Clare Leslie Minahan

The effect of recovery strategies on physical performance and cumulative fatigue in competitive basketball

Abstract To evaluate the effectiveness of recovery strategies on physical performance during a 3-day tournament style basketball competition, 29 male players (mean age 19.1 years, s = 2.1; height 1.84 m, s = 0.34; body mass 88.5 kg, s = 14.7) were assigned to one of three treatment groups: carbohydrate + stretching (7.7 g · kg −1 · day −1, s = 1.7; ‘n = 9), cold water immersion (11°C, 5 × 1; n = 10) or full leg compression garments (18 mmHg, ∼18 h; n = 10). Effects of the recovery strategies on pre–post tournament performance tests were expressed as the mean change (% ± standard deviation of the change score). Changes and differences were standardized for accumulated game time, assessed against the smallest worthwhile change for each test, and reported qualitatively. Accumulated fatigue was evident over the tournament with small to moderate impairments in performance tests. Sprint and agility performance decreased by 0.7% (s = 1.3) and 2.0% (s = 1.9) respectively. Vertical jump decreased substantially after the first day for all treatments, and remained suppressed post-tournament. Cold water immersion was substantially better in maintaining 20-m acceleration with only a 0.5% (s = 1.4) reduction in 20-m time after 3 days compared with a 3.2% (s = 1.6) reduction for compression. Cold water immersion (−1.4%, s = 1.7) and compression (−1.5%, s = 1.7) showed similar substantial benefits in maintaining line-drill performance over the tournament, whereas carbohydrate + stretching elicited a 0.4% (s = 1.8) reduction. Sit-and-reach flexibility decreased for all groups, although cold water immersion resulted in the smallest reduction in flexibility. Basketball tournament play elicited small to moderate impairments in physical test performance. In conclusion, cold water immersion appears to promote better restoration of physical performance measures than carbohydrate + stretching routines and compression garments.

The impact of regular physical activity on fatigue, depression and quality of life in persons with multiple sclerosis

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to compare fatigue, depression and quality of life scores in persons with multiple sclerosis who do (Exercisers) and do not (Non-exercisers) regularly participate in physical activity.MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire study of 121 patients with MS (age 25–65 yr) living in Queensland, Australia was conducted. Physical activity level, depression, fatigue and quality of life were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Health Status Questionnaire Short Form 36, Becks Depression Inventory and Modified Fatigue Impact Scale.Results52 participants performed at least two 30-min exercise sessions·wk-1 (Exercisers) and 69 did not participate in regular physical activity (Non-exercisers). Exercisers reported favourable fatigue, depression and quality of life scores when compared to Non-exercisers. Significant weak correlations were found between both leisure-time and overall reported physical activity levels and some subscales of the quality of life and fatigue questionnaires. Additionally, some quality of life subscale scores indicated that regular physical activity had a greater benefit in subjects with moderate MS.ConclusionFavourable fatigue, depression and quality of life scores were reported by persons with MS who regularly participated in physical activity, when compared to persons with MS who were classified as Non-exercisers.

The perceived benefits and barriers to exercise participation in persons with multiple sclerosis

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the perceived benefits and barriers to exercise participation in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). Method. A cross-sectional postal survey comprised of 93 adults with MS was conducted. Participants completed the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS), Spinal Cord Injury Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (EXSE), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale, Disease Steps Scale and International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results. Forty-three percent of the participants were classified as exercising individuals (EX group) as compared with non-exercising individuals (non-EX group). Participants in the EX group reported significantly higher scores on the EBBS and EXSE. Items related to physical performance and personal accomplishment were cited as the greatest perceived benefits to exercise participation and those items related to physical exertion as the greatest perceived barriers to both the EX and non-EX groups. Conclusion. When compared with previous studies conducted in the general population, the participants in the present study reported different perceived barriers to exercise participation. Furthermore, awareness of the benefits of physical activity is not sufficient to promote exercise participation in persons with MS. Perceived exercise self-efficacy is shown to play an important role in promoting exercise participation in persons with MS.

