Submaximal oxygen cost during incremental exercise in children with developmental coordination disorder

There has been minimal evidence examining the differences in submaximal aerobic power between children with and without probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD). This is important as most activities of daily living are performed at submaximal levels. The aim of this study was to examine the oxygen cost of work (VO₂) performed during an incremental exercise protocol on a cycle ergometer. Subjects with pDCD (n = 63) were matched for age and gender to 63 typically developing controls (12–13 years of age) using a nested case–control design. Motor coordination was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children. Children with pDCD had significantly lower VO2 peak values relative to controls (35.0 vs. 42.9 ml/kg/min, p < 0.0001). At the submaximal level, mixed effects modeling demonstrated that, after controlling for relative body fat, and VO₂ peak, children with pDCD had consistently greater oxygen cost (VO₂ ml/kg/min) compared to controls at any given exercise intensity (p = 0.0006). A significant interaction between pDCD and workload indicated that the difference in VO₂ at higher workloads is greater than that at lower workloads (p = 0.0004). Children with pDCD utilize more oxygen to sustain the same submaximal workload. The implication of these findings is that children with pDCD may experience earlier fatigue than well coordinated individuals when engaging in physical activity.     

Long-term endurance exercise improves aerobic capacity in patients with relapsing–remitting Multiple Sclerosis: Impact of baseline fatigue

Little is known about the sustainability of exercise effects in patients with relapsing–remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). We present the results of a prospective, observer-blinded, single-center case control study using a “pre–post” design including 89 ambulatory patients with RRMS and an EDSS score of ≤ 3.5 who participated in an individualized 12 month aerobic endurance exercise program.Peak oxygen consumption (VO₂ peak) increased and fatigue levels decreased significantly over time (p = 0.03, p < 0.02). Subgroup analysis of patients with fatigue (FSS > 4) revealed that the increase of VO₂ peak remained significant after 12 months whereas patients without fatigue did not improve any further after six months. A significant decrease of the FSS score was only observed after nine months (p < 0.03) In conclusion, aerobic exercise leads to a sustainable improvement of VO₂ peak over an extended exercise period of 12 months. There is a weak, but significant effect on fatigue levels which becomes detectable only after nine months. Since subgroup analysis revealed that MS patients behaved differently according to their baseline fatigue levels, adjustment to the individual fatigue levels is recommended for future exercise interventions in RRMS patients.     

Treadmill walking effects on grip strength in young men with Down syndrome

This study was aimed at investigating the relation between grip strength and anthropometric factors and the impact of an aerobic exercise on grip strength in young men with Down syndrome (DS). This study was a pre-post design. Twelve males with DS were assigned to an exercise group, who walked using an incremental protocol on a treadmill for 20 min at aerobic levels. Eight additional persons with DS were assigned to an attentional control group, who watched a video. Measure of grip strength was tested pre- and post-interventions. The results showed positively significant relationship among grip strength and age (r = .74, p < .01), weight (r = .52, p = .02), body mass index (r = .61, p = .01) and waist circumference (r = .54, p = .02). In addition, Grip strength was slightly improved after exercise (p = .03) but decreased after control condition. The results showed that anthropometric factors, such as age, weight, body mass index and waist circumference, were positively correlated with grip strength in young men with DS. Further, improvement in grip strength can be found even after a single exercise session. This finding emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle in persons with DS for performing activities of daily living.     

Comparison of VO2 maximum obtained from 20 m shuttle run and cycle ergometer in children with and without developmental coordination disorder

