Filiz Colakoglu

Relationship Between Body Composition and Lung Function in Elderly Men and Women

IntroductionThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between body composition parameters and lung functions including vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1:VC ratio, and FEV1:FVC ratio in elderly men and women.MethodsThe study was a cross-sectional evaluation of 99 healthy men and women (aged 60–88 years). Anthropometric and body composition parameters (including fat mass [FM], fat-free mass [FFM] and percentage body fat [%BF]) were evaluated using the skinfold method, and lung function was examined using spirometry.ResultsData analysis showed %BF, body FM and body mass index (BMI) of women to be significantly higher than men. Also, their body FFM was significantly less than men (P<0.05). Lung volume (P<0.01) and lung capacity values (P<0.05) (VC, FVC, FEV1, FEV1:VC, FEV1:FVC) of women were significantly less than men. There was a positive significant relationship between the FFM versus FVC and FEV1 values of women and men. A negative significant relationship was demonstrated between body FM, BMI and FVC of all subjects.ConclusionThis investigation showed that women aged between 60 and 88 years had a lower lung capacity compared to men of the same age. Older women were found to have a higher body fat ratio than men, and it was found that increasing %BF and BMI had a negative effect on lung functions in both sexes.

Functional Strength Ratio in Athletes with and Without Glenohumeral Internal Rotation Deficit (GIRD).

Objectives: Eccentric external rotator (ER) and concentric internal rotator (IR) strength is expressed as a functional strength ratio (ER:IR) for shoulder. The difference in functional strength ratio has been well documented in athletes, but no one compared the functional ratio in athletes with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GIRD on functional ER:IR strength ratio of the adolescent athletes. Methods: Fifty-three adolescent athletes (12-18 years) from basketball and volleyball teams participated in the study. All the athletes were filled a questionnaire to obtain demographic information and information about their sporting activity. To determine the GIRD, the range of glenohumeral internal rotation motion was measured with the use of a digital inclinometer. An isokinetic dynamometer was used for the assessment of eccentric and concentric muscle strength of the dominant and non-dominant shoulders. Student-t test was used to assess the difference on ER:IR strength ratio between groups. Results: After the clinical examination of all shoulders the athletes were divided into 2 different groups, which were shoulders with glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (Group 1, n=34) and shoulders without GIRD (Group 2, n=22). There was a significant difference among groups on functional ER: IR strength ratio (t=-2.172, p=0.034). The ratio was lower in shoulders with GIRD. Conclusion: GIRD has an adverse effect on functional shoulder ratio, which is one of the causes of shoulder injuries in adolescent athletes. Therefore, GIRD should be treated to prevent future injuries.

The effect of a calisthenic exercise bout on oxidant and antioxidant status in middle-aged and postmenopausal women

Exercise increases the generation of oxygen free radicals and lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidant and antioxidant status in sedentary middle-aged (36.8 ± 5.4 years, n, = 20) and postmenopausal women (51.4 ± 3.3 years, n = 11) before and after acute calisthenic exercise. Both subject groups performed an acute calisthenic exercise for 55 minutes. The intensity of the exercise was 60-70% of maximal heart rate, as determined by Karvonen et al. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), gluathione (GSH), ascorbic acid (AA) and nitric oxide (NOx) levels were determined spectrophotometrically. The postmenopausal groups pre-exercise MDA levels were high and GSH levels were low, compared with those of the middle aged group. This result indicated increased lipid peroxidation after menopause. In both groups, plasma MDA levels and NOx levels increased and plasma AA levels decreased following calisthenic exercise. The present study indicates for the first time that plasma MDA levels increase significantly after a bout of acute calisthenic exercise, involving all large muscle groups at 60-70% of maximal heart rate while plasma AA levels decrease concurrently. These effects may be due to increased lipid peroxidation in both middle aged and postmenopausal women. The finding of low plasma GSH levels and high plasma MDA levels in the postmenopausal group suggests the possible development of a disturbance in the oxidant and antioxidant status after menopause. Reduced levels of AA following acute calisthenic exercise might indicate the consumption of plasma antioxidants protecting the plasma lipids against the damage of lipid peroxidation.