Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine the physical and physiological responses to simulated amateur boxing of 3 × 3-min rounds. Using an externally valid technical and ambulatory demand, 28 amateur boxers (mean ± SD; age 22.4 ± 3.5 years, body mass 67.7 ± 10.1 kg, stature 171 ± 9 cm) completed the protocol following familiarisation. The physiological load was determined continuously via collection of mean (HRmean) and peak (HRpeak) heart rate, breath-by-breath oxygen uptake (O2), aerobic energy expenditure (EEaer), excess carbon dioxide production (CO2excess), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and post-performance blood lactate. Physical performance was quantified as the acceleration delivered to the target by punches. HRmean and HRpeak were found to exceed 165 and 178 b min−1, absolute O2 > 124.6 ml kg−1, EEaer > 30.7 kcal min−1 and acceleration via 78 punches >2697 g during each round. Mean blood lactate (4.6 mmol l−1) and CO2excess (438.7 ml min−1) were higher than typical resting values reflecting a notable anaerobic contribution. RPEs reinforced the intensity of exercise was strenuous (>6–8). For all measures, there were typical increases (p < 0.05; moderate ES) across rounds. Accordingly, boxers might consider high-intensity (>90% O2max) interval training in anticipation such exercise yields improvements in aerobic conditioning. Moreover, the current simulation protocol – the boxing conditioning and fitness test – could be used as a form of training per se and as a means to monitor intervention-based changes in aspects of boxing-related physiology and performance.
Highlights
The quantification of the internal and external demands of competitive athletic performance for guiding training is an important endeavour in sports science (Bishop et al, 2008)
Participants underwent familiarisation trials (Currell and Jeukendrup, 2008) which involved two complete attempts of the boxing conditioning and fitness test (BOXFIT) simulation protocol separated by 60 minutes, the first of which employed shadow boxing exercise and the second included all its elements
Heart rate responses were observed to vary due to round number (F2,54 = 83.8, P < 0.001, ƞp2 = 0.76) representing 86 – 90% of %HRpeak, with values increasing significantly from one round to the (P < 0.001, ES = 0.62, 0.90 and 0.34 for R1 vs. R2, R1 vs. R3 and R2 vs. R3, respectively)
Summary
The quantification of the internal (physiological) and external (movement) demands of competitive athletic performance for guiding training is an important endeavour in sports science (Bishop et al, 2008). The collection and assessment of actual sports performance data is often met by several constraints. A development in recent years has seen researchers devise sport-specific simulations of actual performance from detailed analyses of movement characteristics (Currell and Jeukendrup, 2008). Simulation protocols provide an ergonomic framework in which to assess both the internal load of competitive performances, and the impact of specific interventions. This is achieved by regulating exercise intensity, yet enabling invasive measurements of the physiological demand. Several sport-specific simulations do exist for team and individual sports that are not confined to replications of basic linear motions
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