Neuromuscular fatigue and cognitive constraints independently modify lower extremity landing biomechanics in healthy and chronic ankle instability individuals.

The purpose was to determine the impact of both cognitive constraint and neuromuscular fatigue on landing biomechanics in healthy and chronic ankle instability (CAI) participants. Twenty-three male volunteers (13 Control and 10 CAI) performed a single-leg landing task before and immediately after a fatiguing exercise with and without cognitive constraints. Ground Reaction Force (GRF) and Time to Stabilization (TTS) were determined at landing in vertical, anteroposterior (ap) and mediolateral (ml) axes using a force plate.

Electromyographic Activity of Lower Limb Muscles during Ankle Destabilizing Tests.

Ankle destabilizing devices were developed to improve the recruitment of the evertor muscles. Nevertheless, the activity of lower-leg muscles has never been compared to each other during functional tests performed with destabilization. The objectives were i) to compare the electromyographic activity between the lower-leg muscles during four functional tests performed with ankle destabilization, and ii) to determine sex-related differences in neuromuscular activation.

Hip Abductor Muscle Fatigue Induces Different Strategies During Disrupted Postural Control.

Background: Ankle sprain is one of the most common injuries in sport, and hip abductor muscle weakness has recently been reported as a predisposing factor. Currently, the influence of hip abductor muscle fatigue on ankle joint control has not been elucidated during an ankle disturbed balance exercise. This study aimed to determine the influence of hip abductor muscle fatigue on ankle joint control during a disturbed balance task, and to consider inter-individual variability in the kinematic and neuromuscular reorganizations implemented.

Fatigue of hip abductor muscles implies neuromuscular and kinematic adaptations of the ankle during dynamic balance.

Objective: Determine whether hip abductor muscle fatigue influenced ankle kinematic and muscle activity during ankle-destabilized tasks.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Methods: Twenty-six healthy, active participants performed two tests (Star Excursion Balance Test, SEBT; Weight Bearing Inversion Test, WBIT) for assessment of dynamic balance and ability to control inversion.

Post-Exercise Hyperbaric Oxygenation Improves Recovery for Subsequent Performance.

: The improvement of athletes' recovery seems crucial to maintaining a high-performance level. Since hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) could be a valuable recovery method, this study aimed at determining the effects of post-exercise HBO at modest pressure (97% O; 1.3 ATA) on physiological response and subsequent cycling performance compared to passive recovery (PR; 21% O; 1 ATA).

Post-Exercise Cold- and Contrasting-Water Immersion Effects on Heart Rate Variability Recovery in International Handball Female Players.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water immersion (WI) on cardiac parasympathetic reactivation during recovery from handball training sessions in elite female players during a two-week training camp. On the first three days of both weeks, players completed a crossover design with one of three 60-min delayed post-exercise WI protocols or passive rest (PAS). Recovery interventions consisted of a period of 6-min cold-WI (10°C; CWI) and two contrasting periods cold- and hot-WI (36°C): one session included 3 min cold + 2 min hot + 3 min cold and the other session 5 × 2 min with cold at the very end.

Psychophysiological responses of firefighters to day and night rescue interventions.

This study aimed 1) to assess the psychophysiological responses throughout a rescue intervention performed during the day and at night and 2) to determine if a vibrating alarm influences these psychophysiological responses at night. Sixteen male firefighters completed a simulated intervention under three different conditions: 1) during the day with a sound alarm signal (Day), 2) during the night with a sound alarm signal (Night), 3) during the night with a vibrating alarm signal (Night). Cardiovascular and psychological stress were recorded throughout the interventions.

How Far Can Life Cycle Assessment Be Simplified? A Protocol to Generate Simple and Accurate Models for the Assessment of Energy Systems and Its Application to Heat Production from Enhanced Geothermal Systems.

Life cycle assessments (LCAs) quantify environmental impacts of systems and support decision-making processes. LCAs are however time-consuming and difficult to conduct for nonexperts, thus calling for simplified approaches for multicriteria environmental assessments. In this paper, a five-step protocol is presented to generate simplified arithmetic equations from a reference parametrized LCA model of an energy system and its application illustrated for an enhanced geothermal system for heat generation with very low direct emissions in continental Europe.

The type of visual biofeedback influences maximal handgrip strength and activation strategies.

Purpose: This study investigated the effects of force and electromyographic (EMG) feedbacks on forearm muscle activations and handgrip maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC).

Methods: Sixteen males performed a set of MIVC in four different feedback conditions: (1) NO-FB: no feedback is given to the participant; (2) FORCE-FB: participants received a visual feedback of the produced force; (3) AGO-FB: participants received a visual feedback of the EMG activity of two agonist grip muscles; (4) ANTAGO-FB: participants received a visual feedback of the EMG activity of two hand extensors muscles. Each feedback was displayed by monitoring the signal of either force or electrical activity of the corresponding muscles.

Effects on Firefighters' Nocturnal Cardiac Autonomic Activity and Sleep Quality of On-Call Nights With and Without Simulated Firefighting Interventions.

Objective: To examine the effects on firefighters' nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity and sleep quality of one on-call night without intervention and one on-call night with intervention.

Methods: Thirteen firefighters completed three experimental nights: a control night (CON), an on-call night without intervention (0-INTER), an on-call night with one simulated intervention (1-INTER). Sleep parameters were determined from nocturnal heart rate variability (HRV), objective and subjective sleep quality.

Cardiac Parasympathetic Reactivation Following Small-Sided Games, Repeated Sprints and Circuit Training in Elite Handball Players.

To compare acute parasympathetic reactivation following usual training exercises, the acute post-exercise heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were analysed. Fourteen elite male handball players completed three separate sessions of 16-min small-sided games (SSGs), repeated sprints (RSs) consisting of two sets of six repetitions of a 25-m sprint with a 180° change of direction (12.5 m + 12.

