Publications by authors named "Kirsty Hicks"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study analyzed nutrition advice available on the websites of 52 National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG), focusing on information relevant to male and female gymnasts based on rankings from November 2022.
  • - Findings revealed that publicly accessible nutrition information is scarce and sometimes conflicting, particularly regarding hydration practices and macronutrient guidelines, which could confuse readers.
  • - Recommendations include improving the clarity and specificity of dietary advice, developing tools for measuring hydration, and creating a more standardized approach to nutrition information across global gymnastics platforms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aspin, GL, Graham, M, Franklin, J, Hicks, KM, and Taylor, JM. The relationship between the anaerobic speed reserve and acute responses to high-intensity interval training in female soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 38(11): 1911-1916, 2024-The anaerobic speed reserve (ASR) is a popular method of profiling soccer players, often used to individualize training prescription.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Soccer substitutes are exposed to periods of limited activity before entering match-play, likely negating benefits of active warm-ups. This study aimed to determine the effects of using a passive heat intervention following a pre-match, and half-time warm-up, on muscle and core temperature in soccer players during ambient (18 °C) and cold (2 °C) conditions.

Methods: On four occasions, 8 male players, completed a pre-match warm-up, followed by 45 min of rest.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Endocrine-based therapy is the initial primary treatment option for hormone receptor-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) metastatic breast cancer (mBC). However, patients eventually experience disease progression due to resistance to endocrine therapy. Molibresib (GSK525762) is a small-molecule inhibitor of bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family proteins (BRD2, BRD3, BRD4, and BRDT).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Inter-limb asymmetry refers to an imbalance in performance between the left and right limbs. Discrepancies throughout asymmetry research does not allow practitioners to confidently understand the effect of inter-limb asymmetries on athletic performance. Therefore, this review summarized the current literature using a meta-analytic approach, conforming to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify the association between inter-limb asymmetry and athletic performance.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Exercise has transient effects on the immune system that could influence infection risk and tissue recovery after exercise. Little is known about how the menstrual cycle interacts with the immune responses to acute exercise. This exploratory study sought to evaluate the effect of menstrual-cycle phase on peripheral blood mononuclear cell counts before and immediately after a bout of intense aerobic exercise.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study investigated the validity and reliability of measuring patellar tendon (PT) cross-sectional area (CSA) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound (US) imaging. Nineteen healthy participants (10 women, 9 men) participated in three imaging sessions of the PT, once via MRI and twice via US, with image acquisition conducted by two raters, one experienced (rater 2) and one inexperienced (rater 1). All PT segmentations were analyzed by both raters.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Prior to exercise, a warm-up routine has been suggested to be an imperative factor in task readiness with the anticipation that it will enhance performance. One of the key benefits of a warm-up is the increase in muscle and core temperature, which can be achieved in a variety of ways. An effective way to achieve improvements in core and muscle temperature is by performing an active warm-up.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Epidemiological evidence shows that regular physical activity is associated with reduced risk of primary and recurrent colon cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms of action are poorly understood. We evaluated the effects of stimulating a human colon cancer cell line (LoVo) with human serum collected before and after an acute exercise bout vs nonexercise control serum on cancer cell proliferation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Deterioration of neuromuscular function is a major mechanism of age-related strength loss. Resistance training (RT) improves muscle strength and mass. However, the effects of RT on neuromuscular adaptations in middle-aged and older adults are unclear.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: To estimate the effectiveness of tailored physical activity and dietary interventions amongst adults attending colorectal and breast cancer screening.

