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Optimizing Athletic Performance Through Brain Endurance Training

Bart Roelands and Špela Bogataj

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Evaluación de una propuesta educativa en Educación Física para promocionar la bicicleta como modo de transporte al centro educativo en adolescentes: Estudio PACO

Javier Molina-García, Francisco Javier Huertas-Delgado, Pablo Campos-Garzón, and Palma Chillón

Purpose: To analyze the effects of an educational proposal in Physical Education to promote cycling as a mode of transport to school. Method: The PACO study (‘Pedalea y Anda al Cole’) is a randomized controlled trial. Satisfaction with the sessions, cycling skills and knowledge, mode of travel, basic psychological needs and barriers to active commuting were assessed. Results: There was a high satisfaction with the sessions, an adequate development of cycling skills and an improved knowledge of traffic rules and cycling behavior. There was a significant decrease in the satisfaction of the need of competence and an increase in the perception of barriers in the intervention group compared to the control group. There was no change in the mode of transport. Conclusion: This type of educational proposals should be developed during more sessions and/or through interdisciplinary center projects to achieve positive and lasting behavioral changes.

Open access

Making the Invisible, Visible: An Exploration of Track-and-Field Coaches’ Perspectives of Their Planning Processes

Karen L. Johns, Paul Potrac, and Philip R. Hayes

Purpose: The traditional understanding of how coaches plan for sporting performance is rooted in the assumption that coaches create periodized plans underpinned by physiological principles, thereby providing scientific credibility to their work. In contrast, there remains a paucity of literature exploring how coaches understand or think about their planning practices. The purpose of this study was to generate new knowledge regarding what information coaches actually consider within their planning processes and how they actually approach the task of planning. Method: Using rigorous, in-depth interviews, this study examined athletics coaches’ understandings of their everyday planning practices, in an attempt to contribute to narrowing the gap between academic research and real-world application. Twenty-eight highly experienced, high-performance track-and-field coaches based in England (female, n = 1; male, n = 27) were recruited. The coaches were from the throwing disciplines (n = 10) and endurance running (n = 18). Coaches were interviewed about their planning process, using a maximum of 3 semistructured interviews per coach, spaced across a full athletics season. In total, this generated 68 hours of data. Results: The analysis demonstrated that, while the participant coaches utilized the principles of periodization, their planning activities were not limited to this issue. The findings highlighted how the coaches conceptualized successful athletic performance in a holistic way; that is, planning is multifaceted in nature. Conclusion: This study presents a holistic picture of the complexity of coaches’ planning, detailing the considerable time and attention given to planning for athletes’ psychological, personal, and social development, to enhance athlete performance and development.

Free access

The Nontechnical Summary: A New Initiative to Enhance the Translation of Sports Science Research and Reduce the Spread of Misinformation

Nicholas B. Tiller, Trent Stellingwerff, Oliver C. Witard, John A. Hawley, Louise M. Burke, and James A. Betts

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Physical Conditioning and Functional Injury-Screening Profile of Elite Female Soccer Players: A Systematic Review

Maitane Ruiz-Rios, Igor Setuain, Eduardo L. Cadore, Mikel Izquierdo, and Ibai Garcia-Tabar

Purpose: To identify the physical conditioning and functional injury-screening characteristics of elite female soccer players. Methods: This review was prospectively registered (PROSPERO CRD4202346765). Searches were conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and Web of Science (from inception in March 2023 to July 2023). Updated searches were conducted in October 2023 and April 2024. Included studies were quantitative studies conducted on female soccer players. Main outcomes were functional and physical profiles. Screening, data extraction, and quality assessment (Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies and the Oxford Levels of Evidence scales) were performed. Mean differences between preseason and in-season testing periods were estimated by Hedges g effect size. Methods and results were reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Results: The search yielded 1727 articles, of which 10 were included. Overall methodological quality of the studies was strong, with a moderate level of evidence. Players exhibited mean maximal oxygen uptake of 52.6 (4.5) mL·min−1·kg−1, 20-m linear-sprint performance of 3.58 (0.18) seconds, countermovement jump of 31.0 (2.9) cm, unilateral countermovement jump of 14.4 (2.1) cm, and quadriceps and hamstring peak torque at 60°·s−1 of 133 (23) and 87 (17) N·m, respectively. Mean scores recorded during in-season were 2% to 22% better than in preseason (effect size: small to very large). Conclusions: This review provides valuable normative physical conditioning and functional injury-risk assessment data for elite female soccer players. Coaches and conditioning staff can use these insights to interpret their own records and optimize their training processes. Furthermore, this study identifies methodological limitations to address in future research.

