No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The first aim of this study was to explore the prevalence of Exercise Dependence (ED) in the Norwegian male population. The second aim was to examine what characterize men with high scores on Exercise Dependence Scale–Revised (EDS-R), when it comes to mode of exercise, exercise frequency, exercise intensity, exercise at a competitive level and hours exercising at the gym. To achieve these aims 5000 questionnaires were sent to randomly selected men between 18 and 65 years in Norway, and 1824 returned completed forms. Cases were excluded when data were missing and the final sample consisted of 1546 men. The questionnaire consisted of the Norwegian translated version of the Exercise Dependence Scale- Revised (EDS-R), demographic items and items that inquired about exercise-related characteristics. Results showed prevalence of exercise dependence in the male Norwegian population of 0.4%, and a higher occurrence of exercise dependence symptoms (21.4%). Higher total EDS-R score were found among these sub-groups of men: men engaging in power and weight class sports, exercising frequently, that often exercise with high intensity, exercising at a competitive level, and exercising more than 5 hours a week at the gym. The results offer insight into ED in the Norwegian male population, but more research is needed to further elucidate the phenomenon.

Background: Physical activity (PA) reduces visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in adults; however, the dose to reduce VAT in youth is unclear. Objective: To examine whether high intensity PA preferentially reduces waist circumference (WC) and VAT compared to lower intensity PA. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Participants: Youth were 13-18yrs, overweight, with one additional risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Intervention: 6-months, exercising 3 times/week at a high intensity (70-85% of Heart Rate Reserve HRR), or low intensity (40-55% HRR). Primary outcome: VAT (cm2) measured by MRI at L4-L5, and WC at the height of the iliac crest (cm). Results: 94 Youth were randomized to either high intensity (n=30); low intensity (n=32) or control (n=32). Changes in WC and VAT were not significant across groups. A trend towards a reduction in VAT in the training groups, compared to controls was demonstrated in sub-analysis (-14.3 ± 9.6 % vs. +0.01 ± 0.4 %, p= 0.059). Peak fitness increased significantly in both the high and low intensity arms (1.3 ± 0.6 and 1.4 ± 0.6 ml/kg/min, p < 0.05). Conclusions: Training at 55-65% HRR improves fitness by ~10%, and ~2 days/week elicits modest non-significant reductions in VAT in overweight youth.

This study determined the effects of exercising above (LATabove) and below(LATbelow) the lactate threshold, upon excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) magnitude and duration among average fit females. Thirteen females underwent testing over a nine-day period (5 visits). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was assessed over two days. A ramp cycle test determined peak V02 and LAT. Blood samples, ventilatory, and heart rate measurements were recorded during rest, exercise, and recovery. On separatedays, volunteers exercised 10% LATabove and LATbelow expending 300 kcals. Afterwards,heart rate, RER, and V02 were measured until within ± 5% of the baseline RMR. EPOC duration was significantly greater for LATabove (61.49 + 8.73 min) than LATbelow (30.72 + 4.81 min). EPOC magnitude was also significantly greater LATabove (24.29 + 3.67 kcals) than LATbelow (13.28 ± 2.10 kcals). This study demonstrated exercising at LATabove adds an additional energy cost component to the recovery dynamics. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to assess athletic performance measures following two different loading conditions in the back squat exercise. Fourteen NCAA Division I tennis players were randomly assigned to either a low-resistance (50-60% of 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) training group or a high-resistance (65-90% 1RM) training group. The eight weeks of training consisted of 3 training sessions per week using a complete strength training program designed for sport performance enhancement. Performance in the 1RM back squat, 10 yard sprint and a countermovement vertical jump (CMJ) was assessed. There were no significant pretest to posttest differences in improving lower-body power production as measured by the 1 RM back squat, 10yd sprint and countermovement vertical jump in either group. The results of this study indicate that low-resistance, high-velocity training and high-resistance, low-velocity training is equally effective for improving lower-body power production. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

