Gymnastik- och idrottshögskolan, GIH

The study aimed to identify a small set of fitness tests that could effectively predict performance in simulated firefighting tasks. Thirty-six (25 male and 11 female) firefighters participated in the study. Strength was evaluated with grip strength, barbell bench rows, and elevated trap bar deadlifts. Work capacity was assessed using a 3-minute pyramid test, executed with and without firefighting equipment. Firefighting performance was evaluated using a simulated work task course comprising stair climbing, hose pull, victim rescue, and equipment carry. We used backward linear regressions to derive models incorporating fitness test results, demographic variables, and oxygen uptake measures as predictors. Statistical significance was set to p < 0.05. The pyramid test without equipment accounted for 59% of the variance in task performance. When body mass and height were included, the model's predictive power increased to 71%. A final model, integrating the pyramid test, body mass, and absolute maximal oxygen uptake capacity (V̇o2max), explained 81% of performance variation. Our findings indicate that V̇o2max is the key factor in firefighter task performance, explaining 69% of the variance. The pyramid test, which estimates V̇o2max and predicted 59% of performance, is simple, time efficient, and can be conducted at stations to assess physical ability and work capacity. Incorporating the pyramid test into regular assessments can help firefighters focus on improving their work capacity, which is essential for achieving better performance.

This study investigated the test–retest reliability of strength and power-related measures assessed with a portable IMTP set-up and with CMJ in elite ice hockey players from the Swedish Hockey League. Twenty-two male ice hockey players (age: 26.8 ± 5.1 yr; height: 184.5 ± 3.9 cm; body mass: 88.6 ± 5.7 kg) participated in this study. The participants performed three maximal IMTP and CMJ trials on two separate occasions. Absolute and relative variables from the portable IMTP (force and rate of force development) and CMJ (force, power, velocity, impulse, jump height, time to peak force, time to peak power, concentric duration and eccentric duration) were obtained using force plates. Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.90; CV < 5%) was observed for multiple CMJ parameters, such as peak force (ICC = 0.94; CV = 2.7%), concentric and eccentric impulse (ICC = 0.96; CV = 1.4% resp. ICC = 0.95; CV = 2.9%) and CMJ peak power (ICC = 0.93; CV = 2.3%). IMTP peak force also demonstrated excellent reliability (ICC = 0.95; CV = 2.4%). IMTP rate of force development variables yielded reliability ranging from poor to moderate (CV = 12.9–54.6%). CMJ and portable IMTP provide highly reliable assessments of most strength and power-related variables in elite male ice hockey players. While absolute peak impulse, velocity and force, power and concentric duration displayed the highest reliability and should be prioritized, RFD variables require cautious interpretation due to high variability.

Introduction: Information on the long-term maintenance of short-term exercise fitness gains measured by field-based tests is scarce in older adults. This study aimed to investigate short- and long-term changes in various physical fitness parameters after an 8-week exercise program.

Methods: In this longitudinal study, a total of 265 participants (62% women; mean age 71.4 ± 4.7 years) completed a field-based test battery of 12 fitness tests (22 parameters) at 2 pre-tests and 1 post-test following an 8-week exercise program (2 sessions/week, combining aerobic and strength activities) in 2 consecutive years. The tests assessed muscle endurance, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and motor fitness.

Results: Significant short-term improvements were observed, e.g., in isometric trunk flexion and extension endurance (21–37%) for both sexes in both years. Lower-body muscular endurance improved in the first year (9–12%) for both sexes, while cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk test) improved only for men in both years (3%). No changes were seen in submaximal cycle test heart rates or any balance tests in any year. Most fitness parameters did not significantly decrease during the 9-month inter-intervention period, with a few exceptions in trunk strength and walking distance.

Conclusions: This study demonstrates physical fitness improvements in older adults following short-term exercise interventions and that some of these improvements were maintained long term, whereas a few of these physical fitness test improvements decreased significantly over 9 months in older adults.

