Physical Capacity Research Articles

Возрастные особенности аэробных возможностей организма у спортсменов с разной направленностью физических нагрузок

The purpose of this study was to identify age-related features of aerobic capacity in athletes working on their endurance or speed-strength qualities. Materials and methods. The research involved 103 male athletes, who were divided into groups according to the type of physical activity (endurance (n = 58) and strength-speed (n = 45)) and age (12–15, 16–18 and 19–26 years). Their aerobic capacity was determined using cardiorespiratory exercise testing. Results. It was shown that the increase in relative peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) was influenced not so much by age as by the type of physical activity (ANOVA: F = 18.1, p = 0.00004). At the same time, respiratory coefficient (F = 5.6, p = 0.007), heart rate at anaerobic threshold (F = 4.9, p = 0.009), tidal volume (F = 7.5, p = 0.01) and minute ventilation (F = 6.6, p = 0.002) were influenced mainly by age. In athletes aged 12–15 years, factor analysis established a negative correlation of type of physical activity with oxygen pulse, while physical working capacity was positively correlated with breathing parameters. Subjects aged 16–18 years showed no significant correlations between the variables and type of physical activity; at the same time, the number of correlations between ergometry parameters and physical working capacity factor increased with age. In athletes aged 19–26, the variables correlated strongly with the type of physical activity; the contribution of VO2peak to the physical working capacity factor is clearly demonstrated. The development of aerobic capacity is mainly influenced by the type of physical activity. However, in athletes aged 12–15 years, aerobic loads do not lead to a significant increase in VO2peak. The greatest increase in VO2peak is observed in 16–18-year-olds, while after 18 years of age, its growth halts.

A Role of Physical Activity in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis – a literature review

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic multisystem disease. The condition is characterized by extensive vascular dysfunction and progressive fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. The musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems are involved, resulting in a broad range of symptoms. Diagnosis is based on skin and/or internal organ fibrosis, production of specific autoantibodies, and evidence of vasculopathy Purpose of work: Synthesis of knowledge about physical activity in patients with SSc. Summary: Exercise and physiotherapy can improve the physical functions of patients with SSc. Physical activity in patients with SSc enhances hand function, enhances the function of the orofacial region, enhances sexual function, and also aids in coping with Raynaund's phenomenon, enhances physical capacity, alleviates fatigue as well and enhances general physical capacity. Furthermore, regular physical activity impeded the natural progression of progressive impairment of functional ability. Although, the literature regarding the efficacy and safety of exercise in patients with SSc is further insufficient.

Long-Term Follow-Up of a Person-Centered Prehabilitation Program Based on Cognitive-Behavioral Physical Therapy for Patients Scheduled for Lumbar Fusion.

Long-term follow-ups of prehabilitation programs for lumbar spine surgery are lacking, and more comprehensive evaluations are needed. In the current study, we evaluated the long-term effects of a prehabilitation program compared with conventional care in relation to lumbar fusion surgery in patients with degenerative disc disease. Patients (n = 118) receiving lumbar fusion surgery were included in a multicenter randomized controlled trial, involving 1 university hospital and 2 spine clinics. The intervention was a person-centered prehabilitation program based on cognitive-behavioral physical therapy that targeted psychological presurgical risk factors, physical activity, and overall health. The control group received conventional preoperative care. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) included assessments at 8 time-points: low back disability (primary outcome), back pain intensity, leg pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, fear of movement, anxiety and depressive mood, health-related quality of life, and patient-specific functioning. Physical activity and physical capacity were assessed at 5 time points. Linear mixed models were used to analyze the effects of the intervention. There were no significant differences between groups at the 12- and 24-month follow-ups for any outcome, except for the One Leg Stand test 1 year following surgery, in favor of the control group. There were significant improvements for both groups, from baseline to the 12- and 24-month follow-ups for all physical capacity test and patient-reported outcome measures, except for leg pain and self-efficacy for exercise. No long-term effects were found for the prehabilitation program compared to conventional care. Physical activity did not improve over time, despite significantly improved self-reported functioning and physical capacity measurements. These findings have implications for the current understanding of the long-term effects of prehabilitation and suggest that future research should focus on programs promoting physical activity both before and after lumbar spine surgery to decrease the risk of long-term adverse health outcomes.

