Nutrition Practices of Lithuanian Elite International and National-level Male Bodybuilders in the Pre-competition Period.

Objectives: To compare the pre-competition nutrition practices of Lithuanian elite international-level (IL) and national-level (NL) bodybuilders.

Methods: Sixteen male bodybuilders (n=8 per group) were enrolled. The IL group comprised individuals achieving 1 to 4 place in the World and European Championships organized by the IFBB, whereas the NL group ranked between 1 and 6 place in the national championships.

Effect of Low vs. High Carbohydrate Intake after Glycogen-Depleting Workout on Subsequent 1500 m Run Performance in High-Level Runners.

Carbohydrate (CHO) metabolism is crucial for short-duration, high-intensity exercise performance, but the effects of variations in glycogen availability have not been investigated in field trials of trained athletes. This study was designed to test how 1500 m time trial (TT) performance is affected by the manipulation of pre-race glycogen reserves. Competitive middle-distance runners ( = 11 (4 females)) completed a 1500 m individually paced indoor TT after abundant (high, >5 g/kg/d) or restricted (low, <1.

Chill Without Thrill: A Crossover Study on Whole-Body Cryotherapy and Postmatch Recovery in High-Level Youth Basketball Players.

Purpose: To assess the effect of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on postmatch recovery in basketball.

Methods: Using a crossover design, 17 youth male players (age 16.2 [1.

Zfp697 is an RNA-binding protein that regulates skeletal muscle inflammation and remodeling.

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a morbidity and mortality risk factor that happens with disuse, chronic disease, and aging. The tissue remodeling that happens during recovery from atrophy or injury involves changes in different cell types such as muscle fibers, and satellite and immune cells. Here, we show that the previously uncharacterized gene and protein Zfp697 is a damage-induced regulator of muscle remodeling.

Reliability and validity of sprint performance using the Alex7 motorized device.

Introduction: Advancements in technology have recently made it possible to implement effective training solutions across different environmental conditions. This study evaluated the reliability and validity of measures obtained from the innovative motorized device, Alex7 (Inosportas, Lithuania), and differences in speed and kinematic characteristics between resisted and assisted sprinting in young football players.

Methods: Twenty-seven male athletes (mean age: 16.

Impact of Leg Strength on the Force Produced During a Cross-Punch in Highly Trained Amateur Boxers.

Satkunskiene, D, Bruzas, V, Mantas, M, Snieckus, A, and Kamandulis, S. Impact of leg strength on the force produced during a cross-punch in highly trained amateur boxers leg strength impact on cross-punch force. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of leg strength on force generation during the execution of a cross-punch by highly trained amateur boxers.

Mood, Cognitive Function, and Plasma Kynurenine Metabolites Responses Following Severe Changes in Physical Activity.

Purpose: To monitor changes in mood, cognitive function, brain electrical activity, and circulating kynurenine pathway metabolites in response to a 3-wk severe physical activity (PA) restriction, followed by 3 wk of resumed activity adding resistance and high-intensity interval exercise training.

Methods: Twenty healthy participants (14 males, 6 females; 25.4 ± 5.

Impact of Anaerobic Exercise Integrated Into Regular Training on Experienced Judo Athletes: Running Vs. Repetitive Throws.

Kamandulis, S, Dudėnienė, L, Snieckus, A, Kniubaite, A, Mickevicius, M, Lukonaitiene, I, Venckunas, T, Stasiule, L, and Stasiulis, A. Impact of anaerobic exercise integrated into regular training on experienced judo athletes: running vs. repetitive throws.

Discipline-specific Torque-Velocity Profiles and Musculotendinous Morphology in Athletes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare torque-velocity profiles, muscle architecture, tendon dimensions, and bilateral-symmetry between competitive cyclists (CY), competitive runners (RN), ice-hockey players (IH), basketball players (BP), and physically-active individuals (CN) (n=10 for each group).

Methods: Vastus lateralis (VL) muscle and patellar tendon (PT) structures were determined with B-mode ultrasonography, and maximal knee extensor isokinetic torque was assessed at three different velocities.

Results: Optimal torque and velocity were lower in runners than CY, BP and IH (p<0.

Near-InfraRed Spectroscopy Provides a Reproducible Estimate of Muscle Aerobic Capacity, but Not Whole-Body Aerobic Power.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during repeated limb occlusions is a noninvasive tool for assessing muscle oxidative capacity. However, the method's reliability and validity remain under investigation. This study aimed to determine the reliability of the NIRS-derived mitochondrial power of the musculus vastus lateralis and its correlation with whole-body (cycling) aerobic power (V̇O peak).

The effects of 6-week home-based static stretching, dynamic stretching, or eccentric exercise interventions on muscle-tendon properties and functional performance in older women.

Background: Joint inflexibility is acknowledged as a significant contributor to functional limitations in the older adult, with lengthening-type exercises identified as a potential remedial approach. Nevertheless, the responses to eccentric exercise in female older adults have not been extensively studied especially in home-based environment. Here, we aimed to assess the effectiveness of home-based static stretching (ST), dynamic closed-chain stretching (DCS), or eccentric exercise (ECC) interventions on flexibility, musculotendinous architecture, and functional ability in healthy older women.

