Abstract: Purpose: As the beneficial role of physical activity (PA) for health and well-being has been recognized recently,
the need for valid and reliable assessment methods of PA has been evolved, too. Aim of this study was to
examine the validity and reliability of a PA questionnaire in active young female and male adults.
Methods: Twenty four female and 30 male young adults, all undergraduate students of Physical Education and
Physiotherapy performed a battery of health-related physical fitness (body composition, cardiorespiratory power,
muscular strength and flexibility estimated by bioelectrical impedance analysis, maximal aerobic test, handgrip
and sit-and-reach test accordingly) and responded twice to a 13-item PA questionnaire. The validation’s
procedure of the instrument under examination employed health-related fitness parameters as criteria. The
reliability of the questionnaire was examined by test-retest procedure with an interval of two to three weeks.
Results: Body fat was highly correlated with total weekly time spent in PA in females (r=-0.73, P<0.05) and
moderately in males (r=-0.46, P<0.05). Weekly total PA was highly and significantly correlated with maximal
oxygen uptake for both genders (r=0.63, P<0.05 in females and r=0.57, P<0.05 in males). Strength and
flexibility were low and non-significantly associated with PA. Test-retest procedure of the questionnaire
revealed acceptable levels of the intraclass correlation coefficient to support its reliability.
Conclusions: Therefore, the reciprocal relationship between health-related fitness (cardiovascular fitness and
body composition) and PA, as well as the reliability of the employed questionnaire were corroborated.
Moreover, an instrument about the weekly time of PA, even if it did not quantify energy expenditure, could
provide valuable information about the PA profile, and thus it was recommended for further use.
Abstract: Study aim: To examine the association between two submaximal (physical working capacity at a heart rate of 170
(PWC170) on cycle ergometer test and YMCA Step Test) and maximal measures (maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max))
of aerobic power, as well as to study the repeatability of the aforementioned submaximal measures in physically active
female adolescents.
Material and methods: Ten female adolescents, aged 13.4 ± 0.7 years old, all members of a local track and field sport
club, performed the PWC170 and YMCA Step Test twice. The tests were separated by an interval of one week. During
the second laboratory visit, VO2max was measured during a graded exercise test.
Results: Considering the repeatability of submaximal measures, intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.89 (95% CI
0.55-0.97) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.65-0.98) in absolute and relative to body mass values of PWC170, while it was 0.69
(95% CI -0.27-0.92) with regard to heart rate at the end of step test and 0.78 (95% CI 0.11-0.95) at the end of the
first minute of recovery after step test. PWC170 was associated significantly with VO2max in absolute values (r = 0.65,
p = 0.04), but not with VO2max relative to body mass values (r = 0.44, p = 0.20). The corresponding relationships between
relative PWC170 and VO2max were r = 0.39 (p = 0.27) and r = 0.60 (p = 0.06). Heart rate at the end of the step
test was non-significantly related to VO2max in both absolute and relative values (r = -0.53, p = 0.12 and r = -0.61,
p = 0.06), whereas respective values of heart rate at the end of the first minute after step test were r = -0.72 (p = 0.02)
and r = -0.69 (p = 0.03).
Conclusion: These submaximal measures appeared to be valid and reliable, and they were recommended for further
use in similar population with the assumption that a familiarization session was preceded.
Abstract: Despite the recognition of the beneficial role of cardiorespiratory power (CRP) for health and sport performance, the development of this physical fitness parameter in adolescent soccer players was not well studied. Aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the effect of age on CRP of adolescent soccer players, the influence of anthropometric characteristics and body composition on it, and to establish normative data. Male adolescent (N=274; aged 12.07-20.98 y), classified in nine one-year age-groups, child (N=12, aged 7.71-11.8 y) and adult players (N=22; aged 21.12-31.59 y), all members of competitive soccer clubs, were examined for anthropometric characteristics and body composition and they performed Physical Working Capacity in heart rate 170 test (PWC170) on cycle ergometer. Analysis of variance revealed significant difference between age groups with respect to PWC170 in absolute (F10.297 = 29.58, P < 0.001, eta2 = 0.5), relative to body mass (F10.297 = 5.28, P < 0.001, eta2 = 0.15) and relative to fat free mass values (F10.297 = 4.98, P < 0.001, eta12 = 0.14). In addition, age was in positive association with these parameters (r = 0.6, P < 0.001, r = 0.24, P < 0.001 and r = 0.23, P < 0.001, correspondingly). The main finding of this study was that CRP increased during developmental period in soccer players, even when it was adjusted to body mass or FFM, which increased during development. This documentation of the development of CRP provided useful tool for coaches and fitness trainers in order to apply optimal exercise interventions for health and performance.
Abstract: Background: Despite the increasing popularity of kickboxing, few studies have been conducted with regard to the physiology or the biomechanics of this sport. The aim of the present study is to examine the ratios of mechanical characteristics between upper and lower limbs of male kickboxers.
Material/Methods: Fourteen male Caucasians, all members of recreational sport clubs, aged 21.77 (5.19) yr [mean (standard deviation)], body height 1.78 (0.067) m, body mass 75.4 (8.9) kg, body fat 14 (5) % and somatotype 3.5-4.9-2.3, performed the Force-velocity (F-v) test for both upper and lower extremities. The F-v test included five supramaximal pedal sprints, each lasting 7 sec, against incremental braking force (20-60 N for upper limbs and 30-70 N for lower limbs), on modified arm-cranking and on a cycle ergometer (Ergomedics 874, Monark, Sweden).
