Search Results (11)

Background/Objectives: Aquagym is a form of practicing aerobic gymnastics to stay fit, which is constantly progressing in line with the dynamics of market growth and the fitness industry, bringing benefits to physical and mental health. The purpose of the study was to identify the level of popularity of this sport among people aged 20–65 years and to highlight the benefits of practicing aquagym. Methods: This quantitative research study was designed to use a structured questionnaire to collect data from 150 participants. The sample was chosen to reflect various age groups and to ensure representativeness for the general population interested in physical activity. Participants were divided by gender into two age categories, under 45 and over 45, in order to examine differences in preferences and perceptions between these age segments. For the analysis of between-group differences, we used the Chi-Square and Cramer’s V tests, and for the profile of respondents, a Two-Step Cluster Analysis was applied. Results: Regarding knowledge of the aquagym concept, there is a notable discrepancy between females and males, with significantly more women (54%) than men (18%) stating that they are familiar with this concept. Among the perceived benefits of water gymnastics, most responses indicate maintaining muscle tone (25% women and 14% men) and a fun way to stay fit (20% women and 11% men). Young people under 45 years of age tend to attach more importance to the social and entertaining aspects of aquagym. As for the improvement in quality of life by practicing water gymnastics, a large number of respondents (82%) rated this contribution with a score of 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale, meaning that the positive impact of this activity was highly appreciated. Conclusions: Aquagym lessons are perceived as both an effective form of exercise for health improvement and a means of socialization. The outcomes of the study highlight the opportunity to continuously promote and develop gymnastics in the aquatic environment as an accessible and enjoyable form of physical activity for all ages. Full article

The aim of this study was to examine the perception and gender typing of sports among students at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Kinesiology. The study was conducted on a sample of 268 students, with respondents categorizing 19 sports as male, female, or equally male and female. Data processing included descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies and percentages and the chi-square test with Bonferroni correction to test differences between groups for categorical variables. Differences in gender typing (perception) between two groups of participants based on gender were tested using the t-test. Five sports (rugby, formula, boxing, water polo, and soccer) were predominantly categorized as “male”, three sports as “female” (rhythmic gymnastics, aerobics, and synchronized swimming), and as many as eleven as “neutral” (athletics, skiing, swimming, tennis, karate, beach volleyball, gymnastics, handball, volleyball, sailing, and basketball). Regardless of active participation in a particular sport, the perception of gender typing of sports remained constant. The results indicate that in Croatia there is still a separation in the perception of sports that are either suitable for men, for women, or for both genders. Full article

This scoping review presents an overview of physical fitness parameters in rhythmic gymnastics as well as the association of fitness with gymnasts’ performance, competitive level, and age. PubMed, Scopus, and Sport Discus databases were searched. Of the 586 records retrieved, 41 studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 1915 participants). The included studies examined flexibility, aerobic capacity, muscle power, muscle endurance, muscle strength, sprint speed, agility, balance, and coordination. Performance was associated with flexibility, aerobic capacity, lower-limb muscle power, agility, muscular endurance, balance, and coordination from a young age. Flexibility, aerobic capacity, and muscle power were, in general, higher in high-level gymnasts than in low-level gymnasts or controls. Older rhythmic gymnasts demonstrated higher scores than the younger ones in flexibility, aerobic capacity, balance, and sport-specific coordination but not in muscle endurance, while some studies reported a decline in muscle power with age. Supplementary physical fitness training improved all physical abilities irrespective of the gymnasts’ level. Rhythmic gymnastics training alone improved muscle power, agility, speed, muscular endurance, and balance to a lesser extent than targeted fitness training. Muscular strength, speed, and agility are largely under-researched in rhythmic gymnastics. Emphasis should be given to targeted strength and power training due to the high mechanical loads placed on skeletally immature athletes. Full article