Use of One-minute Sit-to-stand Test to Predict Functional Exercise Capacity in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease

IntroductionField tests are commonly used as complements of cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) to evaluate the functional exercise capacity. The aims of this study were to validate the one-minute sit-to-stand test (STST) in congenital heart disease (CHD) children and to evaluate the possibility of predicting the peakVO2 using the STST in this paediatric population. MethodsChildren (8- to 18-year-old) followed for a CHD and performing CPET were recruited prospectively. Concomitantly, they performed STST. The heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), muscular fatigue and dyspnoea were recorded before (t0), immediately after (t1) and 1min after the end of the STST (t2). ResultsWe observed a poor but significant correlation between the STST and the peakVO2 (r=0.306; p=0.013). A significant difference between girls and boys were observed for peakVO2 (p<0.001), HR t0 (p=0.030), HR t1 (p=0.002) and HR t2 (p<0.001). The proposed model of prediction, including the number of STST, weight, height and age explains 37% of the predicted peakVO2 variance. ConclusionThe STST can provide relevant data on physical capacity in children with CHD. When CPET cannot be performed, we therefore propose an alternative equation using the STST as a surrogate of peakVO2 in CHD children.

The health-related physical fitness of university female students with and without generalized joint hypermobility: A case-control study

Objective: To evaluate the effect of generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) on health-related physical fitness. Participants: Female university students between the ages of 18-23. Methods: Cardiorespiratory fitness ((maximal cycling ergometer tests, six-minute walking tests (6MW)), respiratory function tests, respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure), body composition (bioelectrical impedance analyses), flexibility (sit and reach tests (SRT), muscle strength and endurance (isometric and isokinetic tests) were evaluated for health-related physical fitness. Results: The mean VO2max (23.6 vs. 21.8, p=.049), MET (6.7 vs. 6.3, p=0.049), W/kg (1.6 vs. 1.5, p=0.035), and SRT scores (23.3 vs. 18.7, p=0.016) were higher in 39 students with asymptomatic GJH compared to 42 non-GJH students. No significant differences found between groups for 6MW, FVC, FEV1, MIP, MEP, body composition, muscle strength, and endurance (p&gt;.05). Conclusion: Females with generalized joint hypermobility have the same or even higher levels of physical fitness capacity as those without the hypermobility.

Sign Language Interpreter for Physically Challenged People

This study introduces a novel sign language interpreter designed to improve accessibility and communication for those with physical disabilities, particularly those who experience hearing loss. Through the use of cutting-edge artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms, the technology interprets sign language movements in real-time, removing social, professional, and educational communication barriers. By means of ongoing cooperation among researchers, technology developers, and individuals with physical disabilities, this invention hopes to make a substantial contribution towards the development of a more inclusive society. People of all physical capacities can actively interact, participate, and succeed in such a community. The fundamental ideas of a revolutionary technology that promotes acceptance, equality, and understanding at the formal, academic level are captured in this abstract

Cardiac diastolic maladaptation is associated with the severity of exercise intolerance in sickle cell anemia patients

