Acute effects of prior conditioning activity on change of direction performance. A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the acute effects of prior conditioning activity (CA) on change of direction (COD) performance. Eligible studies, involving healthy participants undergoing acute CA with at least one measure of COD performance, were analysed across diverse databases. A total of 34 studies were included for systematic review with 19 studies included for the meta-analysis. The intervention condition resulted in significantly faster (Z = 4.39; standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.49; p < 0.05) COD performance compared with the control condition. Both unloaded and light loaded CA resulted in significantly greater (SMD = 0.58-0.59) COD performance compared to the control condition. Moreover, heavy loaded CA demonstrated a significant but small (SMD = 0.24) improvement in COD performance compared to the control condition. Age and study design had no effect on the overall meta-analysis outcomes. Both males and females exhibited similar moderate effects with CA but only males demonstrated significantly greater COD performance compared to control conditions. Our findings indicate that a range of CA protocols can acutely improve COD performance with unloaded and light-loaded CA resulting in the greatest performance enhancements. These findings will assist practitioners with the design and implementation of appropriate acute CA to improve COD performance.

Walking Training Improves Systemic and Local Pathophysiological Processes in Intermittent Claudication.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the impact of submaximal walking training (WT) on local and systemic nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). METHODS: The study employed a randomised, controlled, parallel group design and was performed in a single centre. Thirty-two men with IC were randomly allocated to two groups: WT (n = 16, two sessions/week, 15 cycles of two minutes walking at an intensity corresponding to the heart rate obtained at the pain threshold interspersed by two minutes of upright rest) and control (CO, n = 16, two sessions/week, 30 minutes of stretching). NO bioavailability (blood NO and muscle nitric oxide synthase [eNOS]), redox homeostasis (catalase [CAT], superoxide dismutase [SOD], lipid peroxidation [LPO] measured in blood and muscle), and inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6], C-reactive protein [CRP], tumour necrosis factor α [TNF-α], intercellular adhesion molecules [ICAM], vascular adhesion molecules [VCAM] measured in blood and muscle) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: WT statistically significantly increased blood NO, muscle eNOS, blood SOD and CAT, and muscle SOD and abolished the increase in circulating and muscle LPO observed in the CO group. WT decreased blood CRP, ICAM, and VCAM and muscle IL-6 and CRP and eliminated the increase in blood TNF-α and muscle TNF-α, ICAM and VCAM observed in the CO group. CONCLUSION: WT at an intensity of pain threshold improved NO bioavailability and decreased systemic and local oxidative stress and inflammation in patients with IC. The proposed WT protocol provides physiological adaptations that may contribute to cardiovascular health in these patients.

Relationship between requirement to stop during a six-minute walk test and health-related quality of life, physical activity and physical performance amongst people with intermittent claudication.

AIM: A simple objective test is required to identify people with impaired physical aspects of health-related quality of life (QOL) due to intermittent claudication. This study assessed the relationship of QOL, function and physical activity to the need to stop during a six-minute walking test (6MWT) amongst people with intermittent claudication. METHOD: This was a prospective case-control study conducted at two centers in Australia. 173 participants with a history of intermittent claudication and peripheral artery disease diagnosed by ankle brachial pressure index <0.9, completed two 6MWTs one week apart. QOL was assessed with the short form (SF)-36. Physical activity was assessed by an accelerometer to record step count, stepping time and energy expenditure over 7 days. Physical performance was assessed by the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test. The associations of the need to stop at least once during the 6MWT with QOL, function and activity were assessed using Mann Whitney U test and analysis of covariates. RESULTS: Participants that had to stop at least once during the two 6MWTs (46; 26.6%) had significantly lower scores for three of the domains (physical functioning, role-physical and bodily pain) and the physical component summary (PCS) measure of the SF-36 compared to those who did not need to stop (n = 127; 73.4%). After adjusting for the risk factor co-variates (diabetes, hypertension and ankle brachial pressure index) which were significantly unequally distributed, needing to stop during the 6MWTs was significantly associated with a lower PCS score (adjusted mean 36.5, standard error 0.8 vs. 30.5, standard error 1.3; F = 14.0; P < 0.001; partial eta squared 0.077). Participants that had to stop at least once during the two 6MWTs had significantly lower 7-day step count, time stepping and energy expenditure, but not total SPPB score, compared to those who did not need to stop. CONCLUSIONS: Needing to stop during a 6MWT identified participants with intermittent claudication with poorer QOL and less physical activity compared to those that do not need to stop.

