Sports performance: is there evidence that the body clock plays a role?

Aim. The article aims to assess the body reserves of ski racers who develop local-regional muscle endurance (LRME), statokinetic and hypoxia resistance. Materials and methods. 15–16-year-old highly skilled ski-racers (I, II category, candidates for master of sports) with sports experience of 5–7 years (n = 12) were examined. The following equipment was used to assess athletic fitness and sports performance: T 2100 GE treadmill system, CardioSoft diagnostic system (USA), HYPOXICO Everest Summit II altitude generator (USA), Angio Scan-01 P pulse oximeter sensor (Russia). Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS information processing package. Results. The effect of techniques for developing LRME and hypoxia resistance on sports performance has been established. A generalized ranking of competitive performance is constructed and a regression model is described that establishes the dependence of sports performance on morphofunctional and metabolic statuses. The key indicators of morphofunctional and metabolic statuses were compared in athletes who used the methods for developing LRME and hypoxia resistance. Criteria are established for successful performance in sports reserve training, promising cross-country skiers, the modeling of status indicators with well-established technologies while maintaining the functional and metabolic potential and the level of health. Conclusion. The results of the study showed the effectiveness of combined technologies in sports training and allowed to identify markers of functional and metabolic statuses. The proposed technologies allowed to enhance adaptation and identify status markers. This made it possible to improve performance in the conditions of LRME and statokinetic and hypoxia resistance. Forecasting sports results allows regulating athletic fitness and making timely corrections to ensure successful sports performance.

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Role of Oral and Gut Microbiota in Dietary Nitrate Metabolism and Its Impact on Sports Performance

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12123611 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 3611

Author(s):

Rocío González-Soltero ◽

María Bailén ◽

Beatriz de Lucas ◽

Maria Isabel Ramírez-Goercke ◽

Helios Pareja-Galeano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Oral Bacteria ◽

The Body ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Dietary Nitrate ◽

Dietary Strategy ◽

Nitrate Metabolism ◽

Nitrate Supplementation

Nitrate supplementation is an effective, evidence-based dietary strategy for enhancing sports performance. The effects of dietary nitrate seem to be mediated by the ability of oral bacteria to reduce nitrate to nitrite, thus increasing the levels of nitrite in circulation that may be further reduced to nitric oxide in the body. The gut microbiota has been recently implicated in sports performance by improving muscle function through the supply of certain metabolites. In this line, skeletal muscle can also serve as a reservoir of nitrate. Here we review the bacteria of the oral cavity involved in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and the possible changes induced by nitrite and their effect on gastrointestinal balance and gut microbiota homeostasis. The potential role of gut bacteria in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite and as a supplier of the signaling molecule nitric oxide to the blood circulation and muscles has not been explored in any great detail.

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TMJ Dysfunction and Systemic Correlation

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology ◽

10.3390/jfmk5010020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 20 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Luca Fiorillo ◽

Giuseppe Musumeci

Keyword(s):

The Body ◽

Mixed Dentition ◽

Dental Occlusion ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Muscular System ◽

Medical Field ◽

Starting Point ◽

A Site ◽

The Relationship ◽

Different Levels

In recent years it has been conclusively shown how the position of the mouth in relation to the body affects the way of walking and standing. In particular, occlusion, the relationship between skull and jaw, swallowing and convergence of the eyes are in neuro-muscular relationship with the control and maintenance system of posture, integrating at different levels. This manuscript aims to be a summary of all the oral, occlusal and articular dysfunctions of TMJ with systemic and postural–muscular repercussions. Recent articles found in the literature that are taken into consideration and briefly analyzed represent an important starting point for these correlations, which are still unclear in the medical field. Posturology, occlusal and oral influences on posture, spine and muscular system are still much debated today. In the literature, there are articles concerning sports performance and dental occlusion or even the postural characteristics of adolescents or children in deciduous and mixed dentition. The temporomandibular joint, as the only joint of the skull, could therefore represent a site to pay particular attention to, and in some cases an ATM dysfunction could be a clue for the diagnosis of systemic pathologies, or it could be the repercussion.

