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Objective Prescribing individualized moderate exercise intensity is a useful method to reach positive effects on health status in obese adults. This study aimed to establish a practical reference equation to estimate the heart rate (HR) at individual ventilatory threshold (IVT) (HRIVT). Methods One hundred sixty-one obese subjects were clinically evaluated and characterized by anthropometric and body composition. Participants performed the six-minute walking test (6-MWT) and the cardiopulmonary exercise test to assess IVT. Multiple regression analysis for HRIVT, including 6-MWT, anthropometric, and body composition parameters, as independent variables, was performed for both gender separately. A cross-validation study was also performed to determine the accuracy of the prediction equation. Results Whereas HRIVT was not significantly different between males (121.5±18.3 bpm) and females (117.6±17.1 bpm), it differently correlated with physical and performance parameters. Therefore, two sex-specific equations were developed including 6-MWTHR and HRrest (R2 = 0.69 and 0.65 and root mean square errors of 8.8 and 10.1 bpm for females and males, respectively). Conclusion In conclusion, in female and male obese adults, the 6-MWT might be used to predict HR at IVT. These outcomes are useful to prescribe optimal physical activity intensity when gold standard methods (e.g. gas exchange analysis) are unavailable.

To examine the influence of different types of exertion on immediate and delayed attention in 116 primary school children divided in three groups of exertion [cognitive exertion - CE (school curricular lesson), physical exertion - PE (traditional physical education lesson), mixed cognitive and physical exertion - CPE (coordinative physical education lesson)]. CPE was the combination of physical load due to the practice of physical exercises and of cognitive load requested to perform movement-based problem solving tasks requiring accurate timing, temporal estimations, temporal production, and spatial adjustments. Children's attentional capacity was tested before (pre) and after (at 0 min and at 50 min post) a CE, a PE, or a CPE lesson, using the d2-test of attention, and analyzed using a 3 × 3 × 2 mixed analysis of covariance with exertion type and time as within factors, gender as between factor, and baseline data as covariate. Effect sizes were calculated as partial eta squared (ƞ(2)). Results showed that participants' attentional performance was significantly affected by exertion type (P < 0.0001), by time (P < 0.0001) and by exertion type × time interactions (P < 0.0001). The effect sizes ranged from medium (0.039) to large (0.437). Varying the type of exertion has different beneficial influences on the level of attention in school children.

Obesity is one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century. Overweight and obesity drastically increase a person’s risk of developing chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes. Furthermore, obesity is already responsible for 2% -8% of health costs and 10% -13% of deaths in several industrialized countries. Lifestyle modifications involving changes in exercise, diet and psychological support are effective in reducing the incidence of overweight. Moreover, positive effects of physical activity (PA) for weight loss and prevention of weight regain are well documented. It was recognized that health benefits regarding both psychological and physiological aspects, such as improving cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness and/or decreasing depression symptoms, can be obtained from numerous activities. Public health institutions (American College of Sports Medicine, World Health Organization) provide recommendations for PA (volume, frequency, intensity and type of exercise) to achieve positive effects, at all ages and for many diseases and disorders situations. Although exercise under guidelines can be safely performed by obese subjects, several questions still need to be fully answered. In facts, the exercise program should be tailored according to an individual’s habitual physical activity, physical function, health status, exercise responses, and stated goals. Thus, this review analyzes the intensity of PA parameters. In the last years, research has been focused on the individualization of the right intensity in which different types of subjects’ condition must undergo to achieve the health goals. Aerobic exercise has been commonly used to reach weight loss goal. Prescription of aerobic exercise in clinical practice is frequently based on the percentage of maximum heart rate (%HRmax), heart rate reserve (%HRreserve), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), maximal oxygen consumption (%VO2max) and for unhealthy subjects, peak oxygen consumption (%VO2peak). It has been shown that unhealthy subjects, such as individuals affected by diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases have a reduced maximal aerobic exercise capacity. For instance, using the formula based on percentage of HRmax or VO2max, it could be prescribed heavy exercises, which would result not appropriated and fully functional for the specific individual goal. To avoid this problem, another approach to individualize aerobic exercise could be to consider the gas exchange parameters such us aerobic gas exchange threshold (AerTGE). AerTGE corresponds to the first increase in blood lactate during incremental exercise. This review offers an overview of the different methods to assess exercise intensity, considering the different subjects health characteristics, in order to choose the right methods to achieve the health goals in obese and overweight subjects.

Aim of the study was to examine cardiorespiratory parameters at individual ventilatory threshold (IVT) and peak exercise capacity (V˙O2peak) in outpatient diabetic and sarcopenic obese subjects. Seventeen obese subjects (BMI:36.6±4.1 kg·m−1) and sixteen SO subjects (BMI:37.0±7.3 kg·m−1) were compared with sixteen T2DM subjects (BMI:37.7±5.6 kg·m−1). All groups performed an incremental exercise test on a treadmill according to their physical ability.V˙O2peak, %HRmax, and maximal metabolic equivalent (METmax) were evaluated at maximal effort. Moreover,V˙O2ivt, %V˙O2peak, %HRmax, %HRR, ΔHR, and METivt were assessed at IVT. No significant differences were found in any physiological parameters at maximal effort (V˙O2peak, %HRmax, andMETmax) in all groups. On the contrary,V˙O2ivt, %V˙O2peak, %HRmax, %HRR, ΔHR, andMETivtwere significantly lower in T2DM subjects as compared to OB and SO subjects at IVT (p<0.05). Our results show that while at maximal effort there are no differences among groups, at IVT the physiological parameters are lower in T2DM subjects than in OB and SO subjects. Therefore, due to the differences observed in the groups, we suggest usng the IVT as a useful parameter to prescribe aerobic exercise in obese with sarcopenia or diabetes mellitus conditions.

response orientation ability tests. Significant differences between two groups in upper limb response orientation ability test were found. Both groups showed a significant increase in body height and weight. Multiple regression analysis indicated that time in nonorganized PA predicted some fitness and coordinative changes (1-mile run/walk, lower limb response orientation and kinaesthetic discrimination ability tests) following the training period, although the percentage of variance it could explain was moderate. Our results showed that training adaptations of some fitness and coordinative performances could be influenced by setting characteristics that provided opportunities for different types of PA.

