A. La Torre

Left ventricular function and energy metabolism in middle-aged men undergoing long-lasting sustained aerobic oxidative training

Objective: Ageing of the human heart is characterised by morphological, functional and metabolic changes. Short-term interventions and cross-sectional studies in older individuals questioned the possibility that physical exercise may reverse these alterations. In this study we aimed to assess whether in middle-aged men involved in regular and long lasting physical activity these alterations were attenuated. Design: Left ventricular (LV) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and three-dimensional image selected in-vivo spectroscopy (3D-ISIS) 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) were performed using a 1.5T scanner in 20 healthy, young and 25 healthy middle-aged non-obese men with a sedentary lifestyle (11 young and 14 middle-aged) or undergoing regular aerobic oxidative training (9 young and 11 middle-aged). Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the homeostatic model assessment 2 (HOMA-2) model. Results: Sedentary young and middle-aged men were not different with respect to LV morphological parameters and systolic function. The phosphocreatine/ATP (PCr/ATP) ratio (marker of high energy phosphates metabolism) and the LV E-peak filling rate/A-peak filling rate ratio (E/A ratio) were lower in sedentary middle-aged than physically active subjects. Parameters of LV systolic function and the PCr/ATP ratio were not different in the middle-aged compared with the young trained men; the E/A peak flow ratio was higher in the middle-aged trained men than in the middle-aged sedentary men. Within the entire population, the PCr/ATP ratio and the E/A peak flow ratio were associated with insulin sensitivity. Conclusions: Trained middle-aged subjects showed a better pattern of LV energy metabolism and of diastolic function than their sedentary counterparts. At this age the exercise-related cardiac benefits were detectable when physical exercise was performed regularly and for a long period of time.

Morning or evening training: effect on heart rate circadian rhythm

Twenty male endurance athletes (aged 20–25 years) carried out 2-hour daily training sessions, every day from Monday to Friday, for an overall period of 4 weeks. Four different weekly training time table (09.00-11.00; 11.00-13.00; 16.00-18.00; 18.00-20.00 hours) were followed, changing the time slot each week. Each athlete trained, in turn, in each period. The fifth day of each week, heart rate was monitored for 24-28 hours. Statistical analysis employed the single and mean cosinor methods. The heart rate (HR) circadian rhythm was statistically significant (p<0.05) in all 4 training session time. The HR acrophase is progressively postponed during the afternoon: the heart rate acrophase for training done between 18.00 and 20.00 is delayed by approximately 3 hours compared to that of the training done between 09.00 and 11.00. Training done at different daily times synchronizes the HR circadian rhythm. Temporal programming of physical activity is a tool capable of modifying the temporal structure of physiological variables. This approach can be of great interest for coaches who plan training programs and it may benefit athletes when time zone adjustment is an issue, such as transferring to a different continent for a competitive event.

Explosive strength in female 11-on-11 versus 7-on-7 soccer players

Lower limbs strength capacity in female soccer players is poorly addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate explosive strength in 7-on-7 (7FP) and 11-on-11 (11FP) female players and its possible changes at 3 different checkpoints of the competitive season. Thirteen 11FP of mean age 22.0 years) and twenty-six 7FP (of mean age 23.6 years) were enrolled. Vertical jump capacity was determined by means of squat jump (SJ) and counter movement jump (CMJ) tests in 3 different periods (September 2005, December 2005, April 2006). No significant differences were observed in SJ elevation or CMJ elevation between the two groups at any time point, and there were no significant changes over time. However, 7FPs tended to have higher explosive performance during SJ compared to 11FPs, and they had a significantly lower elastic recoil index at all three evaluations. This may be due to the characteristics of 7-on-7 soccer, in which the neuromuscular and explosive strength demands are higher than those of 11-on-11 soccer. Such requirements, though increasing muscular explosive performance, also increase the rigidity of the lower limb extensor apparatus.

Injury and Illness Rates During Ultratrail Running.

This study aimed to describe injury/illness rates in ultratrail runners competing in a 65-km race to build a foundation for injury prevention and help race organizers to plan medical provision for these events. Prospectively transcribed medical records were analysed for 77 athletes at the end of the race. Number of injuries/illnesses per 1 000 runners and per 1 000-h run, overall injury/illness rate and 90% confidence intervals and rates for major and minor illnesses, musculoskeletal injuries, and skin disorders were analysed. A total of 132 injuries/illnesses were encountered during the race. The overall injuries/illnesses were 1.9 per runner and 13.1 per 1 000-h run. Medical illnesses were the most prominent medical diagnoses encountered (50.3%), followed by musculoskeletal injuries (32.8%), and skin-related disorders (16.9%). Despite the ultra-long nature of the race, the majority of injuries/illnesses were minor in nature. Medical staff and runners should prepare to treat all types of injuries and illnesses, especially the fatigue arising throughout the course of an ultratrail run and injuries to the lower limbs. Future studies should attempt to systematically identify injury locations and mechanisms in order to better direct injury prevention strategies and plan more accurate medical care.

Neuromuscular training reduces lower limb injuries in elite female basketball players. A cluster randomized controlled trial

The study was a two‐armed, parallel group, cluster randomized controlled trial in which 15 teams (160 players) were assigned to either an experimental group (EG, 8 teams n = 86), which warmed‐up with bodyweight neuromuscular exercises, or a control group (CG, 7 teams, n = 74) that performed standard tactical‐technical exercises before training. All injuries during the 2015‐2016 regular season were counted. Epidemiologic incidence proportion and incidence rate were also calculated. Countermovement jump (CMJ) and composite Y‐Excursion Balance test (YBT) were used to assess lower limb strength and postural control. A total of 111 injuries were recorded. Chi‐square test detected statistically significant differences between EG and CG (32 vs 79, P = .006). Significant differences in the injuries sustained in the EG (21 vs 11, P = .024) and CG (52 vs 27, P = .0001) during training and matches, respectively, were observed. Significant differences in post‐intervention injuries were observed between in EG and CG during training (21 vs 52, P < .0001) and matches (11 vs 27, P = .006). Significant differences in epidemiologic incidence (0.37 vs 1.07, P = .023) and incidence rate (1.66 vs 4.69, P = .012) between the EG and the CG were found. Significant improvement in CMJ (+9.4%, P < .0001; d = 1.2) and composite YBT (right: +4.4%, P = .001, d = 1.0; left: +3.0%, P = .003; d = 0.8) for the EG was noted. Significant differences in post‐intervention CMJ (+5.9%, P = .004) and composite YBT scores (right, +3.7%, P = .012; left, +2.3%, P = .007) between the EG and the CG were observed. Including bodyweight neuromuscular training into warm‐up routines reduced the incidence of serious lower limb injuries in elite female basketball players.

Effects of exercise in a islet-transplanted half-marathon runner: Outcome on diabetes management, training and metabolic profile

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that compromises b cell function [1]. Whenever possible, islet transplantation (IT) becomes necessary in order to restore the endocrine function and to achieve exogenous insulin independence [2, 3]. In people with T1D, after islet transplantation, the quality of life has been shown to be improved along with a better glycemic control [1–3]. However, several conditions may lead to graft dysfunction and the need for re-introduction of exogenous insulin arises. Physical activity can be a therapeutic tool for increasing insulin sensitivity and improving glycemic control [4, 5]. Studies regarding the immunomodulatory effect of exercise are needed but it seems that exercise helps to alleviate the side effects of immunosuppression like the progression of insulin resistance, without worsening the autoimmune reaction [6, 7]. This report is a longitudinal study covering 7 years (2005–2011) after islet transplantation in a patient that became, alternating rest and training periods, a halfmarathon runner. We document how exercise training may be relevant not only for the physical performance per se but also for preventing symptoms of graft dysfunction.

Pacing strategy of master athletes during a half marathon

SISMES VII NATIONAL CONGRESS Padova 2–4 October 2015 THE MARCELLO FAINA LECTURE Citius, altius, fortius: beneficial effects of resistance training for children and adolescentsThe new scoring system (5x11) proposed by the Badminton World Federation, despite a similar physiological commitment with respect to the actual system (3x21), requires a lower total EE. Therefore, according to the present findings, this new scoring system should be adopted, some changes in training modalities need to be introduced. Ramp Test (mean ± SD) VO2 peak (ml·min -1) 3661 ± 328 VO2 peak (mlO2·min -1·kg-1) 54.8 ± 6.7 VEpeak (l·min -1) 152 ± 14SISMES VII NATIONAL CONGRESS Padova 2–4 October 2015 THE MARCELLO FAINA LECTURE Citius, altius, fortius: beneficial effects of resistance training for children and adolescents

Temporal analisys of men’s single badminton matches played under different scoring systems

SISMES VII NATIONAL CONGRESS Padova 2–4 October 2015 THE MARCELLO FAINA LECTURE Citius, altius, fortius: beneficial effects of resistance training for children and adolescentsThe new scoring system (5x11) proposed by the Badminton World Federation, despite a similar physiological commitment with respect to the actual system (3x21), requires a lower total EE. Therefore, according to the present findings, this new scoring system should be adopted, some changes in training modalities need to be introduced. Ramp Test (mean ± SD) VO2 peak (ml·min -1) 3661 ± 328 VO2 peak (mlO2·min -1·kg-1) 54.8 ± 6.7 VEpeak (l·min -1) 152 ± 14SISMES VII NATIONAL CONGRESS Padova 2–4 October 2015 THE MARCELLO FAINA LECTURE Citius, altius, fortius: beneficial effects of resistance training for children and adolescents

Exercise Effects on Erythrocyte Deformability in Exercise-induced Arterial Hypoxemia

Exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH) is often found in endurance-trained subjects at high exercise intensity. The role of erythrocyte deformability (ED) in EIAH has been scarcely explored. We aimed to explore the role of erythrocyte properties and lactate accumulation in the response of ED in EIAH. ED was determined in 10 sedentary and in 16 trained subjects, both before and after a maximal incremental test, and after recovery, along with mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and red blood cell lactate concentrations. EIAH was found in 6 trained subjects (∆SaO2=-8.25±4.03%). Sedentary and non-EIAH trained subjects showed reduced ED after exercise, while no effect on ED was found in EIAH trained subjects. After exercise, lactate concentrations rose and MCV increased equally in all groups. ED is strongly driven by cell volume, but the different ED response to exercise in EIAH shows that other cellular mechanisms may be implicated. Interactions between membrane and cytoskeleton, which have been found to be O2-regulated, play a role in ED. The drop in SaO2 in EIAH subjects can improve ED response to exercise. This can be an adaptive mechanism that enhances muscular and pulmonary perfusion, and allows the achievement of high exercise intensity in EIAH despite lower O2 arterial transport.

Relationship between physical education experience and intention to practice physical activity or sport in adolescent sedentary girl

SISMES – V NATIONAL CONGRESS Pavia, 27 -29 September 2013 FUNCTIONAL ADAPTATION IN SPORT AND EXERCISE