Oxygen consumption at peak physical exertion (VO₂ maximum) is the most widely used indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness. The purpose of this study was to compare two protocols for its estimation, cycle ergometer testing and the 20 m shuttle run, among children with and without probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD).The shuttle run test was conducted during regular school hours, usually in the gymnasium. Children were then invited to a lab to complete the cycle ergometer protocol. Children were categorized as possible cases of DCD using the Movement-ABC-2. The analysis was performed using cut-points at both the 5th (n = 38) and 15th (n = 51) percentiles. The average age of children in the study was 12 years (SD = 0.5). Children with pDCD had poorer VO₂ maximum when compared to typically developing children based on both the shuttle run and the cycle ergometer. The correlation between tests is in the moderate to high range (r = 0.71, p < 0.001); 0.78 for girls, and 0.73 for boys. The overall difference in correlations between typically developing children and children with pDCD based on the 15th percentile was 0.12 (p = 0.27). For children with pDCD based on the 5th percentile however, the difference between groups was larger (difference in r = 0.25), and was statistically significant (p = 0.02). In multivariate analyses, there was no difference in the effect of the shuttle run results in predicting VO₂ maximum obtained through the cycle ergometer test for children with pDCD compared to those without the condition. Regardless of the test, the patterns of association between children with pDCD and typically developing children were the same reinforcing the findings of previous field-based reports. Moderate to good correlations, at the 15th percentile cut-point, between tests suggests that the shuttle run test is a reliable substitute in this population when lab based assessments of VO₂ maximum are not feasible.     

Assessment of cardiorespiratory and neuromotor fitness in children with developmental coordination disorder

The decreased participation in physical activity by children with probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD) has raised concerns about their aerobic fitness and lung function levels. The purpose of the present study was to examine assessment of cardiorespiratory and neuromotor fitness, using laboratory-based tests during an incremental treadmill protocol in healthy children with and without pDCD. Twenty sex children ages 6–9 years took part in this study. Motor coordination was assessed using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC). All participants performed a cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) on a cycle ergometer. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometric measurements (forced vital capacity: FVC, forced expiratory volume in 1 s: FEV₁) and walking distance (6MWD) was assessed using the 6-min walking test. The children with pDCD had lower VO_2 max than children without pDCD (p < 0.01). Moreover, FVC and FEV₁ were significantly higher in children without pDCD than in children with the disorder (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 respectively). Likewise, children with pDCD had poorer performance on the 6MWD than children without pDCD (p < 0.01). A significant correlation between the absolute value for FEV₁ and 6MWD (r = 0.637, p < 0.05) in pDCD group was observed. We found a significant correlation between VO_2 max and MABC score (r = −0.612, p < .001) and between VO_2 max and 6MWD (r = 0.502, p < .001) for all children. Moreover, a significant correlation between VO_2 max and FEV₁ (r = 0.668, p < .05) was found in children with pDCD. Overall, the reduced aerobic capacity of DCD was associated with decreased of lung function, as well as an alteration of peripheral muscle responses.     

Heart rate recovery and variability following combined aerobic and resistance exercise training in adults with and without Down syndrome

Persons with Down syndrome (DS) are at high risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and there is compelling evidence of autonomic dysfunction in these individuals. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether a combined aerobic and resistance exercise intervention produces similar results in cardiac autonomic function between adults with and without DS. Twenty-five participants (13 DS; 12 non-DS), aged 27–50 years, were included. Aerobic training was performed 3 days/week for 30 min at 65–85% of peak oxygen uptake (VO_2peak). Resistance training was prescribed for 2 days/week and consisted of two rotations in a circuit of 9 exercises at 12-repetition-maximum. There was a significant improvement in the VO_2peak and muscle strength of participants with and without DS after training. Heart rate recovery improved at 1 min post-exercise, but only in participants with DS. Both groups of participants exhibited a similar increase in normalized high frequency power and of decrease in normalized low frequency power after training. Therefore, 12 weeks of exercise training enhanced the heart rate recovery in adults with DS, but not in those without DS. Contrasting, the intervention elicited similar gains between groups for cardiovagal modulation.     

