Finger Flexor Force Influences Performance in Senior Male Air Pistol Olympic Shooting.

The ability to stabilize the gun is crucial for performance in Olympic pistol shooting and is thought to be related to the shooters muscular strength. The present study examines the relation between performance and finger flexor force as well as shoulder abduction isometric force in senior male air pistol shooting. 46 Spanish national level shooters served as test subjects of the study. Two maximal force tests were carried out recording handgrip and deltoid force data under competition conditions, during the official training time at national Spanish championships. Performance was measured as the total score of 60 shots at competition. Linear regressions were calculated to examine the relations between performance and peak and average finger flexor forces, peak and average finger flexor forces relative to the BMI, peak and average shoulder abduction isometric forces, peak shoulder abduction isometric force relative to the BMI. The connection between performance and other variables such as age, weight, height, BMI, experience in years and training hours per week was also analyzed. Significant correlations were found between performance at competition and average and peak finger flexor forces. For the rest of the force variables no significant correlations were found. Significant correlations were also found between performance at competition and experience as well as training hours. No significant correlations were found between performance and age, weight, height or BMI. The study concludes that hand grip strength training programs are necessary for performance in air pistol shooting.

Validation of a dumbbell body sway test in olympic air pistol shooting.

We present and validate a test able to provide reliable body sway measurements in air pistol shooting, without the use of a gun. 46 senior male pistol shooters who participated in Spanish air pistol championships participated in the study. Body sway data of two static bipodal balance tests have been compared: during the first test, shooting was simulated by use of a dumbbell, while during the second test the shooters own pistol was used. Both tests were performed the day previous to the competition, during the official training time and at the training stands to simulate competition conditions. The participants performance was determined as the total score of 60 shots at competition. Apart from the commonly used variables that refer to movements of the shooters centre of pressure (COP), such as COP displacements on the X and Y axes, maximum and average COP velocities and total COP area, the present analysis also included variables that provide information regarding the axes of the COP ellipse (length and angle in respect to X). A strong statistically significant correlation between the two tests was found (with an interclass correlation varying between 0.59 and 0.92). A statistically significant inverse linear correlation was also found between performance and COP movements. The study concludes that dumbbell tests are perfectly valid for measuring body sway by simulating pistol shooting.

Influencia de determinantes socio-demográficos en la adherencia a las recomendaciones de actividad física en personas de entre 15 y 74 años de Madrid / Influence of socio-demographic correlates on the adherence to physical activity recommendations in adults aged from 15-to 74 years. Madrid, Spain

Fundamento: Conocer el nivel de adherencia de las personas a las recomendaciones de actividad física (AF) es de interés socio-sanitario. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir el nivel de adherencia a las recomendaciones de AF por los adultos de la Comunidad de Madrid, así como analizar su asociación con posibles determinantes socio-demográfi-cos. Métodos: En el presente estudio transversal se realizó una encuesta telefónica a una muestra de 1.500 personas de 15 a 74 años de la Comunidad de Madrid. La AF se evaluó con la versión 2 del Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQv2) y se clasificó en tres niveles de intensidad (bajo, moderado y alto), según procedimiento de análisis del GPAQv2. Las variables socio-demográficas estudiadas fueron: sexo, edad, nivel de estudios, ocupación, estado civil, consumo de tabaco y salud percibida. Para analizar la asociación entre las características socio-demográficas y la AF, se realizaron análisis de regresión logística multinomial. Resultados: El 82% de los varones y 78% de las mujeres (80% en total) tenían un nivel global de AF moderado o alto, y el 40,1% y el 22,6% (31% en total) de los varones y mujeres, respectivamente, alcanzó las recomendaciones de AF en el tiempo libre. Tenían más probabilidades de no alcanzar las recomendaciones de AF los participantes con estudios superiores (OR: 2,05; 95%IC: 1,48-2,86), los fumadores habituales (OR: 1,41; 95%IC: 1,04-1,90) y los que percibían su salud como mala (OR: 3,58; 95%IC: 2,39-5,38). En cuanto a la edad fueron las personas del grupo entre 35-44 años las que tenían menos probabilidades de no cumplirlas (OR: 0,61; 95%IC: 0,39-0,95) y 45-54 (OR: 0,52; 95%IC: 0,32-0,83). Conclusiones: El 20% de las personas de la Comunidad de Madrid que tienen entre 15 y 74 años no cumplen con las recomendaciones mínimas de AF, y cuando se considera la AF realizada exclusivamente durante el tiempo libre se llega al 69% de los participantes que no alcanzan las recomendaciones de AF. El nivel de estudios, el hábito de fumar y la percepción de tener mala salud influyen en los niveles de AF(AU)