The aims of this study were to assess the contribution of selected factors to the athletic performance in adults with mental retardation (MR) and to analyze the correlation of each factor with subjects' MR levels. Twenty-nine trained athletes with MR aged 20-45 years were recruited. The fundamental factors included anthropometric measurements, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, explosive leg power, cardiovascular endurance, and motor coordination. The athletic performances were as follows: 60 m, 300 m, 400 m in walking, standing long jump, and vortex throw (Level I) or 100-m run, shot put, and long jump (Level II). Motor coordination and body weight had significant contributions to 60 m (p < 0.01) and the %body fat had significant contribution to 300 m and 100 m (p < 0.05). The explosive leg power had significant contribution to vortex throw and standing long jump (p < 0.05). The upper-body strength and muscular endurance had significant contribution in shot put (p < 0.05). The body weight had significant contribution in long jump (p < 0.05). MR level was positively correlated to motor coordination (p < 0.05) and negatively to abdominal muscular strength and endurance (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results showed the possibility to determine the contributions of selected factors to the athletic performance. This should be addressed in athletics training to help athletes with MR to perform successfully in their competitions.

Although athletes with mental retardation (MR) have achieved an important role, literature concerning the evaluation tests in basketball is still poor.To assess basketball ability before and after a 4-month training performed before championship for athletes with MR and to correlate ability variations with MR levels.15 trained basketball players with MR (11 men and 4 women; age range 21-43 years; MR: 3 mild, 8 moderate, 8 severe and 1 profound). Athletes were tested before (pre) and after (post) 4 month training preceding the championship. The tests assessed 4 levels of ability, each one characterised by 4 fundamental areas of this game: ball handling, reception, passing and shooting. Each area was divided into 5 specific components.The team average score, based on the score of each athlete's 4 levels, improved by 6.6 points (41.6 (SD 11.9) vs 48.2 (14.7)). The comparison between pre and post scores in each level showed increases (p0.01), especially in level II (14.4 (3.5) vs 16.5 (3.3)) and in level III (7.1 (5.7) vs 9.2 (6.6)). Within level II, ball handling (3.67 (1.2) vs 4.37 (0.5); p0.05) and passing (3.20 (1.2) vs 3.97 (1.3); p0.01) improved; in level III reception (3.21 (1.1) vs 3.73 (1.1); p = 0.01) and shooting (1.82 (1.1) vs 2.45 (1.3); p0.05) increased.A 4 month training caused a general improvement, especially evident in levels II and III. Total score reached in level II was negatively correlated with MR level (r = -0.56; p0.05), indicating that athletes with lower MR obtained higher scores.

This study evaluated energy cost and energy sources of a ballet exercise (grand adage) in young female dancers with different technical ability, and then related the energy sources to the subject’s \( \ifmmode\expandafter\dot\else\expandafter\.\fi{V}{\text{O}}_{{2\max }} \) and anaerobic threshold (IAT). Twenty-five dancers (13–16 years) were divided into two different technical ability groups: low-level (n = 13) and high-level (n = 12). The overall energy requirement of dance exercise (VO2eq) was obtained by adding the amount of VO2 during exercise above resting (aerobic source or VO2ex) to the VO2 up to the fast component of recovery (anaerobic alactic source or VO2al) and to the energy equivalent of peak blood lactate accumulation (anaerobic lactic source or \( V\text{O}_{\text{2la}^{-}} \)) of recovery. VO2eq of exercise amounted to 81 ± 10 and 94 ± 9 ml kg−1 in low-level and high-level groups, respectively. VO2ex represented the higher fraction (65 ± 4% and 77 ± 5%) in low-level and high-level groups, respectively, of VO2eq in both the groups. In the low-level group the remaining fractions were: 23 ± 2 % for VO2al and 12 ± 1% for \( V\text{O}_{\text{2la}^{-}} \). In high-level group the remaining fractions were: 18 ± 2 % for VO2al and 4 ± 1% for \( V\text{O}_{\text{2la}^{-}} \). Between two groups, significant differences were found in VO2ex (P < 0.01), \( V\text{O}_{\text{2la}^{-}} \) (P < 0.01), and VO2al (P < 0.05). IAT was 55 and 60% of \( \ifmmode\expandafter\dot\else\expandafter\.\fi{V}{\text{O}}_{{2\max }} \) for low-level and high-level dancers, respectively. Low-level dancers performed more exercise above IAT than high-level. For these reasons, it should be better to define exercise intensity according to the IAT parameter and not only to \( \ifmmode\expandafter\dot\else\expandafter\.\fi{V}{\text{O}}_{{2\max }} . \)

Whereas experimental studies showed that in healthy trained subjects, the phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor (PDE-5i) sildenafil improves exercise capacity in hypoxia and not in normoxia, no studies on the effects of the long half-life PDE-5i tadalafil exist. In order to evaluate whether tadalafil influences functional parameters and performance during a maximal exercise test in normoxia, we studied 14 healthy male athletes in a double-blind cross-over protocol. Each athlete performed two tests on a cycle ergometer, both after placebo or tadalafil (at therapeutic dose: 20 mg) administration. Oxygen consumption (VO2), blood lactate, respiratory exchange ratio, rate of perceived exertion, arterial blood pressure (BP), heart frequency (HR) and oxygen pulse (VO2/HR) were evaluated before exercise, at individual ventilatory and anaerobic thresholds (IVT and IAT), at VO2max and during recovery. Compared to placebo, a single tadalafil administration significantly reduced systolic BP before and after exercise (p < 0.05), decreased VO2/HR at IVT (13.3 +/- 1.8 vs. 14.5 +/- 2.1 mL . beat (-1); p = 0.03), but did not modify individual VO2max, IVT, or IAT. In healthy athletes, 20 mg of tadalafil does not substantially influence physical fitness-related parameters, exercise tolerance, and cardiopulmonary responses to maximal exercise in normoxia; it remains to be verified if higher doses/prolonged use influence health and/or sport performance in field conditions.

This study investigated the efficacy of a physical activity (PA) program to improve the attention span in normal weight versus overweight/obese children. The study was designed as a cluster-randomized controlled intervention. One hundred fifty-seven normal weight and overweight/obese primary school children were randomly divided in three cohorts: Traditional PA, Coordinative PA and a Control group (not attending any PA). Before and after 5 months of intervention, children were administered the d2-R test of attention. Results showed that participants’ attentional performances were significantly affected by Time (pre vs post; P < 0.01) and by Time x Group interaction (traditional vs coordinative vs control; P < 0.001), revealing significant different effects of intervention/exercise modality on children’s attentional performance, independently of their weight status. These data suggest that a 5-month school-based PA intervention can improve the cognitive performance in children. Further, the Coordinative PA intervention resulted in the most significant improvement in children’s attention.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the dorsal and lumbar spine of expert and recreational tennis players before (pre) and after (post) two different training sessions. The sample consisted of 17 male tennis players, nine expert and eight recreational males (age 21.2 ± 1.6 years). We assessed the back surface by rasterstereography pre and post two different training sessions both lasting 1.5 h: a standard training and a specific over-shoulder shots training session, respectively. Lordotic and kyphotic angle, length, imbalance, inclination for trunk, pelvic torsion, left and right lateral deviation and surface rotation were measured. Tennis expertise (expert versus recreational) significantly affected the surface rotation and right lateral deviation (P 0.05). Trunk length was affected by intervention (pre versus post) (P 0.05). Left lateral deviation differed both for type of session (session 1 versus session 2) and intervention (P 0.001, P 0.05). Expert tennis players had higher values on surface rotation and right lateral deviation, around or just above physiological values (0-5° and 0-5 mm, respectively). Type of session significantly affected left lateral deviation, indicating that over-shoulder shots lead to a higher stress for the spine; the workload produced by both single sessions led to a shortening effect on trunk length. A single training session can induce acute modifications in some parameters of dorsal and lumbar spine of players.

Speculation exists whether dance provides physiological stimuli adequate to promote health and fitness benefits. Unfortunately, research to date has not addressed the affective and exertional responses to dance. These responses are of interest as positive affective and exertional responses experienced during physical activity may play an important role in predicting adherence. The present study aims to examine the psychophysiological responses of different Salsa dance styles. Ten pairs of dancers performed two different structured lessons of Salsa dance, including Typical Salsa and Rueda de Casino lessons, and a non-structured Salsa dance at a night club. Physiological responses (i.e., percent of heart rate reserve; %HRR) were continuously assessed and perceived exertion and affective valence were rated every 15 min throughout the trials. %HRR responses differed between the Salsa dance styles (%HRR from 41.3 to 51.9%), and participants were dancing at intensities near their ventilatory threshold. Specifically, Typical Salsa lesson elicited lower %HRR responses than Rueda de Casino lesson (p < 0.05), but similar %HRR responses to Salsa dance at a night club condition (p > 0.05). Surprisingly, exertional (from 8 to 11) and affective (from +3 to +5) responses were unaffected by Salsa dance styles (p > 0.05). These data support that different Salsa dance styles provide physiological stimuli adequate to promote health and fitness benefits, and perhaps more importantly, produce pleasurable experiences, which in turn might lead to an increase in adherence to Salsa dancing which likely provides exercise-like health benefits.

In obese diabetic subjects, a correct life style, including diet and physical activity, is part of a correct intervention protocol. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of aerobic training intervention, based on heart rate at aerobic gas exchange threshold (AerTge), on clinical and physiological parameters in obese elderly subjects with type 2 diabetes (OT2DM). Thirty OT2DM subjects were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG) or control group (CG). The IG performed a supervised aerobic exercise training based on heart rate atAerTgewhereas CG maintained their usual lifestyle. Anthropometric measures, blood analysis, peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak), metabolic equivalent (METpeak), work rate (WRpeak), andWRAerTgewere assessed at baseline and after intervention. After training, patients enrolled in the IG had significantly higher (P<0.001)V˙O2peak,METpeak,WRpeak, andWRAerTgeand significantly lower (P<0.005) weight, BMI, %FM, and waist circumference than before intervention. Both IG and CG subjects had lower glycated haemoglobin levels after intervention period. No significant differences were found for all the other parameters between pre- and posttraining and between groups. Aerobic exercise prescription based upon HR atAerTgecould be a valuable physical intervention tool to improve the fitness level and metabolic equilibrium in OT2DM patients.

Obesity is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type II diabetes mellitus, and osteoarthritis. Moreover, severe obesity is often associated with disability. All these conditions result in a reduced life expectancy and in a reduced exercise capacity. It is well known the positive effect of physical activity in combination with dietary and behavioral modifications on obesity condition. In order to reach these positive effects, the exercise program needs to be tailored according to the individual’s physical function, health status, exercise responses, and stated goals. For all these reasons, functional evaluation plays a fundamental role to individualize type, mode, and intensity of exercise with the subjects’ characteristics. Functional evaluation should be performed taking into consideration the clinical conditions and the physical capacity of obese subjects. In fact, they show a low cardiorespiratory fitness, which is expressed by reduced oxygen uptake (VO2), decreased daily activity, and low exercise tolerance.

