Anthropometrics, Performance, and Psychological Outcomes in Mixed Martial Arts Athletes.

The digit ratio (2D:4D) is related to prenatal testosterone (T) and sports performance. Few investigations have explored 2D:4D in determining the potential performance of individuals in power-based sports, specifically combat sports. This study compared 2D:4D between mixed martial arts (MMA) athletes and non-athletes and investigated the association between (1) handgrip strength (HGS) and lean body mass (LBM) with 2D:4D in MMA athletes and (2) psychometric variables and 2D:4D in MMA athletes and non-athletes. In total, 122 men participated in this study (53 non-athletes, 45 professionals, and 24 amateur fighters). The 2D:4D was measured using a caliper, HGS was assessed with a dynamometer, and psychometric variables were evaluated using questionnaires. Athletes displayed significantly (p < 0.05) lower median values of right (0.95 ± 0.04) and left (0.96 ± 0.03) 2D:4D in comparison with non-athletes, (0.97 ± 0.03) and (0.99 ± 0.03), respectively. We observed that left hand 2D:4D was negatively correlated with HGS (r = −0.43; p < 0.05) and lean body mass (r = −0.49; p < 0.05) in professional athletes. Professional athletes also displayed significant differences (* p < 0.05; ** p < 0.001) in psychometric variables compared to non-athletes for (1) agreeableness **, median values (interquartile range) = −0.11 (−0.19−0.07) and 0.2 (−0.09−0.33), respectively; (2) anger **, mean ± standard error = 2.40 ± 0.12 and 2.89 ± 0.89, respectively; and (3) openness *, mean ± standard error = 0.17 ± 0.04 and −0.006 ± 0.04, respectively. However, we did not observe an association between psychometric variables or wins with 2D:4D. In conjunction with other measures, 2D:4D is valuable in determining the potential athleticism of an MMA athlete.

PARÂMETROS IMUNOLÓGICOS E INFECÇÕES DO TRATO RESPIRATÓRIO SUPERIOR EM ATLETAS DE ESPORTES COLETIVOS / IMMUNOLOGICAL PARAMETERS AND UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS IN TEAM SPORTS ATHLETES / PARÁMETROS INMUNOLÓGICOS E INFECCIONES DEL TRACTO RESPIRATORIO SUPERIOR EN ATLETAS DE DEPORTES DE EQUIPO

RESUMO Entre atletas e treinadores, existe uma percepção comum de que altas cargas de treinamento e competições, aplicadas de forma crônica, com controle nutricional e/ou períodos de recuperação inadequados, podem reduzir a resistência imunológica, aumentando a predisposição aos episódios de infecções, principalmente infecções do trato respiratório superior (ITRS). Nesse sentido, o presente estudo está centrado em revisar as interações entre os parâmetros imunológicos com a síndrome do sobretreinamento, especificamente em esportes coletivos, considerando a sua natureza intermitente. Assim, foi realizada uma revisão de periódicos nacionais e internacionais relacionados com o tema. As correlações entre exercício, sistema imunológico e suscetibilidade às ITRS têm sido avaliadas principalmente em esportes individuais e de resistência em comparação aos coletivos. As modulações dos leucócitos ao longo da temporada, frente ao efeito somatório das cargas de treinamento e competições, quando analisadas especificamente quanto aos neutrófilos e monócitos, possivelmente se relacionam com os processos de reparo tecidual e incidência de ITRS. As modulações relacionadas com os linfócitos parecem estar relacionadas mais diretamente com a incidência das ITRS. Ademais, o entendimento de todos os marcadores propostos, incluindo os imunológicos em associação com os indicadores de desempenho e controle do treinamento, parece ser um caminho mais promissor para o diagnóstico clínico do estado imunológico do atleta e da prevenção da síndrome do sobretreinamento do que necessariamente a busca por um marcador exclusivo de excesso de treinamento.

ABSTRACT Among athletes and coaches, there is a common perception that high training loads and competitions, applied chronically, with inadequate nutritional control and/or recovery periods, may reduce the immune resistance, increasing susceptibility to infection episodes, mainly upper respiratory tract infection (URTI). In this sense, this study is focused on reviewing the interactions between immunological parameters with the overtraining syndrome, specifically in team sports, considering its intermittent nature. Thus, a review of national and international journals related to the topic was held. The correlations between exercise, immune system and susceptibility to URTI have been evaluated mainly in individual and endurance sports compared to the team sports. The modulations of leukocytes throughout the season, against the totalization of training loads and competitions, when analyzed specifically for neutrophils and monocytes, are possibly related to tissue repair processes and incidence of URTI. Modulations related to lymphocytes seem to be more directly related to the incidence of URTI. Moreover, an understanding of all the proposed markers, including immunological markers, in association with the performance indicators and control of training, appears to be a more promising avenue for clinical diagnosis of the athlete's immune status and prevention of overtraining syndrome than the search for a unique marker of overtraining.

