Emmanouil K. Skordilis

The effect of treadmill training on gross motor function and walking speed in ambulatory adolescents with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a treadmill program on gross motor function, walking speed, and spasticity of ambulatory adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy (diplegia and tetraplegia). DesignIn this randomized controlled trial, 22 adolescents (13–19 yrs old) from a special school for children with physical disabilities were randomly allocated to the experimental and control training groups. The experimental training group underwent a treadmill program without body weight support at a comfortable speed. The control group received treatment with conventional physiotherapy, which consisted of three sets of exercises with mat activities, balance, gait training, and functional gross motor activities. The program lasted 12 wks with a frequency of three times per week for both groups. Pretest and posttest measurements of self-selected walking speed, gross motor function, and spasticity were conducted. ResultsThe analysis of covariance findings examining posttest differences between groups were significant with respect to self-selected walking speed (F = 8.545, P = 0.000) and gross motor function (F = 9.088, P = 0.007), whereas no significance was found for spasticity. ConclusionsTreadmill training may improve the walking speed and gross motor function of adolescents with spastic cerebral palsy, without adverse effects on spasticity.

The Effect of Physiotherapy-Based Breathing Retraining on Asthma Control

Background. The mechanism of the breathing retraining effect on asthma control is not adequately based on evidence. Objective. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of physiotherapy-based breathing retraining on asthma control and on asthma physiological indices across time. Study design. A 6-month controlled study was conducted. Adult patients with stable, mild to moderate asthma (n = 40), under the same specialist’s care, were randomized either to be trained as one group receiving 12 individual breathing retraining sessions (n = 20), or to have usual asthma care (n = 20). The main outcome was the Asthma Control Test score, with secondary outcomes the end-tidal carbon dioxide, respiratory rate, spirometry, and the scores of Nijmegen Hyperventilation Questionnaire, Medical Research Council scale, and SF-36v2 quality-of-life questionnaire. Results. The 2 × 4 ANOVA showed significant interaction between intervention and time in asthma control (F = 9.03, p < .001, η2 = 0.19), end-tidal carbon dioxide (p < .001), respiratory rate (p < .001), symptoms of hypocapnia (p = .001), FEV1% predicted (p = .022), and breathlessness disability (p = .023). The 2 × 4 MANOVA showed significant interaction between intervention and time, with respect to the two components of the SF-36v2 (p < .001). Conclusion. Breathing retraining resulted in improvement not only in asthma control but in physiological indices across time as well. Further studies are needed to confirm the benefits of this training in order to help patients with stable asthma achieve the control of their disease.

Effects of static and dynamic stretching on sprint and jump performance in boys and girls.

Abstract Paradisis, GP, Pappas, PT, Theodorou, AS, Zacharogiannis, EG, Skordilis, EK, and Smirniotou, AS. Effects of static and dynamic stretching on sprint and jump performance in boys and girls. J Strength Cond Res 28(1): 154–160, 2014—The aim of this study was to investigate the acute effects of static (SS) and dynamic stretching (DS) on explosive power, flexibility, and sprinting ability of adolescent boys and girls and to report possible gender interactions. Forty-seven active adolescent boys and girls were randomly tested after SS and DS of 40 seconds on quadriceps, hamstrings, hip extensors, and plantar flexors; no stretching was performed at the control condition. Pretreatment and posttreatment tests examined the effects of stretching on 20-m sprint run (20 m), countermovement jump (CMJ) height, and sit and reach flexibility test. In terms of performance, SS hindered 20 m and CMJ in boys and girls by 2.5 and 6.3%, respectively. Dynamic stretching had no effect on 20 m in boys and girls but impaired CMJ by 2.2%. In terms of flexibility, both SS and DS improved performance with SS being more beneficial (12.1%) compared with DS (6.5%). No gender interaction was found. It can therefore be concluded that SS significantly negates sprinting performance and explosive power in adolescent boys and girls, whereas DS deteriorates explosive power and has no effect on sprinting performance. This diversity of effects denotes that the mode of stretching used in adolescent boys and girls should be task specific.

Competitive State Anxiety and Performance in Young Female Rhythmic Gymnasts

The study was designed to examine the competitive state anxiety and self-confidence of rhythmic gymnasts participating in the Greek national competition. 86 participants, ages 11 and 12 years, completed the Competitive State Anxiety Inventory–2, 1 hr. before competition. The athletes, classified by performance (high and low performance) and participation in the finals (finalists and nonfinalists), responded to the three subscales: Cognitive Anxiety, Somatic Anxiety, and Self-confidence. Analyses indicated differences in Self-confidence between high versus low performance groups and finalists versus nonfinalists. No significant differences were found on Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety. In a regression analysis, Self-confidence was the only significant predictor of performance for this sample. Implications refer to the development of strategies to enhance self-confidence in order to improve the gymnasts performance during competition.

