Development and evaluation of an ovarian hormone profile classification tool for female athletes: step one of a two-step process to determine ovarian hormone profiles.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a reliable, comprehensive and fit-for-purpose tool for classifying ovarian hormone profiles (OHPs) (step one of a two-step process) in postmenarcheal to perimenopausal female athletes.

Methods: The OHP classification tool was designed by a team of sport scientists, practitioners and medics and is intended for use by sport practitioners. It incorporates self-reported data and guides subsequent verification methods.

Test-retest reliability of strength, power, agility, and sprint performance in female team handball players.

Objectives: This study assessed the test-retest reliability of athletic performance tests in a cohort of trained Norwegian female handball players, as well as a sub-analysis of the test-retest reliability for naturally menstruating players.

Design: Eighteen handball players (naturally menstruating: n = 8) completed performance test batteries on three separate occasions.

Methods: The performance test battery included: a 1-repetition Smith machine back squat, maximal handgrip strength tests, counter-movement jumps, squat jumps, a modified agility T-test, and 15-m linear sprints.

Muscle-Fiber Typology Is Associated With Sprint-Cycling Characteristics in World-Class and Elite Track Cyclists.

Purpose: Identifying the determinants of performance is fundamental to talent identification and individualizing training prescription. Consequently, the aim of this study was to determine whether estimated muscle typology is associated with the key mechanical characteristics of track sprint cycling.

Methods: Sixteen world-class and elite track cyclists (n = 7 female) completed a laboratory session wherein torque-cadence and power-cadence profiles were constructed to determine maximal power output (Pmax), optimal cadence (Fopt), and maximal cadence (Fmax), and fatigue rate per pedal stroke was determined during a 15-second maximal sprint at Fopt.

Estimating Muscle Fiber-Type Composition in Elite Athletes: A Survey on Current Practices and Perceived Merit.

Purpose: To gather information on practices and perceptions of high-performance experts regarding their athletes' muscle fiber-type composition (MFTC) and its estimation.

Methods: A questionnaire on the noninvasive versus invasive estimation of MFTC was completed by 446 experts including coaches and sport-science/sports-medicine staff. Moreover, the perceived importance of MFTC for training and performance optimization was assessed.

Menstrual-Cycle Symptoms and Sleep Characteristics in Elite Soccer Players.

Purpose: To determine whether menstrual-cycle symptoms are associated with sleep in elite female athletes.

Methods: Sleep was assessed for a minimum of 25 nights (range = 25-31) using activity monitoring and sleep diaries. Menstrual-cycle symptoms were collected over the same duration in 12 elite female professional soccer players.

Minimal influence of the menstrual cycle or hormonal contraceptives on performance in female rugby league athletes.

We examined performance across one menstrual cycle (MC) and 3 weeks of hormonal contraceptives (HC) use to identify whether known fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone/progestin are associated with functional performance changes. National Rugby League Indigenous Women's Academy athletes [n = 11 naturally menstruating (NM), n = 13 using HC] completed performance tests [countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), isometric mid-thigh pull, 20 m sprint, power pass and Stroop test] during three phases of a MC or three weeks of HC usage, confirmed through ovulation tests alongside serum estrogen and progesterone concentrations. MC phase or HC use did not influence jump height, peak force, sprint time, distance thrown or Stroop effect.

Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase and Hormonal Contraceptives on Resting Metabolic Rate and Body Composition.

The cyclical changes in sex hormones across the menstrual cycle (MC) are associated with various biological changes that may alter resting metabolic rate (RMR) and body composition estimates. Hormonal contraceptive (HC) use must also be considered given their impact on endogenous sex hormone concentrations and synchronous exogenous profiles. The purpose of this study was to determine if RMR and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body composition estimates change across the MC and differ compared with HC users.

The influence of cadence on fatigue during maximal sprint cycling in world-class and elite sprint cyclists.

