Exploratory Systematic Review of Mixed Martial Arts: An Overview of Performance of Importance Factors with over 20,000 Athletes.

This review aimed to analyze the findings in the literature related to Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) through an exploratory systematic review and to present the state of the art from a multifactorial perspective. The review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement, with a search performed in the Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science databases. Participants were competitive athletes (amateurs or professionals) of regional, national, or international levels. Of the 2763 registries identified, 112 studies met the eligibility criteria. The pooled sample size and age were 20,784 participants, with a mean age of 27.7 ± 6 years for male and 28.9 ± 3 years for female, with the vast majority of athletes being male (94.9%). MMA athletes were 17.2% amateurs, 73.8% professionals, and 9% were not reported. The scientific literature related to MMA reported injuries (n = 28), weight loss (n = 21), technical and tactical analysis (n = 23), physical fitness (n = 8), physiological responses and training characteristics (n = 13), psychobiological parameters (n = 12), and interventions applied to MMA athletes (n = 7). Therefore, this exploratory systematic review presents practitioners and researchers with seven broad summaries of each facet of performance of importance in this population of athletes.

Is There Any Non-functional Training? A Conceptual Review.

This conceptual review investigates whether functional training (FT) is a different approach from traditional strength, power, flexibility, and endurance (aerobic or cardiorespiratory) training already adopted in the physical training plan of professional, recreational athletes, healthy, and older adults. The 20 most recent papers published involving FT were searched in the PubMed/Medline database. Definition, concepts, benefits, and the exercises employed in FT programs were analyzed. The main results were: (a) there is no agreement about a universal definition for FT; (b) FT programs aim at developing the same benefits already induced by traditional training programs; (c) exercises employed are also the same. The inability to define FT makes the differentiation from traditional training programs difficult. Physical training programs can be easily described and classified as strength, power, flexibility, endurance, and the specific exercises employed (e.g., traditional resistance training, ballistic exercises, plyometrics and Olympic-style weightlifting, continuous and high-intensity interval training). This apt description and classification may provide consistent and clear communication between students, coaches, athletes, and sports scientists. Based on the current evidence and to avoid confusion and misconceptions, we recommend that the terms FT, high-intensity FT, and functional fitness training no longer describe any physical training program.

Comparison of High-Volume and High-Intensity Upper Body Resistance Training on Acute Neuromuscular Performance and Ratings of Perceived Exertion.

The assessment of neuromuscular fatigue is important for minimizing the risks of nonfunctional overreaching, and monitoring training loads has rapidly grown in recent years. The objective of the study was to compare the acute upper body performance and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) responses to high-volume (HV) and high-intensity (HI) resistance-training loads. Sixteen young resistance-trained men (4 repetition maximum [RM] bench press = 105.8 ± 15.9 kg) were divided into two groups of eight subjects each that performed a HI (3 sets of 4RM with 180 s of rest), and a HV (4 sets of 12RM with 90 s of rest) training sessions. Session RPE was obtained 30 min Post. The medicine-ball throw (MBT) performance was measured at pre, and 10 min post. Training volume load (movements × load), and intensity (volume load ÷ movements) were calculated. Volume load was significantly higher for HV (10890 ± 1241 kg) than HI (2718 ± 413 kg) protocol (p < 0.001). Intensity was significantly higher for HI (100.7 ± 15.3 kg) than HV (75.6 ± 8.6 kg) protocol (p = 0.002). MBT performance was significantly reduced from pre- to post- HV (p < 0.001; Δ = -11%), but not in HI (p = 0.15; Δ = -5%). RPE was significantly higher Post-HI (9.9 ± 0.4) than Post HV (8.9 ± 0.8) (p = 0.01). We conclude that higher volume loads induce greater upper body neuromuscular fatigue in young resistance-trained men. Session RPE may reflect training intensity, but not the performance impairments.

The Demands of Amputee Soccer Impair Muscular Endurance and Power Indices But Not Match Physical Performance.

We investigated the match demands (distances covered and acute physiological responses) of amputee soccer and its impact on muscular endurance and power. Measures such as heart rate, blood lactate concentration, subjective rating of perceived exertion, and time-motion characteristics were recorded in 16 Brazilian amputee soccer players during matches. Before and after matches, players completed a battery of tests: push-ups, countermovement vertical jump performance, and medicine ball throwing. Small differences were found between the first and second half for the distance covered in total and across various speed categories. Heart rate responses, blood lactate concentrations, and peak speed did not differ between halves, and all neuromuscular performance measures decreased after the match particularly after push-ups, although the rating of perceived exertion increased markedly compared with prematches. Although match physical performances were consistent across halves, the overall demands impaired test performance, especially for upper limb and closed kinetic chain exercise.

