scholarly journals The Importance of Biological Maturation and Years of Practice in Kayaking Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (16) ◽  
pp. 8322
Author(s):  
Rui António Fernandes ◽  
Daniel López-Plaza ◽  
Lorena Correas-Gómez ◽  
Beatriz Branquinho Gomes ◽  
Fernando Alacid
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Adult Height ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Sitting Height ◽  
Biological Maturation ◽  
Specific Practice ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Times

Previous canoe sprint studies evaluated the best paddlers of their categories. This investigation aimed to identify the importance of biological maturation and athletes’ experience in kayaking performance and observe possible differences regarding anthropometry, years of practice, and performance. Eighty under 14 years of age (U14) and fifty under 16 years of age (U16) kayakers aged 13.40 ± 0.54 and 15.25 ± 0.61 years were evaluated. Kayakers were assessed for anthropometry (body mass (kg); stretch stature (cm); and sitting height (cm)), performance (time at 3000 m for U14 and 5000 m for U16 kayakers), and somatic maturation (predicted adult height (PAH) and maturity offset). In the U14 kayakers, years of practice, sitting height, and maturity offset showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between the Top10 and Middle, and Middle and Bottom10 performance times. Significantly higher (p < 0.05) sitting heights were identified between the Top10 and Middle U16 kayakers. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed for maturity offset and PAH% between the Top10 and Middle groups compared to the Bottom10 group. In conclusion, this research shows differences in the maturity status of young U14 and U16 kayakers, identifying that the more biologically mature individuals, with more years of specific practice, achieved better performances.

THE VALUE OF TREADMILL EXERCISE TEST PARAMETERS TO PREDICT THE MARATHON PERFORMANCE OF YOUNG AND MIDDLE-AGED RECREATIONAL ATHLETES IN CHINA

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (08) ◽  
pp. 2050057
Author(s):  
SONG-CUI SHEN ◽  
YING-JIA XU ◽  
WEN-XIA FU ◽  
YAN-JIE LI ◽  
JING-JUAN HUANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Exercise Test ◽  
Treadmill Exercise ◽  
Treadmill Exercise Test ◽  
Exercise Time ◽  
Recreational Athletes ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Total Exercise Time ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Times ◽  
Marathon Performance

Objectives: This study will evaluate the results of parameters measured during a treadmill exercise test to predict marathon performances. Methods: We studied 171 Chinese recreational athletes who participated in marathons or half-marathons (42.2[Formula: see text]k or 21.1[Formula: see text]k, respectively) between October 2016 and December 2017. The participants completed a survey that included questions about demographics and training, and they underwent a treadmill exercise test according to the Bruce protocol. The number of years in training, mean weekly hours of training, mean weekly training volume, and performance time in subsequent marathon events were recorded and analyzed in this study. Results: The total exercise times achieved on the treadmill test were significantly longer for men compared to women ([Formula: see text]). The performance times in the half-marathons were significantly shorter for men compared to women ([Formula: see text]). Training volume was the only independent predictor of total exercise time on the treadmill and performance time in marathons and half-marathons (all [Formula: see text]). The value of the total exercise time on the treadmill to predict performance times in half-marathons ([Formula: see text]) was superior to full marathons ([Formula: see text]) and significantly better in study subjects aged 30–39 years ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) and 40–49 years ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) compared to study subjects aged 20–29 years and 50–59 years. The percentage of decrease in the maximal heart rate (MHR) at the end of one minute of recovery time was negatively correlated with performance times in marathons. Conclusions: The total exercise time achieved during an exhaustive treadmill exercise test and percentage of decrease in the MHR at the end of one minute of recovery time are accessible parameters that can help athletes manage their expectations and adjust their training plans. A large study that includes additional countries is needed to confirm the value of treadmill exercise test results for predicting marathon performance.

scholarly journals BIOLOGICAL MATURATION AND MUSCULAR STRENGTH: MEDIATION ANALYSIS IN PREPUBESCENT GIRLS

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 192-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz ◽  
Tatiana Durão D`Ávila Luz ◽  
João Valente-dos-Santos ◽  
João Pedro Duarte ◽  
André Filipe Teixeira e Seabra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Mediation Analysis ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Handgrip Strength ◽  
Biological Maturation ◽  
Strength Tests ◽  
Physical Tests ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Medicine Ball

