Background The aim of this study was to estimate the bone mass (BM)and bone mineral density (BMD) of the non-dominate forearm and compare these measurements to basic features of somatic structure and habitual physical activity (PA) levels in adult men. Material and methods The study examined 160 men aged 20 to 50, randomly sampled from Warsaw, Poland. Bone mineral density and BM of the forearm was measured with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometric measurements included: height, body mass, and the width of the elbow and wrist of the non-dominant limb. Habitual PA was assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results The men with sufficient to high levels of PA demonstrated normal values for the T-score in the both the distal and proximal forearm measurement sites in more than 90% of participants and more than 50% in the those with sufficient level of PA. In the group with insufficient levels of PA, low values of the T - score indicating osteopenia was found in both the proximal and distal measurement sites, 71% and 80% respectively. Significant, though weak positive correlations were found between BMD, an indicator of T – score, and a both elbow and wrist widths. Conclusions Lack of PA is clearly associated with an increased occurrence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in men. This study supports the notion that osteopenia and osteoporosis is present in younger adult men and that sufficient habitual PA is a important factor to preserve bone health.
University education is a period of human life when lifestyles or person’s activity are critical to the development of somatic build, while identification of the somatotype allows for corrections or recommendation of effective physical activity programmes. The main aim of this study was to assess selected features of body build and to identify somatotypes of young people at early stages of education at Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw depending on the field of study. The study examined 394 students of physical education (PE) and sport (S). Anthropometric measurements were the main research method used in the study. Physical body build (somatotype) was identified using the Heath-Carter method. The ANOVA/MANOVA analysis of variance was employed to determine the significance of differences in values of anthropometric and somatic characteristics between the groups of students. Students of physical education were characterized by a somatotype with a code of 3.08-4.6-2.62 (endomorphic mesomorph). In students of sport, the somatotype code was 3.0-4.58-2.37 (endomorphic mesomorph). Compared to S students, significantly (p < 0.05) higher values (by 10.5%) of the ectomorphy component were found in PE students. The results revealed the need for more research into the somatic build of students of physical education, taking into account the changes in their living conditions (including socio-economic environment), since graduates are expected to promote physical activity in the future. It is also necessary to carry out identical research at the end of studies in order to evaluate the effect of university curricula on the somatic build of students.
Introduction There are some studies concern special field-based tests for wheelchair basketball players however, there were not a lot of studies confirmed reliability and/or validity of wheelchair basketball field-based tests. The aim of the present study was to assess test-retest reliability of the newly developed field-based tests focused on short time efforts with maximal intensity for wheelchair basketball players. Material and methods Nine elite male wheelchair basketball players (mean age 29.7 ± 5.9 years) performed two times 11 field-based tests focused on short time efforts with the maximal intensity: 3 m sprint, 5 m sprint, 10 m sprint, 20 m sprint, pass basketball ball by both hands from the chest, pass medicine ball (3 kg) by both hands from the chest, bilateral handgrip, 3-6-9 m drill test, 30-seconds sprint test, agility drill test, and 10x5 m sprint test. All sprint tests’ time were measured by Microgate® photocells (Bolzano, Italy). Differences between field-based tests repetitions were compared by the t-test for dependent samples, relationship between repetitions was calculated by the Pearson correlation coefficient, and the ICCs were calculated (test-retest reliability). Results The ICCs were ‘very good’, correlations were strong for each field-based test (r > 0.7). Only for the agility drill test the first repetition is statistically different compare to the second repetition (p = .015). Conclusions The main application of our research is a confirmation of reliability of 10 field-based tests related to short time efforts with maximum intensity: 3 m sprint, 5 m sprint, 10 m sprint, 20 m sprint, pass basketball ball by both hands from the chest, pass medicine ball (3 kg) by both hands from the chest, bilateral handgrip, 3-6-9 m drill test, 30-seconds sprint test, and 10x5 m sprint test.
JavaScript is turned off in your web browser. Turn it on to take full advantage of this site, then refresh the page.