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This study investigated whether a heavy-intensity priming exercise precisely prescribed within the heavy-intensity domain would lead to a greater peak-power output (POpeak) and a longer maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ o 2max) plateau. Twelve recreationally active adults participated in this study. Two visits were required: 1) a step-ramp-step test [ramp-incremental (RI) control], and 2) an RI test preceded by a priming exercise within the heavy-intensity domain (RI primed). A piecewise equation was used to quantify the V̇ o 2 plateau duration (V̇ o 2plateau-time). The mean response time (MRT) was computed during the RI control condition. The delta (Δ) V̇ o 2 slope (S; mL·min−1·W−1) and V̇ o 2-Y intercept (Y; mL·min−1) within the moderate-intensity domain between conditions (RI primed minus RI control) were also assessed using a novel graphical analysis. V̇ o 2plateau-time (P = 0.001; d = 1.27) and POpeak (P = 0.003; d = 1.08) were all greater in the RI primed. MRT (P < 0.001; d = 2.45) was shorter in the RI primed compared with the RI control. A larger ΔV̇ o 2plateau-time was correlated with a larger ΔMRT between conditions (r = –0.79; P = 0.002). This study demonstrated that heavy-intensity priming exercise lengthened the V̇ o 2plateau-time and increased POpeak. The overall faster RI-V̇ o 2 responses seem to be responsible for the longer V̇ o 2plateau-time. Specifically, a shorter MRT, but not changes in RI-V̇ o 2-slopes, was associated with a longer V̇ o 2plateau-time following priming exercise. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: It remains unclear whether priming exercise extends the maximal oxygen uptake (V̇ o 2max) plateau and increases peak-power output (POpeak) during ramp-incremental (RI) tests. This study demonstrates that a priming exercise, precisely prescribed within the heavy-intensity domain, extends the plateau at V̇ o 2max and leads to a greater POpeak. Specifically, the extended V̇ o 2max plateau was associated with accelerated RI-V̇ o 2 responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of drop jumps (DJs) on performance time and pacing in a field test (ie, 1000 m) commonly used to evaluate endurance runners and to evaluate running and jumping performance in male and female athletes separately. Methods: Twenty elite endurance runners (male, n = 10, 27.8 [7.0] y, 62.3 [5.2] kg; female, n = 10, 25.9 [5.3] y, 51.7 [4.1] kg) competing in middle- and long-distance events participated in this study. After determination of the box height associated with the best reactive strength index, athletes randomly performed a warm-up with or without the inclusion of 5 DJs with the highest reactive strength index prior to a 1000-m track test. Performance time and pacing (250-m splits) were determined. Countermovement-jump heights at different time points and blood lactate concentration after running tests were also recorded. Results: A "possible" faster 1000-m time (162.4 vs 165.3 s) with a "very likely" faster first split (38.8 vs 40.3 s) was observed in male athletes in the DJ condition. In contrast, female athletes showed a "possible" slower running time (186.8 vs 184.8 s) and a "likely" greater blood lactate concentration after the 1000-m test in the DJ condition. Male and female athletes presented greater countermovement-jump performances after warm-up and running tests in both conditions. Conclusions: The inclusion of 5 DJs with the height associated with the best reactive strength index induced a "possible" improvement in 1000-m performance time in elite male endurance runners. The current protocol should be avoided in female athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to compare the effects of beta-alanine on Traditional Resistance Training (TRAD) or Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFR). Methods: 19 subjects were randomly allocated to a Placebo (n = 10) or beta-alanine (n = 9) group. Subjects from both groups were trained unilaterally (unilateral arm curl) for six weeks, and each arm was trained using a different paradigm (BFR or TRAD). One repetition maximum (1RM) test measurements were performed before and after the strength training program. Work output was accessed as the total weight lifted (repetitions × weight lifted × sets) for the entire strength training program. Results: 1RM or total weight lifted was not increased by beta-alanine supplementation. However, the TRAD-trained arm showed a significantly increased 1RM and total weight lifted compared to the BFR arm (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that in the short-term (6 weeks) and following the current experimental conditions, beta-alanine does not benefit BFR or TRAD in terms of total weight lifted (volume of training) or maximal strength (1RM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to verify the physiological responses and the match characteristics of table tennis and also to compare these responses in 2 different performance-level athletes from official tournaments. Twenty male table tennis players (12 regional experience--RP and 8 national and international experience--NP) were participants in the study. Blood lactate concentration ([LAC]) and heart rate (HR) were measured as physiological parameters in 21 official table tennis matches, and other 12 matches had recorded the duration of rally (DR), rest time, effort and rest ratio (E:R), total playing time (TPT), effective playing time (EPT), and frequency of shots by video analyses. The [LAC] verified in all matches was 1.8 mmol x [L.sup.