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The main movements of artistic swimming demand various physical capacities such as flexibility, strength, power, and muscular endurance. The use of ergogenic resources to potentialize performance in this sport, however, is underexplored and deserves investigation. In the present study, we tested whether caffeine ingestion would improve the execution of movements that are essential in a typical figure competition or routines in artistic swimming (i.e., amplitude in the Ariana, height in the Boost and Barracuda, and time maintained in the Stationary Scull techniques). Sixteen experienced female athlete artistic swimmers (17.4 ± 3.2 years of age, 5.6 ± 2.8 years of artistic swimming practice) performed several movements of artistic swimming after having ingested a capsule containing caffeine (5 mg/kg body mass) or cellulose (placebo). Compared to the placebo, caffeine improved latero-lateral amplitude during the Ariana (P=0.035), the height of the Boost and Barracuda (P=0.028 and 0.009), and maintained duration in Stationary Sculling (P=0.012). Bayes factor analysis, however, indicated substantial evidence of a positive effect of caffeine only on the Barracuda and Stationary Scull techniques. These findings indicated that caffeine improved performance during specific artistic swimming movements. Coaches and athletes should consider caffeine ingestion in their supplementation plans.

Cristina-Souza, G, Santos-Mariano, AC, Lima-Silva, AE, Costa, PL, Domingos, PR, Silva, SF, Abreu, WC, De-Oliveira, FR, and Osiecki, R. Panax Ginseng supplementation increases muscle recruitment, attenuates perceived effort, and accelerates muscle force recovery after an eccentric-based exercise in athletes. J Strength Cond Res 36(4): 991–997, 2022—The effect of Panax ginseng during and after an eccentric-based exercise is underexplored. In this study, we investigated the effect of Panax ginseng on muscle force and muscle excitation during an eccentric-based exercise and on subsequent muscle damage and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Using a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 10 male track and field athletes consumed Panax ginseng or placebo for 8 days. At the fifth day, they performed 4 sets until concentric failure of a half-squat exercise, with eccentric action increased by using an eccentric-inductor device attached to their knees. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and vastus lateralis electromyographic (EMG) activity was measured during the half-squat. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK) concentrations, DOMS, and maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MIVCs) with EMG recording were measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the half-squat. Panax ginseng attenuated RPE and increased EMG during the sets. The MIVC remained reduced 48 hours after exercise in the placebo but returned to baseline 24 hours after exercise in the Panax ginseng, with values at 24 and 48 hours after exercise significantly higher in the Panax ginseng than in the placebo. The EMG during MIVC was higher in the Panax ginseng than in the placebo over the time points. No significant effect of Panax ginseng on LDH, CK, and DOMS was observed. These findings suggest that Panax ginseng increases muscle excitation and attenuates perceived effort during an eccentric-based exercise as well as accelerates the recovery of muscle force in well-trained athletes.

Caffeine is one of the most consumed ergogenic aids around the world. Many studies support the ergogenic effect of caffeine over a large spectrum of exercise types. While the stimulatory effect of caffeine on the central nervous system is the well-accepted mechanism explaining improvements in exercise performance during high-intensity whole-body exercise, in which other physiological systems such as pulmonary, cardiovascular, and muscular systems are maximally activated, a direct effect of caffeine on such systems cannot be ignored. A better understanding of the effects of caffeine on multiple physiological systems during high-intensity whole-body exercise might help to expand its use in different sporting contexts (e.g., competitions in different environments, such as altitude) or even assist the treatment of some diseases (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). In the present narrative review, we explore the potential effects of caffeine on the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and muscular systems, and describe how such alterations may interact and thus contribute to the ergogenic effects of caffeine during high-intensity whole-body exercise. This integrative approach provides insights regarding how caffeine influences endurance performance and may drive further studies exploring its mechanisms of action in a broader perspective.

Purpose: In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that caffeine would increase endurance performance via attenuation of neural and muscular determinants of performance fatigability during high-intensity, whole-body exercise. Methods: Ten healthy males cycled until exhaustion (89% ± 2% of VO 2max ) after the ingestion of caffeine or placebo. During another four visits, the same exercise was performed after either caffeine or placebo ingestion but with exercise discontinued after completing either 50% or 75% of the duration of placebo trial. An additional trial with caffeine ingestion was also performed with interruption at the placebo time to exhaustion (isotime). Performance fatigability was measured via changes in maximal voluntary contraction, whereas neural and muscular determinants of performance fatigability were quantified via preexercise to postexercise decrease in quadriceps voluntary activation (VA) and potentiated twitch force, respectively. Results: Compared with the placebo, caffeine increased time to exhaustion (+14.4 ± 1.6%, P = 0.017, 314.4 ± 47.9 vs 354.9 ± 40.8 s). Caffeine did not change the rate of decline in maximal voluntary contraction (P = 0.209), but caffeine reduced the twitch force decline at isotime when stimulating at single twitch (−58.6 ± 22.4 vs À45.7 ± 21.9%, P = 0.014) and paired 10 Hz electrical stimuli (−37.3 ± 13.2 vs À28.2 ± 12.9%, P = 0.025), and reduced the amplitude of electromyography signal during cycling at isotime (P = 0.034). The decline in VA throughout the trial was lower (P = 0.004) with caffeine (−0.5 ± 4.2%) than with placebo (−5.8 ± 8.5%). Caffeine also maintained peripheral oxygen saturation at higher levels (95.0 ± 1.9%) than placebo (92.0 ± 6.2%, P = 0.016). Conclusions: Caffeine ingestion improves performance during high-intensity, whole-body exercise via attenuation of exercise-induced reduction in VA and contractile function.

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A fibromialgia é uma síndrome reumática que causa dor musculoesquelética crônica disseminada, por um período maior que três meses, cujos sintomas são dores nos tecidos moles como músculos, tendões ou ligamentos. O objetivo desta revisão foi analisar estudos que avaliaram a influência do treinamento resistido sobre a saúde de mulheres com fibromialgia. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa de estudos publicados entre 2016 e 2020. A busca e seleção dos estudos foi realizada a partir dos termos: fibromyalgia OR fibromyalgia syndrome AND women AND adults AND resistance training. As bases de dados utilizadas na busca foram Pubmed, SciELO, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS). Inicialmente, foram identificados 1.368 artigos. Após a aplicação do filtro (estudos publicados nos últimos 5 anos), 838 artigos apresentaram relevância, sendo que 604 estavam indexados no Pubmed e 234 na BVS. Destes, 813 artigos foram excluídos após a leitura de títulos e resumos e 25 foram selecionados para leitura na íntegra. Desse total, 14 artigos foram excluídos com justificativa e 11 atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Constatou-se que o treinamento resistido é um importante método não medicamentoso capaz de atenuar os efeitos da fibromialgia em mulheres adultas, contribuindo para a melhoria da qualidade de vida, saúde física e mental. Deste modo, o treinamento resistido contribuiu para a redução da dor e fadiga, melhora do condicionamento físico, aumento da força e resistência, redução da depressão, melhora do humor e da qualidade de vida nos domínios relacionados aos aspectos físicos, sociais, emocionais, mentais e à vitalidade.

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