TY - JOUR A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Negra, Yassine A1 - Moran, Jason A1 - Prieske, Olaf A1 - Sammoud, Senda A1 - Ramirez-Campillo, Rodrigo A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Plyometric training improves not only measures of linear speed, power, and change-of-direction speed but also repeated sprint ability in young female handball players JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA N2 - This study examined the effects of an 8-week plyometric training (PT) program on components of physical fitness in young female handball players. Twenty-one female adolescent handball players were assigned to an experimental group (EG, n = 12; age = 15.9 +/- 0.2 years) or an active control group (CG, n = 9, age = 15.9 +/- 0.3 years). While EG performed plyometric exercises in replacement of some handball-specific drills, CG maintained the regular training schedule. Baseline and follow-up tests were performed for the assessment of linear speed (i.e., 5-, 10-, and 20-m time), change-of-direction (CoD) speed (i.e., T-test time), muscle power (i.e., countermovement jump [CMJ] height and reactive strength index [RSI]), and repeated sprint ability (RSA) (RSA total time [RSA(total)], RSA best time [RSA(best)], and RSA fatigue index [RSA(FI)]). Data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. Within-group analyses for the EG revealed moderate-to-large improvements for the 5-m (effect size [ES] = 0.81 [0.1-1.5]), 10-m sprint time (ES = 0.84 [0.1-1.5]), RSI (ES = 0.75 [0.1-1.4]), RSA(FI) (ES = 0.65 [0.0-1.3]), and T-test time (ES = 1.46 [0.7-2.2]). Trivial-to-small ES was observed for RSA(best) (ES = 0.18 [-0.5 to 0.9]), RSA(total) (ES = 0.45 [-0.2 to 1.1]), 20-m sprint time (ES = 0.56 [-0.1 to 1.2]), and CMJ height (ES = 0.57 [-0.1 to 1.3]). For the CG, within-group analyses showed a moderate performance decline for T-test time (ES = -0.71 [-1.5 to 0.1]), small decreases for 5-m sprint time (ES = -0.46 [-1.2 to 0.3]), and a trivial decline for 10-m (ES = -0.10 [-0.9 to 0.7]) and 20-m sprint times (ES = -0.16 [-0.9 to 0.6]), RSA(total) (ES = 0.0 [-0.8 to 0.8]), and RSA(best) (ES = -0.20 [-0.9 to 0.6]). The control group achieved trivial-to-small improvements for CMJ height (ES = 0.10 [-0.68 to 0.87]) and RSI (ES = 0.30 [-0.5 to 1.1]). In conclusion, a short-term in-season PT program, in replacement of handball-specific drills, is effective in improving measures of physical fitness (i.e., linear/CoD speed, jumping, and RSA) in young female handball players. KW - stretch-shortening cycle KW - physical fitness KW - young athletes Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003128 SN - 1064-8011 SN - 1533-4287 VL - 35 IS - 8 SP - 2230 EP - 2235 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Negra, Yassine A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Sammoud, Senda A1 - Bouguezzi, Raja A1 - Mkaouer, Bessem A1 - Hachana, Younes A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - EFFECTS OF PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON COMPONENTS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS IN PREPUBERAL MALE SOCCER ATHLETES: THE ROLE OF SURFACE INSTABILITY JF - Journal of strength and conditioning research : the research journal of the NSCA N2 - Previous studies contrasted the effects of plyometric training (PT) conducted on stable vs. unstable surfaces on components of physical fitness in child and adolescent soccer players. Depending on the training modality (stable vs. unstable), specific performance improvements were found for jump (stable PT) and balance performances (unstable PT). In an attempt to combine the effects of both training modalities, this study examined the effects of PT on stable surfaces compared with combined PT on stable and unstable surfaces on components of physical fitness in prepuberal male soccer athletes. Thirty-three boys were randomly assigned to either a PT on stable surfaces (PTS; n = 17; age = 12.1 +/- 0.5 years; height = 151.6 +/- 5.7 cm; body mass = 39.2 +/- 6.5 kg; and maturity offset = 22.3 +/- 0.5 years) or a combined PT on stable and unstable surfaces (PTC; n = 16; age = 12.2 +/- 0.6 years; height = 154.6 +/- 8.1 cm; body mass = 38.7 +/- 5.0 kg; and maturity offset = 22.2 +/- 0.6 years). Both intervention groups conducted 4 soccer-specific training sessions per week combined with either 2 PTS or PTC sessions. Before and after 8 weeks of training, proxies of muscle power (e.g., countermovement jump [CMJ], standing long jump [SLJ]), muscle strength (e.g., reactive strength index [RSI]), speed (e.g., 20-m sprint test), agility (e.g., modified Illinois change of direction test [MICODT]), static balance (e.g., stable stork bal-ance test [SSBT]), and dynamic balance (unstable stork balance test [USBT]) were tested. An analysis of covariance model was used to test between-group differences (PTS vs. PTC) at posttest using baseline outcomes as covariates. No significant between-group differences at posttest were observed for CMJ (p > 0.05, d = 0.41), SLJ (p > 0.05, d = 0.36), RSI (p > 0.05, d = 0.57), 20-m sprint test (p > 0.05, d = 0.06), MICODT (p > 0.05, d = 0.23), and SSBT (p > 0.05, d = 0.20). However, statistically significant between-group differences at posttest were noted for the USBT (p < 0.01, d = 1.49) in favor of the PTC group. For most physical fitness tests (except RSI), significant pre-to-post improvements were observed for both groups (p < 0.01, d = 0.55-3.96). Eight weeks of PTS or PTC resulted in similar performance improvements in components of physical fitness except for dynamic balance. From a performance-enhancing perspective, PTC is recommended for pediatric strength and conditioning coaches because it produced comparable training effects as PTS on proxies of muscle power, muscle strength, speed, agility, static balance, and additional effects on dynamic balance. KW - youth KW - football KW - stretch-shortening cycle KW - athletic performance KW - balance Y1 - 2017 SN - 1064-8011 SN - 1533-4287 VL - 31 SP - 3295 EP - 3304 PB - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins CY - Philadelphia ER - TY - CHAP A1 - Kliegl, Reinhold A1 - Teich, Paula A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Fühner, Thea Heidi T1 - Developmental Gains in Physical Fitness