Comparisons of Macro-Kinematic Strategies During the Rounds of a Cross-Country Skiing Sprint Competition in Classic Technique.

This study was designed to examine macro-kinematic parameters of six female cross-country skiers during the qualifying, semi-final and final rounds of a 1.1 km sprint competition in classical technique. During each round these skiers were monitored continuously with a single micro-sensor, and their cycle parameters and relative use of these two sub-techniques calculated.

Iron monitoring of male and female rugby sevens players over an international season.

Background: Given the likely influence that high training loads, contact-induced hemolysis and female-specific requirements have on the incidence of iron deficiency, characterizing the direction and magnitude of fluctuations in iron status over an international season is important for managing player health and physical performance in rugby sevens.

Methods: Australian national male (N.=27) and female (N.

Proof of Concept of Automated Collision Detection Technology in Rugby Sevens.

Clarke, AC, Anson, JM, and Pyne, DB. Proof of concept of automated collision detection technology in rugby sevens. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 1116-1120, 2017-Developments in microsensor technology allow for automated detection of collisions in various codes of football, removing the need for time-consuming postprocessing of video footage.

Game movement demands and physical profiles of junior, senior and elite male and female rugby sevens players.

To inform recruitment, selection, training and testing of male and female rugby sevens players game running movement patterns and physical characteristics were quantified across junior, senior, and elite playing levels. Anthropometric and physical testing (40 m sprint, vertical jump, Yo-Yo IR1) occurred prior to players' national championships or international tournaments (n = 110 players), while game movements were obtained via GPS (n = 499 game files). The game movements of male players were similar across playing levels except for number of impacts >10 g which were 2 to 4-fold higher in elite (25.

Comparison of Activity Profiles and Physiological Demands Between International Rugby Sevens Matches and Training.

The specificity of contemporary training practices of international rugby sevens players is unknown. We quantified the positional group-specific activity profiles and physiological demands of on-field training activities and compared these with match demands. Twenty-two international matches and 63 rugby-specific training drills were monitored in 25 backs and 17 forwards from a national squad of male rugby sevens players over a 21-month period.

Neuromuscular Fatigue and Muscle Damage After a Women's Rugby Sevens Tournament.

Purpose: To examine relationships between on-field game movement patterns and changes in markers of neuromuscular fatigue and muscle damage during a 2-d women's rugby sevens tournament.

Methods: Female national (mean ± SD n = 12, 22.3 ± 2.

The Relationship Between Subjective Falls-Risk Assessment Tools and Functional, Health-Related, and Body Composition Characteristics.

We sought to explore the relationship between two subjective falls-risk assessment tools (Falls Efficacy Scale-International [FES-I] and Activities-Specific Balance Confidence [ABC] Scale) and functional, health-related, and body composition characteristics. A total of 245 community-dwelling people aged 60 to 88 years underwent assessments for subjective falls risk (using the FES-I and ABC Scale), health-related (cognitive; Short-Form Health Survey [SF-12]), functional (physical activity and physical function), and body composition characteristics (measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry). The FES-I and ABC Scale are strongly correlated with each other for females and males ( r = -.

Performance indicators related to points scoring and winning in international rugby sevens.

Identification of performance indicators related to scoring points and winning is needed to inform tactical approaches to international rugby sevens competition. The aim of this study was to characterize team performance indicators in international rugby sevens and quantify their relationship with a team's points scored and probability of winning. Performance indicators of each team during 196 matches of the 2011/2012 International Rugby Board Sevens World Series were modeled for their linear relationships with points scored and likelihood of winning within (changes in team values from match to match) and between (differences between team values averaged over all matches) teams.

Variability in power output during cycling in international Olympic-distance triathlon.

Purpose: The patterns of power output in the ~1-h cycle section of Olympic-distance triathlon races are not well documented. Here the authors establish a typical cycling-race profile derived from several International Triathlon Union elite-level drafting-legal triathlon races.

Methods: The authors collated 12 different race power profiles from elite male triathletes (N = 5, age 25 ± 5 y, body mass 65.

High-intensity cycle interval training improves cycling and running performance in triathletes.

Effective cycle training for triathlon is a challenge for coaches. We compared the effects of two variants of cycle high-intensity interval training (HIT) on triathlon-specific cycling and running. Fourteen moderately-trained male triathletes ([Formula: see text]O2peak 58.

Comparison of live high: train low altitude and intermittent hypoxic exposure.

