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Effect of Velocity-Based Training on Vertical Jump Performance by Beach Volleyball Players
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 1061-1071, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/DFMZ2015 The aim of this study was to examine variations in countermovement jump (CMJ) performance after two velocity-based training (VBT) protocols in the half-squat exercise. Sixteen male beach volleyball athletes performed CMJ tests before and after three experimental sessions on the half-squat exercise. The two VBT protocols were performed in three sets, at a mean propulsive velocity (~ 0.49 m•s−1) associated with relative intensity (~ 85% 1RM), with three minutes interset recovery. In the VL0-10 session, the participants stopped their sets upon reaching a velocity loss (VL) threshold of 10%. In the VL10-20 session, participants stopped their sets upon reaching a VL between 10% and 20%. The VL0-10 session showed progressive increases in CMJ height (P \u3c 0.05). Comparisons between different times-points in each session showed that VL0-10 was greater than VL10-20 (mean difference = 3.7 cm; P \u3c 0.001) after four minutes. Additionally, VL0-10 was greater than both VL10-20 (P = 0.005) and the control (P = 0.006) after six minutes. Thus, CMJ height performance appears to be optimised with VBT protocol involving small VL. For beach volleyball athletes, a half-squat protocol with 0-10% VL improves subsequent acute performance in CMJ height
Effects of a Quadricep-Dominant vs. Functional Training Program on Activities of Daily Living, Functional Performance, and Motor Unit Recruitment in Older Adults
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(8): 1096-1113, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/YHYC9630 The study investigated the effects of a quadriceps-dominant (QD) versus functional (FX) training program on the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), activities of daily living (ADLs), and motor unit (MU) recruitment of the vastus lateralis (VL) and biceps femoris (BF). Twenty-six older adults (68.9 + 5.1yrs) were randomly assigned to a 6-week QD or FX training program. Participants completed ADLs, FMS, and three closed-kinetic chain exercises (CKCs): front lunge (FL), side lunge (SL), and bilateral squat (BLSQ), pre and post-intervention. Electromyography was recorded from the VL and BF during maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) and CKCs. Raw EMG recordings during CKCs were normalized to MVICs, and analyzed for root mean square (RMS). The QD program resulted in improved FMS performance during a deep-squat (p = 0.003), in-line lunge (p = 0.013), and hurdle step (p = 0.034), as well as improved ADL sit-to-stand (STS) and STAIRS (P \u3c 0.05). Furthermore, the QD program resulted in greater RMS of the VL during CKCs (p \u3c 0.05). Lastly, a positive correlation was observed between ADLs and RMS of the VL (p \u3c 0.05, r \u3e 0.6), whereas negative correlations were observed between FMS movements and RMS of the BF (p \u3c 0.05, r \u3c -0.6). The results suggest that a QD program may lead to greater improvements in functional movements, ADLs, and VL MU recruitment compared to a FX program. Additionally, MU recruitment of the VL is essential for functional ability, whereas high MU recruitment of the BF may coincide with reduced functional ability. The results of this study suggest that QD training may improve functional abilities in older adults
Incidence and Risk Factors of Metabolic Syndrome in Track and Field Throwing Athletes
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(6): 1199-1211, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/HOKT7948 Track and field (T&F) throwers are a prominent subgroup of athletes that may be at risk for the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetSyn) and other cardiometabolic disease conditions. However, limited research exists examining the prevalence of MetSyn in these athletes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of MetSyn and associated risk factors in collegiate throwers. Collegiate Division I men (n=17) and women (n=4) T&F throwers participated in a single day of lab assessments, which included anthropometrics, body composition, blood pressure, a venous blood draw, and aerobic capacity. MetSyn was diagnosed based on the following clinical markers: HDL, triglycerides, glucose, waist circumference, and blood pressure. MetSyn was present in 47% of men and 0% of women athletes. The most common risk factors were excessive waist circumference (men: 65%, women: 25%), reduced HDL (men: 59%, women: 50%), and elevated systolic blood pressure (men: 47%, women: 25%). BF% was associated with SBP (r=0.71), DBP (r=0.74), insulin (r=0.58), insulin resistance (r=0.58), triglycerides (r=0.51), and VO2max (r=0.79) (p\u3c0.05). This study observed a high incidence of MetSyn and other associated adverse cardiometabolic biomarkers in collegiate T&F throwers. Regular assessments of body composition and aerobic capacity may serve as practical and effective tools to identify at-risk athletes and guide targeted interventions aimed at reducing long-term cardiometabolic disease risk
The Effects of Caffeine and Resistance Exercise on Pulse Wave Reflection in Resistance-Trained Women
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(6): 1310-1320, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/RWDY4284 Caffeine, alone or in conjunction with an acute bout of resistance exercise (RE), increases measures of pulse wave reflection (PWR), with most studies focusing on men. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate caffeine’s effects on measures of PWR alone and following an acute bout of RE in young, healthy, resistance-trained women. Eleven resistance-trained women completed an acute bout of RE using free-weights with repetitions to failure for squat and bench press with caffeine (4mg/kg) and a placebo. Measures of PWR were measured at Rest, 50 minutes following ingestion (caffeine or placebo), immediately following the acute bout of RE and after 10 minutes of recovery. There were no differences (p \u3e 0.05) between caffeine and placebo conditions for measures of PWR at any time point. Aortic pulse pressure (APP), augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIx), augmentation index normalized at 75bpm (AIx@75), systolic pressure time index (SPTI), and left ventricular wasted energy (ΔEw) significantly increased (p \u3c 0.01) following the acute bout of RE for up to 10 minutes in both conditions while diastolic pressure time index (DPTI) significantly decreased (p \u3c 0.01). There was no change in aortic systolic blood pressure (ASBP), aortic diastolic blood pressure (ADBP), time of the reflected wave (Tr) and subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR) following the acute bout of RE in either condition (p \u3e 0.05). Collectively, this study suggests that a caffeine dose of 4mg/kg does not alter measures of PWR beyond the individual influence of an acute bout of RE in resistance-trained women
