TY  - JOUR
A1  - Randall, Matthew J.
A1  - Jüngel, Astrid
A1  - Rimann, Markus
A1  - Wuertz-Kozak, Karin
T1  - Advances in the biofabrication of 3D Skin in vitro
BT  - healthy and pathological models
JF  - Frontiers in Bioengineeringand Biotechnology
N2  - The relevance for in vitro three-dimensional (3D) tissue culture of skin has been present for almost a century. From using skin biopsies in organ culture, to vascularized organotypic full-thickness reconstructed human skin equivalents, in vitro tissue regeneration of 3D skin has reached a golden era. However, the reconstruction of 3D skin still has room to grow and develop. The need for reproducible methodology, physiological structures and tissue architecture, and perfusable vasculature are only recently becoming a reality, though the addition of more complex structures such as glands and tactile corpuscles require advanced technologies. In this review, we will discuss the current methodology for biofabrication of 3D skin models and highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the existing systems as well as emphasize how new techniques can aid in the production of a truly physiologically relevant skin construct for preclinical innovation.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2018.00154
SN  - 2296-4185
VL  - 6
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kameda, Takuya
A1  - Zvick, Joel
A1  - Vuk, Miriam
A1  - Sadowska, Aleksandra
A1  - Tam, Wai Kit
A1  - Leung, Victor Y.
A1  - Bölcskei, Kata
A1  - Helyes, Zsuzsanna
A1  - Applegate, Lee Ann
A1  - Hausmann, Oliver N.
A1  - Klasen, Juergen
A1  - Krupkova, Olga
A1  - Würtz-Kozak, Karin
T1  - Expression and Activity of TRPA1 and TRPV1 in the Intervertebral Disc
BT  - Association with Inflammation and Matrix Remodeling
JF  - International journal of molecular sciences
N2  - Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels have emerged as potential sensors and transducers of inflammatory pain. The aims of this study were to investigate (1) the expression of TRP channels in intervertebral disc (IVD) cells in normal and inflammatory conditions and (2) the function of Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) in IVD inflammation and matrix homeostasis. RT-qPCR was used to analyze human fetal, healthy, and degenerated IVD tissues for the gene expression of TRPA1 and TRPV1. The primary IVD cell cultures were stimulated with either interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) alone or in combination with TRPA1/V1 agonist allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, 3 and 10 mu M), followed by analysis of calcium flux and the expression of inflammation mediators (RT-qPCR/ELISA) and matrix constituents (RT-qPCR). The matrix structure and composition in caudal motion segments from TRPA1 and TRPV1 wild-type (WT) and knock-out (KO) mice was visualized by FAST staining. Gene expression of other TRP channels (A1, C1, C3, C6, V1, V2, V4, V6, M2, M7, M8) was also tested in cytokine-treated cells. TRPA1 was expressed in fetal IVD cells, 20% of degenerated IVDs, but not in healthy mature IVDs. TRPA1 expression was not detectable in untreated cells and it increased upon cytokine treatment, while TRPV1 was expressed and concomitantly reduced. In inflamed IVD cells, 10 mu M AITC activated calcium flux, induced gene expression of IL-8, and reduced disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) and collagen 1A1, possibly via upregulated TRPA1. TRPA1 KO in mice was associated with signs of degeneration in the nucleus pulposus and the vertebral growth plate, whereas TRPV1 KO did not show profound changes. Cytokine treatment also affected the gene expression of TRPV2 (increase), TRPV4 (increase), and TRPC6 (decrease). TRPA1 might be expressed in developing IVD, downregulated during its maturation, and upregulated again in degenerative disc disease, participating in matrix homeostasis. However, follow-up studies with larger sample sizes are needed to fully elucidate the role of TRPA1 and other TRP channels in degenerative disc disease.
KW  - low back pain
KW  - TRP channels
KW  - pro-inflammatory cytokines
KW  - aggrecanases
KW  - collagen
KW  - TRPA1
KW  - TRPV1
KW  - TRPV2
KW  - TRPV4
KW  - TRPC6
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20071767
SN  - 1422-0067
VL  - 20
IS  - 7
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Brand, Ralf
A1  - Cheval, Boris
T1  - Theories to explain exercise motivation and physical inactivity
BT  - ways of expanding our current theoretical perspective
JF  - Frontiers in psychology
KW  - exercise
KW  - motivation
KW  - affect
KW  - automaticity
KW  - physical inactivity
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01147
SN  - 1664-1078
VL  - 10
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kellis, Eleftherios
A1  - Ellinoudis, Athanasios
A1  - Intziegianni, Konstantina
A1  - Kofotolis, Nikolaos
T1  - Muscle thickness during core stability exercises in children and adults
JF  - Journal of human kinetics
N2  - Core stability exercises are regular part of exercise programs for asymptomatic individuals across ages. The purpose of this study was to examine deep abdominal and multifidus muscle thickness in children and adults and to determine reliability of the rehabilitative ultrasound (RUSI) imaging. Transversus abdominis and lumbar multifidus thickness at rest and during core stability exercise were examined in pre-pubertal children (N = 23), adolescents (N = 20), young adults (N = 21) and middle-aged adults (N = 22). Thirty-nine participants were re-tested one week after to establish reliability. Muscle thickness at rest was lower in children and adolescents compared with young and middle-aged adults (p < 0.008). Young adults displayed the highest relative transversus abdominis thickness upon contraction (p < 0.008). Lumbar multfidus contraction thickness was greater in young-adults than middle-aged adults and prepubertal children (p < 0.008), but it was similar between young-adults and adolescents (p > 0.008). Reliability was high for both muscles (ICC3,3 = 0.76 - 0.99). The age-related differences in muscle thickness indicate that core stability exercises may be beneficial for children and middle-aged adults.
KW  - childhood
KW  - musculoskeletal ultrasound
KW  - repeatability
KW  - core exercise
KW  - core stability
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.2478/hukin-2019-0079
SN  - 1640-5544
SN  - 1899-7562
VL  - 71
IS  - 1
SP  - 131
EP  - 144
PB  - Academy of Physical Education
CY  - Katowice
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Trounson, Karl M.
A1  - Busch, Aglaja
A1  - Collier, Neil French
A1  - Robertson, Samuel
T1  - Effects of acute wearable resistance loading on overground running lower body kinematics
JF  - PLoS one
N2  - Field-based sports require athletes to run sub-maximally over significant distances, often while contending with dynamic perturbations to preferred coordination patterns. The ability to adapt movement to maintain performance under such perturbations appears to be trainable through exposure to task variability, which encourages movement variability. The aim of the present study was to investigate the extent to which various wearable resistance loading magnitudes alter coordination and induce movement variability during running. To investigate this, 14 participants (three female and 11 male) performed 10 sub-maximal velocity shuttle runs with either no weight, 1%, 3%, or 5% of body weight attached to the lower limbs. Sagittal plane lower limb joint kinematics from one complete stride cycle in each run were assessed using functional data analysis techniques, both across the participant group and within-individuals. At the group-level, decreases in ankle plantarflexion following toe-off were evident in the 3% and 5% conditions, while increased knee flexion occurred during weight acceptance in the 5% condition compared with unloaded running. At the individual-level, between-run joint angle profiles varied, with six participants exhibiting increased joint angle variability in one or more loading conditions compared with unloaded running. Loading of 5% decreased between-run ankle joint variability among two individuals, likely in accordance with the need to manage increased system load or the novelty of the task. In terms of joint coordination, the most considerable alterations to coordination occurred in the 5% loading condition at the hip-knee joint pair, however, only a minority of participants exhibited this tendency. Coaches should prescribe wearable resistance individually to perturb preferred coordination patterns and encourage movement variability without loading to the extent that movement options become limited.
KW  - movement patterns
KW  - external perturbations
KW  - australian football
KW  - performance
KW  - variability
KW  - coordination
KW  - freedom
KW  - leg
KW  - identification
KW  - adaptations
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244361
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 15
IS  - 12
PB  - PLoS
CY  - San Francisco, California, US
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Herzog, Stefan M.
A1  - Jenny, Mirjam A.
A1  - Nickel, Christian
A1  - Ortega, Ricardo Nieves
A1  - Bingisser, Roland
T1  - Emergency department patients with weakness or fatigue
BT  - can physicians predict their outcomes at the front door? A prospective observational study
JF  - PLOS ONE
N2  - Background

Generalized weakness and fatigue are underexplored symptoms in emergency medicine. Triage tools often underestimate patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with these nonspecific symptoms (Nemec et al., 2010). At the same time, physicians' disease severity rating (DSR) on a scale from 0 (not sick at all) to 10 (extremely sick) predicts key outcomes in ED patients (Beglinger et al., 2015; Rohacek et al., 2015). Our goals were (1) to characterize ED patients with weakness and/or fatigue (W|F); to explore (2) to what extent physicians' DSR at triage can predict five key outcomes in ED patients with W|F; (3) how well DSR performs relative to two commonly used benchmark methods, the Emergency Severity Index (ESI) and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI); (4) to what extent DSR provides predictive information beyond ESI, CCI, or their linear combination, i.e., whether ESI and CCI should be used alone or in combination with DSR; and (5) to what extent ESI, CCI, or their linear combination provide predictive information beyond DSR alone, i.e., whether DSR should be used alone or in combination with ESI and / or CCI.

Methods

Prospective observational study between 2013-2015 (analysis in 2018-2020, study team blinded to hypothesis) conducted at a single center. We study an all-comer cohort of 3,960 patients (48% female patients, median age = 51 years, 94% completed 1-year follow-up). We looked at two primary outcomes (acute morbidity (Bingisser et al., 2017; Weigel et al., 2017) and all-cause 1- year mortality) and three secondary outcomes (in-hospital mortality, hospitalization and transfer to ICU). We assessed the predictive power (i.e., resolution, measured as the Area under the ROC Curve, AUC) of the scores and, using logistic regression, their linear combinations.

Findings

Compared to patients without W|F (n = 3,227), patients with W|F (n = 733) showed higher prevalences for all five outcomes, reported more symptoms across both genders, and received higher DSRs (median = 4; interquartile range (IQR) = 3-6 vs. median = 3; IQR = 2-5). DSR predicted all five outcomes well above chance (i.e., AUCs > similar to 0.70), similarly well for both patients with and without W|F, and as good as or better than ESI and CCI in patients with and without W|F (except for 1-year mortality where CCI performs better). For acute morbidity, hospitalization, and transfer to ICU there is clear evidence that adding DSR to ESI and/or CCI improves predictions for both patient groups; for 1-year mortality and in-hospital mortality this holds for most, but not all comparisons. Adding ESI and/or CCI to DSR generally did not improve performance or even decreased it.

Conclusions

The use of physicians' disease severity rating has never been investigated in patients with generalized weakness and fatigue. We show that physicians' prediction of acute morbidity, mortality, hospitalization, and transfer to ICU through their DSR is also accurate in these patients. Across all patients, DSR is less predictive of acute morbidity for female than male patients, however. Future research should investigate how emergency physicians judge their patients' clinical state at triage and how this can be improved and used in simple decision aids.
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239902
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 15
IS  - 11
PB  - Public Library of Science
CY  - San Francisco, California, US
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Moran, Jason
A1  - Vali, Norodin
A1  - Drury, Ben
A1  - Hammami, Raouf
A1  - Tallent, Jamie
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Ramirez-Campillo, Rodrigo
T1  - The effect of volume equated 1-versus 2-day formats of Nordic hamstring exercise training on fitness in youth soccer players
BT  - a randomised controlled trial
JF  - PLOS ONE
N2  - Purpose
This randomised controlled trial examined the effect of an 8-week volume-equated programme of Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) training, executed at frequencies of 1- or 2-days per week, on fitness (10 m and 40 m sprint, '505' change of direction [COD] and standing long jump [SLJ]) in male youth soccer players (mean age: 16.4 0.81 years). 

Method
Players were divided into an experimental group (n = 16) which was further subdivided into 1-day (n = 8) and 2-day (n = 8) per week training groups and a control group (n = 8). 

Results
There were significant group-by-time interactions for 10-m sprint (p<0.001, eta(2) = 0.120, d = 2.05 [0.57 to 3.53]), 40-m sprint (p = 0.001, eta(2) = 0.041, d = 1.09 [-0.23 to 2.4]) and COD (p = 0.002, eta(2) = 0.063, d = 1.25 [-0.09 to 2.59). The experimental group demonstrated a 'very large' effect size (d = 3.02 [1.5 to 4.54]) in 10-m sprint, and 'large' effect sizes in 40-m sprint (d = 1.94 [0.98 to 2.90]) and COD (d = 1.84 [0.85 to 2.83). The control group showed no significant changes. There were no significant differences between the 1-day and 2-day training groups. In three of the four tests (40 m, COD, SLJ) the 2-day group demonstrated larger effect sizes. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were significantly lower in the 2-day group (p<0.001, 3.46 [1.83 to 5.04).

