The symptoms of anemia, decreases in the levels of circulating red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) lead to decrease endurance performance, and the risk of anemia increases in female endurance athletes. Although Hb is composed of a large amount of amino acids, the relationships between circulating levels of amino acids and RBC, Hb and Ht in female endurance athletes have not been clarified yet. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between circulating levels of amino acids and RBC, Hb and Ht in female endurance athletes. Twenty-four female endurance athletes (19.8 ± 0.2 years) participated in this study. We measured circulating levels of RBC, Hb and Ht from blood. Also, we measured circulating levels of amino acids from plasma by use of comprehensive analysis. The levels of circulating RBC, Hb and Ht in all subjects were within the normal range. We found that circulating taurine levels were significantly correlated with RBC (r = 0.48, p < 0.05), Hb (r = 0.44, p < 0.05) and Ht (r = 0.42, p < 0.05) in female endurance athletes. In the present study, we demonstrated that circulating taurine levels were significantly associated with RBC, Hb and Ht in female endurance athletes. These results suggest that circulating taurine levels may be a predictor of anemia and treatment strategy for anemia.

Non-contact anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is one of the most severe knee problems for female athletes. Several studies have reported that the decreased lower limb control of women such as decrease of hip abductions muscle strength increase the risk of ACL injury. Also ACL Injury often occurs as a result of knee valgus collapse during single leg landing or pivoting in sports activities like basketball. Female basketball players often show an excessive knee valgus and hip adduction during the play. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of hip abductions muscle strength on knee alignment during a single leg landing. Thirty healthy female basketball players participated in this study. Mean age, height, body weight and plyer career were 17.3 years old±3.7, 162.7cm±17.2, 56.2kg±10.9, 8.9 years±3.8 respectively. All subjects were obtained written consent from after explanation of the procedure. Significant negative correlations showed that greater hip abductor peak torque (hip flexion 0 and 30degrees) exhibited less motion toward the knee valgus direction during single leg landing. And also, dynamic Trendelenburg test showed that all positive reactions cause knee valgus direction. These results suggest keeping proper knee position safety during single leg landing; female basketball player should improve the hip abductions muscle strength. Hip joint control will be a major issue for prevention of the non-contact ACL injury.

The study aimed to assess a self-reported questionnaire about physical activity (PA) from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) using triaxial accelerometer as a criterion. Elementary school boys (N=292) and girls (N=313) in the fourth grade and higher completed the questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for at least 10 h/day for at least 4 days. The phi coefficients of the chi-square test 2-way tables (active/inactive as measured using the HBSC questionnaire × achievement/non-achievement of the recommended 60-min moderate to vigorous PA [MVPA] as measured using the accelerometer) were 0.25 (P<0.001), 0.17 (P=0.009), and 0.08 (P=0.217) for all children, boys, and girls, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity in boys were 82% (95% confidence interval [CI]=78-86%) and 34% (95%CI=26-41%) respectively, while the those of girls were 52% (95%CI=40-63%), 57% (95%CI=55-60%). The positive predictive value in boys was 70% (95%CI=66-73%) and negative predictive value in girls was 83% (95%CI=79-87%). The independent t-test showed that moderate PA (MPA), vigorous PA (VPA), and MVPA min/day of active children were significantly higher than those of inactive children (range of Cohen’s d=0.38 to 0.71). Area under the curve (AUC) of the VPA (AUC = 0.60–0.73) in girls was significantly higher than that of the MPA (AUC = 0.52–0.65) and MVPA (AUC = 0.54–0.67). Our results supported that the HBSC self-reported questionnaire has acceptable, but limited agreement for assessing achievement/non-achievement of the MVPA recommendation, and could estimate the differences in the MPA, VPA, and MVPA min/day of children.

We examined the relationship between the timing of habitual physical activities and sleep quality in older adults. The subjects were Japanese community-dwelling older adults (n=49, average age 70.1±3.5 years; men: 36.7%). We measured habitual physical activity using a 3-axis accelerometer (HJA-350 IT, Omron) for a week. Timing of physical activity was classified into the following three periods: (1) morning: waking to 11:59, (2) afternoon: 12:00 to 17:59, and (3) night: 18:00 to bedtime. We also categorized the intensity of habitual physical activity during 2 sessions as either (1) low (1.6-2.9 METs) or (2) moderate-to-vigorous (≧3.0 METs) intensity. The subjective sleep parameters were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). We used a forced-entry multiple regression analysis to investigate the relationships between subjective sleep parameters and the timing of physical activities. Forced-entry multiple regression analysis revealed that sleep latency and PSQI global score were positively correlated with low-intensity physical activity at night. However, there was no significant correlation with moderate-to-vigorous activity. These results suggest that low-intensity habitual physical activity at night would be one useful and modifiable factor to improve sleep quality in the elderly.

