The effect of α-lactalbumin consumption on sleep quality and quantity in female rugby union athletes: a field-based study.

This double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of α-lactalbumin consumption on sleep quality and quantity in female rugby union athletes during a competition season. Eighteen semi-professional female rugby union players (age 23.8 ± 5.2 y; mean ± SD) wore wrist actigraphy watches for four seven-day blocks corresponding to the pre-season, a home game, a bye week (i.e. no competition game scheduled) and an away game. Participants consumed either an α-lactalbumin (α-LAC), or placebo drink (PLA) every night two hours before bed for the duration of the season. Generalised linear mixed models were used to investigate the effects of the nutritional intervention on sleep variables (total sleep time, sleep efficiency (SE), sleep onset latency (SOL) and wake after sleep onset) over the duration of the season. There was a significant condition by period interaction effect on SOL (p = 0.01). While similar at baseline (23.3 ± 16.3 and 23.2 ± 18.9 min α-LAC and placebo respectively) and for the home game (22.4 ± 17.6 and 19.3 ± 14.9 min α-LAC and placebo respectively), SOL was reduced in the α-LAC group for the bye (11.6 ± 13.4 min) and away game (17.0 ± 11.5 min; p = 0.045). In comparison, SOL remained unchanged in the PLA group (bye 21.2 ± 17.3 and away 22.5 ± 18.5 min). Pre-sleep α-lactalbumin consumption improved SOL in a semi-professional female team-sport cohort. Thus, α-lactalbumin could be utilised by athletes to support sleep during a competitive season.

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Game Day Preparation for Team Sports: A Delphi Study With Expert Consensus.

ABSTRACT: Mason, BRJ, Pumpa, KL, McKune, AJ, Gill, ND, and Ball, NB. A multidisciplinary approach to game day preparation for team sports: A Delphi study with expert consensus. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1345-1352, 2022-The aim of this study was to identify game day preparation strategies used by performance staff to improve team sport performance and to determine consensus regarding the application and importance of these strategies. Twenty-five performance staff working in high performance or professional team sports participated in this Delphi study, which implemented 3 survey rounds. The first round sought responses to open-ended questions relating to the use of game day preparation strategies. These responses were developed into statements and recirculated (round-2 survey), with subjects asked to rate their level of agreement with each statement. The third and final survey presented revised versions of statements that did not reach a consensus in the previous round, along with new statements derived from subject responses. A thematic analysis of the open-ended responses in the first survey identified 5 key themes relating to game day preparation strategies: "exercise," "nutrition," "psychological," "technical and tactical," and "other." The round-2 survey included 38 statements across the 5 themes, with 22 reaching the consensus threshold (≥75%) for agreement. The remaining 16 statements did not reach consensus. The final survey included 18 statements (16 revised and 2 new) with 12 reaching the consensus threshold for agreement. Key preparation strategies identified in this study include structured and progressive warm-ups, strength and power-based priming sessions, individualized nutrition plans, and precooling in hot conditions. Performance staff working in similar environments should consider adopting these strategies to improve athlete or team performance.

Identifying women at risk of weight gain after a breast cancer diagnosis: Results from a cohort of Australian women.

ISSUES ADDRESSED: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with weight gain post a diagnosis of breast cancer in a cohort of Australian women. METHODS: In this retrospective clinical audit, objectively measured weight, age and menopause status, treatment type/s, grade, stage, oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor (PR) status were extracted for 73 breast cancer patients from an ongoing breast cancer treatment quality assurance project. Weight gain or loss was classified as a body mass increase or decrease of ≥5% of weight at diagnosis. RESULTS: When compared to weight at diagnosis, 57% of patients maintained, 22% gained, and 21% lost weight at 24 months post-diagnosis. Factors associated with weight gain were a diagnosis of grade II (P < .001) or grade III (P < .001) compared to grade I breast cancer, and refusal of radiotherapy (P < .001). Factors associated with weight loss were being postmenopausal compared to premenopausal (P = .033), PR positive compared to PR negative (P < .001), refusal of chemotherapy (P < .001) and radiotherapy recommended (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: The maintenance of weight in a majority of women in this cohort is a novel finding. Early identification of women at risk of weight gain post a breast cancer diagnosis can assist health professionals identify, and therefore assisting patients in the prevention and management of weight gain and associated sequela. Investigating the weight-related communications between a patient and specialist, their access to allied health professionals and social support may assist in understanding the overall positive changes in this cohort.