Components of Keyage and Older-than-Keyage Third-Graders N2 - Children who were enrolled according to legal enrollment dates (i.e., keyage third-graders aged eight to nine years) exhibit a positive linear physical fitness development (Fühner et al., 2021). However, children who were enrolled with a delay of one year or who repeated a grade (i.e., older-than-keyage children [OTK] aged nine to ten years in third grade) appear to exhibit a poorer physical fitness relative to what could be expected given their chronological age (Fühner et al., 2022). However, because Fühner et al. (2022) compared the performance of OTK children to predicted test scores that were extrapolated based on the data of keyage children, the observed physical fitness of these children could either indicate a delayed physical-fitness development or some physiological or psychological changes occurring during the tenth year of life. We investigate four hypotheses about this effect. (H1) OTK children are biologically younger than keyage children. A formula transforming OTK’s chronological age into a proxy for their biological age brings some of the observed cross-sectional age-related development in line with the predicted age-related development based on the data of keyage children, but large negative group differences remain. Hypotheses 2 to 4 were tested with a longitudinal assessment. (H2) Physiological changes due to biological maturation or psychological factors cause a stagnation of physical fitness development in the tenth year of life. H2 predicts a decline of performance from third to fourth grade also for keyage children. (H3) OTK children exhibit an age-related (temporary) developmental delay in the tenth year of life, but later catch up to the performance of age-matched keyage children. H3 predicts a larger developmental gain for OTK than for keyage children from third to fourth grade. (H4) OTK children exhibit a sustained physical fitness deficit and do not catch up over time. H4 predicts a positive development for keyage and OTK children, with no greater development for OTK compared to keyage children. The longitudinal study was based on a subset of children from the EMOTIKON project (www.uni-potsdam.de/emotikon). The physical fitness (cardiorespiratory endurance [6-minute-run test], coordination [star-run test], speed [20-m sprint test], lower [standing long jump test] and upper [ball push test] limbs muscle power, and balance [one-legged stance test]) of 1,274 children (1,030 keyage and 244 OTK children) from 32 different schools was tested in third grade and retested one year later in fourth grade. Results: (a) Both keyage and OTK children exhibit a positive longitudinal development from third to fourth grade in all six physical fitness components. (b) There is no evidence for a different longitudinal development of keyage and OTK children. (c) Keyage children (approximately 9.5 years in fourth grade) outperform age-matched OTK children (approximately 9.5 years in third grade) in all six physical fitness components. The results show that the physical fitness of OTK children is indeed impaired and are in support of a sustained difference in physical fitness between the groups of keyage and OTK children (H4). KW - Physical Fitness KW - Developmental gains KW - Primary school children KW - EMOTIKON KW - Linear Mixed Models KW - Keyage children KW - Older-than-keyage children Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-560870 N1 - Gewünschte Zitationsform: APA Kliegl, R., Teich, P., Granacher, U., & Fühner, T. (2022). "Developmental Gains in Physical Fitness Components of Keyage and Older-than-Keyage Third-Graders". 54. Jahrestagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Sportpsychologie (asp 2022) in Münster, 2022-06-16 (revised 2022-09-09). ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fühner, Thea Heidi A1 - Kliegl, Reinhold A1 - Arntz, Fabian A1 - Kriemler, Susi A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - An update on secular trends in physical fitness of children and adolescents from 1972 to 2015 BT - a systematic review JF - Sports medicine N2 - Background There is evidence that physical fitness of children and adolescents (particularly cardiorespiratory endurance) has declined globally over the past decades. Ever since the first reports on negative trends in physical fitness, efforts have been undertaken by for instance the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents. Therefore, it is timely to re-analyze the literature to examine whether previous reports on secular declines in physical fitness are still detectable or whether they need to be updated. Objectives The objective of this systematic review is to provide an 'update' on secular trends in selected components of physical fitness (i.e., cardiorespiratory endurance, relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power, speed) in children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. Data Sources A systematic computerized literature search was conducted in the electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science to locate studies that explicitly reported secular trends in physical fitness of children and adolescents. Study Eligibility Criteria Studies were included in this systematic review if they examined secular trends between at least two time points across a minimum of 5 years. In addition, they had to document secular trends in any measure of cardiorespiratory endurance, relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power or speed in apparently healthy children and adolescents aged 6-18 years. Study Appraisal and Synthesis Methods The included studies were coded for the following criteria: nation, physical fitness component (cardiorespiratory endurance, relative muscle strength, proxies of muscle power, speed), chronological age, sex (boys vs. girls), and year of assessment. Scores were standardized (i.e., converted to z scores) with sample-weighted means and standard deviations, pooled across sex and year of assessment within cells defined by study, test, and children's age. Results The original search identified 524 hits. In the end, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria for review. The observation period was between 1972 and 2015. Fifteen of the 22 