Search Results (2)

The Multiple Frequency Speed of Kick Test (FSKT_mult) is used to investigate which characteristics are necessary for, contribute to, or limit the ability to repeat high-intensity intermittent efforts in taekwondo. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between anthropometric and body composition characteristics, muscle power performance, and sport-specific anaerobic performance. Nineteen black belt taekwondo athletes (mean ± SD age: 17.2 ± 2.4 years) volunteered to participate. Anthropometric and body composition characteristics (i.e., body height (BH), body mass (BM), fat mass (FM), body fat (BF%), and muscle mass (MM)) and physical performance (squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) tests, and FSKT_mult) were assessed. Data were analyzed with correlation coefficients and simple linear regression. The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The total number of kicks in FSKT_mult (FSKT_total) was significantly and positively correlated with MM (r = 0.521, R² = 0.27, p < 0.05) and negatively with BF% (r = −0.499, R² = 0.25, p < 0.05). The FSKT_total was significantly and positively correlated with SJ (r = 0.520, R² = 0.27, p < 0.05) and CMJ (r = 0.508, R² = 0.26, p < 0.05) performance. Body composition optimization, with appropriate physical training and dietary planning, is relevant in taekwondo as the improvement in the ability to repeat high-intensity intermittent efforts depends on MM, and its worsening on BF%. Lower limb muscle power positively influences the ability to repeat high-intensity intermittent efforts. Therefore, training programs should emphasize ballistic and plyometric exercises. Full article

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a growing public health problem across the globe, affecting more than half of the over 65 population. In the past, OA was considered a wear and tear disease, leading to the loss of articular cartilage and joint disability. Nowadays, thanks to advancements in molecular biology, OA is believed to be a very complex multifactorial disease. OA is a degenerative disease characterized by “low-grade inflammation” in cartilage and synovium, resulting in the loss of joint structure and progressive deterioration of cartilage. Although the disease can be dependent on genetic and epigenetic factors, sex, ethnicity, and age (cellular senescence, apoptosis and lubricin), it is also associated with obesity and overweight, dietary factors, sedentary lifestyle and sport injuries. The aim of this review is to highlight how certain behaviors, habits and lifestyles may be involved in the onset and progression of OA and to summarize the principal risk factors involved in the development of this complicated joint disorder. Full article