Walking Football (WF) is one type of recreational football increasing in popularity, targeting older adults. Further knowledge on the intensity and physical workload of WF, characteristics of the players, the social context, and reasons for playing WF is needed. Thus, the aim of the study was to characterize the individuals that regularly play WF and their experience of WF, and the physiological characteristics of the sport. Sixty-three players from three clubs taking part in organised WF in Sweden were included. The players participated in up to four WF-games and underwent performance tests and answered a questionnaire. The participants mean age was 70.9 years, ranging from 63 to 85 years with 71% (n = 27) of the men and 68% (n = 13) of the women having a BMI > 25. Fifty-one percent (n = 27) of the players had hypertension, and 73% (n = 39) regularly used prescription drugs due to illness. During WF, the players covered on average 2,409 m (2,509 m for men and 2,205 m for women, p = .001). Expressed in percentage of their age-estimated maximal heart rate, mean heart rate represented 80 ± 9 and 80 ± 8% of max for men, and 78 ± 9 and 79 ± 9% of max for women in the first and second halves, respectively, hence WF can be considered a moderate intensity activity for older adults. The main reason for WF participation was to socialize. WF includes a considerable number of accelerations and decelerations, making it more energetically and mechanically demanding than walking.

The aim of the study was to examine physiological and cardiometabolic effects of 12 weeks of walking football (played 2 x 20 min) in physically inactive older adults. Thirty-three volunteers completed the study (men n = 11, women n = 22) were enrolled with a mean age of 74.0 +/- 5.7 years. Baseline tests included blood pressure, waist circumference, body composition, blood samples, balance, estimated VO2max, mobility, grip strength and vertical jump height. Grip strength was significantly higher at the posttest (32.7 +/- 7.8 kg vs. 30.7 +/- 7.7 kg (p < .005)), and the walking/turning speed was faster making the time to complete the Timed Up and Go test significant shorter at the posttest (6.07 +/- 1.0 s vs. 6.87 +/- 1.0 s (p < .001)). Waist circumference was lower at the posttest (91.8 +/- 13.3 cm vs. 93.9 +/- 13.9 cm (p < .001)). HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher at posttest (2.19 +/- 1.36 mmol/L vs. 1.98 +/- 0.89 mmol/L (p < .005)). HbA1c significantly decreased posttest (39 +/- 1.2 mmol/mol vs. 38 +/- 5.8 mmol/mol (p < .028)). Walking football for older adults is associated with positive changes in cardiometabolic and physiological variables.

INTRODUCTION: Physical fitness is strongly associated with daily physical function, health, and longevity in older adults. Field-based tests may provide a reasonable alternative compared to advanced laboratory testing. Separating postexercise test scores from reactivity measurements requires sufficient test-retest reliability. Postexercise test scores with reliability analyses of field-based fitness tests in older adults are lacking. The present study aimed to examine the test-retest reliability of some novel easily accommodated fitness test measurements and compare pretest scores with postexercise results in these tests along with other field-based fitness tests in older adults.

METHODS: Totally 1,407 community-dwelling older adults (69% female), x̄ = 71.5 ± 5.0 (65-84 years), performed twelve field-based fitness tests at pretest 1, pretest 2 and a posttest after an 8-week exercise period (twice weekly 1 h of combined strength and aerobic training). T tests, intra-class correlation, limits of agreement, standard error of measurement, and coefficient of variance were performed between pre-1 and pre-2 tests, and repeated measures ANOVA and partial eta squared effect size for postexercise differences for men and women in 5-year age groups ranging from 65 to 84 years.

RESULTS: Between pre-1 and pre-2 tests a significant difference was noted in some of the novel fitness test measurements but generally not, e.g., in isometric trunk flexion and step-up height on either leg among all sex and age groups. In most of these novel fitness test measurements, no significant differences occurred between the two pretests. Examples of results from the pre-2 test to the posttest were isometric trunk flexion 45° endurance and isometric trunk extension endurance improved significantly for both sexes in age groups 65-74 years. Women, but not men, improved the maximal step-up height for both legs in most age groups. The speed in the 50 sit-to-stand improved significantly for most age groups in both sexes. Six-min walk distance improved significantly for most age groups in women but among men only in 65-69 years. In the timed-up-and-go test, significant improvements were seen for all age groups in women and in men 70-79 years. No postexercise improvements were generally observed for grip strength or balance.

