The purpose of the present study was to compare the muscle-to-bone ratio in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I female athletes (n=387) to those in age-matched controls (n=209). In addition, we examined the muscle-to-bone ratio in low and high impact sports. Total and regional lean soft tissue, fat mass, and bone mineral content were determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry. The muscle-to-bone ratio was calculated by dividing lean soft tissue by bone mineral content. Athletes were categorized by sports: basketball (n=66), cross-country (n=49), diving (n=17), soccer (n=69), softball (n=71), swimming (n=93), and volleyball (n=22). There were significant differences between controls and athletes for total lean soft tissue, fat mass, and bone mineral content. When the total muscle-to-bone ratio in athletes was compared to that in controls, there were no significant differences; however, there were significant differences in the regional muscle-to-bone ratio. Low impact sports (i.e., diving and swimming) had significantly higher total and regional muscle-to-bone ratios than high impact sports (i.e., cross-country, basketball, volleyball, softball, and soccer). The differences identified between sports in total and regional muscle-to-bone ratios may be a result of sport-specific impact and mechanical strain affecting the balance between the muscle and the bone. This study provides insights into how training-induced body composition impacts the balance between the tissues in female athletes.

The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle-to-bone (MBR) and soft tissue-to-bone ratios (SBR) of 459 track and field athletes across event groups to identify differences in MBR and SBR. Dual X-ray absorptiometry provided total and regional (i.e., arm, leg, trunk) lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), and bone mineral content (BMC). MBR was calculated by dividing LM by BMC. The SBR was calculated by dividing LM+FM by BMC. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare ratios across event groups. Dunn's post-hoc tests were utilized to adjust for multiple comparisons. Total MBR for females was higher in the throwers compared to the multievent athletes (p=0.02). For the males, total MBR was lower in jumpers compared to all events except pole vaulters (PV) (p<0.05). Trunk MBR was higher in the long-distance runners (LD) compared to jumpers, PV, and throwers (p<0.05). The throwers had higher total, arm, and leg SBRs compared to the jumpers, LD, middle distance, PV, and sprint groups (p<0.05). Significant differences in total and regional MBR and SBR were identified across event groups for both sexes, and may indicate event-specific adaptations impacting the balance between soft tissue and bone.

ABSTRACT:Dengel, DR, Studee, HR, Juckett, WT, Bosch, TA, Carbuhn, AF, Stanforth, PR, and Evanoff, NG. Muscle-to-bone ratio in NCAA Division I collegiate football players by position. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): 1607-1612, 2024-The purpose of this study was to compare the muscle-to-bone ratio (MBR) in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football players (collegiate football players [CFP]) to healthy, age-matched controls. In addition, we examined MBR in CFP by position. A total of 553 CFP and 261 controls had their total and regional lean mass (LM), fat mass (FM), and bone mineral content (BMC) determined by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). College football players were categorized by positions defined as offensive linemen (OL), defensive linemen (DL), tight end, linebacker (LB), running back (RB), punter or kicker, quarterback (QB), defensive back (DB), and wide receiver (WR). There were significant differences between CFP and controls for total LM (80.1 ± 10.0 vs. 56.9 ± 7.8 kg), FM (22.2 ± 12.5 vs. 15.2 ± 7.1 kg), and BMC (4.3 ± 0.5 vs. 3.1 ± 0.5 kg). Although there were significant differences in body composition between CFP and controls, there was no significant differences in total MBR between CFP and controls (18.6 ± 1.4 vs. 18.8 ± 1.7). Regionally, CFP had significantly lower trunk MBR than controls (26.7 ± 2.7 vs. 28.7 ± 4.2), but no difference was seen in leg or arm MBR. Positional differences in CFP were noted as total MBR being significantly higher in DL (19.0 ± 1.4) than in DB (18.1 ± 1.3), WR (18.1 ± 1.3), and LB (18.2 ± 1.3). OL had a significantly higher total MBR (19.2 ± 1.3) than DB (18.1 ± 1.3), LB (18.2 ± 1.3), QB (18.1 ± 1.0), and WR (18.1 ± 1.3). In addition, RB had significantly higher total MBR (18.8 ± 1.3) than DB (18.1 ± 1.3) and WR (18.1 ± 1.3). This study may provide athletes and training staff with normative values when evaluating total and regional MBR with DXA.

