Purpose: Repeated-sprint training (RS) is commonly conducted in normoxia, but its completion with localized (blood-flow restriction [BFR]) or systemic hypoxia has been proven effective for performance enhancement. Yet, few studies have applied these types of RS sessions in racket sports. The authors aimed to determine the acute responses to these types of training in elite badminton players. Methods: Eight male elite badminton players participated in this randomized crossover study. They performed 3 on-court RS sessions, each consisting of 3 sets of 10 repetitions of 10-s badminton-specific movements in normoxia (RSN), systemic normobaric hypoxia (RSH, FiO2 = 14%), or with BFR (RS-BFR, 40% arterial occlusion pressure). Performance, perceptual (ie, rating of perceived exertion), and physiological (ie, pulse saturation, muscle oxygenation, blood lactate, creatine kinase, heart-rate variability) responses were measured after each set and up to 48 h postsession. Results: RS-BFR induced a greater performance impairment (lower distance and accelerations) and a higher local perceived exertion in the legs than RSN and RSH (P < .05), whereas greater overall fatigue was reported with RSH (P < .05). RSH induced a lower saturation (P < .001), but no differences were observed in muscle oxygenation between conditions. No differences in creatine kinase or heart-rate variability were observed at any time point (from baseline up to 48 h after the session). Conclusions: RS-BFR—and, to a lower extent, RSH—resulted in impaired performance and a higher perceived strain than RSN. However, these 2 hypoxic methods do not seem to induce a long-lasting (post 24–48 h) physiological stress in elite badminton players.

tDCS elicited a marked increase in vigor self-perception that was also maintained after exercise, but failed to improve swimming performance in elite triathletes.

Purpose: To analyze the differences in the force–velocity (F–v) profile assessed under unconstrained (ie, using free weights) and constrained (ie, on a Smith machine) vertical jumps, as well as to determine the between-day reliability. Methods: A total of 23 trained participants (18 [1] y) performed an incremental load squat jump test (with ∼35%, 45%, 60%, and 70% of the subjects’ body mass) on 2 different days using free weights and a Smith machine. Nine of these participants repeated the tests on 2 other days for an exploratory analysis of between-day reliability. F–v variables (ie, maximum theoretical force [F0], velocity [v0], and power, and the imbalance between the actual and the theoretically optimal F–v profile) were computed from jump height. Results: A poor agreement was observed between the F–v variables assessed under constrained and unconstrained conditions (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] < .50 for all). The height attained during each single jump performed under both constrained and unconstrained conditions showed an acceptable reliability (coefficient of variation < 10%, ICC > .70). The F–v variables computed under constrained conditions showed an overall good agreement (ICC = .75–.95 for all variables) and no significant differences between days (P > .05), but a high variability for v0, the imbalance between the actual and the theoretically optimal F–v profile, and maximal theoretical power (coefficient of variation = 17.0%–27.4%). No between-day differences were observed for any F–v variable assessed under unconstrained conditions (P > .05), but all of the variables presented a low between-day reliability (coefficient of variation > 10% and ICC < .70 for all). Conclusions: F–v variables differed meaningfully when obtained from constrained and unconstrained loaded jumps, and most importantly seemed to present a low between-day reliability.

