Hematological and performance adaptations to altitude training (2,320 m) in elite middle-distance and distance swimmers.

Purpose: Elite swimmers often schedule altitude training camps ahead of major events in an attempt to maximize performance. However, the relationships between altitude-induced hematological changes, markers of training adaptation, and performance changes in such context are unclear. This study assessed hematological status, markers of daily adaptation, and swimming performance in elite middle-distance and distance swimmers during a 22-day altitude training camp at 2,320 m, 2 weeks prior to World Championship qualification competition.

Estimating Muscle Fiber-Type Composition in Elite Athletes: A Survey on Current Practices and Perceived Merit.

Purpose: To gather information on practices and perceptions of high-performance experts regarding their athletes' muscle fiber-type composition (MFTC) and its estimation.

Methods: A questionnaire on the noninvasive versus invasive estimation of MFTC was completed by 446 experts including coaches and sport-science/sports-medicine staff. Moreover, the perceived importance of MFTC for training and performance optimization was assessed.

Biceps femoris long head stiffens after 2 weeks of training cessation in highly trained sprinters.

Purpose: Most athletes experience short-term training cessation because of illness, injury, post-season vacation, or other reasons. Passive muscle stiffness is a potential risk factor for a sprint-type hamstring strain injury, but limited information is available about the effect of short-term training cessation on passive muscle stiffness. The present study aimed to identify whether and how passive muscle stiffness of the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) would vary due to 2 weeks of training cessation in sprinters.

Using artificial intelligence for exercise prescription in personalised health promotion: A critical evaluation of OpenAI's GPT-4 model.

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare provides new possibilities for personalized health management. AI-based fitness applications are becoming more common, facilitating the opportunity for individualised exercise prescription. However, the use of AI carries the risk of inadequate expert supervision, and the efficacy and validity of such applications have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly in the context of diverse health conditions.

Effects of Bed Rest on Physical Performance in Athletes: A Systematic and Narrative Review.

Background: Athletes can face scenarios in which they are confined to bed rest (e.g., due to injury or illness).

Next-Generation Models for Predicting Winning Times in Elite Swimming Events: Updated Predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Purpose: To evaluate statistical models developed for predicting medal-winning performances for international swimming events and generate updated performance predictions for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Methods: The performance of 2 statistical models developed for predicting international swimming performances was evaluated. The first model employed linear regression and forecasting to examine performance trends among medal winners, finalists, and semifinalists over an 8-year period.

Effect of two weeks of training cessation on concentric and eccentric knee muscle strength in highly trained sprinters.

Athletes often experience short-term training cessation because of injury, illness, post-season vacation, or other reasons. Limited information is available about the effect of short-term (less than four weeks) training cessation on muscle strength in athletes. Sprinting athletes must maintain knee extension and flexion strength to reduce the risk of sprint-type hamstring strain injury.

Analysis of pacing and kinematics in 3000 m freestyle in elite level swimmers.

This study aimed to determine elite swimmers' pacing strategy in the 3000 m event and to analyse the associated performance variability and pacing factors. Forty-seven races were performed by 17 male and 13 female elite swimmers in a 25 m pool (20.7 ± 2.

Training cessation and subsequent retraining of a world-class female Olympic sailor after Tokyo 2020: A case study.

Olympic sailing is a complex sport where sailors are required to predict and interpret weather conditions while facing high physical and physiological demands. While it is essential for sailors to develop physical and physiological capabilities toward major competition, monitoring training status following the competition is equally important to minimize the magnitude of detraining and facilitate retraining. Despite its long history in the modern Olympics, reports on world-class sailors' training status and performance characteristics across different periodization phases are currently lacking.

High-Intensity Interval Training, Performance, and Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Highly Trained Traditional Rowers.

Purpose: Oxygen uptake kinetics (VO2kinetics) is a measure of an athlete's capacity to respond to variations in energy demands. Faster VO2kinetics is associated with better performance in endurance sports, but optimal training methods to improve VO2kinetics remain unclear. This study compared the effects of 2 high-intensity interval-training (HIIT) programs on traditional rowing performance and VO2kinetics.

Influence of Torque and Cadence on Power Output Production in Cyclists.

Purpose: No information is available on the torque/cadence relationship in road cyclists. We aimed to establish whether this relationship differs between cyclists of different performance levels or team roles.

Methods: Mean maximal power (MMP) output data from 177 riders were obtained from 2012 to 2021 from training and competitions.

Training Practices of Football Players During the Early COVID-19 Lockdown Worldwide.

Unlabelled: The COVID-19 lockdown challenged the training options of athletes worldwide, including players from the most popular sport globally, football/soccer.

Purpose: The authors explored the training practices of football players worldwide during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods: Football players (N = 2482, 30% professional, 22% semipro, and 48% amateur) completed an online survey (May-July 2020) on their training practices before versus during lockdown (March-June 2020).

Ramadan intermittent fasting induced poorer training practices during the COVID-19 lockdown: A global cross-sectional study with 5529 athletes from 110 countries.

Ramadan intermittent fasting during the COVID-19 lockdown (RIFL) may present unique demands. We investigated training practices (i.e.

Football in Times of COVID-19: A Recapitulation of Preventive Measures and Infection Control Policies Aiming at a Safe Game Environment.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in sporting event suspensions and cancellations, affecting competition calendars worldwide during 2020 and 2021. This challenged high-performance athletes' capacity to complete physical, technical, or tactical training during restricted movement measures (lockdown). With the Football World Cup organized in the last quarter of 2022, the past period of training and match disturbances challenged footballers concerning their performance and potential higher risk of injury at official matches' resumption.

Elite versus non-elite cyclist - Stepping up to the international/elite ranks from U23 cycling.

This study investigated the physiological, performance and training characteristics of U23 cyclists and assessed the requirements of stepping up to the elite/international ranks. Twenty highly trained U23 cyclists (age, 22.1 ± 0.

COVID-19 Lockdown: A Global Study Investigating the Effect of Athletes' Sport Classification and Sex on Training Practices.

Purpose: To investigate differences in athletes' knowledge, beliefs, and training practices during COVID-19 lockdowns with reference to sport classification and sex. This work extends an initial descriptive evaluation focusing on athlete classification.

Methods: Athletes (12,526; 66% male; 142 countries) completed an online survey (May-July 2020) assessing knowledge, beliefs, and practices toward training.

Ramadan Observance Exacerbated the Negative Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep and Training Behaviors: A International Survey on 1,681 Muslim Athletes.

Objective: Disrupted sleep and training behaviors in athletes have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed at investigating the combined effects of Ramadan observance and COVID-19 related lockdown in Muslim athletes.

Methods: From an international sample of athletes ( = 3,911), 1,681 Muslim athletes (from 44 countries; 25.