VO2max test is not altered by a submaximum exercise

INTRODUCTION: The Maximum Oxygen Consumption (VO2max) and Ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VT), is measured using progressive exercise protocol until exhaustion, these results can be affected by a previous submaximum exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was evaluate the reproducibility of maximum effort test after a submaximum exercise. METHODS: 19 subjects (mean ± SD; age, 21.8±2.5 years; body mass, 71.0±10.6 and height, 175.2±8.1) participated in this study. During two days of assessment separately for at least 24h recovery subjects performed the following tests: Day 1 a maximum effort test and a submaximum exercise at 80% of VO2max. Day 2 the order of the tests performed on day 1 was reversed. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the VO2max or ventilatory thresholds determined in both tests of maximum effort. (VO2max 54.2 ± 6.8vs 55.1 ± 6.4 (ml·kg-1·min-1), ICC; 0.91, CV; 3.9 ± 2.1); (VO2 RCT 45.6 ± 6.4vs 45.9 ± 5.7 (ml·kg-1·min-1) ICC; 0.96, CV; 3.0 ± 2.1)( VO2 VT 35.6 ± 4.7vs 35.6 ± 4.7 (ml·kg-1·min-1) ICC; 0.87, CV; 4.9 ± 3.9). CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed a high reproducibility of the data obtained when maximum effort test is assessed (i.e., VO2max and ventilatory threshold), regardless the submaximum exercise

Running Economy: Reproductibility at submaximal high speed

INTRODUCTION: The running economy (RE) has been traditionally determined by measuring the steady-state consumption of oxygen at a specific speed; however few studies has been designed to evaluate the reproductibility of the RE at a high rate of maximum oxygen consumption after repeated submaximal efforts within the same session. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was valuate if the reproductibility of running economy at submaximal high speed could be affected by two previous submaximal efforts. METHODS: In this study participated 19 subjects (mean±SD; age, 21.8±2.5 years; body mass, 71.0±10.6 and height, 175.2±8.1). During three days of assessment separately for at least 24h of recovery, subjects performed the following tests. Day 1 a maximum incremental test, to determine the intensities. Day 2 a test of running economy at 80% of VO2max. Day 3 a test of running economy at 30, 70 and 80% of VO2max separated by 5 min of recovery. t-student test was conducted to measure test-retest differences in RE the p value were set al ≤0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the Running Economy at 80% of VO2max determined in both economy tests RE 220.1± 21.6vs 219.6±20.6 (ml·kg-1·km-1), ICC; 0.92, CV; 4.4 ± 2.6. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed exercises sessions at 30 and 70 of VO2max performed before the submaximal exercise test (80% of VO2max) did not affected the RE during an exercise test performed at 80% of VO2max

Aplicació d’un test d’esforç intervàlic (Test de Probst) per valorar la qualitat aeròbica en futbolistes de la lliga espanyola

Els tests continus realitzats en ergòmetres estandarditzats són poc específics per al futbol. El test intervàlic de Probst permet de valorar la velocitat màxima aeròbica (VMA) i el LAn (llindar anaeròbic) en el camp de futbol, car no existeixen dades de referència. Es pretenen de valorar aquests paràmetres en futbolistes espanyols per comprovar la sensibilitat a nivell de pràctica i la utilitat per determinar el LAn. Van participar-hi 231 futbolistes de categories juvenil (n = 26), amateur (n= 74), semiprofessional (n = 36) i professional (n = 95); es va registrar la VMA i la freqüència cardíaca (Fc), i es van calcular les velocitats i Fc en el LAn, determinat manualment (LAnI) i matemàticament (LAnM). Va existir inflexió de la Fc en més del 89 % dels tests. Les Fc en el LAn van ser similars a les descrites a la literatura (90-95% respecte a la màxima) i la velocitat en el LAn va obtenir rangs amplis de VMA (72-96%). El test va ser sensible al nivell de pràctica en les variables LAnI i VMA. El protocol intervàlic de Probst va permetre de realitzar un test de camp específic sensible al grau de professionalització dels futbolistes, i es van establir dades de referència per a les categories estudiades. L’anàlisi de la Fc va permetre d’identificar un punt d’inflexió que pogués correspondre’s amb el LAn

