Iranian Journal of Health And Physical Activity
Volume:2 Issue: 1, 2011

The present study aims to evaluate Cardioprotection effects of exercise training and curcumin on myocardial damage induced by lead acetate. Forty-eight rats were randomly divided into six groups of the base, sham, lead, exercise, curcumin and exercise+curcumin (EC). The rats in the exercise and (EC) groups performed the progressive treadmill running of 15 to 22 m/min for 25 to 64 min, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. Lead, exercise, curcumin and (EC) groups received lead acetate (20 mg/kg), and sham, curcumin and (EC) groups received curcumin solvent)ethyloleat(and curcumin solution (30 mg/kg). Cardiac tissue was removed of aorta hiratus and homogenized for the estimation of troponin I, using ELISA. CK-MB and lead was determined in serum by immunological DGKE method and atomic absorption Spectrophotometry methods, respectively. Injection of lead acetate into intra-peritoneal resulted in a significant increase of the CK-MB levels. However, treadmill running exercise and curcumin supplementation resulted in a significant decrease of CK-MB levels while there was no significant difference in troponin I levels. The results of this study suggest the cardioprotective potential of administration of exercise and curcumin in ameliorating the lead-induced cardiotoxicity in rats through a decrease of myocardial damage markers.

Body movement in disabled people is one of the important problems due to their physical and motor limitations. For this purpose, the present study is conducted to compare the mental health of the athlete and non- athlete physically disabled people in the city of Rasht. The sample population was 183(94 athletes and 89 non-athletes) disabled people from the city of Rasht, who were selected randomly. The measuring instrument of the study was The Multidimensional Health Questionnaire (MHQ) which includes 20 sub-scales of mental health. The collected data were analyzed using ANOVA test and t-student test. The results of the study indicated that there is a significant difference between mental health and sub-scales of the athletes and non-athletes physically disabled people (P < 0.05).The results of this study indicated that the mental health of the physically disabled people and the 20 sub-scales of the athletes were better than those of the physically disabled non-athletes. Therefore it seems necessary that sports and physical activities be more attended to in the daily schedule of disabled people.

It has been shown that regular endurance exercise is a widely recognized modality to raise plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, but the results reported in studies of the effect of supra-maximal /maximal high intensity or power and anaerobic based sports and exercise on lipoprotein are conflicting. The purposes of the present study were to investigate the effect of a single session of wrestling technique–based circuit exercise (WTBCE) on acute responses of glucose and lipoprotein profiles and the time course change of these metabolites. Twenty young, male elite wrestlers (age 20 ±. 6 year, height 172.6 ± 2.10 cm, weight 71.05 ± 3.71 kg., and 24.54 ± 0.63 kg/m2 in BMI) volunteered to participate in the present study. Design and Exercise Protocol: Subjects were asked to complete a single WTBCE (10 techniques or stations separated by 10m, 3 non-stops circuits for 2 sets and one competitive wrestling practice). Blood samples were collected 30min before, immediately after the exercise, and 30min after the exercise. Repeated Measures Analysis of variance was used to analyze the data. Plasma glucose and HDL-C were significantly (p <0.001, 0.04) changed. There was no significant change in TG and TC concentrations. The present data indicate that a WTBCE was able to generate an acute change in HDL-C and glucose concentration and it can be considered as a stimulus for improvement of plasma HDL-C levels.

This study is to investigate the relationship between salivary IgA and cortisol concentration and the data elicited through the administration of French society of sports medicine questionnaire of psychological overtraining symptoms in elite soccer players. Accordingly, from among the Iranian premier league players, 30 participants with the mean and standard deviation of 24.1± 3.79 in years, 180± 7.29 centimeters in height, 75.2 ± 8.09 kg in weight, 22.97 ± 1.21 kg/ square height in meter in body mass index, and 53.26 ± 2.79 milliliter per kilogram body weight per minute in aerobic power were selected voluntarily and purposefully as the sample. In the rest day following the exercise (24 hours with no exercise), the psychological overtraining symptoms questionnaire, including 54 “Yes/No” question items, were administered to the players. On the same day, three specimens of every player’s saliva were taken at certain intervals (8:00 A.M., 11:00 A.M., and 5:00 P.M.). These specimens were used to measure the average concentration of cortisol during the day. In this sampling, IgA concentration was measured from the 11:00 A.M. specimen. Subsequently, the data was analyzed using the descriptive statistical methods and Spearman rank correlation coefficient formula, which suggested a significant, positive relationship between the questionnaire results as the psychological overtraining index and cortisol concentration at 8:00 A.M. and 11:00 A.M., respectively (r=0.71; r=0.62; r=0.61; p<.01). However, there proved to remain a significant, negative correlation between the questionnaire results and IgA concentration (r= -0.51; p<.05).The findings of the study suggest that the psychological overtraining symptoms questionnaire can be a positive tool in determining and preventing the overtraining phenomenon.

