Publications by authors named "J K Ihalainen"
Introduction: The present scientific consensus is that the menstrual cycle (MC) and hormonal contraceptive (HC) cycle only influence performance trivially. Nevertheless, athletes perceive changes in performance that they associate with different phases of their hormonal cycle.
Methods: A total of 959 female athletes completed a questionnaire, of which 750 were included in the present analysis.
Background: Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, convalescent plasma (CP) emerged as a potentially effective treatment neutralising SARS-CoV-2. Early CP therapy with high neutralising antibody (NAb) titre may benefit COVID-19 outpatients and, in sufficient quantities even some hospitalised patients. This study details the process of setting up a CP bank, containing high- and low-titre CP for a clinical trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This observational study investigated: (1) potential changes in female football players' in-season training load, intensity and physical performance, and (2) if in-season accumulated training load, intensity, or their progression are associated to changes in physical performance.
Methods: Thirty-five national level female players (∼21 years, = 35) from three top-teams of the Finnish national league participated. Players performed tests at the beginning and at the end of the 27-week in-season.
Article Synopsis
- Recent research indicates that the ability to maintain physiological characteristics might play a key role in endurance performance, leading to a study on the effects of low-intensity exercise on lactate threshold and sex differences in fatigue.
- In the study, 31 recreational runners (15 females) underwent treadmill testing and a 90-minute low-intensity exercise session, with measurements taken for lactate thresholds, heart rate, and other physiological parameters.
- The results showed significant decreases in lactate threshold for both sexes during the exercise, with a notable correlation found between changes in heart rate variability (DFA-a1) and lactate threshold, suggesting DFA-a1 might serve as an indicator of endurance capacity.
Association of LEAF-Q and EDE-QS scores with cholesterol levels in Finnish female athletes.
BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- Low energy availability (LEA) is prevalent in female athletes and may disrupt sex hormones, potentially affecting cholesterol metabolism and increasing cardiovascular disease risk.
- A study involving Finnish female athletes found that a significant number reported symptoms of LEA, with 41% scoring high on the LEAF-Q questionnaire.
- Higher scores on the LEAF-Q and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS) were linked to increased LDL cholesterol levels, particularly among those in sports that prioritize leanness.