Impact of neuromuscular training including balance, strength and plyometric exercises on static and dynamic balance in high-level male runners with mild intellectual disability.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to investigate the impact of neuromuscular training (NMT) on static and dynamic postural balance (PB) among high-level male runners with intellectual disability. METHOD: Twenty-seven runners were randomly assigned to a NMT group and a control group who maintained their conventional training. Static and dynamic PB were assessed using the centre of pressure (CoP) excursions (in bipedal and unipedal stances under open eyes (OE) and closed eyes (CE) conditions) and the star excursion balance test (SEBT), respectively, at pre-training and post-training. RESULTS: The NMT group showed significantly (p < 0.05) decreased CoP values and increased SEBT scores at post-training compared to pre-training. The switch from OE to CE did not affect static PB in the bipedal stance, only in the NMT group. CONCLUSIONS: The NMT was effective in improving static and dynamic PB in runners with intellectual disability. The NMT could reduce visual dependency.

The Effects of Listening to Music on Postural Balance in Middle-Aged Women.

Listening to music has been found to influence postural balance in both healthy participants and certain patients, whereas no study investigates such effects among healthy middle-aged women. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of music on postural balance in middle-aged women. Twenty-six healthy women aged between 50 and 55 years participated in this study. A stabilometric platform was used to assess their postural balance by recording the mean center of pressure velocity (VmCOP) in the eyes-opened (OE) and -closed (EC) conditions on both firm and foam surfaces. Our results showed that listening to an excerpt of Mozart's Jupiter significantly decreased the VmCOP values in two sensory conditions (firm surface/EO: (p < 0.01; 95% CI: 0.27 to 2.22); foam surface/EC: (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.48 to 2.44)), but not in the other two conditions (firm surface/EC and foam surface/EO). We concluded that listening to Mozart's symphony improved postural performance in middle-aged women, even in challenged postural conditions. These enhancements could offer great potential for everyday functioning.

Moderate-dose caffeine enhances anaerobic performance without altering hydration status.

The effects of direct nutritional supplements on athletic performance are still being investigated and arouse curiosity. Only one study in the literature was found that investigated the kicking speed performance of futsal players following low-dose caffeine supplementation (3 mg/kg); thus, the question of whether caffeine supplementation improves kicking speed as well as essential physical parameters in soccer players is still controversial. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of caffeine supplementation on vertical jump (VJ), sprint, reaction time, balance, change of direction (COD), and ball-kicking speed in soccer players. In a double-blind, cross-over design, nine moderately trained male soccer players (21.11 ± 2.02 years, 171.22 ± 6.14 cm, 71.78 ± 10.02 kg) consumed caffeine (6 mg/kg) or a placebo 60 min before completing balance, reaction time, vertical jump, agility, 30 m sprint, and ball-kicking speed tests. Greater VJ height (p = 0.01) and power (p = 0.08), and faster completion time according to the Illinois Agility Test (p = 0.08) were found following caffeine supplementation compared to placebo. Elapsed time (p = 0.01), average (p = 0.01) time, and the slowest reaction times (p = 0.016) were significantly reduced after caffeine consumption compared to placebo supplementation. Caffeine intake significantly improved VJ, agility, and reaction time (p < 0.05) but did not affect 30 m sprint, ball-kicking speed, balance, and RPE values in soccer players (p > 0.05). Although non-significant, caffeine intake also improved sprint (0.67%) and ball kicking (2.7%) performance percentages. Also, caffeine consumption did not induce dehydration, and the athletes' body hydration levels were normal. These findings support the use of caffeine supplementation as an effective nutritional ergogenic aid to enhance anaerobic performance, at least for vertical jumps, COD speed, and reaction time, in trained male soccer players.

The Influence of Listening to Preferred versus Non-Preferred Music on Static and Dynamic Balance in Middle-Aged Women.

Although many women perform postural tasks while listening to music, no study has investigated whether preferred music has different effects than non-preferred music. Thus, this study aimed to explore the effects of listening to preferred versus non-preferred music on postural balance among middle-aged women. Twenty-four women aged between 50 and 55 years were recruited for this study. To assess their static balance, a stabilometric platform was used, recording the mean center of pressure velocity (CoPVm), whereas the timed up and go test (TUGT) was used to assess their dynamic balance. The results showed that listening to their preferred music significantly decreased their CoPVm values (in the firm-surface/eyes-open (EO) condition: (p < 0.05; 95% CI [-0.01, 2.17])). In contrast, when the women were listening to non-preferred music, their CoPVm values significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the no-music condition in all the postural conditions except for the firm-surface/EO condition. In conclusion, listening to music has unique effects on postural performance, and these effects depend on the genre of music. Listening to preferred music improved both static and dynamic balance in middle-aged women, whereas listening to non-preferred music negatively affected these performances, even in challenged postural conditions.

Functional and cognitive responses to caffeine intake in middle-aged women are dose depending.

Middle-aged women display many physiological and cognitive alterations resulting from aging and physical inactivity as well as other changes that occur as a function of menopause. Caffeine consumption is highest in this age with women having a particular greater sensitivity to caffeine than men. Its effects on functional and cognitive functions are controversial and seem to depend on the dose intake. This study aimed to assess the effect of low (100mg) and high (400mg) doses of caffeine consumption on cognitive (simple reaction time) and functional (upper and low body muscle endurance, aerobic endurance and functional mobility) performances. These performances were evaluated in 19 healthy middle-aged women by the 30-Second Chair Stand test for lower body muscle endurance, the 30sec Arm Curl Test for upper body muscle endurance, the 2-Minute Step test for aerobic endurance, The Timed Up and Go test for functional mobility and the simple reaction time test for reaction time, 60min after a treatment capsule intake (100mg caffeine/400mg caffeine/placebo). Low caffeine consumption significantly improved (p<.005) cognitive performance, while high caffeine consumption did not. However, the functional performance significantly improved (p<.05) after high caffeine consumption but not after low caffeine consumption. Except, the functional mobility performance significantly improved (p<.05) after both low and high caffeine consumption with better improvement (p<.05) after the high dose. In conclusion, low caffeine consumption improved cognitive performance and high caffeine consumption improved functional performance but the functional mobility improved after both low and high caffeine consumption in middleaged women.