Déclaration de consensus sur l’entraînement de l’enfant au sport d’élite

Protecting the health of the athlete is the primary goal of the International Olympic Committee's Medical Commission. One of its main objectives is the promotion of safe practices in the training of the elite child athlete. The elite child athlete is one who has superior athletic talent, undergoes specialised training, receives expert coaching and is exposed to early competition. Sport provides a positive environment that may enhance the physical growth and psychological development of children. This unique athlete population has distinct social, emotional and physical needs, which vary depending on the athlete's particular stage of maturation. The elite child athlete requires appropriate training, coaching and competition that ensure a safe and healthy athletic career and promote future well-being. This document reviews the scientific basis of sports training in the child, the special challenges and unique features of training elite children and provides recommendations to parents, coaches, health care providers, sports governing bodies and significant other parties.     

Intérêt d’un réentraînement à l’effort intermittent individualisé chez l’adolescent obèse

Introduction

To assess in six obese teenagers, the effects of 30 sessions (three days/week) of 50-minute individualised interval training on cardiorespiratory and metabolic parameters at rest and during exercise.

Synthesis

After this programme, fat mass decreases (10.8%) while BMI did not change. The expiratory reserve volume improved (44.6%). Maximal aerobic power, oxygen pulse and maximal ventilation are higher (12.4%; 16.9%; 17.2% respectively). First and second ventilatory threshold are increased (26.1% and 17.3%).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the efficiency of this individualised training programme for obese teenagers. Such a programme may therefore provides additional benefits in weight management of obesity.     

Contrôle biologique de l’entraînement sportif par spectrométrie IR-TF

The aim of our study is to develop and validate a biological technique of analysis by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry which uses a microcapillary taken away to measure 19 serum biological parameters.     

Effet d'un entraînement en endurance sur les concentrations de l'IGF-1 plasmatique chez le rat

Introduction

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of endurance training on IGF-1, corticosterone and insulin levels in male sedentary and trained rats.

Facts

IGF-1 concentrations decrease after training (p < 0.05), those of corticosterone increase (p < 0.01) whereas insulin levels remain stable.

Conclusion

A short period of endurance training leads to catabolic state with a decrease in IGF-1 concentrations and increase in corticosterone levels.     

Adaptations myocardiques chez l'enfant prépubère soumis à un entraînement intensif. Étude comparative entre une population de gymnastes et de nageurs

Introduction. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the cardiac structure and function in prepubertal highly-trained swimmers and gymnasts. Method. Thirty-five children (10–11 years) were investigated: nine swimmers (S), 15 gymnasts (G) and 11 as a control group (C). The swimmers and gymnasts had trained on average 10 to 12 h/wk for at least 2 years. The subjects were examined at rest by M-mode, bi-dimensional and Doppler analyses according to standard procedures recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography. The following parameters were obtained: left ventricular (LV) internal dimension at end-diastole (LVIDd) and at end-systole —posterior wall and interventricular septal thicknesses -Left ventricular mass (Lvmass) — LV shortening fraction — ejection fraction — peak velocity of early diastolic rapid inflow and of atrial contraction filling — mitral acceleration and deceleration — isovolumic relaxation time. In addition, the cardiac output was evaluated from transaortic Doppler examinations. The heart rate (Hr) was measured simultaneously with all echocardiographic examinations. Results.- The main results show that LV internal diastolic dimensions and LV mass were significantly higher in S than in the other two groups. No differences were however observed between groups regarding cardiac wall thicknesses. Moreover, all values of G were very close to those obtained by C. Both systolic and diastolic functions were normal in the three groups. Finally, the stroke volume (SV) was higher in S than in the other two groups and because of a bradycardia observed among S, the resting cardiac output was similar in the three groups. The higher LVIDd in S still persisted after correction for Hr. A low diastolic period associated with higher LVIDs can probably explain the high SV in S. Conclusion.- Our results strongly suggest that cardiac structure and function adaptations can occur in prepubertal children as a result of an intensive training program prolonged over a long-term period, only if this program is predominantly based on aerobic exercises. Whatever the kind of sport, neither LV systolic nor diastolic functions are affected by training during prepuberty. Further investigations will however be needed in order to better understand diastolic function adaptations to intensive aerobic training in children.