Effect of a 16-week multi-level classroom standing desk intervention on cognitive performance and academic achievement in adolescents.

The replacement of traditional classroom desks for active-permissive desks has been tested to reduce sitting time during classes. However, their impact on other domains is still unclear. We aimed to verify the potential effects of a classroom standing desk intervention on cognitive function and academic achievement in 6th-grade students. This was a controlled trial conducted with two classes [intervention (n = 22) and control (n = 27)] from a public school in Lisbon, Portugal. The intervention was carried out for 16 weeks and consisted of multi-level actions (students, parents, and teachers) centered on the implementation of standing desks in the intervention classroom. The control group had traditional classes with no use of standing desks or any other interference/action from the research team. Pre- and post-assessments of executive functions (attention, inhibitory function, memory, and fluid intelligence) and academic achievement were obtained. No differences between groups were found at baseline. Both groups improved (time effect) academic achievement (p < 0.001), memory span (p < 0.001), and inhibitory function (p = 0.008). Group versus time interactions were observed regarding operational memory (intervention: + 18.0% and control: + 41.6%; p = 0.039) and non-verbal fluid intelligence (intervention: - 14.0% and control: + 3.9%; p = 0.017). We concluded that a 16-week classroom standing desk intervention did not improve cognitive performance or academic achievement more than the traditional sitting classes.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT03137836) (date of first registration: 03/05/2017).

Efeitos dos jogos reduzidos sobre os marcadores psicofisiológicos de atletas de futsal feminino / Effects of small-sided games on psychophysiological markers of female futsal athletes

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar o efeito da quantidade de balizas em jogos reduzidos no futsal (JRF's) sobre a carga interna e resposta afetiva. Participaram do estudo oito atletas adultas de futsal feminino, que treinavam regularmente cinco vezes por semana. Foram analisadas duas sessões de treinamento: 1) JRF1baliza 4 x 4 com uma baliza para cada equipe; 2) JRF3balizas4 x 4 com três balizas para cada equipe. A ordem dos JRF's foi escolhida de forma randomizada. Para análise da carga interna utilizou-se a escala CR 0-10 de percepção subjetiva de esforço (PSE) e para a resposta afetiva, utilizou-se a escala de sentimento (feeling scale). Utilizou-se o teste t pareado para análise da resposta psicofisiológica, considerando significativo um valor p < 0,05. Em nossos resultados os valores de P SE foram semelhantes entre os JRF's (JRF1baliza: 4,5 ± 1,7 vs. JRF3balizas: 4,4 ± 0,7, p > 0,05) da mesma fo rm a para a resposta afetiva (JRF1baliza: 0,2 ± 0,8 vs. JRF3balizas: 0,1 ± 1,0, p > 0,05), adicionalmente observou-se que os valores de PSE fixaram-se em "um pouco difícil" e a resposta afetiva permaneceu positiva durante ambos os JRF's. Em suma, conclui-se que os JRF1baliza e JRF3balizas obtiveram respostas semelhante nos marcadores psicofisiológicos (PSE e Afeto) em atletas adultas de futsal feminino...(AU)

The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the number of goals in futsal small-sided games (SSG) on the internal load and affective response. Eight adult female futsal players regularly training five times a week participated in the study. Two training sessions were analyzed: 1) SSG1goal 4 x 4 with one goal for each team; 2) SSG3goal 4 x 4 with three goals for each team. The order of SSG was chosen in a randomized fashion. The CR 0-10 scale of rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was ch o sen to analyze internal load and for the affective response, the feeling scale was used. Paired t test was used t o analyze the psychophysiological response, considering a value p < 0.05. It was observ ed t hat t he RPE values were similar between the SSG (SSG1goal: 4.5 ± 1.7 vs. SSG3goal: 4.4 ± 0.7, p > 0.05) in the same way for affective response (SSG1goal: 0.2 ± 0.8 vs. SSG3goal: 0.1 ± 1.0, p > 0.05), it was further observed that the RPE values were set as "a little difficult" and the values of the Feeling Scale was p o sit iv e durin g bo th SSG. In summary, the SSG1goal and SSG3goal being performed in random order with seven days rest between them, obtained similar responses in the psychophysiological markers in adult female futsal players...(AU)

Dynamics of cognitive performance at rest and after exhaustive exercise in top-three world-ranked mixed martial arts athletes: a series of case studies.

