Nutritional Habits and Performance in Male Elite Wheelchair Basketball Players During a Precompetitive Period.

Physical condition and an optimized diet are relevant to enhance performance and recovery. The diet composition and meal frequency of eleven elite wheelchair basketball players were estimated using a 3-day food-weighing diary in two months during the precompetitive-period. Performance was determined through a 20 m sprint test. The players consumed 4.2 ± 0.8 meals/day in May and 4.5 ± 0.9 meals/day in June, resulting in total energy intakes of 2492 ± 362 kcal/d and 2470 ± 497 kcal/d, respectively. The macronutrient distribution was 3.8 ± 1.3 g/kg carbohydrates, 1.7 ± 0.6 g/kg protein, and 36 ± 5% of energy derived from fat in May, and 4.2 ± 1.9 g/kg carbohydrates, 1.5 ± 0.5 g/kg protein and 32 ± 5% of energy derived from fat in June. The maximum velocity of the sprint test improved from 4.77 ± 0.31 m/s in May to 5.19 ± 0.23 m/s in June. Our results revealed carbohydrate intake below and fat intake above recommendations, but improvements of dietary patterns. Further nutritional advice is necessary to ensure health and performance improvements.

Relationship between Sprint Capacity and Acceleration of Wrists in Wheelchair Basketball Players: Design and Reliability of a New Protocol.

The application of new technologies in wheelchair basketball (WB) is important for the advancement and improvement of athletic performance. The purposes of this study are twofold: (a) to develop a methodological design in order to assess WB players' performance, using wireless inertial measurement units (WIMU®) and a laser system (BioLaserSport® with computer vision), in a 20 m sprint test on court and (b) to assess bilateral symmetry as a performance indicator and for injury prevention purposes, the study of which in previous research is unknown. For both aims, the relation of the acceleration of the players' wrists to the speed achieved by the player in the wheelchair was explored. Ten elite WB players participated in an on-court 20 m sprint test during real training. BioLaserSport® with computer vision was used to assess the average velocity (Va) and maximum velocity (Vmax) of the WB players, and two WIMU® were used for the total acceleration (AcelT) of the players' wrists. A very high correlation was obtained in the assessment of the Va (0.97) and AcelT of both wrists (0.90 and 0.85). There was a significant relationship between the average AcelT of the dominant wrist and the Va on-court sprint velocity (p < 0.05). Two players did not show good wrist symmetry. In conclusion, a new methodological protocol was developed, making it possible to assess the bilateral symmetries in elite WB players in on-court real training and the relation between the acceleration of players' wrists and players' wheelchair speed. Coaches can use this protocol to assess performance or for injury prevention, as it shows very good reliability, with high ICC values.

Relationship between Sprint Velocity and Peak Moment at Shoulder and Elbow in Elite Wheelchair Basketball Players.

Specific wheelchair basketball (WB) skills on the court have been poorly analyzed in relation to improving players' performance according to their functional class. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations between maximum velocity (Vmax) and peak moment (PM) in the shoulder and elbow joints in specific WB skills and to compare performance between the main two groups by functional class. Twelve male WB players, divided in categories A (functional classes 1.0-2.5) and B (class 3.0-4.5), performed a sprint test battery composed by four tests (with and without ball) and isokinetic tests. A significant relationship between PM of the internal and external shoulder rotation and the flexion and extension elbow with Vmax (p < 0.05) was found. During a 5 m backward sprint test, category B was faster in the last three meters than category A (p < 0.05) and also for the rest of the test but p = NS. Category B showed higher PM than category A for internal shoulder rotation (ISR) at 60 °/s and at 180 °/s on the dominant side (DS) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, ISR on the DS was found different for both groups and showed significant relationship with Vmax in all of the tests performed. Moreover, at higher speeds the elbow flexion and extension in DS were correlated with Vmax in all the actions with ball (passing, bouncing, and braking) reflected the importance of these joints movements in acquiring speed when performing sport specific WB skills.

Marginal Micronutrient Intake in High-Performance Male Wheelchair Basketball Players: A Dietary Evaluation and the Effects of Nutritional Advice.

