Background: Respiratory muscle strength can be decreased in patients with asthma; however, it is not well-documented whether a mild bronchial asthma disease can affect respiratory muscle strength in children and can be associated with higher presence of breathing difficulties. Objective: The main aim of the present study was to compare respiratory muscle strength between children with asthma and age-matched healthy children. The next aim of this study was to assess the incidence of decreased respiratory muscle strength in children with asthma and healthy children and assess the effect of decreased respiratory muscle strength on the incidence of breathing difficulties. Methods: Children with mild bronchial asthma (n = 167) and age-matched, healthy children (n = 100) were recruited into this study. Pulmonary function tests, maximal inspiratory (PImax) and expiratory (PEmax) mouth pressures and the incidence of breathing difficulty were evaluated in children with asthma and healthy controls. Results: The inspiratory muscle strength was similar between children with asthma and healthy children. Conversely, the expiratory muscle strength was lower in asthmatic children. There was a statistically significant difference between girls with asthma and healthy girls (PEmax = 81.7 ± 29.8% vs. 100.1 ± 23.7% of predicted, p < .001). PEmax was significantly higher in boys with asthma than in girls with asthma (PEmax = 92.9 ± 26.4 % vs. 81.7 ± 29.8% of predicted, p = .03). A higher incidence of breathing difficulties during physical activity (uphill walking, running, swimming) was confirmed in children with asthma with lower respiratory muscle strength. Conclusions: There was a higher prevalence of decreased expiratory muscle strength in children with asthma; therefore, respiratory muscle strength should be tested in these children, especially in those who are symptomatic.

Background: It has been shown that whole body vibration training has an effect on strength and balance in athletes of various sports.Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks of Whole Body Vibration (WBV) training on static balance and explosive strength of the lower limbs, using two different training intensities vibration protocols.Methods: Eighty-three physical education students (age 19.39 ± 2.35 years) volunteered to participate in an 8-week WBV training. They were randomly divided into two groups with 30 sec and 60 sec duration of vibration exposure per exercise, total volume of exercise was the same for both groups. The explosive strength of the lower limbs was assessed by a squat jump and static balance by Balance Error Scoring System at the baseline (pre-test) and after 8 weeks of WBV training at 15 sec, 5, 10, and 15 min after the end of WBV exposure. A two-way ANOVA 2 × 5 (protocol × time) with repeated measures on both factors was used. Univariate analyses with simple contrasts across time were selected as post hoc tests.Results: Results showed a time × protocol interaction effect for static balance (p .05). Furthermore, a time effect was found for the static balance and squat jump test. The 60 sec protocol had a greater percentage improvement compared to the 30 sec protocol in static balance (p = .003), whereas the 30 sec protocol was superior to the 60 sec protocol in explosive strength. However, the differences between the two protocols were not significant.Conclusion: WBV training had positive effects on static balance and explosive strength in physical education students. Balance and jump performance may benefit from WBV training. Therefore, WBV may be an effective training method for the improvement of static balance and lower limb strength.

Background: A reduction in the inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) induces a decline in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and changes of heart rate variability (HRV). It has been shown that SpO2 and HRV responses to similar levels of acute normobaric hypoxia are inter-individual variable. Variable response may be influenced by normoxia reached maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) value. Objective: The primary aim was to assess HRV and the SpO2 response to hypoxia, and examine the association with normoxic VO2max. Methods: Supine HRV and SpO2 were monitored during normobaric hypoxia (FiO2 = 9.6%) for 10 minutes in 28 subjects, aged 23.7 ± 1.7 years. HRV was evaluated by using both spectral and time domain HRV analysis. Low frequency (LF, 0.05-0.15 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.15-0.50 Hz) power together with square root of the mean of the squares of the successive differences (rMSSD) were calculated and transformed by natural logarithm (Ln). Based on the SpO2 in hypoxia, subjects were divided into Resistant (RG, SpO2 ≥ 70.9%, n = 14) and Sensitive (SG, SpO2 < 70.9%, n = 14) groups. Perceived hypoxia tolerance was self-scored on a 4-level scale. Results: VO2max was higher in SG (62.4 ± 7.2 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1) compared with RG (55.5 ± 7.1 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1, p = .017, d = 0.97). A significant relationship (r = -.45, p = .017) between hypoxic-normoxic difference in SpO2 and normoxic VO2max level was found. Vagal activity (Ln rMSSD) was significantly decreased (SG: p < .001, d = 2.64; RG: p < .001, d = 1.22), while sympathetic activity (Ln LF/HF) was relatively increased (p < .001, d = -1.40) in only the SG during hypoxia. Conclusions: Results show that subjects with a higher aerobic capacity exhibited a greater decline in SpO2, accompanied by greater autonomic cardiac disturbances during hypoxia. The SpO2 reduction was associated with perceived hypoxia comfort/discomfort. The hypoxia discomfort state was accompanied by a greater withdrawal in cardiac vagal activity.

