The effect of a core training program on jump performance in female handball players / Efecto de un programa de entrenamiento del core en la capacidad de salto de jugadoras de balonmano / Efeito de um programa do treinamiento do Core na desempenho de saltos em jogadoras de handebol

Objectives: To analyze the effects of core strength training on jump performance in female handball players. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial. A total of 20 female handball players [age = 19.5 (1.4) years, height = 1.65 (0.05) m, body mass= 61.7 (9.3) kg] were recruited and split in: a core training group and a control group. The core training group participated in 8 weeks in-season of a core strength program (2 times/week). Pre- and post-intervention jump height, contact time and reactive strength index were collected during bilateral and unilateral drop vertical jumps. Frontal knee projection angle was measured only at unilateral drop jumps. Statistical significant difference was set at p ˂0.05. Results: group x time interactions were statistically significant for bilateral and unilateral jump height and for FKPA (<0.05). Core training group increased the bilateral jump height by 18.8% and showed a statistically significant difference in reactive strength index from pre-intervention [0.07 (0.03)] to post-intervention [0.10 (0.04)]. The core training group also improved the unilateral jump height by 20%, but only at the non-dominant leg. This improvement was accompanied by a statistically significant decrease in the frontal knee projection angle from pre-intervention [13.8 (7.4) degrees]to post-intervention [9.3 (6.1) degrees]. Control group did not obtain significant improvements in any of the assessed variables. There were no significant differences between groups in the baseline (p>0.05). Conclusion: A core strength training increased jump performance (drop jump) in female handball players.(AU)

Objetivos: Analizar los efectos del entrenamiento de la fuerza del core sobre el rendimiento del salto en jugadoras de balonmano. Métodos: Ensayo controlado aleatorio. 20 jugadoras de balonmano [edad = 19.5 (1.4) años, altura = 1.65 (0.05) m, masa corporal = 61.7 (9.3) kg]. Dos grupos: entrenamiento del core y grupo de control. El grupo entrenamiento del core realizó 2 veces por semana (8 semanas) un programa de fortalecimiento específico del core. Fueron registradas pre-post intervención, la altura de salto, el tiempo de contacto, el índice de fuerza reactiva en saltos verticales de caída bilateral y unilateral y el ángulo de proyección frontal de rodilla en saltos con recepción unilateral (p 0.05) ˂0.05. Resultados: las interacciones grupo x tiempo fueron estadísticamente significativas para la altura de salto bilateral y unilateral y la FKPA (p<0.05). El grupo de entrenamiento del core aumentó la altura de salto bilateral en un 18.8% y mostró diferencias significativas en el índice de fuerza reactiva desde la preintervención [0.07 (0.03)] hasta la post-intervención [0.10 (0.04)]. Asimismo, mejoró la altura de salto unilateral en un 20%, en la pierna no dominante. Esta mejora se acompañó de una disminución del ángulo de proyección frontal de la rodilla entre el pre [13.8 (7.4) grados] y el post [9.3 (6.1) grados]. El grupo de control no obtuvo mejoras significativas en las variables evaluadas. No hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos antes de la intervención (p>0.05). Conclusiones: el fortalecimiento del core ha influido positivamente en el rendimiento del salto (drop jump) en las jugadoras.(AU)

Objetivos: Analisar os efeitos do treino de força central no desempenho de saltos em jogadores de andebol feminino. Métodos: Ensaio controlado aleatorizado. 20 jogadoras de andebol [idade = 19,5 anos (1,4), altura = 1,65m (0,05), massa corporal = 61,7kg (9,3)]. Dois grupos: grupo núcleo de formação e grupo de controlo. O grupo de formação principal realizou 2 vezes por semana (8 semanas) um programa específico de reforço do núcleo. Foram registados a intervenção pré-pós, altura do salto, tempo de contacto, índice de força reativa em saltos verticais bilaterais e unilaterais, e ângulo de projeção do joelho frontal em saltos de captura unilaterais (p ˂0.05). Resultados: As interações grupo x tempo foram estatisticamente significativas para a altura de salto bilateral e unilateral, e FKPA (p<0,05). O grupo de treino principal aumentou a altura do salto bilateral em 18,8% e mostrou diferenças significativas no índice de força reativa desde a pré-intervenção [0,07 (0,03)] até à pós-intervenção [0,10 (0,04)]. Para além disso, a altura do salto unilateral melhorou em 20% na perna não dominante. Esta melhoria foi acompanhada por uma diminuição do ângulo de projecção do joelho frontal entre os pré [13,8 (7,4) graus] e os pós [9,3 (6,1) graus]. O grupo de controlo não teve uma melhoria significativa nas variáveis avaliadas. Não houve diferenças significativas entre os grupos na linha de base (p>0,05). Conclusões: O reforço do núcleo teve um efeito positivo no desempenho dos jogadores no salto de queda.(AU)

Considerations for the Design of a Physical Fitness Battery to Assess Adults with Intellectual Disabilities: Preliminary Reference Values for the SAMU DIS-FIT Study.

