Effect of melatonin ingestion on physical performance, metabolic responses, and recovery after an intermittent training session.

OBJECTIVES: Fatigue is a limiting factor for sport performance. For this reason, optimal recovery after training is just as critical as the training program itself, if not more. Indeed, there is a need for strategies that can facilitate recovery after training, and one such strategy is the ingestion of supplements like melatonin (MEL). This study aimed to evaluate if MEL intake could improve recovery of athletes after an intermittent training session (ITS). METHODS: Fifteen elite female athletes (17.4 ± 0.4 years, 76.4 ± 5.6 kg, 1.76 ± 0.04 m; mean ± standard deviation) participated in two testing campaigns. During each period, they performed a battery of physical and cognitive tests before and after an ITS, as well as after ingesting MEL (6 mg tablet) or placebo in a randomized design. The ITS comprised the modified agility T-test, squat jump, counter movement jump, maximum standing ball-throw velocity test, maximum jump ball-throw velocity test, and 20-m sprint. Oral temperature (OT) and vigilance were evaluated before and after the ITS. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate [La], and glucose [Gl] were recorded after each ITS. RESULTS: Short-term performance, recovery of physical performance, and OT were not affected by MEL ingestion after the ITS. Moreover, MEL did not affect cognitive performance or RPE scores after the ITS. However, [La] and [Gl] (p < 0.05 for both) were decreased after MEL ingestion. CONCLUSION: MEL has no effect on the recovery of physical performance but may affect glucose utilization and lactate metabolism during the team-handball training session.

Morning melatonin ingestion and diurnal variation of short-term maximal performances in soccer players.

Aim Very few studies have investigated the temporal specificity of melatonin (MEL) ingestion upon short-term maximal athletic performances. The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of morning MEL ingestion on cognitive and physical performances measured in the afternoon. Methods Twelve soccer players from a Tunisian squad (17.9 ± 1.3 years, 1.74 ± 0.06 m and 62.0 ± 8.8 kg) participated in the present study. They performed two testing sessions at 08:00 h, 12:00 h and 16:00 h after either MEL (5mg) or placebo (PLA) ingestion, in a randomized order. During each period, the participants performed the following cognitive and physical tests: reaction time and vigilance tests, medicine-ball throw (MBT), five jumps, handgrip strength (HG), and agility tests. Results cognitive and physical performances were significantly higher at 16:00 h compared to 08:00 h during the two conditions (p < 0.05). Moreover, performances of MBT and HG were lower in the morning with MEL in comparison to PLA (p < 0.05). However, MEL ingestion did not affect physical and cognitive performances measured at 12:00 h and 16:00 h. Conclusion morning MEL ingestion has no unfavourable effect on afternoon physical and cognitive performances in soccer players.

Relationship between vertical jump and maximal power output of legs and arms: effects of ethnicity and sport.

The hypothesis that ethnicity and sport practice influence the relationship between maximal power in cycling (P(max)) and countermovement jump (CMJ) has been studied by relating CMJ and P(max) in two groups (volleyball players, VB, and physical education students, PES) including subjects with Caucasian (67 C) or West African (39 WA) origins. Maximal power of the arms (P(max) Arms) was also measured. A two-way analysis of variance (groups × ethnicity) showed significant effects of both factors upon CMJ, which was higher in WA and VB, P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively. Within WA, CMJ was significantly higher in VB (0.732 ± 0.057 m) than in PES (0.661 ± 0.082 m), although there was no difference in P(max) (14.7 ± 1.7 vs 14.7 ± 1.9 W/kg). CMJ was significantly higher in WA (0.69 ± 0.08 vs 0.65 ± 0.09 m in C, P = 0.002) without significant interethnic difference in P(max) (14.7 ± 1.8 in WA, and 14.8 ± 1.9 W/kg in C). The CMJ-P(max) relationships were different in C and WA (P = 0.003). Therefore, CMJ predicted from P(max) would be underestimated in WA. The same difference was observed for the relationship between CMJ and P(max) Arms. These results were confirmed by the comparison with previous P(max) -CMJ relationship in the literature, collected in Caucasian and African subjects with the same protocols.

