Un logiciel pour la mesure de l'activité physique : le PAQAP

Objectives – Validity of PAQAP, a physical activity (PA) questionnaire, designed to provide a complete picture of the subject's regular PA and allows to measure his daily energy expenditure.Results and conclusion – This software has been made from a reliable method (QAPSE). A study was conducted on voluntary healthy males and females of various level of PA in order to test this software. This proved the validity of the PAQAP because of its strong relationship with the original method. By permitting to quantify energy expenditure or PA of subjects and/or populations, this method shows its useful in many areas such as research, sport, and health.     

Effets de la pratique de la gymnastique d’entretien chez des seniors sur la condition physique,la fonction cognitive et la prise médicamenteuse

Objective. – The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of regular gymnastic activity practice on fitness, cognitive function and medication in healthy elderly women.Method. – Twenty-four women were separated into 2 groups, a sedentary group and a gymnastic group. In order to be included in the gymnastic group, women needed to have participated for at least 2 consecutive years in gymnastic sessions for a minimum of 10 months per year. Subjects were on average aged 60.3 ± 1.4 years. All the women filled in clinical and physical activities questionnaires. Then the following tests were taken: Martinet, 6 min walking test, 3 static balance tests and a memory test.Results. – Walking speed (P < 0.01) and distance of walking (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in the gymnastic group in comparison with the sedentary women and the consumption of medicine was significantly lower in active compared with sedentary women (P < 0.05). So, regular gymnastic practice reduces the consumption of medicine and could preserve autonomy by maintening an optimal walking speed, thus decreasing the risk of falls.     

Influence de la morphologie,de VO2max et du coût énergetique sur la performance en natation chez de jeunes nageurs

Aim. – Define the determining factors of young swimmers’ performance on a 400 m.Materia1 and methods. – Eleven people who were 12.4 (±0.53) years of age and who swam 7.5 to 8.5 hours a week took part in this study. Height, weight, hidrostatic lift and surface area were measured. Maximal oxygen consumption was calculated at the end of a maximal performance on a 400 m crawl.Results. – The maximal oxygen consumption equaled to 2.19 l min^–1 (±0.38) for a maximal aerobic velocity of 1.19 m s^–1 (±0.03) and a performance of 5 min 35 s (±10 s) on a 400 m crawl. The values of the energy cost at 0.9, 1 and 1.1 m s^–1 were respectively of 29.27 (±3.13), 30.25 (±3.68) and 32.91 (±3.59) ml m^–1. The differences of performance on a 400 m crawl were accounted for by biometric characteristics or by the energy cost at 0.9 and 1 m s^–1. However, the performance on a 400 m crawl was correlated to the energy cost at 1.1 m s^–1 (r = 0.82 ; P < 0.01) and to the maximal oxygen consumption (r = 0.87; P < 0.001).Conclusion. – This study proved that there was a very strong relationship between performance and maximal oxygen consumption in young swimmers.     

Variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque en fonction de l'intensité de la pratique physique chez la femme ménopausée

Aim. – Study was to asses the heart rate variability related to the physical practice intensity in post menopausal women.Method. – Time domain measurement of heart rate variability has been realised from the electrocardiogram at rest and during exercice in 3 groups of 6 women : untrained, active and trained. At rest, no significant difference betwen groups appears. But, in the standing position, RR interval and the dispersion around RR interval decrease in trained group only. During submaximal exercise, this dispersion is more elevated in active and trained groups.Conclusion. – Physical practice induces a higher response of sinus node to vagal modulation during standing position and submaximal exercise.     

Activité physique et remodelage osseux : étude chez une population de jeunes gymnastes

Aims – Intensive exercise is known to improve the bone mass acquisition. One of the main explanations consists in the mechanical strains exerted on the skeleton. Little is known about the effects of physical exercise on the bone remodelling process.Methods and results – The bone remodelling rate evaluated in a group of young female (24 gymnasts and 21 controls), using a bone resorption marker, the CrossLaps peptides CTx. We measured in our subjects the bone mineral density at the whole body and at six regional sites. The bone density was statistically higher in the gymnasts compared to the controls at all the specific sites. The CTx level corrected by urinary creatinine was significantly higher in the gymnasts, reflecting a faster bone remodelling rate.Conclusion – Intensive physical activity could improve the bone mineral acquisition probably by a stimulation of the bone remodelling activity.