Increasing cadence with a metronome and running barefoot changes the sagittal kinematics of the lower limbs and trunk.

The purpose was to compare two non-laboratory based running retraining programs on lower limb and trunk kinematics in recreational runners. Seventy recreational runners (30 ± 7.3 years old, 40% female) were randomised to a barefoot running group (BAR), a group wearing a digital metronome with their basal cadence increased by 10% (CAD), and a control group (CON). BAR and CAD groups included intervals from 15 to 40 min over 10 weeks and 3 days/week. 3D sagittal kinematics of the ankle, knee, hip, pelvis, and trunk were measured before and after the retraining program, at comfortable and high speeds. A 3 × 2 mixed ANOVA revealed that BAR and CAD groups increased knee and hip flexion at footstrike, increased peak hip flexion during stance and flight phase, decreased peak hip extension during flight phase, and increased anterior pelvic tilt at both speeds after retraining. In addition, BAR increased ankle plantar flexion at footstrike and increased anterior trunk tilt. Both retraining programs demonstrated significant moderate to large effect size changes in parameters that could reduce the mechanical risks of injury associated with excessive knee stress, which is of interest to coaches, runners and those prescribing rehabilitation and injury prevention programs.

Reference Values in the 6-Minute Walk Test in Chilean Children Aged 3-10 Years and Relationship With Cardiometabolic Risk.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of healthy Chilean children aged 3-10 years in the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and cardiometabolic risk variables and to determine sex- and age-specific reference values. METHODS: This study involved 1165 healthy children (age = 6.36 [1.70] y old). The 6MWT was used to evaluate exercise performance. Furthermore, anthropometric measures were collected, like weight, height, body mass index, waist circumference, and skin folds. Resting heart rate and blood pressure (BP) were also evaluated. RESULTS: The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35.0% and 25.4% in preschoolers and 29.0% and 36.2% in school-age children, respectively, showing significant differences (P < .05) between age groups. The distance walked (6-min walk distance) increased significantly year on year at ages from 3 to 10 years. According to the regression analysis, 6MWT performance was positively related to age, systolic BP, and height, whereas it was negatively related to ∑4 skinfold fat, resting heart rate, diastolic BP, and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a reference equation and an age- and sex-adjusted percentile curve to assess the predicted 6MWT performance in a cohort of prepubertal Chilean children. The 6-minute walk distance depends mainly on age; however, other variables, such as resting heart rate, BP, skinfold fat, and waist circumference, add significant information and should be taken into account.

Can 16 Minutes of HIIT Improve Attentional Resources in Young Students?

Attentional resources are a cornerstone of both cognitive and academic performance. The purpose of this study was to analyse the effect of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) sessions on selective attention and visuoperceptual ability in young students. A total of 134 students (12.83 ± 1.23 years) joined this study. They were randomly assigned to a control group (CG) (n = 67), which watched a documentary, or an experimental group (EG) (n = 67), which performed 16 min of HIIT. Attention and visuoperceptual ability were assessed through the Perception of Similarities and Differences test (Caras-R test). A repeated-measures two-way ANOVA analysis was conducted. The CG showed an increased number of errors compared to the EG (p < 0.001) and showed a lower Impulsivity Control Index (p < 0.001) after the investigation. The EG, meanwhile, showed an increased number of hits (p < 0.001), Impulsivity Control Index (p < 0.001), and attentional efficacy (p < 0.001). In addition, the EG showed a decreased number of errors (p < 0.001) and omissions (p < 0.01). In conclusion, 16 min of HIIT was time-effective in improving selective attention and visuoperceptual ability in young students. These results show the importance of physical exercise and the promotion of physical activity breaks during the academic day to improve learning processes.

Influence of physical fitness and weight status on autonomic cardiac modulation in children.

BACKGROUND: This study provides reference values for cardiovascular modulation at rest, during maximal exercise test and recovery after exercise in Caucasian children according to weight status and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level. Additionally, the current study analyzed several correlations between autonomic cardiovascular modulation, cardiorespiratory performance and cardiometabolic risk. The principal goal of this study was to analyze cardiac function at rest, during maximum exercise, and during the recovery phase in children grouped according to weight status and CRF level. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two healthy children (78 girls) 10-16 years of age were divided into three groups: soccer and basketball players (SBG), endurance group (EG), and sedentary people with overweight and obesity (OOG). A cardiac RR interval monitor recorded the cardiac data and specific software analyzed the cardiac autonomic response through heart rate (HR) and HR variability. The study analyzed resting HR (RHR), HRpeak, and HR recovery (HRR). RESULTS: OOG showed significant poorer performance in the Léger test lower V̇O2 max and higher values of blood pressure at rest and post-exercise than sport groups. The EG presented the best results in CRF and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) in relation to SBG and OOG. The OOG showed higher percentage of HR values, compatible with an unhealthy cardiovascular autonomic modulation than the sport groups, with significant differences in bradycardia, HR reserve, and HRR 5 min. CONCLUSIONS: Aerobic performance, vagal activity, blood pressure, chronotropic competence, and HRR have significant associations with CMR parameters. IMPACT: The current study presents reference values of autonomic cardiac function in Caucasian children according to weight status and cardiorespiratory fitness level. Aerobic performance, vagal activity, blood pressure, chronotropic competence, and heart rate during the recovery period after exercise have significant associations with cardiometabolic risk parameters. Children with overweight and obesity show signs of autonomic dysfunction reflected as low cardiac vagal activity and poor chronotropic competence.

Effects of a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Program on Anthropomorphic and Cardiometabolic Variables in School Children with Overweight and Obesity.

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a high intensity interval training (HIIT) program on anthropomorphic and cardiometabolic variables in schoolchildren with overweight and obesity. A total of 443 schoolchildren (age: 6.37 ± 0.65 years) took part in this study. The experimental group (EG; n = 295; age = 6.40 ± 0.64 years) was compound with children with overweight and obesity, whereas children with normoweight were included in the control group (CG; n = 148; 6.31 ± 0.67 years). The EG performed a training program based on HIIT two times per week for 28 weeks (56 sessions), whilst the CG performed their habitual physical education classes based on the national curriculum. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, body fat, ∑ 4 skinfold fat, waist to height ratio, waist circumference, and cardiometabolic risk were measured. The dependent variables were analysed by two-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA 2 × 2). To analyse the percentage differences between groups, the chi-square test was used. P-value was set at p < 0.05. Significant differences were found in the EG in BMI, waist circumference, body fat, ∑ 4 skinfold fat, and waist to height ratio. In conclusion, an HIIT training program can be an effective tool for improving anthropomorphic variables and reducing cardiometabolic risk in schoolchildren with overweight and obesity.

Protective role of physical activity patterns prior to COVID-19 confinement with the severity/duration of respiratory pathologies consistent with COVID-19 symptoms in Spanish populations.

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the association of physical activity (PA) patterns prior to COVID-19 confinement with severe respiratory distress consistent with COVID-19 symptoms. Participants were recruited by sending a survey through various social network channels via the snowball method. A voluntary sample of 420 individuals consisting of 199 men and 221 women from the Spanish national territory participated in this study. Some factors, such as being overweight and obese were related to the presence of a greater number of symptoms associated with COVID-19. Interestingly, it was observed that not performing moderate or vigorous PA increased the risk of COVID-19 symptoms. Consequently, when the effect of the practise of PA was evaluated in terms of the number of practises per week and in minutes per practise per week, a protective effect was observed, where moderate PA >150 min per week reported an inverse association with hospitalization for respiratory symptoms (RR: 95%CI: 0.24, 0.05-1.04, P = 0.05). Likewise, overweight (RR: 16.3, 95%CI: 1.93-137.9, P = 0.01), obesity (RR: 19.1, 95%CI: 1.63-222.5, P = 0.019) and non-performance of moderate PA (RR: 4.12, 95%CI; 0.95-17.76, P = 0.05) reported positive associations with hospitalization for respiratory symptoms. Thus, the practise of moderate PA (>150 min per week) is a protective factor against hospitalization for respiratory symptoms consistent with COVID-19 symptoms.

