Objectives: Type 1 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemic episodes influenced by diet, sleep quality, chronotype, and physical activity, among others. While aerobic exercise is known to improve glycemic control, its effect on blood glucose regulation remains underexplored. Thus, this case study aimed to evaluate the effects of a prolonged and differentiated indoor and outdoor exercise intervention on glycemic control in an individual with type 1 diabetes. Methods: The participant (age: 23 years; weight: 95 kg; height: 1.90 m; Body Mass Index: 26.3 kg/m2; waist to hip ratio: 0.98; basal metabolic rate: 2015 kcal; Heart Rate Maximum (HRmax): 197 beats·min−1) completed two outdoor (~3800 m) and two indoor sessions with self-selected speed, in the initial 2 min stage, at a 0% grade slope. The grade increased by 2% at each stage during the uphill phase until reaching volitional fatigue, followed by a 2% decrease at each stage during the downhill phase until returning to a 0% grade. Blood pressure was assessed before and after each session. Daily nutrition intake, insulin intake, and blood glucose were continuously monitored. Dietary adherence (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), chronotype (Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire), and physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) were assessed before each session. The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale was used to measure enjoyment after each session. Results: The sessions were completed in ~44 and ~39 min with the participant achieving 84% (outdoor) and 96% (indoor) of their theoretical HRmax. The intervention resulted in glycemic improvements, with time spent in hyperglycemia (>250 mg/dL) decreasing from 56.46% to 0%, while time in the normal range (70–180 mg/dL) increased to 63.96%. A 47% reduction in insulin units showed that insulin sensitivity also improved. Conclusions: Despite differences in intensity, indoor and outdoor activities yielded comparable benefits, with outdoor activities being perceived as more enjoyable (outdoor: 28.5 ± 0.7; indoor: 24.0 ± 5.6) and positively impacting glycemic control, thus supporting the need for tailored strategies in diabetes management.
This study aimed to assess hydration status before and after training using the bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) method. Pre-post quasi-experimental designs. Twenty-four young water polo players (mean age: 13.30 ± 0.55) underwent assessment for bioelectrical and anthropometric measurements before and after a water polo training session. Most players fell within the 50 % percentile of the bioelectrical tolerance ellipses of the reference population. The BIA vector differed statistically between players who achieved growth peaks (PGA: T2 = 9.1, p = 0.013) and those who did not (GPNA, T2 = 28.9, p < 0.001) compared to the reference and also differed between them (T2 = 37.7, p < 0.001). After training, a decrease in body mass (BM) and BM adjusted for water intake (p = 0.0001) and changes in BIA variables (p < 0.05) were observed. BIVA also showed a significant pre-post vector migration in both GPA (T2 = 24.7; p < 0.001) and GNPA (T2 = 43.1; p < 0.001), characterized by a decrease in resistance and opposite reactance directions (T2 = 33.6, p < 0.001). Young water polo players exhibit a significant BM loss after training (∼2.5 %). Ad libitum water intake seems to partially compensate dehydration. The resistance reduction indicates that BIVA captured the compensation for dehydration resulting from fluid intake.
Background: Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) often show low physical activity levels and a long time spent in sedentary and poor sleep, which may worsen their health. This study aimed to describe baseline movement and sleep patterns in children and adolescents with T1D and compare them with behaviors recorded during a structured summer camp. Methods: Twenty-three participants (13.33 ± 2.13 years) completed physical fitness tests, self-report questionnaires, and 7–8 days of wearable monitoring before camp. During a 10-day diabetes summer camp, participants continued wearing the devices to track physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep. Comparisons between pre- and during-camp periods were performed using paired statistics, and linear regressions examined associations between activity and sleep awakenings. Results: At baseline, device-based monitoring showed low physical activity levels, long sedentary time and poor sleep. Self-reported data confirmed low activity levels and long time spent in sedentary activities, especially screen time. During camp, daily steps increased significantly (p < 0.001), as well as all the physical activity intensities (p < 0.01). Sedentary time decreased significantly (p < 0.001), and sleep duration declined (p < 0.001), but awakenings were shorter (p = 0.005). Baseline sedentary time predicted longer nocturnal awakenings, while greater increases in steps during camp correlated with longer awakenings. Conclusions: Children and adolescents with T1D showed low baseline activity, high sedentary time, and poor sleep. Participation in the structured summer camp appears to be associated with changes in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep patterns.
