Showing papers by "Gaston Beunen published in 1999"

The contribution of anthropometric characteristics to performance scores in elite female gymnasts.

Abstract: Background. Aims of this study were: a) to identify anthropometric variables correlated with gymnastic performance, and b) to predict performance scores from a combination of anthropometric dimensions. Methods. Experimental design: correlational analysis and a stepwise multiple regression were used. Setting: Subjects were participants at the 24th World Championships Artistic Gymnastics, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, in 1987. Participants: A total of 168 female gymnasts (mean age: 16.5±1.8 years) were investigated. Each gymnast participated in all events. Measures: An extensive battery of anthropometric dimensions was taken on each athlete. The somatotype was estimated. Skeletal maturation of the hand-wrist was assessed. Competition scores for the four individual gymnastic events (balance beam, floor exert cise, vault, uneven bars) and a composite score for each gymnast were the dependent variables. Results. Moderately high, significant correlations (p<0.01) were observed between skinfolds and endomorphy, and gymnastics performance scores, r varying from -0.38 to -0.60, for biceps skinfold and the score on balance beam, and for endomorphy and the total score, respectively. The correlations suggest that gymnasts with more subcutaneous fat and higher endomorphy have lower performance scores. About 32 % to 45 % of the variance in gymnastic performance scores could be explained by anthropometric dimensions and/or derived variables, but endomorphy and chronological age are the most important predictors. Conclusions. There is a relatively strong relationship between several anthropometric variables and gymnastic performance in a sample of elite female gymnasts, but the associations are not sufficiently high to predict performance scores on an individual basis.

Genetic determinants of sports participation and daily physical activity.

Abstract: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy, K.U.Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumOBJECTIVE: The purpose is to review the existing literature on genetic determinants of sports participation, dailyphysical activity (PA) resting metabolic rate (RMR) and activity as a temperamental trait.DESIGN: A synthesis will be given of the published material on this topic with special focus on twin and family data,and association and linkage studies.MEASUREMENTS: Self reported sports participation, daily PA, RMR and activity as a temperamental trait.ANALYSIS: Transmission and heritability coefficients calculated from twin and family data will be reported.RESULTS: The reported heritability coefficients for sports participation vary between 0.35–0.83, and those for daily PAbetween 0.29–0.62. If one of the parents or co-twins is active in sports, it is more likely that the child or co-twin is alsoactive in sports (odds ratios (ORs) vary from 1.2–5.8). Twin and parent-child correlations for RMR also indicate amoderate genetic effect. At present, only a linkage between RMR and uncoupling protein 2 markers has beendemonstrated.CONCLUSION: The genetic determination of sports participation, daily PA and RMR, varies from low to moderatelyhigh, and only between the uncoupling protein 2 genetic marker and RMR has a linkage has been demonstrated.Keywords: physical activity; resting metabolic rate; family and twin studies; heritability; genetic variation; environ-mental variation; linkage; sports participation; temperament

Neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year in Zimbabwean neonates with extreme hyperbilirubinaemia

Abstract: The study concentrates on estimating the magnitude of the effect of a single risk factor, maximum total serum bilirubin (TSB) in excess of 400 μmol/l (23.4 mg/dl), on the neurodevelopmental outcome of 50, singleton, Zimbabwean neonates at 1 year of age. At 1 year corrected age the Bayley Scales of Infant Development (BSID) was administered. Two infants died and five were lost to follow up. TSB was neither associated with birth weight nor with gestational age. Of 43 infants with a TSB >400 μmol/l (23.4 mg/dl),11(26%) scored abnormal on the BSID at 1 year of age and 5 (12%) infants developed the choreo-athetoid type of cerebral palsy.

Associations between daily physical activity and physical fitness in Flemish males: A cross-sectional analysis.

Abstract: The relationship of physical activity to several components of physical fitness was investigated in a sample of 166 males 40 years of age. In addition to Pearson correlations, multivariate canonical correlations were calculated. Physical activity during work (work index), sport (sport index), and leisure time (leisure time index) was assessed by the Baecke questionnaire. Physical fitness included cardiorespiratory fitness measures, the body mass index (BMI), the sum of seven skinfold thicknesses (SKI), percentage body fat (PFAT), balance, and several tests of muscle strength and endurance, flexibility, and speed of limb movement. More than 86% of the variance was shared by the two first canonical variables. The first canonical variable can be interpreted as a health-related fitness function. Carciorespiratory fitness, balance, speed of limb movement, explosive strength, and trunk muscle strength are clearly related to this function. From the physical activity measures, the Baecke sport index correlated significantly with this health-related fitness function. The second canonical variable can be explained as a fatness function, since body weight, BMI, SKI, and PFAT showed the highest correlations with the variable. The Baecke work index was inversely related to this canonical variable. The sample was also divided into physical activity groups in order to look for differences in physical fitness. The data indicate that physical activity during work was modestly, but inversely related to adiposity. Sport activity was beneficially associated to several fitness components, including cardiorespiratory fitness, trunk muscle strength, and upper body muscular endurance. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:587-597, 1999. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Relation between birth weight at term and growth rate, skeletal age, and cortical bone at 6-11 years.