Background: One of the challenges associated with Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is finding the appropriate method of identifying motor difficulties. Motor proficiency tests are used to identify children with motor difficulties; however, it seems that questionnaire-based assessments may be more practical for screening purposes. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children Checklist (MABC-Checklist) has been used as a screening tool to identify motor difficulties in children especially when completed by parents and teachers. Although parents and teachers can identify children with motor difficulties using screening tools, it is still not clear which screening test is the best to use. The original MABC-Checklist (1992) was revised in 2007 and research available on the revised edition (MABC-Checklist-2) is limited indicating that more studies on the MABC-Checklist-2 when completed by parents and teachers are needed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the agreement between identifying motor difficulties with the Movement Assessment Battery for Children second edition Performance Test (MABC-2) and the identifying of motor difficulties with the MABC-Checklist-2 when completed by (i) their parents as well as (ii) their teachers. Methods: This study was done using sampling data and a quantitative research method (i.e. questionnaire). Three-hundred and twenty three learners in Grade 1 between the ages of 5 and 8 years participated in this study. The study consists of n=140 boys (43%) and n=183 girls (57%) of various ethnic groups, which consisted of n=193 Caucasian (59.75%, 6.5 years, SD=0.55), n=120 Black (37.15%, 6.2 years, SD=0.4), n=9 Mixed race (2.79%, 6.4 years, SD=0.5) and n=1 Hispanic (0.31%). A total of three hundred and twenty three parents (n=323) and twenty three teachers (n=23) also took part in the study. The MABC-2 Performance Test was used to determine motor difficulties and DCD in the children. The MABC-Checklist-2 was used by the parents and teachers to identify children with and without motor difficulties. The total test score results of the MABC-2 Performance Test were compared with the total test score results of the MABC-Checklist-2 completed by the parents and teachers. Data from the questionnaires were captured electronically by the researcher on a data form using Microsoft Excel. Further analysis was done by a statistician using SAS Version 9.2. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for categorical data. Medians and percentiles were calculated for numerical data. The measure of agreement with help from the Kappa (k)-coefficient were used to explore the aim. The coefficient is known as the Cohenâs Kappa and it measures inter-judge agreement. Results: The results indicated that out of the 47 children identified with motor difficulties (moderate motor difficulties, n=21, and severe motor difficulties, n=26) by the MABC-2 Performance Test, 15 of these children were also identified with motor difficulties (moderate motor difficulties, n=2; and severe motor difficulties, n=13) by the parent completed MABC-Checklist-2 indicating a sensitivity of 31.9% (15/47). With regard to specificity there were 276 children identified with no motor difficulties with the MABC-2 Performance Test, whereas 197 (71.4%) of these children were also identified without motor difficulties with the MABC-Checklist-2 completed by the parents. Therefore, the specificity between the MABC-2 Performance Test and the parent completed MABC-Checklist-2 was 71.4% (197/276). The (k)-coefficient of 0.143 indicated that only 14.3% agreement between the two assessments were present after correcting for chance and show that the agreement of the two assessments is not high when completed by parents. Results with regard to the teachers indicated that out of the 47 children identified by the MABC-2 Performance Test with motor difficulties (moderate motor difficulties, n=21; and severe motor difficulties, n=24), 16 of these children were also identified with motor difficulties (moderate motor difficulties, n=4; and severe motor difficulties, n=12) by the teacher that completed the MABC-Checklist-2 indicating a sensitivity of 35.6% (16/45). When analysing the specificity there was 276 children identified with no motor difficulties using the MABC-2 Performance Test whereas 193 (72.6%) of these children were also identified with no motor difficulties by the MABC-Checklist-2 completed by teachers. Therefore the specificity between the MABC-2 Performance Test and the teacher completed MABC-Checklist-2 is 72.6% (193/266). The (k)-coefficient of 0.161 reveal that only 16.1% agreement between the two assessments were present after correcting for chance and reveal that the agreement between the two assessments is low when completed by teachers. Conclusion: Several screening tests and questionnaires have been developed to gather information with regard to motor performance of children specifically from parents and teachers. However, studies using parentsâ and teachersâ reports as well as the results in this study have produced conflicting results, thus it is still not clear which screening test is the best to use and whether parents and teachers both need to be used to screen a child.

The purpose of this study was to observe the response of serum hormones to a progressive resistance strength training program. Basal levels of serum growth hormone and total testosterone were measured before and after a 12-week strength training program in 8 young men (mean age= 23 years) and 13 elderly men (mean age= 63 years). The response of growth hormone and testosterone to an acute bout of strength training exercise was also measured. Changes in lean body mass, percent fat, fat weight, VO2max and girth measurements were determined.Sessions were started with walking and static stretching exercises for the major muscle groups. This was followed by 45-60 minutes of isotonic strength training exercise which consisted of the leg-press, leg-extension, leg-curl, torso extension, bench-press, pull-down, pull-over, horizontal arm adduction, arm adduction, and modified sit-ups on an abdominal platform. Subjects were told to increase weight at a station when they could successfully complete three sets of ten repetitions at that station. At weeks 2 and 12 of the study subjects were strength tested at the leg-press, leg-extension, and bench-press stations. Strength was measured as the most weight that could be lifted for six repetitions. Blood samples were drawn from an antecubital vein pre and post training, and before, immediately following and 15 minutes after an exercise session.There was a significant increase (p <0.001) in strength for both groups for the leg press, leg extention and bench press. However, the young group was significantly stronger (p <0.001) than the elderly group in both pre and post test for all muscles measured. There was a significant increase (p <0.01) in lean weight in the elderly group which was correlated with increased strength on the leg press, leg extension and bench press on the post test. There was a significant increase (p <0.05) in growth hormone for both groups in response to an acute bout of exercise on both the pre and post test with the rise being significantly higher (p <0.025) in the young group. The increased strength in the young group correlated positively with increased serum growth hormone following an acute bout of exercise on the post test. There was no significant change in serum testosterone in response to an acute bout of exercise in either group. Basal levels of growth hormone and testosterone did not change.