-1] ([+ or -]0.8), whereas the [LAC] peak was 2.2 mmol x [L.sup.-1] ([+ or -]0.8). There were no significant differences between the 2 groups (p > 0.05) in both parameters. The HR was 164 b x [min.sup.-1] ([+ or -] 14), corresponding to 81.2% ([+ or -] 7.4) of the predicted maximum HR. As characteristics of the matches, the DR corresponded to 3.4 seconds ([+ or -]1.7), rest time to 8.1 seconds ([+ or -]5.1), E:R to 0.4 ([+ or -]0.2), TPT to 970.5 seconds ([+ or -]336.1), EPT to 44.3% ([+ or -]23.7), and frequency of shots to 35.3 balls x [min.sup.-1] ([+ or -]7.7). Among groups, the rest time was lower in RP than in NP. Consistently, the E:R and EPT were higher in RP than in NP (p < 0.05). The results suggest that table tennis matches present the aerobic system as a principal output energy, the phosphagenic system being the most important during efforts. The information pertaining to the physiological profile and the characteristics of table tennis should be used by coaches planning physical training and specific exercise prescriptions aiming at achieving maximal sport performance. KEY WORDS lactate, duration of rally, effort and rest ratio, aerobic system, racket sports

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the running anaerobic sprint test (RAST) in anaerobic assessment and predicting short-distance performance. Forty members of the armed forces were recruited for this study (age 19.78 [+ or -] 1.18 years; body mass 70.34 [+ or -] 8.10 kg; height 1.76 [+ or -] 0.53 m; body fat 15.30 [+ or -] 5.65%). The RAST test was applied to six 35-meter maximal running performances with a 10-second recovery between each run; the peak power, mean power, and the fatigue index were measured. The study was divided in two stages. The first stage investigated the reliability of the RAST using a test-retest method; the second stage aimed to evaluate the validity of the RAST comparing the results with the Wingate test and running performances of 35, 50, 100, 200, and 400 m. There were not significant differences between test-retest scores in the first stage of the study (p > 0.05) and were found significant correlations between these variables (intraclass correlation coefficient [congruent to]0.88). The RAST had significant correlations with the Wingate test (peak power r = 0.46; mean power r = 0.53; fatigue index r = 0.63) and 35, 50, 100, 200, and 400 m performances scores (p < 0.05). The advantage of using the RAST for measuring anaerobic power is that it allows for the execution of movements more specific to sporting events that use running as the principal style of locomotion, is easily applied and low cost, and due to its simplicity can easily be incorporated into routine training. We concluded that this procedure is reliable and valid, and can be used to measure running anaerobic power and predict short-distance performances. KEY WORDS running test, anaerobic component, running performance, Wingate test, lactate

The study aimed to identify and quantify the metabolites profile and metabolic pathways in human muscle tissue engaged during exhaustive high‐intensity cycling exercise. Seven healthy physically active men performed a graded exercise test and an exhaustive supramaximal effort at 115% of maximal aerobic power with muscles biopsies performed in rest and immediately after exhaustion for quantifying of muscle metabolites changes by 1H‐NMR spectroscopy. The time until exhaustion (tlim) recorded was 224.7 ± 35.5 s whereas the muscle pH at exhaustion was 6.48 ± 0.05. A total of 54 metabolites were identified and quantified. The most enriched and impacted pathways included: beta oxidation of very long chain fatty acids, mitochondrial electron transport chain, alanine aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, citric acid cycle, arginine biosynthesis, propanoate metabolism, threonine and 2‐oxobutanoate degradation and pyruvate metabolism. In addition, the muscle concentrations in Post exercise, compared to Pre increased significantly (p < 0.0398) for fumarate (42.0%), succinate (101.2%), glucose (249.7%), lactate (122.8%), O‐acetylcarnitine (164.7%), glycerol (79.3%), AMP (288.2%), 2‐oxobutyrate (121.0%), and methanol (58.5%), whereas decreased significantly (p < 0.010) for creatine phosphate (−70.2%), ADP (−56.5%), carnitine (−33.5%), and glutamate (−42.3%). Only the succinate was significantly correlated with tlim (r = −0.76; p = 0.0497). Besides the classical expected contribution of glycolytic and phosphagen energetic pathways, it was demonstrated that the high‐intensity exercise is also associated with pathways indicatives of amino acid and fatty acid oxidation metabolisms, highlighting the inverse relation between changes in the intramuscular succinate levels and tlim. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]