Hyperventilation In Asthma: A Validation Study Of The Nijmegen Questionnaire-Nq

Abstract Introduction: The Nijmegen questionnaire (NQ) has previously been used for screening the hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) in asthmatics. However, no validity study has been reported so far. Objective: To examine the validity and reliability of the NQ in asthma patients and identify the prevalence of HVS. Methods: The NQ (n = 162) was examined for translation, construct, cross-sectional and discriminant validity as well as for internal consistency and test–retest reliability. Results: Principal component analysis and exploratory factor analysis revealed a single factor solution with 11 items and 58.6% of explained variability. These 11 NQ items showed high internal consistency (Cronbachs alpha = 0.92) and test–retest reliability (IR = 0.98). Higher NQ scores were found in the following subgroups: women versus men (p < 0.01); participants with moderate versus mild asthma (p < 0.001) or uncontrolled versus controlled asthma (p < 0.001), and participants with breath-hold time (BHT) < 30 versus ≥ 30 s (p < 0.01) or end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) ≤35 versus >35 mmHg (p < 0.001). A cut-off score of >17 discriminated the participants with regard to the presence of HVS. The NQ showed 92.73% sensitivity and 91.59% specificity. The total NQ score was found significantly correlated with ETCO2 (r = −0.68), RR (r = 0.66) and BHT (r = −0.65). The prevalence of HVS was found 34%. Conclusion: The NQ is a valid and reliable questionnaire for screening HVS in patients with stable mild-to-moderate asthma.

Comparison of sport achievement orientation of male professional, amateur, and wheelchair basketball athletes.

To examine the differences in sport achievement orientation among 35 professional, 36 amateur, and 35 wheelchair basketball athletes, these men completed three subscales of Competitiveness, Win orientation, and Goal orientation of the 25-item Sport Orientation Questionnaire. A multivariate analysis of variance indicated significant differences among groups. Win orientation was the factor, through discriminant function analysis, that significantly separated the athletes into the three groups. The highest win score was obtained by the professional, followed by the amateur and wheelchair groups. Replication study is necessary to confirm the present findings.

COMPARISON OF SPORT ACHIEVEMENT ORIENTATION BETWEEN WHEELCHAIR AND ABLE-BODIED BASKETBALL ATHLETES

Differences in sport achievement orientations between 31 recreational wheelchair and 76 able-bodied basketball athletes were tested. Athletes from the New England region completed the three subscales of the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (competitiveness, win orientation, and goal orientation). Wheelchair athletes responded higher on the Competitiveness and Goal Orientation subscales. In discriminative function analysis competitiveness scores were the only significant discriminator between the two groups.

Use of the Sport Orientation Questionnaire with Wheelchair Athletes: Examination of Evidence for Validity

The factor structure of the Sport Orientation Questionnaire with three factors of competitiveness, win orientation, and goal orientation was examined in a sample of 243 wheelchair athletes from the USA. Based on sample-specific validity evidence theory, it was hypothesized that the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses would yield evidence on validity for wheelchair athletes who were different from able-bodied athletes. Exploratory factor analysis confirmed the hypothesis with a clear fourth and a questionable fifth factor. A confirmatory factor analysis did not adequately explain the new five-factor model. The new emerging fourth and fifth factors separated the competitiveness element of the questionnaire in ‘self-referenced’ and ‘other-referenced’ elements of competitiveness. Results are discussed in terms of demographic characteristics of the sample of wheelchair athletes.

Sport Orientation Model for Wheelchair Basketball Athletes

This study examined the validity of the Sport Orientation Questionnaire (Competitiveness: 13 items, Win Orientation: 6 items, and Goal Orientation: 6 items) in a sample of 195 wheelchair basketball athletes from the USA. Following evidence for sample-specific validity, the measurement model that underlies the questionnaire was examined. A short-form with 15 items for three factors of Competitiveness (7 items), Win Orientation (5 items) and Goal Orientation (3 items) fit the data (χ2/ df ratio = 2.21, NNFI = .892, CFI = .991, RCFI = .935, SRMR = .058, RMSEA = .071). To evaluate the findings further, we cross-validated the short-form by sex. Structural equation modeling indicated there were similar measurement properties and factor structures for the men and women, indicating similar conceptualization of sport orientations. Meaningful comparisons across sex may be undertaken, since both men and women who are wheelchair basketball athletes perceive the three short-form SOQ factors similarly.

Evaluating the Approach Run of Class F11 Visually Impaired Athletes in Triple and Long Jumps

The present study examined stride pattern characteristics of Class F11 visually impaired long jumpers and triple jumpers. Athletes demonstrated initial ascending footfall variability followed by descending variability, on the second (long jumpers) and third (triple jumpers) stride prior to take-off, at a mean distance of 6.26 m (long jumpers) and 7.36 m (triple jumpers) from the take-off board. Toe-board-distance variability reached a maximum value of 0.36 m and 0.38 m for the long and triple jump, respectively. Last stride toe-board-distance variability was 0.29 m (long jump) and 0.25 m (triple jump). Class F11 visually impaired athletes exhibit regulation of goal-directed gait analogous to that of non-visually impaired athletes.