CONCLUSIONS: In most of the novel fitness test measures, no significant difference was noted between the two pretests in the assessed sex and age groups. Results after the 8-week exercise period varied between sex and age groups, with significant improvements in several of the twelve studied fitness tests. These findings may be valuable for future projects utilizing easily accommodated physical fitness tests in older adults.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of inhaling a beta-agonist (salbutamol) compared to placebo on skiing and cycling performance in well-trained elite athletes.

METHODS: Three different exercise protocols were used, all with a cross-over double blind placebo-controlled design. Participants inhaled 800 µg salbutamol or a placebo prior to the test, which was repeated on a following day with the participants inhaling the other substance. Fifteen junior elite skiers performed four free-style high intensity sprints (1100 m/work time 3.5-4.5 min). Twelve elite cyclists carried out a short cycling protocol, starting with two 5 min submaximal workloads followed by a maximal intermittent performance test to exhaustion. Another 12 elite cyclists performed the maximal intermittent performance test to exhaustion after a 150 min long submaximal cycling protocol.

RESULTS: Group mean time for the ski sprints increased, with no difference between treatment groups. In the short cycling protocol time to exhaustion was 9.1% (95% CI 52-161) lower after inhaling salbutamol compared to placebo and in the long cycling protocol time to exhaustion was 9.1% (95% CI - 121-267) lower after inhaling salbutamol compared to placebo. Blood lactate, heart rate and ventilation increased during submaximal exercise with salbutamol compared to placebo in the short cycling protocol (p < .05).

CONCLUSION: This study could not confirm any positive performance effects from inhaling 800 µg salbutamol compared to placebo in skiing and high-intensity intermittent cycling performance. Instead, time to exhaustion in the maximal intermittent performance test was lower in both cycling protocols. HighlightsThere was no difference in performance time between salbutamol and placebo treatment in real-life applicable repeated ski sprints.Time to exhaustion in the maximal intermittent performance test was 9.1% lower after inhaling salbutamol compared to placebo, both when performed after 10 and 150 min of submaximal cycling.

BACKGROUND: Reliable physical activity measurements in community-dwelling older adults are important to determine effects of targeted health promotion interventions. Many exercise interventions aim to improve time spent sedentary (SED), in light-intensity-physical-activity (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity-physical-activity (MVPA), since these parameters have independently proposed associations with health and longevity. However, many previous studies rely on self-reports which have lower validity compared to accelerometer measured physical activity patterns. In addition, separating intervention-effects from reactivity measurements requires sufficient test-retest reliability for accelerometer assessments, which is lacking in older adults.

OBJECTIVES: The study objective was to investigate the reliability of sensor-based PA-patterns in community-dwelling older adults. Furthermore, to investigate change over time of physical activity patterns and examine any compensatory-effect from the eight-week supervised exercise-intervention.

METHODS: An exercise-group (n = 78, age-range:65-91yrs) performed two 1h-exercise sessions/week during eight-weeks. PA-pattern was assessed (using hip-worn accelerometers), twice before and once during the last-week of the intervention. A control-group (n = 43, age-range:65-88yrs) performed one pre-test and the end-test with no exercise-intervention. A dependent-t-test, mean-difference (95%-CI), limits-of-agreement and intraclass-correlation-coefficient-ICC were used between the two pre-tests. Repeated-measures-ANOVA were used to analyze any intervention-effects.

RESULTS: The exercise-groups´ two pre-tests showed generally no systematic change in any PA- or SED-parameter (ICC ranged 0.75-0.90). Compared to the control group, the exercise intervention significantly (time x group-interaction, p<0.05) increased total-PA-cpm (exercise-group/control-group +17%/+7%) and MVPA-min/week (+41/-2min) and decreased %-of-wear-time for SED-total (-4.7%/-2.7%) and SED-bouts (-5.7%/-1.8%), and SED-bouts min/d (-46/-16min). At baseline level, no significant differences were found between the two groups for any parameter.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study presents a good test-retest-reliability of sensor-based-one-week-assessed-PA-pattern in older-adults. Participating in an 8-week supervised exercise intervention improved some physical activity and sedentary parameters compared to the control group. No compensatory-effect was noted in the intervention-group i.e., no decrease in any PA-parameter or increase in SED at End-test (in %-of-wear-time, min/day or total-PA).