This pilot study focusing on Sickle Cell Anemia (SCA) patients offers a comprehensive and integrative evaluation of respiratory, cardiovascular, hemodynamic, and metabolic variables during exercise. Knowing that diastolic dysfunction is frequent in this population, we hypothesize that a lack of cardiac adaptation through exercise might lead to premature increase in blood lactate concentrations in SCA patients, a potential trigger for acute disease complication. SCA patients were prospectively included in PHYSIO-EXDRE study and underwent a comprehensive stress test with a standardized incremental exercise protocol up to 4 mmol L−1 blood lactate concentration (BL4). Gas exchange, capillary lactate concentration and echocardiography were performed at baseline, during stress test (at ∼ 2 mmol L−1) and BL4. The population was divided into two groups and compared according to the median value of percentage of theoretical peak oxygen uptake (%V˙O2peakth\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\dot{\ ext{V}}\ ext{O}}_{2peakth}$$\\end{document}) at BL4. Twenty-nine patients were included (42 ± 12 years old, 48% of women). Most patients reached BL4 at low-intensity exercise [median value of predicted power output (W) was 37%], which corresponds to daily life activities. The median value of %V˙O2peakth\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$${\\dot{\ ext{V}}\ ext{O}}_{2peakth}$$\\end{document} at BL4 was 39%. Interestingly, diastolic maladaptation using echocardiography during stress test along with hemoglobin concentration were independently associated to early occurrence of BL4. As BL4 occurs for low-intensity exercises, SCA patients may be subject to acidosis-related complications even during their daily life activities. Beyond assessing physical capacities, our study underlines that diastolic maladaptation during exercise is associated with an early increase in blood lactate concentration.

The impacto of mammaplasty and lipectomy on self concept and body self-perception image: integrative review

The impacto of mammaplasty and lipectomy on self concept and body self-perception image: integrative review

Measuring Physical Functioning Using Wearable Sensors in Parkinson Disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (the Accuracy of Digital Assessment of Performance Trial Study): Protocol for a Prospective Observational Study.

Physical capacity and physical activity are important aspects of physical functioning and quality of life in people with a chronic disease such as Parkinson disease (PD) or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both physical capacity and physical activity are currently measured in the clinic using standardized questionnaires and tests, such as the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and the Timed Up and Go test (TUG). However, relying only on in-clinic tests is suboptimal since they offer limited information on how a person functions in daily life and how functioning fluctuates throughout the day. Wearable sensor technology may offer a solution that enables us to better understand true physical functioning in daily life. We aim to study whether device-assisted versions of 6MWT and TUG, such that the tests can be performed independently at home using a smartwatch, is a valid and reliable way to measure the performance compared to a supervised, in-clinic test. This is a decentralized, prospective, observational study including 100 people with PD and 100 with COPD. The inclusion criteria are broad: age ≥18 years, able to walk independently, and no co-occurrence of PD and COPD. Participants are followed for 15 weeks with 4 in-clinic visits, once every 5 weeks. Outcomes include several walking tests, cognitive tests, and disease-specific questionnaires accompanied by data collection using wearable devices (the Verily Study Watch and Modus StepWatch). Additionally, during the last 10 weeks of this study, participants will follow an aerobic exercise training program aiming to increase physical capacity, creating the opportunity to study the responsiveness of the remote 6MWT. In total, 89 people with PD and 65 people with COPD were included in this study. Data analysis will start in April 2024. The results of this study will provide information on the measurement properties of the device-assisted 6MWT and TUG in the clinic and at home. When reliable and valid, this can contribute to a better understanding of a person's physical capacity in real life, which makes it possible to personalize treatment options. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05756075; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05756075. DERR1-10.2196/55452.

The relationship between muscle strength and epicardial fat in healthy adults

BackgroundMuscular strength and muscle mass are considered key factors for healthy ageing. Modification of body composition and redistribution of adipose tissue has been described in advanced age. Muscle strength has an important predictive role for health outcomes. However, little is known regarding the relationship between muscle strength and epicardial fat. Methods and materialsIn a cohort of healthy adults following physical capacity evaluations, anthropometric measurements, handgrip strength (HGS), echocardiography and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) were performed. Kruskal-Wallis test, Spearman's correlation and regression analysis adjusted for confounders were applied. ResultsA total population of 226 adults, age range 18–83 years, were included. Epicardial fat thickness resulted significantly associated with age p < 0.001, HGS (p < 0.001). Regression analysis adjusted for confounders revealed an independent relationship between handgrip strength and epicardial fat thickness: regression coefficient: -1.34; R2 = 0.27 and p = 0.044. ConclusionsThe relationship between epicardial fat and muscle strength is inverse and independent. Implementation of HGS measurement may be useful for the identification of subjects with excessive epicardial fat and cardiovascular risk. Measurement of epicardial fat could be helpful in the early detection of physical decline associated to ageing.

