Abstracts

skills had a significant mediating effect on MVPA (AB=2.09, CI=0.01-4.55). Overall fundamental movement skills (AB=1.19, CI=0.002-2.79) and
locomotor skills (AB=0.74, CI=0.01-1.69) had a significant mediating effect on cardiorespiratory fitness.
Discussion: Actual but not perceived movement skill competency mediated the effect of the SCORES intervention on physical activity and
cardiorespiratory fitness. This provides evidence for the inclusion of fundamental movement skill development as a mechanism of behaviour change,
and thus, a strategy that should be included in interventions aimed at increasing children physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness.
200 Does flexibility correlate with crunch factor in golf and produce faster clubhead speed?
C. Joyce 1 * • A. Barnett 2
1
University of Notre Dame Australia • 2 ASPETAR Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital
Introduction: Crunch factor (CF) in golf is the product of lateral bending of the trailing side and axial rotation velocity. CF is maximised at ball impact
(BI) and is thought to increase force behind the ball and increase clubhead speed. Investigations have reported dissimilar findings on CF and low back
pain although, flexibility and CF have yet to be assessed. The first aim of this study was to see if flexibility (absolute range of motion – ROM) enabled
golfers to maximise CF at BI for trunk and lower trunk segments. The second aim was to see if absolute ROM variables helped to produce clubhead
speed.
Methods: Fifteen male high-level amateur golfers (handicap = 2.5 ± 1.9) had their absolute ROM and five-iron golf swings analysed using a
10-camera 3D motion capture system, operating at 250 Hz. A validated multi-segment model was used to analyse kinematics (golf swing and
absolute ROM) for trunk and lower trunk segments. A validated launch monitor was used to determine clubhead speed. A bivariate correlation
analysis was used to investigate between-segment relationships for kinematic variables. Regression equations were used to determine which
absolute ROM variables explained CF for each segment as well as which kinematic variables explained clubhead speed.
Results: Bivariate correlation analysis reported moderate correlations of lateral bending at BI and axial rotation velocity for both trunk and lower trunk
CF. Five absolute ROM variables reported moderate positive and negative values with trunk CF, lateral bending of the trunk and lower trunk and lower
trunk axial rotation at BI. Absolute ROM regression models reported lower trunk flexion and lower trunk CF as significant (p=0.006) variables to
explain 57.4% variance for trunk CF. A non-significant significant (p=0.74) 22.5% model was generated for lower trunk CF. The regression model
for clubhead speed reported trunk lateral bending at BI and lower trunk CF as significant (p=0.008) variables to explain 63.6% variance.
Discussion: Of the five absolute ROM variables, only lower trunk axial rotation was shown to be negatively correlated with CF variables. Trunk and
lower trunk flexion and lower trunk left lateral bending were moderately positively correlated with CF variables. These results were reflected in the
trunk CF regression model, suggesting flexibility is important in producing CF. However, although lower trunk CF was shown to be a significant
variable in explaining clubhead speed, no absolute ROM variables were reported in the clubhead speed regression model.
201 No effect of gluten-free diets on performance, gastrointestinal health or wellbeing in non-coeliac
endurance athletes
D. Lis 1 • T. Stellingwerff 2 • J. Fell 1 • C. Kitic 1 * • K. Ahuja 1
1
University of Tasmania • 2 Canadian Sport Institute Pacific
Background: Implementation of gluten-free diets (GFD) amongst non-celiac athletes has rapidly increased in recent years due to perceived
ergogenic and health benefits. Many athletes self-diagnose gluten-related conditions, self-prescribe a GFD and believe that a GFD improves
performance and other parameters (e.g. gastrointestinal (GI) distress). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a GFD on exercise
performance, GI symptoms, perceived wellbeing, intestinal injury, and inflammatory responses in non-celiac athletes.
Methods: Thirteen competitive endurance cyclists (8 males, 5 females) with no positive clinical screening for celiac disease or history of irritable
bowel syndrome (mean±SD; age: 32±7 years; weight: 71.1±13.4kg; height 177.0±11.8cm, VO 2max 59.1±8.0ml.kg -1 min -1 ) were allocated to a seven
day gluten-containing diet (GCD) or GFD separated by a 10-day washout in a controlled randomized double-blind, cross-over study. Cyclists ate a
GFD alongside either gluten-containing or gluten-free food bars (16g wheat gluten per day) while habitual training and nutrition behaviors were
controlled. During each diet, cyclists completed the Daily Analysis of Life Demand for Athletes (DALDA) and GI questionnaires (post-exercise and
daily). On day seven cyclists completed a submaximal steady-state (SS) 45-min ride at 70% peak power followed by a 15-min time-trial (TT). Blood
samples were taken pre-exercise, post SS and post TT to determine intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) and inflammatory markers (cytokine
responses: IL-1b, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-15, TNF-a). Mixed effect logistic regression was used to analyze data.
Results: TT performance was not significantly different (p=0.37) between the GCD (245.4±53.4kJ) and GFD (245.0±54.6kJ). GI symptoms
during exercise, daily, and DALDA responses were similar for each diet (p>0.11). There were no significant differences in IFABP (p=0.69) or cytokine
(P>0.13) responses.
Discussion: A short-term GFD had no beneficial or detrimental effect on performance, GI symptoms, wellbeing, intestinal injury or select
inflammatory markers in non-celiac endurance athletes. Based on these findings it is recommended that athletes seek evidence-based advice
before adopting a GFD for non-clinical reasons to ensure that nutrition intake supports individualised and optimal fuelling for sport performance.
Saturday 24 October
202 Low carbohydrate intake of masters vs. young triathletes in the pre-competition phase of training
T. Doering 1 * • P. Reaburn 1 • N. Borges 1 • D. Jenkins 2
1
School of Medical and Applied Sciences, CQUniversity, Rockhampton QLD • 2 School of Human Movement Studies, The University of Queensland, StLucia QLD
Introduction: The sport of triathlon is growing rapidly in Australia with the 2013-2014 Triathlon Australia annual report suggesting a 13%
increase in participation within sanctioned events over the previous year. Moreover, masters triathletes are a growing cohort both domestically and
internationally, with 56% and 47% of male and female finishers at the 2010 Hawaii Ironman over the age of 40 years. Given its endurance nature,
triathlon is a metabolically demanding sport. Thus, nutrition plays a major role in exercise performance and recovery. However, little is known about
Supplement to Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport • 97