What are the sleep characteristics of elite female athletes? A systematic review with meta-analysis.

With the recent growth in female sport, practitioners need to be able to provide specific support to female athletes to ensure their sleep, health and athletic performance are optimised. Examine the patterns, duration and quality of sleep among elite female athletes, and consider the impact of situational challenges and their effects on the sleep of elite female athletes. Data was located through a search of SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE and Scopus from inception up to May 2021. Studies needed to be peer-reviewed research reporting quantitative sleep outcomes for female athletes ≥ 18 years of age and competing at a predefined elite level. A meta-analysis was performed on habitual sleep outcomes (e.g. total sleep time [TST] and sleep efficiency [SE]) measured with actigraphy. A total of 38 studies were included. Meta-analysis showed habitual TST (n = 14) was 7.8 h [7.4, 8.2] (mean [95% CI]), and SE was 86.7% [84.7, 88.6], with high variability among studies (I2 = 97.8-98.2%). Subjective sleep complaints are common before a competition, as do post-training sleep disturbances (63% studies report TST decrease), and post-competition sleep disturbances (75% studies report TST decrease). Female athletes achieve satisfactory objective sleep quantity and quality during habitual periods, but experience sleep disturbances pre- and post-situational challenges. There is high variability of objective sleep outcomes, demonstrating the individual nature of habitual female athlete sleep. Overall, future research must focus on optimising the sleep appraisal methods and creating high-quality study designs in a broader number of sports.

Participant perspectives of a telehealth trial investigating the use of telephone and text message support in obesity management: a qualitative evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Quantitative evidence suggests that interventions involving telephone calls and text message are feasible and effective for improving lifestyle intervention adherence and clinical outcomes among adults with obesity. The aim of this article is to provide qualitative insight into the perspectives and experiences of participants who completed a telehealth trial exploring the use of telephone and text support as adjunctive tools to support a community-based obesity management program. METHODS: Focus groups were conducted in order to evaluate program acceptability and overall participant perceptions of the clinical trial. Thematic content analysis was used to analyse the data, aided by the development of a thematic network. RESULTS: The telehealth trial was well received. Participants found the telephone and text message support highly beneficial, providing encouragement, motivation and accountability via a simple and convenient mode of communication. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a high degree of promise for the incorporation of telephone and text support in obesity management.

Dietary Intake and Gastrointestinal Integrity in Runners Undertaking High-Intensity Exercise in the Heat.

Gastrointestinal disturbances are one of the most common issues for endurance athletes during training and competition in the heat. The relationship between typical dietary intake or nutritional interventions and perturbations in or maintenance of gut integrity is unclear. Twelve well-trained male endurance athletes (peak oxygen consumption = 61.4 ± 7.0 ml·kg-1·min-1) completed two trials in a randomized order in 35 °C (heat) and 21 °C (thermoneutral) conditions and kept a detailed nutritional diary for eight consecutive days between the two trials. The treadmill running trials consisted of 15 min at 60% peak oxygen consumption, 15 min at 75% peak oxygen consumption, followed by 8 × 1-min high-intensity efforts. Venous blood samples were taken at the baseline, at the end of each of the three exercise stages, and 1 hr postexercise to measure gut integrity and the permeability biomarker concentration for intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein, lipopolysaccharide, and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein. The runners self-reported gut symptoms 1 hr postexercise and 3 days postexercise. The heat condition induced large (45-370%) increases in intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein, and lipopolysaccharide concentrations compared with the baseline, but induced mild gastrointestinal symptoms. Carbohydrate and polyunsaturated fat intake 24 hr preexercise were associated with less lipopolysaccharide translocation. Protein, carbohydrate, total fat, and polyunsaturated fat intake (8 days) were positively associated with the percentage increase of intestinal fatty-acid-binding protein in both conditions (range of correlations, 95% confidence interval = .62-.93 [.02, .98]). Typical nutrition intake partly explained increases in biomarkers and the attenuation of symptoms induced by moderate- and high-intensity exercise under both heat and thermoneutral conditions.

Objectively measured physical activity is associated with dorsolateral prefrontal cortex volume in older adults.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest physical activity (PA) can slow or prevent both cognitive decline and age-related atrophy in frontal and hippocampal gray matter volumes. However, much of this evidence is based on self-reported measures of PA. METHODS: PA was measured objectively with a SenseWear™ Armband to examine the cross-sectional associations between the duration of light, moderate and vigorous intensity PA with gray matter volume in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and hippocampus in 167 (female: 43%) cognitively healthy older adults aged 73 to 78. RESULTS: The duration of objective moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was associated with a greater volume of the right DLPFC (ߠ​= â€‹0.16; p â€‹= â€‹0.04). In addition, objective moderate-intensity PA alone was also associated with greater volume of the left (ߠ​= â€‹0.17; p â€‹= â€‹0.03) and right (ߠ​= â€‹0.19; p â€‹= â€‹0.01) DLPFC after controlling for covariates and adjustment for multiple comparisons. In contrast, there were no significant associations between light- or vigorous-intensity PA and gray matter volumes (all p â€‹> â€‹0.05). No associations between PA and cognitive performance were detected, and self-reported PA was not associated with any of the outcomes investigated. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that an intensity-dependent relationship may exist, whereby a greater duration of MVPA, perhaps driven by moderate-intensity PA, is associated with preserved gray matter volume in frontal regions of the brain. Future research should investigate the mechanisms of this dose-effect and determine whether greater brain volumes associated with objective PA convey protective effects against cognitive decline.

Adding Telephone and Text Support to an Obesity Management Program Improves Behavioral Adherence and Clinical Outcomes. A Randomized Controlled Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: Behavioral treatment strategies improve adherence to lifestyle intervention for adults with obesity, but can be time and resource intensive when delivered via traditional face-to-face care. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and optimal timing of using telephone calls and text message as adjunctive tools to support a community-based obesity management program. METHOD: This 8-month randomized controlled crossover trial recruited 61 adults with class III obesity (BMI > 40 kg/m2) enrolled in a publicly funded obesity management service (OMS). Participants were randomly assigned to receive telephone and text message support in addition to standard OMS care, or standard OMS care alone. After 4 months, participants crossed over to the alternative sequence. The technological support was based on self-determination theory. Outcome measures included diet, physical activity, anthropometry, self-efficacy, and treatment self-regulation. RESULTS: Telephone and text message support improved lifestyle intervention adherence and clinical outcomes when compared with standard care. Participants who received the intervention in the first 4-month period lost 4.87 kg, compared with no weight loss (+ 0.38 kg) in the standard care only group. There was no evidence to indicate an optimal timing of the intervention, with both groups achieving significant results by the end of the intervention. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a high degree of promise for the incorporation of telephone and text message support into community-based obesity management services. The findings have the potential to improve existing practices and reduce the burden on the health care system by demonstrating a resource-effective improvement to obesity management service delivery.

Comparison of Body Composition Assessment Methods in Professional Urban Firefighters.

Given the importance of body composition in maintaining optimal physical and functional capacities, the use of appropriate, field-based assessment tools should be a priority to assist in maintaining the occupational safety of firefighters and the community. For ease, body mass index has often been used to assess these changes. However, it is limited in its accuracy. The purposes of this study were twofold: (a) to compare the validity of different measures of body composition against dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in urban firefighters and (b) to assess these measures in their ability to provide meaningful interpretation of criteria-driven categories of adiposity. A total of 64 male firefighters (age = 44.0 ± 9.5 years) underwent full anthropometric profiling (predictor equations used to determine body fat percentage [BF%]), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and DXA assessments. Participants' body mass index was calculated, and BF% and lean mass were determined along with criteria-driven categorizations of adiposity. Anthropometric (skinfolds) predictor equations (e.g., mean bias = -4.4% for BF%) were typically closer to DXA measures, compared with BIA (9.4% for BF%). However, when determining categories of criteria-driven adiposity, BIA (42.9% overweight or obese) provided closer estimates to the DXA-determined distribution (44.6%) than anthropometric-based measures (up to 40%). Body mass index appears an inappropriate measure for accurately determining categories of adiposity with 64.1% classified as overweight or obese. Given the logistical constraints of anthropometric profiling, and the closeness of BIA to DXA in adiposity categories, BIA may be a suitable alternative to DXA for assessing body composition in professional urban firefighters.

