Male Athletes Research Articles

Analysis of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in the Gastrocnemius Muscle Post Pre-Competition Athlete for the 2024 POPDA Batam Basketball Team Athlete

The aim of this study is to analyze the delayed onset of muscle soreness in the Gatrocnemius muscle after the pre-competition for the 2024 POPDA Batam men’s and women’s basketball teams. This research is a descriptive study using a survey method. The sample for this study was 24 people consisting of 12 male athletes and 12 female athletes. The research instrument used was the results of Delayed Onset Muscle Sores (DOMS) measurements carried out after 48 hours of pre-exercise. The data analysis used is descriptive statistics. The results of the research were that those experiencing very severe pain were athletes presenting (0%) and female presentations (0%), conditions of severe pain for male presentations (66.6%) and female presentations (50%), moderate pain conditions for male presentations (25%) and presentation daughter (25%), mild pain condition of presentation son (8.3%) and presentation daughter (25%), non-pain condition of presentation son (0%) and presentation daughter (0%).

Aerobic capacity and respiratory indices of junior cross-country skiers and biathletes during incremental exercise testing.

The present study compared the isocapnic buffering phase (ICB), hypocapnic hyperventilation phase, ventilatory threshold (VT), respiratory compensation point (RCP), and maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) among biathlon and cross-country ski athletes during an incremental exercise test. 37 male and 33 female Turkish National Team athletes volunteered to participate in the research. Body fat percentage, lean mass, and fat mass values of athletes were measured using the bioelectrical impedance analysis method, and oxygen consumption (VO2) was measured with a portable cardiopulmonary exercise test system with a ramp protocol on the treadmill. In VT, RCP, and VO2max phases, male athletes had higher VO2 and speed values than female athletes (p < 0.05). In contrast, they had similar values across different categories of sports (biathlon and cross-country skiing) (p > 0.05). Additionally, XC skiers and males had higher absolute (Abs) VO2 and mass-normalized (Rel) VO2 values than biathletes and females in exhaustion times and ICBs (p < 0.05). In contrast, they had similar Abs VO2 and Rel VO2 values in hypocapnic hyperventilation phases (p > 0.05). In addition, XC skiers and males had higher absolute (Abs) VO2 and relative (Rel) VO2 values than biathletes and females in exhaustion times and ICBs (p < 0.05). In contrast, they had similar Abs VO2 and Rel VO2 values in hypocapnic hyperventilation phases (p > 0.05). These results indicate significant differences in physiological profiles between male and female athletes and between XC skiers and biathletes.

Gender-Specific Physiological Profiles and Performance Metrics in Young Elite Table Tennis Players

Table tennis requires a combination of anaerobic and aerobic energy systems, agility, short reaction times, and precise motor skills. The aim of this study is to investigate gender-specific physiological profiles and performance measures in young elite table tennis players. The objectives are to identify key physical and anthropometric attributes contributing to table tennis performance, compare these attributes between male and female athletes, and develop targeted training recommendations. The study involved sixteen players (8 males and 8 females) within the age range of 10 to 18 years who train regularly at Istanbul Pendik Sports Hall. Inclusion criteria required training at least three times per week and participating at championship levels. Anthropometric measurements were taken using a Seca 220R stadiometer and a Seca 710R weighing scale, with body fat percentage estimated via a Tanita scale. Performance tests included vertical jump height (Witty Microgate device), reaction times (custom device), and heart rates (Activio Sport System). Assessments were carried out between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. Male athletes had higher mean values in height (159.00 ± 13.29 cm), weight (50.00 ± 12.06 kg), and vertical jump height, whereas female athletes had better reaction times (1.17 ± 0.14 seconds). No statistically significant differences were found in body fat percentage and mean heart rate. t-Tests revealed that gender differences in most performance metrics were not statistically significant, but correlation analysis showed statistically significant relationships between various physical characteristics and performance outcomes (p&amp;lt;0.05). As a result, physical fitness and reaction time are crucial for table tennis performance. Tailored training programs should focus on these attributes to enhance performance in young elite players. Future studies should follow these metrics longitudinally to understand their impact on competitive success.