Development of a physical capacity framework to support clinical reasoning of physiotherapists treating hospitalised patients

Background Applying an appropriate physiotherapy intervention to a hospitalised patient can be challenging because the clinical status can change rapidly, affecting the patient’s physical capacity. Determining the appropriate type and dose of the physiotherapy intervention requires dynamic assessment of physical capacity and adequate clinical reasoning by the physiotherapist. Purpose To develop a framework for determining physical capacity to support physiotherapists in their clinical reasoning process when treating hospitalised patients. Methods A framework was developed using a multi-method approach. First, the scientific literature was searched for existing frameworks for clinical reasoning in physiotherapy. These methods were inventoried and relevant elements were extracted. Second, a first draft of the framework was developed by a group of experts. Third, the framework was tested in practice, leading to a final version. Results A total of 17 frameworks were identified from the literature. No framework was found for generic use in the hospital for the purpose of determining patient’s physical capacity. Relevant elements from the identified frameworks were: the use of ICF terminology, the use of a patient management model, and frequent monitoring of clinical parameters. Field testing of the first draft of the framework led to improvement of the framework for use in clinical practice. Conclusion A framework was developed to support physiotherapists in their clinical reasoning process when treating hospitalised patients. The framework can provide guidance for determining the patient’s physical capacity to allow for an adequate training stimulus.

Relationship Between Anthropometric Attributes and Physical Fitness Levels in Young Male Portuguese Futsal players

Background Futsal demands lower limb power, repeated sprint ability, and technical prowess. Furthermore, anthropometric characteristics have been shown to influence physical capacities and sports performance and, thus, should be assessed alongside physical fitness levels to maximize performance. Methods This study aimed to investigate the potential correlations between anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness levels among young Portuguese male futsal players and to compare these attributes across two distinct age groups. Twenty-one male athletes from two age groups (Under-18: N=14 - 16.1 ± 0.6 years old; Under-15: N=7 - 13.7 ± 0.6 years old) were recruited to take part in this investigation. Anthropometric characteristics [body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio] were assessed, and participants performed three performance tasks (20-meter sprint, vertical and horizontal jump). Results Statistically significant differences regarding body weight (p=0.005), height (p=0.011), and hip circumference (p=0.036) were observed between age groups (Under-18 and Under-15), but no differences were found regarding performance tasks (all p≥0.736). Conclusion After analyzing the entire sample, BMI was found to be inversely correlated with horizontal (r=-0.51; p=0.03) and vertical (r=-0.64; p&lt;0.001) jump performance, and waist-to-hip ratio was positively correlated with 20-meter sprint performance (r=0.70; p&lt;0.001). These indicate a correlation between a higher BMI and waist-to-hip ratio with lower physical fitness levels.

Myocardial function, mechanics and work by echocardiography in adolescents with severe obesity.

Obesity and its metabolic complications can impact the heart's structure and function in childhood, although demonstrating this impact has been challenging. New echocardiographic parameters such as left atrial strain (LAε) and left ventricular strain (LVε), as well as myocardial work (MW), could reveal subclinical alterations in cardiac function. The aim is to evaluate the feasibility of these parameters in adolescents with severe obesity and explore their associations with body fat, metabolic comorbidities, and physical capacity. This is a cross-sectional study in adolescents with obesity who underwent echocardiography with analysis of LAε, LVε and MW using speckle tracking. Feasibility and association with anthropometry, body fat percentage, comorbidities and cardiopulmonary test were analyzed. Twenty adolescents were recruited, 13 (65%) were males, median age 14.2 (interquartile range: 12.9-14.9) years old. The median Z-score for BMI (zBMI) was +3.03 (2.87-3.14), 14 (70%) had severe obesity (zBMI ≥+3), 12 (60%) body fat ≥95th percentile, 9 (45%) high blood pressure (HBP) and 8 (40%) metabolic syndrome. The analysis of the echocardiographic parameters was feasible in 95% (LAε) and 100% (LVε and MW). LVε was lower in adolescents with vs. without metabolic syndrome: 17.8% (17.5-19.3%) vs. 19.3% (18.3-20.3%), P = 0.046; and with vs. without HBP 17.8% (17.5-18.6%) vs. 19.7% (18.4-20.3%), P = 0.02. Those with body fat ≥95th percentile had lower LAε and MW parameters, without association with cardiopulmonary test. Echocardiographic evaluation of LAε, LVε and MW is feasible in adolescents with severe obesity. A higher proportion of body fat and the presence of comorbidities are associated with alterations in these new echocardiographic functional parameters suggesting myocardial impact of higher metabolic compromise.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLES PROGRAM IN AN OUTPATIENT SETTING (HELPOUT)

