Publications by authors named "Joan Cadefau"

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether a soccer match affects the rapid force-generating capacity of the hamstring muscles, given their key role in both horizontal ground reaction force production during sprint biomechanics, and in the deceleration of the shank during the late swing phase, where rapid force production is essential owing to time constraints. Therefore, the research objective was to determine soccer match-induced hamstrings residual fatigue and recovery through rate of torque development (RTD) and associated biochemical parameters.

Methods: The recovery kinetics of hamstrings RTD metrics by the 90°:20° test, together with serum biomarkers (creatine kinase, mitochondrial creatine kinase, transaminases, malondialdehyde, irisin), were assessed in 19 male, regional first-division soccer players (age = 20.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

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 PDF

Hamstring muscles are most affected by multiple sprint-based sports as a result of muscle strain during sprinting, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of injury. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to assess inter-individual variability in hamstrings recovery after a sport-specific repeated-sprint training (RST), through sprint-specific markers of muscle recovery and associated muscle damage biomarkers in women and men. Healthy females ( = 14) and males ( = 15) underwent 10 repeated 40-m sprints with a 3-min rest pause between each repetition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Explosive and fast body movements, sprints, jumps and quick changes of direction, which are characteristic of the football training, place considerable strain on the hamstring muscles. Due to the high occurrence of hamstring injuries, new preventive strategies are required that focus on high-velocity training. The purpose was to assess the effectiveness of high-velocity elastic-band training in reducing the occurrence of hamstring injuries in football players.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Many sweat-based wearable monitoring systems have been recently proposed, but the data provided by those systems often lack a reliable and meaningful relation to standardized blood values. One clear example is lactate, a relevant biomarker for both sports and health sectors, with a complex sweat-blood bioequivalence. This limitation decreases its individual significance as a sweat-based biomarker.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Irisin has been suggested as a helpful hormone for adverse metabolic conditions. However, the interaction between acute endurance exercises and irisin is still unclear. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the acute effect of endurance training, either continuous or interval training, on circulating irisin in healthy adults.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.*
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of this study was to determine if reactive oxygen species (ROS) could play a role in blunting Thr-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-α phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle after sprint exercise in hypoxia and to elucidate the potential signaling mechanisms responsible for this response. Nine volunteers performed a single 30-s sprint (Wingate test) in two occasions while breathing hypoxic gas ([Formula: see text] = 75 mmHg): one after the ingestion of placebo and another following the intake of antioxidants (α-lipoic acid, vitamin C, and vitamin E), with a randomized double-blind design. Vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were obtained before, immediately after, and 30- and 120-min postsprint.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hamstring muscle injuries occur during high-speed activities, which suggests that muscular strength at high velocities may be more important than maximal strength. This study examined hamstring adaptations to training for maximal strength and for strength at high velocities. Physically active men (n = 25; age, 23.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

As metabolic changes in human skeletal muscle after long-term (simulated) spaceflight are not well understood, this study examined the effects of long-term microgravity, with and without concurrent resistance exercise, on skeletal muscle oxidative and glycolytic capacity. Twenty-one men were subjected to 84 days head-down tilt bed rest with (BRE; n = 9) or without (BR; n = 12) concurrent flywheel resistance exercise. Activity and gene expression of glycogen synthase, glycogen phosphorylase (GPh), hexokinase, phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1), and citrate synthase (CS), as well as gene expression of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEFG), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1α), and myostatin, were analyzed in samples from m.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
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.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Context: Diabetes is frequently diagnosed late, when the development of complications is almost inevitable, decreasing the quality of life of patients. However, early detection of affected individuals would allow the implementation of timely and effective therapies.

Objective: Here we set to describe the profile of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) in prediabetic patients with the intention of identifying novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P(2)) is the most potent allosteric activator of liver 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase enzyme, which is crucial for glycolysis. It is present in skeletal muscle but its importance is controversial as a regulator of muscle glycolysis. This study aims to determine the role of Fru-2,6-P(2) in the control of muscle glycolysis during contraction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The aim of the present study was to examine whether the level of dietary cis fatty acid (cFA), or the isomers (trans or cis) and/or the saturation of the fatty acids at high dietary fat levels altered the intracellular glucose metabolites and certain regulatory enzyme activities in the skeletal muscle and liver of rats. The animals were fed for 30 d on either a recommended control diet (7 % cFA, w/w) or a high-fat diet (20 % fatty acids, w/w). The high-fat diet was enriched with either cFA, trans fatty acid (tFA), a moderate proportion of saturated fatty acid (MSFA), or a high proportion of saturated fatty acid (HSFA).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Glycogen metabolism has been the subject of extensive research, but the mechanisms by which it is regulated are still not fully understood. It is well accepted that the rate-limiting enzymes in glycogenesis and glycogenolysis are glycogen synthase (GS) and glycogen phosphorylase (GPh), respectively. Both enzymes are regulated by reversible phosphorylation and by allosteric effectors.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF