Lack of physical fitness in obese people, recent decline in physical fitness of young people, and physical fitness problems of thin people are a concern. We investigated the physical fitness characteristics of different obese groups comprising young males with poor physical fitness. Technical college students (144 males; age, 15.9 ± 1.1 y; height, 169.1 ±5.9 cm; weight, 60.0 ±13.3 kg) took the physical fitness test of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and were judged to have lower than normal physical fitness in a comprehensive evaluation of the MEXT physical test. Three groups with different obesity levels were formed according to their percent body fat (%BF): thin ( - 25%), and obese (>25%). The obese group had stronger grip than the thin and normal groups but was inferior to the thin group in 20-m shuttle run, standing broad jump, 50-m run, and total score. The test requiring large physical movements revealed that the obese group was inferior in power and endurance. Therefore, among young males with poor physical fitness, obese individuals have different physical fitness characteristics than thin and normal individuals; they are inferior to normal and thin individuals in running- and jumping-related power and endurance but superior in muscle strength.
Differences in the frequency of exercise among individuals increase during adolescence. These individual differences are associated with developmental differences in abdominal muscle groups that are closely related to activities of daily living. We examined the effect of differences in exercise frequency in young people on abdominal strength and muscle thickness. The subjects were 20 young male university athletes who belonged to sports clubs and who exercised >6 days per week for >3 h per day (athlete group: age, 20.1 ± 1.43 years; height, 171.7 ± 6.74 cm; weight, 67.9 ± 10.41 kg) and 20 young university male students who did not habitually exercise (less than twice per week) (nonathlete group: age, 20.1 ± 1.41 years; height, 171.6 ± 5.46 cm; weight, 63.2 ± 8.62 kg). Their physical characteristics (height, weight, and body mass index), abdominal flexion strength, and abdominal muscle thickness (rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique muscles) were measured. Although no significant differences were found in the physical characteristics of either group, abdominal strength and all muscle thickness were significantly greater in the athlete group than that in the nonathlete group. In addition, a relatively high correlation between abdominal strength and muscle thickness was found only in the athlete group (r = 0.73). In conclusion, abdominal strength and muscle thickness were greater in young athletes who frequently exercise compared with that in nonathletes. Abdominal muscle strength increased with increasing abdominal muscle thickness in the athletes but not in the nonathletes.
1. In the present study we investigated the difference in the distribution of selected cardiovascular disease risk factors among three middle-aged Tanzanian populations with different lifestyles. 2. The prevalence of hypertension and overweight was higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Plasma leptin concentration was also highest in urban areas. Based on these results, we speculated that overweight in the urban population may be partly due to adiposity. 3. Resting energy expenditure was lower in urban areas than in other areas for both genders. These findings suggest that the high prevalence of overweight in the urban population may be partly due to low physical activity levels.
Objective This study aimed at comparing the effect of linear polarized near-infrared light irradiation (PL irradiation) and bicycle exercise with 50%HRreserve on the flexibility of the shoulder joint. Design Placebo-controlled trial. Setting Twenty-four healthy young adults (10 males: mean±SD, age 20.9±3.1 y, height 171.0±3.9 cm, body mass 63.4±3.5 kg and 14 females: age 21.2±1.7 y, height 162.0±7.8 cm, body mass 56.2±7.2 kg). Interventions PL-irradiation (100%, 1800 mW), placebo-irradiation (10%,180 mW), and light exercise (50%HRreserve) for 10 minutes. Outcome Measurements and Results The shoulder joint angles were measured twice-before and after each intervention. We measured the angles when the right shoulder joint extended forward and flexed backward maximally without support, and analyzed these shoulder joints and range of motion. Trial-to-trial reliability (intraclass correlations) of each joint angle was very high, over 0.98. All joint angles showed significant changes, and values in post-PL-irradiation and postlight exercise were significantly greater than that in postplacebo-irradiation. Shoulder forward flexion and backward extension angles had significantly greater change rates in PL-irradiation and light exercise than placebo-irradiation, and their range of motion angle was in the order of PL-irradiation, light exercise, and placebo-irradiation. Conclusions It is suggested that PL-irradiation produces almost the same effect on shoulder joint range of motion as light exercise.
1 Dried-bonito broth (DBB) has been shown to have various physiological effects to reduce fatigue in both animals and humans. 2 To evaluate whether DBB can improve peripheral blood circulation and improve mood states, a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was performed in healthy female subjects. 3 As a result of 2 weeks’ intervention with DBB, subjects showed improved mood states and increased peripheral blood flow. 4 Changes in blood flow during DBB ingestion were significantly correlated with total mood disturbance (r = –0.38, P < 0.05): blood flow increased in subjects whose mental states were markedly improved. No significant correlations were found for placebo ingestion. The results suggest that DBB might improve mental condition by increasing blood flow; that is, by enhancing peripheral circulation.
This study aimed to examine the relationship between the drop-off index and swimming performances and to determine its utility in evaluating whole body endurance. The subjects were 106 male university competitive swimmers (age: 19.9±1.1 years, height: 171.8±5.6 cm, weight: 66.2±5.7 kg). Performances in the 200 m drop-off test and 50 m, 100 m, 200 m and 400 m free style swimming tests were analyzed. The drop-off index showed significant correlations (r = 0.48, 0.51, 0.61) with performances in the 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m free style, but not in the 50 m performance. The drop-off test was associated with middle distance swimming performances in the 100 m, 200 m, and 400 m free style. In consideration of its limitations in use, the drop-off test may be effective in estimating swimming performances.
This study examined the laterality of the supporting leg in postural stability during a one-leg stance test on an unstable moving platform and its practice effect.Thirty male university students were evaluated using the omnidirection stability index (OSI) during a one-leg stance test on an unstable moving platform (three trials).The leg used when kicking a ball was defined as the manipulation leg (ML) and the supporting leg was defined as the nonmanipulation leg (NML).According to the two-way repeated measures ANOVA (trials × legs), a significant difference was observed only in the leg factor, and OSI values of the second and third trials were less in ML than in NML.The correlation between both legs was significant but not high.ML was superior to NML with regard to stability, and practice effect with trials was not evident in either leg.
1 The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of isoflavone aglycones (IFA; AglyMaxTM; Nichimo Co. Ltd, Tokyo, Japan), containing 32.9% IFA, on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 2 Twelve male SHRSP rats, aged 5 weeks, were used. Rats were divided into two groups: (i) the IFA group (n = 6); and (ii) the control group (n = 6). Administration of IFA (20 mg/kg equivalent of isoflavones) resulted in a significant decrease in SBP in the IFA-treated group compared with the control group. 3 Nitric oxide levels in the urine and serum were also significantly higher in the IFA-treated group than in the control group. Significantly higher levels of endothelial NO synthase mRNA were also confirmed in the IFA group compared with the control group. 4 Isoflavone aglycones could decrease SBP significantly by increasing the formation of NO.
