The purpose of the study was to compare elbow flexion peak torque (PT) and fatigue index (FI) during isokinetic concentric contractions in men and women with different training levels. Sixty-eight young men and women were divided into four groups: resistance trained men (RTM), non-resistance trained men (NRTM), resistance trained women (RTW) and non- resistance trained women (NRTW). Participants performed two tests on an isokinetic dynamometer, one to evaluate PT and one to evaluate FI. Significant interactions were found for sex and resistance training status with both PT and FI. In general, resistance-trained subjects had higher PT, and women showed lower PT than men. PT values were 67.12 ± 9.93 N·m for RTM, 49.9 ± 8.5 N·m for NRTM, 41.84 ± 7.52 N·m for RTW, and 26.05 ± 3.34 N·m for NRTW. Separate analysis revealed that RTM had higher PT than all other groups. However, FI was higher for NRTM than for RTM and NRTW and no difference was found between RTM and NRTW. FI was 37.86 ± 10.89 % for RTW, 45.74 ± 13.17 % for NTRW, 45.89 ± 8.24 % for RTM, and 51.92 ± 4.5 % for NRTM. Women produce lower PT, and have a higher fatigue tolerance than men of similar training status. Considering that women showed to be more resistant to fatigue than men, women can manipulate training variables differently from men, such as, including more repetitions at the same relative load or using higher relative loads at the same number of repetitions.

Background: Despite the increasing popularity of exergame practice and its promising benefits in counteracting physical inactivity, limited research has been performed to document the physiological responses during an exergame session. This study aims (i) to investigate the responses of heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$) during an exergame session and to compare with HR and ${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ measured during joystick session and (ii) to compare HR and ${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ obtained during exergame and joystick session with those HR and ${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ associated with first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT₁ and VT₂, respectively) obtained during a maximal graded exercise test. Methods: A total of 39 participants performed a maximal graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake (${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}\max $), VT₁, and VT₂. On separate days, participants performed an exergame and traditional sedentary game (with a joystick) sessions. The time that participants remained with HR and ${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ below the VT₁, between the VT₁ and VT₂ and above the VT₂ were calculated to determine exercise intensity. Results: Heart rate and ${\dot{\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ were below VT₁ during 1,503 ± 292 s (86.1 ± 16.7%) and 1,610 ± 215 s (92.2 ± 12.3%), respectively. There was an increase in HR and ${{\dot {\rm V}}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ as a function of exergame phases, since HR mean values in the ‘warm-up’ period (119 ± 13 bpm) were lower than the ‘main phase’ (136 ± 15 bpm) and ‘cool-down’ periods (143 ± 15 bpm) (p < 0.001). Regarding ${\dot {\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ values, the ‘warm-up’ (25.7 ± 2.9 mL.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹) were similar to the ‘main phase’ (25.1 ± 2.8 mL.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹) (p > 0.05) and lower than the ‘cool-down’ (28.0 ± 4.8 mL.kg⁻¹.min⁻¹) (p < 0.001). For all times of the joystick session, average HR and ${\dot {\rm V}}{{\rm{O}}_{\rm{2}}}$ were below the VT₁ levels. Conclusion: Exergames can be classified as light to moderate exercise. Thus, exergames could be an interesting alternative to traditional forms of exercise.

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of resistance training performed with no external load (NLRT) versus resistance training performed with elastic bands (RTEB) on muscle hypertrophy and functional performance in hospitalized patients. Twenty hospitalized females (age, 59.05±3.2 years; height 163.6±2.5 cm; body mass 70.2±3.6 kgs) were randomly assigned to RTEB or NLRT. Both groups trained three times a week for five weeks. RTEB was performed with elastic bands, while NLRT involved maximum voluntary contractions with no external loads. Biceps brachii, triceps brachii and pectoralis muscle thickness (MT) were measured by ultrasound. Functional performance was measured by the 30s elbow flexion test. MT significantly increased in all muscles tested for both groups, with no differences between groups. Changes ranged from 14 to 38%. Functional performance significantly improved by 42.7% for NLRT and 52.1% for RTEB, with no difference between them. The present results suggest that NLRT might be an efficient, feasible and low-cost strategy to promote morphological and functional benefits in the upper limb of hospitalized patients.

This study aimed to analyze how situational constraints (lifter distance to attackers and blockers) influenced a volleyball setter’s distribution after reception that allow an organized attack with all attack options and the relationship between the attack tempo and the effect of the attack according to the setting location. The sample comprised 22 games in the 2018 Men's Volleyball World Championship. The results showed that there was a difference in the distribution while considering the distance between the setter and the striker in position 4 [χ2 (4) = 28.657; p <0.001], the striker in position 6 [χ2 (4) = 23.828; p <0.001], the blocker in position 4 [χ2 (4) = 16.566; p = 0.002] and there was an effect of the attack tempo on the effect of attacks performed by position 6 [χ2 (3) = 15.438; p = 0.001]. From these findings, it is clear that the setter's decision-making is related to the ecological dynamics of the game and to situational constraints, with the availability of attackers influencing the setter's distribution and setting, along with the layout of the adversary’s blocking system.

This study analysed the behaviour of the geometric curvature of the spine during sirshasana. The position of dorsal retroreflective markers was computed via stereophotogrammetric analysis in six males and five females (29.4 ± 8.8 years, 63.0 ± 11.4 kg, 1.66 ± 0.08 m [average ± standard deviation]). The spinal points were projected onto the sagittal and frontal planes of the trunk, a polynomial was fitted to the data and the two-dimensional geometric curvature was quantified. The inferior lumbar lordosis decreased compared to the orthostatic position and gait, which may favour the posterior protrusion of the lumbar spinal nucleus pulposus in people with posterior herniation. The lateral deviation at the middle of the thoracic spine increases during sirshasana, which may reflect increased difficulties for postural control and spinal loads. It could be useful for promoting positive spinal structural and functional chronic adaptations for healthy participants, if the yoga programme is carefully planned and the spinal alignment is carefully monitored during a headstand. However, it may aggravate some spinal diseases, especially scoliosis.