Physical Fitness Of Participants Research Articles

The Effect of the “Shuttle Time” Program on the Physical and Technical Training of Badminton Athletes

Background: To achieve high sports results, specialists must consistently search for effective strategies and methods of improving badminton players’ physical condition and technical skills. Objective: Considering the urgency of the problem and personal sports experience, the work aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the Asian program “Shuttle Time” as an influence on the physical and technical training of students – badminton players of high sportsmanship. Methodology: This randomized controlled trial study involved 40 students in their 1st to 4th years of specializing in badminton (ages 18-22). The study subjects were divided into 2 groups – experimental (n=20) and control (n=20). The experimental group followed the “Shuttle Time” program, which included general physical training, special physical training, and technical and tactical exercises, gradually increasing in complexity and focusing on coordination, stability, balance, speed, and reaction. The control group trained according to the university’s sports development group program, focusing mainly on improving physical qualities. Technical training for both groups was assessed using four tests: performing a “Smash” shot on two targets from one point, executing a “Short shot” on two targets, executing a “Smash” shot in a straight line to the target from a fixed position, and performing a “Short” shot in a straight line to the target from a fixed position on each side of the court. The physical fitness of participants was evaluated through a series of tests, including a 20-m run, running 9.13-36.6-45.7-55 m (10-40-50-60 yd), standing long jump, high jump from a standing position, 3x10 m shuttle run, hexagon jumps for agility, and the Badcamp test. For reliability, the indicators of the study were processed using methods of mathematical statistics, including the calculation of arithmetic means (X) and standard deviations (S), and the application of Student’s t-test to determine the significance of changes in the results between the first and subsequent tests. The results of the study were processed by calculating arithmetic means (X) and their standard deviations (S), and the significance of changes in the results was determined using Student’s t-test, with a difference considered significant when p0.05. Results: These studies showed statistically significant changes in physical fitness indicators and in comparison, group. Among the statistically reliable improvements in physical fitness indicators, the most significant was the increase in running speed during the 55 m distance, covering sections of this distance from 9.13 to 36.6 m, from 36.6 to 45.7 and from 45.7 to 55 m (p0.01). The improvement in the technical readiness of the studied experimental group was more significant compared to the control group and statistically significant (р0.05). Conclusion: Thus, the application of the “Shuttle Time” program makes it possible to objectively improve the physical and technical fitness of badminton players. Modernization of the training process using the Asian program significantly increased fitness by the end of the experimental study.

The correlation between pregnancy-related low back pain and physical fitness evaluated by an index system of maternal physical fitness test.

To investigate incidence of pregnancy-related low back pain (LBP), evaluate physical fitness objectively during pregnancy and analyze the correlation between LBP and physical fitness of pregnant women, 180 pregnant women including 101 in mid-gestation (14-28 gestational weeks) and 79 in late-gestation (28-37 gestational weeks) were recruited and self-reported their LBP. The aerobic ability such as cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic ability including strength, endurance, speed, flexibility, and balance were evaluated by a novel materal physical fitness test system. The correlation between LBP and each component in physical fitness test system was analyzed in SPSS. As the results, 135 out of 180 participants (75% of total) had pregnancy-related LBP. Physical fitness of participants in late-gestation was significantly weaker including weaker back strength (p<0.05), less resistance band pullbacks in 30s (p<0.01), less stretching in sit-and-reach test (p<0.001), shorter duration in left legged blind balance test (p<0.05) and weaker bird dog balance(p<0.05) than those in mid-gestation. Correlation analysis indicated that LBP was negatively associated with standing heel raises in 20s (p<0.01) and standing glute kickbacks in 30s (left p<0.01, right p<0.05). Thus, it is concluded that LBP is in high prevalence throughout the entire pregnant course. The pregnant women are prone to have weakened strength of core muscle groups and poorer flexibility and balance along the pregnancy. In addition, their LBP was negatively correlated to strength of back muscle groups of lower limbs.

Video Call-based Fitness Assessment shows Poor Fitness in People with Type II Diabetes: Findings from Diabefly Digital Therapeutics Program.