Background: Recent studies that addressed shot speed in ice hockey have focused on the relationship between shot speed and variables such as a player's skills or hockey stick construction and its properties. There has been a lack of evidence that considers the relationship between shot speed and player strength, particularly in players at the same skill level. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between maximal puck velocity of two shot types (the wrist shot and the slap shot) and players' upper body strength and power. Methods: Twenty male professional and semi-professional ice hockey players (mean age 23.3 ± 2.4 years) participated in this study. The puck velocity was measured in five trials of the wrist shot and five trials of the slap shot performed by every subject. All of the shots were performed on ice in a stationary position 11.6 meters in front of an electronic device that measures the speed of the puck. The selected strength and power variables were: muscle power in concentric contraction in the countermovement bench press with 40 kg and 50 kg measured with the FiTRODyne Premium device; bench press one-repetition maximum; and grip strength measured by digital hand dynamometer. Results: The correlations between strength/power variables and the puck velocity in the wrist shot and the slap shot ranged between .29-.72 and .16-.62, respectively. Puck velocities produced by wrist shots showed significant correlations with bench press muscle power with 40 kg (p = .004) and 50 kg (p < .001); and one-repetition maximum in bench press (p = .004). The slap shot puck velocity was significantly associated with bench press muscle power with 40 kg (p = .014) and 50 kg (p = .004). Conclusions: This study provides evidence that there are significant associations between shot speed and upper body strength and power.

Background: Even though inertial measurement units (IMU) are already being used experimentally for evaluating movements of segment of the axial skeleton, no studies have been found which have used IMUs to measure the behavior of the segments of upper limbs during quiet stance. Objective: The objective is to design a suitable application of IMUs to measure movements of the upper extremities in Romberg's test and analyze spontaneous arm movements. Second aim is to identify possible discrepancies between the dominant and non-dominant arm movements. Methods: The dominant and non-dominant upper limb of each participant was identified. Then, the movements of both upper limbs were measured by the Xsens system equipped with MTx motion trackers during the quiet stance on a firm surface with eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). The measured data was used to calculate the medians and maximums of the superior-inferior, medio-lateral and anterior-posterior acceleration. Also, tremor intensity was calculated to quantitatively evaluate the measured data. Results: The comparison of values of maximal accelerations of the dominant and non-dominant arms showed significant difference between the arms during EC conditions. The comparison of values of median accelerations of the dominant and non-dominant arms showed significant differences between the acceleration of arms in medio-lateral direction during EO and EC conditions. In all cases, values of maximal and median accelerations and values of tremor intensity of the dominant limb strongly correlated with values on the non-dominant limb. Conclusions: Findings suggest possible usefulness of the designed application of IMUs and evaluation methods for their use in Romberg's test in clinical practice for evaluation of upper limb movements.

Background: Lower level of motor competences may result in unsuccessful engaging of children in physical activities as early as pre-school age and also prepubescent ages. This may subsequently lead to a&#x202F;spiral of forming negative attitudes towards an active lifestyle and may be accompanied by a negative trend in weight status and physical fitness outcomes. Objective: The aim of the study was to identify and analyze differences in physical fitness and somatic parameters of primary school-aged children according to level of their gross motor coordination. Methods: &#x202F;A&#x202F;sample of 436 children aged 7 to 10 years, of which were 222 girls and 214 boys, performed physical fitness tests - Eurofit test battery. The level of motor coordination was assessed using the test battery Körperkoordination-Test-für-Kinder (KTK). The anthropometric data (body mass, body height, sum of five skinfolds) were measured. The one-way ANOVA was used to assess differences in physical fitness test items and anthropometry parameters between children with normal motor quotient (MQ&#x202F;&ge;&#x202F;86) and decreased levels of gross motor coordination (MQ&#x202F;&le;&#x202F;85). Results: Research findings indicate a strongly negative trend in physical development of children with motor deficits (MQ&#x202F;&le;&#x202F;85). The results of ANOVA revealed significantly less favourable level of most of the assessed physical fitness parameters in children with decreased level of motor coordination. Conclusions: The findings suggest that physical fitness outcomes of primary school-aged children are associated with a lower level of motor coordination. Motor coordination probably plays an important role in preventing, or moderating the so-called negative trajectory leading to childhood overweight or obesity.

Background: Mobile technology permeates every aspect of student lives. The question is whether mobile technology integration can produce desirable effects in the gymnasium. Objective: This preliminary study aimed to investigate the effects of mobile technology integration on student situational interest and physical activity fluctuation in physical education lessons.Methods: Sixth grade students (N = 53) were randomly placed into either an experiment group by class that utilized mobile technology-integrated resources (iPad and applications), or a comparison group that did not utilize technology. Both groups received five identical physical education lessons. Student physical activity was tracked with accelerometers, and they completed the Situational Interest Scale at the end of each lesson. The researchers analyzed the data using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with repeated measures. Results: Students in the experiment group reported significantly lower physical activity and situational interest than their counterparts in the comparison group. A group × lesson interaction suggested that student step/min steadily increased throughout the lessons in the experiment group while remaining relative stable in the comparison group. Conclusions: Mobile technologies such as iPad and applications with no direct physical activity prompt had little effect on increasing physical activity or situational interest in the short term. It is important to consider the classroom dynamics to realistically evaluate the constraints and strengths that mobile technology-integrated physical education lessons may pose in a traditional physical education environment.

