66 research outputs found
THE EFFECT OF MENTAL FATIGUE ON SPORT-SPECIFIC PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
No full textIntroduction: Acute mental fatigue is defined as a psychobiological state that may arise during or after prolonged cognitive activities. Despite several studies showed that mental fatigue appears to impair sport performance, the scientific comprehension of this topic is still limited. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to broaden the knowledge on the effects of mental fatigue on the sport-related performance. Study 1: This study aimed to investigate the effect of mentally demanding cognitive tasks on rowing performance in prepubertal athletes. Seventeen young rowers completed three separate testing sessions during which they performed three different cognitive tasks before completing a 1500 m time trial on the rowing ergometer. In the two experimental conditions, one hour of a standard cognitive task (Stroop task) and an arithmetic school test were used to elicit mental effort; in the control condition a time-matched, not demanding activity was carried out (painting). The performance of the time trial did not differ between conditions; physiological and perceptual measures recorded during the physical task were not affected by the conditions. Study 2: This study investigated the effect of a mentally demanding response inhibitory task on time trial performance in sub-elite under 23 cyclists. Ten under 23 road cyclists completed two separate testing sessions during which they performed two different cognitive tasks before completing a 30-min time trial on the cycle ergometer. In the experimental condition, 30 min of a standard cognitive task (Stroop task) was used to elicit mental fatigue; in the control condition, a non-demanding activity was carried out. Mean power output and cadence were negatively affected by the Stroop task, while heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate concentration, and heart rate variability (HRV) did not differ between the two conditions. Study 3: This investigation examined the effects of mental fatigue on soccer-specific physical and technical performance in young players. Twelve under-14 (U14), twelve under-16 (U16) and twelve under-18 (U18) soccer players completed the two parts of the investigation. Part one assessed the soccer-specific physical performance using the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1). Part two assessed the soccer-specific technical performance using the Loughborough Soccer Passing and Shooting Tests (LSPT, LSST). Each part was preceded by 30 min of Stroop task (mentally fatiguing task) or 15 min of reading magazines (control task) performed in a randomised and counterbalanced order. Mental fatigue significantly reduced Yo-Yo IR1 distance in the three age groups, alongside an increase in HR and RPE. Mental fatigue reduced soccer-specific physical performance in U14, U16 and U18 players, without alteration of technical performance, except for LSPT in U18. Study 4: This study investigated whether 4 weeks of endurance training could improve tolerance to mental exertion in untrained participants. Twenty participants completed a 4-week training protocol in a randomised and counterbalanced order. Baseline and follow-up assessment were conducted over three sessions in the week preceding and following the training period. During session 1, participants completed an incremental maximal ramp test. During sessions 2 and 3 participants completed a 15 min cycling time trial preceded by either a mental exertion or control task (counterbalanced). Following baseline assessments, participants were randomised into a physical training or placebo group that completed the training intervention thrice weekly over four weeks. The physical training resulted in increases in peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) relative to the placebo group. Physical training group increased their time trial distance following the mental exertion task to a greater extent than the placebo group. RPE during the time trial and perceptual measures of mental exertion did not significantly change between groups. Conclusions: This thesis provides insight into the effects of mental fatigue on sport-specific physical and technical performance, focusing in broaden the knowledge on different age-groups and evaluating, for the first time, the effect of an endurance training protocol on the ability to tolerate mental fatigue
sj-pdf-1-pms-10.1177_00315125211040283 - Supplemental material for Screening Youth Soccer Players by Means of Cognitive Function and Agility Testing
No full textSupplemental material, sj-pdf-1-pms-10.1177_00315125211040283 for Screening Youth Soccer Players by Means of Cognitive Function and Agility Testing by Nicola Lovecchio, Gianluca Manes, Luca Filipas, Matteo Giuriato, Antonio La Torre, F. Marcello Iaia and Roberto Codella in Perceptual and Motor Skills</p
High-Intensity interval vs moderate-intensity continuous training in endurance runners: A systematic review of physiological, biochemical, physical, and biomechanical adaptations
No full textCan mental fatigue affect perception of barbell velocity in resistance training?