Is foam rolling as effective as its popularity suggests? A randomised crossover study exploring post-match recovery in female basketball.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of foam rolling as a post-match recovery tool in basketball. Using a crossover design, 13 female players completed two simulated matches, followed by foam rolling (FR) or placebo (CON). Countermovement jump height (CMJ), heart rate variability (Ln-rMSSD), muscle soreness (VAS), perceived recovery (TQR) and fatigue (Rating-of-Fatigue) were recorded at pre-match, post-match, post-recovery and 24 h post-match.

Three-week sprint interval training (SIT) reduces cell-free DNA and low-frequency fatigue but does not induce VO2max improvement in older men.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the impact of sprint interval training (SIT) on both the acute and 3-week modulations of cell-free DNA (cfDNA), as well as its association with neuromuscular fatigue and physical performance in healthy young and old men.

Methods: Ten young (20-25 year old) and nine elderly (63-72 year old) healthy men performed nine SIT sessions consisting of 4-to-6-all-out cycling repetitions of 30 s interspaced with 4-min rest intervals. We compared the maximal voluntary contractions torque, central activation ratio, low-frequency fatigue (LFF), and cfDNA concentrations between the groups before, immediately after, 1 h after, and 24 h after the first and ninth SIT sessions.

Effect of Whole-body Vibration frequency on muscle tensile state during graded plantar flexor isometric contractions.

Background: Acute physiological and biomechanical alterations have been reported following whole-body vibration (WBV). Stiffening of muscles has only been anecdotally reported in response to WBV. Accordingly, this study investigated active plantar flexor muscle stiffness in response to a single WBV bout at four mechanical vibration frequencies.

Hamstring stiffness and injury risk factors during the handball season in female players.

Monitoring the muscle mechanical properties and functions of female athletes throughout their training season is relevant to understand the relationships between these factors and to predict noncontact injuries, which are prevalent among female athletes. The first aim of this study was to determine whether female handball players' passive stiffness of the hamstring muscles is associated with hamstring extensibility, strength of knee flexors and extensors, and lower limb stiffness. Additionally, the study monitored fluctuations in these factors over 25 weeks.

The effects of high-velocity hamstring muscle training on injury prevention in football players.

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.

Recreational 3 × 3 basketball elicits higher heart rate, enjoyment, and physical activity intensities but lower blood lactate and perceived exertion compared to HIIT in active young adults.

This study aimed to assess and compare the physiological [percentage of maximal heart rate (%HR), blood lactate (BLa), creatine kinase (CK)], hormonal (testosterone, cortisol), psychological [rating of perceived exertion (RPE), enjoyment] and physical [percentage of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (%MVPA) and vigorous activity (%VA)] responses of recreational 3 × 3 basketball (3 × 3BB) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in active young adults. Twelve apparently healthy male recreational basketball players (age: 23 ± 3 years; body mass: 82 ± 15 kg; stature: 188 ± 15 cm) completed a 3 × 3BB match and HIIT with similar duration. %HR, %MVPA and %VA were monitored during the protocols, while BLa, cortisol, and testosterone were measured before and after each protocol.

Zfp697 is an RNA-binding protein that regulates skeletal muscle inflammation and regeneration.

Muscular atrophy is a mortality risk factor that happens with disuse, chronic disease, and aging. Recovery from atrophy requires changes in several cell types including muscle fibers, and satellite and immune cells. Here we show that Zfp697/ZNF697 is a damage-induced regulator of muscle regeneration, during which its expression is transiently elevated.

Riding a Mechanical Scooter from the Inconvenient Side Promotes Muscular Balance Development in Children.

Mechanical scooter riding is a popular physical activity among children, but little is known about the differences in muscle loading between the dominant and non-dominant sides during this activity. The objective of this study was to identify the muscle activation patterns in children's dominant and non-dominant legs as they rode scooters on the convenient and inconvenient sides. The study included nine healthy children aged 6-8.

Adding High-Intensity Interval Training to Classical Resistance Training Does Not Impede the Recovery from Inactivity-Induced Leg Muscle Weakness.

Inactivity is known to induce muscle weakness, and chronically increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are proposed to have a central causative role in this process. Intriguingly, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves bursts of high ROS production, can have positive effects in pathological conditions with chronically increased ROS. Here, young male volunteers were exposed to 3 weeks of unloading of the dominant leg followed by 3 weeks of resistance training without (Ctrl group) or with the addition of all-out cycling HIIT.

Associations between Muscle-Tendon Morphology and Functional Movements Capacity, Flexibility, and Balance in Older Women.

Loss of functional movement capacity in older adults is related to adverse changes in musculotendinous morphology, but this relationship is poorly understood. This study examined the associations between musculotendinous morphology and functional movements, flexibility, and balance ability. Ninety-nine older women (66.

Differences in Knee Extensors' Muscle-Tendon Unit Passive Stiffness, Architecture, and Force Production in Competitive Cyclists Versus Runners.

To describe the possible effects of chronic specific exercise training, the present study compared the anthropometric variables, muscle-tendon unit (MTU) architecture, passive stiffness, and force production capacity between a group of competitive cyclists and runners. Twenty-seven competitive male cyclists (n = 16) and runners (n = 11) participated. B-mode ultrasound evaluation of the vastus lateralis muscle and patellar tendon as well as passive stiffness of the knee extensors MTU were assessed.

Changes in irisin, inflammatory cytokines and aerobic capacity in response to three weeks of supervised sprint interval training in older men.

Background: This study investigated the effects of supervised short-term sprint interval training (SIT) on circulating irisin, interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations, and aerobic capacity and body composition values in healthy older men.

Methods: Eleven older men (63±8 years; 178.0±5.