This study was concerned with the differences of three surfaces (dirt, asphalt, or wood) on the performance of girls in the shuttle run.

A child’s level of physical activity is an important component of that child’s health. Our understanding of physical activity patterns in children is limited in rural settings, and virtually absent for climates with snow cover. Opportunities for physical activity intervention need to be identified. PURPOSE: Investigation of the relationships between pedometer-measured physical activity, body composition and aerobic performance in rural children in the winter and examination of within-day variation in stepping behavior using interval pedometry. METHODS: Aerobic performance (20 m shuttle run) with “talk test” validation and body composition (BMI, BF) were measured during mid-winter during the school year in 8 to 10 year old children. Pedometer step counts were recorded at 6 intervals throughout the day for 7 days. RESULTS: Fifty-six subjects (22 males and 34 females, mean age 9.09 (0.49), had the following measurements; BMI 17.9 (3.3), BF% 24.3 (9.5) (tricep/calf), 10,465 (±2506) steps/day, VO2 45.12 ml/kg/min (±2.87), shuttle run stage 3.0 (±1.34). Weekday steps/day (11,422 ±2573) were greater than weekend (8,112, ±3499) steps/day for both boys and girls (p<0.01). Town children recorded 1800 more steps/day than out of town children (p<0.01). All measures of body composition were found to be significantly related to aerobic power (p<0.01). Weekday steps were related to aerobic performance. The fittest (upper 1/3) children were leaner and had more afternoon school steps, and higher afternoon school step rates. CONCLUSION: Daily step counts were 2000-4000 steps lower than other studies and may be an impact of winter in Manitoba or the rural setting. This was consistent with overall low aerobic performance and higher adiposity of the children. Interval pedometry was capable of identifying differences in activity patterns between most and least fit children in rural Manitoba providing for targeted intervention strategies. / October 2006

Background: Several field-based team sports contain repeated, maximal effort sprints with varying rest lengths in between. This puts high demands on athletes’ metabolic and neuromuscular systems. Testing the anaerobic capacity of athletes is essential to improve and evaluate the progression. One test being utilised for assessing anaerobic capacity is the 300-yard shuttle run test. The test is field-based with stopwatches as the sole equipment. However, the test has not been properly tested for reliability.   Aim: The aim of this bachelor thesis was therefore to investigate the reliability of the 300-yard shuttle run test. Methods: The study was performed with a test-retest method and included a familiarisation meeting, test session and retest session.  Test subjects performed the 300-yard shuttle run test at two different occasions with seven or fourteen days in between. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was utilised to quantify the reliability. An ICC&gt;0.8 was considered acceptable. Results: 17 American football players participated in the study (median age 20, min. =18, max. =38 y; median weight 83, min. =67, max. =133 kg; median height 184, min. =169, max. =194 cm). The ICC for the test-retest was 0.97 (95% CI  0.91-0.99). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study 300-yard shuttle test is proposed as a test providing reliable results.

A child’s level of physical activity is an important component of that child’s health. Our understanding of physical activity patterns in children is limited in rural settings, and virtually absent for climates with snow cover. Opportunities for physical activity intervention need to be identified. PURPOSE: Investigation of the relationships between pedometer-measured physical activity, body composition and aerobic performance in rural children in the winter and examination of within-day variation in stepping behavior using interval pedometry. METHODS: Aerobic performance (20 m shuttle run) with “talk test” validation and body composition (BMI, BF) were measured during mid-winter during the school year in 8 to 10 year old children. Pedometer step counts were recorded at 6 intervals throughout the day for 7 days. RESULTS: Fifty-six subjects (22 males and 34 females, mean age 9.09 (0.49), had the following measurements; BMI 17.9 (3.3), BF% 24.3 (9.5) (tricep/calf), 10,465 (±2506) steps/day, VO2 45.12 ml/kg/min (±2.87), shuttle run stage 3.0 (±1.34). Weekday steps/day (11,422 ±2573) were greater than weekend (8,112, ±3499) steps/day for both boys and girls (p<0.01). Town children recorded 1800 more steps/day than out of town children (p<0.01). All measures of body composition were found to be significantly related to aerobic power (p<0.01). Weekday steps were related to aerobic performance. The fittest (upper 1/3) children were leaner and had more afternoon school steps, and higher afternoon school step rates. CONCLUSION: Daily step counts were 2000-4000 steps lower than other studies and may be an impact of winter in Manitoba or the rural setting. This was consistent with overall low aerobic performance and higher adiposity of the children. Interval pedometry was capable of identifying differences in activity patterns between most and least fit children in rural Manitoba providing for targeted intervention strategies.

