Do Brazilian Olympic athletes live longer than the general population? A retrospective cohort study.

We investigated if Brazilian Olympic athletes live longer than the general population, and if there are differences between the types of sport. This is a retrospective cohort study with secondary data analysis. Data from Brazilian athletes of both sexes were included, from the 7th edition (1920) to the 25th edition (1992) of the Modern Olympic Games.

Optimizing Post-activation Performance Enhancement in Athletic Tasks: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis for Prescription Variables and Research Methods.

Background: Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) has demonstrated efficacy in acutely improving athletic performance. However, its distinction from general warm-up (GW) effects remains ambiguous, and experimental designs adopted in most PAPE studies exhibit important limitations.

Objectives: The aims of this work are to (i) examine the effects of research methodology on PAPE outcomes, (ii) explore PAPE outcomes in relation to comparison methods, performance measures, GW comprehensiveness, recovery duration, participants' characteristics, conditioning activity (CA) parameters, and (iii) make recommendations for future PAPE experimental designs on the basis of the results of the meta-analysis.

Serendipity in Science: 50+ Years of Designed, and Sometimes Lucky, Science.

Normal science is about assessing what is already known about a topic, about what needs to be known, and careful methods to collect the data required to answer the scientific question. It is the mainstay of scientific progress. But sometimes, luck or chance (eg, serendipity) plays a significant role in scientific process.

Training Effects of Traditional versus Cluster Set Configuration with and without Blood Flow Restriction.

Purpose: This study compared the effects of four different resistance training (RT) programs that differed in the set configuration (cluster vs. traditional) and the blood flow condition [free-flow (FF) vs. blood flow restriction (BFR)] on strength, neuromuscular and hypertrophic adaptations.

What do we Know about Complex-Contrast Training? A Systematic Scoping Review.

Background: The complex-contrast training (CCT) method utilizes two exercises with different loads and movement velocities in a set-by-set fashion to induce multiple neuromuscular adaptations. The speculated primary mechanism involves the post-activation potentiation or post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) of the muscles used during the heavy load (low velocity) exercise, thereby improving the performance of lower load (high velocity) exercise. However, no previous study has attempted to systematically synthesize the available evidence on CCT (e.

Increased Ventilatory Efficiency in Supramaximal Compared to Graded Exercise in Athletes.

: Supramaximal constant work rate tests (CWR) elicit intense hyperventilation, thus potentially up-shifting ventilation (⩒)-to-carbon dioxide (CO) responses when compared to graded exercise tests (GXT) in athletes. We predicted higher ventilatory efficiency on supramaximal CWR using a new method, challenging the classic orthodox interpretation of an increased ⩒-⩒CO as ventilatory inefficiency. This misinterpretation could make difficult to differentiate between physiological hyperventilation from heart disease conditions in athletes.

High Cognitive Effort Prior to Velocity-Based Training Sessions Reduces Rate of Force Development but Not Maximum Strength Gains in Untrained Male Adults.

This study aimed to analyze the chronic effect of high cognitive effort immediately before resistance exercise sessions on neuromuscular performance in untrained male adults. We used a mixed experimental design, with the group as between-participants factor and time as within-participants factor. Thirty-four participants were randomly assigned to two parallel groups: high cognitive effort (n = 17) and control (n = 17).

Does the Repeated-Bout Effect Influence Post-Activation Performance Enhancement in Recreational Runners?

This study examined how a low dose of an eccentric-oriented lunge exercise could induce the repeated-bout effect (RBE) and affect the subsequent post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in recreational runners. Twenty male recreational runners (32.1 ± 2.

"Falling Behind," "Letting Go," and Being "Outsprinted" as Distinct Features of Pacing in Distance Running.

Introduction: In distance running, pacing is characterized by changes in speed, leading to runners dropping off the leader's pace until a few remain to contest victory with a final sprint. Pacing behavior has been well studied over the last 30 years, but much remains unknown. It might be related to finishing position, finishing time, and dependent on critical speed (CS), a surrogate of physiologic capacity.

Effects of Different Conditioning Activities on the Sprint Performance of Elite Sprinters: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE), which refers to the phenomena associated with the attainment of enhanced performance in sport-specific tasks after a conditioning activity, is an important objective of warming-up practices in many sports. This is even more relevant for sprinters, as potential increases in sprinting speed will directly influence their competitive results. This systematic review with meta-analysis evaluated the effects of different PAPE protocols (ie, using plyometrics, strength-power exercises, and resisted/assisted sprints) on the sprinting performance (ie, sprint time or sprint speed) of competitive sprinters.

Acute Responses to Traditional and Cluster-Set Squat Training With and Without Blood Flow Restriction.

Cornejo-Daza, PJ, Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J, Páez-Maldonado, J, Rodiles-Guerrero, L, Boullosa, D, León-Prados, JA, Wernbom, M, and Pareja-Blanco, F. Acute responses to traditional and cluster-set squat training with and without blood flow restriction. J Strength Cond Res 38(8): 1401-1412, 2024-To compare the acute responses to different set configurations (cluster [CLU] vs.