ABSTRACT Introduction: Biological maturation has been related to the level of physical activity and motor competence of children. Objectives: This study aimed to: 1) analyze the association between biological maturation and performance in muscular strength tests and 2) examine whether the relationship between maturation and performance in physical tests is mediated by anthropometric variables. Method: The sample was composed of 71 eight-year-old Brazilian girls. Anthropometry considered stature, body mass, waist circumference, estimated fat mass and fat-free mass. Biological maturation was assessed based on the percentage of predicted adult stature. The physical tests consisted of 2-kg medicine ball throw, handgrip strength, sit-ups and standing long jump. Pearson’s correlation test was conducted between the study variables and the last stage consisted of a causal mediation analysis. Results: Biological maturation was significantly associated with the 2-kg medicine ball throw (r=0.52) and handgrip strength (r=0.42) tests. In the 2-kg medicine ball throw, the relationship with maturation was mediated by body mass (total mediation, Sobel’s Test = 2.214, p<0.05) and by estimated lean mass (total mediation; Sobel’s Test = 3.146, p<0.001). In the handgrip strength test, body mass was the only mediating variable (total mediation; Sobel’s Test = 2.251, p<0.05). Conclusions: Advanced maturational status appears to contribute to the performance of prepubescent girls in muscular strength tests in which there is no translocation of total or partial body mass. It is recommended that studies be conducted in other age groups. Level of Evidence III; Study of nonconsecutive patients; without consistently applied reference ‘‘gold’’ standard.

The Influence of Upper-Body Strength on Flat-Water Sprint Kayak Performance in Elite Athletes

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 707-714 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. McKean ◽  
Brendan J. Burkett
Keyword(s):  
Bench Press ◽  
Elite Athletes ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Dry Land ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Body Strength ◽  
Upper Body Strength ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Times ◽  
The Relationship

Dry-land strength training is a fundamental component for elite kayak performance. The aims of this research were 3-fold: 1st, to determine the relationship between performance time and strength scores for elite kayakers; 2nd, to identify how strength changes (gains or losses) over 3 training y relate with changes in performance time for elite kayakers; and 3rd, to compare the progression in performance times for elite athletes with the top 3 performers from the national championships. The performance data for 15 elite male and 10 elite female kayakers were collected over 2 y. This group was reduced to 9 men and 8 women in the 3rd and final year. There were direct and significant correlations between strength scores and performance times across the 3 y. Bench-press 1RM increased by 34.8% for men and 42.3% for women. Over the 3 seasons, mean 1000-m time decreased by approximately 4.8%, 500-m times decreased by 7.3% (women), and 200-m times decreased by 9.1%. The women’s 500-m changed from 11.9% difference from medalists to within 1.1% during the 3 y. During the 3 y of this study a change in 1-repetitionmaximum (1RM) bench press of 13% for men and 6.5% in women coincided with a change in performance times of 1%. For 1RM pull-up a change of 10% in men and 2.3% in women coincided with a change in performance times of 1%.

scholarly journals Maturity timing and performance in a youth national basketball team: Do early-maturing players dominate?

2020 ◽  
pp. 174795412098071
Author(s):  
Jorge Arede ◽  
John Fernandes ◽  
Jason Moran ◽  
Jonty Norris ◽  
Nuno Leite
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Full Potential ◽  
Functional Skills ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
National Team ◽  
Training Camp ◽  
Sitting Height ◽  
Early Maturing ◽  
And Performance

The aims of this study were to examine the influence of maturity timing on functional skills and game-related statistics amongst under-16 (U16) national team basketball players, and analyse which of these parameters were related to onward selection to the under-18 (U18) national team. Thirty-six U16 basketball players underwent anthropometric and overhead squat assessments during a national team training camp. Also, maturity offset (MO) was computed alongside game-related statistics during the U16 National Championship and U16 European Championship competitions. For the statistical analysis of all parameters, subjects were identified according to their maturity timing (early vs average). Sitting height, height, body mass, points scored and assists during U16 National Championship discriminated between early- and average-maturing players. Early-maturing players played significantly fewer minutes during the European Championship compared with the National Championship whilst average-maturing players scored significantly more points and performed more assists during the National Championship. Minutes played during the European Championship, and points scored during National and European Championships discriminated ‘selected’ from ‘non-selected’ players for the U18 National Team. These results encourage coaches to acknowledge the value in allowing later-maturing players the time to develop with a view to realising their full potential.

