Exploring perceptions of pilot licensing and training standards: a survey of Canadian student and licensed pilots.

This study investigates the perspectives of Canadian student and licenced pilots on general aviation pilot training and licencing practices. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research critiques the reliance on flight hours as the sole competence metric and examines the alignment of existing practices with modern aviation's complexities. Findings reveal a divergence in opinions between novice and experienced pilots on flight hours' importance, with a consensus towards a competency-based evaluation model. The study identifies critical shortcomings in existing training practices, such as the challenge of integrating technology, fostering advanced skills, and efficiently utilising instructional resources. It suggests recommendations for regulatory enhancements, aiming to ensure training practices evolve in line with the changing requirements of aviation safety and technology. The conclusion calls for urgent reform, underlining the imperative for training adaptations that can prepare pilots to proficiently manage the complexities of contemporary airspace, thus safeguarding their proficiency and safety.

A survey conducted among Canadian student and licenced pilots to examine perspectives on general aviation pilot training and licencing practices uncovered critical shortcomings. The findings advocate for a strong preference for competency-based evaluations, urging reforms and regulatory improvements to ensure alignment with the evolving landscape of aviation safety and technological advancements.

Heart Rate Variability Applications in Strength and Conditioning: A Narrative Review.

Heart rate variability (HRV) is defined as the fluctuation of time intervals between adjacent heartbeats and is commonly used as a surrogate measure of autonomic function. HRV has become an increasingly measured variable by wearable technology for use in fitness and sport applications. However, with its increased use, a gap has arisen between the research and the application of this technology in strength and conditioning. The goal of this narrative literature review is to discuss current evidence and propose preliminary guidelines regarding the application of HRV in strength and conditioning. A literature review was conducted searching for HRV and strength and conditioning, aiming to focus on studies with time-domain measurements. Studies suggest that HRV is a helpful metric to assess training status, adaptability, and recovery after a training program. Although reduced HRV may be a sign of overreaching and/or overtraining syndrome, it may not be a sensitive marker in aerobic-trained athletes and therefore has different utilities for different athletic populations. There is likely utility to HRV-guided programming compared to predefined programming in several types of training. Evidence-based preliminary guidelines for the application of HRV in strength and conditioning are discussed. This is an evolving area of research, and more data are needed to evaluate the best practices for applying HRV in strength and conditioning.

Advances in Understanding the Interplay between Dietary Practices, Body Composition, and Sports Performance in Athletes.

The dietary practices of athletes play a crucial role in shaping their body composition, influencing sports performance, training adaptations, and overall health. However, despite the widely acknowledged significance of dietary intake in athletic success, there exists a gap in our understanding of the intricate relationships between nutrition, body composition, and performance. Furthermore, emerging evidence suggests that many athletes fail to adopt optimal nutritional practices, which can impede their potential achievements. In response, this Special Issue seeks to gather research papers that delve into athletes' dietary practices and their potential impacts on body composition and sports performance. Additionally, studies focusing on interventions aimed at optimizing dietary habits are encouraged. This paper outlines the key aspects and points that will be developed in the ensuing articles of this Special Issue.

Defining ketone supplementation: the evolving evidence for postexercise ketone supplementation to improve recovery and adaptation to exercise.

Over the last decade, there has been a growing interest in the use of ketone supplements to improve athletic performance. These ketone supplements transiently elevate the concentrations of the ketone bodies acetoacetate (AcAc) and d-ß-hydroxybutyrate (ßHB) in the circulation. Early studies showed that ketone bodies can improve energetic efficiency in striated muscle compared with glucose oxidation and induce a glycogen-sparing effect during exercise. As such, most research has focused on the potential of ketone supplementation to improve athletic performance via ingestion of ketones immediately before or during exercise. However, subsequent studies generally observed no performance improvement, and particularly not under conditions that are relevant for most athletes. However, more and more studies are reporting beneficial effects when ketones are ingested after exercise. As such, the real potential of ketone supplementation may rather be in their ability to enhance postexercise recovery and training adaptations. For instance, recent studies observed that postexercise ketone supplementation (PEKS) blunts the development of overtraining symptoms, and improves sleep, muscle anabolic signaling, circulating erythropoietin levels, and skeletal muscle angiogenesis. In this review, we provide an overview of the current state-of-the-art about the impact of PEKS on aspects of exercise recovery and training adaptation, which is not only relevant for athletes but also in multiple clinical conditions. In addition, we highlight the underlying mechanisms by which PEKS may improve exercise recovery and training adaptation. This includes epigenetic effects, signaling via receptors, modulation of neurotransmitters, energy metabolism, and oxidative and anti-inflammatory pathways.

