<p>The primary aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physical fitness characteristics of elite women&rsquo / s rugby union players over the duration of the season. Thirty two elite female rugby players who were identified as members of the South African Rugby Union High Performance Squad were assessed on three separate occasions (pre-season, mid-season and post-season) throughout the competition season. The players were sub-divided into two positional categories consisting of 17 forwards and 15 backs. On all testing occasions, players underwent anthropometric (stature, body mass and sum of 7 skinfolds) and physical performance measurements (sit-and-reach, vertical jump, 10m and 40m speed, 1 RM bench press / pull-ups / 1 min push-ups and multi-stage shuttle run test). A two&ndash / factor analysis of variance evaluated differences in the physical fitness variables between and within playing positions over the competition season.</p>

University of Macau / Faculty of Education

Thesis (M.N.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, School of Nursing, 2001. / Typescript. Bibliography: leaves 88-97.

<p>The primary aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physical fitness characteristics of elite women&rsquo / s rugby union players over the duration of the season. Thirty two elite female rugby players who were identified as members of the South African Rugby Union High Performance Squad were assessed on three separate occasions (pre-season, mid-season and post-season) throughout the competition season. The players were sub-divided into two positional categories consisting of 17 forwards and 15 backs. On all testing occasions, players underwent anthropometric (stature, body mass and sum of 7 skinfolds) and physical performance measurements (sit-and-reach, vertical jump, 10m and 40m speed, 1 RM bench press / pull-ups / 1 min push-ups and multi-stage shuttle run test). A two&ndash / factor analysis of variance evaluated differences in the physical fitness variables between and within playing positions over the competition season.</p>

This research examined the relationship between beliefs about physical activity, physical activity levels, age and the promotional practices for physical activity employed by Air Force squadron commanders. Additionally, differences in levels of promotional practice were evaluated based on group, MAJCOM and rank of the commander. Web based surveys were completed by 178 commanders at bases world-wide.Positive correlations were observed between physical activity and both personal benefit beliefs and organizational benefit beliefs (417 and .298, p <.001, respectively). Using a step-wise linear regression, only age and personal benefit beliefs had small predictive value for promotion practices score (R2 = .063 for age and personal benefit beliefs combined, p < .001). The difference in mean promotion practices score between some MAJCOMs was significant. Open-ended responses provided insight into practices and beliefs. / Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease affects a greater proportion of females than it does males, and is responsible for an estimated 52 percent of female deaths per annum, globally. Due to the loss of oestrogen associated with the menopause, post-menopausal females are at elevated risk for hypercholesterolaemia which is a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease. It has not yet been conclusively established whether resistance training can be used to ameliorate hypercholesterolaemia. Aim: This randomized controlled trial investigated what effect 12 weeks of progressive resistance training would have on plasma lipoproteins in a sample of post-menopausal females. Methods: Caucasian women (n=30 intervention and n=18 control) between the ages of 55 and 65 years who were not taking hormone replacement therapy were recruited. Participants did not smoke, were sedentary, were not taking any form of cholesterol-lowering medication, had at least one cholesterol abnormality at baseline but were otherwise healthy and able to participate in a strength training programme. Following extensive medical pre-screening, information dissemination and voluntary consent, the sample was divided into two groups. The exercise sample undertook 12 weeks of resistance training on five days of the week. The control group received no intervention. Measurements were obtained at baseline and every four weeks thereafter and included measures of strength, biochemistry (oestradiol, testosterone, full blood lipid profile, glycated haemoglobin and sex hormone binding globulin), anthropometry, morphology and self-reports (dietary intake, energy expenditure and the profile of mood states questionnaire). Results: There was no change to low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride content or total cholesterol as a result of the intervention. Back, chest and leg strength increased significantly (p<0.01) (increases of 51 percent, 35 percent and 43 percent respectively from baseline); waist circumference dropped (p<0.01) by 5 percent overall and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (-9 percent, p<0.01) in the exercise cohort but no change was noted in the matched control. Dietary intake, energy expenditure and body mass remained unchanged in both samples. Morphology (sum of skinfolds, estimated body fat content and girth measures) did not change and nor did other biochemical measures (HbA1c and sex hormone binding globulin) or hormone levels (oestradiol and testosterone). Despite the lack of overall change, an important finding was noted in individual results where a clear indication of ‘responders’ and ‘non-responders’ emerged. Conclusion: Overall mean results suggest that 12 weeks resistance training undertaken five days of the week was ineffective in reducing hypercholesterolaemia in this sample. Despite there being no identifying characteristics determined in this sample, evidence of responders and non-responders to the intervention indicates that reliance on mean data may not be sufficient when analysing data from exercise interventions. Therefore, while progressive resistance training had a positive effect on strength, waist circumference and diastolic blood pressure, it did not positively influence the plasma lipoproteins in this cohort of post-menopausal women. / Maiden name: Kelly, Janet Erica

The main purpose of this study was to assess the effect of progressive resistance training on the blood lipid profile in post-menopausal women. Thirty-four female subjects aged 50 to 75 years were selected from the population of Grahamstown, South Africa. All participants were previously sedentary and possessed at least one lipid profile abnormality but were otherwise healthy. Pre-tests included a sub-maximal stress Electrocardiogram, measures of stature, mass, central and limb girths as well as an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and a total blood lipid profile. Participants took part in a 24-week progressive resistance training programme, consisting of three supervised sessions per week, each lasting 45 minutes and were not permitted to lose more than 10% of initial body mass during the 24-week study. All pre-test measures, excluding the stress ECG and the OGTT, were repeated every four weeks for the duration of the study. Results were that body mass, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio did not change. Girth measures at mid-humerus, chest, waist, hip, mid-quadricep and mid-gastrocnemius all decreased significantly (p=0.05). LDL-cholesterol increased significantly over the course of 24 weeks (3.61mmol.L-1 to 4.07mmol.L-1) as did total cholesterol (5.81mmol.L-1 to 6.24mmol.L-1). Triglyceride concentration remained unchanged and HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly between the pre-test measure (1.55mmol.L-1) and the measure after six months (1.42mmol.L-1). It can be concluded that the blood lipid profile in a sample of post-menopausal women was not positively affected by a progressive resistance training programme over a 24 week period. / Maiden name: Kelly, Janet Erica

Magister Artium (Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science) - MA(SRES) / The primary aim of this study was to investigate the changes in physical fitness characteristics of elite women's rugby union players over the duration of the season. Thirty two elite female rugby players who were identified as members of the South African Rugby Union High Performance Squad were assessed on three separate occasions (pre-season, mid-season and post-season) throughout the competition season. The players were sub-divided into two positional categories consisting of 17 forwards and 15 backs. On all testing occasions, players underwent anthropometric (stature, body mass and sum of 7 skinfolds) and physical performance measurements (sit-and-reach, vertical jump, 10m and 40m speed, 1 RM bench press; pull-ups;1 min push-ups and multi-stage shuttle run test). A two-factor analysis of variance evaluated differences in the physical fitness variables between and within playing positions over the competition season. / South Africa

The current study investigates whether there are there ethnic differences between Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic women in (a) weight bias, (b) body ideals, (c) social awareness and internalization of appearance standards and (d) physical activity in relation to these constructs. Participants included 130 Caucasian, 103 African American, and 52 Hispanic undergraduate female students. Participants completed a demographic survey, the Antifat Attitudes Test, the Figure Rating Scale, the Sociocultural Attitudes toward Appearance Questionnaire, and the Multiethnic Identity Measure questionnaire. No significant ethnic group differences in weight bias emerged. Differences were found for participants' perceptions of the culturally ideal female body shape, as well as awareness and internalization. No relationship was found between physical activity and weight bias, body ideals, and appearance standards. Future researchers should use health weight classifications, in addition to ethnicity, to examine weight bias, body ideals, and physical activity.

Falls are a common problem among older adults, including those who are relatively healthy and living independently. Exercise has been recommended as an intervention to reduce falls by slowing and/or reversing age-related declines in balance, strength, and mobility. However, it remains unclear which types or combinations of programs are most effective. The objective of this study was to investigate whether exercise programs performed by healthy older adults were associated with superior balance, strength, and functional mobility measures that are pertinent to fall prevention. This study compared three distinct groups: participants of a balance- and strength-focused training program (i.e., Better Bones and Balance®), participants engaged in a general walking program, and sedentary individuals. Balance was measured using the Sensory Organization Test composite score and sensory ratios. Isometric strength of the lateral hip stabilizers (i.e., abductors and adductors) was measured in terms of maximum voluntary contraction and rapid torque production. Rapid torque measures included contractile impulse and rate of torque development evaluated at 0-100 ms and 0-300 ms from contraction onset. Functional mobility was measured by the time to complete the Four Square Step Test. Hip abduction contractile impulse (0-300 ms) was 1.905 Nm*s and 1.539 Nm*s higher for the Better Bones and Balance (BBB) group compared to the walking and sedentary groups, respectively. No differences were found among the groups for any of the hip adduction torque measures or Sensory Organization Test balance scores. The BBB group completed the Four Square Step Test faster than the walking and sedentary groups by 0.90 s and 1.06 s, respectively. In conclusion, participation in the balance- and strength-focused training program was associated with superior performance in some measures of strength and functional mobility that may be important for fall prevention. / Graduation date: 2013