Iñigo Mujika

Hormonal responses to training and its tapering off in competitive swimmers: Relationships with performance

During a winter training season, the effects of 12 weeks of intense training and 4 weeks of tapering off (taper) on plasma hormone concentrations and competition performance were investigated in a group of highly trained swimmers (n = 8). Blood samples were collected and the swimmers performed their speciality in competition at weeks 10 (mid-season), 22 (pre-taper) and 26 (post-taper). No statistically significant changes were observed in the concentrations of total testosterone (TT), non-sex hormone binding globulin-boundtestosterone (NSBT), cortisol (C), luteinising hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine plasma catecholamines, creatine kinase and ammonia during training and taper. Mid-season NSBT: C ratio and the amount of training were statistically related (r = 0.82,P < 0.05). Competition performance slightly declined during intense training [0.52 (SD 2.51) %, NS] and improved during taper [2.32 (SD 1.69)%,P < 0.01]. Changes in performance during training and taper correlated with changes in ratios TT: C (r = 0.86,P < 0.01andr = 0.81,P < 0.05, respectively) and NSBT: C (r = 0.77,P < 0.05 andr = 0.76,P < 0.05, respectively). In summary, these results showed that the monitored plasma hormones and metabolic indices were unaltered by 12 weeks of intense training and 4 weeks of taper. The TT: C and NSBT: C ratios, however, appeared to be effective markers of the swimmers performance capacities throughout the training season.

Blood lactate recovery measurements, training, and performance during a 23-week period of competitive swimming

The purpose of this study was to relate measurements of blood lactate concentration, performance during a maximal anaerobic lactic test (MANLT) and training loads during a 23-week swimming season. Six elite 200-m freestyle male swimmers [mean age 19.5 (SD 1.6) years, height 184 (SD 5) cm and body mass 77.7 (SD 9.0) kg], participated in the study. The MANLT consisted of four all-out 50-m swims interspersed with 10-s recovery periods. Blood lactate concentrations were determined at 3 and 12-min post-exercise and were performed on weeks 2, 6,10,14,18 and 21. Swimmers participated in 200-m freestyle competitions on weeks 1, 7,13 and 23 (national championships). During weeks 1–10, training mostly involved aerobic exercise, while during weeks, 11–23, it involved anaerobic exercise. At 3-min and 12-min post-MANLT lactate concentrations varied throughout the season [range from 14.9 (SD 1.2) to 18.7 (SD 1.0) mmol·l−1] but demonstrated non-systematic variations. In contrast, the percentage of mean blood lactate decrease (% [La-]recovery) between min 3 and min 12 of the passive recovery post-MANLT increased from week 2 to 10 with aerobic training and decreased from week 10 to 21 with anaerobic training. The MANLT performance improved continuously throughout the season, while competition performance improved during the first three competitions but declined in the final championships, coinciding with the lowest % [La-]recovery and signs of overtraining, such as bad temper and increased sleeping heart rate. The results of this study indicated that % [La-]recovery could be an efficient marker for monitoring the impact of aerobic and anaerobic training and avoiding overtraining in elite 200-m swimmers.

Validity of a velodrome test for competitive road cyclists

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of a velodrome field test consisting of repeated rides of 2,280 m, with an initial speed of 28 km·h−1 and increments of 1.5 km·h−1 interspersed with 1-min recovery periods until exhaustion. A group of 12 male competitive road cyclists performed maximal cycling tests under velodrome and laboratory conditions. Velodrome oxygen uptake (n

Physiological and Performance Consequences of Training Cessation in Athletes: Detraining

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Fundamentos Científicos de las Estrategias de Puesta a Punto o Taper antes de las Competiciones - G-SE / Editorial Board / Dpto. Contenido

nO2) and power output were estimated using equations previously published. Physiological responses to the two tests were compared. Relationships between performance in the velodrome and physiological parameters measured in the laboratory were studied. Maximal power output, heart rate and n

Desentrenamiento: Pérdida de las Adaptaciones Fisiológicas y de Rendimiento Inducidas por el Entrenamiento. Parte I: Estímulo de Entrenamiento Insuficiente a Corto Plazo

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