Ian Fairweather

Validity and reliability of GPS for measuring instantaneous velocity during acceleration, deceleration, and constant motion

Abstract In this study, we assessed the validity and reliability of 5 and 10 Hz global positioning systems (GPS) for measuring instantaneous velocity during acceleration, deceleration, and constant velocity while straight-line running. Three participants performed 80 running trials while wearing two GPS units each (5 Hz, V2.0 and 10 Hz, V4.0; MinimaxX, Catapult Innovations, Scoresby, VIC, Australia). The criterion measure used to assess GPS validity was instantaneous velocity recorded using a tripod-mounted laser. Validity was established using the standard error of the estimate (±90% confidence limits). Reliability was determined using typical error (±90% confidence limits, expressed as coefficient of variation) and Pearsons correlation. The 10 Hz GPS devices were two to three times more accurate than the 5 Hz devices when compared with a criterion value for instantaneous velocity during tasks completed at a range of velocities (coefficient of variation 3.1–11.3%). Similarly, the 10 Hz GPS units were up to six-fold more reliable for measuring instantaneous velocity than the 5 Hz units (coefficient of variation 1.9–6.0%). Newer GPS may provide an acceptable tool for the measurement of constant velocity, acceleration, and deceleration during straight-line running and have sufficient sensitivity for detecting changes in performance in team sport. However, researchers must account for the inherent match-to-match variation reported when using these devices.

Electromechanical delay in isometric muscle contractions evoked by voluntary, reflex and electrical stimulation

Electromechanical delay (EMD) in isometric contractions of knee extensors evoked by voluntary, tendon reflex (TR) and electrical stimulation (ES) was investigated in 21 healthy young subjects. The subject performed voluntary knee extensions with maximum effort (maximal voluntary contraction, MVC), and at 30%, 60% and 80% MVC. Patellar tendon reflexes were evoked with the reflex hammer being dropped from 60°, 75° and 90° positions. In the percutaneous ES evoked contractions, single switches were triggered with pulses of duration 1.0 ms and of intensities 90, 120 and 150 V. Electromyograms of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris muscles were recorded using surface electrodes. The isometric knee extension force was recorded using a load cell force transducer connected to the subjects lower leg. The major finding of this study was that EMD of the involuntary contractions [e.g. mean 22.1 (SEM 1.32) ms in TR 90°; mean 17.2 (SEM 0.62) ms in ES 150 V] was significantly shorter than that of the voluntary contractions [e.g. mean 38.7 (SEM 1.18) ms in MVC,P < 0.05]. The relationships between EMD, muscle contractile properties and muscle fibre conduction velocity were also investigated. Further study is needed to explain fully the EMD differences found between the voluntary and involuntary contractions.

Effects of fatigue and sprint training on electromechanical delay of knee extensor muscles

Electromechanical delay (EMD) of knee extensors in isometric contraction was investigated in six healthy men before and after four periods of 30-s all-out sprint cycling exercise, conducted pre and post a 7-week sprint cycling training programme. The EMD was lengthened from 40.4 (SEM 3.46) ms at rest to 63.4 (SEM 7.80) ms after the fatiguing exercise (P ≤ 0.05) in the pre-training test. During maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) conducted after the fatiguing exercise, the peak contraction force (Fpeak) and peak rate of force development (RFDpeak) were reduced by 51%–56% and 38%–50%, respectively (both P ≤ 0.05). The mechanisms of EMD lengthening during fatigue could have been due to the deterioration in muscle conductive, contractile or elastic properties and require further study. The training programme increased the total work performed during the four periods of sprint exercise (P ≤ 0.05). However, no significant training effects were found in the resting or postexercise EMD, Fpeak and RFDpeak during isometric MVC. These unchanged isometric contraction variables but enhanced dynamic performance suggest that isometric tests of muscle are insensitive to the neuromuscular adaptations to sprint training.

