scholarly journals Nutritional Ergogenic Aids in Racquet Sports: A Systematic Review

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2842
Author(s):  
Néstor Vicente-Salar ◽  
Guillermo Santos-Sánchez ◽  
Enrique Roche

A nutritional ergogenic aid (NEA) can help athletes optimize performance, but an evidence-based analysis is required in order to support training outcomes or competition performance in specific events. Racquet sports players are regularly exposed to a high-intensity workload throughout the tournament season. The activity during a match is characterized by variable durations (2–4 h) of repeated high-intensity bouts interspersed with standardized rest periods. Medline/PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO were searched from their inception until February 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Two independent reviewers extracted data, after which they assessed the risk of bias and the quality of trials. Out of 439 articles found, 21 met the predefined criteria: tennis (15 trials), badminton (three trials), paddle (one trial), and squash (two trials). Among all the studied NEAs, acute dosages of caffeine (3–6 mg/kg) 30–60 min before a match have been proven to improve specific skills and accuracy but may not contribute to improve perceived exertion. Currently, creatine, sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate, beetroot juice, citrulline, and glycerol need more studies to strengthen the evidence regarding improved performance in racquet sports.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Jorge Marcos-Pardo ◽  
Francisco Javier Orquin-Castrillón ◽  
Gemma María Gea-García ◽  
Ruperto Menayo-Antúnez ◽  
Noelia González-Gálvez ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 977
Author(s):  
Arturo Casado ◽  
Raúl Domínguez ◽  
Sandro Fernandes da Silva ◽  
Stephen J. Bailey

Purpose: To assess the effect of acute nitrate-rich (BJ) and nitrate-depleted (PL) beetroot juice ingestion on 2 km running performance in amateur runners, and to what extent the ergogenic effect of BJ supplementation would be influenced by the sex of the participants; Methods: Twenty-four amateur long-distance runners (14 males and 10 females) performed a 2 km time trial (TT) on an outdoor athletics track 2.5 h after ingesting either 140 mL of BJ (~12.8 mmol NO3−) or PL. After the tests, blood [lactate] and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) related to the leg muscles (RPEmuscular), cardiovascular system (RPEcardio) and general overall RPE (RPEgeneral) were assessed; Results: Compared to PL, BJ supplementation improved 2 km TT performance in both males (p < 0.05) with no supplement × sex interaction effect (p > 0.05). This improvement in 2 km running performance was a function of improved performance in the second 1 km split time in both males and females (p < 0.05). Supplementation with BJ did not alter post-exercise blood [lactate] (p > 0.05) but lowered RPEgeneral (p < 0.05); Conclusions: acute BJ supplementation improves 2 km running performance in amateur runners by enhancing performance over the second half of the TT and lowering RPEgeneral by a comparable magnitude in males and females.


2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 1036-1042 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven H. Doeven ◽  
Michel S. Brink ◽  
Barbara C.H. Huijgen ◽  
Johan de Jong ◽  
Koen A.P.M. Lemmink

During rugby sevens tournaments, it is crucial to balance match load and recovery to strive for optimal performance. Purpose: To determine changes in well-being, recovery, and neuromuscular performance during and after an elite women’s rugby sevens tournament and assess the influence of match-load indicators. Methods: Twelve elite women rugby sevens players (age = 25.3 [4.1]y, height = 169.0 [4.0] cm, weight = 63.9 [4.9] kg, and body fat = 18.6% [2.7%]) performed 5 matches during a 2-d tournament of the Women’s Rugby Sevens World Series. Perceived well-being (fatigue, sleep quality, general muscle soreness, stress levels, and mood), total quality of recovery, and countermovement-jump flight time were measured on match days 1 and 2, 1 d posttournament, and 2 d posttournament. Total distance; low-, moderate-, and high-intensity running; and physical contacts during matches were derived from global positioning system–based time–motion analysis and video-based notational analysis, respectively. Internal match load was calculated by session rating of perceived exertion and playing time (rating of perceived exertion × duration). Results: Well-being (P < .001), fatigue (P < .001), general muscle soreness (P < .001), stress levels (P < .001), mood (P = .005), and total quality of recovery (P < .001) were significantly impaired after match day 1 and did not return to baseline values until 2 d posttournament. More high-intensity running was related to more fatigue (r = −.60, P = .049) and a larger number of physical contacts with more general muscle soreness (r = −.69, P = .013). Conclusion: Perceived well-being and total quality of recovery were already impaired after match day 1, although performance was maintained. High-intensity running and physical contacts were predominantly related to fatigue and general muscle soreness, respectively.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Håvard Haglo ◽  
Eivind Wang ◽  
Ole Kristian Berg ◽  
Jan Hoff ◽  
Jan Helgerud

