Adaptive hip exoskeleton control using heart rate feedback reduces oxygen cost during ecological locomotion.

Despite their potential, exoskeletons have not reached widespread adoption in daily life, partly due to the challenge of seamlessly adapting assistance across various tasks and environments. Task-specific designs, reliance on complex sensing and extensive data-driven training often limit the practicality of the existing control strategies. To address this challenge, we introduce an adaptive control strategy for hip exoskeletons, emphasizing minimal sensing and ease of implementation.

The Measurement of Spatiotemporal Parameters in Running at Different Velocities: A Comparison Between a GPS Unit and an Infrared Mat.

The accurate measurement of spatiotemporal parameters, such as step length and step frequency, is crucial for analyzing running and sprinting performance. Traditional methods like video analysis and force platforms are either time consuming or limited in scope, prompting the need for more efficient technologies. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a commercial Global Positioning System (GPS) unit integrated with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in capturing these parameters during sprints at varying velocities.

Does body cooling facilitated by bedding compared to control condition improve sleep among adults (18-64 years old)? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The relationship between blood distribution, body temperature, and sleep/wakefulness states is still unclear. The aim of the present study is to systematically review the potential beneficial effects of bedding strategies (e.g.

Evaluation of the impact of a 3-week specific-sport rehabilitation program on neuromotor control during single-leg countermovement-jump tests in professional soccer players with lower-limb injuries.

Purpose: This study investigated the evolution of neuromotor control during a typical short sport-specific rehabilitation program (SSR) in professional soccer players who had incurred a major lower-limb injury ( = 15, chondral and muscle injuries, ACL-reconstruction).

Methods: All injured participants ( = 15) were in the on-field rehabilitation phase of their specific sport rehabilitation process, prior to return to play. An experimental group (EG, chondral and muscle injuries, ACL-reconstruction) followed a 3-week SSR-program composed of muscular and core strengthening (weightlifting, functional stability, explosivity and mobility exercises), running and cycling, neuromotor reprogramming, cognitive development and specific soccer on-field rehabilitation (acceleration, braking, cutting, dual-contact, high-speed-running, sprint, jump, drills with ball).

Original salivary sex hormone data of naturally menstruating athletes and hormonal contraceptive users.

Objectives: There is a lack of data on salivary sex hormones across the menstrual cycle (MC) or hormonal contraceptive (HC) cycle of elite athletes. We aimed to provide original data on salivary sex hormones (17β-estradiol, progesterone and free testosterone) in naturally menstruating female athletes with a regular cycle or irregular cycle and using combined HC. A secondary purpose was to compare these data with published data from the general population according to the menstrual status (MC or HC or irregularly menstruating).

To jog or to stride: A comparison between two standardised running tests to monitor neuromuscular status in team sport athletes.

This study investigated: 1) monitoring post-match neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) status in rugby union players using two submaximal running tests (SRT); and 2) the sensitivity of each SRT to locomotor variables obtained during match-play. Twenty-three male rugby players (age: 21.0 ± 1.

'Supporting the Support Staff': A Narrative Review of Nutritional Opportunities to Enhance Recovery and Wellbeing in Multi-Disciplinary Soccer Performance Staff.

Background: With ever-increasing training, match-play and travel demands in professional soccer, recovery is vital for athletic performance, a statement amplified in tournament and in-season scenarios. However, alongside supporting the tasks associated with these increased demands, the recovery and wellbeing strategies recommended for playing staff are often unavailable to their support staff counterparts, who routinely experience extended working hours over and above scheduled player attendance.

Methods: Focusing on the contributions of nutrition to this undoubtedly multifactorial issue, this narrative review aimed to (1) identify potential strategies to enhance recovery and wellbeing in multi-disciplinary soccer support staff and (2) highlight future research opportunities exploring the benefits of nutrition for those staff in soccer performance-related support roles.

Hypoventilation training including maximal end-expiratory breath holding improves the ability to repeat high-intensity efforts in elite judo athletes.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a repeated-sprint training in hypoxia induced by voluntary hypoventilation at low lung volume (RSH-VHL) including end-expiratory breath holding (EEBH) of maximal duration.

Methods: Over a 4-week period, twenty elite judo athletes (10 women and 10 men) were randomly split into two groups to perform 8 sessions of rowing repeated-sprint exercise either with RSH-VHL (each sprint with maximal EEBH) or with unrestricted breathing (RSN, 10-s sprints). Before (Pre-), 5 days after (Post-1) and 12 days after (Post-2) the last training session, participants completed a repeated-sprint ability (RSA) test on a rowing ergometer (8 × 25-s "all-out" repetitions interspersed with 25 s of passive recovery).

An examination of relationships between transdiagnostic psychological processes and mental health disorders in athletes.

Introduction: The aims of this study were (a) to identify links between transdiagnostic psychological processes and mental health disorder (MHD) symptoms, and (b) to examine differences in MHD and transdiagnostic psychological processes as a function of demographic variables, including, gender, status as an athlete (elite vs. non-elite), number of training sessions per week, previous severe injuries, and use of medical care following severe injuries.

Methods: A total of 159 competitive athletes aged between 18 and 40 years old (44 % female; mean age = 24.

Effect of Advanced Footwear Technology Spikes on Sprint Acceleration: A Multiple N-of-1 Trial.

Background: In contrast with Advanced Footwear Technology-AFT running shoes for long-distance, little is known about AFT sprint spikes on performance and acceleration parameters. However, their use has become widespread since the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and knowledge of their effects would seem to be an essential starting point before any clinical or socio-economic considerations.

Objectives: Our objectives were to determine intra- and inter-subject sprinting performance modifications with Nike AFT spikes (NAS) compared to standard spiked-shoes (SS).

Influence of Ingestion of Bicarbonate-Rich Water Combined with an Alkalizing or Acidizing Diet on Acid-Base Balance and Anaerobic Performance.

During high-intensity (HI) exercise, metabolic acidosis significantly impairs exercise performance. Increasing the body's buffering capacity through training and exogenous intake of alkalizing supplements may improve high-intensity performance. Manipulating water and diet intake may influence the acid-base balance.

Influence of a Modified versus a Typical Microcycle Periodization on the Weekly External Loads and Match Day Readiness in Elite Academy Soccer Players.

A typical weekly periodization strategy in soccer positions the most demanding sessions four and three days before the match-day (MD-4/MD-3). However, a modified periodization strategy could intersperse the two most demanding sessions with a low-load training session. This study aimed to investigate the impact of these periodizations on external loads and MD readiness.

Effects of repeated cryostimulation exposures on sleep and wellness in healthy young adults.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) sessions during 5 consecutive days on wellness and sleep parameters in healthy young men and women. Twenty healthy subjects (9 women; 11 men) aged 23.1 ± 2.

Impact of Weekly Training-Load Structure and Content on the Risk of Injury in Professional Rugby Union Match-Play.

Chéradame, J, Loursac, R, Piscione, J, Carling, C, Decq, P, and Jacqmin-Gadda, H. Impact of weekly training-load structure and content on the risk of injury in professional Rugby Union match-play. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): 1613-1619, 2024-The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of different components of daily training load during the week preceding the match on the risk of sustaining a match injury in professional rugby union.

Does "Live High-Train Low and High" Hypoxic Training Alter Stride Mechanical Pattern During Repeated Sprints in Elite Team-Sport Players?

Purpose: We examined changes in stride temporal parameters and spring-mass model characteristics during repeated sprints following a 3-week period of "live high-train low and high" (LHTLH) altitude training in team-sport players.

Methods: While residing under normobaric hypoxia (≥14 h/d; inspired oxygen fraction [FiO2] 14.5%-14.

A dive into the physiological responses to maximal apneas, O and CO tables in apnea novices.

Purpose: Apnea duration is dependent on three factors: oxygen storage, oxygen consumption, hypoxia and hypercapnia tolerance. While current literature focuses on maximal apneas to improve apnea duration, apnea trained individuals use timed-repeated submaximal apneas, called "O and CO tables". These tables claim to accommodate the body to cope with hypoxia and hypercapnia, respectively.