Luisa Pizzigalli

Prevention of falling risk in elderly people: the relevance of muscular strength and symmetry of lower limbs in postural stability.

Pizzigalli, L, Filippini, A, Ahmaidi, S, Jullien, H, and Rainoldi, A. Prevention of falling risk in elderly people: the relevance of muscular strength and symmetry of lower limbs in postural stability. J Strength Cond Res 25(2): 567-574, 2011-Falls are one of the major health problems affecting the quality of life among older adults. The aging process is associated with decreasing muscle strength and an increasing risk of falling. The variables and techniques adopted to quantify muscular strength and postural stability were different in each protocol; a great number of reports analyzed the risk factors and predictors of falls, but the results appear still uncertain. To date, there is no clear, definitive statement or review that has examined the effect of the quadriceps strength on static balance performances in different sensory conditions. This contribution aims to provide an overview of experimental works to increase the comprehension and prevention of falls and fall-related injuries in the elderly. Based on a review of the literature, this work was designed to explore the relationship among risk of falls, postural stability, and muscular strength of lower limbs in older adults.

The Application of sEMG in Aging: A Mini Review.

The aim of this mini-review is to describe the potential application of surface electromyography (sEMG) techniques in aging studies. Aging is characterized by multiple changes of the musculoskeletal system physiology and function. This paper will examine some of the innovative methods used to monitor age-related alterations of the neuromuscular system from sEMG signals. A description of critical assumptions which underlie some of these approaches is emphasized. The first part focuses on the evolution of the recording techniques and describes some methodological issues. The second part focuses on how to use the following techniques to characterize aging: amplitude and spectral sEMG signal analysis, muscle fiber conduction velocity estimation, and myoelectric fatigue assessment. The last part describes a number of advanced sEMG approaches which seem promising in the geriatric population to estimate motor unit number, size, recruitment thresholds, and firing rates.

The contribution of postural balance analysis in older adult fallers: A narrative review

OBJECTIVE Falls are a serious health problem for older adults. Several studies have identified the decline of postural balance as one of the main risk factors for falls. Contrary to what may be believed, the capability of force platform measurements to predict falls remains uncertain. The focus of this narrative review is the identification of postural characteristics of older adults at risk of falling using both static and dynamic postural balance assessments. METHODS The literature analysis was conducted on Medline/PubMed. The search ended in May 2015. RESULTS Centre of pressure (CoP) path length, CoP velocity and sway in medial lateral and anterior-posterior are the variables that distinguish older adult fallers from non-fallers. DISCUSSION Recommendations to medical personnel on how to provide efficient balance training for older adults are offered, discussing the relevance and limitations of postural stability on static and dynamic board in falling risk prevention.

The Adapted Italian Version of the Baller Identity Measurement Scale to Evaluate the Student-Athletes’ Identity in Relation to Gender, Age, Type of Sport, and Competition Level

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to validate the properties of the Italian version of the Baller Identity Measurement Scale (i.e., BIMS-IT), a self-report questionnaire based on the athletic and academic identities; and to investigate differences in psychosocial factors such as gender, age, type of sport, and competition level. The dimensionality of the BIMS-IT was explored by means of the exploratory factor analysis, considering the scale’s internal consistency too (Confirmatory Factor Analysis). Results related to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a model of measurement composed of two correlated factors: the athletic and academic identities and affectivity related to identities. For both factors, differences emerged between age, and competition level sub groups. In particular, higher identity scores emerged for ≤ 24 years old student-athletes with respect to their age counterparts. National sub-elite student-athletes reported lower identity values than those of national elite and international levels. Results suggest that the Italian version of the BIMS-IT is psychometrically robust and could be adopted for empirical uses. The higher identity scores reported by younger and higher competition level participants suggest a correspondent higher involvement into the student-athlete role. However, BIMS-IT represents a distinct model with respect to the original American BIMS, determining the need of further research on the student-athletes’ identity to better clarify any socio-cultural contest effects.

Higher Neuromuscular Manifestations of Fatigue in Dynamic than Isometric Pull-Up Tasks in Rock Climbers.

Abstract Neuromuscular assessment of rock climbers has been mainly focused on forearm muscles in the literature. We aimed to extend the body of knowledge investigating on two other upper limb muscles during sport-specific activities in nine male rock climbers. We assessed neuromuscular manifestations of fatigue recording surface electromyographic signals from brachioradialis and teres major muscles, using multi-channel electrode arrays. Participants performed two tasks until volitional exhaustion: a sequence of dynamic pull-ups and an isometric contraction sustaining the body at half-way of a pull-up (with the elbows flexed at 90°). The tasks were performed in randomized order with 10 minutes of rest in between. The normalized rate of change of muscle fiber conduction velocity was calculated as the index of fatigue. The time-to-task failure was significantly shorter in the dynamic (31 ±10 s) than isometric contraction (59 ±19 s). The rate of decrease of muscle fiber conduction velocity was found steeper in the dynamic than isometric task both in brachioradialis (isometric: −0.2 ±0.1%/s; dynamic: −1.2 ±0.6%/s) and teres major muscles (isometric: −0.4±0.3%/s; dynamic: −1.8±0.7%/s). The main finding was that a sequence of dynamic pull-ups lead to higher fatigue than sustaining the body weight in an isometric condition at half-way of a pull-up. Furthermore, we confirmed the possibility to properly record physiological CV estimates from two muscles, which had never been studied before in rock climbing, in highly dynamic contractions.