Aplicación de un test de esfuerzo interválico (Test de Probst) para valorar la cualidad aeróbica en futbolistas de la liga española

Los tests continuos realizados en ergómetros estandarizados son poco específicos para el fútbol. El test interválico de Probst permite valorar la velocidad máxima aeróbica (VMA) y el UAn en el campo de fútbol, no existiendo datos de referencia. Se pretenden valorar estos parámetros en futbolistas españoles para comprobar la sensibilidad al nivel de práctica y la utilidad para determinar el UAn. Participaron 231 futbolistas de categorías juvenil (n = 26), amateur (n = 74), semiprofesional (n = 36) y profesional (n = 95), registrando la VMA y la frecuencia cardíaca (Fc), y calculando las velocidades y Fc en el UAn determinado manualmente (UAnI) y matemáticamente (UAnM). Existió inflexión de la Fc en más del 89 % de los tests. Las Fc en el UAn fueron similares a las descritas en la literatura (90-95 % respecto a la máxima) y la velocidad en el UAn obtuvo rangos amplios de VMA (72-96 %). El test fue sensible al nivel de práctica en las variables UAnI y VMA. El protocolo interválico de Probst permitió realizar un test de campo específico sensible al grado de profesionalización de los futbolistas, estableciéndose datos de referencia para las categorías estudiadas. El análisis de la Fc permitió identificar un punto de inflexión que pudiera corresponderse con el UAn

Physiological demands of mountain running races

The aim of this study was to analyze the exercise intensity and competition load (PL) based on heart rate (HR) during different mountain running races. Seven mountain runners participated in this study. They competed in vertical (VR), 10-25 km, 25-45 km and >45 km races. The HR response was measured during the races to calculate the exercise intensity and PL according to the HR at which both the ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) occurred. The exercise intensity below VT and between VT and RCT increased with mountain running race distance. Likewise, the percentage of racing time spent above RCT decreased when race duration increased. However, the time spent above RCT was similar between races (~50 min). The PL was significantly higher (p45 km, respectively). The ratio of PL to accumulative altitude gain was similar in all races (~0.16 AU·m-1). In conclusion, outcomes from this study demonstrate the high exercise intensities and physiologic loads sustained by runners during different mountain races

Harmonization Process and Reliability Assessment of Anthropometric Measurements in the Elderly EXERNET Multi-Centre Study

Background: The elderly EXERNET multi-centre study aims to collect normative anthropometric data for old functionally independent adults living in Spain.Purpose: To describe the standardization process and reliability of the anthropometric measurements carried out in the pilot study and during the final workshop, examining both intra- and inter-rater errors for measurements.Materials and Methods: A total of 98 elderly from five different regions participated in the intra-rater error assessment, and 10 different seniors living in the city of Toledo (Spain) participated in the inter-rater assessment. We examined both intra- and inter-rater errors for heights and circumferences.Results: For height, intra-rater technical errors of measurement (TEMs) were smaller than 0.25 cm. For circumferences and knee height, TEMs were smaller than 1 cm, except for waist circumference in the city of Ca´ceres. Reliability for heights and circumferences was greater than 98% in all cases. Inter-rater TEMs were 0.61 cm for height, 0.75 cm for knee-height and ranged between 2.70 and 3.09 cm for the circumferences measured. Inter-rater reliabilities for anthropometric measurements were always higher than 90%.Conclusion: The harmonization process, including the workshop and pilot study, guarantee the quality of the anthropometric measurements in the elderly EXERNET multi-centre study. High reliability and low TEM may be expected when assessing anthropometry in elderly population.SIThe elderly EXERNET multi-centre study has been supported by the Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales (104/07), Universidad de Zaragoza (UZ 2008-BIO-01) and Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad (147/2011). A. Go´ mez-Cabello has received a PhD grant from the Gobierno de Aragon (B059/ 09). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

The influence of posture and use of aerohelmet in cyclist’s aerodinamic resistance