Utilizing Age-Predicted Heart Rate Maximum to Prescribe a Minimally Invasive Cycle Ergometer HIIT Protocol in Older Adults: A Feasibility Study.

Previous research has provided evidence that aerobic HIIT exercise can induce important physiological adaptations and elicit improvements in health and fitness parameters. However, most of the research has taken place in a laboratory setting with specialized equipment and monitoring devices. It begs the question, is HIIT accessible to the general aging population? The objective of the current research was to employ an age-predicted HRmax to prescribe a minimally invasive 4x4 cycle ergometer HIIT protocol. Ten participants (age: 64.2 ± 6.1) completed a non-weight-bearing cycle ergometer protocol for 6 weeks. Significant Pearson correlations were found between %HRmax and W/kg in seven of the ten participants. Two participants showed significant correlations between RPE and W/kg. Half of the participants exhibited a significant correlation between %HRmax and RPE. Pre- to post-intervention measures demonstrated a significant increase in lower limb strength by the 10-repetition chair sit-to-stand (p = 0.004) and 30-second sit-to-stand (p = 0.021). Increased functional capacity demonstrated by TUG (p = 0.001) and SB (p = 0.034) also presented significant differences pre- to post-intervention. There was a 96% participant session completion rate. These data imply that a simple 4x4 cycle ergometer HIIT protocol prescribed using a %HRmax is effective at increasing lower-limb power/strength and can be used in the general older adult population without excessive oversight. Our intervention protocol demonstrates that 6 weeks of cycle ergometer HIIT is an adequate amount of time to result in lower limb strength and functional capacity improvements in active older adults.

Effect of Exercise Intensity on Psychomotor Vigilance During an Incremental Endurance Exercise in Under-19 Soccer Players.

The aim of this study was to analyze the acute effects of an incremental resistance test on psychomotor vigilance in 16 soccer players under-19 years old (age 16.42 ± 0.85 years). Borg 15-point subjective perception of effort scale, the psychomotor vigilance task test, and the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test were used. Four evaluation sessions were conducted with different intensities of efforts (30%-40%, 60%-75%, 80%-90%, and 100%) on different days (counterbalanced order). A repeated-measures analysis of variance was performed in the reaction time of the psychomotor vigilance task. The results showed that participants responded faster during efforts between 80% and 90% of maximal oxygen uptake (501.20 ± 70.77 ms). From that threshold, the players decreased their performance through a longer reaction time (601.23 ± 85.05 ms; p value < .001). The main findings were that the reaction time performance was worse at the lowest and highest effort conditions (5 and 17 km/hr, respectively). This fact helps to focus on the importance of designing and proposing training tasks with medium-high efforts to provoke optimal reaction times in young soccer players.

Reference Values of Spatial and Temporal Gait Parameters in a Contemporary Sample of Spanish Preschool Children: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of age and sex on kinematic gait parameters in preschool children, and derive reference values for this population. A total of 383 preschool children (age 3-5 years; 207 girls, 176 boys) participated in this study. We used the OptoGait system to assess the kinematics of gait at a comfortable and self-determined speed. No significant differences between the sexes were found for the main gait parameters. Among the participants, there was a significant increase in double support, reductions in absolute cadence and the coefficient of variation (CV) of cadence, an increase in absolute step length (SL), and an increase in the walk ratio (WR) from 3 to 5 years of age. However, the normalized SL and normalized WR displayed a significant reduction in both sexes. Partial correlation indicated a significant association of age with SL and normalized SL, and WR. Additionally, WR showed a significant correlation with the CV of cadence. To summarize, no relevant differences in gait performance were found according to sex; however, age was found to influence gait maturation. The normative values established for Spanish preschool children can be used to monitor healthy gait development.

