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Female steroid hormone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle and exogenous hormones from oral contraceptives may have potential effects on exercise performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of these fluctuations on cardiorespiratory responses during steady-state exercise in women. Twenty-three healthy endurance-trained women performed 40 minutes of running at 75% of their maximal aerobic speed during different phases of the menstrual cycle (n515; early follicular phase, midfollicular phase, and luteal phase) or oral contraceptive cycle (n58; hormonal phase and nonhormonal phase). Ventilatory parameters and heart rate (HR) were measured. Data were analyzed using a mixed linear model. For the eumenorrheic group, significantly higher oxygen uptake (p50.049) and percentage of maximum oxygen uptake (p50.035) were observed during the midfollicular phase compared with the early follicular. Heart rate (p50.004), oxygen ventilatory equivalent (p50.042), carbondioxide ventilatory equivalent (p50.017), and tidal volume (p50.024) increased during luteal phase in comparison with mid-follicular. In oral contraceptive users, ventilation (p50.030), breathing frequency (p50.018), oxygen ventilatory equivalent (p50.032), and carbon dioxide ventilatory equivalent (p50.001) increased during the hormonal phase. No significant differences were found for the rest of the parameters or phases. Both the eumenorrheic group and oral contraceptive group showed a significant increase in some ventilatory parameters during luteal and hormonal phases, respectively, suggesting lower cardiorespiratory efficiency. However, the lack of clinical meaningfulness of these differences and the nondifferences of other physiological variables, indicate that the menstrual cycle had a small impact on submaximal exercise in the current study.

Objective: The association between sex hormones and bone mineral density (BMD) has been studied in sedentary women, whereas only few studies have evaluated trained females. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the influence of sex hormones on BMD in well-trained females with different hormonal profiles: eumenorrheic females, oral contraceptive (OC) users and postmenopausal women. The secondary purpose was to determine if maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O2max) or maximal back squat strength (1RM) could be good predictors of BMD in this population.Methods: Sixty-eight eumenorrheic, forty-one monophasic-OC users and sixteen postmenopausal well-trained females participated in this study. A Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry scan (DXA), a basal blood sample and a maximal back squat and/or a maximal treadmill test were performed. In order to measure all volunteers under similar hormonal conditions (low sex hormone levels), all tests were carried out during the early follicular phase for the eumenorrheic females and in the withdrawal phase for the OC group.Results: One way ANCOVA reported lower values of BMD in postmenopausal (1.13±0.07g/cm2) than in eumenorrheic (1.19±0.08 g/cm2) (p=0.003) and OC users (1.17±0.07 g/cm2) (p=0.030). Pearson ́s correlation showed a positive relationship between BMD and 1RM (p<0.001), but not with V̇O2max.Conclusions: Lower BMD has been reported in postmenopausal women compared to both, eumenorrheic females and OC users. BMD loss after menopause seems to be not fully compensated by exercise, but this could effectively mitigate it. Moreover, 1RM back squat reported a slight association to BMD. Hence, strength training may be the best choice to prevent BMD loss. Objetivo: La asociación entre hormonas sexuales y densidad mineral ósea (DMO) ha sido bastante estudiada en mujeres sedentarias, pero no en mujeres entrenadas. Por tanto, el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la influencia de las hormonas sexuales en la DMO de deportistas con d

Purpose: To assess the influence of different hormonal profiles on the cardiorespiratory response to exercise in endurance-trained females. Methods: Forty-seven eumenorrheic females, 38 low-dose monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) users and 13 postmenopausal women, all of them endurance-trained, participated in this study. A DXA scan, blood sample tests and a maximal aerobic test were performed under similar low-sex hormone levels: early follicular phase for the eumenorrheic females; withdrawal phase for the OC group and at any time for postmenopausal women. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured at resting and throughout the maximal aerobic test (ventilatory threshold 1, 2 and peak values). Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored with a 12-lead ECG. Blood pressure (BP) was measured with an auscultatory method and a calibrated mercury sphygmomanometer. Expired gases were measured breath-by-breath with the gas analyser Jaeger Oxycon Pro. Results: One-way ANCOVA reported a lower peak HR in postmenopausal women (172.4 ± 11.7 bpm) than in eumenorrheic females (180.9 ± 10.6 bpm) (p = 0.024). In addition, postmenopausal women exhibited lower VO2 (39.1 ± 4.9 ml/kg/min) compared to eumenorrheic females (45.1 ± 4.4 ml/kg/min) in ventilatory threshold 2 (p = 0.009). Nonetheless, respiratory variables did not show differences between groups at peak values. Finally, no differences between OC users and eumenorrheic females' cardiorespiratory response were observed in endurance-trained females. Conclusions: Cardiorespiratory system is impaired in postmenopausal women due to physiological changes caused by age and sex hormones' decrement. Although these alterations appear not to be fully compensated by exercise, endurance training could effectively mitigate them. In addition, monophasic OC pills appear not to impact cardiorespiratory response to an incremental running test in endurance-trained females.

Background: The increase in exercise levels in the last few years among professional and recreational female athletes has led to an increased scientific interest about sports health and performance in the female athlete population. The purpose of the IronFEMME Study described in this protocol article is to determine the influence of different hormonal profiles on iron metabolism in response to endurance exercise, and the main markers of muscle damage in response to resistance exercise; both in eumenorrheic, oral contraceptive (OC) users and postmenopausal well-trained women. Methods: This project is an observational controlled randomized counterbalanced study. One hundered and four (104) active and healthy women were selected to participate in the IronFEMME Study, 57 of which were eumenorrheic, 31 OC users and 16 postmenopausal. The project consisted of two sections carried out at the same time: iron metabolism (study I) and muscle damage (study II). For the study I, the exercise protocol consisted of an interval running test (eight bouts of 3 min at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed), whereas the study II protocol was an eccentric-based resistance exercise protocol (10 sets of 10 repetitions of plate-loaded barbell parallel back squats at 60% of their one repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 min of recovery between sets). In both studies, eumenorrheic participants were evaluated at three specific moments of the menstrual cycle: early-follicular phase, late-follicular phase and mid-luteal phase; OC users performed the trial at two moments: withdrawal phase and active pill phase. Lastly, postmenopausal women were only tested once, since their hormonal status does not fluctuate. The three-step method was used to verify the menstrual cycle phase: calendar counting, blood test confirmation, and urine-based ovulation kits. Blood samples were obtained to measure sex hormones, iron metabolism parameters, and muscle damage related markers. Discussion: IronFEMME Study has been des

The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of sex hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle on cardiorespiratory response to high-intensity interval exercise in athletes. Twenty-one eumenorrheic endurance-trained females performed an interval running protocol in three menstrual cycle phases: early-follicular phase (EFP), late-follicular phase (LFP) and mid-luteal phase (MLP). It consisted of 8 × 3-min bouts at 85% of their maximal aerobic speed with 90-s recovery at 30% of their maximal aerobic speed. To verify menstrual cycle phase, we applied a three-step method: calendar-based counting, urinary luteinizing hormone measurement and serum hormone analysis. Mixed-linear model for repeated measures showed menstrual cycle impact on ventilatory (EFP: 78.61 ± 11.09; LFP: 76.45 ± 11.37; MLP: 78.59 ± 13.43) and heart rate (EFP: 167.29 ± 11.44; LFP: 169.89 ± 10.62; MLP: 169.89 ± 11.35) response to high-intensity interval exercise (F2.59 = 4.300; p = 0.018 and F2.61 = 4.648; p = 0.013, respectively). Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, respiratory exchange ratio, breathing frequency, energy expenditure, relative perceived exertion and perceived readiness were unaltered by menstrual cycle phase. Most of the cardiorespiratory variables measured appear to be impassive by menstrual cycle phases throughout a high-intensity interval exercise in endurance-trained athletes. It seems that sex hormone fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle are not high enough to disrupt tissues' adjustments caused by the high-intensity exercise. Nevertheless, HR based training programs should consider menstrual cycle phase.

