Christel Galvani

Effects of non-specific vs individualized exercise training protocols on aerobic, anaerobic and strength performance in severely obese subjects during a short-term body mass reduction program

The purpose of the present study was to compare aerobic, anaerobic and strength performance changes induced by two short-term (3-week) body mass reduction programs based on the same low-calory diet (1200–1500 kcal/day), nutritional education and psychological counseling, but entailing different exercise training protocols. An individualized, low-volume and moderate-intensity exercise training (IET) was contrasted with a non-specific, high-volume, low-intensity exercise training (NET). Thirty obese in-patients (12 males, 18 females; mean age±SD: 33.9±9.4 yr, range: 19–51yr; mean BMI: 40.5±3.8 kg/m2, range: 35.3–51.4 kg/m2) were randomly divided in two gender-matched groups of 15 subjects each undergoing a different exercise training protocol. Maximum oxygen uptake (VİO2max) determined with a submaximal indirect test on a bicycle ergometer, lower limb maximum power output (Ẇmax) determined with the jumping method, global motor capabilities determined by analysis of locomotor pattern during a short (8 m) running, maximum strength (1-RM) of upper and lower limb muscle groups determined with isotonic machines were tested before and after the program. Adherence to an individual exercise activity and maintenance of body weight (bw) loss were evaluated with a telephonic interview 6 months after the completion of the program. In both groups a significant (p<0.001) and comparable weight loss was observed (IET: −4.27%; NET: −4.17%). In both groups VİO2max and Ẇmax increased significantly (p<0.05–0.001) when expressed relatively to body mass, while in absolute terms they were significantly (p<0.001) improved only in IET group. 1-RM in all tested muscle groups was significantly increased in both IET and NET subjects (p<0.001–0.01), but improvements were significantly greater in IET as compared with NET (p<0.05–0.001). The analysis of locomotor pattern during the short running indicated that IET subjects significantly improved their global motor capabilities (p<0.05–0.001), while no change was observed in NET group. After 6 months, IET subjects reported a level of spontaneously chosen physical activity significantly higher (p<0.05) than NET subjects, displaying a trend of further decrease in bw. It was concluded that, although no difference in bw loss was appreciated between the two studied groups and significant improvements were found also in subjects performing NET protocol, the IET protocol offers better overall results in terms of muscle performance and physical fitness, with a possibly stronger motivation to subsequent exercise activity.

Effects of different training protocols on exercise performance during a short-term body weight reduction programme in severely obese patients

The effects on aerobic, anaerobic and strength performance of aerobic (A) or A and strength (AS) training, integrated with a 3-week body weight reduction programme involving an energy-restricted diet, nutritional education and psychological counselling, were evaluated in 52 grade II or III obese individuals (A: n=26; AS: n=26). After 3 weeks, both training programmes led to a similar and significant reduction (p<0.001) in body mass (A: 4.8%; AS: 4.4%) and an increase (p<0.05–p<0.01) in maximal oxygen consumption (A: 16.8%; AS: 10.9%). A significant (p<0.05–p<0.001) increase was found in absolute lower limb anaerobic power output evaluated by means of a jumping test (A: 13.7%; AS: 18.1%) and stair climbing test (A: 9.7%; AS: 4.3%), without any significant difference between A and AS. A comparable and significant (p<0.01) increase was also found in average horizontal velocity during a short sprint running test (A: 8.1%; AS: 7.1%), with a shorter time of footground contact (A: 4.9%; AS: 6.6.%) and a higher step frequency (A: 4.0%; AS: 10.4%). The maximum strength increase after the body weight reduction programme determined by one maximal repetition test of lower and upper limb muscle groups was significantly greater (p<0.05–p<0.001) in the AS group, ranging from 11.4% to 25.4% (A) and from 26.7% to 41.8% (AS). These results indicate that integrating a body weight reduction programme involving diet, nutritional education and psychological counselling with A or AS exercise has similar positive effects in lowering body mass and improving A and anaerobic performance. However, the addition of strength training to A conditioning increases maximum strength.

Assessment of Physical Activity in Anorexia Nervosa and Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare objective and subjective assessments of physical activity (PA) in patients with anorexia nervosa and its effect on treatment outcome. METHODS Both Actiheart (AH) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used to assess PA in 52 female patients with anorexia nervosa during the first week of inpatient treatment. RESULTS No correspondence between PA estimated by IPAQ, which had a tendency to underestimate PA, and that measured using AH emerged. However, a significant association was found between the change in Eating Disorder Examination global score at the end of the treatment and light PA measured by AH (beta = -0.12, t = -2.44, P = 0.019), but not that estimated by IPAQ. CONCLUSIONS PA in patients with anorexia nervosa is underestimated by subjective assessment when compared with objective measurement. Only time spent in light PA, assessed objectively with AH, showed a negative association with improvement in eating disorder psychopathology.