Background: Frequent and extensive disturbances to the somatosensory and motor hand functions after stroke are common. This study explores a new therapeutic approach that may improve the effectiveness of rehabilitation for these upper limb impairments. Objective: To assess the effect of rehabilitation combining standard therapy and somatosensory stimulation on sensorimotor hand functions. To compare the effect of this method with the standard method of rehabilitation. Methods: Two groups of patients were used to compare the effect of standard therapy (group A, n = 15, age = 59.8 ± 9.4 years), and the effect of therapy with targeted somatosensory stimulation (group B, n = 15, age = 65.5 ± 8.2). The groups consisted of patients after an ischemic stroke in post-acute phase, with hemiparesis, aged from 45 to 75 years, both men and women. The methods used to assess patients comprised a neurological clinical examination, two batteries of tests of somatosensory function (Rivermead Assessment of Somatosensory Performance, Fabric Matching Test), two batteries of tests of motor function (Nine Hole Peg Test, Test of Manipulation Functions), and activities of daily living assessment. Results: The results show that before therapy a deficit of somatosensory function occurred on the paretic upper limb in more than 50% of patients in both groups. Motor functions were impaired more frequently than somatosensory functions. Somatosensory stimulation therapy had an enhanced improvement of somatosensory functions, especially tactile discrimination of the object surface. Conclusions: Major improvement, particularly of tactile discrimination sensation, occurred in group B, where therapy focused on somatosensory deficit was applied. We did not show that such considerable improvement in discrimination sensation in group B was associated with any change in motor function. Clinical improvement in the motor function of the paretic limb occurred in both samples. However, more significant improvement was evident for the group with standard therapy.

Background: Active commuting in terms of everyday transport to school or work can have a significant effect on physical activity. Active commuting can be influenced by the environment, and examples from abroad show that current environmental changes tend mostly to promote passive forms of commuting. A similar situation of decreasing active commuting might be expected in the Czech Republic. However, little information has been published to date about the issue of active commuting among the inhabitants of our country. Objective: The main objective of the present study is to describe the active commuting patterns of the inhabitants of Liberec city in low and high walkability areas. Methods: A total of 23,621 economically active inhabitants or students of Liberec city aged 6-87 years (34.77 ± 14.39) participated in the study. The data about commuting were retrieved from the national Population and Housing Census of 2011. Geographic information systems were used to objectively analyze the built environment and to calculate the walkability index. Results: Active commuting to/from school or work is used by 17.41% of inhabitants. Active commuting is dominated by walking (16.60%) as opposed to cycling (0.81%). Inhabitants who lived in high walkability areas were more likely to actively commute than those living in low walkability areas (OR = 1.54; 95% CI [1.41, 1.68]). Conclusions: This study confirmed the findings of international studies about the effect of the built environment on active commuting among Liberec inhabitants. Active commuters are often those living near or in the city center, which is characterized by high walkability. In Liberec city, walking as a means of active commuting significantly prevails over cycling. One of the reasons might be the diverse topography of the city and the insufficiently developed cycling network.

Background: Effective training depends on knowledge of the sport's requirements. Physical (external load) and physiological (internal load) analyses will provide valuable data that can be used for other research and to improve specific training requirements. Handball is an intermittent sport game, and it is important discover the factors, that affect the performance in a handball match. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare motion and heart rate of playing positions of female handball players during competitive matches.Methods: Heart rate and motion-time analyses were examined during six competitive matches of the Czech elite female handball league (U19). The average (± SD) age of the fourteen participants was 17.9 ± 0.3 years; their average weight 65.4 ± 6.9 kg, and their average height was 169.6 ± 6.9 cm. Results: During the matches, the longest average distance was covered by backs (7,138.3 ± 334.4 m), followed by wings (6,915.3 ± 362.2 m) and pivots (6,337.1 ± 477.3 m). A statistically significant difference was found only between backs and pivots (p = .01). The average heart rate of players in the most loaded position, pivots, was 185.3 ± 9.2 beats ⋅ min-1, corresponding to 90.1 ± 4.3% of HRmax. The second most loaded playing position were wings with the average heart rate of 183.8 ± 6.2 beats ⋅ min-1, corresponding to 89.9 ± 3.5% of HRmax. The average heart rate of backs was 182.9 ± 8.4 beats ⋅ min-1, corresponding to 89.2 ± 4.4% of HRmax. Conclusions: The results from the presented study show that handball is a game of intermittent high intensity and physiological profile where more than 80% of each game is spent in load-intensity above 85% HRmax. Between playing positions are differences in intensity of load, covered distance and in speed categories.