Conclusion
The NHE increases fitness in youth soccer players and there may be advantages to spreading training over two days instead of one.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277437
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 17
IS  - 12
PB  - PLOS
CY  - San Francisco, California, US
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rebitschek, Felix G.
A1  - Gigerenzer, Gerd
A1  - Wagner, Gert G.
T1  - People underestimate the errors made by algorithms for credit scoring and recidivism prediction but accept even fewer errors
JF  - Scientific reports
N2  - This study provides the first representative analysis of error estimations and willingness to accept errors in a Western country (Germany) with regards to algorithmic decision-making systems (ADM). We examine people's expectations about the accuracy of algorithms that predict credit default, recidivism of an offender, suitability of a job applicant, and health behavior. Also, we ask whether expectations about algorithm errors vary between these domains and how they differ from expectations about errors made by human experts. In a nationwide representative study (N = 3086) we find that most respondents underestimated the actual errors made by algorithms and are willing to accept even fewer errors than estimated. Error estimates and error acceptance did not differ consistently for predictions made by algorithms or human experts, but people's living conditions (e.g. unemployment, household income) affected domain-specific acceptance (job suitability, credit defaulting) of misses and false alarms. We conclude that people have unwarranted expectations about the performance of ADM systems and evaluate errors in terms of potential personal consequences. Given the general public's low willingness to accept errors, we further conclude that acceptance of ADM appears to be conditional to strict accuracy requirements.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99802-y
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
PB  - Macmillan Publishers Limited
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Müller, Notger Germar
T1  - Keeping the aging brain healthy through exercise
JF  - Brain Sciences
N2  - The interaction of physical activity and brain function with respect to what we now
call successful aging has been and remains extensively studied. In general, a wealth of
studies indicates that short- and long-term physical activity can induce neuroplasticity
even in the adult brain, can enhance cognitive performance positively and may reduce the
risk of neurodegenerative diseases. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms
of physical activity on the human central nervous systems are not yet fully understood.
Additionally, what type of exercise might be optimal for keeping the brain fit in old age
and whether imagined as opposed to real exercise has the potential to be effective as well
is not yet clear. In this Special Issue of Brain Sciences, six high-quality articles assess the
mentioned open questions.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci12060717
SN  - 2076-3425
VL  - 12
IS  - 6
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Niehues, Maike
A1  - Gerlach, Erin
A1  - Wendeborn, Thomas
A1  - Sallen, Jeffrey
T1  - Successful in sports but worse in school?
BT  - adolescent student-athletes' development of scholastic performances
JF  - Frontiers in education
N2  - Studies have evaluated the effectiveness of dual career (DC) support services among student-athletes by examining scholastic performances. 
These studies investigated self-reported grades student-athletes or focused on career choices student-athletes made after leaving school. Most of these studies examined scholastic performances cross-sectionally among lower secondary school student-athletes or student-athletes in higher education. 
The present longitudinal field study in a quasi-experimental design aims to evaluate the development of scholastic performances among upper secondary school students aged 16-19 by using standardized scholastic assessments and grade points in the subject English over a course of 3-4 years. 
A sample of 159 students (54.4% females) at three German Elite Sport Schools (ESS) and three comprehensive schools participated in the study. The sample was split into six groups according to three criteria: (1) students' athletic engagement, (2) school type attendance, and (3) usage of DC support services in secondary school. 
Repeated-measurement analyses of variance were conducted in order to evaluate the impact of the three previously mentioned criteria as well as their interaction on the development of scholastic performances. 
Findings indicated that the development of English performance levels differ among the six groups.
KW  - school performance
KW  - dual career
KW  - longitudinal analysis
KW  - language
KW  - competence
KW  - elite sport
KW  - upper secondary school
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.946284
SN  - 2504-284X
VL  - 7
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sack, Carolin
A1  - Ferrari, Nina
A1  - Friesen, David
A1  - Haas, Fabiola
A1  - Klaudius, Marlen
A1  - Schmidt, Lisa
A1  - Torbahn, Gabriel
A1  - Wulff, Hagen
A1  - Joisten, Christine
T1  - Health risks of sarcopenic obesity in overweight children and adolescents: data from the CHILT III Programme (Cologne)
JF  - Journal of Clinical Medicine : open access journal
N2  - Sarcopenic obesity is increasingly found in youth, but its health consequences remain unclear. 
Therefore, we studied the prevalence of sarcopenia and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors as well as muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness using data from the German Children's Health InterventionaL Trial (CHILT III) programme. 
In addition to anthropometric data and blood pressure, muscle and fat mass were determined with bioelectrical impedance analysis. 
Sarcopenia was classified via muscle-to-fat ratio. A fasting blood sample was taken, muscular fitness was determined using the standing long jump, and cardiorespiratory fitness was determined using bicycle ergometry. Of the 119 obese participants included in the analysis (47.1% female, mean age 12.2 years), 83 (69.7%) had sarcopenia. Affected individuals had higher gamma-glutamyl transferase, higher glutamate pyruvate transaminase, higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, higher diastolic blood pressure, and lower muscular and cardiorespiratory fitness (each p < 0.05) compared to participants who were 'only' obese. 
No differences were found in other parameters. In our study, sarcopenic obesity was associated with various disorders in children and adolescents. 
However, the clinical value must be tested with larger samples and reference populations to develop a unique definition and appropriate methods in terms of identification but also related preventive or therapeutic approaches.
KW  - sarcopenia
KW  - sarcopenic obesity
KW  - muscle-to-fat ratio
KW  - juvenile obesity
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11010277
SN  - 2077-0383
VL  - 11
IS  - 1
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wetzel, Anna-Jasmin
A1  - Koch, Roland
A1  - Preiser, Christine
A1  - Müller, Regina
A1  - Klemmt, Malte
A1  - Ranisch, Robert
A1  - Ehni, Hans-Jörg
A1  - Wiesing, Urban
A1  - Rieger, Monika A.
A1  - Henking, Tanja
A1  - Joos, Stefanie
T1  - Ethical, legal, and social implications of symptom checker Apps in primary Health Care (CHECK.APP)
BT  - protocol for an interdisciplinary mixed methods study
JF  - JMIR Research Protocols
N2  - Background: 
Symptom checker apps (SCAs) are accessible tools that provide early symptom assessment for users. The ethical, legal, and social implications of SCAs and their impact on the patient-physician relationship, the health care providers, and the health care system have sparsely been examined. This study protocol describes an approach to investigate the possible impacts and implications of SCAs on different levels of health care provision. It considers the perspectives of the users, nonusers, general practitioners (GPs), and health care experts. 

Objective:
We aim to assess a comprehensive overview of the use of SCAs and address problematic issues, if any. The primary outcomes of this study are empirically informed multi-perspective recommendations for different stakeholders on the ethical, legal, and social implications of SCAs.

Methods: 
Quantitative and qualitative methods will be used in several overlapping and interconnected study phases. In study phase 1, a comprehensive literature review will be conducted to assess the ethical, legal, social, and systemic impacts of SCAs. Study phase 2 comprises a survey that will be analyzed with a logistic regression. It aims to assess the user degree of SCAs in Germany as well as the predictors for SCA usage. Study phase 3 will investigate self-observational diaries and user interviews, which will be analyzed as integrated cases to assess user perspectives, usage pattern, and arising problems. Study phase 4 will comprise GP interviews to assess their experiences, perspectives, self-image, and concepts and will be analyzed with the basic procedure by Kruse. Moreover, interviews with health care experts will be conducted in study phase 3 and will be analyzed by using the reflexive thematical analysis approach of Braun and Clark.

Results: 
Study phase 1 will be completed in November 2021. We expect the results of study phase 2 in December 2021 and February 2022. In study phase 3, interviews are currently being conducted. The final study endpoint will be in February 2023. 

Conclusions: 
The possible ethical, legal, social, and systemic impacts of a widespread use of SCAs that affect stakeholders and stakeholder groups on different levels of health care will be identified. The proposed methodological approach provides a multifaceted and diverse empirical basis for a broad discussion on these implications.
KW  - symptom checker apps
KW  - self-diagnosis
KW  - self-triage
KW  - digitalization in
KW  - primary care
KW  - general practitioners
KW  - symptom checker
KW  - app
KW  - mobile app;
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.2196/34026
SN  - 1929-0748
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
PB  - JMIR Research Protocols
CY  - Toronto
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - El-Ashker, Said
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Negra, Yassine
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Cardio-Respiratory Endurance Responses Following a Simulated 3 x 3 Minutes Amateur Boxing Contest in Elite Level Boxers
JF  - Sports
N2  - This study aimed at examining physiological responses (i.e., oxygen uptake [VO2] and heart rate [HR]) to a semi-contact 3 x 3-min format, amateur boxing combat simulation in elite level male boxers. Eleven boxers aged 21.4 +/- 2.1 years (body height 173.4 +/- 3.7, body mass 74.9 +/- 8.6 kg, body fat 12.1 +/- 1.9, training experience 5.7 +/- 1.3 years) volunteered to participate in this study. They performed a maximal graded aerobic test on a motor-driven treadmill to determine maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), oxygen uptake (VO2AT) and heart rate (HRAT) at the anaerobic threshold, and maximal heart rate (HRmax). Additionally, VO2 and peak HR (HRpeak) were recorded following each boxing round. Results showed no significant differences between VO2max values derived from the treadmill running test and VO2 outcomes of the simulated boxing contest (p > 0.05, d = 0.02 to 0.39). However, HRmax and HRpeak recorded from the treadmill running test and the simulated amateur boxing contest, respectively, displayed significant differences regardless of the boxing round (p < 0.01, d = 1.60 to 3.00). In terms of VO2 outcomes during the simulated contest, no significant between-round differences were observed (p = 0.19, d = 0.17 to 0.73). Irrespective of the boxing round, the recorded VO2 was >90% of the VO2max. Likewise, HRpeak observed across the three boxing rounds were >= 90% of the HRmax. In summary, the simulated 3 x 3-min amateur boxing contest is highly demanding from a physiological standpoint. Thus, coaches are advised to systematically monitor internal training load for instance through rating of perceived exertion to optimize training-related adaptations and to prevent boxers from overreaching and/or overtraining.
KW  - aerobic metabolism
KW  - physiological strain
KW  - striking combat sports
KW  - elite athletes
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/sports6040119
SN  - 2075-4663
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wick, Kristin
A1  - Kriemler, Susi
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Associations between measures of physical fitness and cognitive performance in preschool children
JF  - BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation
N2  - Background: 
Given that recent studies report negative secular declines in physical fitness, associations between fitness and cognition in childhood are strongly discussed. The preschool age is characterized by high neuroplasticity which effects motor skill learning, physical fitness, and cognitive development. The aim of this study was to assess the relation of physical fitness and attention (including its individual dimensions (quantitative, qualitative)) as one domain of cognitive performance in preschool children. We hypothesized that fitness components which need precise coordination compared to simple fitness components are stronger related to attention.

Methods:
Physical fitness components like static balance (i.e., single-leg stance), muscle strength (i.e., handgrip strength), muscle power (i.e., standing long jump), and coordination (i.e., hopping on one leg) were assessed in 61 healthy children (mean age 4.5 +/- 0.6 years; girls n = 30). Attention was measured with the "Konzentrations-Handlungsverfahren fur Vorschulkinder" [concentration-action procedure for preschoolers]). Analyses were adjusted for age, body height, and body mass.

Results:
Results from single linear regression analysis revealed a significant (p < 0.05) association between physical fitness (composite score) and attention (composite score) (standardized ss = 0.40), showing a small to medium effect (F-2 = 0.14). Further, coordination had a significant relation with the composite score and the quantitative dimension of attention (standardized ss = 0.35; p < 0.01; standardized ss = - 0.33; p < 0.05). Coordination explained about 11% (composite score) and 9% (quantitative dimension) of the variance in the stepwise multiple regression model.

Conclusion:
The results indicate that performance in physical fitness, particularly coordination, is related to attention in preschool children. Thus, high performance in complex fitness components (i.e., hopping on one leg) tends to predict attention in preschool children. Further longitudinal studies should focus on the effectiveness of physical activity programs implementing coordination and complex exercises at preschool age to examine cause-effect relationships between physical fitness and attention precisely.
KW  - Motor skills
KW  - Cognitive skills
KW  - Attention
KW  - Kindergarten
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-022-00470-w
SN  - 2052-1847
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
PB  - BMC
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ahmadi, Hamid
A1  - Herat, Nehara
A1  - Alizadeh, Shahab
A1  - Button, Duane C.
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Behm, David G.
T1  - Effect of an inverted seated position with upper arm blood flow restriction on measures of elbow flexors neuromuscular performance
JF  - PLOS ONE / Public Library of Science
N2  - Purpose
The objective of the investigation was to determine the concomitant effects of upper arm blood flow restriction (BFR) and inversion on elbow flexors neuromuscular responses. 

Methods 
Randomly allocated, 13 volunteers performed four conditions in a within-subject design: rest (control, 1-min upright position without BFR), control (1-min upright with BFR), 1-min inverted (without BFR), and 1-min inverted with BFR. Evoked and voluntary contractile properties, before, during and after a 30-s maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) exercise intervention were examined as well as pain scale. 

Results
Inversion induced significant pre-exercise intervention decreases in elbow flexors MVC (21.1%, Z2p = 0.48, p = 0.02) and resting evoked twitch forces (29.4%, Z2p = 0.34, p = 0.03). The 30-s MVC induced significantly greater pre- to post-test decreases in potentiated twitch force (Z2p = 0.61, p = 0.0009) during inversion (75%) than upright (65.3%) conditions. Overall, BFR decreased MVC force 4.8% (Z2p = 0.37, p = 0.05). For upright position, BFR induced 21.0% reductions in M-wave amplitude (Z2p = 0.44, p = 0.04). There were no significant differences for electromyographic activity or voluntary activation as measured with the interpolated twitch technique. For all conditions, there was a significant increase in pain scale between the 40-60 s intervals and post-30-s MVC (upright< inversion, and without BFR< BFR). 