Effect of Leg Dominance on The Center-of-Mass Kinematics During an Inside-of-the-Foot Kick in Amateur Soccer Players

Abstract Soccer kicking kinematics has received wide interest in literature. However, while the instep-kick has been broadly studied, only few researchers investigated the inside-of-the-foot kick, which is one of the most frequently performed techniques during games. In particular, little knowledge is available about differences in kinematics when kicking with the preferred and non-preferred leg. A motion analysis system recorded the three-dimensional coordinates of reflective markers placed upon the body of nine amateur soccer players (23.0 ± 2.1 years, BMI 22.2 ± 2.6 kg/m2), who performed 30 pass-kicks each, 15 with the preferred and 15 with the non-preferred leg. We investigated skill kinematics while maintaining a perspective on the complete picture of movement, looking for laterality related differences. The main focus was laid on: anatomical angles, contribution of upper limbs in kick biomechanics, kinematics of the body Center of Mass (CoM), which describes the whole body movement and is related to balance and stability. When kicking with the preferred leg, CoM displacement during the ground-support phase was 13% higher (p<0.001), normalized CoM height was 1.3% lower (p<0.001) and CoM velocity 10% higher (p<0.01); foot and shank velocities were about 5% higher (p<0.01); arms were more abducted (p<0.01); shoulders were rotated more towards the target (p<0.01, 6° mean orientation difference). We concluded that differences in motor control between preferred and non-preferred leg kicks exist, particularly in the movement velocity and upper body kinematics. Coaches can use these results to provide effective instructions to players in the learning process, moving their focus on kicking speed and upper body behavior

Dynamic balance in elite karateka.

In karate, balance control represents a key performance determinant. With the hypothesis that high-level athletes display advanced balance abilities, the purpose of the current study was to quantitatively investigate the motor strategies adopted by elite and non-elite karateka to maintain balance control in competition. The execution of traditional karate techniques (kihon) in two groups of elite Masters (n = 6, 31 ± 19 years) and non-elite Practitioners (n = 4, 25 ± 9 years) was compared assessing body center of mass (CoM) kinematics and other relevant parameters like step width and angular joint behavior. In the considered kihon sequence, normalized average CoM height was 8% lower (p < 0.05), while CoM displacement in the horizontal direction was significantly higher in Masters than in Practitioners (2.5 vs. 1.9 m, p < 0.05), as well as CoM average velocity and rms acceleration (p < 0.05). Step width was higher in Masters in more than half of the sequence steps (p < 0.05). Results suggest that elite karateka showed a refined dynamic balance control, obtained through the increase of the base of support and different maneuvers of lower limbs. The proposed method could be used to objectively detect talented karateka, to measure proficiency level and to assess training effectiveness.

Testing and training of the eggbeater kick movement in water polo: applicability of a new method

Abstract Melchiorri, G, Viero, V, Triossi, T, Tancredi, V, Galvani, C, and Bonifazi, M. Testing and training of the eggbeater kick movement in water polo: Applicability of a new method. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2758–2764, 2015—In water polo, many of the technical actions and the contacts with the opponent take place in quasi-vertical floating position using 2 types of lower limb actions: the eggbeater kick is used most often in fighting and passing and the breaststroke kick in jumping and throwing. The aim of this study was to identify a new system to evaluate and to train the eggbeater kick movement and to verify its applicability. Twenty amateur players and 22 elite players participated in the study. A jacket, homemade and easy to make, allowing the application of an overload submerged in water but not hindering breathing or mobility, was used. Standard anthropometry and a test consisting of different trials of the eggbeater kick action until exhaustion with an increasing overload (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, and 17.5 kg) were collected. Time to exhaustion and the overload estimated maximum value (OEMV) at second 2 were determined for each load. Body weight, height, and lower limb muscle performance of the elite and nonelite players were significantly different from each other (p ⩽ 0.05). The effectiveness of the different measured variables in both subgroups and that of the OEMV was evaluated with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Areas under the ROC curve for the different overloads were 0.72 (0.53–0.92) for 5 kg, 0.80 (0.68–0.90) for 7.5 kg, 0.87 (0.77–0.91) for 10 kg, and 0.88 (0.84–0.92) for 12.5 kg overload. Our results show that the test is sensitive enough and therefore can be used to plan and control training and injury recovery.