This study explored body composition in female NCAA Division I rowers compared to controls; and the effect of season, boat category, and oar side on body composition. This retrospective analysis of 91 rowers, and 173 age, sex, and BMI-matched controls examined total and regional fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), bone mineral content (BMC), bone mineral density (BMD), percent body fat (%BF), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry. Two-sample t-testing was used to assess differences between rowers and controls. Repeated measures ANOVA analyzed differences across seasons. ANOVA analyzed differences between boat categories. Paired t-testing analyzed oar side versus non-oar side. Rowers had greater height (174.2; 164.1 cm), weight (75.2; 62.6 kg), LM (51.97; 41.12 kg), FM (20.74; 19.34 kg), BMC (2.82; 2.37 kg), and BMD (1.24; 1.14 g/cm 2 ); but lower %BF (30.5%; 27.1%), and VAT (168.1; 105.0 g) than controls ( p <0.05). Total, arm, and trunk muscle-to-bone ratio were greater in rowers ( p <0.001). Rowers demonstrated greater arm LM (5.8 kg; 5.6 kg) and BMC (0.37 kg; 0.36 kg) in Spring compared to Fall ( p <0.05). 1V8 rowers had a lower %BF than non-scoring rowers (25.7%; 29.0%; p =0.025). No differences observed between oar sides. These findings will help rowing personnel better understand body composition of female collegiate rowers.

The purpose of this study was to examine longitudinal body composition changes by position, categorized by season and age, using dual X-ray absorptiometry in NCAA Division I football players. Seven hundred nineteen collegiate male football players aged 18-22 years ((X) over bar (age) +/- SE = 19.4 0.05 years) were examined. Percent body fat (%BF), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), total body mass (TM), bone mineral density (BMD), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured. Players were categorized into position groups of Linemen, Big Skill, Skill, or Special Team. One player scan was used per season (preseason, postseason, and spring season). Analysis of variance and Tukey HSD assessed total and regional differences across age, position groups, and seasons (significance of p < 0.05). Linemen had the greatest FM and LM measures compared with other groups for season and age. From preseason to postseason, %BF, FM, LM, and BMD significantly decreased for each position group. From postseason to spring season, %BF, FM, and VAT decreased, whereas LM increased within each position group. FM, VAT, LM, and TM increased with age in all position groups. The findings of this study indicate that body composition significantly worsened from preseason to postseason and improved from the preseason and postseason to the spring season.

Background The potential for prehabilitation programs to impact clinical outcomes is uncertain in abdominal cancer patients due to the short window of time to intervene and the weakened state of the patients. To improve the effectiveness of prehabilitation intervention, a multimodal sports science approach was implemented. Methods Prior to cancer-related surgery, 21 patients participated in a 4-week exercise and nutrition prehabilitation program comprised of blood flow restriction exercise (BFR) and a sports nutrition supplement. Retrospective data of 71 abdominal cancer patients who underwent usual preoperative care was used as a comparator control group (CON). At 90 days post-surgery, clinical outcomes were quantified. Results Prehabilitation was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay (P = .02) with 5.5 fewer days (4.7 ± 2.1 vs 10.2 ± 1.2 days in CON) and decreased incidence of any complications (P = .03). Prehabilitation was not related to incidence of serious complications (P = .17) or readmission rate (P = .59). The prehabilitation group recorded 58% more steps on day 5 after surgery (P = .043). Discussion A 4-week home-based prehabilitation program composed of BFR training and sports nutrition supplementation was effective in reducing postoperative complications and length of hospital stay in older patients with abdominal cancer. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04073381.