studies used tests for cardiorespiratory endurance, eight for relative muscle strength, eleven for proxies of muscle power, and eight for speed. Measures of cardiorespiratory endurance exhibited a large initial increase and an equally large subsequent decrease, but the decrease appears to have reached a floor for all children between 2010 and 2015. Measures of relative muscle strength showed a general trend towards a small increase. Measures of proxies of muscle power indicated an overall small negative quadratic trend. For measures of speed, a small-to-medium increase was observed in recent years. Limitations Biological maturity was not considered in the analysis because biological maturity was not reported in most included studies. Conclusions Negative secular trends were particularly found for cardiorespiratory endurance between 1986 and 2010-12, irrespective of sex. Relative muscle strength and speed showed small increases while proxies of muscle power declined. Although the negative trend in cardiorespiratory endurance appears to have reached a floor in recent years, because of its association with markers of health, we recommend further initiatives in PA and fitness promotion for children and adolescents. More specifically, public health efforts should focus on exercise that increases cardiorespiratory endurance to prevent adverse health effects (i.e.
, overweight and obesity) and muscle strength to lay a foundation for motor skill learning. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-020-01373-x SN - 0112-1642 SN - 1179-2035 VL - 51 IS - 2 SP - 303 EP - 320 PB - Springer CY - Northcote ER - TY - GEN A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Gabriel, Holger H. W. A1 - Behm, David George A1 - Arampatzis, Adamantios T1 - Neuromuscular Training and Adaptations in Youth Athletes T2 - Frontiers in physiology KW - strength training KW - plyometric training KW - physical fitness KW - injury prevention KW - athletic performance Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01264 SN - 1664-042X VL - 9 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Teich, Paula A1 - Fühner, Thea Heidi A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Kliegl, Reinhold T1 - Physical fitness of primary school children differs depending on their timing of school enrollment JF - Scientific reports N2 - Previous research has shown that children who were enrolled to school according to the legal key date (i.e., keyage children, between eight and nine years in third grade) exhibited a linear physical fitness development in the ninth year of life. In contrast, children who were enrolled with a delay (i.e., older-than-keyage children [OTK], between nine and ten years in third grade) exhibited a lower physical fitness compared to what would be expected for their age. In these studies, cross-sectional age differences within third grade and timing of school enrollment were confounded. The present study investigated the longitudinal development of keyage and OTK children from third to fifth grade. This design also afforded a comparison of the two groups at the same average chronological age, that is a dissociation of the effects of timing of school enrollment and age. We tested six physical fitness components: cardiorespiratory endurance, coordination, speed, power of lower and upper limbs, and static balance. 1502 children (i.e., 1206 keyage and 296 OTK children) from 35 schools were tested in third, fourth, and fifth grade. Except for cardiorespiratory endurance, both groups developed from third to fourth and from fourth to fifth grade and keyage children outperformed OTK children at the average ages of 9.5 or 10.5 years. For cardiorespiratory endurance, there was no significant gain from fourth to fifth grade and keyage and OTK children did not differ significantly at 10.5 years of age. One reason for a delayed school enrollment could be that a child is (or is perceived as) biologically younger than their chronological age at the school entry examination, implying a negative correlation between chronological and biological age for OTK children. Indeed, a simple reflection of chronological age brought the developmental rate of the chronologically youngest OTK children in line with the developmental rate observed for keyage children, but did not eliminate all differences. The mapping of chronological and biological age of OTK children and other possible reasons for lower physical fitness of OTK children remain a task for future research. KW - Health care KW - Paediatrics KW - Physiology Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35727-y SN - 2045-2322 VL - 13 IS - 1 PB - Springer Nature CY - London ER - TY - GEN A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Lesinski, Melanie A1 - Büsch, Dirk A1 - Mühlbauer, Thomas A1 - Prieske, Olaf A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Gollhofer, Albert A1 - Behm, David George T1 - Effects of resistance training in youth athletes on muscular fitness and athletic performance BT - a conceptual model for long-term athlete development T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - During the stages of long-term athlete development (LTAD), resistance training (RT) is an important means for (i) stimulating athletic development, (ii) tolerating the demands of long-term training and competition, and (iii) inducing long-term health promoting effects that are robust over time and track into adulthood. However, there is a gap in the literature with regards to optimal RT methods during LTAD and how RT is linked to biological age. Thus, the aims of this scoping review were (i) to describe and discuss the effects of RT on muscular fitness and athletic performance in youth athletes, (ii) to introduce a conceptual model on how to appropriately implement different types of RT within LTAD stages, and (iii) to identify research gaps from the existing literature by deducing implications for future research. In general, RT produced small -to -moderate effects on muscular fitness and athletic performance in youth athletes with muscular strength showing the largest improvement. Free weight, complex, and plyometric training appear to be well -suited to improve muscular fitness and athletic performance. In addition, balance training appears to be an important preparatory (facilitating) training program during all stages of LTAD but particularly during the early stages. As youth athletes become more mature, specificity, and intensity of RT methods increase. This scoping review identified research gaps that are summarized in the following and that should be addressed in future studies: (i) to elucidate the influence of gender and biological age on the adaptive potential following RT in youth athletes (especially in females), (ii) to describe RT protocols in more detail (i.e., always report stress and strain based parameters), and (iii) to examine neuromuscular and tendomuscular adaptations following RT in youth athletes. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 429 KW - weight lifting KW - children KW - adolescents KW - physical fitness KW - muscle strength KW - muscle power KW - muscular endurance Y1 - 2018 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-406574 IS - 429 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Weber, Stephanie A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Lesinski, Melanie A1 - Gabriel, Brunhild A1 - Steidten, Thomas A1 - Bär, Karl-Jürgen A1 - Herbsleb, Marco A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Gabriel, Holger H. W. T1 - Symptoms of anxiety and depression in young athletes using the hospital anxiety and depression scale JF - Frontiers in physiology N2 - Elite young athletes have to cope with multiple psychological demands such as training volume, mental and physical fatigue, spatial separation of family and friends or time management problems may lead to reduced mental and physical recovery. While normative data regarding symptoms of anxiety and depression for the general population is available (Hinz and Brahler, 2011), hardly any information exists for adolescents in general and young athletes in particular. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess overall symptoms of anxiety and depression in young athletes as well as possible sex differences. The survey was carried out within the scope of the study "Resistance Training in Young Athletes" (KINGS-Study). Between August 2015 and September 2016, 326 young athletes aged (mean +/- SD) 14.3 +/- 1.6 years completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD Scale). Regarding the analysis of age on the anxiety and depression subscales, age groups were classified as follows: late childhood (12-14 years) and late adolescence (15-18 years). The participating young athletes were recruited from Olympic weight lifting, handball, judo, track and field athletics, boxing, soccer, gymnastics, ice speed skating, volleyball, and rowing. Anxiety and depression scores were (mean +/- SD) 4.3 +/- 3.0 and 2.8 +/- 2.9, respectively. In the subscale anxiety, 22 cases (6.7%) showed subclinical scores and 11 cases (3.4%) showed clinical relevant score values. When analyzing the depression subscale, 31 cases (9.5%) showed subclinical score values and 12 cases (3.7%) showed clinically important values. No significant differences were found between male and female athletes (p >= 0.05). No statistically significant differences in the HADS scores were found between male athletes of late childhood and late adolescents (p >= 0.05). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing questionnaire based indicators of symptoms of anxiety and depression in young athletes. Our data implies the need for sports medical as well as sports psychiatric support for young athletes. In addition, our results demonstrated that the chronological classification concerning age did not influence HAD Scale outcomes. Future research should focus on sports medical and sports psychiatric interventional approaches with the goal to prevent anxiety and depression as well as teaching coping strategies to young athletes. KW - youth athletes KW - anxiety KW - depression KW - gender differences KW - late childhood KW - adolescents Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00182 SN - 1664-042X VL - 9 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hortobagyi, Tibor A1 - Uematsu, Azusa A1 - Sanders, Lianne A1 - Kliegl, Reinhold A1 - Tollar, Jozsef A1 - Moraes, Renato A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Beam Walking to Assess Dynamic Balance in Health and Disease BT - a Protocol for the "BEAM" Multicenter Observational Study JF - Gerontology N2 - Background: Dynamic balance keeps the vertical projection of the center of mass within the base of support while walking. Dynamic balance tests are used to predict the risks of falls and eventual falls. The psychometric properties of most dynamic balance tests are unsatisfactory and do not comprise an actual loss of balance while walking. Objectives: Using beam walking distance as a measure of dynamic balance, the BEAM consortium will determine the psychometric properties, lifespan and patient reference values, the relationship with selected “dynamic balance tests,” and the accuracy of beam walking distance to predict falls. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study will examine healthy adults in 7 decades (n = 432) at 4 centers. Center 5 will examine patients (n = 100) diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, and balance disorders. In test 1, all participants will be measured for demographics, medical history, muscle strength, gait, static balance, dynamic balance using beam walking under single (beam walking only) and dual task conditions (beam walking while concurrently performing an arithmetic task), and several cognitive functions. Patients and healthy participants age 50 years or older will be additionally measured for fear of falling, history of falls, miniBESTest, functional reach on a force platform, timed up and go, and reactive balance. All participants age 50 years or older will be recalled to report fear of falling and fall history 6 and 12 months after test 1. In test 2, seven to ten days after test 1, healthy young adults and age 50 years or older (n = 40) will be retested for reliability of beam walking performance. Conclusion: We expect to find that beam walking performance vis-à-vis the traditionally used balance outcomes predicts more accurately fall risks and falls. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT03532984. KW - Aging KW - Gait KW - Balance KW - Dual tasks KW - Falls Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1159/000493360 SN - 0304-324X SN - 1423-0003 VL - 65 IS - 4 SP - 332 EP - 339 PB - Karger CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Steidten, Thomas A1 - Baumbach, Philipp A1 - Woehrl, Toni A1 - May, Rico A1 - Kellmann, Michael A1 - Herbsleb, Marco A1 - Gabriel, Brunhild A1 - Weber, Stephanie A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Gabriel, Holger H. W. T1 - Standardized assessment of resistance training-Induced subjective symptoms and objective signs of immunological stress responses in young athletes JF - Frontiers in physiology N2 - From a health and performance-related perspective, it is crucial to evaluate subjective symptoms and objective signs of acute training-induced immunological responses in young athletes. The limited number of available studies focused on immunological adaptations following aerobic training. Hardly any studies have been conducted on resistance-training induced stress responses. Therefore, the aim of this observational study was to investigate subjective symptoms and objective signs of immunological stress responses following resistance training in young athletes. Fourteen (7 females and 7 males) track and field athletes with a mean age of 16.4 years and without any symptoms of upper or lower respiratory tract infections participated in this study. Over a period of 7 days, subjective symptoms using the Acute Recovery and Stress Scale (ARSS) and objective signs of immunological responses using capillary blood markers were taken each morning and after the last training session. Differences between morning and evening sessions and associations between subjective and objective parameters were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). In post hoc analyses, daily change-scores of the ARSS dimensions were compared between participants and revealed specific changes in objective capillary blood samples. In the GEE models, recovery (ARSS) was characterized by a significant decrease while stress (ARSS) showed a significant increase between morning and evening-training sessions. A concomitant increase in white blood cell count (WBC), granulocytes (GRAN) and percentage shares of granulocytes (GRAN%) was found between morning and evening sessions. Of note, percentage shares of lymphocytes (LYM%) showed a significant decrease. Furthermore, using multivariate regression analyses, we identified that recovery was significantly associated with LYM%, while stress was significantly associated with WBC and GRAN%. Post hoc analyses revealed significantly larger increases in participants' stress dimensions who showed increases in GRAN%. For recovery, significantly larger decreases were found in participants with decreases in LYM% during recovery. More specifically, daily change-scores of the recovery and stress dimensions of the ARSS were associated with specific changes in objective immunological markers (GRAN%, LYM%) between morning and evening-training sessions. Our results indicate that changes of subjective symptoms of recovery and stress dimensions using the ARSS were associated with specific changes in objectively measured immunological markers. KW - immune system KW - strength training KW - track and field KW - youth KW - Acute Recovery and Stress Scale (ARSS) Y1 - 2018 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00698 SN - 1664-042X VL - 9 PB - Frontiers Research Foundation CY - Lausanne ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Prieske, Olaf A1 - Chaabene, Helmi A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Behm, David George A1 - Büsch, Dirk A1 - Granacher, Urs T1 - Effects of Drop Height on Jump Performance in Male and Female Elite Adolescent Handball Players JF - International journal of sports physiology and performance N2 - Purpose: To examine the effects of drop height on drop-jump (DJ) performance and on associations between DJ and horizontal-jump/sprint performances in adolescent athletes. Methods: Male (n = 119, 2.5 [0.6] y post-peak-height velocity) and female (n = 120, 2.5 [0.5] y post-peak-height velocity) adolescent handball players (national level) performed DJs in randomized order using 3 drop heights (20, 35, and 50 cm). DJ performance (jump height, reactive strength index [RSI]) was analyzed using the Optojump Next system. In addition, correlations were computed between DJ height and RSI with standing-long-jump and 20-m linear-sprint performances. Results: Statistical analyses revealed medium-size main effects of drop height for DJ height and RSI (P <.001, 0.63 <= d <= 0.71). Post hoc tests indicated larger DJ heights from 20 to 35 and 35 to 50 cm (P <=.031, 0.33 <= d <= 0.71) and better RSI from 20- to 35-cm drop height (P <.001, d = 0.77). No significant difference was found for RSI between 35- and 50-cm drop height. Irrespective of drop height, associations of DJ height and RSI were small with 5-m-split time (-.27 <= r <=.05), medium with 10-m-split time (-.44 <= r <=.14), and medium to large with 20-m sprint time and standing-long-jump distance (-.57 <= r <=.22). Conclusions: The present findings indicate that, irrespective of sex, 35-cm drop heights are best suited to induce rapid and powerful DJ performance (ie, RSI) during reactive strength training in elite adolescent handball players. Moreover, training-related gains in DJ performance may at least partly translate to gains in horizontal jump and longer sprint distances (ie, >= 20-m) and/or vice versa in male and female elite adolescent athletes, irrespective of drop height. KW - stretch-shortening cycle KW - plyometric training KW - strength training KW - tendon stiffness KW - young athletes Y1 - 2019 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2018-0482 SN - 1555-0265 SN - 1555-0273 VL - 14 IS - 5 SP - 674 EP - 680 PB - Human Kinetics Publ. CY - Champaign ER - TY - GEN A1 - Albert, Justin Amadeus A1 - Owolabi, Victor A1 - Gebel, Arnd A1 - Brahms, Clemens Markus A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Arnrich, Bert T1 - Evaluation of the Pose Tracking Performance of the Azure Kinect and Kinect v2 for Gait Analysis in Comparison with a Gold Standard BT - A Pilot Study T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Reihe der