Producción CientíficaLa resistencia más importante que impide el avance de un ciclista en una contrarreloj individual (CRI) es la fuerza aerodinámica de arrastre ó FA (un 90% a 50Km/h) que puede minimizarse (2-15%) con la utilización de diferentes implementos permitidos por la U.C.I. (manillares, cascos, etc.). La única técnica directa para medir FA es el túnel de viento, siendo escasos los estudios referenciados, y siempre analizando a un solo corredor. En este trabajo se pretende estudiar la resistencia aerodinámica de tres ciclistas profesionales en el túnel de viento e introducir una serie de modificaciones en la postura y en el uso de materiales que permitan aumentar el rendimiento en competiciones CRI. Participaron 3 ciclistas del equipo Kelme-Costa Blanca competidores en el Tour-2001 y Vuelta-2001. Se utilizó un túnel de viento subsónico de circuito cerrado (ITER, Tenerife). Se estudiaron 4 posiciones sobre la bicicleta de CRI (1-Estática, 2-Dinámica a ritmo competición durante 10min, 3-Idem, con modifiaciones en el apoyo de antebrazos, 4-Idem, sin casco) y 1 sobre la de carretera (5-Agarrados de las manetas sin casco), calculándose FA y las medidas derivadas (FA/Kg, SCx y SCx/Kg). Se minimizó FA al modificar el apoyo de antebrazos, pero no todos los ciclistas se vieron favorecidos por el uso del casco. FA fue mayor en las posiciones de pedaleo (2-3-4) que en la posición estática (1). Los valores de SCx para CRI (1-4) oscilaron entre 0.2368-0.3658m2 y para bicicleta de carretera entre 0.4284-0.5209m2 existiendo una serie de factores que dificultan su comparación con los obtenidos en otros estudios. En conclusión, las modificaciones en la posición posiblemente hallan incrementado su rendimiento en competiciones CRI, no así la utilización del casco. Para comparar valores de resistencia aerodinámica de diferentes ciclistas es necesario considerar algunas fuentes de error (técnica de medición, valores de FA y Scx relativizados, valoración estática o dinámica, etc.). El túnel de viento es la única técnica útil en la valoración de la resistencia aerodinámica para el incremento del rendimiento ciclista en competiciones CRI.The most important resistive force that prevents a cyclist from advancing during an individual time trial (ITT) is aerodynamic drag force or FA (about 90% riding at 50 Km/h). This force can be minimized (2-15%) using different pieces of equipment allowed by the U.C.I. (handlebars, helmets, etc). The wind tunnel is the only direct method to assess FA, however, there are very few published studies and these always analyse just one rider. The aim of this study was to study the aerodynamic resistance of three professional cyclists in a wind tunnel as well as to introduce some modifications in body position and equipment use, which result in an improvement in ITT performance. Three cyclists from the Kelme-Costa Blanca team, who took part in Tour-2001 and Vuelta-2001, participated in this study. A subsonic closed loop wind tunnel (ITER, Tenerife) was used. Four ITT bike riding postures (1-Static posture, 2-Dynamic posture, riding at competition pace for 10 min, 3-idem but with some modifications in handlebar support, 4- idem but without helmet) and one riding position on the racing bike (5- holding the brake levers and without helmet) were studied and FA and some derived parameters (FA/Kg, SCx and SCx/Kg) were obtained. FA was minimized when the handlebar support was modified, however, using the helmet did not benefit all cyclists. FA was higher in dynamic postures (2-3-4) than in the static one (1). SCx values were in the 0.2368-0.3658m2 range for the ITT bike and 0.4284-0.5209 m2 for the racing bike. Several factors that impeded making comparisons with the values obtained in other studies were observed. In conclusion, posture modifications are likely to improve ITT performance, this was not shown for the helmet. It is necessary to take some sources of error into account when comparing the aerodynamic resistance values of different cyclists (measurement method, FA and Scx values corrected for body mass, static versus dynamic valuation, etc.). The wind tunnel is the most useful method when assessing aerodynamic resistance in order to increase cyclists’ performance in ITT