Cardiac Evaluation of Exercise Testing in a Contemporary Population of Preschool Children: A New Approach Providing Reference Values.

The objective of this study was to evaluate cardiac autonomic function at rest, during maximal exercise, and in post-exercise recovery, to determine sex-specific and age-specific differences in resting heart rate (RHR), linear and spectral parameters of Heart Rate Variability (HRV), HRpeak, and heart rate recovery (HRR) after one and five minutes, in preschool children. This study involved a cohort of 167 healthy children (79 girls) aged 3 to 6 years that were selected from several schools in southern Spain. A 10 × 20 m test was conducted, and the cardiovascular response was recorded. No significant differences were found in all variables between the sexes. However, a significant reduction in RHR and an increase in HRR were found from age 4 to age 6. HRV parameters at rest were higher in older children. No associations between 10 × 20 m performance, weight status, and cardiac parameters were found. Simple linear regression analysis revealed that heart rate reserve (HRr), HRR5min, RMSSD, and HF were the variables that showed association with all HR parameters. There was also a significant correlation between HRr and HRR5min. In conclusion, cardiovascular autonomic function during rest, exercise, and recovery in Spanish preschool children was not influenced by sex, although older children showed greater cardiovascular modulation. Cardiorespiratory fitness status was not associated with HR response.

A New Approach for Evaluation of Cardiovascular Fitness and Cardiac Responses to Maximal Exercise Test in Master Runners: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this study was to analyze the cardiac autonomic function at rest, at maximum exercise, and in recovery after exercise and to determine sex-specific and age-specific values for resting heart rate (RHR), hear rate (HR)-peak, HR recovery (HRR), and HR variability at rest in master runners. Fifty endurance runners (21 women) participated in this study (43.28 ± 5.25 years). The subjects came from different athletic clubs in Andalusia (Spain), and the testing protocol was performed in-season. A 3-km running test was performed and the cardiovascular response was monitored. Regarding sex, no significant differences were found regarding cardiovascular autonomic function at rest, during exercise, and following maximal exercise, only at rest, the standard deviation of all R-R intervals and low frequency values displayed significantly (p < 0.05) lower scores in women. 46% of athletes showed an RHR < 60 bpm. Additionally, HR-peak showed a significant correlation with age (r = −0.369; p = 0.009) and HRR5min (r = 0.476, p = 0.001). Also, endurance performance was inversely associated with obesity traits and cardiometabolic risk factors. In summary, age, sex, fitness, or anthropometrics characteristics did not show a relevant influence on cardiovascular autonomic modulation in master runners. However, the 3-km performance displayed a significant negative association with several factors of cardiometabolic risk.

Healthy lifestyles and physical fitness are associated with abdominal obesity among Latin-American and Spanish preschool children: A cross-cultural study.

BACKGROUND: Identifying environmental factors that influence health in children are necessary to develop preventive strategies. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between the lifestyles of children (i.e., Mediterranean diet (MD), physical activity (PA), fitness and screen time (ST) with abdominal obesity (AO) of preschoolers from three Spanish-speaking countries (Chile, Colombia and Spain) with different socioeconomic levels and Human Development Index (HDI) indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 982 schoolchildren (aged 4-6 years; 56.8% girls) from Chile (n = 409), Colombia (n = 281), and Spain (n = 292). Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), adherence to the MD, PA, ST and physical fitness were evaluated. RESULTS: Spanish preschoolers reported a lower WtHR (p < 0.001), greater physical fitness (Z-score) (p < 0.001) and higher adherence to the MD (p < 0.001) than their Chilean and Colombian peers. In addition, Colombian preschoolers had a better lifestyle (PA + ST) than their Chilean and Spanish peers (p < 0.001). Chilean preschoolers reported a higher prevalence of AO than the Spanish preschoolers (65% vs. 51.9%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Lifestyle had a significant association with AO among Spanish-speaking preschool children, with physical fitness especially being a relevant factor regardless of the country of origin. The findings of the current study may support the development of public guidelines focusing on healthy lifestyles in children to create effective plans that contribute to the early treatment of AO in preschool children.

