Level of Effort: A Reliable and Practical Alternative to the Velocity-Based Approach for Monitoring Resistance Training.

ABSTRACT: Hernández-Belmonte, A, Courel-Ibáñez, J, Conesa-Ros, E, Martínez-Cava, A, and Pallarés, JG. Level of effort: A reliable and practical alternative to the velocity-based approach for monitoring resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 36(11): 2992-2999, 2022-This study analyzed the potential of the level of effort methodology as an accurate indicator of the programmed relative load (percentage of one-repetition maximum [%1RM]) and intraset volume of the set during resistance training in the bench press, full squat, shoulder press, and prone bench pull exercises, through 3 specific objectives: (a) to examine the intersubject and intrasubject variability in the number of repetitions to failure ( n RM) against the actual %1RM lifted (adjusted by the individual velocity), (b) to investigate the relationship between the number of repetitions completed and velocity loss reached, and (c) to study the influence of the subject's strength level on the aforementioned parameters. After determining their individual load-velocity relationships, 30 subjects with low ( n = 10), medium ( n = 10), and high ( n = 10) relative strength levels completed 2 rounds of n RM tests against their 65, 75, 85, and 95% 1RM in the 4 exercises. The velocity of all repetitions was monitored using a linear transducer. Intersubject and intrasubject variability analyses included the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and the the standard error of measurement ( SEM ), respectively. Coefficient of determination (R 2 ) was used as the indicator of relationship. n RM showed a limited intersubject (CI ≤ 4 repetitions) and a very low intrasubject ( SEM ≤1.9 repetitions) variability for all the strength levels, %1RM, and exercises analyzed. A very close relationship ( R2 ≥ 0.97) between the number of repetitions completed and the percentage of velocity loss reached (from 10 to 60%) was found. These findings strengthen the level of effort as a reliable, precise, and practical strategy for programming resistance training.

Isometric knee extension test: A practical, repeatable, and suitable tool for lower-limb screening among institutionalized older adults.

We aimed to analyze the isometric knee extension test (IKE) test in terms of i) intra- and inter-session repeatability, and ii) relationship with functional and body composition factors of sarcopenia among institutionalized older adults. Thirteen institutionalized older adults (age = 87 ± 10 years, body mass [BM] = 73.1 ± 10.9 kg, body mass index [BMI] = 28.5 ± 3.8 kg·m2) were recruited from a nursing home. Variability of maximal isometric force registered in three IKE trials performed on the same day was used to examine intra-session repeatability, whereas inter-session repeatability was analyzed by comparing maximal isometric force from two different days. Furthermore, functional (Handgrip, 6-m Gait Speed, Time Up and Go [TUG], and Sit-to-stand tests) and body composition (appendicular lean mass adjusted by BMI, ALM/BMI) evaluations were conducted. Statistics included the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the standard error of measurement (SEM), expressed in both absolute (N·kg-1) and relative terms (coefficient of variation, CV = 100 × SEM / mean). High to very high intra-session repeatability was found for both the dominant and non-dominant legs (CV ≤ 6.0%, ICC ≥ 0.989). Similarly, both legs showed high inter-session repeatability (SEM ≤ 0.26 N·kg-1, ICC ≥ 0.959). On the other hand, significant relationships were found between Dominant and Non-dominant IKE tests and 6-m Gait Speed (r = 0.77; r = 0.58), ALM/BMI (r = 0.62; r = 0.58), and Non-dominant Handgrip/BM (r = 0.60; r = 0.68). In addition, a significant association was found between Dominant IKE/BM and TUG (r = -0.74), as well as between Non-dominant IKE/BM and Dominant Handgrip/BM (r = 0.67). These findings suggest that the IKE test is a repeatable and suitable strategy for lower-limb screening in institutionalized older adults.

Increased Cardiopulmonary Fitness Is Associated with a Greater Reduction in Depression among People Who Underwent Bariatric Surgery.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of changes in cardiopulmonary fitness on the mental health of patients with severe obesity who underwent gastric bypass surgery (prior to and 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery). Study participants were recruited from among patients of a regional hospital in Czechia who underwent gastric bypass surgery between April 2018 and October 2019. They were eligible if they (a) were between 18 and 65 years old, (b) provided written informed consent, and (c) were able to walk independently. Twenty-six patients (age 45.4 ± 9.0 years, body mass index 45.1 ± 7.4 kg·m-2, body fat 43.8 ± 4.8%) were included in the analysis. The key finding revealed that the greater the increase in cardiopulmonary fitness (i.e., longer distance walked in the six-minute walk test, 6MWT), the better the improvement in depression score among patients who underwent bariatric surgery. In particular, increments of 10 m in the 6MWT lead to the improvement of 0.5 points on the depression subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. As the main implication, these results suggest that patients should participate in exercise training programs to increase their fitness status for optimal physical and mental outcomes of bariatric surgery.

Effect of Pause Versus Rebound Techniques on Neuromuscular and Functional Performance After a Prolonged Velocity-Based Training.

PURPOSE: A variation of the traditional squat (SQ) rebound technique (REBOUND) including a momentary pause ∼2 seconds (PAUSE) between eccentric and concentric phases has been proposed. Although there is a consensus about the lower acute effects on performance of this PAUSE variant compared with traditional REBOUND technique, no information exists about the differences in longitudinal adaptations of these SQ executions. METHODS: A total of 26 men were randomly assigned into the PAUSE (n = 13) or REBOUND (n = 13) groups and completed a 10-week velocity-based training using the SQ exercise, only differing in the technique. Neuromuscular adaptations were assessed by the changes in the 1-repetition maximum strength and mean propulsive velocity achieved against the absolute loads (in kilograms) common to pretest and posttest. Functional performance was evaluated by the following tests: countermovement jump, Wingate, and sprint time at 0 to 10, 10 to 20, and 0 to 20 m. RESULTS: Whereas both groups showed significant increases in most of the neuromuscular tests (P < .05), the PAUSE (effect size [ES] = 0.76-1.12) presented greater enhancements than REBOUND (ES = 0.45-0.92). Although not significant, improvements in Wingate and sprint time at 0 to 10 and 0 to 20 m were higher for PAUSE (ES = 0.31-0.46) compared with REBOUND (ES = 0.10-0.29). Conversely, changes on countermovement jump and sprint time at 10 to 20 m were superior for REBOUND (ES = 0.17-0.88) than for PAUSE (ES = 0.09-0.75). CONCLUSION: Imposing a pause between eccentric and concentric phases in the SQ exercise could be an interesting strategy to increase neuromuscular and functional adaptations in sport actions that mainly depend on concentric contractions. Moreover, sport abilities highly dependent on the stretch-shortening cycle could benefit from the REBOUND or a combination of the 2 techniques.

Are we ready to measure running power? Repeatability and concurrent validity of five commercial technologies.

Training prescription in running activities have benefited from power output (PW) data obtained by new technologies. Nevertheless, to date, the suitability of PW data provided by these tools is still uncertain. The present study aimed to: (i) analyze the repeatability of five commercially available technologies for running PW estimation, and (ii) examine the concurrent validity through the relationship between each technology PW and oxygen uptake (VO2). On two occasions (test-retest), twelve endurance-trained male athletes performed on a treadmill (indoor) and an athletic track (outdoor) three submaximal running protocols with manipulations in speed, body weight and slope. PW was simultaneously registered by the commercial technologies StrydApp, StrydWatch, RunScribe, GarminRP and PolarV, while VO2 was monitored by a metabolic cart. Test-retest data from the environments (indoor and outdoor) and conditions (speed, body weight and slope) were used for repeatability analysis, which included the standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A linear regression analysis and the standard error of estimate (SEE) were used to examine the relationship between PW and VO2. Stryd device was found as the most repeatable technology for all environments and conditions (SEM ≤ 12.5 W, CV ≤ 4.3%, ICC ≥ 0.980), besides the best concurrent validity to the VO2 (r ≥ 0.911, SEE ≤ 7.3%). On the contrary, although the PolarV, GarminRP and RunScribe technologies maintain a certain relationship with VO2, their low repeatability questions their suitability. The Stryd can be considered as the most recommended tool, among the analyzed, for PW measurement.

Running power meters and theoretical models based on laws of physics: Effects of environments and running conditions.

Training prescription and load monitoring in running activities have benefited from power output (PW) data offered by new technologies. Nevertheless, to date, the sensitivity of PW data provided by these tools is still not completely clear. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of agreement between the PW estimated by five commercial technologies and the two main internationally theoretical models based on laws of physics, in different environments and running conditions. Ten endurance-trained male athletes performed three submaximal running protocols on a treadmill (indoor) and an athletic track (outdoor), with changes in speed, body weight, and slope. PW was simultaneously registered by the commercial technologies Stryd (StrydApp and StrydWatch), RunScribe, GarminRP and PolarV, whereas theoretical power output (TPW) was calculated by the two mathematical models (TPW1 and TPW2). Statistics included, among others, the Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and standard error of measurement (SEM). The PolarV, and above all Stryd, showed the closest agreement with the TPW1 (Stryd: r ≥ 0.947, SEM ≤ 11 W; PolarV: r ≥ 0.931, SEM ≤ 64 W) and TPW2 (Stryd: r ≥ 0.933, SEM ≤ 60 W; PolarV: r ≥ 0.932, SEM ≤ 24 W), both indoors and outdoors. On the other hand, the devices GarminRP (r ≤ 0.765, SEM ≥ 59 W) and RunScribe. (r ≤ 0.508, SEM ≥ 125 W) showed the lowest agreement with the TPW1 and TPW2 models for all conditions and environments analyzed. The closest agreement of the Stryd and PolarV technologies with the TPW1 and TPW2 models suggest these tools as the most sensitive, among those analyzed, for PW measurement when changing environments and running conditions.

