درخت حوزه‌های تخصصی

Purpose: Muscle flexibility is a component of physical fitness. Using traditional tools in muscle length evaluation tests creates challenges. Therefore, the use of smartphones and health-related software as an alternative method has become widespread. This study aimed to investigate smartphones' intra- and inter-rater reliability and validity for measuring hamstring muscle length. Method: In a blinded study design, two researchers measured hamstring flexibility through four types of tests on each of the 22 asymptomatic participants with a total of 44 lower limbs. The measurements were compared between the traditional goniometer method and the practical smartphone application method. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to evaluate the reliability of each smartphone measurement, and Bland-Altman analysis was used to check the measurement errors. The validity of the two methods was also investigated. Results: Intra- and inter-rater reliability (ICC≥0.8) were good to almost perfect. In intra-rater reliability, PSLR angle showed consistent imprecision; other tests were free of systematic error and measurement error. The inter-rater reliability revealed a constant error in the right leg's PKE angle. A good to excellent correlation (r = 0.817–0.699) was observed in all the measured values, indicating the two methods' validity. Conclusion: These findings support from intra- and inter-rater reliability and validity of both instruments when measuring hamstring muscle length.

Purpose: Obesity is a complex disease that causes oxidative stress by disrupting fat metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ten weeks of swimming exercises with nigella sativa (Black Seed) supplementation on the plasma lipid profile of inactive obese women. Method: In this study, 40 inactive obese women with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 26, and an average age (29.06 ± 7.94 years), were voluntarily selected and randomly divided into four groups of 10 people. The control group, the training group, the training group - nigella sativa supplement and the nigella sativa group were divided. The control group had a normal diet and no training; the nigella sativa supplement group consumed 2 nigella sativa capsules of 1000 mg daily for 10 weeks; The swimming training group performed swimming exercises for 10 weeks and three sessions a week with an intensity of 60% of the maximum heart rate and the duration of each session was 75 minutes; the nigella sativa -training group also performed both the training and supplement protocols. At the end of the period, blood indicators of (low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol. Total (TC)) and anthropometric variables were measured. Covariance analysis and paired t-test at a significance level of 0.05 were used for data analysis. Results: Investigations showed that there is no significant difference between the groups in the values of HDL-C, LDL-C, TG and TC (P>0.05). However, in the intra-group comparison, hockey results have a significant difference in HDL-C, LDL-C, TG and TC in the exercise and exercise +supplement and nigella sativa groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: It seems that taking two weeks of swimming exercises along with nigella sativa supplement improves some of the fat profile indicators and can probably be effective in improving the complications caused by obesity.

Purpose: The purpose of the present research was to investigate the effect of eight weeks of progressive resistance exercise and a subsequent detraining period on the indicators of muscle fiber shortening (FS%) and the relative wall thickness (RWT) of the left ventricle in low-mobility women. Method: This semi-experimental study was conducted in a field-laboratory setting. A total of 32 sedentary women, who met the criteria for participation and were able to engage in the exercise protocol, were randomly assigned to two groups: 1) Resistance training group (16 participants), and 2) Control group (16 participants). Anthropometric characteristics, body composition, and structural indices such as left ventricular muscle fiber shortening percentage (FS%) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were measured using an echocardiography device at three intervals: before the start of training, at the end of 8 weeks of training, and after a 4-week detraining period. The training protocol was implemented over 12 weeks, consisting of 8 weeks of training with three sessions per week, followed by 4 weeks of detraining. Data were analyzed using independent t-tests and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of p < 0.05, using SPSS version 21. Results: The results showed a significant difference in FS% between pre-test and post-test measurements for both the experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Additionally, a significant decrease in FS% was observed in the training group during the detraining period (p < 0.05). Similarly, a significant change in RWT was found between pre-test and post-test measurements in both groups (p < 0.05), and significant changes in RWT were also observed during the detraining period in the training group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Based on these findings, it can be concluded that 8 weeks of resistance training led to beneficial changes in the structure and function of the heart in sedentary women. However, the 4-week detraining period resulted in negative effects on these adaptations. Therefore, it is recommended that individuals engage in regular and structured resistance training to maintain these positive adaptations.

The present study seeks to compare life satisfaction, happiness and self-esteem of female athletes and non-athletes aged 20 to 65 years in Tabriz. The present study is a causal-comparative study. The statistical population of the present study was all female athletes and non-athletes in the age range of 20-65 years in Tabriz. From this statistical population, 349 female athletes and 135 non-athletes were selected as a sample using Morgan Table and cluster random sampling method. Cooper-Smith standard self-esteem, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Oxford Happiness (OHI) questionnaires were used in this study. The results of independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and Friedman test showed that women athletes have higher life satisfaction, happiness and self-esteem than non-athletes. Also, with increasing duration of sports activities, women’s rate of happiness is also on the rise, and the first five years of exercise have had the greatest impact on women's self-esteem.