Context: The indirect markers of muscle damage have been previously studied in females. However, inconclusive results have been found, possibly explained by the heterogeneity regarding monitoring and verification of menstrual-cycle phase. Purpose: To determine whether the fluctuations in sex hormones during the menstrual cycle influence muscle damage. Methods: A total of 19 well-trained eumenorrheic women (age 28.6 [5.9] y; height 163.4 [6.1] cm; weight 59.6 [5.8] kg body mass) performed an eccentric-based resistance protocol consisting of 10 × 10 back squats at 60% of their 1-repetition maximum on the early follicular phase (EFP), late follicular phase, and midluteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Range of motion, muscle soreness, countermovement jump, and limb circumferences were evaluated prior to 24 and 48 hours postexercise. Perceived exertion was evaluated after each set. Results: Differences in sex hormones indicated that tests were adequately performed in the different menstrual-cycle phases. Prior to exercise, muscle soreness was higher in the EFP (4.7 [7.7]) than in the late follicular phase (1.1 [3.2]; P = .045). No other variables showed significant differences between phases. Time-point differences (baseline, 24, and 48 h) were observed in knee range of motion (P = .02), muscle soreness, countermovement jump, and between sets for perceived exertion (P < .001). Conclusion: Although the protocol elicited muscle damage, hormonal fluctuations over the menstrual cycle did not seem to affect indirect markers of muscle damage, except for perceived muscle soreness. Muscle soreness was perceived to be more severe before exercise performed in EFP, when estrogen concentrations are relatively low. This may impair women's predisposition to perform strenuous exercise during EFP.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the menstrual cycle and its underlying hormonal fluctuations affect muscle damage and inflammation in well-trained females following an eccentric exercise. Nineteen eumenorrheic women performed an eccentric squat-based exercise in the early follicular phase, late follicular phase and mid-luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Sex hormones and blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation –creatine kinase, myoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-6, tumoral necrosis factor-α, and C reactive protein– were analyzed in each phase. No effect of menstrual cycle phase was observed (p > 0.05), while an interaction for interleukin-6 was shown (p = 0.047). Accordingly, a moderate effect size [0.68 (0.53)–0.84 (0.74)], indicated that interleukin-6 values 2 h post-trial (2.07 ± 1.26 pg/mL) were likely to be higher than baseline (1.59 ± 0.33 pg/mL), 24 h (1.50 ± 0.01 pg/mL) and 48 h (1.54 ± 0.13 pg/mL) in the mid-luteal phase. Blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation were not affected by the menstrual cycle in well-trained women. The eccentric exercise barely triggered muscle damage and hence, no inflammation was observed, possibly due to participants training status. The mid-luteal phase was the only phase reflecting a possible inflammatory response in terms of interleukin-6, although further factors than sex hormones seem to be responsible for this finding.

Iron is necessary for adequate deliver oxygen to the tissues since it is an essential component of the haemoglobin. However, iron deficiency remains a common problem among athletes, particularly for women experiencing the menstrual bleeding every month. The iron losses through menstrual blood loss during the early follicular phase (or menses) and an inadequate dietary intake of iron are two important factors contributing to this disease. Furthermore, the large hormonal changes that women experience along the menstrual cycle, especially in oestrogen and progesterone may influence on the optimization of iron absorption. Iron absorption is mainly mediated by hepcidin hormone, which seems to be affected by several stimulus and factors such as oestrogen and progesterone concentrations. Moreover, the regular practice of exercise is another important modulator of this hormone. Therefore, premenopausal active females are the most susceptible population to develop an iron deficiency or iron deficiency anemia, affecting their health and performance due to the less iron availability within the body and consequently a reduction of haemoglobin which compromise the oxygen transport. To date, most studies have not explored the acute post-exercise hepcidin response taking endogenous and exogenous sexual hormones influence into account. El hierro es necesario para suministrar adecuadamente el oxígeno a los tejidos, ya que es un componente esencial de la hemoglobina. Sin embargo, la deficiencia de hierro sigue siendo un problema común entre los atletas, particularmente para las mujeres que experimentan el sangrado menstrual cada mes. Las pérdidas de hierro producidas tras la el sangrado menstrual durante la fase folicular temprana (o menstruación), además de una ingesta dietética inadecuada de hierro son dos factores importantes que contribuyen a esta enfermedad. Además, los grandes cambios hormonales que experimentan las mujeres a lo largo del ciclo menstrual, especialmente en el es

