Publications by authors named "Gerard Carmona"
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how a high-volume sprinting session affects sprint performance and risk factors for hamstring strain injuries in male amateur soccer players.* -
- Results show significant decreases in sprint performance and posterior chain muscle strength for up to 72 hours post-sprinting, indicating that such sessions can lead to fatigue and increased injury risk.* -
- The findings highlight the necessity for careful management of sprinting volume in training to minimize the risk of injuries while maintaining performance levels.*
This study aimed to assess acute and residual changes in sprint-related hamstring injury (HSI) risk factors after a football (soccer) match, focusing on recovery within the commonly observed 72-h timeframe between elite football matches. We used a multifactorial approach within a football context, incorporating optical and ultrastructural microscopic analysis of BFlh (biceps femoris long head) muscle fibres, along with an examination of BFlh fibre composition. Changes in sprint performance-related factors and HSI modifiable risk factors were examined until 3 days after the match (MD ) in 20 football players.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInitial Maximum Push-Rim Propulsion and Sprint Performance in Elite Men's Wheelchair Basketball.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the reliability of initial maximum push-rim propulsion (IMPRP) and sprint performance in elite wheelchair basketball players, while also examining the role of strength in sprinting ability.
- Fifteen male international wheelchair basketball players participated, with tests conducted for maximum push from a stationary position and sprint times over distances of 3, 5, and 12 meters.
- Results indicated that IMPRP showed high reliability, correlating strongly with sprint performance, suggesting that improving strength exercises could enhance sprinting capacity in wheelchair basketball athletes.
Article Synopsis
- Traditional measurements of physical demands in team sports may underestimate intense scenarios due to their variable nature, often only focusing on the single most demanding situation per game.
- Recent research highlights that multiple scenarios of significant intensity exist that were previously overlooked, prompting a new approach in evaluating competition and training loads.
- A study monitored rink hockey players to assess the differences in physical demands based on playing positions, revealing that exterior players cover more distance while interior players perform more accelerations, which can help coaches design position-specific training programs.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to compare initial maximum push-rim propulsion (IMPRP), mechanical outputs, and sprint performance between elite women's wheelchair basketball players classified as A (≤2.5 class) and B (≥3 class).
- Sixteen players participated, with B category players performing significantly better in both IMPRP and sprint tests across various distances.
- The findings highlighted a strong correlation between IMPRP mechanical outputs and sprint performance, suggesting that enhanced strength can lead to better sprinting capabilities in wheelchair basketball athletes.
Article Synopsis
- * Eleven players participated, undergoing a 9-week training program while their fitness was measured through a shuttle run test and a counter-movement jump test.
- * Results showed that while the training helped maintain jumping performance, it was not enough to sustain aerobic capacity, indicated by increases in heart rate and blood lactate levels post-lockdown.
Article Synopsis
- - Monitoring workload is essential for elite sports training and injury prevention, with new technologies aiding coaches in optimizing player training and performance.
- - This study analyzed the physical demands on an elite handball team over a season, using a local positioning system to track various metrics during matches.
- - Results showed that different positions have distinct performance characteristics, with wings covering the most distance at high speeds, while centre backs exhibit the highest intensity actions and decelerations, providing insight for tailored training methods.
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to integrate external and internal load metrics for monitoring the fitness and fatigue levels of rink hockey players across training sessions in a standard microcycle.
- It compared the load dynamics between training sessions and matches, revealing distinct patterns in how players' loads fluctuated as game day approached.
- The research found a notable peak in load intensity a few days before matches and established strong correlations between external and internal load measures, supporting a comprehensive monitoring system for player performance.
Article Synopsis
- The study compares repeated change of direction ability (rCODA) and bench press (BP) performance between wheelchair basketball players in low and high sport classes.
- Seventeen elite players were tested using the Modified Agility T-test (rMAT) for rCODA and a bench press test to measure movement velocity.
- Results showed no significant differences between sport classes, but a strong correlation was found between BP velocity and rMAT outcomes, suggesting better BP performance may improve rCODA, especially under fatigue for higher category players.
Article Synopsis
- The study compared mechanical properties and sprint performance between national-level sprinters and physically active males, focusing on thigh muscle volumes (MVs) as a factor.
- Results showed that sprinters were significantly faster in 10m and 40m sprints and exhibited higher maximum velocity (V0) and maximum power (Pmax) compared to active males.
- Strong correlations were found between hamstring muscle volume and both sprint time and mechanical performance, indicating that larger hamstring volumes contribute to better sprinting outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to analyze the frequency of high-demand and very high-demand scenarios during match play for an elite futsal team, focusing on velocity, distance, and neuromuscular locomotor variables.
- - Data were collected from thirteen players across thirteen official matches and six microcycles, using a positioning system to quantify the most demanding match scenarios and their occurrence before matches.