The acute hypotensive effect of resistance training performed with machines vs free weights in normotensive men

Abstract AIMS To analyze if different resistance training (machine vs free weight) would have different acute hypotensive effect in active and normotensive individuals. METHODS Fifteen male volunteers (39.2±2.5 years) performed two different resistance exercise protocols, one on machinery and one with free weights for the similar muscle groups and volume (sets x repetitions). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured at rest and during 60 minutes after the sessions. RESULTS There was no interaction between (treatments vs time) for SBP (F 70, 84 = 0.9445, p = 0.595) and DBP (F 70, 84 = 0.5743, p = 0.991). However, significant differences for time for SBP (F 14, 84 = 7.058, p = 0.001) and DBP (F 14, 84 = 3.296, p = 0.001), and treatment for SBP (F 5, 6 = 291.1, p = 0.001) and DBP (F 5, 6 = 13.29, p = 0.003) were varified. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that both resistance training (machine or free weight) induce a similar hypotensive response for SBP in normotensive men.

Load Monitoring Variables in Training and Competition Situations: A Systematic Review Applied to Wheelchair Sports.

The aim of this review was to identify the main variables for load monitoring in training and competition situations in wheelchair sports. Studies were identified from a systematic search of three databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and SportDiscuss), with search phrases constructed from MeSH terms, alone or in combination, limited to English-language literature, and published up to January 2016. Our main findings were that variables related to external load (distance, speed, and duration) are used to monitor load in competition. In training situations, researchers have used variables related to internal load (heart rate and VO2); in both training and competition situations, researchers used internal load measurements (training impulse and ratings of perceived exertion). We conclude that the main variables for load monitoring in competitive situations were distance, speed, and duration, whereas the variables for training situations were heart rate, VO2, training impulse, and ratings of perceived exertion.

Perfil antropométrico e características físicas da equipe brasileira de futebol para amputados / Perfil antropométrico y características físicas del equipo brasileño de fútbol para amputados / Anthropometric profile and physical performance characteristic of the Brazilian amputee football (soccer) team

Amputee football is a variation of conventional soccer in which athletes with lower limb amputation and one athelete with upper limb amputation (the goalkeeper) participate. The objective of this study was to investigate the anthropometric and physical characteristics of amputee football athletes and to verify differences between heart rate peak (HRpeak) and equations for predicting maximum heart rate (HRmax). Twelve amputee soccer players from the Brazilian team participated in this study. The body mass, height and body composition were measured. The physical tests used were: the 20 m running test, the T-square test and the Yo Yo intermitent recovery test - level 1 (YYIRT1). The percentage of fat was significantly different between midfielders and defenders. No significant differences were found between positions in the physical tests. The HRpeak was significantly lower than all of HRmax prediction equations tested. We conclude that the indicators of physical performance did not differ significantly between the different tactics roles of players, and that, after intermittent maximum effort, the cardiac response was lower when compared with the investigated HRmax prediction equations.

O futebol de amputados é uma variação do futebol convencional, onde participam atletas amputados de membros inferiores e membros superiores (goleiro). O objetivo do estudo foi investigar as características físicas e antropométricas de atletas de futebol para amputados e verificar se existem diferenças entre a frequência cardíaca de pico (FCpico) e equações de predição da frequência cardíaca máxima (FCmax). Doze jogadores de futebol para amputados da seleção brasileira participaram do estudo. Foi mensurada a massa corporal, estatura e composição corporal. Os testes físicos utilizados foram: corrida de 20 m, teste do quadrado e o Yo Yo intermitent recovery test - level 1 (YYIRT1). O percentual de gordura foi significativamente diferente entre os meio-campistas e defensores. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as posições nos testes físicos. A FCpico foi significativamente menor do que todas as equações de predição da FCmax testadas. Conclui-se que os indicadores de desempenho físico não diferenciaram significativamente entre as diferentes funções táticas dos jogadores, e que a resposta cardíaca após esforço máximo intermitente é menor quando comparada com as equações de predição da FCmax investigadas.

El fútbol de amputados es una variante del fútbol convencional, en el cual participan atletas amputados de miembros inferiores y miembros superiores (portero). El objetivo del estudio fue investigar las características físicas y antropométricas de atletas de fútbol para amputados y verificar si hay diferencias entre frecuencia cardíaca pico (FCpico) y ecuaciones de predicción de frecuencia cardíaca máxima (FCmax). Doce jugadores de fútbol para amputados del equipo oficial brasileño participaron del estudio. Fue mensurada la masa corporal, estatura y composición corporal. Los testes físicos utilizados fueron: carrera de 20 m, test del cuadrado y Yo Yo intermitent recovery test - level 1 (YYIRT1). El porcentual de grasa fue significativamente diferente entre los mediocampistas y defensores. No fueron identificadas diferencias significativas entre las posiciones en los testes físicos. FCpico fue significativamente menor que todas las ecuaciones de predicción de FCmax evaluadas. Concluí-se que los indicadores de desempeño físico no diferenciaron significativamente entre las diferentes funciones tácticas de los jugadores y que la respuesta cardíaca tras el esfuerzo máximo intermitente es menor si comparadas con las ecuaciones de predicción de FCmax investigados.