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Chan, M, MacInnis, MJ, Koch, S, MacLeod, KE, Lohse, KR, Gallo, ME, Sheel, AW, and Koehle, MS. Cardiopulmonary demand of 16-kg kettlebell snatches in simulated Girevoy Sport. J Strength Cond Res 34(6): 1625-1633, 2020-Kettlebell lifting has become popular both as a strength and conditioning training tool and as a sport in and of itself: Girevoy Sport (GS). Although several kettlebell multimovement protocols have been analyzed, little research has attempted to quantify the aerobic stimulus of the individual events in GS, which could better inform kettlebell-related exercise prescription. The purpose of this study was to quantify the cardiopulmonary demand, assessed primarily by oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2) and heart rate (HR), of continuous high-intensity kettlebell snatches-under conditions relevant to GS-and to compare this demand with a more traditional graded rowing ergometer maximal exercise test. Ten male participants (age = 28.4 ± 4.6 years, height = 185 ± 7 cm, body mass = 95.1 ± 14.9 kg) completed (a) a graded-exercise test on a rowing ergometer to determine maximal oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) and maximal heart rate (HRmax) and (b) a graded-exercise test consisting of continuous 16-kg kettlebell snatches to determine peak oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak) and peak heart rate (HRpeak) during a simulated GS snatch event. Subjects achieved a V[Combining Dot Above]O2max of 45.7 ± 6.7 ml·kg·min and HRmax of 177 ± 8.3 b·min on the rowing ergometer. The kettlebell snatch test produced a V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak of 37.6 ± 4.4 ml·kg·min (82.7 ± 6.5% V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) and a HRpeak of 174 ± 10 b·min (98.0 ± 3.4% HRmax). These findings suggest that GS kettlebell snatches with 16-kg can provide an adequate aerobic stimulus to improve cardiorespiratory fitness in those with a V[Combining Dot Above]O2max of ≤51 ml·kg·min, according to aerobic training recommendations from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Perrotta, AS, Taunton, JE, Koehle, MS, White, MD, and Warburton, DER. Monitoring the prescribed and experienced heart rate-derived training loads in elite field hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 33(5): 1394-1399, 2019-This study examined the congruence between the prescribed and experienced heart rate-derived training loads over a 5-week periodized mesocycle. Twenty-four elite female field hockey players training as part of a national team were monitored before an (FIH) Hockey World League tournament. Three on-field training sessions per week were prospectively designed focusing on technical, tactical, and physiologically oriented hockey drills. A training load value, modeling the periodized weekly loading scheme, was prescribed for each training session and was calculated using normative training load responses from performing on-field hockey drills. Magnitude-based inferences focusing on the effect size (ES) and a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) were used to examine the degree of difference and the strength of correlation between the prescribed and experienced training loads. A significant correlation was observed between the experienced and prescribed training loads over the 5-week mesocycle (r = 0.92, 90% confidence limit [CL] [0.84-0.96]). The percentage difference and the ES between the achieved and prescribed training loads were as follows: week 1 demonstrated a 2.0% difference (ES = 0.10, 90% CL [-0.22-0.41]), week 2 a -5.4% difference (ES = -0.41, 90% CL [-0.75 to -0.07]), week 3 a -1.5% difference (ES = -0.09, 90% CL [-0.37 to 0.20]), week 4 a 7.1% difference (ES = 0.46, 90% CL [0.14-0.78]), and week 5 a 3.5% difference (ES = 0.18, 90% CL [-0.17 to 0.53]). This investigation demonstrates the efficacy for coaches to prospectively design on-field training sessions using normative training load data to enhance the congruence between the prescribed and experienced training loads over a periodized mesocycle.