A child’s level of physical activity is an important component of that child’s health. Our understanding of physical activity patterns in children is limited in rural settings, and virtually absent for climates with snow cover. Opportunities for physical activity intervention need to be identified. PURPOSE: Investigation of the relationships between pedometer-measured physical activity, body composition and aerobic performance in rural children in the winter and examination of within-day variation in stepping behavior using interval pedometry. METHODS: Aerobic performance (20 m shuttle run) with “talk test” validation and body composition (BMI, BF) were measured during mid-winter during the school year in 8 to 10 year old children. Pedometer step counts were recorded at 6 intervals throughout the day for 7 days. RESULTS: Fifty-six subjects (22 males and 34 females, mean age 9.09 (0.49), had the following measurements; BMI 17.9 (3.3), BF% 24.3 (9.5) (tricep/calf), 10,465 (±2506) steps/day, VO2 45.12 ml/kg/min (±2.87), shuttle run stage 3.0 (±1.34). Weekday steps/day (11,422 ±2573) were greater than weekend (8,112, ±3499) steps/day for both boys and girls (p<0.01). Town children recorded 1800 more steps/day than out of town children (p<0.01). All measures of body composition were found to be significantly related to aerobic power (p<0.01). Weekday steps were related to aerobic performance. The fittest (upper 1/3) children were leaner and had more afternoon school steps, and higher afternoon school step rates. CONCLUSION: Daily step counts were 2000-4000 steps lower than other studies and may be an impact of winter in Manitoba or the rural setting. This was consistent with overall low aerobic performance and higher adiposity of the children. Interval pedometry was capable of identifying differences in activity patterns between most and least fit children in rural Manitoba providing for targeted intervention strategies.

Abstract Background/problem definition: Mental illness, such as anxiety, is a health problem affecting about 10-20% of adolescents worldwide. Studies have found a person’s physical fitness to be associated with their mental health, but most studies have been done in the western world and few have investigated sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. It has also been found that SSA countries’ guidelines regarding physical activity are few and incomplete, although the importance of it is well known.   Aim: To investigate to what extent physical fitness: grip strength (GS), 20 meter shuttle run test (20MSRT), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) correlate to self-assessed anxiety in South African students at the UWC.   Methods: The study had a quantitative, cross-sectional and correlational research design with a non-randomized convenience sampling. The physical fitness data were collected through a hydraulic grip strength dynamometer, 20MSRT and by measuring anthropometric measurements in order to calculate BMI and WC. An electronic version of the GAD-7 form was used for self-assessed anxiety.   Results: The results showed a significant positive correlation between BMI and levels of anxiety in women, but not in men. The correlation of anxiety related to WC, GS and 20MSRT showed no significance for the whole sample or related to gender, respectively. Conclusion: No significant correlation could be determined between physical fitness and anxiety. Severe anxiety affected 25% of the population, supporting previous research indicating that students are a group prone to anxiety. / Sammanfattning Bakgrund: Mental ohälsa, till exempel ångest, är ett hälsorelaterat problem som drabbar cirka 10-20% av ungdomar i världen över. Studier har visat att en persons fysiska kondition (physical fitness) kan kopplas till mental hälsa och välmående, men de flesta studier har gjorts i västvärlden och det råder brist på forskning i länder söder om Sahara. Dessutom har afrikanska länder söder om Sahara få och inkompletta riktlinjer gällande fysisk aktivitet trots att betydelsen av fysisk aktivitet är väl etablerad. Syfte: Att undersöka om och till vilken utsträckning fysisk kondition (innefattande grepp styrka, beep-test, BMI och midjemått) korrelerar med självskattad ångest (GAD-7) hos Sydafrikanska studenter vid University of the Western Cape (UWC).   Metod: En kvantitativ tvärsnittsdesign användes och korrelationer studerades. Deltagarna rekryterades genom ett icke randomiserat bekvämlighetsurval. Datan för fysisk kondition och hälsa samlades in genom en greppstyrka-dynamometer, beep-test samt genom antropometriska mätningar för att mäta midjemått och räkna ut BMI. Självskattad ångest samlades in genom en elektronisk version av GAD-7 formuläret.   Resultat: Resultaten visade en statistiskt signifikant, positiv korrelation mellan BMI och ångest bland kvinnor. Inga signifikanta korrelationer kunde i övrigt ses i gruppen som helhet eller hos kvinnor respektive män. Konklusion: Ingen signifikant korrelation fastslogs mellan fysisk kondition och ångest. Svår ångest rapporterades av 25% av deltagarna, vilket stödjer tidigare forskning på området som indikerar att studenter är en grupp utsatt för ångest.

