Mental fatigue and ball sports: a narrative review focused on physical, technical, and tactical performance

Abstract Aim: This narrative review aimed to explore the effect of mental fatigue on physical, technical, and tactical performance in ball sports. Methods: Three Databases, PUBMED, SCOPUS, and SCIELO, were used to search for a scientific publication. The criterions adopted were: a) published in a peer-reviewed journal; b) adopted at least one manipulation check related to mental fatigue; c) mental fatigue induced by a cognitive task before the outcome task, and d) study participants were ball sports athletes. Result: The quality of this narrative review was rated at 11 (SANRA scale 0-12), and the papers analyzed were published between 2015 and 2022. Twenty-one experimental studies were included in this review. Most studies were in invasion sports (n = 13; 72%), and non-ecological tasks were used to induce mental fatigue (n = 15; 83%). Regarding performance in endurance tests, mentally fatigued athletes had performance impaired. However, when assessed during a small-sided or simulated game, data were inconclusive within the literature. Moreover, athletes presented attenuated perceptual skills (e.g., visual field). Consequently, this worsened motor skills, technical-tactical performances, and tactical behavior. Conclusions: Cognitively demanding tasks should be avoided before training and sports competitions because they can lead the athlete to mental fatigue and impair performance. This impairment is identified in physical performance (endurance tasks) and technical and tactical performance. Finally, it is recommended that athletes do not perform tasks that cause mental fatigue 2 h before the sports event.

Impact of increasing age on high-performance Olympic triathletes in male and female: a case report

Abstract Aim: Increasing age is associated with significant changes in athletes' performance; however, it is not yet known how increasing age could influence the performance of triathletes. In this sense, the present study aimed to investigate how the performance of two elite triathletes (HCK and AD), who participated and finished the Olympic Games in Sydney, Athens, Beijing, and London, could change over the years. Methods: This study reports two cases (male and female) with cross-sectional and retrospective characteristics that describe how the increasing age changes the performance of two elite triathletes who participated in four consecutive Olympics (2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012). Pearson correlation test was used to verify the correlation between the performance and age of the triathletes. A value of p < 0.05 was assumed to show statistical significance. Results: The results suggest that both triathletes showed impaired performance at the Summer Games in Athens in 2004. When the two athletes were analyzed together, positive correlations were observed between age and transition 1 (T1; swim-to-cycle) and transition 2 (T2; cycle-to-run). Also, a high correlation was found between T2 and age for HCK but not for AD. The results showed a significant correlation between increasing age and a reduction in running performance for HCK. Conclusion: Although the two triathletes improved overall time throughout the Olympic Games, this improvement did not correlate with age. Thus, the increasing age does not seem to impact these two athletes during the four Olympic events.

Reliability of the high-speed camera-based system (hsc-kinovea) for lower-limb explosive strength endurance assessment in athletes / Confiabilidade do sistema de câmera de alta velocidade (cav-kinovea) para avaliação da resistência de força explosiva de membros inferiores em atletas

ABSTRACT The present study verified the reliability of the high-speed camera-based system (HSC-Kinovea) in the lower-limb explosive strength endurance assessment in athletes. Eleven male volleyball players (21.8 ± 2.9 years; 186.3 ± 6.2 cm and 82.3 ± 11.0 kg) participated in the intermittent vertical jumping test in two days. The test was filmed and later analyzed using Kinovea 0.8.15 software to obtain the mean and peak power variables. Regarding reliability, the intra-class correlation coefficient, the typical error of measurements, and Bland-Altman plots were used. The method presented satisfactory values for inter and intra-class correlations (˃ 0.88). The typical values error of measurement presented in the inter-rater analysis was 0.95 W.kg-1 and 0.59 W.kg-1 for the peak and the mean power, respectively. In the intra-assessment analyses, the typical measurement error values were 7.02 W.kg-1 and 5.66 W.kg-1 (test-retest) and 1.59 W.kg-1 and 0.24 W.kg-1 (duplicates videos) for peak and average power, respectively. The HSC-Kinovea system is reliable for assessing the variables of the explosive strength endurance in athletes.

