Il progetto è in sintonia con i nuovi scenari di ricerca, sia in ambito nazionale che internazionale, per l’inclusione e l’attiva partecipazione all’interno della società delle persone con disabilità e delle loro famiglie. Sebbene le molte problematiche ancora da superare, negli ultimi anni il tema dell’inclusione (scolastica e sociale) delle persone che presentano delle disabilità sta’ attraendo l'attenzione di settori sempre più ampi di popolazione, quanto guadagnando sempre più spazio all'interno dei momenti di discussione circa le future politiche sociali. La ricerca analizza gli stakeholder primari e secondari responsabili dei processi di inclusione sociale e scolastica dei giovani disabili, supponendo, lo sport e l’educazione fisica quale strumento facilitatore di possibili azioni e cambiamenti volti a facilitare la vita delle persone disabili. L'adozione di questo approccio è presentato come denominatore comune di pratiche innovative sociali che a supporto dei processi inclusivi consentono il passaggio da un modello medico assistenziale a un approccio dei diritti civili alla disabilità. La base teorica di questa ipotesi trova sostegno in molti principi di Integrazione Scolastica e l'obiettivo principale delle ipotesi di ricerca è sulla partecipazione ed emancipazione come strategie volte ad affrontare i problemi esistenti relativi alla inclusione. Le esperienze studiate rappresentano esempi di promozione dell’inclusione nei sistemi scolastici : contribuendo al dibattito sull’ “inclusive education”, sostenendo processi di inclusione sociale rivolti a tutti coloro che si trovano in situazione di svantaggio psico-fisico e sensoriale. Nella seconda parte l’analisi di alcuni studi in materia di approcci partecipativi nelle aree di interesse come esempio del miglioramento dell'inclusione, attraverso il coinvolgimento degli stakeholder dell’inclusione. Proseguendo nella ricerca si tenta di indagare sul livello di pregiudizio dei giovani all’interno di ambienti scolastici e sportivi, partendo da questioni ancora aperte. / The project is in tune with the new research scenarios, both nationally and internationally, for the inclusion and active participation in society of people with disabilities and their families. Although many problems still to be overcome, in recent years the issue of inclusion (educational and social) of people with disabilities is' attracting the attention of increasingly broad sectors of the population, since gaining more and more space inside opportunities for discussion about future social policies. The research analyzes the primary and secondary stakeholders responsible for the processes of social inclusion and education of young people with disabilities, assuming, sport and physical education as a facilitator instrument of possible actions and changes aimed at making life easier for disabled people. The adoption of this approach is presented as a common denominator of social innovative practices in support of inclusive processes allow the transition from a welfare approach to a medical model of civil rights to disability. The theoretical basis of this hypothesis finds support in many principles of Scholastic Integration and the main objective of the research hypothesis is on participation and empowerment as strategies to address existing problems relating to inclusion. The experiences studied are examples of inclusion promotion in school systems: contributing to the debate on ' "inclusive education", supporting processes of social inclusion aimed at all those who are in a state of psycho-physical and sensory handicap. In the second part of the analysis of several studies in the field of participatory approaches in the areas of interest as an example of improving the inclusion, through the involvement of stakeholder inclusion. Continuing research will try to investigate the level of injury for young people within school and sporting circles, starting from open questions.

La prima parte dello studio riguarda la descrizione dell’origine e delle caratteristiche che differenziano la periodizzazione tradizionale e quella a blocchi per l’allenamento della forza. L’obiettivo della seconda parte del lavoro è stato quello di confrontare gli adattamento ormonali e prestativi ad un programma di allenamento della forza periodizzato secondo il modello tradizionale o secondo quello a blocchi in un campione di atleti di forza. Venticinque atleti maschi sono stati assegnati con procedura randomizzata al gruppo con programmazione tradizionale (TP) o a quello a blocchi (BP). Prelievi di saliva sono stati effettuati prima e dopo 6 diverse sedute di allenamento durante il programma al fine di rilevare i livelli di testosterone (T) e cortisolo (C). Le valutazioni dei parametri antropometrici e prestativi sono state effettuate prima e dopo le 15 settimane di allenamento previste. In nessuno dei due gruppi vi sono state variazioni significative nei livelli ormonali. I risultati indicano che il gruppo BP ha ottenuto incrementi superiori a quello TP riguardo alla forza massima (p = 0,040) ed alla potenza (p = 0,035) espressa alla panca piana. Nella terza parte dello studio, la periodizzazione tradizionale e quella a blocchi sono state confrontate riguardo agli effetti sulla forza massima e sull’ipertrofia in donne allenate di livello amatoriale. Diciassette donne hanno partecipato all’esperimento allenandosi 3 volte a settimana per 10 settimane. I risultati dimostrano che entrambe le periodizzazioni hanno portato a miglioramenti significativi di forza e potenza; il gruppo TP ha tuttavia ottenuto incrementi superiori di forza massima (p = 0,039) e ipertrofia degli arti inferiori (p = 0,004). La periodizzazione tradizionale quindi si è dimostrata più efficace per aumentare la forza massima e la sezione muscolare della coscia in partecipanti di genere femminile. I risultati contrastanti nei due generi potrebbero essere legati a rapporti diversi fra processi anabolici e catabolici. / The first part of the study explored the origin and the fundamental characteristics of the traditional and the block periodization models for strength training. The aim of the second part of the study was to compare the hormonal and strength responses to a block (BP) and a traditional (TP) periodized strength training programs in male athletes. Twenty-five experienced resistance trained males were randomly assigned to either a block (BP) or a traditional (TP) periodized resistance training program. Salivary samples were taken before and after six different workouts over the training period and measured for testosterone (T) and cortisol (C). Strength and power testing occurred before and after the 15-weeks training program. No differences were noted in the hormonal responses between BP and TP during any training cycle. Results indicated that BP appears to stimulate greater gains in bench press maximal strength (p = 0,040) and power (p = 0,035) compared to TP. The third part of the study was a comparison of block (BP) and traditional periodization (TP) on maximal strength and hypertrophy of recreationally strength trained women. Seventeen women participated in the study and trained 3 days a week for 10 weeks. The results revealed that both BP and TP groups made significant increases in strength and power but improvements in lower body strength and hypertrophy were significantly greater in TP group compared to BP group (p = 0,039 and p = 0,004, respectively). Results indicate that traditional model is more effective than the block periodization model for increasing maximal strength and muscle size of the lower body in women. The conflicting data between TP –vs BP training methods in men and women may be related to a gender difference in anabolic/catabolic ratio.

