In handball, throwing velocity is considered to be one of the essential factors in achieving the ultimate aim of scoring a goal. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of a core ...training program on throwing velocity in 30 handball players (age 18.7 ± 3.4 years, body height 179.3 ± 7.0 cm, body mass 78.9 ± 7.7 kg), 16 of whom were in the junior category and 14 of whom were in the senior category. The 30 players were randomly divided into two groups, the control group (n = 15) and the experimental group (n = 15). For a period of ten weeks, both groups attended their regular handball training sessions (four per week), but in addition, the experimental group participated in a program specifically aimed at progressively strengthening the lumbo-pelvic region and consisting of seven exercises performed after the general warm-up in each regular session. Pre- and post-tests were carried out to analyze each player’s throwing velocity from different throwing positions and thus assess the effects of this specific training program. Statistically significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) in throwing velocity were observed between the experimental group, which presented a percentage improvement of 4.5%, and the control group, which did not show any improvement. The results seem to indicate that an increase in the strength and stability of the lumbo-pelvic region can contribute to an improvement in the kinetic chain of the specific movement of throwing in handball, thus, increasing throwing velocity.
To explore the perceived benefits of a group-based exercise program for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) undergoing chemotherapy treatment.
In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted ...with all participants (n = 27) at the end of the exercise program (patients, relatives and healthcare professionals). The exercise instructor in charge of the exercise program with CRC patients also collected observational field notes throughout a research diary.
Three main themes related to exercise as a coping strategy were obtained: (a) physical recovery; (b) psychosocial well-being, and (c) reconnection with their embodied selves and normal lives. Physical recovery included a perceived increase in fitness and a reduction in physical side-effects. Psychosocial well-being included perceived benefits in self-confidence, sense of control, reduced fear, feeling of being useful, sense of achievement, positive thinking and avoiding depression. All the physical and psychosocial benefits helped patients reconnect with their embodied selves, engage in activities practised before the diagnoses, improve their body image, avoid stigma, and increase their social life beyond cancer diagnoses. In this sense, some patients held on to their past selves, trying to keep or recover normality in their lives, while others acknowledged that they might not be the same person anymore, with exercise being part of this new identity.
This study shows that exercise is a coping strategy that benefitted CRC patients in several ways related to their physical and psychosocial quality of life.
•The exercise program contributed to the QOL of patients during the chemotherapy.•Exercise reinforced patients' confidence about re-engaging in pre-cancer actions.•The group-based exercise helped patients to reconnect with their “new” identity.•Physical recovery reduced the physical side-effects experimented by patients.
Cortell-Tormo, JM, García-Jaén, M, Chulvi-Medrano, I, Hernández-Sánchez, S, Lucas-Cuevas, ÁG, and Tortosa-Martínez, J. Influence of scapular position on the core musculature activation in the prone ...plank exercise. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2255-2262, 2017-Prone plank is a widely used exercise in core stability training. Research has shown that pelvic tilt plays an important role on the electromyographic (EMG) activation of core musculature. However, the influence of scapular position on EMG activation is currently unknown. Therefore, this study evaluated the influence of scapular position on the core muscles during a prone plank. Surface EMG of the rectus abdominis (RA), external oblique (EO), internal oblique (IO), and erector spinae (ES) was collected in 15 participants (10 men and 5 women). Four variations of the prone plank were evaluated: scapular abduction with anterior (ABANT) and posterior (ABRET) pelvic tilt; and scapular adduction with anterior (ADANT), and posterior (ADRET) pelvic tilt. Individual muscle EMG and overall EMG for each plank exercise was analyzed. Joint positions were controlled with a 2D kinematic analysis. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were also registered. The ADRET resulted in higher overall EMG activity compared with ABANT (p = 0.04) and ADANT (p = 0.04). Moreover, ADRET resulted in greater EMG activity compared with ADANT, ABANT, and ABRET for EO (p = 0.000; p = 0.000; p = 0.035), IO (p = 0.000; p = 0.000; p = 0.005), and ES (p = 0.019; p = 0.001; p = 0.014). Regarding RA, ADRET was significantly higher compared with ADANT (p = 0.002) and ABANT (p = 0.005). Finally, ADRET provoked a higher RPE compared with ABANT (p = 0.000), ABRET (p = 0.001), and ADANT (p = 0.015). These findings demonstrate the influence of the scapular and pelvic position on the EMG response of the core muscle groups analyzed in this study, and highlight the greater contribution of these muscles to the postural stabilizing demands during posterior pelvic tilt positions, particularly when the scapulae are in adduction.
Exercise is important as adjuvant in the chronic low back pain (CLBP) treatment. Functional training could involve benefits for low back pain (LBP) patients.
To evaluate the effects of a 12-week ...period of functional resistance training on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), disability, body pain, and physical fitness in CLBP females.
Nineteen females CLBP were recruited according to Paris Task Force on Back Pain criteria. Participants were randomly assigned to an exercise group (EG); and a control group (CG). Subjects were tested at baseline and at week 12 after 24 sessions, 2 days per week. Body pain was assessed using visual analog scale (VAS), disability with Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and HRQOL with Short Form 36 questionnaire. Physical fitness was measured using: flamingo test, back endurance test, side bridge test, abdominal curl-up tests, and 60-s squat test.
