Cecilia BELLOTTI Curriculum Vitae Contact details Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences University of Verona, Italy E-mail: cecilia.bellotti@univr.it Phone (office): 045 8425146 Fax: 045 8425131 Academic studies Ph.D. Student (January 2009 - Present) in Science of Physical Exercise and Human Movement, Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona. Project title: The functional evaluation for a tailored exercise prescription in the elderly. Supported by the European Social Fund. Master Degree (July 2008) in Science of Preventive and Adapted Physical Activities with vote 110/110 at the Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona. Thesis title: "Development and application of a methodological variant of the Åstrand step tests for functional assessing in the elderly: effect of variations in step height and step frequency." Supervised by Dott. Silvia Pogliaghi. Undergraduate Degree (March 2007) in Exercise and Human Movement Science with vote 107/110 at the Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona. Thesis title: "The mental image of volleyball technical gestures: research with athletes aged between 8 and 13 years." Supervised by prof. Graziano Paissan. Scientific baccalaureate (July 2003) with vote 80/100 at the High School Little Daughters of St. Joseph, in Verona.
Professional titles, certificates and significant experiences Completed a period of study/research at the Canadian Centre for and the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, Canada (June-September 2010). Assisted in physical activity classes for older adults, studied various exercise protocols and fitness appraisal techniques, and discussed research testing protocols in the laboratory of Health Sciences at the University of Western Ontario. 2010: Qualified to instruct the Get Fit for Active Living from the Canadian Centre for 2010: Attended workshop: Improving stability on the ball and mat. Canadian Centre for 2009: 1st grade coach with the Italian Volleyball Federation 2007: student-coach with the Italian Volleyball Federation 2007: Attended workshop Get Fit for Active Living facilitator at the Canadian Centre for 2005: Masterclass: Speed up your body wellness & performance 2004: Masterclass: Aquaspeedo 2004: Aqua trainer with the National Research Centre for activities in water 2004: Certificate of Promotennis issued by UISP, National Tennis League 2002: Patent of swimming instructor with the National Society Rescue 2001: Patent of lifeguards with the National Society Rescue Acquired skills in the following as part of the educational activities and the experience of practical training in accordance with the Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science of Verona: - physical activity programs for elderly adults; - functional evaluation of different populations within an exercise physiology laboratory; - physical activity adapted to elderly and disabled people both in the gym and in the aquatic environment at the Don Giovanni Calabria Multipurpose Centre (Via San Marco, Verona); - fitness activities and rehabilitation at the Fisiolab (via Berbera, Verona); - sports and physical activity with children at the University Centre of Sports. Work experiences 2008-Present: high school physical education and sports instructor at the Salesiani Don Bosco Institute, Verona, Italy; 2007-2008: taught physical activity at the kindergarten of the St. Mary of Sorrows school, Verona, Italy;
2006: completed "150 hours" in the library of the Faculty of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Verona, Italy; 2006-2009: coordinated the "sports & games" activities outside school afternoon, at the elementary school of the Little Daughters of St. Joseph, Verona, Italy; 2006-Present: leads exercise classes for adults and elderly people at the 1st District (with the Libertas society) of Verona, Italy; 2005: worked as educator in a summer centre for children (3-6 years), Borgo Santa Croce, Verona, Italy; 2004-Present: coaches volleyball and minivolley teams that play CSI or FIPAV championships, in Italy; 2004: administrative tasks at the Gardaland amusement park, Castelnuovo del Garda, Italy; 2003: lifeguard service and moderator of "kindergarten" at Camping Butterfly Peschiera del Garda, Italy; 2002-2003: taught swimming at the Monte Lungo and Monte Bianco pools, Verona, Italy. Research interests Exercise Physiology The functional evaluation for a tailored exercise prescription in the elderly The measurement of maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) and anaerobic threshold is essential for an accurate analysis of individual fitness level in order to personalize exercise prescription (i.e., adequate dosage of the physical activity) and to monitor the training status (specificity) throughout training. The current methods of investigation, however, often prove to be inadequate (for complexity of implementation, risk and cost) with regard to special categories of individuals, such as the elderly or people with particular diseases. The study aimed at developing and applying some indirect tests for the functional evaluation of the aerobic metabolism, in particular to evaluate the anaerobic threshold and VO 2max in the elderly. The study was divided in three parts: 1. the validity of the Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope (OUES, derived from the logarithmic curve fitting model between VO 2 and ventilation (VE)) as an indicator of the fitness level and the response to an aerobic training program (Responsiveness); 2. the validity of Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) as a objective method for the measurement of the anaerobic threshold through the analysis of the local oxidative metabolism; 3. the validity of a tailored version of the Astrand step test to estimate VO 2max in healthy elderly individuals. Expected results:
1. We expect to use the OUES (index objective and sub-maximal) to estimate VO 2max in healthy elderly individuals; furthermore, we will evaluate whether OUES is sensitive to changes caused by training in individual aerobic fitness; 2. We expect that the NIRS technique will allow for the detection of the anaerobic threshold value that, in terms of VO 2, corresponds to the first ventilatory threshold (VT1); 3. We expect that the Astrand step test, "personalized" by changes in step height and frequency of movement, will provide accurate estimates of VO 2max in healthy elderly individuals. Discussion: Functional evaluation of VO 2max and anaerobic threshold is important for a correct analysis of individual fitness level, to personalize the exercise prescription (adequate dosage of the physical activity) and to monitor training status (specificity) throughout training. However, the current methods of investigation appear to be inadequate in special populations, including, but not limited to elderly individuals or people with illnesses or diseases. Direct measurement, using an incremental test to exhaustion, is considered the most accurate and precise approach to determine the maximum aerobic capacity (VO 2max ) and the anaerobic threshold (AT) of an individual. However, the application of such a methodology is limited in the elderly because exercise tolerance may be hampered by local fatigue or muscle pain rather than actual physical exhaustion. In other cases, these individuals demonstrate clear contraindications to a maximal test, such as the presence of specific cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. Moreover, direct assessment can prove challenging in the absence of a well-equipped laboratory with sophisticated and expensive equipment. On the contrary, indirect and sub-maximal assessment is more accessible, since it has a minimal financial commitment and a wide range of applications, while providing reproducible results, although characterized by lower accuracy than those obtained by direct method. For the above reasons, it is important to develop and implement some indirect or "field" tests for the functional assessment of the aerobic metabolism, in particular to identify the anaerobic threshold and maximum oxygen consumption in elderly subjects. Congresses and conferences Education event: Research to Action conference lecture series, June 2010, London, Ontario, Canada. Presented abstract entitled: "Anaerobic threshold determination in young males: NIRS can help?" at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Baltimore (USA) June 2010. Participated in and contributed to an event organized by ULSS 8 of Arezzo, Italy, in conjunction with the World Health Day, testing the fitness level of participants. Participated in and contributed to an event organized by ULSS 20 Verona, Italy, at the Grand Hotel, allowing participants to test their fitness level. Attended the 3rd International Congress "Mountain Sports and Health" held in Rovereto, (Italy), November 2009, and conducted a workshop on functional and fitness assessment with/for the Cosmed. Presented abstract entitled: Tailored step test for rapid, accurate and safe VO 2max determination in healthy elderly at the annual meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine in Seattle (WA, USA) May 2010. Infoday Call Public Health 2009, Verona, Italy, March 2009.
Catalogue of the University, databases and electronic journals, Verona, Italy, March 2009. "Physical activity program for frail elderly: experience and prospects ", Mantova, Italy, April 2009. Helped organize the International conference and the European Network for Physically Activity and Healthy Ageing, a dialogue on best practices between policy and research in Verona, Italy, June 2008. Publications - Bellotti C., Casiello L., Pogliaghi S., "Tailored" step test for a rapid, accurate and safe VO2max determination in healthy elderly in «Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise» vol. 41 n. 5, Proceedings of "ACSM Annual meeting", Seattle (USA), May 2009, 2009, pp. 466-466; - Pogliaghi S., Bellotti C., De Roia G., Schena F., Anaerobic threshold determination in young males: NIRS can help? in «Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise» vol. 42 n. 5, Proceedings of "ACSM Annual meeting", Baltimore (USA), 1-5 June 2010, 2010, pp. 528-528; Languages and other information - Italian: mother tongue - English: fluent both spoken and written - German: elementary knowledge both spoken and written Verona, 20 September 2010 Cecilia Bellotti