Comparing endurance- and resistance-exercise training in people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized pilot study

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare adaptations in functional and quality of life measures following endurance- and resistance-exercise training in people with multiple sclerosis. Design: Cross-over design with an eight-week washout period. Setting: Community health centre. Subjects: Sixteen individuals with multiple sclerosis. Intervention: Subjects completed both an eight-week endurance- and an eight-week resistance-exercise training programme in a randomized order. The exercise training comprised individualized progressive programmes that were completed twice weekly in a supervised group setting. Main measures: Grip strength, functional reach, four step square, timed up and go and six-minute walk tests, Multiple Sclerosis Impact and Modified Fatigue Impact Scales, Becks Depression Inventory and the Health Status Questionnaire Short Form-36. Results: Sixteen of 21 (76%) subjects completed the study. Subjects attended 13.2 ± 1.6 endurance- and 15.8 ± 1.9 resistance-exercise training sessions. No adverse events were reported. No significant differences (P < 0.05) in any outcome measures were observed between the two exercise training programmes either at baseline or following the completion of both training programmes. Conclusion: Both endurance- and resistance-exercise training were well tolerated and appear to provide similar effects for people with multiple sclerosis, but larger studies are required to confirm these findings.

Caffeine, cycling performance, and exogenous CHO oxidation: a dose-response study.

PURPOSE This study investigated the effects of a low and moderate caffeine dose on exogenous CHO oxidation and endurance-exercise performance. METHODS Nine trained and familiarized male cyclists (mean +/- SD: 29.4 +/- 4.5 yr, 81.3 +/- 10.8 kg body weight [BW], 183.8 +/- 8.2 cm, V O2peak = 61.7 +/- 4.8 mL.kg.min) undertook three trials, with training and high CHO diet being controlled. One hour before exercise, subjects ingested capsules containing placebo and 1.5 or 3 mg.kg BW of caffeine using a double-blind administration protocol. Trials consisted of 120 min steady-state cycling at approximately 70% V O2peak, immediately followed by a 7-kJ.kg BW time trial (TT). During exercise, subjects were provided with fluids containing C-glucose every 20 min to determine exogenous CHO oxidation. RESULTS No significant TT performance improvements were observed during caffeine-containing trials (mean +/- SD: placebo = 30 min 25 s +/- 3 min 10 s; 1.5 mg.kg BW = 30 min 42 s +/- 3 min 41 s; and 3 mg.kg BW = 29 min 51 s +/- 3 min 38 s). Furthermore, caffeine failed to significantly alter maximal exogenous CHO oxidation (maximal oxidation rates: placebo = 0.95 +/- 0.2 g.min; 1.5 mg.kg BW = 0.92 +/- 0.2 g.min; and 3 mg.kg BW = 0.96 +/- 0.2 g.min). CONCLUSION Low and moderate doses of caffeine have failed to improve endurance performance in fed, trained subjects.

Muscle damage, inflammation, and recovery interventions during a 3-day basketball tournament

