Calculating lactate anaerobic thresholds in sports involving different endurance preparation

AbstractThe aim of this study was to establish the degree of similarity of exercise intensity values at the anaerobic threshold (AT) provided by five methods of lactate curve analysis, i.e., LTAT, LTloglog, 1 mmol AT, 4 mmol AT, and D-max. The pattern of similarities and differences was sought in athletes with varying levels of experience and sports skills, representing two disciplines with different prevailing types of power output during competition: on-road cycling (aerobic metabolism) and ice-hockey (anaerobic metabolism).All groups of athletes tested [Group 1: on-road cyclists (n = 19) at international sporting level (participants of the Olympic Games and World Championships); Group 2: on-road cyclists (n = 20) at national sporting level; Group 3: ice-hockey players (n = 24) at international sporting level (Polish National Team); and Group 4: ice-hockey players (n = 22) at international sporting level (Polish National Team U-20)] performed an incremental exercise.The greatest power values at the anaerobic threshold (PAT) were provided by the LTAT (221.93 ± 34.5 W) and 4 mmol AT (226.38 ± 32.33 W) methods, whereas the lowest were provided by the LTloglog (190.71 ± 25.92 W) method. The PAT produced by the LTloglog method was statistically significantly lower (p ≤ 0.001) than the values provided by LTAT, 4 mmol AT, and Dmax. The PAT levels were found to be statistically significantly different for power values determined using the 4 mmol AT and those produced by the 1 mmol AT (p ≤ 0.001) and D-max (p ≤ 0.01) methods. As shown by the analyses, PAT values vary in the international-level on-road cyclists depending on the method of lactate curve analysis applied

Endocrine Responses to Physical Training and Tribulus Terrestris Supplememtation in Middle-Age Men

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of steroidal saponin supplementation on blood concentration of T, GH and IGF-1. The research involved 14 men between the age of 45 and 60 years. The duration of the experiment was 12 weeks. There were two series of laboratory tests. Independent tests were conducted at the beginning and after 12 weeks of the intervention. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect of the intervention on the following variables: T-Ch (η2 = 0.542), HDL-Ch (η2 = 0.522), LDL-Ch (η2 = 0.587), T (η2 = 0.603), IGF-1 (η2 = 0.512) and GH (η2 = 0.621). Thus, FFM significantly increased while TBF and BM decreased in comparison to pre-intervention levels. The analyzed results indicate that treatment or supplementation of individual hormone deficiencies can be a successful form of counteracting the aging process. Nevertheless, the effects of TT supplementation on the concentration of T as well as GH and IGF-1, requires further studies, especially in middle-aged and older subjects, along with different exercise programs. The analyzed results indicate that treatment or supplementation of individual hormone deficiencies can be a major form of counteracting the aging process

RELATIONSHIPS OF PHYSICAL FITNESS TEST RESULTS AND PLAYER PERFORMANCE INDICATORS IN NATIONAL-LEVEL ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS

The aim of the study is to identify the relationships of the results of the physiological and anthropometric tests and special on-ice fitness tests with individual player performance indicators during matches of the Poland men's national ice hockey team played during the U18 Ice Hockey World Championship. A total of 20 hockey players (forwards, n=12 and defensemen, n=8) of the Poland men's national ice hockey team were included in this study. All participants were performed a battery tests including maximal aerobic capacity, Wingate test, Repeated-Skate Sprint test and vertical jump test. Pearson correlations were used to examine any differences in all measures and +/– score. Only the fatigue index calculated from the repeated-skate sprint test was significantly correlated with absolute +/– score (r=0.47, p0.05). The result of the aerobic capacity test, expressed by means of the oxygen intake value (V̇O2max), despite being statistically insignificant, reached the value of r=0.42. The results of this study suggest that game performance as indicated by the +/– score can be predicted by the fatigue index calculated from the repeated-skate sprint test

Testing distance characteristics and reference values for ice-hockey straight sprint speed and acceleration. A systematic review and meta-analyses.

Ice-hockey requires high acceleration and speed sprint abilities, but it is unclear what the distance characteristic is for measuring these capabilities. Therefore, this systematic meta-analysis aims to summarize the sprint reference values for different sprint distances and suggest the appropriate use of ice-hockey straight sprint testing protocols. A total of 60 studies with a pooled sample of 2254 males and 398 females aged 11-37 years were included. However, the pooled data for women was not large enough to permit statistical analysis. The sprint distance used for measuring the reported acceleration and speed was between 4-48 m. Increased test distance was positively associated with increased speed (r = 0.70) and negatively with average acceleration (r = -0.87). Forward skating sprint speed increases with the measured distance up to 26 m and do not differ much from longer distance tests, while acceleration decreases with a drop below 3 m/s at distances 15 m and longer. The highest acceleration (5.89 m/s peak, 3.31 m/s average) was achieved in the shortest distances up to 7 m which significantly differs from 8-14 m tests. The highest speed (8.1 m/s peak, 6.76 m/s average) has been recorded between 26-39 m; therefore, distances over 39 m are not necessary to achieve maximum speed. Considering match demands and most reported test distances, 6.1 m is the recommended distance for peak acceleration and 30 m for peak speed. The sprint time, acceleration, and speed of each individual and the number of skating strides should be reported in future studies

Predicting Competitive Swimming Performance

The aim of this study was to present the results of analyses conducted by means of complementary analytic tools in order to verify their efficacy and the hypothesis that Kohonen’s neural models may be applied in the classification process of swimmers. A group of 40 swimmers, aged 23 ±5 years took part in this research. For the purpose of verification of usefulness of Kohonen’s neural models, statistical analyses were carried out on the basis of results of the independent variables (physiological and physical profiles, specific tests in the water). In predicting the value of variables measured with the so called strong scale regression models, numerous variables were used. The construction of such models required strict determination of the endogenous variable (Y – results for swim distances of 200 m crawl), as well as the proper choice of variables in explaining the study’s phenomenon. The optimum choice of explanatory variables for the Kohonen’s networks was made on the grounds of regression analysis. During statistical analysis of the gathered material neural networks were used: Kohonen’s feature maps (data mining analysis). The obtained model has the form of a topological map, where certain areas can be separated, and the map constructed in this way can be used in the assessment of candidates for sports training

Effect of Aqua Aerobics on Selected Somatic, Physiological and Aerobic Capacity Parameters in Postmenopausal Women

The world’s population is aging. Aquatic exercises can improve the physical function in humans and raise the quality of their lives in middle and older age. The study aimed to determine the effect of aqua aerobics on the selected somatic, physiological and aerobic capacity parameters in postmenopausal women. 11 purposively selected women that were confirmed overweight or obese by 20% and had Body Mass Index of 30±5 (the first stage of obesity) took part in aqua aerobics classes three times a week for 14 weeks. Their mean age was 56.18±3.19 years and mean height was 166.5±7.41 cm. The value of LBM and muscle mass (p=0.04 in both cases) were statistically significantly higher at study end compared with their baseline values, likewise haemoglobin concentration (p=0.001), haematocrit (p=0.03) and blood cell count (p=0.01), whereas BMI (p=0.02) and percentage body fat (p=0.04) were significantly lower. The lactate analysis revealed significant changes in LAmax (p=0.04), LAres9' (p=0.02), DeltaLAmax-LAsp (p=0.02) and DeltaLAres9’-LAres3’ (p=0,0004). After 14 weeks of aqua aerobic workout, significant changes were noted in the selected somatic, morphological and aerobic capacity parameters in postmenopausal women, but the differences between the lipid profiles were insignificant

Matematinio modelio pritaikymas kai kurių treniruotės pratimų veiksmingumui įvertinti

The issue of relation between the exercise stimulation and individual reaction to it is one of the most principal problems of the sport training. Excessively high exercise loads result in overtraining or contusions. On the other hand, subliminal loads are ineffective. Regarding the limits of adaptive capabilities of the human organism, the basic problem of the contemporary sport seems to be the searching for the tool that would allow the nonverbal (non-intuitional) control of the training process. Statistical methods are of little use for that aim, so there’s an urgent need to find a mathematical model of sport training. Aim of the study was to test the possibility of applying a mathematical model to evaluate the influence of specific factors determining the speed results of the young swimmers. The study encompassed 20 athletes who participated in a specially developed training schedule. The training measures were recorded both in qualitative and quantitative manner according to a specially created mathematical model. In order to state the exactness of the model the authors calculated the adjustment coefficients, which create the multidimensional counterpart of the relative error (quotient of the difference between the exact and approximate value by the exact value). The obtained results suggest remarkable exactness of the method. Presented results regarding the construction of the mathematical model should enhance the combination of theoretical considerations and practical expectations for study confirms other reports suggesting that it is possible to control the sport training by the means of continuous analysis of the information about the parameters of the controlled objects (athletes) and value of the target function. Conclusions: • Construction of a mathematical model allowed evaluation of the influence of chosen decisions on the sport results, • At the studied sport proficiency level the exercises perfecting the sport technique have the greatest influence on the speed results. Based on the magnitude of the error of the adjustment of the quality index experimental values to the maximal values of the target function (calculated with the mathematical model), it can be stated that the created mathematical model is essentially useful in practice.Ryšys tarp pratimų poveikio ir individualios organizmo reakcijos yra viena pagrindinių sporto treniruotės problemų. Labai dideli treniruotės krūviai gali tapti persitreniravimo ir traumų priežastimi. Kita vertus, per menki krūviai būna neveiksmingi. Atsižvelgiant į adaptacines žmogaus organizmo ribas, pagrindinė šiuolaikinio sporto problema yra rasti priemones, kurios leistų neverbaliai (neintuityviai) kontroliuoti treniruotės vyksmą. Sprendžiant šią problemą, statistiniai metodai duoda mažai naudos, tad būtina rasti matematinį sporto veiklos modelį. Tyrimo tikslas buvo patikrinti matematinio modelio taikymo galimybę, siekiant įvertinti specifinių veiksnių, nulemiančių jaunų plaukikų greičio rezultatus, poveikį. Tyrimas apėmė 20 sportininkų, dalyvavusių specialiai parengtoje treniruotės programoje. Treniruotės priemonės buvo fiksuojamos ir kiekybiškai, ir kokybiškai, remiantis specialiai sukurtu matematiniu modeliu. Siekdami užtikrinti modelio tikslumą, autoriai apskaičiavo pataisos koeficientus, kurie sukuria daugiamatę santykinės klaidos kopiją. Norėdami pabrėžti modelio tikslumą, autoriai apskaičiavo koregavimo koeficientus, kurie sukuria keleto matmenų atsvarą santykinei paklaidai. Gauti rezultatai rodo, kad šis metodas nepaprastai tikslus. Rezultatai, susiję su matematinio modelio kūrimu, turėtų pagerinti teorinių nuostatų ir praktinių lūkesčių derinimą rengiant priemones, padedančias neintuityviai kontroliuoti treniruotės vyksmą. Mūsų tyrimas patvirtina kitų tyrimų rezultatus, kurie rodo, kad įmanoma kontroliuoti sporto treniruotę nuolat analizuojant informaciją apie kontroliuojamųjų objektų (sportininkų) parametrus ir tikslinės funkcijos vertes. Išvados: • Matematinio modelio sukūrimas leido įvertinti pasirinktų sprendimų įtaką sporto rezultatams. • Tirtajame sportinio meistriškumo lygyje sportinę techniką tobulinantys pratimai turėjo didžiausią įtaką greičio rezultatams. • Galima teigti, kad šis sukurtas matematinis modelis yra labai naudingas praktinėje viekloje

Effects of Aqua Aerobics on Body Composition, Body Mass, Lipid Profile, and Blood Count in Middle-Aged Sedentary Women

Purpose. The aim of the present investigations was to determine the effects of aqua aerobics on body weight and composition, lipid profile, and selected blood count parameters in middle-aged sedentary females. Methods. Twenty-one women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (age 56.20 ± 2.57 years, height 162.80 ± 4.76 cm, weight 74.03 ± 3.84 kg) that participated in aqua aerobics classes three times a week for three months and a control group (mean age 56.44 ± 3.28 years, height 165.00 ± 3.91 cm, weight 70.01 ± 11.36 kg) not involved in any kind of targeted exercise. The aqua aerobics classes were tailored to suit the age and abilities of the participants, with workout intensity controlled and maintained at approximately 128-137 bpm. Results. Significant differences between the experimental and control groups were found for body weight, total body water, fat-free mass, and skeletal muscle mass. A significant increase in post-intervention hemoglobin and erythrocyte counts was observed in the experimental group. Conclusions. Future studies should determine the intensity of physical activity with the most beneficial effect on blood variables in middle-aged and older individuals