Does anaerobic speed reserve influence post-activation performance enhancement in endurance runners?

We investigated the influence of anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE). Twenty-two endurance runners and triathletes were evaluated for maximum sprinting speed (MSS) and countermovement jump (CMJ) before (non-fatigued) and after (fatigued) an incremental running test. They were allocated in LASR (low-ASR) and HASR (high-ASR) groups for comparisons between conditions.

Effectiveness of short sprint interval training in women with major depressive disorder: a proof-of-concept study.

Background: High-intensity intermittent training has emerged as an option for treating major depressive disorder (MDD). However, short sprint training (sSIT), an efficient HIIT modality, has not been tested yet for this purpose. The sSIT has been proven to induce the same metabolic adaptations, with the advantage of promoting lower muscle fatigue than other HIIT protocols.

The 2-Minutes Walking Test Is Not Correlated with Aerobic Fitness Indices but with the 5-Times Sit-to-Stand Test Performance in Apparently Healthy Older Adults.

The 2-minutes walking test (2-MWT) is a valid and reliable test that has a high correlation with the distance walked in the 6-minutes walking test (6-MWT). However, to date, no study has determined the relationship between 2-MWT performance and the aerobic fitness indices obtained during a maximal incremental test to confirm if this test is a valid surrogate of aerobic fitness in apparently healthy older adults. The main objective of this work was to identify the factors associated to the performance in the 2-MWT, including aerobic fitness, functional and spatial-temporal gait parameters.

Influence of Intensity on Post-Running Jump Potentiation in Recreational Runners vs. Physically Active Individuals.

The aim of this study was to verify post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) in jumping and sprinting after two endurance volume-equated running protocols with different intensities, in runners vs. active individuals. Nine recreational runners (age: 34.

Effects of Eccentric Phase Velocity on Bench Press Concentric Bar Velocity in the Young and Elderly.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of bar velocity during the eccentric phase on subsequent concentric performance in the young and elderly. Twelve elderly women (65.2+4.

Why Should Athletes Brake Fast? Influence of Eccentric Velocity on Concentric Performance During Countermovement Jumps at Different Loads.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of different eccentric tempos on eccentric kinetics and kinematics and the subsequent concentric performance when performing countermovement jumps against different loads.

Methods: After 1-repetition-maximum assessment and 2 familiarization sessions, 13 well-trained participants performed, in randomized order, 12 sets (4 tempos × 3 loads) of 4 repetitions of the loaded countermovement-jump exercise. The eccentric tempos analyzed were 5 and 2 seconds, as fast as possible, and accelerated (ie, without pause between repetitions), while the loads used were 30%, 50%, and 70% of 1-repetition maximum.

Co-existence of peripheral fatigue of the knee extensors and jump potentiation after an incremental running test to exhaustion in endurance trained male runners.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of an incremental running exercise until exhaustion on twitch responses and jump capacity in endurance trained runners. For this purpose, 8 experienced endurance male runners were required to perform neuromuscular function tests before and after a submaximal running bout (control condition -CTR-) or an incremental running test to volitional exhaustion (experimental conditions -EXP-). The twitch interpolation technique was used to assess voluntary activation and muscle contractile properties before and after each condition (CTR and EXP).

The Repeated Bout Effect of Multiarticular Exercises on Muscle Damage Markers and Physical Performances: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

Doma, K, Matoso, B, Protzen, G, Singh, U, and Boullosa, D. The repeated bout effect of multiarticular exercises on muscle damage markers and physical performances: a systematic review and meta-analyses. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2504-2515, 2023-This systematic review and meta-analysis compared muscle damage markers and physical performance measures between 2 bouts of multiarticular exercises and determined whether intensity and volume of muscle-damaging exercises affected the outcomes.

The Effects of Neuromuscular Training on Sand Versus Hard Surfaces on Physical Fitness in Young Male Tennis Players.

Purpose: To examine the effects of a neuromuscular training program combining plyometric exercises with acceleration, deceleration, and change-of-direction drills conducted on sand or hard surfaces on the fitness qualities of young male tennis players.

Methods: Thirty-one young male players were allocated to a training group performing 12 training sessions on sand or hard surfaces, during a 6-week period. Tests included linear sprint (10-m acceleration with 5-m split times), change of direction (modified 5-0-5 test), vertical jumps (countermovement jump and the 10/5 repeated-jump test), isometric hip abduction and adduction strength, and dynamic balance (Y-balance test).

Preliminary validity of the BNSSS-20 in Arabic: Exploratory study on basic needs satisfaction in sport for a sample of Tunisian athletes.

Background: Satisfaction of fundamental needs is an important concept in sport, but currently there is no tool in Arabic to measure this construct. Basic needs are often linked to high rates of motivation and performance. It is necessary to develop tools to assess psychological needs in the sport context.