Performance Determinants in Short (68 km) and Long (121 km) Mountain Ultra-Marathon Races

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (02) ◽  
pp. 79-83
Author(s):  
Hannes Gatterer ◽  
Simon Rauch ◽  
Emily Procter ◽  
Giacomo Strapazzon ◽  
Kai Schenk
Keyword(s):  
Maximal Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Fitness Parameters ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Performance Determinants ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Times ◽  
Completion Times ◽  
Marathon Performance

Abstract Background Standard performance parameters measured during a laboratory test have been shown to be related to mountain ultra-marathon performance up to a competition length of 75 km. It is not known if a similar relationship exists for longer races. Objective This study aimed to investigate the association between laboratory-based performance parameters and performance times in a short (68 km) and a long (121 km) mountain ultra-marathon. Materials and Methods Eleven male finishers of the short race and seven male finishers of the long race were investigated. Participants performed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion in the 2 weeks prior to the event. During the event, the heart rate was monitored and finishing times were registered. Results The maximal oxygen consumption and the oxygen uptake at the ventilatory thresholds 1 and 2 were related to performance time during the short run (~12h; r = –0.764 up to r = –0.782; p < 0.05), but there was no correlation during the long race (~28h; r = –0.107 to 0.357; p > 0.05). Conclusions This study shows that physical fitness parameters established in a laboratory setting determine competition completion times in ultra-mountain marathon events lasting for ~12 h. During longer races, i. e. ~28 h, other factors not established in the present investigation, such as experience, race strategy, coping with pain and fatigue resistance, may be important for performance.

Acclimatization to dry heat: active men vs. active women

1982 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Horstman ◽  
E. Christensen
Keyword(s):  
Rectal Temperature ◽  
Sweat Rate ◽  
Plasma Osmolality ◽  
Heat Acclimatization ◽  
Plasma Protein Concentration ◽  
Dry Heat ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Performance Times

Physiological responses to exercise in dry heat were compared between six active men [maximum O2 consumption (VO2max), 51.4 +/- 1.2 ml . kg-1 . min-1] and four active women (VO2max, 47.2 +/- 1.3 ml . kg-1 . min-1) before, during, and after heat acclimatization. Subjects cycled a maximum of 2 h at 40% VO2max at 45 degrees C dry-bulb temperature, 23 degrees C wet-bulb temperature for 11 days. Prior to acclimatization there were no sexual differences for performance time, rate of increase of rectal temperature (delta Tre), or sweat rate per degree C increase of rectal temperature (msw/delta Tre). Sweat rate (msw) was greater for the men than for the women. Although there was no difference in the rate of increase of heart rate (delta HR), HR for the women was maintained 15–20 beats . min-1 higher than for the men. Acclimatization occurred for both sexes as indicated by reduced Tre and HR and increased msw and performance time. With acclimatization the women had longer performance times than the men. Even though the men still had greater msw, delta Tre was also greater; therefore msw/delta Tre for the men was less than for the women. Neither HR nor delta HR was different between the sexes. Throughout, resting hematocrit for the women was less than for the men; no changes in hematocrit were observed during exercise or with acclimatization. Plasma protein concentration increased during exercise on all days; no changes in plasma osmolality were observed. It is concluded that active women perform exercise of equal relative intensity in dry heat as well as active men. Moreover active women acclimatized to heat at a faster rate or to a greater extent than did active men.

No Effect of Caffeine Supplementation on Dribbling Speed in Elite Basketball Players

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 997-1000 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron T. Scanlan ◽  
Vincent J. Dalbo ◽  
Daniele Conte ◽  
Emilija Stojanović ◽  
Nenad Stojiljković ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Crossover Design ◽  
Basketball Players ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Sport Science ◽  
Performance Time ◽  
Small Effect Size ◽  
Performance Times