Cognitive performance plays a key role in sports performance, especially in combat sports such as mixed martial arts (MMA). Studies with active and sedentary individuals showed either no change or decreased cognitive performance during or immediately after exercise. However, it is possible that elite MMA athletes would present preserved/improved cognitive performance after exhaustive exercise. In this series of cases studies, we tested this hypothesis by submitting three elite MMA athletes from the Bellator MMA® and UFC® to a cognitive assessment before, immediately after and 15 min after exhaustive exercise. A modified computerized version of the Stroop Test was used to test cognitive inhibition performance, from which reaction time (RT) and accuracy were obtained. The athletes performed an incremental exercise on a cycle simulator until volitional exhaustion. Immediately after exercise RT improved consistently in all three athletes (-6.5%; -8.0%; -15.0%), while accuracy presented a small increase (2.6%), decreases (-3.8%) or no change. Fifteen minutes after exercise, RT remained improved in two athletes (-9.1% and -15.5) or slightly increased (0.4%), while accuracy presented small increase in all athletes (0.5%; 1.3%; 2.1%) compared to pre-exercise. This result indicates that elite MMA athletes may present improved cognitive performance immediately after exhaustive exercise, which suggests that cognitive-motor training for MMA should be considered when planning a training program.

Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on exercise performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been used to improve exercise performance, though the protocols used, and results found are mixed. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze the effect of tDCS on improving exercise performance. METHODS: A systematic search was performed on the following databases, until December 2017: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, SCOPUS, and SportDiscus. Full-text articles that used tDCS for exercise performance improvement in adults were included. We compared the effect of anodal (anode near nominal target) and cathodal (cathode near nominal target) tDCS to a sham/control condition on the outcome measure (performance in isometric, isokinetic or dynamic strength exercise and whole-body exercise). RESULTS: 22 studies (393 participants) were included in the qualitative synthesis and 11 studies (236 participants) in the meta-analysis. The primary motor cortex (M1) was the main nominal tDCS target (n = 16; 72.5%). A significant effect favoring anodal tDCS (a-tDCS) applied before exercise over M1 was found on cycling time to exhaustion (mean difference = 93.41 s; 95%CI = 27.39 s-159.43 s) but this result was strongly influenced by one study (weight = 84%), no effect was found for cathodal tDCS (c-tDCS). No significant effect was found for a-tDCS applied on M1 before or during exercise on isometric muscle strength of the upper or lower limbs. Studies regarding a-tDCS over M1 on isokinetic muscle strength presented mixed results. Individual results of studies using a-tDCS applied over the prefrontal and motor cortices either before or during dynamic muscle strength testing showed positive results, but performing meta-analysis was not possible. CONCLUSION: For the protocols tested, a-tDCS but not c-tDCS vs. sham over M1 improved exercise performance in cycling only. However, this result was driven by a single study, which when removed was no longer significant. Further well-controlled studies with larger sample sizes and broader exploration of the tDCS montages and doses are warranted.

Short-Term Psychological and Physiological Effects of Varying the Volume of High-Intensity Interval Training in Healthy Men.

