In recent years our understanding of the physical demands of soccer has improved. We know that the intensity at which the game is played has increased and that the fixture schedules for professional teams can often be very congested. These factors are likely to have increased the importance placed on the physical condition of players. Therefore, the process of monitoring the fitness levels of players is likely to be an important task within clubs. Any fitness assessments that are employed need to be sensitive enough to detect changes that may result from different training stimuli. A further critical consideration for clubs is what are the best practices to implement in order to maximise recover between matches? The two areas that are central to successful recovery of performance are the restoration of muscle and liver glycogen stores and the rapid reduction of muscle soreness. We have a good understanding of the importance of carbohydrate feeding in the immediate hours following the completion of exercise, furthermore that high levels of carbohydrate consumed during short recovery periods can improve subsequent endurance running capacity in both continuous and intermittent exercise. However, there is dearth of literature investigating the effects that different types (glycemic index) of carbohydrates have on subsequent performance of high intensity intermittent exercise. Furthermore, we know that the movement patterns experienced in soccer commonly induce symptoms of muscle damage. Despite this there is little research based information on modalities that reduce these potentially detrimental side-effects (Bamett, 2006). For these reasons the series of investigations that have been conducted in this thesis were designed with the intent to examine areas that are critical to the preparation and recovery of soccer players. The first of five experimental chapters collated information on the use of fitness testing within English professional football. It was concluded that the practise of fitness testing players is extremely commonplace and that field-based testing protocols were far more popular an assessment method. The second experimental chapter went on to demonstrate that the most commonly used fitness test within professional football (MSFT) was sensitive enough to detect performance changes that occur as a result of training. A further finding within the context of the question was that it is possible for female players to significantly improve aerobic capabilities with additional high intensity aerobic training. The third experimental chapter investigated the effect different glycemic index high CHO diets could have on recovery of performance following 90 min of intermittent soccer type exercise. This study concluded that consuming either predominately high or low GI CHO mixed meals in the 24h recovery period between bouts of high intensity prolonged intermittent exercise had no difference on measures of performance. The final two experimental chapters went on to investigate the effects of cold water immersion on indices of muscle damage following intermittent exercise. Results from these investigations suggest that submerging individuals in 10°C water immediately following high intensity intermittent exercise reduces some but not all indices of muscle damage. In summary, fitness assessments of players are commonly made within professional football clubs. The most common test used was the MSFT and this appears to be sensitive to changes that result as a consequence of training. During recovery from high intensity intermittent exercise the importance of carbohydrates is apparent although the type of carbohydrate appears to be less important, furthermore, cold-water immersion may be effective in reducing some but not all indices of muscle damage.

Escalating health care costs in the military health system are not sustainable long term. Regular physical activity has been shown to improve health and reduce health care costs. Military members serving in the United States Air Force (USAF) are encouraged to maintain physical fitness year-round and undergo mandatory physical fitness assessments (PFAs) annually. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine the nature of the relationship between the timing of the PFA and health care utilization (HU) by active duty service members assigned to the United Kingdom's USAF military treatment facility. Donabedian's framework and the logic process model were used to design the study. Archived fitness and health care utilization data were obtained on 361 military members. Findings indicated a strong, positive correlation between the timing of the PFA and HU, which was strongest during the PFA month. Monthly HU 6 months prior to PFA was compared using a 1-way repeated measures ANOVA. Findings indicated a significant difference between T-1 (PFA month), T-2 (1 month prior to PFA), and T-5 (5 months prior to PFA). Paired-samples t tests demonstrated a statistically significant increase in HU from T-5 to T-2. Although findings are not generalizable, they signal a need for further study to evaluate HU variability between populations, to identify at-risk groups, and to inform health and fitness policies that affect the readiness and retention of military members. The DNP project may promote interdisciplinary collaboration between health care providers and senior military leadership, innovation in health care delivery, and evidence-based and cost-conscious policies.