RESUMEN Entre los atletas y entrenadores, hay una percepción común de que las altas cargas de entrenamiento y competiciones, aplicados crónicamente, con períodos de control y/o de recuperación nutricional inadecuados, pueden reducir la resistencia inmunológica, aumentando la susceptibilidad a los episodios de infecciones, especialmente del tracto respiratorio superior (ITRS). En este sentido, el presente estudio está centrado en la revisión de las interacciones entre los parámetros inmunológicos con el síndrome de sobreentrenamiento, sobre todo en los deportes de equipo, teniendo en cuenta su naturaleza intermitente. Por lo tanto, se llevó a cabo una revisión de revistas nacionales e internacionales relacionadas con el tema. Las correlaciones entre el ejercicio, el sistema inmunológico y la susceptibilidad a la ITRS han sido evaluadas sobre todo en deportes individuales y de resistencia en comparación con los deportes colectivos. Las modulaciones de leucocitos durante la temporada, con relación al efecto de la suma de las cargas de entrenamiento y competiciones, cuando analizadas específicamente con relación a los neutrófilos y los monocitos, posiblemente están asociadas a los procesos de reparación de tejidos y la incidencia de la ITRS. Las modulaciones relacionadas con los linfocitos parecen estar asociadas más directamente a la incidencia de la ITRS. Además, la comprensión de todos los marcadores propuestos, incluyendo los inmunológicos en asociación con los indicadores de rendimiento y el control del entrenamiento parece ser una vía más prometedora para el diagnóstico clínico del estado inmunológico del atleta y para la prevención del síndrome de sobreentrenamiento que necesariamente la búsqueda de un único marcador de sobreentrenamiento.

Acute eccentric resistance exercise decreases matrix metalloproteinase activity in obese elderly women.

The association of ageing with obesity commits elderly women and has been correlated with multiple degenerative processes, which could be occasioned by an enhancing in levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and metalloproteinase-9 (MMPs) as well by an cytokine unbalance that included an enhancing on interleukin-6 (IL-6). Furthermore, other factors could be also related to degenerative process, as they could be reduced by eccentric resistance exercise (ERE), which seems particularly important to initiate resistance training in obese older adults. In this view, this study aims to determinate the effects of an acute ERE session on serum MMP-2, MMP-9 and IL-6 in elderly obese women. Ten elderly obese women participated in this study and completed a 10 repetitions maximum test (10 RM) utilizing leg extension exercise. Subjects then completed an acute ERE session consisting of seven sets of 10 repetitions at 110% of 10 RM with a rest of 3 min between sets. Blood samples were collected before, immediately after, 3, 24 and 48 h following the ERE session. Zymograms were utilized to measure the MMP-2 and MMP-9 enzymes from all individuals. Moreover, IL-6 concentration was also determinated. After ERE session, MMP-2 and MMP-9 decreased, remaining significantly below baseline values after 48 h (P<0·05). Although not statistically significant, there was a tendency for IL-6 to decrease 48 h after the ERE when compared with 3 h (P = 0·06). An acute ERE session decreases MMP-9, MMP-2 and IL-6 in elderly obese women, possibly indicating a transient protection against the low grade inflammation present in this specific population.

Classification of pro-inflammatory status for interleukin-6 affects relative muscle strength in obese elderly women.

BACKGROUND: Obesity, defined by an excess amount of body fat or a percent body fat higher than 30 % for women is a complex chronic disorder with multifactorial etiology and is accompanied by chronic low-grade inflammation, which results in elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines. AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare muscle strength between high and low pro-inflammatory status in obese elderly women and to verify the relationship of IL-6 with muscle strength and fat-free mass. METHODS: Eighty-nine elderly women (age 69.47 ± 6.07 years; body mass 64.70 ± 12.04 kg; height 1.52 ± 0.06 m; body mass index 27.78 ± 4.75 kg/m(2)) were divided into two groups: high and low inflammatory status for IL-6. Lower limb muscle strength was tested using bilateral leg extension with the ten repetitions maximum test, IL-6 was measured by ELISA and body composition by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS: Women classified from the high pro-inflammatory status presented lower relative muscle strength (P = 0.056) when compared with the low inflammatory status group, with no differences for absolute muscle strength (P = 0.18). There was a significant negative correlation of IL-6 with relative muscle strength (P = 0.03, R = -0.22) and a considerable trend toward significance (P = 0.06, R = -0.19) and negative association with fat-free mass (P = 0.84, R = -0.02). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights that a high pro-inflammatory status in sedentary obese elderly women might impair muscle strength and negatively affect fat-free mass. Thus, elderly women classified with high pro-inflammatory status for IL-6 should receive further health care attention to prevent this deleterious condition.