Quantification of training load across two competitive seasons in elite senior and youth male soccer players from an English Premiership club.

This study aimed to compare the daily training load (TL) in first-team and U-18 soccer players from an English Premiership club. 36 first-team (age 23.2 ± 5.9 years, weight 75.2 ± 8.1 kg, height 1.83 ± 0.06 m), and 22 U-18 players (age 17.5 ± 1.1 years, weight 71.1 ± 8.2 kg, height 1.78 ± 0.08 m) participated. GPS metrics were measured during all pitch training sessions throughout the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons. Linear mixed-effect model analyses revealed that, irrespective of training day, U-18 players covered greater total and explosive distance than first-team players, and performed a higher number of accelerations and decelerations, whereas first-team players covered greater sprint distance. Irrespective of the team, all examined variables were greater at match-day (MD)-3, while the number of accelerations and decelerations were higher at MD-4. Significant team-by-training day interactions revealed that U-18 players covered greater total and high-intensity distances than first-team players at MD-4, MD-2, and MD-1, whereas first-team players covered greater total and high-intensity distances at MD-3. Sprint distance was greater for first-team players at MD-3 and MD-4, while explosive distance was greater for U-18 players at MD-2. Also, U-18 players performed a higher number of accelerations than first-team players at MD-3 and MD-2, and a higher number of decelerations at MD-4. The present results provide novel information on TL patterns in English Premiership soccer and contribute to understanding how training methods to physically develop players are implemented in different countries and leagues.

Comparison of Two Diet and Exercise Approaches on Weight Loss and Health Outcomes in Obese Women.

AIM: To compare the efficacy of two popular weight loss approaches on weight loss, body composition, and markers of health in sedentary obese women. METHODS: In total, 51 sedentary women (age 34.5 ± 7.7 yrs.; weight 90.0 ± 14.5 kg; BMI 34.0 ± 5.1 kg/m2; 46.5 ± 7.0% fat) were matched and randomized to participate in the Weight Watchers® Momentum™ (WW) or Curves® (CV) Fitness and Weight Management program for 16 weeks. Participants in the WW group (n = 27) were provided a point-based diet program, received weekly progress checks and counseling, and were encouraged to exercise. Participants in the CV group (n = 24) followed a menu-based higher protein/low-fat diet (1200 kcal/d) for 1 week; 1500 kcal/d diet for 3 weeks; and 2000-2500 kcals/d for 2 weeks that was repeated three times (except the last segment) while participating in a supervised circuit-style resistance training program (3 d/wk). A general linear model (GLM) with repeated measures was used to analyze data and are presented as mean changes from baseline (mean [UL, LL]). RESULTS: Supervised CV training resulted in greater amounts of vigorous and total physical activity. After 16 weeks, both groups lost weight (WW -6.1 [-7.8, -4.6], CV -4.9 [-6.2, -3.2] kg, p = 0.264). Participants in the CV group observed greater reductions in fat mass (WW -2.9 [-6.7, -0.2], CV -6.4 [-9.2, -3.6] kg, p = 0.081) and increases in lean mass (WW -2.5 [-4.3, -0.7], CV 1.3 [-0.6, 3.2] kg, p = 0.005) resulting in more favorable changes in percent body fat (WW -1.4 [-4.1, 1.2], CV -4.7 [-7.5, -1.8]%, p = 0.098). Both groups observed improvements in peak aerobic capacity and muscular endurance, although bench press lifting volume was greater in the CV group. Those in the CV group experienced a greater increase in HDLc and reduction in the CHL-HDLc ratio and triglycerides. CONCLUSION: Both interventions promoted weight loss and improvements in fitness and markers of health. The CV program, which included supervised resistance training and higher protein diet menus, promoted greater fat loss, increases in lean mass, and improvements in percent body fat and blood lipids. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov, #NCT04372771, registered retrospectively 1 May 2020.

