A New Approach for Evaluation of Cardiovascular Fitness and Cardiac Responses to Maximal Exercise Test in Master Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac autonomic function at rest, at maximum exercise, and in recovery after exercise and to determine sex-specific and age-specific values for resting heart rate (RHR), hear rate (HR)-peak, HR recovery (HRR), and HR variability at rest in master runners. Fifty endurance runners (21 women) participated in this study (43.28 ± 5.25 years). The subjects came from different athletic clubs in Andalusia (Spain), and the testing protocol was performed in-season. A 3-km running test was performed and the cardiovascular response was monitored. Regarding sex, no significant differences were found regarding cardiovascular autonomic function at rest, during exercise, and following maximal exercise, only at rest, the standard deviation of all R-R intervals and low frequency values displayed significantly (p < 0.05) lower scores in women. 46% of athletes showed an RHR < 60 bpm. Additionally, HR-peak showed a significant correlation with age (r = −0.369; p = 0.009) and HRR5min (r = 0.476, p = 0.001). Also, endurance performance was inversely associated with obesity traits and cardiometabolic risk factors. In summary, age, sex, fitness, or anthropometrics characteristics did not show a relevant influence on cardiovascular autonomic modulation in master runners. However, the 3-km performance displayed a significant negative association with several factors of cardiometabolic risk.

Comprehensive cardiac evaluation to maximal exercise in a contemporary population of prepubertal children.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate (HR) is a biomarker used to measure physiological function, health status and cardiovascular autonomic function. The purpose of this study was to determine sex- and age-specific reference values for cardiac autonomic function at rest, during maximal exercise and the recovery phase in prepubertal children. METHODS: Five hundred and twelve healthy children 7-11 years of age performed a Léger test. A heart RR-interval monitor recorded the heart data and a specific software analysed the cardiac autonomic response through HR and HR variability (HRV). It analysed HR before the test (resting HR, RHR), during the test (HRpeak) and HR recovery (HRR) in the first minute (HRR1) and the fifth minute (HRR5). The values are mean ± SD. RESULTS: Collectively, 91.2% of girls and 92.3% of boys were within the recommended ranges regarding RHR. The average HRpeak was 199 ± 10.83 b.p.m. and 96.8% of girls and 95.3% of boys were within the minimum threshold value recommended (180 b.p.m.). Boys showed lower values of RHR than girls (p < 0.001) and larger values of HRR 1 and HRR5 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study comprehensively provides a reference set of data for the most important HR variables that can be obtained during exercise testing in prepubertal children regarding age and sex and in a field setting. IMPACT: This is the first study to provide reference values of autonomic cardiac function at rest, during maximal exercise and during the recovery period in prepubertal children aged 7-11 years. Despite the early age of participants, cardiorespiratory fitness, RHR and HRR are different according to sex. Aerobic performance and HRpeak have a negative correlation with body mass index and cardiometabolic risk.

Effect of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity patterns in relation to sociodemographic parameters in Spanish population.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of the present study was to determine the sociodemographic parameters associated to physical activity (PA) patterns changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Spanish population. METHODS: Participants were recruited by sending a survey through various social network channels via the snowball method. A voluntary sample of 2430 individuals consisting of 1203 men and 1227 women (aged between 18 to 73 years old) from the Spanish national territory participated in this study. An online survey was performed to collect the information, which was tested through ad hoc analysis with different sociodemographic variables. Participants were a median of 34 years old (18-73 years old) with a mean BMI of 23.6 kg/m2. RESULTS: The risk factors associated with the change in PA hours during confinement showed that to do sports (ß=-56.88, 95% CI: -79.35 to -34.40, P<0.001), male sex (ß -34.78, 95%CI;-54.02 to -15.52, P<0.001) and the educational level (i.e., elementary school category) (ß=-54.21, 95%CI;-89.10 to -19.32, P=0.002) reported negative changes with hours of PA during confinement. By the contrary, the employment status (passive work) and to be student reported positive association (i.e., increase PA hours per week). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 lockdown led to a reduction PA patterns in Spanish population. Mostly men showed a drastic decrease in hours of PA compared to the women's group. Likewise, the groups of people with elementary and high education showed a decrease in hours of weekly PA, as well as unemployed people.

Analysis of dynamic balance in preschool children through the balance beam test: A cross-sectional study providing reference values.

BACKGROUND: dynamic balance (DB) is a complex ability at an early age and balance deficits are related to numerous disorders. There are several balance measures but wide variation in their use has restricted the capacity to synthesise references values. The main purpose of this study was to analyse the performance of the Balance beam test (BBT) in preschool children, according to age and sex providing BBT reference values, and also to analyse its reliability and validity. RESEARCH QUESTION: could the BBT be a reliable test for measuring dynamic balance in preschool children? METHODS: 593 preschool children (3-6 years) participated in this study. The BBT was used to evaluate DB by measuring distance reached, time spent, and number of steps. Differences between sex and age groups were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Test-retest reliability analysis was performed using intraclass correlation coefficients and the Bland-Altman graphic. Convergent validity was investigated with the Stork Balance stand test (SBST). RESULTS: no significant differences were found for sex in any components of the BBT. Age had positive effects on BBT performance in distance (χ2 = 63.474, p < 0.001), time (χ2 = 46.441, p < 0.001), and step numbers (χ2 = 40.967, p < 0.001). Younger children performed more poorly than older children. No significant interactions between age groups and sex were found. The BBT showed adequate validity and reliability. SIGNIFICANCE: the reference values established for Spanish preschool children in the current study could be used to monitor DB development. It is necessary to take into account distance reached, time spent, and the steps taken to obtain a more precise measure of DB in this population.

Reference values for running sprint field tests in preschool children: A population-based study.

The purpose of this study was to determine reference values in the 20m sprint test for Spanish preschool children and to examine the influence of age, sex and anthropometrics characteristics in sprint performance. A cross-sectional study was used. A total of 3076 children, aged 3 to 6 years, participated in this study (1539 girls and 1537 boys). To measure running speed, the 20m sprint test was used. In the analysis of reliability, using test-retest with 89 children (48% boys), the following descriptive results were obtained (mean, SD): at pretest=5.72±0.98s, at retest=5.71±0.87s (p=0.819), and an intraclass correlation coefficient=0.929 (95% confidence interval 0.891-0.954). Boys are faster than girls at 3 to 5 years old, but no significant differences were found at 6 years old. In relation to age, the sprint time was shorter as kids got older. This study provides reference values for running speed assessment through a 20m sprint test carried out on a large sample of Spanish preschoolers.