Travel related changes in performance and physiological markers: the effects of eastward travel on female basketball players.

[Purpose] Purpose of this study is to measure the changes in various physiological markers and performance criteria for women basketball players over the course of a travel heavy season. [Participants and Methods] Fifty one Division-II female basketball players and a control group of 54 females joined this study. Measurements began at the beginning of the competitive season and concluded with final measurements at the end of the competitive season. [Results] The female basketball players showed noticeable increases in resting salivary cortisol, visceral trunk fat, resting heart rate, and resting blood pressure. These athletes also showed diminishment in isokinetic force of leg muscles, particularly in knee flexion strength. Vertical jump measurements also indicated a slight diminishment. In contrast, the control group experienced none of the same changes. [Conclusion] Over the course of a grueling flight schedule in combination with a full-length basketball season, the female athletes in this study showed significant declinations in many indicators of overall health. It is concluded that resulting prolonged intermittent stress of a travel-heavy season can lead to significant changes in certain physiological markers with notable decreases in isokinetic force of leg muscle.

Relative age effect and performance in elite youth male basketball.

The aims of the study were to (i) assess the Relative Age Effect (RAE) on elite young male basketball players, (ii) to analyze whether there is a difference between birth quarters (BQ) according to their minutes played and efficiency ratings as individual performance parameters and, (iii) to analyze the relationship between team efficiency, team success, and RAE with a new approach. The research was conducted on 678 players (Age:15.84 ± 0.42) from 53 teams in six different tournaments (from 2014 to 2019). Although, chi-square test showed that more players were born in first BQ than in all other BQs (p < 0.05), no significant difference between BQs and performance measures was found (p > 0.05). However, a relationship between team RAE score, tournament ranking, and team efficiency score was found (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a relationship between tournament rankings and team RAE rankings (p < 0.05). While players born in the first months of the year were more likely to be selected for the national youth teams, performance parameters did not show any significant difference when compared to other players who were born later in the same year. However, results showed that teams that have a higher number of athletes who were born in the earlier months of a year showed higher achievement in the tournaments.

Postactivation potentiation effects of Back Squat and Barbell Hip Thrust exercise on vertical jump and sprinting performance.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine and compare the post-activation potentiation (PAP) effects of the Back Squat (SQ-PAP) and Hip Thrust (HT-PAP) exercises in terms of vertical jump height (VJ), 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash time in physically active university students. Considering the Force-vector theory, it was hypothesized that HT-PAP would induce greater potentiation for 40-yard dash than SQ-PAP whereas SQ-PAP would induce greater potentiation for 20-yard dash and VJ than HT-PAP. METHODS: Seventeen kinesiology and exercise science students (8 male and 9 female) who resistance train at least 3 times/week (age, 21.71±1.49 years; body mass, 75.58±11.89 kg; height, 173.98±11.88 cm and training experience 5.47±2.00 years) joined this study. They performed three experimental sessions namely; baseline (BL), SQ-PAP loading session and HT-PAP loading session with 48 hours interval with a randomized open crossover study design. BL session was also accepted as control and familiarization session. SQ-PAP and HT-PAP exercises were performed roughly at 90% of 1 Repetition maximum (1 RM) of the subjects with three repetitions. Subjects were tested for vertical jump height (VJ), 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash time before and 8 minutes after each PAP loading exercise. RESULTS: Statistical analysis revealed that the potentiation effects of SQ-PAP and HT-PAP exercises on VJ height, 20-yard and 40-yard dash were similar that none of the loading exercises with 8 min rest interval had any increasing or detrimental performance effect on VJ (P=0.923), 20-yard dash (P=0.133) as well 40-yard dash time (P=0.570). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that none of the loading protocols with above mentioned exercises have any detrimental or improving effects on VJ height, 20-yard dash and 40-yard dash time for physically active university students who joined this study. Although no acute potentiation effect has been found, this study also shows that SQ-PAP, HT-PAP exercises can be used interchangeably and safely to avoid training monotony during longer training periods for chronic adaptations.

Side-to-side asymmetry in lower limb strength and hamstring-quadriceps strength ratio among collegiate American football players.

[Purpose] The present study aimed to investigate the lower limbs injury risk factors that are based on conventional Hamstring to Quadriceps ratio and limb asymmetry index in varsity American football players. [Participants and Methods] Twenty-six varsity American football players aged 19-27 years and with 2.31 ± 1.29 years of American football experience from Dogu Akdeniz University volunteered to undergo measurements of average peak torque for isokinetic flexion and extension of dominant limb and non-dominant limb at 60°·s-1 and 300°·s-1. Hamstring to Quadriceps ratio and limb asymmetry index were also calculated for Hamstring and Quadriceps muscles. [Results] Statistical analysis revealed that dominant Quadriceps is stronger than non-dominant Quadriceps at 60°·s-1 speed. No statistical difference was found between dominant and non-dominant Hamstring peak torque at 60°·s-1 . Hamstring to Quadriceps ratio determined as normal both for 60°·s-1 and 300°·s-1according to the currently reported cut off value (H:Q ratio >60). Hamstring and Quadriceps limb asymmetry index also determined as normal (cut off value for LSI 10%) at 60°·s-1. However, for both Hamstring and Quadriceps, side- to- side strength asymmetry at 300°·s-1 was observed. [Conclusion] To prevent possible lower limb injury and to increase performance, varsity American football players who are actively training and competing might consider taking strength asymmetry into account to tailor their strength training program accordingly.

