UNASSIGNED: Martial arts training is beneficial for improving physical fitness but the improvements can vary according to the type of martial art performed. This study investigated lung function, aerobic and anaerobic capacity, flexibility, muscular strength and power among male adolescents who were sedentary or who practiced taekwondo or wushu.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 30 male adolescents living in the Kelantan state in Malaysia who were between 14 years old and 20 years old were enrolled and divided into three groups: i) sedentary (control), ii) taekwondo and iii) wushu. Each participant underwent a lung function test, 20 m shuttle run, Wingate anaerobic test and a Sit and Reach test, as well as tests of standing long jump power, handgrip, back and leg strength.
UNASSIGNED: Relative to the sedentary control group, the wushu group had significantly higher values than the sedentary control group for fat free mass (P = 0.047), explosive leg power (P < 0.001), aerobic capacity (P < 0.001), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (P = 0.021) and Wingate anaerobic capacity (P < 0.05). The taekwondo group also showed significantly greater values than the sedentary control group for explosive leg power (P = 0.018), forced vital capacity (FVC) (P = 0.014) and FEV1 (P < 0.001). The wushu group exhibited significantly higher explosive leg power (P = 0.010) and Wingate anaerobic capacity parameters including mean power (P = 0.001), anaerobic capacity (P < 0.001) and anaerobic power (P = 0.002) than the taekwondo group.
UNASSIGNED: Engagement of male adolescents in wushu and taekwondo was associated with improved physiological profiles compared to those who were in the sedentary control group. Practice of wushu could result in greater explosive leg power and anaerobic capacities than taekwondo.

During high-intensity (HI) exercise, metabolic acidosis significantly impairs exercise performance. Increasing the body\'s buffering capacity through training and exogenous intake of alkalizing supplements may improve high-intensity performance. Manipulating water and diet intake may influence the acid-base balance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mineral water rich in bicarbonate ions (STY) or placebo water (PLA) on circulating biomarkers and anaerobic performance and to verify whether alkalizing (ALK) or acidizing (ACI) diet would modulate these effects. Twenty-four athletes, assigned either to ALK (n = 12) or ACI (n = 12) diet for four weeks, completed a 1-min rowing Wingate Test in a double-blind and randomized trial after one week of daily hydration (1.5 to 2L/d) with either STY or PLA. Blood samples were taken before and after each test, and urine samples were collected each week. Chronic consumption of bicarbonate-rich water significantly impacted resting urinary pH irrespective of alkalizing or acidizing dietary intake. STY induced a significant increase in blood pH, lactate, and HCO3 - ion concentration post-exercise compared to PLA. Similar changes were observed when STY was associated with the ALK diet. In contrast, STY combined with the ACI diet only significantly affected urine pH and peak blood lactate compared to PLA (p < 0.05). No effect of bicarbonate-rich water was reported on anaerobic performance (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that consumption of bicarbonate-rich water alters acid-base balance during a warm-up and after HI exercise, could potentiate beneficial effects of an alkalizing diet on the acid-base balance after HI exercise, and reduces the acid load induced by an acidifying diet.

The study assessed vastus lateralis oxygen desaturation kinetics (SmO2) in 32 male cyclists (16 Seniors, 16 Juniors) during a 30 s sprint, examining effects of age and performance. An incremental test was used to determine ventilatory thresholds (VT1, VT2) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2kg), followed by a sprint test to evaluate anaerobic performance. Cyclists\' performance phenotype was determined as the ratio of power at VT2 to 5 s peak sprint power. Juniors exhibited sprinter-like traits, excelling in all functional tests except for lactate levels post-sprint. SmO2 data showed no age-related or bilateral differences across participants. The combined mean response time (MRT) revealed stronger bilateral goodness of fit (R2 = 0.64) than individual time delay (TD) and time constant (τ). Higher VO2kg at VT2, peak power, and maximal uptake were linked to longer TD, while shorter TD correlated with higher lactate production and increased fatigue. Bilaterally averaged SmO2 kinetics distinguished between sprint and endurance athletes, indicating the potential to reflect the alactic anaerobic system\'s capacity and depletion. Age did not affect desaturation rates, but younger cyclists showed greater response amplitude, attributed to a higher initial baseline rather than maximal desaturation at the end of the exercise.