BACKGROUND Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) experience disease-related barriers to physical training. Compared with the general population, IRD patients are reported to have reduced maximal oxygen uptake (VO<sub>2max</sub>) and physical activity levels. Supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is documented to counteract the reduced VO<sub>2max</sub> and poor cardiovascular health associated with IRDs. However, supervised HIIT is resource demanding. OBJECTIVE This study sought to investigate if self-administered 4×4-min HIIT guided by a smartphone app (Myworkout GO) could yield similar HIIT-induced effects as standard 4×4-min HIIT performed under the guidance and supervision of health care professionals. The effects studied were on VO<sub>2max</sub> and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS Forty patients (33 female patients, mean age 48 years, SD 12 years; 7 male patients, mean age 52 years, SD 11 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus were randomized to a supervised group (SG) or an app group (AG). Both groups were instructed to perform 4×4-min intervals with a rate of perceived exertion of 16 to 17, corresponding to 85% to 95% of the maximal heart rate, twice a week for 10 weeks. Treadmill VO<sub>2max</sub> and HRQoL measured using RAND-36 were assessed before and after the exercise period. RESULTS VO<sub>2max</sub> increased (<i>P</i>&lt;.001) in both groups after 10 weeks of HIIT, with improvements of 3.6 (SD 1.3) mL/kg/min in the SG and 3.7 (SD 1.5) mL/kg/min in the AG. This was accompanied by increases in oxygen pulse in both groups (<i>P</i>&lt;.001), with no between-group differences apparent for either measure. Improvements in the HRQoL dimensions of bodily pain, vitality, and social functioning were observed for both groups (<i>P</i>&lt;.001 to <i>P</i>=.04). Again, no between-group differences were detected. CONCLUSIONS High-intensity 4×4-min interval training increased VO<sub>2max</sub> and HRQoL, contributing to patients’ reduced cardiovascular disease risk, improved health and performance, and enhanced quality of life. Similar improvements were observed following HIIT when IRD patients were guided using perceived exertion by health care professionals or the training was self-administered and guided by the app Myworkout GO. Utilization of the app may help reduce the cost of HIIT as a treatment strategy in this patient population. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04649528; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04649528


10.2196/28124 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e28124
Author(s):  
Håvard Haglo ◽  
Eivind Wang ◽  
Ole Kristian Berg ◽  
Jan Hoff ◽  
Jan Helgerud

Background Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs) experience disease-related barriers to physical training. Compared with the general population, IRD patients are reported to have reduced maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and physical activity levels. Supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is documented to counteract the reduced VO2max and poor cardiovascular health associated with IRDs. However, supervised HIIT is resource demanding. Objective This study sought to investigate if self-administered 4×4-min HIIT guided by a smartphone app (Myworkout GO) could yield similar HIIT-induced effects as standard 4×4-min HIIT performed under the guidance and supervision of health care professionals. The effects studied were on VO2max and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods Forty patients (33 female patients, mean age 48 years, SD 12 years; 7 male patients, mean age 52 years, SD 11 years) diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus were randomized to a supervised group (SG) or an app group (AG). Both groups were instructed to perform 4×4-min intervals with a rate of perceived exertion of 16 to 17, corresponding to 85% to 95% of the maximal heart rate, twice a week for 10 weeks. Treadmill VO2max and HRQoL measured using RAND-36 were assessed before and after the exercise period. Results VO2max increased (P<.001) in both groups after 10 weeks of HIIT, with improvements of 3.6 (SD 1.3) mL/kg/min in the SG and 3.7 (SD 1.5) mL/kg/min in the AG. This was accompanied by increases in oxygen pulse in both groups (P<.001), with no between-group differences apparent for either measure. Improvements in the HRQoL dimensions of bodily pain, vitality, and social functioning were observed for both groups (P<.001 to P=.04). Again, no between-group differences were detected. Conclusions High-intensity 4×4-min interval training increased VO2max and HRQoL, contributing to patients’ reduced cardiovascular disease risk, improved health and performance, and enhanced quality of life. Similar improvements were observed following HIIT when IRD patients were guided using perceived exertion by health care professionals or the training was self-administered and guided by the app Myworkout GO. Utilization of the app may help reduce the cost of HIIT as a treatment strategy in this patient population. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04649528; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04649528


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