CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE OF ATHLETES UNDER DIFFERENT TRAINING CONDITIONS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Improving cardiovascular function is one of the main training goals of many sports. Objective: To understand the characteristics of the cardiovascular response of athletes under different training conditions. Methods: Thirty male basketball students were enrolled. The subjects were divided into A and B groups according to their years of training, with 15 students in each group. Exercise fatigue tests were performed, starting at a low intensity and gradually increasing the load to a relatively high degree of fatigue. Results: The RMSSD value was 42.82±31.41ms in group A and 46.48±35.26ms in group B undera low fatigue state. The LF/HF value of the athletes in group A was 2.86±1.47 and the LF/HF value of the athletes in group B was 2.94±1.68. The RMSSD value was 40.78±31.17ms and 32.37±36.42ms for groups A and B, respectively, undera high fatigue state. Conclusions: Athletes with more years of training can mobilize more cardiac reserves to meet the increase in exercise load in a fatigue state and have better autonomic nervous regulation in the process of reaching a higher degree of fatigue state. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

“Push it!” or “Hold it!”? A comparison of nicotine-avoidance training and nicotine-inhibition training in smokers motivated to quit

Rationale Recently, experimental paradigms have been developed to strengthen automatic avoidance or inhibitory responses for smoking cues. However, these procedures have not yet been directly compared regarding their effectiveness and mechanisms of action. Objective This study compared the effects of avoidance vs. inhibitory training as an add-on to a brief smoking cessation intervention. The standard Approach-Avoidance-Task (AAT) was adapted for both training types and control conditions. Methods One hundred twenty-four smokers attended behavioral counseling for smoking cessation and were thereafter randomized to one of four training conditions: avoidance-AAT, sham-avoidance-AAT, inhibition-AAT, sham-inhibition-AAT. During a 2-week training period including five training sessions, smokers in the avoidance-AAT trained to implicitly avoid all smoking-related cues, while smokers in the inhibition-AAT trained to implicitly inhibit behavioral response to smoking cues. During sham training, no such contingencies appeared. Self-report and behavioral data were assessed before and after training. Cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence were also assessed at 4- and 12-week follow-ups. Results At posttest, avoidance training was more effective in reducing daily smoking than inhibition training. However, this difference was no longer evident in follow-up assessments. All training conditions improved other smoking- and health-related outcomes. Neither training changed smoking-related approach biases or associations, but approach biases for smoking-unrelated pictures increased and Stroop interference decreased in all conditions. Smoking devaluation was also comparable in all groups. Conclusions Avoidance training might be slightly more effective in reducing smoking than inhibitory training. Overall, however, all four training types yielded equivalent therapy and training effects. Hence, a clear preference for one type of training remains premature.

Gamified Dual-Task Training for Individuals with Parkinson Disease: An Exploratory Study on Feasibility, Safety, and Efficacy

Objectives: The feasibility and safety of the use of neurorehabilitation technology (SMARTfit® Trainer system) by physical therapists in implementing a gamified physical-cognitive dual-task training (DTT) paradigm for individuals with Parkinson disease (IWPD) was examined. Additionally, the efficacy of this gamified DTT was compared to physical single-task training (STT), both of which were optimized using physio-motivational factors, on changes in motor and cognitive outcomes, and self-assessed disability in activities of daily living. Methods: Using a cross-over study design, eight participants with mild-to-moderate idiopathic PD (including one with mild cognitive impairment) completed both training conditions (i.e., gamified DTT and STT). For each training condition, the participants attended 2–3 sessions per week over 8.8 weeks on average, with the total amount of training being equivalent to 24 1 h sessions. A washout period averaging 11.5 weeks was inserted between training conditions. STT consisted of task-oriented training involving the practice of functional tasks, whereas for gamified DTT, the same task-oriented training was implemented simultaneously with varied cognitive games using an interactive training system (SMARTfit®). Both training conditions were optimized through continual adaptation to ensure the use of challenging tasks and to provide autonomy support. Training hours, heart rate, and adverse events were measured to assess the feasibility and safety of the gamified DTT protocol. Motor and cognitive function as well as perceived disability were assessed before and after each training condition. Results: Gamified DTT was feasible and safe for this cohort. Across participants, significant improvements were achieved in more outcome measures after gamified DTT than they were after STT. Individually, participants with specific demographic and clinical characteristics responded differently to the two training conditions. Conclusion: Physical therapists’ utilization of technology with versatile hardware configurations and customizable software application selections was feasible and safe for implementing a tailor-made intervention and for adapting it in real-time to meet the individualized, evolving training needs of IWPD. Specifically in comparison to optimized STT, there was a preliminary signal of efficacy for gamified DTT in improving motor and cognitive function as well as perceived disability in IWPD.