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of a 7-week short sprint interval training (SSIT) with differing in programming volume-loads including progressive (P-SSIT) and nonprogressive (NP-SSIT) approaches on the immunoendocrine, physical fitness attributes and physiological parameters in male wrestlers during the pre-season. Thirty young freestyle wrestlers at the collegiate national-level were included in the study and were divided into three groups: P-SSIT (n = 10), NP-SSIT (n = 10), and an active control group (n = 10). The wrestlers engaged in their specific wrestling training three days weekly, while the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups underwent a 7-week SSIT, with scheduling in either progressed or nonprogressed volume-based overloads, three times per week. Before and after the intervention, various aspects of physical fitness (such as 20-m sprint, 4×9-m shuttle run, and maximal strength) and physiological parameters (including cardiorespiratory fitness and anaerobic power output), as well as immunoendocrine responses (such as immunoglobulin-A, testosterone, and cortisol) were measured. Following the training intervention, the control group did not show any significant changes in the variable measured; however, both the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups experienced significant improvements (p = 0.001) in physical fitness attributes and physiological parameters with effect sizes ranging from small to very large, and also more adaptive responses compared with control group (p < 0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant changes observed among the P-SSIT and NP-SSIT groups in terms of immunoendocrine response to training, and physical fitness, as well as physiological parameters (p > 0.05). In conclusion, neither the progressed nor nonprogressed approaches of SSIT demonstrated superior effects on adaptations compared to one another. Therefore, it is recommended for strength and conditioning coaches in wrestling to incorporate both P-SSIT and NP-SSIT into their annual training plan, especially during the pre-season phase, to maximize the physical fitness and physiological parameters of their wrestlers while minimizing changes in immunoendocrine responses.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to compare the effects of two concurrent training (CT) protocols on the physical fitness of middle school students.
UNASSIGNED: A 12-week quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test study was conducted with 157 middle school students (age = 12.48 ± 0.34, n = 90 females) divided into three groups: CT group A (CT-0h) received combined resistance training (RT) and aerobic training (AT) in each physical education session, CT group B (CT-48h) received RT and AT across two separate physical education classes 48 h apart, and a control group (Con) received no training. Training occurred twice a week. Test indicators included cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measured by estimated VO2max and 20 m shuttle run (laps), as well as muscle strength assessed through long jump, vertical jump, and handgrip strength.
UNASSIGNED: The intervention groups exhibited significant increases in estimated VO2max and muscle strength compared to their baseline values (p < 0.05). Both CT-0h and CT-48h groups demonstrated significant improvements in 20 m shuttle run (laps) (mean difference: 8.88 laps, p < 0.01; mean difference: 4.81 laps, p < 0.01, respectively), standing long jump (mean difference: 6.20 cm, p < 0.01; mean difference: 3.68 cm, p < 0.01, respectively), vertical jump (mean difference: 4.95 cm, p < 0.01; mean difference: 4.04 cm, p < 0.01, respectively), and handgrip strength (mean difference: 11.17 kg, p < 0.01; mean difference: 6.99 kg, p < 0.01, respectively). CT-0h group exhibited significantly increased estimated VO2max (mean difference: 1.47 ml/kg/min, p < 0.01) compared to the CT-48h group.
UNASSIGNED: Both CT programs effectively improved adolescents\' physical fitness indicators. However, the program that integrated RT and AT within the same physical education class demonstrated superior enhancement in adolescents\' CRF.