The purpose of this study was investigating the contradiction between different types of memory representations. These viewpoints are based on generality and specificity of motor skill learning and the practice outcome. Sixteen players, divided into different groups of less- experienced group (less than six-month experience) to well- experienced group (at least eight years of experience) participated in this study. Each player performed 147 shoots in 3 sets and 21 blocks. The results of the current study showed that, in well-experienced group, there was a significant difference between predicted and actual free throw performance in the foul line. However, in less-experienced group, no significant difference was observed between predicted and actual free throw performance in the foul line. Significant differences were observed between predicted and actual free throw performance in the foul line may be explained by different reasons such as visual context, specific motor program, specific parameterization, etc. Further studies need to be conducted in order to explain them. However, many concepts of schema theory such as variable exercise, the storage problem and generality of the schema should not be viewed as certain. A New theory is needed in motor control in order to explain the special effects and specific memory representations in the massed practiced skills.

This study investigated the factor structure, validity, and internal reliability of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) in Danish depressed patients. The mediating role of self-esteem in physical self-perceptions and negative affect relationship were examined. A sample of 96 Danish psychiatric patients completed the PSPP, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The Danish version of the PSPP showed high internal consistency. Applying the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the PSPP to be used with depressed patients. The data were more consistent with the four-factor model than with a combined three-factor model. PSPP significantly discriminated between healthy subjects (n=46) and patients (p<0.005). A path analysis indicated the role of Physical Self-Worth as a mediator between the PSPP sub-domains and self-esteem and depression. The strong content validity and construct validity confirmed the PSPP application to depressed patients.

The aim of the research is to study the differences between sport injuries made at professional and nonprofessional track and field in Iranian female students. The present study is a descriptive and causative-comparative one, using retrospective technique. This study was conducted to determine the amount of injuries in professional and nonprofessional track and field female athletes participating in Country-wide Students competitions in 2009, and to compare the injuries in these two categories. The data related to all competitors including weight, age, athletic record, and also the type of injury and the location injured were recorded using a researcher-made closed questionnaire with Cronbakh α (α=0/9), the validity and reliability of which were reexamined on the statistical sample. The data were analyzed using U-man Whitney descriptive and inferential statistics and SPSS-11 software. Considering the findings of the research, no significant difference was found between the injuries in different body parts, in professional and non-professional groups. (p=0.577, u=170.5). Most injuries were that of muscle-tendon injuries, and the lower limbs were determined as the most vulnerable parts. In the present study, no significant difference was found between injuries in professionals and nonprofessionals. Perhaps one reason is that in Iran, athletes do not exercise constantly, and no demanding and exhausting exercise is done by track and field players. Further research should be done on the isssue to determine if there is any difference between professionals and nonprofessionals in terms of injuries, and for the reasons as well, to provide strategies to decrease the injuries in both groups. Results of this research can be used in pre-semester examinations to prevent from further subsequent injuries, considering the strategies available. Consequently, the most important usage of this research is to prevent the occurrence of subsequent injuries by identifying apt injured athletes, and to provide preventive strategies

To determine the applicability of a multivariate test battery in youth soccer players, we made a comparison between 45 elite and 51 sub-elite youth soccer players concerning physiological, psychological, anthropometrical and technical factors. Some researchers (e.g., Reilly et al., 2000) have also proposed similar TI models to be applied on soccer schemes. The players completed the ACSI-28 questionnaire as a psychological test. Also, all players performed the FA soccer star tests in order for their technical characteristics to be determined. The seven measures in anthropometrical cluster analysis include: height, body mass, body fat percentage and four girths (waist, shoulder, mid-thigh, calf). Besides, five tests performed by players to determine their physiological characteristics: Vertical jump, sit-ups, 280 meter shuttle run, 10 and 40 meter sprints. The results of present study demonstrated significant differences between elite and sub-elite players in the four measured clusters. A significant difference was also found in age as a covariate. The most distinguishing factors, accentuating the importance of speed in TI models, were 40-m sprint and shuttle run (among physiological factors), peaking under pressure (among psychological factors) and speed (among technical factors).. There were significant differences between U14 and U15 groups in physiological and technical factors. Besides, the elite U16 players scored better than their sub-elite peers in psychological and technical measurements. The results indicated that a multivariate approach, considering age differences, can successfully distinguish elite soccer players from sub-elite players at young ages

