Fitness Regimen Research Articles

Enhancing Youth Cricket Performance: Insights From Field-Based Assessments of Strength, Endurance, and Agility

Background The physical demands of cricket, particularly in youth players, encompass critical components of strength, endurance, and agility, which are essential for optimal performance and maintaining competitive success. Strength, endurance, and agility are vital in enhancing youth cricketers' overall physical fitness and performance levels, directly influencing their ability to sustain high-intensity efforts, execute precise movements, and recover effectively during matches and training sessions. Aims: This research aimed to evaluate the field-based performance levels of young cricketers in Belagavi through innovative assessments: the wall squat, 2km time trial, and Run-a-three tests, highlighting their importance in enhancing player fitness and performance.Methods: A cohort of 100 young cricketers (aged 18-24) with a minimum of 2 years experience underwent comprehensive assessments using the wall squat, 2km time trial, and Run-a-three tests across various cricket grounds in Belagavi. Statistical analyses provided insights into their fitness levels across different player categories (batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, and wicketkeepers).Results: Significant variations in fitness levels were observed among player categories, with wall squat endurance being the most notable area for improvement, as the mean performance was 51.54 ± 20.79 seconds. The average 2km trial was completed in 10.03 ± 1.42 minutes, while the Run-a-three drill averaged 11.86 ± 1.33 seconds. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted fitness interventions to enhance lower body endurance across all roles.Conclusion: This study underscores the imperative for tailored fitness regimens to address deficiencies in strength, endurance, and agility among young cricketers in Belagavi. These targeted interventions can enhance their competitive readiness and support long-term athletic development. Future research should explore the specific impact of these fitness interventions on performance metrics and injury prevention, providing further insights into optimizing youth cricket training programs.

Exploring the Significance of Abdominal Drawing-in and Segmental Stabilisation Training (SST) for Low Back Pain Management.

Segmental Stabilisation Training (SST) a programme initially conceived by Carolyn Richardson and her team, serves as a specialised approach tailored to alleviate mechanical low back pain. Built upon decades of rigorous research, this exercise model rests upon the foundational principles of core stability. SST is unique due to its singular focus on addressing the root cause of low back pain, thereby presenting a promising avenue for averting the frequent relapses characteristic of this condition. Many fitness regimens that emphasize core stability incorporate the Abdominal Drawing-in manoeuver. However, the efficacy of this technique often remains unrealized due to a lack of awareness regarding its correct execution. It is imperative to note that the true benefits of the Abdominal Drawing-in manoeuver manifest only when performed accurately, ensuring the activation of deep core muscles and, in turn, preventing the recurrence of low back pain. The SST programme offers clear and precise guidance, enabling both clinicians and patients to acquire the requisite skills for its correct implementation. This minireview highlights the significance of SST in low back pain management and also elucidates the crucial role of precise technique execution.

Physical Activities and Psychological Needs of Physical Education Students

The study examined the levels of physical activity and psychological needs of students enrolled in physical education at Tangshan Normal University. The respondent profile indicated that the sample consisted mainly of female, first-year students aged 17-18, with the majority having a healthy BMI. In terms of physical activity, the pupils exhibited proficient fundamental movement abilities and independence in structuring their fitness regimens. Nevertheless, certain areas that may be enhanced were identified, including the decision to opt for stairs. The analysis revealed no statistically significant differences in the levels of physicalactivity among the students based on their sex, age, BMI, or year level. Regarding psychological needs, the students expressed a robust sense of autonomy, experiencing a sense of freedom to independently make important life choices. Nevertheless, their perceptions of opportunities for self-determination in daily life were somewhat diminished. Regarding competence, pupils experienced acknowledgment from others for their abilities.

Effects of Specific Physical Fitness Regimen on Selected Motor Fitness Parameters among Tribal Girls in Andhra Pradesh

Effects of Specific Physical Fitness Regimen on Selected Motor Fitness Parameters among Tribal Girls in Andhra Pradesh

Age-Related Declines in Health and Fitness among Law Enforcement Officers Compared to Population Norms.

