Revista de medicina deportiva y estudios de dopaje

Purpose: This study examines the associations of both BMI and waist circumference measurements to health related physical fitness.
Methods: The sample included 43 boys and 49 girls (10.7 ± 0.89 years). Measures included height, weight, BMI and waist circumference, physical activity (PAQ-C) and measures of physical fitness; cardio respiratory and muscular fitness.
Results: Girls were stronger on the handgrip test (P=0.045) and had a higher BMI than boys (P=0.041). Boys performed better than girls for the standing broad jump (P=0.006) and cardio respiratory fitness shuttle run (P=0.030) but not on the handgrip test. 29% (37% of girls and 21% of boys) of participants were either overweight or obese. Participants with a higher BMI performed significantly poorer than their healthy counterparts on the standing broad jump (P=0.003) and cardio respiratory fitness shuttle run (P=0.002). Similar results were found in the larger waist circumference group, standing broad jump (P=0.044) and cardio respiratory fitness shuttle run (P=0.032). Finally, participants with a higher BMI or waist circumference had a greater score for the hand grip test (P=0.006; P=0.004).
Conclusion: Early detection of poor weight status and low physical fitness are important so that those in need of intervention can be targeted as early as possible.

Eurycoma longifolia is traditionally known for its adaptogenic properties and often used for the general well-being and increased performance in daily life.

Methods: In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 40 Malaysian men aged 30-55 years performed a battery of physical testings during which the ratio of Testosterone (T) to Epitestosterone (E) was analyzed. The daily intake was 300 mg of the freeze-dried water extract of Eurycoma longifolia root (Physta®, Biotropics Malaysia) or placebo for a period of 12 weeks.

Results: At the end of the study the T/E-ratio in the herbal group ranged from 0.03 to 2.95 and was not significantly different from values at baseline (p=0.49). Further, the ratio-values for E. longifolia compared to placebo did not change over time. The weight lifting force which measures muscular strength using back & leg strength test, increased significantly from baseline to end of the study in the herbal group by approximately 14 kg (p=0.0166).

Conclusion: The ratios of testosterone to epitestosterone did not change during a 12-weeks E. longifolia intake. The data suggest that this herb does not exhibit “doping”- like effects. Instead, muscular strength improved significantly in the back and leg with E. longifolia supplementation rendering this herb good for physical performance minus the doping effects.

Tendons transmit forces from muscle to bone and provide the joint function and ligaments transmit forces from bone to bone and provide joint stability. Tendon and ligament injuries have high incidence and management of tendon and ligament injuries is technically demanding because the healing response of these soft connective tissues is low. In addition, number of the available options to be considered as tissue replacement for large defects is low and healing of tendon and ligaments is faced to significant limitations. Among the available options, autografts are still gold standard but all the auto- allo and xenografts have their own limitations. Tissue engineering is a newer option but it is still primitive to be applicable extensively, in clinical setting. Tissue engineering could be divided into four categories including scaffolds, healing promotive factors, stem cells and gene therapy. To be able to have a good judgment regarding the management of tendon and ligament injuries, it is crucial to have a basic knowledge of tendon and ligament healing and regeneration. In this review, we discussed various types of tendon and ligament injuries and their incidence, and introduced the available and future options in managing large and massive tendon and ligament injuries. We specifically discussed the tissue engineering and it’s advantageous and disadvantageous. To give a better clarification for the readers, we described different phases and cascades of tendon and ligament healing, modeling and remodeling, host-graft interaction after implantation of the graft and various types of prosthetic implants and finally provided some suggestions for the future investigations.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of different training surfaces (hard or sand surface) on agility and passing skills of prepubescent female volleyball players. 45 prepubescent girls (age: 11.1 ± 0.5 years) participated in this study and were separated in three groups. Groups S (N=15) and I (N=15) consisted of volleyball players, while group C (N=15) consisted of girls that had no volleyball training experience. All groups participated in a 10-week (3 days/week) volleyball training program that included technical and passing skills exercises. The program of groups S and I also included jumping and sprinting exercises. The training program of group S was conducted on sand surface, while groups I and C trained on hard surface. Measurements of agility (T-test and 505-test) and passing skills were conducted on both hard and sand surface before, in the middle (5th week) and after the end of the training program for groups S and I. Group C was tested only on hard surface before and after the training period. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA for independent samples. Agility T-test and 505-test were significantly (p<0.001) improved in all three groups after the 10-week training program. Agility improvement of group S was significantly (p<0.001) greater than the other two groups (I and C), regardless of the surface (hard or sand) that the test was executed. Group S achieved greater improvements than the other two groups in passing skills too. All three groups were significantly (p<0.001) improved in overhead and forearm passing accuracy after the 10-week training period, but it was group S that achieved the greatest improvement, regardless of the (hard or sand) that the test was executed. In conclusion training on sand surface could be a useful and effective tool for improving agility and passing skills in prepubescent female volleyball players.