Assessment of isokinetic knee strength in elite young female basketball players: correlation with vertical jump.

AIM: To explore the isokinetic concentric strength of the knee muscle groups, and the relationship between the isokinetic knee extensors strength and the vertical jump performance in young elite female basketball players. METHODS: Eighteen elite female basketball players performed a countermovement jump, and an isokinetic knee test using a Biodex dynamometer. The maximal isokinetic peak torque of the knee extensor and flexor muscles was recorded at four angular velocities (90°/s, 180°/s, 240°/s and 300°/s) for the dominant and non-dominant legs. The conventional hamstring/quadriceps ratio (H/Q) was assessed at each angular velocity for both legs. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between dominant and non-dominant leg whatever the angular velocity (all P>0.05). However, the H/Q ratio enhanced as the velocity increased from 180°/s to 300°/s (P<0.05). Furthermore, low to high significant positive correlations were detected between the isokinetic measures of the knee extensors and the vertical jump height. The highest one was found for the knee extensors peak torque at a velocity of 240°/s (r=0.88, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results accounted for an optimal velocity at which a strong relationship could be obtained between isokinetic knee extensors strength and vertical jump height. Interestingly, the H/Q ratio of the young elite female basketball players in the present study was unusual as it was close to that generally observed in regular sportsmen.

KmL3D: a non-parametric algorithm for clustering joint trajectories.

In cohort studies, variables are measured repeatedly and can be considered as trajectories. A classic way to work with trajectories is to cluster them in order to detect the existence of homogeneous patterns of evolution. Since cohort studies usually measure a large number of variables, it might be interesting to study the joint evolution of several variables (also called joint-variable trajectories). To date, the only way to cluster joint-trajectories is to cluster each trajectory independently, then to cross the partitions obtained. This approach is unsatisfactory because it does not take into account a possible co-evolution of variable-trajectories. KmL3D is an R package that implements a version of k-means dedicated to clustering joint-trajectories. It provides facilities for the management of missing values, offers several quality criteria and its graphic interface helps the user to select the best partition. KmL3D can work with any number of joint-variable trajectories. In the restricted case of two joint trajectories, it proposes 3D tools to visualize the partitioning and then export 3D dynamic rotating-graphs to PDF format.

Maximal voluntary force and rate of force development in humans--importance of instruction.

The present investigation has been designed to confirm the effect of instruction (hard-and-fast instruction compared to fast instruction) upon maximal voluntary isometric force (MVF) and maximal rate of force development (MRFD) in muscle groups which differ with regards to muscle mass and usage. In addition, we took advantage of the force data collected during unilateral and bilateral leg extension, to compare the instruction effects on the indices of the bilateral deficits (BI, the differences between the data collected during bilateral extensions and the sum of the data collected during unilateral left and right extensions) with regard to MVF (BIMVF) and MRFD (BIMRFD). Force-time curves were recorded during maximal isometric contractions of the elbow flexors, the leg extensors of the take-off and lead legs and during bilateral leg extension in 26 healthy young male volunteers from the track-and-field national team of Tunisia. In the first protocol, the subjects were instructed to produce MFV as hard-and-fast as possible (instruction I). In the second protocol (instruction II) the subjects were instructed to provide MFRD, that is the most explosive force, by concentrating on the fastest contraction without concern for achieving maximal force. The present study confirmed the importance of an appropriate instruction for the measurement of MRDF The MRFD (F = 40.8, P < 0.001) were significantly higher when measured after instruction II compared to instruction I. The effect of the instruction upon MRFD were similar for muscle groups with different volumes, cortical representations and uses. The same results (F = 52.1; P < 0.001) were observed when MRFD was related to MVF [MRFD% = (MRFD/MVF) x 100]. On the other hand, MVF was similar following both instructions (ANOVA, F = 0.562; P = 0.454). Moreover, the results of the present study suggested that the effect of instruction was significantly larger for BIMRFD than for BIMVF.

