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Background: Understanding the hip adduction and abduction strength in female soccer players is crucial for performance enhancement and injury prevention. This study compares the strength profiles in these muscle groups between elite and sub-elite female soccer players and assesses the impact of leg limb-dominance. Methods: A descriptive-comparative study was employed. Eighty-two female soccer players were evaluated. Isometric hip-adduction and abduction strength were measured using a handheld dynamometer. Results: Female elite and sub-elite soccer players displayed a mean and standard deviation (SD) on isometric hip-adductor strength for dominant (3.19 Nm/kg ± 0.69 vs. 2.40 Nm/kg ± 0.67) and non-dominant leg (3.32 Nm/kg ± 0.76 versus 2.42 Nm/kg ± 0.70), respectively. For isometric hip-abductor strength in elite and sub-elite players, a mean and SD of dominant (2.86 Nm/kg ± 0.56 vs. 2.07 Nm/kg ± 0.50) and non-dominant (2.80 Nm/kg ± 0.59 vs. 2.04 Nm/kg ± 0.43). In essence, elite players were stronger than sub-elite players on isometric hip-adduction (mean difference [MD] = 0.82 Nm/kg, CI95% = 0.42–1.12) and abduction (MD = 0.83 Nm/kg, CI95% = 0.54- 1.12) both in dominant and non-dominant, leg, whereas no differences existed for hip adduction:abduction ratios between groups and legs. Conclusions: Elite female athletes exhibited greater strength than sub-elite female players in both hip adduction and abduction, whereas adduction:abduction ratio values did not differ between the two groups or between different legs.

The social upheaval in Chile, mainly attributed to inequalities, injustices and inequities, and protected by a political, social and economic systems, among others, was not alien to the Chilean Olympic Committee, its National Olympic Academy and the High Performance Athletes, who convened and developed in Santiago of Chile, the First Citizen Dialogue of the National Federated Sport to address these issues. The purpose of this study, unprecedented for the Chilean situation, was to analyse different points of view and identify the most important and salient arguments relevant to understanding the main demands and proposals made on behalf of Chileans stakeholders. As a methodological approach, the interpretive paradigm was utilized, along with a qualitative approach, based on hermeneutic phenomenology and associated to the main thematic components in Citizen Dialogues. The discussion group comprised athletes, coaches, and national leaders, forming a sample of n = 285 people that congregated in discussion groups. Grounded Theory was used in the analysis, which led to the determination of conclusions regarding the problems facing sport and then, improvements were proposed. In general, there is consensus among the opinions and arguments of the different actors, and very few disagreements. In conclusion, it is clear that sports activity in Chile is still in a precarious stage, with certain characteristics of amateurism in the various spheres, with the absence of adequate resources and an insufficient institutional and organizational framework which has not ensured adequate policies, security, and incentives to the different taking part actors. In-depth measures are clearly needed.

The social upheaval in Chile, mainly attributed to inequalities, injustices and inequities, and protected by a political, social and economic systems, among others, was not alien to the Chilean Olympic Committee, its National Olympic Academy and the High Performance Athletes, who convened and developed in Santiago of Chile, the First Citizen Dialogue of the National Federated Sport to address these issues. The purpose of this study, unprecedented for the Chilean situation, was to analyse different points of view and identify the most important and salient arguments relevant to understanding the main demands and proposals made on behalf of Chileans stakeholders. As a methodological approach, the interpretive paradigm was utilized, along with a qualitative approach, based on hermeneutic phenomenology and associated to the main thematic components in Citizen Dialogues. The discussion group comprised athletes, coaches, and national leaders, forming a sample of n = 285 people that congregated in discussion groups. Grounded Theory was used in the analysis, which led to the determination of conclusions regarding the problems facing sport and then, improvements were proposed. In general, there is consensus among the opinions and arguments of the different actors, and very few disagreements. In conclusion, it is clear that sports activity in Chile is still in a precarious stage, with certain characteristics of amateurism in the various spheres, with the absence of adequate resources and an insufficient institutional and organizational framework which has not ensured adequate policies, security, and incentives to the different taking part actors. In-depth measures are clearly needed.

Purpose: To compare the short-term effects of a resistance training program with elastic bands at moderate and high intensity on the body composition, functional capacity, and well-being of overweight and obese older women. Method: 75 women (68.7 ± 4.7 years) were assigned to a control group (n = 25) or to one of two treatment groups: (i) high intensity (G6 = 6 repetitions, n = 25) and (ii) moderate intensity (G15 = 15 repetitions, n = 25). Body composition (fat and fat-free mass), functional capacity (isometric strength; 30-s-arm-curl, 30-s-chair-stand, timed up & go test, and 6-min-walk-test [6MWT]), and well-being were evaluated before and after 8 weeks of intervention by using the 36-Item-Short-Form-Survey (SF-36). Results: 61 participants completed the study. The G15 group generated greater positive changes in the percentages of total and segmental fat mass (≃2.8%, p ≤ .05) and better performance in the 6MWT than the other groups. The G6 group showed greater improvements in the timed up & go and muscle strength tests than the G15 group. The G6 and G15 groups showed significant improvements in the following sections of SF-36: general health perceptions, physical functioning, mental health, and vitality. The performance of all variables worsened in the control group. Conclusions: The 8 weeks of intervention caused positive and significant changes in all study variables, although the results confirmed that this duration is insufficient to generate clear differences according to the level of exercise intensity. Nevertheless, G15 caused greater improvements in the percentage of fat mass and in aerobic resistance, whereas G6 improved the lower-limb muscle strength.

Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the effects of six weeks of resistance or aerobic exercise combined with the intake of Cornus mas extract on the lipid profile, metabolic parameters, and liver enzymes of obese rats. Methods: 49 male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups: 1) healthy control (n = 7); 2) hypercaloric fatty-food-based diet (n = 7); 3) aerobic exercise (AE, n = 7); 4) resistance exercise (RE, n = 7); 5) Cornus mas extract intake (C, n = 7); 6) Cornus mas combined with aerobic exercise (CAE, n = 7); and 7) Cornus mas combined with resistance exercise (CRE, n = 7). All the rats (except the controls) were induced fatty liver by six weeks of a hypercaloric diet before the intervention. After the six-week intervention, blood samples were taken to obtain levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), cholesterol, glucose, c-reactive protein (CRP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, and urea. A one-way ANOVA or the Kruskal Wallis tests for the non-normally distributed variables, with post-hoc pairwise comparisons, assessed differences between groups. Results: All the intervention groups significantly (p < .05) improved the parameters compared to the hypercaloric group in almost all the assessed parameters, reaching in many cases significantly better values than the healthy group (control). Adding the Cornus supplementation to the exercise resulted in slightly non-significant better values. Conclusion: Cornus mas extract and aerobic or resistance training may be helpful to treat fatty liver and also reduce the lipid profile levels.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a power-strength resistance program with elastic bands on body composition, physical function, and muscle strength in older women. For such purpose, a randomized controlled trial with a pre-post-intervention design was conducted. Thus, 58 healthy, physically independent, sedentary women, aged 65-85 years, were randomly allocated to the intervention (n = 28) or control group (n = 30). Measurements of body composition (total mass, total fat mass, total skeletal-muscle mass, and body fat percentage), isokinetic muscle strength of knee flexors and extensors (at 60º/second and 180º/second), and physical performance (flexibility, agility/dynamic balance, and mobility) were taken pre-intervention and after 20 weeks of a power-strength protocol (light loads at maximum speed) with elastic bands consisting of 42 sessions (including familiarization) of between 80 and 90 minutes, with six exercises per session. The intensity was controlled with the OMNI-RES scale of perceived exertion. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) and covariance (ANCOVA) was carried out. All parameters of physical function, isokinetic strength, and body composition significantly improved (p < .05) in the intervention group, except the muscle mass and the knee flexion strength at 60º/sec, on which no statistical difference was observed (p > .05). All the variables got worsened or did not change in the control group. A resistance program with elastic bands using light loads and performing at maximum speed can reverse the deterioration in body composition, muscle strength, and physical function, and offer significant physical benefits in sedentary older women.

The squat is one of the most commonly used resistance exercises for performance and health due to its biomechanical and neuromuscular similarities to a wide range of athletic and everyday activities. There is a large number of squat variations (based on the descent depth, width of the stance, bar placement) with significant biomechanical and neuromuscular differences between them. The aim of this study was to systematically review the scientific literature to gather data on the muscular activation of the lower limb during different variants of the squat exercise. High-bar squat (full range of motion, to parallel and partial range of motion), low-bar squat, front squat, overhead squat and guided squat on Smith machine were included in the analysis. 30 articles met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Quality of the included studies was analysed with the PEDro scale. Main findings were that in the squat exercise activation of the knee-extensors is predominant. However, different activation patterns were observed with different distances between the feet, different depths, hips rotation or flexion, intensities. For instance, low-bar squat involves a greater hip hinge and thus, provokes major activation on the hip-extensors than other squat variations. It is worth highlighting that similar activation patterns were observed between the front squat and the high-bar squat. The variation with least activation was the guided squat. The evidence presented in this study may help the strength and conditioning professionals and practitioners with the exercise selection depending on the muscular targets and the individual characteristics of the athlete.

The positive importance of physical activity properly prescribed in terms of intensity and volume on a variety of metabolic, musculoskeletal, cognitive and other disorders is widely known. The increasing epidemiology of infertility is due to the changes in lifestyle habits, such as inappropriate diets or the radiations from new-generation electrical devices. There are not many informative evidences regarding either infertility causes and effects, or the exercise role in reversing its symptoms. In order to obtain and summarize the most relevant information about the influence of the different training types and parameters in the semen quality criteria, a descriptive literature review without temporal restriction of WOS, PubMed and Scholar data bases has been conducted. The study produced the following results; whilst a high intensity and prolonged volume training produce a drop in the gonadal hormone concentrations and the antioxidant levels and, therefore, in the sperm quality, moderate exercise reverts these effects and could potentially influence a possible optimization of the sperm generating processes., Es de sobra conocida la importancia positiva de la actividad física correctamente prescrita en términos de intensidad y volumen sobre diferentes alteraciones metabólicas, osteomusculares, cognitivas, etc. La infertilidad es una patología cuya epidemiología está al alza por los cambios en los hábitos de nuestra vida cotidiana, como la dieta inadecuada o la radiación de las nuevas generaciones de aparatos eléctricos. No existen demasiadas evidencias divulgativas sobre sus causas y efectos, así como tampoco del papel del ejercicio en la reversión de sus síntomas. Con la finalidad de obtener y sintetizar la información más relevante sobre la influencia de los diferentes tipos y parámetros del ejercicio físico en los criterios de calidad seminal se decidió realizar una revisión bibliográfica sistemática en las bases de datos WOS, PubMed y Google Scholar hasta marzo de 2016. Los resultados arrojaron que mientras que el entrenamiento de alta intensidad y volumen prolongado produce un descenso de las concentraciones hormonales gonadales y los niveles antioxidantes y, por lo tanto, en la calidad del esperma, el ejercicio moderado revierte estos efectos aumentando los mismos y podría llegar a influir en una posible optimización de los procesos generadores del espermatozoide.