Abstract Cold water immersion and compression garments are now popular strategies for post-exercise recovery. However, little information exists on the effectiveness of these strategies to minimize muscle damage, or any impact they may have on biomarker clearance after team sport competition. The main aim of this study was to investigate the time course of muscle damage markers and inflammatory cytokines during basketball tournament play. We also wished to examine if cold water immersion and compression recovery strategies ameliorate any post-game increases of these biomarkers, compared with traditional refuelling and stretching routines. Male basketball players (age 19.1 years, s=2.1; height 1.91 m, s=0.09; body mass 87.9 kg, s=15.1) were asked to compete in a three-day tournament playing one game each day. Players were assigned to one of three recovery treatments: carbohydrate+stretching (control, n=9), cold-water immersion at 11°C for 5×1 min (n=10); or full-leg compression at 18 mmHg for ∼18 h (n=10). Players received their treatment after each game on three consecutive days. Venous blood samples were assayed before the tournament and at 10 min, 6 h, and 24 h after each game for concentrations of the muscle damage markers fatty-acid binding protein (FABP), creatine kinase, and myoglobin; interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were also assayed. Inferences were based on log-transformed concentrations. Post-game increases in damage markers were clear and very large for FABP after the cold water immersion (3.81 ×/÷ 1.19, factor mean ×/÷ factor s), compression (3.93 ×/÷ 1.46), and control (4.04 ×/÷ 1.19) treatments. Increases in myoglobin were also clear and very large after the cold water immersion (3.50 ×/÷ 1.35), compression (3.66 ×/÷ 1.48), and control (4.09 ×/÷ 1.18) treatments. Increases in creatine kinase were clear but small after the cold water immersion (1.30 ×/÷ 1.03), compression (1.25 ×/÷ 1.39), and control (1.42 ×/÷ 1.15) treatments, with small or unclear differences between treatments. There were clear moderate to large post-game increases in IL-6 for cold water immersion (2.75 ×/÷ 1.37), compression (3.43 ×/÷ 1.52), and control (3.47 ×/÷ 1.49). Increases in IL-10 were clear and moderate for cold water immersion (1.75 ×/÷ 1.43), but clear and large after the compression (2.46 ×/÷ 1.79) and control (2.32 ×/÷ 1.41) treatments. Small decreases in IL-6 and IL-10 were observed with cold water immersion compared with the compression and control treatments, with unclear effects between treatments over the tournament. There was no clear benefit from any recovery treatment post-game, as the differences between treatments for all biomarker measures were small or unclear. Pre- to post-tournament increases in FABP, myoglobin, and creatine kinase were clearly small to moderate. There were also small to moderate differences between cold water immersion and the compression (0.85 ×/÷ 1.21) and control (0.76 ×/÷ 1.26) treatments for the post-tournament measures compared with pre-tournament. Pre- to post-tournament changes for IL-6 and IL-10 were unclear, as were the differences between treatments for both cytokines. Tournament basketball play elicits modest elevations of muscle damage markers, suggesting disruption of myocyte membranes in well-trained players. The magnitude of increase in muscle damage markers and inflammatory cytokines post-game ranged from small for creatine kinase, to large for IL-6 and IL-10, to very large for FABP and myoglobin. Cold water immersion had a small to moderate effect in decreasing FABP and myoglobin concentrations after a basketball tournament compared with the compression and control treatments.

Peak aerobic power and paddling efficiency in recreational and competitive junior male surfers

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to measure and compare peak oxygen uptake and paddling efficiency in recreational and competitive junior male surfers. Eight male recreational surfers (mean age 18 years, s=2; mass 66.8 kg, s=13.0; height 1.75 m, s=0.10) and eight male competitive surfers (mean age 18 years, s=1; mass 68.0 kg, s=11.7; height 1.72 m, s=0.10) performed an incremental paddling test consisting of four 3-min constant load work stages followed by a ramp increase in power output of 20 W · 30 s−1 until exhaustion. The oxygen uptake–power output relationship of the four constant load work stages and peak values obtained during the incremental paddling test were used to calculate paddling efficiency. No differences (P>0.05) were observed between the recreational and competitive surfers for peak oxygen uptake (recreational: 2.52 litres · min−1, s=0.5; competitive: 2.66 litres · min−1, s=0.35) or efficiency (recreational: 24%, s=3; competitive: 21%, s=4). Blood lactate concentration was significantly greater in recreational (2.4 mmol · l−1, s=0.9) than competitive surfers (1.6 mmol · l−1, s=0.5) during submaximal paddling. There were no differences in peak oxygen uptake or paddling efficiency between recreational and competitive surfers suggesting that peak oxygen uptake and efficiency are not sensitive to differences in surfing ability. The increase in blood lactate concentration during submaximal paddling in recreational compared with competitive surfers suggests that other determinants of paddling endurance, such as blood lactate threshold, might be better at distinguishing surfers of differing ability.

