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This study aimed to assess intra- and inter-visit reliability of a novel EasyForce dynamometer for assessment of maximal strength in knee extension and flexion, and hip abduction and adduction tasks. Young healthy participants (n = 50; 25 males, 25 females; age: 23.4 ± 2.1 years) were measured for maximal joint torque with EasyForce dynamometer and rigid isometric dynamometers with external fixation, in two-sessions (5–10 days apart). The intra-visit reliability was high (ICC) = 0.84–0.95 knee; 0.90–0.94 hip), with absolute reliability sometimes exceeding the acceptable threshold (CV = 6.9–10.6% knee; 7.8–11.8% hip). Inter-visit reliability was excellent for all tasks (ICC = 0.95–0.97 knee; 0.95–0.96 hip). Although the EasyForce values were different compared to rigid dynamometers, the correlations between the devices were high (r = 0.64–0.75 knee; 0.70–0.75 hip). In conclusion, the EasyForce dynamometer provides reliable means of assessing knee (extension and flexion) and hip (abduction and adduction) muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to determine the effects of 6 months daily physical activity on physical fitness in preschool children. A total of 72 children (36 boys) and 92 children (47 boys) composed the experimental (EG) and control group (CG), respectively. We used the PREFIT battery access physical fitness. In EG, participants had 45 minutes of organized physical activity 5 days per week. The CG continued their usual routine with 30 minutes of structured physical activity two times per week. The EG improved the mean performance of grip strength (η p 2 =0.08) and sit-ups in the 30s ( p 2 =0.16) to a significantly greater extent as compared to the CG. In boys, the improvements of mean performance of handgrip strength (η p 2 =0.13), 4x10m shuttle run η p 2 =0.09), standing long jump (η p 2 =0.05), sit-ups in 30s (η p 2 =0.17) were significantly greater in EG than in the CG. However, girls in EG only had significant improvements in the sit-ups in the 30 s test compared to CG (η p 2 =0.14). Overall, our study shows that after 6 months of daily exercise programme, preschool children improved muscular strength compared to those peers allocated in the control group. No significant differences between groups were found in the remaining fitness components analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproducibility of internal and external load parameters during recreational small-sided football games. Methods: Ten healthy untrained young adult males (age: 20.2 ± 1.9 yr, body mass: 69.2 ± 6.3 kg, height: 175.4 ± 5.9 cm, body fat: 19.7 ± 5.2%) performed two 2 × 20-min sessions of four versus four plus goalkeeper small-sided games (SSG) 1 week apart on a standard, outdoor, 40 × 20-m artificial grass pitch. Twelve external (total distance, peak speed, player load, work rate and distance covered at 0–2, 2–5, 5–7, 7–9, 9–13, 13–16, 16–20 and >20 km/h) and seven internal load parameters (heart rate and time spent in different heart rate zones [<70%, 71–80%, 81–90%, 91–95%, 96–100%, 91–100%]) were measured. Reproducibility was reported as intraclass coefficient correlation (ICC), the coefficient of variation (CV), and the typical error of measurements (TE). Results: No statistical differences (p>.05) between sessions were found in any measures. Minimal test-retest variability was noted for mean and peak heart rate (HRpeak) relative to HRpeak with CV values of 3.4% and 2.6%, respectively. Acceptable variability (CV<10%) was demonstrated for total distance covered, distance covered at 2–5 km/h, and peak speed. Distance covered in different speed zones (CV = 15.7–47.6%) and percentage of time in each HR zone showed large-to-very large variability (CV = 36.2–128.4%). Mean heart rate (HRmean), HRpeak, distance covered at 5–7, 13–16 and >20 km/h, and percentage of time above 95%HRpeak were the most reliable variables (ICC = 0.74–0.79), followed by total distance covered, peak speed, and percentage of time at 80–90% HRpeak (ICC = 0.39–0.67). The lowest reliability was observed for distance covered in the moderate speed zones 7–9 km/h (ICC = 0.12) and 9–13 km/h (ICC = −0.09), and percentage of time at 70–80% HRpeak (ICC = −0.01). Conclusions: Small-sided games can be used when planning training-induced exercise responses in relation to total distance covered, peak speed, and mean heart rate. This evidence further supports the use of SSG when organizing recreational football training, in young adult males, with the purpose of improving health profile due to the high reproducibility of HRmean and total distance covered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]