Sport mechanical stresses are effective stimuli for strengthening bone tissue. By the beginning of Menopause, assimilation of bone tissue increases. The object of this study was to compare some bone and Calsium metabolism indices in active and inactive Menopause women (MW). For this purpose, urinary and serum Calcium and Phosphorus, Alkaline Phosphatase (AP), Acid Phosphatase and Parathormone and Calcitonine hormone (CH) were measured. 14 MW who had an experience in sport, in Sabsevar sport clubs, were taken as active group and 14 MW who used to go to park of Mellat as leisure were chosen as the inactive group. There were no significant differences between two groups in height, age of menopause, weight, BMI and body fat percentage. Also, for the sake of accurate comparison, other variables such as: blood pressure, rest heart rate, WHR and Vo2max were measured. Subjects did not take any specific drugs. 80 cc of second morning urine and 10 ml of vein blood were taken from subjects before the breakfast. In order for the data comparison of two groups, t-student test was used. 1- Serum calcium rate, serum Parathormone and bone AP in active MW were significantly lower than inactive women, and CH rate in active MW was significantly higher than inactive women (p<0.05). 2- There were no significant differences between urine calcium, serum and urine Phosphorus, Resisted Acid Phosphatase to serum Tartarate and between Calcium ration to urine creatinin, among active MW and inactive women. It seems that prolonged regular physical activity can influence calcium and bone metabolism indices in MW and prevent bone degeneration, and with the reduction of Parathormone and the increase of CH, the bone tissue is prevented from losing calcium and other minerals.

This research aims to study the impact of massage on decreasing subcutaneous fat of the stomach area in non-sportsperson male university students. In order to do that, 16 non-sportsperson male students of the ages of 20 to 27 who were of good general health were chosen randomly to participate in the research. The thickness of subcutaneous fat of stomach area was measured using a SKIN FOLD Caliper (Made in Iran with American spring and measuring error of 0.5 millimeters), before and after the research. After the first measuring, all the participants were subjected to a 6-week massage program designed specifically for the stomach area, which included 5 sessions a week, 15 to 20 minutes of massage per session. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate mean values and standard deviation values of the age, weight, and height of the participants, and correlated t statistic method (p<0.05) was used to calculate the difference between subcutaneous fat values before and after the research. The results of the study showed that a 6-week massage program had an impact in decreasing subcutaneous fat of the stomach area of the participants and there was a significant difference between the mean values of subcutaneous fat of the participants before and after the massage program, at the level of p<0.05. Therefore, regarding that the results of this study confirm the role of a designed massage program in decreasing the subcutaneous fat of the stomach area, using massage as a method for increasing local metabolism, and as a result, for stimulating local fat burning, can be an effective method for decreasing local fats of stomach area.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease afflicting the central nervous system and destroying the myelin sheath of the central nervous system. The most common complications of MS are fatigue, Muscle cramps, Chills, squint, imbalance and gait disorders. This study aims at investigating the effect of aquatic aerobic training for 8 weeks on the speed of walking in female MS patients with high and low-degree Multiple Sclerosis. In this quasi-experimental study, 46 female MS patients were randomly assigned into 4 groups based on the degree of Illness and age range. The participants’ average duration of illness was 4 1 years, and their age ranged from 20 to 25 years. They were divided in two experimental groups with EDSS 1-4 (15 people) and EDSS 4.5-6.5 (11 people) and two control groups with high and low EDSS (10 people). The experimental group participated in the training program for 8 weeks, three sessions per week with the intensity of 40-50 percent of the maximum heart rate. The speed of walking (SOW) was measured in both the experimental and control groups before and after the exercise. Then the collected data was analyzed using independent and paired t-test. The results of the study showed that there was a significant improvement in the SOW in the two experimental groups after 8 weeks (High EDSS P<0/044 and low EDSS p<0.003). Accordingly, we observed a significant difference between the SOW in patients with high EDSS and low EDSS (p<0.001). As the results of this study indicate, aquatic aerobic exercise can improve the SOW in MS patients, particularly those with high degree MS. Thus, we recommend that therapists use aquatic aerobic exercises as a supplementary treatment beside medical treatments for MS patients.