Monitoring Performance in Show Jumping Horses: Validity of Non-specific and Discipline-specific Field Exercise Tests for a Practicable Assessment of Aerobic Performance

Show jumping is a highly specialized equestrian discipline that requires technical skill but also power and fitness. Monitoring the horses’ aerobic performance is therefore essential in order to verify whether the training has induced the desired cardiovascular and muscular adaptations. This study therefore aimed at evaluating the validity of non-specific and discipline-specific field exercise tests for objective evaluation of aerobic performance in show jumpers. For this purpose, data obtained from horses competing at Junior and Young Rider level during show jumping competitions as well as field exercise tests were retrospectively analyzed. The effect of the level of difficulty, the horses’ age, the penalty score and the horses’ previous level of performance on blood lactate concentrations after show jumping competitions (100 observations in 49 horses) was evaluated by linear mixed effects models (horse as random effect). Estimated marginal means significantly increased from 140 (4.1 mmol/L) to 150 cm (5.2 mmol/L) classes (P = 0.02). Furthermore, post-exercise lactate values significantly increased with the horses’ age (P = 0.001). Another group of 12 horses performed a standardized incremental field exercise test on a track (SETtrack), a standardized show jumping course (SETcourse) and a standardized grid exercise (SETgrid) each on three consecutive days. Indices of aerobic performance, derived from the SETtrack [velocity at a heart rate of 140 bpm (V140) and at a lactate concentration of 2 mmol/L (VLa2)] were highly correlated with heart rate (V140: r = −0.75, P = 0.005; VLa2: r =−0.66, P = 0.02) and lactate (V140: r = −0.73, P = 0.02; VLa2: r = −0.72, P = 0.02) in response to SETcourse as well as heart rate during SETgrid (V140: r = −0.73, P = 0.02; VLa2: r = −0.76, P = 0.01). Subjective rating of muscular fatigue was significantly correlated to the mean heart rate during SETcourse (r = −0.64, P = 0.05) and SETgrid (r = −0.74, P = 0.02) but not to the aerobic indices calculated from SETtrack. Besides non-specific incremental field tests, performance monitoring in show jumpers should therefore also include discipline-specific tests that more closely reflect the internal load induced by show jumping competitions.

Determinants of whole-body maximal aerobic performance in young male and female athletes: The roles of lower extremity muscle size, strength and power

This study sought to determine whether lower extremity muscle size, power and strength could be a determinant of whole-body maximal aerobic performance in athletes. 20 male and 19 female young athletes (18 ± 4 years) from various sporting disciplines participated in this study. All athletes performed a continuous ramp-incremental cycling to exhaustion for the determination of peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2peak: the highest V˙O2 over a 15-s period) and maximal power output (MPO: power output corresponding to V˙O2peak). Axial scanning of the right leg was performed with magnetic resonance imaging, and anatomical cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of quadriceps femoris (QF) and hamstring muscles at 50% of thigh length were measured. Moreover, bilateral leg extension power and unilateral isometric knee extension and flexion torque were determined. All variables were normalised to body mass, and six independent variables (V˙O2peak, CSAs of thigh muscles, leg extension power and knee extension and flexion torque) were entered into a forward stepwise multiple regression model with MPO being dependent variable for males and females separately. In the males, V˙O2peak was chosen as the single predictor of MPO explaining 78% of the variance. In the females, MPO was attributed to, in the order of importance, V˙O2peak (p < 0.001) and the CSA of QF (p = 0.011) accounting for 84% of the variance. This study suggests that while oxygen transport capacity is the main determinant of MPO regardless of sex, thigh muscle size also has a role in whole-body maximal aerobic performance in female athletes.

Effects of Eight-Week Combined Resistance and Endurance Training on Serum Levels of Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA), Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG), and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) in Men with Prostate Cancer

Background: Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most prevalent cancer and the sixth cancer leading to death in men worldwide. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of eight weeks of combined training on specific markers of prostate cancer in older adults. Methods: Twenty older adults (62 ± 7 years) with prostate cancer were divided randomly into the control (n = 10) and training (n = 10) groups. The training group performed exercise training in three sessions a week for eight weeks. Resistance training included two sets of 10 repetitions at 60 - 75% of one-repetition maximum, and endurance training contained treadmill running for 20 - 35 min at 60 - 75% of maximum heart rate. Bruce test, one-repetition maximum, and ELISA technique were used respectively to measure the aerobic performance, strength performance, and serum levels of prostate specific antigen (PSA), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), and testosterone (TS). A two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to specify the differences. Results: Weight, fat percentage, Body Mass Index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), glucose, insulin, and PSA were significantly lower in the training group than the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, strength performance, aerobic performance, SHBG, TS, and PTEN were significantly higher in the training group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Combined training can have an influential role in physical condition improvement through decreasing the PSA serum level and increasing SHBG, TS, and PETEN serum levels, which helps patients with prostate cancer to be cured.

