Harold B. Falls

Body Type and Composition Differences between Placers and Nonplacers in an AIAW Gymnastics Meet

Abstract To determine whether Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) gymnasts competing at the regional level differ significantly from nonathletes (NA) on body composition and somatotype and to determine whether meet placers (P) differ from nonplacers (NP) on the same measurements, anthropometric somatotype and percent fat from skinfold measurements were determined in 71 gymnasts (14 P and 57 NP) at the 1974 AIAW Region VI Championships. The same measurements were made on a reference group of 54 NA. The gymnasts were shorter and lighter in weight with less body fat than the NA. Percent body fat differences (NA = 21.45%; NP = 18.41%; P = 16.82%) were significant (p = .05) among all three groups. Since the two gymnast groups were almost identical in height and weight, the higher relative fat in the NP must have been offset by a lower relative fat-free body weight. Plots for the mean somatotypes of the three groups on standard somatocharts showed distinctly separate positions, with the N...

Effect of Length of Cold Showers on Skin Temperatures and Exercise Heart Rate

Abstract This study was an attempt to determine what length cold shower at 64 F might be necessary to achieve a significant reduction in heart rate cost of exercise, and whether such a reduction might be related to the lowered skin temperature achieved through the shower. In phase one 10 subjects walked on a treadmill under four different conditions at a work load requiring an exercise heart rate of approximately 170/ min. The conditions were control and 3-, 6-, and 9- min. cold showers. Analysis of variance showed significantly lower exercise heart rates after all three shower conditions, but those after the 9-min. shower were significantly lower than after 3 min. Recovery heart rates were not significantly different. In phase two, mean skin temperatures of five subjects were measured before and at 5-min. intervals for 30 min. following 3-, 6-, and 9- min. showers. Statistical and graphical analysis indicated that: (a) the overall shower effect caused the skin temperature to be significantly below contro...

Cold Water Application Effects on Responses to Heat Stress During Exercise.

Abstract This study investigated the effect of partial body cooling (cold towels and showers) on the responses to heat stress during exercise. After a short acclimatization period, six subjects rode a Monark bicycle ergometer for 59 min. alternating 5 min. work with 1 min. rest in a hot environment (105 F [40.6 C] dry bulb, 83 F [28.3 C] wet bulb). Heart rate, rectal temperature, and sweat loss were measured and plotted for three experimental conditions — C—control; E1—cold towel application (1 C) to abdomen and head during the rest periods and E2—same as E1 except for a preexercise 10-min. cold shower at 14.8 C (58.6 F). Heart rates, rectal temperatures, and sweat losses were less under the two experimental conditions than under the control condition. The subjects responded most favorably to the heat stress under condition E2. Heart rate, rectal temperature, and sweat loss results were combined to compute the modified Craig Index of Physiological Strain, I8=terminal heart rate (beats/min)/100 + Δ Trectal...

Comparison of Recovery Procedures for the Reduction of Exercise Stress

Abstract This study investigated the effects of three types of recovery procedure on (a) circulatory recovery from a standardized bicycle ergometer exercise, (b) performance in a second standardized bicycle ergometer exercise, and (c) circulatory recovery from the second exercise. The recovery procedures were complete rest, light activity, and cold showers. Each of 10 male subjects underwent each recovery procedure on separate days. Analysis of variance for a randomized complete blocks design was used in the analysis of the data. Results indicated that cold showers decreased recovery heart rate after the first standardized exercise from 115 to 96 beats/minute and after the second exercise from 164 to 152 beats/ minute when compared with the other two conditions. Speed of performance in the second exercise was improved from 40.4 and 40.3 sec. in the case of rest and light activity to 38.9 sec. for cold showers. These improvements were all statistically significant at the .05 level. Three physiological expl...

The effect of impermeable clothing on weight loss, heart rate, and core temperature in wrestlers

Abstract This study compared heart rate, core temperature, and weight loss responses in wrestlers dehydrating in vapor barrier sweatsuits with the same responses while they were dehydrating in light clothing. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if the vapor barrier suit induced hidromeiosis to sufficient extent to off set additional weight loss associated with augmented central and peripheral drive for sweating. Weight loss was achieved with a combination exercise and thermal stress. University varsity wrestlers exercised at workloads between 600 and 900 kpm/min in an environment with Tdb = 35 ± 1° C and Twb = 26.5–28.5° C, respectively. Relative humidity was 50–64%. Subsequent additional thermal stress at rest was provided by sauna exposures at Tdb = 77–89° C. Ten 3-min exercise periods applied alternately with 1-min rest periods were followed by two 10-min sauna exposures alternated with rest. The subjects lost 30% more body weight with than without the sweatsuit—2.17 vs 1.67 kg. The diffe...

Circulatory response to cold showers: effect of varied time lapses before exercise.

Abstract This study investigated the duration of the cold shower effect on circulatory response to exercise in order to determine how long a performer may wait before beginning exercise after a cold shower and still receive benefit from it. In addition to a control condition of exercise without a shower, the time intervals between the shower and exercise were 10, 20, and 30 minutes. The showers were 10 minutes at an average temperature of 68 F. Each of 10 male subjects followed each experimental condition on separate days. Heart rates were recorded during a five-minute walk at four miles per hour and six percent grade on a motor driven treadmill. Heart rates during the first five minutes of recovery were also recorded. Analysis of variance for a randomized complete blocks design and the Student-Newman-Keuls Test were used in analysis of the data. Results indicated that even after a 20-minute interval before exercise begins, the 10-minute cold shower at 68 F will significantly reduce the exercise and recov...

Functional Classification for Physical Education in the Upper Elementary Grades by Peer Assessment.

Abstract A paper and pencil peer rating of physical performance (Physical Performance Scale) was investigated for reliability and validity using 538 fifth and sixth grade boys and girls as subjects. Test-retest reliability was high. Correlation coefficients were .812 for fifth graders and .879 for sixth graders. In order to determine validity, Pearson product moment correlation, analysis of variance, and biserial correlation were used. The criterion used for validating the scale was average T-scores on selected AAHPER Youth Fitness Test items. The scale demonstrated good validity for discriminating between high and low levels of physical performance as determined by the Youth Fitness Test scores (rbis = .875 for boys and .930 for girls). In addition, when the subjects were grouped according to average physical performance T-scores, the mean peer rating scores were significantly different among the groups.