Efficacy of Nordic walking in obesity management.

The effects of a Nordic walking (NW) program compared to those of a walking (W) program on physiological and perceptual variables in obese middle-aged women were investigated. Subjects (n=12 NW group, n=11 W group) trained over 12 weeks 3 times.week (-1).

The modified Dmax method is reliable to predict the second ventilatory threshold in elite cross-country skiers.

This study was designed to evaluate, in elite cross-country skiers, the capacity of the DMAX lactate threshold method and its modified version (DMAX MOD) to accurately predict the second ventilatory threshold (VT2). Twenty-three elite cross-country skiers carried out an incremental roller-ski test on a motorized treadmill. Ventilation, heart rate (HR), and gas exchanges were continuously recorded during the test.

Physiological and perceptual responses to Nordic walking in obese middle-aged women in comparison with the normal walk.

This study aimed to compare physiological and perceptual responses to Nordic walking (NW) in obese women to those of walking (W), and to assess if these responses were modified by a learning period of NW technique. Eleven middle-aged obese women completed exercise trials (5 min each) at 4 km/h, inclinations of -5, 0 and +5%, with and without poles. Ventilation (V(E)) oxygen consumption V(O)(2) energy cost (EC), heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and cycle length were measured before and after a 4-week learning period (12 sessions).

Racing performance and incremental double poling test on treadmill in elite female cross-country skiers.

The national Italian cross-country ski team has been evaluated on the basis of a new double poling cross-country roller skiing incremental test to exhaustion (DP) on a motorized driven treadmill. To verify the capacity of this specific test to predict performance, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), oxygen uptake at anaerobic threshold (VO2Th), peak treadmill speed, and treadmill speed at anaerobic threshold (Speak and STh, respectively) were measured during the test and correlated with the level of performance of 10 world class Italian female cross-country skiers. The physiological data obtained were also compared with results of an incremental and maximal test carried out by the same athletes but with the diagonal stride (DS) technique.

Characterization of arm-gun movement during air pistol aiming phase.

Aim: Air pistol shooting is a sport requiring extreme movement precision. The purpose of our study is to collect and analyze kinematic data of arm/gun complex during the pointing phase in order to characterize movement and between segment coordination by means of time and frequency domain analysis techniques.

Methods: Thirteen air pistol athletes participated to the recording sessions held at the 10 m shooting range.