Artigo na Science indica uso de artes marciais para melhoria da função executiva de crianças

Science. 2011 Aug 19;333(6045):959-64.


Interventions shown to aid executive function development in children 4 to 12 years old.

Diamond A, Lee K.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia and Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC V6T 2A1, Canada. adele.diamond@ubc.ca



Abstract

To be successful takes creativity, flexibility, self-control, and discipline. Central to all those are executive functions, including mentally playing with ideas, giving a considered rather than an impulsive response, and staying focused. Diverse activities have been shown to improve children's executive functions: computerized training, noncomputerized games, aerobics, martial arts, yoga, mindfulness, and school curricula. All successful programs involve repeated practice and progressively increase the challenge to executive functions. Children with worse executive functions benefit most from these activities; thus, early executive-function training may avert widening achievement gaps later. To improve executive functions, focusing narrowly on them may not be as effective as also addressing emotional and social development (as do curricula that improve executive functions) and physical development (shown by positive effects of aerobics, martial arts, and yoga).

Perda de peso e uso de suplementos entre wrestlers iranianos

Patterns of weight loss and supplement consumption of male wrestlers in Tehran

Ramin Kordi1*, Vahid Ziaee1, Mohsen Rostami1, William A Wallace2

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the weight loss behavior of male wrestlers in Tehran
Methods: This study was a population-based cross sectional survey. Subjects were 436 wrestlers randomly selected from the wrestling clubs in Tehran employing cluster sample setting method. Subjects were interviewed based on a designed questionnaire. Body fat levels were measured based on skin fold measurements.
Results: Weight loss methods practiced by 62% of all subjects during the previous year employing rapid (≤7 days before the matches) and gradual (>7 days before the matches) weight reduction methods (73% and 34% of wrestlers who reduced their weight respectively). In addition, opinions on weight reduction, the methods of weight loss used, and the side effects of the weight loss practices as well as consumption of supplements among the subjects were reported in this study. The mean percentage of body fat of subjects was 15.9%. Conclusions: Rapid weight loss for matches and the use of unsafe methods of weight reduction such as fasting, and fluid reduction methods as well as acute side effects of weight loss were prevalent among wrestlers in Tehran. Some preventive measures including education and new rules such as scheduling weigh-ins immediately prior to the competitions and mat-side weigh-in are needed to prevent these unhealthy practices. The weight loss behaviors of these wrestlers should be changed from using dehydration methods to using gradual methods of weight loss.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/c48727205u116275/fulltext.pdf