Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training With Progressive Loading on Respiratory Muscle Function and Sports Performance in High-Performance Wheelchair Basketball Athletes: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of inspiratory muscle training associated with interval training on respiratory muscle strength and fatigue and aerobic physical performance (PP) in high-performance wheelchair basketball athletes. METHODS: Blinded, randomized clinical trial with 17 male wheelchair basketball players, randomized into control group (CG; n = 8) and training group (TG; n = 9). Respiratory muscle strength was evaluated by measuring maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), aerobic PP by the Yo-Yo test for wheelchair, and recovery of inspiratory muscle fatigue was assessed at 1, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after exercise test. TG performed inspiratory muscle training protocol with incremental loading for 12 weeks with 50%, 60%, and 70% of MIP, while CG performed with load 15% of MIP. RESULTS: After training period, CG presented a significant increase in MIP and MEP (P ≤ .05), with no change in aerobic PP (P ≥ .05). TG showed a significant increase for all variables (≤.05). MIP showed a large effect size for CG (1.00) and TG (1.35), while MEP showed a moderate effect for CG (0.61) and TG (0.73); distance covered had a moderate effect size for TG (0.70). For recovery of inspiratory muscle strength, CG did not present differences, while TG recovered in 10 minutes (≤.05), representing 87% of the pretest value. Positive and significant correlation between MIP and distance (.54; P ≤ .05) was observed. CONCLUSION: Inspiratory muscle training protocol with progressive loading was more effective for increasing aerobic PP and maximal inspiratory strength recovery.

The effects of motor adaptation on ankle isokinetic assessments in older drivers.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze the extent of motor adaptation in ankle plantar flexors and dorsiflexors among older drivers during clinical isokinetic testing. METHODS: One hundred older adults (70.4±5.7 years) participated in two bilateral ankle plantar flexor and dorsiflexor isokinetic assessments at 30°/sec. Peak torque (PTQ), PTQ adjusted for body weight (PTQ/BW), and total work (TW) were analyzed. RESULTS: On the dominant side, PTQ/BW and TW were significantly greater for the second plantar flexion test than were those for the first such test (p<0.001), whereas PTQ, PTQ/BW, and TW (p<0.001) were significantly greater for the second dorsiflexion test than were those for the first such test. On the non-dominant side, plantar flexion PTQ and TW were significantly lower for the second test than were those for the first test (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Older drivers demonstrated better performance with the dominant limb on the second test. The low variability in test execution showed the existence of a motor adaptation effect for the tested movements, despite the short recovery period between the assessments.

The effects of motor adaptation on ankle isokinetic assessments in older drivers

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to analyze the extent of motor adaptation in ankle plantar flexors and dorsiflexors among older drivers during clinical isokinetic testing. METHODS: One hundred older adults (70.4±5.7 years) participated in two bilateral ankle plantar flexor and dorsiflexor isokinetic assessments at 30°/sec. Peak torque (PTQ), PTQ adjusted for body weight (PTQ/BW), and total work (TW) were analyzed. RESULTS: On the dominant side, PTQ/BW and TW were significantly greater for the second plantar flexion test than were those for the first such test (p<0.001), whereas PTQ, PTQ/BW, and TW (p<0.001) were significantly greater for the second dorsiflexion test than were those for the first such test. On the non-dominant side, plantar flexion PTQ and TW were significantly lower for the second test than were those for the first test (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Older drivers demonstrated better performance with the dominant limb on the second test. The low variability in test execution showed the existence of a motor adaptation effect for the tested movements, despite the short recovery period between the assessments.

Trunk Function Correlates Positively with Wheelchair Basketball Player Classification.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were (1) to identify differences in trunk muscle strength and balance among various classes of wheelchair basketball (WCB) players and (2) to determine if trunk muscle strength and balance correlate with the current observation-based classification of WCB players. DESIGN: Isometric trunk strength and balance (limits of stability) were objectively quantified in 42 male WCB players. Principal component analysis was used to synthesize a battery of strength and balance measures into a single, composite score of trunk function. The K-means clustering algorithm was then used to generate an objective classification system by stratifying players into 4 classes based on their trunk function. RESULTS: Results indicated that there were significant differences in trunk muscle strength and balance between various classes of WCB players (P < 0.05), such that the mean peak trunk extensor and flexor torque and limits of stability indices increased progressively according to the players' classes. There was also a significant correlation between observation-based WCB classification and principal component analysis cluster analysis-based WCB classification (ρ = 0.785, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel evidence indicating that trunk strength and balance differ among various classes of WCB players, and objective measures of trunk function correlate positively with the current observation-based WCB classification system.

Quantitative evaluation of trunk muscle strength in wheelchair basketball players

Trunk muscle strength affects trunk controlling playing an important role in performance and to define the classes of wheelchair basketball players. Trunk control capacity differs among players and quantitative assessments of trunk muscle strength have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to identify and correlate quantitative measures of trunk muscle strength with the wheelchair basketball players' classification. Forty-two male wheelchair basketball players with spinal cord injury, amputation, post-poliomyelitis sequelae, and cerebral palsy had their trunk extension and flexion strength evaluated with isokinetic dynamometer. The classes 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 were considered for statistical analysis. Comparison of trunk muscle strength differed significantly between classes: 1.0 and 3.0; 1.0 and 4.0; 2.0 and 3.0; and 2.0 and 4.0. High correlation was found between the trunk muscle strength and players' classes. The findings of the present study showed a strong correlation of trunk muscle strength and wheelchair basketball classes being able to distinguish players in their classes. However, this quantitative method of evaluation of the trunk muscle strength cannot be solely used to make a decision on the full trunk control

Motivaçäo no esporte infanto-juvenil: uma discussäo sobre razöes de busca e abandono da prática esportiva entre crianças e adolescentes / Motivation in youth sports: a discussion about the reasons that children and teenagers look for and quit sports practice

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar, através dos dados da literatura, quais fatores estariam influenciando a motivaçäo das crianças e adolescentes no que tange à prática esportiva. O principal questionamento colocado foi: por que diariamente milhares de crianças e adolescentes iniciam ou abandonam a prática esportiva? Observou-se que os fatores que determinam tais atitudes variam conforme a idade e o sexo. Geralmente,os principais motivos alegados por crianças e adolescentes para in iciar-se e persitir na prática esportiva foram: diversäo, bem-estar físico, competiçäo e novas amizades. Já os principais fatores alegados para oabandono da prática foram: falta de competiçäo, ênfase exagerada na vitória e excesso de pressöes por parte dos pais e dos técnicos. Seria de grande importância que pais, técnicos e dirigentes esportivos se sensibilizassem com tais questöes a fim de que cada vez mais crianças vivenciassem longos períodos de prática esportiva. (au)