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Peculiarities of Investigated Characteristics of Lithuanian Pistol and Rifle Shooters’ Training and Sport Performance

Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences ◽

10.33607/bjshs.v2i73.433 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (73) ◽

Author(s):

Vaida Gulbinskienė ◽

Antanas Skarbalius

Keyword(s):

Training Programme ◽

Sport Performance ◽

The Body ◽

Body Sway ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Static Posturography ◽

Mental Fitness ◽

The Difference ◽

Posture Stability ◽

And Training

The purpose was to identify the peculiarities of selected training and sport performance characteristics: 1. Training strategies, 2. the body sway and 3. mental fitness. Methods: we analysed the sport performance and training characteristics and applied interviews with elite and Lithuanian shooters. The body sway was studied applying the method of static posturography. The subjects were standing in four postures. Mental fitness of the shooters was evaluated 30 min before the start using CSAI–2 methodology and adapted SCAT methodology. The shooters were divided into two groups according to their sports performance: the high and the moderate mastery groups. Statistical analyses was made applying the SPSS 11.0 statistical package. Results: 1. The Lithuanian women pistol shooters’ mean age of the first three place winners corresponded to that of the elite athletes, however the sports results (p < 0.001) were significantly lower. We indicated the following reasons: they trained less than the elite shooters, their specific training was inappropriate (p < 0.001), their mental fitness and competition experience were inappropriate (p < 0.001). 2. The trajectory of the COP in a specific posture (legs at shoulder length, arms down; posture without the pistol; posture with the pistol) was significantly (p < 0.05) different (Fig. 1, Masalskytė et al., 2002) between high and moderate mastery shooters but not in general posture (folded legs and arms down). The results suggested developing shooters’ posture from the very beginning of training. 3. The Lithuanian shooters’ level of anxiety before the starts showed the importance of the duration of exercise and competition experience because the difference between their indices and those of elite shooters was significantly less (p < 0.001). Conclusions: On the basis of sport performance as a multidimensional construct which requires to select the main factors of athlete trainability we conclude that Lithuanian pistol and rifle shooters need a training programme that improves posture stability; they should increase their international competitive experience and have to monitor sport fitness in order to manage psychological stress, and model a further training programme. Social conditions might be the main problem of the Lithuanian shooters to terminate their sport career too early.Keywords: pistol, rifle, shooters’ training, sport performance.

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Models and Interaction of Intensive Training and Sport Performance of 14–15-Year-Old Athletes in Rhythmic Gymnastics

Baltic Journal of Sport and Health Sciences ◽

10.33607/bjshs.v4i87.258 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (87) ◽

Author(s):

Renata Rutkauskaitė ◽

Antanas Skarbalius

Keyword(s):

Training Program ◽

Training Programs ◽

Sport Performance ◽

The Body ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Intensive Training ◽

Explosive Strength ◽

Rhythmic Gymnastics ◽

The Impact ◽

Competitive Activities

Research background and hypothesis. The efficacy of athlete’s sport performance depends on the targeted training in certain periods, organization, management, individual adaptation of an athlete to the loads of training and competitions. Research aim of this work was to determine the impact of intensive training on sport performance of 14–15 year old athletes in rhythmic gymnastics and their optimization. Research methods. The experiment resulted in modeling two different training programs and establishing the structure of the content of the training programs, as well as athletes’ sports performance. The training loads protocols registered the time for choreography, element mastering, competitive routines and athletic training in each training session. The efficacy of the training programs was established registering the realization of competitive activities under competitive conditions according to the number of points received by the gymnast of each training program and according to the place won. When we tried to establish if the training sessions and competitive loads matched the specificity of competitive activities, we registered the changes in the athletes’ heart rate during different training sessions.Research results. Training of athletes in two training programs was different – their training loads were not significantly different – from 672 to 697 hours a year, as well as the indices of the training days – from 5.4 to 5.6 days a week, but the training content differed significantly. In most effective training program choreographic training dominated (30.9%). Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the indices of explosive strength and muscular power, specific endurance and coordination movement abilities. At the beginning of the season and at the end of it the realization of the body movement technique performing routines with different tools was not different (p > 0.05). Discussion and conclusion. Sports performance of 14–15-year-old athletes in rhythmic gymnastics was mostly influenced by the time for mastering competitive routines (r = 0.836); however, the research did not establish differences in intensifying training. Besides the importance of integral athletic fitness, explosive strength, and strength endurance, the research established the significance of aerobic fitness (r = 0.704) for sports performance. Moreover, the significance of body composition indices increased in comparison with previous training years: body height (r = –0.819), body weight (r = –0.657), and BMI (r = –0.836).Keywords: rhythmic gymnastics, training, performance, metamodel.