Local and Systemic Inflammation and Oxidative Stress After a Single Bout of Maximal Walking in Patients With Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a single bout of maximal walking on blood and muscle nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, oxidative stress, and inflammation in symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. METHODS: A total of 35 men with symptomatic PAD performed a graded maximal exercise test on a treadmill (3.2 km/h, 2% increase in grade every 2 minutes). Plasma samples and gastrocnemius muscle biopsies were collected preexercise and postexercise for assessment of NO bioavailability (plasma NO and muscle, endothelial NO synthase), oxidative stress and antioxidant function (lipid peroxidation [LPO], catalase [CAT], and superoxide dismutase), and inflammation (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-α, intercellular adhesion molecules, and vascular adhesion molecules). The effects of the walking exercise were assessed using paired t tests or Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: After maximal walking, plasma NO and LPO were unchanged (P > .05), plasma CAT decreased, and all blood inflammatory markers increased (all P ≤ .05). In the disease-affected skeletal muscle, endothelial NO synthase, CAT, LPO, and all inflammatory markers increased, whereas superoxide dismutase decreased (all P ≤ .05). CONCLUSION: In patients with symptomatic PAD, maximal exercise induces local and systemic impairments, which may play a key role in atherogenesis. Exercise strategies that avoid maximal effort may be important to reduce local and systemic damage and enhance clinical benefits.

Impact of contextual factors on match demands experienced by elite male referees during international basketball tournaments.

We aimed to assess the cardiovascular responses and locomotory demands of male referees during diverse elite, international, basketball matches, and to investigate the influence of moderating factors (competition sex, level and stage) on these demands. Cardiovascular and locomotory responses were monitored in 123 elite, male referees while officiating 283 basketball sessions (preparation until match end), during group and playoff stages, of women's and men's FIBA Continental and World Cups at senior and youth level. The total and average session distance and velocity were ~4740 m, 19.0 m·min -1 and 2 km·h -1. Referees experienced an average relative HR of 60-65% maximum HR with ~85% of each session spent within the very light to moderate HR categories. The average session relative HR was significantly greater for men compared to women competition, during senior compared to youth sessions, and for the group compared to the playoff stage sessions. Mean distance covered was significantly greater during senior and men compared with youth and women sessions. Elite, international male basketball referees experienced moderate cardiovascular load accompanied with intermittent locomotor activities during international sessions when accounting for all occupational activities. International competitions are more demanding for referees based upon competition sex, level and stage.

Impact of elite soccer coaching change on team performance according to coach- and club-related variables.

A coaching change is an extreme, but frequently occurring phenomenon in elite soccer with its impact on team success debatable. The aim of the current study was twofold: (i) to compare team's performance when coached by new and old coaches; and (ii) to investigate the impact of a coaching change on team's performance according to coach- and club-related factors. All in-season coaching changes from the 2010-11 to 2017-18 seasons within the Spanish, French, English, German and Italian professional leagues were examined. Team performance was assessed as points awarded from match outcome over 1-20 matches prior to and following the coaching change. Four independent variables (coach's experience, team's budget, whether the coach had been an elite former player or not, and whether the coach was a novice or not) were included into linear regression modelling. The main results showed that team's short-term performance was improved significantly with a change to a new coach with this impact declining in the longer term (> 10 matches). Specifically, the number of points (1.15-1.32 vs. 0.37-1.03, p < 0.05) and the moving average of points (1.19-1.31 vs. 0.37-1.04, p < 0.05) awarded per match were significantly greater after the coaching change. Further, the winning effect due to the new coach was independent of coach-related factors such as coaching experience or the new coach being a former elite player. A critical organisational decision to change coaches may provide an essential stimulus for future team success in elite soccer.