Conclusion
The concomitant application of inversion with elbow flexors BFR only amplified neuromuscular performance impairments to a small degree. Individuals who execute forceful contractions when inverted or with BFR should be cognizant that force output may be impaired.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245311
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 16
IS  - 5
PB  - PLoS
CY  - San Fransisco
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Gäbler, Martijn
A1  - Herz, Michael
A1  - Helm, Norman
A1  - Markov, Adrian
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Seasonal changes in anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness and the relationships with sporting success in young sub-elite judo athletes
BT  - an exploratory study
JF  - International journal of environmental research and public health : IJERPH
N2  - This exploratory study aimed to monitor long-term seasonal developments in measures of anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness in young judo athletes, and to compute associations between these measures and sporting success. Forty-four young judoka (20 females, 24 males) volunteered to participate. Tests for the assessment of anthropometry (e.g., body height/mass), body-composition (e.g., lean body mass), muscle strength (isometric handgrip strength), vertical jumping (e.g., countermovement-jump (CMJ) height), and dynamic balance (Y-balance test) were conducted at the beginning and end of a 10-month training season. Additionally, sporting success at the end of the season was recorded for each athlete. Analyses revealed significant time x sex interaction effects for lean-body-mass, isometric handgrip strength, and CMJ height (0.7 <= d <= 1.6). Post-hoc analyses showed larger gains for all measures in young males (1.9 <= d <= 6.0) compared with females (d = 2.4) across the season. Additionally, significant increases in body height and mass as well as Y-balance test scores were found from pre-to-post-test (1.2 <= d <= 4.3), irrespective of sex. Further, non-significant small-to-moderate-sized correlations were identified between changes in anthropometry/body composition/physical fitness and sporting success (p > 0.05; -0.34 <= rho <= 0.32). Regression analysis confirmed that no model significantly predicted sporting success. Ten months of judo training and/or growth/maturation contributed to significant changes in anthropometry, body composition, and physical fitness, particularly in young male judo athletes.
KW  - combat sports
KW  - periodization
KW  - somatic variables
KW  - training load
KW  - training
KW  - monitoring
KW  - young athletes
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197169
SN  - 1660-4601
VL  - 17
IS  - 19
PB  - MDPI AG
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Haile, Sarah R.
A1  - Fühner, Thea Heidi
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Stocker, Julien
A1  - Radtke, Thomas
A1  - Kriemler, Susi
T1  - Reference values and validation of the 1-minute sit-to-stand test in healthy 5-16-year-old youth
BT  - a cross-sectional study
JF  - BMJ open
N2  - Objectives:
It is essential to have simple, reliable and valid tests to measure children's functional capacity in schools or medical practice. The 1-minute sit-to-stand (STS) test is a quick fitness test requiring little equipment or space that is increasingly used in both healthy populations and those with chronic disease. We aimed to provide age-specific and sex-specific reference values of STS test in healthy children and adolescents and to evaluate its short-term reliability and construct validity. 

Design setting and participants:
Cross-sectional convenience sample from six public schools and one science fair in central Europe. Overall, 587 healthy participants aged 5-16 years were recruited and divided into age groups of 3 years each.

Outcomes:
1-minute STS. To evaluate short-term reliability, some children performed the STS test twice. To evaluate construct validity, some children also performed a standing long jump (SLJ) and a maximal incremental exercise test. 

Results:
Data from 547 youth aged 5-16 years were finally included in the analyses. The median number of repetitions in 1 min in males (females) ranged from 55 [95% CI: 38 to 72] (53 [95% CI: 35 to 76]) in 14-16-year olds to 59 [95% CI: 41 to 77] (60 [95% CI: 38 to 77]) in 8-10-year olds. Children who repeated STS showed a learning effect of on average 4.8 repetitions more than the first test (95% limits of agreement: -6.7 to 16.4). Moderate correlations were observed between the STS and the SLJ (r=0.48) tests and the maximal exercise test (r=0.43). 

Conclusions:
The reported STS reference values can be used to interpret STS test performance in children and adolescents. The STS appears to have good test- retest reliability, but a learning effect of about 10%. The association of STS with other measures of physical fitness should be further explored in a larger study and technical standards for its conduct are needed.
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049143
SN  - 2044-6055
VL  - 11
IS  - 5
PB  - BMJ Publishing Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jafarnezhadgero, Amir Ali
A1  - Fatollahi, Amir
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Eight weeks of exercising on sand has positive effects on biomechanics of walking and muscle activities in individuals with pronated feet
BT  - a randomized double-blinded controlled trial
JF  - Sports : open access journal
N2  - This study aimed to investigate the effects of eight weeks of barefoot running exercise on sand versus control on measures of walking kinetics and muscle activities in individuals with diagnosed pronated feet. Sixty physically active male adults with pronated feet were randomly allocated into an intervention or a waiting control group. The intervention group conducted an 8-weeks progressive barefoot running exercise program on sand (e.g., short sprints) with three weekly sessions. Pre and post intervention, participants walked at a constant speed of 1.3 m/s +/- 5% on a 18 m walkway with a force plate embedded in the middle of the walkway. Results showed significant group-by-time interactions for peak impact vertical and lateral ground reaction forces. Training but not control resulted in significantly lower peak impact vertical and lateral ground reaction forces. Significant group-by-time interactions were observed for vastus lateralis activity during the loading phase. Training-induced increases were found for the vastus lateralis in the intervention but not in the control group. This study revealed that the applied exercise program is a suitable means to absorb ground reaction forces (e.g., lower impact vertical and lateral peaks) and increase activities of selected lower limb muscles (e.g., vastus lateralis) when walking on stable ground.
KW  - flat foot
KW  - free moment
KW  - gait
KW  - loading rate
KW  - training
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/sports10050070
SN  - 2075-4663
VL  - 10
IS  - 5
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Khudair, Mohammed
A1  - Marcuzzi, Anna
A1  - Ng, Kwok
A1  - Tempest, Gavin Daniel
A1  - Bartoš, František
A1  - Peric, Ratko
A1  - Maier, Maximilian
A1  - Beccia, Flavia
A1  - Boccia, Stefania
A1  - Brandes, Mirko
A1  - Cardon, Greet
A1  - Carlin, Angela
A1  - Castagna, Carolina
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Chalkley, Anna
A1  - Ciaccioni, Simone
A1  - Cieślińska-Świder, Joanna
A1  - Čingienė, Vilma
A1  - Cortis, Cristina
A1  - Corvino, Chiara
A1  - de Geus, Eco J. C.
A1  - Di Baldassarre, Angela
A1  - Di Credico, Andrea
A1  - Drid, Patrik
A1  - Tarazaga, Rosa Ma Fernández
A1  - Gallè, Francesca
A1  - Sánchez, Esther Garcia
A1  - Gebremariam, Mekdes
A1  - Ghinassi, Barbara
A1  - Goudas, Marios
A1  - Hayes, Grainne
A1  - Honorio, Samuel
A1  - Izzicupo, Pascal
A1  - Jahre, Henriette
A1  - Jelsma, Judith
A1  - Juric, Petra
A1  - Kolovelonis, Athanasios
A1  - Kongsvold, Atle
A1  - Kouidi, Evangelia
A1  - Mansergh, Fiona
A1  - Masanovic, Bojan
A1  - Mekonnen, Teferi
A1  - Mork, Paul Jarle
A1  - Murphy, Marie
A1  - O'Hara, Kelly
A1  - Torun, Ayse Ozbil
A1  - Palumbo, Federico
A1  - Popovic, Stevo
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
A1  - Puharic, Zrinka
A1  - Ribeiro, José Carlos
A1  - Rumbold, Penny Louise Sheena
A1  - Sandu, Petru
A1  - Soric, Maroje
A1  - Stavnsbo, Mette
A1  - Syrmpas, Ioannis
A1  - van der Ploeg, Hidde P.
A1  - Van Hoye, Aurélie
A1  - Vilela, Sofia
A1  - Woods, Catherine
A1  - Wunsch, Kathrin
A1  - Caprinica, Laura
A1  - MacDonncha, Ciaran
A1  - Ling, Fiona Chun Man
T1  - DE-PASS Best Evidence Statement (BESt): modifiable determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents aged 5-19 years-a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
JF  - BMJ open
N2  - Introduction Physical activity among children and adolescents remains insufficient, despite the substantial efforts made by researchers and policymakers. Identifying and furthering our understanding of potential modifiable determinants of physical activity behaviour (PAB) and sedentary behaviour (SB) is crucial for the development of interventions that promote a shift from SB to PAB. The current protocol details the process through which a series of systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses (MAs) will be conducted to produce a best-evidence statement (BESt) and inform policymakers. The overall aim is to identify modifiable determinants that are associated with changes in PAB and SB in children and adolescents (aged 5-19 years) and to quantify their effect on, or association with, PAB/SB. Methods and analysis A search will be performed in MEDLINE, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PsychINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled trials (CTs) that investigate the effect of interventions on PAB/SB and longitudinal studies that investigate the associations between modifiable determinants and PAB/SB at multiple time points will be sought. Risk of bias assessments will be performed using adapted versions of Cochrane's RoB V.2.0 and ROBINS-I tools for RCTs and CTs, respectively, and an adapted version of the National Institute of Health's tool for longitudinal studies. Data will be synthesised narratively and, where possible, MAs will be performed using frequentist and Bayesian statistics. Modifiable determinants will be discussed considering the settings in which they were investigated and the PAB/SB measurement methods used. Ethics and dissemination No ethical approval is needed as no primary data will be collected. The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and academic conferences where possible. The BESt will also be shared with policy makers within the DE-PASS consortium in the first instance. Systematic review registration CRD42021282874.
KW  - public health
KW  - health policy
KW  - community child health
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-059202
SN  - 2044-6055
VL  - 12
IS  - 9
PB  - BMJ Publishing Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Saal, Christian
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Helm, Norman
A1  - Warnke, Torsten
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
T1  - Network analysis of associations between anthropometry, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance in young canoe sprint athletes
BT  - The role of age and sex
JF  - Frontiers in sports and active living
N2  - Introduction
Anthropometric and physical fitness data can predict sport-specific performance (e.g., canoe sprint race time) in young athletes. Of note, inter-item correlations (i.e., multicollinearity) may exist between tests assessing similar physical qualities. However, multicollinearity among tests may change across age and/or sex due to age-/sex-specific non-linear development of test performances. Therefore, the present study aimed at analyzing inter-item correlations between anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance data as a function of age and sex in young canoe sprint athletes. 

Methods
Anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance data of 618 male and 297 female young canoe sprint athletes (discipline: male/female kayak, male canoe) were recorded during a national talent identification program between 1992 and 2019. For each discipline, a correlation matrix (i.e., network analysis) was calculated for age category (U13, U14, U15, U16) and sex including anthropometrics (e.g., standing body height, body mass), physical fitness (e.g., cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle power), and sport-specific performance (i.e., 250 and 2,000-m on-water canoe sprint time). Network plots were used to explore the correlation patterns by visual inspection. Further, trimmed means (mu(trimmed)) of inter-item Pearson's correlations coefficients were calculated for each discipline, age category, and sex. Effects of age and sex were analyzed using one-way ANOVAs. 

Results
Visual inspection revealed consistent associations among anthropometric measures across age categories, irrespective of sex. Further, associations between physical fitness and sport-specific performance were lower with increasing age, particularly in males. In this sense, statistically significant differences for mu(trimmed) were observed in male canoeists (p < 0.01, xi = 0.36) and male kayakers (p < 0.01, xi = 0.38) with lower mu(trimmed) in older compared with younger athletes (i.e., >= U15). For female kayakers, no statistically significant effect of age on mu(trimmed) was observed (p = 0.34, xi = 0.14). 

Discussion
Our study revealed that inter-item correlation patterns (i.e., multicollinearity) of anthropometric, physical fitness, and sport-specific performance measures were lower in older (U15, U16) versus younger (U13, U14) male canoe sprint athletes but not in females. Thus, age and sex should be considered to identify predictors for sport-specific performance and design effective testing batteries for talent identification programs in canoe sprint athletes.
KW  - talent identification
KW  - youth sports [MeSH]
KW  - athletic performance
KW  - race
KW  - time
KW  - relationship
KW  - multicollinearity
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.1038350
SN  - 2624-9367
VL  - 4
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Moran, Jason
A1  - Saeterbakken, Atle Hole
T1  - Adaptations to Advanced Resistance Training Strategies in Youth and Adult Athletes
JF  - Frontiers in physiology / Frontiers Research Foundation
KW  - strength training
KW  - sportsmen
KW  - mechanisms
KW  - chronic effects
KW  - acute effects
KW  - applied physiology
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.888118
SN  - 1664-042X
VL  - 13
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wiesmeier, Isabella K.
A1  - Dalin, Daniela
A1  - Wehrle, Anja
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Muehlbauer, Thomas
A1  - Dietterle, Jörg
A1  - Weiller, Cornelius
A1  - Gollhofer, Albert
A1  - Maurer, Christoph
T1  - Balance training enhances vestibular function and reduces overactive proprioceptive feedback in elderly
JF  - Frontiers in aging neuroscience
N2  - Objectives: Postural control in elderly people is impaired by degradations of sensory, motor, and higher-level adaptive mechanisms. Here, we characterize the effects of a progressive balance training programon these postural control impairments using a brain network model based on system identification techniques. Methods and Material: We analyzed postural control of 35 healthy elderly subjects and compared findings to data from 35 healthy young volunteers. Eighteen elderly subjects performed a 10 week balance training conducted twice per week. Balance training was carried out in static and dynamic movement states, on support surfaces with different elastic compliances, under different visual conditions and motor tasks. Postural control was characterized by spontaneous sway and postural reactions to pseudorandom anterior-posterior tilts of the support surface. Data were interpreted using a parameter identification procedure based on a brain network model. Conclusion: Balance training reduced overactive proprioceptive feedback and restored vestibular orientation in elderly. Based on the assumption of a linear deterioration of postural control across the life span, the training effect can be extrapolated as a juvenescence of 10 years. This study points to a considerable benefit of a continuous balance training in elderly, even without any sensorimotor deficits.
KW  - age
KW  - balance
KW  - vestibular
KW  - proprioception
KW  - training
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2017.00273
SN  - 1663-4365
VL  - 9
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Fernandez-Fernandez, Jaime
A1  - Moya-Ramon, Manuel
A1  - Santos-Rosa, Francisco Javier
A1  - Gantois, Petrus
A1  - Nakamura, Fabio Yuzo
A1  - Sanz-Rivas, David
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Within-session sequence of the tennis serve training in youth elite players
JF  - International journal of environmental research and public health
N2  - The influence of muscular fatigue on tennis serve performance within regular training sessions is unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine the within-session sequence of the tennis serve in youth tennis. Twenty-five young male (14.9 +/- 0.9 years) and female (14.5 +/- 0.9 years) players participated in this within-subject crossover study, and they were randomly but sex-matched assigned to different training sequences (serve exercise before tennis training (BTS) or after tennis training (ATS)). Pre- and post-tests included serve velocity performance and accuracy, shoulder strength, and range-of-motion (ROM) performance (internal/external rotation). Results showed that after one week of serve training conducted following the ATS sequence, significant decreases were found in serve performance (e.g., speed and accuracy), with standardized differences ranging from d = 0.29 to 1.13, as well as the shoulder function (strength [d = 0.20 to 1.0] and ROM [d = 0.17 to 0.31]) in both female and male players, compared to the BTS sequence. Based on the present findings, it appears more effective to implement serve training before the regular tennis training in youth players. If applied after training, excessive levels of fatigue may cause shoulder imbalances that could be related to an increased injury risk.
KW  - athletes
KW  - athletic performance
KW  - fatigue
KW  - fitness
KW  - shoulder strength
KW  - range of motion
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010244
SN  - 1660-4601
VL  - 18
IS  - 1
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Zinke, Fridolin
A1  - Gebel, Arnd
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
T1  - Acute Effects of Short-Term Local Tendon Vibration on Plantar Flexor Torque, Muscle Contractile Properties, Neuromuscular and Brain Activity in Young Athletes
JF  - Journal of sports science & medicine
N2  - The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of short-term Achilles tendon vibration on plantar flexor torque, twitch contractile properties as well as muscle and cortical activity in young athletes. Eleven female elite soccer players aged 15.6 +/- 0.5 years participated in this study. Three different conditions were applied in randomized order: Achilles tendon vibration (80 Hz) for 30 and 300 s, and a passive control condition (300 s). Tests at baseline and following conditions included the assessment of peak plantar flexor torque during maximum voluntary contraction, electrically evoked muscle twitches (e.g., potentiated twitch peak torque [PT]), and electromyographic (EMG) activity of the plantar flexors. Additionally, electroencephalographic (EEG) activity of the primary motor and somatosensory cortex were assessed during a submaximal dynamic concentric-eccentric plantar flexion exercise using an elastic rubber band. Large-sized main effects of condition were found for EEG absolute alpha-1 and beta-1 band power (p <= 0.011; 1.5 <= d <= 2.6). Post-hoc tests indicated that alpha-1 power was significantly lower at 30 and 300 s (p = 0.009; d = 0.8) and beta-1 power significantly lower at 300 s (p < 0.001; d = 0.2) compared to control condition. No significant effect of condition was found for peak plantar flexor torque, electrical evoked muscle twitches, and EMG activity. In conclusion, short-term local Achilles tendon vibration induced lower brain activity (i.e., alpha-1 and beta-1 band power) but did not affect lower limb peak torque, twitch contractile properties, and muscle activity. Lower brain activity following short-term local Achilles tendon vibration may indicate improved cortical function during a submaximal dynamic exercise in female young soccer players.
KW  - Postactivation potentiation
KW  - electromyography
KW  - electroencephalography
KW  - maximum voluntary contraction
KW  - soccer
Y1  - 2019
SN  - 1303-2968
VL  - 18
IS  - 2
SP  - 327
EP  - 336
PB  - Department of Sports Medicine, Medical Faculty of Uludag University
CY  - Bursa
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sandau, Ingo
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Effects of the barbell load on the acceleration phase during the snatch in elite Olympic weightlifting
JF  - Sports
N2  - The load-depended loss of vertical barbell velocity at the end of the acceleration phase limits the maximum weight that can be lifted. Thus, the purpose of this study was to analyze how increased barbell loads affect the vertical barbell velocity in the sub-phases of the acceleration phase during the snatch. It was hypothesized that the load-dependent velocity loss at the end of the acceleration phase is primarily associated with a velocity loss during the 1st pull. For this purpose, 14 male elite weightlifters lifted seven load-stages from 70-100% of their personal best in the snatch. The load-velocity relationship was calculated using linear regression analysis to determine the velocity loss at 1st pull, transition, and 2nd pull. A group mean data contrast analysis revealed the highest load-dependent velocity loss for the 1st pull (t = 1.85, p = 0.044, g = 0.49 [-0.05, 1.04]) which confirmed our study hypothesis. In contrast to the group mean data, the individual athlete showed a unique response to increased loads during the acceleration sub-phases of the snatch. With the proposed method, individualized training recommendations on exercise selection and loading schemes can be derived to specifically improve the sub-phases of the snatch acceleration phase. Furthermore, the results highlight the importance of single-subject assessment when working with elite athletes in Olympic weightlifting.
KW  - biomechanics
KW  - barbell velocity
KW  - performance
KW  - training
KW  - load-velocity
KW  - relationship
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/sports8050059
SN  - 2075-4663
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mohammadi, Vahid
A1  - Hilfiker, Roger
A1  - Jafarnezhadgero, Amir Ali
A1  - Jamialahmadi, Shima
A1  - Ardakani, Mohammad Karimizadeh
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Relationship between training-induced changes in the star excursion balance test and the Y balance test in young male athletes
JF  - Annals of applied sport science
N2  - Background. Dynamic balance is often assessed in athletes using either the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) or the Y Balance Test (YBT). There is evidence that the results for the three common directions are not comparable. Thus, the question is open to debate as to which instrument is better suited to measure training-induced changes over time. Objectives. The aim of this study is to compare the changes in the SEBT and the YBT, measured before and after six weeks of balance and strength exercise programmes in young and healthy athletes. Methods. A total of 30 young male athletes aged 15-17 years participated in this study and were involved in a six-week combined training, including balance and strength exercise. During pre-and post-training periods, the SEBT and YBT were conducted in random order. Results. The comparison between the changes in the SEBT and YBT with a paired sample T-test showed a significant increase in PM (p=0.001) and PL reach directions (p=0.000). No differences were observed in the A reach direction (p=0.38). Conclusion. the responsiveness levels of the SEBT and YBT are similar is valid. Also, because of higher effect size value in the anterior direction in YBT compared with SEBT, this balance test could possibly be preferred in this direction for postural control evaluation.
KW  - Exercise
KW  - Postural Control
KW  - Balance Tests
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.29252/acadpub.aassjournal.5.3.31
SN  - 2322-4479
VL  - 5
IS  - 3
SP  - 31
EP  - 38
PB  - Annals applied sport science
CY  - Tehran
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sammoud, Senda
A1  - Negra, Yassine
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Bouguezzi, Raja
A1  - Moran, Jason
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - The Effects of Plyometric Jump Training on Jumping and Swimming Performances in Prepubertal Male Swimmers
JF  - Journal of sports science & medicine
N2  - Swimming performance can be improved not only by in-water sport-specific training but also by means of dry land-training (e.g., plyometric jump training [PJT]). This study examined the effects of an 8-week PJT on proxies of muscle power and swimming performance in prepubertal male swimmers. Participants were randomly allocated to a PJT group (PJT; n = 14; age: 10.3 +/- 0.4 years, maturity-offset = -3 +/- 0.3) or a control group (CG; n = 12; age: 10.5 +/- 0.4 years, maturity-offset = -2.8 +/- 0.3). Swimmers in PJT and CG performed 6 training sessions per week. Each training session lasted between 80 and 90 minutes. Over the 8 weeks in-season training period, PJT performed two PJT sessions per week, each lasting between 25 to 30 minutes (similar to 1 hour per week) in replacement of sport-specific swimming drills. During that time, CG followed their regular sport-specific swimming training (e.g., coordination, breathing, improving swimming strokes). Overall training volume was similar between groups. Pre- and post-training, tests were conducted to assess proxies of muscle power (countermovement-jump [CMJ]), standing-long-jump [SLJ]) and sport-specific swimming performances (15-, 25-, and 50-m front-crawl, 25-m kick without push [25-m kick WP], and 25-m front-crawl WP). No training or test-related injuries were detected over the course of the study. Between-group analyses derived from magnitude-based inferences showed trivial-to-large effects in favour of PJT for all tests (ES = 0.28 to 1.43). Within-group analyses for the PJT showed small performance improvements for CMJ (effect-size [ES] = 0.53), 25-m kick WP (ES = 0.25), and 50-m front crawl (ES = 0.56) tests. Moderate performance improvements were observed for the SLJ, 25-m front-crawl WP, 15-m and 25-m front-crawl tests (ES = 0.95, 0.60, 0.99, and 0.85, respectively). For CG, the within-group results showed trivial performance declines for the CMJ (ES=-0.13) and the 50-m front-crawl test (ES = -0.04). In addition, trivial-to-small performance improvements were observed for the SLJ (ES = 0.09), 25-m kick WP (ES = 0.02), 25-m front-crawl WP (ES = 0.19), 25-m front-crawl (ES = 0.2), (SLJ [ES = 0.09, and 15-m front crawl (ES = 0.36). Short-term in-season PJT, integrated into the regular swimming training, was more effective than regular swimming training alone in improving jump and sport-specific swimming performances in prepubertal male swimmers.
KW  - Stretch-shortening cycle
KW  - young athletes
KW  - rate of force development
KW  - sport-specific performance
Y1  - 2019
SN  - 1303-2968
VL  - 18
IS  - 4
SP  - 805
EP  - 811
PB  - Department of Sports Medicine, Medical Faculty of Uludag University
CY  - Bursa
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gäbler, Martijn
A1  - Berberyan, Hermine S.
A1  - Prieske, Olaf
A1  - Elferink-Gemser, Marije Titia
A1  - Hortobágyi, Tibor
A1  - Warnke, Torsten
A1  - Granacher, Urs
T1  - Strength Training Intensity and Volume Affect Performance of Young Kayakers/Canoeists
JF  - Frontiers in physiology
N2  - Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of moderate intensity, low volume (MILV) vs. low intensity, high volume (LIHV) strength training on sport-specific performance, measures of muscular fitness, and skeletal muscle mass in young kayakers and canoeists.

Methods: Semi-elite young kayakers and canoeists (N = 40, 13 ± 0.8 years, 11 girls) performed either MILV (70–80% 1-RM, 6–12 repetitions per set) or LIHV (30–40% 1-RM, 60–120 repetitions per set) strength training for one season. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare effects of training condition on changes over time in 250 and 2,000 m time trials, handgrip strength, underhand shot throw, average bench pull power over 2 min, and skeletal muscle mass. Both between- and within-subject designs were used for analysis. An alpha of 0.05 was used to determine statistical significance.

Results: Between- and within-subject analyses showed that monthly changes were greater in LIHV vs. MILV for the 2,000 m time trial (between: 9.16 s, SE = 2.70, p < 0.01; within: 2,000 m: 13.90 s, SE = 5.02, p = 0.01) and bench pull average power (between: 0.021 W⋅kg–1, SE = 0.008, p = 0.02; within: 0.010 W⋅kg–1, SE = 0.009, p > 0.05). Training conditions did not affect other outcomes.