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Příjem tekutin během vytrvalostního zatížení – pít podle pocitu žízně, ano nebo ne?

Studia sportiva ◽

10.5817/sts2018-2-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 70-78

Author(s):

Michal Kumstát

Keyword(s):

Fluid Intake ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Contemporary Literature ◽

Theoretical Work ◽

Exercise Duration ◽

The Body ◽

Endurance Athletes ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Hot Environments

In case of insufficient fluid intake, excessive water loss from the body by sweating or a combinationof both factors results in dehydration in athletes. Individually controlled fluid intake during exercisebased on the knowledge of sweating rate is an optimal strategy that allows athletes to control theextent of dehydration and minimises the negative impact on sports performance. However, currentrecommendations are criticised by contemporary literature due to the overestimation of the undesirableeffects of dehydration on sports performance. The “benevolent” strategy of fluid intake duringan exercise, regulated by the dictate of thirst, is being re-evaluated with evidence-based support inthe available scientific literature. The theoretical work aims to critically discuss two contrasting strategiesof fluid intake during endurance exercise, their impact on the progression of dehydration and onathlete’s performance. Recent publications on the topic of autonomous and prescribed fluid intake inthe sport were the background for the discussion. Based on the current literature, autonomous drinkingbehaviour is recommended to majority of athletes participating in an exercise with a duration of< 90 min as it sufficiently prevents from overdrinking. Prescribed drinking regime should be adoptedby endurance athletes in hot environments (> 30 °C) when exercise duration exceeds 90 min and by anelite athlete during daily multiple-session training.

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Conceptual Scheme of Motor Asymmetry Control in Aerobic Cyclic Sports

Journal of Siberian Federal University Humanities & Social Sciences ◽

10.17516/1997-1370-0713 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 214-225

Author(s):

Svetlana S. Khudik ◽

Aleksandr I. Chikurov ◽

Andrey D. Burmistrov ◽

Aleksandr L. Voinich

Keyword(s):

Physical Exertion ◽

The Body ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Motor Asymmetry ◽

Conceptual Scheme ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Training Process ◽

Genetic Characteristics ◽

Motor Actions ◽

Lateral Phenotype

In this article, based on well-known literary data, the motor asymmetry of a person in the training process of aerobic cyclic sports is considered. The authors have analyzed the features of manifestation and consequences of the formation of motor asymmetry, and assessed its impact on sports performance. Motor asymmetry has been found to be based on the genetic characteristics of the organism, but the lateral phenotype may change during a multi-year training process under the influence of physical exertion. Excessive asymmetry has been shown to cause various pathologies and injuries. The results of the study indicate that in aerobic cyclic sports motor asymmetry can be both a factor contributing to the growth of sports performance and a limiting one, depending on what function this or that part of the body performs. Despite the repetitive cycle of motor actions, typical for cyclic sports, only in 3 out of the 8 considered functions performed by limbs or a certain part of the body, motor asymmetry was a limiting factor. This allowed the authors to predict a possible conceptual scheme of motor asymmetry control in aerobic cyclic sports

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Design for the Future: Creating a Champion

10.26686/wgtn.17134406.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Mendel Moos

Keyword(s):

The Body ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Design Development ◽

Emotional Perception ◽

Performance Quality ◽

Research Through Design ◽

The Future ◽

3D Printed ◽

And Performance

<p>The goal of sports protective wear is to maintain safety and reduce the risk of injury, especially in areas of the body most vulnerable during contact. Furthermore, playing an essential role in preserving the longevity and performance quality of athletes. This thesis proposes that the security provided by protective sports performance can also effectively contribute to the confidence and motivation to perform. Thus ‘Creating a Champion’ is an exploration into what performance and protection could look like in the future, employing contemporary technologies creatively, for a speculative design outcome. Employing 3d scanning, 3d modelling and 3d printing, an effective design approach was developed responding to the design challenge in a practical and appropriate manner. Furthermore, the 3d printed concepts served as a protector as well as a sports performance enhancing stimulator. With the application of research through design playing a fundamental role in the design development of the resolved model, the 3d printed skin was evaluated and reflected upon. The thesis was concluded with the 3d printed skin performing in new and novel ways. While, providing compelling functionality, and an ergonomic fit to the body the skin was provocative and visually compelling.With minor alterations, the composed design may become a product relevant in the future of 3d printed sports protective wear. Where protection is a visual and an emotional perception.</p>

