Biological Maturation and Hormonal Markers, Relationship to Neuromotor Performance in Female Children.

Background: Mechanisms that influence muscle strength can interfere with neuromotor performance and overall health, thus hormone markers and maturation can interact in this process. Objective: The present study aimed to verify the relationship of hormonal markers and biological maturation on neuromotor abilities in young people. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with 44 female participants (11.5 ± 1.5 years). Hormones were analyzed biochemically. Skeletal and somatic maturation were analyzed using anthropometry. The muscular power of the upper and lower limbs, body speed with change of direction, and speed of the upper limbs were verified. Results: Bone age was correlated with hormonal markers (estradiol: r = 0.58; p = 0.0007), (testosterone: r = 0.51; p = 0.005). Peak growth velocity correlated with estradiol (r = 0.51; p = 0.004). The power of the lower limbs (estradiol: r = 0.52; p = 0.006; testosterone: r = 0.42; p = 0.03) and of the upper limbs (estradiol: r = 0.51; p = 0.007; testosterone: r = 0.42; p = 0.02) had a positive correlation with hormone levels and had similar results with maturation. The analysis by artificial neural networks indicated that the maturation can predict the neuromotor performance between 57.4% and 76%, while the hormonal markers showed a potential of more than 95% for the foreshadowing of the neuromotor performance of the upper limbs. Conclusion: It was possible to conclude that the hormones had a relationship with maturational development and bone age in female subjects.

Effects of Pre-exhaustion Versus Traditional Resistance Training on Training Volume, Maximal Strength, and Quadriceps Hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: The pre-exhaustion (PreEx) method is used as a resistance training (RT) method to increase muscle mass, yet the chronic effects of this method are poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: Although readily prescribed as a RT method for promotion of muscle hypertrophy, few researches give light to gains made after chronic PreEx RT. Therefore, we compared the effects of traditional versus PreEx RT programs on muscle strength, body composition, and muscular hypertrophy in adult males. METHODS: Untrained subjects (age: 31.37 ± 6.83 years; height: 175.29 ± 5.52 cm; body mass: 82.04 ± 13.61 kg; 1RM leg press: 339.86 ± 61.17 kg; 1RM leg extension: 121.71 ± 11.93 kg) were submitted to 9 weeks of RT with weekly sessions. Traditional (TRT) group (n = 12) performed three sets at 45° of leg press exercise at 75% of 1RM, PreEx group (n = 12) completed a set to failure on a leg extension machine prior to the leg press, and the control (CON) group (n = 7) did not train. Maximum strength, muscle thickness, and body composition were analyzed. RESULTS: PreEx group increased in maximal strength on leg press (16 ± 8%) and leg extension (17 ± 11%), while the TRT group improved by 15 ± 9 and 11 ± 4%, respectively. The thickness of the quadriceps muscles increased for both intervention groups. Specifically, the post-training thickness of the vastus lateralis was significantly higher for PreEx (55%) compared to the CON group. The TRT group presented a greater loss of total and thigh fat mass when compared with the PreEx method. These results were found in the presence of a lower training load for the PreEx group. CONCLUSION: The PreEx training can decrease the total training volume while maintaining results in strength and hypertrophy when comparing to TRT. However, TRT may be optimal if the goal is to decrease fat mass.

Aerobic fitness is associated with improved repeated sprints ability of basketball players after six weeks of training during preseason / Aptidão aeróbica é associada com a melhora da capacidade de sprints repetidos de atletas de basquetebol após seis semanas de treinamento durante o período preparatório

Abstract The repeated sprints ability (RSA) is considered an important attribute for basketball, being aerobic fitness pointed out as limiting factor for repetition of sprints. The aim of the study was to verify if the change in VO2PEAK is related to the improvement of RSA after six weeks of training during preseason. Twelve male college basketball players aged 18-24 participated in the study. Players were submitted to body composition evaluation, maximum incremental treadmill test and RSA test (6x30-m) before and after six weeks of training. For the purpose of the study, the calculation of the change percentage delta was used. Paired t-test was used to verify differences after training and Pearson's correlation and simple linear regression were used to verify the relationship between ∆%VO2PEAK and ∆%RSA. There were improvements in RSAPEAK (t (1.11) = 2.7, p = 0.023); RSAMEAN (t (1.11)= 2.8, p= 0.019); RSATOTAL (t (1.11)= 2.6, p= 0.028); RSADEC (t (1.11)= 2.9, p= 0.015); and sprints 4 (t (1.11)= 2.4, p= 0.037); 5 (t (1.11)= 3.14, p= 0.010); and 6 (t (1.11)= 3.65,p= 0.004) and VO2PEAK (t (1.11)= -5.4, p <0.001); ∆%VO2PEAK was related to ∆%RSAMEAN (r= -0.667; r2= 0.383), ∆%RSATOTAL (r= -0.673; r2= 0.393), ∆%Sprint 3 (r= -0.669; r2= 0.387), ∆%Sprint 4 (r= -0.659 ; r2 = 0.371), ∆%Sprint 5 (r= -0.689; r2 = 0.413), ∆%Sprint 6 (r= -0.678; r2 = 0.400). It is possible to conclude that ~ 39% of the improvement in variables associated with the maintenance of repeated sprints (RSAMEAN, RSATOTAL, Sprints 3,4,5 and 6) of basketball players was accompanied by an increase of ~ 7.5% in VO2PEAK.

Resumo A capacidade de sprints repetidos (CSR) é considerada um importante atributo para o basquetebol, sendo a aptidão aeróbica apontada como fator limitante para a repetição dos sprints. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar se a mudança no VO2PICO se relaciona com a melhoria da CSR após seis semanas de treinamento durante o período preparatório. 12 atletas de basquetebol universitário do sexo masculino com idade entre 18-24 anos participaram do estudo. Os atletas foram submetidos a uma avaliação da composição corporal, teste incremental máximo em esteira e teste de CSR (6x30-m) antes e após seis semanas de treinamento. Para efeito do estudo recorreu-se ao cálculo do delta percentual de mudança. Teste t pareado foi utilizado para verificar as diferenças após o treinamento e a correlação de Pearson e regressão linear simples foram utilizadas para verificar a relação entre o ∆%VO2PICO e ∆%CSR. Observou-se melhorias nos índices CSRPICO (t(1,11)= 2,7; p=0,023); CSRMÉDIA (t(1,11)= 2,8; p=0,019); CSRTOTAL (t(1,11)= 2,6; p=0,028); CSRDEC (t(1,11)= 2,9; p=0,015); e sprints 4 (t(1,11)= 2,4; p=0,037); 5 (t(1,11)= 3,14; p=0,010); e 6 (t(1,11)= 3,65; p=0,004) e VO2PICO (t(1,11)= -5,4; p<0,001); O ∆%VO2PICO se relacionou com o ∆%CSRMÉDIA (r=-0,667; r2= 0,383), ∆%CSRTOTAL (r= -0,673; r2= 0,393), ∆%Sprint 3 (r=-0,669; r2=0,387), ∆%Sprint 4 (r=-0,659; r2=0,371), ∆%Sprint 5 (r=-0,689; r2=0,413), ∆%Sprint 6 (r=-0,678; r2=0,400). É possível concluir que ~39% da melhoria das variáveis associadas com a manutenção de sprints repetidos (CSRMÉDIA; CSRTOTAL; sprints 3,4,5 e 6) dos atletas de basquetebol foi compartilhada pelo aumento de ~7,5% no VO2PICO.