RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC CARDIOPULMONARY INDICES OF YOUNG MALE SOCCER PLAYERS WHEN PERFORMING LABORATORY FUNCTIONAL TESTS

Soccer is a high-intensity intermittent team sport where both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems contribute to the physiological demands of the game. The study aims to search and determine relationships between the values of cardiopulmonary and gas exchange indices during frequently used laboratory tests - the CardioPulmonary Exercise Test (CPET) and the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT), exploring the capacity of the energy systems. Forty-seven soccer players (15.06 ± 0.84 years of age) performed both tests as Oxygen uptake (VO2), Oxygen pulse (O2HR), Pulmonary ventilation (VE), Volume of expired air (VTex), and Breath frequency (BF) were measured online using a breathby-breath cardiopulmonary exercise testing system. Ergometric achievements during WAnT: PP (Peak Power) 662.4 ± 121.2 W; AP (Average Power) 494.67 ± 98.5 W; FI (Fatigue Index) 61.2 ± 28.7%. There was no correlation between WAnT PP and AP and maximum power output in CPET. WAnT VE and VTex correlate significantly with CPET VO2max (r = .676 and r = .772, respectively). The main finding was a presence of approximately identical maximal values of cardiopulmonary parameters achieved in the very different in duration and intensity CPET and WАnT: insignificant differences between CPET versus WAnT: VO2max (55.97 ± 2.02 versus 56.02 ± 17.3 ml.kg.min-1); VEmax (133.96 ± 21.77 versus 126.77 ± 24.77 l.min-1); VTex max (2.19 ± 0.37 l versus 2.06 ± 0.43 l); BFmax (62.20 versus 75.43.min-1). We assume that when conducting WAnT with simultaneous registration of respiration, together with the indices of athletes’ power output, reliable information about the magnitude of VO2max and other cardiopulmonary parameters of players could be obtained. This will greatly facilitate the ongoing control of the exercise conditioning status of athletes.

Combined but Not Isolated Ingestion of Caffeine and Taurine Improves Wingate Sprint Performance in Female Team-Sport Athletes Habituated to Caffeine

Previous studies have investigated caffeine (CAF) and taurine (TAU) in isolation and combined during exercise in males. However, the potential synergistic effect during high-intensity exercise remains unknown in female athletes. Seventeen female team-sport athletes participated (age: 23.4 ± 2.1 years; height: 1.68 ± 0.05 m; body mass: 59.5 ± 2.2 kg). All participants were habitual caffeine consumers (340.1 ± 28.6 mg/day). A double-blind randomized crossover design was used. Participants completed four experimental trials: (i) CAF and TAU (6 mg/kg body mass of CAF + 1 g of TAU), (ii) CAF alone; (iii) TAU alone; and (iv) placebo (PLA). Supplements were ingested 60 min before a 30-s Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT). Heart rate and blood lactate (BL) were measured before and immediately after the WAnT; and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded immediately after the WAnT. Peak power (PP) was significantly higher following co-ingestion of CAF+TAU compared to PLA (p = 0.03) and TAU (p = 0.03). Mean power (MP) was significantly higher following co-ingestion of CAF+TAU compared to PLA (p = 0.01). No other differences were found between conditions for PP and MP (p > 0.05). There were also no observed differences in fatigue index (FI), BL; heart rate; and RPE between conditions (p > 0.05). In conclusion, compared to PLA the combined ingestion of 6 mg/kg of CAF and 1 g of TAU improved both PP and MP in female athletes habituated to caffeine; however; CAF and TAU independently failed to augment WAnT performance.

Functional preparedness of women of the first period of mature age of different somatotypes

Background and Study Aim. It is believed that the somatotype is a predictor of indicators of functional readiness. There are significant differences in the aerobic performance of the body for people of different somatotypes among students girls and men. Features of manifestation of anaerobic possibilities of an organism at persons of various somatotypes from 7 to 30 years old are described. We can assume that women of the first adulthood period of different somatotypes, indicators of functional readiness are manifested in different ways. The aim of the study was to identify the features of aerobic, anaerobic lactate and anaerobic alactate productivity of women of the first period of mature age of different somatotypes. Material and Methods. The study involved 210 females 25-35 years old. Somatotype was determined in all subjects. Functional readiness was determined by indicators of anaerobic lactatic productivity, anaerobic alactatic productivity and aerobic productivity of the organism. The power of aerobic energy supply processes was investigated by VO2max. To determine the VO2max used cycling ergometric version of the PWC 170 test. The subjects was performed a stepwise increasing load on the ergometer to determine the TAM. At the end of each stage, heart rate was recorded. The TAM level corresponded to the inflection point on the heart rate growth chart. The capacity of anaerobic lactate processes of energy supply was investigated by indicator of the maximum quantity of mechanical work for 1 minute (MQMK). The subjects performed a bicycle ergometric load duration 1 min with a power of 225 W with a maximum pedaling frequency. The power of anaerobic lactate processes of energy supply was determined by the Wingate anaerobic test WAnT 30. The power of anaerobic alactate processes of energy supply was determined by the test WAnT 10. Statistical processing was performed using the program STATISTICA 13. Results. According to absolute indicators (WAnT10. WAnT30. MQMK, TAM, VO2max) the advantage of representatives of endomorphic-mesomorphic somatotype was established. According to relative indicators of aerobic productivity (TAM, VO2max) representatives of the ectomorphic and balanced somatotype predominate. Conclusions. High values of absolute indicators of functional readiness are associated with high values ​​of body mass in combination with a high percentage of muscle for women of different somatotypes. Accordingly, for representatives of somatotypes with lower body mass are characterized by lower absolute values ​​of all indicators of functional fitness. The relative indicators of aerobic productivity are dominated by representatives of somatotypes, which are characterized by lower body mass.

