Caffeine ingestion improves specific artistic swimming tasks

The main movements of artistic swimming demand various physical capacities such as flexibility, strength, power, and muscular endurance. The use of ergogenic resources to potentialize performance in this sport, however, is underexplored and deserves investigation. In the present study, we tested whether caffeine ingestion would improve the execution of movements that are essential in a typical figure competition or routines in artistic swimming (i.e., amplitude in the Ariana, height in the Boost and Barracuda, and time maintained in the Stationary Scull techniques). Sixteen experienced female athlete artistic swimmers (17.4±3.2 years of age, 5.6±2.8 years of artistic swimming practice) performed several movements of artistic swimming after having ingested a capsule containing caffeine (5 mg/kg body mass) or cellulose (placebo). Compared to the placebo, caffeine improved latero-lateral amplitude during the Ariana (P=0.035), the height of the Boost and Barracuda (P=0.028 and 0.009), and maintained duration in Stationary Sculling (P=0.012). Bayes factor analysis, however, indicated substantial evidence of a positive effect of caffeine only on the Barracuda and Stationary Scull techniques. These findings indicated that caffeine improved performance during specific artistic swimming movements. Coaches and athletes should consider caffeine ingestion in their supplementation plans.

Changes in stature during and after spinal traction in young male subjects

BACKGROUND: Spinal traction is a relatively popular procedure for increasing the intervertebral space by applying separating forces. The parameters of time and magnitude of the traction forces may influence the outcomes from this procedure and need to be investigated. The duration of the benefits derived from traction is unknown and needs to be determined so that physiotherapists can provide better and more effective treatments. OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the relationship between load magnitude and time during spinal traction in relation to stature variations. Traction effect duration was also analyzed. METHOD: Fifteen healthy male subjects (23.1 ± 5.77 years; 1.80 ± 0.17 m and 87.0 ± 9.6 kg) were assessed under three traction conditions (0, 30 and 60 percent of body weight, BW) of 42 minutes. Stature variation was used to determine intervertebral disc height variation. Stature was assessed every 7 minutes during traction of 42 minutes and every 5 minutes for 45 minutes after traction ceased. RESULTS: 0 and 30 percent BW traction produced similar gains (6.09 ± 1.89 mm, 5.70 ± 1.88 mm, respectively; p>0.05), while these were smaller (p<0.05) than at 60 percent BW (7.01 ± 1.98 mm). Significant differences (p<0.05) between 60 percent BW and the other conditions occurred only after the 21st minute. Stature loss after traction showed that the traction effects were transient and lasted for approximately one hour. This suggests that traction loads of 30 percent BW are insufficient to produce stature gains similar to those observed with 60 percent BW. CONCLUSION: Traction showed a short-duration transient effect. For this effect to be maintained, it must be repeated at one-hour intervals. Its use is questioned because of its transient nature.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A tração sobre a coluna vertebral é um procedimento relativamente popular para aumentar o espaço inter-vertebral pela aplicação de forças de separação. Os parâmetros de tempo e magnitude da força aplicada podem influenciar os resultados desse procedimento e ainda precisam ser investigados. A duração dos benefícios derivados da tração não é conhecida e precisa ser determinada para que fisioterapeutas possam prover tratamentos melhores e mais eficientes. OBJETIVO: Este estudo analisou a relação entre a magnitude de carga e de tempo durante a tração vertebral sobre as variações de estatura, bem como a duração deste efeito. MÉTODOS: Quinze sujeitos saudáveis do sexo masculino (23,1 ± 5,77 anos; 1,80 ± 0,17 m e 87,0 ± 9,6 Kg) foram mensurados sob três condições (0, 30 e 60 por cento PC) de 42 minutos. A variação de estatura foi utilizada para determinar a variação da altura dos discos intervertebrais. A estatura foi verificada a cada 7 min durante a tração de 42 min e a cada 5 min por 45 min após o término da tração. RESULTADOS: A tração com 0 e 30 por cento do PC produziu ganhos similares (6,09 ± 1,89mm, 5,70 ± 1,88mm, respectivamente; p>0,05), que foram menores (p<0,05) que com 60 por cento do PC (7,01 ± 1,98 mm). Diferenças significativas (p<0,05) entre 60 por cento do PC e outras condições ocorreram apenas após o 21º min. A perda de estatura após a tração demonstrou que os efeitos da tração vertebral são transientes e duram aproximadamente 1 hora. Isso sugere que a carga de tração de 30 por cento PC não é suficiente para produzir ganhos de estatura similares aos observados com 60 por cento PC. CONCLUSÃO: A tração demonstrou um efeito transiente e de curta duração, para esse efeito ser mantido ele deve ser repetido em intervalos de 1 hora. O uso da tração é questionado devido ao seu efeito transiente.