Resistance Exercise (RE) is a widely practiced activity both in leisure time and in training periods for competitive athletes. Recent advanced in molecular biology and muscle physiology has elucidated some of the mechanisms that regulate muscle growth. However, these molecular advances require application in acute program variables of RE. Therefore, we present an updated paradigm of resistance exercise variables and the effect manipulating these has on signalling pathways and hormonal response to optimise RE adaptations. We herein explore the effect of altering (i) choice of exercise; (ii) order of exercises performed; (iii) load (weight/resistance); (iv) volume (i.e. repetitions x sets x load) and (v) rest period between sets. Manipulating these variables has a consequential effect on signalling pathways, hormone response and neural adaptations that may influence protein synthesis and therefore gradual protein accretion leading to increased muscle size and strength.

In the majority of the population, during high intensity exercise, Adenosine Monohosphate Deaminase (AMPD) Converts Adenosine Monophosphate (AMP) to Inosine Monophosphate (IMP), with the liberation of ammonia in the process. The AMPD reaction displaces the adenylate kinase equilibrium in the direction of ATP formation during exercise, providing additional energy and preventing a large increase in ADP. AMPD deficiency has been proposed to result in faster fatigue development and earlier inhibition of muscle contractions. This review considers a number of genetic mutations that lead to skeletal muscle AMPD deficiency, their pathology and likely symptoms of the disorder.

Background and purpose: The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) developed the core values of leadership, administration, management and professionalism for physical therapists. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of professionalism among physical therapists in India.
Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was done using a survey questionnaire- Professionalism In Physical Therapy- Core Values (PPTCV) instrument that consisted of sample indicators for each of the seven core values- accountability (10 indicators), altruism (5 indicators), compassion/caring (11 indicators), excellence (11 indicators), integrity (12 indicators), professional duty (7 indicators), and social responsibility (12 indicators). Each sample indicator was to be rated using a 5-point Likert scale from ‘never, rarely, occasionally, frequently and rarely.’ 771 eligible questionnaires out of 889 participants with a response rate of 91.33% were analyzed and computed based upon individual- and profession-related variables. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS version 11.5 (SPSS Inc, IL) at 95% confidence interval.
Results: Overall, high levels of professionalism was reported by post-graduate students, followed by researchers and teaching faculty. Younger male physical therapy students were more likely to report high levels of professionalism. Individually, accountability was high among teaching faculty, altruism, compassion/caring and social responsibility among clinician-therapists, and integrity and professional duty was high among researchers. No single professional category showed high levels of professionalism in all seven core values.
Conclusion: Overall levels of professionalism among Indian physical therapists were moderate, and altruism and compassion levels were also low. Other indicators of professionalism were fairly evenly distributed among the students and therapists, and between genders. The study findings are of importance to develop curricular and educational modifications to improve levels of professionalism among physical therapists in India and future studies are warranted around the world.