Introduction:The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of caffeine ingestion in soccer performance, particularly in the countermovement jump test (CMJ). Material and Methods:A total of 17 players from a U-19 amateur Spanish team participated in this pilot study. A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized experimental design was used in 2 different sessions (1.5 hour per session) separated by 1 week. CMJ was collected at the beginning and at the end of sessions; Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) was recorded. Players ingested caffeine or placebo at the beginning of session (minute 0 of session), providing a total of 4mg of caffeine or a placebo per kg of body mass. Side effects from caffeine and placebo ingestions were analyzed. The effect sizes (ES) were calculated using values for Cohen's and Quantitative differences were assessed qualitatively (QA). Results:The jump height with caffeine supplementation at the beginning of training was 37.03 (±3.87) cm and at the end was 39.35 (±4.05) cm, obtaining significant improvements (p<0.05; ES:0.56; QA:99/1/0). Significant differences on CMJ at the end of the training session between caffeine and placebo groups were observed (39.35 [±4.05] cm vs. 36.85 [±3.15] cm; p<0.05; ES:0.65; QA:0/1/99). Significant differences on RPE between groups were observed. A nonsignificant tendency to suffer more side effects with caffeine ingestion was obtained. Conclusions:This study shows how the ingestion of 4mg of caffeine per kg of body mass could be an ergogenic aid to improve soccer performance. However, further studies with bigger soccer players sample would be necessary to refute the present results. Más información: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Introducción: El objetivo del presente estudio fue analizar el efecto de la ingestión de cafeína en el rendimiento en fútbol, específicamente en el test de salto en contramovimiento (CMJ).Material y Métodos: 17 jugadores de la categoría Sub-19 de un equipo amateur español participaron en el estudio piloto. Se siguió un diseño a doble ciego, placebo-control, aleatorizado en 2 entrenamientos (1,5 horas/sesión) separados por 1 semana. El CMJ se recogió al inicio y, al final de las sesiones, la tasa de esfuerzo percibido (RPE) fue recogida. Los jugadores tomaron cafeína o placebo al inicio del entrenamiento (minuto 0), proveyendo 4mg/kg de masa corporal de cafeína o placebo. Se analizaron los efectos secundarios provenientes de la cafeína y del placebo. Los tamaños de efecto (ES) se calcularon utilizando valores para Cohen y las diferencias cuantitativas se evaluaron cualitativamente (QA).Resultados: La altura del salto media cuando se ingirió cafeína fue 37,03 (±3,87) cm al inicio y 39,35 (±4,05) cm al final del entrenamiento, obteniendo una mejora significativa (p<0,05; ES:0,56; QA:99/1/0). Se observaron diferencias significativas en el CMJ al final de los entrenamientos entre la ingestión con cafeína y placebo (39,35 [±4,05] cm vs. 36,85 [±3,15] cm; p<0,05; ES:0,65; QA:0/1/99). Se obtuvieron diferencias...

Valenzuela, PL, Sánchez-Martínez, G, Torrontegi, E, Vázquez-Carrión, J, Montalvo, Z, and Kara, O. Validity, reliability, and sensitivity to exercise-induced fatigue of a customer-friendly device for the measurement of the brain's direct current potential. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1605–1609, 2022—This study aimed to determine the validity, reliability, and sensitivity to exercise-induced fatigue of the brain's direct current (DC) potential measured with a commercially available and customer-friendly electroencephalography (EEG) device and Omegawave (OW). The study was composed of 3 different experiments as follows: (a) we compared the DC potential values obtained simultaneously in 31 subjects with both OW and a research-quality EEG system; (b) 3 consecutive DC potential measurements with OW were taken at rest on the same day in 25 subjects for reliability analyses; and (c) sensitivity to fatigue was assessed in 9 elite badminton players through the measurement of the DC potential with OW—as well as other fatigue-related measures (e.g., Hooper's index, heart rate variability, jump ability, and simple and complex reaction times)—24 hours after both a day of rest and of strenuous exercise, which were performed in a crossover and randomized design. The DC potential measured with OW was reliable (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.97) and significantly correlated to that of EEG (r = 0.55, p = 0.001), although significant differences were observed between systems (p < 0.001). Compared with the rest day, strenuous exercise resulted in an impaired Hooper's index (p = 0.010) and jump ability (p = 0.008), longer simple (p = 0.038) and complex reaction times (p = 0.011), and a trend toward sympathetic dominance (standard deviation of normal to normal R-R intervals, p = 0.042; root mean square of differences between consecutive R-R intervals, p = 0.068). In turn, no significant differences were found between sessions for the DC potential (p = 0.173). In summary, the DC potential measured with OW was reliable and modestly correlated to that measured with EEG, but no differences were observed in response to the delayed fatigue (after 24 hours) elicited by strenuous exercise in elite athletes.

No abstract

No abstract