Análise do período predominante de ingresso, faixa etária e gênero de novos alunos em programas de condicionamento físico em Londrina-PR / Analysis of the predominant period of entry, age and gender of new clients in physical conditioning programs in Londrina-PR

Objetivo: analisar o período predominante de ingresso e a faixa etária de novos alunos em programas de condicionamento físico de Londrina-PR. Metodologia: foram analisados os cadastros de matrículas na academia no período de um ano, de janeiro a dezembro de 2013, totalizando1.015 novos alunos. Posteriormente o período analisado foi dividido em seis bimestres, de forma a facilitar a visualização dos novos ingressantes por período. Os indivíduos foram posteriormente divididos de acordo com a faixa etária. Resultados: das 1015 novas matrículas realizadas, 40,49% (n=411) foram de alunos do sexo masculino e 59,50% (n=604) do sexo feminino. A maior quantidade de matrículas aconteceu no quinto bimestre, que compreende os meses de setembro e outubro. Ademais, durante todos os meses do ano, o grupo etário mais jovem (20 a 29 anos) representou maior número de matrículas. Conclusão: Os meses que antecedem o período de férias se mostraram como os mais atrativos para o ingresso em academias. A população mais jovem se mostrou mais propensa em iniciar a prática de exercícios. As mulheres se revelaram mais incentivadas em iniciar um programa de atividade física do que os homens.(AU)

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the predominant period of admission and the range of age for new clients in a fitness program in Londrina-PR. Methods: the records of enrollment to the physical conditioning programs were evaluated during one year, from January to December of 2013, totaling 1,015 new clients. Subsequently, this period was divided into six periods of two months, in order to make the visualization of new admissions per season easier. Then, subjects were divided into groups according to age. Results: of 1015 new registrations held, 40.49% (n = 411) were male and 59.50% (n = 604) female. The largest amount of admissions took place in the fifth quarter, comprising the months of September and October. Moreover, during all months of the year, the youngest age group (20-29 years) represented the higher number of admissions. Conclusion: the months preceding leading up to the vacation period were the most attractive for the admission in physical conditioning programs. Furthermore, the younger population was more likely to initiate the practice of exercise. Women were more inclinable to start a physical activity program in than men.(AU)

Treinamento de força e sintomas de infecções respiratórias em mulheres pós-menopausadas / Resistance training and symptoms of respiratory infections in postmenopausal women

Introdução: Dentre vários sintomas relacionados à menopausa, destacam-se transpiração noturna, ressecamento vaginal, ondas de calor, alterações psicológicas relacionadas à depressão e diminuição da resposta imunológica. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos do treinamento de força, sobre a intensidade dos sintomas de infecções das vias aéreas superiores em mulheres pós-menopausadas. Métodos: Participaram 16 mulheres (58,67 ± 6,12 anos) sedentárias na pós-menopausa alocadas no grupo controle e treinamento. Todas responderam um recordatório sobre a frequência e intensidade dos sintomas de infecções das vias aéreas superiores por uma escala padronizada ao longo das oito semanas de intervenção. Resultados: Foram apresentados níveis similares quanto à resposta da intensidade dos sintomas de infecções das vias aéreas superiores ao longo da intervenção para os grupos controle (r = -0,75 com p = 0,028) e treinamento (r = -0,78 com p = 0,029). Conclusão: O treinamento de força foi seguro no que se refere aos sintomas de infecções das vias aéreas superiores, já que não houve piora do quadro clínico.

Introduction: Among the various symptoms associated with the menopause, nocturnal transpiration, vaginal dryness, heat waves, psychological alterations related with depression, as well as the decrease of immune response can be mentioned. Objective: To investigate the effects of resistance training on the intensity of the symptoms for upper respiratory tract infections in postmenopausal women. Methods: The study included 16 sedentary post-menopausal women (58.67 ± 6.12 years) allocated to the control group and training. All responded a recall questionnaire about the frequency and intensity of upper respiratory tract infections symptoms by a standardized scale over the eight weeks of the intervention. Results: Similar levels were presented as the response of the intensity of the symptoms of infections of the upper airways during the intervention to the control group (r = -0.75, p = 0.028) and training (r = -0.78, p = 0.029). Conclusion: The resistance training was considered safe as regards symptoms of infection of the upper respiratory tract, since there was no worsening of the clinical profile.