Retrospective Analysis of Training Intensity Distribution Based on Race Pace Versus Physiological Benchmarks in Highly Trained Sprint Kayakers

Abstract Background Research results on the training intensity distribution (TID) in endurance athletes are equivocal. This non-uniformity appears to be partially founded in the different quantification methods that are implemented. So far, TID research has solely focused on sports involving the lower-body muscles as prime movers (e.g. running). Sprint kayaking imposes high demands on the upper-body endurance capacity of the athlete. As there are structural and physiological differences between upper- and lower-body musculature, TID in kayaking should be different to lower-body dominant sports. Therefore, we aimed to compare the training intensity distribution during an 8-wk macrocycle in a group of highly trained sprint kayakers employing three different methods of training intensity quantification. Methods Heart rate (HR) and velocity during on-water training of nine highly trained German sprint kayakers were recorded during the final 8 weeks of a competition period leading to the national championships. The fractional analysis of TID was based on three zones (Z) derived from either HR (TIDBla-HR) or velocity (TIDBla-V) based on blood lactate (Bla) concentrations (Z1 ≤ 2.5 mmol L−1 Bla, Z2 = 2.5–4.0 mmol L−1 Bla, Z3 ≥ 4.0 mmol L−1 Bla) of an incremental test or the 1000-m race pace (TIDRace): Z1 ≤ 85% of race pace, Z2 = 86–95% and Z3 ≥ 95%. Results TIDBla-V (Z1: 68%, Z2: 14%, Z3: 18%) differed from TIDBla-HR (Z1: 91%, Z2: 6%, Z3: 3%) in each zone (all p < 0.01). TIDRace (Z1: 73%, Z2: 20%, Z3: 7%) differed to Z3 in TIDBla-V (p < 0.01) and all three TIDBla-HR zones (all p < 0.01). Individual analysis revealed ranges of Z1, Z2, Z3 fractions for TIDBla-HR of 85–98%, 2–11% and 0.1–6%. For TIDBla-V, the individual ranges were 41–82% (Z1), 6–30% (Z2) and 8–30% (Z3) and for TIDRace 64–81% (Z1), 14–29% (Z2) and 4–10% (Z3). Conclusion The results show that the method of training intensity quantification substantially affects the fraction of TID in well-trained sprint kayakers. TIDRace determination shows low interindividual variation compared to the physiologically based TIDBla-HR and TIDBla-V. Depending on the aim of the analysis TIDRace, TIDBla-HR and TIDBla-V have advantages as well as drawbacks and may be implemented in conjunction to maximize adaptation.

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Upper- vs. Lower-Body Exercise Performance in Female and Male Cross-Country Skiers

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living ◽

10.3389/fspor.2021.762794 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Linda Marie Hansen ◽

Øyvind Sandbakk ◽

Gertjan Ettema ◽

Julia Kathrin Baumgart

Keyword(s):

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Physiological Responses ◽

Peak Oxygen Uptake ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Upper Body ◽

Endurance Capacity ◽

Lower Body ◽

Exercise Modality ◽

Cross Country

Purpose: To investigate the interaction between exercise modality (i.e., upper- and lower-body exercise) and sex in physiological responses and power output (PO) across the entire intensity spectrum (i.e., from low to maximal intensity).Methods: Ten male and 10 female cross-country (XC) skiers performed a stepwise incremental test to exhaustion consisting of 5 min stages with increasing workload employing upper-body poling (UP) and running (RUN) on two separate days. Mixed measures ANOVA were performed to investigate the interactions between exercise modalities (i.e., UP and RUN) and sex in physiological responses and PO across the entire exercise intensity spectrum.Results: The difference between UP and RUN (ΔUP−RUN), was not different in the female compared with the male XC skiers for peak oxygen uptake (18 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 6 mL·kg−1·min−1, p = 0.843) and peak PO (84 ± 18 vs. 91 ± 22 W, p = 0.207). At most given blood lactate and rating of perceived exertion values, ΔUP−RUN was larger in the male compared with the female skiers for oxygen uptake and PO, but these differences disappeared when the responses were expressed as % of the modality-specific peak.Conclusion: Modality-differences (i.e., ΔUP−RUN) in peak physiological responses and PO did not differ between the female and male XC skiers. This indicates that increased focus on upper-body strength and endurance training in female skiers in recent years may have closed the gap between upper- and lower-body endurance capacity compared with male XC skiers. In addition, no sex-related considerations need to be made when using relative physiological responses for intensity regulation within a specific exercise modality.

