The influence of the highlands on the performance of athletes in freestyle men’s and women's wrestling at the XXXII Olympic Games in Tokyo

The article analyzes the performance of participants and winners in men's and women's freestyle wrestling at the XXXII Olympic Games in Tokyo after the training camp in the highlands during the 2nd final stage of preparation for these competitions, which took place in Ivano-Frankivsk region . at the educational and sports base "Zaroslyak" taking into account the age and qualifications of athletes. The base is located at an altitude of 1330 m above sea level. Tokyo, the host of the Olympic Games, is located at an altitude of 40 meters above sea level. The meeting was held from June 17 to July 4, 2021 (17 days) for the men's team and from June 12 to July 3, 2021 (21 days) for the women's freestyle wrestling team. The duration of the meeting and the period of time after it when returning to the plain and the immediate days of the competition were also taken into account. The topical of training athletes also lies in the fact that this is the first Olympic Games after the coronavirus pandemic. The training plan was changed from the usual four-year training cycle to a five-year one. And the next games will take place in three years in Paris. Analysis of the results of the study indicates that the best result and, accordingly, the peak of functionality and endurance at the Olympic Games showed athletes who underwent a training camp lasting 21 days and in which competitive fights came on the 30-32nd day after descending from the mountains. Each sport has its own optimal range of heights for training before the main start, the duration of the training camp and the day the body reaches the peak of functionality and efficiency.

A Competitive Sprinter’s Resting Blood Lactate Levels Fluctuate with a One-Year Training Cycle: Case Reports

It has been reported that the variability of resting blood lactate concentration (BLa) is related to metabolic capacity. However, it is unclear whether the resting BLa of athletes can be utilized as a metabolic biomarker. This longitudinal case study tested the hypothesis that resting BLa levels in the morning fluctuate with a 1-year training cycle. The subject was an adult male sprinter, and BLa and blood glucose at the time of waking were measured every day for 1 year. The training cycles were divided into five phases: 1. Basic training: high-intensity and high-volume load; 2. Condition and speed training: high-intensity and low-volume load; 3. Competition training I: track race and high-intensity load; 4. Conditioning for injury; 5. Competition training II. The mean BLa levels in the basic training (1.10 ± 0.32 mmol/L and competition training I (1.06 ± 0.28 mmol/L) phases were significantly lower than in the condition and speed training (1.26 ± 0.40 mmol/L) and conditioning injury (1.37 ± 0.34 mmol/L) phases. The clarified training cycle dependence of resting BLa is suggested to be related to the ability to utilize lactate as an energy substrate with fluctuations in oxidative metabolic capacity. This case report supports the tentative hypothesis that resting BLa may be a biomarker index linked to the metabolic capacity according to the training cycle.

Physical Training Increases Erythroferrone Levels in Men

Intense physical activity contributes to an increased demand for red blood cells, which transport oxygen to working muscles. The purpose of this study was to assess the concentration of erythroferrone (ERFE), the novel marker of erythroid activity in athletes, during the beginning of their training season. The study group consisted of 39 athletes aged 23.24 ± 3.77 years. The study was carried out during the athletes’ preparatory period of the training cycle. The control group consisted of 34 healthy men aged 22.33 ± 2.77 years. The erythropoietic activity was evaluated by determining athletes’ concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO) and erythroferrone (ERFE). The level of physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). In the athletes’ group, we observed higher concentrations of EPO (Me = 12.65 mIU/mL) and ERFE (40.00 pg/mL) compared to the control group (EPO: Me = 5.74 mIU/ml, p = 0.001; ERFE: Me = 25.50 pg/mL, p = 0.0034). The average intensity of physical exercise significantly differentiated the participants as far as EPO and ERFE concentrations. These results suggest that intense physical activity, at least at the beginning of the training season, may stimulate EPO production, which increases ERFE release. This seems to be an adaptative mechanism that provides adequate iron for enhanced erythropoiesis.