Menopause commonly presents the gradual accumulation of iron in the body over the years, which is a risk factor for diseases such as cancer, osteoporosis, or cardiovascular diseases. Running exercise is known to acutely increase hepcidin levels, which reduces iron absorption and recycling. As this fact has not been studied in postmenopausal women, this study investigated the hepcidin response to running exercise in this population. Thirteen endurance-trained postmenopausal women (age: 51.5 ± 3.89 years; height: 161.8 ± 4.9 cm; body mass: 55.9 ± 3.6 kg; body fat: 24.7 ± 4.2%; peak oxygen consumption: 42.4 ± 4.0 mL·min−1·kg−1) performed a high-intensity interval running protocol, which consisted of 8 × 3 min bouts at 85% of the maximal aerobic speed with 90-second recovery. Blood samples were collected pre-exercise, 0, 3, and 24 hours post-exercise. As expected, hepcidin exhibited higher values at 3 hours post-exercise (3.69 ± 3.38 nmol/L), but also at 24 hours post-exercise (3.25 ± 3.61 nmol/L), in comparison with pre-exercise (1.77 ± 1.74 nmol/L; p = 0.023 and p = 0.020, respectively) and 0 hour post-exercise (2.05 ± 2.00 nmol/L; p = 0.021 and p = 0.032, respectively) concentrations. These differences were preceded by a significant increment of interleukin-6 at 0 hour post-exercise (3.41 ± 1.60 pg/mL) compared to pre-exercise (1.65 ± 0.48 pg/m, p = 0.003), 3 hours (1.50 ± 0.00 pg/mL, p = 0.002) and 24 hours post-exercise (1.52 ± 0.07 pg/mL, p = 0.001). Hepcidin peaked at 3 hours post-exercise as the literature described for premenopausal women but does not seem to be fully recovered to pre-exercise levels within 24 hours post-exercise, as it would be expected. This suggests a slower recovery of basal hepcidin levels in postmenopausal women, suggesting interesting applications in order to modify iron homeostasis as appropriate, such as the prevention of iron accumulation or proper timing of iron supplementation.

Objectives. Reference values are necessary for classifying children, for health screening, and for early prevention as many non-communicable diseases aggravate during growth and development. While physical fitness reference standards are available in children aged 6 and older, such information is lacking in preschool children. Therefore, the purposes of this study were (1) to provide sex-and age-specific physical fitness reference standards for Spanish preschool children; and (2) to study sex differences across this age period and to characterise fitness performance throughout the preschool period. Design. Cross-sectional. Methods. A total of 3179 preschool children (1678 boys) aged 2.8–6.4 years old from Spain were included in the present study. Physical fitness was measured using the PREFIT battery. Results. Age- and sex-specific percentiles for the physical fitness components are provided. Boys performed better than girls in the cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and speed-agility tests over the whole preschool period studied and for the different percentiles. In contrast, girls performed slightly better than boys in the balance test. Older children had better performance in all fitness tests than their younger counterparts. Conclusions. Our study provides age- and sex-specific physical fitness reference standards in preschool children allowing interpretation of fitness assessment. Sexual dimorphism in fitness tests exists already at preschool age, and these differences become larger with age. These findings will help health, sport, and school professionals to identify preschool children with a high/very low fitness level, to examine changes in fitness over time, and to analyse those changes obtained due to intervention effects.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to test the effect of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3-) ingestion on performance during a simulated competition on a Bicycle Motocross (BMX) track. Design: Double-blind cross-over study. Methods: Twelve elite male BMX cyclists (age: 19.2±3.4 years; height: 174.2±5.3cm; body mass: 72.4±8.4kg) ingested either NaHCO3- (0.3g.kg-1 body weight) or placebo 90min prior to exercise. The cyclists completed three races in a BMX Olympic track interspersed with 15min of recovery. Blood samples were collected to assess the blood acid-base status. Performance, cardiorespiratory, heart rate variability (HRV) as well as subjective variables were assessed. Results: The main effect of condition (NaHCO3- vs. placebo) was observed in pH, bicarbonate concentration and base excess (p<0.05), with a significant blood alkalosis. No changes were found in time, peak velocity and time to peak velocity for condition (p>0.05). The HRV analysis showed a significant effect of NaHCO3- ingestion, expressed by the rMSSD30 (root mean square of the successive differences) (p<0.001). There was no effect of condition on oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide production, or pulmonary ventilation (p>0.05). Finally, there was no effect of condition for any subjective scale (p>0.05). Conclusions: We present here the first field condition study to investigate the effect of bicarbonate ingestion over performance in BMX discipline. The results showed that NaHCO3--induced alkalosis did not improve performance in a simulated BMX competition in elite BMX cyclists, although future studies should consider the effects of NaHCO3- on autonomic function as a component of recovery.