This bachelor thesis deals with the basic criminal activities of the police department by examining the crime scene in the conditions of the basic unit of the Police of the Czech Republic. The first part of the thesis deals with the examination in general, its types and principles. The second part concerns the division of the crime scene investigation by subject matter between the basic police unit and the Criminal Police and Investigation Service. The third part deals with the actual investigation of the crime scene, namely its concept, purpose, procedures and stage of investigation. The fourth part describes the crime scene documentation. The fifth part focuses on the conditions and problems in examining the crime scene performed by the basic body. Key words rowing, rowing ergometer, endurance, methods of endurance testing, Cooper test, Multi stage shuttle run

Bakgrund: Träning i naturliga miljöer har hälsofrämjande effekter och ökar välbefinnandet i jämförelse med träning som sker i inomhusmiljöer. Individer som utför träning i utomhusmiljöer visar sig ha högre hastighet, hjärtfrekvens och blodlaktatkoncentration, i jämförelse med individer som tränar inomhus vilket påverkar den fysiska prestationen.Syfte: Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka mätbara skillnader i fysisk prestation inomhus och utomhus genom ett maxpulstest.Metod: Studien genomfördes med en randomiserad kontrollerad cross- over design där åtta män och fem kvinnor (medelålder 26 ± 3.67), fysiskt aktiva, genomförde ett beeptest vid två tillfällen. Testet utfördes av samma person vid ett tillfälle inomhus och ett tillfälle utomhus. Analysen utgick från uppskattat VO2 max genom protokoll av beeptest, objektiv mätning och kontroll av puls direkt före tester och direkt efter genomförda tester.Resultat: Resultaten visade en signifikant skillnad i VO2 max (O2ml/kg/min) (p= 0.047), genom en högre fysisk prestation inomhus i jämförelse med utomhus (46.08 ± 8.76 och 44.73 ± 8.84). Puls (slag/min) efter genomförda tester visade ett högre medelvärde inomhus i jämförelse med utomhus (192.36 ± 10.13 och 190.45 ± 9.11), men ingen signifikant skillnad (p=0.11). Puls före tester visade ingen signifikant skillnad (p=0.898) mellan inomhusmiljön och utomhusmiljön (107.16 ± 18.78 och 107. 75 ± 18.49).Slutsats: Resultaten indikerar på att det är skillnader i fysisk prestation i olika miljöer. VO2 max var signifikant högre i inomhusmiljön i jämförelse med utomhusmiljön. Medel-maxpulsen tenderade ha ett högre medelvärde inomhus i jämförelse med utomhus. / Background: Exercise performed in natural environments produces health-promoting effects and increases well-being, in comparison with exercises performed in indoors-environments. Individuals who exercise outdoors has higher velocity, heartrate and blood lactate concentration compared to individuals who exercise indoors, which affects the physical performance.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate measurable differences in physical performance indoors and outdoors through a maximum heartrate test.Method: The study was conducted with a randomized controlled cross over design where five women and eight men, physical active, in the middle age of 26 ± 3.67 years, performed a shuttle run test at two times. The test was repeated by the same individual one time indoors and one time outdoors. The analysis was made by estimated VO2 max using a protocol from the performed shuttle run test, and controlled objective measurements of pulse levels, directly before the test started and directly after finished test.Results: Significant differences were found between indoors and outdoors, where VO2 max (O2ml/lbs/min) (p= 0.047) was higher indoors than outdoors (46.08 ± 8.76 and 44.73 ± 8.84). Pulse levels (beats/min) was higher indoors than outdoors (192.36 ± 10.13 and 190.45 ± 9.11) after finished test, but significant differences were not found (p=0.11). Significant differences were not found in pulse levels before the test (p=0.898), between the different environments (107.16 ± 18.78 and 107. 75 ± 18.49).Conclusion: The results in this study show that there are differences in physical performance between different environments. VO2 max was significantly higher in the indoor environment compared to the outdoor environment. The average maximum pulse tended to have a higher average indoors compared to outdoors.

Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med studien var att undersöka för elitorienterare resultaten vid och korrelationen mellan ett så kallat 5 minuters pyramidtest (5MPT) och ett maximalt test för bestämning av maximalt syreupptag (VO2max) på rullband. Frågorna vi ställde oss var: Vilken korrelation föreligger mellan 5MPT och ett bestämt VO2max på rullband hos elitorienterare? Hur ser en jämförelse ut mellan uppmätt samt beräknat VO2max? Vilken är reliabiliteten för 5MPT? Hur ser ekvationen ut för att beskriva sambandet mellan dessa två olika maxtester? Metod I valideringsstudien deltog 16 elitorienterare (6 kvinnor och 10 män) i åldrarna 17 till 37 år. De två testerna som genomfördes var 5MPT och bestämning av VO2max på rullband. 5MPT är ett skytteltest som är fem minuter långt, där testpersonen (tp) tar sig fram och tillbaka mellan två stolpar (sträcka 5.5 m) där en vertikal trappa (formad likt en pyramid) passeras under varje vända. Antalet vändor, skattad ansträngning samt hjärtfrekvens (HF) registrerades. Utvecklad power (effekt) erhölls genom produkten av vikt, gravitation, antal vändor, höjd på högsta plinten (0,62 m) dividerat med total duration i 5MPT. Testet för att bestämma VO2max utfördes med löpning på ett motordrivet rullband. Under den första minuten av testet sprang tp på en hastighet av 8km/h (kvinnor) respektive10km/h (män) utan lutning. För varje minut ökades hastigheten med 1km/h. Lutningen höjdes med en grad efter minut ett och därefter med 0,5 grader/minut. Testet pågick till dess tp nått sin VO2max. Var 15:e sekund registrerades tp:s HF, VO2 (l/min), VCO2 (l/min), VO2 (ml/kg/min) och respiratorisk kvot (RER) med hjälp av ett datoriserat syreupptagningssystem. Resultat Korrelationen var signifikant och hög (r = 0,89, p&lt;0,0001) mellan utvecklad power på 5MPT och VO2max (l/min) och även mellan antalet vändor på 5MPT och VO2max (l/min) (r = 0,89, p&lt;0,0001) på detta material av elitorienterare. Följande formler, baserade på resultaten från elitorienterarna, kan användas för att predicera VO2max efter genomfört 5MPT: VO2max  (l/min) = (5MPTPOWER – 50,914) / 25,795 VO2max (l/min) = (5MPTVÄNDOR – 74,447) / 9,7668 Slutsats 5MPT uppvisar en stark korrelation med bestämd VO2max sett till power och/eller antalet genomförda vändor. Beräkningsformler för prediktion av VO2max har varit möjligt att beskriva. Se resultatdelen för andra resultat och samband mellan 5MPT och VO2max. / Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to investigate for elite orienteers the results in and the correlation between a so called 5-minutes-pyramid test (5MPT) and a specific maximum oxygen uptake test (VO2max) on a treadmill. The questions we asked ourselves were: Which correlation exists between 5MPT and a specific VO2max on the treadmill for elite orienteers? How would a comparison look like between measured and estimated VO2max? What is the reliability for the 5MPT? How would an equation look like that describe the correlation above? Method In the validity the study 16 elite orienteers (6 women and 10 men) aged 17 to 37 years participated. The two tests that have been carried out were the 5MPT and determined VO2max during running on a treadmill. The 5MPT is a 5-minute-shuttle test, in which the participant moves back and forth in a short interval (5.5 m) over boxes (highest height: 0.62) formed like a pyramid. Power in the pyramid test (5MPTPOWER) was calculated as the product of numbers of laps, body weight, gravity and highest box level divided by time. To determine VO2max the method running on a treadmill was performed. During the first minute the running speed was 8km/h (women)/10 km/h (men) without elevation. Each minute the velocity increased with 1 km/h. The elevation increased with 1 degree after the first minute and thereafter with 0,5 degrees/minute.  