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[Purpose] The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of respiratory muscle warm-up on anaerobic power. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty male field hockey players (age, 20.5 ± 2.0 years) each participated in a control (CAN) trial and an experimental (EAN) trial. The EAN trial involved respiratory muscle warm-up, while the CAN trial did not. Anaerobic power was measured using the Wingate protocol. Paired sample t-tests were used to compare the EAN and CAN trials. [Results] There were significant increases in peak power and relative peak power, and decreases in the time to peak after the EAN trial by 8.9%, 9.6%, and 28.8% respectively. [Conclusion] Respiratory muscle warm-up may positively affect anaerobic power due to faster attainment of peak power.

Purpose: The aim of study is to analyse isokinetic knee strength in soccer players in terms of selected parameters. Methods: A total of 30 subjects, 15 soccer players and 15 controls, were included in the study. Isokinetic knee strength measurements at angular speeds of 60°sec-1, 180°sec-1 and 240°sec-1 and pro-agility tests were conducted on the subjects. A body analyser was used for height, weight and body mass indexes (BMI) values. The training ages of the subjects and the positions of the soccer player group were recorded on personal information forms. Results: When the agility parameters were compared between football and control groups, a statistical difference was found in favour of the soccer player group (p < 0.05). When the effects of body composition and isokinetic knee strength on agility were analysed, negative significant correlation was found between weight and agility, BMI and agility and 240° right knee extension strength and agility (p < 0.05). When the positions of soccer players and isokinetic knee strengths were compared, significance was found between 60° right extension strength of defenders and midfielders and 60° left extension-flexion strengths of defenders and midfielders and forwards in favour of defenders (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, it was found that isokinetic knee strength did not have an influence on agility in low angular speeds, except for 240°sec-1 right extension. According to positions, as the isokinetic knee strength of defenders decreased, they showed higher results when compared with other positions.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether inspiratory muscle fatigue (IMF) affects the muscle activity of the latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major during maximal arms only front crawl swimming. Eight collegiate swimmers were recruited to perform 2 maximal 20-second arms only front crawl sprints in a swimming flume. Both sprints were performed on the same day, and IMF was induced 30 minutes after the first (control) sprint. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (PImax and PEmax, respectively) were measured before and after each sprint. The median frequency (MDF) of the electromyographic signal burst was recorded from the latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major during each 20-second sprint along with stroke rate and breathing frequency. Median frequency was assessed in absolute units (Hz) and then referenced to the start of the control sprint for normalization. After IMF inducement, stroke rate increased from 56 ± 4 to 59 ± 5 cycles per minute, and latissimus dorsi MDF fell from 67 ± 11 Hz at the start of the sprint to 61 ± 9 Hz at the end. No change was observed in the MDF of the latissimus dorsi during the control sprint. Conversely, the MDF of the pectoralis major shifted to lower frequencies during both sprints but was unaffected by IMF. As the latter induced fatigue in the latissimus dorsi, which was not otherwise apparent during maximal arms only control sprinting, the presence of IMF affects the activity of the latissimus dorsi during front crawl sprinting.

The upper body trunk musculature is key in supporting breathing, propulsion, and stabilization during front crawl swimming. The aim of this study was to determine if the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior contributed to the development of inspiratory muscle fatigue observed following front crawl swimming. Fourteen trained swimmers completed a 200-m front crawl swim at 90% of race pace. Maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures (PImax and PEmax) were assessed before (baseline) and after each swim, and electromyography was recorded from the three muscles. Post-swim PImax fell by 11% (P < 0.001, d = 0.57) and the median frequency (MDF: a measure of fatigue) of the latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major, and serratus anterior fell to 90% (P = 0.001, d = 1.57), 87% (P = 0.001, r = -0.60) and 89% (P = 0.018, d = 1.04) of baseline, respectively. The fall in serratus anterior MDF was correlated with breathing frequency (r = 0.675, P = 0.008) and stroke rate (r = 0.639, P = 0.014). The results suggest that the occurrence of inspiratory muscle fatigue was partly caused by fatigue of these muscles, and that breathing frequency and stroke rate particularly affect the serratus anterior.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 6 weeks respiratory muscle training on aerobic power (VO2max) and respiratory parameters in swimmers. Methods: A total of 20 male swimmers between 18 and 23 years of age were included in the study as volunteers and randomly divided into two groups as control (n: 10) and control (n: 10) groups. Respiratory muscle training was applied to the experimental group 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Respiratory muscle training device (POWER®breathe, UK) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) value of 30% of the respiratory muscle training 30 times twice a day was built. Body mass index, VO2max, vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and forced expiratory rate (FEV1/FVC) were measured before and after training. Respiratory parameters were measured by spirometry. VO2max measurements were measured by cardiopulmonary exercise test on bicycle ergometer. Respiratory muscle strength was used to determine the respiratory pressure gauge. The data were analyzed in SPSS 22.0 program. Independent Samples T Test was used to assess the significance between the experimental and control groups. Paired Samples T Test was applied for intragroup comparisons. Results: As a result of the statistical analysis, there was a significant difference in the respiratory parameters of the experimental group (p<0.05). Aerobic power values were not significant (p>0.05). In the comparison between groups, there was a significant difference in the values of the respiratory parameters in favor of the experimental group. Conclusion: As a result, it can be said that 6 weeks of respiratory muscle training affects the respiratory parameters positively in swimmers. It is thought that regular respiratory muscle training improves respiratory parameters. Swimming, Respiratory muscle training, Aerobic power, Article Info

Background and Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries in the athletic population, and accordingly, ACL reconstruction (ACLR) is among the most common orthopedic surgical procedures performed in sports medicine. This study aims to compare the semitendinosus/gracilis (ST/G) and ACL hamstring grafts fixed using adjustable cortical suspension in both the femur and tibia (MAI) ACLR techniques. We aimed to compare the results of single-leg hop tests (SLHT) applied in different directions and limb symmetry indices (LSI) in athletes with a 6-month post-operative ACLR history. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort of 39 athletes from various sports branches who underwent MAI (n = 16) and ST/G (n = 23) ACLR techniques by the same surgeon were evaluated. The knee strength of the participants on the operated and non-operated sides was evaluated with five different SLHTs. The SLHT included the single hop for distance (SH), triple hop for distance (TH), crossover triple hop for distance (CH), medial side triple hop for distance (MSTH), and medial rotation (90°) hop for distance (MRH). Results: There was a significant improvement in the mean Lysholm, Tegner, and IKDC scores in the post-operative leg for both techniques (p < 0.05) compared to the pre-operative levels. When there was a difference between the SH of the operative and the non-operative legs in the ST/G technique (p < 0.05), there was no significant difference in the other hop distance for both ST/G and MAI (p > 0.05). There was no difference between the techniques regarding the LSI scores. Conclusions: The fact that our research revealed similar LSI rates of the SLHTs applied in different directions in the ST/G and MAI techniques assumes that the MAI technique can be an ACLR technique which can be functionally used in athletes.