Autonomic stress response of nurse students in an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)

The aim of the present research was to analyze the autonomic stress response of nursing students in a nursing Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation (OSCE). We analyzed, in 41 s-year nursing degree students (20.1 ± 2.3 years), modifications in heart rate variability (HRV) to monitor the autonomic stress response before, during and after the 18 different scenarios of a complete OSCE. Heart rate mean response of nurse students was consistent with an anticipatory anxiety response at the beginning of the OSCE, showing a sympathetic nervous system activation, but HRV parameters show contradictory results. The most stressful OSCE station was the CPR maneuver, the stress response varying according to the station’s demands

Are Crohn’s Disease Patients Limited in Sport Practise? An UltraEndurance Case–Control Study Response

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychophysiological response of a Crohn’s Disease patient in an ultra-endurance event. The psychophysiological responses of a Crohn’s Disease and non Crohn’s Disease participant were analysed before during and after an 8 h ultra-endurance running event. Results showed how Crohn’s patient presented a similar psychophysiological response than non-Crohn’s participant in the ultra-endurance event, except for a higher pre- and post-event sym pathetic modulation, lower event sympathetic tone, and lower event body temperature. This study could contribute to improving physical activity recommendations for persons with Crohn’s Disease and open a new research line for an improved understanding of psychophysiological modifications of Crohn’s Disease patients during exercise.Project 2020/UEM4

Predictors of Athlete’s Performance in Ultra-Endurance Mountain Races

Background: In previous studies, ultra-endurance performance has been associated with training and psychological variables. However, performance under extreme conditions is understudied, mainly due to difficulties in making field measures. Aim: The aim of this study was to analyze the role of training, hydration, nutrition, oral health status, and stress-related psychological factors in athletes’ performance in ultra-endurance mountain events. Methods: We analyzed the variables of race time and training, hydration state, nutrition, oral health status, and stress-related psychological factors in 448 ultra-endurance mountain race finishers divided into three groups according to race length (less than 45 km, 45–90 km, and greater than 90 km), using a questionnaire. Results: Higher performance in ultra-endurance mountain races was associated with better oral health status and higher accumulative altitude covered per week as well as higher positive accumulative change of altitude per week during training. In longer distance races, experience, a larger volume of training, and better hydration/nutrition prior to the competition were associated with better performance. Conclusions: Ultra-endurance mountain athletes competing in longer races (>90 km) have more experience and follow harder training schedules compared with athletes competing in shorter distances. In longer races, a larger fluid intake before the competition was the single best predictor of performance. For races between 45 and 90 km, training intensity and volume were key predictors of performance, and for races below 45 km, oral health status was a key predictor of performance. Psychological factors previously reported as ultra-endurance mountain race performance predictors were inconsistent or failed to predict the performance of athletes in the present research

Psychophysiological patterns related to success in a special operation selection course

Actual theaters of operations require fast actions from special operations units with a high level of readiness and survival. Mission accomplishment depends on their psychological and physiological performance. The aim of the present study was to analyze: (1) the physical parameters related with success in a special operation selection course; and (2) the modifications of the psychological profile of recruits before and after a special operation selection course. Fifty-five male soldiers of the Spanish Army (25.1 ± 5.0 years, 1.8 ± 0.1 cm, 76.8 ± 7.9 kg, 24.4 ± 2.5 kg/m2) undertaking a 10-week special operation selection course performed a battery of physiological and psychological tests. Results showed how successful soldiers presented higher leg strength, anaerobic running performance, and cardiovascular response than non-successful soldiers. The psychological values of life engagement test, acceptance and action questionnaire, coping flexibility scale, and perceived stress scale did not present significant differences after the selection course. We can conclude that success in a special operation selection course was related to higher anaerobic and cardiovascular fitness. This special operation selection course did not modify the psychological profile of successful soldiers.Universidad Europea de Madrid, Universidad de la Costa

The impact of nationality on the psychophysiological stress response and academic fulfilment in the final degree dissertation

