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This study aimed to investigate the acute effects of a medicine ball slam and the optimal recovery time required to induce a post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) response on 50-meter freestyle swimming performance. Twenty-four (13 female, 11 male) competitive, adolescent swimmers (mean ± SD: age, 16.7 ± 1.2 years; height, 173.3 ± 6.7 cm; mass, 63.1 ± 6.4 kg) participated in a randomized crossover study. After the PAPE intervention (3 × 5 medicine ball slams), subjects had 1-minute, 4-minute, and 8-minute recovery periods before a 50-m maximal freestyle swim. A 1-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed that different recovery times elicited changes in 50- m performance (F = 12.12, p < 0.0005). After 4 minutes of recovery, 50-m performance was 1.6% (0.47 seconds) faster (95% confidence interval [CI] [0.17-0.77], p < 0.001). When the data were split by sex, after 4 minutes of recovery, 50-m performance was 2% (0.64 seconds) faster for women (95% CI [0.279-0.998], p < 0.001). In conclusion, an upper-body power exercise, before performance, can induce a PAPE response and enhance 50-m freestyle performance after a 4-minute recovery period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current literature on blood flow restriction (BFR) as a post-exercise recovery strategy. Experimental studies investigating the effect of BFR on recovery after exercise were included. Only studies meeting the following inclusion criteria were selected: (a) studies investigating about BFR as a post-exercise recovery strategy in athletes and healthy individuals; (b) the full text being available in English; (c) experimental research study design. Studies that exclusively analyzed BFR as a recovery strategy during the exercise (e.g., recovery strategy between bouts of exercise) were excluded. A literature review was conducted on the PubMed, Cochrane, and Web of Science electronic databases up until May 7th, 2023. The main findings were that (i) 9 studies investigated passive BFR as a post-exercise recovery strategy, which shows a significant lack of research in both team and individual sports (especially in female populations), and only 2 studies used active BFR protocols; (ii) although a high quality range of studies was observed, there were methodological limitations such as BFR interventions that were usually conducted after fatiguing protocols or fitness tests, which may not represent the real exercise (e.g., a sprint session of 6 sets of 50 m may induce muscle damage but it does not represent the demands of a team sport like rugby or soccer); (iii) there is a lack of consistency in BFR protocols (e.g., number of cycles or duration of the occlusion-reperfusion periods) for recovery; (iv) some studies showed beneficial effects while others found no positive or detrimental effects of BFR as a post-exercise recovery strategy in comparison with the control/SHAM group. In conclusion, only 11 studies investigated BFR as a post-exercise recovery strategy and there is not any significant amount of evidence in team or individual sports (especially in female populations). BFR could be a potential post-exercise recovery strategy, but practitioners should use caution when applying this method of recovery for their athletes and clients. In addition, it would be of interest for high performance-related practitioners to have a better understanding of the benefits of BFR interventions combined with either active or passive forms of exercise as a post-exercise recovery strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study compared the acute hypoalgesic and neurophysiological responses to low‐load resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction (BFR), and free‐flow, high‐load exercise. Participants performed four experimental conditions where they completed baseline measures of pain pressure threshold (PPT), maximum voluntary force (MVF) with peripheral nerve stimulation to determine central and peripheral fatigue. Corticospinal excitability (CSE), corticospinal inhibition and short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) were estimated with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Participants then performed low‐load leg press exercise at 30% of one‐repetition maximum (LL); low‐load leg press with BFR at 40% (BFR40) or 80% (BFR80) of limb occlusion pressure; or high‐load leg press of four sets of 10 repetitions at 70% one‐repetition maximum (HL). Measurements were repeated at 5, 45 min and 24 h post‐exercise. There were no differences in CSE or SICI between conditions (all P > 0.05); however, corticospinal inhibition was reduced to a greater extent (11%–14%) in all low‐load conditions compared to HL (P < 0.005). PPTs were 12%–16% greater at 5 min post‐exercise in BFR40, BFR80 and HL compared to LL (P ≤ 0.016). Neuromuscular fatigue displayed no clear difference in the magnitude or time course between conditions (all P > 0.05). In summary, low‐load BFR resistance exercise does not induce different acute neurophysiological responses to low‐load, free‐flow exercise but it does promote a greater degree of hypoalgesia and reduces corticospinal inhibition more than high‐load exercise, making it a useful rehabilitation tool. The changes in neurophysiology following exercise were not related to changes in PPT. What is the central question of this study?Does low‐load, blood flow restricted, resistance exercise promote greater hypoalgesic and neurophysiological changes in the 24 h period post‐exercise, in comparison to high‐load resistance exercise?What is the main finding and its importance?Blood flow restriction exercise augments hypoalgesia compared to free‐flow, low‐load exercise and induces similar hypoalgesia to high‐load exercise, but does not result in any different alterations to corticospinal excitability or inhibition. However, corticospinal inhibition was reduced to a greater extent with low‐load exercise, compared to high‐load exercise. Therefore, low‐load BFR resistance exercise is a suitable method for exercise rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine the effect of fast- versus slow-speed eccentric-muscle-action resistance training on lower-body strength, vertical jump height, sprint speed, and change-of-direction performance in elite soccer players during a competitive season. Methods: Twenty-two elite soccer players, from a single team, were randomly assigned to groups that undertook either 1- (fast speed) or 4-second (slow speed) eccentric resistance training during the in-season period. A 5-week program was conducted during an elite top-division European League soccer season. Performance measures including predicted 1-repetition-maximum back squat, countermovement jump, 20-m sprint, and change of direction were tested before and after the intervention period. Total match and training running distance and muscle soreness were also recorded during each week of the intervention. Results: An analysis of covariance showed significant group effects (P =.01) for countermovement jump with a greater jump height in the 1-second fast-speed group postintervention (95% CI, 1.1–6.9 cm). Despite an overall increase in 1-repetition maximum pretraining to posttraining (95% CI, 10.0–15.3 kg, effect size 0.69), there were no significant differences (P >.05) between groups after the intervention. Similarly, there were no differences between groups for change of direction, 20-m sprint, or muscle soreness. Conclusion: Faster eccentric muscle actions may be superior for increasing movements in elite soccer players in-season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) in ice hockey is a concern for many athletes. The biomechanics of skating and the injury mechanism, prevalence, identification, and treatment protocols currently available for FAI in ice hockey athletes are important for all coaches and practitioners to understand. This article discusses the underlying anatomical issues and biomechanical considerations surrounding FAI. Furthermore, this article describes the interventions that can be used when encountering FAI and well-established protocols to aid in the return to play. Finally, prevention strategies that can aid in injury prevention are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]