Physical Capacities and Combat Performance Characteristics of Male and Female Olympic Boxers.

Purpose: The study characterized the anthropometrical and cardiorespiratory profile, and the cardiorespiratory, bio-chemical and immunological responses to 3 × 3 min round (R) free-contact/combat boxing simulation, in elite Olympic Boxers (4 female and 10 male). Methods: The evaluation consisted of resting metabolic rate, anthropometric measurement, maximal graded test exercise (visit 1), free combat simulation (3 × 3 min R, 1 minute rest), and blood samples collected before, during and after the combat (visit 2). Results: Respectively, females and males had (mean±SD; or median: for non-parametric data) body fat percentage (17.2[3.5] and 4.6[0.8]%), predominantly mesomorphic somatotyping, and V˙O2MAX (50.0 ± 2.5 and 56.2 ± 5.2 ml.kg-1.min-1). The free combat simulation resulted in high cardiovascular strain [mean heart rate corresponding to R1: 92 ± 3; R2: 94 ± 2; and R3: 95 ± 2% of maximal HR] and blood chemistry indicative of acidosis (following R3: 7.21 ± 0.08 pH, bicarbonate 13.1 ± 3.6 mmol.L-1, carbon dioxide 13.9 ± 3.8 mmol.L-1, lactate 15.1 ± 3.8 mmol.L-1, and glucose 8.4 ± 1.3 mmol.L-1). Further, notable general catabolism, hematological and immune responses were evident post combat simulation (1-hour post R3: creatinine 95.2 ± 14.5 µmol.L-1, urea 6.4 ± 1.3 mmol.L-1, white blood cell accumulation 7.8 ± 2.6 × 109.L-1, hemoglobin 14.9 ± 0.8 g.dL-1 and hematocrit 43.7 ± 1.9%). Conclusions: Notable cardiovascular strain and acidosis are seen from the 3 × 3 free combat simulation whilst pronounced catabolism and immune responses are evident 1-hour post R3. This characterization is the first in male and female (who recently adopted the 3 × 3 min R format, as used by males) elite Olympic boxers and provides a characterization framework to assist practitioners and athletes in their attempts to deliver evidence-informed practice for specific conditioning session design.

Creatine and creatinine quantification in olympic athletes: dried blood spot analysis pilot study.

Capillary dried blood spot (DBS) samples facilitate field-based collection without venipuncture. This pilot study aims to evaluate the viability of creatine (Cr) and creatinine (Crt) quantification using fresh capillary serum (CrS/CrtS) and DBS samples (CrDBS/CrtDBS), using Flow Injection Analysis Mass Spectrometry (FIA - MS). Nine Olympic Athletes provided a capillary blood sample to assess CrS/CrtS and CrDBS/CrtDBS quantified by FIA - MS. No difference between CrtS (mean ± SD: 813.6 ± 102.4 µmol/L) and CrtDBS (812.4 ± 108.1 µmol/L) was observed with acceptable variance [SEM 88.7; CV 10.7%; ICC 0.57 (CI 95% 0.06 - 0.84)] and agreement [very strong (Spearman: r = 0.77; p < 0.01) or strong (Pearson: r = 0.56; p = 0.04); Bland Altman: lower (-193) and upper (+196) limits of agreement]. CrS (mean ± SD: 691.8 ± 165.2 µmol/L) was significantly different to CrDBS (2911 ± 571.4 µmol/L) with unacceptable variance [SEM 171.6; CV 27%; ICC 0.002 (CI 95% -0.02 - 0.07)] and 'weak' agreement [Spearman: r = 0.21, p = 0.47 and Pearson: r = 0.06, p = 0.84; Bland Altman lower (-3367) and upper (-1072) limits of agreement]. Crt quantification is viable using both CrtS and CrtDBS (but not for Cr and CrS/CrDBS), with the DBS tissue handling technique offering several methodological and practice facing advantages. Future work should expand upon the sample size, explore sport/discipline relevant analytes across a full competitive season, including key training, recovery and performance blocks of their periodized performance plan.

Covid-19 and its effect on olympic sport: the importance of studying social isolation and the harm it causes, in order to minimize it / Covid-19 e seu efeito no esporte olímpico: a importância de estudar o isolamento social e seus danos a fim de minimizá-los / Covid-19 y su efecto en el deporte olímpico: la importancia de estudiar el aislamiento social y sus daños a fin de minimizarlos

ABSTRACT In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease caused by the SARS-CoV2 virus, known as COVID-19, to be a pandemic. The sporting world, too, is suffering from the global effects of this disease, with the postponement or cancellation of competitions, including the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. As a proposal for containing the disease, social isolation was declared. Despite the importance of this measure, it was harmful for Olympic athletes, as they had to stay away from their training site and trainers, as well as their interdisciplinary teams. It is therefore important to study this harm caused, in order to minimize it. In general, it is believed that regular physical activity is associated with improved immune system functioning. The lack of training can therefore have significant consequences for the performance and health of the Olympic athlete. From the athlete's point of view, the impaired immune system, due to the reduced frequency of physical exercise, leaves them more vulnerable to contracting or developing infections or other diseases. The risk of harm due to the decreased performance of preventive works is also evident in this population. The reductions in training load and intensity can cause changes in the athlete's body composition and affect various aspects of cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as reducing strength levels and muscle potency. In relation to the athlete's mental health, two aspects are particularly challenging: isolation and uncertainty. Based on the possible harm caused by social isolation, the need is seen for a specific and joint work, in an attempt to minimize it. This work addresses the following topics: (I) context: transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, discharge criteria, isolation and post-pandemic consequences; (II) harm and proposals: nutritional, physiological, biomechanical and psychological. Level of evidence II; Review Article.

RESUMO Em março de 2020, a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) declarou como pandemia a doença causada pelo vírus SARS-CoV2, conhecida como COVID-19. O mundo do esporte acompanha e sofre os efeitos globais dessa enfermidade, com o adiamento ou cancelamento de competições, inclusive os Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio 2020. Como proposta para contenção da doença, foi determinado o isolamento social. Apesar de importante, esta medida traz danos aos atletas olímpicos pelo afastamento do local de treinamento e de treinadores, assim como de sua equipe interdisciplinar. Portanto, entende-se a importância de estudar esses danos a fim de minimizá-los. De forma geral, acredita-se que a atividade física regular esteja associada à melhora do funcionamento do sistema imunológico. Assim, a falta de treinamento pode levar a consequências importantes para o desempenho e a saúde do atleta olímpico. Do ponto de vista da saúde do atleta, o comprometimento do sistema imunológico pela redução da regularidade do exercício físico deixa o atleta mais vulnerável a contrair e desenvolver infecções ou outras patologias. Além disso, o risco de lesões considerando a diminuição da realização dos trabalhos preventivos é evidente nessa população. As reduções da carga e da intensidade de treino podem provocar mudanças na composição corporal do atleta e afetar diversos componentes da aptidão cardiorrespiratória, assim como reduzir níveis de força e potência muscular. Com relação à saúde mental do atleta, dois aspectos são os mais desafiadores: o isolamento e a incerteza. A partir dos possíveis danos causados pelo isolamento social, entende-se a necessidade de um trabalho específico e em conjunto, na tentativa de minimizá-los. Neste trabalho serão abordados os seguintes tópicos: (I) contexto: transmissão, sintomas, diagnóstico, tratamento, critérios de alta, isolamento e consequências pós-pandemia; (II) danos e propostas: nutricionais, fisiológicas, biomecânicas, bioquímicas e psicológicas. Nível de evidência II; Artigo de Revisão.

RESUMEN En marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró como pandemia a la enfermedad causada por el virus SARS-CoV2, conocida como COVID-19. El mundo del deporte acompaña y sufre los efectos globales de esa enfermedad, con la postergación o cancelación de competiciones, inclusive los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020. Como propuesta para contención de la enfermedad, se determinó el aislamiento social. A pesar de importante, esta medida trae daños a los atletas olímpicos por el alejamiento del local de entrenamiento y de entrenadores, así como de su equipo interdisciplinario. Por lo tanto, se entiende la importancia de estudiar esos daños a fin de minimizarlos. De forma general, se cree que la actividad física regular esté asociada a la mejora del funcionamiento del sistema inmunológico. Así, la falta de entrenamiento puede llevar a consecuencias importantes para el desempeño y la salud del atleta olímpico. Desde el punto de vista de la salud del atleta, el compromiso del sistema inmunológico por la reducción de la regularidad del ejercicio físico deja al atleta más vulnerable a contraer y desarrollar infecciones u otras patologías. Además, el riesgo de lesiones considerando la disminución de la realización de los trabajos preventivos es evidente en esa población. Las reducciones de la carga y de la intensidad de entrenamiento pueden provocar cambios en la composición corporal del atleta y afectar diversos componentes de la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria, así como reducir niveles de fuerza y potencia muscular. Con relación a la salud mental del atleta, dos aspectos son los más desafiantes: el aislamiento y la incertidumbre. A partir de los posibles daños causados por el aislamiento social, se entiende la necesidad de un trabajo específico y en conjunto, en la tentativa de minimizarlos. En este trabajo serán abordados los siguientes tópicos: (I) contexto: transmisión, síntomas, diagnóstico, tratamiento, criterios de alta, aislamiento y consecuencias postpandemia; (II) daños y propuestas: nutricionales, fisiológicas, biomecánicas, bioquímicas y psicológicas. Nivel de evidencia II; Artículo de Revisión.

Metabolic changes during a field experiment in a world-class windsurfing athlete: a trial with multivariate analyses.

Physical exercise affects hematological equilibrium and metabolism. This study evaluated the biochemical and hematological responses of a male world-class athlete in sailing who is ranked among the top athletes on the official ISAF ranking list of windsurfing, class RS:X. The results describe the metabolic adaptations of this athlete in response to exercise in two training situations: the first when the athlete was using the usual training and dietary protocol, and the second following training and nutritional interventions based on a careful analysis of his diet and metabolic changes measured in a simulated competition. The intervention protocol for this study consisted of a 3-month facility-based program using neuromuscular training (NT), aerobic training (AT), and nutritional changes to promote anabolism and correct micronutrient malnutrition. Nutritional and training intervention produced an increase in the plasma availability of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), aromatic amino acids (AAAs), alanine, glutamate, and glutamine during exercise. Both training and nutritional interventions reduced ammonemia, uricemia, and uremia. In addition, we are able to correct a significant drop in potassium levels during races by correct supplementation. Due to the uniqueness of this experiment, these results may not apply to other windsurfers, but we nonetheless had the opportunity to characterize the metabolic adaptations of this athlete. We also proposed the importance of in-field metabolic analyses to the understanding, support, and training of world-class elite athletes.