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Substance use disorder is a major public health concern and is associated with elevated rates of physical illnesses. It is known that exercise is safe in a substance use population, with engagement in exercise being reported to increase periods of abstinence, metabolic health, and physical capacity. There is little evidence exploring the willingness and capacity of a substance use patient to perform exercise. This study explores the physical activity habits and preferences of substance use patients, their capacity to perform exercise and the impact of acute exercise on psychological outcomes. METHODS Participants accessing opioid maintenance therapy were recruited from drug and alcohol clinics in metropolitan Sydney. 98 participants completed questionnaires assessing recent exercise and diet, quality of life, and anthropometry. Of these, 22 participants also completed fitness testing with changes in mood assessed acutely. RESULTS 46% of participants reported planned physical activity however only 32% met ACSM guidelines. Higher levels of perceived physical health and quality of life had a notable positive association with volume of planned exercise completed. 95% of the cohort were interested in participating in an exercise program, with a lack of motivation and having an injury being the primary barriers to participation. 19.6% reported levels of extreme pain compared to 6.4% of the Australian population. Exercise capacity varied, with average performance in upper body endurance and hand grip strength assessments, but poor capacity in lower limb strength, balance and functional capacity. An acute bout of exercise lead to an increase in positive affect (p&amp;lt;0.001) and a decrease in negative affect (p=0.011). CONCLUSIONS Exercise therapy has the potential to offer numerous benefits to patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder, with planned physical activity correlation with improved physical and mental health outcomes. Clinical support from exercise physiologists is needed to assist in overcoming barriers to exercise and managing comorbid medical conditions.

RESULTS OF THE ECHO-R TRIAL – A PRAGMATIC, TELEHEALTH-DELIVERED EXERCISE INTERVENTION FOR WOMEN WITH RECURRENT OVARIAN CANCER

INTRODUCTION &amp; AIMS Wide-spread and equitable uptake of exercise into standard cancer care will require evidence of safety and efficacy across all cancer and treatment types. People with rarer cancers, lower survival prospects, and higher morbidity have been under-represented in exercise oncology trials. The ECHO-R trial for women with recurrent ovarian cancer aimed to address this research gap, evaluating the efficacy of a 6-month telephone-delivered, exercise intervention consistent with ESSA exercise oncology prescription guidelines. METHODS 50 women scheduled to receive chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer were recruited to the pre-post exercise trial with assessments at baseline and post-intervention (6 months post-baseline). The intervention was delivered via 12 telephone sessions, with the option of five additional study-funded, in-person sessions with a community-based AEP. The intervention had a global target of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity multimodal exercise per week, with actual volume and prescription individualised at each session, dependent on functional capacity, goals, and barriers. Outcomes included feasibility (volume of exercise completed) and harms profile (occurrence of adverse outcomes) of the intervention, changes in patient-reported outcomes (quality of life [QoL; FACT-O], fatigue [FACT-Fatigue] and neurotoxicity [FACT-GOG-NTX]), and objective assessment of aerobic function (6-minute-walk test), muscular endurance (30-second sit-to-stand) and strength (hand grip). RESULTS The average volume of exercise completed did not meet the target (median 100 min/week, min: 0; max 527). QoL, fatigue, neurotoxicity, aerobic function, muscular endurance, and strength remained stable between the pre and post-intervention assessments. There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION Recurrent ovarian cancer is an incurable disease, characterised by declining QoL and physical capacity. Findings from this study suggest that maintenance of QoL and physical function is possible through participation in an exercise intervention, even if exercise targets are not met. Physical activity guidelines may need to reflect this.

Wagner diagram for modeling O2 pathway—calculation and graphical display by the Helsinki O2 Pathway Tool

Objective. Maximal O2 uptake ( V˙O2max ) reflects the individual’s maximal rate of O2 transport and utilization through the integrated whole-body pathway composed of the lungs, heart, blood, circulation, and metabolically active tissues. As such, V˙O2max is strongly associated with physical capacity as well as overall health and thus acts as one predictor of physical performance and as a vital sign in determination of status and progress of numerous clinical conditions. Quantifying the contribution of single parts of the multistep O2 pathway to V˙O2max provides mechanistic insights into exercise (in)tolerance and into therapy-, training-, or disuse-induced adaptations at individual or group levels. We developed a desktop application (Helsinki O2 Pathway Tool—HO2PT) to model numerical and graphical display of the O2 pathway based on the ‘Wagner diagram’ originally formulated by Peter D. Wagner and his colleagues. Approach. The HO2PT was developed and programmed in Python to integrate the Fick principle and Fick’s law of diffusion into a computational system to import, calculate, graphically display, and export variables of the Wagner diagram. Main results. The HO2PT models O2 pathway both numerically and graphically according to the Wagner diagram and pertains to conditions under which the mitochondrial oxidative capacity of metabolically active tissues exceeds the capacity of the O2 transport system to deliver O2 to the mitochondria. The tool is based on the Python open source code and libraries and freely and publicly available online for Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems. Significance. The HO2PT offers a novel functional and demonstrative platform for those interested in examining V˙O2max and its determinants by using the Wagner diagram. It will improve access to and usability of Wagner’s and his colleagues’ integrated physiological model and thereby benefit users across the wide spectrum of contexts such as scientific research, education, exercise testing, sports coaching, and clinical medicine.

Towards low-cost and sustainable activated carbon production: Influence of microwave activation time on yield and CO2 uptake of PET-derived adsorbents

Microwave (MW) heating is proposed as a method to transform polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into porous adsorbents. The yield, textural properties, and CO2 uptake of the PET-derived adsorbents irradiated at different durations (3 – 35 min) at 400 °C were assessed. MW activation time influenced both the physical properties and CO2 uptake capacities of the resulting adsorbents. The yield decreased with activation time, but the surface area, total pore volume, micropore volume, and CO2 uptake capacities all increased with MW activation time before declining. The optimal sample (produced with 5 min of MW activation time) showed improved textural properties as well as higher equilibrium and dynamic CO2 uptakes than the commercial activated carbon used as reference. This adsorbent also possesses good selectivity for CO2 in the binary 10:90%vol/vol CO2: N2 mixture. Additionally, an excellent recyclability over 20 cycles, (Regeneration Efficiency > 97%) was observed, and the CO2 adsorption kinetics best fits Lagergren’s pseudo-second-order model. This study has shown that a low activation temperature (400 °C), a short MW activation time (5 min), and a low amount of chemical agent (KOH, 0.72 M) could produce CO2 adsorbents from a cheap and abundant material (PET-waste) with better CO2 uptake to that of a commercial activated carbon.

