Dr. Poblete-Valderrama, Felipe

Aim. This study aims to analyze the effects of virtual reality on engagement and fitness. Methods. This study adopted a mixed method. A total of 32 elite karate athletes from Palembang PGRI University (Indonesia) were recruited and allocated to the control (n = 15) or the virtual reality group (n = 17). Quantitative instruments used the Athlete Engagement Questionnaire to measure the level of engagement, and the hand grip test, standing board jump test, sit-and-reach test, 40-meter test, 4×9 m shuttle run test and bleep test to measure physical fitness. The instrument for qualitative research involved in-depth interviews. Results. This study showed several findings in the quantitative study. First, there was no difference in the value of engagement and fitness between the control and virtual reality groups at the baseline stage. Second, there were significant differences in engagement and fitness values between the two groups at the post-intervention stage. The qualitative research showed that elite athletes revealed various perceptions that virtual reality is easy and interesting, but the price is high, and that users should have technology literacy, or it would be less meaningful. Conclusions. This study confirms that virtual reality training was a positive and effective method to bring back engagement and physical fitness among elite Karate athletes.

Background. Muay Thai is a dynamic fighting style which has existed for over 2000 years and consists of using a multitude of fists, kicks, and knee and elbow strikes to knock out the opponent. Studies indicate that the general physiologic profile of Muay Thai athletes is high anaerobic power and muscular strength, with low body fat percentage and a mesomorphic somatotype. Problem and Aim. Evaluate morphological, physical and baropodometric characteristics of elite male Muay Thai athletes. Methods. Fifteen elite Muay Thai athletes performed the following tests: Anthropometric measurement, lower limb muscle power and baropodometric assessment in static conditions. Results. Athletes presented body fat percentage (10.8 ± 3.8%) and balanced mesomorphic somatotype (2.3- 5.5-2.1). In lower limb strength performance, we observed measures of 44.7 ± 4.4 cm, 1640 ± 284 N, and 4.1 ± 3.6 % in vertical jump height, maximum force and bilateral asymmetry index percentage respectively. Additionally, baropodometric analysis revealed higher maximum force values in the heel and metatarsal zones (p<0.01 and p< 0.05, respectively). On the other hand, peak pressure and load distribution values were higher in the dominant foot (p<0.05). Moreover, we observed a higher load distribution percentage on the rearfoot surface than the forefoot surface in both the left (58.7% and 41.3%, respectively) and right foot (64.3% and 35.7% respectively). Conclusions. These results provided a profile of elite Muay Thai athletes that could be used as training and tactical targets for developing athletes.

La huella plantar y la postura corporal son variables importantes por considerar en el desarrollo físico y motriz en poblaciones escolares, por lo que se planteó el objetivo de analizar la relación entre la huella plantar y la postura corporal en estudiantes de educación física en edades escolares. El número de participantes fue de 33 escolares subdivididos en 2 grupos: niñas (42,5%) y niños (57,5%). Para la evaluación postural fue utilizado el método Portland State University (PSU) y para la huella plantar el Índice de Hernández Corvo (IHC). Los principales hallazgos fueron el 10% de la población posee pie plano, se encontró diferencias significativas en cuanto a la postura donde el género femenino tuvieron mayores valores, acercándose al valor ideal 85%. Se encontró una correlación moderada significativa (r=0,46; p≤0,05) entre el IMC y la cintura escapular. En conclusión, no hubo correlaciones significativas entre el método PSU y el IHC, posiblemente a la subjetividad del método PSU. El estudio soporta y aconseja la práctica de actividad física como factor importante en la prevención del pie plano y desvíos posturales

In sports and taekwondo in particular, it is of interest to understand the impact of sociodemographic and physical factors of athletes during this period, as well as their impact on psychological health. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between physical activity levels, demographic factors, and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 lockdown in Taekwondo athletes. Seventy-eight male Taekwondo athletes (35 ± 14.6 years) at national and international levels participated in an online survey during the COVID-19 Lockdown period in September 2020. The factors analyzed included expertise, socioeconomic status, education, and physical ac-tivity levels. The main findings of this study indicated that university education level was significantly associated with both well-being and lower distress (χ2 = 7.0; p = 0.03). Similarly, athletes with a moderate level of physical activity showed a significant association with their state of well-being (χ2 = 7.0; p = 0.03) and absence of distress (χ2 = 10.5; p = 0.00). However, no significant associations were found between technical level and age category with well-being or distress. Our findings showed that the lockdown negatively affected both total physical activity levels and psychological well-being in Colombian Taekwondo Athletes. A higher educational level allows for a greater understanding of the situations presented during the pandemic, and the level of physical activity is a determinant of the mental health of athletes.

El presente artículo busca analizar las evidencias aportadas del entrenamiento de la fuerza comprobando su influencia en la Diabetes Mellitus tipo II utilizando la literatura existente sobre este objeto de estudio. Se realizo una revisión sistemática siguiendo las directrices PRISMA donde el principal contexto fue el entrenamiento de la fuerza en pacientes con Mellitus II, siendo buscados en bases de datos Pubmed, Embase y Scopus donde fueron seleccionados 7 artículos. Los hallazgos señalan consistentemente que el entrenamiento de la fuerza bien programado incide gradualmente en algunos marcadores que identifican la diabetes Mellitus II al realizar intervenciones con sistemas de entrenamiento de la fuerza de forma positiva. Los autores recomiendan estudios con muestras mayores en lo posible de tipo control para verificar la incidencia del entrenamiento en las variables mencionadas en este estudio.