Reliability and Validity of a Novel Trunk-Strength Assessment for High-Performance Sprint Flat-Water Kayakers.

Purpose: To determine the reliability and validity of a novel trunk maximal isometric force assessment involving 7 different tasks with 200-m times for elite sprint flat-water kayakers.

Methods: Ten elite sprint flat-water kayakers performed a series of maximal isometric voluntary contractions (MVCs) on 2 separate days to assess reliability. MVC force was assessed as the participants sat on a modified kayak ergometer and applied their maximal isometric force to a uniaxial load cell during 7 different tasks.

Responsiveness of thermal sensors to nonuniform thermal environments and exercise.

Background: We investigated the utility of finger temperature, hand heat flux, and mean skin temperature as indices of overall thermal balance during nonuniform thermal manipulations combined with exercise, with a view to identifying useful feedback sites for input into personal thermal control systems.

Methods: There were 16 subjects who performed 4 x 30 s of 120% VO2peak cycling with a 4-min recovery. During recovery, subjects either received no cooling (CON), upper-body cooling (UC), or upper-body cooling combined with leg heating (UCLH) using a multi-zone liquid conditioning garment.

Local tissue temperature effects on peak torque and muscular endurance during isometric knee extension.

The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between local tissue temperature, peak torque and time to fatigue during isometric knee extensions. Nine males performed maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) and isometric knee extensions at 70% MVC to exhaustion after 30 min of hot [H, 47.7 (1.