Nutrition is an undeniable part of promoting health and performance among football (soccer) players. Nevertheless, nutritional strategies adopted in elite football can vary significantly depending on culture, habit and practical constraints and might not always be supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, a group of 28 Portuguese experts on sports nutrition, sports science and sports medicine sought to discuss current practices in the elite football landscape and review the existing evidence on nutritional strategies to be applied when supporting football players. Starting from understanding football’s physical and physiological demands, five different moments were identified: preparing to play, match-day, recovery after matches, between matches and during injury or rehabilitation periods. When applicable, specificities of nutritional support to young athletes and female players were also addressed. The result is a set of practical recommendations that gathered consensus among involved experts, highlighting carbohydrates periodisation, hydration and conscious use of dietary supplements.
Supplementation with creatine may improve muscle strength parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in this population. It is recommended an initial screening of vitamin D levels at the beginning of the physical rehabilitation process.
Purpose: Low-intensity resistance exercise with moderate blood-flow restriction (LIRE-BFR) is a new trending form of exercises worldwide. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of a single bout of traditional resistance exercise (TRE) and LIRE-BFR on arterial stiffness in older people with slow gait speeds. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled clinical study. Seventeen older adults (3 men; 14 women; 82 ± 5 years old) completed a session of TRE (n = 7) or LIRE-BFR (n = 10). At baseline and after 60 min post-exercise, participants were subject to blood pressure measurement, heart rate measurements and a determination of arterial stiffness parameters. Results: There was no significant difference between the TRE and LIRE-BFR group at baseline. Pulse-wave velocity increased in both groups (p < 0.05) post-exercise with no between-group differences. Both exercise modalities did not produce any adverse events. The increase in systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, augmentation pressure and pulse wave velocity (all p > 0.05) were similar after both TRE and LIRE-BFR. Conclusion: TRE and LIRE-BFR had similar responses regarding hemodynamic parameters and pulse-wave velocity in older people with slow gait speed. Long-term studies should assess the cardiovascular risk and safety of LIRE-BFR training in this population.
Low‐intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction exercise is an emerging type of exercise recognition worldwide. This systematic review evaluated the effects of low‐intensity resistance exercise performed with concurrent blood flow restriction (LIRE‐BFR) on acute and chronic measures of arterial stiffness in humans. A systematic search in six healthcare science databases and reference lists was conducted. Data selected for primary analysis consisted of post‐intervention changes in arterial stiffness markers. This systematic review included randomized and non‐randomized controlled trials of LIRE‐BFR in humans. 156 articles were initially identified, 15 of which met inclusion criteria. Ten studies were excluded because they did not match predefined arterial stiffness markers. Thus, five articles were included in this review: two acute studies (N = 39 individuals, age = 20‐30 years old, 30.8% women and 69.2% men) and three longitudinal studies (N = 51 individuals, age = 24‐86‐years old, 41.2% women and 58.8% men). Acute LIRE‐BFR demonstrated both positive and negative effects on arterial stiffness in healthy young people. In contrast, longitudinal studies reported neutral effects in healthy young and older people. In conclusion, LIRE‐BFR applied to the upper and lower limbs may acutely induce increases in central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity in healthy young people, whereas LIRE‐BFR for the lower limbs may elicit positive effects related to indirect markers of arterial stiffness. Moreover, longitudinal LIRE‐BFR studies showed no changes in arterial stiffness in young and older people. Hence, LIRE‐BFR should be prescribed with a degree of caution to avoid non‐intended responses in arterial stiffness markers in humans.
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