The test was finished when the participant had reached her VO2max. Every 15 second the participants heart rate, VO2 (l/min), VCO2 (l/min), VO2 (ml/kg/min) and RER, was registered by means of an online system. Results The correlation between the developed power of the 5MPT and measured VO2max (l/min) was high (r = 0.89, p&lt;0,0001) and also between the number of laps in the 5MPT and measured VO2max (l/min) (r = 0.89, p &lt; 0,0001). The following formulas can be used to predict VO2max after completed 5MPT: VO2max  (l/min) = (5MPTPOWER – 50,914) / 25,795 VO2max (l/min) = (5MPTLAPS – 74,447) / 9,7668 Conclusions 5MPT show a strong correlation with VO2max determined in terms of power and/or the number of completed laps. Calculated formulas for prediction of VO2max have been possible to describe. See results section for other results and relationships between 5MPT and VO2max. / Maximal Aerobic Power versus Performance in Two Aerobic Endurance Tests among Young and Old Adults.Andersson E, Lundahl N, Wecke L, Lindblom I, Nilsson, J.

The 20 Metre Multistage Shuttle Run Test (20 MST) was modified for application to ice-sports, more specifically for ice-hockey and figure-skating. Seventy two participants in ice-sports served as the total subject group. Subjects included in the study were National and Provincial standard male ice-hockey subjects (n=67) and female figure skaters (n=5) participating in the Gauteng area of South Africa (altitude of 1497 metres above sea level and barometric pressure of 655 mmHg). The mean age for the total group was 17.44±1.33 years. The research methodology entailed a repeated measures design to determine: a) velocity of motion on-ice vs. over-ground; b) energy expenditure on-ice vs. over-ground; and c) mechanical efficiency on-ice vs. over-ground. The mean velocity of motion measured over three distances (0 to 20, 0 to 30 and 0 to 40 m) indicated a significantly (p≤0.05) faster velocity on-ice (5.99±0.72 m/s) versus over-ground (5.75±0.63 m/s). The corresponding mean time-lapsed on-ice/over-ground ratio was 0.97±0.11. Differences in mean energy expenditure whilst performing the original 20 MST over-ground as opposed to on-ice were measured at low (at 4 minutes of exercise and 10 km/h), intermediate (after 8 minutes of exercise and 12 km/h), and high intensity (after 12 min of exercise and 14 km/h). The mean of the three indicated a significantly (p≤0.05) higher energy expenditure over-ground (14.04±4.86 kcal/min) as apposed to on-ice (10.51±2.95 kcal/min). The mean energy expenditure ratio for the three different intensities on-ice vs. over-ground was 0.74±0.21. Similarly, the mechanical efficiency index over-ground (4.92±0.59) was found to be significantly (p≤0.001) poorer than on-ice (6.83±1.49). The mean mechanical efficiency ratio over-ground/over-ice was 0.74±0.13. Subsequently, based on the above results, the 20 MST was modified by: a) adapting (increasing) the velocity of motion required for each level of the test (distance of 20 m per shuttle); and b) establishing the reliability and validity of the modified 20 MST for use on-ice. The adapted 20 Metre Multistage Shuttle Skating Test (the modified (skating) 20 MST) started at a velocity of 2.8 m/s (10.1 km/h) and permitted 7.1 seconds to complete each shuttle for the first level of the test, which then decreased progressively at each level. This was based on an over-all variable-derived on-ice to over ground ratio of 0.84. Test-retest, on-ice reliability measures (n=15) for predicted VO2max (49.5±8.37 vs. 49.29±7.95 ml/kg/min) showed a highly significant (p£0.001) consistency (r=0.87). Similarly test-retest concurrent validity measures (n=10) for predicted VO2max over-ground with the original 20 MST (48.09±6.25 ml/kg/min) as designed by Léger and Lambert (1982) versus on-ice values with the adapted on-ice 20 MST (49.98±7.23 ml/kg/min), showed a very significant (p£0.01) correlation