A Practical Approach to Monitoring Biomarkers of Inflammation and Muscle Damage in Youth Soccer Players During a 6‐Month Training Cycle

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of a 6-month training cycle on muscle damage and inflammatory markers in youth male soccer players. Twenty-one soccer players were tested four times: at the beginning (T1) and immediately after the pre-season period (T2), in the middle (T3) and at the end of the competitive period (T4). Muscle damage and inflammatory markers were determined in blood taken 36 hours after the match. Throughout the training cycle significant increases (p < 0.05) of creatine kinase (T1: 254.4 U·L-1; T4: 304.2 U·L-1) and lactate dehydrogenase (T1: 382.8 U·L-1; T4: 453.2 U·L-1) activities were observed. Significant changes (p < 0.05) in platelet count (T1: 210.5·109·L-1; T4: 234.2·109·L-1), percentage of lymphocyte (T1: 39.80%; T4: 42.97%), monocyte (T1: 6.88%; T4: 9.99%) and granulocyte (T1: 53.32%; T4: 47.05%) as well as in granulocyte-to-lymphocyte (T1: 1.41; T4: 1.17) and lymphocyte-to-monocyte (T1: 6.21; T4: 4.46) ratios were noted. The correlation analysis revealed statistically significant relationships (p < 0.05) between: myoglobin and the percentage of leukocyte subpopulations and the granulocyte to lymphocyte ratio; lactate dehydrogenase and the percentage of monocyte; lactate and leukocyte count. In conclusion, the reported muscle damage and inflammatory markers in T3 and T4 indicate the need for fatigue status monitoring in youth soccer players, especially in the competitive period. Moreover granulocyte to lymphocyte and lymphocyte to monocyte ratios proved to be sensitive to fatigue changes and therefore can provide coaches and sport scientists with a broader perspective on the biochemical monitoring of training status in soccer players.

Acquisition of Behavioral Skills After Manikin-Based Simulation of Neonatal Resuscitation by Fellows in Neonatology

Background Behavioral performance of health professionals is essential for adequate patient care. There is little information on behavioral skills acquisition after simulation training of neonatal resuscitation. To assess the behavioral skills of fellows in neonatology before and after a simulation training program on neonatal resuscitation. Methods From March/2019 to February/2020, a prospective cohort with 12 second-year fellows in neonatology were evaluated during three training cycles (16 hours each) in manikin-based simulation of neonatal resuscitation with standardized scenarios. Each cycle lasted one month, followed by a 3-months interval. One video-recorded scenario of about 10 minutes was performed for each fellow at the beginning and at the end of each training cycle. Therefore, each fellow was recorded 6 times: before and after each one of three training cycles. Anxiety of the fellows was assessed by the Beck Anxiety Inventory applied before the first training cycle. The videos were independently analyzed in a random order by three trained facilitators using the Behavioral Assessment Tool. The behavioral performance was evaluated by repeated measures analysis of variance adjusted for anxiety and for previous experience in neonatal resuscitation. Results Fellows` overall behavioral performance improved comparing the moment before the first training and after the second training. The specific skills - communication with the team, delegation of tasks, allocation of attention, use of information, use of resources and professional posture - showed a significant improvement after the second month of training. No further gains were noted with the third training cycle. Anxiety was observed in 42% of the fellows and its presence worsened their behavioral performance. Conclusion An improvement in behavioral performance was observed comparing the moment before the first training and after the second training, without further gains after the third training. It is worth noting the important role of anxiety as a modulator of acquisition and retention of behavioral skills in health professionals in training.

Building of strength training for middle distance runners aged 13-14 years-old in autumn - winter macrocycle

The article presents data on the effective building of strength training for middle distance runners in the autumn - winter macrocycle. It was revealed that the conjugated-sequential form of organizing loads of various predominant directions provides for a strict procedure for introducing loads into the process of training athletes with a gradually increasing degree of specificity and strength of the training influence. It was determined that in the six-month training cycle for middle-distance runners aged 13-14 years-old, the conjugated-sequential form of organizing loads with the element of concentration of strength loads has a more beneficial effect on the dynamics of the level of motor training than the complex-parallel one.

The Modifications of Haemoglobin, Erythropoietin Values and Running Performance While Training at Mountain vs. Hilltop vs. Seaside

Altitude training increases haemoglobin, erythropoietin values among athletes, but may have negative physiological consequences. An alternative, although less explored, that has the potential to positively influence performance while avoiding some of the negative physiological consequences of hypoxia is sand training. Ten endurance-trained athletes (age: 20.8 ± 1.4, body mass: 57.7 ± 8.2 kg, stature: 176 ± 6 cm; 5000 m 14:55.00 ± 0:30 min) performed three 21-day training camps at different locations: at a high altitude (HIGH), at the sea-level (CTRL), at the sea-level on the sand (SAND). Differences in erythropoietin (EPO) and haemoglobin (Hb) concentration, body weight, VO2max and maximal aerobic velocity (VMA) before and after each training cycle were compared. Data analysis has indicated that training during HIGH elicited a greater increase in VO2max (2.4 ± 0.2%; p = 0.005 and 1.0 ± 0.2%; p < 0.001) and VMA (2.4 ± 0.2%, p < 0.001 and 1.2 ± 0.2%; p = 0.001) compared with CTRL and SAND. While increases in VO2max and VMA following SAND were greater (1.3 ± 0.1%; p < 0.001 and 1.2 ± 0.1%; p < 0.001) than those observed after CTRL. Moreover, EPO increased to a greater extent following HIGH (25.3 ± 2.7%) compared with SAND (11.7 ± 1.6%, p = 0.008) and CTRL (0.1 ± 0.3%, p < 0.001) with a greater increase (p < 0.01) following SAND compared with CTRL. Furthermore, HIGH and SAND elicited a greater increase (4.9 ± 0.9%; p = 0.001 and 3.3 ± 1.1%; p = 0.035) in Hb compared with CTRL. There was no difference in Hb changes observed between HIGH and SAND (p = 1.0). Finally, athletes lost 2.1 ± 0.4% (p = 0.001) more weight following HIGH vs. CTRL, while there were no differences in weight changes between HIGH vs. SAND (p = 0.742) and SAND vs. CTRL (p = 0.719). High-altitude training and sea-level training on sand resulted in significant improvements in EPO, Hb, VMA, and VO2max that exceeded changes in such parameters following traditional sea-level training. While high-altitude training elicited greater relative increases in EPO, VMA, and VO2max, sand training resulted in comparable increases in Hb and may prevent hypoxia-induced weight loss.

The Results of Experimental testing of the Program of Technical and Tactical training of Judo Veterans

Today it is important to develop a Specialized set of Scientific and Methodological support for long-term training of Veteran Judokas, which will ensure the formation of an effective Technical and Tactical Arsenal of wrestlers of the studied category (taking into account their individual-typological, psychophysical features) and promote their successful Competitive activities. The main Purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of the Experimental Program of Technical and Tactical training of Veteran Judokas in the System of their annual Training Cycle. During the Empirical Study, the following methods were used: abstraction, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, modeling, expert evaluation method, mathematical and statistical (correlation analysis, factor analysis, scaling), modern scientific tools and more. As a result of Research and Analytical work, members of the Research Group determined the effectiveness of the Experimental Program of Technical and Tactical training of Veteran Judokas in the System of their annual training Cycle. It is established that the gradual Formation of Technical and Tactical skills of Veteran Judokas (different age groups and weight categories) taking into account the peculiarities of the annual training Cycle provides an increase in their competitive activity, which indicates the high efficiency of the Experimental Program. Prospects for Further Research in the chosen direction of Scientific Intelligence include the development of a Pedagogical Model with technical means of teaching the Formation of Readiness of Veteran judokas (women) for competitive activities in the System of their long-term training.

Fitness training as the mean of improving the physical fitness of high skilled football players

The results of physical fitness level of highly skilled football players in the preparatory and competitive periods of the annual macrocycle are presented. The study involved 34 players of Football Club “Zorya” (Lugansk city) aging from 20 to 30. In the annual cycle of football players training season 2018/2019, the training process was carried out in accordance with the current program. An experimental program was used in the first and second preparatory periods of the annual training cycle in the season 2019/2020. Insufficient efficiency of the traditional program of physical training of highly skilled football players in the preparatory and competitive periods of the annual training cycle has been established. The athlete’s training level was marked by optimal indicators of readiness only by tests that characterized the explosive strength and joint flexibility. Experimental program was developed in order to increase the efficiency of the training process of highly skilled football players. The main feature of this program was the use of three innovative methods of modern fitness training: MAX®, Tabata, HIIT. Functional classes that based on the use of step platforms were offered instead of classical aerobics classes. The results of the physical fitness testing of FC “Zorya” football players at the end of the preparatory periods of the 2019/2020 season indicated a significantly better level of athlete’s readiness for the next competitive periods comparing to the corresponding periods of the previous season. Experimental program effectiveness was confirmed by the results of the FC “Zorya” team in the championship of the Ukrainian Premier League 2019/2020.