Effects of Exergames on Balance, Functional Mobility, and Quality of Life of Geriatrics Versus Home Exercise Programme: Randomized Controlled Study.

AIM: To compare the effects of exergames (EGs) using the Xbox Kinect™ device and home exercise (HE) on balance, functional mobility, and quality of life of individuals aged 65 years or older. METHOD: One hundred participants who met the inclusion criteria were randomized to the EG or HE group. The EG group took part in a 6-week programme using the Xbox360Kinect™ device, and the HE group took part in a 6-week balance exercise programme at home 5 days a week. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) was used to assess balance, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test was used to evaluate functional walking, and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) was used to assess quality of life. RESULTS: Forty-eight participants in the EG group and 42 participants in the HE group completed the study. The groups were similar in terms of age, sex, and pretreatment values of BBS, TUG, and SF-36. Although the BBS scores of both groups improved significantly (all p<0.05), the post-treatment scores of the EG group were better than those of the HE group. The TUG scores improved only in the EG group (p<0.05). The increase in the BBS scores and decrease in the TUG test scores were significant only in the EG group (all p<0.05). A significant improvement was also observed in the quality of life parameters of physical functioning, social role functioning, physical role restriction, general health perceptions, and physical component scores in the post-exercise evaluations of the EG group. The participants commented that they found the EG programme very entertaining. CONCLUSION: The EG can be considered a safe, entertaining and sustainable alternative to HE programmes, and it may have positive effects on balance, functional walking and quality of life in geriatric subjects.

The examination of the heart rate recovery after anaerobic running in soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate recovery depending on anaerobic running. A total of 23 professional soccer players who were player of Turkish Super Leagues, were examined. Anaerobic Run test was applied to the soccer players and their heart rates were recorded before running, just after running, in 3rd and 6th minutes of recovery period. Any statistical differences were not found between the heart rates before run and in 6th minute after run (p > 0.05). On the other hand, there was a statistical difference between the heart rates before run, after run and in 3rd minute after run; the heart rates after run and before run; the heart rates in 3rd and 6th minutes of recovery (p < 0.05). A relationship was determined between the heart rates after run, before run (r = 0.457) and in 3rd minute of recovery (r = 0.537) and the heart rates in 3rd and 6th minutes of recovery (r = 0.629). On the other hand, no relation was found between the heart rates before run, in 3rd minute recovery (r = 0.247) and in 6th minute of recovery (r = -0.004) and the heart rates just after run and in 6th minute of recovery (r = 0.280) (p > 0.05). In conclusion, even if the increase of heart rate occurring after anaerobic run doesn't completely return to normal in 3rd minute of recovery, it will supply the athlete with a suitable condition for the second loading with regard to efficient rest. It is thought that a rest over 3 minutes should be given for athletes to make the heart rate after anaerobic run return to normal.

The effects of 8-week speed training program on the acceleration ability and maximum speed running at 11 years athletes.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an 8-week speed training program on the acceleration ability and maximum speed at 11 years athletes. A total of 30 healthy female athletes volunteered to participate in this study. They were divided randomly into 1 of 2 groups: Experimental group (EG; N = 15) and control group (CG; N = 15). The mean (SD) age was 11.20 +/- 0.32 years, height was 1.44 +/- 0.08 m, and weight was 35.20 +/- 2.02 kg for the experimental group; the mean (SD) age was 11.40 +/- 0.39 years, height was 1.45 +/- 0.05 m, and weight was 36.06 +/- 1.15 kg for the control group. A speed training program was applied to the subjects 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Testing was conducted before and after 8 weeks of training. Acceleration and maximum speed was evaluated for 15-m and 30-m, respectively, involving sprinting 15 m and 30 m as fast as possible from a stationary start position that was ascertained during a 50-m. Electronic timekeeping was conducted by the facility--Brower Timing System--made in Utah, USA., consisting of 4 components. Paired t-tests detected significant differences in pre- and posttests for clearance time of 5 m during 50 m in the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Therefore, acceleration phase was significantly reduce at 15 m distance interval for the experimental group and control groups posttraining than pretraining (0-15 m, p < 0.05). Acceleration improvement was 12.6% for the experimental group posttraining, on the other hand, acceleration improvement was 5% for the control groups posttraining. we did not find significant difference between pretest and posttest in 10-15 m, 15-20 m, and 20-25 m for the experimental group (p > 0.05). On the other hand, we did find significant difference between pretest and posttest values of other clearance times of consecutively each 5m during 50 m for the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Also, this study observed that athletes reached maximum speed in 30 m. In conclusion, in speed training, it is important to improve as many fast motor units as possible, which are more suitable for fast movements. The gains in sprint performance occurred in the initial acceleration and speed-maintenance phases. The ability to accelerate quickly from a stationary position will provide a competitive advantage for athletes.

