Stabilised oxygen nutritional supplement on cycling performance

The basic physiologic response to exercise is an increase in total body oxygen consumption made possible by increase in pulmonary ventilation,cardiac output and oxygen extraction by the tissues.A given work load requires a specific amount of energy.This energy is mainly from aerobic metabolism. Although the energy released in glycolysis is rapid and does not require oxygen,relatively little ATP is resynthesised.It is the aerobic metabolism reaction that takes place in the mitochondria that provides the all important energy sources.Therefore,exercise that is carried out at low to moderate intensity rely solely on aerobic metabolism. As exercise prolongs or becomes heavy, the oxygen supply becomes inadequate or the energy demands outstrip cellular capacity for aerobic resynthesis of ATP. Under conditions of oxygen deficiency, the energy requirement is met by the predominance of anaerobic glycolysis

Lactate profiles in blood and sweat during exercise and heat induced sweating

Blood lactate levels and sweat lactate excretion were determined during exercise and subsequently during heat induced sweating, in the same subjects in an attempt to investigate the contribution of blood lactate to the sweat lactate excretion. Eighteen male volunteers of ages 15- 32 participated in the study. Exercise was performed on a cycle ergometer and involved a stepwise increase in workload until exhaustion. A passenger van with shutters up parked in the afternoon sun was used to create a warm environment-for heat-induced sweating. Both exercise (0.017 ± 0.001 L/min/m2) and the warm environment (0.013 ± 0.001 /min/m2) induced comparable rates of sweating. Pretest blood lactate levels were similar before exercise (2.2 ± 0.16 mmol/L) and heat test (1.9 ± 0.12 mmol/L). However, blood lactate levels during exercise (10.4 ± 0.42 mmol/L) were significant higher than levels during heat induced sweating (1.9 ± 0.10 mmol/L) (P < 0.001). Sweat lactate excretion during exercise (1.03 ± 0.11 mmol/min/m2) was significantly greater than sweat lactate excretion during heat induced sweating, (0.54 ± 0.04 mmol/min/m2) in spite of comparable volumes of sweat production.During heat induced sweating, sweat lactate excretion increased with increased sweat rates and the correlation a significant (r • 0.48) (p < 0.001). These results demonstrate that raised blood lactate levels during exercise contribute significantly to sweat lactate excretion. Sweat gland metabolism also contributes to sweat lactate excretion.The results cannot quantify the relative contributions of these two factors. Such quantification will necessitate further studies in the future. Whatever these respective contributions may be, sweat lactate excretion is probably not a sufficiently reliable index of aerobic capacity, to be recommended as a routine measurement because of its variability with varying sweat gland metabolism

Effect of a herbal drink on cycling endurance performance

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 'AgroMas®' herbal drink on physiological responses and endurance performance during cycling exercise. Nine cyclists cycled on a cycle ergometer at 71.9±0.7% of the maximal oxygen consumption (V02max) until exhaustion in a room maintained at 23.9±0.2°C and 64.7±1-.5 % relative humidity on two occasions with 1-week interval. The point of exhaustion was defined as the time when subjects could no longer maintain 40 RPM. Subjects ingested either a 'herbal drink'(H) or placebo(P). During each exercise bout, subjects received 3ml.kg-1 body weight of H or P every 20 minutes in a double-blind randomised study design. Blood samples were collected at rest and during exercise, every 20 min, for the determination of substances. Total cycling time to exhaustion was insignificantly (p > 0.05) longer with H (83.7±4.6 min) than P-(B1.5±5.0 min). Changes in body weight, oxygen uptake, plasma volume, core temperature,skin temperature,heart rate,perceived rate of exertion,fluid sensation,respiratory exchange ratio,blood glucose concentration and blood lactate concentration were similar with both H and P treatment. These results showed that the H and P treatment elicited similar exercise performance, thermoregularity and physiological responses during endurance cycling. Thus, it can be concluded that the 'AgroMas®'herbal drink could not enhance cycling endurance performance

Designing specific test to profile sepak takraw players

A wireless miniature accelerometer namely 'Sports Accel' was designed to record the acceleration of the service kick in Sepaktakraw. This accelerometer, which was attached to the kicking service leg, could detect acceleration up to ±250 g (each g 9.81 m/s) was connected to a transmitter which has a 24 bit AID with a sampling rate of 70 samples/sec. Through a microcontroller the transmitter can transfer data to a computer via an antenna at a rate of 9 Kbit/sec with a radio transmitter distance of up to 200 meters. A special so!tWare was tehn designed to save and show the all parameters obtained during the service kick . Methods: Eight (8) Sepaktakraw tekongs (age between 18-21 years and leg length 1 01.4±5.4 em) participated in this preliminary trial. The sensor was placed on to the service leg. Peak tibia acceleration, service kick duration, maximum acceleration and maximum velocity were obtained during the service kick. The data obtained were then averaged over 1 0 trials by each tekong. The peak tibia acceleration, service kick duration, maximum acceleration and maximum velocity obtained were 7.0 ± 2.8 g, 187.3 ± 9.9 msec, 41.6 ± 22.4 g/s2 , 407.6 ± 21.9 m/s2 respectively. Results: There was a significant and positive correlation (r=0.26, p<0.02) between leg length and maximum velocity but negative correlation between leg length and duration of a service kick. Peak tibia acceleration significantly correlated with maximum acceleration (r=0.57, p<0.001), are there was a strong correlation between maximum acceleration and velocity. However, there was a negative correlation between maximum acceleration and kicking duration of a service. Conclusion: These data are the first ever measurements of velocity and acceleration obtained from the service kick of Sepaktakraw tekongs