Physical fitness is mandatory for public safety officers. Police officers experience elevated levels of cardiovascular disease and associated risks making fitness a peak concern. Officers often have more marked fitness level decreases with aging compared to the general population. This cross-sectional study investigated the cardiovascular health, muscular strength/endurance, and mobility of officers in a medium-sized police department (N = 83); (4 females, 79 males), age (36.82 ± 10 years), height (179.02 ± 7.7 cm), body mass (95.1 ± 16.29 kg) compared to American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines. The findings revealed that police officers begin their careers with above average strength but demonstrate greater declines with age than the general population. Officers also demonstrated cardiovascular fitness below ACSM standards and significant decreases with aging compared to the general population. Body fat percentages (p = 0.003) and BMI (p = 0.028) surpassed recommendations, with higher than normal increases with age. Maximum vertical jump decreased as officers age (p = 0.004). These findings support the implementation of a targeted physical fitness regimen and the resources for a program designed to improve current health and fitness, reduce the greater than expected decreases with aging, and aim to optimize occupational performance and the safeguarding of the lifelong health and well-being of officers.

A Brief Review of the Efficacy in Artificial Intelligence and Chatbot-Generated Personalized Fitness Regimens

ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) and chatbot technologies have rapidly emerged with promising applications in public health, including developing personal lifestyles and exercise routines. This article examines the effectiveness of AI-based chatbot platforms to generate personalized exercise regimens. Chatbots are freely accessible to users with Internet access and may be more cost-effective than a personal trainer. This review highlights multiple examples of AI being used to offer fitness advice, supplement athletic coaching, and create everyday exercise routines. The results of these studies demonstrate a positive outlook on using AI for strength and conditioning applications, for personal and professional use. Despite having the potential to replace personal fitness trainers for everyday users and athletes alike, more extensive research should be performed using AI combined with physicians, personal trainers, and nutritionists to determine areas where AI can be further optimized. More research focusing on the effectiveness of AI-generated routines for the everyday user may further validate the potential for chatbot-mediated exercise. This brief review aims to evaluate the efficacy of AI-generated personalized fitness regimens, emphasizing physical fitness, athletic performance, and overall physical and mental well-being. The video abstract for this article can be found in the video SDC 1.

The aerobic exercise system for increasing Body Mass Index, waist circumference of overweight and obese students ages 20-22

Aerobic exercise has been widely recognized as an efficacious intervention for enhancing students’ body mass index and waist circumference, particularly among individuals classified as overweight and obese. However, a comprehensive search for studies conducted within the context of higher education in the Indonesia yielded no existing research. This study investigates the impact of aerobic activities on male students aged 20 – 22 [(N21 YEARS OLD = 9(45.00%), N20 YEARS OLD = 7(35.00%), N22 YEARS OLD = 4(20.00%); age mean of mean = 20.85 ± 0.75] from a selected higher education institution in the country. The present study employed an experimental research methodology, utilizing a sample of male college students who were overweight or obese. The sample size was divided equally, with a total of 20 participants (N = 20). The participants engaged in a 12-week aerobic fitness regimen consisting of one-hour session, three times per week. Independent samples t-test was used to examine the difference in the performance of both groups in relation to their BMI and WC post-test scores, while paired t-test was employed to compare the difference in the pre-test and post-test scores on participants’ BMI and WC. Based on the results, a notable disparity in performance was detected between the two groups, with obese students demonstrating a considerable enhancement in their BMI [t(15.887) = −9.797, p < 0.05]. On the other hand, no significant difference was observed in the performance of the groups in terms of WC [t(16.665) = −0.505, p = 0.620]. A notable disparity was noted in the pre- and post-test scores of the participants’ BMI and WC subsequent to engaging in a 12-week regimen of aerobic exercise, both in a general sense (BMI [t(19) = 14.439, p < 0.05 and WC t(19) = 14.333, p < 0.05) and within each group [Overweight: BMI t(9) = 14.488, p < 0.05] and WC t(9) = 15.057, p < 0.05; Obese: BMI t(9) = 7.922, p < 0.05] and WC t(9) = 7.746, p < 0.05]. Based on the findings, it can be inferred that involving male students who are overweight or obese in a meticulously planned aerobic exercise regimen has the potential to yield substantial improvements in their BMI and WC. This, in turn, may lead to increased performance in physical activity. Limitations and future research endeavors are hereby presented.

Anonymizing at-home fitness: enhancing privacy and motivation with virtual reality and try-on.

This study aimed to address privacy concerns associated with video conferencing tools used in home-based exercise training. To that end, a method that could anonymize participants' appearances and exercise environments during at-home fitness sessions was proposed. This method combines virtual reality for 3-D human-model rendering using key-points tracking with a virtual try-on system enhanced by UV mapping and instance segmentation. To validate the proposed method, we conducted a user study by recruiting participants to assess effectiveness of virtual reality and virtual try-on in terms of privacy protection, self-confidence, and coaching satisfaction. Experimental results demonstrated the effectiveness and improved user experience of using virtual reality or virtual try-on in remote fitness, particularly in enhancing privacy protection and self-confidence with statistical significance. However, no significant differences were noted in coaching satisfaction. These findings confirmed the efficacy of our proposed approach. We believe that the proposed approach can significantly contribute to the future of remote fitness training, offering a more secure and engaging environment for users, thereby potentially increasing adherence to fitness regimens and overall physical wellbeing.

Can Exercise Make Us Smarter, Happier, and Have More Neurons? A Hormetic Perspective

The level of intensity in a fitness regimen determines its impact: exercising can enhance intelligence, boost happiness, and increase the number of neurons. It is commonly accepted that exercise programs yield both positive and negative outcomes, depending on their intensity, among other factors, following a pattern like hormesis with a two-phase dose response. In simple terms, hormetic stress is the exact amount of stress to which our body is challenged, but we are not too tired. Therefore, your body is not weakened by lack of exposure to stress, but you are spared from the harmful side effects of toxic stress. Nevertheless, no proof has emerged thus far regarding a two-phase reaction of specific agents responsible for these exercise-induced effects. The discussions and concepts will revolve around adult hippocampal neurogenesis (AHN) as a plausible physiological basis for the hermetic reaction to exercise in relation to its impact on cognition and mood, including the potential molecular pathways that might facilitate these effects.

Positive and Negative Impacts of Gamification on the Fitness Industry.

Gamification features to motivate individuals to exercise have become a trend in the fitness sector that is gaining popularity. It is based on the idea that adding fun and competitive components to workout routines will inspire people to achieve their fitness objectives and maintain a healthy lifestyle. This research study attempts to analyze the literature that explores this concept of gamification in detail, and create a picture of how its implementation has changed fitness and healthy habits. This research incorporated the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach as its research methodology. Search strategy used a set of inclusion-exclusion criteria that helped us examine through hundreds of articles identified in the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases. After exclusive and inclusion criteria, 48 articles were selected to be reviewed in detail. Results have indicated that gamification strategy is a supporting factor to overcome the difficulties of executing exercises. Also, to improve the willingness towards fitness regimens.

Choosing the Best Design in Surgical Research.

Choosing the Best Design in Surgical Research.

Physical fitness and diabetes.

Physical fitness is an essential part of, and an important means of, ensuring and maintaining good health. Exercise is a physical activity which is designed for improvement or maintenance of physical fitness. Pursuit for fitness should be an integral aspect of one's lifestyle, and hence one should engage in regular physical activity, exercises, games, sports and martial arts. Persons living with diabetes often find it challenging to pursue a proper exercise regimen in an effective, yet safe, manner. In this communication, we suggest a strategy to kick start a physical fitness regimen that one can adhere to. This simple suggestion will be helpful not only for persons living with diabetes and other chronic diseases, but for their health care providers as well.

Examining the Effect of Increased Aerobic Exercise in Moderately Fit Adults on Psychological State and Cognitive Function.

Regular physical exercise can decrease the risk for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, increase life expectancy, and promote psychological health and neurocognitive functioning. Cross-sectional studies show that cardiorespiratory fitness level (VO2 max) is associated with enhanced brain health, including improved mood state and heightened cognitive performance. Interventional studies are consistent with these cross-sectional studies, but most have focused on low-fit populations. Few such studies have asked if increasing levels of physical activity in moderately fit people can significantly enhance mood, motivation, and cognition. Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of increasing aerobic exercise in moderately fit individuals on psychological state and cognitive performance. We randomly assigned moderately fit healthy adults, 25–59 years of age, who were engaged in one or two aerobic exercise sessions per week to either maintain their exercise regimen (n = 41) or increase their exercise regimen (i.e., 4–7 aerobic workouts per week; n = 39) for a duration of 3 months. Both before and after the intervention, we assessed aerobic capacity using a modified cardiorespiratory fitness test, and hippocampal functioning via various neuropsychological assessments including a spatial navigation task and the Mnemonic Similarity Task as well as self-reported measures including the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Perceived Stress Scale, Rumination Scale, Eating Disorders Examination, Eating Attitudes Test, Body Attitudes Test, and Behavioral Regulation of Exercise Questionnaire. Consistent with our initial working hypotheses, we found that increasing exercise significantly decreased measures of negative affect, including fear, sadness, guilt, and hostility, as well as improved body image. Further, we found that the total number of workouts was significantly associated with improved spatial navigation abilities and body image as well as reduced anxiety, general negative affect, fear, sadness, hostility, rumination, and disordered eating. In addition, increases in fitness levels were significantly associated with improved episodic memory and exercise motivation as well as decreased stress and disordered eating. Our findings are some of the first to indicate that in middle-aged moderately-fit adults, continuing to increase exercise levels in an already ongoing fitness regimen is associated with additional benefits for both psychological and cognitive health.

Enhancing Life through Fitness for Aging Individuals: An Interview Study

As individuals age from midlife, proactive health behaviors are essential for healthy aging. A fitness community can provide an experience which not only taps into physical and psychological health, but also into social well-being. Interviews took place with 30 members of fitness communities that adhere to a popular fitness regimen. Participants were over the age of 40, lived in New England, and were fitness community members for greater than one year. Twelve themes emerged from interviews, with the most prominent being a focus on physical and mental health as one ages. The strength developed through their fitness community membership provides the ability to participate in other physical activity and the mental strength is transferredto other aspects of life. The intensity of the workouts and the microcosm of the community provide a unique opportunity which might parallel other life aspects. Future research and programming should consider these findings in engaging aging individuals in fitness communities to provide a forum for physical activity increase

Baseline Aerobic Fitness in High School and College Football Players: Critical for Prescribing Safe Exercise Regimens

Nontraumatic fatalities occur on a regular basis in high school (HS) and college football athletes, primarily in obese linemen performing high-intensity exercise. One contributing factor to these deaths may be a mismatch between baseline aerobic (cardiorespiratory) fitness and exercise regimens. There is a wide range of aerobic fitness in HS and college football players. Body mass index (BMI) is a safe and simple method for estimating baseline aerobic fitness. Retrospective cohort study. Level 3. A retrospective review was performed on 79 HS football athletes who had VO2Peak (mL·kg-1·min-1) measured during the offseason. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine if BMI (obese, overweight, and normal; kg/m2), position played (linemen vs other), year in school (freshmen vs other), and/or race (African American vs White) were risk factors for poor aerobic fitness. A separate cohort of 135 (48 HS; 87 college) football athletes performed a 6-minute run test to determine speed (miles/min), extrapolate VO2Max, and calculate reference values for suggested upper threshold safe starting speeds (85% of maximum) for aerobic training based on BMI. The relationship between BMI and VO2Peak was assessed. The exercise regimens (speeds) of 2 collegiate football fatalities from the public domain were used to predict their VO2Max values. Mean VO2Peak (mL·kg-1·min-1) was 38.5 ± 8.6 (range 19.1-60.6); when grouped by BMI, low scores (<40) were found in 87.5% of obese (32.4 ± 7.7), 47.8% of overweight (40.8 ± 7.6), and 45.2% of normal (41.4 ± 7.8) athletes. VO2Peak was significantly lower in linemen (32.8 ± 6.4; P = 0.007) compared with nonlineman (41.8 ± 7.9), and in obese players (by BMI; 32.4; P = 0.019) compared with nonobese players (41.4 ± 7.6), but did not differ by age, year in school, or race. Means for speed (min/mile) and extrapolated VO2Max (mL·kg-1·min-1) for the 6-minute run test by BMI groups were both significantly different (P = 0.001) for normal (7.0 ± 0.6; 51.1 ± 2.6), overweight (7.6 ± 0.8; 46.5 ± 3.2), and obese (8.9 ± 1.5; 36.8 ± 5.9) athletes. There was a significant negative correlation (r = -0.551; P = 0.001; R2 = 0.304) between VO2Peak and BMI. Safe starting speed recommendations for running 1 mile range from 7.3 to 12.1 min/mile for BMIs 20 to 40 kg/m2 for HS and college athletes. For the 2 fatalities (mean, BMI of 36.5 kg/m2) repetitive sprint speeds were 49 and 89% higher than our safe starting speeds for their BMI. A large spectrum of baseline aerobic fitness was noted in HS and college football players. Obese players and linemen had statistically lower baseline aerobic fitness, a major risk factor for possible heat illness. BMI is an acceptable surrogate for VO2Peak and can be employed to develop safe training regimens without the need for a maximum fitness test, which can place the athlete at risk for a medical event. Knowledge of BMI provides an estimate of baseline aerobic fitness and a foundation for prescribing safe, individualized exercise regimens.

PHYSIOTHERAPY REHABILITATION OF 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAVING SPASTIC DIPLEGIC CEREBRAL PALSY

Cerebral palsy is a concept that denotes a collection of long-term motion and posture disturbances that hinder daily tasks. The incidence has been estimated to be between 2 and 2.5 per 1000 live births. Non-progressive reforms with in brain's progress across foetal or child advancement are viewed as evidence of this disorders. Cerebral palsy can be segregated into certain sorts of motor impediments relying on their topography: Diplegia, hemiplegia, quadriplegia, monoplegia, and triplegia. Such patients seemed to have cognitive, sensory, or motor illness. It has an effect on motion, posture, and physical activity as well. Supplemental abnormalities such as spasticity, which have an effect on general health and makes studying fresh chores distressing, are also prevalent in children with CP. Spasticity is a pervasive feature of a CNS lesion. This leads to issues with functionality. Medical surgical and physiotherapeutic approaches such as stretching, positioning, manual therapies such as massage, MFR, MET and Cryotherapy are also used along with a few other physiotherapy approaches to alleviate spasticity. MFR and cryotherapy have been shown to help children with CP counteract spasticity. The objective of this project is to focus on the perks of physiotherapy restoration in cerebral palsy, along with the influences of MFR and cryotherapy on spasticity in the limbs in a 3-year-old girl with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy. The key concerns of the patient were hurdle in rolling and crawling, failure to stand and sit without aid, and spasticity. When the assessment was performed using GMFCS and spasticity by MAS and MTS, the diagnosis of spastic diplegic cerebral palsy was ascertained. It has been claimed that physiotherapy care is viable in fulfilling intended outcomes. The following are the outcomes: Cryotherapy and Myofascial Release technique were used to manage spasticity, as well as ROM exercises, gradual passive stretching, balance training, swiss ball exercises, weight bearing exercises, orthosis, and a decent home fitness regimen. The analysis revealed that physiotherapy measures like those of cryotherapy and myofascial release technique had a promising effect on improving spasticity and raising ability to stand, roll, partial neck control, crawl, balance posture, and stand with AFO help.

Acquaintance, Coach, or Buddy?: Perceived Relationships between Chinese Women and Mobile Fitness Technology

ABSTRACT Chinese women are among the most frequent users of fitness technology, and yet the least likely to adhere to a fitness regimen. Little research has been done on preference, use, and perceptions of mobile health tools. Research, however, has shown that women’s adherence to fitness technology has been low, and that relationship management theory might hold a key to understanding how perceived relationships might increase adherence to exercise regimens. This study uses relationship management theory as a framework to explore user-technology relationships developed by Chinese women who use mobile fitness technology for exercise and nutrition guidance. With 32 one-on-one in-depth interviews, short-term and long-term users were categorized and asked about trust, commitment, involvement and investment. Among the findings were three types of perceived relationships found, that of acquaintance, coach and buddy. The findings also highlighted three factors to facilitate long-term relationships between users and mobile fitness technology. These were social motivation, high perceived efficiency, and synchronized verbal feedback. Findings support the application of relationship management theory in digital health contexts and to increase fitness outcomes among young Chinese women.

