On the role of lyrics in the music-exercise performance relationship

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Psychology of Sport and Exercise. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2013 Elsevier Ltd.Objectives - To examine the role of lyrics on a range of psychological, psychophysical, and physiological variables during submaximal cycling ergometry. Design - Within-subject counterbalanced design. Method - Twenty-five participants performed three 6-min cycling trials at a power output corresponding to 75% of their maximum heart rate under conditions of music with lyrics, same music without lyrics, and a no-music control. Cycling cadence, heart rate, and perceived exertion were recorded at 2-min intervals during each trial. Positive and negative affect was assessed before and after each trial. Results - Participants cycled at a higher cadence towards the end of the cycling trials under music with lyrics. Main effects were found for perceived exertion and heart rate, both of which increased from min 2 through to min 6, and for affect: positive affect increased and negative affect decreased from pre- to post-trials. Conclusions - Participants pedalled faster in both music conditions (with and without lyrics) while perceived exertion and heart rate did not differ. The inclusion of lyrics influenced cycling cadence only at min 6 and had no effect on the remaining dependent variables throughout the duration of the cycling trials. The impact of lyrical content in the music–exercise performance relationship warrants further attention in order for us to better understand its role

Carbohydrate and caffeine improves high intensity running of elite rugby league interchange players during simulated match play.

The study examined the effects of carbohydrate and caffeine ingestion on simulated rugby league interchange performance. Eight male elite rugby league forwards completed two trials of a rugby league simulation protocol for interchange players seven days apart in a randomized crossover design, ingesting either carbohydrate (CHO; 40 g·h-1) or carbohydrate and caffeine (CHO-C) (40 g·h-1 + 3 mg·kg-1) drink. Movement characteristics, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and countermovement jump height (CMJ) were measured during the protocol. CHO-C resulted in likely to very likely higher mean running speeds (ES 0.43 to 0.75), distance in high intensity running (ES 0.41 to 0.64) and mean sprint speeds (ES 0.39 to 1.04) compared to CHO. Heart rate was possibly to very likely higher (ES 0.32 to 0.74) and RPE was likely to very likely lower (ES -0.53 to 0.86) with CHO-C. There was a likely trivial to possibly higher CMJ in CHO-C compared to CHO (ES 0.07 to 0.25). The co-ingestion of carbohydrate with caffeine has an ergogenic effect to reduce the sense of effort and increase high intensity running capability that might be employed to enhance interchange running performance in elite rugby league players

The Assessment of Total Energy Expenditure During a 14-Day In-Season Period of Professional Rugby League Players Using the Doubly Labelled Water Method

Rugby League is a high-intensity collision sport competed over 80 min. Training loads are monitored to maximize recovery and assist in the design of nutritional strategies although no data are available on the total energy expenditure (TEE) of players. We therefore assessed resting metabolic rate (RMR) and TEE in six Super League players over 2 consecutive weeks in-season including one game per week. Fasted RMR was assessed followed by a baseline urine sample before oral administration of a bolus dose of hydrogen (deuterium 2H) and oxygen (18O) stable isotopes in the form of water (2H218O). Every 24 hr thereafter, players provided urine for analysis of TEE via DLW method. Individual training load was quantified using session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) and data were analyzed using magnitude-based inferences. There were unclear differences in RMR between forwards and backs (7.7 ± 0.5 cf. 8.0 ± 0.3 MJ, respectively). Indirect calorimetry produced RMR values most likely lower than predictive equations (7.9 ± 0.4 cf. 9.2 ± 0.4 MJ, respectively). A most likely increase in TEE from Week 1 to 2 was observed (17.9 ± 2.1 cf. 24.2 ± 3.4 MJ) explained by a most likelyincrease in weekly sRPE (432 ± 19 cf. 555 ± 22 AU), respectively. The difference in TEE between forward and backs was unclear (21.6 ± 4.2 cf. 20.5 ± 4.9 MJ, respectively). We report greater TEE than previously reported in rugby that could be explained by the ability of DLW to account for all match and training-related activities that contributes to TEE

Cutting Ties with Pro-Ana: A Narrative Inquiry Concerning the Experiences of Pro-Ana Disengagement from Six Former Site Users.