Perrotta, AS, White, MD, Koehle, MS, Taunton, JE, and Warburton, DER. Efficacy of hot yoga as a heat stress technique for enhancing plasma volume and cardiovascular performance in elite female field hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 32(10): 2878-2887, 2018-This investigation examined the efficacy of hot yoga as an alternative heat stress technique for enhancing plasma volume percentage (PV%) and cardiovascular performance. Ten international caliber female field hockey players completed six 60-minute hot yoga sessions using permissive dehydration over 6 days, followed by a 6-day national team camp. Changes in PV% were examined throughout the intervention and postintervention period. A graded maximal exercise test was performed in a thermoneutral environment (23.2 ± 1.0° C) 24 hours before and 24 hours after intervention. Six days of hot yoga initiated a moderate state of hypovolemia (PV% = -3.5%, 90% confidence limit [CL] [-6.9 to -0.13]), trivial improvements in maximal aerobic power (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) (effect size [ES] = 0.06, 90% CL [-0.16 to 0.28]), and run time to exhaustion (ES = 0.11, 90% CL [-0.07 to 0.29]). Small meaningful improvements were observed in running speed (km·h) at ventilatory threshold (VT1) (ES = 0.34, 90% CL [-0.08 to 0.76]), VT2 (ES = 0.53, 90% CL [-0.05 to 1.1]), along with adaptations in the respiratory exchange ratio during high-intensity exercise (ES = -0.25, 90% CL [-0.62 to 0.12]). A large plasma volume expansion transpired 72 hours after intervention (PV% = 5.0%, 90% CL [1.3-8.7]) that contracted to a small expansion after 6 days (PV% = 1.6%, 90% CL [-1.0 to 4.2]). This investigation provides practitioners an alternative heat stress technique conducive for team sport, involving minimal exercise stress that can preserve maximal cardiovascular performance over periodized rest weeks within the yearly training plan. Furthermore, improvements in submaximal performance and a delayed hypervolemic response may provide a performance-enhancing effect when entering a 6-day competition period.

The factor structure and internal consistency of the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) have not been examined in a general healthcare population. Replicating the factor structure of the FMS is important because it illustrates the interdependence between each of the subtests, enabling the strength and conditioning professional to better interpret and act on an individual's FMS score. Anthropometric data and FMS scores were collected from 1,113 clients of a multidisciplinary healthcare clinic in Vancouver, BC The mean (SD) ages were 53.4 (11.1) for men (n = 656) and 49.3 (12.3) for women (n = 457). The mean FMS Summary Score was 13.7 (2.9) and was significantly negatively correlated with both age (r = -0.25; p < 0.001) and body mass index (r = -0.37; p < 0.001). The internal consistency of the FMS scale, which was assessed with both ordinal and Cronbach's alpha, was 0.73 and 0.64, respectively. Polychoric correlations between individual movements ranged from 0.03 to 0.59. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) revealed that the FMS showed 2 main factors, a basic movement factor (shoulder mobility and active straight leg raise) and a complex movement factor (squat, hurdle step, inline lunge, and the trunk stability push-up). Rotary stability loaded onto both factors in the CFA, and its exclusion from the model had little effect. The findings of this study broadly replicated the intended factor structure of the FMS, as the individual movements aligned well with the intended factors.

The functional movement screen (FMS) is an easily administered and noninvasive tool for identifying weaknesses and asymmetry during exercises and daily activity. The clinical utility of FMS is currently limited by its lack of normative reference values. This study aimed to fill this void by providing normative reference values for healthy, middle-aged adults. Furthermore, we hypothesized that FMS would be affected by other factors such as age, body mass index (BMI), exercise participation, and Balance Error Scoring System scores. Six hundred and twenty-two healthy adults were assessed based on their performance on the 7-Point FMS. A higher level of exercise participation was associated with higher FMS scores, whereas higher BMI and age were associated with lower FMS scores. There was a significant difference between individuals with high (>30) and moderate BMIs (F[621] = 33.98, p < 0.0001). The normative reference values presented can be used in clinical practice to identify abnormal scores across a broad age spectrum.