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The Training Characteristics of Recreational-Level Triathletes: Influence on Fatigue and Health

Sports ◽

10.3390/sports9070094 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (7) ◽

pp. 94

Author(s):

João Henrique Falk Neto ◽

Eric C. Parent ◽

Veronica Vleck ◽

Michael D. Kennedy

Keyword(s):

Intensity Distribution ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Rating Of Perceived Exertion ◽

Recovery Stress ◽

Health Questionnaire ◽

Training Intensity ◽

Recreational Athletes ◽

Competition Period ◽

Daily Training ◽

Distress Scale

Little is known about how recreational triathletes prepare for an Olympic distance event. The aim of this study was to identify the training characteristics of recreational-level triathletes within the competition period and assess how their preparation for a triathlon influences their health and their levels of fatigue. During the 6 weeks prior to, and the 2 weeks after, an Olympic distance triathlon, nine recreational athletes (five males, four females) completed a daily training log. Participants answered the Daily Analysis of Life Demands Questionnaire (DALDA), the Training Distress Scale (TDS) and the Alberta Swim Fatigue and Health Questionnaire weekly. The Recovery-Stress Questionnaire (REST-Q) was completed at the beginning of the study, on the day before the competition, and at the end of week 8. Training loads were calculated using session-based rating of perceived exertion (sRPE). The data from every week of training was compared to week 1 to determine how athletes’ training and health changed throughout the study. No changes in training loads, duration or training intensity distribution were seen in the weeks leading up to the competition. Training duration was significantly reduced in week 6 (p = 0.041, d = 1.58, 95% CI = 6.9, 421.9), while the number of sessions was reduced in week 6 (Z = 2.32, p = 0.02, ES = 0.88) and week 7 (Z = 2.31, p = 0.02, ES = 0.87). Training was characterized by large weekly variations in training loads and a high training intensity. No significant changes were seen in the DALDA, TDS or REST-Q questionnaire scores throughout the 8 weeks. Despite large spikes in training load and a high overall training intensity, these recreational-level triathletes were able to maintain their health in the 6 weeks of training prior to an Olympic distance triathlon.

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Fat Distribution in Women Is Associated With Depot-Specific Transcriptomic Signatures and Chromatin Structure

Journal of the Endocrine Society ◽

10.1210/jendso/bvaa042 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Adeline Divoux ◽

Katalin Sandor ◽

Dora Bojcsuk ◽

Fanchao Yi ◽

Meghan E Hopf ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Body Fat ◽

Body Shape ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Transcriptional Start Site ◽

Premenopausal Women ◽

Interindividual Variation ◽

Upper Body ◽

Open Chromatin ◽

Lower Body

Abstract Background Preferential accumulation of fat in the upper body (apple shape) is associated with higher risk of developing metabolic syndrome relative to lower body fat (pear shape). We previously discovered that chromatin openness partially defined the transcriptome of preadipocytes isolated from abdominal and gluteofemoral fat. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying interindividual variation in body shape are unknown. Methods Adipocyte fraction was isolated from abdominal and gluteofemoral fat biopsies of premenopausal women (age and body mass index matched) segregated initially only by their waist-to-hip ratio. We evaluated transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility using RNA sequencing and assay for transposase-accessible chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) along with key clinical parameters. Results Our data showed that higher lower body fat mass was associated with better lipid profile and free fatty acid decrease after glucose administration. Lipid and glucose metabolic pathways genes were expressed at higher levels in gluteofemoral adipocyte fraction in pears, whereas genes associated with inflammation were higher both in abdominal and gluteofemoral apple adipocyte fraction. Gluteofemoral adipocyte chromatin from pear-shaped women contained a significantly higher number of differentially open ATAC-seq peaks relative to chromatin from the apple-shaped gluteofemoral adipocytes. In contrast, abdominal adipocyte chromatin openness showed few differences between apple- and pear-shaped women. We revealed a correlation between gene transcription and open chromatin at the proximity of the transcriptional start site of some of the differentially expressed genes. Conclusions Integration of data from all 3 approaches suggests that chromatin openness partially governs the transcriptome of gluteofemoral adipocytes and may be involved in the early metabolic syndrome predisposition associated with body shape.

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Central aortic hemodynamics following acute lower and upper-body exercise in a cold environment among patients with coronary artery disease

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82155-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Heidi E. Hintsala ◽

Rasmus I. P. Valtonen ◽

Antti Kiviniemi ◽

Craig Crandall ◽

Juha Perkiömäki ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Dynamic Exercise ◽

Upper Body ◽

Cold Environment ◽

Lower Body ◽

Static Exercise ◽

Upper Body Exercise ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Artery Disease