Effects of external loading on power output in a squat jump on a force platform: a comparison between strength and power athletes and sedentary individuals.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of external loading on power output during a squat jump on a force platform in athletes specializing in strength and power events (6 elite weight-lifters and 16 volleyball players) and in 20 sedentary individuals. Instantaneous power was computed from time-force curves during vertical jumps with and without an external load (0, 5 or 10 kg worn in a special vest). The jumps were performed from a squat position, without lower limb counter-movement or an arm swing. Peak instantaneous power corresponded to the highest value of instantaneous power during jumping. Average power throughout the push phase of the jump was also calculated. A two-way analysis of variance showed significant interactions between the load and group effects for peak instantaneous power (P< 0.01) and average power (P< 0.001). Peak instantaneous power decreased significantly in sedentary individuals when moderate external loads were added. The peak instantaneous power at 0 kg was greater than that at 5 and 10 kg in the sedentary individuals. In contrast, peak instantaneous power was independent of load in the strength and power athletes. Mean power at 0 kg was significantly lower than at 5 kg in the athletes; at 0 kg it was significantly higher than at 10 kg in the sedentary males and at 5 and 10 kg in the sedentary females. In all groups, the force corresponding to peak instantaneous power increased and the velocity corresponding to peak instantaneous power decreased with external loading. The present results suggest that the effects of external loading on peak instantaneous power are not significant in strength and power athletes provided that the loads do not prevent peak velocity from being higher than the velocity that is optimal for maximal power output.

La rupture traumatique du corps caverneux : a propos de 42 cas

Objectif L'analyse des aspects diagnostique; therapeutique et evolutif de la rupture traumatique du corps caverneux (RTCC) a travers l'etude d'une serie de 42 cas et d'une revue de la litterature. Patients et Methodes L'age moyen des patients est de 32 ans; le mecanisme le plus frequent est la manipulation forcee de la verge en erection. L'examen clinique permet de localiser le siege de la fracture (proximal: 60; distal: 40). La fracture etait unilaterale dans 40 cas et bilaterale chez 2 patients presentant une rupture associee de l'uretre. Resultats Quarante patients ont ete operes; dont 35 en urgence; ces derniers ont tous evolue favorablement. Les interventions tardives (5 cas) ont ete grevees de com-plications (2 cas de plaque fibrose; 1 cas de coudure de la verge). Les deux patients non operes par refus de la chirurgie ont evolue vers une induration angulaire severe. Conclusion La RTCC est une affection de l'adulte jeune qui necessite un traitement chirurgical precoce avec un abord adapte au type des lesions

Maximal power and force-velocity relationships during cycling and cranking exercises in volleyball players. Correlation with the vertical jump test.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to propose a test battery adjusted to volleyball players and to study the links between dynamic (vertical jump, force-velocity relationships and maximal anaerobic power in cranking and cycling) and static (maximal voluntary force and rate of force development in isometric conditions) performances. METHODS: The relationships between braking force (F) and peak velocity (V) have been determined for cycling and cranking exercises in 18 male volleyball players of a district league. According to previous studies, these F-V relationships were assumed to be linear and were expressed as follows: V = V0(1-F/F0), where V0 should be an estimate of the maximal velocity at zero braking force whereas F0 is assumed to be a braking force corresponding to zero velocity. Maximal anaerobic power in cycling (Pmax leg) and cranking (Pmax arm) were calculated as equal to 0.25 V0F0. The same subjects performed a vertical jump test (VJ) and a strength test on an isometric leg press with the measurement of the unilateral isometric maximal voluntary force (MVF) and indices of rate of isometric force development (RFD): maximal rate of force development (MRFD) and the time from 25% to 50% of MVF (T25-50). RESULTS: Pmax leg (15.8 +/- 1.4 W.kg-1) and V0 arm (259.6 +/- 13.1 rpm) were high but similar to the results of elite athletes, previously collected with the same protocols and the same devices. VJ was significantly with F0 leg, Pmax leg and Pmax arm related to body mass. The performances of the dynamic tests were significantly correlated and especially the parameters (V0, F0, Pmax) of the force velocity tests in cycling were significantly correlated with the same parameters in cranking. The results of the isometric tests (MVF, MRFD) were not correlated with VJ, except T25-50 of the left leg. CONCLUSIONS: A vertical jump test and a force velocity test with the arms are proposed for a test battery in volleyball players.