Comparison of Peak Oxygen Consumption During Exercise Testing Between Sexes Among Children and Adolescents in Taiwan

Sport participation, weight status, and physical fitness in French adolescents

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the associations between sport participation and weight status with physical fitness among French adolescents. The secondary aim was to establish sex- and age-specific physical fitness percentiles for French adolescents. The sample comprised 8084 adolescents (4126 boys, 3958 girls), aged 10-14 years. Participants were tested on cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength using the following tests: 20-m shuttle run test and handgrip strength test. A questionnaire on organized sport participation was completed. Physical fitness levels were better in boys (P < 0.005). Handgrip strength increased with age whereas 20-m shuttle run performance decreased with age. Overweight and obese adolescents had significantly lower cardiorespiratory fitness levels than their normal-weight peers (P < 0.005), whereas normal-weight adolescents had lower cardiorespiratory fitness than thin adolescents (P < 0.005). Sport participation was higher for boys (57.2% boys vs. 52.8% girls) (P < 0.001). Adolescents who participated in at least one organized sport (either through a club or at school) were fitter than those who did not participate in organized sports (P < 0.005). Adolescents who engaged in organized sports were more active and physically fit than those who did not participate. The fitness benefits of club sports are greater than those provided by school-based sports, highlighting the potential of sports clubs as a key setting for promoting health. What is Known: • Physical fitness is a strong marker of health in children and adolescents. • The last French Report Card highlighted the lack of fitness data and the need for nationwide programs, while showing a significant decline in cardiorespiratory fitness among youth in recent decades.. What is New: • This study reveals that adolescents participating in organized sports have better physical fitness compared to their peers who do not, emphasizing the potential advantages of club sports over school-based activities. • We highlight the need for targeted strategies, particularly for overweight or obese adolescents and girls, to increase participation in organized sports and enhance health outcomes. • The study emphasizes the need to develop policies that improve access to organized sports clubs and expand physical education in schools, aiming to improve CRF in adolescents.

Effects of Swimming Exercise on Early Adolescents' Physical Conditioning and Physical Health: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Swimming is a popular and cost-effective way to prevent sedentary behavior and improve physical conditioning and health during early adolescence. However, information on its impact and benefits on daily life activities is lacking. This systematic review aims to summarize the chronic effects of swimming on physical conditioning and physical health outcomes in early adolescents.

METHODS

The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed and PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and International Symposium of Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming proceedings databases were searched. Eligibility criteria were defined on the PICOS framework (healthy adolescents in early puberty, swimming programmes or training, passive or active control groups, general effects on physical conditioning or health, longitudinal) and risk of bias was assessed using RoBANS 2.

RESULTS

From 2365 records, 20 non-randomized studies met the defined criteria. High heterogeneity in sample size and intervention was observed. While studies related to physical conditioning (n = 5) focused on physiological variables and muscular function, the evidence regarding physical health outcomes (n = 15) explored bone accrual, haemodynamics, body composition, musculoskeletal system, and lung growth. High overall risk of bias (70%) was observed due to strict criteria.

CONCLUSIONS

Swimming exercise seems to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiac output, haemodynamics, heart growth, motor performance, and body composition of early adolescents. Despite clear evidence that exists on these chronic effects, research on bone health, postural deficit, motor skills, and sleep quality is still missing.

Comparison of ventilatory and oxygen consumption measurements of yearling Thoroughbred colts and fillies exercising unridden on an all-weather track

Sex effects on ventilatory and oxygen consumption (V̇O2) measurements during exercise have been identified in humans. This study's aim was to evaluate the hypothesis that there are sex effects on ventilatory and V̇O2 measurements in exercising, untrained yearling Thoroughbreds (Tb). Forty-one Tbs (16 colts, 25 fillies; 19.8 ± 1.4 months old) were recruited. Physiological, ventilatory and exercise data were gathered from horses exercising unridden at high intensity on an all-weather track from a global positioning-heart rate unit and a portable ergospirometry system. Data were analysed with an unpaired Student's t-test and the Benjamini-Hochberg correction for multiple testing (P ≤ 0.05 significant). Mean bodyweight (BW, P = 0.002) and wither height (P = 0.04) were greater for colts than fillies. There were no differences in physiological and exercise data and absolute peak V̇O2 between groups. However, fillies had a higher mass specific peak V̇O2 (P = 0.03) than colts (121.5 ± 21.6 mL/kg.min vs. 111.9 ± 27.4 mL/kg.min). The peak breathing frequency was greater for fillies (P < 0.001) while the peak inspiratory (P < 0.001) and expiratory air flow (P < 0.001), peak expiratory tidal volume (VTE; P < 0.001) and peak minute ventilation (V̇E; P = 0.01) were greater for colts; there were no differences for peak VTE and V̇E when adjusted for BW. Differences in BW explain the differences in mass specific peak V̇O2 between groups. Given their morphological differences, it is likely that lung volumes and airway diameters are smaller for fillies, resulting in greater resistance and lower air flows and volumes. Further research is required to investigate the ventilatory differences and how they may change with maturation and impact performance.