No full textPerception of Velocity (PV) is the ability to estimate single repetition velocity during resistance training (RT) exercises. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of Mental Fatigue (MF) on the accuracy of barbell PV. The secondary aims were to evaluate whether MF affected RT performance and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE; OMNI-RES) in the back squat. Twenty-four (14 Females, 10 Males) resistance-trained participants underwent 2 familiarization sessions and 1RM test for the back squat. In two separate sessions, PV was tested for light, medium, and heavy loads in 2 conditions in random order: at rest (REST) and in MF condition (POST-MF) induced by previous incongruent Stroop color-word task. MF and Motivation were assessed through visual analog scales (VAS; 0–100) before and after the Stroop task. For each load subjects performed 2 repetitions and reported the RPE value. Mean propulsive velocity (Vr) of the barbell was recorded with a linear encoder, while the perceived velocity (Vp) of the subjects was self-reported using the Squat-PV scale. The PV accuracy was calculated through the delta score (ds: Vp–Vr). Following the Stroop task MF increased significantly (p < 0.001; F (1, 23) = 52.572), while motivation decreased (p < 0.05; F (1, 23) = 7.401). Ds, Vr, and RPE did not show significant differences between conditions (p > 0.05) for the three loads analyzed. MF induced by previous demanding cognitive task did not affect PV accuracy. Furthermore, subjects maintained unchanged both RT performance and RPE values associated with each load, even when mentally fatigued
Rio 2016 : Ritratto della regina dei Giochi Olimpici
No full textL'atletica leggera è universalmente considerata la regina delle discipline Olimpiche. Proprio per questo motivo, scopo dell'articolo sarà quello di fare un riassunto dei principali avvenimenti accaduti durante i Giochi Olimpici di Rio 2016, sia da un punto di vista tecnico atletico sia di programmazione generale. I risultati di questo lavoro potranno, quindi, fornire utili informazioni e spunti sull'evoluzione dell'atletica nello scenario nazionale e internazionale
Strength training in the gym versus specific strength training on the bike in young off-road cyclists
No full textBackground: The benefits of strength training in cyclists are still a topic of debate. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of strength training performed in the gym with specific strength training performed on the bike in young off-road cyclists. Sources of data: Nineteen participants were divided into the following two groups: (i) the group A performed 12 weeks of endurance training combined with two sessions/week of strength training in the gym; (ii) the group B performed 12 weeks of endurance training combined with two sessions/week of specific strength training on the bike. Incremental test, 30 s Wingate test, and countermovement jump test were conducted at pre (T0) and post (T1) training programs. Areas of agreement: The findings are in line with previous research showing that heavy strength training in cyclists has significant improvements in some aerobic and anaerobic performance outcomes. Indeed, our results showed that in the group A, the Mean Power Output (MPO) of the 30 s Wingate test increased significantly between T0 and T1 (P = .002). In the group B, no significant differences were found in the MPO of the 30 s Wingate test between T0 and T1 (P = .276). In the group A, the Maximum Power Achieved (MPA) increased significantly between T0 and T1 (P < .001). In the group B, no significant differences were found in the MPA between T0 and T1 (P = .889). Areas of controversy: Strength training in the gym for cyclists has not been widely investigated, and, in fact, the literature shows conflicting results on the topic, with some research groups highlighting the importance of sport-specific strength training. In this way, in both groups, no significant differences in the vertical jump height between T0 and T1 (P = .331 and P = .184, for groups A and B, respectively) were detected. However, the small sample size and the numerical heterogeneity between males and females in the recruited sample do not allow to generalize findings. Growing points: As the group of cyclists who performed strength training in the gym showed significant improvements, this study suggests integrating heavy strength sessions in the gym into the usual endurance training program. Areas timely for developing research: Further studies should investigate the effectiveness of strength training in the gym both in all off-road cycling categories as well as in other cycling specialities
Insights into Anaerobic Power Reserve On Relationships with Exercise Tolerance, Work Above Critical Power, and Accumulated Oxygen Deficit in Endurance-Trained Male Cyclists: A Pilot Study
No full textThe anaerobic power reserve (APR) model seeks to account for the heterogeneity in athletes' anaerobic characteristics. However, its relationship with exercise tolerance across various durations and with anaerobic markers remains unclear. Therefore, we investigate the relationship between APR, exercise tolerance, work above critical power (W'), and maximal accumulated oxygen deficit (MAOD) in male cyclists. We further analyzed this relationship replacing maximal aerobic power (MAP) with critical power (CP) as the lower boundary of the power reserve,, defining a so-called maximal power reserve (MPR). After preliminary tests, 19 endurance-trained male cyclists performed five trials to exhaustion (Tlim) at 130%, 115%, 100%, 85%, and 80% of maximal aerobic power (MAP) and Wingate test. APR and MPR correlated with all Tlim values (r> 0.493, p = 0.03), except at 80%MAP. After controlling CP or MAP, only correlations with supramaximal Tlim remained significant (r> 0.703, p< 0.002). When PPO was fixed, only MPR correlated with Tlim at 130% and 115%MAP (r> 0.508, p = 0.037). Both APR and MPR were associated with MAOD and W′ (r = 0.480–0.542, p = 0.045), but only MPR remained significantly related to MAOD after adjusting for lower boundary (r= 0.488, p= 0.040). Our findings showed that in endurance-trained male cyclists, both power reserves relate to exercise tolerance, however their influence decreases for longer efforts. MPR exhibited a stronger link to anaerobic capacity compared to APR. The association between exercise tolerance and APR/MPR appear largely driven by peak power output (PPO), rather than the choice of lower boundary