Optimising cadence through appropriate gear selection is a key consideration for track sprint cycling performance, yet the influence of cadence on fatigue (i.e., decrement in power output) within a maximal sprint is not well understood.

Behind enemy lines: Expressing locomotor movements of athletes in the National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) competition relative to opposition data.

We provide a novel analysis of the locomotor movements of athletes in the National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) competition by presenting the data of opposing teams expressed as a relative (%) difference and explore the association with match outcome. 117 rugby league athletes from the four NRLW clubs participated in this study. Mean speed (m·min), mean high-speed running (>12 km·h; m·min), and mean acceleration (m·s) were measured in 12 matches (370 individual match files) using the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS).

Female Athlete Research Camp: A Unique Model for Conducting Research in High-Performance Female Athletes.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of a novel research protocol for conducting research with highly trained female athletes, including characterizing menstrual cycle (MC) function, hormonal profiles and symptoms of the participating athletes.

Methods: Twenty-four Australian First Nation female Rugby League athletes completed this study, which involved 11 wk of cycle tracking, followed by attendance at a 5-wk training camp. Throughout the study, athletes completed a daily survey, reporting their MC function and any associated symptoms.

Field- and Laboratory-derived Power-Cadence Profiles in World-Class and Elite Track Sprint Cyclists.

Previous investigations comparing Torque-Cadence (T-C) and Power-Cadence (P-C) profiles derived from seated and standing positions and field and laboratory conditions are not congruent with current methodological recommendations. Consequently, the aim of this investigation was to compare seated and standing T-C and P-C profiles generated from field and laboratory testing. Thirteen world-class and elite track sprint cyclists ( = 7 males, maximal power output (P) = 2112 ± 395 W;  = 6 females, P = 1223 ± 102 W) completed two testing sessions in which field- and laboratory-derived T-C and P-C profiles were identified.

Effect of menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill phase on aspects of exercise physiology and athletic performance in female athletes: protocol for the international multisite innovative project.

The idiom ' has become the slogan for sport and exercise physiology-based research in female athletes. However, in most instances, it is challenging to address this gap of high-quality research in elite female athletes at a single study site due to challenges in recruiting enough participants with numerous menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill permutations. Accordingly, we have assembled an international multisite team to undertake an innovative project for female athletes, which investigates the effects of changes in endogenous and exogenous oestrogen and progesterone/progestins across the menstrual cycle and in response to second-generation combined monophasic contraceptive pill use, on aspects of exercise physiology and athletic performance.

Match Running Performance in Australian Football Is Related to Muscle Fiber Typology.

Purpose: To examine the association between muscle fiber typology and match running performance in professional Australian football (AF) athletes.

Methods: An observational time-motion analysis was performed on 23 professional AF athletes during 224 games throughout the 2020 competitive season. Athletes were categorized by position as hybrid, small, or tall.

Feminae: an international multisite innovative project for female athletes.

Sufficient high-quality studies in sport science using women as participants are lacking, meaning that our knowledge and understanding of female athletes in relation to their ovarian hormone profiles is limited. Consortia can be used to pool talent, expertise and data, thus accelerating our learning on a given topic and reducing research waste through collaboration. To this end, we have assembled an international multisite team, described here, to investigate the effects of the menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill phase on aspects of exercise physiology and sports performance in female athletes.

The Relevance of Muscle Fiber Type to Physical Characteristics and Performance in Team-Sport Athletes.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review was to (1) determine the muscle fiber-type composition (or muscle fiber typology [MFT]) of team-sport athletes and (2) examine associations between MFT and the physical characteristics and performance tasks in team-sport athletes.

Methods: Searches were conducted across numerous databases-PubMed, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar-using consistent search terms. Studies were included if they examined the MFT of team-sport athletes.

The balancing act: Identifying multivariate sports performance using Pareto frontiers.

