Plant-based diets are a growing trend, including among athletes. This study compares the differences in physical performance and heart morphology and function between vegan and omnivorous amateur runners. A study group and a matched control group were recruited comprising N = 30 participants each. Eight members of the study group were excluded, leaving N = 22 participants. Members of both groups were of similar age and trained with similar frequency and intensity. Vegans displayed a higher VO2max (54.08 vs. 50.10 mL/kg/min, p < 0.05), which correlated positively with carbohydrate intake (ρ = 0.52) and negatively with MUFA (monounsaturated fatty acids) intake (ρ = −0.43). The vegans presented a more eccentric form of remodelling with greater left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDd, 2.93 vs. 2.81 cm/m2, p = 0.04) and a lower relative wall thickness (RWT, 0.39 vs. 0.42, p = 0.04) and left ventricular mass (LVM, 190 vs. 210 g, p = 0.01). The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was similar (108 vs. 115 g/m2, p = NS). Longitudinal strain was higher in the vegan group (−20.5 vs. −19.6%, p = 0.04), suggesting better systolic function. Higher E-wave velocities (87 vs. 78 cm/s, p = 0.001) and E/e′ ratios (6.32 vs. 5.6, p = 0.03) may suggest better diastolic function in the vegan group. The results demonstrate that following a plant-based diet does not impair amateur athletes’ performance and influences both morphological and functional heart remodelling. The lower RWT and better LV systolic and diastolic function are most likely positive echocardiographic findings.

Maximal heart rate (HRmax) is associated mostly with age, but age alone explains the variance in HRmax to a limited degree and may not be adequate to predict HRmax in certain groups. The present study was carried out on 3374 healthy Caucasian, Polish men and women, clients of a sports clinic, mostly sportspeople, with a mean age of 36.57 years, body mass 74.54 kg, maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max, ml∗kg–1∗min–1) 50.07. Cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) were carried out on treadmills or cycle ergometers to evaluate HRmax and VO2max. Linear, multiple linear, stepwise, Ridge and LASSO regression modeling were applied to establish the relationship between HRmax, age, fitness level, VO2max, body mass, age, testing modality and body mass index (BMI). Mean HRmax predictions calculated with 5 previously published formulae were evaluated in subgroups created according to all variables. HRmax was univariately explained by a 202.5–0.53∗age formula (R2 = 19.18). The weak relationship may be explained by the similar age with small standard deviation (SD). Multiple linear regression, stepwise and LASSO yielded an R2 of 0.224, while Ridge yielded R2 0.20. Previously published formulae were less precise in the more outlying groups of the studied population, overestimating HRmax in older age groups and underestimating in younger. The 202.5–0.53∗age formula developed in the present study was the best in the studied population, yielding lowest mean errors in most groups, suggesting it could be used in more active individuals. Tanaka’s formula offers the second best overall prediction, while the 220-age formula yields remarkably high mean errors of up to 9 bpm. In conclusion, adding the studied variables in multiple regression models improves the accuracy of prediction only slightly over age alone and is unlikely to be useful in clinical practice.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a treadmill (TE) or cycle ergometry (CE) is a common method in sports diagnostics to assess athletes’ aerobic fitness and prescribe training. In a triathlon, the gold standard is performing both CE and TE CPET. The purpose of this research was to create models using CPET results from one modality to predict results for the other modality. A total of 152 male triathletes (age = 38.20 ± 9.53 year.; BMI = 23.97 ± 2.10 kg·m−2) underwent CPET on TE and CE, preceded by body composition (BC) analysis. Speed, power, heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), ventilation (VE), respiratory frequency (fR), blood lactate concentration (LA) (at the anaerobic threshold (AT)), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and maximum exertion were measured. Random forests (RF) were used to find the variables with the highest importance, which were selected for multiple linear regression (MLR) models. Based on R2 and RF variable selection, MLR equations in full, simplified, and the most simplified forms were created for VO2AT, HRAT, VO2RCP, HRRCP, VO2max, and HRmax for CE (R2 = 0.46−0.78) and TE (R2 = 0.59−0.80). By inputting only HR and power/speed into the RF, MLR models for practical HR calculation on TE and CE (both R2 = 0.41−0.75) were created. BC had a significant impact on the majority of CPET parameters. CPET parameters can be accurately predicted between CE and TE testing. Maximal parameters are more predictable than submaximal. Only HR and speed/power from one testing modality could be used to predict HR for another. Created equations, combined with BC analysis, could be used as a method of choice in comprehensive sports diagnostics.

Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is the method of choice to assess aerobic fitness. Previous research was ambiguous as to whether treadmill (TE) and cycle ergometry (CE) results are transferrable or different between testing modalities in triathletes. The aim of this paper was to investigate the differences in HR and VO2 at maximum exertion between TE and CE, at anaerobic threshold (AT) and respiratory compensation point (RCP) and evaluate their association with body fat (BF), fat-free mass (FFM) and body mass index (BMI). In total, 143 adult (n = 18 female), Caucasian triathletes had both Tr and CE CPET performed. The male group was divided into <40 years (n = 80) and >40 years (n = 45). Females were aged between 18 and 46 years. Body composition was measured with bioelectrical impedance before tests. Differences were evaluated using paired t-tests, and associations were evaluated in males using multiple linear regression (MLR). Significant differences were found in VO2 and HR at maximum exertion, at AT and at RCP between CE and TE testing, in both males and females. VO2AT was 38.8 (±4.6) mL/kg/min in TE vs. 32.8 (±5.4) in CE in males and 36.0 (±3.6) vs. 32.1 (±3.8) in females (p < 0.001). HRAT was 149 (±10) bpm in TE vs. 136 (±11) in CE in males and 156 (±7) vs. 146 (±11) in females (p < 0.001). VO2max was 52 (±6) mL/kg/min vs. 49 (±7) in CE in males and 45.3 (±4.9) in Tr vs. 43.9 (±5.2) in females (p < 0.001). HRmax was 183 (±10) bpm in TE vs. 177 (±10) in CE in males and 183 (±9) vs. 179 (±10) in females (p < 0.001). MLR showed that BMI, BF and FFM are significantly associated with differences in HR and VO2 at maximum, AT and RCP in males aged >40. Both tests should be used independently to achieve optimal fitness assessments and further training planning.

Background The study aimed to assess whether intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) and intermittent negative pressure (INP) would attenuate the muscle damaging effects of eccentric exercise. Methods Forty-five healthy males were recruited. Immediately post, 24 and 48 h post eccentric exercise consisting of 100 drop jumps, volunteers randomly received 30-min sessions of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC, n = 15) or intermittent negative pressure (INP, n = 15), or sham microcurrent (PT, n = 15). Creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), isokinetic muscle strength, soreness and active flexion of the knee joint were measured after every therapy session. Results No significant intergroup differences were observed in biochemical or functional measurements. However, there was an increase in muscle soreness (P < 0.05), CK and LDH activity (P < 0.05), and a reduction in muscle strength (P < 0.05) and range of active knee flexion (P < 0.05). Conclusions The prescription of IPC and INP did not attenuate the reduction of markers to muscle function or pain perception up to 48 h after muscle damaging exercise. Future research should focus on the potential impact of treatment frequency and duration on muscle recovery. Trial registration The study was retrospectively registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR); The trial registration number: ACTRN12621001294842; date of registration: 24/09/2021.