Free access

Can Caffeine Change the Game? Effects of Acute Caffeine Intake on Specific Performance in Intermittent Sports During Competition: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Javier Diaz-Lara, Raúl Nieto-Acevedo, Javier Abian-Vicen, and Juan Del Coso

Background: The benefits of oral caffeine intake to enhance several aspects of physical performance, such as aerobic endurance, strength, power, and muscle endurance performance, are well supported. However, how the physical performance benefits of caffeine supplementation are translated into better specific actions in intermittent sports during real or simulated competition has been the topic of fewer investigations, and their results need to be appropriately reviewed and meta-analyzed. Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of acute caffeine intake on specific actions in intermittent sports involving decision making and high-intensity efforts (eg, team, racket, and combat sports) during real or simulated competitions. Methods: All studies included had blinded and crossover experimental designs, and we conducted a risk-of-bias analysis. In total, we included 24 studies. A meta-analysis was performed using the random-effects model to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) estimated by Hedges g and 95% CIs. Results: Caffeine ingestion increased high-intensity sport-specific actions during competition, such as the number of sprints (SMD: 0.48; 95% CI, 0.23–0.74), body impacts (SMD: 0.28; 95% CI, 0.08–0.49), accelerations (SMD: 0.35; 95% CI, 0.06–0.63), decelerations (SMD: 0.63; 95% CI, 0.12–1.14), and high-intensity offensive efforts (SMD: 0.36; 95% CI, 0.11–0.61). Additionally, caffeine ingestion induced a higher positive or success rate of actions during real or simulated competition (SMD: 0.44; 95% CI, 0.19–0.69). Conclusion: The current meta-analysis provides evidence of caffeine supplementation in increasing high-intensity efforts and the success rate of sport-specific actions during real or simulated competition.

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Changing Horses in Midstream: Modern Pentathlon After the 2024 Olympic Games

Ludwig Rappelt and Lars Donath

The decision of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne to replace horse riding with Obstacle after the 2024 Olympic Games challenges training, testing, and recovery management in Modern Pentathlon. This commentary discusses physiological, technical, and tactical effects of rule changes in the 5 disciplines with a specific focus on the new discipline Obstacle. Modern Pentathlon requires athletes to develop specific endurance capacities relying on both the aerobic and anaerobic systems while simultaneously increasing lower- and upper-body strength capabilities. In addition, movements must be repeatedly executed in an explosive and precise manner. Running and swimming must be fast but economical. Swapping from horse riding to Obstacle will prioritize the explosive strength of the upper extremities and core while keeping high levels of endurance and precision in swimming, fencing, and shooting. Moreover, condensing the Modern Pentathlon competition to a 90-minute television-friendly format enables more competitions in the future. Athletes and coaches will thus also need to develop and maintain effective individual peri-exercise routines (before, during, and after the competition) to successfully meet the resulting tactical and physical challenges of the new format. This commentary aims to stimulate the discussion on the effect of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne’s decisions to replace riding with the new Obstacle discipline and implement a more television-friendly format with a focus on physiological, technical, and tactical aspects.

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Micronutrient Status During Military Training and Associations With Musculoskeletal Health, Injury, and Readiness Outcomes

Nicole M. Sekel, Mita Lovalekar, Kristen J. Koltun, Matthew B. Bird, Jennifer N. Forse, Brian J. Martin, and Bradley C. Nindl

