Jason D. Wagganer

Validity and reliability of an ultrasound system for estimating adipose tissue

When health professionals measure the fitness levels of clients, body composition is usually estimated. In field settings, body composition is commonly estimated with skinfolds or bioelectrical impedance analysis. Recently, a portable ultrasound device has been manufactured to estimate what percentage of body mass is composed of adipose tissue (AT%). A reported advantage of using ultrasound is that inter‐ and intrarater variations may be minimized when compared with the skinfold technique. Therefore, the purpose of this pilot study was twofold; 1) to determine the validity of a portable ultrasound device compared with skinfolds and 2) determine the reliability of the portable ultrasound device. Participants had their measurements taken in the following order: urine specific gravity, body mass, height, skinfolds and ultrasound determined. Participants had their urine specific gravity and ultrasound determined AT% estimates measured again 48 h later. The current pilot study found that the ultrasound was not a valid estimate of AT% when compared with the skinfold estimate (TE > 4%). In addition, the 1‐site estimate from the ultrasound was more reliable than the 3‐site estimate of AT%. These data are of importance to practitioners because it demonstrates that while the ultrasound is not a valid estimate compared with skinfolds, the 1‐site estimate may be able to track changes in AT% over time, making the ultrasound an option for assessing changes in body composition.

Validity of a portable computer‐based ultrasound system for estimating adipose tissue in female gymnasts

The aim of this investigation was to determine the validity of a portable ultrasound instrument for estimating adipose tissue (AT%) compared to dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) in female collegiate gymnasts. Participants had their measurements taken in the following order: urine‐specific gravity, body mass, height, ultrasound determined AT% (1‐site and 3‐site) and DXA determined AT%. The current pilot study found significant differences between estimates of AT% (P < 0·001). Pearsons correlations between DXA and 1‐site and 3‐site estimates were r = 0·786 and r = 0·753, respectively. The standard error of the estimate between DXA and 1‐site and 3‐site estimates was 3·6% and 3·9%, respectively. However, the average deviation of individual scores from the line of identity was 6·7% for the 1‐site and 4·9% for the 3‐site, when compared with the DXA estimate. The results of this preliminary study found that the portable ultrasound was not a valid estimate of AT% when compared with the DXA estimate in female collegiate gymnasts.

A WORKLOAD SELECTION PROCEDURE FOR THE ÅSTRAND-RYHMING TEST FOR WOMEN.

The Åstrand-Ryhming Submaximal Bicycle Test is an accurate and widely used test to estimate maximal oxygen consumption. This test requires a participant to maintain a workload over a 6-min. period. The issue facing many employing this protocol is the identification of an appropriate workload for the cycling regimen. The present study is designed to identify a method for determining an appropriate workload for female participants. A prior study designed a workload selection procedure specifically for men; however, the selection procedure designed for women in this study was better able to elicit a final heart rate (average of minutes five and six) between 165–170 bpm compared to the original Åstrand-Ryhming procedure.

Impact of a Professional Nutrition Program on a Female Cross Country Collegiate Athlete: A Case Report

Low caloric intake or excessive energy expenditure can lead to a negative energy balance, which, in female athletes, may result in a condition called the female athlete triad. While several guidelines identified proper nutrition as a first line of treatment, little research has been reported to show the effect of a professional nutrition program (PNP) on the female athlete triad. The purpose of this case report was to measure the short- and long-term effects of a PNP on a female athlete presenting triad characteristics. A 20-year-old female track-and-field athlete at a Division I university who was in negative energy balance and amenorrheic underwent a one-month PNP. Short- and long-term effects measured by a dual X-ray absorptiometry scan prior to and after attending a PNP showed increased total energy intake from 2188 kcals to 3187 kcals, which resulted in an increase in body fat percent (BF%) from 4.7% to 6.7%. However, by the end of four months, energy intake and BF% (5.7% and 6.0%) values were reduced, respectively. After the twelve-month follow-up, BF% was increased (10.5%), suggesting that increasing energy intake to meet energy demands, without compromising athletic training, can be an effective treatment for the female athlete triad.