Background. The fibromyalgia among other symptoms is associated with poor physical condition in relation to the loss of muscle mass, which produces an increase in muscle disability. This directly affects the state of health because it causes limitations to perform the tasks of daily living. Objective. The aim was to analyse the effect of the progressive strength program on dimensions that affects to quality of life and to value the changes produced during the program. Design. Controlled quasi-experimental analytical study evaluating the response to the intervention program at three specific moments. Methods. 41 women with fibromyalgia participated in this study fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The participants completed a total of 24 weeks of training program based on strength work oriented to daily life activities. The program consisted of a total of 3 progressive and controlled phases in volume and intensity to improve muscle strength that affects the performance of daily living activities. Results. We obtained statistical differences (P < 0.001) and high clinical effects (d > 0.60) in all strength test and all domains of the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire at the end of the intervention. Conclusions. The improvements produced in functional capacity allows them to perform tasks that were previously incapable. The muscle strengthening program based on strength work twice a week on non-consecutive days with a total duration of 1 hour, improves the quality of life related to health, symptomatology, physical function and the severity of disease.

Purpose: While a number of studies have researched road cycling performance, few studies have attempted to investigate the physiological response in field conditions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the physiological and performance profile of an uphill time-trial frequently used in cycling competitions. Methods: Fourteen elite road cyclists (mean±SD: age 25±6 years, height 174±4.2 cm, body mass 64.4±6.1 kg and fat mass 7.48±2.82%) performed a graded exercise test until exhaustion to determine maximal parameters. They then completed a field-based uphill time-trial in a 9.2 km first category mountain pass with a 7.1% slope. Oxygen uptake (VO2), power output, heart rate, lactate concentration and perceived exertion variables were measured throughout the field-based test. Results: During the uphill time-trial, mean power output and velocity were: 302±7 W (4.2±0.1 W·kg-1) and 18.7±1.6 km/h, respectively. Mean VO2 and heart rate were: 61.6±2.0 ml·kg-1·min-1 and 178±2 bpm, respectively. Values were significantly affected by the first, second, sixth and final kilometers (p<0.05). Lactate concentration and perceived exertion were 10.87±1.12 mmol·l-1 and 19.1±0.1, respectively, at the end of the test, being significantly difference from baseline measures. Conclusion: The studied uphill time-trial is performed at 90% of maximum heart rate and VO2 and at 70% of maximum power output. To our knowledge, this is the first study assessing cardiorespiratory parameters combined with measures of performance, perceived exertion and biochemical variables during a field-based uphill time-trial in elite cyclists.

