The cardinal exercise stopper: Muscle fatigue, muscle pain or perception of effort?

The capacity to sustain high-intensity aerobic exercise is essential for endurance performance. Therefore, it is important to understand what is the factor limiting time to exhaustion (TTE) in healthy and fit adults. In Study 1, maximal voluntary cycling power (MVCP) was measured in 11 volunteers before and immediately after a high-intensity TTE test on cycle ergometer. Cadence was 60 rpm in both the MVCP and TTE tests. Despite a 35% loss in MVCP, power produced during the final MVCP test (mean ± SD 469 ± 111 W) was significantly higher than the power required by the TTE test (269 ± 55 W) (P < 0.001). In Study 2, 12 participants performed a cold pressor test (CPT) to the limit of tolerance …

Kayaking performance is altered in mentally fatigued young elite athletes

Background The present study aimed to assess the impact of 60 min of a cognitive demanding task inducing mental fatigue (Stroop) on kayaking performance in young elite athletes. The second objective was to elucidate the effect of mental fatigue on performance in a population of young under-17 elite athletes of national. Methods Thirteen under-17 elite kayakers completed 60 min of an incongruent Stroop color-word test, or the equivalent time in a control condition in a cross-over study design. Afterwards, participants completed a 2000 m kayaking time trial in which power output, stroke rate and time at the end of 400, 800, 1200, 1600 and 2000 m were recorded. Physiological and perceptual mea…

Hs-cTnT levels in professional soccer players throughout a season: No evidence of sustained cardiac damage

a Research Institute of the Hospital 12 de Octubre (“i + 12”), Madrid, Spain b Research Institute “Dr. Vina Giner”, Molecular and Mitochondrial Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Martir, Valencia, Spain c School of Medicine, Catholic University of Valencia San Vicente Martir, Valencia, Spain d Human Performance Laboratory, MAPEI Sport Research Center, Italy e Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain f Laboratory of Experimental Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, Milano, Italy g Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Academic Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy

Association between physical fitness and mean platelet volume in professional soccer players.

Adropin and apelin fluctuations throughout a season in professional soccer players: Are they related with performance?

Myokines are likely to be involved in the whole-body metabolic adaptive changes that occur in response to regular exercise. We aimed to investigate the association of the two myokines (adropin and apelin) with physical performance in professional soccer players. To this purpose, we analyzed the fluctuations of circulating levels of both adropin and apelin in professional soccer players during a season and evaluated the possible association of these myokines with the performance level. Creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity as well as iron, transferrin and high-sensitivity C-Reactive protein (hsCRP), ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), free testosterone/cort…

Alpha-amylase serum levels in professional soccer players are not related with physical fitness.

Backgorund Recent evidence has showed that serum or salivary values of α-amylase predict endurance running performance. In this study we investigate whether serum α-amylase concentration may be associated with training status during a competitive season and after a detraining period in professional soccer players. Methods The study population consisted in 15 male professional soccer players from an Italian major league team (age [mean±SD] 27±5 years, weight 76.9±4.1 kg, height 1.82±0.05 m). Serum α-amylase levels were measured 3 times during the last part of a competitive season (January, March and May) and just before preseason training (July). Results Metabolic and cardiovascular fitness …