Influence of repeated maximal exercise testing on biomarkers and fatigue in sarcoidosis

Fatigue in the immune mediated inflammatory disease sarcoidosis is thought to be associated with impaired exercise tolerance. This prospective study assessed fatigue and recuperative capacity after repeated exercise, and examined whether changing concentrations in biomarkers upon exercise are associated with fatigue.Twenty sarcoidosis patients and 10 healthy volunteers performed maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests on two successive days. Concentrations of cytokines, stress hormones, ACE and CK were assessed before and after the two exercise tests, and 3 days thereafter. All participants completed a sleep diary.Severely fatigued patients showed significant lower VO₂ max (p = 0.038, p = 0.022) and maximal workload (p = 0.034, p = 0.028) on both exercise tests compared to healthy controls. No impairment of maximal exercise testing was demonstrated during the second cycling test in any group. Fatigue was not correlated with changes in concentrations of biomarkers upon exercise. Severely fatigued patients rated both tests as significantly more fatiguing, and reported significant lower mean subjective night sleeping time during the testing period.Fatigue in sarcoidosis patients cannot be objectified by reduction of exercise capacity after repeated maximal exercise testing, and is not correlated with significant changes in biomarkers. Severe fatigue is only and consistently featured by patient reported outcomes.     

Reliability and validity of the 6-min walk test in adults and seniors with intellectual disabilities

IntroductionAdults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have significantly lower rates of physical activity and fitness than adults without ID. The 6-min walk test (6MWT) is an inexpensive and simple way to test mobility and submaximal work capacity.PurposeTo evaluate the test–retest reliability and validity of the 6MWT in adults and seniors with ID and explore factors contributing to the 6MWT distance (6MWD).Methods46 participants with mild, moderate and severe ID levels (age = 41 ± 11 years) performed the 6MWT three times (T1; T2; T3) to determine test–retest reliability. To test validity, peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) was measured using a treadmill protocol. To analyze factors contributing to the 6MWD, sex, height, fat mass % and fat free mass %, ID level, isometric leg strength and relative VO₂ peak were also measured.ResultsThe walking distances for T1, T2 and T3 were 460.3 ± 76.9; 489.4 ± 81.2 and 491.4 ± 77.9 m, respectively. The 6MWDs between T1–T2 and T1–T3 were significantly different (p < 0.001), but T2 and T3 were not different. The intraclass correlation coefficient between T2 and T3 was 0.96 indicating high reliability. Relative VO₂ peak and isometric leg strength significantly contributed to the 6MWD (R² = 0.55).ConclusionsThe 6MWT is an easy, inexpensive, reliable and valid test in adults and seniors with ID. Familiarization is necessary to obtain reliable values. Relative VO₂ peak and leg strength have significant impact on the distance walked.     

Seizure precipitants in Dravet syndrome: What events and activities are specifically provocative compared with other epilepsies?

ObjectivesThis study aimed to describe seizure precipitants in Dravet syndrome (DS) compared with other epilepsies.MethodsSeizure precipitants as reported in a Dutch cohort of patients with DS with pathogenic SCN1A mutations (n = 71) were compared with those of a cohort with childhood epilepsy (n = 149) and of a community-based cohort with epilepsy (n = 248); for all three Dutch cohorts, the same type of questionnaire was used. Seizure precipitants were categorized as ‘fever’, ‘visual stimuli’, ‘sleep deprivation’, ‘stress, including physical exercise’, ‘auditory stimuli’, and ‘other’.ResultsFor 70 (99%) of 71 patients with DS, at least one seizure precipitant was recalled by parents. Seizure precipitants that were reported in more than half of the cohort with DS were as follows: having a fever (97%), having a cold (68%), taking a bath (61%), having acute moments of stress (58%), and engaging in physical exercise (56%). Seizure precipitants freely recalled by parents were often related to ambient warmth or cold–warmth shifts (41%) and to various visual stimuli (18%).Patients with DS had more positive seizure precipitant categories (median 4) compared with the cohort with childhood epilepsy (median 2) and the community-based cohort with epilepsy (median 0) (p < 0.001) and showed the highest percentage in each category (all p < 0.001). Within the category ‘stress, including physical exercise’, physical exercise was more often reported to provoke seizures in stress-sensitive patients in the cohort with DS than in the cohort with childhood epilepsy (78% vs. 35%, p < 0.001). In the cohort with childhood epilepsy, physical exercise was more often reported in fever-sensitive children than in other children (25% vs. 12%, p = 0.042).ConclusionsOur study shows a high prevalence of a range of seizure precipitants in DS. Our results underscore elevated body temperature as an important seizure precipitant, whether caused by fever, warm bath, ambient warmth, or physical exercise. Knowledge of these seizure precipitants may improve preventive strategies in the otherwise difficult treatment of DS.     

