Taurine Supplementation Improves Functional Capacity, Myocardial Oxygen Consumption, and Electrical Activity in Heart Failure.

Background: Taurine is an amino acid found abundantly in the heart in very high concentrations. It is assumed that taurine contributes to several physiological functions of mammalian cells, such as osmoregulation, anti-inflammation, membrane stabilization, ion transport modulation, and regulation of oxidative stress and mitochondrial protein synthesis. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of taurine supplementation on functional capacity, myocardial oxygen consumption, and electrical activity in patients with heart failure.

Effect of contact and no-contact small-sided games on elite handball players.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of contact (C-SSG) and no-contact (NC-SSG) handball small-sided games (SSGs) on motion patterns and physiological responses of elite handball players. Twelve male handball players performed 10 C-SSG and 10 NC-SSG while being monitored through the heart rate (HR) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) as physiological responses and time-motion activities profile using video-match analysis. Both game conditions resulted in similar HR responses (P > 0.

Game Profile-Based Training in Soccer: A New Field Approach.

Dello Iacono, A, Martone, D, Cular, D, Milic, M, and Padulo, J. Game profile-based training in soccer: a new field approach. J Strength Cond Res 31(12): 3333-3342, 2017-The aim of the study was to profile and compare the time-motion, physiological, and neuromuscular responses of both National Youth League (NYL) and UEFA Youth League (UYL) matches with those of an experimental game profile-based training (GPBT) protocol.

Motor memory consolidation processes in young female adults with ADHD may be less susceptible to interference.

Young adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may have an atypical procedural ("how to") memory consolidation phase, after practicing a movement sequence, with smaller gains in speed and some costs in accuracy, compared to typical peers, at 24h post-training. Here we tested the susceptibility of performance gains retained after motor practice by young female adults with (N=16) and without (N=16) ADHD to post-training interference. Participants were trained on the finger-to-thumb opposition sequence learning task with performance speed and accuracy recorded before training, immediately after, and at 24h post-training.

Successful treatment of groin pain syndrome in a pole-vault athlete with core stability exercise.

The purpose of this case report was to present a case of groin pain in a pole vault athlete describing the biomechanical features of the injury`s mechanism, acute medical management, and its successful rehabilitation. A 22-year-old professional pole-vaulter sustained an injury during a regular training session. The athlete reported significant left lower abdominal and left proximal adductor discomfort in all activities, including basic trunk motion when moving in bed, sit to stand, and walking, and was unable to return to the regular training.

Acute aerobic activity enhances response inhibition for less than 30min.

Acute exercise appears to facilitate certain aspects of cognitive processing. The possibility that exercise may lead to more efficient inhibitory processes is of particular interest, owing to the wide range of cognitive and motor functions that inhibition may underlie. The purpose of the present study was to examine the immediate and the delayed effect of acute aerobic exercise on response inhibition, motor planning, and eye-hand coordination in healthy active adults.

Acute Effects of Drop-Jump Protocols on Explosive Performances of Elite Handball Players.

Dello Iacono, A, Martone, D, and Padulo, J. Acute effects of drop-jump protocols on explosive performances of elite handball players. J Strength Cond Res 30(11): 3122-3133, 2016-This study aimed to assess the acute effects of vertical and horizontal drop jump-based postactivation potentiation (PAP) protocols on neuromuscular abilities in tasks such as jumping, sprinting, and change of direction (COD).

Is There a Correlation Between Static and Dynamic Postural Balance Among Young Male and Female Dancers?

Aimed to investigate whether young male and female dancers have different patterns of association between static and dynamic postural balance (PB), 60 dancers from the Australian Ballet School (14-19 years old) were tested for static and dynamic PB with head and lumbar accelerometers. Monotonic relationships between static and dynamic PB were found in head movements among young female dancers in all three directions, but were found for young male dancers in the mediolateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) directions only. In lumbar movements, monotonic relationships were found for young female dancers in the AP direction only.

Neuromuscular and inflammatory responses to handball small-sided games: the effects of physical contact.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of physical contact on neuromuscular impairments and inflammatory response during handball small-sided games. Using a counterbalanced design, 12 elite male junior handball players were divided into two groups: contact (C-SSG) and no-contact (NC-SSG), performing both contact and no-contact small-sided games, in reverse order on two training sessions separated by 5 days. The methodology and rules were identical for the two SSG regimens, with the only difference being the inclusion or prohibition of upper body use for physical contacts.

Longitudinal Study Evaluating Postural Balance of Young Athletes.

Repeated anaerobic conditions during athletic performance may cause general and local fatigue that result in postural balance deficit. Evidence suggests that improved postural balance during athletic training may decrease the risk for fallings and traumatic injuries among athletes. Twenty athletes (12 girls, 8 boys) and 20 controls (12 girls, 8 boys) ages 10-15 years participated in the current study.

Vertical- vs. Horizontal-Oriented Drop Jump Training: Chronic Effects on Explosive Performances of Elite Handball Players.

Dello Iacono, A, Martone, D, Milic, M, and Padulo, J. Vertical- vs. horizontal-oriented drop jump training: chronic effects on explosive performances of elite handball players.