Effects of a Personalized Fitness Program Provided by Undergraduate Exercise Science Students on Attitudes Toward Exercise, Mental Health, and Quality of Life
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(4): 1334-1343, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/IYNS6043 Personalized fitness training is designed to improve physical health and fitness, but may also promote mental health and well-being. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are positive psychological outcomes for clients participating in a community-based personalized fitness program led by undergraduate Exercise Science students. A total of 44 participants completed a battery of psychological scales both before and after participation in a 12-week university-sponsored personalized fitness training program. Psychological measures included the Exercise Attitudes Scale, Self-Efficacy Scale for Exercise, Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, Health Status Questionnaire, and Visual Analog Scale for quality of life. In addition to expected gains in various biometric indicators of physical fitness, we observed significant improvements in clients\u27 attitudes toward exercise, mental well-being, perceived health, and quality of life. Effect sizes were generally in the small to medium range (0.19 to 0.58) across 15 psychological measures. Results provide convincing evidence of the mental health benefits associated with participation in personalized fitness training. Our university-sponsored fitness training program can serve as a model program for both engaging undergraduate students in authentic fitness training experiences and promoting community health and wellness
Acute Physiological Responses to Rope Climbing Ergometer High-Intensity Interval Training in Males and Females
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 1355-1366, 2025. https://doi.org/10.70252/EAFV3707 This study aimed to assess the acute physiological responses to a single bout of rope climbing high-intensity interval training (RC-HIIT) and compare the responses between sexes as no data currently exists on this training modality. Following an overnight fast, body composition was assessed, and resting measurements were recorded. Participants then completed an exercise protocol consisting of 10 rounds of maximal effort rope climbing using a 30:60 second work:rest ratio. Gas analysis and heart rate (HR) were recorded continuously. Blood lactate (BLa) was measured following the final work interval. Participants remained seated for 25 minutes post-exercise to assess V̇O2 recovery. 22 recreationally active participants (11M/11F, 24 ± 7 yrs, 171.5 ± 7.9 cm, 69.9 ± 12.1 kg, 18.9 ± 6.0% body fat) completed the study. Combined average HR during exercise was 141 ± 19 bpm (74.0 ± 10.4% age predicted maximal HR (APMHR)) and peak HR reached 172 ± 17 bpm (90.3 ± 8.8% APMHR). Average exercise V̇O2 was 18.8 ml/kg/min with peak V̇O2 values of 27.2 ml/kg/min. Energy expenditure during exercise was 99 ± 28 kcal. Post-exercise BLa was 9.8 ± 3.1 mmol. PACES scores indicated high enjoyment with this modality (101.5 ± 15.9). Average exercise V̇O2, peak V̇O2, energy expenditure, and post-exercise BLa were greater in males than females (p \u3c 0.05). No sex differences were observed for HR responses or exercise enjoyment. A 15-minute RC-HIIT bout induces HR responses indicative of moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise in both sexes with greater physiological responses in males compared to females
Accuracy of the Garmin Instinct for Heart Rate Monitoring During Forearm Exercise With and Without Blood Flow Restriction
No full textWearable devices are widely used to monitor heart rate (HR) during exercise, but their accuracy under blood flow restriction (BFR) remains uncertain. Because BFR is increasingly applied in rehabilitation and strength training, accurate HR monitoring is essential for both safety and prescription. The PURPOSE of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the Garmin Instinct smartwatch for measuring HR during forearm exercise with and without BFR, compared to a chest-strap criterion device. METHODS: Twenty-three healthy adults (9 females, 14 males; mean age = 24.74 ± 8.19 years) participated in a repeated-measures design. After providing consent and being fitted with the Garmin Instinct, participants completed two exercise protocols: unrestricted and BFR (with one arm randomly occluded at 50% arterial occlusion pressure, using the SmartCuffs BFR device). Each protocol included 5 minutes of rowing warm-up, followed by 1 set of 30 reps and 3 sets of 15 reps of light forearm squeezes, totaling 75 (3/10 effort), and maximal forearm contractions using a handgrip dynamometer. HR was recorded simultaneously with the two identical Garmin Instinct 2 wrist-watches and the criterion Polar H10 chest strap. Data were collected in the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Southern Utah University (Cedar City, Utah). Validity was assessed with mean absolute percentage error (MAPE; 0.90 strong agreement). RESULTS: For non-BFR trials, the Garmin Instinct showed strong agreement with the criterion for average HR (MAPE = 2.562, Lin’s = 0.957) and maximum HR (MAPE = 3.473, Lin’s = 0.943). Under BFR, validity was maintained for average HR (MAPE = 3.939, Lin’s = 0.920) but not for maximum HR (MAPE = 12.234, Lin’s = 0.937). CONCLUSION: The Garmin Instinct provides valid estimates of average HR during forearm exercise both with and without BFR, but it is less reliable for maximal HR during restricted conditions. Chest-strap sensors remain preferable when accurate maximal HR monitoring is required. These findings have practical implications for clinicians and practitioners implementing BFR training, where precise monitoring of cardiovascular strain is desired. Future studies should evaluate validity during dynamic, whole-body BFR exercise