The aim of the HERITAGE Family Study was to investigate individual differences in response to a standardized endurance exercise program, the role of familial aggregation, and the genetics of response levels of cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors. Here we summarize the findings and their potential implications for cardiometabolic health and cardiorespiratory fitness. It begins with overviews of background and planning, recruitment, testing and exercise program protocol, quality control measures, and other relevant organizational issues. A summary of findings is then provided on cardiorespiratory fitness, exercise hemodynamics, insulin and glucose metabolism, lipid and lipoprotein profiles, adiposity and abdominal visceral fat, blood levels of steroids and other hormones, markers of oxidative stress, skeletal muscle morphology and metabolic indicators, and resting metabolic rate. These summaries document the extent of the individual differences in response to a standardized and fully monitored endurance exercise program and document the importance of familial aggregation and heritability level for exercise response traits. Findings from genomic markers, muscle gene expression studies, and proteomic and metabolomics explorations are reviewed, along with lessons learned from a bioinformatics-driven analysis pipeline. The new opportunities being pursued in integrative -omics and physiology have extended considerably the expected life of HERITAGE and are being discussed in relation to the original conceptual model of the study.

BACKGROUND Complying with a prehabilitation program is difficult for patients who will undergo surgery, owing to transportation challenges and a limited intervention time window. Mobile health (mHealth) using smartphone apps has the potential to remove barriers and improve the effectiveness of prehabilitation. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to develop a mobile app as a tool for facilitating a multidisciplinary prehabilitation protocol involving blood flow restriction training and sport nutrition supplementation. METHODS The app was developed using “Appy Pie,” a noncoding app development platform. The development process included three stages: (1) determination of principles and requirements of the app through prehabilitation research team meetings; (2) app prototype design using the Appy Pie platform; and (3) app evaluation by clinicians and exercise and fitness specialists, technical professionals from Appy Pie, and non–team-member users. RESULTS We developed a prototype of the app with the core focus on a multidisciplinary prehabilitation program with accessory features to improve engagement and adherence to the mHealth intervention as well as research-focused features to evaluate the effects of the program on frailty status, health-related quality of life, and anxiety level among patients awaiting elective surgery. Evaluations by research members and random users (n=8) were consistently positive. CONCLUSIONS This mobile app has great potential for improving and evaluating the effectiveness of the multidisciplinary prehabilitation intervention in the format of mHealth in future.

Physical activity, and likely the motivation for it, varies throughout the day. The aim of this investigation was to create a short assessment (CRAVE: Cravings for Rest and Volitional Energy Expenditure) to measure motivation states (wants, desires, urges) for physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Five studies were conducted to develop and evaluate the construct validity and reliability of the scale, with 1,035 participants completing the scale a total of 1,697 times. In Study 1, 402 university students completed a questionnaire inquiring about the want or desire to perform behaviors “at the present moment (right now).” Items related to physical activity (e.g., “move my body”) and sedentary behaviors (e.g., “do nothing active”). An exploratory structural equation model (ESEM) revealed that 10 items should be retained, loading onto two factors (5 each for Move and Rest). In Study 2, an independent sample (n = 444) confirmed these results and found that Move and Rest desires were associated with stage-of-change for exercise behavior. In Study 3, 127 community-residing participants completed the CRAVE at 6-month intervals over two years- two times each session. Across-session interclass correlations (ICC) for Move (ICC = 0.72–0.95) and Rest (ICC = 0.69–0.88) were higher than when they were measured across 24-months (Move: ICC = 0.53; Rest: ICC = 0.49), indicating wants/desires have state-like qualities. In Study 4, a maximal treadmill test was completed by 21 university students. The CRAVE was completed immediately pre and post. Move desires decreased 26% and Rest increased 74%. Changes in Move and Rest desires were moderately associated with changes in perceived physical fatigue and energy. In Study 5, 41 university students sat quietly during a 50-min lecture. They completed the CRAVE at 3 time points. Move increased 19.6% and Rest decreased 16.7%. Small correlations were detected between move and both perceived energy and tiredness, but not calmness or tension. In conclusion, the CRAVE scale has good psychometric properties. These data also support tenets of the WANT model of motivation states for movement and rest (Stults-Kolehmainen et al., 2020a). Future studies need to explore how desires to move/rest relate to dynamic changes in physical activity and sedentarism.