Effect of circuit training on the sprint-agility and anaerobic endurance.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of circuit training directed toward motion and action velocity over the sprint-agility and anaerobic endurance. A total of 32 healthy male physical education students with a mean age of 23.92 +/- 1.51 years were randomly allocated into a circuit training group (CTG; n = 16) and control group (CG; n = 16). A circuit training consisting of 8 stations was applied to the subjects 3 days a week for 10 weeks. Circuit training program was executed with 75% of maximal motion numbers in each station. The FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC) test battery, which was designed by FIFA, was used for measuring sprint-agility and anaerobic endurance. Pre- and posttraining testing of participants included assessments of sprint-agility and anaerobic endurance. Following training, there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in sprint-agility between pre- and posttesting for the CTG (pretest = 14.76 +/- 0.48 seconds, posttest = 14.47 +/- 0.43 seconds). Also, there was a significant (p < 0.05) difference in anaerobic endurance between pre- and posttesting for the CG (pretest = 31.53 +/- 0.48 seconds, posttest = 30.73 +/- 0.50 seconds). In conclusion, circuit training, which is designed to be performed 3 days a week during 10 weeks of training, improves sprint-agility and anaerobic endurance.

The evaluation of the running speed and agility performance in professional and amateur soccer players.

The professional and amateur soccer players were tested to determine the running speed and agility performance by playing positions. The sample included 108 professional male soccer players at the national level and 79 amateur male soccer players at a regional level on teams from 10 clubs in Turkey. The study involved the players being assessed by the 10- x 5-m shuttle run test ( 10 x 5 SRT) on a soccer field in a soccer season.The difference between the mean scores of the professional and amateur players is significant. Differences between mean scores according to playing positions of soccer players are not significant.In conclusion, professional soccer players' running speed and agility performances are higher than amateur soccer players. In addition, these results indicate that all soccer players have the same running speed and agility performance in accordance with their different playing positions. Coaches should consider individual training programs based on the positional role of soccer players.

Evaluating sprinting ability, density of acceleration, and speed dribbling ability of professional soccer players with respect to their positions.

The aim of this study is to evaluate sprinting ability, density of acceleration, and speed dribbling ability of professional soccer players with respect to their positions.A total of 243 professional soccer players were examined. These soccer players are playing in different leagues of Turkey. The F-MARC test battery, which was designed by FIFA, was used for soccer players. We did not find any statistical differences for 30-m sprint test and four-line sprint test values with respect to positions of soccer players (p > 0.05). On the other hand, there was a statistical difference for speed dribbling test values in terms of positions of soccer players (p < 0.05). It was found that the test values of defense players, midfielders, and forwards were better than the test values of goalkeepers (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study, which was done during the training season, shows that there is a similarity between the abilities of professional soccer players for 30-m sprint and four-line sprint tests. Therefore, it is believed that there must be fast players in all positions in terms of sprint ability. There is a similarity among defenders, midfielders, and forwards in terms of speed dribbling ability; in contrast, the speed dribbling ability of goal keepers is different from the players in those three positions. Although there are many more speed dribbling exercises within the training programs of defenders, midfielders, and forwards, the speed dribbling ability test is not used much for goal keepers. Correspondingly, speed dribbling ability is not a specific indicator for goal keepers, and this test should not be used for the choice of goalkeepers.