Effects of Short-Term Phosphate Loading on Aerobic Capacity under Acute Hypoxia in Cyclists: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sodium phosphate (SP) supplementation on aerobic capacity in hypoxia. Twenty-four trained male cyclists received SP (50 mg·kg−1 of FFM/day) or placebo for six days in a randomized, crossover study, with a three-week washout period between supplementation phases. Before and after each supplementation phase, the subjects performed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion in hypoxia (FiO2 = 16%). Additionally, the levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α), inorganic phosphate (Pi), calcium (Ca), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and acid-base balance were determined. The results showed that phosphate loading significantly increased the Pi level by 9.0%, whereas 2,3-DPG levels, hemoglobin oxygen affinity, buffering capacity and myocardial efficiency remained unchanged. The aerobic capacity in hypoxia was not improved following SP. Additionally, our data revealed high inter-individual variability in response to SP. Therefore, the participants were grouped as Responders and Non-Responders. In the Responders, a significant increase in aerobic performance in the range of 3–5% was observed. In conclusion, SP supplementation is not an ergogenic aid for aerobic capacity in hypoxia. However, in certain individuals, some benefits can be expected, but mainly in athletes with less training-induced central and/or peripheral adaptation.

Does Peripheral Lower Body Blood Flow Restriction Training Effect Aerobic Adaptations in Recreationally Active Adults? A Case Series

Introduction: Blood flow restriction (BFR) training is a novel training method that has been shown to promote positive aerobic and anaerobic adaptations under low intensity exercise by inhibiting blood flow to target tissue resulting in hypoxia and metabolic byproduct accumulation. This has been shown to have a direct positive effect on aerobic performance adaptation. The purpose was to explore the effect of BFR training on aerobic performance. Methods: Seven recreationally active adults were randomly assigned to either the BFR group (n=4, BFR) or non-BFR group (n=3, CON). Three testing sessions were conducted throughout the study (Pre-Test, Mid-Test, Post-Test) which consisted of a graded cycle ergometer maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) test using COSMED-K5 indirect calorimetry. Eleven BFR training sessions were performed consisting of 20-min of cycling at 35-45% of heart rate reserve (HRR) with at 60% (BFR) or 5% (CON) arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) on the BFR cuffs. Results: Absolute VO2max, Relative VO2max, respiratory exchange ratio (RER), maximum heart rate (HRmax), and maximum rate of perceived exertion (RPEmax) reported no significant difference between BFR and CON. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) found in time to reach VO2max and maximum watts (Wmax) reached which declined over the course of the training intervention. Conclusions: Bilateral lower limb aerobic BFR training resulted in no change in VO2max over seven weeks.

The Effect of Periodization on Training Program Adherence

The present research aimed to study the effect of three different training periodization (traditional, reverse, and free training) on the aerobic performance, motivation, and adherence of physically active athletes. We analysed the adherence to three different periodization training programs: traditional, reverse, and free training periodization on the adherence of amateur triathletes. For this aim, the individual adherence, motivation, and aerobic performance time and heart rate (in a 1000 m running test) were evaluated before and after the completion of the three different 8-week periodization programs. The level of adherence to the reverse periodization was significantly higher than in traditional and free training. The number of dropouts in reverse and traditional periodization was similar but lower than in the free training. Finally, neither of the periodization programs improved aerobic performance and reverse training periodization decreased heart rate of participants in a 1000 m running test.

How Fit Are Special Operations Police Officers? A Comparison With Elite Athletes From Olympic Disciplines

The diverse tasks of special operations police (SOP) units place high physical demands on every officer. Being fit for duty requires a wide range of motor abilities which must be trained regularly and in a structured manner. But SOP operators have to plan and manage large proportions of their training alone, which makes it difficult to control. Therefore, this study aimed to highlight strengths and deficits of the SOP operators' fitness by comparing them to elite athletes, and to define future training goals. Retrospective data of 189 male SOP operators were used, who completed several isometric strength tests, a graded exercise test to determine maximal oxygen uptake, and countermovement jumps to determine leg muscle power. On the basis of a literature search, performance data were then compared to a total of 3,028 elite male athletes from 36 Summer Olympic disciplines. Pooled means and standard deviations were calculated for each discipline and effect sizes were used to analyze their similarities and differences to the SOP unit. On average, SOP operators were taller, heavier, and stronger than elite athletes. But both the ability to convert this strength into explosive movement and aerobic power was significantly less developed. From this point of view, SOP operators should consider polarized endurance training to work efficiently on improving aerobic performance. In addition, regular plyometric training seems necessary to improve leg muscle power and agility.