Small-sided games in amateur players: rule modification with mini-goals to induce lower external load responses.

The aim of this study was to compare the acute physiological (i.e., heart rate-related variables) and neuromuscular responses (i.e., sprint and jump) and time-motion characteristics (i.e., external load variables) when modifying the game design (possession play vs. mini-goals without a goalkeeper) during 4-a-side in amateur senior football players. Male senior football players (n = 16) performed two formats of small-sided games (SSGs) in two different testing sessions (4-a-side with possession play and mini-goals rule). Differences in time-motion characteristics and physiological parameters of players were measured with the Global Positioning System (GPS), and tested before and after (pre- and post-SSG) for neuromuscular assessment. A repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), with Bonferroni post-hoc test, showed that both SSG formats induced changes in sprint performance (before-after comparison) (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the results showed that the variables muscle oxygen saturation, rate of perceived exertion, 85-89% heart rate peak, total distance, total distances at low speed, total distances at high speed, m/min, accelerations at low speed, accelerations of ≥ 2.5 m.s-2, maximal speed, and average speed were statistically significantly different among game conditions. The players' performances are affected by the inclusion of mini-goals during 4 vs. 4 SSGs. The results provide useful information for training and task design that replicate specific physical demands (i.e., accelerations of ≥ 2.5 m.s-2, total distances at high speed or total distances at low speed).

Is the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 an Accuracy Tool for Measuring Health-Related Parameters in Adults and Older People? An Original Validation Study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the validity and accuracy of the low-cost Xiaomi Mi Band 4 (MB4) fitness tracker in relation to step count and heart rate in free-living conditions. METHODS: 46 participants join in this study (38.65 ± 14.36 years old). The MB4 was compared with a video recording in laboratory conditions, also with the Sense Wear and Firstbeat monitors in free-living conditions. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the number of steps in the laboratory protocol between devices, in both, at low and high walking speed. For the free-living conditions, the MB4 showed high values of convergent validity in relation to the Firstbeat monitor during recording in both rest and walking situations. Moreover, the MB4 showed adequate values of convergent validity with the Sense Wear monitor during the 24 h recording, at medium speeds, and climbing stairs. CONCLUSION: The accuracy and precision of the MB4 is reasonable and can be used to monitor the average of step count and heart rate in free-living conditions.

The effect of two retraining programs, barefoot running vs increasing cadence, on kinematic parameters: A randomized controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of two 10-week non-laboratory-based running retraining programs on foot kinematics and spatiotemporal parameters in recreational runners. One hundred and three recreational runners (30 ± 7.2 years old, 39% females) were randomly assigned to either: a barefoot retraining group (BAR) with 3 sessions/week over 10 weeks, a cadence retraining group (CAD) who increased cadence by 10% again with 3 sessions/week over 10 weeks and a control group (CON) who did not perform any retraining. The footstrike pattern, footstrike angle (FSA), and spatial-temporal variables at comfortable and high speeds were measured using 2D/3D photogrammetry and a floor-based photocell system. A 3 × 2 ANOVA was used to compare between the groups and 2 time points. The FSA significantly reduced at the comfortable speed by 5.81° for BAR (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.749) and 4.81° for CAD (p = 0.002; Cohen's d = 0.638), and at high speed by 6.54° for BAR (p < 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.753) and by 4.71° for CAD (p = 0.001; Cohen's d = 0.623). The cadence significantly increased by 2% in the CAD group (p = 0.015; Cohen's d = 0.344) at comfortable speed and the BAR group showed a 1.7% increase at high speed. BAR and CAD retraining programs showed a moderate effect for reducing FSA and rearfoot prevalence, and a small effect for increasing cadence. Both offer low-cost and feasible tools for gait modification within recreational runners in clinical scenarios.

