International orienteering experts' consensus on the definition, development, cause, impact and methods to reduce mental fatigue in orienteering: A Delphi study.

Orienteering is an outdoor activity wherein participants use a map and compass to locate control points and choose the quickest path to the next control point in a natural environment. Attentional focus, rapid decision-making, and high aerobic fitness may influence orienteering performance. Therefore, this research aimed to seek international orienteering expert consensus regarding the definition, development, causes, influences and methods to reduce mental fatigue (MF) in orienteering based on practical experience. Following ethical approval, a three-round Delphi survey was conducted online with twenty-four orienteering coaches and athletes (or former athletes) from 10 different countries with international orienteering competition experience. The threshold of consensus was ≥ 70% agreement among respondents. The experts agreed that MF exists in daily life and orienteering with a substantial negative effect on their conscious decision-making performance and psychological responses. The experts disagreed that the form of MF that athletes experienced in orienteering training are similar to the competition. However, there was no agreement that MF would impact endurance and high-speed running performance during orienteering. This research refines the definition of MF and summarises the distinctions in what causes MF in orienteering training and competition, implying that MF should be addressed separately.

Effects of Resistance Band Exercise on Vascular Activity and Fitness in Older Adults.

This study investigated the effects of a low to moderately intense resistance-band exercise intervention on cutaneous microvascular function in an older population. 18 sedentary healthy participants (age: 58±5) were assessed for their upper and lower-limb endothelial cutaneous vascular conductance using laser Doppler fluximetry with endothelial-dependent (80 µl acetylcholine chloride), and -independent vasodilation (80 µl sodium nitroprusside). In addition, participants underwent a range of functional assessments (cardiopulmonary fitness, strength, flexibility), and completed a perceived quality of life questionnaire. Participants were randomised into 2 groups: Exercise (EX) and Control (CON), and followed either an 8-week self-supervised home-based resistance-band intervention or maintained their habitual lifestyle. Following post-intervention assessment (n=16; EX=7, CON=9), EX improved acetylcholine-chloride-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilation within the lower limb (cutaneous vascular conductance at 2 000 µCb; P<0.01), but without associated changes in the upper limb. Exercise, compared to CON, significantly affected sodium-nitroprusside-mediated independent vasodilation in the upper limb (P<0.01) at 2 000 µCb, but without associated changes in the lower limb. Of functional assessments, only lower limb strength and flexibility improved for EX (P<0.05). EX experienced positive changes within global measures of General Health, Bodily Pain and Energy/Fatigue (P<0.05). An 8-week home-based resistance-band exercise programme improves age-provoked microcirculatory endothelial vasodilation, but without concomitant changes in cardiopulmonary and anthropometric measures.