Search

Purpose: To analyze the differences in the force–velocity (F–v) profile assessed under unconstrained (ie, using free weights) and constrained (ie, on a Smith machine) vertical jumps, as well as to determine the between-day reliability. Methods: A total of 23 trained participants (18 [1] y) performed an incremental load squat jump test (with ∼35%, 45%, 60%, and 70% of the subjects' body mass) on 2 different days using free weights and a Smith machine. Nine of these participants repeated the tests on 2 other days for an exploratory analysis of between-day reliability. F–v variables (ie, maximum theoretical force [F0], velocity [v0], and power, and the imbalance between the actual and the theoretically optimal F–v profile) were computed from jump height. Results: A poor agreement was observed between the F–v variables assessed under constrained and unconstrained conditions (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] <.50 for all). The height attained during each single jump performed under both constrained and unconstrained conditions showed an acceptable reliability (coefficient of variation < 10%, ICC >.70). The F–v variables computed under constrained conditions showed an overall good agreement (ICC =.75–.95 for all variables) and no significant differences between days (P >.05), but a high variability for v0, the imbalance between the actual and the theoretically optimal F–v profile, and maximal theoretical power (coefficient of variation = 17.0%–27.4%). No between-day differences were observed for any F–v variable assessed under unconstrained conditions (P >.05), but all of the variables presented a low between-day reliability (coefficient of variation > 10% and ICC <.70 for all). Conclusions:F–v variables differed meaningfully when obtained from constrained and unconstrained loaded jumps, and most importantly seemed to present a low between-day reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Repeated-sprint training (RS) is commonly conducted in normoxia, but its completion with localized (blood-flow restriction [BFR]) or systemic hypoxia has been proven effective for perfonnance enhancement. Yet, few studies have applied these types of RS sessions in racket sports. The authors aimed to determine the acute responses to these types of training in elite badminton players. Methods: Eight male elite badminton players participated in this randomized crossover study. They performed 3 on-court RS sessions, each consisting of 3 sets of 10 repetitions of 10-s badminton-specific movements in normoxia (RSN), systemic normobaric hypoxia (RSH, FiO2 = 14%), or with BFR (RS-BFR, 40% arterial occlusion pressure). Performance, perceptual (ie, rating of perceived exertion), and physiological (ie, pulse saturation, muscle oxygenation, blood lactate, creatine kinase, heart-rate variability) responses were measured after each set and up to 48 h postsession. Results: RS-BFR induced a greater performance impairment (lower distance and accelerations) and a higher local perceived exertion in the legs than RSN and RSH (P < .05), whereas greater overall fatigue was reported with RSH [P < .05). RSH induced a lower saturation (P < .001), but no differences were observed in muscle oxygenation between conditions. No differences in creatine kinase or heart-rale variability were observed at any time point (from baseline up to 48 h after the session). Conclusions: RS-BFR--and, to a lower extent, RSH--resulted in impaired performance and a higher perceived strain than RSN. However, these 2 hypoxic methods do not seem to induce a long-lasting (post 24-48 h) physiological stress in elite badminton players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine if transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) could be effective for the enhancement of swimming performance or mood state in elite athletes. Methods: Eight male elite triathletes (age = 20 [2] y, maximal oxygen uptake = 71 [4] mL·kg−1·min−1) participated in this crossover, counterbalanced, sham-controlled, double-blind study. Participants received either actual (20 min of anodal stimulation of the motor cortex at 2 mA) or sham tDCS and performed an 800-m swimming test in which rating of perceived exertion and blood lactate response were measured. Mood state (Brunel Mood Scale) was assessed before and after each tDCS session and after the swimming test. Heart-rate variability and central nervous system readiness were assessed before and after each tDCS session. The chances of finding differences between conditions were determined using magnitude-based inferences. Results: A significant and very likely higher Brunel Mood Scale–determined vigor self-perception was found with actual tDCS after the stimulation session (−0.1 [1.2] and 2.0 [2.3] for sham and actual tDCS, respectively; P =.018, effect size = 1.14) and after exercise (−4.1 [2.9] and −0.9 [3.6] for sham and actual tDCS, respectively; P =.022, effect size = 0.98). However, likely trivial and nonsignificant (P >.05) differences were found between conditions in performance (599 [38] s and 596 [39] s, respectively). Unclear and nonsignificant differences were observed between conditions for the rest of the study end points. Conclusions: tDCS elicited a marked increase in vigor self-perception that was maintained after exercise but failed to improve swimming performance in elite triathletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a recovery strategy whose use has increased in recent years owing to the benefits observed in the clinical setting in some cardiovascular diseases (ie, improvement of cardiovascular function). However, its claimed