Some basketball teams use train two teams at the same time. Even more, some younger players train and compete in a higher competitive level. The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness (PF) between under sixteen (U16) and under eighteen (U18) basketball players. Body mass and height were assessed with a bioimpedance balance and a stadiometer. The strength levels were assessed for upper limbs by the number of push-ups (per 30s) and lower limb’s with a horizontal jump without preparatory race (in centimetres). Coordination was measured by dribbling 5 barriers in the diagonal with a distance of 1m (The first barrier at a distance of 8m from the start and the last at 1m of the basket). The speed was measured with a 20 meters sprint test (seconds). The seat and reach flexibility test and the up the back test in centimetres measured the flexibility. One way ANOVA assessed the statistical differences between groups. The significance level was 5%. Only significant different were founded between U16 and U18 players in weight. No significant differences were founded between groups in anthropometrics, strength, speed, coordination and flexibility. In this team, no significant differences in physical fitness between U16 and U18 competitive levels were founded. Thus, youngers basketballers should be encouraged to train and compete in a higher competitive level.
The aim of this study was to analyse and compare the propulsive force between two basic head-out water
exercises. Twenty-nine young healthy participants (age: 21.7 ± 1.9 years-old, body mass: 68.5 ± 10.8 kg,
height: 168.2 ± 9.6 cm) performed an incremental protocol for each exercise (horizontal adduction and
rocking horse) from 105 beats per minute (b·min-1) until 150 b·min-1 with increments of 15 b·min-1 every 30
seconds. Data acquisition required a differential pressure system to obtain propulsive forces in upper limbs’,
especially the peak force for the dominant member (DPeakF) and non-dominant member (NDPeakF). Force
values from both exercises were higher in DPeakF and NDPeakF even when increasing the music cadence
and higher forces were found in HAAdd. Differences (p ≤ 0.05) were found when comparing two exercises
at lower music cadences. The main conclusion is that there are significantly differences between two basic
head-out water exercises at lower cadences
The aim of this study was to verify the changes induced by the multicomponent exercise program with duration of 12 weeks on quality of life in breast cancer survivors. The sample of this study consisted of 7 female subjects with an average of 64 (± 8.6) years who volunteered for this investigation and presented breast cancer pathology diagnosed in the clinical history. The exercise program had a duration of 12 consecutive weeks and a weekly frequency of three days. The duration of the exercise was 60 continuous minutes and the exercise used were from the multicomponent method, combining aerobic, resistance, flexibility and balance training. The variables of healthy-related quality of life questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23 were evaluated on the baseline and after 12 weeks. The data followed a descriptive and statistical analysis related to the results obtained in the various subscales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ- BR23 on the baseline and 12 weeks. From baseline to 12 weeks, the most increased values were 24 (± 16.5) points in the role function; 11 (± 5.3) in the emotional function. In the symptomatic scales, the most improved symptoms were fatigue with a reduction of 20 (± 3.5) points; 14 (± 3.8) in the pain scale, 16 (± 4.8) on breast symptoms, and 19 (± 10.9) points on arm symptoms. The results suggest that the multicomponent exercise program in this study didn ́t have significant differences on the health-related quality of life subscales in breast cancer survivors.
The increase in the prevalence of overweight in children is commonly associated with their low levels of physical activity (PA). In fact, young people who have higher levels of PA over several years tend to have lower rates of overweight than their less active peers. Thus, it becomes of the utmost importance to promote the practice of regular PA among children. In this context, the aims of this study were to compare the number of steps done by children during the weekdays with the weekend and to analyse the contribution of a schoolbase physical exercise (PE) session to the total number of daily steps performed by children. The sample comprised 105 pre-school children, from 3 to 6 years old (4.48±0.69) from 5 kindergartens from Bragança. The PA evaluation was done through daily number of steps from New-Lifestyles NL-2000 pedometer. The mean number of steps taken by the children remained relatively constant during the week, decreasing only slightly on Friday. However, on Saturday and Sunday the decline was more pronounced. Significant differences were found between the number of steps on weekdays and weekend days (p<0.001), with higher levels of PA on weekdays. PA was higher (p<0.001) on the days with PE session than without PE session in kindergarten. Children of preschool age are more active during the weekdays than at the weekend. The implementation at school-based of PE session at pre-school level had a significant impact on daily PA levels of the children.
The multicomponent training seems to positively influence elderly’s physical fitness. It is unclear the effects of this type of training with less intervention time in strength levels. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a multicomponent training program with four months in elderly’s strength levels. The sample of this study was composed by 30 subjects with 69.30 (± 5.45) years old and 71.80 (± 8.97) Kg. Body weight was assessed with a bioimpedance balance. The knee flection and extension, arm curl and abduction were assessed with a strain gauge in kilograms of force (Kgf). There were no significant differences between the two moments. However, the mean body weight, knee flection and extension strength levels increased. A four months multicomponent training program seem to be insufficient to improve strength levels in elderlies.