The impact of resistance training on body composition, muscle strength, and functional fitness in older women (45-80 years): A systematic review (2010-2020).

As women age, they typically experience a progressive decrease in skeletal muscle mass and strength, which can lead to a decline in functional fitness and quality of life. Resistance training (RT) has the potential to attenuate these losses. Although well established for men, evidence regarding the benefits of RT for women is sparse and inconsistent: prior reviews include too few studies with women and do not adequately examine the interactive or additive impacts of workload, modalities, and nutritional supplements on outcomes such as muscle mass (MM), body composition (BC), muscle strength (MS), and functional fitness (FF). The purpose of this review is to identify these gaps. Thirty-eight papers published between 2010 and 2020 (in English) represent 2519 subjects (mean age = 66.89 ± 4.91 years). Intervention averages include 2 to 3 × 50 min sessions across 15 weeks with 7 exercises per session and 11 repetitions per set. Twelve studies (32%) examined the impact of RT plus dietary manipulation. MM, MS, and FF showed positive changes after RT. Adding RT to fitness regimens for peri- to postmenopausal women is likely to have positive benefits.

A Hunter-Gatherer Exercise Prescription to Optimize Health and Well-Being in the Modern World.

There has been considerable innovation and advancement in the field of exercise and physical activity (PA). In regards to the battle against chronic non-communicable disease, however, we believe the model of PA that would prove most salutary is one closely mimicking that of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. For the purpose of longevity, the human body and our genetic makeup have been evolutionarily adapted to respond best to moderate amounts of high-intensity interval training, in conjunction with high amounts of low intensity exercise. Moreover, to optimize resiliency and cardiorespiratory fitness, a hunter-gatherer fitness regimen must include cross training targeted at flexibility, balance and strength. Though not commonly understood, the health benefits from exercise comprise a reverse J-curve. The endurance athletes residing on the furthest reaches of the PA spectrum appear to lose a substantial portion of the exercise-related longevity and cardiovascular benefits due to cardiac overuse injury. Conversely, there is an emerging body of evidence suggesting leisure time exercise done with peers in a natural environment is significantly superior to that training done in solitude. This idea of the “power of play” lends support to the ancestral model of PA whereby humans are evolutionary adapted to be highly social, outdoor creatures capable of a diverse range of PA at varying intensities.

Perceptions and attitudes towards gym use and physical activity in young men with haemophilia

Abstract Introduction A growing body of evidence supports the recommendation of both physiotherapy and physical activity in people with haemophilia. Physical benefits include increasing strength and flexibility and reducing the risks of osteoporosis, arthropathy, and intramuscular and joint bleeds; social benefits have also been observed. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that people with haemophilia may still be averse to engaging with physical activity due to fears of causing bleeding, joint pain and joint damage. Methodology Qualitative interviews were conducted with young men with haemophilia treated at comprehensive care centres in London, to explore and identify the reasons behind risk-averse behaviours towards exercise and physical activity. The interview questions were designed to prompt discussion and capture opinions relating to participants’ physical activity and gym membership/use, and the degree to which their haemophilia impacts on both. Results Ten participants were interviewed. Preferred activities were variable, with five participants describing themselves as very physically active, three moderately active, and two reporting little physical activity; four described themselves as ‘not gym-confident’. Seven participants described themselves as highly or moderately motivated to undertake physical activity, with motivations including weight loss and getting fit for summer holidays. However, there was some anxiety around weight-bearing exercise due to the fear of pain or injury. All participants had been exposed to personal trainers (PTs) and recognised the importance of being properly introduced to training equipment but felt that PTs were too expensive for them. The majority of participants reported sports-related injuries and self-perceived limitations on activity due to their personal/individual experience of living with haemophlia. Physiotherapists were often the first point of contact for advice and support on safe physical activity. All participants recognised the benefits of physical activity and had been encouraged in this by their physiotherapists. Conclusion Young men with haemophilia are keen to use the gym as part of their personal fitness regimens. The ongoing safety concerns of health care professionals warrants further research.