effectiveness for the enhancement of exercise recovery has not been analyzed in athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of EECP on short-term recovery after a fatiguing exercise bout. Methods: Twelve elite junior triathletes (16 [2] y) participated in this crossover counterbalanced study. After a high-intensity interval training session (6 bouts of 3-min duration at maximal intensity interspersed with 3-min rest periods), participants were assigned to recover during 30 min with EECP (80 mm Hg) or sham (0 mm Hg). Measures of recovery included performance (jump height and mean power during an 8-min time trial), metabolic (blood lactate concentration at several time points), autonomic (heart-rate variability at several time points), and subjective (rating of perceived exertion [RPE] and readiness to compete) outcomes. Results: There were no differences between EECP and sham in mean RPE or power output during the high-intensity interval training session, which elicited a significant performance impairment, vagal withdrawal, and increased blood lactate and RPE in both EECP and sham conditions (all P <.05). No significant differences were found in performance, metabolic, or subjective outcomes between conditions at any time point. A significantly lower high-frequency power (P <.05, effect size = 1.06), a marker of parasympathetic activity, was observed with EECP at the end of the recovery phase. Conclusion: EECP did not enhance short-term recovery after a high-intensity interval training session in healthy, highly trained individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valenzuela, PL, Sánchez-Martínez, G, Torrontegi, E, Vázquez-Carrión, J, Montalvo, Z, and Kara, O. Validity, reliability, and sensitivity to exercise-induced fatigue of a customer-friendly device for the measurement of the brain's direct current potential. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1605–1609, 2022—This study aimed to determine the validity, reliability, and sensitivity to exercise-induced fatigue of the brain's direct current (DC) potential measured with a commercially available and customer-friendly electroencephalography (EEG) device and Omegawave (OW). The study was composed of 3 different experiments as follows: (a) we compared the DC potential values obtained simultaneously in 31 subjects with both OW and a research-quality EEG system; (b) 3 consecutive DC potential measurements with OW were taken at rest on the same day in 25 subjects for reliability analyses; and (c) sensitivity to fatigue was assessed in 9 elite badminton players through the measurement of the DC potential with OW—as well as other fatigue-related measures (e.g., Hooper's index, heart rate variability, jump ability, and simple and complex reaction times)—24 hours after both a day of rest and of strenuous exercise, which were performed in a crossover and randomized design. The DC potential measured with OW was reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97) and significantly correlated to that of EEG (r = 0.55, p = 0.001), although significant differences were observed between systems (p < 0.001). Compared with the rest day, strenuous exercise resulted in an impaired Hooper's index (p = 0.010) and jump ability (p = 0.008), longer simple (p = 0.038) and complex reaction times (p = 0.011), and a trend toward sympathetic dominance (standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals, p = 0.042; root mean square of differences between consecutive R-R intervals, p = 0.068). In turn, no significant differences were found between sessions for the DC potential (p = 0.173). In summary, the DC potential measured with OW was reliable and modestly correlated to that measured with EEG, but no differences were observed in response to the delayed fatigue (after 24 hours) elicited by strenuous exercise in elite athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beef protein extracts are growing in popularity in recent years due to their purported anabolic effects as well as to their potential benefits on hematological variables. The present randomized, controlled, double-blind, cross-over study aimed to analyze the effects of beef protein supplementation on a group of male elite triathletes (Spanish National Team). Six elite triathletes (age, 21 ± 3 years; VO2max, 71.5 ± 3.0 ml·kg·min−1) were randomly assigned to consume daily either 25 g of a beef supplement (BEEF) or an isoenergetic carbohydrates (CHO) supplement for 8 weeks, with both conditions being separated by a 5-week washout period. Outcomes, including blood analyses and anthropometrical measurements, were assessed before and after each 8-week intervention. No effects of supplement condition were observed on body mass nor on skinfold thicknesses, but BEEF induced significant and large benefits over CHO in the thigh cross-sectional area (3.02%, 95%CI = 1.33 to 4.71%; p = 0.028, d = 1.22). Contrary to CHO, BEEF presented a significant increase in vastus lateralis muscle thickness (p = 0.046), but differences between conditions were not significant (p = 0.173, d = 0.87). Although a significantly more favorable testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (TCR) was observed for BEEF over CHO (37%, 95% CI = 5 to 68%; p = 0.028, d = 1.29), no significant differences were found for the hematological variables (i.e., iron, ferritin, red blood cell count, hemoglobin or hematocrit). Beef protein supplementation seems to facilitate a more favorable anabolic environment (i.e., increased TCR and muscle mass) in male elite triathletes, with no impact on hematological variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]