Cardiopulmonary Fitness of Preschoolers with Congenital Heart Disease: An Observational Study

With advancements in cardiopulmonary rehabilitation over the past few decades, the survival rate of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased. However, the Cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF) of these patients is poor. Here, we aimed to investigate CPF in preschoolers with CHD (aged 4 to 6 years) using cardiopulmonary exercise testing. We retrospectively compared 102 healthy preschoolers with 80 preschoolers with CHD. The latter had lower peak oxygen consumption, oxygen consumption at anaerobic threshold and metabolic equivalent at anaerobic threshold. The same result was observed in boys with CHD, but not in girls, when sex was sub-analyzed. Considering the body composition, children with CHD had a lower fat-free mass index (FFMI) than their healthy peers. Healthy preschoolers with a normal body mass index (BMI) had higher anaerobic threshold and peak metabolic equivalent values than overweight or underweight children. This was categorized under the BMI reference of the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan. In conclusion, the CPF difference between the CHD and healthy groups was identified as early as in preschool age, and better CPF in healthy preschoolers within the normal BMI range suggests the importance of weight control in young children.

Evaluation of Muscle Oxygen Dynamics in Children's Gait and Its Relationship with the Physiological Cost Index

The response of muscle oxygen saturation, which is an index for the energy metabolism of muscles during walking in children, and its relationship to the physiological cost index, which indicates walking efficiency, are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate muscle oxygen saturation in lower extremity muscles during walking in children, its changes with age, and the relationship between the physiological cost index. The oxygen saturation was measured by the amount of change during a two-minute walk, and the physiological cost index was calculated from the change in heart rate before and after exercise and walking speed. Results were compared for each muscle, and the correlation between the two was examined. Changes in muscle oxygen saturation were greater in the lower leg muscles, significantly greater in the tibialis anterior at six to seven years, and in the gastrocnemius medial head at eight to ten years. The physiological cost index was significantly correlated with changes in muscle oxygen saturation in the tibialis anterior (r = 0.44, p < 0.001). The lower leg muscles were metabolically active in children’s gait, and their response varied with age. Moreover, the muscle oxygenation dynamics of the tibialis anterior may influence walking efficiency.

Differences between Sexes in Cardiopulmonary Fitness among Children and Adolescents with Kawasaki Disease

It is known that children and adolescents with Kawasaki disease (KD) can maintain normal cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF) after the disease’s acute stage has subsided. This study aimed to investigate whether gender differences affect CPF in children and adolescents with KD. We retrospectively reviewed a cohort of 204 participants (120 boys and 84 girls) with KD. All participants were instructed to complete a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) adapted to assess their CPF. Based on body mass index (BMI), boys and girls were categorized into groups of underweight (19 boys and 12 girls), normal (62 boys and 59 girls), and overweight (39 boys and 13 girls). Although a similarity in body composition was found among both genders for KD subjects and normal Taiwanese peers, the percentage of overweight subjects was higher in KD boys than the normal Taiwanese boys. When comparing CPF for different BMI groups, the whole KD group showed no discrepancy, but a significantly lower peak VO2 for the overweight KD boys group was observed, representing poorer CPF. In conclusion, girls with KD had better CPF than boys, and gender stereotypes affect sports participation as well as self-efficacy, and may be contributing to poorer CPF in KD boys.

Differences in Cardiopulmonary Fitness Between Boy and Girls With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot

OBJECTIVE

Many studies have demonstrated that patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) have generally poorer cardiopulmonary fitness (CPF). However, little is known about how the disease results in different CPF in each sex. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether sex (and gender) differences affect CPF in children and adolescents with rTOF.

METHODS

This retrospective study recruited adolescents and children (aged 10-18) with rTOF following an acute stage of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) who received cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in the past 10 years. CPF was determined by symptom-limited CPET with a treadmill under ramped Bruce protocol. Boys and girls were categorized into groups based on body mass index (BMI) and fat mass index (FMI). The BMI was grouped by Taiwanese obesity cutoff points. The FMI was categorized by the body fat percentage. Excess adiposity was defined as (1) "overweight" and "obese" by BMI and (2) greater than the sex- and age-specific 75th percentile of whole subjects by FMI.

RESULTS

A total of 185 participants (104 boys and 81 girls) with rTOF were recruited for the final analysis. Within the BMI category, 76 boys and 63 girls were in the normal group, whereas 28 boys and 18 girls were in the excessive adiposity group. Within the FMI category, 77 boys and 60 girls were in the normal group, whereas 27 boys and 21 girls were in the excessive adiposity group. The analysis of the body composition of rTOF subjects showed that there was no statistically significant difference between the subgroups of the two sexes, but both showed a smaller body size than normal Taiwanese children. When comparing the CPF within different BMI and FMI groups, the children in the excessive adiposity group had significantly lower values in metabolic equivalents (MET) at anaerobic threshold, peak MET, and measured peak oxygen consumption (VO₂) to predicted peak VO₂, regardless of sex. Moreover, boys (60.90%) presented poorer CPF than girls (74.22%, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In Taiwan, patients with rTOF had poorer CPF than healthy peers. This study found that girls with rTOF had better CPF than boys with rTOF. The effect of gender stereotypes on sports participation and self-efficacy might be one of the contributing factors; however, further investigations are warranted to determine the causal effect.