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Introduction: Healthcare professionals are in an optimal position to deliver exercise information to pregnant women, yet previous research suggests this seldom happens. Midwives and nurse practitioners, who may have more time with pregnant women, are particularly well suited for this role. Objectives: This qualitative study examined the exercise advice and counseling provided by midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky, focusing on the barriers they face. Methods: Twenty-one midwives and nurse practitioners were recruited until the sample size reached saturation. A survey with open-ended questions was distributed to potential participants in regional hospitals, universities, and professional associations. The framework method was employed to identify common themes in the responses from participants. Results: Five main themes emerged: nature of advice, discussing exercise benefits, safety concerns, barriers to counseling, and suggestions for improvement. Findings revealed that midwives and nurse practitioners recommend moderate exercise, aiming for 150 min weekly, monitoring heart rate for intensity, continuing prepregnancy exercise routines, starting low-intensity exercise during pregnancy such as walking, slowing down as pregnancy advances, and avoiding heavy lifting and vigorous activities. Many midwives and nurse practitioners in our sample took a reactive approach to exercise counseling, providing exercise advice if pregnant women asked questions or if they were at high risk for hypokinetic diseases. It was also observed that midwives and nurse practitioners discussed the maternal benefits of exercise more than the fetal benefits. Only a few nurse practitioners and midwives were content with their counseling, while the majority did not feel their counseling was effective. Conclusions: Many midwives and nurse practitioners in Kentucky provided comprehensive and accurate physical activity guidelines to pregnant women. However, there is room for them to improve: proactive counseling should include discussions on fetal benefits and using the "talk test" for exercise intensity. Advising patients to slow down as pregnancy progresses should be reconsidered, and evidence-based guidance on specific exercises should be prioritized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aligning instructional modality with students' perceptual preference (PP) or learning style is trending in educational research. However, there is little data to support this claim when instruction is geared toward a recreational activity, such as fly casting. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of implementing matched or unmatched instructional methods with student PP. There was no difference in casting performance between groups matched with their learning preferences versus those who were not matched. The data support Hanson's theory stating instruction should be dictated based on the content structure, not the learner's PP. The researchers recommend a systematic, multifaceted approach to teaching novel motor skills such as fly casting. Further, this approach could be utilized for similar motions in sport and recreation.

This study presents somatotype data on a team sport with chronic and diverse sporting demands. The aims were to (1) characterize a somatotype profile for Division II (DII) track and field athletes (n=54) by sex, class, and events; (2) determine if somatotype changed across the season; (3) determine if changes differed based on class or sex; and, (4) assess potential differences in somatotype between sexes. Methods: Anthropometrics (height, weight, body composition, somatotype) were evaluated after a competitive indoor season and immediately before the outdoor conference championships (41 days). Body measurements were assessed using a bioelectrical impedance analysis device, skinfold assessment, boney breadths, and limb girths. Descriptive statistics are provided as well as results from two-way ANOVAs which evaluate differences in actual and change scores across sex and class. Results: Our DII track and field athletes were primarily endomorphic (scores displayed as ENDO, MESO, ECTO, respectively). Males were found to be primarily ENDO-MESO somatotypes (4.7, 4.1, 3.0), while females were dominantly ENDO (7.7, 2.9, 2.9). Upperclass were more ENDO-MESO balanced compared with lowerclass (5.8, 3.8, 2.8 vs 6.0, 3.5, 3.0). When investigated based on sex, class level, and event, the groups were similar. There was no meaningful change to ECTO scores across the season for males or females. Female athletes improved ENDO scores (-0.89%) and males and females improved MESO scores (14.29% and 5.29%, respectively), indicating adaptations can be accomplished despite the chronic demands of a competitive season. Conclusion: Our research offers practitioners information about the potential changes they may expect across a competitive track and field season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bruce and Astrand treadmill protocols are commonly utilized when assessing maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). However, the steep grade implemented in the protocols often leads to localized muscular fatigue, potentially causing participants prematurely to terminate the test prior to reaching their true VO2max. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a Novel VO2max protocol that may be better suited for young, apparently healthy populations. The Novel protocol starts at a higher speed and lower initial grade to limit lower extremity fatigue. Fifteen participants performed the Bruce, Astrand, and Novel protocols with the following maximal values recorded from each: VO2max, maximal ventilation (VEmax), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and time to exhaustion (TTE). The Novel protocol displayed substantial agreement with both criterion protocols. Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) was less than 10% indicating that the Novel protocol is a valid measurement for VO2max values. Bland-Altman analysis revealed that the Novel protocol exhibited a low degree of bias, with tight limits of agreement when compared to the Bruce (bias ±95% LOA = 0.824 ± 3.163) and Astrand protocols (-0.153 ± 3.528) for VO2max. A paired samples t-test revealed no significant differences between Novel and criterion protocols for VO2max. Paired samples t-tests revealed that the Novel protocol had significantly lower TTE when compared to the Bruce and Astrand protocols and produced similar VO2max values to that of the Bruce and Astrand. The Novel protocol may be considered a valid and time-efficient protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine if there is a difference in metabolic cost when jumping on platforms of varying thickness, as well as whether a difference exists in metabolic cost between genders exists on the different platforms. Fourteen participants (seven males and seven females) completed three repetitive jumping trials on the DigiJump machine. Each trial was performed at a cadence of 120 jumps per minute and at a minimum height of 1/2" per jump. Trials were completed on platforms of 1/2", 3/8", and 1/4" thickness. Participants were instructed to jump as long as possible while maintaining the prescribed cadence or until fifteen minutes had elapsed. There were no differences observed in metabolic cost or exertion for all participants or between genders as indicated by oxygen consumption, respiratory exchange ratio, upper leg RPE, or lower leg RPE. There were also no differences for durations of exercise the participants were able to sustain on the machine. However, when comparing data between genders, a significant interaction was observed in total body RPE across the three platforms (p = .009) and in HR on the 1/2" platform (p = .018). Results from this study indicate that metabolic cost is similar during repetitive jumping regardless of platform rigidity or gender. However, post-trial comments from participants did show preferences towards specific platforms, though this was not apparent in exercise duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) extrapolation involves mathematically extending the submaximal relationship between RPE and oxygen consumption (VO2) to maximal intensity. This technique allows practitioners to forego, potentially dangerous, maximal exertion testing while attaining accurate measures of maximal oxygen consumption used for exercise prescription. This method has been proven accurate in adults, but much less in known when applied to an adolescent population. The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of the RPE extrapolation as method for estimating VO2max in adolescents. Twenty-two healthy, asymptomatic adolescents performed a graded exercise test (GXT) to exhaustion. Heart rate and VO2 were recorded throughout the bout with RPE being queried every two minutes using the Borg (6-20) RPE scale. Individual regression lines were fitted for each subject using RPE and VO2 for RPE values up to 13,15, and 17. Theoretical maximal RPE values of 20 and 19 were entered into the equation to calculate an estimated VO2max. Repeated measures ANOVA with planned contrasts showed that all VO2max estimation methods significantly overpredicted measured VO2max (p < .001). Error analysis via Bland-Altman plots revealed large limits of agreement between the all methods, indicating large variability in error between estimated and measured VO2max. The results suggest that submaximal RPE values using the Borg scale cannot be used to predict VO2max in children due to the amount of error in the prediction equations. These inaccuracies could lead to potential under or over-prescription of exercise intensity and adverse effects on the person's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine if heat exposure alters the measures of total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), and intracellular water (ICW) in both single-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS). Additionally, we sought to determine if any differences exist between the BIA and BIS techniques before and after brief exposure to heat. Body water was evaluated for twenty men (age=24±4 years) in a thermoneutral environment (22°C) before (PRE) and immediately after (POST) 15 min of passive heating (35°C) in an environmental chamber. The mean difference and 95% limits of agreement at PRE demonstrated that BIS yielded significantly higher body water values than BIA (all p<0.05; TBW=1.8kg; ECW=0.6±1.3kg; ICW=1.2±3.7kg). However, the effect size (ES) of the mean differences at PRE were small and the r-values were high (r≥0.97). TBW and ICW remained significantly higher at POST for BIS (both p<0.05; 1.4±3.2kg and 1.1±3.7kg, respectively) whereas ECW was not different (p>0.05; 0.2±1.5kg). Additionally, the ES of the mean differences at POST were trivial to small and the r-values were high (r≥0.96). When analyzing the changes in body water before and after heat exposure, POST values for BIS were significantly higher than PRE (all p<0.001; TBW=0.6±0.8kg; ECW=0.4±0.3kg; ICW=0.3±0.6kg). Similarly, POST values for BIA were significantly higher than PRE (all p<0.001; TBW=1.0±0.6kg; ECW=0.7±0.4kg; ICW=0.4±0.4kg). BIA and BIS provide similar body water estimates. However, the increase in POST body water values indicate more research is needed before either method can be used for estimating body water after heat exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bruce and Astrand treadmill protocols are commonly utilized when assessing maximal oxygen consumption (VO 2max ). However, the steep grade implemented in the protocols often leads to localized muscular fatigue, potentially causing participants prematurely to terminate the test prior to reaching their true VO 2max . The purpose of this study was to evaluate a Novel VO 2max protocol that may be better suited for young, apparently healthy populations. The Novel protocol starts at a higher speed and lower initial grade to limit lower extremity fatigue. Fifteen participants performed the Bruce, Astrand, and Novel protocols with the following maximal values recorded from each: VO 2max , maximal ventilation (VE max ), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and time to exhaustion (TTE). The Novel protocol displayed substantial agreement with both criterion protocols. Mean absolute percent error (MAPE) was less than 10% indicating that the Novel protocol is a valid measurement for VO 2max values. Bland-Altman analysis revealed that the Novel protocol exhibited a low degree of bias, with tight limits of agreement when compared to the Bruce (bias ±95% LOA = 0.824 ± 3.163) and Astrand protocols (-0.153 ± 3.528) for VO 2max . A paired samples t -test revealed no significant differences between Novel and criterion protocols for VO 2max . Paired samples t -tests revealed that the Novel protocol had significantly lower TTE when compared to the Bruce and Astrand protocols and produced similar VO 2max values to that of the Bruce and Astrand. The Novel protocol may be considered a valid and time-efficient protocol.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid purported to reduce symptoms of discomfort. Individuals are now using CBD to treat symptoms of multiple sclerosis, seizures, and chronic pain. Animal models indicate that CBD may be effective at reducing inflammation post fatiguing exercise. However, little evidence is available to evaluate these findings in humans. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of two doses of CBD oil on inflammation (IL-6), performance, and pain after an eccentric loading protocol. Participants ( n = 4) participated in three conditions (placebo, low dose, and high dose), in this randomized, counterbalanced design. Each condition took 72 hours to complete, with a 1-week washout period between conditions. At the beginning of each week, participants were subjected to a loading protocol of six sets of ten eccentric only repetitions in the single-arm bicep curl. Participants consumed capsules of either a placebo, low dose (2mg/kg) or high dose (10mg/kg) of CBD oil immediately following the session and continued every twelve hours for 48 hours. Venipunctures were taken before exercise and repeated at 24, 48, and 72 hours post exercise. Blood samples were centrifuged for 15 minutes in gel and lithium heparin vacutainers. Plasma was separated from cells and stored at -80° until analysis. Samples were analyzed using an immunometric assay for IL-6 (ELISA). Data were analyzed using a three (condition) by four (time) repeated measure ANOVA. There were no differences in inflammation between conditions (F(2,6) = 0.726, p = 0.522, n p 2 = 0.195) or across time (F(3,9) = 0.752, p = 0.548, n p 2 = 0.200), handgrip strength between conditions (F(2,6) = 0.542, p = 0.607, n p 2 = .153) or across time (F(3,9) = 2.235, p = .153, n p 2 = .427), or bicep curl strength between conditions (F(2,6) = 0.675, p = 0.554, n p 2 = .184) or across time (F(3,9) = 3.513, p = .150, n p 2 = .539). There were no differences in pain between conditions (F(2,6) = 0.495, p = 0.633, n p 2 = .142), but there was a difference across time (F(3,9) = 7.028, p = .010, n p 2 = .701). There were no significant interactions to note. Although there was no statistical significance between conditions (likely due to the low sample size), there was a visible increase in IL-6 48 (4.88 ± 6.53) and 72 hours (3.12 ± 4.26) post exercise in the placebo condition which was not observed in the low (48: 0.35 ± 2.22; 72: 1.34 ± 5.6) and high dose condition (48: 1.34 ± 1.34; 72: -0.79 ± 5.34). Future investigations should consider implementing eccentric resistance training across a larger portion of the body to improve ecological validity of the exercise. A larger sample would reduce risk of researchers committing a type II statistical error and give strength to detecting differences between conditions.