No abstract

Engaging in dancing using dance videogames can lead to improved cardiovascular conditioning and flexibility in sedentary female university students.

ABSTRACT

This randomised pilot study compared the effects of a six-week, dance video game training programme with traditional agility ladder drills. Twenty-seven elite volleyball players participated and the Illinois Agility Test was used as the primary outcome measure. Significant improvement was seen in agility scores of the video game dance group with both an intention-to-treat analysis (ITTA), (median [Mdn]=-0.95, p=0.028), and per-protocol analysis (Mdn=-1.58, p=0.012). The ladder drills group showed no significant change in agility with the ITTA (Mdn=-0.71, p=0.062), but improvement was seen with the per-protocol analysis (Mdn=-0.85, p=0.028). Between group comparisons showed no significant difference in agility scores for the ITTA (p=0.650). However, with the per-protocol analysis, the video game dance training group demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in agility scores (Mdn=-1.58 sec; p=0.029.) compared with the ladder drills group (Mdn=-0.85 sec.). Changes observed for both analyses exceeded the minimal detectable change for the Illinois Agility Test, indicating that dance video game training may be a useful tool for clinicians wanting to enhance agility. Further research is warranted in this area.

No abstract

Balance games on the Nintendo "Wii Fit Plus" disc can be used as a tool for balance training in community-dwelling persons 60 years of age and older.

The use of nontraditional exercise devices such as the Ab Lounge™ has been promoted as being as effective as the traditional abdominal crunch in strengthening the abdominal musculature. Evidence for this is lacking, however. The purpose of this study was to compare the degree of activation of the upper and lower rectus abdominis using electromyography (EMG) during a traditional crunch with the basic jackknife using the Ab Lounge™. Twenty-two subjects (6 men and 16 women) were randomly selected from the student population at the University of the West Indies (Mona Campus). The mean age of the participants was 20.5 ± 1.5 years, height 166.4 ± 6.2 cm, weight 64 ± 10.3 kg, and waist-hip ratio 0.7 ± 0.1. Surface EMG was used to assess the muscle activity from the upper and lower rectus abdominis while each exercise was performed. The EMG data were full-wave rectified and normalized using a mathematical model that was set up in Microsoft Excel for Windows XP. Statistical analysis was performed on the data using a univariate analysis of variance with gender as a covariate. Significance was determined by p < 0.05. The mean EMG data recorded for the upper rectus abdominis was significantly higher with the traditional crunch when compared with the basic jackknife performed on the Ab Lounge™ (F = 4.39, p = 0.04). The traditional crunch produced a higher level of activity in the lower rectus abdominis when compared with the basic jackknife, but this was not statistically significant (F = 0.249, p = 0.62). There was no significant interaction between gender and the effect of the type of exercise on upper and lower rectus abdominis activation. These results suggest that the traditional abdominal crunch is more effective than the basic jackknife is in activating the rectus abdominis musculature.

The increased availability of nutritional supplements has been accompanied with concerns about safety and failed doping tests in athletes through contamination and presence of unknown ingredients. We sought to obtain baseline information on young athletes' knowledge and practices regarding supplements which can guide development of educational programmes. Questionnaires were administered to Jamaican athletes aged 12-19 years attending after-school training for competitive events including the annual athletics competition-Girls and Boys Championship or "Champs". The questionnaires comprised 27 questions divided into four sections: i) demographics, ii) supplement-taking habits iii) supplement perception and iv) knowledge. Of 127 athletes, the 57.4 % (N=73) that had taken supplements at least occasionally in the last year, had completed significantly more years of training,3.5 ± 1.5 versus 2.8 ± 1.2 years (± standard deviation), than non-users (P<0.05) and those training for Champs were more likely to take supplements (P<0.005). Males and Champs athletes were more likely to obtain supplements from coaches, and more likely to not know the source of the supplements compared with other athletes (P<0.05 in all instances). 37.1 % athletes stated they thought that supplements could increase sports performance. Knowledge was poor with average scores of 38 % for the knowledge section with Champs athletes obtaining significantly lower scores than athletes partaking in other sports. Athletes with self-reported familiarity of the World Anti-doping Code obtained higher scores (P<0.0005). The poor knowledge of supplement usage and of the World Anti-doping Code warrants training of students regarding the potential risks of taking supplements.