published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

Background: A study of the impact of yoga and aerobic exercise and psychosis was conducted in 2012 by Lin et al., from The University of Hong Kong. The study indicated significant improvement in the aspects of physical fitness, cognitive functions, psychosocial and emotional functioning in patients with psychosis after a 12-week yoga or aerobic intervention program. Long-term effect of exercise intervention, however, had yet been determined. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long-term effects of yoga and aerobic exercise on cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms in early psychosis. Patients who originally participated in Lin et al.’s 2012 study were recruited and re-assessed in this current 18-month follow-up study. Methods: Two intervention groups (yoga and aerobic exercise group) and one control group (wait-list control group) of a total 57 subjects from the initial study were recruited in this follow-up study. Cognitive functioning and clinical symptoms were assessed at three time points (T1:Baseline, T2:12-week, T3:18-month). Results: No significant changes or significant deterioration were found in cognitive functioning, clinical symptoms and depression between T2 (12-week) and T3 (18-month) in both intervention groups (yoga and aerobic group). Significant improvement of clinical symptoms was observed in wait-list control group at T3. Conclusions: Although there is no significant finding in this current study, it is still recommended that further study on the relationship between physical exercise intervention and psychosis should carried out in order to explore other adjunct, and especially low cost, treatment to antipsychotics in treating people with psychosis. / published_or_final_version / Psychological Medicine / Master / Master of Psychological Medicine

A growing body of literature suggests that higher levels of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as an alternative treatment such as low level laser therapy (LLLT), have beneficial effects on cognition, while sedentary lifestyle-induced obesity and vascular risk negatively influence cognition. However, the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and vascular risk on cognitive function and the effect of an acute bout of very vigorous aerobic exercise (acute exercise) on cognitive performance has not yet been investigated. Additionally, the effects of combined acute exercise and LLLT treatments on cognitive performance have not yet been characterized. Therefore, the goal of this dissertation was to conduct a series of three research studies ranging from a cross-sectional exploratory study about the association of cardiorespiratory fitness, obesity, and vascular risk on cognitive function, to an experimentally designed study that compared the effects of acute exercise, LLLT, and the combination of these two treatments on cognitive performance in young adults. Study1 examined the relationship among cardiorespiratory fitness (maximal oxygen consumption, VO2max), obesity indices (body mass index, BMI; waist circumstance), and vascular risk (C-reactive protein; CRP). Cognitive function included crystalized intelligence (Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test; KBIT), executive functions of inhibition (Stroop test), switching (Trail making test; TMT), attention (Psychomotor Vigilance Task; PVT), and working memory (Delayed-Match-to-Sample, DMS). Study 2 determined the effect of acute exercise on cognitive performance including executive response inhibition (Stroop test) and response switching (TMT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BNDF). Study 3 compared the effectiveness of LLLT and acute exercise on cognitive performance, which included attention (PVT) and working memory (DMS). Results demonstrated there was a beneficial effect of physical exercise-induced improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness on vascular risk and cognitive functions particularly in working memory and inhibitory control (Study1). Acute exercise improved performance in inhibitory control and increased the BNDF level compared to the control condition, suggesting the acute exercise-induced the increase in BDNF level may be at least in part of mediating the cognitive performance improvement (Study 2). All three conditions (acute exercise, LLLT, or the combination) improved performance in attention and working memory, as measured by reaction time and response accuracy, when compared to a control group. Specially, the combined group showed a trend of greater improvement in attention and worming memory performance (Study 3). Taken together, the results of this research series suggest that acute exercise and LLLT can improve cognitive performance, which is also mediated by health indices including cardiorespiratory fitness, obesity, and vascular risk. It is anticipated that these findings will make substantive contributions to the empirical literature concerning the beneficial effect of exercise and LLLT on cognitive health in young adults, given the current paucity of research. / text

Abstract Soccer is a multifaceted sport requiring game-specific intelligence and particular physiological and physical characteristics for success. Despite the wide variety of contributing factors, it has been reported that youth soccer players who are larger in size, more mature, and have superior aerobic power are favoured during team selection. The current investigation examined aerobic power and anthropometric size differences between selected and not selected elite youth soccer players; values were also compared between playing position and sexes. Twenty-three elite soccer players, 10 males and 13 females, with an average age of 14 years were recruited for the study; participants performed a graded treadmill test to exhaustion and a sport participation questionnaire. Aerobic power results from the treadmill test were expressed in absolute (l/min) and relative terms, to body mass and fat free mass (ml/kg/min & ml/kg FFM/min); values were compared between selection status, playing position and sex. No significant differences were detected for any measure of aerobic power or anthropometric size between selected and not selected athletes when sexes were combined or separated (p>0.05); males had significantly higher aerobic power levels compared to females despite scaling method (p<0.05). In females, goalkeepers had a significantly lower absolute aerobic power (p<0.05), differences were not detected when expressed relative to body mass or fat free mass (p>0.05). Males showed no significant difference between playing positions in any measurement of aerobic power (p>0.05). It appears as though Saskatchewan coaches view attributes, other than physical size and aerobic fitness, as more beneficial for team success at this level. Results are encouraging as they suggest that size and aerobic power may not be the main influencing criteria for achieving success on an elite youth Saskatchewan soccer team.