Websites advocating the benefits of eating disorders (“Pro-Ana”) tend to reinforce and maintain restrictive eating and purging behaviors. Yet remarkably, no study has explored individual accounts of disengagement from these sites and the associated meanings. Using narrative inquiry, this study sought to address this gap. From the interviews of six women, two overarching storylines emerged. The first closely tied disengagement to recovery with varying positions of personal agency claimed: this ranged from enforced and unwelcomed breaks that ignited change, to a personal choice that became viable through the development of alternative social and personal identities. A strong counternarrative to “disengagement as recovery” also emerged. Here, disengagement from Pro-Ana was storied alongside a need to retain an ED lifestyle. With “recovery” being just one reason for withdrawal from Pro-Ana sites, clinicians must remain curious about the meanings individuals ascribe to this act, without assuming it represents a step toward recovery.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

The physiological, perceptual and neuromuscular responses of team sport athletes to a running and cycling high intensity interval training session

Purpose: The acute physiological, perceptual and neuromuscular responses to volume-matched running and cycling high intensity interval training (HIIT) were studied in team sport athletes. Methods: In a randomized cross-over design, 11 male team sport players completed 3 × 6 min (with 5 min between sets) repeated efforts of 15 s exercising at 120% speed (sV ˙ O2max) or power (pV ˙ O2max) at V ˙ O2max followed by 15 s passive recovery on a treadmill or cycle ergometer, respectively. Results: Absolute mean V ˙ O2 (ES [95% CI] = 1.46 [0.47–2.34], p 90% V ˙ O2max during the HIIT was higher for running compared to cycling (ES [95% CI] = 1.21 [0.26–2.07], p = 0.015). Overall differential RPE (dRPE) (ES [95% CI] = 0.55 [− 0.32–1.38], p = 0.094) and legs dRPE (ES [95% CI] = − 0.65 [− 1.48–0.23], p = 0.111) were similar, whereas breathing dRPE (ES [95% CI] = 1.01 [0.08–1.85], p = 0.012) was higher for running. Maximal isometric knee extension force was unchanged after running (ES [95% CI] = − 0.04 [− 0.80–0.8], p = 0.726) compared to a moderate reduction after cycling (ES [95% CI] = − 1.17 [− 2.02–0.22], p = 0.001). Conclusion: Cycling HIIT in team sport athletes is unlikely to meet the requirements for improving run-specific metabolic adaptation but might offer a greater lower limb neuromuscular load

Individual and situational factors affecting the movement characteristics and internal responses to Touch match-play during an international tournament

Purpose: To examine the influence of individual and situational factors on the movement characteristics and internal responses of players to an international Touch tournament. Methods: Using 47 International Touch players (25 men and 22 women), the associations between the movement characteristics and internal responses with individual (sprint, glycolytic test, Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 [Yo-Yo IR1], jump performance and well-being) and situational (sex, squad, position, competition day, points scored/conceded, result, and opposition rank) factors were examined using linear mixed modelling. Results: Yo-Yo IR1 distance was associated with all movement characteristics and internal responses (r = −0.29 to 0.37), whilst sprint and glycolytic times only influenced mean heart rate (HRmean) (r = 0.15) and high-speed distance (r = 0.10), respectively. Sex influenced high-speed distance (r = −0.41), whilst squad was associated with playing time and HRmean (r = −0.10–0.33). Other associations included: playing position with all movement characteristics (r = −0.67–0.81); points conceded with relative distance (r = −0.14); winning with high metabolic power and session RPE (r = −0.07–0.09), and opposition rank with HRmean and RPE (r = 0.11–0.35). Conclusions: Individual and situational factors can influence the movement characteristics and internal responses to Touch and should be considered when developing the characteristics of players and interpreting responses to match-play

Relationship between individual and composite FMS™ score with the anthropometric and physical characteristics of elite Touch (rugby) players

Purpose To describe and compare the movement patterns, anthropometric and physical characteristics of male and female Touch players; and examine the relationships between Functional Movement Screening (FMS™) scores and the anthropometric and physical characteristics. Methods This was a cross-sectional study with 35 elite Touch players (18 males, age = 24.7 ± 4.9 years; 17 females, age = 26.7 ± 5.2 years). Anthropometric (stature, body mass) and physical characteristics (sprint times, glycolytic change-of-direction test, and countermovement jump (CMJ) flight time and peak power) were assessed alongside movement patterns using the FMS™ battery. Data were analysed for between-sex differences (independent t-test, Mann–Whitney U) and relationships (Spearman’s correlation coefficient). Results Between-sex differences in body mass (t = 6.082, P < 0.001), stature (t = 9.247, P < 0.001), CMJ flight time (t = 3.576, P = 0.001), relative CMJ peak power (t = 6.578, P < 0.001), 10 m sprint time (t = 15.861, P < 0.001), glycolytic change of direction test time (t = − 11.831, P < 0.001) and Yo–Yo IR1 (t = 6.842, P < 0.001) were observed. There were minimal differences for deep squat (Z = − 1.036, P = 0.443), in-line lunge (Z = − 1.284, P = 0.303), shoulder mobility (Z = − 0.173, P = 0.883), trunk stability push-up (Z = − 0.896, P = 0.483) and rotary stability (Z = − 1.537, P = 0.273). The correlation between total and individual FMS™ scores with anthropometric and physical characteristics ranged from trivial-to-moderate (r = − 0.502 to 0.488). Conclusion The lack of difference for the FMS™ composite score and small-to-trivial differences in individual scores allows a comparison between mixed populations within Touch. Whilst many of the correlations were trivial-to-small, there were differences between sexes in the associations and evidence that improvements in functional deficiencies could translate into improved physical performance

