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The aim of this investigation was to determine age-related trends for anthropometric and physical variables in elite young soccer players. For this purpose, a total of 114 young male soccer players from a high-performance soccer academy participated in this investigation. Anthropometric and physical variables (countermovement jump, 6×40 m shuttle run test, 2×11 m slalom test with the ball) were determined. Results. Body height (U15U20; p<0.01). However, the relationships of these variables with age were explained by curvilinear polynomial equations with a tendency for plateauing at ~17 years of age. There were also age-based differences in maximal running velocity (U15

STUDY DESIGN: Case-control study; ecological study, OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of wearing compression stockings to prevent muscle damage and to maintain running performance during a marathon competition. BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced muscle damage has been identified as one of the main causes of the progressive decrease in running and muscular performance found during marathon races, METHODS: Thirty-four experienced runners were pair-matched for age, anthropometric data, and best race time in the marathon, and randomly assigned to a control group (n = 17) of runners who wore conventional socks or to a group of runners who wore foot-to-knee graduated compression stockings (n = 17). Before and after the race, a sample of venous blood was obtained, and jump height and leg muscle power were measured during a countermovement jump. Serum myoglobin and creatine kinase concentrations were determined as blood markers of muscle fiber damage. RESULTS: Total race time was not different between the control group and the compression stockings group (210 ± 23 and 214 ± 22 minutes, respectively; P = .58). Between the control group and the compression stockings group, postrace reductions in leg muscle power (-19.8% ± 17.7% versus -24.8% ± 18.4%, respectively; P = .37) and jump height (-25.3% ± 14.1% versus -32.5% ± 20.4%, respectively; P = .27) were similar. At the end of the race, there were no differences between the control group and the compression stockings group in serum myoglobin (568 ± 347 ng⋅mL-1 versus 573 ± 270 ng⋅mL-1 respectively; P = .97) and creatine kinase concentration (390 ± 166 U⋅L-1 versus 487 ± 227 U⋅L-1, respectively; P = .16). CONCLUSION: The use of compression stockings did not improve running pace and did not prevent exercise-induced muscle damage during the marathon. Wearing compression stockings during long-distance running events is an ineffective strategy to avoid the deleterious effects of muscle damage on running performance. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 2b. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of the study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the physical activity level and fitness condition over the academic performance of secondary school students in Leganes. The sample consisted of 1348 adolescents of both sexes aged between 14 and 18 years (x =15.65±.97), all of them students from 13 schools of the town of Leganes, Madrid. To measure the physical activity level, a modified version of the Assessment of Physical Activity Level Questionnaire (APALQ) was utilized. The assessment of their fitness condition was performed via the administration of the FITNESSGRAM test battery. The academic performance was measured by the number of failed subjects during the last term. Regarding their level of cardio respiratory fitness, we found significant differences between students who failed one or more subjects and those who did not fail any subjects (p=0.016). There were no significant differences in grip strength, flexibility or physical activity level. In conclusion, students who perform better academically have higher levels of cardiovascular fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]