The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) is a self-reported questionnaire for assessment of physical activity and has been validated in many countries among adults. However, there are few studies about the validity of IPAQ for children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of moderate to vigorous physical activity according to the modified version the IPAQ for Japanese Early Adolescents (IPAQ-JEA). Ninety-two adolescents aged 10-13 years participated in this study. The validity of the IPAQ-JEA criteria was tested using an activity monitor (Active style Pro, HJA-350IT; ASP). Daily physical activity was continuously monitored for one week by ASP. The participants were asked to complete the IPAQ-JEA after wearing the ASP. The epoch length of ASP was set at 1-min in this study (ASP_1-min). According to the minute by minute METs values, time spent on moderate intensity physical activity (MPA, 3 to 6 METs), vigorous intensity PA (VPA, > 6 METs), and moderate to vigorous intensity PA (MVPA, > 3 METs) was calculated. In addition, we also calculated bout physical activity maintained for 10 minutes or longer (ASP_bout). Weekly time spent on MVPA assessed by IPAQ-JEA (MVPA_IPAQ-JEA) was significantly correlated with that assessed by ASP_bout (MVPA_ASP_bout) (ρ=0.359, p<0.01) and ASP_1-min (MVPA_ASP_1-min) (ρ=0.399, p<0.01). However, MVPA_IPAQ-JEA was significantly higher than that of MVPA_ASP_bout and MVPA_ASP_1-min (p<0.001). Although time spent on VPA assessed by IPAQ-JEA (VPA_IPAQ-JEA) was also significantly correlated with that assessed by ASP_bout (VPA_ASP_bout) (ρ=254, p<0.05) and ASP_1-min (VPA_ASP_1-min) (ρ=438, p<0.01), time spent on VPA_IPAQ-JEA was significantly higher than that for VPA_ASP_bout and VPA_ASP_1-min (p<0.001). These results support the use of the IPAQ-JEA as a relative measure of physical activity among 10-13-year-old children.

High-intensity interval exercise (IE) leads to greater improvements in the arterial function than continuous exercise at moderate intensity (CE). However, few studies have been performed on the effects of the repetition exercise (RE) on the vascular endothelial function. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of CE vs. IE vs. RE during aerobic exercise on the vascular endothelial function determined by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD). Ten healthy male subjects randomly performed 3 trials as follows: CE (20-min cycling at 50%W_max), IE (10 × 1-min intervals cycling at 75%W_max interspersed with 1-min intervals cycling at 25%W_max), and RE (30 × 20-sec intervals cycling at 100%W_max interspersed with 20-sec intervals at rest). FMD was assessed at rest and 30 and 60 min after each exercise, and then the normalized FMD (nFMD) was calculated from the peak shear rate. The nFMD (a.u.) significant increased 30 min after IE (1.2 ± 0.2 to 3.0 ± 1.0, p<0.05) and increased 30 min after CE (1.0 ± 0.2 to 1.4 ± 0.2, n.s.) and returned to baseline at 60 min after both exercises, while the nFMD decreased 30 min after RE (1.3 ± 0.2 to 1.2 ± 0.1, n.s.) and was sustained at 60 min. The nFMD value at 30 min after IE was significantly greater than that at 30 min after RE (3.0 ± 1.0 versus 1.2 ± 0.1, p<0.05). These results suggest that RE may lead to a less improvement in the vascular endothelial function than CE and IE.

We aimed to elucidate the impact of the conducting state in exercise programs and the degree of improvement in sit-to-stand power index (STS-PI) on the continuation of Chokin exercise by participants one year from the completion of the intervention period. Subjects participated in a 12-week Chokin exercise class for the elderly, which consisted of 10 body mass-based exercises. As variables indicating exercise conditions, the number of exercise days weekly and the total number of sets performed during the intervention period were adopted. STS-PI was calculated using the time required to perform 10-times-repeated sit-to-stand task, and its relative change (%∆STS-PI) was used to represent the degree of improvement in physical function. Among 52 men and 129 women who responded to the inquiry about the continuation of Chokin exercise one year from the completion of the intervention period, 32 men and 93 women confirmed continuation of the exercise program. Logistic regression analysis showed that %∆STS-PI for men, as well as %∆STS-PI and the number of exercise days weekly for women, were factors associated with the decision of subjects to continue the Chokin exercise. These results indicate that the degree of improvement in STS-PI associated with the Chokin exercise class is a factor for continuing the exercise program one year from the completion of the intervention period, at least in elderly men and women. Furthermore, high exercise frequency during the intervention period may be associated with the decision to continue Chokin exercise after the completion of the intervention among women.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of community-based intervention on cognitive function and hand finger dexterity in older adults at different levels of time to go out. Forty men and women (age, 73 ± 1 years) participated in supervised group activity and seated exercise for 60 min per session, once each week during an 8-week intervention. The participants wore an activity monitor for 1 week to determine baseline values and for the 8 weeks of intervention. Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) and pegboard test, which is related to cognitive function, were assessed before and after the intervention. Based on the total time to go out at baseline, the participants were assigned to Control group (> 60 min/day, n = 18) or Short group (≦ 60 min /day, n = 22), and then analyzed. After the 8 weeks of intervention, the Control and Short groups improved physical fitness parameters such as handgrip strength. Although MMSE in the both groups did not reach statistically significant level, these values tended to increase slightly from the baseline. Interestingly, two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated significant interaction of pegboard test, and the score significantly increased only in the Short group. Total physical activity and moderate-vigorous physical activity in the both groups did not change significantly between the baseline and intervention periods. Therefore, these results suggest that the trainability of pegboard test, which is an index of hand finger dexterity and is related to cognitive function, would differ depending on the time to go out at baseline in older adults.