Exercise-induced attenuation of treatment side-effects in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer beginning androgen-deprivation therapy: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: (i) To assess whether exercise training attenuates the adverse effects of treatment in patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer beginning androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT), and (ii) to examine whether exercise-induced improvements are sustained after the withdrawal of supervised exercise. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In all, 50 patients with prostate cancer scheduled for ADT were randomised to an exercise group (n = 24) or a control group (n = 26). The exercise group completed 3 months of supervised aerobic and resistance exercise training (twice a week for 60 min), followed by 3 months of self-directed exercise. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 3- and 6-months. The primary outcome was difference in fat mass at 3-months. Secondary outcomes included: fat-free mass, cardiopulmonary exercise testing variables, QRISK® 2 (ClinRisk Ltd, Leeds, UK) score, anthropometry, blood-borne biomarkers, fatigue, and quality of life (QoL). RESULTS: At 3-months, exercise training prevented adverse changes in peak O2 uptake (1.9 mL/kg/min, P = 0.038), ventilatory threshold (1.7 mL/kg/min, P = 0.013), O2 uptake efficiency slope (0.21, P = 0.005), and fatigue (between-group difference in Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue score of 4.5 points, P = 0.024) compared with controls. After the supervised exercise was withdrawn, the differences in cardiopulmonary fitness and fatigue were not sustained, but the exercise group showed significantly better QoL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate difference of 8.5 points, P = 0.034) and a reduced QRISK2 score (-2.9%, P = 0.041) compared to controls. CONCLUSION: A short-term programme of supervised exercise in patients with prostate cancer beginning ADT results in sustained improvements in QoL and cardiovascular events risk profile.

Relationship Between Disease Specific Quality of Life Measures, Physical Performance, and Activity in People with Intermittent Claudication Caused by Peripheral Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were firstly to assess the correlation between disease specific measures of quality of life (QOL) and physical performance and activity, and secondly to identify demographic, clinical, functional, and physical activity measures independently associated with QOL in people with intermittent claudication. METHODS: This was a cross sectional observational study of 198 people with intermittent claudication caused by peripheral artery disease who were recruited prospectively. QOL was assessed with the intermittent claudication questionnaire (ICQ) and the eight-theme peripheral artery disease quality of life questionnaire. Physical performance was assessed with the six minute walk test (6MWT) and short physical performance battery (SPPB), and an accelerometer was used to measure seven day step count. The associations between QOL scores and 6MWT distance, SPPB scores and seven day step count were examined using Spearman Rho's (ρ) correlation and multivariable linear regression. RESULTS: ICQ scores were significantly correlated with 6MWT distance (ρ = 0.472, p < .001), all four SPPB scores (balance ρ = 0.207, p = .003; gait speed ρ = 0.303, p < .001; chair stand ρ = 0.167, p = .018; total ρ = 0.265, p < .001), and seven day step count (ρ = 0.254, p < .001). PADQOL social relationships and interactions (ρ = 0.343, p < .001) and symptoms and limitations in physical functioning (ρ = 0.355, p < .001) themes were correlated with 6MWT distance. The 6MWT distance was independently positively associated with ICQ and both PADQOL theme scores (ICQ: B 0.069, p < .001; PADQOL social relationships and interactions: B 0.077, p < .001; PADQOL symptoms and limitations in physical functioning: B 0.069, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Longer 6MWT distance independently predicted better physical and social aspects of QOL in people with intermittent claudication supporting its value as an outcome measure.

Influence of lower body compression garments on cardiovascular autonomic responses prior to, during and following submaximal cycling exercise.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to examine the impact of lower body compression garments (CG) on cardiac autonomic control of heart rate (HR) prior to, during and following submaximal exercise. METHODS: Thirty (15 males, 15 females) healthy, active adults undertook consecutive 10-min stages of supine rest, moderate-intensity upright cycling and supine recovery while wearing either normal clothing (CONTROL) or normal clothing plus CG tights in a randomised order. Heart rate (HR) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed every minute while cardiovascular autonomic responses were assessed during the final 5 min of each stage via HR variability (HRV). The change in HR at 1-min (HRR1) and 2-min (HRR2) post-exercise and the time constant of HR recovery (HRtau) were assessed as indices of cardiac autonomic reactivation. Differences between variables were assessed via repeated measures ANOVA and corrected pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: Compared to rest, exercise resulted in a reduction of HRV that was similar for CONTROL and CG. A main effect for condition was identified for one non-linear, long-term HRV variable only with a significantly lower value (61.4 ± 47.8 vs. 67.1 ± 50.2 ms, p < 0.05) for CG compared to CONTROL. Cardiac autonomic reactivation (HRR1, 42.0 ± 16.8 vs. 45.5 ± 13.4 bpm; HRR2, 58.9 ± 10.5 vs. 58.9 ± 8.2 bpm; HRtau, 63.4 ± 22.3 vs. 65.1 ± 23.0 s, p > 0.05) was comparable for CONTROL and CG. CONCLUSION: Lower body CG failed to alter most cardiac autonomic responses during rest, moderate-intensity exercise or recovery. Mechanisms for potential ergogenic benefits of CG remain to be characterised.

Lunge exercises with blood-flow restriction induces post-activation potentiation and improves vertical jump performance.

PURPOSE: This study examined the post-activation potentiation effects of body-weight lunge exercises with blood-flow restriction on jump performance. Eighteen anaerobically trained men took part in this study across 3 weeks. METHODS: During the first week, participants were familiarised with the lunge exercises with blood-flow restriction and the drop-jump protocol. In the second and third week, participants were randomly allocated to complete body-weight lunges (three sets of eight repetitions) either with or without blood-flow restriction (occlusion set at 130% of systolic blood pressure) to induce post-activation potentiation. Drop-jump performance was assessed between blood-flow conditions, and prior to, and at the third, sixth, ninth, twelfth and fifteenth minute following each lunge exercise. Relationships between mechanical contributors of jump performance and final jump performance were examined via Pearson correlation coefficients. RESULTS: Lunges with blood-flow restriction significantly improved jump height (~ 4.5% ± 0.8%), flight time (~ 3.4% ± 0.3%) and power (~ 4.1% ± 0.3%) within 6-15 min post-exercise (p < 0.05) with the magnitude of effect between blood-flow conditions, moderate-large (0.54-1.16). No significant changes (p > 0.05) were found in jump performance measures following lunge exercises without blood-flow restriction. Significant correlations (p < 0.05) between mechanical contributors of jump performance and jump performance highlighted the potential of blood-flow restriction to enhance stretch-shortening cycle mechanics in the current study. CONCLUSION: Lunge exercises with blood-flow restriction improved subsequent jump performance in anaerobically trained men. The use of blood-flow restriction may be a practical alternative to heavy resistance training equipment during warm-up protocols.

Aortic and Systemic Arterial Stiffness Responses to Acute Exercise in Patients With Small Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Elevated arterial stiffness is a characteristic of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), and is associated with AAA growth and cardiovascular mortality. A bout of exercise transiently reduces aortic and systemic arterial stiffness in healthy adults. Whether the same response occurs in patients with AAA is unknown. The effect of moderate- and higher intensity exercise on arterial stiffness was assessed in patients with AAA and healthy adults. METHODS: Twenty-two men with small diameter AAAs (36 ± 5 mm; mean age 74 ± 6 years) and 22 healthy adults (mean age 72 ± 5 years) were included. Aortic stiffness was measured using carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), and systemic arterial stiffness was estimated from the wave reflection magnitude (RM) and augmentation index (Alx75). Measurements were performed at rest and during 90 min of recovery following three separate test sessions in a randomised order: (i) moderate intensity continuous exercise; (ii) higher intensity interval exercise; or (iii) seated rest. RESULTS: At rest, PWV was higher in patients with AAA than in healthy adults (p < .001), while AIx75 and RM were similar between groups. No differences were observed between AAA patients and healthy adults in post-exercise aortic and systemic arterial stiffness after either exercise protocol. When assessed as the change from baseline (delta, Δ), post-exercise ΔAIx75 was not different to the seated rest protocol. Conversely, post-exercise ΔPWV and ΔRM were both lower at all time points than seated rest (p < .001). ΔPWV was lower immediately after higher intensity than after moderate intensity exercise (p = .015). CONCLUSION: High resting aortic stiffness in patients with AAA is not exacerbated after exercise. There was a similar post-exercise attenuation in arterial stiffness between patients with AAA and healthy adults compared with seated rest. This effect was most pronounced following higher intensity interval exercise, suggesting that this form of exercise may be a safe and effective adjunctive therapy for patients with small AAAs.