Effects of plyometric training on different 8-week training intensity distributions in well-trained endurance runners
No full textThe aim of this 4-armed parallel group randomized-controlled trial was to evaluate if plyometric training could have different effects on running performance and physiological adaptations depending on the training intensity distribution (TID) in an 8-week intervention in endurance athletes. Sixty well-trained male runners (age: 34 ± 6 years, relative ⩒O2peak: 69 ± 3 mL·kg-1·min-1) were recruited and allocated to a pyramidal (PYR), pyramidal + plyometric training (PYR+PLY), polarized (POL), and polarized + plyometric training (POL+PLY) periodization. The periodization patterns were isolated manipulations of TID, while training load was kept constant. Participants were tested pre- and post-intervention for body mass, velocity at 2 and 4 mmol·L-1 of blood lactate concentration (vBLa2, vBLa4), absolute and relative ⩒O2peak and 5-km running time trial performance, counter movement jump and squat jump. There were significant group x time interactions for vBla4 (P = 0.0235), CMJ (P = 0.0234), SJ (P = 0.0168), and 5-km running time trial performance (P = 0.0035). Specifically, vBla4 and 5-km running time trial performance showed the largest post-intervention improvements in PYR+PLY (2.4% and 1.6%) and POL+PLY (2.1% and 1.8%), respectively. No significant interactions were observed for body mass, absolute and relative ⩒O2peak, peak heart rate, lactate peak and rating of perceived exertion. In conclusion, an 8-week training periodization seems to be effective in improving performance of well-trained endurance runners. Including plyometric training once a week appeared to be more efficacious in maximizing running performance improvements, independently from the TID adopted
Single and Combined Effect of Acute Sleep Restriction and Mental Fatigue on Basketball Free-Throw Performance
No full textPurpose: This study aimed to investigate the single and combined effects of sleep restriction (SR) and mental fatigue (MF) on free-throw (FT) performance among adult male basketball players. Methods: A total of 19 amateur male basketball players performed, in a randomized, counterbalanced, and crossover order, 2 identical experimental sessions separated by an interval of 1 week. The difference between the 2 sessions was in the quantity of sleep the night before the sessions, as follows: in one case, the participants followed their habitual sleep–wake routines; in the other session, they were forced to sleep not more than 5 hours. During the experimental sessions, the participants performed 60 basketball FTs on 2 occasions, separated by watching a basketball tactical video for 30 minutes designed to induce MF. As such, the FT test was completed in 4 different conditions: control, MF, SR, and SR and MF combined. Results: The participants registered a significantly lower total sleep time in acute SR (P < .001). The subjective rating of MF was lower in the control than in MF, SR, and SR and MF combined (P < .001). There were no differences between conditions for the subjective ratings of motivation. FT accuracy was higher in the control than in MF, SR, and SR and MF combined (P = .010), while no differences were observed between the 3 experimental conditions (all P > .05). Conclusion: The results indicate that a combined effect of MF and SR induces a small reduction in basketball FT performance, similar to MF or SR alone
The Weekly Periodization of Top 5 Tour de France General Classification Finishers: A Multiple Case Study
No full textPurpose: The aim of this study was to describe individual training characteristics, racing strategies, and periodization in preparation for the Tour de France in 2 world-class road cyclists finishing in the top 5 of the general classification. Methods: Week‐by‐week power meter training and racing data of 2 (A and B) road cyclists (age: 29 and 23 y; maximum oxygen consumption: 83 and 81 mL·min−1·kg−1; and relative 20‐min record power output: 6.9 and 6.5 W·kg−1) in the preparation phase (December–July/August) leading up to the Tour de France were retrospectively analyzed. Weekly volume and intensity distribution in power zones were considered. Results: Cyclists A and B completed 46 and 19 races, 22.5 (6.3) and 18.2 (5.1) h·wk−1, with a pyramidal intensity distribution of 81.0%–13.3%–5.7%, and 88.8%–7.9%–3.3% in zone 1–zone 2–zone 3. Cyclist B spent 14 days at altitude. Increased high-intensity volume and polarization index occurred during race weeks. During periods without racing, training intensity progressively increased. Strength training was performed during November and December but not during the following months. During tapering, total exercise volume and time at high intensity decreased. Conclusion: These data provide novel insights into the periodization of world-class road cyclists in advance of a top 5 placing in the Tour de France general classification
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