ABSTRACT Jeon, W, Harrison, JM, Stanforth, PR, and Griffin, L. Bone mineral density differences across female Olympic lifters, power lifters, and soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 35(3): 638-643, 2021-Athletic training improves bone mineral density (BMD) through repeated mechanical loading. The location, intensity, and direction of applied mechanical pressure play an important role in determining BMD, making some sports more advantageous at improving BMD at specific regions. Thirty-seven (10 power lifters [PL], 8 Olympic lifters [OL], 8 soccer players [SP], and 11 recreationally active [RA]) women participated in a cross-sectional study. We measured lumbar spine (L1-L4), femoral neck, total-body BMD, and overall body composition (total fat mass, lean mass, percent body fat) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. All athletic groups had greater total BMD than RA (p = 0.01 [PL]; p < 0.001 [OL]; p = 0.01 [SP]). Olympic lifters had the highest total BMD than all other athletic groups. Olympic lifters had the significantly greater total BMD than PL (p = 0.018), but there was no difference in total BMD between PL and SP. As compared with RA, OL showed greater BMD at both the total lumbar spine (p = 0.002) and the femoral neck (p = 0.007), whereas PL showed greater BMD only for the total lumbar spine (p = 0.019) and SP showed greater BMD only for the femoral neck (p = 0.002). Olympic-style lifting includes both high-impact and odd-impact loading modalities that are associated with the highest BMD at both the lumbar spine and femoral neck.

INTRODUCTION:The impact of prehabilitation remains controversial due to a short presurgical waiting period and the diminished capacity of the patient population. A strategy to augment and optimize the effectiveness of prehabilitations for abdominal cancer patients may be found in the unlikely field of sport science. We investigated the use of blood flow restriction training and sport nutrition supplementation to augment functional capacity and increase muscle strength in twenty-four abdominal cancer patients awaiting surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The sport science-based program was comprised of blood flow restriction exercise 5 to 6 times per week and a daily sports nutrition supplement containing l-citrulline, creatine monohydrate, and whey protein. RESULTS:After 4 weeks of prehabilitation, 6-min walk test, timed up and go, short physical performance battery, 5-chair stand test and physical component score of quality of life were significantly improved (all p < 0.05). Total body and appendicular lean mass as assessed by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry increased by 0.73 ± 1.04 kg (p = 0.004) and 0.42 ± 0.64 kg (p = 0.006), respectively. Total body fat mass and trunk fat mass decreased (p = 0.004 and p = 0.021). There were no significant changes in hand grip strength, fear of falling, the mental component summary of quality of life, or fasting serum concentrations of myostatin, follistatin, and growth hormone. CONCLUSION:A multimodal prehabilitation program, which encompasses blood flow restriction training and sports nutrition supplements, is both feasible and effective in improving lean mass and physical function in abdominal cancer patients prior to surgery.

Bisch, KL, Bosch, TA, Carbuhn, A, Stanforth, PR, Oliver, JM, Bach, CW, and Dengel, DR. Positional body composition of female division I collegiate volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 34(11): 3055-3061, 2020-The primary study objective was to measure positional differences in total and regional body composition among female NCAA Division I collegiate volleyball players using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The secondary objective was to examine normative age curves for fat and lean mass (LM) variables. Ninety female volleyball players from 5 universities received a DXA scan. Athletes were categorized by position: middle blocker (MB = 31), outside hitter (OH = 32), setter (ST = 9), and Libero (LB = 18). Height, body mass, total and regional fat mass (FM), LM, bone mineral density (BMD), and abdominal visceral adipose tissue were measured by DXA. Body mass distribution ratios were calculated. The secondary age analysis included a subset of 153 DXA scans (n = 83, ages 18-21 years). Front row players (i.e., MB and OH) had significantly greater total and regional LM and BMD measures (p < 0.05, all), compared with non-front row players (i.e., LB and ST). Differences in total LM (p < 0.001) were significantly influenced by height. Front row players had consistently lower mass distribution ratios compared with non-front row players (p < 0.05, all). Lean mass index (LMI, p = 0.752) and FM index (FMI, p = 0.392) were not significantly different across ages. Back row players have greater relative upper body mass, whereas mass in front row players is more evenly distributed between the upper and lower body. Bone mineral density differences may be influenced by repeated impact of jumping during the attacking and blocking actions of front row players. Minimal changes in LMI and fluctuations in FMI can be expected across an athlete's career.

