The degree of generality between the endurance characteristics of the one mile run and PWC170 tests was examined with a group of fifteen year old boys who performed both tests once a week for three weeks. A significant improvement in performance of both tests was found between trials 1 and 2, which was sustained between trials 2 and 3. These results suggest that norm scales regarding performanc...

The purpose of this study was to determine physical capacity, gross efficiency (GE), and physical strain (PS) of 16 male handcycle users during a 10K race, and to relate these to race performance. All subjects used a handcycle system attached to their own wheelchair and were classified into a group with (A1/A2; N=10) and without (A3; N=6) upper-limb impairments. The PS was defined as the mean h...

OBJECTIVE To assess the relationships among physical activity, measured objectively, and attention capacity in European adolescents. STUDY DESIGN The study included 273 adolescents, aged 12.5-17.5 years, who participated in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Study. Participants wore a uniaxial accelerometer for 7 days to measure physical activity. The d2 Test of Atten...

BACKGROUND In the general population, regular practice of physical exercises is associated with improved physical capacity and reduction of cardiovascular events. Concerning patients with chronic kidney disease, a population with significant impairment of physical capacity and high rates of cardiovascular mortality, few studies have evaluated the effects of physical activity. OBJECTIVE To eva...

As with any new and growing field of study, building capacity for research, teaching, and training remains of central importance. Capacity-building in the Physical Activity and Public Health field is perhaps even more critical, given the few formal doctoral training programs in the field and that we are a hybrid of exercise science, behavioral science, and public health science. This supplement...

BACKGROUND The mining industry has one of the highest occupational rates of serious injury and fatality. Mine staff involved with rescue operations are often required to respond to physically challenging situations. This paper describes the physical attributes of mining rescue personnel. METHODS 91 rescue personnel (34 +/- 8.6 yrs, 1.79 +/- 0.07 m, 90 +/- 15.0 kg) participating in the Queensl...

Analysis of the results of two cross country races, one on foot and one on skis, in which nearly 10,000 men competed showed that performance is very closely matched with age. There is a decrease of 5-10% in the performance every 10 years from optimum age for the event. This optimum varies for different types of physical activity. Studies in a small group of women showed similar variations.

OBJECTIVES Questionnaires on physical activity (PA) and physical capacity (PC) are valuable tools, as they are cost beneficial, and have high response rates. The validity of short versions of such questionnaires has not been examined satisfactorily. Therefore, we aimed at examining the validity of a set of questions coding for PA and PC. DESIGN The questions were administered to 217 men and w...

BACKGROUND Within the animal kingdom, horses are among the most powerful aerobic athletic mammals. Determination of muscle respiratory capacity and control improves our knowledge of mitochondrial physiology in horses and high aerobic performance in general. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We applied high-resolution respirometry and multiple substrate-uncoupler-inhibitor titration protocols to ...

Competitive swimmers require a high aerobic capacity to support the sustained performance of severe exercise. Maximal oxygen uptake values and blood lactate concentrations were measured in ten male and fifteen female swimmers from the Scottish National and Youth Squads 1981-82. Lung function tests were also performed to determine pulmonary efficiency. The results of these studies were compared ...