UNASSIGNED: Due to the character of the taekwondo, the adenosine triphosphate-phosphocreatine system provides the energy for each kick, the glycolytic system supports the repeated execution of kicks, and the aerobic system promotes recovery between these movements and the bout. Therefore, taekwondo athletes require high explosive power and anaerobic capacity in order to carry out sustained and powerful attacks. So, the purpose of this study is to compare the effects of APRE and VBRT on lower-limb explosive power and anaerobic capacity in college taekwondo players.
UNASSIGNED: A total of 30 taekwondo players completed an 8-week training intervention with autoregulatory progressive resistance exercise (APRE; n = 15) and velocity-based resistance training (VBRT; n = 15). Testing included the one-repetition maximum squat, countermovement jump (CMJ), taekwondo anaerobic intermittent kick test (TAIKT), and 30-s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT).
UNASSIGNED: (1) Intragroup comparisons revealed significant effects for one-repetition maximum squat, peak power of CMJ (CMJPP), relative peak power of CMJ (CMJRPP), and total number of TAIKT (TAIKTTN) in both the APRE and VBRT groups. The VBRT group exhibited small effect sizes for time at peak power of WAnT (WAnTPPT) and moderate effect sizes for peak power of WAnT (WAnTPP), relative peak power of WAnT (WAnTRPP), and fatigue index of TAIKT (TAIKTFI), whereas the APRE group exhibited small effect sizes for TAIKTFI. (2) Intergroup comparisons revealed no significant effects in any of the results. However, VBRT demonstrated a moderate advantage in WAnTPP and WAnTRPP, whereas APRE had a small advantage in CMJPP and CMJRPP.
UNASSIGNED: These findings suggest that APRE improved explosive power (CMJPP and CMJRPP) more, whereas VBRT improved anaerobic power output (WAnTPP and WAnTRPP) more. Both methods were found to have similar effects in improving the anaerobic endurance (WAnTPPT and TAIKTTN) and fatigue index (power drop of WAnT and TAIKTFI).

UNASSIGNED: Sprinting ability and anaerobic capacities are the determinant variables of the performance of ice hockey players. Recent research in sprinting showed the existence of distinct force-velocity (F-V) profiles, but the link between these profiles and anaerobic capacities remains unclear. This study explores the associations between F-V variables and anaerobic capacities among cohorts of highly trained adolescent ice hockey players.
UNASSIGNED: Data from 36 men (age, 15.1 ± 0.2 years) and 34 women (age, 16.5 ± 0.7 years) were collected during off-season camps. All athletes completed a 30-m sprint test, a Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), and a repeated-sprint anaerobic (RSA) test. F-V variables were calculated from the 30-m sprint test. Partial Pearson correlation coefficients for pooled data and Pearson correlation coefficients for individual male and female datasets were calculated.
UNASSIGNED: Among the F-V variables, maximal theoretical velocity and power were moderately to largely associated with WAnT and RSA performance (|r| = 0.30-0.70). Maximal theoretical force was moderately associated with the RSA (r = -0.32 to -0.33).
UNASSIGNED: The results indicate the importance for highly trained adolescent players to be able to apply force at high velocities to maximize anaerobic capacities. Important differences between male and female players suggest training priorities may differ according to sex.

This study aimed to evaluate the test-retest reliability of a sprint performance test with semi-tethered front crawl swimming to indirectly assess the current potential to perform at maximal anaerobic effort in adolescent swimmers. Eight adolescent swimmers participated in this study (gender: females (n = 4) aged 13.0 ± 0.8 years, body height 1.6 ± 0.0 m, body mass 50.1 ± 4.5 kg; and males (n = 4) aged 13.3 ± 1.3 years, body height 1.7 ± 0.1 m, body mass 59.0 ± 8.2 kg. The testing protocol consisted of two trials of 25 m semi-tethered front crawl swimming with maximal effort and with 1 kg resisted isotonic load. Velocity data were recorded automatically by the 1080 Sprint device for 15 m (between 3 m and 18 m). The Fast Fourier Transform algorithm filtered raw instantaneous swimming velocity data in distance (time) function. A third-degree polynomial was used to extract the individual velocity profile, from which the following variables were chosen for test-retest reliability and the assessment of sprint performance: ttrial15, vmax, vmin, tvto max, tvat max, Dto vmax, Dat vmax, fatigue index. Parameters such as vmax, vmin, and ttrial15 were estimated from swimming velocity profiles and considered as reliable. The CV showed low variance <5%; while ICC2,1 demonstrated respectively good (ICC2,1: 0.88), very good (ICC2,1: 0.95), and excellent (ICC2,1: 0.98) rate of relative reliability; and the Bland-Altman index revealed an acceptable agreement (LoA ≤5%) between two measurements. The sprint performance test based on semi-tethered front crawl swimming confirmed that ttrial15, vmax, and vmin were reliable variables to indirectly indicate a potential to perform the maximal anaerobic effort among adolescent swimmers. The evaluation of the swimming velocity profiles allows coaches to monitor the adaptive changes of performance during the training process.

Repeat power ability (RPA) assessments are a valuable evaluation of an athlete\'s ability to repeatedly perform high intensity movements. Establishing the most reliable and valid loaded jump RPA assessment and method to quantify RPA has yet to be determined. This study aimed to compare the reliability and validity of an RPA assessment performed with loaded squat jumps (SJ) or countermovement jumps (CMJ) using force-time derived mean and peak power output.
RPA was quantified using calculations of average power output, a fatigue index and a percent decrement score for all repetitions and with the first and last repetitions removed. Validity was established by comparing to a 30 second Bosco repeated jump test (30BJT). Eleven well-trained male field hockey players performed one set of 20 repetitions of both SJs (20SJ) and CMJs (20CMJ) on separate occasions using a 30% one repetition maximum half squat load. These assessments were repeated 7 days apart to establish inter-test reliability. On a separate occasion, each participant performed the 30BJT.
The reliability of average peak power for 20SJ and 20CMJ was acceptable (CV < 5%; ICC > 0.9), while average mean power reliability for 20CMJ (CV < 5%; ICC > 0.9) was better than 20SJ (CV > 5%; ICC > 0.8). Percent decrement of 20CMJ peak power, with the first and final jump removed from the percent decrement calculation (PD%CMJpeak18), was the most reliable measurement of power output decline (CV < 5 %; ICC > 0.8). Average mean and peak power for both RPA protocols had moderate to strong correlations with 30BJT average mean and peak power (r = 0.5-0.8; p< 0.05-0.01). No RPA measurements of power decline were significantly related to BJT measurements of power decline.
These findings indicate that PD%CMJpeak18 is the most reliable measure of RPA power decline. The lack of relationship between power decline in the loaded RPA and the 30BJT assessment suggest that each assessment may be measuring a different physical quality. These results provide sport science practitioners with additional methods to assess RPA and provide useful information on the reliability and validity of these outcome measures. Additional research needs to be performed to examine the reliability and validity of the novel RPA assessments in other athletic populations and to determine the sensitivity of these measurements to training and injury.

OBJECTIVE: To compare physiological responses between a self-paced 4-min double-poling (DP) time-trial (TTDP) versus a 4-min diagonal-stride (DS) time-trial (TTDS). The relative importance of peak oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2peak), anaerobic capacity, and gross efficiency (GE) for projection of 4-min TTDP and TTDS roller-skiing performances were also examined.
METHODS: Sixteen highly trained male cross-country skiers performed, in each sub-technique on separate occasions, an 8 × 4-min incremental submaximal protocol, to assess individual metabolic rate (MR) versus power output (PO) relationships, followed by a 10-min passive break and then the TTDP or TTDS, with a randomized order between sub-techniques.
RESULTS: In comparison to TTDS, the TTDP resulted in 10 ± 7% lower total MR, 5 ± 4% lower aerobic MR, 30 ± 37% lower anaerobic MR, and 4.7 ± 1.2 percentage points lower GE, which resulted in a 32 ± 4% lower PO (all P < 0.01). The [Formula: see text]O2peak and anaerobic capacity were 4 ± 4% and 30 ± 37% lower, respectively, in DP than DS (both P < 0.01). The PO for the two time-trial (TT) performances were not significantly correlated (R2 = 0.044). Similar parabolic pacing strategies were used during both TTs. Multivariate data analysis projected TT performance using [Formula: see text]O2peak, anaerobic capacity, and GE (TTDP, R2 = 0.974; TTDS, R2 = 0.848). The variable influence on projection values for [Formula: see text]O2peak, anaerobic capacity, and GE were for TTDP, 1.12 ± 0.60, 1.01 ± 0.72, and 0.83 ± 0.38, respectively, and TTDS, 1.22 ± 0.35, 0.93 ± 0.44, and 0.75 ± 0.19, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The results show that a cross-country skier\'s \"metabolic profile\" and performance capability are highly sub-technique specific and that 4-min TT performance is differentiated by physiological factors, such as [Formula: see text]O2peak, anaerobic capacity, and GE.