Effects of apnoea training on aerobic and anaerobic performance:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Trained breath-hold divers have shown physiological adaptations that might improve athletes’ aerobic and anaerobic performance. Objective This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature and perform a meta-analysis to assess the effects of voluntary apnoea training on markers of anaerobic and aerobic performance, such as blood lactate and VO(2max). Methods A literature search on three databases (Web of Science, PubMed and SCOPUS) was conducted in March 2022. The inclusion criteria were 1) peer-reviewed journal publication; 2) clinical trials; 3) healthy humans; 4) effects of apnoea training; 5) variables included markers of aerobic or anaerobic performance, such as lactate and VO(2max). Results 545 manuscripts were identified following database examination. Only seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were, therefore, included in the meta-analysis. 126 participants were allocated to either voluntary apnoea training (ApT; n = 64) or normal breathing (NB; n = 63). Meta-analysis on the included studies demonstrated that ApT increased the peak blood lactate concentration more than NB (MD = 1.89 mmol*L(−1) [95% CI 1.05, 2.73], z = 4.40, p < 0.0001). In contrast, there were no statistically significant effects of ApT on VO(2max) (MD = 0.89 ml*kg(−1)*min(−1) [95% CI −1.23, 3.01], z = 0.82, p = 0.41). Conclusion ApT might be an alternative strategy to enhace anaerobic performance associated with increased maximum blood lactate; however, we did not find evidence of ApT effects on physiological aerobic markers, such as VO(2max). Systematic Review Registration: [PRISMA], identifier [registration number]

Monitoring workload and performance response to taekwondo training

This study compared the association between Foster’s and Banister’s TRIMP methods for quantifying internal training load and training stimuli responses. Methods: A group of twenty-two Taekwondo competitors were divided by gender and level of expertise. The athletes practiced three different types of exercises to develop the following skills: a) speed, b) power, and c) aerobic power. Results: A significant correlation was obtained between the Foster’s and Banister’s TRIMP methods for developing aerobic capacity (r = 0.60, p = 0.004) and power (r = 0.52, p = 0.014). No significant correlation was suggested between training methods and speed training (r = 0.20, p = 0.377). Conclusion: Lactate and heart rate responses to different types of exercises suggested the need for aerobic and anaerobic-based training sessions. The use of rating of perceived exertion scale-based measurements to monitor workload is recommended for Taekwondo competitors

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements