Jamie J. Ghigiarelli

Combine performance descriptors and predictors of recruit ranking for the top high school football recruits from 2001 to 2009: differences between position groups.

Ghigiarelli, JJ. Combine performance descriptors and predictors of recruit ranking for the top high school football recruits from 2001 to 2009: Differences between position groups. J Strength Cond Res 25(5): 1193-1203, 2011-Several studies have documented the normative data for football combine performance measures in college and professional players. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the anthropometric and combine performance differences between highly recruited and recruited high school football players. A secondary purpose was to provide a historical basis of descriptive data for elite high school football players from 2001 to 2009. Height, weight, 40-yd sprint time, 20-yd shuttle time, vertical jump height, angle drive drill time, and broad jump distance were extracted for 2,560 players from a commercially available website. Mean scores across star value and playing positions were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and 1-way ANOVAs. Statistical significance was found between highly recruited (5 and 4 stars) and recruited players (3 and 2 stars) for height (highly recruited = 1.878 ± 0.06 m, recruited 1.85 ± 0.11 m), weight (highly recruited = 99.77 ± 4.76 kg, recruited = 97.54 ± 4.84 kg), 40-yd sprint (highly recruited = 4.76 ± 0.327 seconds, recruited = 4.84 ± 0.142 seconds), and vertical jump (highly recruited = 0.775 ± 0.11 m, recruited = 0.750 ± 0.121 m). Ten backward stepwise regression models were calculated (position × variables) with statistical significance set at the p < 0.05 level. The 40-yd sprint time, height, and weight were significant predictors of star value across 10 positions. These data provide anthropometric and performance profiles for highly recruited high school football players. Sprinting ability and physical size are the most consistent predictors of subjective ranking. The results may help strength and conditioning specialists better understand the anthropometric and physical attributes that distinguish highly recruited from recruited players and which attributes are likely to predict higher star value scores.

Effects of strongman training on salivary testosterone levels in a sample of trained men.

Abstract Ghigiarelli, JJ, Sell, KM, Raddock, JM, and Taveras, K. Effects of strongman training on salivary testosterone levels in a sample of trained men. J Strength Cond Res 27(3): 738–747, 2013—Strongman exercises consist of multi-joint movements that incorporate large muscle mass groups and impose a substantial amount of neuromuscular stress. The purpose of this study was to examine salivary testosterone responses from 2 novel strongman training (ST) protocols in comparison with an established hypertrophic (H) protocol reported to acutely elevate testosterone levels. Sixteen men (24 ± 4.4 years, 181.2 ± 6.8 cm, and 95.3 ± 20.3 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects completed 3 protocols designed to ensure equal total volume (sets and repetitions), rest period, and intensity between the groups. Exercise sets were performed to failure. Exercise selection and intensity (3 sets × 10 repetitions at 75% 1 repetition maximum) were chosen as they reflected commonly prescribed resistance exercise protocols recognized to elicit a large acute hormonal response. In each of the protocols, subjects were required to perform 3 sets to muscle failure of 5 different exercises (tire flip, chain drag, farmers walk, keg carry, and atlas stone lift) with a 2-minute rest interval between sets and a 3-minute rest interval between exercises. Saliva samples were collected pre-exercise (PRE), immediate postexercise (PST), and 30 minutes postexercise (30PST). Delta scores indicated a significant difference between PRE and PST testosterone level within each group (p ⩽ 0.05), with no significant difference between the groups. Testosterone levels spiked 136% (225.23 ± 148.01 pg·ml−1) for the H group, 74% (132.04 ± 98.09 pg·ml−1) for the ST group, and 54% (122.10 ± 140.67 pg·ml−1) for the mixed strongman/hypertrophy (XST) group. A significant difference for testosterone level occurred over time (PST to 30PST) for the H group p ⩽ 0.05. In conclusion, ST elicits an acute endocrine response similar to a recognized H protocol when equated for duration and exercise intensity.