Physical fitness assessment in multiple sclerosis patients: A controlled study

There is growing evidence to show the effectiveness of physical exercise for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Aim of this study was to evaluate aerobic capacity, strength, balance, and the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) after exercise, in ambulatory patients with mild MS and matched control healthy participants. Seventeen MS patients aged 48.09 ± 10.0 years, with mild MS disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale: EDSS 1.5 to 4.5) and 10 healthy sedentary age matched (41.9 ± 11.2 years) subjects volunteered for the study. MS patients underwent medical examination with resting electrocardiogram, arterial blood pressure, EDSS, and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale-MFIS. Both groups also underwent physical assessment with the Berg Balance Scale^, test (Berg), Six Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC) of forearm, lower limb, shoulder strength test, and the Borg 10-point scale test. The one-way ANOVA showed significant differences for MFIS (F_1.19 = 9.420; p < 0.01), Berg (F_1.19 = 13.125; p < 0.01), handgrip MIVC (F_1.19 = 4.567; p < 0.05), lower limbs MIVC (F_1.19 = 7.429; p < 0.01), and 6MWT (F_1.19 = 28.061; p < 0.01) between groups. EDSS, Berg test and Borg scores explained 80% of 6MWT variation. Mild grade EDSS patients exhibited impaired balance, muscle strength, and low self pace-6MWT scores, whereas RPE response after the exercise was similar to that of sedentary individuals. Both groups showed similar global physiological adjustments to exercise.     

Cardiorespiratory response to exercise in men and women with obstructive sleep apnea

BackgroundOSA severity has been associated with self-reported lack of exercise. Most of the research has been done with men recruited from sleep clinics. There is limited data on the exercise performance of women with OSA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess exercise performance in a prospective, consecutive sample of men and women with OSA to compare their cardio respiratory parameters, arterial blood pressure and heart rate responses during and after exercise.MethodsSixty-two subjects (32 men) completed the protocol. Men had a higher peak VO₂, percent predicted peak VO₂, VCO₂, heart rate, systolic BP, and oxygen pulse than women.ResultsThere were no differences between men and women for peak oxygen saturation, peak Borg scales for dyspnea and leg fatigue and diastolic BP. A significant negative correlation was found between severity of OSA as measured by AHI, and peak VO₂ (r = ?0.4) in women, but not in men.ConclusionMen with OSA have higher peak VO₂ and higher peak exercise heart rate than women with OSA; they also have higher end-exercise systolic BP than women and higher SBP during recovery from exercise; although this difference is not significant when adjusted for peak systolic BP. In men with OSA, there is no correlation between peak VO₂ and AHI, but there is a significant correlation between these variables in women. Heart rate and blood pressure behaved similarly during exercise in both groups.     

Association between arterial stiffness,cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Arterial stiffness may be a cause of cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment. We therefore performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies on the association between stiffness, cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment. For the associations between stiffness (i.e. carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), carotid stiffness and pulse pressure) on the one hand and cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment on the other, we identified 23 (n = 15,666/20 cross-sectional; 1 longitudinal; 2 combined cross-sectional/longitudinal) and 41 studies (n = 57,671/26 cross-sectional; 11 longitudinal; 4 combined cross-sectional/longitudinal), respectively. Pooled analyses of cross-sectional studies showed that greater stiffness was associated with markers of cerebral small vessel disease with odds ratios, per +1 SD, of 1.29–1.32 (P < .001). Studies on cognitive impairment could not be pooled due to large heterogeneity. Some (but not all) studies showed an association between greater stiffness and cognitive impairment, and the strength of this association was relatively weak. The present study supports the hypothesis that greater arterial stiffness is a contributor to microvascular brain disease.     

Severity of depressive symptomatology and functional impairment in children and adolescents with temporal lobe epilepsy

ObjectiveDepression is a frequent psychiatric disorder in children with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However, severity of depressive symptoms (DS) is frequently neglected in these patients. This study aimed to determine severity of DS and global functioning by using quantitative measures and to establish their correlation with patients’ demographics and clinical variables.Methods31 children (mean age of 11.8 ± 2.3 years) with TLE were assessed with K-SADS-PL for axis I DSM-IV diagnosis. Severity of DS was measured by Children Depression Rating Scale-Revised – CDRS-R. Global functional impairment was evaluated with Child Global Assessment Scale-CGAS.Results25 patients (56% boys; 12 ± 2.3 years) had current DS, moderate or severe in 84% according to CDRS-R T-Score. Severity of DS was not correlated with age (p = 0.377), gender (p = 0.132), seizure control (p = 0.936), age of onset (p = 0.731), duration of epilepsy (p = 0.602) and the presence of hippocampal sclerosis (p = 0.614). Patients had moderate to major functional impairment measured by CGAS (48.7 ± 8.8), being adolescents more impaired than children (p = 0.03). Impairment of global functioning was not associated with epilepsy variables (p > 0.05).ConclusionChildren with TLE had moderate to severe DS early in the course of their disease with a relevant impact on their global functional activities, especially considering adolescents. Epilepsy severity seems not to be correlated to the severity of DS, contradicting the idea of a cause–consequence relationship. More systematic research is needed to better understand the association of depressive disorders in children and adolescents with TLE.     

Variability of cognitive development in children with Down syndrome: Relevance of good reasons for using the cluster procedure

The main goal of this cross-sectional study was to demonstrate that, in addition to a main change during childhood, the cognitive development of children with Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by interindividual variability in their cognitive functioning. Eighty-eight French children with DS took part in this experiment. They were divided into six chronological age groups: 6 years (N = 9), 7 years (N = 19), 8 years (N = 18), 9 years (N = 19), 10 years (N = 14) and 11 years (N = 9). They were assessed by means of the Differential Scales of Intellectual Efficiency. This test, composed of six independent scales, measures verbal abilities and nonverbal reasoning abilities. Initial analyses of the verbal and nonverbal subtest scores indicated a main change in cognitive skills. We then used a clustering approach to identify four cognitive profiles that distinguished the children with DS independently of age and gender. The results confirm that there is a growth in the cognitive skills of DS children. They also suggest that the cognitive functioning of DS children is characterized by different individual profiles. Implications for more fine-tuned research and intervention efforts are discussed.     

Cardiopulmonary fitness and endurance in children with developmental coordination disorder

The purpose of this study was to compare cardiopulmonary fitness and endurance in 9–11-year-old children with DCD against a group of typically developing children in Taiwan. The Movement ABC test was used to evaluate the motor abilities of children. Forty-one participants (20 children with DCD and 21 children without DCD) were recruited for this study. The cardiopulmonary tests included the 800-m run test and the peak oxygen consumption (peak VO₂) test using the Bruce treadmill protocol. No significant differences in age, body height, body weight, body mass index, and percentage of body fat between children with DCD and without DCD were found. However, there were significant differences in the cardiopulmonary endurance tests between children with DCD and without DCD. Children with DCD had significantly lower peak VO₂ results than children without DCD. In addition, children with DCD ran 800 m in a slower time than children without DCD. A significant negative correlation (r = ?0.437) was found between the peak VO₂ results and time to completion for the 800-m run test. Based on the results, cardiopulmonary endurance in children with DCD was worse than that of children without DCD. Due to the small sample size in this study, the results may not be a direct reflection of the entire population.     

