Impact of Repeated Acute Exposures to Low and Moderate Exercise-Induced Hypohydration on Physiological and Subjective Responses and Endurance Performance

This study aimed to examine whether repeated exposures to low (2%) and moderate (4%) exercise-induced hypohydration may reverse the potentially deleterious effect of hypohydration on endurance performance. Using a randomized crossover protocol, ten volunteers (23 years, V˙O2max: 54 mL∙kg−1∙min−1) completed two 4-week training blocks interspersed by a 5-week washout period. During one block, participants replaced all fluid losses (EUH) while in the other they were fluid restricted (DEH). Participants completed three exercise sessions per week (walking/running, 55% V˙O2max, 40 °C): (1) 1 h while fluid restricted or drinking ad libitum, (2) until 2 and (3) 4% of body mass has been lost or replaced. During the first and the fourth week of each training block, participants completed a 12 min time-trial immediately after 2% and 4% body mass loss has been reached. Exercise duration and distance completed (14.1 ± 2.7 vs. 6.9 ± 1.5 km) during the fixed-intensity exercise bouts were greater in the 4 compared to the 2% condition (p < 0.01) with no difference between DEH and EUH. During the first week, heart rate, rectal temperature and perceived exertion were higher (p < 0.05) with DEH than EUH, and training did not change these outcomes. Exercise-induced hypohydration of 2% and 4% body mass impaired time-trial performance in a practical manner both at the start and end of the training block. In conclusion, exercise-induced hypohydration of 2% and 4% body mass impairs 12 min walking/running time-trial, and repeated exposures to these hypohydration levels cannot reverse the impairment in performance.

The unity hypothesis revisited: can the gender incongruent McGurk effect be disrupted by priming?

The “unity assumption hypothesis” contends that higher-level factors, such as a perceiver’s belief and prior experience, modulate multisensory integration. The McGurk illusion exemplifies such integration. When a visual velar /ga/ is dubbed with an auditory bilabial /ba/, listeners unify the discrepant signals with knowledge that open lips cannot produce /ba/ and a fusion percept /da/ is perceived. Previous research claimed to have falsified this theory by demonstrating the McGurk effect occurs even when a face is dubbed with a gender incongruent voice. But perhaps stronger evidence than just an apparent incongruence between unfamiliar faces and voices is needed to prevent perceptual unity. Here we investigated whether the McGurk illusion with gender incongruent stimuli can be disrupted by priming with appropriate pairing of face and voice. In an online experiment, 89 participants aged 18-62, were randomly allocated to experience experimental trials containing either a male or female face with incongruent gender voice. The number of times participants experienced a McGurk illusion was measured before and after a training block which familiarized them with the true pairings of face and voice. After training and priming, the susceptibility to the McGurk effects decreased significantly on average. The findings support the notion that unity assumptions modulate intersensory bias, and confirm and extend previous studies using gender incongruous McGurk stimuli.

The efficacy of repetitions-in-reserve vs. traditional percentage-based resistance training: a 4-week pre-season randomized intervention in elite rugby league players

Purpose This two-experiment study aimed to examine (1) the accuracy and reliability of repetitions-in-reserve and (2) using a randomized trial, the efficacy of repetition-in-reserve compared to traditional percentage-based training during a 4-week pre-season strength training block in elite rugby league players. Methods In experiment 1, participants performed deadlift, bench press and weighted pull up exercises for 3, 6, and 9 repetitions to failure using self-selected loads. This was undertaken on two occasions, separated by 8-weeks. In experiment 2, participants were randomly separated into either repetitions-in-reserve or percentage-based training groups. They completed a 4-week pre-season training block with training prescribed based on the group to which they were assigned. Measures of body mass and 3 repetition max strength in the aforementioned exercises were measured pre and post intervention. Results Experiment 1 showed that repetitions-in-reserve exhibited generally acceptable levels of accuracy and moderate-good levels of reliability. However, the deadlift when the required number of repetitions was 6 and 9 and the bench press when number of repetitions was 9 were not associated with acceptable levels of accuracy and reliability, respectively. Experiment 2 showed that there were no differences between repetitions-in-reserve or percentage-based training group for the strength outcomes, although there were significant increases in body mass in the percentage-based group (pre = 85.6 ± 10.6 kg, post = 86.4 ± 10.8 kg). Conclusion Repetitions-in-reserve is generally associated with acceptable levels of accuracy and moderate-good levels of reliability, although there were some exceptions for the deadlift in relation to accuracy and bench press for reliability. Experiment 2 shows that although there were no differences between groups for the strength-based outcomes, significant increases in body mass in the percentage-based group may make this approach a more effective approach to prepare players for the rigors of the rugby league season.

Effects of Two vs. Four Weekly Campus Board Training Sessions on Bouldering Performance and Climbing-Specific Tests in Advanced and Elite Climbers

This study examined the effects of two or four weekly campus board training sessions among highly accomplished lead climbers. Sixteen advanced-to-elite climbers were randomly allocated to two (TG2), or four weekly campus board training sessions (TG4), or a control group (CG). All groups continued their normal climbing routines. Pre- and post-intervention measures included bouldering performance, maximal isometric pull-up strength using a shallow rung and a large hold (jug), and maximal reach and moves to failure. Rate of force development (RFD; absolute and 100ms) was calculated in the rung condition. TG4 improved maximal force in the jug condition (effect size (ES) = 0.40, p = 0.043), and absolute RFD more than CG (ES = 2.92, p = 0.025), whereas TG2 improved bouldering performance (ES = 2.59, p = 0.016) and maximal moves to failure on the campus board more than CG (ES = 1.65, p = 0.008). No differences between the training groups were found (p = 0.107–1.000). When merging the training groups, the training improved strength in the rung condition (ES = 0.87, p = 0.002), bouldering performance (ES = 2.37, p = 0.006), maximal reach (ES = 1.66, p = 0.006) and moves to failure (ES = 1.43, p = 0.040) more than CG. In conclusion, a five-week campus board training-block is sufficient for improving climbing-specific attributes among advanced-to-elite climbers. Sessions should be divided over four days to improve RFD or divided over two days to improve bouldering performance, compared to regular climbing training.

