0000000000527042
AUTHOR
Bianco A
The relationship between motor timing, reaction time and academic achievements in primary school children.
Aim: Recent studies have reported a correlation between motor skills and school performance, which is different according to the type of motor ability or academic subject examined (Fernandes et al, 2016; Bellafiore et al., 2016). The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between motor timing, reaction time and achievements in mathematics and Italian in sedentary and active children. Methods: Seventy-eight children (8.55±1.43 years old, 28.93±5.74 kg weight, 126.54±4.74 cm height and 19.30±2.62 kg/m2 BMI) were randomly recruited by a primary school of Palermo, 68% of them practiced a sport outside the academic hours. The motor timing was measured with the finger and foot tapping …
Post-graduate medical education in public health: the case of Italy and a call for action
Summary Public health technical expertise is of crucial importance to inform decision makers’ action in the field of health and its broader determinants. Improving education and training of public health professionals for both practice and research is the starting point to strengthen the role of public health so that current health challenges can be efficiently tackled. At the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) Deans’ & Directors’ 2017 Annual Retreat, we presented the structure and management of public health training system in Italy, and we reported recent data on Italian public health specialists’ educational experience, employment opportunities and jo…
Handgrip strength: a predictive indicator of upper body maximal strength?
In the last few years, Handgrip strength has been widely recognized as a relevant indicator of physical function, nutritional status and quality of life in a clinical population. The validity of this indicator has been reported in many experimental and epidemiological investigations, showing a significant association of this value with several physiological and not physiological parameters. Bone health, functional capacity, nutritional status as well as postoperative complications, increased length of hospitalization and higher rehospitalisation rate are all elements found to be strongly associated with an acceptable or with an impaired grip strength. These outcomes, as well as the possibil…
The effects of vibration during maximal graded cycling exercise: A pilot study
Whole Body Vibration training is studied and used in different areas, related to sport performance and rehabilitation. However, few studies have investigated the effects of Vibration (Vib) exposure on aerobic performance through the application of this concept to cycling exercise. A specifically designed vibrating cycloergometer, the powerBIKETM, was used to compare the effects of Vib cycling exercise and normal cycling on different physiological parameters during maximal graded exercise test. Twelve recreationally active male adults (25 ± 4.8 yrs; 181.33 ± 5.47 cm; 80.66 ± 11.91 kg) performed two maximal incremental cycling tests with and without Vib in a blockrandomized order. The protoco…