Predicting METs from the heart rate index in persons with Down syndrome

Persons with Down syndrome (DS) have altered heart rate modulation and very low aerobic fitness. These attributes may impact the relationship between metabolic equivalent units (METs) and the heart rate index (HR_index—the ratio between heart rate during activity and resting heart rate), thereby altering the HR_index thresholds for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity. This study examined whether the relationship between METs and HR_index differs between persons with and without DS and attempted to develop thresholds for activity intensity based on the HR_index for persons with DS. METs were measured with portable spirometry and heart rate with a monitor in 18 persons with DS (25 ± 7 years; 10 women) and 18 persons without DS (26 ± 5 years; 10 women) during 6 over-ground walking trials, each lasting 6 min, at the preferred walking speed and at 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, and 1.5 m/s. The relationship between METs and HR_index in the two groups was analyzed with multi-level modeling with random intercepts and slopes. Group, HR_index, and the square of HR_index were significant predictors of METs (p < 0.001; R² = 0.65). Absolute percent error did not differ significantly between groups across speeds (DS: 19.6 ± 14.4%; non-DS: 21.0 ± 14.5%). Bland–Altman plots demonstrated somewhat greater variability in the difference between actual and predicted METs in participants with than without DS. The HR_index threshold for moderate-intensity activity was 1.32 and 1.20 for persons with and without DS, respectively. The HR_index threshold for vigorous-intensity activity was 1.80 and 1.65 for persons with and without DS, respectively. Persons with DS have an altered relationship between METs and HR_index and higher HR_index thresholds for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity.     

Gustatory and olfactory sensitivity in patients with anorexia and bulimia in the course of treatment

BackgroundThe majority of studies on taste and smell in eating disorders have revealed several alterations of olfactory or gustatory functions. Aim of this prospective study was to employ detailed olfactory and gustatory testing in female subjects of three homogenous groups – anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and healthy controls – and to look at the effects of treatment on these measures.MethodsSixteen hospitalized female patients with anorexia (restricting type, mean age [M] = 24.5 years), 24 female patients with bulimia (purging type, M = 24.3 years) as well as 23 healthy controls (M = 24.5 years) received olfactory (“Sniffin’ Sticks”) and gustatory testing (“Taste Strips”). Group differences in olfactory and gustatory sensitivity, body mass index (BMI), the Beck depression inventory, the eating attitudes test (EAT), and the influence of therapy on gustatory and olfactory function were investigated.Results(1) Group differences were present for odor discrimination and overall olfactory function with anorexic patients having the lowest scores. (2) Regarding taste function, controls scored higher than patients with anorexia. (3) At admission small but significant correlations were found between overall olfactory function and body weight (r₆₃ = 0.35), BMI (r₆₃ = 0.37), and EAT score (r₆₃ = −0.27). Similarly, (4) the taste test score correlated significantly with body weight (r₆₃ = 0.48), and BMI (r₆₃ = 0.45). Finally, (5) at discharge overall olfactory and gustatory function were significantly higher compared to admission in anorexic patients.ConclusionsAs compared to healthy controls and bulimic patients our results show lowered olfactory and gustatory sensitivities in anorexic patients that improved with increasing BMI and decreasing eating pathology in the course of treatment.     

Household task participation of children and adolescents with cerebral palsy,Down syndrome and typical development

This cross-sectional study compared patterns of household task participation (e.g., performance, assistance and independence) of youth with cerebral palsy (CP), Down syndrome (DS) and typical development (TD). Parents of 75 children and adolescents were interviewed to report on their youths’ active engagement in daily self-care and family-care tasks, using the children helping out: responsibilities, expectations and supports (CHORES) questionnaire. Groups were equivalent in age (mean = 9.3 years; SD = 2.2 years), sex (male = 39; female = 36), respondent education, presence of maid, and number of siblings at home, but differed on child cognitive function and family socioeconomic status, with the DS and the CP groups scoring lower than the TD group but not different from each other. ANOVA revealed group differences on CHORES performance of self-care tasks (p = 0.004), on total participation score (p = 0.04) and on assistance scores (p < 0.02). Post hoc comparisons showed that TD group scored higher than CP and DS groups on performance and assistance in self-care tasks and total assistance; TD and CP groups were similar on total performance and assistance in family-care tasks. The groups also differed on independence indices; the TD index was greater than the CP and DS, and the CP index was greater than the DS. Parents from the three groups did not differ on ratings of importance regarding their children's household participation (p = 0.416). In spite of observed differences, children and adolescents with CP and DS are actively engaged in daily self-care and family-care tasks; their participation at home is not prevented by the presence of their disabilities.     