The aims of this study were: i. to analyze the effect of nationality on the psychophysiological stress response of physiotherapy last year students in their final degree dissertations; and ii. to analyze the relationship between the stress response and academic results according to nationality. We evaluated the autonomic stress response, cortical arousal, distress subjective perception, and objective and subjective academic fulfilment in Spanish, Italian, and French physiotherapy students during their final degree dissertation. Results showed a large anticipatory anxiety response before the dissertation in the three student groups. Only the Spanish group showed an increased tendency in the habituation process, reducing the psychophysiological stress response during the dissertation, while the Italian and French groups maintained a large sympathetic activation until the end of the dissertation. Cortical arousal and subjective perception of distress were similar in the three nationalities. In addition, no correlation between academic fulfilment and autonomic modulation was found. We concluded that there was no nationality effect in the psychophysiological stress response of physiotherapy last year students in their final degree dissertation, all of them showing a large anticipatory anxiety response

Heart Rate Variability Monitoring during a Padel Match

Padel, an increasingly popular sport, presents some associated cardiovascular risks, which can be prevented by heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring. However, there is no study worldwide that characterizes HRV during padel games. Therefore, this study aims to monitor HRV responses and characterize them using linear and non-linear metrics at three timepoints: at baseline, during a game, and during recovery. Twenty-seven amateur participants had their HRV monitored before, during, and after a 90 min padel game. We extracted time, frequency, and non-linear measures with MATLAB for baseline, rest period, and at three periods of 5 min during the game. The differences in measures were assessed through an ANOVA. The autonomic modulation was affected by the padel match in amateur players. In this regard, the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSsd), Poincaré plot (perpendicular standard deviation (SD1) and horizontal standard deviation (SD2)), sample entropy (SampEn), low frequencies (LF), and very low frequencies (VLF) were significantly reduced during the game, whereas alpha-2, high frequencies (HF), and the ratio between low and high frequencies (LF/HF) increased during the game. Furthermore, an abrupt change was found in the autonomic modulation between game and recovery assessments, which suggests the need to rethink the practices of cool-down protocols. The multiple timepoints analyzed during this study allow us to investigate the evolution of different HRV measures in the time, frequency, and non-linear domains, clarifying the interpretation of the variables, especially the less-investigated ones such as the non-linear measures

Training, anthropometric and physiological characteristics in men recreational marathon runners: The role of sport experience

The aim of the present study was to examine physiological and training characteristics in marathon runners with different sport experience (defined as the number of finishes in marathon races).The anthropometry and physiological characteristics of men recreational endurance runners with three or less finishes in marathon races (novice group, NOV; n=69, age 43.5±8.0 years) and four or more finishes (experienced group, EXP; n=66, 45.2±9.4 years) were compared. EXP had faster personal best marathon time (3:44±0:36 vs. 4:20±0:44 h:min, p<0.001, respectively), lower flexibility (15.9±9.3 vs. 19.3±15.9 cm, p=0.022), abdominal (20.6±7.9 vs. 23.8±9.0 mm, p=0.030) and iliac crest skinfold thickness(16.7±6.7 vs. 19.9±7.9 mm, p=0.013), body fat assessed by bioimpedance analysis (13.0±4.4 vs. 14.6±4.7%, p=0.047), more weekly training days (4.6±1.4 vs. 4.1±1.0 days, p=0.038) and longer weekly running distance (58.8±24.0 vs.47.2±16.1 km, p=0.001) than NOV. The findings indicated that long-term marathon training might induce adaptations in endurance performance, body composition and flexibility.Cílem této studie bylo zkoumat fyziologické a tréninkové charakteristiky maratonských běžců s různými sportovními zkušenostmi (definovaných jako počet dokončení maratonského závodu). Antropometrie a fyziologické charakteristiky mužů rekreačních vytrvalostních běžců se třemi a méně úspěšnými dokončeními maratonu (skupina začátečníků, NOV; n = 69, věk 43,5 ± 8,0 let) a čtyři a více dokončených závodů (skupina se zkušenostmi, EXP; n = 66, 45,2 ± 9,4 let). Skupina EXP měla rychlejší osobní maratonský čas (3: 44 ± 0:36 vs. 4:20 ± 0:44 h: min, p <0,001), nižší flexibilitu (15,9 ± 9,3 vs. 19,3 ± 15,9 cm, p = 0,022), tloušťku břišní kožní řasy (20,6 ± 7,9 vs. 23,8 ± 9,0 mm, p = 0,030) a tloušťku kožní řasy iliac crest (16,7 ± 6,7 vs. 19,9 ± 7,9 mm, p = 0,013), tělesný tuk stanovený bioimpedanční analýzou (13,0 ± 4,4 vs. 14,6 ± 4,7%, p = 0,047), více týdenních tréninkových dnů (4,6 ± 1,4 vs. 4,1 ± 1,0 dne, p = 0,038) a delší týdenní naběhanou vzdálenost (58,8 ± 24,0 vs. 47,2 ± 16,1 km, p = 0,001 ) než skupina NOV. Výsledky naznačily, že dlouhodobý maratonský trénink může vyvolat adaptace ve vytrvalostním výkonu, složení těla a flexibilitě