AbstractExercise is beneficial to cardiovascular health, evidenced by reduced post-exercise central aortic blood pressure (BP) and wave reflection. We assessed if post-exercise central hemodynamics are modified due to an altered thermal state related to exercise in the cold in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD patients (n = 11) performed moderate-intensity lower-body exercise (walking at 65–70% of HRmax) and rested in neutral (+ 22 °C) and cold (− 15 °C) conditions. In another protocol, CAD patients (n = 15) performed static (five 1.5 min work cycles, 10–30% of maximal voluntary contraction) and dynamic (three 5 min workloads, 56–80% of HRmax) upper-body exercise at the same temperatures. Both datasets consisted of four 30-min exposures administered in random order. Central aortic BP and augmentation index (AI) were noninvasively assessed via pulse wave analyses prior to and 25 min after these interventions. Lower-body dynamic exercise decreased post-exercise central systolic BP (6–10 mmHg, p < 0.001) and AI (1–6%, p < 0.001) both after cold and neutral and conditions. Dynamic upper-body exercise lowered central systolic BP (2–4 mmHg, p < 0.001) after exposure to both temperatures. In contrast, static upper-body exercise increased central systolic BP after exposure to cold (7 ± 6 mmHg, p < 0.001). Acute dynamic lower and upper-body exercise mainly lowers post-exercise central BP in CAD patients irrespective of the environmental temperature. In contrast, central systolic BP was elevated after static exercise in cold. CAD patients likely benefit from year-round dynamic exercise, but hemodynamic responses following static exercise in a cold environment should be examined further.Clinical trials.gov: NCT02855905 04/08/2016.

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Upper Body Aerobic Exercise as a Possible Predictor of Lower Body Performance

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance ◽

10.3357/amhp.4181.2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 86 (7) ◽

pp. 599-605 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Carl J. Ade ◽

Ryan M. Broxterman ◽

Jesse C. Craig ◽

Susanna J. Schlup ◽

Samuel L. Wilcox ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Upper Body ◽

Lower Body

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Effects of the lower jaw position on athletic performance of elite athletes

BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine ◽

10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000886 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. e000886

Author(s):

John Patrick Haughey ◽

Peter Fine

Keyword(s):

Athletic Performance ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Elite Athletes ◽

Upper Body ◽

Lower Body ◽

Lower Jaw ◽

Hamstring Flexibility ◽

Jaw Position ◽

Upper Body Power ◽

Lower Body Power

When an athlete wears a mouthguard, the position of the lower jaw is changed by virtue of the teeth being unable to occlude. Little research is available in in this area, which have indicated both positive impact and no positive impact.ObjectivesThis study aims to explore the influence of the lower jaw position on athletic performance in elite athletes.MethodsA repeated measures study compared two lower jaw positions, the athlete’s normal (habitual) bite and the lower jaw position when the muscles of mastication are at physiological rest (physiological rest bite). 15 athletes completed a medicine ball putt (upper body power), vertical jump (lower body power), sit and reach (composite hamstring flexibility), passive knee flexion (hamstring muscle length) and star excursion balance (stability and balance) tests in each condition.ResultsPaired t-tests showed the physiological rest bite had significant (p<0.05) positive effect on athletic performance for each test. On average the physiological rest bite provided an increase of lower body power (5.8%), upper body power (10%), hamstring flexibility (14%) and balance and stability (4.8%) compared to the habitual bite.ConclusionThis study provides evidence of the need for further research to confirm if the lower jaw position can be optimised for athletic performance in athletes.

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Analysis of Power Output Time Series in Response to Supramaximal Exercise: An Approach Through Dynamic Factor Analysis

Pediatric Exercise Science ◽

10.1123/pes.23.1.3 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 3-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Paula Marta Bruno ◽

Fernando Duarte Pereira ◽

Renato Fernandes ◽

Gonçalo Vilhena de Mendonça

Keyword(s):

Factor Analysis ◽

Power Output ◽

Soccer Players ◽

Upper Body ◽

Dynamic Factor Analysis ◽

Dynamic Factor ◽

Lower Body ◽

Supramaximal Exercise ◽

Output Time ◽

Pattern Of Variation

The responses to supramaximal exercise testing have been traditionally analyzed by means of standard parametric and nonparametric statistics. Unfortunately, these statistical approaches do not allow insight into the pattern of variation of a given parameter over time. The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of dynamic factor analysis (DFA) allowed discriminating different patterns of power output (PO), during supramaximal exercise, in two groups of children engaged in competitive sports: swimmers and soccer players. Data derived from Wingate testing were used in this study. Analyses were performed on epochs (30 s) of upper and lower body PO obtained from twenty two healthy boys (11 swimmers and 11 soccer players) age 11–12 years old. DFA revealed two distinct patterns of PO during Wingate. Swimmers tended to attain their peak PO (upper and lower body) earlier than soccer players. As importantly, DFA showed that children with a given pattern of upper body PO tend to perform similarly during lower body exercise.

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