Immune and inflammation responses to a 3-day period of intensified running versus cycling

Functional overreaching has been linked to alterations in immunity and host pathogen defense, but little is known as to whether or not running and cycling evoke different responses. This study compared inflammation, muscle damage and soreness, and innate immune function responses to a 3-day period of intensified exercise in trained long distance runners (N = 13, age 34.4 ± 2.4 year) and cyclists (N = 22, age 36.6 ± 1.7 year, P = 0.452). Upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) symptomatology was monitored for 12 weeks using the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey (WURSS), and subjects from both athletic groups came to the lab during week five and exercised 2.5 h/day for 3 days in a row at 70% VO_2max. Blood samples were collected before and after the 3-day period of exercise, with recovery samples collected 1-, 14-, and 38 h-post-exercise. Samples were analyzed for muscle damage [creatine kinase (CK), myoglobin (MYO)], inflammation (CRP, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MCP), and innate immunity [granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis (GR-PHAG and MO-PHAG) and oxidative burst activity (GR-OBA and MO-OBA)]. Runners compared to cyclists experienced significantly more muscle damage (CK 133% and MYO 404% higher post-3 days exercise), inflammation (CRP 87%, IL-6 256%, IL 8 61%, IL-10 32%, MCP 29%), and delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS, 87%). The 3-day period of exercise caused significant downturns in GR-PHAG, MO-PHAG, GR-OBA, MO-OBA by 14- and 38 h-recovery, but the pattern of change did not differ between groups. No group differences were measured for 12-week URTI severity (18.3 ± 5.6 and 16.6 ± 4.0, P = 0.803) and symptom scores (33.4 ± 12.6 and 24.7 ± 5.8, P = 0.477). These data indicate that a 3-day period of functional overreaching results in substantially more muscle damage and soreness, and systemic inflammation in runners compared to cyclists, but without group differences for 12-week URTI symptomatology and post-exercise decrements in innate immune function.     

Assessment of physical fitness and exercise tolerance in children with developmental coordination disorder

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) have been shown to be less physically fit when compared to their typically developing peers. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among body composition, physical fitness and exercise tolerance in children with and without DCD. Thirty-seven children between the ages of 7 and 9 years participated in this study. Participants were classified according to results obtained on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC) and were divided in 2 groups: 19 children with DCD and 18 children without DCD. All children performed the following physical fitness tests: The five-jump test (5JT), the triple-hop distance (THD) and the modified agility test (MAT). Walking distance was assessed using the 6-min walking test (6MWT). Children with DCD showed higher scores than children without DCD in all MABC subscale scores, as well as in the total score (p < 0.001). Participants with DCD were found to perform significantly worse on the MAT (p < 0.001), the THD (p < 0.001) and 5JT (p < 0.05). Moreover, children with DCD had poorer performance on the 6MWT than children without DCD (p < 0.01). Our results found significant correlations among body mass index (BMI), THD (r = 0.553, p < 0.05), 5JT (r = 0.480, p < 0.05) and 6MWT (r = 0.544, p < 0.05) only in DCD group. A significant correlation between MAT and 5JT (r = −0.493, p < 0.05) was found. Similarly, THD and 5JT (r = 0.611, p < 0.01) was found to be correlated in children with DCD. We also found relationships among 6MWT and MAT (r = −0.522, p < 0.05) and the 6MWT and 5JT (r = 0.472, p < 0.05) in DCD group. In addition, we found gender specific patterns in the relationship between exercise tolerance, explosive strength, power, DCD, and BMI. In conclusion, the present study revealed that BMI was indicative of poorer explosive strength, power and exercise tolerance in children with DCD compared to children without DCD probably due to a limited coordination on motor control.