Effect of a 16-week Bikram yoga program on heart rate variability and associated cardiovascular disease risk factors in stressed and sedentary adults: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Chronic activation of the stress-response can contribute to cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in sedentary individuals. This study investigated the effect of a Bikram yoga intervention on the high frequency power component of heart rate variability (HRV) and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (i.e. additional domains of HRV, hemodynamic, hematologic, anthropometric and body composition outcome measures) in stressed and sedentary adults. METHODS: Eligible adults were randomized to an experimental group (n = 29) or a no treatment control group (n = 34). Experimental group participants were instructed to attend three to five supervised Bikram yoga classes per week for 16 weeks at local studios. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline (week 0) and completion (week 17). RESULTS: Sixty-three adults (37.2 ± 10.8 years, 79% women) were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. The experimental group attended 27 ± 18 classes. Analyses of covariance revealed no significant change in the high-frequency component of HRV (p = 0.912, partial η 2 = 0.000) or in any secondary outcome measure between groups over time. However, regression analyses revealed that higher attendance in the experimental group was associated with significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.039; partial η 2 = 0.154), body fat percentage (p = 0.001, partial η 2 = 0.379), fat mass (p = 0.003, partial η 2 = 0.294) and body mass index (p = 0.05, partial η 2 = 0.139). CONCLUSIONS: A 16-week Bikram yoga program did not increase the high frequency power component of HRV or any other CVD risk factors investigated. As revealed by post hoc analyses, low adherence likely contributed to the null effects. Future studies are required to address barriers to adherence to better elucidate the dose-response effects of Bikram yoga practice as a medium to lower stress-related CVD risk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Retrospectively registered with Australia New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616000867493 . Registered 04 July 2016.

Quantifying the High-Speed Running and Sprinting Profiles of Elite Female Soccer Players During Competitive Matches Using an Optical Player Tracking System.

The aim of this study was to determine the high-speed running and sprinting profiles of elite female soccer players during competitive matches using a new Optical Player Tracking system. Eight stationary video cameras were positioned at vantage points surrounding the soccer field so that when each camera view was combined, the entire field could be viewed simultaneously. After each match, an optical player tracking system detected the coordinates (x, y) of each player for every video frame. Algorithms applied to the x and y coordinates were used to determine activity variables for 12 elite female players across 7 competitive matches. Players covered 9,220-10,581 m of total distance, 1,772-2,917 m of high-speed running (3.4-5.3 m·s) distance, and 417-850 m of sprinting (>5.4 m·s) distance, with variations between positional groups (p < 0.001; partial η = 0.444-0.488). Similarly, the number of high-speed runs differed between positional groups (p = 0.002; partial η = 0.342), and a large proportion of high-speed runs (81-84%) and sprints (71-78%) were performed over distances less than 10 m. Mean time between high-speed runs (13.9 ± 4.4 seconds) and sprints (86.5 ± 38.0 seconds) varied according to playing position (p < 0.001; partial η = 0.409) and time of the match (p < 0.001; partial η = 0.113-0.310). The results of this study can be used to design match-specific conditioning drills and shows that coaches should take an individualized approach to training load monitoring according to position.

Responses of Lower-Body Power and Match Running Demands Following Long-Haul Travel in International Rugby Sevens Players.