Abstract: There is an apparent link between fetal and childhood growth and puberty and risk for several degenerative diseases in adulthood. It is also important to consider associations between birth weight and indicators of growth and biological maturation during childhood and adolescence as potential explanations for associations between fetal growth and adult risk for disease. The present study examines the association between birth weight and (1) size attained and rate of growth in body size and cortical bone area of the second metacarpal (M II), and (2) skeletal age and rate of skeletal maturation in children 6-11 years of age. The sample included 127 boys and 105 girls of European ancestry, divided into two age groups, 6-8 years and 9-11 years. The relationship between birth weight and attained size (stature, mass, and the BMI), M II cortical area and skeletal age (SA, Tanner-Whitehouse method) during childhood was examined with correlational analyses. Observations on children measured on two occasions were converted to annual velocities, and correlations between birth weight and annual velocities were also calculated. Birth weight is significantly associated with stature and mass in boys and only with stature in girls 6-11 years of age, but is not related to the BMI, M II cortical area, or skeletal maturity. Birth weight is not significantly related to annual velocities of growth in stature, mass, the BMI and M II cortical area; to the annual increment in SA; and to weight gain from birth to the time of measurement (intervals of 6 to 11 years). The results emphasize a role of other influences than birth weight on growth rate, cortical area of M II, and skeletal maturation during childhood. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:505-511, 1999. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Ulnar variance and skeletal maturity of radius and ulna in female gymnasts

Abstract: UNLABELLED It is has been suggested that repetitive loading on the distal end of the radius in elite gymnasts may lead to epiphyseal changes, a premature closure (union) of the radius growth plate, and ulnar overgrowth. PURPOSE It is hypothesized that ulnar overgrowth in female gymnasts is associated with advanced maturity status and early onset of epiphyseal closure of the radius, and later maturity status and later onset of epiphyseal closure of the ulnar. METHODS Posterior-anterior radiographs of 201 female gymnasts, participants of the 1987 World Championships Artistic Gymnastics, were used to measure ulnar overgrowth, to determine skeletal maturation of the hand and wrist with the Tanner-Whitehouse technique, and to determine the maturity status of the radius and ulna separately, particularly with regard to the onset of epiphyseal closure. To test the hypothesis, extreme quintiles for ulnar overgrowth were contrasted for skeletal maturation of the hand and wrist and for maturity stages of the radius and ulna as defined by the Tanner-Whitehouse criteria. RESULTS Female gymnasts who demonstrate ulnar overgrowth are skeletally more advanced in maturity status of the entire hand-wrist compared with gymnasts who did not show ulnar overgrowth. There were, however, no differences between gymnasts in the extreme quintiles of ulnar overgrowth in the maturation of the radius, although gymnasts with ulnar overgrowth show more advanced maturity status of the ulna. CONCLUSIONS Ulnar overgrowth is thus not apparently associated with advanced maturity of the distal radial epiphysis as defined in protocols for assessing skeletal maturity and does not apparently lead to premature epiphyseal closure of the distal radius.

Associations between physical activity, nutritional practices and health-related anthropometry in Flemish males: a 5-year follow-up study.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which extent health-related anthropometric characteristics such as body mass index, waist–hip ratio, waist girth, percentage of body fat and weight gain are associated with physical activity and nutritional habits in a prospective follow-up study. DESIGN: A 5-y prospective follow-up study. SUBJECTS: 132 healthy men from The Leuven Longitudinal Study on Lifestyle, Physical Fitness, and Health. MEASUREMENTS: The main outcome measures in this study were body mass index, waist–hip ratio, waist girth, percentage of body fat and significant weight gain at the ages of 35 and 40 y. An unhealthy body composition was defined as a body mass index above 26, a waist–hip ratio above 0.95, a waist girth and body fat percentage above percentile 75 at the end of the 5-y follow-up period and a significant weight gain of 5 kg or more between the two examination periods. Anthropometric characteristics were derived from clinical examination. Physical activity at the age of 35 and 40 and nutritional habits at the age of 40 were determined from questionnaires. RESULTS: Physical activity was the most important predictor for the waist–hip ratio in this sample. In contrast, nutritional habits show a stronger relationship with body mass index. The absolute amount of energy intake is not as important as the dietary factors in predicting subjects with overweight or an unhealthy body composition. The index of occupational activities appears to be the most important physical activity variable. CONCLUSION: The relative contribution of physical activity and nutritional habits in health-related anthropometry varies with the characteristic considered. It is important to include all components of physical activity, and occupational activities in particular, in determining these relationships in a general population sample.

Acquired microcephaly after low Apgar score in Zimbabwe.

Abstract: Serial head circumference measurements were made on 165 African babies born with a 5 min Apgar score of 5 or less. Measurements were taken at birth and at 4, 9, and 12 months of age. In the majority of infants the onset of microcephaly could be diagnosed as early as 4 months of age. Twenty-five of the 142 infants were microcephalic at 1 year. Neurological development was impaired in 19 of the 25 (76 per cent) microcephalic infants and in 18 of the 117 (15 per cent) normocephalic infants. Fourteen of the 16 (88 per cent) infants with severe quadriplegia developed microcephaly before the age of 4 months. A decreased rate of head growth during the first 4 months of life in African infants born with a low Apgar score correlates closely with the development of microcephaly. Infants with an acquired microcephaly have a high probability of developing neurologic impairment by the age of 1 year. Serial head circumference measurement in low Apgar score babies in developing countries is an easy, simple, and inexpensive method to detect microcephaly.