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To determine if photobiomodulation (PBM) has ergogenic effects on the anaerobic performance of well-trained cyclists. Fifteen healthy male road or mountain bike cyclists participated in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Athletes were randomly assigned to receive photobiomodulation (630 nm, 4.6 J/cm 2 , 6 J per point, 16 points, PBM session) or placebo intervention (PLA session) in the first session. The athletes then performed a 30-s Wingate test to determine mean and peak average power, relative power, mean and peak velocity, mean and peak RPM, fatigue index, total distance, time to peak power, explosive strength, and power drop. After 48 h, athletes returned to the laboratory for the crossover intervention. The repeated-measures ANOVA test followed by Bonferroni post hoc test or Friedman test with Dunn's post hoc test (p < 0.05), and Cohen's d statistic were used for comparisons. Performance in the Wingate test was not significantly different (p > 0.05) between PBM and PLA sessions for any variable. Only a small effect size was detected for time to peak power (-0.40; 1.11 to 0.31) and explosive strength (0.38; -0.34 to 1.09). We conclude that irradiation with red light, under a low energy density, does not promote ergogenic effects on the anaerobic performance of cycling athletes., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Abstract: Molina Correa, JC, Padoin, S, Varoni, PR, Demarchi, MC, Flores, LJ, Nampo, FK, and de Paula Ramos, S. Ergogenic effects of photobiomodulation on performance in the 30-second Wingate test: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1901-1908, 2022-The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ergogenic effects of red light (630 nm) photobiomodulation on anaerobic capacity in the Wingate test. Sixteen healthy and physically active male volunteers (21.71 ± 2.49 years of age, body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m2) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. The subjects performed 3 Wingate test sessions, with a 48-hour interval between tests. In the first session (baseline session, BS), a Wingate test was performed to evaluate the initial performance. Subjects were paired by performance in the BS and allocated through a draw to receive either the phototherapy (630 nm, 4.6 J/cm2, 6 J per point, 16 points, light-emitting diode [LED] session) or placebo intervention (PLA session) in the second test session. In the third test session, a crossover intervention was performed. The repeated-measures analysis of variance test, followed by Bonferroni post hoc test or Friedman test with Dunn's post hoc test (p < 0.05) and Cohen's d statistic were used for comparisons. The LED session with phototherapy promoted an increase in performance in peak power (p < 0.05), relative power (p < 0.05), RPMpeak (p < 0.05), and peak velocity (p < 0.05), as well as total displacement (p < 0.01) compared with PLA. The mean power (p < 0.05), relative power (p < 0.05), RPMmean (p < 0.01), and mean velocity (p < 0.01) were higher in the LED session than those of BS. We concluded that phototherapy improves performance in Wingate anaerobic exercise, possibly due to large effects on the anaerobic alactic metabolism., (Copyright © 2020 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Abstract: Brandt, R, Bevilacqua, GG, Crocetta, TB, Monteiro, CBdM, Guarnieri, R, Hobold, E, Flores, LJF, Miarka, B, and Andrade, A. Comparisons of mood states associated with outcomes achieved by female and male athletes in high-level judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships: psychological factors associated with the probability of success. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2518-2524, 2019-Moods can be used to predict the performance of athletes in various sports; accordingly, we selected the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) to evaluate mood states of high-level judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athletes. The aims of this study were (a) to compare the mood states of high-level female and male athletes in BJJ and judo championships in relation to their performance outcomes and (b) to verify associations between psychological factors and performance in estimating their probability of success. The subjects were 173 grappling athletes (judo, n = 85 and BJJ, n = 88), separated into male (n = 129, 40 winners and 89 nonwinners) and female (n = 44, 23 winners and 21 nonwinners) groups. Each subject's mood state was assessed 60 minutes before the first match using the BRUMS (tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and mental confusion dimensions). Descriptive and inferential statistics (including logistic regression and variance analysis) were used to evaluate relations between mood states and performance (i.e., winning/losing), with p ≤ 0.05. Analysis showed significant differences between male and female athletes in vigor and fatigue, and differences between male judo and male BJJ athletes in tension, vigor, confusion, and fatigue. Female judo and female BJJ athletes showed significant differences in depression and vigor. Logistic regression revealed that higher levels of anger and tension increased athletes' chances of performing well in a match by 23 and 13%, respectively. In addition, lower levels of depression increased athletes' chances of better performance by up to 32%. Overall, we observed a significant relationship between mood state and sports performance. Thus, coaching staff and athletes should monitor athletes' mood states before competitions to ensure that they are in optimal condition to perform and use psychological interventions to support judo and BJJ preparation., (Copyright © 2019 National Strength and Conditioning Association.)

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of two high-intensity interval training (HIIT) shuttle-run-based models, over 10 weeks on aerobic, anaerobic, and neuromuscular parameters, and the association of the training load and heart rate variability (HRV) with the change in the measures in young futsal players., Methods: Eleven young male futsal players (age: 18.5 ± 1.1 years; body mass: 70.5 ± 5.7 kg) participated in this study. This pre-post study design was performed during a typical 10 weeks training period. HIIT sessions were conducted at 86% (HIIT 86 ; n = 6) and 100% (HIIT 100 ; n = 5) of peak speed of the FIET. Additionally, friendly and official matches, technical-tactical and strength-power training sessions were performed. Before and after the training period, all players performed the FIET, treadmill incremental, repeated sprint ability (RSA), sprint 15-m, and vertical jump tests (CMJ and SJ), and the HRV was measured. Training load (TL) was monitored using the session rating of perceived effort. Data analysis was carried out using Bayesian inference methods., Results: The HIIT 86 model showed clear improvements for the peak oxygen uptake (VO 2 peak), peak speed in the treadmill incremental test, first and second ventilatory thresholds, RSA best and mean times, CMJ, and SJ. The HIIT 100 model presented distinct advances in VO 2 peak, peak speed in the treadmill incremental test, RSA mean time, and CMJ. Between HIIT models comparisons showed more favorable probabilities of improvement for HIIT 86 than HIIT 100 model in all parameters. TL data and HIIT models strongly explained the changes in the RSA mean and best times ( R 2 = 0.71 and 0.87, respectively), as well as HRV changes, and HIIT models explained positively VO 2 peak changes ( R 2 = 0.72). All other changes in the parameters were low to moderately explained., Conclusion: The HIIT 86 proved to be more effective for improving aerobic, RSA, and neuromuscular parameters than HIIT 100 during a typical 10-week futsal training period. So, strength and conditioning specialists prescribing shuttle-run intermittent exercises at submaximal intensities can manage the individual acceleration load imposed on athlete increasing or decreasing either the set duration or the frequency of change of direction during HIIT programming., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Campos, Borszcz, Flores, Barazetti, Teixeira, Hartmann Nunes and Guglielmo.)

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a high impact condition that affects the working population, generating social and economic repercussions, the most relevant symptoms being pain and functional disability. Conservative treatment is often based on stabilizing spinal muscles with exercises: the Russian current (RC) is reported as an alternative, because it promotes muscle contraction, providing muscle strengthening and hypertrophy., Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the RC in aiding the treatment of low back pain., Methods: This randomized study included 23 women aged 18-30 years, divided into two groups: the control group (CG) and the Russian current group (RCG), for four weeks. Pain (visual analogue scale, VAS; pressure algometer, PA), function (Oswestry Low Back Disability Index), resistance (trunk resistance [TR] test) and thickness changes in the muscle (ultrasound image) were evaluated before and after the RC protocol and at one-month follow-up., Results: There were significant VAS reductions in both groups, but at follow-up these had only been maintained in the RCG, which presented lower values than the CG in the second evaluation. For PA, Oswestry and TR, there were differences only in the RCG. In a comparison of LBP between the groups, the initial difference disappeared in subsequent evaluations; TR presented higher values in evaluation 2 and 3 in the RCG group. In terms of thickness changes, differences between the groups were reduced after treatment., Conclusion: The proposed treatment was effective in the reduction of LBP, with short-term improvement in resistance and thickness changes of the multifidus., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Nunes, RFH, Cidral-Filho, FJ, Flores, LJF, Nakamura, FY, Rodriguez, HFM, Bobinski, F, De Sousa, A, Petronilho, F, Danielski, LG, Martins, MM, Martins, DF, and Guglielmo, LGA. Effects of far-infrared emitting ceramic materials on recovery during 2-week preseason of elite futsal players. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 235-248, 2020-We investigated the effects of far-infrared emitting ceramic materials (cFIR) during overnight sleep on neuromuscular, biochemical and perceptual markers in futsal players. Twenty athletes performed a 2-week preseason training program and during sleep wore bioceramic (BIO; n = 10) or placebo pants (PL; n = 10). Performance (countermovement jump [CMJ]; squat jump [SJ]; sprints 5, 10, and 15-m) and biochemical markers (tumor necrosis factor alpha-TNF-α, interleukin 10-IL-10, thiobarbituric acid-reactive species [TBARS], carbonyl, superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT]) were obtained at baseline and after the 1st and 2nd week of training. Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and training strain were monitored throughout. Changes in ΔCMJ and ΔSJ were possibly (60/36/4 [week-1]) and likely (76/22/2 [week-2]) higher in BIO. Both groups were faster in 5-m sprint in week 2 compared with baseline (p = 0.015), furthermore, BIO was likely faster in 10-m sprint (3/25/72 [week 1]). Significant group × time interaction in %ΔTNF-α were observed (p = 0.024 [week-1]; p = 0.021 [week-2]) with values possibly (53/44/3 [week 1]) and likely (80/19/1 [week 2]) higher in BIO. The %ΔIL-10 decreased across weeks compared with baseline (p = 0.019 [week-1]; p = 0.026 [week-2]), showing values likely higher in BIO (81/16/3 [week-1]; 80/17/3 [week-2]). Significant weekly increases in %ΔTBARS (p = 0.001 [week-1]; p = 0.011 [week-2]) and %ΔCarbonyl (p = 0.002 [week-1]; p < 0.001 [week-2]) were observed compared with baseline, showing likely (91/5/4 [week-1]) and possibly (68/30/2 [week-2]) higher changes in BIO. Significant weekly decreases in %ΔSOD were observed compared with baseline (p = 0.046 [week 1]; p = 0.011 [week-2]), and between week 2 and week 1 (p = 0.021), in addition to significant decreases in %ΔCAT compared with baseline (p = 0.070 [week 1]; p = 0.012 [week 2]). Training strain (p = 0.021; very -likely [0/2/98]; week 1) and DOMS was lower in BIO (likely; 7 sessions) with differences over time (p = 0.001). The results suggest that the daily use of cFIR clothing could facilitate recovery, especially on perceptual markers during the early phases of an intensive training period.

Purpose/background: Strength asymmetries are related to knee injuries in intermittent sports players. The purpose of this study was to examine whether elite futsal players demonstrate strength asymmetries during knee isokinetic testing applying the Croisier et al.21 criteria., Methods: Forty male elite (27.9 ± 6.5 years) Brazilian futsal players participated in the study. The testing protocol required players to perform concentric contractions of both quadriceps and hamstring muscles at angular velocities of 60 °·s -1 and 240 °·s -1 and eccentric contractions of hamstring at 30 °·s -1 and 120 °·s -1 . Conventional (concentric:concentric) and mixed (eccentric:concentric) hamstrings/quadriceps (H/Q) ratios were calculated. Subjects were determined to have an imbalanced strength profile if an athlete had at least two parameters that were asymmetrical across speeds and conditions. Asymmetry was operationally defined as peak torque asymmetry greater than 15% in bilateral comparison, and H/Q ratio less than 0.47 for conventional and 0.80 for mixed conditions., Results: Significant differences were observed between preferred and nonpreferred limbs in the concentric contractions of flexors at 240 °·s -1 and eccentric contractions of extensors and flexors at 30 °·s -1 and 120 °·s -1 . However, these asymmetries did not exceed 15%. The conventional and mixed H/Q ratios were greater in the preferred than in nonpreferred limbs, but only the mixed hamstrings ecc /quadriceps conc in the nonpreferred limbs showed values lower than recommended (<0.80). In addition, 50% of elite futsal players had preseason strength imbalances per the developed criteria., Conclusion: The studied elite futsal players had preseason strength imbalances, which may increase the risk of hamstring injuries., Level of Evidence: 3.