Wheelchair basketball has evolved into a high-performance sport over several years, and small variations in player performance can determine the difference between winning and losing. Therefore, adequate micronutrient intake may influence this difference if performance-promoting macronutrient intake and physical fitness are equal between teams. Seventeen elite male wheelchair basketball players belonging to the Spanish National Team participated in this study. Macro- and micronutrient intake were determined using a food-weighing diary over three consecutive days during three training camps in two consecutive years. Current Dietary Reference Intake levels were used to determine the adequacy of intake of seventeen micronutrients of particular interest for athletes. After categorizing the consumed foods into fourteen food groups according to the National Nutrient Database for Standard References (USDA) these groups were used to identify the best predictors of the adequacy of intake for each micronutrient. Total energy intake correlated positively with the adequacy of all micronutrient intake levels, except for vitamins A and E. Five B vitamins and phosphorus, selenium, and iron showed 100% adequacy. All other micronutrient intake levels were found to be inadequate, e.g., vitamin E (51% adequacy) and calcium (73%). The fruit, fish and cereal food groups were found to be predictors of adequate intake of most micronutrients. Together with energy intake (p = .009, η2 = 0.49), the intake of the fruit (p = .032, η2 = 0.39) and egg (p = .036, Kendall's W = 0.42) food groups increased significantly over time, along with improved iodine (p = .008, W = 0.61) and magnesium (p = .030, W = 0.44) adequacy levels. Because the adequacy of micronutrient intake correlates positively with energy intake (R = 0.64, p < .001), a varied diet that includes cereals, fish and fruits is especially important for players with low levels of energy intake. Supplements may be a possible solution if adequate micronutrient intake cannot be achieved through regular dietary intake alone. However, dietary analyses should be conducted on a regular basis throughout the year to improve the nutritional knowledge of the athletes and assure adequate micronutrient intake.

Changes in bone density and bone markers in rhythmic gymnasts and ballet dancers: implications for puberty and leptin levels.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to compare physical activity and biochemical markers with bone mineral acquisition in rhythmic gymnasts and ballet dancers. METHODS: Weight, height, body mass index, nutritional intake, bone age and menstrual histories were analyzed in nine rhythmic gymnasts, twelve ballet dancers and fourteen controls. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed by X-ray absorptiometry at the lumbar spine, hip and radius. Bone alkaline phosphatase (bAP) and amino-terminal propeptide of procollagen I (PNIP) in serum and urinary alpha-isomer of the carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen I (alpha-CTX) were measured. RESULTS: Bone age was delayed 2 years and mean age at menarche was 15+/-0.9 years in rhythmic gymnasts and 13.7+/-1 years in ballet dancers, compared with 12.5+/-1 years in controls. Trocanteric and femoral neck BMD was significantly higher in rhythmic gymnasts compared with ballet dancers and controls. Right forearm (non-loaded zone) BMD was significantly decreased in rhythmic gymnasts and ballet dancers compared with controls. All subjects had normal bAP and PNIP levels, but the alpha-CTX/creatinine (Cr) ratio was increased in rhythmic gymnasts (P<0.001) with an inverse correlation between right forearm BMD and the alpha-CTX/Cr ratio (r=-0.74, P<0.001). Serum leptin levels were decreased in rhythmic gymnasts and ballet dancers. Rhythmic gymnasts had a positive correlation between right forearm BMD and leptin levels (r=0.85, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Decreased bone mass in rhythmic gymnasts could be partially explained by an increase in bone resorption. Serum leptin levels could be implicated in the pubertal delay and be a good marker of bone mass in these subjects.

Nutritional adequacy of different menu settings in elite Spanish adolescent soccer players.

The article describes a study that evaluated the adequacy of 2 different menu settings in a group of elite adolescent Spanish soccer players. Five-day food intake was assessed on 2 occasions, while athletes were consuming a flexible "buffet-style" diet (B; n = 33) and a fixed "menu-style" diet (M; n = 29). For all principal meals of the day food weighing was performed, and snacks were recorded by self-report. M provided significantly higher total energy and carbohydrate intakes than B. Breakfast and snacks both provided more energy in M. Calories obtained from fat were excessive in both settings. Calcium and vitamin D were below recommendations in B but not in M. Fiber, magnesium, folate, vitamin A, and vitamin E intake fell below recommended values in both settings. M provided significantly greater quantities of magnesium and vitamins D and E. Both feeding options were far from optimal in satisfying current scientifically based recommendations for active adolescents.