Objective: Micronutrient status, specifically vitamin D and iron, represent modifiable factors for optimizing military readiness. The primary purpose of this investigation was to determine associations between micronutrient deficiency (i.e., iron status and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D [25(OH)D]) and operationally relevant outcomes (i.e., skeletal health, musculoskeletal injury) at baseline and post-10 weeks of arduous military training. Methods: A total of 227 (177 men, 50 women) Marine Officer Candidates School (OCS) candidates who completed OCS training with complete data sets were included in this analysis. Vitamin D and iron status indicators were collected at two timepoints, pre (baseline) and post OCS. Musculoskeletal outcomes at the mid- and proximal tibial diaphysis were assessed via peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Results: Micronutrient status declined following OCS training in men and women and was associated with musculoskeletal outcomes including greater bone strength (strength strain index) at the mid-diaphysis site in those with optimal status (M = 38.26 mm3, SE = 15.59) versus those without (M = −8.03 mm3, SE = 17.27). In women (p = .037), endosteal circumference was greater in the deficient group (M = 53.26 mm, SE = 1.19) compared with the optimal group (M = 49.47 mm, SE = 1.31) at the proximal diaphysis. In men, greater baseline hepcidin concentrations were associated with an increased likelihood of suffering musculoskeletal injury during training. Conclusions: Vitamin D and iron status declined over the course of training, suggesting impaired micronutrient status. Differences in musculoskeletal outcomes by micronutrient group suggests optimal vitamin D and ferritin concentrations may exert beneficial effects on bone fatigability and fracture reduction during military training.

Full access

No Combined Effect of Caffeinated Chewing Gum and Priming Exercise on Oxygen Uptake and Muscle Near-Infrared Spectroscopy-Derived Kinetics: A Double-Blind Randomized Crossover Placebo-Controlled Trial in Cyclists

Eduardo Marcel Fernandes Nascimento, Fernando Klitzke Borszcz, Thiago Pereira Ventura, Brunna Cristina Bremer Boaventura, Paulo Cesar do Nascimento Salvador, Luiz Guilherme Antonacci Guglielmo, and Ricardo Dantas de Lucas

This study aimed to investigate the effects of caffeine ingestion by chewing gum (GUMCAF) combined with priming exercise on pulmonary oxygen uptake ( V ˙ O 2 ) and near-infrared spectroscopy-derived muscle oxygen extraction (HHb + Mb) kinetics during cycling performed in a severe-intensity domain. Fifteen trained cyclists completed four visits: two under a placebo gum (GUMPLA) and two under GUMCAF ingestion. Each visit consisted of two square-wave cycling bouts at Δ70 intensity (70% of difference between the V ˙ O 2 at first ventilatory threshold and V ˙ O 2 max ) with duration of 6 min each and 5 min of passive rest between the bouts. The GUMPLA or GUMCAF (400 mg) was chewed for 5 min, 12 min before the first Δ70 bout in a randomized double-blind procedure. The fundamental phase and slow component of HHb + Mb and V ˙ O 2 kinetics were evaluated. For HHb + Mb kinetics, regardless of ingested gum, priming exercise effects occurred on the time constant (GUMCAF 16.0 ± 4.0 vs. 13.9 ± 2.9 s; GUMPLA 15.7 ± 6.1 vs. 13.2 ± 2.5 s), amplitude, slow component, time delay, and mean response time parameters (p ≤ .032). For V ˙ O 2 kinetics, there were significant effects of bouts on the amplitude, slow component, end V ˙ O 2 , and the gain kinetics parameters (p < .017). Baseline V ˙ O 2 was higher during GUMCAF than GUMPLA (p = .020). No significant effects occurred for the interaction between gum and bout in any parameter of V ˙ O 2 or HHb + Mb kinetics. Therefore, unlike the priming exercise in severe-intensity exercise, GUMCAF is not an effective strategy for improving V ˙ O 2 or HHb + Mb kinetics acceleration.

Free access

¿Qué mueve a profesores y profesoras de Educación Física en formación a impartir clase con distintos estilos (des)motivadores? Un estudio basado en el modelo circular

Carlos Mayo-Rota, Luis García-González, Sergio Diloy-Peña, Javier García-Cazorla, and Ángel Abós

Purpose: To analyze the pre-service Physical Education teachers’ motivational process and its influence on the (de) motivating teaching style according to gender. Method: Following a cross-sectional design, a total of 502 pre-service Physical Education teachers (i.e., Master’s students) (M age  = 25.31; SD = 4.64; 32.1% women), from different Spanish universities took part in the study. Results: Male pre-service teachers reported higher scores on competence satisfaction, controlled motivation, amotivation, controlling, and chaotic styles, and lower scores on autonomy-supportive style than female pre-service teachers. In both genders, competence satisfaction, via autonomous motivation, predicted participative and attuning approaches, whereas, competence frustration, via controlled motivation and amotivation, predicted controlling and chaotic styles. Conclusion: Competence satisfaction of pre-service Physical Education teachers seems to be a key element in order to develop a self-determined motivational process and the use of motivating teaching styles for their future students.