Development of a computerised athletic training system for pace and speed

The development of appropriate fitness field test is generally considered to be one of the essential tasks of sports sciences. In athletics, running on a treadmill in a laboratory will only determine the fitness level of the athlete and not train the athlete in pace and speed which is important for success and even setting of records. To our knowledge, there has been no such simulated training programme for athletes to train in pace and speed. A computerised pace setting system for athletics with well-defined pacing levels, which is analogous to the usual form of ergometry, was developed. It has the capacity, pacing and speed required for middle and long distance pacing and running. The preliminary programme was written in the Computer Language c++ (Borland Int.), which allows the flexibility of changing the sequence of light flashes indicating pace (speed) of running. It is hoped that this computerised simulated athletic training system will allow reliable estimates to be made on the speed and pacing of athletes and that it may be used effectively in place of or in addition to laboratory tests

Nutritional Requirements For Exercise In The Hot Environment

Competition in the hot environment is not conducive for optimal sport performance as both dehydration and hyperthermia adversely affects physical performance. In addition, the ability to train in the hot environment is also impaired if the nutritional needs are inadequate

Spirometric and anthropometric studies in normal children aged between 7 and 12 years

Spirometric data on 1183 healthy school children (551 boys and 632 girls) ranging in age from 7 to 12 years were analysed to derive predicted equations for (forced vital capacity, FEV 1 (forced expiratory volume in one second), FEF25-75% (maximal flow over the mid-portion of FVC), Vmax50% (flow rate after expiring 50% of FVC), and PEFR (peak expiratory flow rate). For all lung functions parameters, girls have lower values than boys. Using regression analysis, standing height appeared to be the most important predictor of pulmonary function across the age group. Regression equations constructed with logarithmically transfered dependent variables provided accurate predictions. Predicted FVC values derived from equation based on other population were higher than the observed mean in this study. This study therefore, reemphasises the need to be cautions when applying formulae derived from one population to another. Grossly erroneous conclusions may be reached unless predicted equations for lung parameters for a given are derived from studies base upon the same population group

Athletic training and psychological predictors pf injury:a case study of Malaysian professional football players involved in Malaysian football league

Sport psychology deals with many aspects, which are important in sports and games.Injury is one of the common things one can observe in most of the sport and games. Injuries occur either by accident or intentionally. There are many reasons one can think of injuries occurring and that psychological aspect is considered more important. Psychological predictors, psychological impacts, and psychological aspects of rehabilitation are vital to know. Therefore, the objective of the study is to determine psychological predictors leading to athletic injury with focusing to Malaysian football players involved in Malaysian Professional Football League. A descriptive method of research was used to determine the psychological predictors of injury among the selected state team players. A pilot study has been carried out to test the validity and reliability of the questionnaire. Cluster sampling was used to get the actual number of subjects. Based on this sampling method, all teams were clustered into five groups (North, South, East, West and East Malaysia). From these five groups, two teams from each cluster have randomly picked up as a subject (25 players each team x 10 teams = 250 players). Questionnaires, observation, and interview were the instruments that being used in determining psychological predictors of injury. For statistical analysis, Multiple Logistic Regression was used to identify the psychological predictors of injuries by using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 9.0 for windows. The results of this study has showed that most of the Malaysian professional football players scored higher in neuroticism, and lower in agreeableness and conscientiousness. The subjects were also found experiencing anxiety with poor self-esteem and mental toughness as well

Alpha-Actinin-3 (ACTN3) R/X Gene Polymorphism and Physical Performance of Multi-Ethnic Malaysian Population

A disparity population data set in the current literature with limited reports among Asian samples and the inconsistent findings among different ethnic groups warrant further investigation on the association between alpha-actinin-3 (ACTN3) R/X gene polymorphism and human physical performance in Asian population. This study was designed to examine the association between ACTN3 R/X gene polymorphism and physical performance of multi-ethnic Malaysian population. One hundred eighty well-trained athletes (34 endurance, 41 strength, and 105 intermittent) and 180 controls were drawn from four ethnic groups in Malaysia (Malay, Chinese, Indian, and Other Bumiputra). A sample of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was retrieved from a buccal swab from each participant and the ACTN3 R/X genotype was identified through polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The strength and endurance performances of the athletes were evaluated with maximal voluntary contraction and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2 tests, respectively. The independent t-test, chi-square, multivariate, and one-way analysis of variance were used for data analysis. ACTN3 R/X alleles (p = 0.672) and genotype (p = 0.355) frequencies did not vary much between the multi-ethnic groups of Malaysian athletes. These small variations did not have any influence on handgrip strength (p = 0.334), leg strength (p = 0.256), and Yo-Yo intermittent recovery level 2 performance (p = 0.425) between these ethnic groups. The RR and XX genotypes were more frequent among strength and intermittent athletes, respectively. Athletes with the RR genotype had greater handgrip than those with the RX genotype (p = 0.031), but not different from athletes with the XX genotype (p = 0.228)