RESUMO O presente estudo verificou a confiabilidade do sistema baseado em câmeras de alta velocidade (CAV-Kinovea) na avaliação da resistência de força explosiva de membros inferiores em atletas. Onze atletas masculinos de voleibol (21.8 ± 2.9 anos de idade; 186.3 ± 6.2 cm and 82.3 ± 11.0 kg) participaram do teste de saltos verticais de contexto intermitente em dois dias. O teste foi filmado e posteriormente analisado no software Kinovea 0.8.15 para obter as variáveis ​​de potência pico e média. Para determinar a confiabilidade, utilizou-se o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse, o erro típico de medidas e os gráficos de Bland-Altman. O método apresentou valores satisfatórios para as correlações inter e intra-classe (˃0,88). Os valores do erro típico de medida apresentados na análise interavaliadores foram 0,95 W.kg-1 e 0,59 W.kg-1 para potência pico e média, respectivamente. Nas análises intra-avaliação, os valores do erro típico de medida foram 7,02 W.kg-1 e 5,66 W.kg-1 (teste-reteste) e 1,59 W.kg-1 e 0,24 W.kg-1 (duplicados de vídeos ) para potência pico e média, respectivamente. O sistema CAV-Kinovea é confiável para avaliar as variáveis da resistência de força explosiva em atletas.

Acute effects of the intensity in the agonistantagonist paired-set on the neuromuscular performance / Efeito agudo da intensidade no sistema agonista-antagonista pareado por série sobre o desempenho neuromuscular

The intensity employed in the agonist-antagonist paired-set (AAPS) system may influence neuromuscular performance due to increased fatigue and decreased antagonist coactivation. However, it is not yet known whether performing submaximal repetitions at different intensities (i.e., wit h out m uscle failure) negatively affects agonist muscle performance. The aim of this study was to verify the acute effect of the AAPSsystem performed at different intensities with submaximal repetitions. 20 trained m ales in resistance training (RT) (21.8 [3.1] years; 76.9 [9.7] kg; 1.7 [0.0] m; 24.3 [2.6] kg/m2 ) participated of this investigation. All the participants were allocated in a randomized order in one of the two AAPS configurations: high-load (HL) or low-load (LL). In the HL condition, the individuals were submit t ed to one set of eight repetitions at 75% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) in the knee flexion (i.e., antagonist), followed by 75% 1RM knee extension (i.e., agonist) exercise until momentary concentric failure. In t he LL condition, they performed one set of 12 repetitions at 50% 1RMin the knee flexion, followed by knee extension at 75%1RM also until momentary concentric failure. Both experimental conditions p resented similar values for the number of repetitions, without significant difference (p= 0.66, ES= 0.15). Thus, our data suggest that the adoption of AAPS system without an increase of the antagonist fatigue and consequently no reduction of coactivation, acutely, may not lead to increased p erfo rm an ce o f target musculature during a resistance exercise session...(AU)

A intensidade empregada no sistema agonista-antagonista pareado por série ( AAPS) pode influenciar o desempenho neuromuscular devido ao aumento da fadiga e diminuição da co ativação do antagonista. No entanto, ainda não se sabe se realizar repetições submáximas em diferentes intensidades (i.e., sem falha muscular) afeta negativamente o desempenho muscular. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito agudo do sistema AAPS realizado em diferentes intensidades com repetições submáximas. 20 homens treinados em treinamento resistido (TR) (21.8 ± 3.1 anos; 76.9 ± 9.7 kg; 1.7 ± 0.0 m; 24.3 ± 2.6 kg/m2 ) participaram desta investigação. Todos os participantes foram alocados, de forma aleatória, em uma das duas configurações do sistema AAPS: alta-carga (AC) ou baixa- carga (BC). Na condição AC, os indivíduos foram submetidos a uma série de oito repetições a 75% 1RMno exercício de flexão do joelho (i.e., antagonista), seguido por uma série a 75% 1RM de extensão do joelho até a falha oncêntrica momentânea. Ambas as condições experimentais apresentaram v alores sim ilares para o número de repetições, sem diferença significante (p = 0.66, TE = 0.15). Assim, nossos dados sugerem que a adoção do sistema AAPSsem aumento da fadiga do antagonista e consequentemente sem redução da coativação, agudamente, pode não levar ao aumento do desempenho da musculatura alvo durante uma sessão de exercício resistido...(AU)

The relationship between relative age effects and sex, age categories and playing positions in Brazilian National Handball Teams

Abstract Aims: This study investigated the existence of Relative Age Effect (RAE) in the selection process of male and female athletes in the Brazilian national handball teams according to age categories (U-18, U-21, and senior) and playing position (wings, backs, pivots, and goalkeepers). Methods: In order to determine RAE, athletes were divided based on their months of birth; quarters Q1 (January-March), Q2 (April-June), Q3 (July-September), and Q4 (October-December). Data were collected from the official Brazilian Handball Confederation (CBHb) website and included the athletes that participated in training and/or competitions composing the Brazilian national teams from 2014 to 2018. To determine the RAE on playing positions, age categories of male and female groups were pooled. Chi-squared tests were performed to investigate the RAE. Results: An over-representation of players born in Q1 and Q2 in the U-18, U-20, and senior categories of male teams and the U-20, and senior female teams were found. In the male teams, as the age category increased, RAE decreased, but still existed. Such distribution was reversed in the female athletes, with a higher RAE magnitude in the senior category as compared to U-18 and U-21. Additionally, it seems that RAE is dependent on the playing position only for male athletes (wings and backs) whereas RAE was found for all playing positions in female athletes. Conclusion: Overall, RAE was found in Brazilian national handball teams, but its magnitude and form of manifestation seem to be influenced by sex, category, and playing position.