Background: To know the adherence to physical activity recommendations of the population is of clinical and social interest. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of Spanish adults adhering to the physical activity recommendations, and to examine the influences of socio-demographic correlates. Methods: In the present cross-sectional study we conducted a telephone survey of 1,500 Spanish adults (15-74 years old) from Madrid (Spain). Physical activity (work place, transport and leisure time) was assessed with the version 2 of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQv2). Participants were categorized in three physical activity levels (low, moderate and high). The socio-demographic correlates included: gender, age, educational level, employment status, marital status, smoking status, and self-perceived health. The association between socio-demographic factors and physical activity was examined with multinomial logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 82% of men and 78% of women (total 80%) had moderate to high levels of physical activity, yet, when considering the leisure time physical activity, only 40,1% of mean and 22,6% of women (total 31.1%) reach the recommendations. Participants with university degree (OR: 2.05; 95%IC: 1.48-2.86), those who were smokers (OR: 1.41; 95%IC: 1.04-1.90), and those who perceived their health as bad (OR: 3.58; 95%IC: 2.39-5.38) were more likely to not to reach the recommendations. In contrast, those participants aged 35-44 years (OR: 0.61; 95%IC: 0.39-0.95) and 45-54 years (OR: 0.52; 95%IC: 0.32-0.83) were less likely not to reach the recommendations. Conclusions: The 20% of adults from Madrid did not reach the physical activity recommendations, and when considering only leisure time physical activity, only 69% reached the recommendations. The findings suggest that the educational level, smoking status, and the self-perceived health seem to be key determinants. There is a large diversity in the physical activity levels in the population subgroup; therefore, there is a need of developing socialecological approaches to physical activity promotion(AU)

[Influence of socio-demographic correlates on the adherence to physical activity recommendations in adults aged from 15-to 74 years]. / Influencia de determinantes socio-demográficos en la adherencia a las recomendaciones de actividad física en personas de entre 15 y 74 años de Madrid: Madrid, Spain.

BACKGROUND: To know the adherence to physical activity recommendations of the population is of clinical and social interest. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of Spanish adults adhering to the physical activity recommendations, and to examine the influences of socio-demographic correlates. METHODS: In the present cross-sectional study we conducted a telephone survey of 1,500 Spanish adults (15-74 years old) from Madrid (Spain). Physical activity (work place, transport and leisure time) was assessed with the version 2 of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQv2). Participants were categorized in three physical activity levels (low, moderate and high). The socio-demographic correlates included: gender, age, educational level, employment status, marital status, smoking status, and self-perceived health. The association between socio-demographic factors and physical activity was examined with multinomial logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 82% of men and 78% of women (total 80%) had moderate to high levels of physical activity, yet, when considering the leisure time physical activity, only 40,1% of mean and 22,6% of women (total 31.1%) reach the recommendations. Participants with university degree (OR: 2.05; 95%IC: 1.48-2.86), those who were smokers (OR: 1.41; 95%IC: 1.04-1.90), and those who perceived their health as bad (OR: 3.58; 95%IC: 2.39-5.38) were more likely to not to reach the recommendations. In contrast, those participants aged 35-44 years (OR: 0.61; 95%IC: 0.39-0.95) and 45-54 years (OR: 0.52; 95%IC: 0.32-0.83) were less likely not to reach the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: The 20% of adults from Madrid did not reach the physical activity recommendations, and when considering only leisure time physical activity, only 69% reached the recommendations. The findings suggest that the educational level, smoking status, and the self-perceived health seem to be key determinants. There is a large diversity in the physical activity levels in the population subgroup; therefore, there is a need of developing social-ecological approaches to physical activity promotion.