Conclusion: Young sprint kayakers and canoeists benefit from LIHV more than MILV strength training in terms of 2,000 m performance and muscular endurance (i.e., 2 min bench pull power).
KW  - youth sports
KW  - water sports
KW  - exercise test
KW  - athletic performance
KW  - anthropometry
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.686744
SN  - 1664-042X
VL  - 12
SP  - 1
EP  - 10
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne, Schweiz
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Baritello, Omar
A1  - Khajooei, Mina
A1  - Engel, Tilman
A1  - Kopinski, Stephan
A1  - Quarmby, Andrew James
A1  - Müller, Steffen
A1  - Mayer, Frank
T1  - Neuromuscular shoulder activity during exercises with different combinations of stable and unstable weight mass
JF  - BMC sports science, medicine and rehabilitation
N2  - Background Recent shoulder injury prevention programs have utilized resistance exercises combined with different forms of instability, with the goal of eliciting functional adaptations and thereby reducing the risk of injury. However, it is still unknown how an unstable weight mass (UWM) affects the muscular activity of the shoulder stabilizers. Aim of the study was to assess neuromuscular activity of dynamic shoulder stabilizers under four conditions of stable and UWM during three shoulder exercises. It was hypothesized that a combined condition of weight with UWM would elicit greater activation due to the increased stabilization demand. Methods Sixteen participants (7 m/9 f) were included in this cross-sectional study and prepared with an EMG-setup for the: Mm. upper/lower trapezius (U.TA/L.TA), lateral deltoid (DE), latissimus dorsi (LD), serratus anterior (SA) and pectoralis major (PE). A maximal voluntary isometric contraction test (MVIC; 5 s.) was performed on an isokinetic dynamometer. Next, internal/external rotation (In/Ex), abduction/adduction (Ab/Ad) and diagonal flexion/extension (F/E) exercises (5 reps.) were performed with four custom-made-pipes representing different exercise conditions. First, the empty-pipe (P; 0.5 kg) and then, randomly ordered, water-filled-pipe (PW; 1 kg), weight-pipe (PG; 4.5 kg) and weight + water-filled-pipe (PWG; 4.5 kg), while EMG was recorded. Raw root-mean-square values (RMS) were normalized to MVIC (%MVIC). Differences between conditions for RMS%MVIC, scapular stabilizer (SR: U.TA/L.TA; U.TA/SA) and contraction (CR: concentric/eccentric) ratios were analyzed (paired t-test; p <= 0.05; Bonferroni adjusted alpha = 0.008). Results PWG showed significantly greater muscle activity for all exercises and all muscles except for PE compared to P and PW. Condition PG elicited muscular activity comparable to PWG (p > 0.008) with significantly lower activation of L.TA and SA in the In/Ex rotation. The SR ratio was significantly higher in PWG compared to P and PW. No significant differences were found for the CR ratio in all exercises and for all muscles. Conclusion Higher weight generated greater muscle activation whereas an UWM raised the neuromuscular activity, increasing the stabilization demands. Especially in the In/Ex rotation, an UWM increased the RMS%MVIC and SR ratio. This might improve training effects in shoulder prevention and rehabilitation programs.
KW  - EMG
KW  - instability
KW  - overhead athlete
KW  - unstable resistance training
KW  - water
KW  - pipe
KW  - rotator cuff
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13102-020-00168-x
SN  - 2052-1847
VL  - 12
IS  - 1
PB  - BioMed Central
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Kim, MyoungHwee
A1  - Lin, Chiao-I
A1  - Henschke, Jakob
A1  - Quarmby, Andrew James
A1  - Engel, Tilman
A1  - Cassel, Michael
T1  - Effects of exercise treatment on functional outcome parameters in mid-portion achilles tendinopathy
BT  - a systematic review
JF  - Frontiers in Sports and Active Living
N2  - Exercise interventions are evident in the treatment of mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (AT). However, there is still a lack of knowledge concerning the effect of different exercise treatments on improving a specific function (e.g., strength) in this population. Thus, this study aimed to systematically review the effect of exercise treatments on different functional outcomes in mid-portion AT. An electronic database of Pubmed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from inception to 21 February 2023. Studies that investigated changes in plantar flexor function with exercise treatments were considered in mid-portion AT. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials (CCTs) were included. Functional outcomes were classified by kinetic (e.g., strength), kinematic [e.g., ankle range of motion (ROM)], and sensorimotor (e.g., balance index) parameters. The types of exercise treatments were classified into eccentric, concentric, and combined (eccentric plus concentric) training modes. Quality assessment was appraised using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale for RCTs, and the Joanna Briggs Institute scale for CCTs. The search yielded 2,260 records, and a total of ten studies were included. Due to the heterogeneity of the included studies, a qualitative synthesis was performed. Eccentric training led to improvements in power outcomes (e.g., height of countermovement jump), and in strength outcomes (e.g., peak torque). Concentric training regimens showed moderate enhanced power outcomes. Moreover, one high-quality study showed an improvement in the balance index by eccentric training, whereas the application of concentric training did not. Combined training modalities did not lead to improvements in strength and power outcomes. Plantarflexion and dorsiflexion ROM measures did not show relevant changes by the exercise treatments. In conclusion, eccentric training is evident in improving strength outcomes in AT patients. Moreover, it shows moderate evidence improvements in power and the sensorimotor parameter "balance index". Concentric training presents moderate evidence in the power outcomes and can therefore be considered as an alternative to improve this function. Kinematic analysis of plantarflexion and dorsiflexion ROM might not be useful in AT people. This study expands the knowledge what types of exercise regimes should be considered to improve the functional outcomes in AT.
KW  - exercise treatments
KW  - eccentric training
KW  - concentric training
KW  - combined training
KW  - kinetic parameters
KW  - kinematic parameters
KW  - sensorimotor parameters
KW  - mid-portion achilles tendinopathy
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1144484
SN  - 2624-9367
VL  - 5
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Busch, Aglaja
A1  - Kubosch, Eva Johanna
A1  - Bendau, Antonia
A1  - Leonhart, Rainer
A1  - Meidl, Verena
A1  - Bretthauer, Berit
A1  - Petzold, Moritz Bruno
A1  - Dallmann, Petra
A1  - Wrobel, Nina
A1  - Plag, Jens
A1  - Ströhle, Andreas
A1  - Hirschmüller, Anja
T1  - Mental health in German paralympic athletes during the 1st year of the COVID-19 pandemic compared to a general population sample
JF  - Frontiers in sports and active living
N2  - IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has huge influences on daily life and is not only associated with physical but also with major psychological impacts. Mental health problems and disorders are frequently present in elite paralympic athletes. Due to the pandemic situation, new stressors (e.g., loss of routine, financial insecurity) might act upon the athletes. Therefore, the assessment of mental health in athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic is important to identify prevalence of psychological problems and propose countermeasures. MethodsThe mental health of German paralympic athletes was longitudinally monitored (starting in May 2019). The athletes completed the Patient Health Questionnaire 4 (PHQ-4) on a weekly basis and reported a stress level, training hours, and training load. During the pandemic, 8 measurement time points (March 2020 to April 2021) were used to reflect the psychological health course of the athletes. In parallel, a convenience sample of the general population was questioned about their psychological distress, including the PHQ-4. To be included in the analysis, participants of both groups had to complete at least 4 measurement time points. Matching of the para-athletes and the general population sample was prioritized upon completion of the same measurement time points, gender, and age. ResultsSeventy-eight paralympic athletes (40 women, 38 men, age: 29.8 +/- 11.4 years) met the inclusion criteria. Seventy-eight matched pairs of the general population (40 women; 38 men; age: 30.5 +/- 10.9 years) were identified. The para-athletes had a significantly (p r <0.48) lower PHQ-4 value at each measurement time point compared to the matched control group. No significant age or sex differences were evident regarding the symptom burden. In para-athletes, no significant and a weak positive correlation was found between decreased training load and PHQ-4 values and a stress level, respectively. Reduced physical activity was significantly (p <0.0001) associated with higher PHQ-4 values in the general population sample. DiscussionLower PHQ-4 values were reported by the para-athletes compared to the general population sample. However, small sample sizes must be considered while interpreting the data. Nevertheless, adequate support for individuals suffering from severe psychopathological symptoms should be provided for para-athletes as well as for the general population.
KW  - paralympic sport
KW  - elite athlete
KW  - PHQ-4
KW  - depression
KW  - anxiety
KW  - SARS-CoV-2
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2022.870692
SN  - 2624-9367
VL  - 4
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Quarmby, Andrew James
A1  - Khajooei, Mina
A1  - Kurtz, Philip
A1  - Henschke, Jakob
A1  - Kim, MyoungHwee
A1  - Mayer, Frank
A1  - Engel, Tilman
T1  - Unexpected running perturbations
BT  - reliability and validity of a treadmill running protocol with analysis of provoked reflex activity in the lower extremities
JF  - Frontiers in sports and active living
N2  - Introduction
Balance is vital for human health and experiments have been conducted to measure the mechanisms of postural control, for example studying reflex responses to simulated perturbations. Such studies are frequent in walking but less common in running, and an understanding of reflex responses to trip-like disturbances could enhance our understanding of human gait and improve approaches to training and rehabilitation. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the technical validity and reliability of a treadmill running protocol with perturbations. A further exploratory aim was to evaluate the associated neuromuscular reflex responses to the perturbations, in the lower limbs. 

Methods
Twelve healthy participants completed a running protocol (9 km/h) test-retest (2 weeks apart), whereby 30 unilateral perturbations were executed via the treadmill belts (presets:2.0 m/s amplitude;150 ms delay (post-heel contact);100ms duration). Validity of the perturbations was assessed via mean +/- SD comparison, percentage error calculation between the preset and recorded perturbation characteristics (PE%), and coefficient of variation (CV%). Test-retest reliability (TRV%) and Bland-Altman analysis (BLA; bias +/- 1.96 * SD) was calculated for reliability. To measure reflex activity, electromyography (EMG) was applied in both legs. EMG amplitudes (root mean square normalized to unperturbed strides) and latencies [ms] were analysed descriptively. 

Results
Left-side perturbation amplitude was 1.9 +/- 0.1 m/s, delay 105 +/- 2 ms, and duration 78 +/- 1 ms. Right-side perturbation amplitude was 1.9 +/- 0.1 m/s, delay 118 +/- 2 ms, duration 78 +/- 1 ms. PE% ranged from 5-30% for the recorded perturbations. CV% of the perturbations ranged from 19.5-76.8%. TRV% for the perturbations was 6.4-16.6%. BLA for the left was amplitude: 0.0 +/- 0.3m/s, delay: 0 +/- 17 ms, duration: 2 +/- 13 ms, and for the right was amplitude: 0.1 +/- 0.7, delay: 4 +/- 40 ms, duration: 1 +/- 35 ms. EMG amplitudes ranged from 175 +/- 141%-454 +/- 359% in both limbs. Latencies were 109 +/- 12-116 +/- 23 ms in the tibialis anterior, and 128 +/- 49-157 +/- 20 ms in the biceps femoris.

Discussion
Generally, this study indicated sufficient validity and reliability of the current setup considering the technical challenges and limitations, although the reliability of the right-sided perturbations could be questioned. The protocol provoked reflex responses in the lower extremities, especially in the leading leg. Acute neuromusculoskeletal adjustments to the perturbations could be studied and compared in clinical and healthy running populations, and the protocol could be utilised to monitor chronic adaptations to interventions over time.
KW  - running
KW  - perturbation
KW  - EMG
KW  - reliability
KW  - stumbling
KW  - reflexes
KW  - split-belt treadmill
KW  - gait
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1129058
SN  - 2624-9367
VL  - 5
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schaefer, Laura
A1  - Bittmann, Frank
T1  - Case report
BT  - Individualized pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in a Long COVID patient using the adaptive force as biomarker
JF  - Frontiers in medicine
N2  - The increasing prevalence of Long COVID is an imminent public health disaster, and established approaches have not provided adequate diagnostics or treatments. Recently, anesthetic blockade of the stellate ganglion was reported to improve Long COVID symptoms in a small case series, purportedly by "rebooting" the autonomic nervous system. Here, we present a novel diagnostic approach based on the Adaptive Force (AF), and report sustained positive outcome for one severely affected Long COVID patient using individualized pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) at the area C7/T1. AF reflects the capacity of the neuromuscular system to adapt adequately to external forces in an isometric holding manner. In case, maximal isometric AF (AFiso(max)) is exceeded, the muscle merges into eccentric muscle action. Thereby, the force usually increases further until maximal AF (AFmax) is reached. In case adaptation is optimal, AFiso(max) is similar to 99-100% of AFmax. This holding capacity (AFiso(max)) was found to be vulnerable to disruption by unpleasant stimulus and, hence, was regarded as functional parameter. AF was assessed by an objectified manual muscle test using a handheld device. Prior to treatment, AFiso(max) was considerably lower than AFmax for hip flexors (62 N = similar to 28% AFmax) and elbow flexors (71 N = similar to 44% AFmax); i.e., maximal holding capacity was significantly reduced, indicating dysfunctional motor control. We tested PEMF at C7/T1, identified a frequency that improved neuromuscular function, and applied it for similar to 15 min. Immediately post-treatment, AFiso(max) increased to similar to 210 N (similar to 100% AFmax) at hip and 184 N (similar to 100% AFmax) at elbow. Subjective Long COVID symptoms resolved the following day. At 4 weeks post-treatment, maximal holding capacity was still on a similarly high level as for immediately post-treatment (similar to 100% AFmax) and patient was symptom-free. At 6 months the patient's Long COVID symptoms have not returned. This case report suggests (1) AF could be a promising diagnostic for post-infectious illness, (2) AF can be used to test effective treatments for post-infectious illness, and (3) individualized PEMF may resolve post-infectious symptoms.
KW  - individualized pulsed electromagnetic field
KW  - Adaptive Force
KW  - muscular holding capacity
KW  - case report
KW  - Long COVID
KW  - post-COVID syndrome
KW  - muscle weakness
KW  - fatigue
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.879971
SN  - 2296-858X
VL  - 9
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Dech, Silas
A1  - Bittmann, Frank
A1  - Schaefer, Laura
T1  - Muscle oxygenation level might trigger the regulation of capillary venous blood filling during fatiguing isometric muscle actions
JF  - Diagnostics : open access journal
N2  - The regulation of oxygen and blood supply during isometric muscle actions is still unclear. Recently, two behavioral types of oxygen saturation (SvO(2)) and relative hemoglobin amount (rHb) in venous microvessels were described during a fatiguing holding isometric muscle action (HIMA) (type I: nearly parallel behavior of SvO(2) and rHb; type II: partly inverse behavior). The study aimed to ascertain an explanation of these two regulative behaviors. Twelve subjects performed one fatiguing HIMA trial with each arm by weight holding at 60% of the maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in a 90 & DEG; elbow flexion. Six subjects additionally executed one fatiguing PIMA trial by pulling on an immovable resistance with 60% of the MVIC with each side and same position. Both regulative types mentioned were found during HIMA (I: n = 7, II: n = 17) and PIMA (I: n = 3, II: n = 9). During the fatiguing measurements, rHb decreased initially and started to increase in type II at an average SvO(2)-level of 58.75 & PLUSMN; 2.14%. In type I, SvO(2) never reached that specific value during loading. This might indicate the existence of a threshold around 59% which seems to trigger the increase in rHb and could explain the two behavioral types. An approach is discussed to meet the apparent incompatibility of an increased capillary blood filling (rHb) despite high intramuscular pressures which were found by other research groups during isometric muscle actions.
KW  - muscle oxygen saturation
KW  - hemoglobin amount
KW  - isometric muscle action
KW  - O2C spectrophotometer
KW  - capillary recruitment
KW  - blood flow
KW  - holding
KW  - isometric muscle action (HIMA)
KW  - pulling isometric muscle action (PIMA)
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11111973
SN  - 2075-4418
VL  - 11
IS  - 11
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Schaefer, Laura
A1  - Dech, Silas
A1  - Bittmann, Frank
T1  - Adaptive force and emotionally related imaginations
BT  - Preliminary results suggest a reduction of the maximal holding capacity as reaction to disgusting food imagination
JF  - Heliyon
N2  - The link between emotions and motor control has been discussed for years. The measurement of the Adaptive Force (AF) provides the possibility to get insights into the adaptive control of the neuromuscular system in reaction to external forces. It was hypothesized that the holding isometric AF is especially vulnerable to disturbing inputs. Here, the behavior of the AF under the influence of positive (tasty) vs. negative (disgusting) food imaginations was investigated. The AF was examined in n = 12 cases using an objectified manual muscle test of the hip flexors, elbow flexors or pectoralis major muscle, performed by one of two experienced testers while the participants imagined their most tasty or most disgusting food. The reaction force and the limb position were measured by a handheld device. While the slope of force rises and the maximal AF did not differ significantly between tasty and disgusting imaginations (p > 0.05), the maximal isometric AF was significantly lower and the AF at the onset of oscillations was significantly higher under disgusting vs. tasty imaginations (both p = 0.001). A proper length tension control of muscles seems to be a crucial functional parameter of the neuromuscular system which can be impaired instantaneously by emotionally related negative imaginations. This might be a potential approach to evaluate somatic reactions to emotions.
KW  - Adaptive Force
KW  - Isometric Adaptive Force
KW  - Holding capacity
KW  - Holding
KW  - isometric muscle action
KW  - Imaginations
KW  - Emotions
KW  - Motor control
KW  - Functional weakness
KW  - Manual muscle test
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07827
SN  - 2405-8440
VL  - 7
IS  - 8
PB  - Elsevier
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Behrendt, Tom
A1  - Bielitzki, Robert
A1  - Behrens, Martin
A1  - Herold, Fabian
A1  - Schega, Lutz
T1  - Effects of intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia on performance- and health-related outcomes in humans
BT  - a systematic review
JF  - Sports medicine - open
N2  - Background: 
Intermittent hypoxia applied at rest or in combination with exercise promotes multiple beneficial adaptations with regard to performance and health in humans. It was hypothesized that replacing normoxia by moderate hyperoxia can increase the adaptive response to the intermittent hypoxic stimulus.

