A Review of the Health-Promoting Properties of Spirulina with a Focus on athletes' Performance and Recovery.

Spirulina species are photosynthetic and filamentous bacteria, commonly called 'blue-green microalgae'. Spirulina has a high nutrient content. It contains 60-70% protein with all essential amino acids present, and is rich in several vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds.

Spirulina supplementation prevents exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage in elite rugby players.

Background: The present study aimed to examine the effects of spirulina supplementation on pro/antioxidant status, inflammation and skeletal muscle damage markers immediately and 24 h after exhaustive exercise in elite rugby players.

Methods: Seventeen elite male Rugby Union players were randomly assigned to a spirulina (SPI: n = 9) or placebo (PLA: n = 8) group in a double-blind design. Subjects were supplemented with Spirulina platensis (5.

Provides a Small Advantage in Vertical Jump and Sprint Performance But Does Not Improve Elite Rugby Players' Body Composition.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of supplementation on anthropometrical measurements and physical performance in elite rugby players. Twenty-two elite male Rugby Union players (21-36 years old) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly assigned to a group (SPI:  = 11), or a placebo group (PLA:  = 11) in a double-blind design.

Comparison of Cross-Education and Global Training Effects in Adults and Youth After Unilateral Strength Training.

Chaouachi, A, Ben Othman, A, Chaouachi, M, Hechmi, A, Farthing, JP, Granacher, U, and Behm, DG. Comparison of cross-education and global training effects in adults and youth after unilateral strength training. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2121-2131, 2022-Youth strength training research examining contralateral, homologous (cross-education), and heterologous (global training) effects after unilateral training have provided mixed results and the relationship to adults has not been compared.

Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Test: Discriminant Validity and an Update with the Gold-Standard Wingate Test.

The aim of this study was to update the validity of the Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Test compared with the 30-s Wingate anaerobic test as the "Gold-Standard", squat jump and countermovement jump tests. The second objective was to examine whether this new specific test would be able to effectively discriminate between elite taekwondo athletes of different competitive levels. Twenty taekwondo athletes (15 males and 5 females) participated in the validation component, whereas 18 (14 males and 4 females) and 16 (13 males and 3 females) athletes participated in the reliability analysis of the Wingate anaerobic test and jumping tests, respectively.

Unilateral Elbow Flexion and Leg Press Training Induce Cross-Education But Not Global Training Gains in Children.

Purpose: Whereas cross-education has been extensively investigated with adults, there are far fewer youth investigations. Two studies suggested that children had greater global responses to unilateral knee extensor fatigue and training, respectively, than adults. The objective of this study was to compare global training responses and cross-education effects after unilateral elbow flexion (EFlex) and leg press (LP) training.

Dominant and nondominant leg press training induce similar contralateral and ipsilateral limb training adaptations with children.

Cross-education has been extensively investigated with adults. Adult studies report asymmetrical cross-education adaptations predominately after dominant limb training. The objective of the study was to examine unilateral leg press (LP) training of the dominant or nondominant leg on contralateral and ipsilateral strength and balance measures.

Combination of Agility and Plyometric Training Provides Similar Training Benefits as Combined Balance and Plyometric Training in Young Soccer Players.

Studies that combined balance and resistance training induced larger performance improvements compared with single mode training. Agility exercises contain more dynamic and sport-specific movements compared with balance training. Thus, the purpose of this study was to contrast the effects of combined balance and plyometric training with combined agility and plyometric training and an active control on physical fitness in youth.

Test-retest reliability and criterion validity of a new Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Test.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relative and absolute test-retest reliability and criterion validity of a new Taekwondo Anaerobic Intermittent Kick Test (TAIKT).

Methods: Twenty Tunisian elite Taekwondo athletes participated in this study (15 males and 5 females). Participants performed the TAIKT and the Running-based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST), twice (test and retest), on separate occasions three-week apart.

Within Session Sequence of Balance and Plyometric Exercises Does Not Affect Training Adaptations with Youth Soccer Athletes.

The integration of balance and plyometric training has been shown to provide significant improvements in sprint, jump, agility, and other performance measures in young athletes. It is not known if a specific within session balance and plyometric exercise sequence provides more effective training adaptations. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of using a sequence of alternating pairs of exercises versus a block (series) of all balance exercises followed by a block of plyometric exercises on components of physical fitness such as muscle strength, power, speed, agility, and balance.

Evidence of nonlocal muscle fatigue in male youth.

Evidence for nonlocal muscle fatigue (NLMF) has been inconsistent in adults, with no studies investigating youth. The objective was to examine NLMF in youth. Forty-two young males (age, 10-13 years) were tested for maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) force of the ipsilateral and contralateral knee extensors at 90° and 120° knee flexion, elbow flexors at 90°, handgrip, knee extensor isokinetic torque (300°·s analyzed at 90° and 120° knee flexion), as well as a unilateral countermovement jump (CMJ) and Y Balance test (YBT).