Athletes often require a mix of physical, physiological, psychological, and skill-based attributes that can be conflicting when competing at the highest level within their sport. When considering multiple variables in tandem, Pareto frontiers is a technique that can identify the observations that possess an optimal balance of the desired attributes, especially when these attributes are negatively correlated. This study presents Pareto frontiers as a tool to identify athletes who possess an optimal ranking when considering multiple metrics simultaneously.

The Utility of Mixed Models in Sport Science: A Call for Further Adoption in Longitudinal Data Sets.

Purpose: Sport-science research consistently contains repeated measures and imbalanced data sets. This study calls for further adoption of mixed models when analyzing longitudinal sport-science data sets. Mixed models were used to understand whether the level of competition affected the intensity of women's rugby league match play.

The Association of Range of Motion, Dryland Strength-Power, Anthropometry, and Velocity in Elite Breaststroke Swimmers.

Purpose: The ability of elite breaststroke swimmers to maximize average velocity maintained throughout a race is reportedly mediated by a number of range-of-motion, dryland strength-power, and anthropometric characteristics. The present study aimed to develop a physical profile and evaluate the relationship between dryland strength-power and stroke kinematic variables in elite breaststroke swimmers.

Methods: A series of range-of-motion, dryland strength-power, and anthropometric measures were assessed in 11 elite-level breaststroke specialists and used to establish group-based averages and expected variance within an elite breaststroke population.

Injury risk factors and barriers to their mitigation for women playing rugby league: a Delphi study.

This study aimed to 1) develop a consensus (≥70% agreement between experts) on injury risk factors specific to women playing rugby league, 2) establish the importance of the identified injury risk factors and the feasibility of mitigating these risk factors and 3) establish context specific barriers to injury risk management. Aim 1: A Delphi panel, consisting of 12 experts in rugby league and injury (e.g.

Stroke Kinematics, Temporal Patterns, Neuromuscular Activity, Pacing and Kinetics in Elite Breaststroke Swimming: A Systematic Review.

Background: Breaststroke is a technically complex stroke characterised by discontinuous propulsive phases, large intracyclic velocity variation and low mean velocity. The performance of this stroke at an elite level is influenced by a number of biomechanical, physiological and psychological factors. The present systematic review aimed to synthesise the biomechanical factors influencing elite breaststroke swimming performance.

Blood oxidative stress biomarkers in women: influence of oral contraception, exercise, and N-acetylcysteine.

Purpose: To compare physiological responses to submaximal cycling and sprint cycling performance in women using oral contraceptives (WomenOC) and naturally cycling women (WomenNC) and to determine whether N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation mediates these responses.

Methods: Twenty recreationally trained women completed five exercise trials (i.e.

The Muscle Typology of Elite and World-Class Swimmers.

Purpose: To examine whether the muscle typology of elite and world-class swimmers could discriminate between their best distance event, swimming stroke style, or performance level.

Methodology: The muscle carnosine content of 43 male (860 [76] FINA [Fédération Internationale de Natation] points) and 30 female (881 [63] FINA points) swimmers was measured in the soleus and gastrocnemius by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and expressed as a carnosine aggregate Z score (CAZ score) to estimate muscle typology. A higher CAZ score is associated with a higher estimated proportion of type II fibers.

'That time of the month' … for the biggest event of your career! Perception of menstrual cycle on performance of Australian athletes training for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Objective: This study explored the perceived effect of the menstrual cycle (MC) on the performance of Australian female athletes, preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and/or Paralympic Games.

Methods: 195 female athletes, nominated by 24 National Sporting Organisations as preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and/or Paralympic Games, completed an online questionnaire ('MCq perceptions'). The MCq perceptions investigated menstrual symptoms, hormonal contraceptive (HC) use and a preferred competition window within the MC.

Effects of Pubertal Maturation on ACL Forces During a Landing Task in Females.

Background: Rates of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in young people have increased by >70% over the past two decades. Adolescent and young adult females are at higher risk of ACL injury as compared with their prepubertal counterparts.

Purpose: To determine ACL loading during a standardized drop-land-lateral jump in females at different stages of pubertal maturation.