Comprehensive cardiac evaluation to maximal exercise in a contemporary population of prepubertal children.

BACKGROUND: Heart rate (HR) is a biomarker used to measure physiological function, health status and cardiovascular autonomic function. The purpose of this study was to determine sex- and age-specific reference values for cardiac autonomic function at rest, during maximal exercise and the recovery phase in prepubertal children. METHODS: Five hundred and twelve healthy children 7-11 years of age performed a Léger test. A heart RR-interval monitor recorded the heart data and a specific software analysed the cardiac autonomic response through HR and HR variability (HRV). It analysed HR before the test (resting HR, RHR), during the test (HRpeak) and HR recovery (HRR) in the first minute (HRR1) and the fifth minute (HRR5). The values are mean ± SD. RESULTS: Collectively, 91.2% of girls and 92.3% of boys were within the recommended ranges regarding RHR. The average HRpeak was 199 ± 10.83 b.p.m. and 96.8% of girls and 95.3% of boys were within the minimum threshold value recommended (180 b.p.m.). Boys showed lower values of RHR than girls (p < 0.001) and larger values of HRR 1 and HRR5 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study comprehensively provides a reference set of data for the most important HR variables that can be obtained during exercise testing in prepubertal children regarding age and sex and in a field setting. IMPACT: This is the first study to provide reference values of autonomic cardiac function at rest, during maximal exercise and during the recovery period in prepubertal children aged 7-11 years. Despite the early age of participants, cardiorespiratory fitness, RHR and HRR are different according to sex. Aerobic performance and HRpeak have a negative correlation with body mass index and cardiometabolic risk.

Effect of COVID-19 confinement on physical activity patterns in relation to sociodemographic parameters in Spanish population.

BACKGROUND: The main purpose of the present study was to determine the sociodemographic parameters associated to physical activity (PA) patterns changes during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Spanish population. METHODS: Participants were recruited by sending a survey through various social network channels via the snowball method. A voluntary sample of 2430 individuals consisting of 1203 men and 1227 women (aged between 18 to 73 years old) from the Spanish national territory participated in this study. An online survey was performed to collect the information, which was tested through ad hoc analysis with different sociodemographic variables. Participants were a median of 34 years old (18-73 years old) with a mean BMI of 23.6 kg/m2. RESULTS: The risk factors associated with the change in PA hours during confinement showed that to do sports (ß=-56.88, 95% CI: -79.35 to -34.40, P<0.001), male sex (ß -34.78, 95%CI;-54.02 to -15.52, P<0.001) and the educational level (i.e., elementary school category) (ß=-54.21, 95%CI;-89.10 to -19.32, P=0.002) reported negative changes with hours of PA during confinement. By the contrary, the employment status (passive work) and to be student reported positive association (i.e., increase PA hours per week). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 lockdown led to a reduction PA patterns in Spanish population. Mostly men showed a drastic decrease in hours of PA compared to the women's group. Likewise, the groups of people with elementary and high education showed a decrease in hours of weekly PA, as well as unemployed people.

Lifestyle mediates the relationship between self-esteem and health-related quality of life in Chilean schoolchildren.

A healthy lifestyle, including food habits, physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST), is an important factor for well-being. The main purpose of this study was to analyze the association between lifestyle (i.e., PA, ST and food habits), self-esteem and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A second objective was to determine the association between self-esteem with HRQoL, considering the mediating effect of lifestyle. A descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed, involving both girls (n = 282, 11.86 ± 0.82 years) and boys (n = 352, 12.02 ± 0.87 years). Lifestyle, self-esteem, HRQoL and anthropometrics parameters were evaluated. The study reported that self-esteem (ß; 0.04, P = 0.49) and PA (ß; 1.15, P < 0.001) had positive association with HRQoL. By contrast,ST was linked in an inverse way to HRQoL (ß; -1.82,, P < 0.001). According to the second objective, self-esteem had a significant association with HRQoL (total effect = 0.48, p < 0.01), and ST mediated this association negatively, instead, PA and food habits positively mediated this association. In conclusion, self-esteem presented association with HRQoL and lifestyle mediates this relationship positively (PA, MD adherence) and negatively (ST). Therefore, promoting healthy lifestyle among children should be a target of community- and school-based interventions to promote well-being.