PURPOSE: The CRAVE (Cravings for Rest and Volitional Energy Expenditure) Scale measures the intrinsic desire (or want) for movement and sedentary behaviors, as measured “right now”. The purpose of this study was a) to evaluate changes in and the construct validity of the CRAVE Scale before and after maximal exercise and b) assess relationships between these desires and with perceptions of energy and fatigue. METHODS: The CRAVE Scale is made up of 7-Rest & 6-Move questions (1-10 Likert scale). Fatigue and energy were measured with visual analogue scales. The CRAVE was administered to 21 undergraduate students in physical activity classes (ages 19-24 years; 57% non-Caucasian; 58% female). Participants were given the CRAVE within a minute of starting and again within two-minutes of finishing a maximal treadmill test. Changes were assessed with paired t-tests. Correlations were calculated to assess relationships between the CRAVE and mental energy (ME), mental fatigue (MF), physical energy (PE), and physical fatigue (PF). RESULTS: Desire to move significantly decreased (39.9 ± 9.6 vs. 29.5 ± 10.7, p<0.01) while desire to rest significantly increased (17.8 ± 12.3 vs. 29.1 ± 18.1, p<0.01) from pre- to post-treadmill test. Desire to move pre- was significantly associated with desire to move post- (r=0.63, p=0.002). Baseline desire to rest was significantly associated with desire to rest post- (r= -0.48, p=0.027) and with the post-test change in desire to move (r=0.53, p=0.014). Change in desire to move was inversely associated with change in desire to rest (r= -0.73, p=0.002). Baseline desire to move was significantly associated with the post PE (r=0.45, p=0.041). Change in desire to move had a negative association with change in PF (r= -0.52, p=0.019), but not with change in PE (r=0.31), ME (r= -0.10) or MF (r= -0.17). Change in desire to rest had an inverse correlation with change in PE (r= -0.64, p=0.003) and a positive correlation with change in PF (r=0.53, p=0.016). It was not correlated with change in either ME (r=0.06) or MF (r=0.20). CONCLUSION: Desires to move and rest change with an exercise stimulus, with desire to move decreasing and rest increasing. Furthermore, these findings suggest that the desire to move and rest are moderately associated with feelings of physical energy/fatigue but not mental energy/fatigue.