Valoración antropométrica del estado nutricional de un colectivo de ancianos de Madrid (España) / Anthropometric evaluation of the nutritional status of a elderly group from Madrid (Spain)

Se estudió la composición corporal de un grupo de 75 ancianos (21 varones y 54 mujeres) de 65-95 años (edad media 82.1 ñ 0.7) (x ñ SE), con peso medio de 58.5 ñ 1.7 Kg y altura media de 150.4 ñ 1.1 cm, acogidos en una residencia de tercera edad de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid, mediante la utilización de datos antropométricos. El índice de Quetelet que encontramos, de 25.7 ñ 0.7 Kg/m*, indica la existencia de una situación media normal, pese a la cual existen 21% de ancianos obesos, con Quetelet superior a 30 Kg/m*, aunque también se presenta un 12% de casos de índice inferior a 20 Kg/m*. A pesar de que el espesor de los pliegues cutáneos de los ancianos incluidos en el estudio es menor al observado en otros estudios, la medida del tríceps es más próxima a los resultados de otros autores, y la piel del pliegue suprailiaco está mucho más alejada. Tal hecho indica que este colectivo de ancianos tiene menos grasa abdominal, en proporción a la grasa acumulada en brazos y piernas, que otros grupos de ancianos. Esa distribución de grasa puede ser beneficiosa en relación con el riesgo de sufrir diversas patologías. Se encontró un 15% de varones y un 22% de las mujeres cuyo peso corporal supera en un 25% y en un 30%, respectivamente, el peso corporal ideal, que es el límite a partir del cual se habla de obesidad. Pero también hay ancianos con déficit ponderal; en este sentido, 23% de los ancianos tienen peso corporal menor de 95% del ideal, lo que indica desnutrición leve; 16% tienen menos de 85%, nivel indicativo de desnutrición media, y 2 tienen menos de 75% del ideal, lo que refleja un déficit grave. Con el aumento de edad se observa una disminución de la talla, peso, pliegues cutáneos, circunferencias y diámetros, así como de la masa grasa y muscular, siendo el descenso significativo en relación con el pliegue abdominal y la masa grasa corporal. Nuestros resultados pueden contribuir a aumentar los conocimientos acerca del estado nutritivo y composición corporal de los ancianos españoles, y ponen de relieve la existencia de algunos de ellos con excessos de peso o de grasa corporal, juntamente con situaciones deficitarias de mayor o menor importancia

Influencia de la nutrición en la capacidad funcional de un grupo de ancianos españoles / Influence of the nutritional status on the functional capability of Spanish elderly

Se ha valorado la influencia del estado nutricional (cuantificado mediante datos dietéticos, antropométricos y bioquímicos) en la capacidad funcional (medida por la adiposidad, fuerza de manos y piernas en flexión y extensión y flexibilidad) de un grupo de 11 ancianos institucionados de Madrid (España). Los principales problemas nutricionales que condicionan mermas funcionales son la obesidad, hipercolesterolemia déficit en proteínas y micronutrientes. La influencia adversa de la obesidad e hipercolesterolemia en la capacidad funcional del anciano se pone de relieve por la existencia de relaciones inversas entre la flexibilidad y la fuerza de manos y piernas con el grado de adiposidad, con el espesor de los pliegues cutáneos con la colesterolemia. Respecto a la influecia de la dieta, existen relaciones positivas entre el consumo de alimentos de la dieta, existen relaciones positivas entre el consumo de alimentos y de la mayor parte de los nutrientes con la fuerza de manos y piernas, y la significación estadística se alcanza con frecuencia en el caso de las proteínas, hierro, zinc, magnesio y vitamina B, seguidas de la vitamina C, niacina, tiamina, ácido fólico y vitamina E, En relación con los parámetros sanguíneos las correlaciones de mayor valor son las existentes entre parámetros funcionales y niveles de hierro, ferritina y vitamina C. Nuestros resultados contribuyen a confirmar la influencia de la nutrición en la capacidad funcional del anciano y ponen de relieve la necesidad de mejorar la dieta de las personas de edad, evitando las deficiencias en micronutrientes, así como la conveniencia de incrementar la actividad física del colectivo, ambas medidas supondrán una importante ayuda en la mejora sanitaria y funcional de las personas de edad avanzada