To evaluate the effect of warm up on energy cost and energy sources of a ballet dance exercise, 12 adolescent talented female dancers performed a ballet exercise (30 s of tours piques en dedans on pointe) without and following a warm up. Warm up consisted in a light running followed by a period of stretching and two ballet exercises. The overall energy requirement of dance exercise (VO2eq) was obtained by adding the amount of VO2 during exercise above resting (aerobic source or VO2ex) to the VO2 up to the fast component of recovery (anaerobic alactic source or VO2al) and to the energy equivalent of peak blood lactate accumulation (anaerobic lactic source or $${\hbox{VO}_{{\rm 2la}^{-}}}$$ ) of recovery. VO2eq of exercise preceded by warm up amounted to 37 ± 3 ml kg−1. VO2al represented the higher fraction (50 ± 6%) of VO2eq, the remaining fractions were: 39 ± 5% for VO2ex and 11 ± 3% for $${\hbox{VO}_{{\rm 2la}^{-}}}$$ . VO2eq of exercise without warm up amounted to 38 ± 3 ml kg−1. This value was made up of: 26 ± 6% by VO2ex, 56 ± 6% by VO2al and 18 ± 3% by $${\hbox{VO}_{{\rm 2la}^{-}}.}$$ Between exercise conditions, significant differences were found in VO2ex (P

The aim of the study was to compare the effect of an unsupervised whole body vibration (WBV) training and two different supervised multi-purpose exercise programmes, with and without WBV, on body composition, functional fitness and self-reported well-being in middle-aged adults. Fifty-four healthy participants (age 48.6 ± 6.7 years) were randomly assigned to a vibration group (VG), a multi-purpose exercise group (MG) and a multi-purpose exercise with vibration group (VMG) and trained 3 days a week for 4 months. VG performed a standardised unsupervised WBV protocol, MG a supervised multi-purpose exercise and VMG a multi-purpose exercise including vibration. After training, drop out was significantly higher in VG group (P = 0.016) when compared to VMG group. In both MG and VMG, body composition, sit-up, push-up, sit and reach, agility test, hopping test and self-reported general health significantly improved (P0.05). No additive effects were generated by the vibration stimulus. Percentage of body fat and agility test in VG had a significant opposite trend compared to VMG group (P0.05). In summary, an unsupervised WBV training should not be chosen for training protocol. However, positive effects on physical fitness and the best results in adherence could be achieved integrating WBV practice into a multi-purpose exercise training.

Obesity and sarcopenia have been associated with mineral metabolism derangement and low bone mineral density (BMD). We investigated whether imbalance of serum factors in obese or obese sarcopenic patients could affect bone cell activityin vitro. To evaluate and characterize potential cellular and molecular changes of human osteoblasts, cells were exposed to sera of four groups of patients: (1) affected by obesity with normal BMD (O), (2) affected by obesity with low BMD (OO), (3) affected by obesity and sarcopenia (OS), and (4) affected by obesity, sarcopenia, and low BMD (OOS) as compared to subjects with normal body weight and normal BMD (CTL). Patients were previously investigated and characterized for body composition, biochemical and bone turnover markers. Then, sera of different groups of patients were used to incubate human osteoblasts and evaluate potential alterations in cell homeostasis. Exposure to OO, OS, and OOS sera significantly reduced alkaline phosphatase, osteopontin, and BMP4 expression compared to cells exposed to O and CTL, indicating a detrimental effect on osteoblast differentiation. Interestingly, sera of all groups of patients induced intracellular alteration in Wnt/β-catenin molecular pathway, as demonstrated by the significant alteration of specific target genes expression and by alteredβ-catenin cellular compartmentalization and GSK3βphosphorylation. In conclusion our results show for the first time that sera of obese subjects with low bone mineral density and sarcopenia significantly alter osteoblasts homeostasisin vitro, indicating potential detrimental effects of trunk fat on bone formation and skeletal homeostasis.

Introduction et but de l’etude Au cours des dernieres annees, un tres grand interet a ete represente par l’obesite sarcopenique, un etat clinique caracterise par la coexistence d’un exces de masse graisse et une masse musculaire reduite. Le niveau d’invalidite et de fragilite semblent etre plus affectes chez ces sujets par rapport aux sujets, du meme âge, sarcopeniques ou purement obeses. Le but de notre etude etait d’explorer la relation entre la composition corporelle, le niveau d’activite physique et d’autonomie et la fonction physique chez des femmes obeses sarcopeniques pre-geriatriques. Materiel et methodes Entre janvier et juin 2014 les participants a cette etude ont ete recrutes parmi les sujets obeses se referant au Departement de Medecine Experimentale (section de Physiopa-thologie, Nutrition et Endocrinologie) a l’Universite Sapienza de Rome. Les participants ont ete soumis a une evaluation de l’etat nutritionnel, y compris l’evaluation de la composition corporelle par DXA. Le metabolisme de base a ete mesure par la calorimetrie indirecte. La fonction physique a ete evaluee par le hand grip test, le test de marche de 6 minutes, une epreuve d’effort sur cycloergometre avec mesure de la consommation d’oxygene (VO2) et la short physical performance battery (SPPB). Le niveau d’handicap physique lie a l’obesite a ete evalue par le TSD-OC. Le Sensewear Armband a ete utilise pour evaluer le niveau d’activite physique. On a juge un sujet obese si son BMI etait superieur a 30 kg/m 2 et sarcopenique si l’index de masse musculaire (masse musculaire appendiculaire/ poids) etait inferieur aux seuils proposes par Janssen et al (2002). Resultats et Analyse statistique 47 femmes obeses ont ete recrutees (âge moyen 52,21 ± 11,43 ans, BMI moyen 36,62 ± 7,60 kg / m 2 ). 27 femmes obeses etaient aussi sarcopeniques (57, 5 %). Par rapport aux homologues obeses non-sarcopeniques, les femmes obeses sarcopeniques presentaient un BMI et une masse graisse plus eleves (p masse musculaire appendiculaire/poids. Les METs moyens etaient plus faibles chez les femmes obeses sarcopeniques (p Conclusion La prevalence de la sarcopenie chez les femmes obeses dans notre etude etait semblable a celle mesuree dans d’autres etudes similaires (Korean Sarcopenic Obesity study). La definition de la sarcopenie en fonction du poids est un indice de sarcopenie relative: l’exces de masse graisse etant responsable des resultats moins bons aux tests fonctionnels chez les femmes obeses sarcopeniques par rapport a leurs homologues non-sarcopeniques. Un plus faible niveau d’activite physique semble etre present chez les sujets obeses qui montrent aussi une sarcopenie. Les niveaux d’activite physique et d’autonomie et la fonction physique doivent etre soigneusement evalues en particulier chez les sujets pre-geriatriques obeses. La tendance aux habitudes sedentaires devrait etre decouragee, afin d’eviter l’apparition d’une invalidite due a l’obesite sarcopenique.

Background.A multidisciplinary approach seems to be effective in creating healthy habits in children. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of three 5-month combined physical education (PE) and nutritional interventions on body composition, physical activity (PA) level, sedentary time and eating habits of schoolchildren.Methods.Anthropometric data, weekly PA level, sedentary time and eating habits of 230 healthy students were analysed using a repeated-measures ANOVA with Group (experimental group 1 vs experimental group 2 vs control group), Adiposity Status (under fat vs normal fat vs obese), and Time (pre vs post) as factors.Results.Body fat mass percentage increased after intervention (18.92 ± 8.61% vs 19.40 ± 8.51%) in all groups. The weekly PA level significantly increased after intervention in both experimental groups. Sedentary time significantly decreased after the intervention period (565.70 ± 252.93 vs 492.10 ± 230.97 min/week,p< 0.0001). Moreover, obese children were more sedentary than under fat and normal fat children. Children significantly changed the consumption of some specific foods after intervention.Discussion.This study revealed the effectiveness of a combined PE and nutritional intervention to improve children’s healthful dietary practices and to encourage an active lifestyle. However, it needs a further appropriate development to establish patterns of healthful dietary practices that encourage an active lifestyle with which to maintain healthy habits through life.

The aims of this study were to estimate the difference in exercise intensity (METs), energy cost (EE) and gender difference between a typical salsa lesson (TSL), rueda de casino lesson (RCL), and salsa dancing at a night club (SDN). Subjects performed 1 pre-testing session and 3 testing conditions. During the pre-testing session height, weight and V˙O2max were assessed. During the testing conditions all subjects performed 3 different kinds of salsa dance. Heart rate was assessed during each dance condition. The exercise intensity of the 3 salsa dancing conditions was moderate ranging from 3.9 to 5.5 METs. A significant difference between genders for HRpeak (P=0.01), max%HRR (P=0.006) and mean EE (P=0.02) were observed. Significant gender×condition interactions for HRpeak (P=0.03), mean %HRR (P=0.02), mean METs (P=0.02) and mean EE (P=0.02) were found. In addition, a significant main effect for each condition was found in all variables (P0.01). Our results showed that the exercise intensities of all 3 salsa dancing conditions were moderate. Findings showed some significant differences in exercise intensity between males and females and within conditions. Salsa dancing could be useful in achieving a significant training effect in people who have a low level of fitness.

BRUNELLI, A., I. DIMAURO, P. SGRO ` , G. P. EMERENZIANI, F. MAGI, C. BALDARI, L. GUIDETTI, L. DI LUIGI, P. PARISI, AND D. CAPOROSSI. Acute Exercise Modulates BDNF and pro-BDNF Protein Content in Immune Cells. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 44, No. 10, pp. 1871–1880, 2012. Purpose: Although several studies have shown that immune cells stimulated by in vitro stress are capable to produce neurotrophins, there is still no evidence whether physiological stress, such as exercise, can modulate the in vivo levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Methods: This work investigated whether acute exercise modulates the expression of BDNF, pro-BDNF, and p75 NTR in the PBMCs of 10 healthy young men who performed a cycling incremental test to exhaustion (MAX) or exercised at individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). The PBMC expression of stress response proteins and the level of circulating BDNF, vascular endothelial growth growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor subunit B, basic fibroblast growth factor pro-inflammatory, and anti-inflammatory cytokines were analyzed as well. Results: A major finding is that both sessions of acute exercise regulated the content of BDNF isoforms within PBMCs in a manner related to the physiological stress exerted. Although the pro-BDNF increased after both MAX and IAT protocols, BDNF showed a kinetics dependent on exercise type: MAX induced a 54% protein increase immediately after exercise, followed by a significant drop 60 min after its conclusion (38% lower than the baseline). Differently, in the IAT, BDNF increased significantly up to 75% from the baseline throughout the recovery phase. All physiological parameters, as well as the p75 NTR receptor and the stress-inducible proteins, were also differently regulated by the two exercise conditions. Conclusions: These data supported the hypothesis that PBMCs might produce and secrete BDNF isoforms, as well as modulate the proteins p75 NTR , Bcl-xL, hsp90, hsp27, and >B-crystallin, as part of the physiological stress response induced by acute

Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors may influence human physiology, health, and performance by also modulating endocrine pathways. We evaluated the effects of a 2-day tadalafil administration on adenohypophyseal and adrenal hormone adaptation to exercise in humans. Fourteen healthy males were included in a double-blind crossover trial. Each volunteer randomly received two tablets of placebo or tadalafil (20 mg/day with a 36-h interval) before a maximal exercise was performed. After a 2-wk washout, the volunteers were crossed over. Blood samples were collected at −30 and −15 min and immediately before exercise, immediately after, and during recovery (+15, +30, +60, and +90 min) for adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), β-endorphin, growth hormone (GH), prolactin, cortisol (C), corticosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS), and cortisol binding globulin (CBG) assays. C-to-CBG (free cortisol index, FCI) and DHEAS-to-C ratios were calculated. Exercise intensity, perceived exertion rate, O2consumption, and CO2and blood lactate concentration were evaluated. ACTH, GH, C, corticosterone, and CBG absolute concentrations and/or areas under the curve (AUC) increased after exercise after both placebo and tadalafil. Exercise increased DHEAS only after placebo. Compared with placebo, tadalafil administration reduced the ACTH, C, corticosterone, and FCI responses to exercise and was associated with higher β-endorphin AUC and DHEAS-to-C ratio during recovery, without influencing cardiorespiratory and performance parameters. Tadalafil reduced the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis during exercise by probably influencing the brain's nitric oxide- and cGMP-mediated pathways. Further studies are necessary to confirm our results and to identify the involved mechanisms, possible health risks, and potential clinical uses.

Purpose: The aim of this investigation was to examine the potential influence of varying types of exertion on immediate attentional performance on 138 primary school boys and girls. Methods: Subjects performed three different types of exertion [cognitive exertion (school curricular lesson), physical exertion (traditional physical education lesson), and mixed cognitive and physical exertion (coordinative physical education lesson)] at the same time of the school day for 3 wk. Before and immediately after each exertion session, subjects were administered the d2 Test of Attention. Results: Results showed that participants� attentional performances were significantly affected by exertion type (cognitive exertion vs physical exertion vs mixed cognitive and physical exertion; P < 0.05), by intervention (before vs after; P < 0.05), and by exertion type × intervention interactions (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that varying types of exertion have different beneficial influences on schoolchildren�s immediate cognitive performance

Although sport for athletes with mental retardation (MR) is achieving an important role, the literature concerning basketball tests and training is still poor. The aims of this study were to verify whether the basketball test battery could be an appropriate modality to classify the players in the Promotion (Pro) category, to assess basketball abilities before (PRE) and after (POST) an 8-month training in players with MR in relation to Competitive (Comp) and Pro categories, to analyze the variation of specific basketball abilities based on subjects' MR diagnosis. Forty-one male basketball players with MR (17 Comp and 24 Pro; age range 18�45 years; MR: 15% mild, 54% moderate, 29% severe, and 2% profound) were assessed PRE and POST training through the basketball test battery, which assessed 4 ability levels of increasing difficulty (from I to IV), each one characterized by the analysis of fundamental areas (ball handling, reception, passing, and shooting). Level I was significantly changed after the intervention period regardless of the Category, whereas shooting was affected by the interaction between Category and Intervention. The results showed significant differences between categories in the scores of individual global, level I, level II, level III, and in all fundamental areas. Individual global score in both categories significantly increased. The players of Comp significantly improved in level III, in ball handling, reception, passing, and shooting scores. The players of Pro improved significantly in level II, in ball handling, reception, and passing scores. Individual global, ability levels I�III, and fundamental area scores were negatively correlated to the MR level indicating that the players with a lower MR obtained higher ability scores. In conclusion, it was found that the basketball test battery could be useful for improving and monitoring training in both Comp and Pro players.

Rooibos tea contains polyphenol antioxidants, including flavonoids and phenolic acids that are potent free radical scavengers and has purported benefits for accelerated rehydration. The objective was to evaluate the effects of three different drinks (rooibos tea, bottled water, and a carbohydrate beverage) on blood and urinary markers of hydration after acute dehydration in collegiate wrestlers. Twenty-three athletes were recruited and followed a randomized, cross-over design with three different study arms comparing the effectiveness of rooibos tea, carbohydrate beverage (6% or 60 grams l(-1)), or bottled water (placebo) in promoting rehydration after a 3% reduction in body mass. Urine specific gravity (U(sg)) urine (U(osm)) and plasma osmolarity (P(osm)), and plasma volume were measured pre- and post dehydration and at 1-h after rehydration. Statistical analyses utilized a 3 (conditions) x 3 (times) repeated measures analysis of variance to test main effects. Significant interaction effects were found for P(osm) and U(osm), both of which remained below basleline after 1-h rehydration in the rooibos tea and water trials. No significant interaction effects were found for either urine U(sg) or plasma volume shift. The findings of this study demonstrate that rooibos tea was no more effective in promoting rehydration than plain water, with significant changes being found for P(osm) and U(osm) in the carbohydrate/electrolyte solution, in collegiate wrestlers after a 3% reduction in body mass and a rehydration period of 1-h when consuming 100% of their body weight loss.