Power lifting can improve total body bone mineral density (BMD), but improvements in the regions most susceptible to injury (femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae) have not been demonstrated. Soccer players, who engage in odd-impact loading, have greater BMD at the femoral neck than sedentary controls. Olympic lifting involves both high- and odd-impact loading at the femoral neck and lumbar regions, but comparisons in BMD across sport-specific athletes have not yet been made. PURPOSE: To examine differences in total BMD and BMD at the femoral neck and lumbar vertebrae between female power lifters (PL), Olympic lifters (OL), soccer players (SP) and recreationally active individuals (RA). METHODS: Thirty-seven females participated in this study: 10 PL, 8 OL, 8 SP, and 11 RA (mean age = 24.5 ± 7.9 years). Total BMD, BMD at lumbar vertebrae L1-L4, and BMD at the femoral neck of the dominant leg were measured along with body composition (total fat mass, lean mass, and percent body fat) with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Body composition components were compared across groups with a one-way ANOVA. BMD measures were compared across groups with an ANCOVA with weight, height, and body mass index as covariates. Tukey’s tests were used for post-hoc analysis. Significance was accepted at P < 0.05. RESULTS: All three athletic groups had greater total BMD than RA (1.071 ± 0.066 g·cm-2). OL (1.306 ± 0.08 g·cm-2) had greater total BMD than PL (1.071 ± 0.07 g·cm-2), but it was not different than SP. At the femoral neck, OL (1.127 ± 0.09 g·cm-2) and SP (1.212 ± 0.10 g·cm-2) [but not PL (1.075 ± 0.16 g·cm-2)] had greater BMD than RA (0.971 ± 0.99 g·cm-2). BMD at the femoral neck was greater in SP than in PL, with no difference between OL and PL. At lumbar spine sites L2 - L4, there was no difference across the three athletic groups. OL and PL had a greater BMD than RA at L2-4, whereas SP had greater BMD than RA at only at L4. There was no difference across all groups at L1. CONCLUSION: Olympic lifting includes both high- and odd- impact movements in addition to high-force loading. Olympic lifters showed similar BMD at the femoral neck as soccer players and similar BMD in the lumbar spine as power lifters. Thus, Olympic lifting may have greater BMD effects in the two key regions that are susceptible to injury compared to sports that do not combine power and odd-impact training.

The purpose of this study was to examine body composition of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I female soccer players by position and season. One hundred seventy-five female athletes were categorized by positions of forward (n=47), midfielder (n=51), defender (n=57), and goalkeeper (n=20). A dual X-ray absorptiometry scan assessed percent body fat, total lean mass, total fat mass, arm and leg lean mass and fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue. Goalkeepers had significantly higher total, arm, and leg lean mass and fat mass compared to all other positions (p<0.05). For seasonal changes, body fat percentage was significantly higher in winter off-season (26.7%) compared to summer off-season (25.7%) and pre-season (25.8%; p<0.01) for all positions. Total and leg lean mass was significantly lower in winter off-season compared to all other seasons, and total lean mass was significantly higher in summer off-season than pre-season (p<0.01). Overall, goalkeepers were significantly different than all other positions. Body fat percentage increased and lean mass decreased in winter off-season indicating potential undesired changes in training and/or nutrition over the break whereas lean mass was the highest in summer off-season potentially reflecting the emphasis on resistance training and increased volume of training.

This study aimed to examine body composition using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in male and female NCAA Division I collegiate basketball athletes. Two-hundred ten (male [M]/female [F]=88/122) basketball athletes’ total and regional fat mass, lean mass, bone mineral density, and visceral adipose tissue were measured. Athletes were classified as: point guards (M/F=27/34), shooting guards (M/F=18/27), small forwards (M/F=13/18), power forwards (M/F=21/27), and centers (M/F=9/16). ANOVA and Tukey’s HSD assessed positional differences by sex. In males, centers and power forwards had greater total fat mass (p<0.025), lean mass (p≤0.001), and visceral adipose tissue (p<0.001) than other positions. Male centers had greater arm and leg fat mass and lean mass than point guards, shooting guards, and small forwards (p≤0.049), and greater arm bone mineral density than point guards (p=0.015). In females, centers had greater total fat mass (p<0.001) vs. other positions and greater total lean mass, arm fat and lean masses, arm and leg bone mineral density, and visceral adipose tissue vs. point guards and shooting guards (p≤0.005). Female point guards had lower total bone mineral density than power forwards (p=0.008). In conclusion, these sex- and position-specific total and regional body composition measurements in collegiate basketball players provide population-specific normative data.