The Anaerobic Power Assessment in CrossFit® Athletes: An Agreement Study

Anaerobic power and capacity are considered determinants of performance and are usually assessed in athletes as a part of their physical capacities’ evaluation along the season. For that purpose, many field tests have been created. The main objective of this study was to analyze the agreement between four field tests and a laboratory test. Nineteen CrossFit® (CF) athletes were recruited for this study (28.63 ± 6.62 years) who had been practicing CF for at least one year. Tests performed were: (1) Anaerobic Squat Test at 60% of bodyweight (AST60); (2) Anaerobic Squat Test at 70% of bodyweight (AST70); (3) Repeated Jump Test (RJT); (4) Assault Bike Test (ABT); and (5) Wingate Anaerobic Test on a cycle ergometer (WG). All tests consisted of 30 s of max effort. The differences among methods were tested using a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and effect size. Agreement between methods was performed using Bland–Altman analysis. Analysis of agreement showed systematic bias in all field test PP values, which varied between -110.05 (AST60PP—WGPP) and 463.58 (ABTPP—WGPP), and a significant proportional error in ABTPP by rank correlation (p < 0.001). Repeated-measures ANOVA showed significant differences among PP values (F(1.76,31.59) = 130.61, p = < 0.001). In conclusion, since to our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the agreement between various methods to estimate anaerobic power in CF athletes. Apart from ABT, all tests showed good agreement and can be used interchangeably in CF athletes. Our results suggest that AST and RJT are good alternatives for measuring the anaerobic power in CF athletes when access to a laboratory is not possible.

The Wingate Anaerobic Test, a Narrative Review of the Protocol Variables That Affect the Results Obtained

The Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAT) has been widely used since its creation in 1974. The WAT involves performing a 30 s “all-out” cycling test. The test is currently applied with some modifications, partly due to the evolution of the material used to perform it. The purpose of this text is to act as a guide for the correct use and application of the test, as well as to highlight the importance of controlling many of the variables that may influence its results. Methods: A literature search was conducted in PUBMED/MEDLINE and Web of Science with different combinations of keywords all related to the WAT to obtain a search of 113 papers. Results and discussion: It was observed that variables such as the duration of the test or the resistance used in the cycle ergometer must be adjusted according to the objective and the population evaluated, while others such as the warm-up or the supplementation of different substances can improve performance on the WAT. Conclusions: In order to apply the WAT correctly, variables such as duration, resistance used or warm-up time and intensity must be adjusted according to the evaluated subjects and the aim of the study. Other variables such as position on the bike or equipment used should also be controlled if we want to guarantee its replicability.

cfDNA Changes in Maximal Exercises as a Sport Adaptation Predictor

Changes of circulating free plasma DNA (cfDNA) are associated with different types of tissue injury, including those induced by intensive aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Observed changes are dependent from induced inflammation, and thus it may be a potential marker for athletic overtraining. We aimed to identify the response of cfDNA to different types of exercise, with association to exercise intensity as a potential marker of exercise load. Fifty volunteers (25 athletes and 25 physically active men) were assigned to the study and performed maximal aerobic (Bruce test) and anaerobic (Wingate Anaerobic Test) test. Blood samples for cfDNA analysis were collected at four time-points: before, 2–5 min after, 30 min after and 60 min after each type of maximal physical activity. The two-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of group factor on serum cfDNA concentrations (32.15% higher concentration of cfDNA in the athletes). In turn the results of the post hoc test for the interaction of the repeated measures factor and the group showed that while the concentration of cfDNA decreased by 40.10% in the period from 30 min to 60 min after exercise in the control group, the concentration of cfDNA in the group of athletes remained at a similar level. Our analysis presents different responses depending on the intensity and duration of exercise. Our observations imply that formation of cfDNA is associated with response to physical activity but only during maximal effort.

No Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Anaerobic Test Performance in Resistance-trained Individuals

Introduction: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) sends a weak electrical current through the cerebral cortex. tDCS has been shown to be effective in longer activities (>75s) but minimal research has been performed with short, anaerobic tests. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tDCS on Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT) performance. Methods: Fifteen young, resistance-trained adults (23.7±2.7 years; BMI 24.9±2.6 kg×m-2; 12 males) volunteered for this study. Electrodes were placed at T3 and FP2 for anodal stimulation of the insular cortex (IC), and 2mA of current was supplied for 20 minutes; after a short rest period, subjects performed a WAnT. Dependent variables included peak/mean/relative power, peak heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Experimental and sham conditions were utilized. Paired-samples t-tests were used to determine the effect of tDCS on the dependent variables. Results: Peak power in the experimental condition (1,019.0±237.5W) was not different than that of the sham (1,008.3±240.4W; p=.638). There were no differences in any other WAnT variables, and no differences in peak HR or RPE (all p>.05). Conclusions: The results from this study suggest that tDCS in resistance-trained individuals is not effective in improving performance on an anaerobic test. In addition, it is still considered experimental and its ethical use is questionable.