0000000000612996
AUTHOR
M. Bellafiore
Influence of occlusal vertical dimension on cervical spine mobility in sports subjects
Introduction: In the scientific literature, a number of studies have reported conflicting results regarding the effects of occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) on sports-related skills. The purpose of this study was to increase OVD in sports subjects so as to specifically investigate the influence on cervical spine mobility. In particular, we measured cervical range of motion (ROM) before and after increasing OVD in individuals, either with or without malocclusion, analyzing both sports and sedentary subjects. Materials and methods: Participants were divided into two groups: a sports group (SG) and a control group (CG), each including 18 subjects. The SG was composed of sports subjects (age: 2…
Plasma redox response of Sicilian Opuntia Ficus Indica juice in young physically active women.
It is known amateur female athletes show an altered redox status [1] and the consumption of Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) decreases oxidative stress (OS) in healthy humans [2]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether the supplementation with Sicilian OFI juice affected plasma redox balance following a maximal effort test in young physically active women . This study was randomized, double blind, placebo controlled and crossover design. Eight women (23.25±2.95 years old, weight of 54.13±9.05 kg, height of 157.75±0.66 cm and BMI of 21.69±0.66 kg/m2) were randomly divided into 2 groups and each group was supplied with either 50 ml OFI, diluted to 170 ml with water, or 170 ml …
An exploratory systematic review of countermovement jump and squat jump operating procedures: reliability and usefulness of these measures/tests in a public health context
Purpose: countermovement jump (CMJ) and squat jump (SJ) are two vertical jumps (VJ) tests used to evaluate the lower limb reactive strength and the concentric power of the legs [1], respectively. Because the main problem of these two jumps is the lack of standardization in the test administration [2], the objectives were to gather information and investigate the standard aspects between CMJ and SJ protocols, to identify the most common method used or, if not evident, to design standardized operating execution procedure. Methods: PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were used for the electronic search (from January 2010 to June 2018). Original articles, systematic reviews and meta-ana…
Relationship between food literacy and gross motor and pre-literacy skills in pre-schoolers from the Training-to-Health Project
Purpose: Food literacy is a recent concept encompassing food knowledge and skills, and is related with every aspects of life including health, culture and environment. The assessment and development of food knowledge and skills is important since the early childhood. The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between food literacy and gross motor and pre-literacy skills in a sample of pre-schoolers. Methods: The sample was recruited within the Training-to Health Project conducted in the Palermo City Council. A total of 928 children aged 3–5 years from all 21 municipal kindergartens were recruited. Brief education sessions on nutritional topics and practical activities were perform…
The effects of indoor cycling training in sedentary overweight women
Abstract AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the body composition and physiological effects in young sedentary overweight women after an indoor cycle training period. METHODS: Fourteen subjects (22.6+/-2.1 yrs; 25-29.9 BMI) were trained for 12 weeks in a specific indoor cycling protocol (ICP) consisting of three sessions/week carried out in a fitness room. Body composition and physiological parameters were taken before the beginning of the study and after 12, 24 and 36 sessions. RESULTS: We observed a reduction of 2.6% and 3.2% in body weight and of 4.3% and 5% in fat mass after 24 and 36 sessions respectively (P<0.05). Lean mass increased by 2.3% and 2.6% respectively after 24 and 3…
Type 2 diabetes family histories, body composition and fasting glucose levels: A cross-section analysis in healthy sedentary male and female
Background: Diabetes type 2 is a world wide spread disease with a multifactorial pathogenetic evolution. Various factors like obesity, physical inactivity and poor lifestyle habits contribute to its development. The aim of this study was to verify if in young healthy sedentary male and female there is positive correlation between family history to type 2 diabetes and an increase in body weight and fat mass, or alterations in basal glycemia values. Methods: Totally183 male and 237 female healthy sedentary subjects were analysed in 2012, in Italy. They were divided in three groups: FH+ with first degree family history, FH++ with second degree family history and FH− with no family history. Ant…
Influence of family history of NIDDM on basal metabolic rate in sedentary and active women
Aim and methods: The influence of family history of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDDM) on basal metabolic rate (BMR) has been investigated in 116 voluntarily women: 25 sedentary and 34 athletes without a family predisposition to type 2 diabetes (FH-); 21 sedentary and 15 athletes with a second degree predisposition to NIDDM (FH +); 10 sedentary and 11 athletes with a first degree predisposition to NIDDM (FH ++). Results: The results showed that family history on type 2 diabetes is strongly related to sedentary in women with significant high body weight values and an increased fat mass. There was no significant difference in the body parameters among the athletes groups, confirming the p…
Evaluation of thoracic rom in elderly women after a specific flexibility-training program
The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of a specific flexibility training program on thoracic spinal range of motion (T-ROM) in female older subjects. Thirty older women were randomized into either a trained group [TG] (n: 17; age: 68.35±6.04 years; height: 1.54±0.06 m; weight: 64.78±10.16, kg, BMI: 27.28±3.08) and a control group [CG] (n: 13; age: 69.69±7.94 years; height: 1.57±0.06 m; weight: 68.42±8.18 kg, BMI: 27.88±2.81). Trained subjects were trained for 8 weeks by two sessions/week. In particular, every trained session included: a warm up period (~15 min), a training period (~60 min) including specific exercises to train spinal flexibility, cool down period (~15 min). Co…
Awareness of Childhood Obesity as a Health Hazard Amongst a Sample of Parents Living in an Inner-City Area of Palermo, Italy
Prevalence of overweight and obesity is approximately 40% in Sicilian schoolchildren at age 11 and over 25% at age 15. The objective of this study was to evaluate knowledge, perception and awareness of the obesity as a condition amongst a sample of parents living inner-city areas of Palermo, Italy. A cross-sectional survey was performed enrolling 311 parents/gradients of children attending schools located in inner district of Palermo, Italy, with low to medium income. Association of answer patterns with socio-demographic characteristics was evaluated by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Although 83% considered weight excess in childrenas a health hazard, 30% considered it as …
Influence of a sport-specific training background on vertical jumping and throwing performance in young female basketball and volleyball players
Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of 3 years of sport-specific training background (SSTB) on vertical jumping and throwing performance in young female basketball and volleyball players. Methods. Thirty-one healthy adolescent girls, of which 11 age-matched control subjects [C], 10 basketballers (BP) and 10 volleyballers (VP) participated to the study. The throwing performance was assessed by seated backward overhead ball throw (SBOMBT) and seated chest pass throw (SCPT) using a 3-kg rubber medicine ball. Instead, the vertical jumping performance was evaluated by squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump with (CMJ-AS) and without arm swing (CMJ) using Optojump system…
How sports affect static baropodometry? An observational study carried out in women living in southern Italy
Purpose: The purpose of the current study was two-fold: (a) to investigate the relationship between plantar pressure and surface distribution between athletes and sedentary women; and (b) to see the differences, if any, in these parameters between two groups and also the differences between the sports within athletes’ group. Methods: One hundred and seventy-three (173) female participants were enrolled in this study, where ninety-eight (98) were sedentary (age: 24.23 ± 6.11 years; height 161.11 ± 6.44 cm; weight 56.70 ± 8.19 kg; BMI 21.81 ± 2.52 kg/m2; Body Surface Area (BSA) 1.59 ± 0.13; shoe nr. 37.83 ± 1.53) while seventy-five (75) were athletes (age 22.47 ± 4.89 years; height 159.98 ± 5…