Prevention of falling risk in elderly people: the relevance of muscular strength and symmetry of lower limbs in postural stability.

Falls are one of the major health problems affecting the quality of life among older adults. The aging process is associated with decreasing muscle strength and an increasing risk of falling. The variables and techniques adopted to quantify muscular strength and postural stability were different in each protocol; a great number of reports analyzed the risk factors and predictors of falls, but the results appear still uncertain. To date, there is no clear, definitive statement or review that has examined the effect of the quadriceps strength on static balance performances in different sensory conditions. This contribution aims to provide an overview of experimental works to increase the comprehension and prevention of falls and fall-related injuries in the elderly. Based on a review of the literature, this work was designed to explore the relationship among risk of falls, postural stability, and muscular strength of lower limbs in older adults.

Does a short period of lower limb strength training improve performance in field-based tests of running and agility in young professional soccer players?

The present study assessed the effects of specific leg strength training (as part of a broader exercise program) on running speed and agility in young professional soccer players. Twenty-six male players (ages 17 to 19 years) were divided into 3 groups. The reference group (Re) performed individual technical work only, the coordination group (Co) performed a circuit designed to promote agility, coordination, and balance control (together with some technical work) and the Squat group (Sq) underwent 3 series of 3 squat repetitions (at 90% of the individual maximum value) and a sprint, before competition of the agility circuit and some technical work. These specific training programs were performed 5 times a week for 3 weeks. Before the experimental session and at the end of each week, all players were assessed using 4 types of tests, (agility, a shuttle test with changes of direction, and 2 sprints over 10 and 7.32 meters, respectively), with completion time being the only performance parameter recorded. Our results indicate that in the short sprints or shuttle sprint with changes in direction, lower limb strengthening did not improve performance. Performance improved in all 3 groups in the agility test but more so in the reference and coordination groups. It appears that soccer-specific training composed of exercise circuits specifically adapted to the different types of effort actually used in match play can enhance agility and coordination.

Caffeine in the milk prevents respiratory disorders caused by in utero caffeine exposure in rats.

Consequences of postnatal caffeine exposure by the milk on ponto-medullary respiratory disturbances observed following an in utero caffeine exposure were analysed. Ponto-medullary-spinal cord preparations from newborn rats exposed to caffeine during gestation but not after the birth display an increase in respiratory frequency and an exaggeration of the hypoxic respiratory depression compared to not treated preparations. These data suggest that tachypneic and apneic episodes encountered in human newborns whose mother consumed caffeine during pregnancy are due in large part to central effect of caffeine at the ponto-medullary level. Both baseline respiratory frequency increase and emphasis of hypoxic respiratory depression are not encountered if rat dams consumed caffeine during nursing. Our hypothesis is that newborn rats exposed to caffeine during gestation but not after the birth would be in withdrawal situation whereas, when caffeine is present in drinking fluid of lactating dams, it goes down the milk and is able to prevent ponto-medullary respiratory disturbances.

Work-rate of substitutes in elite soccer: a preliminary study.

The aim of this study was to investigate the work-rate of substitutes in professional soccer. A computerised player tracking system was used to assess the work-rates of second-half substitutes (11 midfielders and 14 forwards) in a French Ligue 1 club. Total distance, distance covered in five categories of movement intensity and recovery time between high-intensity efforts were evaluated. First- and second-half work-rates of the replaced players were compared. The performance of substitutes was compared to that of the players they replaced, to team-mates in the same position who remained on the pitch after the substitution and in relation to their habitual performances when starting games. No differences in work-rate between first- and second-halves were observed in all players who were substituted. In the second-half, a non-significant trend was observed in midfield substitutes who covered greater distances than the player they replaced whereas no differences were observed in forwards. Midfield substitutes covered a greater overall distance and distance at high-intensities (p<0.01) and had a lower recovery time between high-intensity efforts (p<0.01) compared to other midfield team-mates who remained on the pitch. Forwards covered less distance (p<0.01) in their first 10-min as a substitute compared to their habitual work-rate profile in the opening 10-min when starting matches while this finding was not observed in midfielders. These findings suggest that compared to midfield substitutes, forward substitutes did not utilise their full physical potential. Further investigation is warranted into the reasons behind this finding in order to optimise the work-rate contributions of forward substitutes.

Effects of home-based training at dyspnea threshold in children surgically repaired for congenital heart disease.

The present investigation was aimed at assessing the effect of home-based training on cardiorespiratory responses in children surgically corrected for congenital heart impairment using dyspnea threshold (DT) as training intensity. A group of 23 children aged 15 +/- 1.4 years who had undergone surgical correction for congenital heart disease (CHD group) and 12 healthy children used as a control group performed an exercise protocol during which aerobic capacity, ventilatory threshold (VT), and DT were assessed. Afterwards, the CHD group was divided into two subgroups: trained and untrained subjects. Training sessions over a period of 2 months were performed at an intensity corresponding to DT by the CHD trained group. Dyspnea was scored according to a visual analog scale during the warm up, at each exercise stage, and during the recovery period. DT was located on the oxygen uptake/dyspnea curve when a sudden increase in the dyspnea score occured, while VT was defined according to the methodology previously employed by Beaver and colleagues. The results showed that children who had undergone surgery for CHD had reduced aerobic capacity. No significant difference was observed between VT and DT in children corrected for CHD. These two thresholds were highly related. Home-based training at DT did not strongly improve aerobic capacity nor did it influence the relationship between VT and DT. Further studies should be conducted to confirm these preliminary findings, particularly when aerobic capacity is improved by training.