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.

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No description available.

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

Purpose: The first phase of this study aimed to investigate the health and fitness status of young adult females in the local community. The second phase of this study investigated the impact of an eight week progressive Pilates intervention on selected health and fitness parameters in this cohort. Methods: Healthy young adult females aged 18-26 years (n=96), from the local community, partook in once-off tests including anthropometric measures (stature, body mass, Body Mass Index and waist circumference) as well as fitness parameters including balance, flexibility, muscular strength and endurance, and lastly lumbo-pelvic stability. Health measures investigated included blood pressure and spirometry. Where possible, results were compared to those of similar populations from national surveys or published normative data. Sedentary volunteers from this cohort were then randomised into a Pilates Exercise (PEx, n=12) or an inactive Control (Con, n=11) group, with their results from Phase 1 serving as baseline measures. Pilates classes were held twice weekly (60 minutes per session). All the measures from phase 1 were repeated at weeks 4 and 8. An additional intervention test included Transversus abdominis recruitment. Participants maintained habitual dietary intake and energy expenditure throughout. Nine PEx group and eight Con group participants completed the intervention. Results: The current sample (phase 1) was found to be healthier than comparative populations from national surveys, and significant differences (p<0.05) were found for all comparisons except Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1), (p=0.64). Physical activity levels (230 min.week-1) exceeded that of the recommend weekly threshold (150 min.week-1). BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure and spirometry measures were all found to be within suggested healthy normal ranges. Pilates significantly improved lumbo-pelvic stability in the PEx group at weeks 4 (p<0.005) and 8 (p<0.002). Similarly, abdominal (p=0.00, d=1.1), upper limb (p=0.037, d=0.9) and lower limb endurance (p=0.02, d=1.0, between group d=0.73 for PEx) also improved with no changes in the Con group. PEx energy expenditure significantly increased from baseline to weeks 4 (p=0.007, d=10.7) and 8 (p=0.027, d=0.64), however body mass was maintained throughout. Conversely, Minute Ventilation decreased in the PEx cohort (p=0.010, d=0.95) from weeks 4 to 8. The Con group showed significant increases in body mass (p=0.018), leg strength (within-group Cohen’s d=-1.08 between weeks 0-8; d=-2 between weeks 4-8) and dynamic balance (p=0.01, d=-0.5). While no within-group changes were observed, Protein intake was significantly greater (p=0.036, d>0.8 at baseline and week 8) in the PEx group throughout the intervention. Medium between-group effect sizes (d>0.5) were noted for PEx BMI and waist circumference measures at all time points. Further, although not significant, the large within-group effect size (d=-0.84) between baseline and week 8 for PEx systolic blood pressure, suggested the 9 mm Hg was meaningful. The same time period also indicated a large within-group effect size (d=-0.8) for PEx dynamic balance, and a medium Cohen’s d for (d=0.57) PEx static balance. Conclusion: The local population of young adult females was found to be significantly healthier than those of comparable national samples. Further, Pilates participation significantly improved lumbo-pelvic stability and muscular endurance with meaningful changes in systolic blood pressure, and balance in previously sedentary young, adult females. Body mass was also maintained.

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Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Rates of chronic disease and physical inactivity are disproportionately high among African American women. Despite the known benefits of physical activity and an increasing number of programs designed to increase activity, attendance rates to many exercise programs remain low. There is much to learn about program types, such as healthy lifestyle programs (HLP); individual factors, such as self-efficacy; and mediating variables that may influence exercise program attendance. An observational study design was used to compare exercise self-efficacy and attendance in a community-based exercise program in African American women who were enrolled in a HLP (N = 53) to women who were not (N = 27). Exercise program attendance was gathered across six months; demographics, self-efficacy and physical activity behaviors were assessed through surveys; and physiological variables (resting heart rate and blood pressure, height, and weight) and physical fitness (muscular strength and endurance and cardiovascular endurance) were measured at baseline. Descriptive statistics were used to describe participants and groups were compared using T-tests, chi-square and non-parametric statistics. Finally, mediation analyses were conducted using multiple regression models to assess self-efficacy as a potential mediator to exercise program attendance. Women who enrolled in this study were of low income (61% having an annual income less than $20,000), obese with a mean (standard deviation) body mass index (BMI) of 37.7 (7.6), pre-hypertensive with a mean (standard deviation) systolic blood pressure of 125.9 (14.4), and scored poorly and marginally on two fitness tests. On average, women reported being Moderately Confident in their ability to exercise regularly, yet had low attendance in the exercise program with a median number .5 days over six months and there were no significant differences in exercise self-efficacy (p = .23) or attendance in the exercise program between groups (p = .79). Additionally, exercise self-efficacy was not a mediating variable to program attendance. Women in this study had little discretionary income and several chronic disease risk factors, yet exercise program attendance was low even in those enrolled in a HLP. Identifying factors that increase exercise self-efficacy and factors that influence attendance beyond self-efficacy may help future program design and attendance.