Cardiac Autonomic Modulation Is Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to analyze the association between cardiac autonomic modulation and arterial stiffness in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included one hundred fourteen patients with symptomatic PAD (67.5% men; 65 ± 7 years; body mass index: 26.8 ± 4.5 kg/m2). Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured within time (standard deviation of all RR intervals [beat to beat heart interval] [SDNN], root mean square of the successive differences between adjacent normal RR intervals [RMSSD], and the proportion of successive RR intervals that differed by more than 50 msec [pNN50]) and frequency (low frequency [LF] and high frequency [HF]) domains. Arterial stiffness was assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV). Crude and adjusted linear regression analyses examined the relationship between HRV and cfPWV. RESULTS: Nonsignificant crude associations were identified among cfPWV and RMSSD (P = 0.181), SDNN (P = 0.105), pNN50 (P = 0.087), LF (P = 0.376), HF (P = 0.175), and LF/HF ratio (P = 0.426). After adjustments for age, sex, smoking, body mass index, ankle-brachial index, and use of beta-blockers, significant associations were identified among cfPWV and RMSSD (P = 0.037), SDNN (P = 0.049), and pNN50 (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac autonomic modulation was significantly associated with arterial stiffness in patients with PAD after adjustment for confounding factors. This relationship may contribute to the enhanced cardiovascular disease risk for PAD patients and provides a target for strategies to improve patient clinical outcomes.

Reproducibility of Hemodynamic, Cardiac Autonomic Modulation, and Blood Flow Assessments in Patients with Intermittent Claudication.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to identify, in patients with peripheral artery disease and intermittent claudication (IC), the reproducibility of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), rate pressure product, heart rate variability (HRV), and forearm and calf blood flow (BF) and vasodilatory assessments. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with IC underwent test and retest sessions, 8-12 days apart. During each session, HR, BP, HRV, BF, and vasodilatory responses were measured by electrocardiogram, auscultation, spectral analysis of HRV (low frequency, LFR-R; high frequency, HFR-R), and strain gauge plethysmography (baseline BF, post-occlusion BF, post-occlusion area under the curve). Reproducibility was determined by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), typical error, coefficient of variation (CV), and limits of agreement. RESULTS: The ICC for HR and BP was >0.8 with CV <9%. For most HRV measures, ICC was >0.9 while CV was <7%, except for LF/HF (ICC = 0.737, CV = 93.8%). The ICC for forearm and calf baseline BF assessments was >0.9 while CV was <19%; variable ICC and CV for vasodilatory responses were exhibited for calf (0.653-0.770, 35.2-37.7%) and forearm (0.169-0.265, 46.2-55.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In male patients with IC, systemic hemodynamics (HR and BP), cardiac autonomic modulation (LFR-R and HFR-R), and forearm and calf baseline BF assessments exhibited excellent reproducibility, whereas the level of reproducibility for vasodilatory responses were moderate to poor. Assessment reproducibility has highlighted appropriate clinical tools for the regular monitoring of disease/intervention progression in patients with IC.

Physical and technical differences between domestic and foreign soccer players according to playing positions in the China Super League.

Physical demands and technical skills of different playing positions within soccer match-play have been rarely studied in competitions from Asia that have unique restrictions that limit the number of foreign players per team. Therefore, the aims of this study were to identify the technical and physical differences between domestic and foreign soccer players according to playing-positions in the China Super League (CSL); and to classify domestic and foreign players (best/worst) based on their match performance characteristics. Data were provided by Amisco Sports Analysis Services (n = 3468 observations). Discriminant and ANOVA analyses showed important differences between domestic and foreign players in the CSL in terms of physical and technical performance indicators for various playing positions. The unique match performance profiles of domestic and foreign players within the CSL highlighted important features for coaches and managers to improve the recruitment process within a league that implements a restrictive foreign player policy.

Can compression stockings reduce the degree of soccer match-induced fatigue in females?

Soccer-induced fatigue and performance are different between the sexes. The effect of compression stockings (CS) use on fatigue during the soccer match in females is unknown. Thus, we evaluated the impact of CS use during a female soccer match on match-induced fatigue. Twenty soccer players were randomly allocated to two groups (n = 10 for each group): CS and Control (regular socks), and equally distributed within two teams. At rest (baseline 48-h before the match) and immediately post-match, we assessed agility T-test, standing heel-rise test and YoYo Intermittent Endurance Test level 2 (YoYoIE2) performance. Effort during the match (heart rate and rating of perceived exertion) was similar (p > 0.05) between groups. The YoYoIE2 performance was decreased post-match (p < 0.05) equally for both groups. Otherwise, the CS group exhibited a greater post-match performance (p < 0.05) for the agility T-test and heel-rise test (large effect sizes). Therefore, we conclude that the use of CS during an amateur female soccer match resulted in less match-induced fatigue.

