength in elderly people who had regularly exercised, and examined the association of these variables with falls.MethodsThirty-eight women and 11 men (mean age, 75.5±5.7 years) took part in a supervised physical exercise program for 9 months, followed by a 3 month detraining period. Participants completed the SF-36 HRQOL questionnaire at the beginning of detraining (baseline) and 3 months later. Handgrip strength and number of falls were also recorded.ResultsParticipants had been exercising for 12.1±8.7 years. After the detraining period, we found a significant (p < 0.001–-0.05) decline in all SF-36 dimensions, with the exception of handgrip strength. Women presented a larger decline (p < 0.05) in more items than men. During the detraining period, 18.4% participants had a fall incident. HRQOL declined in both fallers and non-fallers during detraining. Interestingly, fallers already had at baseline significantly lower values in physical functioning (p < 0.05), emotional role (p < 0.05) and mental health (p < 0.01), than non-fallers.ConclusionsAn important decline was found in most items of the SF-36 following a 3 month detraining period, particularly in women. In contrast, strength of the upper limb was not affected by the detraining. The prior lower HRQOL values of those who will subsequently fall suggest that this criterion should be studied as a candidate risk factor for falls. Efforts should be made to encourage the elderly to continue with exercise activities and/or to shorten holiday break periods, in order to maintain their quality of life.Trial registrationThe protocol was registered as a clinical trial in the ANZCTR (trial ID: ACTRN12617000716369).
ObjectiveTo determine the effects of a simple exercise program on the balance and strength of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.MethodsThis program was based on low intensity strength and balance exercises, and was carried out with simple, readily available equipment. Sixty five women were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (EG; n=33, age: 57.4±4.8 years) or the control group (CG; n=32, age: 58.8±4.5 years). Participants in the EG underwent balance and strength training for 60 min, three times/week for 6 months. Each session consisted of warm-up exercises (10 min), balance training (20 min), strength training (20 min), and cooldown (10 min). Participants from the CG were asked not to modify their usual habits during the course of the study. Static balance was evaluated using the blind monopodal stance static balance test. In contrast, dynamic balance was assessed using the “8-foot up and go” test, whereas the strength of the upper and lower limbs was measured using the “arm curl” and “30 s chair stand” tests, respectively. All these variables were assessed at baseline and upon program completion.ResultsThe EG showed significant improvements (P<0.001) in static balance (21%), dynamic balance (36%), and in the strength of the upper (80%) and lower (47%) limbs in comparison to the CG after the sixth month. Participants in the CG showed significantly lower values (P<0.001) in the four tests. In addition, a significant inverse relationship between static balance and the strength of the upper (r=−0.390; P=0.001) and lower (r=−0.317; P=0.01) limbs was found.ConclusionThe present study demonstrates that a physical exercise program based on balance and strength exercises, carried out with simple and readily available equipment, is capable of significantly improving the strength and balance of women with osteoporosis.
The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of social distancing on physical activity (PA) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in active Spanish older adults according to their physical functionality. The study included 58 older adults aged 76.24 ± 6.00 years who were enrolled in a supervised physical exercise program before the COVID-19 outbreak. Anthropometric, physical function, physical activity and HRQoL were measured at baseline (October 2019). After the two-month lockdown due to the COVID-19, questionnaires were collected again during de-escalation (May 2020). Participants were divided into high- (n = 29) and low-functionality (n = 29) groups. Total PA, walking and cleaning significantly decreased (p < 0.001) whilst exercising or dancing increased (p < 0.001). General health, social and emotional role functioning dimensions and overall mental component scores worsened (p < 0.01–p < 0.05). Low-functionality participants had significantly lower physical functioning scores at baseline (p < 0.01) and lower bodily pain scores at de-escalation (p < 0.01). Emotional role functioning dimension and overall mental component significantly decreased only in low-functionality participants (p < 0.05). Although PA levels decreased significantly, older adults continued being active regardless of their functionality. While mental HRQoL in participants with higher physical functionality remained unchanged, participants with lower functional capacity had a higher risk of mental health concerns. Therefore, attention should focus on strategies to mitigate the negative effects of distancing measures on older people’s mental health, especially in those with lower functionality.
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