Effect of Mindfulness Training on Fatigue and Recovery in Elite Volleyball Athletes: A Randomized Controlled Follow-Up Study.

Volleyball is a team sport with high physical and perceptual-cognitive demand, hence, increasing the perception of physical and mental fatigue during a competition. To alleviate fatigue (physical and mental), mindfulness and music have been proposed. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of mindfulness-based mental versus music training on mental fatigue, physical fatigue, and recovery in elite competitive female volleyball athletes using a randomized two-controlled study with follow-up. Participants were 30 elite female Brazilian volleyball athletes. Athletes were randomly assigned to the following groups: 1) mindfulness-based mental training group (MBMT); 2) music-based training group (MBT); or 3) control group (CG). Three variables were evaluated as follows: 1) recovery based on total quality recovery; 2) mental fatigue visual analog scale; and 3) physical fatigue visual analog scale. Regarding recovery, there was no difference between the MBMT, MBT, and CG groups (p > 0.05). A difference in mental fatigue was noted between MBT and CG at follow-up [F(2,26) = 5.71, p = 0.009; large]. Regarding physical fatigue, there was no difference between the MBMT, MBT, and CG groups (p > 0.05). The mindfulness intervention effectively attenuated the mental fatigue caused by competition in volleyball athletes. These results will assist coaches and staff in providing fatigue management and reinforce the applicability of mental training in sports.

Comparisons of Mood States Associated With Outcomes Achieved by Female and Male Athletes in High-Level Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships: Psychological Factors Associated With the Probability of Success.

ABSTRACT: Brandt, R, Bevilacqua, GG, Crocetta, TB, Monteiro, CBdM, Guarnieri, R, Hobold, E, Flores, LJF, Miarka, B, and Andrade, A. Comparisons of mood states associated with outcomes achieved by female and male athletes in high-level judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu championships: psychological factors associated with the probability of success. J Strength Cond Res 35(9): 2518-2524, 2019-Moods can be used to predict the performance of athletes in various sports; accordingly, we selected the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS) to evaluate mood states of high-level judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) athletes. The aims of this study were (a) to compare the mood states of high-level female and male athletes in BJJ and judo championships in relation to their performance outcomes and (b) to verify associations between psychological factors and performance in estimating their probability of success. The subjects were 173 grappling athletes (judo, n = 85 and BJJ, n = 88), separated into male (n = 129, 40 winners and 89 nonwinners) and female (n = 44, 23 winners and 21 nonwinners) groups. Each subject's mood state was assessed 60 minutes before the first match using the BRUMS (tension, depression, anger, vigor, fatigue, and mental confusion dimensions). Descriptive and inferential statistics (including logistic regression and variance analysis) were used to evaluate relations between mood states and performance (i.e., winning/losing), with p ≤ 0.05. Analysis showed significant differences between male and female athletes in vigor and fatigue, and differences between male judo and male BJJ athletes in tension, vigor, confusion, and fatigue. Female judo and female BJJ athletes showed significant differences in depression and vigor. Logistic regression revealed that higher levels of anger and tension increased athletes' chances of performing well in a match by 23 and 13%, respectively. In addition, lower levels of depression increased athletes' chances of better performance by up to 32%. Overall, we observed a significant relationship between mood state and sports performance. Thus, coaching staff and athletes should monitor athletes' mood states before competitions to ensure that they are in optimal condition to perform and use psychological interventions to support judo and BJJ preparation.

Body Weight and Mood State Modifications in Mixed Martial Arts: An Exploratory Pilot.

Brandt, R, Bevilacqua, GG, Coimbra, DR, Pombo, LC, Miarka, B, and Lane, AM. Body weight and mood state modifications in mixed martial arts: An exploratory pilot. J Strength Cond Res 32(9): 2548-2554, 2018-Mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters typically use rapid weight loss (RWL) as a strategy to make competition weight. The aim of the present study was to compare body weight and mood changes in professional male MMA athletes who used strategies to rapidly lose weight (n = 9) and with MMA athletes who did not (n = 3). Body mass and mood states of anger, confusion, depression, fatigue, tension, and vigor and total mood disturbance were assessed (a) 30 days before competition, (b) at the official weigh-in 1 day before competition, (c) 10 minutes before competition, and (d) 10 minutes postcompetition. Results indicated that RWL associated with reporting higher confusion and greater total mood disturbance at each assessment point. Rapid weight loss also associated with high anger at the official weigh-in. However, in performance, RWL did not have deleterious effects on performance. The RWL group also reported greater total mood disturbance at all assessment points with a moderate difference effect size. Research supports the notion that RWL associates with potentially dysfunctional mood states.