Mitchell, JA, Pumpa, KL, and Pyne, DB. Responses of lowerbody power and match running demands after long-haul travel in international rugby sevens players. J Strength Cond Res 31(3): 686-695, 2017-This study determined the effect of long-haul (>5 hours) travel on lower-body power and match running demands in international rugby sevens players. Lower-body power was assessed in 22 male international rugby sevens players (age 21.7 ± 2.7 years, mass 89.0 ± 6.7 kg, stature 180.5 ± 6.2 cm; mean ± SD) monitored over 17 rugby sevens tournaments. A countermovement jump was used to monitor lower-body power (peak and mean power) over repeated three week travel and competition periods (pretravel, posttravel, and posttournament). Small decreases were evident in peak power after both short and long-haul travel (-4.0%, ±3.2%; mean, ±90% confidence limits) with further reductions in peak and mean power posttournament (-4.5%, ±2.3% and -3.8%, ±1.5%) culminating in a moderate decrease in peak power overall (-7.4%, ±4.0%). A subset of 12 players (completing a minimum of 8 tournaments) had the effects of match running demands assessed with lower-body power. In this subset, long-haul travel elicited a large decrease in lower-body peak (-9.4%, ±3.5%) and mean power (-5.6%, ±2.9%) over the monitoring period, with a small decrease (-4.3%, ±3.0% and -2.2%, ±1.7%) posttravel and moderate decrease (-5.4%, ±2.5% and -3.5%, ±1.9%) posttournament, respectively. Match running demands were monitored through global positioning system. In long-haul tournaments, the 12 players covered ∼13%, ±13% greater total distance (meter) and ∼11%, ±10% higher average game meters >5 m·s when compared with short-haul (<5 hours) travel. Effective pretravel and posttravel player management strategies are indicated to reduce neuromuscular fatigue and running load demands in rugby sevens tournaments after long-haul travel.

Effect of Physical and Psychosocial Interventions on Hormone and Performance Outcomes in Professional Rugby Union Players: A Systematic Review.

Strahorn, J, Serpell, BG, McKune, A, and Pumpa, KL. Effect of physical and psychosocial interventions on hormone and performance outcomes in professional rugby union players: a systematic review. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 3158-3169, 2017-This systematic review investigates the acute effects of physical or psychosocial interventions on testosterone and cortisol responses in elite male rugby union players, and the subsequent association with physical performance areas (e.g., strength, power, sprint performance) or key performance indicators (e.g., coach-identified skills). Medline (via EBSCO), SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, InformIT, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Scopus were searched for relevant articles. Nine articles met the inclusion criteria, with 6 articles examining the effect of speed, strength or power training, and the remaining 3 psychosocial interventions. Quality assessment of the articles as determined by their PEDro score was either 6 or 7 out of 11. This review found that both physical and psychosocial interventions can alter testosterone and cortisol, and physical performance areas important for rugby union are affected by these changes. The limited literature in the field supports the notion that physical interventions of short duration and high intensity, and psychosocial interventions that create a positive environment may elicit a hormonal response that is associated with favorable performance outcomes. Studies that reported psychosocial interventions suggest that testosterone and cortisol may be altered in elite rugby players without metabolic stress, something of great interest to elite athletes and coaches who are looking to elicit a performance advantage without increasing athlete load. Overall, this review identified that when the testosterone responses to an intervention are notably greater than that of cortisol, favorable outcomes are likely. Further research is required to improve our understanding on how to best manipulate training to induce these favorable changes.

Variable Changes in Body Composition, Strength and Lower-Body Power During an International Rugby Sevens Season.

This study determined whether body composition, strength, and power changes that occur during preseason can be maintained during an international rugby sevens season. Fourteen male international rugby sevens players (age 21.4 ± 2.2 years; mean ± SD) were categorized as forward (n = 7) or back (n = 7), and assessed for height, mass (M), skinfolds (S) (∑7), upper-body (UB) strength, lower-body (LB) strength, and LB power. Bench press, back squat, and a countermovement jump were used to measure strength and power at 3 time points: initial, early season, and late season. Forwards were taller (185 ± 4 cm), heavier (95 ± 6 kg), and possessed a greater lean body mass (55.5 ± 4.0 M·S) than backs (181 ± 8 cm, 88.5 ± 5.5 kg, and 51.9 ± 3.4 M·S). Over the full season, small (∼5 ± 5%; mean ± 90% confidence limits) positive changes occurred in body composition. Lower-body strength gained during the preseason, decayed in-season, whereas UB strength increased moderately (∼10 ± 3%) across the season. Power showed inconsistencies between measured variables with a moderate positive change across the season in mean velocity and relative peak power. Forwards showed a small decrease in peak power (relative and absolute). Moderate changes were observed in mean power over the season, forwards decreasing (∼6 ± 6%) and backs increasing (∼8 ± 6%). Rugby sevens forwards in this study found it difficult to maintain and improve power qualities in-season. Training loads of forwards and backs should be differentiated to maximize strength and power in-season.