Live High:Train Low (LHTL) altitude training is a popular ergogenic aid amongst athletes. An alternative hypoxia protocol, acute (60-90 min daily) Intermittent Hypoxic Exposure (IHE), has shown potential for improving athletic performance. The aim of this study was to compare directly the effects of LHTL and IHE on the running and blood characteristics of elite triathletes.

Intravenous iron supplementation in distance runners with low or suboptimal ferritin.

Purpose: Iron deficiency is prevalent in distance runners and may impair endurance performance. The current practice of oral supplementation is slow and often not well tolerated. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of intravenous (IV) iron supplementation (ferric carboxymaltose) compared with oral supplementation (ferrous sulfate) on iron status, hemoglobin mass (Hbmass), and physiological indices of running performance in distance runners.

Cycling attributes that enhance running performance after the cycle section in triathlon.

Purpose: To determine how cycling with a variable (triathlon-specific) power distribution affects subsequent running performance and quantify relationships between an individual cycling power profile and running ability after cycling.

Methods: Twelve well-trained male triathletes (VO2peak 4.9 ± 0.

Association between Physical Functionality and Falls Risk in Community-Living Older Adults.

Ageing-related declines in physiological attributes, such as muscle strength, can bring with them an increased risk of falls and subsequently greater risk of losing independence. These declines have substantial impact on an individual's functional ability. However, the precise relationship between falls risk and physical functionality has not been evaluated.

Physiological, anthropometric, and performance characteristics of rugby sevens players.

Unlabelled: Although the characteristics of 15-a-side rugby union players have been well defined, there is little information on rugby sevens players.

Purpose: The authors profiled the anthropometric, physiological, and performance qualities of elite-level rugby sevens players and quantified relationships between these characteristics.

Methods: Eighteen male international rugby sevens players undertook anthropometric (body mass, height, sum of 7 skinfolds, lean-mass index), acceleration and speed (40-m sprint), muscle-power (vertical jump), repeated-sprint-ability (6 × 30-m sprint), and endurance (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test and treadmill VO2max) testing.

Influence of altitude training modality on performance and total haemoglobin mass in elite swimmers.

We compared changes in performance and total haemoglobin mass (tHb) of elite swimmers in the weeks following either Classic or Live High:Train Low (LHTL) altitude training. Twenty-six elite swimmers (15 male, 11 female, 21.4 ± 2.

Movement patterns in rugby sevens: effects of tournament level, fatigue and substitute players.

Objectives: Understanding of the physical demands and the effects of fatigue and substitute players in rugby sevens is limited. This study quantified the differences in movement patterns between domestic and international rugby sevens tournaments, the effects of fatigue within and between matches during tournaments, and movement patterns of second half substitute players.

Design: Movement patterns of 19 international-level male rugby sevens players were recorded using a Global Positioning System (GPS) device during 11 international and 16 domestic matches (n = 174 files).

Effectiveness of intermittent training in hypoxia combined with live high/train low.

Elite athletes often undertake altitude training to improve sea-level athletic performance, yet the optimal methodology has not been established. A combined approach of live high/train low plus train high (LH/TL+TH) may provide an additional training stimulus to enhance performance gains. Seventeen male and female middle-distance runners with maximal aerobic power (VO2max) of 65.

Effects of simulated and real altitude exposure in elite swimmers.

The effect of repeated exposures to natural and simulated moderate altitude on physiology and competitive performance of elite athletes warrants further investigation. This study quantified changes in hemoglobin mass, performance tests, and competitive performance of elite swimmers undertaking a coach-prescribed program of natural and simulated altitude training. Nine swimmers (age 21.

Reproducibility of performance changes to simulated live high/train low altitude.

Unlabelled: Elite athletes often undertake multiple altitude exposures within and between training years in an attempt to improve sea level performance.

Purpose: To quantify the reproducibility of responses to live high/train low (LHTL) altitude exposure in the same group of athletes.

Methods: Sixteen highly trained runners with maximal aerobic power (VO2max) of 73.

Physiological characteristics of successful mountain bikers and professional road cyclists.

The aims of this study were to compare the physiological and anthropometric characteristics of successful mountain bikers and professional road cyclists and to re-examine the power-to-weight characteristics of internationally competitive mountain bikers. Internationally competitive cyclists (seven mountain bikers and seven road cyclists) completed the following tests: anthropometric measurements, an incremental cycle ergometer test and a 30 min laboratory time-trial. The mountain bikers were lighter (65.