Variability of external load measures during soccer match play: Influence of player fitness or pacing?

Purpose: The aims of this study were to examine the variability of selected external load metrics within 15-min intervals during soccer match play and examine their relationship with players’ high-intensity intermittent fitness. Methods: A total of 18 male soccer players were monitored for their external load metrics during 26 matches which included: total distance (TD), high metabolic load distance (HMLD), and mechanical work (MW) (defined as the sum of accelerations and decelerations >3 m2). Additionally, players completed the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test (VIFT). Results: TD had lower coefficient of variation (CV) values than HMLD and MW (ES; 5.2 to 6.4; very large). Within-players’ ∆-15min showed moderate-to-large decreases (ES; -0.7 to -1.6) and increases (ES; 0.9 to 1.8) in absolute and CV values, respectively. Large relationships (r= 0.55 to 0.61) were observed between VIFT and 15-minmean and 15-minbest in all selected external load metrics. However, small-to-moderate (0.27 to 0.41) associations were observed between VIFT and ∆-15min in selected external load metrics. Conclusion: These findings suggest that those players with relatively lower intermittent running capacity might show lower variability during the match, as evidenced by smaller reductions in high intensity actions during the final 15 minutes. We attribute these observations to players’ possessing better pacing strategies

Are you lookin’ at me? A mixed-methods case study to investigate the influence of coaches’ presence on performance testing outcomes in male academy rugby league players

The study used a mixed-methods approach to examine how the presence of coaches influenced male academy rugby league players’ performance during physical performance testing. Fifteen male rugby players completed two trials of 20 m sprint, countermovement jump and prone Yo-Yo test; one with only the sport scientist present and a second where the sport scientist conducted the battery with both the club's lead strength and conditioning coach, academy manager, and the first team assistant and head coach present. Players and coaches then completed one-to-one semi-structured interviews to explore their beliefs, attitudes and opinions towards physical performance testing. In all tests, the players’ performance was better when the coaches were present compared to when tests were conducted by the sport scientist alone. Interviews revealed performance testing was used by coaches to exercise their power over players to socialise them into the desired culture. Players’ own power was evident through additional effort during testing when coaches were present. Practitioners should ensure consistency in the presence of significant observers during performance testing of male rugby players to minimise their influence on test outcome

High-velocity power training has similar effects to traditional resistance training for functional performance in older adults: a systematic review

Question: What is the effect of high-velocity power training (HVPT) compared with traditional resistance training (TRT) on functional performance in older adults? What is the quality of intervention reporting for the relevant literature? Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Participants: Older adults (age > 60 years), regardless of health status, baseline functional capacity or residential status. Interventions: High-velocity power training with the intent to perform the concentric phase as quickly as possible compared with traditional moderate-velocity resistance training performed with a concentric phase of ≥ 2 seconds. Outcome measures: Short physical performance battery (SPPB), timed up-and-go-test (TUG), five times sit-to-stand test (5-STS), 30 second sit-to-stand test (30-STS), gait speed tests, static or dynamic balance tests, stair climb tests, and walking tests for distance. The quality of intervention reporting was assessed with the consensus on exercise reporting template (CERT) score. Results: Nineteen trials with 1,055 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with TRT, HVPT had a weak-to-moderate effect on change from baseline scores for the SPPB (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.53; low quality evidence) and TUG (SMD 0.35, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.63; low quality evidence). The effect of HVPT relative to TRT for other outcomes remained very uncertain. The average CERT score across all trials was 53%, with two trials rated high quality and four rated moderate quality. Conclusion: HVPT has similar effects as TRT for functional performance in older adults, but there is considerable uncertainty in most estimates. HVPT had better effects on the SPPB and TUG, but it is unclear whether the benefit is large enough to be clinically worthwhile