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Context: Cadmium is an important predictor of lung function, including forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume and peak flow. Current evidence supports the notion that cadmium may be an important risk factor for cardiovascular fitness. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cadmium exposure on cardiovascular fitness in representative sample of US white, blacks and Mexican Americans. The study also sought to determine if the relationship between cadmium and cardiovascular fitness varies by gender and racial/ethnic group. Methods: The data utilized for this study were obtained from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). One-thousand nine hundred and sixty three subjects with data on cardiovascular fitness were eligible for this investigation. In NHANES, cardiovascular measurements were taken in series consisting of two minutes warm up exercise, two-three minutes exercise testing and two minutes resting period .The goal was to elicit 75% of predetermined age-specific heart rate by the end of the stress test. Cadmium was measured in the laboratory by taking urine sample of participants. Gender and race/ethnic specific multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to determine relationship of urinary cadmium with VO2 max. Results: There were gender and racial/ethnic difference in the relationship between urinary cadmium and VO2 max. In males and females, increased concentration of urinary cadmium was associated with decreased VO2 max across racial/ethnic groups (except in black males. The greatest negative association between cadmium and VO2 max was observed in black females (beta=-0.330) while the lowest value was recorded for white females (Beta=-0.074). The association was statistically significant in white males (Beta=-0.402, P =0.020) and Mexican American females (Beta=-0.290, P=0.026). Conclusion: There was inverse association between urinary cadmium and estimated VO2 max in a US nationally representative sample of White, Black and Mexican Americans. The impact of the gender and racial/ethnic differences in the association between urinary cadmium and VO2 max is not clear and warrants further investigation.

Ištvermė, suvokiama kaip aerobinis darbingumas, yra svarbiausia iš visų su sveikata susijusių fizinių ypatybių. Šio tyrimo tikslas buvo įvertinti aklųjų ir silpnaregių aerobinės ištvermės ugdymo ypatumus, atliekant aerobinį krūvį. Tyrimai buvo atlikti Lietuvos kūno kultūros akademijos (LKKA) TFV katedroje. Tyrime dalyvavo aklieji ir silpnaregiai vyrai, iš Kauno sveikatos sporto klubo ir LAS Lietuvos aklųjų sąjungos. Jie buvo suskirstyti į dvi grupes sportuojantis ir nesportuojantys. Taip pat tyrime dalyvavo Lietuvos kūno kultūros akademijos studentai. Tikslas - nustatyti ir įvertinti sportuojančių ir nesportuojančių regos negalią turinčių asmenų ištvermės rodiklių kaitą priklausomai nuo negalios sunkumo laipsnio Uždaviniai: 1. Nustatyti ir įvertinti nesportuojančių regos negalią tiriamų asmenų ir įgaliųjų aerobinės ištvermės rodiklių kaitą atliekant 12min. bėgimo testą. 2. Nustatyti ir įvertinti sportuojančių neįgaliųjų, turinčių regos negalią, ištvermės rodiklių kaitą priklausomai nuo negalios sunkumo laipsnio. 3. Palyginti sportuojančių ir nesportuojančių aklųjų, silpnaregių ir nesportuojančių įgaliųjų aerobinės ištvermės rodiklius, 12 min. bėgimo testo metu. Visiems tiriamiesiems buvo atliktas Cooperio testas - 12 min. bėgimas. Tiriamiesiems bėgimo sąlygos vienodos. Tyrimo užduotis– kuo ilgesnį atstumą nubėgti per 12 min. Tiriamieji po trijų minučių apšilimo užduotį atliko bėgdami bėgtakiu. Kas minute buvo registruojamas pulso dažnis. Kiekvienas bėgikas galėjo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Stamina, perceived as aerobic efficiency, is the most important from all physical peculiarities related with health. The purpose of this research was to evaluate training peculiarities of aerobic stamina of blind and weak-eyed persons, while exercising aerobic load. The researches were done in Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education TVF department (Department of Adapted Physical Activity). Blind and weak-eyed men from Kaunas Health Sport Club and LAS Lithuanian the blind union. They were split into two groups: those going in for sports and those do not going in for sports. Students from Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education participated in the research as well. Purpose - To measure and assess the change of stamina indexes of the disabled with sight disability persons going in for sports subject to the heaviness degree of the disability. 1. To measure and assess the change of aerobic stamina indexes of persons with sight disabilities going in for sports and not going in for sports and of healthy people while doing 12 min.-running test 2. To measure and assess the change of stamina indexes of the disabled with sight disability persons going in for sports subject to the heaviness degree of the disability. 3. To compare aerobic stamina indexes of blind persons, weak-eyed persons going in for sports and not going in for sports and healthy persons not going in for sports during the 12 min.-running test. Cooper test – 12 min. running was done to all the people under the... [to full text]