Anthropometrical Determinants of Deadlift Variant Performance.

The barbell deadlift is a popular exercise and one of the three lifts in competitive powerlifting. While muscle activation has been tested between the sumo (SDL) and conventional deadlift (CDL), the relationships between anthropometrics and deadlift performance in the two styles is not yet known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between anthropometrics and SDL versus CDL performance (SDL:CDL strength ratio). Forty-seven (n = 28 male, n = 19 female) deadlift naïve subjects participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements were arm and hand length, wrist and ankle girth, seated height, thigh length, and lower leg length. Deadlift instructions for the two styles were provided on day 1 and 2. On day 3 and 4, deadlift 1RM was tested for the SDL or CDL in random order, and then deadlift repetitions to volitional fatigue with 60% of 1RM were measured. No significant differences between CDL 1RM and SDL 1RM were found. The only significant correlation found between the anthropometric predictors and the SDL:CDL strength ratio was an inverse relationship with the sitting height to total height ratio (r = 0.297, p = 0.043). Total repetitions to volitional fatigue was higher in females compared to males for both lifts (p = 0.041). Our findings suggest that the sumo deadlift may be slightly mechanically advantageous for deadlift naïve individuals with longer torsos, while the conventional deadlift may be better suited for those with shorter torsos.

Relationship between fatigue index and number of repetition maxima with sub-maximal loads in biceps curl.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the number of repetition maxima to volitional failure (RM) at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM and fatigue index (FI), a determinant of the muscular endurance level. Thirty four resistance trained male participants attended two testing sessions. The first session was conducted to assess 1RM load and RM at 60%, 75% and 90% of 1RM in the supine biceps curl (SBC) exercise. In the second session, a FI test protocol consisting of five sets of SBC with 90 s rest between sets was performed to determine FI values. Each set was performed to volitional failure using a sub-maximal load in the range of 15-20RM. Hypothetical high FI and low FI groups (17 participants with the highest and lowest FI values, respectively) were formed for statistical analyses. ANOVA results revealed that RM at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM were not significantly different between FI groups when controlled for mean repetition tempo (p=0.11, p=0.38, p=0.13, respectively). Pearson's correlation coefficients revealed that no significant relationship was present between FI values and RM at 60%, 75%, 90% of 1RM (p=0.40, p=0.46, p=0.14, respectively). In conclusion, the muscular endurance level of participants defined in terms of FI value was not an indicator of RM in SBC. Therefore, athletes with different muscular endurance levels can use similar percentages of 1RM in biceps curl exercise in their training programs when the aim is to elicit training adaptations related to specific RM zones.

Kinanthropometric attributes of young male combat sports athletes.

Although there are enough studies concerning the kinanthropometric attributes of players of sports such as football, basketball, or volleyball in Turkey, there are not enough studies on the same for combat sports. Hence, our aim is to assess the kinanthropometric attributes of different combat sports like karate, taekwondo, judo and kickboxing. The present study included 48 national level male athletes from four different combat sports (age, 20.3 (3.19) years; number of years playing the sport, 8.33 (4.59); height, 174.3 (7.15) cm; weight, 67.35 (10.55 kg). Skinfold thickness was measured with a skinfold caliper (Holtain Ltd., UK), and Yuhazs formula was used to calculate the body fat percentage. Somatotype assessment was carried out with a computer program (Sweat Technology Trial Version, South Australia). Width measurements were obtained with a slide caliper (HLT-100, Holtain Ltd.), and girth measurements were obtained with a non-flexible tape measure. The data obtained were analyzed with the computer program SPSS 17.0 in terms of the SD. The findings were as follows: body mass index (BMI), 22.00 (2.66) kg/m2; body fat percentage, 12.20% (3.07%); endomorphic component, 2.9 (1.30); mesomorphic component, 4.25 (1.30); and ectomorphic component, 3.10 (1.30). The cormic index was 51.99% (1.88%); Monourier index, 92.39% (4.47%); Acromio-iliac index, 60.87% (6.61%); Martine index, 6.29% (0.70%); Biacromial index, 22.58% (0.99%); and hip index, 13.91% (0.86%). The mesomorphic component was found to be dominant in our study. Although BMIs were found to be normal, body fat percentages were low. According to body proportions, the athletes who participated in this study had wide shoulders, narrow hips, and medium-sized trunks.