Acute effects of partial-body cryotherapy on isometric strength: maximum handgrip strength evaluation.

Abstract De Nardi, M, Pizzigalli, L, Benis, R, Caffaro, F, and Cremasco, MM. Acute effects of partial-body cryotherapy on isometric strength: maximum handgrip strength evaluation. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3497–3502, 2017—The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of a single partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) session on the maximum handgrip strength (JAMAR Hydraulic Hand dynamometer). Two hundred healthy adults were randomized into a PBC group and a control group (50 men and 50 women in each group). After the initial handgrip strength test (T0), the experimental group performed a 150-second session of PBC (temperature range between −130 and −160° C), whereas the control group stayed in a thermo neutral room (22.0 ± 0.5° C). Immediately after, both groups performed another handgrip strength test (T1). Data underlined that both groups showed an increase in handgrip strength values, especially the experimental group (Control: T0 = 39.48 kg, T1 = 40.01 kg; PBC: T0 = 39.61 kg, T1 = 41.34 kg). The analysis also reported a statistical effect related to gender (F = 491.99, P ⩽ 0.05), with women showing lower handgrip strength values compared with men (women = 30.43 kg, men = 52.27 kg). Findings provide the first evidence that a single session of PBC leads to the improvement of muscle strength in healthy people. The results of the study imply that PBC could be performed also before a training session or a sport competition, to increase hand isometric strength.

Stabilometric and electroencephalographic monitoring of sea wave-motion effects during a sealing boat trip

Female skin conductance and regional differences in thermal sudomotor activity at rest and during exercise in different environmentsIntroduction: The motor activities contribute to the child’s educational process1 , promote the prevention of many diseases2 and promote the development of self-efficacy perceived 3. In the Apulia region to 39,2% of children of 8 years has excess weight (2010) 4; targeted interventions are needed to counteract the sedentary habits5 ; reduce body weight and increase the self-perception, through a wide repertoire of motor activities. Methods: It has been carried out an intervention of extracurricular physical activities for 6 months. Motor test have been proposed (T0 vs T1)6: standing long jump; 20-m speed; 1 Kg medicine ball throw; the self-report: Perceived Physical Ability Scale for Children (PPAS_C)7 to 28 children divided into overweight and obese according to cutt off of Cole8, attending primary school (F = 12; age: M ± ds = 9.76 ± 0.84; BMI: M ± ds = 24,28 ±2,13; M = 16; age: M ± ds = 9.20 ± 1.54; BMI M±ds 27,60±4.07). Results: Apart from the descriptive statistics, it was carried out the ANOVA 2 analysis of the variance (test: T0 vs T1) x 2 (sex) repeating the measurements for the last factor, in order to highlight the significant differences related to the dependent variables taken into consideration. The significativity index was set to p< 0,05. Some differences emerged with respect to the test-retest within the tests: standing long jump (Female: p = 0,003; Male, p = 0,001); 1 Kg medicine-ball throw (Female: p = 0,02; Male: p =0,003); in the scale of PPAS_C (Female: p = 0,000; Male: p = 0.04). We highlight gender differences in the standing long jump: females have higher performance than males (p = 0,02); in the scale of PPAS_C not show differences. Males and females show a reduction in BMI (T0 vs T1 ): F: M ± ds = 24,28 ±2,13 vs 23,39± 2,03; M: 27,60±4,07 vs 27,38 ± 4,18. Conclusion: The study found positive effects on levels of motor performance and physical self-perception after the program extracurricular. The experiences of success, measured in terms of increased motor abilities of real and perceived, are essential to prevent childhood overweight. Recent studies have shown that physical activity interventions, combined with healthy eating habits, at school and in extracurricular, can reduce children’s BMI9. References 1. Bailey R (2006), JSH,76, 397-401 2. Brambilla P et al. (2010), Int J Obes , 35,16-28 3. Feltz DL et al (2008), Champaign, IL: HK 4. http://www.epicentro.iss.it/territorio/puglia.asp 5. Biddle SJH et al. (2011), Br J Sports Med, 45, 937-942 6. Morrow JR et al. (2005), Champaign, IL: HK 7. Colella D et al. (2008), SBP, 36,841-8 8. Cole TJ et al. (2000), BMJ, 320,1240-3 9. Lavelle HV et al.(2012), J Public Health, 20,1-10 The psychobiosocial state inventory: preliminary evidence of factorial validity