Adiposity and age explain most of the association between physical activity and fitness in physically active men

[EN] BACKGROUND: To determine if there is an association between physical activity assessed by the short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: One hundred and eighty-two young males (age range: 20-55 years) completed the short form of the IPAQ to assess physical activity. Body composition (dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry), muscular fitness (static and dynamic muscle force and power, vertical jump height, running speed [30 m sprint], anaerobic capacity [300 m running test]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (estimated VO(2)max: 20 m shuttle run test) were also determined in all subjects. Activity-related energy expenditure of moderate and vigorous intensity (EEPA(moderate) and EEPA(vigorous), respectively) was inversely associated with indices of adiposity (r = -0.21 to -0.37, P<0.05). Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO(2)max) was positively associated with LogEEPA(moderate) (r = 0.26, P<0.05) and LogEEPA(vigorous) (r = 0.27). However, no association between VO(2)max with LogEEPA(moderate), LogEPPA(vigorous) and LogEEPA(total) was observed after adjusting for the percentage of body fat. Multiple stepwise regression analysis to predict VO(2)max from LogEEPA(walking), LogEEPA(moderate), LogEEPA(vigorous), LogEEPA(total), age and percentage of body fat (%fat) showed that the %fat alone explained 62% of the variance in VO(2)max and that the age added another 10%, while the other variables did not add predictive value to the model [VO(2)max = 129.6-(25.1x Log %fat) - (34.0x Log age); SEE: 4.3 ml.kg(-1). min(-1); R(2) = 0.72 (P<0.05)]. No positive association between muscular fitness-related variables and physical activity was observed, even after adjusting for body fat or body fat and age. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Adiposity and age are the strongest predictors of VO(2)max in healthy men. The energy expended in moderate and vigorous physical activities is inversely associated with adiposity. Muscular fitness does not appear to be associated with physical activity as assessed by the IPAQ.

Large asymmetric hypertrophy of rectus abdominis muscle in professional tennis players

[EN] PURPOSE: To determine the volume and degree of asymmetry of the musculus rectus abdominis (RA) in professional tennis players. METHODS: The volume of the RA was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 8 professional male tennis players and 6 non-active male control subjects. RESULTS: Tennis players had 58% greater RA volume than controls (P = 0.01), due to hypertrophy of both the dominant (34% greater volume, P = 0.02) and non-dominant (82% greater volume, P = 0.01) sides, after accounting for age, the length of the RA muscle and body mass index (BMI) as covariates. In tennis players, there was a marked asymmetry in the development of the RA, which volume was 35% greater in the non-dominant compared to the dominant side (P<0.001). In contrast, no side-to-side difference in RA volume was observed in the controls (P = 0.75). The degree of side-to-side asymmetry increased linearly from the first lumbar disc to the pubic symphysis (r = 0.97, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Professional tennis is associated with marked hypertrophy of the musculus rectus abdominis, which achieves a volume that is 58% greater than in non-active controls. Rectus abdominis hypertrophy is more marked in the non-dominant than in the dominant side, particularly in the more distal regions. Our study supports the concept that humans can differentially recruit both rectus abdominis but also the upper and lower regions of each muscle. It remains to be determined if this disequilibrium raises the risk of injury.

Iliopsoas and gluteal muscles are asymmetric in tennis players but not in soccer players

[EN] PURPOSE: To determine the volume and degree of asymmetry of iliopsoas (IL) and gluteal muscles (GL) in tennis and soccer players. METHODS: IL and GL volumes were determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in male professional tennis (TP) and soccer players (SP), and in non-active control subjects (CG) (n = 8, 15 and 6, respectively). RESULTS: The dominant and non-dominant IL were hypertrophied in TP (24 and 36%, respectively, P<0.05) and SP (32 and 35%, respectively, P<0.05). In TP the asymmetric hypertrophy of IL (13% greater volume in the non-dominant than in the dominant IL, P<0.01) reversed the side-to-side relationship observed in CG (4% greater volume in the dominant than in the contralateral IL, P<0.01), whilst soccer players had similar volumes in both sides (P = 0.87). The degree of side-to-side asymmetry decreased linearly from the first lumbar disc to the pubic symphysis in TP (r = -0.97, P<0.001), SP (r = -0.85, P<0.01) and CG (r = -0.76, P<0.05). The slope of the relationship was lower in SP due to a greater hypertrophy of the proximal segments of the dominant IL. Soccer and CG had similar GL volumes in both sides (P = 0.11 and P = 0.19, for the dominant and contralateral GL, respectively). GL was asymmetrically hypertrophied in TP. The non-dominant GL volume was 20% greater in TP than in CG (P<0.05), whilst TP and CG had similar dominant GL volumes (P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Tennis elicits an asymmetric hypertrophy of IL and reverses the normal dominant-to-non-dominant balance observed in non-active controls, while soccer is associated to a symmetric hypertrophy of IL. Gluteal muscles are asymmetrically hypertrophied in TP, while SP display a similar size to that observed in controls. It remains to be determined whether the different patterns of IL and GL hypertrophy may influence the risk of injury.