of 0.73 between the two tests. In conclusion the original 20 MST, as designed by Léger and Lambert (1982) for over-ground, proved inappropriate for use on-ice. Modification of the starting velocity as well as a progressive increase in velocity for all subsequent stages renders the modified 20 MST for ice-sports a reliable and valid test for cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), with surface-specific utility. The 20 Metre Multistage Shuttle Run Test (20 MST) was modified for application to ice-sports, more specifically for ice-hockey and figure-skating. Seventy two participants in ice-sports served as the total subject group. Subjects included in the study were National and Provincial standard male ice-hockey subjects (n=67) and female figure skaters (n=5) participating in the Gauteng area of South Africa (altitude of 1497 metres above sea level and barometric pressure of 655 mmHg). The mean age for the total group was 17.44±1.33 years. The research methodology entailed a repeated measures design to determine: a) velocity of motion on-ice vs. over-ground; b) energy expenditure on-ice vs. over-ground; and c) mechanical efficiency on-ice vs. over-ground. The mean velocity of motion measured over three distances (0 to 20, 0 to 30 and 0 to 40 m) indicated a significantly (p≤0.05) faster velocity on-ice (5.99±0.72 m/s) versus over-ground (5.75±0.63 m/s). The corresponding mean time-lapsed on-ice/over-ground ratio was 0.97±0.11. Differences in mean energy expenditure whilst performing the original 20 MST over-ground as opposed to on-ice were measured at low (at 4 minutes of exercise and 10 km/h), intermediate (after 8 minutes of exercise and 12 km/h), and high intensity (after 12 min of exercise and 14 km/h). The mean of the three indicated a significantly (p≤0.05) higher energy expenditure over-ground (14.04±4.86 kcal/min) as apposed to on-ice (10.51±2.95 kcal/min). The mean energy expenditure ratio for the three different intensities on-ice vs. over-ground was 0.74±0.21. Similarly, the mechanical efficiency index over-ground (4.92±0.59) was found to be significantly (p≤0.001) poorer than on-ice (6.83±1.49). The mean mechanical efficiency ratio over-ground/over-ice was 0.74±0.13. Subsequently, based on the above results, the 20 MST was modified by: a) adapting (increasing) the velocity of motion required for each level of the test (distance of 20 m per shuttle); and b) establishing the reliability and validity of the modified 20 MST for use on-ice. The adapted 20 Metre Multistage Shuttle Skating Test (the modified (skating) 20 MST) started at a velocity of 2.8 m/s (10.1 km/h) and permitted 7.1 seconds to complete each shuttle for the first level of the test, which then decreased progressively at each level. This was based on an over-all variable-derived on-ice to over ground ratio of 0.84. Test-retest, on-ice reliability measures (n=15) for predicted VO2max (49.5±8.37 vs. 49.29±7.95 ml/kg/min) showed a highly significant (p£0.001) consistency (r=0.87). Similarly test-retest concurrent validity measures (n=10) for predicted VO2max over-ground with the original 20 MST (48.09±6.25 ml/kg/min) as designed by Léger and Lambert (1982) versus on-ice values with the adapted on-ice 20 MST (49.98±7.23 ml/kg/min), showed a very significant (p£0.01) correlation of 0.73 between the two tests. In conclusion the original 20 MST, as designed by Léger and Lambert (1982) for over-ground, proved inappropriate for use on-ice. Modification of the starting velocity as well as a progressive increase in velocity for all subsequent stages renders the modified 20 MST for ice-sports a reliable and valid test for cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max), with surface-specific utility. / Dissertation (MA (Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Biokinetics, Sport and Leisure Sciences / unrestricted