Vertical Jumping as a Monitoring Tool in Endurance Runners: A Brief Review.

Jumping performance (e.g., countermovement jump [CMJ]), as a measure of neuromuscular performance, has been suggested as an easy-to-use tool which simultaneously provides neuromuscular and metabolic information and, thereby, allows coaches to confidently monitor the status of their athletes during a workout. This hypothesis has been satisfactorily tested with sprint athletes. However, the rationale for the use of CMJ height loss as an index to monitor the workload during an endurance running session is not sufficiently evidence-based. First, it is assumed that a CMJ height loss occurs during typical interval training for endurance runners. Second, it is also assumed that a significant relationship between metabolic stress and the neuromuscular strain induced during these endurance workouts exists. These two assumptions will be questioned in this review by critically analyzing the kinetics of CMJ performance during and after running workouts, and the relationship between neuromuscular and physiological stress induced during different protocols in endurance runners. The current evidence shows that fatigue induced by common running workouts for endurance runners does not counterbalance the potentiation effect in the CMJ height. Additionally, the findings reported among different studies are consistent regarding the lack of association between CMJ height loss and physiological stress during interval sessions in endurance runners. In practical terms, the authors suggest that this marker of neuromuscular fatigue may not be used to regulate the external training load during running workouts in endurance runners. Nevertheless, the analysis of CMJ height during running workouts may serve to monitor chronic adaptations to training in endurance runners.

The Effects of Two Different Concurrent Training Configurations on Markers of Metabolic Syndrome and Fitness in Women With Severe/Morbid Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Concurrent training (CT), characterised by combining both aerobic and resistance training modalities within the same session, is recognised to improve metabolic syndrome (MetS) markers, but little is known about the effects of different configurations (i.e., order) of these exercise modalities on MetS markers and the interindividual responses. The purpose of the present study was to describe the effects, and the interindividual variability, of 20weeks of two CT configurations (i.e., high intensity interval training (HIIT) plus resistance training (RT), compared with RT plus HIIT) in women with severe/morbid obesity. Overall, 26 women with severe/morbid obesity were assigned either to HIIT+RT [n=14, mean and 95%CI, 45.79 (40.74; 50.83) or RT+HIIT (n=12), 33.6 (25.30; 41.79) years]. MetS-related outcomes were waist circumference (WC, cm), systolic (SBP, mmHg) and diastolic (DBP, mmHg) blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (Tg), and fasting plasma glucose (FPG). Secondary outcomes were other anthropometrics, body composition, lipids, muscle strength, and the six-minute walk test (6Mwt). There were significant differences in the prevalence of nonresponders (NRs) only for WC comparing HIIT+RT 2 (18.1%) vs. RT+HIIT group 5 (50.0%), p<0.0001, but not for SBP 4 (27.2%) vs. 4 (40.0%), DBP 8 (72.7%) vs. 7 (70.0%), FPG 8 (72.7%) vs. 9 (90.0%), HDL-c 7 (63.6%) vs. 8 (80.0%), and Tg 7 (63.6%) vs. 8 (80.0%), all p>0.05. Additionally, the RT+HIIT group showed significant reductions in WC (∆ -3.84cm, p=0.015), SBP (∆ -8.46mmHg, p=0.040), whereas the HIIT+RT group elicited significant reductions only in SBP (∆ -8.43mmHg, p=0.022). The HIIT+RT promoted a lower prevalence of NRs than the RT+HIIT configuration on WC, and overall, there were slightly more beneficial training-induced effects on markers of MetS in the RT+HIIT group compared to the HIIT+RT group.