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This study aimed to analyze whether judo experience, somatic maturation, growth, and physical capacities discriminate young judo athletes from different competitive levels (state and national). Sixty-six young male judo athletes (36 from state and 30 from national level) participated in this study, divided from the annual competitive season. The assessments were performed in two stages separated by 48 hours: anthropometric measurements and physical tests (standing long jump -- SLJ, medicine ball throw test-MBT, handgrip strength test -- HGS, Special Judo Fitness Test -- SJFT and Judogi Grip Isometric Strength Test--JGST). Judo athletes were asked for their date of birth and judo experience. T-test and discriminant analysis were used to compare and discriminate the variables between young judo athletes from state and national groups with the level of significance set at 5%. The main results showed that stature, judo experience, JGST, and SLJ performance were higher in the national group (p < 0.05) and could adequately discriminate competitive levels (structural coefficient >30, p < 0.001). It was concluded that young male judo athletes who compete at the national level are taller, more experienced, and present superior physical performance in tests related to strength and power than athletes from the state group of the same age.

This study aimed to evaluate the national level wrestlers' anaerobic capacity through the preparation and qualification periods for Rio 2016 summer Olympic Games. For this manner, 10 national level freestyle wrestlers' (age 22,10 ± 3,21; weight 64,75 ± 6,34; height 164,31 ± 4,75) anaerobic outputs measured 3 times in three month intervals with Bosco repeated jump test. Peak Jump(cm), Flight time, average power, average power/weight, first 15 sec average jump height, last 15 sec average jump height, fatigue index scores analyzed with repeated measures Anova. Mean power/weight output of the wrestlers increased from 20,42 W/kg to 21,28 W/kg(4,21 %) and fatigue index is decreased from 1,185 to 1,142 (3,62 %). However, this increase was not statistically significant (p<0,05). In six months of qualification and preparation period wrestlers' anaerobic capacity did not changed and it is thought to have been caused by some reasons such as having already reached a certain anaerobic peak level or athletes' competition level and frequency which might made it difficult for them to have a proper periodization during the year.

Purpose: To analyze the contribution of physical measures and external load in the match-based internal load of elite soccer players. Methods: Twenty-three elite soccer players (n = 23, age 26.69 ± 3.93 years, body mass 78.04 ± 5.03 kg, height 178.04 ± 5.19 cm, body fat 10.98 ± 1.25%) from a first division soccer team of the Brazilian Championship were evaluated first with anthropometric and physical measures (flexibility and muscle power of lower limbs), and after 24 hrs they were asked to perform an incremental treadmill test (VO[subscript 2]max and ventilatory thresholds). Subsequently, athletes were monitored for 6 weeks during nine official matches of a regional championship. On match days, the external load data (e.g., player load) were collected by triaxial accelerometers with GPS systems and post 30 min after the end of the match the internal load was assessed with the Session Rating of Perceived Exertion method (Session-RPE). Results: Our main findings showed significant contributions of the Player Load (r = 0.62, p < 0.001; 42.3%) and Anaerobic Threshold (r = -0.199, p = 0.05, 17%) for the predictive model of Session-RPE. Conclusions: Physical measures and external load have a significant influence on the internal load in elite soccer players. Our findings suggest that sport scientists can use the Session-RPE as a low-cost method for prescribing and monitoring training loads, by the influence of physical measures and external load on the match-based internal load, in order to optimize athletes' performance.

Purpose: To determine the individual contributions of chronological age, somatic maturation, body size and composition, and training experience as indicators of performance in neuromuscular and judo-specific assessments in young athletes. Methods: Sixty-six youth judo athletes performed anthropometric measurements, neuromuscular tests--standing long jump test (SLJ), medicine ball throw test (MBT), handgrip strength test (HGS), and judo-specific tests--Special Judo Fitness test (SJFT) and Judogi Grip Isometric Strength Test (JGST[subscript ISO]). A multiple linear regression was used with the level of significance set at 5%. Results: The main results showed age-peak height velocity (PHV), body fat and training experience explained close to 20% of SJFT performance. Chronological age, age-PHV, height, body mass and body fat accounted for 42% of variance in JGST[subscript ISO]. Chronological age, body fat and training experience explained 35% of the variance in SLJ, while chronological age, body mass and body fat explained 53% of the variance in MBT. Finally, age-PHV, body mass and height explained 54% of the variance in HGS. Conclusion: Estimated age-PHV and growth variables explained moderate to large proportions of the variance in neuromuscular tests (with exception of SLJ), while both estimated age-PHV, training and growth variables were predictors of judo-specific performance.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing epidemic related with higher values of blood pressure (BP) and autonomic dysfunction. Scientific evidence has been indicating that functional resistance training (FRT) is superior over conventional (CRT) for muscle fatigue and pain, yet its effects on autonomic modulation (AM), BP and heart rate in MetS are unclear. We theorized that FRT can be superior to CRT in MetS patients because of larger muscle activation. This study compares FRT and CRT on AM, blood pressure, heart rate and muscle strength. Thirty-eight sex and age matched individuals (40 to 60 years) were randomized for FRT or CRT, with training intensity varying gradually from 30%-100% of one maximal repetition test (1MR), 3 times/week for 30 sessions. All outcomes were evaluated at baseline and post training. AM was assessed by heart rate variability (mean RR, RMSSD, SDNN, LF, HF, TINN, RRtri, SD1 and SD2). BP (mmHg) was obtained by cuff measures. Muscle strength was assessed by 1MR. An increase in cardiac parasympathetic activity was observed in individuals allocated to FRT in comparison to CRT group (RMSSD [delta]40%; SD1 [delta]39%; and HF [subscript ms][superscript 2] [delta]80%). Moreover, just FRT was capable of reducing BP post intervention (SBP from 129.21 ± 19.02 to 118.94 ± 14.14 mmHg, p < 0.009,/d/ = 0.49; DBP from 85.26 ± 11.48 to 77.76 ± 8.93 mmHg, p < 0.01,/d/ = 0.51). Both groups had a similar increase in muscle strength and no changes between HR. Progressive FRT was more beneficial to CRT regarding AM, increasing vagal activity, and reducing blood pressure in MetS individuals.

Purpose: To determine if weight training combined with pelvic floor muscle training is more efficient than pelvic floor muscle training alone for the treatment of urinary incontinence (UI) symptoms in elderly women. Method: This was a two-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial. Twenty-six women with stress UI participated in the study. The intervention group (IG) underwent training with moderate intensity weights combined with pelvic floor muscle training, whereas the control group (CG) only underwent pelvic floor muscle training. Intervention occurred twice a week over 12 weeks. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire--Short Form was used as the main measure. Scores of zero defined the absence of symptoms. The absence of symptoms was evaluated at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and 1 month after the end of treatment. Moreover, activities related to UI and the use and change of daily protection were investigated. Results: The rate of absence of symptoms was significantly higher in IG after 4 weeks (58.3%) compared to CG (14.8%). The relative risk was 4.1 (95% confidence interval [CI] [1.08, 16.06]). Although no intention-to-treat analysis was performed, there was no difference in the evaluations after the interventions. Conclusion: Compared to pelvic floor muscle training alone, the combination of weight training and pelvic floor muscle training provided earlier improvement of UI in elderly women.

Purpose: Research indicates that delayed motor development observed in the first years of life can be prevented through compensatory intervention programmes that provide proper care during this critical period of child development. Method: This study analysed the impact of a 12-week compensatory motor intervention programme on 32 babies with atypical motor development, characterising and correlating risk factors for developmental delays between the ages of 6 and 8 months. We conducted play activities that involved muscle stretching, improving muscle tone, sight and sound tracking, posture control in different situations, handling objects and movement. The aim was to allow babies to experience new movement situations and overcome challenges. Results: The results showed significant improvements in motor performance, reinforcing the positive effects of a contextualised approach that addresses the needs of developing children, as opposed to focusing solely on acquiring specific skills in early childhood.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological adaptations of resistance training (RT) in prepubertal boys. Methods: Eighteen healthy boys were divided into RT (n = 9, M[subscript age] = 10.4 ± 0.5 years) and control (CTR; n = 9, M[subscript age] = 10.9 ± 0.7 years) groups. The RT group underwent a resistance training during 12 weeks, 3 times per week, performing 3 sets of 6 to 15 repetitions at intensities ranging from 60% to 80% of maximal dynamic strength (1-repetition maximum [1-RM] values). Before and after the training, the groups were assessed in their body mass and composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), isokinetic dynamometry, 1-RM, and ergoespirometry. Moreover, force per unit of muscle volume was calculated by the quotient between 1-RM and lean mass. Results: Both groups presented statistically significant (p < 0.05) increases in the 1-RM and force per unit of muscle volume in the knee extension and elbow flexion, but these strength increases were statistically significantly greater in the RT group (effect size [ES] = 2.83-9.00) than in the CTR group (ES = 0.72-1.00). Moreover, both groups statistically significantly increased in lean body mass variables (ES = 0.12-0.38). However, increases in the fat mass variables occurred only in the CTR group (ES = -0.01-0.50), whereas no changes were observed in the RT group. Furthermore, there were statistically significant increases in all bone mineral content variables (ES = 0.13-0.43), without differences between groups. No cardiorespiratory changes were observed. Conclusion: Twelve weeks of RT was effective in improving strength and force per unit of muscle volume and prevented fat mass increases in boys.