Objective:
Our objective was to systematically review the current state of the literature on the effects of chronic intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia (IHH) on performance- and health-related outcomes in humans.

Methods:
PubMed, Web of Science (TM), Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were searched in accordance with PRISMA guidelines (January 2000 to September 2021) using the following inclusion criteria: (1) original research articles involving humans, (2) investigation of the chronic effect of IHH, (3) inclusion of a control group being not exposed to IHH, and (4) articles published in peer-reviewed journals written in English. 

Results:
 Of 1085 articles initially found, eight studies were included. IHH was solely performed at rest in different populations including geriatric patients (n = 1), older patients with cardiovascular (n = 3) and metabolic disease (n = 2) or cognitive impairment (n = 1), and young athletes with overtraining syndrome (n = 1). The included studies confirmed the beneficial effects of chronic exposure to IHH, showing improvements in exercise tolerance, peak oxygen uptake, and global cognitive functions, as well as lowered blood glucose levels. A trend was discernible that chronic exposure to IHH can trigger a reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The evidence of whether IHH exerts beneficial effects on blood lipid levels and haematological parameters is currently inconclusive. A meta-analysis was not possible because the reviewed studies had a considerable heterogeneity concerning the investigated populations and outcome parameters. 

Conclusion: 
Based on the published literature, it can be suggested that chronic exposure to IHH might be a promising non-pharmacological intervention strategy for improving peak oxygen consumption, exercise tolerance, and cognitive performance as well as reducing blood glucose levels, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure in older patients with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases or cognitive impairment. However, further randomized controlled trials with adequate sample sizes are needed to confirm and extend the evidence. This systematic review was registered on the international prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO-ID: CRD42021281248) (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/).
KW  - hypoxic conditioning
KW  - cognitive impairment
KW  - metabolic disease
KW  - cardiovascular disease
KW  - geriatrics
KW  - therapy
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-022-00450-x
SN  - 2199-1170
SN  - 2198-9761
VL  - 8
IS  - 1
PB  - Springer
CY  - Berlin [u.a.]
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Delfan, Maryam
A1  - Juybari, Raheleh Amadeh
A1  - Gorgani-Firuzjaee, Sattar
A1  - Høiriis Nielsen, Jens
A1  - Delfan, Neda
A1  - Laher, Ismail
A1  - Saeidi, Ayoub
A1  - Granacher, Urs
A1  - Zouhal, Hassane
T1  - High-intensity interval training improves cardiac function by miR-206 dependent HSP60 induction in diabetic rats
JF  - Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine
N2  - ObjectiveA role for microRNAs is implicated in several biological and pathological processes. We investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on molecular markers of diabetic cardiomyopathy in rats. MethodsEighteen male Wistar rats (260 +/- 10 g; aged 8 weeks) with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus (55 mg/kg, IP) were randomly allocated to three groups: control, MICT, and HIIT. The two different training protocols were performed 5 days each week for 5 weeks. Cardiac performance (end-systolic and end-diastolic dimensions, ejection fraction), the expression of miR-206, HSP60, and markers of apoptosis (cleaved PARP and cytochrome C) were determined at the end of the exercise interventions. ResultsBoth exercise interventions (HIIT and MICT) decreased blood glucose levels and improved cardiac performance, with greater changes in the HIIT group (p < 0.001, eta(2): 0.909). While the expressions of miR-206 and apoptotic markers decreased in both training protocols (p < 0.001, eta(2): 0.967), HIIT caused greater reductions in apoptotic markers and produced a 20% greater reduction in miR-206 compared with the MICT protocol (p < 0.001). Furthermore, both training protocols enhanced the expression of HSP60 (p < 0.001, eta(2): 0.976), with a nearly 50% greater increase in the HIIT group compared with MICT. ConclusionsOur results indicate that both exercise protocols, HIIT and MICT, have the potential to reduce diabetic cardiomyopathy by modifying the expression of miR-206 and its downstream targets of apoptosis. It seems however that HIIT is even more effective than MICT to modulate these molecular markers.
KW  - diabetes
KW  - apoptosis
KW  - miRNAs
KW  - exercise
KW  - cardiomyopathy
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.927956
SN  - 2297-055X
VL  - 9
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bittmann, Frank
A1  - Dech, Silas
A1  - Schaefer, Laura
T1  - Another way to confuse motor control
BT  - manual technique supposed to shorten muscle spindles reduces the muscular holding stability in the sense of adaptive force in male soccer players
JF  - Brain Sciences
N2  - Sensorimotor control can be impaired by slacked muscle spindles. This was shown for reflex responses and, recently, also for muscular stability in the sense of Adaptive Force (AF). The slack in muscle spindles was generated by contracting the lengthened muscle followed by passive shortening. AF was suggested to specifically reflect sensorimotor control since it requires tension-length control in adaptation to an increasing load. This study investigated AF parameters in reaction to another, manually performed slack procedure in a preselected sample (n = 13). The AF of 11 elbow and 12 hip flexors was assessed by an objectified manual muscle test (MMT) using a handheld device. Maximal isometric AF was significantly reduced after manual spindle technique vs. regular MMT. Muscle lengthening started at 64.93 & PLUSMN; 12.46% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC). During regular MMT, muscle length could be maintained stable until 92.53 & PLUSMN; 10.12% of MVIC. Hence, muscular stability measured by AF was impaired after spindle manipulation. Force oscillations arose at a significantly lower level for regular vs. spindle. This supports the assumption that they are a prerequisite for stable adaptation. Reduced muscular stability in reaction to slack procedures is considered physiological since sensory information is misled. It is proposed to use slack procedures to test the functionality of the neuromuscular system, which is relevant for clinical practice.
KW  - maximal isometric Adaptive Force
KW  - holding capacity
KW  - muscle stability
KW  - muscle instability
KW  - neuromuscular functioning
KW  - neuromuscular control
KW  - motor control
KW  - muscle spindle
KW  - muscle physiology
KW  - regulatory physiology
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13071105
SN  - 2076-3425
VL  - 13
IS  - 7
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Bittmann, Frank
A1  - Dech, Silas
A1  - Schaefer, Laura
T1  - How to confuse motor control
BT  - passive muscle shortening after contraction in lengthened position reduces the muscular holding stability in the sense of adaptive force
JF  - Life : open access journal
N2  - Adaptation to external forces relies on a well-functioning proprioceptive system including muscle spindle afferents. Muscle length and tension control in reaction to external forces is most important regarding the Adaptive Force (AF). This study investigated the effect of different procedures, which are assumed to influence the function of muscle spindles, on the AF. Elbow flexors of 12 healthy participants (n = 19 limbs) were assessed by an objectified manual muscle test (MMT) with different procedures: regular MMT, MMT after precontraction (self-estimated 20% MVIC) in lengthened position with passive return to test position (CL), and MMT after CL with a second precontraction in test position (CL-CT). During regular MMTs, muscles maintained their length up to 99.7% +/- 1.0% of the maximal AF (AF(max)). After CL, muscles started to lengthen at 53.0% +/- 22.5% of AF(max). For CL-CT, muscles were again able to maintain the static position up to 98.3% +/- 5.5% of AF(max). AFiso(max) differed highly significantly between CL vs. CL-CT and regular MMT. CL was assumed to generate a slack of muscle spindles, which led to a substantial reduction of the holding capacity. This was immediately erased by a precontraction in the test position. The results substantiate that muscle spindle sensitivity seems to play an important role for neuromuscular functioning and musculoskeletal stability.
KW  - maximal isometric Adaptive Force
KW  - holding capacity
KW  - muscle stability
KW  - neuromuscular functioning
KW  - neuromuscular control
KW  - motor control
KW  - muscle spindle
KW  - muscle physiology
KW  - regulatory physiology
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/life13040911
SN  - 2075-1729
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mueller, Steffen
A1  - Mueller, Juliane
A1  - Stoll, Josefine
A1  - Mayer, Frank
T1  - Effect of six-week resistance and sensorimotor training on trunk strength and stability in elite adolescent athletes
BT  - a randomized controlled pilot trial
JF  - Frontiers in physiology
N2  - Intervention in the form of core-specific stability exercises is evident to improve trunk stability. The purpose was to assess the effect of an additional 6 weeks sensorimotor or resistance training on maximum isokinetic trunk strength and response to sudden dynamic trunk loading (STL) in highly trained adolescent athletes. The study was conducted as a single-blind, 3-armed randomized controlled trial. Twenty-four adolescent athletes (14f/10 m, 16 +/- 1 yrs.;178 +/- 10 cm; 67 +/- 11 kg; training sessions/week 15 +/- 5; training h/week 22 +/- 8) were randomized into resistance training (RT; n = 7), sensorimotor training (SMT; n = 10), and control group (CG; n = 7). Athletes were instructed to perform standardized, center-based training for 6 weeks, two times per week, with a duration of 1 h each session. SMT consisted of four different core-specific sensorimotor exercises using instable surfaces. RT consisted of four trunk strength exercises using strength training machines, as well as an isokinetic dynamometer. All participants in the CG received an unspecific heart frequency controlled, ergometer-based endurance training (50 min at max. heart frequency of 130HF). For each athlete, each training session was documented in an individual training diary (e.g., level of SMT exercise; 1RM for strength exercise, pain). At baseline (M1) and after 6 weeks of intervention (M2), participants' maximum strength in trunk rotation (ROM:63 degrees) and flexion/extension (ROM:55 degrees) was tested on an isokinetic dynamometer (concentric/eccentric 30 degrees/s). STL was assessed in eccentric (30 degrees/s) mode with additional dynamometer-induced perturbation as a marker of core stability. Peak torque [Nm] was calculated as the main outcome. The primary outcome measurements (trunk rotation/extension peak torque: con, ecc, STL) were statistically analyzed by means of the two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance (alpha = 0.05). Out of 12 possible sessions, athletes participated between 8 and 9 sessions (SMT: 9 +/- 3; RT: 8 +/- 3; CG: 8 +/- 4). Regarding main outcomes of trunk performance, experimental groups showed no significant pre-post difference for maximum trunk strength testing as well as for perturbation compensation (p > 0.05). It is concluded, that future interventions should exceed 6 weeks duration with at least 2 sessions per week to induce enhanced trunk strength or compensatory response to sudden, high-intensity trunk loading in already highly trained adolescent athletes, regardless of training regime.
KW  - core
KW  - training intervention
KW  - trunk stability
KW  - exercise
KW  - perturbation
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.802315
SN  - 1664-042X
VL  - 13
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
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  - JOUR
A1  - Arntz, Fabian
A1  - Mkaouer, Bessem
A1  - Markov, Adrian
A1  - Schoenfeld, Brad
A1  - Moran, Jason
A1  - Ramirez-Campillo, Rodrigo
A1  - Behrens, Martin
A1  - Baumert, Philipp
A1  - Erskine, Robert M.
A1  - Hauser, Lukas
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
T1  - Effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy in healthy individuals
BT  - a systematic review with multilevel meta-analysis
JF  - Frontiers in Physiology
N2  - Objective: To examine the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy in healthy individuals.

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to September 2021.

Results: Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The main overall finding (44 effect sizes across 15 clusters median = 2, range = 1–15 effects per cluster) indicated that plyometric jump training had small to moderate effects [standardised mean difference (SMD) = 0.47 (95% CIs = 0.23–0.71); p < 0.001] on skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Subgroup analyses for training experience revealed trivial to large effects in non-athletes [SMD = 0.55 (95% CIs = 0.18–0.93); p = 0.007] and trivial to moderate effects in athletes [SMD = 0.33 (95% CIs = 0.16–0.51); p = 0.001]. Regarding muscle groups, results showed moderate effects for the knee extensors [SMD = 0.72 (95% CIs = 0.66–0.78), p < 0.001] and equivocal effects for the plantar flexors [SMD = 0.65 (95% CIs = −0.25–1.55); p = 0.143]. As to the assessment methods of skeletal muscle hypertrophy, findings indicated trivial to small effects for prediction equations [SMD = 0.29 (95% CIs = 0.16–0.42); p < 0.001] and moderate-to-large effects for ultrasound imaging [SMD = 0.74 (95% CIs = 0.59–0.89); p < 0.001]. Meta-regression analysis indicated that the weekly session frequency moderates the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, with a higher weekly session frequency inducing larger hypertrophic gains [β = 0.3233 (95% CIs = 0.2041–0.4425); p < 0.001]. We found no clear evidence that age, sex, total training period, single session duration, or the number of jumps per week moderate the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy [β = −0.0133 to 0.0433 (95% CIs = −0.0387 to 0.1215); p = 0.101–0.751].

