scholarly journals Equestrian expertise affecting physical fitness, body compositions, lactate, heart rate and calorie consumption of elite horse riding players

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bong-Ju Sung ◽  
Sang-Yong Jeon ◽  
Sung-Ro Lim ◽  
Kyu-Eon Lee ◽  
Hyunseok Jee
2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-L. Douglas ◽  
M. Price ◽  
D.M. Peters

This article presents a systematic review of the literature investigating physical fitness, physiological demands and biomechanical performance in equestrian athletes. Three databases (SportsDiscus, CAB abstracts and PubMed) were searched to identify the literature. The main search term of ‘horse-riding’ was combined with eleven specific keywords (‘fitness’, ‘physiology’, ‘biomechanics’, ‘equestrian’, ‘athlete’, ‘co-ordination’, ‘heart rate’, ‘oxygen consumption’ ‘kinematic’ ‘EMG’ and ‘skill’). Exclusion criteria were: conference proceedings, abstracts, theses, and non-peer reviewed articles. Subsequently, 15 peer-reviewed papers were identified and included within this review. The main research findings are that as a horse progresses through the gaits (walk, trot and canter), the rider's heart rate and oxygen consumption increase. The causal physiological factor at present is thought to be higher levels of tonic muscular contraction particularly of the trunk, which in elite equestrians achieves a more controlled upright trunk position, compared to their novice counterparts. It is the faster gaits, and jumping that require the rider to adopt a ‘forwards’ riding position that necessitates weight bearing to be through the rider's legs, as opposed to a seated position, where weight bearing is predominantly through the pelvis. It is apparent that these ‘forward position’ modes of riding significantly increase metabolic cost and result in elevated levels of blood lactate, thus implying that they incorporate some anaerobic demand. Due to the paucity of literature available for review and particularly that which incorporates data obtained from ‘competitive’ performances, future research should attempt to prioritise investigations in competitive in addition to simulated riding environments. Only when further physiological and biomechanical data are available from a greater range of equestrian disciplines and from a range of level of athletes, will the demands of these sports be more clearly understood. Until such time, the development of evidence-based sport specific and potentially performance enhancing rider strength and conditioning programmes cannot be realised.


1988 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
D. J. Smith ◽  
R. J. Pethybridge ◽  
A Duggan

SummaryThe relationship between physical fitness, anthropometric measures, and the scores in three submaximal step tests have been evaluated in a group of 30 male subjects. Physical fitness was assessed as VO2max measured directly during uphill treadmill running. Each submaximal exercise test was of six minutes duration and the heart rate recorded during the last minute (fH6) constituted the test score. Significant negative correlation coefficients were found between VO2max and each test score while lean body mass, gross body weight and body surface area were allpositively correlated with VO2max (1/min). The score in the least severe step test was included with anthropometric measures in multiple linear regression analysis for the prediction of VO2max and a number of prediction equations were derived. It was found that when lean body mass is calculated from skinfold measurements and weight, VO2max can be calculated from the equation:VO2max(1/min) = 1.470 + 0.0614 × Lean Body mass −0.0131 × fH6This equation accounts for 73% of the total variation of VO2max. If lean body mass cannot be calculated, a combination of gross body weight and age plus fH6 gives the equation:VO2max = 3.614 + 0.0349 × Weight – 0.0177 × fH6−0.0161 × Ageaccounting for 66% of the variance. The test has the following advantages over those currently employed:It is simple to administer requiring 6 minutes of stepping onto a 32 cm platform—the height of a gymnasium bench—20 times per minute.Although ideally an assessment oflean body mass is required, gross body weight plus age is a good second best.It is submaximal, minimising the stress on the individual (mean heart rate achieved 121 beats per minute).Its accuracy in terms of its ability to predict maximal aerobic power is better than either the Ohio or Harvard University tests.It is suggested that this test could be used where maximal testing is contraindicated or where currently used tests are insufficiently accurate.


1986 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-135
Author(s):  
Lynette Silvestri

108 high school girls were assessed to determine if exercise alone or in combination with relaxation training affected their physical fitness. Resting heart rate, recovery heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood-pressure readings were pretest and posttest measures. Statistically significant interactions occurred for recovery heart-rate scores but changes could not solely be attributed to treatment. Although resting and recovery heart-rate scores were reduced following treatment in both groups, results were nonsignificant. It was recommended that physical education units be longer than 4 wk. in length when significant fitness improvements are desired.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Goris Nazari ◽  
Joy C. MacDermid ◽  
Kathryn E. Sinden ◽  
Tom J. Overend

The overall aim of this study was to measure the physiological responses of firefighters from a single fire service during simulated functional firefighting tasks and to establish the relationship between physical fitness parameters and task performance. 46 males and 3 females firefighters were recruited. Firefighters’ aerobic capacity levels were estimated using the Modified Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test (mCAFT). Grip strength levels, as a measure of upper body strength levels, were assessed using a calibrated J-Tech dynamometer. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) protocol for the static floor lifting test was used to quantify lower body strength levels. Firefighters then performed two simulated tasks: a hose drag task and a stair climb with a high-rise pack tasks. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) were calculated between firefighters’ physical fitness parameters and task completion times. Two separate multivariable enter regression analyses were carried out to determine the predictive abilities of age, sex, muscle strength, and resting heart rate on task completion times. Our results displayed that near maximal heart rates of ≥88% of heart rate maximum were recorded during the two tasks. Correlation (r) ranged from −0.30 to 0.20. For the hose drag task, cardiorespiratory fitness and right grip strength (kg) demonstrated the highest correlations of −0.30 and −0.25, respectively. In predicting hose drag completion times, age and right grip strength scores were shown to be the statistically significant (p<0.05) independent variables in our regression model. In predicting stair climb completion times, age and NIOSH scores were shown to be the statistically significant (p<0.05) independent variables in our regression model. In conclusion, the hose drag and stair climb tasks were identified as physiological demanding tasks. Age, sex, resting heart rate, and upper body/lower body strength levels had similar predictive values on hose drag and stair climb completion times.


1994 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
P W King-Lewis ◽  
A J Allsopp

AbstractThe effects of 16 weeks at sea upon selected parameters of health and physical fitness were investigated in 30 male volunteers (from a total crew of 48 men) prior to, and immediately following deployment. The 30 subjects were assigned toeither an exercise group, ‘Ex’ (n=12), or a non-exercising group, ‘Nil ex ’ (n = 18), according to their reported participation in vigorous training or sports. Body mass index (BMI), calculated from height and weight, revealed that prior to deployment 13 of the 30 subjects (two in the Ex group) had a BMI over 25 kg.m−2 (i. e. overweight), and a further three subjects (all ‘non-exercisers’) had values of 30 kg.m−2 or more (obese). In addition, the diastolic blood pressure of two subjects was in excess of 95 mmHg and five subjects had resting heart rates above 89 beats per minute. Retrospective comparisons between the Ex and Nilex groups revealed a significantly lower percentage body fat (P<0.01) and a faster rate of cardiac recovery (P<0.05) following a standardised bout of exercise in the Ex group, albeit that these individuals were significantly younger (mean age of 24 years) than those in the Nilex group (32 years). Following deployment, in the Nilex group, comparisonof pre- and post values showed that resting heart rate was elevated (P<0.01) on return from sea. Similarly, in the Nilex group heart rate while performing the standardised exercise about was also elevated (P<0.05) on the second test occasion. In the Ex group, heart rate measures during and foJlowing exercise indicated a significantly slower rate of recovery (P<0.05) on the second test occasion.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (03) ◽  
pp. 165-172
Author(s):  
Maray Willen ◽  
Malin Lorke ◽  
Patrick Wefstaedt ◽  
Karin Lucas ◽  
Ingo Nolte

Abstract Objective Aim was to establish an individually adapted endurance test for dogs on a treadmill, which takes the individual‘s physical condition into account. To check the applicability of the test, two age groups of clinically healthy beagles were examined. Methods A total of 10 clinically healthy Beagles were enrolled and divided in a younger (1–3 years, n = 5) and older group (> 8 years, n = 5). The individual comfort gait speed of each dog was determined on a treadmill with integrated force plates. A maximal time of 20 minutes at trot was set for the endurance test. The test was terminated prematurely if the dog showed signs of fatigue (massive panting, unwillingness to move further). Blood samples were taken at general examination (G), prior to (B) and post exercise (P) for determination of lactate level (LL), oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressure (pO2, pCO2), bicarbonate (HCO3 –), base excess (BE) and pH. On each occasion (G, B, P) heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR) were recorded. Additionally, vertical ground reaction forces (Fz) were analysed. Results The older dogs (age: 10.4 ± 0.89 years) completed the test with less speed and duration compared to the younger dogs (age: 2.4 ± 0.89 years), which managed to complete the maximum time. Lactate levels in the older dogs were higher than in the younger dogs at all timepoints of examination. Contrary to the younger dogs, there was no significant increase in the heart rate of the older dogs. Ground reaction forces were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusion and clinical relevance Whereas standardised endurance tests allow for the comparison of fitness levels between dogs, an individually adjusted endurance test aims at objectively determining the physical fitness of the single dog taking into account its individual performance. Such a test allows to examine the individual performance development over time and to evaluate medicinal therapies or dietary measures, e. g. in aging dogs. HR, RR, LL, blood gases (pCO2, pO2) and acid-base metabolism (HCO3 –, BE, pH) were found to be appropriate parameters for determining the physical capacity of the dogs during endurance tests as these parameters change under physical stress and are indicative for the onset of fatigue.


2018 ◽  
pp. 437-445
Author(s):  
Gregory S. Thomas

The chapter Heart Rate Response to Exercise reviews the studies performed to estimate a patient’s maximum predicted heart rate. While the commonly used formula (220 – age), developed in 1971, is easy to remember, it underestimates the actual maximum heart rate in older persons. Studies of large sample size have found the maximum heart rate to be relatively independent of sex and physical fitness but to incrementally decline with age. The decrease with age is less than 1 beat per minute per year, however. A more accurate and recommended formula is [(208) – (0.7)(age)] as developed by Tanaka and colleagues.


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