Effects of phosphatidic acid supplementation on muscle thickness and strength in resistance-trained men

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of phosphatidic acid (PA) supplementation on muscle thickness and strength following an 8 week supervised resistance-training program. Fifteen resistance trained men (22.8 ± 3.5 years; 80.6 ± 8.7 kg; 178.1 ± 5.6 cm; 14.6% ± 8.8% body fat) were randomly assigned to a group that either consumed 750 mg of PA or a placebo (PL). Testing was carried out before (PRE) and after (POST) training/supplementation for muscle thickness and strength. Muscle thickness of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps brachii (BB), and triceps brachii (TB) muscles were measured via ultrasonography, along with 1 repetition maximum (1RM) of squat, deadlift, and bench press. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), using PRE values as the covariate, did not reveal any group differences for measures of muscle thickness in the RF (PA: 3.6% ± 5.2%; PL: 3.2% ± 4.2%, p = 0.97), VL (PA: 23.4% ± 18.1%, PL: 12.5% ± 15.4%, p = 0.37), BB (PA: 3.7% ± 6.4%, PL: 9.6% ± 12.4%, p = 0.86), or TB (PA: 15.1% ± 17.9%, PL: 10.7% ± 19.3%, p = 0.79). Likewise, no group differences were observed in changes in squat (PA: 8.4% ± 4.1%, PL: 8.1% ± 4.2%, p = 0.79), deadlift (PA: 10.1% ± 10.1%, PL: 8.9% ± 9.5%, p = 0.66), or bench press (PA: 5.7% ± 5.5%, PL: 5.1% ± 3.0%, p = 0.76) exercises. Collectively, however, all participants experienced significant (p < 0.05) improvements in each measure of muscle thickness and strength. Results of this study suggest that PA supplementation, in combination with a 3 days·week-1 resistance-training program for 8 weeks, did not have a differential effect compared with PL on changes in muscle thickness or 1RM strength.

The effects of low-fat skim chocolate milk on urinary hydration indices in a sample of Division 1-AA cross country runners during off-season training sessions

Methods Urine samples were collected from nine cross country runners twice a week (on the intense interval training days each week) for six weeks pre and post practice sessions. Each week participants consumed one of the three rehydration drinks. Participants served as their own control and drink choice was randomized in a cross over design across the three drinks. Urine was tested at four different times on each of the experimental days; (1) before practice (PRE), (2) immediately after practice (IPE), (3) 60 minutes after practice (RECV), (4) and a midnight sample (PST). Four urine indexes were examined on each of the experimental days to assess the difference in hydration status using the three experimental drinks: 1) Urine osmolality1 (Uosm), 2) specific gravity2 (Usg), 3) volume of urine output3 (Uo), and 4) urine color4 (Ucol).

Muscle activation during resistance exercise at 70% and 90% 1‐repetition maximum in resistance‐trained men

Muscle activation was investigated during resistance exercise with 2 relatively high‐intensity loads.

Muscle activation during resistance exercise at 70% and 90% 1RM in resistance-trained men.

Muscle activation was investigated during resistance exercise with 2 relatively high‐intensity loads.

Effect of Multi-Ingredient Supplement Containing Satiereal, Naringin, and Vitamin D on Body Composition, Mood, and Satiety in Overweight Adults

ABSTRACT The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of 28 days of a dietary supplement on body composition, mood, and satiety in overweight adults. Twenty healthy adults (25.5 ± 3.8 years; 87.3 ± 20.7 kg; 169.9 ± 10.6 cm; 29.9 ± 5.1 body mass index) participated in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation. Ten participants were provided with a dietary supplement containing 178 mg satiereal, 100 mg naringin, and 2,000 IU vitamin D3 daily (SUPP), and ten participants were provided a placebo (PL) for 28 days. Baseline (PRE) and post (POST) assessments included body mass, BMI, and waist circumference measures. In addition, participants provided self-reported food records and completed study questionnaires twice weekly. Questionnaires consisted of profile of mood states, visual analog scales, modified trait food-cravings questionnaire, and a modified state food-cravings questionnaire. No significant differences were noted between groups for total calorie or macronutrient intake (p = 0.65–0.92), body mass (p = 0.34), BMI (p = 0.24), or waist circumference measures (p = 0.56–0.94). In addition, no significant differences between groups were observed for mood states, subjective measures of food cravings, or feelings of anxiety, fullness, bloating, hunger, craving, and stress (p >.05). In conclusion, 28 days of a dietary supplement containing satiereal, naringin, and vitamin D3 did not have any detectable beneficial effects on body-weight management.