Digital Engineering Fakultät N2 - Gait analysis is an important tool for the early detection of neurological diseases and for the assessment of risk of falling in elderly people. The availability of low-cost camera hardware on the market today and recent advances in Machine Learning enable a wide range of clinical and health-related applications, such as patient monitoring or exercise recognition at home. In this study, we evaluated the motion tracking performance of the latest generation of the Microsoft Kinect camera, Azure Kinect, compared to its predecessor Kinect v2 in terms of treadmill walking using a gold standard Vicon multi-camera motion capturing system and the 39 marker Plug-in Gait model. Five young and healthy subjects walked on a treadmill at three different velocities while data were recorded simultaneously with all three camera systems. An easy-to-administer camera calibration method developed here was used to spatially align the 3D skeleton data from both Kinect cameras and the Vicon system. With this calibration, the spatial agreement of joint positions between the two Kinect cameras and the reference system was evaluated. In addition, we compared the accuracy of certain spatio-temporal gait parameters, i.e., step length, step time, step width, and stride time calculated from the Kinect data, with the gold standard system. Our results showed that the improved hardware and the motion tracking algorithm of the Azure Kinect camera led to a significantly higher accuracy of the spatial gait parameters than the predecessor Kinect v2, while no significant differences were found between the temporal parameters. Furthermore, we explain in detail how this experimental setup could be used to continuously monitor the progress during gait rehabilitation in older people. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Reihe der Digital Engineering Fakultät - 3 KW - motion capture KW - evaluation KW - human motion KW - RGB-D cameras KW - digital health Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-484130 IS - 3 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Trautmann, Justin A1 - Zhou, Lin A1 - Brahms, Clemens Markus A1 - Tunca, Can A1 - Ersoy, Cem A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Arnrich, Bert T1 - TRIPOD BT - A treadmill walking dataset with IMU, pressure-distribution and photoelectric data for gait analysis JF - Data : open access ʻData in scienceʼ journal N2 - Inertial measurement units (IMUs) enable easy to operate and low-cost data recording for gait analysis. When combined with treadmill walking, a large number of steps can be collected in a controlled environment without the need of a dedicated gait analysis laboratory. In order to evaluate existing and novel IMU-based gait analysis algorithms for treadmill walking, a reference dataset that includes IMU data as well as reliable ground truth measurements for multiple participants and walking speeds is needed. This article provides a reference dataset consisting of 15 healthy young adults who walked on a treadmill at three different speeds. Data were acquired using seven IMUs placed on the lower body, two different reference systems (Zebris FDMT-HQ and OptoGait), and two RGB cameras. Additionally, in order to validate an existing IMU-based gait analysis algorithm using the dataset, an adaptable modular data analysis pipeline was built. Our results show agreement between the pressure-sensitive Zebris and the photoelectric OptoGait system (r = 0.99), demonstrating the quality of our reference data. As a use case, the performance of an algorithm originally designed for overground walking was tested on treadmill data using the data pipeline. The accuracy of stride length and stride time estimations was comparable to that reported in other studies with overground data, indicating that the algorithm is equally applicable to treadmill data. The Python source code of the data pipeline is publicly available, and the dataset will be provided by the authors upon request, enabling future evaluations of IMU gait analysis algorithms without the need of recording new data. KW - inertial measurement unit KW - gait analysis algorithm KW - OptoGait KW - Zebris KW - data pipeline KW - public dataset Y1 - 2021 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3390/data6090095 SN - 2306-5729 VL - 6 IS - 9 PB - MDPI CY - Basel ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Teich, Paula A1 - Fühner, Thea Heidi A1 - Baehr, Florian A1 - Puta, Christian A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Kliegl, Reinhold T1 - Covid pandemic effects on the physical fitness of primary school children BT - results of the german EMOTIKON project JF - Sports Medicine - Open N2 - BackgroundIn spring of 2020, the Sars-CoV-2 incidence rate increased rapidly in Germany and around the world. Throughout the next 2 years, schools were temporarily closed and social distancing measures were put in place to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Did these social restrictions and temporary school lockdowns affect children's physical fitness? The EMOTIKON project annually tests the physical fitness of all third-graders in the Federal State of Brandenburg, Germany. The tests assess cardiorespiratory endurance (6-min-run test), coordination (star-run test), speed (20-m sprint test), lower (powerLOW, standing long jump test), and upper (powerUP, ball-push test) limbs muscle power, and static balance (one-legged stance test with eyes closed). A total of 125,893 children were tested in the falls from 2016 to 2022. Primary analyses focused on 98,510 keyage third-graders (i.e., school enrollment according to the legal key date, aged 8 to 9 years) from 515 schools. Secondary analyses included 27,383 older-than-keyage third-graders (i.e., OTK, delayed school enrollment or repetition of a grade, aged 9 to 10 years), who have been shown to exhibit lower physical fitness than expected for their age. Linear mixed models fitted pre-pandemic quadratic secular trends, and took into account differences between children and schools.ResultsThird-graders exhibited lower cardiorespiratory endurance, coordination, speed and powerUP in the Covid pandemic cohorts (2020-2022) compared to the pre-pandemic cohorts (2016-2019). Children's powerLOW and