Purpose: To examine the effect of caffeine supplementation on dribbling speed in elite female and male basketball players. Methods: A double-blind, counterbalanced, randomized, crossover design was used. Elite basketball players (N = 21; 10 female, 11 male; age 18.3 [3.3] y) completed placebo (3 mg·kg−1 of body mass of dextrose) and caffeine (3 mg·kg−1 of body mass) trials 1 wk apart during the in-season phase. During each trial, players completed 20-m linear sprints with and without dribbling a basketball. Performance times were recorded at 5-, 10-, and 20-m splits. Dribbling speed was measured using traditional (total performance time) and novel (dribble deficit) methods. Dribble deficit isolates the added time taken to complete a task when dribbling compared with a nondribbling version of the same task. Comparisons between placebo and caffeine conditions were conducted at group and individual levels. Results: Nonsignificant (P > .05), trivial to small (effect size = 0.04–0.42) differences in dribbling speed were observed between conditions. The majority (20 out of 21) of players were classified as nonresponders to caffeine, with 1 player identified as a negative responder using dribble-deficit measures. Conclusions: Results indicate that caffeine offers no ergogenic benefit to dribbling speed in elite basketball players. The negative response to caffeine in 1 player indicates that caffeine supplementation may be detrimental to dribbling speed in specific cases and emphasizes the need for individualized analyses in nutrition-based sport-science research.

scholarly journals Anthropometric, Physiological and Performance Characteristics of Elite and Sub-elite Fencers

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charilaos Tsolakis ◽  
George Vagenas
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Body Height ◽  
Skinfold Thickness ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
National Team ◽  
Power Characteristics ◽  
Sitting Height ◽  
Systematic Training ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Mass Dependent

Anthropometric, Physiological and Performance Characteristics of Elite and Sub-elite FencersThe present study aimed at investigating the differences in selected anthropometric, strength-power parameters and functional characteristics of fencing performance between elite and sub-elite fencers. Thirty-three fencers (18 females and 15 males) from the Greek National Team, (age 19 ± 3.5 yr, body height 175.6 ± 7.6 cm, body mass 66.1 ± 9.1 kg, systematic training 8.4 ± 2.9 yr) were classified as elite and sub-elite, according to their international experience. Subjects underwent a detailed anthropometric assessment and performed selected leg power and fencing-specific tests. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in sitting height, triceps, subscapular, and quadriceps dominant skinfold thickness, absolute and body mass-dependent expressions of leg functional power characteristics of fencing performance: "time of lunge" and time of the "shuttle test". Anthropometric traits, such as height, body mass, percent fat and limb length were not different among elite and sub-elite fencers. Although technical and tactical factors are good indicators of fencing success, the observed differences in functional fencing performance tests among different levels of fencers are useful for the design of effective talent development and training-conditioning programs for competitive fencers.

scholarly journals Mediterranean Diet Adherence, Body Composition and Performance in Beach Handball Players: A Cross Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 2837
Author(s):  
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez ◽  
María Martínez-Olcina ◽  
María Hernández-García ◽  
Jacobo Á. Rubio-Arias ◽  
Javier Sánchez-Sánchez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Composition ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Lean Body Mass ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Individual Performance ◽  
Dominant Hand ◽  
Diet Adherence ◽  
Mediterranean Diet Adherence ◽  
And Performance

Background: Beach handball (BH) is a sport in which sporting performance is influenced, together with team interaction, by individual performance in terms of strength. Body composition is one of the main factors for sports performance and eating habits can condition this variable. The Mediterranean diet (MD) can significantly reduce the risk of mortality or cardiovascular disease. In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment carries out different campaigns to promote it among young athletes, establishing it as a suitable diet for sports. Objectives: The main aims of the study are to assess body composition, physical activity and adherence to the MD of beach handball players. It also aims to evaluate age group differences in male and female players, as well as studying the possible relationship between MD, body composition and performance variables. Methods: A total of 59 Spanish BH players were recruited in the national championship of BH in the province of Alicante. Thirty-eight male (14 junior; 17.0 ± 0.1 years and 24 seniors; 25.5 ± 4.7 years) and twenty-one female (7 junior; 16.1 ± 1.46 years and 14 seniors; 23.2 ± 2.0 years) BH players participated in this study. The questionnaire to evaluate eating habits was Mediterranean diet adherence (KIDMED). Body composition was measured with electrical bioimpedance. Strength was evaluated by means of a maximum isometric handgrip test of the dominant hand with handgrip and height of jump by counter-jump on contact platform. In the statistical analysis, descriptions and correlations between the study variables were made. Results: In females, when the adherence to the MD is lower, the weight is higher, the lean body mass is lower and worse results are observed in performance tests. As for males, there are differences in weight and lean body mass according to category. Conclusions: Adequate eating habits are related to the weight of beach handball athletes. In addition, specifically with junior players, it has been observed that adherence to the MD correlates with weight.

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