Recovery markers in elite climbers after the national boulder climbing championship.

This study aimed to investigate recovery markers among elite climbers following the National Boulder Championship. We assessed maximum isometric hand grip strength (HS), forearm swelling (circumference), delayed soreness in forearm muscles, tiredness, and exercise readiness at several time points: pre-competition, immediately post-competition (within 4 min after their last effort), and 12, 24, 48, and 60 h post-competition. Maximum isometric hand grip strength decreased by 6.38 ± 1.32% (p = 0.006) post-12 h, returning to pre-competition values post-24 h (all p > 0.05). Forearm circumference (FC) increased 1.78 ± 1.77% (p < 0.001) post-competition, returning to pre-competition values post-12 h (all p > 0.05). Forearm pain (FP) increased post-competition (p = 0.002) and post-12 h (p < 0.001), returning to pre-competition values post-24 h (all p > 0.05). Tiredness increased post-competition (p < 0.001), post-12 h (p < 0.001), and post-24 h (p < 0.001), returning to pre-competition values post-48 h (all p > 0.05). Climbing readiness was reduced post-competition (p < 0.001), post-12 h (p < 0.001), post-24 h (p < 0.001), and post-48 h (p = 0.005), only returning to pre-competition values post-60 h (p = 0.189). Visual analysis of individual data pointed out a relatively small variability in the HS and FC markers, while FP, tiredness, and readiness exhibited larger individual variations. These findings indicate that different recovery patterns exist for the analyzed markers, suggesting that athletes may require up to 60 h after a competition to fully recover and regain their ability to face new competitive challenges.

A pilot study on the effects of far-infrared-emitting fabric on neuromuscular performance of knee extensor and male fertility.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of the effects of far-infrared emitting fabric (FIR) on neuromuscular performance of knee extensor over 120 h and to investigate whether the use of FIR affects semen. This is a crossover, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial split into neuromuscular and fertility assessments. Four (28.8 ± 4.7 years old) and six (29 ± 3.9 years old) healthy, resistance-trained males completed all neuromuscular and fertility assessments, respectively. In neuromuscular assessments, for five consecutive days, the participants underwent neuromuscular tests in an isokinetic dynamometer (maximal isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) and fatigue test) every 24 h in both conditions (FIR and Placebo). In fertility assessments, participants performed three semen collections: Baseline, FIR, and Placebo. FIR and Placebo collections were performed after five consecutive days of use of the pants. Conventional parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were evaluated. In the FIR condition, the participants showed significant differences in total work at 96 h (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 3.73), 120 h (p = 0.01; Cohen's d = 2.65), and pre-MVC at 120 h (p = 0.02; Cohen's d = 2.15) when compared to Placebo. FIR did not significantly (p > 0.05) affect the conventional semen parameters or sperm DNA fragmentation compared to Baseline or Placebo. FIR improved the knee extensor neuromuscular performance of healthy resistance-trained individuals, with 112.4 ± 7.8 h accumulated, and did not affect their seminal parameters (conventional or sperm DNA fragmentation), with 113.1 ± 10.2 h accumulated.