This study aimed (1) to assess the validity of a modified method (M_mod) based on heart rate (HR)—oxygen uptake (VO₂) regression functions to calculate total energy costs (W_total) and aerobic (W_aer) and anaerobic alactic energy contribution (W_pcr) and (2) to analyse the physiological and energetic demands of high-level pommel horse routines (PH routines). The M_mod was developed because VO₂ measurements are limited during high-level PH routines. Answering Part 1, nine male artistic gymnasts performed a PH routine where energy costs were calculated from VO₂ measurements and then compared with energy costs determined from the HR- VO₂ regressions of M_mod’s two additional tests. Using the concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and Deming regression, W_aer (CCC = 0.955), W_pcr (CCC = 0.999), and W_total (CCC = 0.990) show substantial to almost perfect validity without constant or proportional bias. Data from eight further gymnasts performing a high-level PH routine and a graded exercise test (GXT), as well as four data sets from Part 1, were used to determine physiological and energetic demands using M_mod. VO₂ and HR during PH routines reached 86.1% and 90.4% of the maximal values during GXT. W_pcr was 47.0%, anaerobic lactic energy contribution (W_blc) was 29.7%, and W_aer was 23.3% of W_total required during PH routines. Summarising the energetic demands of high-level PH routines, they are mainly anaerobic, where W_pcr provides the largest energy share. W_aer provides a substantial part of W_total and should therefore also be specifically trained. Full article

The aim of our study was to discover the effect of different types of feedback in teaching/learning of difficulty elements of aerobic gymnastics. The study was designed as a one-group comparative interrupted time study. For this purpose, eight gymnasts competing in the national development category were selected (average age 9 ± 1.5 years; average sport age 4 ± 1.5 years). The design of the study included two intervention programs; each lasting 23 days interrupted by an 8-week break. In intervention program 1, the group practiced a straddle jump using self-modeling followed by verbal feedback, and in intervention program 2 the group practiced a split jump using expert modeling followed by verbal feedback. The experimental group practiced three times a week for a period of 30 min per usual training session (normally lasting 90 min). The results showed that the execution of the elements in both intervention programs improved at the 5% level of significance. In intervention program 1, we noted a significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) in subphase approach and culmination. In intervention program 2, we noted a significant improvement (p ≤ 0.05) in culmination only. There was no significant difference between the changes of the final scores of the executed elements in intervention programs 1 and 2. Comparing the results of individual subphases, we noted no significant difference either. Full article

Background: Rhythmic gymnastics performance is characterized by technical elements involving flexibility, aerobic capacity and strength. Increased core strength in rhythmic gymnastics could lead to improved sporting performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of 12 weeks of core muscle training on core muscle performance in rhythmic gymnasts. Methods: A randomized controlled study involving 24 rhythmic gymnastics was conducted. Participants were randomly assigned to a control group (CG; n = 12; age 13.50 ± 3.17 years) or a training group (TG; n = 12; age 14.41 ± 2.35 years). Body composition, isometric strength of trunk, core endurance and core muscle electromyographic activity were measured (EMG) after 12 weeks of core training. Independent sample t-tests were carried out to compare baseline values between groups. A two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) (time × group) was applied. Results: The TG improved body composition, trunk lean mass (mean differences MD = −0.31; p = 0.040), lean mass (MD = 0.43; p = 0.037) and bone mass (MD = −0.06; p < 0.001) after training. Core training increased isometric strength of trunk, flexion test (MD = −21.53; p = 0.019) and extension test (MD = 22.7; p = 0.049), as well as the prone bridge core endurance test (MD = −11.27; p = 0.040). The EMG values also increased in the TG in prone bridge for front trunk (MD = −58.58; p = 0.026). Conclusions: Core strength training leads to improvements in body composition, as well as improvements in trunk strength and increases in muscle electromyographic activity. These improvements could therefore improve performance during competitive rhythmic gymnastics exercises. Full article

Objective: To evaluate the bone response to an 8 month aerobic gymnastics training program in young opioid-addicted women. Design: Randomized controlled trial (parallel design). Setting: Women’s Specific Drug Rehabilitation Center in China. Patients: One hundred and two young women with low bone quality and previous opioid addiction were divided into two groups: (a) the low bone quality intervention experimental group (n = 55; age: 30.3 ± 6.1) and (b) the low bone quality observed control group (observation group; n = 47; age: 29.0 ± 5.3). Interventions: The intervention group took aerobic gymnastics regularly for 80 min/d and 5 d/wk for 8 months and completed follow-up testing. Main Outcome Measures: Substance use history and other life habits affecting bone quality were assessed by questionnaire-based interviews. Bone quality (stiffness-index, T-score, Z-score) was examined with quantitative ultrasound. Anthropometric characteristics (body weight, fat-free mass, fat mass) were obtained by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: After the 8 month intervention, the stiffness index of bone quality increased significantly (before: 82 ± 6, after: 108 ± 14, p < 0.05) in the experimental group. However, the bone quality did not change significantly in the controls (before: 79 ± 10, after: 77 ± 13, p > 0.05). The bone change in the difference group was significant (experimental group: 31.7% vs observation group: -0.03%). Fat mass decreased in the experimental group (experimental group: before: 19.6 ± 3.7 kg, after: 18.8 ± 4.0 kg, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the change in fat-free mass was the determination of the change in bone quality in the experimental group. Conclusions: Our results suggested that aerobic gymnastics intervention can be an effective strategy for the prevention and treatment of drug-induced osteoporosis in detoxification addicts. Full article