Effects of recovery mode on performance, O2 uptake, and O2 deficit during high-intensity intermittent exercise

[EN] The aim of this study was to determine the influence of activity performed during the recovery period on the aerobic and anaerobic energy yield, as well as on performance, during high-intensity intermittent exercise (HIT). Ten physical education students participated in the study. First they underwent an incremental exercise test to assess their maximal power output (Wmax) and VO2max. On subsequent days they performed three different HITs. Each HIT consisted of four cycling bouts until exhaustion at 110% Wmax. Recovery periods of 5 min were allowed between bouts. HITs differed in the kind of activity performed during the recovery periods: pedaling at 20% VO2max (HITA), stretching exercises, or lying supine. Performance was 3-4% and aerobic energy yield was 6-8% (both p < 0.05) higher during the HITA than during the other two kinds of HIT. The greater contribution of aerobic metabolism to the energy yield during the high-intensity exercise bouts with active recovery was due to faster VO2 kinetics (p< 0.01) and a higher VO2peak during the exercise bouts preceded by active recovery (p < 0.05). In contrast, the anaerobic energy yield (oxygen deficit and peak blood lactate concentrations) was similar in all HITs. Therefore, this study shows that active recovery facilitates performance by increasing aerobic contribution to the whole energy yield turnover during high-intensity intermittent exercise.

Validez del déficit máximo de oxigeno acumulado como índice de capacidad anaeróbica

[ES] Para determinar la validez del déficit acumulado de oxígeno (DMOA) como índice de capacidad anaeróbica, en 29 varones, estudiantes de Educación Física, se determinó el DMOA, la concentración de lactato en sangre capilar al finalizar un test supramáximo al 120 % VO2max, la potencia media y máxima desarrolladas en el test de Wingate y la masa muscular de las extremidades inferiores mediante absorciometría fotónica dual de rayos X. El DMOA correlacionó con la concentracción de lactato en sangre alcanzada al final del test de capacidad anaeróbica (r=0.43, p<0.05, n=28), con el trabajo realizado y con el VO2 acumulado en el test de capacidad anaeróbica (r=0.59, p<0.001, n=28 y r=0.56, p<0.01, n=29, respectivamente). La lactatemia al final del test de capacidad anaeróbica correlacionó con trabajo realizado en el test de capacidad anaeróbica en valores absolutos (r=0.49, p<0.01, n=27) y con el trabajo divido entre la masa muscular de las extremidades inferiores (r=0.65, p<0.001, n=26). No se observaron correlaciones significativas entre el DMOA y la potencia máxima, ni tampoco entre el DMOA y la potencia media desarrolladas en el test Wingate, ya sea expresadas en valores absolutos o referidos a la masa muscular de las piernas. Tampocó correlacionó la lactatemia alcanzada al final del test de capacidad anaeróbica con la potencia máxima ni con la potencia media desarrollada en el test de Wingate. Aunque conceptualmente el DMOA es el mejor no invasivo procedimiento para medir la capacidad anaeróbica, la ausencia de correlaciones con otras variables que se han mostrado útiles en la evaluación de las cualidades anaeróbicas limita su interés desde el punto de vista práctico.

Capacidad de salto en niñas prepúberes que practican gimnasia rítmica

[ES] Estudiamos el rendimiento en el salto vertical y como podría verse afectado por la composición corporal en 13 niñas que practicaban gimnasia rítmica (GR; 10.4 ± 0.9 años) y13 niñas control (CO; 9.9 ± 0.7 años). La composición corporal fue determinada mediante antropometría y DXA. Se realizaron saltos con y sin contramovimiento (CMJ y SJ) sobre una plataforma de fuerza analizándose entre otras variables la altura de vuelo (AV), velocidad de despegue (VD), velocidad vertical máxima del centro de masas (Vimax), la potencia media(Pm), el impulso mecánico positivo (Ipos), tiempo de fuerza máxima (Tfmax) y potencia instantánea máxima (Pimax). Las gimnastas consiguieron una AV, VD, Ipos y Vimax mayor en ambos saltos y una Pm, Tfmax y Pimax mayores en el CMJ que las control (p<0.05). En conclusión, practicar gimnasia rítmica se asocia a un mayor rendimiento en el salto vertical.

Influencia del polimorfismo del receptor de andrógenos en la masa grasa corporal y la respuesta lipolítica al ejercicio

Programa de doctorado: Actividad Física, Salud y Rendimiento Deportivo Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado en la rama de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas, 2011-2012

Regulación de la actividad AMPK en músculo esquelético humano por radicales libres e hipoxia

Premio Extraordinario de Doctorado. Rama de Ciencias Sociales y Jurídicas

Efectos de los ejercicios de Pilates sobre el volumen muscular en la región lumbo-pélvica

Programa de doctorado: Actividad física, salud y rendimiento deportivo

Influencia del polimorfismo del receptor de andrógenos en la masa ósea, masa muscular y condición física en niños y niñas

Programa de doctorado: Actividad Física, Salud y Rendimiento Deportivo

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