Importance of strength training for sustaining performance and health in military personnel.

The physical capacity of male and female warfighters is challenged on the modern battlefield by heavy loads and high-intensity work. When designing training programmes for warfighters, approaches for developing strength and power alongside endurance must be considered. Strength training often requires facilities that may not be available during deployments while multiple stressors may impair or decrease overall performance.

Resting Energy Expenditure, Metabolic and Sex Hormones in Two Phases of the Menstrual and Hormonal Contraceptive Cycles.

Introduction: Resting energy expenditure (REE) may fluctuate during the menstrual cycle (MC), due to the physiological effects of estradiol (E2) and progesterone. This study examined changes in REE and metabolic hormones (leptin, ghrelin, thyroid hormones), and dietary intake in two hormonally distinct groups, naturally menstruating women (NoOC) and women using monophasic combined oral contraceptives (COC).

Methods: Measurements included REE by indirect calorimetry, body composition by bioimpedance, and blood samples for hormone analysis in the early follicular and midluteal phases of the MC in the NoOC group ( n = 38) or the active and inactive phases of the COC cycle (COC; n = 19).

Beyond Menstrual Dysfunction: Does Altered Endocrine Function Caused by Problematic Low Energy Availability Impair Health and Sports Performance in Female Athletes?

Low energy availability, particularly when problematic (i.e., prolonged and/or severe), has numerous negative consequences for health and sports performance as characterized in relative energy deficiency in sport.

Effect of menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill phase on aspects of exercise physiology and athletic performance in female athletes: protocol for the international multisite innovative project.

The idiom ' has become the slogan for sport and exercise physiology-based research in female athletes. However, in most instances, it is challenging to address this gap of high-quality research in elite female athletes at a single study site due to challenges in recruiting enough participants with numerous menstrual cycle and contraceptive pill permutations. Accordingly, we have assembled an international multisite team to undertake an innovative project for female athletes, which investigates the effects of changes in endogenous and exogenous oestrogen and progesterone/progestins across the menstrual cycle and in response to second-generation combined monophasic contraceptive pill use, on aspects of exercise physiology and athletic performance.

Perspectives on Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training in Healthy Adult Females: A Systematic Review.

Background: Both strength and endurance training are included in global exercise recommendations and are the main components of training programs for competitive sports. While an abundance of research has been published regarding concurrent strength and endurance training, only a small portion of this research has been conducted in females or has addressed their unique physiological circumstances (e.g.

Carbohydrate intake in young female cross-country skiers is lower than recommended and affects competition performance.

Purpose: (1) To evaluate if energy availability (EA), macronutrient intake and body composition change over four training periods in young, highly trained, female cross-country skiers, and (2) to clarify if EA, macronutrient intake, body composition, and competition performance are associated with each other in this cohort.

Methods: During a one-year observational study, 25 female skiers completed 3-day food and training logs during four training periods: preparation, specific preparation, competition, and transition periods. A body composition measurement (bioimpedance analyzer) was performed at the end of the preparation, specific preparation, and competition periods.

Nutritional intake and anthropometric characteristics are associated with endurance performance and markers of low energy availability in young female cross-country skiers.

Background: Low energy availability (LEA) can have negative performance consequences, but the relationships between LEA and performance are poorly understood especially in field conditions. In addition, little is known about the contribution of macronutrients to long-term performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate if energy availability (EA) and macronutrient intake in a field-based situation were associated with laboratory-measured performance, anthropometric characteristics, blood markers, training volume, and/or questionnaire-assessed risk of LEA in young female cross-country (XC) skiers.

Hemoglobin mass and performance responses during 4 weeks of normobaric "live high-train low and high".

Purpose: To investigate whether 4 weeks of normobaric "live high-train low and high" (LHTLH) causes different hematological, cardiorespiratory, and sea-level performance changes compared to living and training in normoxia during a preparation season.

Methods: Nineteen (13 women, 6 men) cross-country skiers competing at the national or international level completed a 28-day period (∼18 h day ) of LHTLH in normobaric hypoxia of ∼2400 m (LHTLH group) including two 1 h low-intensity training sessions per week in normobaric hypoxia of 2500 m while continuing their normal training program in normoxia. Hemoglobin mass (Hb ) was assessed using a carbon monoxide rebreathing method.

Nocturnal Heart Rate Variability in Women Discordant for Hormonal Contraceptive Use.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate within-cycle differences in nocturnal heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in naturally menstruating women (NM) and women using combined hormonal contraceptives (CU) or progestin-only hormonal contraceptives (PU).

Methods: Physically active participants were recruited into three groups: NM ( n = 19), CU ( n = 11), and PU ( n = 12). Participants' HR and HRV (with Bodyguard 2 HRV monitor) and blood hormones were monitored during one menstrual cycle (MC) (NM group) or for 4 wk (CU and PU groups).