Impact of Different Personal Protective Clothing on Wildland Firefighters' Physiological Strain

Wildfire firefighting is an extremely demanding occupation performed under hot environment. The use of personal protective clothing (PPC) is needed to protect subjects from the thermal exposure. However, the additional use of PPC may increase the wildland firefighters' physiological strain, and consequently limit their performance. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of four different PPC on the physiological strain of wildland firefighters under moderate conditions (30°C and 30% RH). Eight active and healthy wildland firefighters performed a submaximal walking test wearing a traditional short sports gear and 4 different PPC. The materials combination (viscose, Nomex, Kevlar, P-140 and fire resistant cotton) used during the PPC manufacturing process was different. During all tests, to simulate a real scenario subjects wore a backpack pump (20 kg). Heart rate, respiratory gas exchange, gastrointestinal temperature, blood lactate concentration, perceived exertion and temperature and humidity underneath the PPC were recorded throughout tests. Additionally, parameters of heat balance were estimated. Wearing a PPC did not cause a significant increase in the subjects' physiological response. The gastrointestinal temperature increment, the relative humidity of the microclimate underneath the PPC, the sweat residue in PPC, the sweat efficiency, the dry heat exchange and the total clothing insulation were significantly affected according to the PPC fabric composition. These results suggest that the PPC composition affect the moisture management. This might be taken into account to increase the wildland firefighters' protection in real situations, when they have to work close to the flames

Comparative Effects of Two High-Intensity Intermittent Training Programs on Sub-Elite Male Basketball Referees’ Fitness Levels

This study aimed to compare the effects of an 8-week short-term training program, comprising repeated sprints or running-based high-intensity intermittent training (HIIT), on the aerobic fitness and repeated sprint ability (RSA) performance of sub-elite basketball referees. Twenty male referees participated in supervised training sessions twice a week. They were randomly assigned to either the RSA-based group (RSAG) or the running-based HIIT group (HIITG). The RSAG conducted 3–4 sets of 8 × 20-m all-out sprints, while the HIITG performed 2–3 sets of 6 × 20-s runs at 90% of their maximal velocity achieved in the 30–15 intermittent fitness test (30–15IFT). Referees underwent a graded exercise test on a treadmill, the 30–15IFT, and an RSA test before and after the training program. Both groups showed significant improvement (~3%) in the fastest (22.6 ± 1.4 vs. 23.4 ± 1.7 and 22.0 ±1.9 vs. 22.4 ± 1.7 km·h−1 in RSAG and HIITG, respectively) and mean (21.5 ± 1.2 vs. 22.4 ± 1.4 and 21.3 ± 1.8 vs. 21.7 ± 1.6 km·h−1 in RSAG and HIITG, respectively) sprint velocity of the RSA test (p p IFT maximal velocity (18.6 ± 1.1 vs. 19.3 ± 1.0 and 19.4 ± 0.9 vs. 20.5 ± 0.9 km·h−1 in RSAG and HIITG, respectively). In conclusion, an 8-week training intervention using either RSA or running-based HIIT led to similar improvements in referees’ RSA performance and specific aerobic fitness measures. These findings could assist in devising tailored training programs for basketball referees

Physiological demands of mountain running races

The aim of this study was to analyze the exercise intensity and competition load (PL) based on heart rate (HR) during different mountain running races. Seven mountain runners participated in this study. They competed in vertical (VR), 10-25 km, 25-45 km and >45 km races. The HR response was measured during the races to calculate the exercise intensity and PL according to the HR at which both the ventilatory (VT) and respiratory compensation threshold (RCT) occurred. The exercise intensity below VT and between VT and RCT increased with mountain running race distance. Likewise, the percentage of racing time spent above RCT decreased when race duration increased. However, the time spent above RCT was similar between races (~50 min). The PL was significantly higher (p45 km, respectively). The ratio of PL to accumulative altitude gain was similar in all races (~0.16 AU·m-1). In conclusion, outcomes from this study demonstrate the high exercise intensities and physiologic loads sustained by runners during different mountain races