The Significance of Colour Design in Creating Comfort at Sports Facilities

The paper discusses the significance of colour design of sports facilities in the aspect of creating psychophysiological comfort for their visitors. The study was conducted in two stages. The first one consisted of a survey in the form of a questionnaire: two groups of 289 respondents expressed their view on the importance of comfort as well as of basic indicators of comfort that sports facilities provide. The results of the study showed that comfort, interior styling and colour design of a sports facility are vital and not of least importance for different categories of visitors to sports facilities. The second stage was carried out by an expert assessment method (the Delphi method), during which the colour design of the sports training block (STB) “Snezhnyi” (Sopka Cluster, Krasnoyarsk) was evaluated regarding the level of psychophysiological comfort it creates for its customers. The result of the conducted expert assessment has showed that the level of psychophysiological comfort created by the colour decoration of STB “Snezhnyi” is evaluated as “close to high” and “high”. The research has revealed that colour solutions used in the design of sports facilities can be important in creating psychophysiological comfort for visitors and, therefore, can be used as one of the success factors in developing a marketing strategy for sports facilities

Effects of aerobic training on oxidative stress and inflammation in rats exposed to controlled emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of isolated exercise and those of repeated exercise on oxidative stress and the inflammatory process following exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Material and Method: 15 male Wistar rats, all eight weeks old, were randomly assigned to three groups. CO and NO2 were produced by the combustion of diesel fuel using a device contained in a sealed metal box and supplied with ambient air by a pump. The ranges of CO and NO2 concentrations to which the rats were exposed ranged from 35 to 45 ppm and 0.2 to 0.3 ppm, respectively. The aerobic workouts were performed on a rat treadmill. Blood samples were taken 24 hours after completion of handling at D4, D9 and D14. Variables studied were Malondialdehyde (MDA) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α). Results: Aerobic endurance training after repeated exposure to CO and NO2 induces at the end of the first training block (D4) a significant increase (p ˂ 0.01) in MDA and TNF-α. On the other hand, the second block (D9) and the third training block (D14) induced a significant decrease (p ˂ 0.01) in these same parameters. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise practiced in isolation exacerbates the oxidative stress and inflammation induced by exposure to CO and NO2. On the other hand, regular aerobic exercise in a less polluted environment, following five days of recovery, significantly reduces the high levels of oxidative stress and inflammation caused by repeated exposure to automobile pollutants.

Tapering and Repeated High-Intensity Effort Ability in Young Elite Rugby Union Players: Influence of Pretaper Fatigue Level

Purpose: To assess the effects of a short-term taper on the ability to perform repeated high-intensity efforts, depending on players’ fatigue level following an intensive training block. Method: After a 3-day off-season camp, 13 players followed the same 3-week preseason training block followed by a 7-day exponential taper. Performance was assessed by a repeated high-intensity effort test before and after the taper. Total sprint time, percentage of decrement, and the number of sprints equal to or higher than 90% of the best sprint were retained for analysis. Players were a posteriori classified in normal training or acute fatigue groups based on their readiness to perform prior to the taper, assessed through the magnitude of difference in psychological (Profile of Mood State Questionnaire), cardiovascular (submaximal constant-duration cycling), and neuromuscular (countermovement jump) tests between the preintensive and postintensive training blocks. Results: Training load declined by 55% (9%) during the taper (P = .001, g = −2.54). The overall group showed a small improvement in total sprint time (−3.40% [3.90%], P = .04, g = −0.39) following the taper. Relative changes tended to be higher in the acute fatigue compared with the normal training group (−5.07% [4.52%] vs −1.45% [1.88%], respectively; P = .08; d = 1.01). No taper-induced improvement was observed in percentage of decrement or number of sprints equal to or higher than 90% of the best sprint. Conclusion: A 7-day taper consisting of 55% training load reduction improved repeated high-intensity effort performance in young elite rugby union players. Pretaper level of fatigue seems to be a key determinant in the taper supercompensation process, as acutely fatigued players at the end of the intensive training block tended to benefit more from the taper.

Effectiveness of a power-training block with two cluster set configurations in recreationally trained young adults on sprint performance

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a three-week power-training block with two different cluster set configurations using pneumatic equipment on sprint performance. Method: Thirty recreationally active subjects participated in this study (18 female and 12 male). The subjects were distributed randomly into Control (CG), Cluster 1 (CL1) and Cluster 2 (CL2) groups. The experimental procedure involved a three-week training period; at the pre- and post-training time points, a 20-meter sprint tests were applied. Results: There was an intergroup significant difference for the CL2 versus the CG for time, acceleration and velocity in the first 10-meter sprint test. The alpha value used was p < 0.05. For total time, total velocity, time and velocity in the first 10-meter sprint test: significant differences were observed for both CL1 and CL2 at the post-test. The total acceleration and acceleration in the first 10-meter sprint test was significantly different for the CL2 at the post-training. There were no significant differences in time, velocity and acceleration in the final 10-meter sprint test between groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that interventions with intra-set intervals (specifically CL2) using pneumatic equipment allow for positive adaptations in velocity and acceleration after three-week training.