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El autoconcepto físico en adolescentes sevillanos en función del sexo y de la evolución de la carrera deportivo (Physical self-concept in adolescents from Seville in relation with gender and the evolution of sport career)

Retos ◽

10.47197/retos.v0i19.34635 ◽

2015 ◽

pp. 38-42

Author(s):

Francis Ries

Keyword(s):

Career Development ◽

Physical Attractiveness ◽

The Body ◽

Self Concept ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Las Mujeres ◽

One Year ◽

Physical Changes ◽

Physical Capacities

El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido examinar las capacidades físicas y el atractivo físico en deportistas de Sevilla y si estas percepciones varían en función del sexo y de la evolución de la carrera deportiva. 90 adolescentes de 12 a 18 años (50 chicas y 40 chicos) completaron una adaptación al castellano del Physical Self Description Questionnaire (Marsh, Richards, Johnson, Roche y Tremaye, 1994; Tomás, 1998) así como una escala para recoger el atractivo físico percibido (Alfermann, Saborowski y Würth, 1997). Los resultados muestran que los varones tienen un autoconcepto físico más positivo que las mujeres. No se encontró ninguna relación de las variables con el nivel de rendimiento deportivo. La encuesta de seguimiento, un año más tarde, señala un aumento en algunos subdominios del autoconcepto en función de una evolución positiva de la carrera deportiva. En este estudio los cambios físicos relacionados con la maduración en la adolescencia parecen no tener tanta influencia en la percepción del propio cuerpo como se han reportado en otros trabajos. Palabra clave: autoconcepto físico, deportistas, carrera deportiva, adolescencia.Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the physical capacities and the physical attractiveness of Seville adolescent athletes and whether these perceptions vary by gender and sport career development. 90 adolescents from 12 to 18 years (50 girls and 40 boys) completed a Spanish adaptation of the Physical Self Description Questionnaire (Marsh, Richards, Johnson, Roche y Tremaye, 1994; Tomás, 1998) and a scale to collect physical attractiveness perceived (Alfermann, Saborowski y Würth, 1997). The results show that males have a more positive physical self-concept than females. There were no relationships of the variables with the level of sports performance. The follow-up survey, one year later, noted an increase in some subdomains of self-concept in terms of positive developments in the sport career. In this study the physical changes associated with maturation in adolescence seem to have fewer influences on the perception of the body as it has been reported in other studies.Key words: physical self-concept, athletes, sport career, adolescence.

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Positive body image among Polish elite athletes

Baltic Journal of Health and Physical Activity ◽

10.29359/bjhpa.2021.suppl.1.02 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol Supplement 1 (13) ◽

pp. 9-17

Author(s):

ALEKSANDRA BUDZISZ ◽

KRZYSZTOF SAS-NOWOSIELSKI

Keyword(s):

Body Image ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

The Body ◽

Sports Performance ◽

Body Appreciation ◽

Sport Training ◽

Common Category ◽

Training Frequency ◽

Sport Type ◽

Water Sports

Background: This study aimed to analyze factors differentiating body appreciation among Polish elite athletes. Material and Methods: Participants were athletes, both men and women (N=408), who completed questionnaire BAS-2. Results: In general, men had a better perception of their body than women (p<0.01). Higher appreciation of the body was visible among women sprinters, opposite to volleyball players (p <0.03). Indirect competition for women was connected to higher body appreciation (p<0.05). Gender and individual/team sport also significantly differentiated appreciation of the body (p<0.02). Furthermore, training frequency in a week differentiated body appreciation (p<0.03), as well as characteristic of sports performance [indoor sports, and higher in water sports (p<0.02)]. Conclusions: Results suggest that not only the common category of the sport type – aesthetic, technical, strength – differentiates the body image. Equally important for differences in body appreciation is also gender, sport discipline, and background of sport training: frequency per week, the character of competition (direct-indirect), individual/non-individual competition, or characteristic of sports performance.

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