Methods: Five literature databases were systematically searched to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of tailored physical activity and/or dietary interventions with follow-up support initiated through colorectal and breast cancer screening programmes. Outcomes included markers of body fatness, physical activity, and dietary intake.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

New Findings: What is the topic of this review? We review sex differences within physiological systems implicated in exercise performance; specifically, how they integrate to determine metabolic thresholds and fatigability. Thereafter, we discuss the implications that these sex differences might have for long-term adaptation to exercise. What advances does it highlight? The review collates evidence from recent physiological studies that have investigated sex as a biological variable, demonstrating that the physiological response to equivalent 'dosages' of exercise is not the same in males and females; thus, highlighting the need to research diversity in physiological responses to interventions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Key Points: Knee-extensors demonstrate greater fatigue resistance in females compared to males during single-limb and whole-body exercise. For single-limb exercise, the intensity-duration relationship is different between sexes, with females sustaining a greater relative intensity of exercise. This study established the power-duration relationship during cycling, then assessed fatigability during critical power-matched exercise within the heavy and severe intensity domains.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Runners commonly utilize cryotherapy as part of their recovery strategy. Cryotherapy has been ineffective in mitigating signs and symptoms of muscle damage following marathon running and is limited by its duration of application. Phase change material (PCM) packs can prolong the duration of cooling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study assessed the efficacy of strength training using augmented eccentric loading to provoke increases in leg strength in well-trained athletes, and sprint track cyclists, using a novel leg press device. Twelve well-trained athletes were randomly allocated traditional resistance training (TRAD, n = 6), or resistance training using augmented eccentric loading (AEL, n = 6). A further 5 full-time, professional sprint track cyclists from a senior national squad programme also trained with augmented eccentric loading (AEL-ATH) alongside their usual sport-specific training.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) alter hormonal levels in women by reducing natural hormones while supplementing with synthetic estrogen and progestin, potentially affecting exercise performance due to changes in the body's physiological processes.
  • This review aimed to analyze and compare the exercise performance of women using OCPs versus those with natural menstrual cycles, and observe performance variations during OCP intake versus OCP withdrawal.
  • Out of 42 studies involving 590 participants, most were of lower quality, and results indicated a potential impact of OCPs on exercise performance, though the effects varied based on the comparison made.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how the menstrual cycle (MC) affects exercise performance in women, as existing research lacks a clear consensus on this relationship.
  • The research involved a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of experimental studies, focusing on endurance and strength outcomes across different MC phases.
  • Results indicated that while there are slight reductions in performance during the early follicular phase, the overall effects on endurance and strength are trivial, suggesting little impact of the MC on exercise capabilities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

New Findings: What is the central question of the study? Are corticospinal responses to acute and short-term squat resistance training task-specific? What is the main finding and its importance? A single bout of resistance training increased spinal excitability, but no changes in corticospinal responses were noted following 4 weeks of squat training despite task-specific increases in strength. The present data suggest that processes along the corticospinal pathway of the knee extensors play a limited role in the task-specific increase in strength following resistance training.

Abstract: Neural adaptations subserving strength increases have been shown to be task-specific, but responses and adaptation to lower-limb compound exercises such as the squat are commonly assessed in a single-limb isometric task.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Key Points: Females demonstrate greater fatigue resistance than males during contractions at intensities relative to maximum force. However, previous studies have not accounted for the influence of metabolic thresholds on fatigability. This study is the first to test whether sex differences in fatigability exist when exercise intensity is normalised relative to a metabolic threshold: the critical intensity derived from assessment of the intensity-duration relationship during intermittent, isometric knee extensor contractions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fitzpatrick, JF, Hicks, KM, Russell, M, and Hayes, PR. The reliability of potential fatigue-monitoring measures in elite youth soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 35(12): 3448-3452, 2021-Monitoring fatigue is of vital importance to practitioners; however, logistics and concerns about reliability may impede the use of certain measures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate corticospinal excitability of the soleus (SOL) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles during passive ankle movements by examining various measures including muscle length and excitability levels.
  • It was found that while the TA experienced increased excitability during passive shortening, the SOL's excitability remained unchanged, indicating that these two muscles react differently to passive movements.
  • Overall, the research suggests that corticospinal excitability is modulated differently between the muscles responsible for plantar and dorsiflexion, with the findings leaning towards a flexor bias in response to passive movements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF