Analyzing physical fitness data of athletes competing in the last 4 winter Paralympic Games, normative values are provided. The specific components that are highly developed in the BP are considered relevant for successful performance.

No abstract

Previous studies have shown that an interval training (IT) based on short term (30 second long) maximal intensity bouts of exercise (5 all-out cycle-ergometer exercises separated by 4.5 minutes of recovery) improves aerobic fitness mainly due to an increased skeletal muscle carbohydrate metabolism. Upper body (UB) IT effects on both aerobic and anaerobic capacities are less known. PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that an IT consisting of 5 bouts of arm cranking ergometer (ACE) exercise carried out up to exhaustion at an intensity of 130% of peak of oxygen uptake (VO2peak) is effective in improving UB aerobic and anaerobic fitness, due to peripheral and central adaptations. METHODS: Nine healthy male subjects (age 37.9±11.17 years, mass 78.9±8.91 kg and height 1.8±0.07 m) were submitted to an ACE maximal incremental test to assess VO2peak and to establish intensities (130% peak power) for both an ACE exhaustion test (Ex-T) and the IT. The Ex-T was carried out to assess total mechanical work (TMW) and blood lactate (BL) peak. IT session (3 per week) consisted of 5 bouts of ACE exercise carried out up to exhaustion and interspaced by a recovery time necessary to start each bout every 5 minutes. During the first week of IT, a session was monitored measuring VO2 and BL. Both VO2peak and Ex-T measurements were repeated after 7.1±0.89 weeks of IT. RESULTS: At the baseline measurements, subjects had VO2peak values equal to 36.8±7.25 ml kg-1 min-1 and were able to carry out a TMW of 22.9±6.10 kJ (BL peak: 11.7 mM) at the Ex-T. IT single bout of exercise (mean power: 215±23.9 watt) lasted 75±7.5 s and 126±3.4 s, respectively at the start and at the end of training, eliciting a VO2 increase up to 90.2±6.72% of the baseline VO2peak and BL values 19±0.2% higher than those measured at the Ex-T. After training, VO2peak and TMW increased of 15.8±6.84% (p<0.001) and 46±10.7% (p<0.001), respectively. Oxygen pulse peak measured at the aerobic test increased from 15.1±2.44 to 17.9±2.46 ml beat-1 after training. CONCLUSION: A high intensity UB IT, in which overload derives from both greater mechanical work (from 80.5±2.58 to 140.7±2.16 kJ) and a shorter recovery time between exercise bouts, improves significantly upper body aerobic and lactic anaerobic fitness for central and peripheral adaptations. Supported by Italian Ministry of Health (Conv. 2007-03)

The relationship between postural allocation (upright and sitting) and body composition has been studied thus far in small cohorts of 10-20 individuals or studied in larger cohorts with only subjective self-reported measures of sitting behavior. PURPOSE:To determine the relationship between postural allocation and indices of body composition in a group of healthy women aged 40-75 yrs old. METHODS:Physical activity monitors with an inclinometry function were worn by 94 women (53±9 yrs) for approximately 1 week to assess mean daily upright (standing and stepping) duration. BMI and waist circumference were determined. VO2max and mean daily step rate were also assessed as indicators of fitness and the mean intensity of daily ambulatory activity. RESULTS: Mean daily upright time ranged from 1.7 to 10.4 hrs/day with the mean of the first, second and third tertiles being 4.2±0.2, 5.9±0.1, and 7.8±0.2 hr per 16 hr waking day, respectively. The third tertile of upright time had a significantly lower BMI (24.7±0.7 kg/m2, p<0.05) and lower waist circumference (78±2 cm, p<0.01) than both the first and second tertiles (BMI=28.7±1.3 and 27.5±1.2 kg/ m2, respectively; waist circumference=90±3 and 88±3 cm, respectively), while there was not a significant difference between the two lower upright time tertiles for BMI and waist circumference. Furthermore, there was not a significant difference in the mean daily step rate (steps/min), VO2max, age, or menopausal status between the third tertile and the other tertiles. Interestingly, while selfreported sitting duration was positively related to objectively determined sitting/lying time during waking hours (r=0.46, p<0.05), self-reported sitting duration was consistently 3-4 hours less than objective measures and was not related to BMI nor waist circumference. CONCLUSION:High daily time spent upright was associated with both a lower BMI and waist circumference. These findings are novel in that they are the largest data set that we are aware of that has examined the relationship between body composition and objectively determined upright time and suggest that time spent upright and sitting may be important factors in determining leanness. (No relationships reported)Current exercise prescriptions for fat loss and weight management recommend moderate intensity exercise carried out as long as possible for at least 5 days per week. In a previous study, we demonstrated that a short duration (91±21 seconds) high intensity (150% of peak of oxygen uptake) arm cranking ergometer (ACE) exercise stimulated a great production of both growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I). PURPOSE:To test the hypothesis that a high intensity interval training (HI-IT) consisting of 5 bouts of ACE exercise carried out up to exhaustion is effective in improving body composition. METHODS:Eleven moderately active healthy subjects (7 men: age 41.7±9.36 years, mass 80.6±9.09 kg, height 1.8±0.07 m, body mass index 24.7±1.82; and 4 women: age 30.0±7.62 years, mass 57.5±1.91 kg, height 1.68±0.05 m, bod...