Title: Basic Fitness and Physical Development of the Czech Athletics Federation Sport Centers Members Abstract: Aims: Aim of this thesis was to evaluate basic fitness and physical development among 12-15 year-old boys and girls - members of the Czech Athletics Federation Sport Centers (CAF SCs) - in the year 2012. Methods: We processed results from normalized tests carried out by individual CAF SCs in 2012. After revision and correction of data, we: (a) assessed completeness of reported test results; (b) analyzed results from four tests (50m standing start run, standing long jump, 2kg medicine ball throw and 12 minute run) averaged for age groups (12,13,14 and 15 year old) along with respective standard deviations; (c) compared these data with respective data from previous testing in 2011 and with results of average school population (Zapletalová, 2011); (d) analyzed data on physical development (weight, height, BMI index) and their correlation with results of individual tests, and compared physical parameters with average population data; (e) analyzed results of individual tests for correlation between each other. Results: We received complete data from 2 530 athletes, which represent 73,78% of all 3 429 CAF SCs members in 2012. Physical parameters were reported by only 10 SCs (from the total of 36 SCs)...

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Introduction : Les joueurs de hockey sur glace effectuent des mouvements asymétriques en utilisant la rotation du torse et des hanches lors des passes et des tirs. Les asymétries entre les segments corporels peuvent avoir un impact sur la capacité de sprints répétés, la puissance verticale lors de sauts à contre-bas et les performances sportives générales. La force isométrique de la hanche et le saut à contre-bas sont couramment évalués chez les joueurs de hockey sur glace en raison de leurs relations avec les performances en patinage et l'incidence des blessures à l'aine, respectivement. Objectif : Cette étude vise explorer si les asymétries obtenues lors des évaluations des forces isométriques de la hanche et des sauts à contre-bas sont associées à celles observées lors du patinage. Méthodes : Trente-sept joueurs professionnels de l'hockey sur glace ont effectué des évaluations hebdomadaires de force et de saut de la hanche et ont porté des centrales inertielles pendant les séances sur glace tout au long des saisons pré et compétitives. Les accélérations sont mesurées pour les deux jambes et ont été utilisées pour calculer les asymétries inter-membres, en pourcentage. Résultats : Parmi tous les paramètres mesurés, seule l'asymétrie dans le pic de la force de l’attérissage du saut à contre-bas a dépassé 10% pour toutes les positions (22,1%) et par position (21,3% - 22,6%). Les joueurs de centre et à la défense ont mené à plusieurs relations modérées à grandes entre différentes asymétries lors des évaluations hors-glace (r: -0,67 - 0,38, p <0,01). Toutes les positions ont montré des relations modérées à grandes entre la résistance à la hanche et la charge de patinage sur la glace et la force moyenne par foulée (r: -0,32 - 0,56, p <0,05). Les joueurs de centre ont montré des relations modérées entre le saut à contre-bas et des asymétries sur la glace (r: -0,31 - 0,43, p <0,01). Conclusion Cette étude a révélé qu'il existe des relations significatives entre les asymétries sur- et hors glace dans le hockey professionnel masculin. Les résultats de cette étude fournissent également aux intervenants auprès de cette population des valeurs de référence pour les asymétries sur glace et hors glace. / Introduction Ice-hockey players develop asymmetrical movement patterns by favoring rotation through the torso and hips while passing and shooting. Interlimb asymmetries have been shown to affect repeated sprint ability, vertical and horizontal countermovement jump power, and general athletic performance. Isometric hip strength and the countermovement jump are commonly assessed in ice-hockey players because of their relationships with skating performance and incidence of groin injuries, respectively. Purpose: This study explored whether asymmetries returned during isometric hip strength and countermovement jump assessments relate to those from stride-by-stride analyses. Methods: Thirty-seven professional ice-hockey players performed weekly hip strength and jump assessments and wore inertial momentum units during on-ice sessions throughout the pre- and competitive seasons. Data were either available for both limbs and were utilized to calculate inter-limb asymmetries, or as an asymmetry percentage. Results: Among all parameters measured, only the CMJ peak landing force asymmetry exceeded 10% for all positions (22.1%) and by position (21.3% - 22.6%). Centers and Defense positions returned several moderate to large relationships between fitness assessment asymmetries (r: -0.67 – 0.38, p < 0.01). All positions returned moderate to large relationships between hip strength and on-ice skating load and average force per stride (r: -0.32 – 0.56, p < 0.05). Centers returned moderate countermovement jump and on-ice asymmetries (r: -0.31 – 0.43, p < 0.01). Conclusion: This study revealed that significant relationships exist between on- and off-ice asymmetries in men’s professional ice-hockey. The results from this study also provide practitioners with reference values for on- and off-ice asymmetries.