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Item Multi-component health behaviour preventive medicine interventions to improve cardiometabolic health of airline pilots(2023-05-25) Wilson, Daniel; Driller, Matthew; Johnston, Ben; Gill, NicholasThe occupational demands of professional airline pilots such as shift work, sleep disruption, fatigue, physical inactivity, and psychological stress may promote adverse outcomes to cardiometabolic health. Indeed, recent studies indicate similar notable prevalence of physiological, behavioral and psychological ardiometabolic health risk factors to general population estimates globally. Obtaining adequate sleep, consuming healthy nutrition, and engaging in sufficient physical activity are three lifestyle behaviors that significantly reduce all-cause mortality and have a positive effect on short and long-term cardiometabolic health. In a series of controlled clinical trials utilizing face-to-face and digital modes of delivery, the effectiveness of a 16-week personalized healthy eating, sleep hygiene, and physical activity program was evaluated for enhancing cardiometabolic health parameters among airline pilots.Item Bone health : a focus on jump-landings for women(2023) Clissold, TraceyThe primary purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a 12-month quantified jump-landing program at clinically relevant bone sites in premenopausal women. Secondary measures of interest included; lower body explosive power, muscle reactivity, balance performance parameters and body composition. Methods. A longitudinal controlled trial was implemented to determine the effect of utilizing previously quantified jumps and hops with specific cues provided for jump-landings. Participants; Fifty-seven women (age, 42.4 ± 5.50 y; body mass, 70.2 ± 11.5 kg; height, 165.4 ± 0.10 cm; body fat, 31.5 ± 6.20%) were assigned to a jump (JL) or control (CON) group. The JL performed periodized jumping-landing exercises up to five times per week for 12-months. Results. Significant group main effects (P<0.01) in favour of the JL (↑0.41 - ↑3.72%) were observed for bone mineral density and bone mineral content at the femoral neck, total hip and lumbar spine. Significant group main effects (P<0.01) for cross-sectional area, cortical thickness and section modulus at the femoral narrow neck were also in favour of the JL (↑2.78 - ↑3.84%). For ground contact time, improvements in the JL over the CON between baseline and 12-months were apparent (↑21.9% vs. ↓8.86%) with significant group and time effects (P<0.01) being observed. Conclusions. A longitudinal quantified periodized jumplanding program performed 2-3 mins/day; 4-5 times a week is osteogenically effective in improving bone strength at clinically relevant lower body sites associated with osteoporosis in premenopausal women. The practical significance of these findings is that relatively safe exercises such as those utilized in our osteogenic exercise program, achieve prerequisite osteogenic thresholds and as such can be used by premenopausal women in their own homes (once competent with the jump-landing technique) to improve bone health, providing a firm surface is utilized. The findings from this research will inform the development of preventative interventions for premenopausal women and represent a “window of opportunity” to prevent or delay the time before the fracture threshold is surpassed in the postmenopausal years, during a period of lowered fracture risk.Item An exploratory study of the management strategies reported by endurance athletes with exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms(Frontiers, 2022) Scrivin, Rachel; Costa, Ricardo J. S.; Pelly, Fiona; Lis, Dana; Slater, GaryThis exploratory study investigated endurance athletes self-reported exerciseassociated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS) and associated strategies to manage symptomology. Adult endurance athletes with a history of Ex-GIS (n = 137) participating in events ≥ 60 min completed an online validated questionnaire. Respondents included runners (55%, n = 75), triathletes (22%, n = 30), and non-running sports (23%, n = 32), participating at a recreationally competitive (37%, n = 51), recreationally non-competitive (32%, n = 44), and competitive regional/national/international (31%, n = 42) levels. Athletes identified when Ex-GIS developed most frequently either around training (AT), around competitions (AC), or equally around both training (ET) and competitions (EC). Athletes reported the severity of each symptom before, during, and after exercise. Athletes predominantly categorized Ex-GIS severity as mild (< 5/10) on a 0 (no symptoms) to 10 (extremely severe symptoms) visual analog symptomology scale. The Friedman test and post hoc analysis with Wilcoxon signed rank test was conducted with a Bonferroni correction applied to determine differences between repeated measures. The only severe symptom of significance was the urge to defecate during training in the ET group (Z = –0.536, p = 0.01). Ex-GIS incidence was significantly higher during training and competitions in all categories. A content review of self-reported strategies (n = 277) to reduce Ex-GIS indicated popular dietary strategies were dietary fiber reduction (15.2%, n = 42), dairy avoidance (5.8%, n = 16), and a low fermentable oligosaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols (FODMAP) diet (5.4%, n = 15). In contrast, non-dietary strategies included the use of medications (4.7%, n = 13) and relaxation/meditation (4.0%, n = 11). On a Likert scale of 1–5, the most successful dietary strategies implemented were dietary fiber reduction (median = 4, IQR = 4, 5), low FODMAP diets (median = 4, IQR = 4, 5), dairyfree diets (median = 4, IQR = 4, 5), and increasing carbohydrates (median = 4, IQR = 3, 4). Accredited practicing dietitians were rated as the most important sources of information for Ex-GIS management (n = 29). Endurance athletes use a variety of strategies to manage their Ex-GIS, with dietary manipulation being the most common.Item Carbohydrate knowledge, beliefs, and intended practices, of endurance athletes who report exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms(Frontiers, 2023) Scrivin, Rachel; Costa, Ricardo J. S.; Pelly, Fiona; Lis, Dana; Slater, GaryThis study aimed to explore carbohydrate (CHO) knowledge, beliefs, and intended practices of endurance athletes who experience exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS) compared to those without Ex-GIS. A validated online questionnaire was completed by endurance athletes (n = 201) participating in >60 min of exercise that present with Ex-GIS (n = 137) or without (n = 64). Descriptive statistics were used for parametric and non-parametric data with appropriate significance tests. Associations between categorical data were assessed by Chi-square analysis, and post-hoc Bonferroni tests were applied when significant. A content analysis of open-ended responses was grouped into themes, and quantitative statistics were applied. Participants included runners (n = 114, 57%), triathletes (n = 43, 21%) and non-running sports (n = 44, 21%) who participate in recreational competitive (n = 74, 37%), recreational non-competitive (n = 64, 32%), or competitive regional, national, or international levels (n = 63, 31%). Athletes correctly categorized CHO (x̄ = 92–95%) and non-CHO (x̄ = 88–90%) food and drink sources. On a Likert scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) athletes typically agree or strongly agree that consuming CHO around key training sessions and competitions enhances athletic performance [median = 4 (IQR, 4–5)], and they intend to consume more CHO around exercise [median = 3 (IQR, 2–3)]. No differences in beliefs and intentions were found among athletes with or without Ex-GIS. To enhance athletic performance, most endurance athletes intend to consume more CHO around exercise. Adequate knowledge of CHO-containing food sources was apparent; however, specific CHO ingestion practices remain to be verified.Item FODMAPs as a dietary intervention for exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms(2023) Scrivin, Rachel; Costa, Ricardo J. S.; Pelly, Fiona; Lis, Dana; Slater, GaryThis series of investigations aims to better understand the self-selected strategies endurance athletes implement to manage exercise-associated gastrointestinal symptoms (Ex-GIS). Additionally, this research critically examines a popular dietary strategy commonly used to mitigate Ex-GIS, i.e., a low fermentable oligo-di-mono-saccharide and polyol (FODMAP) diet.