To advance our understanding of the hormonal contribution to athletic performance, we examined the temporal associations between individual changes in testosterone (T) and/or cortisol (C) concentrations, training motivation and physical performance in elite and non-elite trained men. Two male cohorts classified as elites (n = 12) and non-elites (n = 12) completed five testing sessions over a six-week period. The athletes were tested for salivary T, C, T/C ratio, self-perceived training motivation, countermovement jump (CMJ) height and isometric mid-thigh pull peak force (IMTP PF), after which an actual training workout was performed. The elite men reported higher motivation to train and they produced greater CMJ height overall, whereas the non-elites had higher pooled T levels (p < 0.05). No significant group differences in C concentrations, T/C ratio or IMTP PF were found. The individual changes in T levels were positively associated with training motivation in the elite men only (p = 0.033), but the hormonal and motivation measures did not predict CMJ height or IMTP PF in either group. The monitoring of elite and non-elite men across a short training block revealed differences in T levels, motivation and lower-body power, which may reflect training and competitive factors in each group. Despite having lower T levels, the elite athletes showed better linkage between pre-training T fluctuations and subsequent motivation to train. The nature of the performance tests (i.e. single repetition trials) could partly explain the lack of an association with the hormonal and motivational measures.

This study assessed the responses of salivary-free testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations across selected training workouts and their association with the subsequent competition outcomes in professional rugby league. Thirteen rugby league players were assessed for salivary-free T and C concentrations across 5 training workouts performed 3-4 days before a competitive game. The game outcomes included wins and losses and game-ranked performance (1-5) based on the number of points scored, the points differential, and a coach rating. Data were pooled across the winning (n = 3) and losing (n = 2) outcomes. Pooled free T concentrations (absolute and relative changes) were significantly (p < 0.01) elevated across those workouts that preceded winning games, but not the losses, and the relative (percent) T changes were significantly (p < 0.05) higher before winning (30.9%) than before losing (3.4%). Both outcomes were associated with workout decreases in pooled free C concentrations and the relative C changes were not significantly different between wins (-22.9%) and losses (-25.6%). In conclusion, the free T responses to selected training workouts showed some association with subsequent winning (being elevated) and losing (no change) during a limited number of competitive games in professional rugby league. Speculatively, the free T responses to a midweek workout might provide an early sign of team readiness to compete or to recovery state, thereby providing a novel format for implementing training or management strategies to improve the competition outcomes.

Purpose The objective of this research was to investigate the risk for eating disorders (EDs) and compare body composition in participants with and without risk in adolescent Slovenian athletes and aged matched controls. Methods A total of 583 randomly selected adolescents, aged from 15 to 17 years, completed a sick, control, one stone, fat, food (SCOFF) questionnaire for detecting risk for EDs. Weight and body composition were measured using a bioelectrical impedance machine. Based on the data body mass index (BMI), percentiles were calculated. Results Overall, 37.7% of athletes and 39.8% of controls were classified as at risk for EDs. Girls showed a significantly higher frequency of risk than boys, 1:3.5. A higher percentage of underweight boys was found in control group compared to the athletes, but the difference was not significant in the subsample of girls. Differences in body composition show that the at-risk group had significantly higher values in BMI percentiles (p < 0.001) and percentages of fat mass (p < 0.001) and lower values in percentage of muscle mass (p < 0.01) and fat-free mass. Conclusions These finding demonstrate that the gap in risk for EDs between males and females is becoming smaller and stresses to consider specific parameters of body composition as being important when identifying at-risk groups for EDs.

&lt;p&gt;The aim of the study was to examine practical implications and actual effects of the 8-week progressive resistance exercise protocol with the custom-made inertial device on sit-to-stand, 6- MWT, functional reach, up-and-go test results and Rate of Perceived exertion (RPE) among older adult women (age 65-74). Thirty-seven healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 11) and to two exercise &amp;ndash; inertial (n = 12) and traditional (n = 14) &amp;ndash; groups. The participants performed hip belt squats on the inertial device and kettlebell squats, respectively. Exercise intensity was relatively adjusted using mass moment of inertia (MMI) of the cylindrical weight and %1RM. Time under tension was equalized between groups by the type of the exercise executed. Tests were performed before and after the intervention. Moreover, RPE was monitored after each exercise set. We used two-way repeated measures ANOVA to assess exercise-related differences in test results and to assess intensityrelated differences in RPE. The Senior Fitness Test results significantly differed in pre and post measurements, regardless of the group. A significant time x group interaction was only found in Sit-to-stand test results. RPE results significantly varied from each other across intensities. Statistically different results among groups were only found at the highest intensity (70%). The results indicate that inertial resistance exercise using the novel exercise intensity determination on the inertial device is a useful and less strenuous alternative to traditional resistance exercise among older adult women while performing squats.&lt;/p&gt;

In the present study, the effect of frequent, immediate, augmented feedback on the increase of throwing velocity was investigated.