Effects of acute exercise on endothelial function in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Endothelial dysfunction is observed in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), who have increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. This study aimed to assess the acute effects of moderate- and higher-intensity exercise on endothelial function, as assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), in AAA patients (74 ± 6 yr old, n = 22) and healthy adults (72 ± 5 yr old, n = 22). Participants undertook three randomized visits, including moderate-intensity continuous exercise [40% peak power output (PPO)], higher-intensity interval exercise (70% PPO), and a no-exercise control. Brachial artery FMD was assessed at baseline and at 10 and 60 min after each condition. Baseline FMD was lower [by 1.10% (95% confidence interval: 0.72-.81), P = 0.044] in AAA patients than in healthy adults. There were no group differences in FMD responses after each condition ( P = 0.397). FMD did not change after no-exercise control but increased by 1.21% (95% confidence interval: 0.69-1.73, P < 0.001) 10 min after moderate-intensity continuous exercise in both groups and returned to baseline after 60 min. Conversely, FMD decreased by 0.93% (95% confidence interval: 0.41-1.44, P < 0.001) 10 min after higher-intensity interval exercise in both groups and remained decreased after 60 min. We found that the acute response of endothelial function to exercise is intensity-dependent and similar between AAA patients and healthy adults. Our findings provide evidence that regular exercise may improve vascular function in AAA patients, as it does in healthy adults. Improved FMD after moderate-intensity exercise may provide short-term benefit. Whether the decrease in FMD after higher-intensity exercise represents an additional risk and/or a greater stimulus for vascular adaptation remains to be elucidated. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Abdominal aortic aneurysm patients have vascular dysfunction. We observed a short-term increase in vascular function after moderate-intensity exercise. Conversely, higher-intensity exercise induced a prolonged reduction in vascular function, which may be associated with both short-term increases in cardiovascular risk and signaling for longer-term vascular adaptation in abdominal aortic aneurysm patients.

Association between physical activity and walking capacity with cognitive function in peripheral artery disease patients.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the association between objectively measured physical activity and walking capacity with cognitive function in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. METHODS: This was an observational, cross sectional study. One hundred and thirty patients (age 67 ± 8 years) were recruited at a tertiary centre specializing in vascular disease. Cognitive function (global, memory, executive function and attention) was evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool. Physical activity levels (total, light, and moderate-vigorous) were obtained using an accelerometer. A 6 min and 4 m walk test were undertaken to assess walking capacity. Crude and covariate adjusted, linear regression analyses confirmed significant associations between physical activity levels and walking capacity with cognitive function. RESULTS: Positive and significant associations were observed between moderate to vigorous physical activity (p = .039) and walking capacity (p = .030) with memory after adjusting for covariates. No significant association was identified between light physical activity and usual gait speed with any cognitive function outcome. CONCLUSION: Greater memory performance was associated with greater moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and walking capacity in patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease. Clinical interventions focused on improving moderate to vigorous physical activity levels and walking capacity may provide important therapies to potentially enhance cognitive health in patients with peripheral artery disease.

Effects of exercise intensity and cardiorespiratory fitness on the acute response of arterial stiffness to exercise in older adults.

PURPOSE: Increased arterial stiffness is observed with ageing and in individuals with low cardiorespiratory fitness ([Formula: see text]O2peak), and associated with cardiovascular risk. Following an exercise bout, transient arterial stiffness reductions offer short-term benefit, but may depend on exercise intensity. This study assessed the effects of exercise intensity on post-exercise arterial stiffness in older adults with varying fitness levels. METHODS: Fifty-one older adults (72 ± 5 years) were stratified into fitness tertiles ([Formula: see text]O2peak: low-, 22.3 ± 3.1; mid-, 27.5 ± 2.4 and high-fit 36.3 ± 6.5 mL kg-1 min-1). In a randomised order, participants underwent control (no-exercise), moderate-intensity continuous exercise (40% of peak power output; PPO), and higher-intensity interval exercise (70% of PPO) protocols. Pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx75) and reflection magnitude (RM) were assessed at rest and during 90 min of recovery following each protocol. RESULTS: After control, delta PWV increased over time (P < 0.001) and delta RM was unchanged. After higher-intensity interval exercise, delta PWV (P < 0.001) and delta RM (P < 0.001) were lower to control in all fitness groups. After moderate-intensity continuous exercise, delta PWV was not different from control in low-fit adults (P = 0.057), but was lower in the mid- and higher-fit older adults. Post-exercise AIx75 was higher to control in all fitness groups (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, PWV increases during seated rest and this response is attenuated after higher-intensity interval exercise, regardless of fitness level. This attenuation was also observed after moderate-intensity continuous exercise in adults with higher, but not lower fitness levels. Submaximal exercise reveals differences in the arterial stiffness responses between older adults with higher and lower cardiorespiratory fitness.

