Effects of Power-Oriented Resistance Training During an Altitude Camp on Strength and Technical Performance of Elite Judokas

This study investigated the effect of a 3-week power-oriented resistance training program performed at moderate altitude on leg power output variables in a countermovement jump, a related judo technique (ippon-seoi-nage) and the relationship between them. Twenty-four elite male judokas were randomly assigned to a hypobaric hypoxia or normoxia group. Mechanical outputs from an incremental loaded countermovement jump test and the kinematic variables transferred to a dummy during an ippon-seoi-nage test (time to execution and movement accelerations) were assessed before, after, 1 and 2 weeks after training. Results indicated an increase in explosive leg capacity both at moderate altitude (2320 m.a.s.l.) and sea level. The hypoxia group showed additional benefits when compared to normoxia group for peak velocities with different percentages of the body weight, maximal theoretical velocity and jump height after the training period, and these additional benefits in jump height were maintained 2 weeks after training. The hypoxia group achieved a higher peak performance in peak velocity and jump height than normoxia group (peak velocity: 8.8 vs. 5.6%, jump height: 8.2 vs. 1.4%, respectively) and was achieved earlier in hypoxia (after training) than in normoxia (1 week after training). However, there was a detrimental effect for the hypoxia group on the times of execution and acceleration of the ippon-seoi-nage compared to the normoxia group. These results suggest that altitude training may induce faster and greater improvements in explosive leg extension capacity. Specific technique-oriented training should be included at altitude to prevent technique impairment.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness DEP2015-64350-P BES-2016-07803

Effect of acute exposure to moderate altitude on kinematic variables of the ipponseoi- nage and its relationship with the countermovement jump in elite judokas

This study aimed to assess the effect of acute exposure to moderate altitude on kinematic variables of the ippon-seoi-nage and on the mechanical outputs of the countermovement jump (CMJ). Thirteen elite male judokas from the Spanish Judo Training Centre in Valencia (age: 21.54 ± 2.15 years) participated in the study. All of them performed an incremental CMJ test and an ippon-seoi-nage technique test before (N) and after the ascent to a moderate altitude of 2320 m above the sea level (H). A linear velocity transducer was attached to the bar to assess the mechanical outputs of each loaded CMJ at different percentages of their own body weight (25, 50, 75 and 100%). A wearable sensor was used to assess the kinematic variables (times, accelerations and angular velocities) transferred to a dummy during the technique test. The kinematic variables showed great individual reliability (CV = 8.46% in N; CV = 8.37% in H), which contrasted with low reliability observed when the whole group was considered. The smallest important CV ratio (>1.15) showed that H caused changes in the reliability of the kinematic variables, with some variables becoming more reliable and others losing the reliability they had in N. H also caused small increments in peak velocity across all loads tested in the CMJ (+3.67%; P<0.05). In contrast, no changes in the kinematic variables were verified.This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (DEP2015-64350-P MINECO/FEDER), and by a FPI pre-doctoral grant (BES-2016- 078035) awarded to one of the authors (FA)

Influence of lower-limb muscle power-related variables on the ippon-seoi-nage of elite judokas

This study investigated the influence of the lower-limb extension mechanical variables (strength variables) on the ippon-seoi-nage kinematic variables (technical variables) in elite judokas. Additionally, we studied the effect of performing ippon-seoi-nage with lower-limb flexion-extension action vs. without it, on the technical and strength variables, as well as on their relationship. Twenty-four male elite judokas were classified in two groups depending on the type of ippon-seoi-nage performed, i.e., with lower-limb flexion-extension action or without it. Mechanical outputs from an incremental loaded countermovement jump test were assessed, as well as kinematic variables transferred to the uke (person who is thrown) during an ippon-seoi-nage technique test. The strength parameters did not positively correlate with the technical ones, showing no transference between the variables studied. Furthermore, the judokas that performed the ippon-seoi-nage with lower-limb flexion-extension action presented lower times in the execution of the technique than the group that did not perform this action. Therefore, the transference from strength parameters to the performance of ippon-seoi-nage is not yet explained, even when considering different technical styles.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under Grant DEP2015-64350-P MINECO/FEDER and FPI pre-doctoral grant under Grant BES-2016-078035 awarded to one of the authors

Hormonal and Inflammatory Responses to Hypertrophy-Oriented Resistance Training at Acute Moderate Altitude

