We aimed to describe the nutritional and behavioral strategies for rapid weight loss (RWL), investigate the effects of RWL and weight regain in winners and losers, and verify mood state and technical-tactical/time-motion parameters in mixed martial arts. The sample consisted of mixed martial arts athletes after a single real match and was separated into two groups: winners (n = 8; age: 25.4 ± 6.1 years, height: 173.9 ± 0.2 cm, habitual body mass: 89.9 ± 17.3 kg) and losers (n = 7; age: 24.4 ± 6.8 years, height: 178.4 ± 0.9 cm, habitual body mass: 90.8 ± 19.5 kg). Both groups exhibited RWL and weight regain, verified their macronutrient intake, underwent weight and height assessments, and completed two questionnaires (Profile of Mood States and RWL) at (a) 24 hr before weigh-in, (b) weigh-in, (c) postbout, and (d) during a validated time-motion and technical-tactical analysis during the bout. Variance analysis, repeated measures, and a logistic regression analysis were used. The main results showed significant differences between the time points in terms of total caloric intake as well as carbohydrate, protein, and lipid ingestion. Statistical differences in combat analysis were observed between the winners and losers in terms of high-intensity relative time (58 [10-98] s and 32 [1-60] s, respectively), lower limb sequences (3.5 [1.0-7.5] sequences and 1.0 [0.0-1.0] sequences, respectively), and ground and pound actions (2.5 [0.0-4.5] actions and 0.0 [0.0-0.5] actions, respectively), and logistic regression confirmed the importance of high-intensity relative time and lower limb sequences on mixed martial arts performance. RWL and weight regain strategies were related to technical-tactical and time-motion patterns as well as match outcomes. Weight management should be carefully supervised by specialized professionals to reduce health risks and raise competitive performance.

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Introduction: This study involved an analysis of the impact of mental fatigue on heart rate recovery (HRR), subjective measures of fatigue and intermittent running performance in handball players. Objective: This study was aimed at (1) examining the effects of an induced state of mental fatigue on the aerobic performance of handball players, as measured by the Yo-Yo IR1 test, and (2) exploring possible changes in heart rate regulation through HRR analysis. Methods: Twelve handball players (age: 17.50 ± 3.63 years; 5 ± 2.2 years of practice) undertook a Yo-Yo IR1 test on two occasions, separated by an interval of at least 72 hours. The Yo-Yo IR1 test was preceded by a 30-min treatment, consisting of the Stroop Color-Word Test, to induce mental fatigue. Participants in the control condition watched an emotionally neutral video. Results: Higher ratings of mental fatigue and mental effort following the Stroop Test were observed for the experimental group. No differences in motivation were observed between conditions. Moreover, the induction of mental fatigue impaired running performance and led to a higher RPE during the Yo-Yo IR1 test. Notwithstanding, no changes in HRR or blood lactate levels were observed across conditions. Conclusion: Altogether, these results suggest that mental fatigue impairs intermittent running performance, without affecting HRR values. Level of Evidence III; Case-Control study.

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Burnout is a psychological syndrome of reaction to chronic stress that occurs in athletes who feel exhausted by a sport activity that was previously pleasurable and enjoyable. One technique to prevent and control the syndrome is through coping, which is the ability to deal with stressful situations. In contrast to traditional cross-sectional approaches, this study aimed to investigate burnout and coping strategy characteristics over time and to analyze the relationship between burnout dimensions and coping strategies. Fifty-four high-level volleyball athletes (twenty-eight men and twenty-six women, age M = 25.57, SD = 4.72, range 18-35) completed paper-and-pencil measures of burnout and coping four times throughout a sport season. The Friedman test presented a significant increase in the reduced sense of athletic accomplishment (X2 = 20.58; p < 0.01) and sport devaluation (X2 = 19.83; p < 0.01) perceptions during the season. However, no coping differences were observed through the longitudinal analysis. Burnout dimensions showed a moderate inverse correlation to confidence/motivation at all measurement points during the season. Overall, the findings suggest that burnout perceptions increase as the season progresses, highlighting the relevance for the periodization of burnout prevention and control

ResumoIntrodução: No contexto esportivo, uma das principais recomendações para o melhor entendimento sobre a síndrome de burnout e o coping é a realização de estudos longitudinais que possam descrever o processo de desenvolvimento da síndrome e as estratégias empregadas para o seu enfrentamento. Objetivos: Analisar as percepções das dimensões de burnout e as estratégias de coping durante uma temporada esportiva, e correlacionar as características temporais de burnout e das estratégias de coping. Métodos: Mediante delineamento longitudinal, foram acompanhados 15 atletas profissionais de voleibol do sexo masculino (média de idade = 24,00 ± 3,55 anos) participantes da Superliga Nacional. Para mensurar as dimensões de burnout e as estratégias de coping foram utilizadas as versões traduzidas do athlete Burnout Questionnaire e do athletic coping skills inventory. A coleta de dados foi realizada em quatro momentos de uma temporada esportiva. O comportamento dos indicadores de burnout e coping foi verificado através do teste de Friedman, com post hoc de Wilcoxon, enquanto que o coeficiente de correlação de Spearman (rho) foi empregado para verificar as correlações entre os indicadores de burnout e de coping. Resultados: Foi observado aumento significativo da desvalorização esportiva e do índice global de burnout com o transcorrer da temporada, porém não foram encontradas diferenças significativas no emprego das estratégias de coping nos quatro momentos. Foram observadas correlações inversas e significativas entre a dimensão de burnout, senso reduzido de realização esportiva e a estratégia de coping, confiança/motivação, em todos os momentos da temporada. Conclusão: Os achados evidenciaram aumento na percepção de burnout nos atletas a partir do acúmulo de treinamentos e competições, bem como da exigência por ótimo desempenho na competição-chave. O estudo também apontou a relevância do fator motivacional no surgimento do burnout.

El objetivo del estudio consiste en investigar las siguientes correlaciones bivariadas en jugadores profesionales de fútbol: a) dimensiones de agotamiento x estrategia de afrontamiento; b) tiempo de práctica como atleta federado x dimensiones de agotamiento; c) tiempo de práctica como atleta federado x estrategias de afrontamiento. Participaron del estudio 54 atletas profesionales Brasileños de fútbol de la primera división del Campeonato Paraense de 2018, todos del sexo masculino. El promedio de edad fue de 24.0 ± 3.9 años, y el promedio del tiempo de práctica como atleta federado fue de 8.7 ± 4.2 años. Los participantes respondieron a dos instrumentos psicométricos de medición de agotamiento y afrontamiento. Los resultados evidencian que: i) los indicadores de agotamiento fueron bajos; ii) la correlación entre las dimensiones de agotamiento y afrontamiento fue significativa, negativa y moderada solamente entre la dimensión reducido sentido de realización deportiva y la estrategia de capacitación; iii) no observamos correlación entre el tiempo de práctica como atleta federado y las dimensiones de agotamiento; iv) encontramos una correlación significativa, positiva y moderada entre el tiempo de práctica como atleta federado y la estrategia de rendimiento bajo presión. Las principales conclusiones del estudio apuntan que los atletas con mayor tiempo de práctica federada tienden a presentar mejor desempeño bajo presión, así como el desarrollo de la estrategia de capacitación puede ser oportuno para el sentido de realización deportiva en atletas.

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