Background: Contextual interference (CI), defined as interleaved practice, improves motor skill learning in powerlifters. However, previous protocols lacked ecological validity. This study evaluated an alternative, highly specific CI exercise (the seal row) to provide a more practical approach for powerlifting routines. Methods: Fifteen powerlifters (10 males and 5 females, age: 23 ± 2 years, 1RM: 78 ± 32 kg) were randomized in a high CI group (HCI) and low CI group (LCI) undergoing a 6-week training intervention. Powerlifters were tested on their bench press exercise strength and technical execution. Technical execution was assessed using a 13-item Likert scale. Results: Strength significantly increased in both groups (F (3.32, 46.5) = 9.553, p < 0.05, pes = 0.42). Global technique analysis showed a group × time interaction (F (4, 952) = 2.547, p = 0.038). A significant group × time interaction occurred for scapular adduction/retraction (F (4, 52) = 3.753, p = 0.009), with the HCI group showing greater improvement. Conclusions: Alternating a primary task (bench press) with antagonist overloads (seal row) improves technical execution over six weeks without hindering strength gains. These findings support practical CI strategies in resistance training to optimize skill acquisition.
Background: Contextual interference (CI), defined as interleaved practice, improves motor skill learning in powerlifters. However, previous protocols lacked ecological validity. This study evaluated an alternative, highly specific CI exercise (the seal row) to provide a more practical approach for powerlifting routines. Methods: Fifteen powerlifters (10 males and 5 females, age: 23 ± 2 years, 1RM: 78 ± 32 kg) were randomized in high CI group (HCI) and low CI group (LCI) undergoing a 6-week training intervention. Powerlifters were tested on their bench press exercise strength and technical execution. Technical execution was assessed using a 13-item Likert scale. Results: Strength significantly increased in both groups (F (3.42, 46.5) = 9.553, p < 0.05). Global technique analysis showed a group × time interaction (F (4,952) = 2.547, p = 0.038, pes = 0.01). A significant group × time interaction occurred for scapular adduction (F (2.98, 38.76) = 4.118, p = 0.013), with the HCI group showing greater improvement. Conclusions: Alternating a primary task (bench press) with antagonist overloads (seal row) improves technical execution over six weeks without hindering strength gains. These findings support practical CI strategies in resistance training to optimize skill acquisition.
Background: Urinary incontinence (UI) is common in women and negatively affects quality of life. Although pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is effective, most studies have focused on isolated muscle contractions. Less is known about multimodal programs integrating posture, breathing, and intra-abdominal pressure management. This study examined how urinary loss (UL) and moderate physical activity (MPA), measured objectively, relate to perceived pelvic floor disorders after a five-week multimodal intervention. Methods: Twenty women (40–70 years) with UI participated in three weekly 60 min sessions for five weeks. Outcomes were assessed before and after the intervention: UL using the pad test, physical activity with a wrist-worn accelerometer, and pelvic floor disorders with the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20). Paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests and regression models were used to analyze changes and associations between variables. Results: UL significantly decreased after treatment (p < 0.001) as did total PFDI-20 (p = 0.007). Before treatment, PFDI-20 was mainly predicted by MPA (β = −0.537, p = 0.013). After treatment, UL became the strongest predictor of PFDI-20 (β = 0.587, p = 0.008) while Δ analyses confirmed that changes in both UL (β = 0.444, p = 0.026) and MPA (β = −0.461, p = 0.021) predicted improvements in perceived pelvic floor disorders. Conclusions: A five-week multimodal program reduced UL and improved perceived pelvic floor disorders. After treatment, symptoms were more strongly related to UL than to MPA. This study suggests that a multimodal exercise approach may represent a feasible and potentially effective option for improving both objectively measured urinary loss and perceived pelvic floor symptoms.