Acute effects of long-distance races on heart rate variability and arterial stiffness: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This study systematically reviewed and quantified the effects of running a long-distance race (LDR) on heart rate variability (HRV) and arterial stiffness (AS). All types of races of a distance equal to or greater than a marathon (=42.2 km) were included. A total of 2, 220 articles were identified, 52 were included in the qualitative analysis, and 48 were meta-analysed. The standardised mean difference pre- and post-race of various time-domain and frequency-domain indices of HRV, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was calculated. Regarding HRV, there was a significant decrease in most of the variables considered as markers of parasympathetic activity, indicating a shift of autonomic balance towards a reduced vagal tone. Regarding vascular variables, there was a significant drop in blood pressure and reduced AS. In conclusion, running an LDR seems to have a considerable acute effect on the autonomic nervous system, haemodynamics, and vascular properties. The observed effects could be categorised within the expected acute responses to long-lasting, strenuous exercise. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Heart Rate Variability Monitoring during a Padel Match

Padel, an increasingly popular sport, presents some associated cardiovascular risks, which can be prevented by heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring. However, there is no study worldwide that characterizes HRV during padel games. Therefore, this study aims to monitor HRV responses and characterize them using linear and non-linear metrics at three time points: at baseline, during a game, and during recovery. Twenty-seven amateur participants had their HRV monitored before, during, and after a 90 min padel game. We extracted time, frequency, and non-linear measures with MATLAB for baseline, rest period, and at three periods of 5 min during the game. The differences in measures were assessed through an ANOVA. The autonomic modulation was affected by the padel match in amateur players. In this regard, the root mean square of successive differences between normal heartbeats (RMSsd), Poincaré plot (perpendicular standard deviation (SD1) and horizontal standard deviation (SD2)), sample entropy (SampEn), low frequencies (LF), and very low frequencies (VLF) were significantly reduced during the game, whereas alpha-2, high frequencies (HF), and the ratio between low and high frequencies (LF/HF) increased during the game. Furthermore, an abrupt change was found in the autonomic modulation between game and recovery assessments, which suggests the need to rethink the practices of cool-down protocols. The multiple timepoints analyzed during this study allow us to investigate the evolution of different HRV measures in the time, frequency, and non-linear domains, clarifying the interpretation of the variables, especially the less-investigated ones such as the non-linear measures.Grant from the Universities Ministry and the European Union (NextGenerationUE) (MS-03)

The Effect of Acute Aerobical Exercise on Arterial Blood Oxygen Saturation of Athletes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of acute aerobic exercise on arterial blood hemoglobin oxygen saturation in athletes.36 healthy male athletes participated voluntarily with the age (20.9 ± 1.6 yrs), weight (69.8 ± 5.5 kg) and height (169.6 ± 3.7 cm), who studied at school of physical education and practiced 90 minutes of exercise 6 days a week,. This study was conducted with the approval of Ethics Committee of Health Sciences Institute with session date specified in article of Ethics Committee, dated in 13.09.2017.The heights, body weights and VO2 max values of participants were determined by VO2 max shuttle run test once, pre- and post-shuttle run heart rates and oxygen saturations were determined by pulse oximetry. The statistical analysis of data was made in SPSS 21.0 for windows package program. The normality test of data was done by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and it was found that data was not normally distributed. The Wilcoxon test, a nonparametric test, was used to determine for difference between pre-test and post-test. The significance value was taken at level 0.01.As a result of statistical analyses, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between oxygen saturations and heart rates of participants before and after exercise. In conclusion, it can be said that acute aerobic exercise can reduce oxygen saturation