Stress tests at a constant load have been a great subject of interest for physiologists to analyze the factors which lead to voluntary termination. Several factors are responsible for voluntary termination in such efforts. The objective of this work was to study if any of the respiratory gas exchange and acid-base status variables could justify fatigue during a constant load test performed above maximum lactate steady state. Twelve amateur road cyclists performed a 30 min test on a road bicycle at an intensity of 5% above maximal lactate steady state (MLSS5%). Gas exchange and acid-base data were analyzed at rest and at 5, 10 and 15 min during the test. A two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures was conducted to test the effect of time and group (An alpha of 0.05 was used as the level of statistical significance for all analyses). The group that did not finished the MLSS5% (N-MLSS5%) started from a more pronounced state of metabolic acidosis than the group that ended the test (Y-MLSS5%) (44,6 versus 41,7 nm/l H+) (F1,9 = 9.43, P = .013; η2 = 0.51). During the test, the acid-base status was greater in the N-MLSS group than the Y-MLSS group (at 15 min, 44,3 for the Y-MLSS group and 49,2 for the N-MLSS group). Neither of the two groups showed an altered ventilation perfusion ratio, estimated by the VD/VT relationship, although the behaviour of PET CO2 could suggest this outcome. A change in the breathing pattern (VT/Ti) does not explain the termination of steady exercise in the N-MLSS group. In conclusion the results of this study do not explain the voluntary termination of exercise in a group of cyclists (N-MLSS) that made a steady effort over the maximal lactate steady state. This finding reinforces the hypothesis that fatigue occurs due to an integration of the afferent feedback of various physiological systems.

Purpose The blood pressure ‘error signal’ represents the difference between an individual’s mean diastolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure at which 50% of cardiac cycles are associated with a muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst (the ‘‘T50’’). In this study we evaluated whether T50 and the error signal related to the extent of change in blood pressure during autonomic blockade in young and older women, to study potential differences in sympathetic neural mechanisms regulating blood pressure before and after menopause. Methods We measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure in 12 premenopausal (25 ± 1 years) and 12 postmenopausal women (61 ± 2 years) before and during complete autonomic blockade with trimethaphan camsylate. Results At baseline, young women had a negative error signal (-8 ± 1 versus 2 ± 1 mmHg, p\0.001; respectively) and lower muscle sympathetic nerve activity (15 ± 1 versus 33 ± 3 bursts/min, p\0.001; respectively) than older women. The change in diastolic blood pressure after autonomic blockade was associated with baseline T50 in older women (r = -0.725, p = 0.008) but not in young women (r = -0.337, p = 0.29). Women with the most negative error signal had the lowest muscle sympathetic nerve activity in both groups (young: r = 0.886, p\0.001; older: r = 0.870, p\0.001). Conclusions Our results suggest that there are differences in baroreflex control of muscle sympathetic nerve activity between young and older women, using the T50 and error signal analysis. This approach provides further information on autonomic control of blood pressure in women.

The aim was to determine whether the midpoint between ventilatory thresholds (MPVT) corresponds to maximal lactate steady state (MLSS). Twelve amateur cyclists (21.0 ± 2.6 years old; 72.2 ± 9.0 kg; 179.8 ± 7.5 cm) performed an incremental test (25 W·min-1) until exhaustion and several constant load tests of 30 minutes to determine MLSS, on different occasions. Using MLSS determination as the reference method, the agreement with five other parameters (MPVT; first and second ventilatory thresholds: VT1 and VT2; respiratory exchange ratio equal to 1: RER = 1.00; and Maximum) was analysed by the Bland-Altman method. The difference between workload at MLSS and VT1, VT2, RER=1.00 and Maximum was 31.1 ± 20.0, -86.0 ± 18.3, -63.6 ± 26.3 and -192.3 ± 48.6 W, respectively. MLSS was underestimated from VT1 and overestimated from VT2, RER = 1.00 and Maximum. The smallest difference (-27.5 ± 15.1 W) between workload at MLSS and MPVT was in better agreement than other analysed parameters of intensity in cycling. The main finding is that MPVT approached the workload at MLSS in amateur cyclists, and can be used to estimate maximal steady state.

The present study describes the oxygen uptake and total energy expenditure (including both aerobic and anaerobic contribution) response during three different circuit weight training (CWT) protocols of equivalent duration composed of free weight exercises, machine exercises, and a combination of free weight exercises intercalating aerobic exercise.

Increased peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) can reduce cardiovascular risks associated with obesity. Our aim was to analyze the effect of a weight loss program on cardiovascular fitness in overweight (W) and obese (O) subjects.

Sistema nervioso y ejercicio