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We observed 82 healthy subjects, from both sexes, aged between 19 and 77 years. All subjects performed two different tests: for being scientifically acknowledged, the first one was used as a reference and it was a stress test (CPX). During the entire test, heart rate and gas exchange were recorded continuously; the second, the actual object of this study, was a submaximal test (TOP). Only heart rate was recorded continuously. The main purpose was to determinate an index of physical fitness as result of TOP. CPX test allowed us to individuate anaerobic threshold. We used an incremental protocol of 10/20 Watt/min, different by age. For our TOP test we used an RHC400 UPRIGHT BIKE, by Air Machine. Each subject was monitored for heart frequency. After 2 minutes of resting period there was a first step: 3 minutes of pedalling at a constant rate of 60 RPM, (40 watts for elder subjects and 60 watts for the younger ones). Then, the subject was allowed to rest for a recovery phase of 5 minutes. Third and last step consisted of 3 minutes of pedalling again at 60 RPM but now set to 60 watts for elder subjects and 80 watts for the young subjects. Finally another five minutes of recovery. A good correlation was found between TOP and CPX results especially between punctua l heart rate reserve (HRR’) and anaerobic threshold parameters such as Watt, VO2, VCO2 . HRR’ was obtained by subtracting maximal heart rate during TOP from maximal theoretic heart rate (206,9-(0,67*age)). Data were analyzed through cluster analysis in order to obtain 3 homogeneous groups. The first group contains the least fit subjects (inactive, women, elderly). The other groups contain the “average fit” and the fittest subjects (active, men, younger). Concordance between test resulted in 83,23%. Afterwards, a linear combinations of the most relevant variables gave us a formula to classify people in the correct group. The most relevant result is that this submaximal test is able to discriminate subjects with different physical condition and to provide information (index) about physical fitness through HRR’. Compared to a traditional incremental stress test, the very low load of TOP, short duration and extended resting period, make this new method suitable to very different people. To better define the TOP index, it is necessary to enlarge our subject sample especially by diversifying the age range.

Running economy (RE), i.e. the oxygen consumption at a given submaximal speed, is an important determinant of endurance running performance. So far, investigators have widely attempted to individuate the factors affecting RE in competitive athletes, focusing mainly on the relationships between RE and running biomechanics. However, the current results are inconsistent and a clear mechanical profile of an economic runner has not been yet established. The present work aimed to better understand how the running technique influences RE in sub-elite middle-distance runners by investigating the biomechanical parameters acting on RE and the underlying mechanisms. Special emphasis was given to accounting for intra-individual variability in RE at different speeds and to assessing track running rather than treadmill running. In Study One, a factor analysis was used to reduce the 30 considered mechanical parameters to few global descriptors of the running mechanics. Then, a biomechanical comparison between economic and non economic runners and a multiple regression analysis (with RE as criterion variable and mechanical indices as independent variables) were performed. It was found that a better RE was associated to higher knee and ankle flexion in the support phase, and that the combination of seven individuated mechanical measures explains ∼72% of the variability in RE. In Study Two, a mathematical model predicting RE a priori from the rate of force production, originally developed and used in the field of comparative biology, was adapted and tested in competitive athletes. The model showed a very good fit (R2=0.86). In conclusion, the results of this dissertation suggest that the very complex interrelationships among the mechanical parameters affecting RE may be successfully dealt with through multivariate statistical analyses and the application of theoretical mathematical models. Thanks to these results, coaches are provided with useful tools to assess the biomechanical profile of their athletes. Thus, individual weaknesses in the running technique may be identified and removed, with the ultimate goal to improve RE.

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