Assessing the Energy Expenditure of Elite Female Soccer Players: A Preliminary Study.

The aim of this study was to assess the total and exercise energy expenditure of elite female soccer players during a training week. Eight elite female soccer players wore SenseWear Mini Armbands (SWAs) for 7 consecutive days during the preseason phase of a national league competition. In addition, players wore 15-Hz GPSports tracking devices during 4 training sessions and a friendly game. Total energy expenditure, exercise energy expenditure, and training and game demands were collected from the SWA and GPSports devices. Mean daily energy expenditure for the game day, training days, and rest days were 12,242 kJ (SD = 603 kJ), 11,692 (SD = 274 kJ), and 9,516 (SD = 369 kJ), respectively, with significant differences shown between activities (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.357), as well as between individual days (p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.517). Mean values for energy expenditure during the friendly game (mean = 2,695 kJ, SD = 301 kJ) and training sessions (mean = 2,538 kJ, SD = 316 kJ) were similar (p = 0.278, Cohen's d = 0.5). However, there were significant differences found between individual training sessions (p = 0.001-0.035). Total and exercise energy expenditure differs throughout the week in female soccer players. Nutritional intake should be adjusted accordingly to avoid energy imbalances for optimal performance and recovery.

Validity of the SenseWear Armband to assess energy expenditure during intermittent exercise and recovery in rugby union players.

Portable wearable devices that assess energy expenditure during intermittent exercise and recovery would be useful in team sports. Fourteen state-level male rugby union players (mean ± SD: age, 22 ± 4 years; body mass, 88.8 ± 11.2 kg; height, 1.81 ± 0.07 m, body fat, 18 ± 6%) participated in this study. Energy expenditure was measured by the SenseWear Armband (SWA) and validated against indirect calorimetry as the criterion measure during a 42-minute rugby-specific intermittent exercise test and an immediate postexercise 10-minute recovery period. Energy expenditure measurements from indirect calorimetry and the SWA were only moderately correlated during both the exercise test (r = 0.55, ±0.34; mean, ±90% confidence limits) and recovery period (r = 0.58, ±0.33). The SWA estimate of energy expenditure during exercise was unclear, with a mean bias of -1.9% (±5.3%), and during recovery energy expenditure was overestimated, with a mean bias of 17% (±12%) at the mean estimated energy expenditure. Typical error of SWA energy expenditure estimates expressed as a coefficient of variation (±90% confidence interval) was 10% (8-16%) during exercise and 19% (14-30%) during recovery. The SWA did not provide a valid measure of energy expenditure during rugby-specific intermittent exercise or 10-minute postexercise recovery. Further improvements are required in the performance of the SWA before it can be used routinely in intermittent sports and provide worthwhile information in relation to workloads of athletes for sport scientists and coaches.

The Effects of a Field-Based Priming Session on Perceptual, Physiological, and Performance Markers in Female Rugby Sevens Players.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effects of a field-based priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby sevens athletes. METHODS: Thirteen highly trained female rugby sevens players (age: 20.7 [2.0] y; height: 169.3 [4.8] cm; weight: 68.8 [7.9] kg) completed either a 20-minute field-based priming session or a control condition. Perceptual, physiological, and performance variables were collected at baseline (PRE) and 5 (POST5), 30 (POST30), and 120 minutes (POST120) postintervention. Data were analyzed using Bayesian mixed effects models. RESULTS: The priming protocol had a larger increase in mental readiness (maximum a posteriori [MAP] = 20, 95% high-density intervals [HDI] = -4 to 42, probability of direction [PD]% = 95, % in region of practical equivalence [ROPE] = 9.7), physical readiness (MAP = 20.1, 95% HDI = -4.6 to 42.1, PD% = 93, % in ROPE = 10.6), and testosterone (MAP = 14.9, 95% HDI = 0.5 to 27.7, PD% = 98, % in ROPE = 5.6) than the control POST30. Cognitive performance decreased POST120 in the priming condition for congruent (MAP = 0.02, 95% HDI = -0.06 to 0.00, PD% = 95, % in ROPE = 6.4) and incongruent tasks (MAP = 0.00, 95% HDI = -0.07 to 0.00, PD% = 98, % in ROPE = 3.2) when compared with the control. CONCLUSIONS: Perceptual and physiological markers improved POST30 in the priming condition. Findings indicate that perceptual and physiological responses to priming were not coupled with performance improvements. Priming was not accompanied by perceptual, physiological, or performance improvements at POST120.