Lower Arm Muscle Activation during Indirect-Localized Vibration: The Influence of Skill Levels When Applying Different Acceleration Loads.

We investigated the electromyographic response to synchronous indirect-localized vibration interventions in international and national table tennis players. Twenty-six male table tennis players, in a standing position, underwent firstly an upper arms maximal voluntary contraction and thereafter two different 30-s vibration interventions in random order: high acceleration load (peak acceleration = 12.8 g, frequency = 40 Hz; peak-to-peak displacement = 4.

The Influence of Acute Physical Activity on Working Memory.

The effect of three types of physical activity on two types of working memory were investigated. Participants were 20 adult males who trained twice a week in volleyball two hours per session. Procedures included two pre and post intervention tests of working memory: the Digit span and Visual Memory Span subtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised.

On-field Performances of Rugby Union Players--A Review.

A review of 16 studies examining on-field performances of rugby union players was conducted. Based on this review, we discuss a number of methodological and measurement concerns, and provide practical implications for practitioners who develop training programs for rugby players. Among the main findings that emerged from our review were (a) rugby is an intermittent sport in nature with many tempo changes, ranging from high-intensity sprints and static exertion to jogging, standing, and walking, and (b) differences in on-field performance among players playing different positions are common, and are especially apparent among forwards, who are involved in more static high-intensity efforts, and backs, who spend more time in high-intensity running.

The consolidation of a motor skill in young adults with ADHD: Shorter practice can be better.

Practice on a given sequence of movements can lead to robust procedural memory (skill). In young adults, in addition to gains in performance accrued during practice, speed and accuracy can further improve overnight; the latter, delayed, 'offline', gains are thought to emerge when procedural memory consolidation processes are completed. A recent study suggested that female college students with ADHD show an atypical procedural memory consolidation phase, specifically, gaining speed but losing accuracy, overnight.

Can textured insoles improve ankle proprioception and performance in dancers?

With the aim of determining both the acute and the chronic effects of textured insoles on the ankle discrimination and performance ability of dancers, 60 ballet dancers from the Australian Ballet School, aged 14-19 years, were divided into three groups (two intervention groups and a control group), age- and level-matched. In the first 5 weeks (weeks 1 to 5), the first intervention group (GRP1) was asked to wear textured insoles in their ballet shoes and the second intervention group (GRP2) was not given textured insoles to wear. In the next 5 weeks (weeks 6 to 10), GRP2 was asked to wear the same type of textured insoles and GRP1 did not wear the textured insoles.

Post-activation potentiation effects on vertical and horizontal explosive performances of young handball and basketball athletes.

Background: The present study was designed to compare the effects of post-activation potentiation (PAP) protocols on explosive activities of trained young athletes.

Methods: Twenty-six young team sport players (handball, N.=12; basketball, N.

Dynamic push-pull characteristics at three hand-reach envelopes: applications for the workplace.

Pushing and pulling are common tasks in the workplace. Overexertion injuries related to manual pushing and pulling are often observed, and therefore the understanding of work capacity is important for efficient and safe workstation design. The purpose of the present study was to describe workloads obtained during different reach envelopes during a seated push-pull task.

Validation of the student athletes' motivation towards sports and academics questionnaire to Korean student-athletes.

The current study had three aims: (1) to validate a Korean version of the Student Athletes' Motivation toward Sports and Academics Questionnaire (SAMSAQ-Kr), (2) to examine South Korean university student-athletes' motivation towards athletic and academic achievement, and (3) to identify the relationship between athletic identity and their athletic and academic achievement. A total of 126 South Korean university student-athletes (41.4% males and 58.

Core stability training on lower limb balance strength.

This study aimed to assess the effects of core stability training on lower limbs' muscular asymmetries and imbalances in team sport. Twenty footballers were divided into two groups, either core stability or control group. Before each daily practice, core stability group (n = 10) performed a core stability training programme, while control group (n = 10) did a standard warm-up.

Rhabdomyolysis After Out-of-Water Exercise in an Elite Adolescent Water Polo Player Carrying the IL-6 174C Allele Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism.

We present an adolescent elite water polo player who despite a genetic predisposition to develop exercise-induced severe muscle damage due to carrying the IL-6 174C allele single-nucleotide polymorphism, developed acute rhabdomyolysis only after a vigorous out-of-water training, suggesting that water polo training may be more suitable for genetically predisposed athletes.

Parasympathetic reactivation in children: influence of two various modes of exercise.

Purpose: This study examined the effect of various modes of exercise on parasympathetic reactivation in children.

Methods: Twelve healthy boys volunteered for this study. Time domain measurement of heart rate variability in 5 and 10 min and heart rate recovery (HRR) in 1 (HRR1) and 2 min (HRR2) were measured during recovery after incremental exercise tests by a 12-lead ECG.

Dynamics of heart rate variability at different ages: effect of the arm crank and cycle ergometer protocols.

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the behavior of heart rate variability at rest, mid-test, immediately, 5 and 10 min of recovery following the exhaustive arm crank and cycle ergometer protocols in healthy children, middle-aged and elderly subjects.

Methods: Thirty-six healthy men volunteered to participate in this study and were assigned to three groups: child (N.=12), middle-aged (N.