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Background/Objectives: This study aimed to assess and compare the effects of an adapted taekwondo (TKD) program, multicomponent training (MCT), walking exercise (WE), and inactive control group (CG) on blood pressure, morphological variables, frequency of food consumption, cognitive status, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), physical fitness tests, and postural balance in independent older females. Methods: A randomized controlled trial study was conducted with the following groups: TKD (n = 13), MCT (n = 12), WE (n = 12), and CG (n = 14), considering three/weekly 60-min/sessions for 16-weeks. A two-factor mixed analysis of the variance model with repeated measures was performed. Results: TKD improved significantly more in phonetic fluency (p = 0.021; ES = 1.89) than WE and in general health (p = 0.033; ES = 1.11) than CG. Both TKD and MCT improved significantly more than CG in the 30 s chair stand, arm curl, chair sit-and-reach, timed up-and-go, maximal isometric handgrip strength, and postural balance for the eyes closed condition in the area and anteroposterior velocity (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Only TKD improved the area (p = 0.008; ES = 1.00) and mediolateral velocity (p = 0.019; ES = 0.79) for the eyes open condition, and mediolateral velocity (p = 0.021; ES = 1.57) for the eyes closed condition. Blood pressure, morphological variables, and food consumption frequency showed no significant intragroup or intergroup interactions. TKD equivalently improved HRQoL and physical fitness to MCT, with better postural balance in older females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is interest in investigating how interlimb asymmetries (IA) of body composition impact sport-specific performance outcomes. This study aimed to examine the relationship between body composition inter-limb asymmetry and specific performance outcomes in taekwondo athletes. Seventeen national and international athletes (males, n = 8, mean age = 23.3 ± 3.1 years, mean stature = 177.2 ± 8.5 cm, mean body mass = 80.0 ± 7.3 kg; females, n = 9, mean age = 25.0 ± 4.0 years, mean stature = 161.1 ± 4.4 cm, mean body mass = 59.8 ± 5.7 kg) participated in the study. During a non-consecutive 2-day period, body composition (BC) and IA were assessed using dual X-ray absorptiometry, and the magnitude (%) of IA was calculated. Specific-performance included taekwondo specific agility test (TSAT) and Frequency Speed of Kick Test Multiple (FSKTMULT). The relationship between BC asymmetry and performance outcomes was analyzed using a partial correlation approach (controlling for gender, age, and training time). The influence of the significant results was examined using forward stepwise linear regression models. The main results showed no significant differences between the lower limbs (p < 0.05). The IA ranged from 1.37% to 2.96%. Moderate to large negative correlations (r = −0.56 to −0.76, p < 0.05) were documented between IA of body mass, free fat mass (FFM), and lean soft tissue mass (LSTM) with most FSKTMULT outcomes. Bone mineral density (BMD) was correlated with set 5 (rho = −0.49, p = 0.04). The FFM and LSTM asymmetries influenced the KDI reduction by 21%. Meanwhile, IA BMD negatively influenced set 5 performance by 48%. The findings of our study indicate that asymmetries independent of the magnitude of muscle and bone mass-related outcomes may have detrimental effects on high-intensity performance in taekwondo athletes. This underscores the importance of implementing comprehensive training programs and paying attention to achieving body composition inter-limb symmetry to improve overall performance levels in this sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To associate health anthropometric indexes with physical fitness of elderly women (EW) who participate in physical exercise workshops., Materials and Methods: 272 Chilean women over 60 years took part in the study. The variables studied were BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-height index (WHI) and physical fitness (PF). Correlations were made through the Pearson or Spearman coefficient, and bivariate associations using Pearson's Chi-square and the Fisher's exact test, considering p<0.05., Results: 70.8% of the EW were overweight or obese; 68.8% and 96% were at cardiometabolic risk due to their WC and WHI, respectively. Their PF showed equal performance (53.5%) or higher (33.8%) according to their age and gender. Inverse correlations were found between nutritional status and cardiometabolic risk with PF tests (except for agility and dynamic balance [direct]), and direct association with back scratch test., Conclusions: Excess weight in physically active EW would not affect their physical-functional performance; however, cardiometabolic risk would be inversely associated with motor function.