Investigating the Relationship between Maximum Aerobic Capacity and Cognitive Ability and Employees’ Workability in a Dairy Factory

Abstract Aim: Considering the importance and necessity of physical and mental fitness of the employees with their job demands, this study aimed to estimate the levels of aerobic capacity among the workers and determine the factors that might affect these levels. The relationship between the aerobic capacity levels and the values of workers’ cognitive function and workability was also investigated. Materials and Methods: Sixty healthy male employees from a dairy factory were recruited using a random sampling method. The study design consisted of the completion of checklists containing personal data, anthropometric measurements, and evaluation of job ability, maximum aerobic capacity along with the cognitive ability of the participants using the Workability Index (WAI) standard questionnaire, Queen’s College step test, and psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), respectively. Results: The mean values of VO2 max, reaction time (RT), and WAI of workers were 45.54 ± 6.13 mL/kg/min, 337.82 ± 29.93 ms, and 42.76 ± 5.02, respectively. Based on the Pearson correlation test, a weak statically significant correlation was observed between PVT and VO2 max (r = 0.3, P = 0.02) as well as PVT and physical work capacity (r = 0.263, P = 0.04). The findings of this study showed that there was a significant relationship between height, weight, body mass index, RT, and error percentage with maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max). Conclusion: According to the physiological criteria, the employees’ capabilities and job requirements are not in balance; particularly for those working in laboratory, office, or service departments. Therefore, using standardized recruitment tests, providing sports facilities and developing integrated indicators are a principal element of establishing an ergonomic balance in this workplace.

Dimension stability, tensile and thermomechanical properties of bamboo/oil palm fibre reinforced bio-epoxy hybrid biocomposites

The rising liability to suffer the environment eco-friendly covers the approach to the improvement of materials with bio-natural wastes. This research experimentally aims to study bamboo/oil palm reinforced bio-epoxy hybrid composite. Bamboo (B) and oil palm (O) reinforced bio-epoxy was fabricated as a control. The fabricated biocomposites were characterised by mechanical properties (tensile tests), physical characterisations (density, water absorption (WA) and thickness swelling (TS)), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and morphological (scanning electron microscopy (SEM)). Among the hybrid composites, 5B5O has the highest tensile strength and modulus which is 35.66 MPa and 4.95 GPa, respectively. Based on the findings, the physical properties, WA and TS capacities (WA and TS) of B and 3B7O biocomposites were increased compared with all corresponding biocomposites while the O biocomposite exhibited lower TS and WA values compared to other samples. The hybrid 3B7O biocomposite sample was attributed to a higher void percentage (6.29%) and lower density (1.25 g/cm3) compared to other biocomposites. Generally, the SEM analysis of hybrid biocomposites confirms a valuable interaction between the filler and the matrix as further penetration for the matrix was permitted into the greatly porous structures of natural fibres. Furthermore, the SEM test of the fracture point confirmed the observations from the mechanical properties. The obtained findings confirmed that hybrid fibres improve the properties of the bio-epoxy matrix and can be utilised as sustainable and renewable biocomposites for several applications such as automotive tools, furniture and medical tools.

EXPLORATION OF PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE CAPACITIES IN EMERGING ADOLESCENT SURFING TALENT

Open water surfing conditions are unpredictable and dynamic, requiring athletes to possess well-rounded physical attributes to compete successfully. Current research focuses on adolescent athletes in competitive pathways at state and national levels, however few studies have explored the emerging talent pathway where most athletes compete. Further, adolescent female surfers are underrepresented in surfing research. This study aimed to examine the physical performance capacities of emerging adolescent athletes within a state surfing talent pathway and explore how these athletic properties vary between different sex and age cohorts. Participants (age: 13.89 ± 1.29 years) were recruited from state-based competitions (female n=14, male n=20) during the 2022-2023 season. Athletes completed a testing battery inclusive of anthropometric measures, upper and lower body strength, and power outcomes (dynamic push-up, isometric push-up, counter-movement jump, and isometric mid-thigh pull). Findings revealed significant between sex differences for anthropometric measures, with females demonstrating greater height, body mass and body fat compared to males. However, there were no significant strength or power differences evidence between males and females. Age group comparisons highlighted under-16 female athletes demonstrated superior, but non-significant, upper body strength compared to under-14 females. Contrastingly, under-16 male athletes reported significantly greater lower body strength and power outcomes relative to their younger counterparts. In conclusion, this study provides coaches with greater insight into the development of strength and power in adolescent surfing athletes involved in emerging talent pathways.