Psychophysiological characteristics of applicants for higher education of the specialty "Law Enforcement" in the process of sectional classes in game sports

The activities of law enforcement officers are characterized by significant psycho-emotional and physical stress. Therefore, a high level of psychophysiological characteristics is an important component in the structure of preparedness of cadets in higher education institutions with specific training conditions that train police officers. Experts note that the indicators of sensorimotor reactions are one of the most accessible and, at the same time, quite accurate neurophysiological indicators that reflect the dynamics of nervous processes, motor coordination, overall performance and activity of the central nervous system in various fields. Research aimed at the finding of the effective ways to improve them is relevant. We conducted a study of psychophysiological characteristics in 2 groups of cadets during the first academic year. The first group of cadets trained in the course of the discipline "Special Physical Training". The cadets of the second group were engaged in "Special physical training", and also during the academic year trained in sections of game sports (football and volleyball). The results show that the traditional curriculum of the discipline "Special Physical Training" in higher education institutions with specific training conditions that train police officers is not effective enough to improve the performance of sensorimotor reactions of cadets. In the group of cadets, who did not train in sports sections, we did not find a significant improvement of the psychophysiological characteristics. The results indicate the feasibility of using sectional classes of game sports (football, volleyball) as a means of improving the efficiency of the process of training.

The effectiveness of a training program to equip teachers with the skill of designing interactive instructional activities using the Smart Notebook and their attitudes towards it at the Governmental schools of the Directorate of Education in Tulkarm: فاعلية برنامج تدريبي لإكساب المعلمات مهارة تصميم الأنشطة التعليمية التفاعلية باستخدام تطبيق Smart Notebook وتوجهاتهن نحوه في مدارس مديرية تربية طولكرم

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of a training program to equip female teachers with the skill of designing interactive instructional activities using Smart Notebook, in addition to their attitudes towards this application at the Governmental schools of the Directorate of Education in Tulkarm.The study sample consisted of 21female teachers of different major specializations in 2 basic schools in Tulkarm City during the second semester of the academic year (2018/2019). The training program was applied to them for a period of two weeks after applying the pre-test and then applying the study tools represented by the post-test and the interview. The study found a statistically significant difference at (α = 0.05) in the trainee teachers' acquisition of the skills of designing interactive activities, using the Smart Notebook application that is due to the training program. The results also indicated that trainees were also satisfied with the procedure of implementing the program, and the various training conditions through a direct interview with a sample of trainees. Also, in light of the results of the study, the researchers recommended adopting the program in other schools, in addition to providing an original version of the application in these schools.

Emotional states of athletes in the first lockdown due to Covid-19: A comparison of Polish and Spanish samples

Introduction: The situation of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the lives of many athletes from different disciplines. Therefore, the present study investigated the impact of Covid-19 first lockdown on emotional states and motivation of athletes from Spain and Poland. Material and methods: Polish male (N=24) and female (N=94) and Spanish male (N=81) female (N=95) athletes were investigated. The respondents did online ad hoc questionnaires, namely Emotional and Adaptative reactions during confinement (COVID-19-RECOVID-19), and Profile of Mood States (POMS) Results: Significant differences were observed in training conditions by country, with the Polish sample having higher scores than Spaniards. Stressing thoughts characterized Polish female athletes significantly more than others; Spanish athletes, both females and males were characterized by the highest agreement to confinement rules. Females, relative to males, had a higher level of fatigue. Moreover, significant differences by country appeared in anger, vigor, friendship, tension, and depressed feelings. Polish female athletes were characterized by the highest scores apart from friendship, which was similarly high among Polish athletes. Conclusions: Monitoring the mental conditions of sports professionals and designing psychological interventions that would match athletes’ personal needs seems crucial to similar, tremendously complex, and socially isolating situations, such as lockdown due to Covid-19.

The use of highly effective functional feed additives in the diet of sport horses

The article presents the test results of the new functional feed additive — “Bioprotectin FA”. The use of the developed functional feed additive in the conditions of the equestrian complex of the Belgorod National Research University allowed to improve such training indicators of horses as frolic potential, endurance, as well as general health indicators of sports horses in training conditions in experimental groups of animals compared to control ones, such as positive correction of the intestinal microbiota and improvement of the activity of the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary systems.

Stability of sensorimotor responses of cadets of higher education institutions with specific training conditions that train police officers

The ability to maintain high speed and accuracy of sensorimotor reactions for a long time under the influence of various interfering factors is an important component in the training structure of future law enforcement officers. Improving of the sensorimotor reactions of higher education students in institutions that train police officers takes place in the process of the discipline "Special Physical Training". Methods of general physical training (sports games, competitive methods), as well as, methods of simulating service situations (attempt of the offender to get the weapon, group interaction of police, protection from the threat of weapons, protection from blows with hands and feet) are used to achieve this purpose. We conducted a study of the complex reaction of choice of cadets in the normal conditions and under the influence of interfering factors. The results show that male cadets and some women as a result of two years training significantly improve the resistance of sensorimotor responses to interfering factors (the speed of a complex reaction of choice without interference, with interference, the total number of errors). The results show that the traditional curriculum of the discipline "Special Physical Training" in higher education institutions with specific training conditions, which provide training of police officers, effectively helps to improve the stability of sensorimotor responses of cadets. Improving the efficiency of the training process in the direction of increasing the stability of sensorimotor responses of female cadets requires special attention.