Exercise and physical activity are integral aspects for the effective management of diabetes. Unsupervised home exercise although very accessible is limited by poor adherence, risk of injury, and a higher dropout rate of participants. A fitness assessment by a qualified physiotherapist can help in understanding the baseline fitness of individuals and thus generating appropriate exercise prescriptions. The current study assesses the feasibility of video call-based fitness assessment for people with diabetes. The study also assesses the effect of current physical activity status and pain on performance in physical fitness tests. One hundred participants with type II diabetes (T2D) underwent 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 1-minute push-up test, wall sit test, 1-minute sit-up test, and V-sit and reach test for measuring different components of physical fitness such as aerobic capacity, upper body strength, lower body strength, core strength, and flexibility, respectively. The performance in physical fitness of participants was analyzed after the video consult along with pain complaints and current exercise status. All the participants underwent the physical fitness test safely based on video call. Out of all the participants, a good range score was achieved by 52% in 6MWT, 17% in push-up test, 1% in wall sit test, 6% in sit-up test, and 9% in V-sit and reach test. Current physical activity status (aerobic exercise for minimum 20 minutes) did not show any association with performance in fitness tests (p = 0.89 for push-up test, p = 0.50 for wall sit test, p = 0.23 for sit-up test, and p = 0.10 for V-sit and reach test). Presence of upper body and lower body pain affected the performance in push-up test and wall sit test with 71.4% and 95.6% of participants achieving scores in poor to below-average range (p-value &lt; 0.001). The study showed the safety and feasibility of conducting video call-based assessment of physical fitness by physiotherapists. The study also highlighted the poor glycemic control, high cardiovascular risk, and poor level of physical fitness in people with diabetes in India. Insights based on physical fitness, current physical activity status, and pain can help in developing personalized exercise plans for people with diabetes.

Specific Learning Disorder in Children and Adolescents, a Scoping Review on Motor Impairments and Their Potential Impacts.

Mastering motor skills is important for children to achieve functional mobility and participate in daily activities. Some studies have identified that students with specific learning disorders (SLD) could have impaired motor skills; however, this postulate and the potential impacts remain unclear. The purpose of the scoping review was to evaluate if SLD children have motor impairments and examine the possible factors that could interfere with this assumption. The sub-objective was to investigate the state of knowledge on the lifestyle behavior and physical fitness of participants with SLD and to discuss possible links with their motor skills. Our scoping review included preregistration numbers and the redaction conformed with the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 34 studies published between 1990 and 2022 were identified. The results of our scoping review reflected that students with SLD have poorer motor skills than their peers. These motor impairments are exacerbated by the complexity of the motor activities and the presence of comorbidities. These results support our sub-objective and highlight the link between motor impairments and the sedentary lifestyle behavior of SLDs. This could lead to deteriorating health and motor skills due to a lack of motor experience, meaning that this is not necessarily a comorbidity. This evidence emphasizes the importance of systematic clinical motor assessments and physical activity adaptations.

Influência da musculação e ginástica na aptidão física de idosos

Objetivo: Comparar a aptido fsica dos participantes de musculao e ginstica. Mtodo: Os participantes so idosos matriculados nas turmas de musculao e ginstica de um programa extenso. Para avaliar a aptido fsica, foram utilizados testes fsicos da Senior Fitness Test SFT. A fora de preenso manual foi verificada por meio de Dinammetro manual. As coletas de dados foram realizadas com os idosos no incio (maro) e no final do ano (novembro) de 2015. O tratamento estatstico foi realizado por meio de anlise descritiva e inferencial. Resultados: A melhora da fora de membros inferiores (p=0,006), membros superiores (p=0,024) e de preenso manual (p=0,022 e p0,001) foi encontrada nos praticantes de ginstica, quando comparado o incio e o final da interveno. Na musculao, encontra-se melhora das aptides fsicas de fora de membros superiores (p=0,042) e flexibilidade de membros inferiores (p=0,043). Concluso: As duas modalidades oferecem ganhos significativos na aptido fsica de idosos.

Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation: Effects on patient improvement outcomes

ObjectiveTo determine if the Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program had positive effects on the patient medically as well as effects on pathological risk factors, functional capacity, and mental health; and the extent to which targets for blood pressure (BP) control in patients with hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are achieved. MethodologyCR participant data was collected from 1st June 2014 until 31st December 2015 (19 months), which included: demographics, medical history, social history, medications, lipid profiles and anthropometric measurements. Additional data was collected on The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) factors, and on the participants 6min walk test (6MWT). Study participants were eligible to participate in the study if they attended 10 or more CR program sessions out of 12 at the Calvary Public Hospital Canberra. ResultsSeventy nine (79) participants participated in the study. Significant reductions in BP (n=79) (p=<0.05), blood LDL cholesterol levels (n=26) (p=<0.05), and improvements in participants PHQ-9 scores (n=79) (p=<0.001), and their 6MWT (n=78) (p=<0.001) were noted. Participants were also able to better manage their medication (p=<0.05). Importantly, results indicated that significant improvements (p=<0.05) were made in DM patients (n=18) diastolic BP, physical ability and depression and anxiety. ConclusionA CR program can reduce risk factors associated with CVD, and improves mental health and physical fitness of participants. ResultsIndicated that the CR program reduces DM patient risk factors through improved physical fitness and reductions in depression and anxiety, leading to reduced risk of future cardiovascular and renal disease.