Conclusion: Plyometric jump training can induce skeletal muscle hypertrophy, regardless of age and sex. There is evidence for relatively larger effects in non-athletes compared with athletes. Further, the weekly session frequency seems to moderate the effect of plyometric jump training on skeletal muscle hypertrophy, whereby more frequent weekly plyometric jump training sessions elicit larger hypertrophic adaptations.
KW  - muscle tissue
KW  - muscle strength
KW  - stretch shortening cycle exercise
KW  - muscle growth
KW  - human physical conditioning
KW  - youth sports
KW  - aged
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.888464
SN  - 1664-042X
VL  - 13
SP  - 1
EP  - 17
PB  - Frontiers
CY  - Lausanne, Schweiz
ET  - 888464
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Menze, Inga
A1  - Müller, Patrick
A1  - Müller, Notger Germar
A1  - Schmicker, Marlen
T1  - Age-related cognitive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and associated mental health changes in Germans
JF  - Scientific reports
N2  - Restrictive means to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have not only imposed broad challenges on mental health but might also affect cognitive health. Here we asked how restriction-related changes influence cognitive performance and how age, perceived loneliness, depressiveness and affectedness by restrictions contribute to these effects. 51 Germans completed three assessments of an online based study during the first lockdown in Germany (April 2020), a month later, and during the beginning of the second lockdown (November 2020). Participants completed nine online cognitive tasks of the MyBrainTraining and online questionnaires about their perceived strain and impact on lifestyle factors by the situation (affectedness), perceived loneliness, depressiveness as well as subjective cognitive performance. The results suggested a possible negative impact of depressiveness and affectedness on objective cognitive performance within the course of the lockdown. The younger the participants, the more pronounced these effects were. Loneliness and depressiveness moreover contributed to a worse evaluation of subjective cognition. In addition, especially younger individuals reported increased distress. As important educational and social input has partly been scarce during this pandemic and mental health problems have increased, future research should also assess cognitive long-term consequences.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11283-9
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 12
IS  - 1
PB  - Nature portfolio
CY  - Berlin
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Mkaouer, Bessem
A1  - Amara, Samiha
A1  - Bouguezzi, Raja
A1  - Ben Abderrahmen, Abderraouf
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
T1  - Validity of a new sport-specific endurance test in artistic gymnastics
JF  - Frontiers in sports and active living
N2  - Introduction   General and particularly sport-specific testing is an integral aspect of performance optimization in artistic gymnastics. In artistic gymnastics, however, only non-specific field tests have been used to assess endurance performance (e.g., Multistage Shuttle Run Test; Cooper's Test).
Methods   This study aimed to examine the validity of a new sport-specific endurance test in artistic gymnastics. Fourteen elite-level gymnasts (i.e., eight males and six females) participated in this study. The newly developed artistic gymnastics-specific endurance test (AGSET) was conducted on two different occasions seven days apart to determine its reliability. To assess the concurrent validity of AGSET, participants performed the multistage shuttle run test (MSRT). Maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were directly assessed using a portable gas analyzer system during both protocols. Additionally, the total time maintained (TTM) during the AGSET, maximum heart rate (HRmax), maximal aerobic speed (MAS), and blood lactate concentration (BLa) during the two protocols were collected.
Results   The main findings indicated that all variables derived from the AGSET (i.e., VO2max, MAS, HRmax, BLa, and RER) displayed very good relative (all intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC] > 0.90) and absolute (all typical errors of measurement [TEM] < 5%) reliability. Further, results showed that the ability of the AGSET to detect small changes in VO2max, MAS, BLa, and RER was good (smallest worthwhile change [SWC0.2] > TEM), except HRmax (SWC0.2 < TEM). Additionally, results showed a nearly perfect association between the VO2max values derived from the AGSET and MSRT (r = 0.985; coefficient of determination [R-2] = 97%) with no statistically significant differences (p>0.05). The mean (bias) +/- 95% limits of agreement between the two protocols were 0.28 +/- 0.55 mlminkg-1.
Discussion   AGSET seems to present very good reliability and concurrent validity for assessing endurance performance in elite artistic gymnastics. In addition, the newly developed protocol presents a good ability to detect small changes in performance.
KW  - artistic gymnastics
KW  - field test
KW  - aerobic endurance
KW  - validity
KW  - reliability
KW  - assessment
KW  - physical fitness
KW  - elite athletes
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1159807
SN  - 2624-9367
VL  - 5
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
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  - 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  - 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  - GEN
A1  - Paoli, Antonio
A1  - Moro, Tatiana
A1  - Lorenzetti, Silvio
A1  - Seiler, Jan
A1  - Lüthy, Fabian
A1  - Gross, Micah
A1  - Roggio, Federico
A1  - Chaabene, Helmi
A1  - Musumeci, Giuseppe
T1  - The “Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology” Journal Club Series
BT  - Resistance Training
T2  - Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology
N2  - We are glad to introduce the Second Journal Club of Volume Five, Second Issue. This edition is focused on relevant studies published in the last few years in the field of resistance training, chosen by our Editorial Board members and their colleagues. We hope to stimulate your curiosity in this field and to share with you the passion for the sport, seen also from the scientific point of view. The Editorial Board members wish you an inspiring lecture.
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk5020025
SN  - 2411-5142
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
SP  - 1
EP  - 9
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Wyckmans, Florent
A1  - Otto, A. Ross
A1  - Sebold, Miriam
A1  - Daw, Nathaniel
A1  - Bechara, Antoine
A1  - Saeremans, Mélanie
A1  - Kornreich, Charles
A1  - Chatard, Armand
A1  - Jaafari, Nemat
A1  - Noël, Xavier
T1  - Reduced model-based decision-making in gambling disorder
JF  - Scientific reports
N2  - Compulsive behaviors (e.g., addiction) can be viewed as an aberrant decision process where inflexible reactions automatically evoked by stimuli (habit) take control over decision making to the detriment of a more flexible (goal-oriented) behavioral learning system. These behaviors are thought to arise from learning algorithms known as "model-based" and "model-free" reinforcement learning. Gambling disorder, a form of addiction without the confound of neurotoxic effects of drugs, showed impaired goal-directed control but the way in which problem gamblers (PG) orchestrate model-based and model-free strategies has not been evaluated. Forty-nine PG and 33 healthy participants (CP) completed a two-step sequential choice task for which model-based and model-free learning have distinct and identifiable trial-by-trial learning signatures. The influence of common psychopathological comorbidities on those two forms of learning were investigated. PG showed impaired model-based learning, particularly after unrewarded outcomes. In addition, PG exhibited faster reaction times than CP following unrewarded decisions. Troubled mood, higher impulsivity (i.e., positive and negative urgency) and current and chronic stress reported via questionnaires did not account for those results. These findings demonstrate specific reinforcement learning and decision-making deficits in behavioral addiction that advances our understanding and may be important dimensions for designing effective interventions.
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56161-z
SN  - 2045-2322
VL  - 9
PB  - Nature Publ. Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Gellert, Paul
A1  - Häusler, Andreas
A1  - Suhr, Ralf
A1  - Gholami, Maryam
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - Kuhlmey, Adelheid
A1  - Nordheim, Johanna
T1  - Testing the stress-buffering hypothesis of social support in couples coping with early-stage dementia
JF  - PLoS one
N2  - Purpose:
To test whether the negative relationship between perceived stress and quality of life (Hypothesis 1) can be buffered by perceived social support in patients with dementia as well as in caregivers individually (Hypothesis 2: actor effects) and across partners (Hypothesis 3: partner effects and actor-partner effects).

Method:
A total of 108 couples (N = 216 individuals) comprised of one individual with early-stage dementia and one caregiving partner were assessed at baseline and one month apart. Moderation effects were investigated by applying linear mixed models and actor-partner interdependence models.

Results:
Although the stress-quality of life association was more pronounced in caregivers (beta = -.63, p<.001) compared to patients (beta= -.31, p<.001), this association was equally moderated by social support in patients (beta = .14, p<.05) and in the caregivers (beta =.13, p<.05). From one partner to his or her counterpart, the partner buffering and actor-partner-buffering effect were not present. 

Conclusion:
The stress-buffering effect has been replicated in individuals with dementia and caregivers but not across partners. Interventions to improve quality of life through perceived social support should not only focus on caregivers, but should incorporate both partners.
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189849
SN  - 1932-6203
VL  - 13
IS  - 1
PB  - PLoS
CY  - San Fransisco
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Heissel, Andreas
A1  - Pietrek, Anou F.
A1  - Schwefel, Melanie
A1  - Abula, Kahar
A1  - Wilbertz, Gregor
A1  - Heinzel, Stephan
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
T1  - STEP.De study
BT  - a multicentre cluster-randomised effectiveness trial of exercise therapy for patients with depressive symptoms in healthcare services : study protocol
JF  - BMJ open
N2  - Introduction Although exercise therapy has widely been shown to be an efficacious treatment modality for depression, evidence for its effectiveness and cost efficiency is lacking. The Sport/Exercise Therapy for Depression study is a multicentre cluster-randomised effectiveness trial that aims to compare the effectiveness and cost efficiency of exercise therapy and psychotherapy as antidepressant treatment. <br /> Methods and analysis 480 patients (aged 18-65) with an International Classification of Diseases diagnosis associated with depressive symptoms are recruited. Up to 30 clusters (psychotherapists) are randomly assigned to allocate patients to either an exercise or a psychotherapy treatment as usual in a 2: 1 ratio. The primary outcome (depressive symptoms) and the secondary outcomes (work and social adjustment, quality of life) will be assessed at six measurement time points (t0: baseline, t1: 8 weeks after treatment initiation, t2: 16 weeks after treatment initiation, t3/ 4/5: 2, 6, 12 months after treatment). Linear regression analyses will be used for the primary endpoint data analysis. For the secondary endpoints, mixed linear and logistic regression models with fixed and random factors will be added. For the cost efficiency analysis, expenditures in the 12 months before and after the intervention and the outcome difference will be compared between groups in a multilevel model. Recruitment start date was 1 July 2018 and the planned recruitment end date is 31 December 2020. <br /> Ethics and dissemination The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the University of Potsdam (No. 17/2018) and the Freie Universitat Berlin (No. 206/2018) and registered in the ISRCTN registry. Informed written consent will be obtained from all participants. The study will be reported in accordance with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials and the Recommendations for Interventional Trials statements. The results will be published in peer-reviewed academic journals and disseminated to the public.
Y1  - 2020
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-036287
SN  - 2044-6055
VL  - 10
IS  - 4
PB  - BMJ Publishing Group
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Förstner, Bernd Rainer
A1  - Böttger, Sarah Jane
A1  - Moldavski, Alexander
A1  - Bajbouj, Malek
A1  - Pfennig, Andrea
A1  - Manook, Andre
A1  - Ising, Marcus
A1  - Pittig, Andre
A1  - Heinig, Ingmar
A1  - Heinz, Andreas
A1  - Mathiak, Klaus
A1  - Schulze, Thomas G.
A1  - Schneider, Frank
A1  - Kamp-Becker, Inge
A1  - Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas
A1  - Padberg, Frank
A1  - Banaschewski, Tobias
A1  - Bauer, Michael
A1  - Rupprecht, Rainer
A1  - Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - Tschorn, Mira
T1  - The associations of positive and negative valence systems, cognitive systems and social processes on disease severity in anxiety and depressive disorders
JF  - Frontiers in psychiatry
N2  - Background   Anxiety and depressive disorders share common features of mood dysfunctions. This has stimulated interest in transdiagnostic dimensional research as proposed by the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) aiming to improve the understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the processing of RDoC domains in relation to disease severity in order to identify latent disorder-specific as well as transdiagnostic indicators of disease severity in patients with anxiety and depressive disorders. 

Methods   Within the German research network for mental disorders, 895 participants (n = 476 female, n = 602 anxiety disorder, n = 257 depressive disorder) were recruited for the Phenotypic, Diagnostic and Clinical Domain Assessment Network Germany (PD-CAN) and included in this cross-sectional study. We performed incremental regression models to investigate the association of four RDoC domains on disease severity in patients with affective disorders: Positive (PVS) and Negative Valance System (NVS), Cognitive Systems (CS) and Social Processes (SP). 

Results   The results confirmed a transdiagnostic relationship for all four domains, as we found significant main effects on disease severity within domain-specific models (PVS: & beta; = -0.35; NVS: & beta; = 0.39; CS: & beta; = -0.12; SP: & beta; = -0.32). We also found three significant interaction effects with main diagnosis showing a disease-specific association. 

Limitations   The cross-sectional study design prevents causal conclusions. Further limitations include possible outliers and heteroskedasticity in all regression models which we appropriately controlled for. 

Conclusion   Our key results show that symptom burden in anxiety and depressive disorders is associated with latent RDoC indicators in transdiagnostic and disease-specific ways.
KW  - Research Domain Criteria
KW  - depression
KW  - anxiety disoders
KW  - disease severity
KW  - transdiagnostic
KW  - RDoC
Y1  - 2023
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1161097
SN  - 1664-0640
VL  - 14
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Garbusow, Maria
A1  - Nebe, Stephan
A1  - Sommer, Christian
A1  - Kuitunen-Paul, Sören
A1  - Sebold, Miriam
A1  - Schad, Daniel
A1  - Friedel, Eva
A1  - Veer, Ilya M.
A1  - Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - Ripke, Stephan
A1  - Walter, Henrik
A1  - Huys, Quentin J. M.
A1  - Schlagenhauf, Florian
A1  - Smolka, Michael N.
A1  - Heinz, Andreas
T1  - Pavlovian-To-Instrumental Transfer and Alcohol Consumption in Young Male Social Drinkers
BT  - Behavioral, Neural and Polygenic Correlates
JF  - Journal of Clinical Medicine
N2  - In animals and humans, behavior can be influenced by irrelevant stimuli, a phenomenon called Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer (PIT). In subjects with substance use disorder, PIT is even enhanced with functional activation in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and amygdala. While we observed enhanced behavioral and neural PIT effects in alcohol-dependent subjects, we here aimed to determine whether behavioral PIT is enhanced in young men with high-risk compared to low-risk drinking and subsequently related functional activation in an a-priori region of interest encompassing the NAcc and amygdala and related to polygenic risk for alcohol consumption. A representative sample of 18-year old men (n = 1937) was contacted: 445 were screened, 209 assessed: resulting in 191 valid behavioral, 139 imaging and 157 genetic datasets. None of the subjects fulfilled criteria for alcohol dependence according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-TextRevision (DSM-IV-TR). We measured how instrumental responding for rewards was influenced by background Pavlovian conditioned stimuli predicting action-independent rewards and losses. Behavioral PIT was enhanced in high-compared to low-risk drinkers (b = 0.09, SE = 0.03, z = 2.7, p < 0.009). Across all subjects, we observed PIT-related neural blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal in the right amygdala (t = 3.25, p(SVC) = 0.04, x = 26, y = -6, z = -12), but not in NAcc. The strength of the behavioral PIT effect was positively correlated with polygenic risk for alcohol consumption (r(s) = 0.17, p = 0.032). We conclude that behavioral PIT and polygenic risk for alcohol consumption might be a biomarker for a subclinical phenotype of risky alcohol consumption, even if no drug-related stimulus is present. The association between behavioral PIT effects and the amygdala might point to habitual processes related to out PIT task. In non-dependent young social drinkers, the amygdala rather than the NAcc is activated during PIT; possible different involvement in association with disease trajectory should be investigated in future studies.
KW  - Pavlovian-to-instrumental transfer
KW  - amygdala
KW  - alcohol
KW  - polygenic risk
KW  - high risk drinkers
Y1  - 2019
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8081188
SN  - 2077-0383
VL  - 8
IS  - 8
PB  - MDPI
CY  - Basel
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Jacob, Louis
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - Kostev, Karel
T1  - Long-term use of benzodiazepines in older patients in Germany
BT  - a retrospective analysis
JF  - Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology
N2  - Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the prevalence of long-term benzodiazepine use in older adults treated in general and neuropsychiatric practices in Germany. Methods: This study included 32,182 patients over the age of 65 years who received benzodiazepine prescriptions for the first time between January 2010 and December 2014 in general and neuropsychiatric practices in Germany. Follow up lasted until July 2016. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients treated with benzodiazepines for >6 months. Results: The proportion of patients with benzodiazepine therapy for >6 months increased with age (65-70 years: 12.3%; 71-80 years: 15.5%; 81-90 years: 23.7%; >90 years: 31.6%) but did not differ significantly between men (15.5%) and women (17.1%). The proportion of patients who received benzodiazepines for >6 months was higher among those with sleep disorders (21.1%), depression (20.8%) and dementia (32.1%) than among those with anxiety (15.5%). By contrast, this proportion was lower among people diagnosed with adjustment disorders (7.7%) and back pain (3.8%). Conclusion: Overall, long-term use of benzodiazepines is common in older people, particularly in patients over the age of 80 and in those diagnosed with dementia, sleep disorders, or depression.
KW  - benzodiazepines
KW  - Germany
KW  - long-term use
KW  - older people
KW  - risk factors
Y1  - 2017
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1177/2045125317696454
SN  - 2045-1253
SN  - 2045-1261
VL  - 7
IS  - 6/7
SP  - 191
EP  - 200
PB  - Sage Publ.
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sebold, Miriam
A1  - Chen, Hao
A1  - Önal, Aleyna
A1  - Kuitunen-Paul, Sören
A1  - Mojtahedzadeh, Negin
A1  - Garbusow, Maria
A1  - Nebe, Stephan
A1  - Wittchen, Hans-Ulrich
A1  - Huys, Quentin J. M.
A1  - Schlagenhauf, Florian
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - Smolka, Michael N.
A1  - Heinz, Andreas
T1  - Stronger prejudices are associated with decreased model-based control
JF  - Frontiers in psychology
N2  - Background: 
Prejudices against minorities can be understood as habitually negative evaluations that are kept in spite of evidence to the contrary. Therefore, individuals with strong prejudices might be dominated by habitual or "automatic" reactions at the expense of more controlled reactions. Computational theories suggest individual differences in the balance between habitual/model-free and deliberative/model-based decision-making.

Methods: 
127 subjects performed the two Step task and completed the blatant and subtle prejudice scale.

Results: 
By using analyses of choices and reaction times in combination with computational modeling, subjects with stronger blatant prejudices showed a shift away from model-based control. There was no association between these decision-making processes and subtle prejudices.

Conclusion: 
These results support the idea that blatant prejudices toward minorities are related to a relative dominance of habitual decision-making. This finding has important implications for developing interventions that target to change prejudices across societies.
KW  - subtle and blatant prejudice
KW  - immigrant
KW  - social behavior;
KW  - decision-making
KW  - computational modeling
KW  - reinforcement learning
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.767022
SN  - 1664-1078
VL  - 12
PB  - Frontiers Research Foundation
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - König, Johanna
A1  - Block, Andrea
A1  - Becker, Mathias
A1  - Fenske, Kristin
A1  - Hertel, Johannes
A1  - Van der Auwera, Sandra
A1  - Zymara, Kathleen
A1  - Voelzke, Henry
A1  - Freyberger, Harald Jürgen
A1  - Grabe, Hans Joergen
T1  - Assessment of subjective emotional valence and long-lasting impact of life events
BT  - development and psychometrics of the Stralsund Life Event List (SEL)
JF  - BMC Psychiatry
N2  - Background: Life events (LEs) are associated with future physical and mental health. They are crucial for understanding the pathways to mental disorders as well as the interactions with biological parameters. However, deeper insight is needed into the complex interplay between the type of LE, its subjective evaluation and accompanying factors such as social support. The "Stralsund Life Event List" (SEL) was developed to facilitate this research. 
Methods: The SEL is a standardized interview that assesses the time of occurrence and frequency of 81 LEs, their subjective emotional valence, the perceived social support during the LE experience and the impact of past LEs on present life. Data from 2265 subjects from the general population-based cohort study "Study of Health in Pomerania" (SHIP) were analysed. Based on the mean emotional valence ratings of the whole sample, LEs were categorized as "positive" or "negative". For verification, the SEL was related to lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD; Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview), childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), resilience (Resilience Scale) and subjective health (SF-12 Health Survey). 
Conclusions: The SEL is a valid instrument that enables the analysis of the number and frequency of LEs, their emotional valence, perceived social support and current impact on life on a global score and on an individual item level. Thus, we can recommend its use in research settings that require the assessment and analysis of the relationship between the occurrence and subjective evaluation of LEs as well as the complex balance between distressing and stabilizing life experiences.
KW  - Positive life events
KW  - Negative life events
KW  - General population
KW  - Emotional valence
KW  - Depressive disorder
Y1  - 2018
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1649-3
SN  - 1471-244X
VL  - 18
PB  - BioMed Central
CY  - London
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Herrmann, Matthias L.
A1  - Boden, Cindy
A1  - Maurer, Christoph
A1  - Kentischer, Felix
A1  - Mennig, Eva
A1  - Wagner, Sören
A1  - Conzelmann, Lars O.
A1  - Förstner, Bernd R.
A1  - Rapp, Michael A.
A1  - von Arnim, Christine A. F.
A1  - Denkinger, Michael
A1  - Eschweiler, Gerhard W.
A1  - Thomas, Christine
T1  - Anticholinergic drug exposure increases the risk of delirium in older patients undergoing elective surgery
JF  - Frontiers in medicine
N2  - IntroductionPostoperative delirium (POD) is a common and serious adverse event of surgery in older people. Because of its great impact on patients' safety and quality of life, identification of modifiable risk factors could be useful. Although preoperative medication intake is assumed to be an important modifiable risk factor, the impact of anticholinergic drugs on the occurrence of POD seems underestimated in elective surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between preoperative anticholinergic burden and POD. We hypothesized that a high preoperative anticholinergic burden is an independent, potentially modifiable predisposing and precipitating factor of POD in older people. MethodsBetween November 2017 and April 2019, 1,470 patients of 70 years and older undergoing elective orthopedic, general, cardiac, or vascular surgery were recruited in the randomized, prospective, multicenter PAWEL trial. Anticholinergic burden of a sub-cohort of 899 patients, who did not receive a multimodal intervention for preventing POD, was assessed by two different tools at hospital admission: The established Anticholinergic Risk Scale (ARS) and the recently developed Anticholinergic Burden Score (ABS). POD was detected by confusion assessment method (CAM) and a validated post discharge medical record review. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between anticholinergic burden and POD. ResultsPOD was observed in 210 of 899 patients (23.4%). Both ARS and ABS were independently associated with POD. The association persisted after adjustment for relevant confounding factors such as age, sex, comorbidities, preoperative cognitive and physical status, number of prescribed drugs, surgery time, type of surgery and anesthesia, usage of heart-lung-machine, and treatment in intensive care unit. If a patient was taking one of the 56 drugs listed in the ABS, risk for POD was 2.7-fold higher (OR = 2.74, 95% CI = 1.55-4.94) and 1.5-fold higher per additional point on the ARS (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.15-2.02). ConclusionPreoperative anticholinergic drug exposure measured by ARS or ABS was independently associated with POD in older patients undergoing elective surgery. Therefore, identification, discontinuation or substitution of anticholinergic medication prior to surgery may be a promising approach to reduce the risk of POD in older patients.
KW  - delirium
KW  - acute encephalopathy
KW  - surgery
KW  - anticholinergic
KW  - geriatric
KW  - postoperative
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2022.871229
SN  - 2296-858X
VL  - 9
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Lehmann, Nico
A1  - Kuhn, Yves-Alain
A1  - Keller, Martin
A1  - Aye, Norman
A1  - Herold, Fabian
A1  - Draganski, Bogdan
A1  - Taube, Wolfgang
A1  - Taubert, Marco
T1  - Brain activation during active balancing and its behavioral relevance in younger and older adults
BT  - a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) study
JF  - Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
N2  - Age-related deterioration of balance control is widely regarded as an important phenomenon influencing quality of life and longevity, such that a more comprehensive understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying this process is warranted.

Specifically, previous studies have reported that older adults typically show higher neural activity during balancing as compared to younger counterparts, but the implications of this finding on balance performance remain largely unclear. 
Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), differences in the cortical control of balance between healthy younger (n = 27) and older (n = 35) adults were explored. 

More specifically, the association between cortical functional activity and balance performance across and within age groups was investigated. To this end, we measured hemodynamic responses (i.e., changes in oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin) while participants balanced on an unstable device. 
As criterion variables for brain-behavior-correlations, we also assessed postural sway while standing on a free-swinging platform and while balancing on wobble boards with different levels of difficulty. 

We found that older compared to younger participants had higher activity in prefrontal and lower activity in postcentral regions. 
Subsequent robust regression analyses revealed that lower prefrontal brain activity was related to improved balance performance across age groups, indicating that higher activity of the prefrontal cortex during balancing reflects neural inefficiency. 

We also present evidence supporting that age serves as a moderator in the relationship between brain activity and balance, i.e., cortical hemodynamics generally appears to be a more important predictor of balance performance in the older than in the younger. Strikingly, we found that age differences in balance performance are mediated by balancing-induced activation of the superior frontal gyrus, thus suggesting that differential activation of this region reflects a mechanism involved in the aging process of the neural control of balance. 

Our study suggests that differences in functional brain activity between age groups are not a mere by-product of aging, but instead of direct behavioral relevance for balance performance. 
Potential implications of these findings in terms of early detection of fall-prone individuals and intervention strategies targeting balance and healthy aging are discussed.
KW  - aging
KW  - neuroimaging
KW  - functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)
KW  - balance
KW  - postural control
KW  - prefrontal cortex
KW  - neural inefficiency
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2022.828474
SN  - 1663-4365
VL  - 14
PB  - Frontiers Media
CY  - Lausanne
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Blasimann, Angela
A1  - Busch, Aglaja
A1  - Henle, Philipp
A1  - Bruhn, Sven
A1  - Vissers, Dirk
A1  - Baur, Heiner
T1  - Neuromuscular control during stair descent and artificial tibial translation after acute ACL rupture
JF  - Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine
N2  - Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture has direct effect on passive and active knee stability and, specifically, stretch-reflex excitability. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to investigate neuromuscular activity in patients with an acute ACL deficit (ACL-D group) compared with a matched control group with an intact ACL (ACL-I group) during stair descent and artificially induced anterior tibial translation. It was hypothesized that neuromuscular control would be impaired in the ACL-D group. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Surface electromyographic (EMG) activity of the vastus medialis (VM), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and semitendinosus (ST) muscles was recorded bilaterally in 15 patients with ACL-D (mean, 13.8 days [range, 7-21 days] since injury) and 15 controls with ACL-I during stair descent and artificially induced anterior tibial translation. The movements of stair descent were divided into preactivity, weight acceptance, and push-off phases. Reflex activity during anterior tibial translation was split into preactivity and short, medium, and late latency responses. Walking on a treadmill was used for submaximal EMG normalization. Kruskal-Wallis test and post hoc analyses with Dunn-Bonferroni correction were used to compare normalized root mean square values for each muscle, limb, movement, and reflex phase between the ACL-D and ACL-I groups. Results: During the preactivity phase of stair descent, the hamstrings of the involved leg of the ACL-D group showed 33% to 51% less activity compared with the matched leg and contralateral leg of the ACL-I group (P <.05). During the weight acceptance and push-off phases, the VL revealed a significant reduction (approximately 40%) in the involved leg of the ACL-D group compared with the ACL-I group. At short latency, the BF and ST of the involved leg of the ACL-D group showed a significant increase in EMG activity compared with the uninvolved leg of the ACL-I group, by a factor of 2.2 to 4.6. Conclusion: In the acute phase after an ACL rupture, neuromuscular alterations were found mainly in the hamstrings of both limbs during stair descent and reflex activity. The potential role of prehabilitation needs to be further studied.
KW  - acute
KW  - anterior cruciate ligament
KW  - neuromuscular control
KW  - rupture
KW  - stairs
KW  - tibial translation
Y1  - 2022
U6  - https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671221123299
SN  - 2325-9671
VL  - 10
IS  - 10
PB  - Sage
ER  -