This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, grant number PGC2018-097388-B-I00, by the Andalusian FEDER Operational Program, grant number A-SEJ-246-UGR18 and FPU pre-doctoral, grant number FPU18/00686 awarded to one of the authors.The authors thank the High Performance Center of Sierra Nevada, Spain and all the participants who volunteered for this investigation. The authors also thank Dymatize Europe for supplying the meal replacement supplements used in this study.This study investigated the effect of a traditional hypertrophy-oriented resistance training (R-T) session at acute terrestrial hypoxia on inflammatory, hormonal, and the expression of miR-378 responses associated with muscular gains. In a counterbalanced fashion, 13 resistance trained males completed a hypertrophic R-T session at both moderate-altitude (H; 2320 m asl) and under normoxic conditions (N; <700 m asl). Venous blood samples were taken before and throughout the 30 min post-exercise period for determination of cytokines (IL6, IL10, TNF alpha), hormones (growth hormone [GH], cortisol [C], testosterone), and miR-378. Both exercise conditions stimulated GH and C release, while miR-378, testosterone, and inflammatory responses remained near basal conditions. At H, the R-T session produced a moderate to large but nonsignificant increase in the absolute peak values of the studied cytokines. miR-378 revealed a moderate association with GH (r = 0.65; p = 0.026 and r = -0.59; p = 0.051 in N and H, respectively) and C (r = 0.61; p = 0.035 and r = 0.75; p = 0.005 in N and H, respectively). The results suggest that a R-T session at H does not differentially affect the hormonal, inflammatory, and miR-378 responses compared to N. However, the standardized mean difference detected values in the cytokines suggest an intensification of the inflammatory response in H that should be further investigated.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities PGC2018-097388-B-I00Andalusian FEDER Operational Program A-SEJ-246-UGR18FPU pre-doctoral FPU18/0068

Neuromuscular Adaptations after an Altitude Training Camp in Elite Judo Athletes

The aim of this study was to investigate neuromuscular adaptations in elite judo athletes after three weeks of power-oriented strength training at terrestrial altitude (2320 m). Nineteen men were assigned to altitude training (AL) (22.1 ± 2.3 years) and sea level training (SL) (22.6 ± 4.1 years). Neuromuscular assessment consisted of: (1) maximal isometric knee extensor (KE) torque, (2) KE rate of torque development (RTD), (3) quadriceps activity and voluntary activation, (4) soleus Hreflex, (5) quadriceps single (TTW) and double twitch torque (TDB100) and contraction time (CTTW). There were no significant differences between groups at baseline for any of the observed parameters. Significant differences were found between groups in terms of change in RTD (p = 0.04). Cohen’s d showed a positive significant effect (0.43) in the SL group and a negative significant effect (−0.58) in the AL group. The difference between groups in changes in CTTW as a function of altitude was on the edge of significance (p = 0.077). CTTW increased by 8.1 ± 9.0% in the AL group (p = 0.036) and remained statistically unchanged in the SL group. Only the AL group showed a relationship between changes in TTW and TDB100 and changes in RTD at posttest (p = 0.022 and p = 0.016, respectively). Altitude induced differences in muscular adaptations likely due to greater peripheral fatigue.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under grant DEP2015-64350-P MINECO/FEDERSlovenian Research Agency (P5-0142)FPI pre-doctoral grant under grant BES -2016-07803

Altitude alters the effects of a power-oriented resistance training on the force-velocity relationship of elite judokas

This study investigated the effects of a 3-week power-oriented resistance training program performed at moderate altitude on the lower-limb maximal theoretical power and force-velocity (F-V) imbalance of elite judokas. Twenty-two elite male judokas were randomly assigned to either a hypobaric hypoxia or normoxia group. Mechanical outputs from an incremental loaded countermovement jump test were assessed at sea level, before and after training, and 1 week later. Results indicated an increase in the maximal theoretical force and a reduction in the F-V imbalance both at moderate altitude and sea level. Altitude training induced additional benefits when compared to sea level for F-V imbalance (8.4%; CI: 0.3, 17.3%), maximal theoretical power (2.09 W·kg-1; CI: 0.13, 4.52 W·kg-1) and force (1.32 N·kg-1; CI: -0.12, 2.96 N·kg-1), jump height (3.24 cm; CI: 2.02, 4.80 cm) and optimal maximal theoretical force (1.61 N·kg-1; CI: 0.06, 3.60 N·kg-1) and velocity (0.08 m·s-1; CI: 0.00, 0.17 m·s-1) after the training period. The hypoxia group achieved their best results immediately after the training period, while the normoxia group achieved them one week later. These results suggest that a power-oriented resistance training program carried out at moderate altitude accelerates and improves the gains in leg push capacity while minimizing lower-limb imbalances. Therefore, it seems appropriate to compete immediately after the return to sea level and/or use altitude training as a tool to improve muscle power levels of athletes without tapering goals, especially in highly trained power athletes, since their window of adaptation for further power enhancement is smaller.Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness under Grant DEP2015-64350-P MINECO/FEDERFPI pre-doctoral grant under Grant BES-2016-078035 awarded to one of the author