static balance were higher in the pandemic cohorts compared to the pre-pandemic cohorts. From 2020 to 2021, coordination, powerLOW and powerUP further declined. Evidence for some post-pandemic physical fitness catch-up was restricted to powerUP. Cohen's |ds| for comparisons of the pandemic cohorts 2020-2022 with pre-pandemic cohorts 2016-2019 ranged from 0.02 for powerLOW to 0.15 for coordination. Within the pandemic cohorts, keyage children exhibited developmental losses ranging from approximately 1 month for speed to 5 months for cardiorespiratory endurance. For powerLOW and static balance, the positive pandemic effects translate to developmental gains of 1 and 7 months, respectively. Pre-pandemic secular trends may account for some of the observed differences between pandemic and pre-pandemic cohorts, especially in powerLOW, powerUP and static balance. The pandemic further increased developmental delays of OTK children in cardiorespiratory endurance, powerUP and balance.ConclusionsThe Covid-19 pandemic was associated with declines in several physical fitness components in German third-graders. Pandemic effects are still visible in 2022. Health-related interventions should specifically target those physical fitness components that were negatively affected by the pandemic (cardiorespiratory endurance, coordination, speed). KW - Sars-CoV-2 KW - Cohort study KW - Cardiorespiratory endurance KW - Muscle power KW - Physical fitness KW - Youth KW - EMOTIKON KW - Linear mixed models Y1 - 2023 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00624-1 SN - 2198-9761 VL - 9 IS - 1 PB - Springer CY - New York ER - TY - GEN A1 - Bouamra, Marwa A1 - Zouhal, Hassane A1 - Ratel, Sébastien A1 - Makhlouf, Issam A1 - Bezrati, Ikram A1 - Chtara, Moktar A1 - Behm, David George A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Chaouachi, Anis T1 - Concurrent Training Promotes Greater Gains on Body Composition and Components of Physical Fitness Than Single-Mode Training (Endurance or Resistance) in Youth With Obesity T2 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - The prevalence of obesity in the pediatric population has become a major public health issue. Indeed, the dramatic increase of this epidemic causes multiple and harmful consequences, Physical activity, particularly physical exercise, remains to be the cornerstone of interventions against childhood obesity. Given the conflicting findings with reference to the relevant literature addressing the effects of exercise on adiposity and physical fitness outcomes in obese children and adolescents, the effect of duration-matched concurrent training (CT) [50% resistance (RT) and 50% high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT)] on body composition and physical fitness in obese youth remains to be elucidated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 9-weeks of CT compared to RT or HIIT alone, on body composition and selected physical fitness components in healthy sedentary obese youth. Out of 73 participants, only 37; [14 males and 23 females; age 13.4 ± 0.9 years; body-mass-index (BMI): 31.2 ± 4.8 kg·m-2] were eligible and randomized into three groups: HIIT (n = 12): 3-4 sets×12 runs at 80–110% peak velocity, with 10-s passive recovery between bouts; RT (n = 12): 6 exercises; 3–4 sets × 10 repetition maximum (RM) and CT (n = 13): 50% serial completion of RT and HIIT. CT promoted significant greater gains compared to HIIT and RT on body composition (p < 0.01, d = large), 6-min-walking test distance (6 MWT-distance) and on 6 MWT-VO2max (p < 0.03, d = large). In addition, CT showed substantially greater improvements than HIIT in the medicine ball throw test (20.2 vs. 13.6%, p < 0.04, d = large). On the other hand, RT exhibited significantly greater gains in relative hand grip strength (p < 0.03, d = large) and CMJ (p < 0.01, d = large) than HIIT and CT. CT promoted greater benefits for fat, body mass loss and cardiorespiratory fitness than HIIT or RT modalities. This study provides important information for practitioners and therapists on the application of effective exercise regimes with obese youth to induce significant and beneficial body composition changes. The applied CT program and the respective programming parameters in terms of exercise intensity and volume can be used by practitioners as an effective exercise treatment to fight the pandemic overweight and obesity in youth. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Humanwissenschaftliche Reihe - 791 KW - weight loss KW - adolescents KW - high-intensity-interval training KW - resistance training KW - DXA KW - matched time Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-563974 SN - 1866-8364 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Universitätsverlag Potsdam CY - Potsdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bouamra, Marwa A1 - Zouhal, Hassane A1 - Ratel, Sébastien A1 - Makhlouf, Issam A1 - Bezrati, Ikram A1 - Chtara, Moktar A1 - Behm, David George A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Chaouachi, Anis T1 - Concurrent Training Promotes Greater Gains on Body Composition and Components of Physical Fitness Than Single-Mode Training (Endurance or Resistance) in Youth With Obesity JF - Frontiers in Physiology N2 - The prevalence of obesity in the pediatric population has become a major public health issue. Indeed, the dramatic increase of this epidemic causes multiple and harmful consequences, Physical activity, particularly physical exercise, remains to be the cornerstone of interventions against childhood obesity. Given the conflicting findings with reference to the relevant literature addressing the effects of exercise on adiposity and physical fitness outcomes in obese children and adolescents, the effect of duration-matched concurrent training (CT) [50% resistance (RT) and 50% high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT)] on body composition and physical fitness in obese youth remains to be elucidated. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 9-weeks of CT compared to RT or HIIT alone, on body composition and selected physical fitness components in healthy sedentary obese youth. Out of 73 participants, only 37; [14 males and 23 females; age 13.4 ± 0.9 years; body-mass-index (BMI): 31.2 ± 4.8 kg·m-2] were eligible and randomized into three groups: HIIT (n = 12): 3-4 sets×12 runs at 80–110% peak velocity, with 10-s passive recovery between bouts; RT (n = 12): 6 exercises; 3–4 sets × 10 repetition maximum (RM) and CT (n = 13): 50% serial completion of RT and HIIT. CT promoted significant greater gains compared to HIIT and RT on body composition (p < 0.01, d = large), 6-min-walking test distance (6 MWT-distance) and on 6 MWT-VO2max (p < 0.03, d = large). In addition, CT showed substantially greater improvements than HIIT in the medicine ball throw test (20.2 vs. 13.6%, p < 0.04, d = large). On the other hand, RT exhibited significantly greater gains in relative hand grip strength (p < 0.03, d = large) and CMJ (p < 0.01, d = large) than HIIT and CT. CT promoted greater benefits for fat, body mass loss and cardiorespiratory fitness than HIIT or RT modalities. This study provides important information for practitioners and therapists on the application of effective exercise regimes with obese youth to induce significant and beneficial body composition changes. The applied CT program and the respective programming parameters in terms of exercise intensity and volume can be used by practitioners as an effective exercise treatment to fight the pandemic overweight and obesity in youth. KW - weight loss KW - adolescents KW - high-intensity-interval training KW - resistance training KW - DXA KW - matched time Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.869063 SN - 1664-042X VL - 13 SP - 1 EP - 16 PB - Frontiers CY - Lausanne, Schweiz ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Jebabli, Nidhal A1 - Zouhal, Hassane A1 - Boullosa, Daniel A1 - Govindasamy, Karuppasamy A1 - Tourny, Claire A1 - Hackney, Anthony C. A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Ben Abderrahman, Abderraouf T1 - The effects of preferred music and its timing on performance, pacing, and psychophysiological responses during the 6-min test JF - Journal of human kinetics N2 - The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of listening to preferred music during a warm up or exercise, on performance during a 6-min all-out exercise test (6-MT) in young adult males. Twenty-five healthy males volunteered to participate in this study. Following a within subject design, participants performed three test conditions (MDT: music during the test; MDW: music during the warm-up; WM: without music) in random order. Outcomes included mean running speed over the 6-min test (MRS6), total distance covered (TDC), heart rate responses (HRpeak, HRmean), blood lactate (3-min after the test), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE); additionally, feeling scale scores were recorded. Listening to preferred music during running resulted in significant TDC (Delta up arrow 10%, p=0.006, ES=0.80) and MRS6 (Delta up arrow 14%, p=0.012, ES=1.02) improvement during the 6-MT, improvement was also noted for the warm-up with music condition (TDC:Delta up arrow 8%, p=0.028, ES=0.63; MRS6:Delta up arrow 8%, p=0.032, ES=0.61). A similar reverse "J-shaped" pacing profile was detected during the three conditions. Blood lactate was lower in the MDT condition by 8% (p=0.01, ES=1.10), but not the MDW condition, compared to MW. In addition, no statistically significant differences were found between the test sessions for the HR, RPE, and feeling scale scores. In conclusion, listening to music during exercise testing would be more beneficial for optimal TDC and MRS6 performances compared to MDW and WM. KW - rating of perceived exertion KW - work-rate distribution KW - blood lactate; KW - aerobic exercise Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2022-0038 SN - 1640-5544 SN - 1899-7562 VL - 82 IS - 1 SP - 123 EP - 133 PB - Academy of Physical Education CY - Katowice ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Saidi, Karim A1 - Zouhal, Hassane A1 - Boullosa, Daniel A1 - Dupont, Gregory A1 - Hackney, Anthony C. A1 - Bideau, Benoit A1 - Granacher, Urs A1 - Ben Abderrahman, Abderraouf T1 - Biochemical markers and wellness status during a congested match play period in elite soccer players JF - International journal of sports physiology and performance : IJSSP N2 - Objectives: To analyze biochemical markers, wellness status, and physical fitness in elite soccer players in relation to changes in training and match exposure during a congested period of match play. Methods: Fourteen elite soccer players were evaluated 3 times (T1, T2, and T3) over 12 weeks (T1-T2: 6-wk regular period of match play and T2-T3: 6-wk congested period of match play). Players performed vertical jump tests, repeated shuttle sprint ability test, and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test at T1, T2, and T3. Plasma C-reactive protein, creatinine, and creatine kinase were analyzed at T1, T2, and T3. Wellness status was measured daily using the Hopper questionnaire (delayed onset of muscle soreness, stress, fatigue, and sleep quality). Training session rating of perceived exertion was also recorded on a daily basis. Results: A significant increase was found in stress, fatigue, delayed onset of muscle soreness scores, and Hopper index during the congested period (between T2 and T3) compared with the regular period (between T1 and T2) (.001 < P < .008, 0.8 < ES < 2.3). Between T2 and T3, significant relationships were found between the percentage variations (Delta%) of C-reactive protein, and Delta% of creatine kinase with the Hopper Index, and the Delta% of fatigue score. In addition, the Delta% of fatigue score and Delta% of delayed onset of muscle soreness score correlated with Delta% Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test and Delta% best of repeated shuttle sprint ability test (.49 < r < P < .01). Conclusions: An intensive period of congested match play significantly compromised elite soccer players' physical fitness and wellness status. Elite soccer players' wellness status reflects declines in physical fitness during this period while biochemical changes do not. KW - training KW - congested calendar KW - overtraining KW - overreaching KW - recovery Y1 - 2022 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0914 SN - 1555-0265 SN - 1555-0273 VL - 17 IS - 4 SP - 605 EP - 620 PB - Human Kinetics Publ. CY - Champaign ER -