Measurement of physical activity and sedentary behavior in adolescents by accelerometer: a cross-sectional study / Atividade física e comportamento sedentário em adolescentes medidas por acelerômetro: um estudo transversal

The objective of this study was to analyze the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior (SB) in students from Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is a cross-sectional study with 153 participants of both sexes and had to be between 10 and 12 old. We carried out measurements of socioeconomic and anthropometric variables. Also, physical activity and sedentary behavior were measured using an accelerometer (MiniMitter, Actiheart®). The accelerometer was fixed on the chest and the participants should remain with it for three days (Thursday, Friday, and Saturday). We categorized the data as SB - < 1.6 METs (< 0.39 kcal.kg-1.15min-1); light physical activity - 1.6 to 2.9 METs (0.42 to 0.76 kcal.kg-1.15min-1). In the study, both sexes showed a low time of moderate and vigorous (~ 0.85 hours/day) activities. Higher times were recorded for light activity (~ 2.6 hours/day) and SB (~ 12.5 hours/day) in both sexes. Also, boys spent greater time on a vigorous physical activity and lower time of SB in the three evaluated days (~ 1.3 hours/day boys vs ~ 0.4 hours/day girls) (p = 0.001; np2= 0.42). However, the physical activity behavior was similar during weekdays and weekends (p = 0.14; np2= 0.078). We conclude that boys are more engaged than girls in physical activities in public schools of Minas Gerais, Brazil. However, SB is similar between them

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o nível de atividade física e comportamento sedentário (CS) em escolares. Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 153 escolares de 10 a 12 anos de ambos os sexos, de escolas públi-cas de São João Nepomuceno do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foi realizada a mensuração de variáveis socioeconômicas e antropométricas e a utilização de acelerômetro para medir o nível atividade de física. O acelerômetro foi fixado no peito dos participantes por um período de 3 dias (quinta, sexta e sábado). A partir disso os dados do acelerômetro foram definidos em CS - < 1,6 METs (< 0,39 kcal.kg-1.15min-1); atividade física leve ­ 1,6 a 2,9 METs (0,42 a 0,76 kcal.kg-1.15min-1). No estudo, ambos os sexos apresentaram baixo tempo de atividades moderadas a vigorosas (~ 0,85 horas/dia). O principal achado indicou um elevado tempo em atividade leves (~ 2,6 horas/dia) e CS (~ 12,5 horas/dia) em ambos os sexos. De acordo com o sexo, os meninos apresentaram mais tempo envolvidos em atividades físicas moderada a vigorosas e baixo CS nos três dias avaliados (~ 1,3 horas/dia meninos e ~ 0,4 horas/dia meninas) (p = 0.001; np2= 0.42). Além disso, o comportamento da atividade física foi semelhante nos dias úteis e finais de semana (p = 0.14; np2= 0.078). Concluímos que para os três dias avaliados, meninos apresentam maior tempo de envolvimento em atividades moderada a vigorosa, porém ambos os sexos com alto CS

Quality of life in chronic venous disease women / Qualidade de vida em mulheres com doença venosa crônica

The aim of the study was to verify the relationship between physical function and quality of life in women with chronic venous disease. Physical function was evaluated by the tests: chair stand test (lower limbs strength), arm curl (upper limbs strength), 6-minute walk (aerobic fitness), back scratch (upper limbs flexibility), sit and reach (lower limbs flexibility), and time up-and-go (agility). Quality of life was assessed by The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire, which is composed by physical, psychologic, social, environmental, and global do-mains. For statistical analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used with an alpha of 5%. Patients evaluated were 32 (61.27 ± 7.78 years). A significant correlation was observed between the physical domain of quality of life with the chair stand test (r = 0.46; p = 0.001), arm curl (r = 0.39, p = 0.002), and 6-minute walk test (r = 0.45; p = 0.001). Also, chair stand test presented low correlation with global quality of life (r = 0.36, p = 0.004). The physical domain of quality of life measured by the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire is related to lower and upper limbs strength and physical fitness in women with chronic venous disease but presented weak correlation with the global domain of quality of life. Thus, in women with CVD, the muscular strength of lower and upper limbs, and physical fitness is correlated with the physical domain of quality of life