Although several studies showed the positive effects of exercise and physical activity on health and well-being for individuals with ID, there is a lack of information about the influence of sport specialization on fitness and health components. Therefore, the aims of this study were to assess: (a) physical fitness of athletes with intellectual disability (ID) compared with individuals included in recreational and leisure activity programs (non-athletic people); (b) contribution of sport specialization on athletes' fitness; and c) correlation of each fitness variable with subjects' ID levels. Twenty-two track and field, 19 basketball, and 23 non-athletic adults were recruited. Before and after a 9-month period, all participants performed fitness tests assessing body composition, flexibility (SR), arm muscular strength (HG), lower and upper-body muscular strength and endurance (SUP and PUP), explosive leg power (SLJ), cardiovascular endurance (ST), balance ability (FT), motor coordination (TUGT). The results showed that participants' weight, BMI and FT were significantly affected by time; SLJ by activity; ST, HG, PUP, SUP, and TUGT by both time and activity. Only track and field athletes increased significantly ST. All athletes improved significantly HG, PUP and SUP, instead non-athletic people decreased significantly SUP (p

Franciosi, E, Guidetti, L, Gallotta, MC, Emerenziani, GP, and Baldari, C. Contributions of selected fundamental factors to basketball performance in adult players with mental retardation. JS trength Cond Res24(8): 2166–2171, 2010—The purpose of this study was to determine the contributions of selected fundamental factors to basketball performance in adult players with mental retardation (MR). Fourteen trained male players with MR (32.1 6 7.4 years) were recruited. The athletes’ performances were assessed using adapted basketball tests that assessed 4 ability levels of increasing difficulty (from I to IV), each one characterized by the analysis of 4 fundamental areas: ball handling, reception, passing, and shooting. The fundamental factors included anthropometric measurements (height, weight, and body mass index), static balance, muscular strength and endurance, explosive leg power, cardiovascular endurance, and motor coordination. This study showed that greater explosive leg power and upper-body muscular strength and endurance had significant contributions to ball handling (85%, p , 0.01), and explosive leg power had significant positive contribution in reception (59%, p , 0.05) and shooting (64%, p =0 .01). The forearm muscular strength and upper-body muscular strength and endurance had significant contributions to passing (78%, p = 0.01). Moreover, the greater explosive leg power had significant contribution in level II (46%, p , 0.05), in level III (52%, p , 0.05), and in global score (60%, p , 0.05). In conclusion, the results showed the possibility to determine the contribution of selected fundamental factors to basketball performance. Therefore, the basketball coach could improve a selected fundamental factor to increase specific basketball ability. This should be addressed in a specific training to help players with MR to perform successfully in their competitions.

There is growing interest in the implementation and assessment of strength and conditioning programmes among young children. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between given anthropometric characteristics, pubertal development, salivary androgen hormones and explosive leg power in young soccer players.51 (age range 10-14 years) soccer players were investigated. The relations between age, pubertal developmental stages, testicular volume, weight, height, body fat, fat free mass, salivary DHEAS concentrations, salivary testosterone concentrations and lower limb explosive power were evaluated.Standing long jump length was positively correlated (p0.05) with age (11.7 (SD 1.2) years, r = 0.66), pubertal developmental stages (mode and range: 1 (1-4), r = 0.64), testicular volume (8.8 (5.2) ml, r = 0.58), height (1.50 (0.10) m, r = 0.34), weight (43.7 (9.1) kg, r = 0.34), fat free mass (35.4 (7.2) kg, r = 0.67), salivary DHEAS concentrations (4.4 (1.2) ng/ml, r = 0.38) and negatively correlated with body fat (18.6 (7.0) kg; r = -0.49, p0.05). There was no significant correlation between salivary testosterone concentrations (0.3 (0.1) ng/ml, r = 0.12) and standing long jump.Results of the present investigation demonstrated that age, pubertal developmental stages, testicular volume, weight, height, fat free mass, and salivary DHEAS concentrations were associated with standing long jump performance. In addition, salivary testosterone concentrations were not related to explosive leg power. Results of the present investigation suggest that the teacher/coach should evaluate long jump performance relative to the subject's given biological characteristics, and not simply established standards based on chronological age.

The accuracy, reliability and linearity in two hand-portable lactate analyzers, the Accutrend Lactate® (AL) and the Lactate Pro™ (LP) versus the EBIO® plus analyzer (EP) were evaluated. For accuracy, duplicate samples recorded on both the AL and LP revealed an overall average difference versus EP (P

Although sport for athletes with mental retardation (MR) is achieving an important role, literature concerning basketball test and training is still poor. The aims of this study were to assess basketball ability before (PRE) and after (POST) a 6-month training in athletes with MR across 2 sports seasons (ss) and to analyze the variation of basketball abilities by subjects' MR level. Fifteen trained basketball players with MR participated (11 men and 4 women; age range 19-43 years; MR: 3 Mild, 8 Moderate, 3 Severe, and 1 Profound). Athletes were tested PRE and POST a 6-month training during 2 following sports seasons (ss1 and ss2). The tests assessed 4 ability levels, each one characterized by the analysis of 4 fundamental areas (ball handling, reception, passing, and shooting), divided into 5 specific components. The athletes' global score improved after training in both ss1 (41.5 +/- 12.0 vs. 48.6 +/- 15.4; p < 0.01) and ss2 (41.7 +/- 12.4 vs. 50.8 +/- 16.2; p < 0.01). Levels II, III, and IV showed an increase both after each ss and the 2 following ss (p < 0.01). No significant difference was found between POST-ss1 and POST-ss2 due to score decrease during the resting period between the 2 ss. In both ss, global and level scores were negatively correlated to MR level indicating that athletes with a lower MR obtained higher ability scores. In conclusion, a 6-month training caused a general improvement, especially evident in levels II and III in both ss. Global and level scores were negatively correlated to MR level (p < 0.05) indicating that athletes with a lower MR obtained higher scores. Therefore, the basketball test battery could be useful for improving and monitoring training.

