The results of the study revealed that male players are heavier, taller, faster, stronger, jump higher and have a better aerobic performance. However, female players performed relatively better in the team handball specific tests compared to the general tests. Our findings also suggest that female players should focus more on strength training.

There are well-known biological differences between women and men, especially in technicalcoordinative variations that contribute to sex differences in performance of complex movements like the most important offensive action in volleyball, the spike jump. The aim of this study was to investigate sex-dependent performance and biomechanical characteristics in the volleyball spike jump. Thirty female and male sub-elite volleyball players were analysed while striking a stationary ball with maximal spike jump height. Twelve MX13 Vicon cameras with a cluster marker set, two AMTI force plates, surface EMG, and a Full-Body 3D model in Visual3D were used. Main findings include sex differences (P< .05) in jump height (pη 2 = .73), approach [speed (pη 2 = .61), step length], transition strategy [plant angle, neuromuscular activation (pη 2 = .91), horizontal force maxima and impulses], acceleration distances [centre of mass displacement (pη 2 = .21), minimal knee and hip angles], use of torso and arms [incline, angular velocity (pη 2 = .23)]. Correlations support that the results cannot be explained fully by strength and power differences between sexes but represent the product of technical-coordinative variations. Their relevance is acknowledged for both sexes and numerous performance determinants displayed sex differences. The integration of such attributes into sexspecific training seems promising but its effect requires further investigation.

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Bell JW, Chen D, Bahls M, Newcomer SC. Evidence for greater burden of peripheral arterial disease in lower extremity arteries of spinal cord-injured individuals. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 301: H766-H772, 2011. First published July 8, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00507.2011.-Spinal cord injury leads to increased risk for cardiovascular disease and results in greater risk of death. Subclinical markers of atherosclerosis have been reported in carotid arteries of spinal cord-injured individuals (SCI), but the development of lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) has not been investigated in this population. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of spinal cord injury on ankle-brachial index (ABI) and intima-media thickness (IMT) of upper-body and lower-extremity arteries. We hypothesized that the aforementioned measures of lower-extremity PAD would be worsened in SCI compared with controls and that regular participation in endurance exercise would improve these in both groups. To test these hypotheses, ABI and IMT were determined in 105 SCI and compared with 156 able-bodied controls with groups further subdivided into physically active and sedentary. ABIs were significantly lower in SCI versus controls (0.96 Ϯ 0.12 vs. 1.06 Ϯ 0.07, P Ͻ 0.001), indicating a greater burden of lower-extremity PAD. Upper-body IMTs were similar for brachial and carotid arteries in controls versus SCI. Lower extremity IMTs revealed similar thicknesses for both superficial femoral and popliteal arteries, but when normalized for artery diameter, individuals with SCI had greater IMT than controls in the superficial femoral (0.094 Ϯ 0.03 vs. 0.073 Ϯ 0.02 mm/mm lumen diameter, P Ͻ 0.01) and popliteal (0.117 Ϯ 0.04 vs. 0.091 Ϯ 0.02 mm/mm lumen diameter, P Ͻ 0.01) arteries. The ABI and normalized IMT of SCI compared with controls indicate that subclinical measures of lower-extremity PAD are worsened in individuals with SCI. These findings should prompt physicians to consider using the ABI as a screening method to detect lower-extremity PAD in SCI. atherosclerosis; exercise CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE (CVD) contributes to more than 40% of deaths in spinal cord-injured individuals (SCI) (9). Interestingly, the mortality risk from CVD is 5-10% greater in SCI compared with age-and risk factor-matched able-bodied individuals (22). Specifically, it has been demonstrated that spinal cord injury leads to greater coronary artery calcification (24) and T-wave abnormalities (33), but evidence is equivocal regarding the development of subclinical atherosclerotic markers of carotid artery (CA) intima-media thickening and arterial stiffness (14, 18). The potential mechanisms for atherosclerosis in SCI include disorders of carbohydrate metabolism (1), dyslipidemia (1, 28), lower-extremity physical inactivity, and the resultant loss of lean body tissue (21), reduced daily energy expenditure (5), and greater prevalence of type 2 diabetes (2). Furthermore, especially in the lower extremities, altered hemodynamics reported post-spinal cord...

Background: Dual-task (DT) training is a well-accepted modality for fall prevention in older adults. DT training should include task-managing strategies such as task switching or task prioritization to improve gait performance under DT conditions.Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate a balance and task managing training (BDT group) in gait performance compared to a single task (ST) strength and resistance training and a control group, which received no training. A total of 78 older individuals (72.0 ± 4.9 years) participated in this study. The DT group performed task managing training incorporating balance and coordination tasks while the ST group performed resistance training only. Training consisted of 12 weekly sessions, 60 min each, for 12 weeks. We assessed the effects of ST and BDT training on walking performance under ST and DT conditions in independent living elderly adults. ST and DT walking (visual verbal Stroop task) were measured utilizing a treadmill at self-selected walking speed (mean for all groups: 4.4 ± 1 km h-1). Specific gait variables, cognitive performance, and fear of falling were compared between all groups.>Results: Training improved gait performance for step length (p < 0.001) and gait-line (ST: p < 0.01; DT p < 0.05) in both training groups. The BDT training group showed greater improvements in step length (p < 0.001) and gait-line (p < 0.01) during DT walking but did not have changes in cognitive performance. Both interventions reduced fear of falling (p < 0.05).Conclusion: Implementation of task management strategies into balance and strength training in our population revealed a promising modality to prevent falls in older individuals.Trial registration: German register of clinical trials DRKS00012382.