Six minute walk distance and reference values in healthy Italian children: A cross-sectional study

The 6-minute walking test (6MWT) is a simple assessment tool to evaluate exercise capacity. The result of the test is the distance that a subject can walk at a constant and normal pace within 6 minutes (6MWD) and reflects the aerobic/fitness performance related to walking function. Use of 6MWT has been relevant to assess exercise tolerance either in healthy children or in patients with, heart, lung and metabolic diseases. Our aim was to find 6MWT reference values in healthy Italian children. The 6MWT was performed in 5614 children aged 6–11 years recruited from primary Italian schools. Age related reference percentiles of the covered distance were gender-modeled. A linear and quadratic regression model was used to predict 6MWT performance. Males walked longer distances than females, respectively 598.8±83.9 m vs 592.1±77.6 m (p = 0.0016). According to the regression analysis, 6MWD was positively related to age, gender and height, while it was negatively related to body weight [(6MWD = -160.16 + 93.35× age (years) -4.05× age2 (years) +7.34× gender (m) +2.12× weight (kg) −2.50× height (cm)]. Reference values were established for the 6MWT in healthy children. The age related 6MWD percentiles provided a useful tool in the assessment of capacity in 6–11 year children, in fact they may be helpful to evaluate the effect of a given treatment or rehabilitation program and represent a feasible measure as to prevention within the primary school context. It was found a substantial difference from other countries for 6mwd values. In our study, factors such as age, weight and height were relevant for the prediction of 6MWD, similarly to other studies. Therefore, these variables should be taken into account in context of exercise performance.

Influence of energy cost and physical fitness on the preferred walking speed and gait variability in elderly women

Typically gait speed decreases and gait variability increases in elderly. The aim of this study was to define the influence of energy cost of walking on gait speed and of health-related physical fitness on gait variability. Thirty healthy young and older women were recruited in the study. Energy cost of walking (NetCW) was analyzed with indirect calorimetry while a kinematic analysis was performed with an optoelectronic system to calculate gait variability (GV) during treadmill walking at different speeds. Gait speed was defined as the preferred walking speed (PWS) of the subject and health related physical fitness (HRPF) comprised body fat, strength, flexibility, and cardiorespiratory fitness. In healthy elderly women, the coefficient of variation of step width was found to be a better indicator of GV than stride time, stride length and double support coefficients of variation. GV was not affected by age allowing a high PWS. Furthermore, significant associations, adjusted for age, body mass index and number of falls, were identified neither between NetCW and the PWS, nor between HRPF and GV; only a significant association was found between hand-grip strength and gait stability. Findings highlighted the importance to evaluate hand-grip strength as an indicator of gait efficiency.

Does physical fitness affect the locomotion kinematics of lower limbs in healthy adults

It is well known that obese and elderly subjects show modifications in joint range of motion (ROM) and spatio-temporal gait parameters. This is presumably due to a reduction in muscle strength and flexibility [1], but there are few quantitative studies that objectively measure the influence of physical performance on gait pattern. In this study, we investigated if different levels of strength and flexibility could affect the kinematics of lower limbs in a group of healthy adults. Sixteen normalweight subjects (age, 27.1±5.0 yr; BMI, 22±2.1 kg/m2; preferred walking speed 5.5±0.5 km/h) performed an isometric maximal voluntary contraction (iMVC) on a horizontal leg press equipped with two force plates. The V-sit and reach test was used to assess flexibility. An optoelectronic system was used to measure kinematics while subjects performed 10 min of treadmill walking at 5.5 km/h. We calculated the main spatio-temporal parameters, the ROM and the angular values of pelvis and lower limbs joints at heel strike and toe off events. To find possible associations between physical fitness and biomechanical values, we used the stepwise backward logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, height and weight. Significant negative associations were identified between iMVC and knee angle at heel strike (F=7.831, p<0.01). Pelvic rotation ROM (F=7.31, p<0.01), knee ROM (F=5.061, p<0.05) and plantarflexion at heel strike (F=4.154, p<0.05) were positively associated with iMVC, as much as flexibility with hip extension at toe off (F=4.355, p<0.05). We found that, in accord with Ko et al. [2], the maximum knee extensor strength was related to modifications of knee ROM. In conclusion, it seems that even in adulthood, different values of strength and flexibility could affect some components of gait kinematics.