The aim of this investigation was to determine the relationships of areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and content (BMC) with body composition, blood hormone and training load variables in adolescent female athletes with different loading patterns. The participants were 73 healthy adolescent females (14–18 years), who were divided into three groups: rhythmic gymnasts (RG; n = 33), swimmers (SW; n = 20) and untrained controls (UC; n = 20). Bone mineral and body compositional variables were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), estradiol and leptin were analyzed from blood samples. In addition, aerobic performance was assessed by a peak oxygen consumption test. No differences (p > 0.05) in weekly training volume were observed between rhythmic gymnasts (17.6 ± 5.3 h/week) and swimmers (16.1 ± 6.9 h/week). Measured areal bone mineral density and bone mineral content values were higher in rhythmic gymnasts compared with other groups (p < 0.05), while no differences (p > 0.05) in measured bone mineral values were seen between swimmers and untrained control groups. Multiple regression models indicated that IGF-1 alone explained 14% of the total variance (R² × 100) in lumbar spine aBMD, while appendicular muscle mass and training volume together explained 37% of the total variance in femoral neck BMC in the rhythmic gymnast group only. In swimmers, age at menarche, estradiol and appendicular muscle mass together explained 68% of the total variance in lumbar spine BMC, while appendicular muscle mass was the only predictor and explained 19 to 53% of the total variance in measured bone mineral values in untrained controls. In conclusion, adolescent rhythmic gymnasts with specific weight-bearing athletic activity present higher areal bone mineral values in comparison with swimmers and untrained controls. Specific training volume together with appendicular muscle mass influenced cortical bone development at the femoral neck site of the skeleton in rhythmic gymnasts, while hormonal values influenced trabecular bone development at the lumbar spine site in both athletic groups with different loading patterns. Full article

Introduction: High performance female athletes may be a risk group for the development of urinary incontinence due to the imbalance of forces between the abdomen and the pelvis. Pelvic floor physiotherapy may be a useful treatment in these patients. Objectives: (1) To identify the scientific evidence for pelvic floor (PF) dysfunctions that are associated with urinary incontinence (UI) in high-performance sportswomen. (2) To determine whether pelvic floor physiotherapy (PT) corrects UI in elite female athletes. Materials and methods: Meta-analysis of published scientific evidence. The articles analyzed were found through the following search terms: (A) pelvic floor dysfunction elite female athletes; (B) urinary incontinence elite female athletes; (C) pelvic floor dysfunction elite female athletes physiotherapy; (D) urinary incontinence elite female athletes physiotherapy. Variables studied: type of study, number of individuals, age, prevalence of urinary incontinence described in the athletes, type of sport, type of UI, aspect investigated in the articles (prevalence, response to treatment, etiopathogenesis, response to PT treatment, concomitant health conditions or diseases. Study groups according to the impact of each sport on the PF: G1: low-impact (noncompetitive sports, golf, swimming, running athletics, throwing athletics); G2: moderate impact (cross-country skiing, field hockey, tennis, badminton, baseball) and G3: high impact (gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, ballet, aerobics, jump sports (high, long, triple and pole jump)), judo, soccer, basketball, handball, volleyball). Descriptive analysis, ANOVA and meta-analysis. Results: Mean age 22.69 years (SD 2.70, 18.00–29.49), with no difference between athletes and controls. Average number of athletes for each study was 284.38 (SD 373,867, 1–1263). The most frequent type of study was case-control (39.60%), followed by cross-sectional (30.20%). The type of UI was most often unspecified by the study (47.20%), was stress UI (SUI, 24.50%), or was referred to as general UI (18.90%). Studies on prevalence were more frequent (54.70%), followed by etiopathogenesis (28.30%) and, lastly, on treatment (17.00%). In most cases sportswomen did not have any disease or concomitant pathological condition (77.40%). More general UI was found in G1 (36.40%), SUI in G2 (50%) and unspecified UI in G3 (63.64%). In the meta-analysis, elite athletes were found to suffer more UI than the control women. In elite female athletes, in general, physiotherapy contributed to gain in urinary continence more than in control women (risk ratio 0.81, confidence interval 0.78–0.84)). In elite female athletes, former elite female athletes and in pregnant women who regularly engage in aerobic activity, physiotherapy was successful in delivering superior urinary continence compared to the control group. The risk of UI was the same in athletes and in the control group in volleyball female athletes, elite female athletes, cross-country skiers and runners. Treatment with PT was more effective in control women than in gymnastics, basketball, tennis, field hockey, track, swimming, volleyball, softball, golf, soccer and elite female athletes. Conclusions: There is pelvic floor dysfunction in high-performance athletes associated with athletic activity and urinary incontinence. Eating disorders, constipation, family history of urinary incontinence, history of urinary tract infections and decreased flexibility of the plantar arch are associated with an increased risk of UI in elite female athletes. Pelvic floor physiotherapy as a treatment for urinary incontinence in elite female athletes, former elite female athletes and pregnant athletes who engage in regular aerobic activity leads to a higher continence gain than that obtained by nonathlete women. Full article

