Health Sciences & Medicine papers Copyright (c) 2013 Bond University All rights reserved. http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs Recent documents in Health Sciences & Medicine papers en-us Tue, 21 May 2013 01:41:31 PDT 3600 Evaluation of hydrotherapy, using passive tests and power tests, for recovery across a cyclic week of competitive rugby union http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/465 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/465 Sun, 19 May 2013 21:02:02 PDT In team sports, a cycle of training, competition, and recovery occurs weekly during the competitive season. In this research, we evaluated hydrotherapy for recovery from a simulated game of rugby union tracked over a week of training. Twenty-four experienced male rugby union players (mean ± SD age 19.46 ± 0.82 years, weight 82.38 ± 11.12 kg, height 178.54 ± 5.75 cm) were randomly divided into 3 groups: cold water immersion (n = 8), contrast bath therapy (n = 8), and a control group (n = 8). The 2 forms of hydrotherapy were administered immediately after a simulated rugby game. Testing was conducted 1 hour before the game and at 5 intervals postgame: 1, 48, 72, 96, and 144 hours. Dependent variables included countermovement jump, 10- and 40-m sprints, sessional rating of perceived exertion (RPE), flexibility, thigh circumference, and self-reported delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Significant differences in DOMS were found between the cold water immersion and contrast bath groups at 48 hours post intervention (p = 0.02), and between the control and contrast bath groups at 72 (p = 0.03) and 96 (p = 0.04) hours post intervention. Cold water immersion and contrast bath groups reported significantly different RPE at 72 hours (p = ?) and 96 hours post (p = 0.05) intervention. Athletes' perceptions of muscle soreness and sessional RPE scores for training were greater in the contrast bath group (20%) after the simulated game and throughout the training week. Although results from passive and power tests were inconclusive in determining whether cold water immersion or passive recovery was more effective in attenuating fatigue, results indicated contrast baths had little benefit in enhancing recovery during a cyclic week of rugby union.

]]> Trevor Higgins et al. Acute response to hydrotherapy after a simulated game of rugby http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/464 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/464 Sun, 19 May 2013 19:58:25 PDT Despite lacking clear scientific evidence, hydrotherapies (water treatments) are accepted techniques to help team sport athletes recover from the physical effects of games. The purpose of this study was to assess the comparative effectiveness of cold water immersions and hot-and-cold contrast baths on athletes' recovery following a simulated game of rugby union. Twenty-four experienced, well trained, male rugby union players were divided into three groups to receive recovery interventions: cold water immersion for one group, contrast baths for a second group, and passive recovery for a third (control) group. Pre- and post-game measurements included a counter-movement jump (CMJ, normalised as a ratio to body weight), a sit-and-stretch flexibility test (cm), thigh circumference (to detect swelling; cm), as well as participants' perception of delayed-onset muscular soreness (DOMS, 100mm visual analogue scale). Statistical analysis included analysis of variance, as well as the calculation of omnibus effect sizes for each group (ηp2) and the magnitudes of change within and between groups (Cohen's d). Participants in the contrast baths group reported statistically significantly greater measures of DOMS than participants in the control group at one hour post intervention (p=0.05, control group d = 1.80; contrast bath d = 4.75), and than participants in the cold water immersion group at 48 hours post intervention (p=0.02, cold water immersion d = 1.17; contrast bath d = 1.97). These findings provide modest evidence that contrast baths are a less effective strategy for recovery from rugby union than are cold water immersion or passive recovery. Specifically, 2 × 5-minute cold water immersion is superior to both contrasts baths and passive recovery in alleviating DOMS after exercise-induced muscle damage. Our recommendation for rugby union players aiming to attenuate the effects of DOMS post games is to take 2 × 5 minute cold water immersions baths immediately after the game.

]]> Trevor Higgins et al. Changes in insulin resistance and HbA1c are related to exercise-mediated changes in body composition in older adults with type 2 diabetes: Interim outcomes from the GREAT2DO Trial. http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/463 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/463 Sun, 19 May 2013 19:39:26 PDT OBJECTIVE: To investigate changes in body composition after 12 months of high-intensity progressive resistance training (PRT) in relation to changes in insulin resistance (IR) or glucose homeostasis in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: One-hundred three participants were randomized to receive either PRT or sham exercise 3 days per week for 12 months. Homeostatic model of assessment 2 (HOMA2-IR) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were used as indices of IR and glucose homeostasis. Skeletal muscle mass (SkMM) and total fat mass were assessed using bioelectrical impedance. Visceral adipose tissue, mid-thigh cross-sectional area, and mid-thigh muscle attenuation were quantified using computed tomography.RESULTSWithin the PRT group, changes in HOMA2-IR were associated with changes in SkMM (r = -0.38; P = 0.04) and fat mass (r = 0.42; P = 0.02). Changes in visceral adipose tissue tended to be related to changes in HOMA2-IR (r = 0.35; P = 0.07). Changes in HbA1c were related to changes in mid-thigh muscle attenuation (r = 0.52; P = 0.001). None of these relationships were present in the sham group (P > 0.05). Using ANCOVA models, participants in the PRT group who had increased SkMM had decreased HOMA2-IR (P = 0.05) and HbA1c (P = 0.09) compared with those in the PRT group who lost SkMM. Increases in SkMM in the PRT group decreased HOMA2-IR (P = 0.07) and HbA1c (P < 0.05) compared with those who had increased SkMM in the sham group.

CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in metabolic health in older adults with type 2 diabetes were mediated through improvements in body composition only if they were achieved through high-intensity PRT.

]]> Y. Mavros et al. Body mass index for athletes participating in swimming at the World Masters' Games http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/462 http://epublications.bond.edu.au/hsm_pubs/462 Sun, 19 May 2013 19:09:14 PDT Aim: Whilst there is growing evidence that physical activity across the lifespan is beneficial for improved health, there are many physiological changes involved with the aging process and subsequently the potential for reduced indices of health. The experimental aim was to gain improved understanding of the nexus between health, physical activity and aging by testing the hypothesis that prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) in the World Masters Games swimming cohort would be less than adult national populations. Methods: Body mass index (BMI) of 527 (49.7% male, 50.3% female) World Masters Games (WMG) swimmers aged 25-91 yrs (mean 54.3, standard deviation ±12.2) was investigated using a survey tool. Results: Analysis demonstrated significantly (χ2=44.9, P

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