We assessed the short-term effects of varying the volume of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on psychological and physiological responses of 23 healthy adult males ( M = 21 years; M peak oxygen uptake [VO2peak] = 47.2 ml·kg-1·min-1). Participants were randomly assigned to low- and very-low-volume HIIT groups and engaged in nine supervised exercise sessions over three weeks. The low-volume HIIT group performed 8-12 60-second work bouts on a cycle ergometer at the peak power output achieved during the incremental test, interspersed by 75 seconds of low-intensity active recovery. The very-low-volume HIIT performed 4-6 work bouts with the same intensity, duration, and rest intervals. During training, participants' ratings of perceived exertion (Borg Category Ratio-10 scale) and their affective responses (Feeling Scale -5/+5) during the last 15 seconds of each work bout were recorded. Physiological data were VO2peak, endurance, and anaerobic performance before and after the intervention. Throughout training, participants in the very-low-volume group (relative to the low-volume group) reported lower ratings of perceived exertion in Week 1 ( M = 4.1 vs. M = 6.3; p < .01) and Week 3 ( M = 4.0 vs. M = 6.2; p < .01), and higher affective response in these same two weeks (Week 1: M = 1.9 vs. M = 0.3; p = .04; Week 3: M = 2.1 vs. M = 0.9; p = .06). Regarding physical fitness, Wingate peak power increased significantly after training in the very-low-volume HIIT group ( M = 1,049 W vs. M = 1,222 W; p < .05), but not in the low-volume HIIT group ( M = 1,050 W vs. M = 1,076 W). No significant change was found after training in physiological variables of peak power output, VO2peak, and endurance performance. In summary, in this short-term training period, the very-low-volume HIIT enhanced anaerobic capacity and was perceived as less strenuous and more pleasurable than low-volume HIIT.

Poorer positive affect in response to self-paced exercise among the obese.

We aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and affective response, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and physiological responses during self-paced exercise. Sixty-six women were divided into three groups accordingly with the BMI: obese (n = 22: 33.5 ±â€¯8.5 yr; 34.9 ±â€¯4.1 kg∙m-2), overweight (n = 22: 34.8 ±â€¯8.6 yr; 26.4 ±â€¯1.3 kg∙m-2), and normal-weight (n = 22: 30.8 ±â€¯9.3 yr; 22.0 ±â€¯1.6 kg∙m-2). They underwent a graded exercise test and a 20-min self-paced walking session on a treadmill. Affective responses, RPE, heart rate (HR), and oxygen uptake (VO2) were recorded every 5 min. The women with obesity experienced the lowest affective rates (p < .001), despite similar RPE, HR, and VO2 to the other normal weight and overweight groups. In addition, a multiple regression model indicated that BMI was a significant predictor of affective responses (p < .001). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that obesity is associated with poorer affective responses to exercise even at self-paced intensity, with the same physiological responses and perceived exertion. Therefore, techniques that aim directly to increase pleasure and/or reduce attentional focus and perception of effort in this population are required, such as affect-regulated prescription, shorter bouts of self-paced exercise throughout the day, distraction away from internal cues (e.g. music, group exercise), etc.

Let's Walk Outdoors! Self-Paced Walking Outdoors Improves Future Intention to Exercise in Women With Obesity.

In order to examine whether environmental settings influence psychological and physiological responses of women with obesity during self-paced walking, 38 women performed two exercise sessions (treadmill and outdoors) for 30 min, where oxygen uptake, heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, affect, attentional focus, enjoyment, and future intentions to walk were analyzed. Physiological responses were similar during both sessions. However, during outdoor exercise, participants displayed higher externally focused attention, positive affect, and lower ratings of perceived exertion, followed by greater enjoyment and future intention to participate in outdoor walking. The more externally focused attention predicted greater future intentions to participate in walking. Therefore, women with obesity self-selected an appropriate exercise intensity to improve fitness and health in both environmental settings. Also, self-paced outdoor walking presented improved psychological responses. Health care professionals should consider promoting outdoor forms of exercise to maximize psychological benefits and promote long-term adherence to a physically active lifestyle.

Slow Down and Enjoy: The Effects of Cycling Cadence on Pleasure.

Pleasure plays a key role in exercise behavior. However, the influence of cycling cadence needs to be elucidated. Here, we verified the effects of cycling cadence on affect, perceived exertion (ratings of perceived exertion), and physiological responses. In three sessions, 15 men performed a maximal cycling incremental test followed by two 30-min constant workload (50% of peak power) bouts at 60 and 100 r/min. The pleasure was higher when participants cycled at 60 r/min, whereas ratings of perceived exertion, heart rate, and oxygen uptake were lower ( p < .05). Additionally, the rate of decrease in pleasure and increase in ratings of perceived exertion was less steep at 60 r/min ( p < .01). Cycling at 60 r/min is more pleasant, and the perceived effort and physiological demand are lower than at 100 r/min.