Complex surgery for abdominal cancer often leads to postoperative complications that may prevent post-surgical rehabilitation in old, frail, or malnourished patients. Prehabilitation is an emerging alternative strategy that has the potential to speed recovery and may be analogous to athletic preparations for gameday. For optimal physiological improvement to occur in a limited time period prior to the surgery, cancer patients undergoing prehabilitation interventions must work closer to their maximal physiological capacity (albeit a very low level) in a manner similar to that of competitive athletes. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a 4-week sports science-based prehabilitation program on spontaneous physical activity in cancer patients who undergo major abdominal surgery. METHODS: Twenty-two cancer patients (63±11 years) who underwent major abdominal surgery were studied. Fourteen patients participated in a 4-week exercise and nutrition prehabilitation program prior to abdominal surgery. The sport-science based program comprised of an interdisciplinary approach, including blood flow restriction exercise and a daily sports nutrition supplement containing L-citrulline, creatine monohydrate, and whey protein. The remaining 8 patients served as controls. Physical activity of both groups was monitored for 5 days after surgery. Accelerometers were used to quantify number of steps, energy expenditure, and sedentary time. RESULTS: The prehabilitation group recorded 47.4% more total steps for 5 days after abdominal surgery than the control group (16,032±5,194 vs.10,877±5,182 total steps/5 days, p=0.037). The prehabilitation group had a greater amount of total energy expenditure than the control group (5,555±3,400 vs. 2,971±1,572 total kcal/5 days, p=0.028). There was no significant difference in total sedentary time between the two groups (5,064±597 vs. 5,414±514 min/5 days). CONCLUSIONS: This prehabilitation program composed of cutting-edge sports science practices significantly improved spontaneous physical activity after major surgery in older patients with abdominal cancers.

The purpose of the present study was to generate normative values for total and regional body composition in male and female Division 1 collegiate track and field athletes using dual X-ray absorptiometry. We also sought to examine body composition by event and sex. Data were used from the Consortium of College Athlete Research group. A total of 590 (male [M]/female [F] = 274/316) athletes had their height, weight, total and regional fat mass (FM), lean mass, and bone mineral density (BMD) measured. Athletes were classified into 1 of 7 categories: Jumps (M/F = 28/30); Long Distance (M/F = 104/110), Middle Distance (M/F = 27/24), Multievent (M/F = 11/9), Pole Vault (M/F = 21/27), Sprints (M/F = 54/96), and Throws (M/F = 29/20). Total and regional differences between events and sex were assessed by analysis of variance. Except for male and female throwers, all other track and field athletes' mean percent body fat (M: 10.3%-12.6%, F: 17.5%-21.6%) and visceral FM (<500 g) was low, but in a healthy range. As expected, throwers had significantly (p < 0.05) higher total and regional FM and lean mass than other events. In addition, male (1.55 ± 0.11 g/cm2) and female (1.40 ± 0.12 g/cm2) throwers had significantly greater BMD than all other events while male (1.25 ± 0.10 g/cm2) and female (1.16 ± 0.09 g/cm2) distance runners had significantly lower BMD than all other events. In conclusion, track athletes' body composition differed across events for both males and females. These measurements provide normative data on NCAA Division 1 male and female track and field athletes.

This study's purpose was to evaluate total, regional, and throwing versus non-throwing arm body composition measurements between various positions of NCAA Division I male baseball players using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Two hundred and one collegiate baseball athletes were measured using DXA. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT), total and regional fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and bone mineral density (BMD) were measured. Athletes were separated into: pitchers (n=92), catchers (n=25), outfielders (n=43), and infielders (n=41). ANOVA and Tukey's honest significant difference assessed total and regional differences between positions. Infielders had significantly (p<0.05) lower total LM than pitchers and outfielders. Additionally, outfielders had significantly lower total FM compared to pitchers and catchers. No significant differences between positions were observed for total BMD and VAT. Pitchers' and infielders' throwing arm demonstrated significantly greater total mass, FM, LM, and BMD compared to the non-throwing arm. Further, outfielders' throwing arm total mass, LM, and BMD were significantly higher vs. the non-throwing arm. Significant differences were observed in total and regional body composition measurements across position, in addition to differences in throwing arm vs. non-throwing arm composition. These measurement values are important to coaches and trainers as normative positional DXA data for collegiate baseball players.