Results: Maximal anaerobic power, Pmax, of upper limbs was associated with Pmax of lower limbs (r = 0.81, P < 0.001) and their ratio was 0.464 (0.079). The respective values of correlation coefficients of the theoretical maximal force, F0, were r = 0.63 (P < 0.05) and 0.57 (0.133), and of velocity, v0, r = 0.44 (P = 0.12) and 0.829 (0.095).
Conclusions: In spite of moderate correlations between upper and lower limbs' F0 and v0, a stronger relationship was found with regard to Pmax. Separate upper and lower extremities' power output measures would be useful in evaluating training programs and in understanding the importance of power output for kickboxing performance.
Abstract: Although the contribution of anaerobic power in soccer performance is recognized, this component of physical fitness is not well-studied in adolescent players. Aim of this study is to investigate indices of anaerobic power across adolescence. Male adolescent (N=217; aged 12.01-20.98 y), classified in nine one-year age-groups and adult players (control group, N=29; aged 21-31.59 y), all members of competitive soccer clubs, performed the 30-s Wingate anaerobic test against braking force 0.075 Kg.Kg-1 of body mass. Pearson moment correlation coefficient between age and peak power was r=0.71 (P<0.001) and between age and mean power r=0.75 (P<0.001). Even when body mass or fat free mass was taken into account, the age effect on these parameters remained (0.51<r<0.55, P<0.001). One-way analysis of variance revealed differences in anaerobic power between age groups across adolescence (P<0.001), supporting the aforementioned findings. The much slower rate of increase in relative than in absolute anaerobic power indicated the influence of body mass on anaerobic power.
Abstract: Study aim: To investigate into core stability measures and to establish the preliminary normal data.
Material and methods: Three groups of football players were studied: male players, members of an amateur club
(Division IV; n = 20), female players, members of a Division I club (n = 28) and male adolescent club players (n = 17).
They were subjected to 4 tests of core stability (muscular endurance of trunk flexors and extensors, and of left and
right lateral bridge) at the beginning of the 2009/2010 season.
Results: No significant between-group differences were found for trunk flexors endurance. Female players were significantly
(p<0.01) superior to both male groups with respect to trunk extensors endurance and inferior with respect
to flexors-to-extensors ratio.
Conclusions: The results may have practical implications for football training and injury prevention.
Abstract: Assessment of elite athletes’ physiological characteristics is necessary in order to develop proper training, talent detection and identification programs. Since women’s soccer is in its infancy as a sport, there are no data available on elite players. Aim of this study was to investigate anthropometric and physiological characteristics of elite Greek female soccer players. METHODS: Forty-five members of two Division I teams participated in our study during their routine health-related and sport-related fitness screening. RESULTS: Body fat was 22.65&amp;plusmn;1.91%, players’ somatotype mesomorphic endomorph (5.2-4.9-1.9) and work capacity in heart rate 170 was 2.13&amp;plusmn;0.47 W.kg-1. Peak anaerobic power was 9.65&amp;plusmn;0.58 W.kg-1, fatigue index 46.3&amp;plusmn;7.75% (Wingate test), whilst maximal anaerobic power was 12.39&amp;plusmn;1.41 W.kg-1, maximal force 163.81&amp;plusmn;30.56 N and maximal velocity 185.03&amp;plusmn;11.77 revolutions per minute (force-velocity test). Starters players had lower % body fat (21.8% vs. 24.27%, t43=-2.23, P&amp;lt;0.05), and higher work capacity in heart rate 170 (2.3 W.kg-1 vs. 1.98 W.kg-1, t43=2.36, P&amp;lt;0.05) and peak anaerobic power (9.87 W.kg-1 vs. 9.43 W.kg-1, t40=2.31, P&amp;lt;0.05) than substitutes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirmed previous suggestions about the good aerobic and anaerobic profile of women’s soccer. However, what is novel is the quantification of this physiological profile in elite Greek players and the role of physical fitness on starters’ selection.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate inactivity, nutritional and lifestyle patterns in schoolchildren and their parents. Six hundred and ten members (156 mothers, 140 fathers, 156 daughters and 158 sons) of 175 nuclear families, with an average size of 3.49 members, completed a validated and reliable 16-item questionnaire of physical activity. Inactivity was found to be closely related to nutrition and selected lifestyle habits in children and their parents. A practical implication of these findings indicated that a proper physical activity intervention should consider a change in all of the nutritional and lifestyle parameters in order to be beneficial for health. Therefore, attention should be paid not only to the increase physical activity through an organized exercise plan, but also to the improvement in lifestyle habits, like optimal sleeping, consuming fruit, vegetables and breakfast every day, employing the stairs instead of the elevator, and avoiding watching TV.
Abstract: Purpose: To find out gender differences in anaerobic power and capacity in Physical Education and Sport
students. Methods: 56 female (age 22.72 years old ± 1.96, body mass 60.7 Kg ± 6.06, stature 1.69 m ± 0.06 and
body mass index 21.19 Kg.m-2 ± 1.92, mean ± standard deviation) and 152 male students (23.34 years old ± 2.14,
77.3 Kg ± 7.85, 1.82 m ± 0.06 and 23.28 ± 1.93 Kg.m-2) realized the Wingate anaerobic test. Results: The male
showed significantly higher values in the main indexes of the test, peak power-PP (63.36 % in absolute and
28.03 % in relative to body mass values), mean power-MP (60.76 % in absolute and 26.06 % in relative to body
mass values) and fatigue index (8.15 %) with comparison to female students. Female and male students revealed
similar and high correlation between body mass and power parameters in absolute values (r=0.79 and r=0.81 for
PP and 0.79 and 0.82 for MP, correspondingly). Conclusion: The significant gender differences in anaerobic
power support the teaching in separate classes according to gender and it is suggested to consider these
quantitative differences in the design of effective study programs. programs.