O objetivo do estudo foi verificar a relação entre capacidade física e qualidade de vida em mulheres com doença venosa crônica. A capacidade física foi avaliada pelos testes: sentar e levantar (força de membros inferiores), flexão de braço (força de membros superiores), teste de caminhada de seis minutos (resistência ae-róbia), alcançar as costas (flexibilidade de membros superiores), sentar e alcançar (flexibilidade de membros inferiores) e levantar ir-e-vir (agilidade). Qualidade de vida foi avaliada pelo questionário da Organi-zação Mundial de Saúde WHOQOL-BREF composto pelos domínios físico, psicológico, social, ambiental e global. Correlação de Pearson foi usada para verificar a relação entre as variáveis. O valor de alpha foi estabelecido em 5%. Foram avaliados 32 pacientes (61.27 ± 7.78 anos). Correlações significativas foram ob-servadas entre os domínios físico de qualidade de vida com o teste de sentar e levantar (r = 0.46; p = 0.001), flexão de braço (r = 0.39; p = 0.002), e teste de seis minutos de caminhada (r = 0.45; p = 0.01). Além disso, o teste de sentar e levantar apresentou fraca correlação com o domínio qualidade de vida global (r = 0.36; p = 0.004). Conclui-se que a resistência aeróbia e força muscular de membros superiores e inferiores tem relação com o domínio físico de qualidade de vida em mulheres com doença venosa crônica

Effect of exercise order on the resistance training performance during a circuit training session / Efeito da ordem dos exercícios sobre o desempenho durante uma sessão de treinamento resistido no método circuito

The aim of this study was to compare total work volume, number of repetitions and rate of perceived effort performed in two different sequences of circuit training sessions. Eleven recreationally trained men (24.0 ± 4.8 years, 76.1 ± 8.5 kg, 1.75 ± 0.06 m) performed two different sequences of circuit training sessions. All sessions consisted of eight stations (exercises) of three sets in circuit, performed to volitional fatigue, alternating upper and lower body exercises, with 1-minute rest interval between exercises. Sequence A began with multiple joint exercises and progressed to single joint exercises, whereas sequence B was performed with the opposite exercise order. Number of repetitions and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were compared by repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (repeated measures MANOVA). Total work volume (TWV) was compared by paired t-test. There were no differences between exercise order for TWV (p=0.47) and RPE of all exercises (p>0.05). For both sequences, number of repetitions was greater when exercise was performed first (p<0.05). These results indicate that during a circuit training session, exercises order influenced the number of repetition, but did not influence TWV and RPE. These findings may suggest that for those who aim overall muscular gains, similar results will be obtained with single and multiple joint, upper and lower body circuit training exercise orders. Similarly, exercise intensity will be similarly perceived regardless of exercise sequences. For those who aim specific muscle group gains, priority exercises must be performed first.

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o Volume Total de Trabalho (VTT), o Número de Repetições (NR), e a Percepção Subjetiva de Esforço (PSE) de duas sequências de exercícios executadas no método circuito. Onze homens treinados recreacionalmente (24.0 ± 4.8 years, 76.1 ± 8.5 kg, 1.75 ± 0.06 m) realizaram duas sequências diferentes de exercícios contra a resistência no método circuito. As sessões foram compostas por três passagens em oito estações (exercícios), executadas até a fadiga, alternados membros superiores e inferiores, com 1 minuto de intervalo entre os exercícios. A sequência A foi iniciada por exercícios multiarticulares e progrediu para exercícios monoarticulares, enquanto a sequência B foi executada na ordem inversa. O NR e a PSE foram comparadas pela MANOVA com medidas repetidas. O VTT foi comparado por meio do teste t pareado. Não houve diferenças significativas entre as ordens de exercícios para o VTT (p=0.47) e PSE (p>0.05). Para ambas as sequências, o NR foi maior quando os exercícios foram realizados no início das sequências (p<0,05). Esses resultados indicaram que a ordem dos exercícios afetou o número de repetições, mas não afetou o VTT e a PSE. Esses achados sugerem que, para aqueles que objetivam ganhos musculares gerais, resultados similares podem ser obtidos com exercícios mono e multiarticulares, para membros superiores e inferiores em diferentes ordens no método circuito. Da mesma forma, a intensidade do exercício será percebida de forma similar independente da sequência. Para aqueles que objetivam ganhos musculares específicos, exercícios prioritários devem ser executados no início da sessão.