optimal time of day for training during Ramadan: a review study

Literature concerning the effects of Ramadan fasting on sports performance presents conflicting results. In this context, some studies reported a significant impairment of sports performance during the month of Ramadan. However, other studies suggested that Ramadan fasting has no significant effect on physical performance. The discrepancies between the studies could be explained by time-of-day variations in testing. In this regard, recent studies reported that Ramadan negatively affects the afternoon sports performance; however, the morning and the evening [after breaking the fast] performances were not affected by fasting. This suggests that the optimal time of day for training during Ramadan is the morning or the evening. Therefore, coaches should schedule the training sessions in the morning or evening during the month of Ramadan. However, further studies should investigate the effect of training at a specific time of day on sports performance during Ramadan

effects of music on high-intensity short-term exercise in well trained athletes

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of listening to music during warm-up on short-term supramaximal performances during the 30-s Wingate test in highly trained athletes. Twelve young male athletes [20.6 +/- 1.8 yrs, 177 +/- 4.4 cm and 72.3 +/- 5.3 kg] underwent two Wingate tests in separate sessions with a recovery period of 48 h in-between, either after a 10 min of warm-up with [MWU] or without [NMWU] music. High tempo music [> 120 to 140bpm] was selected for the study. Heart rate [HR] and rate of perceived exertion [RPE] were recorded after the warm-up [for HR = average of warm-up] and immediately after the Wingate test. HR, RPE and the fatigue index during the Wingate test are not affected by the incorporation of music during warm-up. However, power output [P[peak] and P[mean]] was significantly higher after MWU than NMWU [p < 0.05]. The relative increases were 4.1 +/- 3.6 and 4.0 +/- 3.7 W·kg[-1] for P[peak] and P[mean] respectively. These findings demonstrated the beneficial effect of music during warm-up on short-term supramaximal performances. As it's a legal method and an additional aid, music may be used during warm-up before performing activities requiring powerful lower limbs' muscles contractions during short-term supramaximal exercises