José Antonio Casajús Mallén

Effect of whole-body vibration therapy on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents with disabilities: a systematic review.

PURPOSE To summarize the current literature regarding the effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) therapy on the health-related physical fitness of children and adolescents with disabilities. METHODS A literature search using MEDLINE-PubMed, SPORT DISCUS, and EMBASE databases was conducted up to August 2013. A total of 22 articles were included in this review (eight randomized controlled trials, four non-randomized controlled trials, three case reports, and seven reviews). RESULTS Most of the studies showed positive effects of WBV on health-related physical fitness in children and adolescents with disabilities. Overall, 10-20 minutes at least three times per week, for a minimum of 26 weeks, with high frequency (between 15 and 35 Hz) and low amplitude (no more than 4 mm of peak-to-peak displacement) might be an appropriate protocol to achieve improvement in body composition and muscular strength. CONCLUSIONS Because no serious adverse events have been observed, WBV might be defined as a safe treatment to be applied in children and adolescents with disabling conditions. Further research is recommended to explore the minimum dose of exposure to WBV required to elicit an optimal response in children and adolescents for improving health-related physical fitness. These may be translated into a more specific WBV protocol.

El dopaje en los Juegos Olímpicos de verano (1968-2008)

Introduction and objectives: The use of substances, drugs and methods to improve work or sports performance has been well known for centuries. However, the International Olympic Committee only carried out the first anti-doping tests in the Mexico Olympic Games (1968). The main objective of this study is to analyse the evolution of the anti-doping tests results since 1968 until the present. Methods: We have reviewed the development of the positive cases at the Summer Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency Official Web Sites, which have been compared with documents from the specialised press. Results: The total number of anti-doping tests was 21,849, with 94 being penalised. The highest number of positives (26) took place in Athens 2004. By contrast, no positives were found in Moscow 1980. The highest percentage of positive cases per anti-doping tests was found in Montreal 1976 (1.40%). The most sanctioned continent was Europe (62.67% of total cases) and anabolic agents were the most used substances (46 positives). The percentage of athletes tested has risen steeply over the last years (1996: 18.64%; 2008: 42.86%). Conclusions: The number of anti-doping tests has increased since 1980. The creation of the World Anti-Doping Agency and its anti-doping policy could explain the decrease in the positive cases at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.

Obesidad sarcopénica en mujeres mayores: influencia del polimorfismo I/D de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina

INTRODUCTION Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a term that refers to an increase of fat mass together with a decrease of muscle mass, which is suffered by a high percentage of elderly population. Physical activity seems to be a good strategy to prevent it getting worse. However, genetic factors related to the aging process and to elderlys physical fitness could have an influence on it. AIM To determine if elderly women > 60 who practice physical activity regularly had differences in sarcopenic obesity according to the I/D polymorphism from the ACE (angiotensin converter enzyme) gen. METHODS Cross-sectional study of 300 elderly women who have practiced physical exercise at least twice a week for the past two years. Anthropometric data, physical activity and sedentary behaviour questionnaire, sarcopenic obesity (determining the percentage of fat mass and total muscle mass by electrical impedance and grouping the quintiles of these values into four groups) and physical fitness assessment, as well as ACE gen genotype measured by oral mucosa sample, were evaluated. RESULTS There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in sarcopenic obesity according to ACE I/D genotype (SO values: 2.18 ACE DD vs 2.48 ACE II + ACE ID). CONCLUSIONS Women who were ACE DD presented lower risk of sarcopenic obesity than those in the ACE II and ACE ID groups.

La actividad física en el currículo universitario español de los grados de Medicina y Ciencias de la Actividad Física y del Deporte como recurso en la prevención y tratamiento de las enfermedades crónicas

INTRODUCTION Currently, there is scientific evidence about the benefits of physical exercise over human health. The aim of this study was to review the curricula of Medicine and Sport Sciences at Spanish universities, specifically regarding the contents related to physical exercise in the promotion, prevention and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS In a systematic way, all syllabus, programs and contents of the different subjects were reviewed for all Spanish universities which offer the Bachelors of Medicine and Sport Sciences. Total, compulsory and optional European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) were analyzed and added for each university. Practicum and Bachelor thesis were not considered. RESULTS In the mean, Medicine studies dedicate 3.62% (2.38% mandatory and 1.20% optional) of the total 360 ECTS to these contents. In Sport Sciences studies, of the total 240 ECTS, 17.78% (9.87% mandatory and 7.92% optional) were identified as related to these areas of knowledge. Contents ranged from 36 to 4.5 ECTS in Medicine and from 48 to 28 ECTS in Sport Sciences. CONCLUSION There is a great disparity between universities for both degrees among Spanish universities. Contents related to the efficient use of physical exercise for the prevention and treatment of non-communicable chronic diseases are scarce, especially in Medicine. Results indicate the need of increasing these contents in undergraduate studies and/or include them in Master or other programs.