Selection and Preparation of Young Middle Distance Runners

This study analyses the problem of selection and training of young athletes for middle distance running. The study was carried out in two stages. The first stage of the study was a questionnaire survey. The participants of the survey where 22 Lithuania’s big city coaches that train young middle distance runners. Most of the participants (61.1 %) were men. Almost half (44.4 %) where aged from 51 to 60 years old, one fifth (22.2 %) – 20 to 30 years old. One third of the participants (33.2 %) had a working experience of up to 30 years. All of them had a higher education, and most of them (88.8 %) graduated university in Lithuania. In the second stage of the study, the participants where 25 (76 % girls) children from 11 to 13 years old, who attended track-and-field training sessions with an emphasis on middle distance running. Average age was 12.3 ± 0.9 years for girls, and 11.7 ± 0,8 years for boys. Measurements of their physical development (height, body mass, chest girth, vital capacity) and physical fitness (60 meter run, standing long jump, 300 meter run) where taken. Descriptive data are presented as means (X), standard deviation (Sx), and percentage values. One Sample T test was used for comparison of physical development and physical fitness of participants with provided reference points. The relationship between two variables was determined using correlation coefficient r. The significant level was set to p ≤ 0.05. The date where analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Half (50 %) of Lithuanians middle distance running coaches who participated in the study stated that they are using a selection process to find talented kids, other half (50 %) of participants stated that they invite all children to train, and dont carry out the selection process. In the initial stage of a long-term preparation, coaches carry out a variety of tests/studies. On average every three months coaches measure the changes in physical fitness of young runners. Analysis of the results of physical development and physical fitness tests shows that height and weight measurements of girls where significantly (p < 0.05) higher, and chest girth, 60 m and 300 m running results were significantly (p < 0.05) worse than recommended for both genders. Keywords: selection, young runners, coaches, middle distance running. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15823/sm.2017.2

Relationship between Physical Fitness and Cognitive Function in Male College Students

A growing number of studies have suggested a positive association between physical fitness and cognitive function among adults. However, the magnitude of the association is affected by several potential factors, and the specifics of the relationship are not yet fully understood. Therefore, this study attempted to examine the correlations between various physical fitness types and cognitive performance, by considering as two potential factors. One hundred sixty-three male college students were recruited for this study. Physical fitness of participants, including cardiovascular fitness, muscular power, flexibility, muscle endurance and body mass index were measured. Cognitive performance was measured via the Stroop test that assessed basic information processing and inhibition aspect of executive function. The results indicated that cardiovascular fitness was positively associated with the task conditions reflected in executive functions. Muscle power was positively associated with all conditions related to Stroop test. Moreover, muscle endurance and flexibility was positively correlated to executive function and non-executive functions, respectively, whereas none of these relationships was observed with body mass index and the Stroop test performance. The present study suggested that specific physical fitness indices might exhibit selective beneficial effects on cognitive function, which was in line with previously proposed selective improvement hypothesis. Our study further extended the hypothesis to other type of physical fitness. Finally, several potential underlying mechanisms, with respective of neuroelectrical, brain function, and psychological aspects were provided for future research.

Fitness Levels of Adult Special Olympic Participants

Comparative and longitudinal studies were performed to determine the effect of Special Olympic activities on the physical fitness of participants. The comparative study compared cardiovascular fitness, percent body fat, and blood lipid profiles of non-Down, mildly mentally retarded adult Special Olympic participants (SOP) with those of nontraining, nonhandicapped (NTNH) and training nonhandicapped (TNH) adults. The results indicated that SOP displayed lower fitness profiles than TNH. Male SOP demonstrated fitness profiles similar to NTNH while female SOP showed lower cardiovascular fitness levels than both TNH and NTNH. The longitudinal study compared cardiovascular fitness and percent body fat of non-Down, mildly mentally retarded adult SOP before and after 4 to 18 months of Special Olympic activities. This latter study showed no significant change in body weight, percent body fat, or cardiovascular fitness during a time period that averaged over 13 months for each participant. The results indicated that the intensity level of activity for the SOP in this study failed to improve physical fitness.