Applications of Infrared Thermography in sports. A review

La termografía infrarroja (TI) registra el calor irradiado de un cuerpo, que es emitido en un rango del espectro electromagnético que la visión humana no es capaz de identificar. La respuesta térmica depende de una serie de ajustes fisiológicos específicos como la homeostasis corporal y salud del deportista, lo cual permite establecer interesantes aplicaciones en el deporte. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido revisar la literatura en torno a las aplicaciones de la TI en el ámbito del deporte, y proponer las características óptimas del registro en relación al evaluado, las condiciones ambientales y la cámara utilizada. Concluimos que la principal contribución de la TI en el ámbito del deporte es ayudar a identificar signos de lesión antes de que la lesión se produzca, permitiéndonos actuar de manera preventiva durante el proceso de entrenamiento

Match internal load in youth elite soccer players is period, playing position and intermittent running capacity dependent

Aims: The aims of this study were: i) to verify whether player internal load (PIL) monitored via heart rate (HR) varies with game-time and playing position; ii) whether intermittent running capacity (IRC) is related to the maintenance of within-match PIL in elite youth (U-15) soccer players. Method: Twenty-one elite soccer players (14±0.5 yrs, 172±7 cm, 63±6 kg) had their heart rate monitored (beats/min) in five matches and were tested twice for IRC (Yo-YoIR2, distance [m]) over a seven-week competitive season. Percentage of maximal heart rate (%HRmax) and time spent (TS%) in five zones (Z1[96%]) were our PIL indexes. Data from three complete games in the same position of each player were analyzed and matches halves, time intervals (T1 to T6), and playing positions (fullbacks, central defenders and forwards [N=5 each], midfielders [N=6]) were compared, and the relationship between IRC and within-match PIL was determined. Results: PIL was higher in 1st (86±3%) than in the 2nd half (84±4%; p<.001). The 2nd half had more TS% in Z1 and Z2 (p<.05). PIL in T4 was the lowest (p<.01), and in T6, it was lower than T1 and T2 (p<.01). Fullbacks and midfielders showed higher PIL and higher TS% in Z4 (p<.05) than the other positional roles. The average IRC correlated with PIL in T6 (r=.56, p<.01) only. Conclusion: In conclusion, the internal load in elite youth (U-15) soccer players varies with game-time and playing position; and their IRC is related to the maintenance of within-match PIL

Efeito da ingestão de taurina no desempenho físico: uma revisão sistemática

ResumenObjetivoPresentar los efectos de la taurina (Tau) en la capacidad aeróbica y anaeróbica, además de describir sus mecanismos de acción.MétodoSe ha realizado una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos PubMed/Medline y SportDiscus, teniendo como criterios de inclusión estudios con humanos, publicados en lengua inglesa, entre el 1 de enero de 2000 hasta el 1 de septiembre de 2011. La manera de consumo de Tau fue: Tau aislada o como ingrediente de bebidas energéticas evaluada con un suplemento placebo. La calidad de los estudios seleccionados fue valorada por la escala de PEDro siendo considerados los artículos con puntuaciones por encima de 5.ResultadosFueron seleccionados 14 estudios, siendo 11 los que obtuvieron cambios en la capacidad física aeróbica y 3 en la anaeróbica. Se observaron mejoras significativas en las actividades aeróbicas (8 de los 11 artículos) de igual manera que en las anaeróbicas (2 de los 3 estudios) tras ingesta de Tau frente a placebo.ConclusiónEl consumo agudo de apenas 1g de Tau, independiente del tiempo previo de ingesta presentó un efecto positivo frente la capacidad física aeróbica y anaeróbica. El principal efecto ergogénico que se observó en el componente aerobio fue aumentar la capacidad temporal para realizar un ejercicio, sin embargo en la actividad anaerobia proporcionó una mejora en la respuesta de los iones de calcio durante la contracción muscularAbstractObjectiveDescribe the effects of taurine (Tau) on aerobic and anaerobic physical performance as well as its mechanisms of action.MethodA systematic literature review on PubMed/Medline and SPORTDiscus was performed, including studies on humans which were published in English between January 1st, 2000 and September 1st, 2011.The forms of Tau intake were as the isolated compound (Tau) or as an ingredient in energy drinks analyzed with a placebo supplement. The quality of the selected articles was assessed using the PEDro scale and included articles with at least 5 points.ResultsAfter the filtering process, 14 studies were selected from which 11 presented changes in aerobic physical performance and 3 in anaerobic physical performance. Significant improvements were observed in aerobic activities (8 out of 11 articles) and in anaerobic activities (2 out of 3 studies) after intake of Tau, compared to the placebo.ConclusionThe consumption of only 1g of Tau, regardless of the time prior to intake, showed a beneficial effect on aerobic and anaerobic physical performance. The main ergogenic effect observed in the aerobic component was an increase on the temporal capacity of performing an exercise, whereas for the anaerobic activity there was a better response of calcium ions during muscle contraction

DEHYDRATION IN SOCCER PLAYERS AFTER A MATCH IN THE HEAT

We investigated the level of dehydration after a match in 20 soccer players (mean ± SD, 17.9 ± 1.3 years old, height 1.75 ± 0.05 m, body mass 70.71± 7.65 kg) from two teams that participate in a Brazilian Championship game performed at a temperature of 29 ± 1.1 C and a relative humidity of 64 ± 4.2%. Body mass, urine specific gravity and urinary protein were measured before and after the match, and self-perception measurements were performed during the match. Body mass loss was 1.00 ± 0.39 kg, corresponding to a dehydration percentage of 1.35 ± 0.87%. The mean sweating rate during the match was 866 ± 319 ml · h[sup]-1[/sup] and total fluid intake was 1265.00 ± 505.45 ml. The sweating rate and the quantity of ingested fluids correlated positively (r = 0.98; P<0.05). Protein occurred in the urine in 18 soccer players. The players showed no perception of thirst and considered themselves as comfortable during the match. At the end of the match the soccer players replaced 57.7 ± 15% of the water loss and presented a condition of significant to severe dehydration based on the post-match urine specific gravity data (1.027 ± 6 g · ml[sup]-1[/sup]). The results of this study demonstrate that most of the soccer players began the match with some degree of dehydration that worsened during the match

Physical inactivity is liable to the increased cardiovascular risk and impaired cognitive profile

© 2020 Bentham Science Publishers. Background: Sedentary life-style is a significant public health issue. It increases the incidence of type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), which in turn may impair physical and mental health. In fact, disrupted glucose metabolism is characteristic of Alzheimer’s dementia, and it is often dubbed as type-3 diabetes. Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the level of activity, body composition, cardiovascular risk and cognitive profile of patients with DM2 and/or SAH. The study was cross-sectional design. Method: The sample consisted of 120 individuals which 35% men and 65% women, with an average of 64±9 years old and 60±11 years old, respectively. Various parameters were evaluated such as anthropometric variables, pedometer recordings and brief cognitive screening battery (BCSB), which assesses the immediate memory, verbal fluency, learning, late memory and recognition. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test were applied to observe possible differences between men and women. In addition to Kruskall-Wallis, in the comparison between patients with SAH; DM2 and SAH + DM2. Results: A high rate of physical inactivity was found among those enrolled in this project. Females were characterized by increased body fat, whereas men displayed visceral fat excess. BCSB demonstrated reduced verbal fluency, late memory and recognition, with women presenting significantly worse results. Conclusion: Low level of daily physical activity is apparently correlated with obesity, elevated cardiovascular risk, and cognitive dysfunction