Acute effects of two different initial heart rates on testing the Repeated Sprint Ability in young soccer players.

AIM: The aim of this paper was to investigate the acute effects of two different initial heart rates intensities when testing the repeated sprint ability (RSA) performances in young soccer players. METHODS: Since there are many kinds of pre-match warm-ups, we chose to take as an absolute indicator of internal load the heart rate reached at the end of two different warm-up protocols (60 vs. 90% HRmax) and to compare the respective RSA performances. The RSA tests were performed on fifteen male soccer players (age: 17.9±1.5 years) with two sets of ten shuttle-sprints (15+15 m) with a 1:3 exercise to rest ratio, in different days (randomized order) with different HR% (60 & 90% HRmax). In order to compare the different sprint performances a Fatigue Index (FI%) was computed, while the blood lactate concentrations (BLa-) were measured before and after testing, to compare metabolic demand. RESULTS: Significant differences among trials within each sets (P<0.01) were found. Differences between sets were also found, especially comparing the last five trials for each set (Factorial ANOVA; P<0.01), effect size values confirming the relevance of these differences. Although the BLa- after warm-up was higher (36%) between 90% vs. 60% HRmax, after the RSA test the differences were considerably low (7%). CONCLUSION: Based on physiological information's this methodological approach (testing with initial 90%HRmax) reflects more realistically the metabolic background in which a soccer player operates during a real match. This background may be partially reproduced by warming up protocols that, by duration and metabolic commitment, can reproduce conveniently the physiological conditions encountered in a real game (e.g. HRmax≈85-95%; BLa->4 mmol/L(-1)).

The effects of one-week training camp on motor skills in Karate kids.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of short-term increased hours of specific high-intensity karate training on motor skills in young karate athletes aged between 8 and 12 years. METHODS: Seventy-three children, who regularly trained three karate sessions per-week were divided in two groups: high-intensity karate group (HG=53) and low-intensity karate group (LG=20). HG trained for 7 days: with two sessions per-day (one hour per-session) including specific karate techniques as well as coordination, balance, and flexibility exercises. LG, however, followed the same number of karate training sessions as before the beginning of the study (i.e., three sessions per-week with one hour per-session). Participants performed a battery of tests, 24 hours pre- and one week post-training: a medicine ball throw (MBT), standing long jump (SLJ), active joint flexibility (JM) and lateral/frontal jumps (JLT). RESULTS: Significant differences between results of pre and post karate training (ANOVA with repeated measures) included: MBT (P<0.05), SLJ (P<0.0001), JM (P<0.0001), JLT (P<0.0001); whilst the interaction training × time was: MBT (P=0.145), SLJ (P<0.0001), JM (P<0.0001), JLT (P< 0.0001). The HG significantly improved their performance on MBT by 3.23% (P<0.05), SLJ by 5.09% (P<0.001), JM by 1.51% (P<0.001), and JLT by 21.36% (P<0.001). For LG group, there were no significant differences between pre and post-testing in all fitness tests. CONCLUSION: Muscular power, flexibility and coordination represent the basics of karate fitness component. In this regard, short term high-intensity karate training represents an effective method for enhancing muscular power and range of motion (i.e. flexibility) in young karate athletes aged between 8 and 12 years. Further studies are needed to support these findings with deeper data.

The influence of music on exercise in a group of sedentary elderly women: an important tool to help the elderly to stay active.

AIM: The aim of this study was to verify how listening to instrumental asynchronous music, with tempo of 90 bpm, can affect the aerobic physical performance in elderly women engaged in a continuous and constant exercising, predominantly aerobic, consisting of walking routines. METHODS: Twenty women (N.=20, age=75.8±4.2 years) volunteered to the study and underwent a six-week period of physical exercising. All women were previously sedentary, as they had not trained systematically within the last 5 years. The experimental group (Eg=10) performed all the exercise sessions and tests listening to music. The control group (Cg=10) performed the same program without listening to music. Total distances covered, heart rates before and after the tests and the rates of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured. RESULTS: Significant differences between groups (P<0.01) were found in RPE. No statistically significant differences were observed in total distances covered and heart rates, although there was an increase of 9.83% in the total distance covered by the Eg compared to the Cg, in accordance with other previous researches. CONCLUSION: The results are in line with those reported by other authors in different populations and ages, confirming that music may be considered an important tool in supporting elderly people involved in physical exercising.

The place kick in rugby.

AIM: The paper aims at studying the technical place kick in rugby, frontally to the try and at 40 meter distance. The relationship between the type of run with a predefined number of holds (1 to 4), the kinematics variables (the angle variation of the lower limbs, at the time of loading and at the moment of the impact against the ball), the average ball movement speed were assessed. METHODS: Six men national athletes, took part in the study. All the kicks were video-recorded with two high speed (210 Hz) digital cameras, and processed with Dartfish 5.5Pro software. RESULTS: According to the type of run, significant differences were reported on the run time (P<0.01) which correlated with the average ball movement speed (r=0.241; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The analysis of the different types of runs lead to the definition of the best possible conditions for such a specific sport move, to be suggested during application or training for specialised athletes.