Purpose: To quantify creatine kinase (CK) activity changes across time following an acute bout of whole-body vibration (WBV) and determine the association between changes in CK activity and jumping performance. Method: Twenty-six elite young basketball players were assigned to 3 groups: 36-Hz and 46-Hz vibration groups (G36 and G46, respectively) and a control group. The study quantified CK activity and jumping performance following an acute bout of WBV at 2 vibration frequencies. Both WBV groups performed a protocol that consisted of 10 sets of 60 s of WBV while standing on a vibration plate in a quarter-squat position. CK activity, countermovement jumps (CMJ), and squat jumps (SJ) were measured immediately before and 24 hr and 48 hr after WBV. In addition, CMJ and SJ were also measured 5 min after WBV. Results: CK activity was statistically significantly increased 24 hr following WBV in G36 and G46. At 48 hr after WBV, CK activity was similar to baseline levels in G36 but remained statistically significantly above baseline levels in G46. The CMJ and SJ heights were statistically significantly decreased at 5 min following the protocol for both WBV groups. Overall, the changes in CK activity did not present a strong relationship with the changes in jump heights for any of the comparisons. Conclusions: These findings suggest that WBV protocols with such characteristics may not cause excessive muscle damage and may partly explain why many WBV training studies have failed to elicit increases in strength performance.