Impact of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage on Performance Test Outcomes in Elite Female Basketball Players.

Doma, K, Leicht, A, Sinclair, W, Schumann, M, Damas, F, Burt, D, and Woods, C. Impact of exercise-induced muscle damage on performance test outcomes in elite female basketball players. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1731-1738, 2018-The purpose of this study was 2-fold: first, to examine the impact of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on physical fitness qualities after a basketball-specific training session; second, to determine the reproducibility of the sport-specific performance measures in elite female basketball players. Ten elite female basketball players (age 25.6 ± 4.5 years; height 1.8 ± 0.7 m; and body mass 76.7 ± 8.3 kg) undertook a 90-minute training session involving repeated jumping, sprinting, and game-simulated training. Indirect muscle damage markers (i.e., countermovement jump, delayed onset of muscle soreness [DOMS], and creatine kinase [CK]) and sport-specific performances (i.e., change-of-direction [COD] test and suicide test [ST]) were measured before and 24 hours after training. These measures were also collected 1 week after training to determine the reproducibility of the basketball-specific performance measures. A significant reduction in lower-body power (-3.5 ± 3.6%; p ≤ 0.05), while a significant increase in DOMS (46.7 ± 26.3%; p ≤ 0.05) and CK (57.6 ± 23.1%; p ≤ 0.05) was observed 24 hours after exercise. The ST was also significantly increased (2.1 ± 1.8%; p ≤ 0.05), although no difference was observed for COD (0.1 ± 2.0%; p > 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficient and coefficient of variation for the COD and ST were 0.81 and 0.90, respectively, and 1.9 and 1.5%, respectively. In conclusion, appropriate recovery should be considered the day after basketball-specific training sessions in elite basketball players. Furthermore, this study showed the usability of performance measures to detect changes during periods of EIMD, with acceptable reproducibility and minimal measurement error.

Physical, Anthropometric, and Athletic Movement Qualities Discriminate Development Level in a Rugby League Talent Pathway.

Pearce, LA, Sinclair, WH, Leicht, AS, and Woods, CT. Physical, anthropometric, and athletic movement qualities discriminate development level in a rugby league talent pathway. J Strength Cond Res 32(11): 3169-3176, 2018-This study compared the physical, anthropometric, and athletic movement qualities of talent-identified rugby league (RL) players within a development pathway. From a total of 174 players, 3 developmental levels were defined: under 18 (U18; n = 52), under 20 (U20; n = 53), and state league (SL; n = 69). All players performed a test battery that consisted of 5 physical assessments, 2 anthropometric measurements, and an athletic movement assessment. A multivariate analysis of variance modeled the main effect of developmental level (3 levels: U18, U20, and SL) on test criterion variables. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were then built for the criterion variables that showed a significant developmental level effect. A significant effect was noted (V = 0.775, F = 5.43, p ≤ 0.05), with the SL players outperforming their U18 and U20 counterparts for measures of body mass, peak and average lower limb power, double lunge (left side), single-leg Romanian deadlift (left and right sides), the push-up, and total athletic ability assessment score (p ≤ 0.05; d = 0.35-1.21). The ROC curves generated an area under the curve of greater than 65% for each test criterion, indicating greater than chance discrimination. These results highlight the physical, anthropometric, and athletic movement qualities discriminant of development level within a RL talent pathway. Practitioners are encouraged to consider the thresholds from the ROC curves as an objective guide to assist with the development of physical performance qualities that may augment player progression in Australian RL.