- - Results showed that while training sessions two days prior to a match closely mirrored match demands in velocity, they lacked in neuromuscular variables, indicating that high-demand scenarios significantly drop in training compared to actual matches and could help optimize training assessments.
Quantification of external load of elite rink hockey players in official matches.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness
December 2020
Article Synopsis
- * Eight professional players were monitored during nine official matches, measuring variables such as total distance covered, high-speed distance, and intensity of accelerations and decelerations.
- * Results showed no significant differences in physical demands between the two player positions, providing coaches with crucial data to better tailor training regimens.
Assessment of muscle fiber adaptation in footballers using a new ELISA assay of myosin isoforms.
J Sports Med Phys Fitness
November 2019
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted on football players throughout a competitive season to analyze the relationship between training and injury incidence by measuring serum levels of myosin isoforms and other biomarkers.
- Researchers developed a new assay for comparing levels of fast and slow myosin between non-sporting volunteers and professional athletes, revealing age-related differences in myosin levels.
- The findings suggest that tracking serum myosin isoforms provides valuable insights into muscle damage from training, enabling tailored training plans that can enhance player performance while minimizing injury risk.
Article Synopsis
- * Results showed that males had significantly larger hamstring muscle volumes and were faster in sprinting, outperforming females by 14% on 40 m and 15% on 80 m.
- * The research found a strong correlation between hamstring and adductor muscle volumes with sprint performance, indicating that larger hamstrings were most related to better sprinting outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluated the impact of a 5-month sprint-based training macrocycle on national-level sprinters, focusing on sprint performance, muscle volumes (MVs), and mechanical parameters (SMPs).
- Twelve sprinters underwent tests for sprint times at various distances, MRI scans for muscle volume assessment, and radar measurements for sprint mechanics.
- Results showed significant improvements in sprint performance (4%-7%), muscle volumes (6%-12% increases), and sprint mechanics, emphasizing the effectiveness of sprint-specific training for enhancing the performance of elite athletes.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined muscle damage in runners after competing in 35 km and 55 km mountain races by analyzing serum muscle enzymes and specific proteins.* -
- It found significant increases in muscle enzymes like creatine kinase (CK) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) after the races, with the 55 km group showing greater muscle damage reflected in slow myosin (SM) changes.* -
- Results suggest that long-distance mountain races may cause significant damage to type I muscle fibers, even in well-trained runners, indicating the need for further recovery strategies.*
Article Synopsis
- The study evaluates the reliability of two tests, the Initial Maximum Push-Rim Propulsion (IMPRP) test and a sprint test, in assessing the physical condition of elite wheelchair rugby players.
- It involved 16 Spanish players and found that both tests showed high reliability and accuracy, indicating they can be trusted for evaluating performance.
- The study revealed strong correlations between IMPRP mechanical outputs and sprint performance, suggesting that specific strength training could enhance both push and sprint capabilities in wheelchair rugby athletes.
Article Synopsis
- - This study evaluated the early effects of a 4-week inertial resistance training program on muscle size and strength in ten young volunteers, using MRI scans to measure muscle cross-sectional area and volume before, during, and after training sessions.
- - Results showed significant increases in quadriceps muscle size (hypertrophy) and improvements in squat force and power after just two weeks of training, with notable enhancements in knee extensor strength by the end of the program.
- - The findings suggest that muscle growth begins early in the training process, challenging the effectiveness of muscle functional MRI as a reliable predictor of hypertrophy outcomes from resistance training.
Article Synopsis
- - The study evaluated hamstring muscle damage from eccentric leg curls (ELCs) by measuring force-generating capacity, muscle enzyme levels, and fMRI scans over a week after exercise, focusing on how damage varies among subjects.
- - Thirteen male participants performed ELCs, leading to a classification of subjects into high responders (10 with severe damage) and moderate responders (3 with moderate damage), based on their muscle function and enzyme level changes.
- - fMRI results revealed that the semitendinosus (ST) muscle sustained the most damage, showing significant increases in T2 measures, while variations in muscle force capacity indicated differing degrees of damage in individuals.
Sarcomere Disruptions of Slow Fiber Resulting From Mountain Ultramarathon.
Int J Sports Physiol Perform
November 2015
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to analyze changes in specific myosin isoforms (fast and slow) in the serum of athletes following a mountain ultramarathon, comparing these to established biomarkers for muscle and cardiac damage.
- Eight endurance-trained amateur athletes were observed at various intervals (before, and 1, 24, and 48 hours post-race) to assess these changes using statistical tests.
- Results showed a significant increase in slow myosin isoform levels 24 hours post-race, while fast myosin isoforms and cardiac troponin I levels remained stable; serum creatine kinase peaked 1 hour post-race, indicating muscle damage.