Upper-Body Resistance Exercise Reduces Time to Recover After a High-Volume Bench Press Protocol in Resistance-Trained Men.

ABSTRACT: Bartolomei, S, Totti, V, Griggio, F, Malerba, C, Ciacci, S, Semprini, G, and Di Michele, R. Upper-body resistance exercise reduces time to recover after a high-volume bench press protocol in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S180-S187, 2021-The aim of this study was to compare the effects of active and passive strategies on the recovery response after a high-volume bench press protocol. Twenty-five resistance-trained men (mean ± SD: age = 25.8 ± 3.6 years; body mass = 87.1 ± 12.1 kg; and height = 177.4 ± 4.9 cm) performed a high-volume bench press session (8 sets of 10 reps at 70% of 1 repetition maximum). Subsequently, they were randomly assigned to an active recovery (AR) group (n = 11) or to a passive recovery (PR) group (n = 14). Active recovery consisted of light bench press sessions performed 6 hours and 30 hours after the high-volume exercise protocol. Muscle performance (bench throw power [BTP] and isometric bench press [IBP]) and morphology (muscle thickness of pectoralis major [PECMT] and of triceps brachii [TRMT]) were measured before exercise (baseline [BL]), and at 15-minute (15P), 24-hour (24P), and 48-hour (48P) post-exercise. Post-exercise recovery of both maximal strength and power was accelerated in AR compared with PR. Both BTP and IBP were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced at 15P and 24P in PR, whereas changes were significant (p < 0.001) at 15P only in AR. PECMT was still significantly (p = 0.015) altered from BL at 48P in PR, whereas changes were significant (p < 0.001) at 15P only in AR. No significant interactions (p > 0.05) between PR and AR were detected for TRMT and muscle soreness. The present results indicate that AR enhances the recovery rate after high-volume exercise sessions and may be included in resistance training programs to optimize muscle adaptations.

Anthropometry, Physical and Movement Features, and Repeated-sprint Ability in Soccer Players.

This study aimed to evaluate the associations of anthropometry, functional movement patterns (FMP) and physical performance characteristics with repeated-sprint ability (RSA) in male youth soccer players. Thirty six athletes (ages 16.6±0.5 years, BMI 22.0±1.3 kg/m2) completed the RSA test and other physical tests including countermovement jump with (CMJA) and without the help of arms (CMJ), 10-m and 20-m straight-line sprints, Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo), and functional movement screen (FMS). In addition, a battery of anthropometric variables was measured. RSA performance components such as best time (BT), mean time (MT) and sprint decrement were calculated. Results showed that measures of physical performance derived from horizontal plane in 10-m and 20-m sprints, were more strongly associated (p<0.01) with RSA performance than those obtained with CMJ or CMJA (p<0.05). High correlations (p<0.01) were found between MT, BT and Yo-Yo distance (r=-0.79, r=-0.67, respectively), as well as with FMS scores (r=-0.68, r=-0.58, respectively). Anthropometric measures, such as fat mass, upper fat area, thigh fat area, calf muscle area, and endomorphy were associated with RSA components (p<0.05). Predictors for the RSA performance identified in the stepwise multivariate analysis included Yo-Yo distance, time in sprints, FMP, and calf muscle area.

Physiological and Sport-Specific Comparison Between Division I and Division II Italian Male Field Hockey Players.

Bartolomei, S, Nigro, F, Gubellini, L, Ciacci, S, Merni, F, Treno, F, Cortesi, M, and Semprini, G. Physiological and sport-specific comparison between Division I and Division II Italian male field hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 33(11): 3123-3128, 2019-The purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric and performance profiles of Division I (D1) and Division II (D2) Italian field hockey players. Fifteen DI players and 15 D2 players (age = 25.4 ± 5.2 years; body mass = 78.5 ± 9.0 kg; and body height = 179.6 ± 7.8 cm) were assessed on one occasion for anthropometry, body composition, physiological measurements, and sport-specific skills. Differences between the 2 groups were evaluated using a 1-way analysis of variance. Pearson correlations were used to examine relationships between the different measurements. Significantly (p = 0.039) lower percentages of body fat were found on D1 group compared with D2 group (-3.5%). A significant difference between the groups were noted for shooting accuracy (p = 0.013), with the D1 group performing 14.5% better than the DII group. No significant differences between the groups were found for shooting speed (p = 0.103) and slalom and dribbling performances (p = 0.292 and p = 0.416, respectively). Physiological assessments did not show any significant differences between the groups. Large correlations (r = 0.73; p < 0.001) were found between shooting speed and accuracy. Moderate correlations were observed between the shooting speed and the hand grip strength, in particular of the left hand (r = 0.61; p = 0.007). Results of this study indicate that the difference between D1 and D2 players may be more related to technical factors than to physical fitness. Ball control, however, may not be a limiting factor in D2 players.

Joint assessment of handedness and footedness through latent class factor analysis.

Recently, some studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of two latent variable approaches in which hand preferences are analysed using either latent class methods or latent class factor (LCF) methods. The main aims of this study are: (i) to establish whether these approaches are adequate for assessing footedness, (ii) to evaluate their appropriateness when hand and foot preferences are jointly analysed, and (iii) to measure the association between handedness and footedness based on the examined latent variable models. To this end, a dataset providing information about the limb used to perform ten hand actions and three foot movements by 2236 young Italian sportspeople is analysed. The first aim is pursued through an exploratory analysis of the observed foot preferences; according to this analysis, footedness patterns are adequately described by two latent levels of footedness. As far as the second aim is concerned, a confirmatory analysis of foot and hand preferences is carried out; the best fit to the dataset is obtained using a two-dimensional LCF model with four latent levels of handedness and two latent levels of footedness. Finally, the association between handedness and footedness resulting from the employed methods is remarkably lower than that registered in other studies.