Range of Motion and Sticking Region Effects on the Bench Press Load-Velocity Relationship.

This study aimed to analyze the influence of range of motion (ROM) on main biomechanical parameters of the bench press (BP) exercise: i) load-velocity relationship by mean (MV) and mean propulsive velocity (MPV), ii) one-repetition maximum strength (1RM); iii) contribution of the propulsive and braking phases, and iv) presence of the sticking region key parameters (first peak barbell velocity: Vmax1, minimum velocity: Vmin and second peak barbell velocity: Vmax2). Forty-two strength-trained males performed a progressive loading test, starting at 20 kg and gradually increasing the load in 10 kg until MPV ≤ 0.50 m·s-1 and 5 down to 2.5 kg until 1RM, in three different ROMs: full ROM (BPFULL), two-thirds (BP2/3) and one-third (BP1/3). While significant differences were detected in the velocity attained against loads between 30-95% 1RM (BPFULL, BP2/3 and BP1/3, p < 0.05), both MV and MPV showed a very close relationship to %1RM for the three BP variations (R2 = 0.935-0.966). The contribution of the braking phase decreased progressively until it completely disappeared at the 80%, 95% and 100% 1RM loads in BP1/3, BP2/3 and BPFULL, respectively. The 1RM increased as the ROM decreased (BPFULL < BP2/3 < BP1/3, p < 0.05). Despite the three biomechanical parameters that define the sticking region on the velocity-time curves were only observed in BPFULL variation, in 54.5% of the cases the subjects started their BP2/3 displacement before reaching the position at which the Vmin occurs in their BPFULL exercise. The complete or partial presence of the sticking region during the concentric action of the lift seems to underlie the differences in the 1RM strength, load-velocity profiles and the contribution of the propulsive phase in the BP exercise at different ROMs.

Validity of Skin, Oral and Tympanic Temperatures During Exercise in the Heat: Effects of Wind and Sweat.

This experiment investigates the validity of six thermometers with different measuring sensors, operation and site of application, to estimate core temperature (Tc) in comparison to an ingestible thermometric sensor based on quartz crystal technology. Measurements were obtained before, during and after exercise in the heat, controlling the presence of air-cooling and skin sweating. Twelve well-trained men swallowed the ingestible thermometer 6 h before the trial. After pre-exercise resting measurements at 20 °C, subjects entered a heat chamber held at 40 °C. Exercise in the heat consisted of 60 min of pedalling on cycle ergometer at 90% of the individually determined first ventilatory threshold. Results reveal that wind and skin sweat invalidate the use of skin infrared thermometry to estimate Tc during exercise in the heat. However, better Tc estimations were obtained in wind-restricted situations. We detected important differences between same-technology devices but different models and brands. In conclusion, there are important limitations to assess Tc accurately using non-invasive thermometers during and after exercise in the heat. Because some devices showed better validity than others did, we recommended using tympanic Braun®, and non-contact skin infrared Medisana® or Visiofocus® in wind-restricted and no sweat conditions to estimate Tc during exercise in the heat.

Estudio descriptivo de tablas-control de usuarios de mejora de los aspectos cualitativos de la calidad del servicio deportivo / Descriptive study of user control tables for the improvemente of qualitative aspects quality of service sports

El objeto del estudio consiste en realizar un control descriptivo y gráfico soEl objeto del estudio consiste en realizar un control descriptivo y gráfico sotivo Mediterráneo Cartagena con el fin de controlar, buscar y orientar hacia donde se mueven los intereses de los usuarios en relación a preferencias de bandas horarias y actividades más demandadas, buscando los aspectos e indicadores que nos lleven a una mejora de los niveles en la calidad del servicio.Los resultados, además de ayudarnos a rediseñar la oferta de servicios nos servirá para ofrecer recomendaciones para el diseño de tablas de control de usuario para su posterior uso como herramienta de control y evaluación (AU)

The purpose of the study is to perform descriptive and graphic control on the activities on offer targeted and developed in the Centro Deportivo Mediterráneo Cartagena to manage, search and moving guide to where the interests of users in relation to preferences time bands and most popular activities, looking for issues and indicators that will lead to improved levels of service quality.The results, as well as help to redesign the service offering will help us to provide recommendations for the design of user control tables for later use as a tool for monitoring and evaluation (AU)