Ignacio Martínez González-Moro

Valoración de la fuerza, la flexibilidad, el equilibrio, la resistencia y la agilidad en función del índice de masa corporal en mujeres mayores activas

INTRODUCTION Overweight and obesity are increasing at an alarming rate among older people. This is mainly because this population is predominantly sedentary. The aim of this study was to classify, according to the body mass index (BMI), a group of older active women and to evaluate the different basic physical abilities as a function of this. MATERIAL AND METHODS The BMI and fitness were evaluated in 60 elderly active women (mean age: 66.14 ± 6.59 years) using the 2-minute step test, arm curl test, chair stand test, back scratch test, chair-sit and reach-test, flamenco test, and 8-foot up-and-go test. RESULTS It was found that 52.23% of the women studied had a normal BMI and 47.76% were slightly overweight. There were no cases of obesity or underweight. Women with normal BMI had better values in all tests than overweight women. Significant differences were found in the flamenco test (P<.05), and 8-foot up-and-go test (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS Older women who usually do physical activity had a normal or slightly overweight BMI. It was also found that women with lower BMI have better resistance, flexibility, balance and strength.

Daily physical activity impact in old women bone density and grip strength

INTRODUCTION Being physically active is related to a better physical functioning in older people, but daily physical activity impact in specific outcomes such as osteoporosis or sarcopenia is still not clear. OBJECTIVE The main objective of this study is to determine the impact of daily physical activity (DPA) in the bone mineral density and grip strength of old women. The secondary objective is to distinguish between weekday and weekend day scores. METHODS Forty-two women between 65 and 79 years participated. DPA was monitored with the accelerometer ActiGraph GT3X (Pensacola, FL, USA) placed on the dominant hand wrist. Bone mineral density was measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (AccuDEXA, SHICK, USA) in the central finger of the dominant hand; and grip strength, with a Takei dynamometer (TKK 5001). RESULTS There were statistical differences between moderate and vigorous DPA in age, T-score, physical activity counts/min and min/day, and grip strength. Weekend minutes correlated significantly with all the variables. Age was a confounding factor. CONCLUSIONS Higher DPA intensities accomplished by our old women sample preserve T-score (bone standard deviations respect to young, healthy people) and grip strength in a normal range. These results are strongly influenced by weekend scores. Age should be controlled by shorter ranks.

High-intensity Interval Training Dosage for Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease Cardiac Rehabilitation. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES High-interval intensity training (HIT) has been suggested to improve peak VO2 in cardiac rehabilitation programs. However, the optimal HIT protocol is unknown. The objective of this study was to identify the most effective doses of HIT to optimize peak VO2 in coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart failure (HF) patients. METHODS A search was conducted in 6 databases (MEDLINE, Web of Science, LILACS, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, and SportDiscus). Studies using a HIT protocol in CAD or HF patients and measuring peak VO2 were included. The PEDro Scale and Cochrane Collaboration tools were used. RESULTS Analyses reported significant improvements in peak VO2 after HIT in both diseases (P = .000001), with a higher increase in HF patients (P = .03). Nevertheless, in HF patients, there were no improvements when the intensity recovery was ≤ 40% of peak VO2 (P = .19) and the frequency of training was ≤ 2 d/wk (P = .07). There were significant differences regarding duration in CAD patients, with greater improvements in peak VO2 when the duration was < 12 weeks (P = .05). In HF, programs lasting < 12 weeks did not significantly improve peak VO2 (P = .1). CONCLUSIONS The HIT is an effective method for improving peak VO2 in HF and CAD, with a significantly greater increase in HF patients. The recovery intervals should be active and be between 40% and 60% of peak VO2 in HF patients. Training frequency should be ≥ 2 d/wk for CAD patients and ≥ 3 d/wk for HF patients.

Lesions esportives en l’aeròbic de competició

Resumen Pretendemos establecer la incidencia de las lesiones, agudas y cronicas, durante la practica y entrenamiento del aerobic deportivo. Determinar las causas favorecedoras, predisponentes y desencadenantes de dichas lesiones y plantear estrategias de actuacion y de prevencion. Se ha realizado un estudio epidemiologicq-descriptivo sobre lesiones deportivas asociadas al Aerobic de Competicion, presentadas en los 60 gimnastas de la elite espanola, en activo, producidas durante los anos de entrenamiento y la temporada 1999-2000, participantes en elV Campeonato Nacional, atendiendo a las diferentes categorias, (absoluta y junior), a traves de un cuestionario-entrevista durante dicho campeonato; Se han contabilizado 156 lesiones, de las cuales el 68,5 % eran musculares, ei 27,5 % articulares y el 3,9 % oseas. Siendo el area mas afectada la muneca con 35 lesiones. Encontrando indices lesionales similares al de otras disciplinas afines, respondiendo a un numero de lesiones agudas mayor que las cronicas.