VALIDATION OF HEART RATE MONITOR-BASED PREDICTIONS OF OXYGEN UPTAKE AND ENERGY EXPENDITURE

Montgomery, PG, Green, DJ, Etxebarria, N, Pyne, DB, Saunders, PU, and Minahan, CL. Validation of heart rate monitor-based predictions of oxygen uptake and energy expenditure. J Strength Cond Res 23(5): 1489-1495, 2009-To validate &OV0312;o2 and energy expenditure predictions by the Suunto heart rate (HR) system against a first principle gas analysis system, well-trained male (n = 10, age 29.8 ± 4.3 years, &OV0312;o2 65.9 ± 9.7 ml·kg−1·min−1) and female (n = 7, 25.6 ± 3.6 years, 57.0 ± 4.2 ml·kg−1·min−1) runners completed a 2-stage incremental running test to establish submaximal and maximal oxygen uptake values. Metabolic cart values were used as the criterion measure of &OV0312;o2 and energy expenditure (kJ) and compared with the predicted values from the Suunto software. The 3 levels of software analysis for the Suunto system were basic personal information (BI), BI + measured maximal HR (BIhr), and BIhr + measured &OV0312;o2 (BIhr + v). Comparisons were analyzed using linear regression to determine the standard error of the estimate (SEE). Eight subjects repeated the trial within 7 days to determine reliability (typical error [TE]). The SEEs for oxygen consumption via BI, BIhr, and BIhr + v were 2.6, 2.8, and 2.6 ml·kg−1·min−1, respectively, with corresponding percent coefficient of variation (%CV) of 6.0, 6.5, and 6.0. The bias compared with the criterion &OV0312;o2 decreased from −6.3 for BI, −2.5 for BIhr, to −0.9% for BIhr + v. The SEE of energy expenditure improved from BI (6.74 kJ) to BIhr (6.56) and BIhr + v (6.14) with corresponding %CV of 13.6, 12.2, and 12.7. The TE values for &OV0312;o2 were ∼0.60 ml·kg−1·min−1 and ∼2 kJ for energy expenditure. The %CV for &OV0312;o2 and energy expenditure was ∼1 to 4%. Although reliable, basic HR-based estimations of &OV0312;o2 and energy expenditure from the Suunto system underestimated &OV0312;o2 and energy expenditure by ∼6 and 13%, respectively. However, estimation can be improved when maximal HR and &OV0312;o2 values are added to the software analysis.

Two reliable protocols for assessing maximal-paddling performance in surfboard riders

Abstract Reliability of maximal-paddling performance in surfboard riders (surfers) was determined. Peak power output was measured in 11 male surfers (age 17 ± 1 years, body mass 61.1 ± 9.2 kg, stature 1.71 ± 0.08 m) during six 10-s maximal-intensity paddling tests on a swim-bench ergometer (laboratory tests) over 2 days (Days 1 and 2). In addition, peak speed was measured during six 10-s maximal-intensity paddling tests performed in a swimming pool (field tests). Two types of field tests were performed: (1) three trials of arm paddling and leg kicking and (2) three trials of arm paddling only. There were no differences among the laboratory tests, or among the arm paddling or arm paddling plus kicking field tests. Intraclass correlation coefficients (r) for the laboratory test were 0.99 (P < 0.01) for the six trials, 0.99 (P < 0.01) for Trials 1 and 2, and 0.98 (P < 0.01) for Trials 1 and 4 (i.e. Day 2, Trial 1). Equivalents for the field tests were 0.99 (P < 0.01) for three trials of arm paddling and kicking and 0.99 (P < 0.01) for arm paddling only. In conclusion, maximal-paddling performance can be measured reliably both in the laboratory during swim-bench ergometry and in the field in a swimming pool.

Preliminary findings in the heart rate variability and haemorheology response to varied frequency and duration of walking in women 65–74 yr with type 2 diabetes

Heart rate variability (HRV) and haemorheology adaptations to 12 wk of varied-dose treadmill walking were investigated in women aged 65-74 yr with type 2 diabetes. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups where exercise frequency and session duration were manipulated (Group 1: 2 × 60 min·wk(-1) or Group 2: 4 × 30 min·wk(-1)), but intensity and accumulated weekly duration of exercise were consistent between groups (100% gas-exchange threshold; 120 min·wk(-1)). Twelve weeks of exercise training significantly improved peak oxygen uptake, time to exhaustion, and gas-exchange threshold (p < 0.05), independent of exercise group. Exercise training did not significantly change glycaemic control or body mass. Red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and RBC deformability significantly decreased (p < 0.05) for both groups. No change in HRV was observed for Group 1, whereas several key indicators of HRV were significantly improved in Group 2 (p < 0.05). The present study was the first to report decreased RBC aggregation following an exercise-only intervention and that exercise training improved RBC aggregation without a concomitant improvement in glycaemic control. The accumulated weekly exercise duration may be the most important training component for the prescription of exercise in older women with type 2 diabetes.