Context: Physical exercise-related stress activates hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis; nitric oxide is one of the mediators of the HPA axis response to stress, and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors influences nitric oxide-linked biological activities. Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate whether a single oral long half-life phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (tadalafil) administration influences the HPA axis response to exercise-related stress. Design: This was a double-blind, cross-over trial. Participants: Participants included nine healthy male athletes. Interventions: All subjects performed a maximal exercise test in normoxia, after which they received a single oral administration of tadalafil or placebo. Then after a 2-wk washout period, they were crossed over and repeated the exercise test. Each subject was his own control. Salivary collections, for steroid evaluations [cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), testosterone] and respective ratio calculation (DHEAS to cortisol, testosterone to cortisol, testosterone to DHEAS), were performed before each exercise (Pre-Ex), immediately after (Post-Ex), and at 30 min during recovery. Results: As expected, mean salivary cortisol concentration increased immediately after exercise after both tadalafil and placebo (P = 0.014 and P =0.036 vs. Pre-Ex, respectively); however, the cortisol increase was significantly higher after tadalafil administration (P = 0.034 vs. placebo). Furthermore, an increased salivary testosterone after exercise was observed only after tadalafil administration (P = 0.029 vs. Pre-Ex). No effects of either exercise and/or tadalafil administration on salivary DHEAS concentrations were observed. DHEAS to cortisol and testosterone to cortisol ratios significantly decreased after exercise after tadalafil administration (P = 0.037, and P = 0.02 vs. placebo, respectively). Conclusion: Tadalafil administration amplified the salivary cortisol and testosterone responses to a maximal exercise-related stress in healthy trained humans.

Given the therapeutic and non-therapeutic use of the tadalafil, (phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, PDE-5i), we examined its effects on anaerobic performance indices.In total, 12 well-trained subjects reported to the laboratory on two occasions 1 week apart to perform a 30 s Wingate anaerobic power test (WAnT) on a bicycle ergometer. The day before the WAnT, the subjects were double-blinded to receive an oral dose of tadalafil (20 mg) or placebo. Blood lactate value at rest and 1, 3, 6 and 10 minutes of recovery phase, mean power, peak power, time to peak power and fatigue index were assessed for each WAnT.Blood lactate values at the 3-min recovery WAnT increased significantly in the tadalafil condition (mean (SD) 13.9 (1.7) v 12.8 (1.3) mmol/l; p0.05) and time to peak power decreased significantly (6.3 (1.3) v 5.7 (1.5) s; p = 0.05). No differences were observed in any other parameters between the two conditions.The primary finding of this investigation was that the administration of a single dose of a long-term PDE-5i does not substantially influence anaerobic performance indices. However, results demonstrated both an increase in lactate values at the 3-min point of the recovery phase and a decrease in time to peak power.

To investigate the exercise intensity during a typ- ical grade five ballet lesson, thirty-nine dancers (13 - 16 yrs) were divided into three different technical proficiency groups: low level (n = 13), intermediate level (n = 14), and high level (n = 12). A progressively incremented treadmill test was administered to determine V u O2max, individual ventilatory threshold (IVT), and the individual anaerobic threshold (IAT). Oxygen uptake (V u O2), heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (La) were then evaluated during a grade five ballet lesson. Oxy- gen uptake at IVT, IAT and maximal oxygen up- take were greater (p < 0.05) in the high-level dancers indicating a higher level of fitness. HR and %V u O2max obtained during the various exer- cises of the ballet lesson were similar among groups. During the ballet lesson, low technical level dancers had more V u O2 and La values above (p < 0.05) the IAT than the other groups. Correla- tion analysis revealed that the number of exer- cises performed above IAT was positively related to anthropometric characteristics (BMI, %FM; r = 0.36, p < 0.05; r = 0.46, p < 0.01), negatively related to fitness parameters (V u O2IVT ,V u O2IAT, V u O2max; r between - 0.43 and - 0.69; p < 0.001) and to technical level (r = - 0.70; p < 0.001). The subjects classified as having low technical abil- ities had lower fitness levels and performed more exercises above IAT than the more skilled dancers. " heart rate l " oxygen uptake l " lactate concentration l " aerobic and anaerobic thresholds

Baldari, C., L. Di Luigi, S.G. Da Silva, M.C. Gallotta, G.P. Emerenziani, C. Pesce, and L. Guidetti. Relationship between optimal lactate removal power output and Olympic triathlon performance. J. Strength Cond. Res. 21(4):1160-1165. 2007.-To investigate the relationships between race performance and parameters at the optimal power output for lactate removal, 10 male triathletes were examined. Exercise intensities for lactate removal were defined by calculating 50% of difference (?T) between running velocity (Vr) at individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) and at individual ventilatory threshold (IVT), then choosing 3 Vr: at IVT plus 50% ?T (IVT+50%?T), at IVT, and at IVT minus 50% ?T (IVT?50%?T). After a 6-minute treadmill run at 75% of difference between IAT and O2max, all triathletes performed a 30-minute active recovery run at IVT+50%?T, IVT, and IVT?50%?T. Capillary blood lactate was determined at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes of recovery. The IVT?50%?T recovery was the most efficient Vr for lactate removal. Running velocities at IVT and IVT?50%?T were highly (p < 0.01) related to cycle, run, and overall race time. O2 values at IAT, IVT+50%?T, and IVT were less (p < 0.05) related to split and overall race time. The variable most related to overall race time, as determined by stepwise multiple linear regression analysis, was the Vr at IVT?50%?T (r = 0.87, p = 0.001). The R2 value of 0.76 indicated that Vr at IVT?50%?T could account for 76% of the variance in triathlon race time. This study shows that the race performances of triathletes are highly related to the Vr at which the most efficient lactate removal (IVT?50%?T) occurs. These findings suggest that the assessment of Vr at IVT and IAT (from which Vr at IVT?50%?T are calculated) may be a useful method for monitoring training-induced adaptations and performance improvements in athletes who participate in Olympic triathlons.