Does firefighters' physical fitness influence their cardiac parasympathetic reactivation? Analysis with post-exercise heart rate variability and ultra-short-term measures.

. This study assessed the influence of firefighters' physical fitness on performances and parasympathetic reactivation in rescue interventions, and tested the validity of post-exercise ultra-short-term heart rate variability. .

Effect of Protective Equipment on Firefighters' External and Internal Workloads During a Simulated Rescue Intervention.

Marcel-Millet, P, Ravier, G, and Groslambert, A. Effect of protective equipment on firefighters' external and internal workloads during a simulated rescue intervention. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2291-2297, 2022-Firefighter's protective equipment is one of the main factors increasing psychophysiological demand during rescue intervention.

Physiological responses and parasympathetic reactivation in rescue interventions: The effect of the breathing apparatus.

This study aimed to assess the effect of wearing a breathing apparatus during a simulated rescue intervention on psychophysiological responses and parasympathetic reactivation of firefighters. Thirty-four firefighters participated in this study which consisted of four experimental sessions conducted randomly: a maximal fitness test and three rescue interventions performed (a) with personal protective clothing (PPC); (b) with PPC and the full self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), including cylinder, full-face piece, and breathing regulator; and (c) with PPC and only the cylinder of the self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBAc). Physiological (heart rate [HR], breathing frequency [BF]) and perceptual (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]) responses were continuously collected during the three rescue interventions.

Thermal Sensations during a Partial-Body Cryostimulation Exposure in Elite Basketball Players.

Partial-body cryostimulation is used to improve recovery after exercise, especially during competitions or heavy training; however, a limited number of studies have been conducted with international-level athletes in situ during competitions. This study was undertaken to assess the thermal sensation ratings during 3 min of cold exposure (at -130°C) in 24 international-level athletes during the European Basketball Championship. The mean thermal sensation score, measured using a perceptive scale, increased significantly (p < 0.

Mechanisms of Performance Improvements Due to a Leading Teammate During Uphill Cycling.

Purpose: To identify the impact of a leading teammate in front of a cyclist on psychological, physiological, biomechanical, and performance parameters during an uphill maximal effort.

Methods: After familiarization, 12 well-trained competitive cyclists completed 2 uphill time trials (UTTs, 2.7 km at 7.

Validation of a new whole-body cryotherapy chamber based on forced convection.

Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) and partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) are two methods of cold exposure (from -110 to -195°C according to the manufacturers). However, temperature measurement in the cold chamber during a PBC exposure revealed temperatures ranging from -25 to -50°C next to the skin of the subjects (using isolating layer placed between the sensor and the skin). This discrepancy is due to the human body heat transfer.

Whole- and partial-body cryostimulation/cryotherapy: Current technologies and practical applications.

Cold therapy is commonly used as a method to relieve pain and inflammation. This review focuses primarily on two methods of cold therapy that have received recent attention: whole-body cryotherapy and partial-body cryotherapy. These methods are used to induce physiological and psychological benefits in humans in the context of medicine, health and sports.

Benefits of Compression Garments Worn During Handball-Specific Circuit on Short-Term Fatigue in Professional Players.

Ravier, G, Bouzigon, R, Beliard, S, Tordi, N, and Grappe, F. Benefits of compression garments worn during handball-specific circuit on short-term fatigue in professional players. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3528-3536, 2018-The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of full-leg length compression garments (CGs) worn during a handball-specific circuit exercises on athletic performance and acute fatigue-induced changes in strength and muscle soreness in professional handball players.

Changes in femoral artery blood flow during thermoneutral, cold, and contrast-water therapy.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in femoral artery blood flow during cold water immersion (CWI), contrast water therapy (CWT) and thermoneutral water immersion (TWI).

Methods: Ten athletes came to the laboratory three times, to complete a 20-min procedure in upright position: 4 min in air (baseline), then 16-min full leg TWI (~35 °C), CWI (~12 °C) or CWT (2:2 ~12 °C to ~35 °C) min ratio, in a random order. Blood flow was measured every 2 min: baseline (i.

Impressive anaerobic adaptations in elite karate athletes due to few intensive intermittent sessions added to regular karate training.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of adding a high-intensity intermittent session twice a week during a 7-week karate training (KT) on markers of aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms in elite class karate athletes. Two groups were studied: a KT group (n=8, age 20.1+/-0.

Maximal accumulated oxygen deficit and blood responses of ammonia, lactate and pH after anaerobic test: a comparison between international and national elite karate athletes.

The purpose of this study was to compare maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) and the time course of blood markers of the anaerobic metabolism in response to exhaustive supramaximal test in two elite (international vs. national) class karate athletes. Ten male international competitors from the French national team (Int, age 21.

Application of force-velocity cycle ergometer test and vertical jump tests in the functional assessment of karate competitor.

Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the links between tests performances (vertical jump and force-velocity sprint on cycle ergometer) and 2 different karate level groups in order to propose a test battery adjusted to karate.

Methods: Twenty-two karate competitors (10 national junior team (IJ) and 12 national competition level (NL)) performed 4 maximal squat jumps (SJ), 4 maximal counter movement jumps (CMJ) on an ergojump and 3 8-s sprints on a friction braked cycle ergometer (friction loads of 0.5, 0.

[Sensitivity test to antifungal agents: results relative to 150 strains of yeasts].

In vitro sensitivity of 150 yeast strains has been evaluated with diffusion method in solid medium. In order to 9 antifungal agents available at present in disk for the in vitro sensitivity test has been utilized. The authors emphasize the importance to perform methodically in vitro sensitivity underlined, so that specific therapy carry out.