No difference in 1RM strength and muscle activation during the barbell chest press on a stable and unstable surface

Exercise or Swiss balls are increasingly being used with conventional resistance exercises. There is little evidence supporting the efficacy of this approach compared to traditional resistance training on a stable surface. Previous studies have shown that force output may be reduced with no change in muscle electromyography (EMG) activity while others have shown increased muscle EMG activity when performing resistance exercises on an unstable surface. This study compared 1RM strength, and upper body and trunk muscle EMG activity during the barbell chest press exercise on a stable (flat bench) and unstable surface (exercise ball). After familiarization, 13 subjects underwent testing for 1RM strength for the barbell chest press on both a stable bench and an exercise ball, each separated by at least 7 days. Surface EMG was recorded for 5 upper body muscles and one trunk muscle from which average root mean square of the muscle activity was calculated for the whole 1RM lift and the concentric and eccentric phases. Elbow angle during each lift was recorded to examine any range-of-motion differences between the two surfaces. The results show that there was no difference in 1RM strength or muscle EMG activity for the stable and unstable surfaces. In addition, there was no difference in elbow range-of-motion between the two surfaces. Taken together, these results indicate that there is no reduction in 1RM strength or any differences in muscle EMG activity for the barbell chest press exercise on an unstable exercise ball when compared to a stable flat surface. Moreover, these results do not support the notion that resistance exercises performed on an exercise ball are more efficacious than traditional stable exercises.

Alkalosis increases muscle K+ release, but lowers plasma [K+] and delays fatigue during dynamic forearm exercise

Alkalosis enhances human exercise performance, and reduces K+ loss in contracting rat muscle. We investigated alkalosis effects on K+ regulation, ionic regulation and fatigue during intense exercise in nine untrained volunteers. Concentric finger flexions were conducted at 75% peak work rate (∼3 W) until fatigue, under alkalosis (Alk, NaHCO3, 0.3 g kg−1) and control (Con, CaCO3) conditions, 1 month apart in a randomised, double‐blind, crossover design. Deep antecubital venous (v) and radial arterial (a) blood was drawn at rest, during exercise and recovery, to determine arterio‐venous differences for electrolytes, fluid shifts, acid–base and gas exchange. Finger flexion exercise barely perturbed arterial plasma ions and acid–base status, but induced marked arterio‐venous changes. Alk elevated [HCO3−] and P  CO 2, and lowered [H+] (P < 0.05). Time to fatigue increased substantially during Alk (25 ± 8%, P < 0.05), whilst both [K+]a and [K+]v were reduced (P < 0.01) and [K+]a‐v during exercise tended to be greater (P= 0.056, n= 8). Muscle K+ efflux at fatigue was greater in Alk (21.2 ± 7.6 µmol min−1, 32 ± 7%, P < 0.05, n= 6), but peak K+ uptake rate was elevated during recovery (15 ± 7%, P < 0.05) suggesting increased muscle Na+,K+‐ATPase activity. Alk induced greater [Na+]a, [Cl−]v, muscle Cl− influx and muscle lactate concentration ([Lac−]) efflux during exercise and recovery (P < 0.05). The lower circulating [K+] and greater muscle K+ uptake, Na+ delivery and Cl− uptake with Alk, are all consistent with preservation of membrane excitability during exercise. This suggests that lesser exercise‐induced membrane depolarization may be an important mechanism underlying enhanced exercise performance with Alk. Thus Alk was associated with improved regulation of K+, Na+, Cl− and Lac−.

High-Intensity Re-Warm-Ups Enhance Soccer Performance

The effects of high-intensity, short-duration, re-warm-ups on team-sport-related performance were investigated. In a randomised, cross-over study, participants performed 2×26-min periods of an intermittent activity protocol (IAP) on a non-motorized treadmill, interspersed by 15-min of passive recovery (CON); 3-min small-sided game (SSG); or a 5RM leg-press. Measures included counter-movement jump, repeated-sprint, the Loughborough soccer passing test (LSPT), blood lactate concentration, heart-rate, and perceptual measures. Data were analyzed using effect size (90% confidence intervals), and percentage change; determining magnitudes of effects. A 5RM re-warm-up improved flight-time to contraction-time ratio when compared to SSG (9.8%, ES; 0.5±0.3) and CON (ES: 9.4%, 0.7±0.5) re-warm-ups, remaining higher following the second IAP (8.8%, ES; 0.5±0.3 and 10.2%, ES; 0.6±0.6, respectively). Relative-maximum rate-of-force development was greater in the 5RM condition following the second IAP compared to SSG (29.3%, ES; 0.7±0.5) and CON (16.2%, ES; 0.6±0.6). Repeated-sprint ability during the second IAP improved in the 5RM re-warm-up; peak velocity, mean velocity, and acceleration were 4, 3, and 18% greater, respectively. Within groups, the SSG re-warm-up improved LSPT performance post-intervention; 6.4% (ES: 0.6±0.8) and following the second IAP 6.2% (ES: 0.6±0.6), compared to pre-intervention. A 5RM leg-press re-warm-up improved physical performance, while a SSG re-warm-up enhanced skill execution following standardized intermittent exercise.