Acute Effects of Ammonia Inhalants on Strength and Power Performance in Trained Men.

Bartolomei, S, Nigro, F, Luca, G, Gabriele, S, Ciacci, S, Hoffman, JR, and Merni, F. Acute effects of ammonia inhalants on strength and power performance in trained men. J Strength Cond Res 32(1): 244-247, 2018-The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of ammonia inhalants on lower body power and maximal isometric strength in trained men. Twenty experienced resistance trained men (age = 26.7 ± 3.7 years; body weight = 80.59 ± 9.0 kg; body height = 179.5 ± 5.7 cm) were tested for counter movement jump power (CMJP), maximal force, and peak rate of force development (pRFD20) expressed during an isometric midthigh pull (IMTP). Assessments were performed using either an ammonia inhalant (AI), a placebo (PL), or no inhalants (N). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures was used to compare strength and power performance between the different trials. A significant (p < 0.01) increase in pRFD20 was detected following the use of AI. No significant effects of trial were noted for CMJP and IMTP maximal force (p = 0.251 and p = 0.075, respectively). Results of the present study showed a potential ergogenic effect of AI on rate of force development (i.e., explosive force output), with a trend toward an improvement in maximal force production. The mechanism of action may be related to the stimulatory action of AI often reported by athletes as a "psyching-up" effect. The positive effect of AI on the rate of force development may represent an advantage in sports requiring high rates of force production.

Comparison Between Bench Press Throw and Ballistic Push-up Tests to Assess Upper-Body Power in Trained Individuals.

Bartolomei, S, Nigro, F, Ruggeri, S, Malagoli Lanzoni, I, Ciacci, S, Merni, F, Sadres, E, Hoffman, JR, and Semprini, G. Comparison between bench press throw and ballistic push-up tests to assess upper-body power in trained individuals. J Strength Cond Res 32(6): 1503-1510, 2018-The purpose of this study was to validate the ballistic push-up (BPU) test performed with hands on a force plate as a method to measure upper-body power. Twenty-eight experienced resistance-trained men (age = 25.4 ± 5.2 years; body mass = 78.5 ± 9.0 kg; body height = 179.6 ± 7.8 cm) performed, 2 days apart, a bench press 1 repetition maximum (1RM) test and upper-body power tests. Mean power (MP) and peak power (PP) were assessed using the bench press throw (BT) test and the BPU test performed in randomized order. The area under the force/power curve (AUC) obtained at BT was also calculated. Power expressed at BPU was estimated using a time-based prediction equation. Mean force and the participant's body weight were used to predict the bench press 1RM. Pearson product-moment correlations were used to examine relationships between the power assessment methods and between the predicted 1RM bench and the actual value. Large correlations (0.79; p < 0.001) were found between AUC and MP expressed at BPU. Large correlations were also detected between MP and PP expressed at BT and BPU (0.75; p < 0.001 and 0.74; p < 0.001, respectively). Very large correlations (0.87; p < 0.001) were found between the 1RM bench and the 1RM predicted by the BPU. Results of this study indicate that BPU represents a valid and reliable method to estimate the upper-body power in resistance-trained individuals.

A Comparison between the Recovery Responses Following an Eccentrically Loaded Bench Press Protocol Vs. Regular Loading in Highly Trained Men.

The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological responses of a single bout of an eccentric accentuated bench press protocol (120% of 1RM in the eccentric phase/80% in the concentric phase; [120/80]) versus a regular high-intensity exercise protocol (80%/80%; [80/80]) in resistance-trained men. Eleven men (age = 25.6 ± 3.9 y; body mass = 84.6 ± 11.2 kg; body height = 176.4 ± 3.9 cm) with 6.3 ± 3.4 y of resistance training experience performed each protocol in counterbalanced, randomized order. Isometric, isokinetic and ballistic tests were performed at the bench press (IBPF, ISOK and BTP, respectively) at baseline (BL), 15-min (15P), 24-h (24P), and 48-h (48P) post-exercise for each testing session. In addition, muscle thickness of the pectoralis major (PecMT) was measured at the same timepoints via ultrasound. Significantly greater reductions in BTP (p < 0.001), peak force during both ISOK (p = 0.005) and IBPF (p = 0.006) at 15P were detected in 120/80 compared to 80/80. BTP was still significantly (p = 0.009) impaired at 48P following the 120/80 protocol, while no differences were noted following 80/80. PecMt was significantly elevated following both 120/80 and 80/80 (p < 0.05) at 15P, but significant differences between the trials were present at 15P and 24P (p = 0.005 and p = 0.008, respectively). Results indicated that heavy eccentric loading during the bench press exercise caused greater performance deficits than a bout of traditionally loaded high intensity resistance exercise. Power performance appears to be more influenced by the 120/80 protocol than isometric peak force. Eccentrically loaded exercise sessions should be separated by at least 48 hours to obtain a complete recovery of the initial muscle morphology and performance.

Interhemispheric transfer time in sportsmen.

The authors' aim was to compare interhemispheric transfer time between 2 groups: highly skilled sportsmen and control subjects. Left- and right-handed individuals were included in the study. The Poffenberger paradigm was used to measure the crossed-uncrossed difference, representing the time to transfer information from one hemisphere to the other. No difference in laterality was found, but the results revealed a greater crossed-uncrossed difference in the skilled sportsmen than in the controls. The authors suggest that this may be due to more highly developed within-hemisphere integration of inputs and outputs, at the expense of cross-hemisphere integration.