Acute and chronic effects of high-intensity interval and moderate-intensity continuous exercise on heart rate and its variability after recent myocardial infarction: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Resting heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV) are known to predict mortality in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). OBJECTIVE: We assessed acute and chronic effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE) on HR and HRV in individuals after acute ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI). METHODS: Participants within 7 weeks after MI were randomly assigned to HIIT or MICE groups for a 9-week intervention. HR and the power spectrum of HRV were measured pre- and post-intervention by using orthostatic challenge and during sleep to assess chronic effects. Sleep measurements were performed at night after HIIT, MICE or no training to assess acute effects. Mixed models assessed time*group interaction for differences in chronic and acute effects, adjusted for beta-blocker dose and number of training sessions. RESULTS: Overall, 34 of 37 and 35 of 36 participants in the HIIT and MICE groups completed the study. We found a trend for an acute increase in HR of 2.5 bpm (4%, P=0.023) during sleep after HIIT. We found a trend for a chronic decrease in HR during supine and standing position as well as during sleep in the MICE group but a trend for an increase in HR during supine and standing position in the HIIT group. Low- and high-frequency power (LF, HF) of the standing segment increased from pre- to post-intervention in the MICE group but decreased in the HIIT group (group*time interaction P=0.005 and P=0.026, respectively). CONCLUSION: HR during sleep tended to be increased acutely during the night after HIIT but not after MICE as compared with controls. Chronic effects on resting HR, HF and LF tended to be more beneficial after MICE than HIIT in individuals with recent STEMI.

Differential effects of sex on adaptive responses of skeletal muscle vasodilation to exercise training in type 2 diabetes.

AIMS: We tested the hypotheses that exercise training improves the peak and dynamic responses of leg vascular conductance (LVC) in males and females with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: Forty-one males and females with T2DM were assigned to two training groups and two control groups. Twelve weeks of aerobic/resistance training was performed three times per week, 60-90 min per session. Responses of calf muscle blood flow and systemic arterial pressure during incremental and constant-load (30% maximal voluntary contraction) intermittent plantar-flexion protocols in the supine position were recorded. RESULTS: Training significantly increased peak LVC in males (4.86 ± 1.88 to 6.06 ± 2.06 ml·min-1·mm Hg-1) and females (3.91 ± 1.13 to 5.40 ± 1.38 ml·min-1·mm Hg-1) with no changes in control groups. For dynamic responses, training significantly increased the amplitude of the fast growth phase of LVC (1.81 ± 1.12 to 2.68 ± 1.01 ml·min-1·mm Hg-1) and decreased the time constant of the slow growth phase (43.6 ± 46.4 s to 16.1 14.0 s) in females, but no improvements were observed in control females or in any of the two male groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that training increases the peak vasodilatory response in males and females, whereas the speed of the dynamic response of vasodilation is improved in females but not males.

Effect of concurrent strength and endurance training on run performance and biomechanics: A randomized controlled trial.

This parallel-group randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of concurrent strength and endurance (CSE) training on running performance, biomechanics, and muscle activity during overground running. Thirty moderately trained distance runners were randomly assigned to 10-week CSE training (n = 15; 33.1 ± 7.5 years) or a control group (n = 15; 34.2 ± 8.2 years). Participants ran ≥30 km per week and had no experience with strength training. The primary outcome measure was 2-km run time. Secondary outcome measures included lower limb sagittal plane biomechanics and muscle activity during running (3.89 m s-1 and maximal sprinting); maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2 max); running economy; and body composition. CSE training improved 2-km run time (mean difference (MD): -11.3 s [95% CI -3.7, -19.0]; p = 0.006) and time to exhaustion during the V̇O2 max running test (MD 59.1 s [95% CI 8.58, 109.62]; p = 0.024). The CSE training group also reduced total body fat (MD: -1.05 kg [95% CI -0.21, -1.88]; p = 0.016) while total body mass and lean body mass were unchanged. Hip joint angular velocity during the early swing phase of running at 3.89 m s-1 was the only biomechanical or muscle activity variable that significantly changed following CSE training. CSE training is beneficial for running performance, but changes in running biomechanics and muscle activity may not be contributing factors to the performance improvement. Future research should consider other possible mechanisms and the effect of CSE training on biomechanics and muscle activity during prolonged running under fatigued conditions.