Objectives: Men who receive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer (PCa) are at risk of several adverse effects that can be detrimental to both their physical and mental health. Common adverse effects include weight gain, muscle wasting, cardiovascular morbidity, fatigue and impaired quality of life (QOL). This study tested whether a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program can alleviate some of these symptoms in men receiving ADT. Design: Men with PCa, aged 50-80 years, receiving ADT were recruited to participate in this prospective randomized controlled trial. Subjects were assigned to a usual care group (UCG) or an exercise intervention group (EIG). The EIG completed a 16 week combined aerobic and resistance exercise program. Outcomes measures were assessed at baseline, 16 weeks, and 24 weeks and included: cardio-respiratory fitness; muscle strength and endurance; body composition; and reports of QOL, fatigue, mood, partner relations, and exercise behaviour. Results: Fifteen men were recruited to this study, but two participants in the EIG did not finish the study leaving the EIG with an n = 6 and the UCG with an n = 7. The exercise program did not lead to changes in weight, BMI or body fat. There was a small, close to significant, increase in muscle mass in the EIG over the intervention period (p = 0.052). This is encouraging as it demonstrates that exercise can counteract the catabolic effects of ADT. Interestingly, cardio-respiratory fitness improved over the course of the study for both groups. Muscular fitness, however, improved only for the EIG. There was a significant difference in chest press strength (p = 0.041) and leg press strength was bordering significance (p = 0.058). Unexpectedly, QOL declined for both groups during the intervention (p = 0.029). Participants in both groups also reported increased levels of fatigue from baseline to 24 weeks, although these changes were not significant (p = 0.586). Mood worsened over the study period for both groups from baseline to 16 weeks, but this increase in anxiety and depression was reduced at the follow-up period. These changes, too, were not significant (p = 0.364). Reports of partner relationships trended towards lower scores from baseline to 16 weeks. The men’s report in both groups and the women’s report in the EIG improved at the 24 week mark, but women in the UCG experienced further decline. Surprisingly, participants in both groups reported increases in exercise behaviour from baseline to 24 weeks. This could account for the lack of difference found in many of the measures. The power of this study was 0.22. Conclusion: Although this was a small study, it showed that a combined aerobic and resistance exercise program can have some positive benefits for men with PCa who are receiving ADT. Larger trials are needed to further examine the role of exercise in ameliorating the side effects of ADT, particularly in the areas of mood and partner relationships.

The purpose of this thesis was to examine changes in the expression of translation regulatory proteins following both an acute bout of endurance exercise and chronic muscle contractile activity. In experiment 1, female Sprague-Dawley rats ran for 2 h at 15 m/min followed by an increase in speed of 5 m/min every 5 min until volitional fatigue. Red gastrocnemius muscle was harvested from non-exercised animals (control), immediately following cessation of exercise (0 h) and after 3 hours of recovery (3 h). Compared to control, rpS6 mRNA was elevated (p < .05) at both 0 h (+32%) and 3 h (+47%). Both eIF2Bε (+127%) and mTOR mRNA (+44%) were higher than control at 3 h, while eIF4E decreased (-24%) immediately following exercise (p < .05). Phosphorylation of mTOR (+40%) and S6K1 (+266%) also increased immediately post-exercise (p < .05). In experiment 2, female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent chronic stimulation of the peroneal nerve continuously for 7 days. The red gastrocnemius muscle was removed 24 h following cessation of the stimulation. Chronic muscle stimulation up-regulated (P < .05) mTOR protein (+74%), rpS6 (+31%), and eIF2α (+44%, P < .07), and this was accompanied by an increase in cytochrome C (+31%). Phosphorylation of rpS6 (Ser235/Ser236) was increased (+51%, P < .05), while mTOR (Ser2448) and 4E-BP1 (Thr37/46) did not change. These experiments demonstrate that acute and chronic endurance contractile activity up-regulate the mTOR signalling pathway and mitochondrial content in murine skeletal muscle. This up-regulation of the mTOR pathway may increase translation efficiency and may also represent an important control point in exercise mediated mitochondrial biogenesis. / Thesis (Master, Kinesiology & Health Studies) -- Queen's University, 2012-10-02 13:35:04.072