This study examined heart rate (HR) responses during a sport-specific high-intensity circuit training session to indirectly assess cardiorespiratory stress in child athletes. Seventeen, female gymnasts, aged 9–11 years performed two 5-min 15 s sets of circuit exercise, interspersed by a 3 min rest interval. Each set included five rounds of five gymnastic exercises (7 s work, 7 s rest) executed with maximal effort. During the first circuit training set, peak heart rate (HR) was 192 ± 7 bpm and average HR was 83 ± 4% of maximum HR (HR_max), which was determined in a separate session. In the second set, peak HR and average HR were increased to 196 ± 8 bpm (p < 0.001, d = 0.55) and to 89 ± 4% HR_max (p < 0.001, d = 2.19), respectively, compared with the first set. HR was above 80% HR_max for 4.1 ± 1.2 min during set 1 and this was increased to 5.1 ± 0.4 min in set 2 (p < 0.001, d = 1.15). Likewise, HR was above 90% of HR_max for 2.0 ± 1.2 min in set 1 and was increased to 3.4 ± 1.7 min in set 2 (p < 0.001, d = 0.98). In summary, two 5-min 15 s sets of high-intensity circuit training using sport-specific exercises, increased HR to levels above 80% and 90% HR_max for extended time periods, and thus may be considered as an appropriate stimulus, in terms of intensity, for improving aerobic fitness in child female gymnasts. Full article

AIM: Energy supply in artistic gymnastics is derived mainly through the anaerobic metabolism, due to the brief duration of the competitive routines. However, during training, gymnasts perform repetitive exercises and routines, which may require aerobic adaptations, in order to recover fast and maintain high quality of execution. To improve this aspect of fitness, coaches use high-intensity interval circuit training with sport-specific exercises. Despite the popularity of this training method, there is limited information regarding the demands placed on aerobic metabolism, especially in very young athletes. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine heart rate responses during a high-intensity functional training session in female child gymnasts, to indirectly assess the contribution of aerobic energy metabolism. MATERIAL & METHOD: Seventeen girls aged 9.8 ± 0.8 years (height, 1.38 ± 0.10 m; body mass, 33.7 ± 7.25 kg) performed two 5-min sets, each consisting of five rounds of five gymnastics exercises (5–7 s work and equal rest) executed at maximal effort. The two sets were separated by a 3-min recovery period. Prior to the main measurement, athletes performed a 20-m shuttle run test until exhaustion where maximum heart rate (HRmax) was measured and the maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) was estimated. Heart rate was continuously monitored during all sessions using a Polar team 2 system. RESULTS: VO₂max was 47.8 ± 3.0 mL kg^-1 min^-1 and HRmax was 207 ± 5 bpm. During the first set, peak HR was 192 ± 7 bpm and average HR was 171 ± 8 bpm (83% HRmax). During the second set, peak HR was 196 ± 8 bpm and average HR was increased to 186 ± 6 bpm (90% HRmax, p < 0.001 compared with set 1). The time during which HR was above 90% of HRmax was 2.0 ± 1.2min in set 1 and increased to 3.4 ± 1.7 min in set 2 (p < 0.01). HR recovery was similar after both sets, with HR decreasing by about 30% (to 139 ± 7 bpm and 134 ± 10 bpm) after 2 min (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high-intensity training using sport-specific exercises increases HR to levels above 90% HRmax for extended time periods. Thus, this type of training may be an appropriate stimulus for concurrent improvements in muscle strength/power and aerobic fitness. Full article