Background: Patients with chronic low back pain may present changes in hip muscles. However, there is still limited and controversial evidence of the association between hip muscle weakness and chronic low back pain and whether this weakness can be assessed with functional tests. The purpose of this study was to assess whether there is hip muscle weakness in patients with non-specific chronic low back pain and whether there is an association between the positive Trendelenburg and Step-Down tests and hip muscle strength. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 40 patients with chronic low back pain and 40 healthy participants, assessed in an outpatient clinic in Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil. Muscle strength was measured for the hip abductors, adductors, extensors, internal rotators, and external rotators using isometric manual dynamometry and functional stability was measured by the Trendelenburg and Step-Down tests. Muscle strength was compared using the t test for independent samples and the chi-square test. The association between the tests and strength was performed using a binary logistic regression analysis. Results: Healthy participants showed a statistically significant greater muscle strength for the right hip abductors (mean difference [MD]: 28.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.4 to 46.9), right adductors (MD: 18.7%, 95% CI: 6.2 to 31.2), right internal rotators (MD: 8.7%, 95% CI: 1.5 to 15.8), right extensors (MD: 21.1%, 95% CI: 6.2 to 31.2), left abductors (MD: 30.4%, 95% CI: 11.9 to 49), left adductors (MD: 18.4%, 95% CI: 3.7 to 33.2), and left extensors (MD: 21.6%, 95% CI: 6.6 to 36.5). There was no difference between groups for the positive functional tests, and there was no association between the tests and hip muscle strength. Conclusion: Patients with chronic low back pain tend to have hip abductors, adductors, and extensors weakness. Furthermore, the functional tests should not be associated to hip muscle strength in patients with chronic low back pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between the highest value of the Reactive Strength Index (RSI) and sprint acceleration in basketball players. Seven basketball players (age 19 years± 2.16, height 1.85 meters± 0.04, body mass 80.16 kg± 12.20, BMI 24.21 km/m2± 3.33 and practice time 6.28 years± 2.75) at the regional level, from the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, were evaluated in the reactive strength index and acceleration in the sprint, at 0-10, 0-20 and 10-20 meters, measured by a contact platform and photocells, respectively. Data were analyzed in SPSS 22.0 software quantitatively through mean and standard deviation. The Shapiro-Wilk normality test was used and, after the result of non-normality of the data, the Spearman correlation. Negative and weak correlations were found between RSI and 0-10 meters (r= -0.107, p= 0.819), and negative and moderate correlation between RSI and 0-20 (r= -0.429, p= 0.337) and 10-20 meters (r= -0.214, p= 0.645). It can be concluded that experienced athletes may have a moderate correlation between the highest IFR values and a 20-meter sprint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this review was to verify the amount of 1RM test sessions required to stabilize the performance of maximal dynamic strength in young and elderly individuals. Thus, literature searches were conducted in Medline, Lilacs and SciELO databases. We found 11 articles on the topic. For men with and without experience in strength training one to four sessions, respectively, were needed to stabilize 1RM performance. On the other hand, women required three sessions independent of their strength training experience. Middle-age and elderly men and women needed two to three sessions to stabilize the maximum strength performance. We concluded that it is essential the application successive of 1RM tests to achieve strength performance stabilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The one-repetition maximum (1RM) test is the most widely used method to analyze muscular strength. However, the 1RM reliability may be dependent on previous resistance training experience.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to analyze the reliability of 1RM test in detrained men with previous resistance training experience.METHODS: Sixty-seven men (21.1 years, 71.4 kg, 174.1 cm, 23.5 m/kg^{2}) were recruited and allocated to one of the three groups, according to their previous experience in resistance training: Novice (n=29, from 1 to 6 months), Intermediate (n=19, from 7 to 12 months), and Advanced (n=19, from 13 to 24 months). All subjects performed the 1RM test in the bench press, squat, and arm curl in four sessions. At each session the subjects performed three attempts to reach a peak strength level for each exercise.RESULTS: Significant increases (P< 0.05) in maximal strength between the first and fourth sessions were consistent for each group in bench press (8.3% to 9.8%), squat (14.9% to 18.5%), and arm curl (7.6% to 10.0%) with no group-by-time interaction. CONCLUSION: Despite two years of previous RT experience men need at least two 1RM sessions to achieve accurate maximal strength baseline scores, Thus, a minimum two-trial 1RM assessment may be the standard for determining a maximal strength baseline in order not to underestimate achievement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on resting blood pressure and heart rate variability in elderly postmenopausal women. 29 untrained, non-hypertensive elderly women were randomly assigned to 2 groups: an intervention group (n = 15, 65.5 ± 5.0 years, 57.3 ± 6.5 kg, 156.7 ± 5.1 cm) that underwent a supervised resistance training program (8 exercises, 2 sets, 10-15 repetitions, 3 times/ week) or a control group (n = 14, 66.2 ± 4.1 years, 61.1 ± 11.7 kg, 157.5 ± 7.1 cm) that participated in a supervised stretching program (25-30 min/session, 2 times/week). Resting auscultatory blood pressure, heart rate variability, evaluated from short recordings in a seated position, and maximal dynamic strength (1-RM test) were measured at baseline and after 12 weeks. A group x time ANOVA revealed that muscular strength increased significantly in the resistance training group (+ 10.2 % for bench press and + 12.7 % for leg extension, P < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure was reduced significantly in the resistance training group from pre- to post-intervention period (- 5 mmHg; P < 0.05), while no significant effect was noted for diastolic blood pressure and heart rate variability indexes ( P > 0.05). None of these variables changed in the control group throughout the study. In conclusion, a supervised resistance training program improved muscular strength and reduced systolic blood pressure without affecting diastolic blood pressure and heart rate variability in elderly postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare and investigate the relationships between Q-angle values and measures of pain, muscular, and functional performances. Methods: Measures of Q-angles, pain, and muscular and functional performances were obtained in 30 elderly women with bilateral knee osteoarthritis. Pearson correlation coefficients were employed to evaluate relationships between the assessed variables (P < .05). Results: Lower Q-angle values were found in the most symptomatic knee, but no statistically significant correlations were found between the Q-angle and the other evaluated measures. Conclusions: Lower Q-angle values were found on the most symptomatic knee and they were not associated with pain, muscular, or functional performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]