EG showed significant improvements in physical function (10%; p< 0.05), body pain (42%; p< 0.05), vitality (31%; p< 0.05), physical component scale (15%; p< 0.05), VAS (62.5%; p< 0.01), ODI (61.3%; p< 0.05), balance (58%; p< 0.05), curl-up (83%; p< 0.01), squat (22%; p< 0.01), static back (67%; p< 0.01), and side bridge (56%; p< 0.01).
Periodized functional resistance training decreased pain and disability and improved HRQOL, balance and physical fitness in females with CLBP, and can thus be used safely in this population.
University students frequently show high levels of physical inactivity as well as a sedentary lifestyle. This fact has been increased after the recent health crisis caused by the COVID-19. Physical ...exercise, as part of the programs of the Healthy Universities, could be a strategy to face this problem. The purpose of this pilot study was to analyze the effects of an exercise program on the level of physical activity, mental health, and body composition in sedentary university students. A longitudinal study with repeated measures was designed. 14 students were evaluated at three different moments: at the beginning of the exercise program, after program completion, and two weeks after the end of the program. The followings instruments were used: International Physical Activity Questionnaire (level of physical activity), DASS-21 questionnaire (level of stress, depression, and anxiety), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (quality of sleep), a body tape measure (perimeters), and a body composition monitor (weight, BMI, % fat mass and % muscle mass). After five weeks of intervention and two weeks post-intervention, the levels of physical activity, mental health and quality of sleep were improved (p < 0.05). Regarding body composition, muscle mass was the only variable that improved after five weeks of exercise program (p = 0.04). The results of the present study showed that the actions of universities based on healthy training programs improve the level of physical activity, mental health, and body composition of university students.
La inactividad física y sedentarismo se encuentran presentes en un alto porcentaje de los estudiantes universitarios, hecho que se ha visto acentuado tras la crisis sanitaria vivida recientemente a causa de la COVID-19. El ejercicio físico como parte de los programas de las Universidades Saludables se presenta como una posible estrategia para afrontar esta problemática. El objetivo de este estudio piloto fue analizar los efectos de un programa de entrenamiento sobre el nivel de actividad física (AF), salud mental y composición corporal en estudiantes universitarios sedentarios. Se diseñó un estudio longitudinal de medidas repetidas. 14 estudiantes fueron evaluados en tres momentos temporales: al iniciar el programa de entrenamiento, tras su finalización y dos semanas tras la finalización del programa. Los diferentes instrumentos utilizados fueron los siguientes: Cuestionario Internacional de Actividad Física (nivel de AF), cuestionario DASS-21 (nivel de estrés, depresión y ansiedad) y Cuestionario Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (calidad del sueño) cinta métrica corporal (perímetros) y bioimpedancia (peso, IMC, % masa grasa y % masa muscular). Tras cinco semanas de entrenamiento y dos semanas post-entrenamiento se observaron mejoras significativas en el nivel de AF, salud mental y calidad del sueño de los participantes (p < ,05). La masa muscular fue la única variable relacionada con la composición corporal que mejoró significativamente tras cinco semanas de ejercicio físico supervisado (p = ,04). Los resultados del presente estudio demostraron que las acciones de las universidades basadas en programas de entrenamiento saludables mejoran el nivel de AF, la salud mental y la composición corporal de los estudiantes universitarios.
During the 2020 stay-at-home lockdown ordered as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, university students had access to diverse digital technologies, which offered researchers the opportunity to ...study changes in their lifestyles while they occurred and to classify them into groups according to such lifestyles. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to establish a typology of university students according to the lifestyles they followed during the lockdown, based on the study of their daily routines, emotional state, media consumption habits and use of apps. The study is based on a sample of 913 Spanish university students. Data has been processed with SPSS 28.0 and SPAD 5.0. The following six groups were identified by using factor analysis and multiple correspondence analysis: 1) the fearless and adapted (21%); 2) the unhealthy (22.56%); 3) the hardworking and studious (27.93%); 4) the hyperconnected (9.09%); 5) the sedentary and withdrawn (13.85%); and 6) the athletic and healthy (6.68%). The use of apps for social relations is shown as a relevant construct, in relation to other indicators such as emotional state, time spent on studies, leisure, family and physical activity. The lifestyles observed exhibit differences with respect to sports activity, eating habits and rest routines, as well as time spent on academic and professional activities. Key Words: Physical activity, Pandemic, Emotional state, Digital behavior.
Acute lower back pain (ALBP) is an extremely common musculoskeletal problem. ALBP consists of a sudden onset of short-duration pain in the lower back. However, repeated attacks can make the pain ...chronic. It can be measured through a self-report scale as well as through physical and physiological evaluations. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) has been used to evaluate the body's response to pain. However, to the best of our knowledge, no clear consensus has been reached regarding the relationship between both variables and on an optimal protocol for ALBP evaluation based on HRV. The objective of this review is to analyze the relationship and effectiveness of HRV as an instrument for measuring ALBP. Furthermore, we consider the influence of different types of interventions in this relationship. The protocol of this review was previously recorded in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (number CRD42023437160). The PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews and PubMed, WOS and Scopus databases are employed. Studies with samples of adults with ALBP are included. This study sets out a systematic review protocol to help identify the relationship between HRV and ALBP. Understanding this relationship could help in designing early detection or action protocols that alleviate ALBP.
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