For the assessment of the health-related physical fitness (PF) of individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), tools designed for people without disabilities have generally been used. Also, the results of these assessments have routinely been compared with the scores obtained by people without ID. The objectives of the present study are to present the rationale for the design of an assessment battery for PF, the so-called SAMU DIS-FIT battery, and to present the results obtained by the participants classified according to age, sex, and level of PF (physical fitness). The selection criteria for the tests that would make up the battery were: (i) utility, (ii) psychometric properties, (iii) easiness and diversity, (iv) simplicity of execution, (v) familiarity and motivation, and (vi) economy of resources. A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the PF of 261 individuals with ID. To interpret the results obtained by the participants, each of the quantitative variables of PF was categorized into three levels: lower-fit, mid-fit, and higher-fit. The findings of this study serve as a first step in establishing PF baseline values for individuals with ID.

Feasibility and reliability of a physical fitness tests battery for adults with intellectual disabilities: The SAMU DIS-FIT battery.

BACKGROUND: People with intellectual disability (ID) have lower performances in physical fitness (PF) tests than people without ID, a situation that exists during all the life stages. However, the assessment of the FP of persons with ID often uses instruments that were designed for non-disabled people. AIM: To check the reliability and feasibility of 8 PF tests in adults with mild to moderate ID. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with a test-retest design in a maximum interval of 2 weeks with 240 adults (160 men and 80 women) with mild to moderate ID in order to assess the feasibility and reliability of the following 8 tests: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), the timed up & go test (TUG), the deep trunk flexion test (DTF), the hand grip test (HG), the timed stand test (TST), the 30-s sit-up (SUP) test, and the 6-min walk test (6MWT). The complete battery was called the SAMU-Disability Fitness Battery (SAMU-DISFIT). The psychometric properties of the battery, feasibility, reliability, the standard error of the measurement (SEM) and the minimal detectable change (MDC) were calculated. RESULTS: The TUG, DTF, HG, TST, and 6MWT showed an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) from fair to high reliability. Only the SUP test in men had an ICC lower than 0.7 and high SEM values. CONCLUSION: The psychometric properties provide robust data on the use of the SAMU-DISFIT battery in people with ID and can be considered a useful tool for assessing PF in adults with mild to moderate ID in future research.

Feasibility and Reliability of a Physical Fitness Test Battery in Individuals with Down Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic disorder that occurs because of an abnormal division between cells that results in an extra copy of chromosome 21. Some studies show that physical exercise in people with DS increases some cognitive capacities, such as memory, and improves the quality of life. AIM: The main aim of this study was to perform an analysis of the reliability and feasibility of the SAMU-Disability Fitness (DISFIT) battery in adults with DS. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a test-retest design was performed in a maximum interval of 2 weeks in 37 subjects (11 women and 26 men) aged between 21 and 58 years old with DS. Eight field-based fitness tests were proposed to assess the physical fitness (PF) of adults with DS: Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC), the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), the Deep Trunk Flexibility test (DTF), the Hand Grip test (HG), the Timed Stand Test (TST), the 30-s Sit-Up (SUP) and the 6-Min Walk Test (6MWT). RESULTS: The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) in all the tests was good and high (>0.80), except for the 6MWT, whose reliability was fair. CONCLUSION: The SAMU-DISFIT battery is a reliable and feasible physical fitness battery which has been created with the purpose of establishing tests which measure the four basic components of PF (flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, musculoskeletal fitness and motor fitness) in adults with DS.

Relationship between body composition and postural control in prepubertal overweight/obese children: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Excess body weight during childhood causes reduced motor functionality and problems in postural control, a negative influence which has been reported in the literature. Nevertheless, no information regarding the effect of body composition on the postural control of overweight and obese children is available. The objective of this study was therefore to establish these relationships. METHODS: A cross-sectional design was used to establish relationships between body composition and postural control variables obtained in bipedal eyes-open and eyes-closed conditions in twenty-two children. Centre of pressure signals were analysed in the temporal and frequency domains. Pearson correlations were applied to establish relationships between variables. Principal component analysis was applied to the body composition variables to avoid potential multicollinearity in the regression models. These principal components were used to perform a multiple linear regression analysis, from which regression models were obtained to predict postural control. FINDINGS: Height and leg mass were the body composition variables that showed the highest correlation with postural control. Multiple regression models were also obtained and several of these models showed a higher correlation coefficient in predicting postural control than simple correlations. These models revealed that leg and trunk mass were good predictors of postural control. More equations were found in the eyes-open than eyes-closed condition. INTERPRETATION: Body weight and height are negatively correlated with postural control. However, leg and trunk mass are better postural control predictors than arm or body mass. Finally, body composition variables are more useful in predicting postural control when the eyes are open.