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Background Hypoxic conditioning has been proposed as a new tool to mitigate the sarcopenia and enhance health-related function, but decrements in standing balance have been observed during hypoxia exposure. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a hypoxic conditioning training on functional fitness, balance and fear of falling in healthy older adults. Methods A total of 54 healthy older adults (aged 65–75 years), who voluntarily participated in the study, were randomly divided into three groups: the control group (CON), the normoxia training group (NT) that performed strength training in normoxia, and the hypoxia training group (HT) that trained under moderate hypoxic conditions at a simulated altitude of 2500 m asl. The training programme that was performed during 24 weeks was similar in both experimental groups and consisted of a full-body workout with elastic bands and kettlebells (three sets × 12–15 reps). The Senior Fitness Test (SFT), the Single Leg Stance test (SLS) and the Short Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results Results showed that after training, either in normoxia or in hypoxia, the participants increased upper and lower body strength, and the aerobic endurance, and decreased the fear of falling. Conclusions The moderate hypoxic conditioning seems to be a useful tool to increase the functional capacity in healthy older adults without observing a decline in balance. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04281264. Registered February 9, 2019-Retrospectively registered.

The Ironman triathlon consists of a 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, and 42.195 km run. Thermoregulation responses play an important role in performance optimization and injury prevention. Factors such as environmental conditions including heat and humidity, athlete training level, and race duration can affect thermoregulation. Hyperthermia occurs when the core temperature rises above 38.5 degrees C. The present study aims to describe core temperature (Tcore) in top-level and well-trained age group triathletes during the marathon of Ironman World Championship 2014 in Kona-Hawaii under thermal stress conditions. Tcore of 15 triathletes (age: 36.11 +/- 7.36 years, body mass: 71.14 +/- 7.12 kg, height: 179 +/- 0.04 cm, and fat %: 8.48 +/- 0.85) who classified for the Ironman World Championship was measured by an ingestible pill telemetry system prior to competition, during the marathon and 60 min after finishing the race. Mean wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) during the marathon was 24.66 degrees C (range 22.44-28.50 degrees C). Body mass index (BMI) and perceived exertion (Borg Scale and Visual Analog Scale-Pain) were collected before the race and 60 min after the event. Time variables were extracted from their official race time and split times. Finish time was 10: 06:56 +/- 0:48:30. Tcore was initially 36.62 +/- 0.17 degrees C, increased at the end of the event (38.55 +/- 0.64; p < 0.01) and remained elevated 60 min after the event (38.65 +/- 0.41 degrees C; p < 0.002). BMI significantly decreased after the event (22.85 +/- 1.11 vs. 21.73 +/- 1.36; p < 0.05), whereas both exercise perceived exertion [Borg Scale (10.2 +/- 1.64 vs. 18.60 +/- 1.67; p < 0.003)] and perceived muscle pain [VAS Pain (2.75 +/- 1.59 vs. 9.08 +/- 1.13; p < 0.001)] increased significantly after the event. Tcore during competition correlated negatively with position in age group (r - 0.949, p = 0.051), but not with race time (r = -0.817; p = 0.183). High-level age group triathletes competing under th

The aim of the present review is to evaluate effects of intermittent hypoxia and exercise therapy in cardiometabolic parameters on adult obese people. Three well-known databases were selected: EMBASE, MEDLINE and Web of Science. Studies selection: Inclusion criteria were: (a) human healthy overweight or obese adults, (b) study randomized controlled trial, (c) original experimental study, (d) English languages and (e) therapy with intermittent hypoxia and exercise. The assessment of the methodological quality of each study was based upon the risk of bias (PEDro scale) and level of evidence (CBO Guidelines). five articles clearly met inclusion criteria and were reviewed to data extraction. In the hypoxia groups, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, fat mass and lean mass improved in at least two studies in comparison with the baseline. Systolic blood pressure improved in one study. The lipid profile and the aerobic capacity were not reduced significantly. Results suggest that combined hypoxia with exercise may help to improve cardiometabolic parameters in obese people. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.]

The aim of this study was to determine variations in the urinary steroid profile of triathletes following an Ironman event. A total of 10 male participants (age = 36.0 ± 1.27 years; body height = 179.29 ± 10.77 cm; body mass = 74.50 ± 1.04 kg) completed an Ironman Championship. Urine samples were collected before, immediately after, and 24 hours following the race. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was used to detect and quantify catabolic and anabolic hormones: Androsterone, Dehydroepiandrosteone (DHEA), Androstenedione and Testosterone (T), Betaestradiol, Estrone, Progesterone, Cortisol (C), Cortisone, Tetrahydrocortisol (THE) and Tetrahydrocortisone (THF). These were measured in their glucuroconjugated and free forms. Androsterone (3297.80 ± 756.83 vs. 2154.26 ± 1375.38), DHEA (47.80 ± 19.21 vs. 32.62 ± 15.96) and Beta-estradiol (59.36 ± 11.7 vs. 41.67 ± 10.59) levels decreased after the event. The significant decrease of DHEA (47.80 ± 19.21 vs. 32.11 ± 14.03) remained at 24 hours. Cortisol (200.38 ± 56.60 vs. 257.10 ± 74.00) and THE (238.65 ± 81.55 vs. 289.62 ± 77.13) increased after exercise and remained elevated 24 hours later (200.38 ± 56.60 vs. 252.48 ± 62.09; 238.65 ± 81.55 vs. 284.20 ± 66.66). The following anabolic/catabolic ratios fell after exercise: T/C (0.85 ± 0.54 vs. 0.54 ± 0.29), T/THE (0.66 ± 0.29 vs. 0.40 ± 0.08), T/THE+THF (0.38 ± 0.17 vs. 0.24 ± 0.06), DHEA/THE (0.22 ± 0.05 vs. 0.12 ± 0.05), DHEA/THF (0.34 ± 0.02 vs. 0.21 ± 0.01) and DHEA/THE+THF (0.12 ± 0.02 vs. 0.08 ± 0.03). The steroid profile showed that athletes were fatigued after finishing the competition and a catabolic state remained 24 hours later.