The development of nutritional-supplement fact sheets for Irish athletes: a case study.

The use of sport supplements presents a dilemma for many of those involved in supporting athletes, including coaches, families, support staff, and the athletes themselves. Often the information that they source can be incorrect and promote a biased view regarding the use of nutritional supplements. The aim of this case study was to describe the process that occurred around the development of a series of targeted educational fact sheets on a range of nutritional supplements for Irish athletes. It describes the initiation and support of the process by the Irish Sports Council; one of its subgroups, the Food and Food Supplements Committee; and the Irish Institute of Sport. A needs assessment through questionnaires was carried out to establish the most commonly used sport nutrition supplements by athletes age 16 or over in Ireland. Respondents completed 105 questionnaires over a 4-mo period in 2008-09 that led to the production of 20 supplement fact sheets. These supplement fact sheets will enable Irish athletes to access high-quality, up-to-date, scientific information about the supplements they have reported consuming. Since personal reading had a strong influence over athletes' decision-making process for taking nutritional supplements, as did scientific research, fact sheets available on the Internet from a reliable source are an ideal way to educate Irish athletes.

The Development of Nutritional Supplement Fact Sheets for Irish Athletes: A Case Study.

The use of sports supplements presents a dilemma for many of those involved in supporting athletes, including coaches, families, support staff and the athletes themselves. Often the information that they source can be incorrect and promote a bias view regarding the use of nutritional supplements. The aim of this case study was to describe the process that occurred around the development of a series of targeted educational factsheets on a range of nutritional supplements for Irish athletes. It describes the initiation and support of the process by the Irish Sports Council, one of its subgroups, The Food and Food Supplements Committee, and the Irish Institute of Sport. A needs assessment through questionnaires was carried out to establish the most commonly used sports nutrition supplements by athletes, aged sixteen or over in Ireland. One hundred and five questionnaires were completed over a 4-month period in 2008-2009 that lead to the production of 20 supplement fact sheets. These supplement fact sheets will enable Irish athletes to access high quality, up to date, scientific information regarding the supplements they have reported consuming. Since personal reading had a strong influence over the athlete's decision-making process for taking nutritional supplements, as did scientific research, fact sheets available on the internet from a reliable source is an ideal way to educate Irish athletes.

How Do the Habitual Sleep Patterns of Elite Female Basketball and Soccer Athletes Compare With the General Population?

PURPOSE: To compare the habitual sleep of female basketball and soccer athletes to age- and sex-matched controls and to characterize the sleep of basketball and soccer athletes at different competition locations and on the days surrounding competition. METHODS: Using an observational case-control design, 41 female participants were recruited to participate, consisting of 11 basketball athletes (mean [SD]: age = 24.1 [4.9] y), 10 soccer athletes (24.8 [6.4] y), and 20 nonathletic controls (24.2 [2.8] y). Sleep was monitored using actigraphy for four 7-day periods throughout the preseason and subsequent competition season. Generalized linear models were used to analyze the effect of group and competition situation (eg, Home or Away) on sleep. RESULTS: During habitual conditions, basketball athletes had longer sleep durations (7.4 [1.5] h) than soccer athletes (7.0 [1.2] h, P < .001) and controls (7.3 [1.2] h, P = .002). During competition, basketball and soccer athletes had longer sleep durations following home (7.7 [1.7] and 7.2 ± 1.3 h) compared with away games (6.8 [1.8] and 7.0 [1.3] h). In addition, basketballers went to bed earlier (23:49 [01:25]) and woke earlier (07:22 [01:59]) following away games compared with soccer athletes (00:10 [01:45] and 08:13 [01:45]). CONCLUSIONS: Basketballers had longer habitual sleep durations compared with soccer athletes and nonathletic controls. During competition, basketballers had earlier bed and wake times compared with soccer athletes following away games, highlighting the need for individualized sleep strategies.