Lifestyle Measurement of Junior Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study of Food, Cigarette, and Alcohol Consumption in Sumedang, West Java

Sedentary lifestyles, such as consuming foods high in energy, protein, carbohydrates, and fat, sleeping less than 8 hours, smoking and drink an alcohol can approximately double the risk of obesity and hypertension. These factors can affect nutritional status and impact physical fitness and achievement in junior athletes. This study aims to identify the lifestyle and nutritional status of junior athletes aged 11-24 years during the match preparation period. The sample consisted of 110 junior athletes in Sumedang, West Java. This research using a cross-sectional approach. Results showed that the average athlete in Sumedang Regency consumed 2,035 Kcal daily, with male athletes consuming 2,218.8 Kcal and female athletes consuming 1,797.7 Kcal. More than half of the male athletes (64.5%) are smoked but did not consume an alcohol (95.2%). On other hand, most of female athletes neither smoke (85.4%) nor consume an alcohol. The data also shows there is a significant (p-value &amp;lt; 0.05) consumption among male and female athletes on cigarette consumption. Findings indicate that athletes did not meet the nutritional intake adequate even for normal individuals, while athletes require a higher nutritional adequacy due to their intensive training regimens. Athletes in Sumedang Regency are not meeting their nutritional needs and engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption, which may affect their physical fitness and performance. These lifestyle factors need to be addressed to improve their nutritional status and overall athletic performance.

Mini-review and Meta-analysis of effort ratios in mixed martial arts rounds: key insights for research and coaches

This study investigated the critical aspect of match intensity in MMA bouts and its impact on performance. MMA is a physically demanding sport, and understanding the dynamics of intensity throughout matches is essential for both athletes and trainers. To achieve this goal, we adhered to the PRISMA guidelines for comprehensive and ethical reporting of our findings. We conducted a thorough search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Bireme, CINAHL, SportDiscus, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Cochrane, to identify relevant articles. Our search terms included "mixed martial arts athletes," "movement time study," "male athletes," "female athletes," "lactate," "heart rate," and "motor action." Our meta-analysis yielded compelling results. We found a statistically significant difference between the third and second rounds (p=0.0001) for both total high-intensity and low-intensity time. Additionally, significant differences were observed when comparing the second round to the first round for total high-intensity time (p=0.52) and total low-intensity time (p=0.58). These findings indicate a progressive increase in intensity throughout the rounds, with the third round significantly affecting the fight's outcome. Our results suggest that trainers and athletes should consider a specific strategy for the third round to address potential metabolic fatigue. Future research should delve deeper into strategies that can effectively manage intensity throughout MMA bouts, with a focus on factors like nutrition, recovery, and psychological aspects, which could provide valuable insights into optimizing performance in this demanding sport. Keywords: Technical-tactical analysis; Task performance and analysis; Exercise physiology; Martial Arts.

Why don’t former female athletes have kids? Exploring career and post-career paths in elite sport in Switzerland

Female elite athletes are less likely than male elite athletes to have children during their careers, in part because of the difficulty of balancing motherhood and elite sports. Does this childlessness gap disappear or persist in the post-career period? What factors determine the childlessness of former athletes? The article presents the results of a quantitative cross-sectional study of 1255 former elite athletes who participated in at least one national competition in their discipline and reside in Switzerland. The results indicate that women are more likely than men to remain childless in the post-career years, and that they are also more likely than women in the general population to remain childless. The analyses point to the importance of the gendered orientation of sport socialization (for instance, essentialist representations, valorization of masculinity) in understanding ex-athletes’ relationship to parenthood and in explaining their childlessness. Examining the phenomenon of childlessness reveals that socialization of athletes in gendered sport leaves traces on their representations and practices that are visible even after their careers have ended. In particular, women who have experienced the most inverted gender socialization by playing a male sport have the highest rate of childlessness.

Effects of Chiropractic Care Combine with a Three-Month Physical Training Program on the Development of Adolescent Basketball Players

This study assessed the effect of routine chiropractic care combined with a three-month strength and conditioning program on the physical performance of adolescent basketball players. Thirty-one male athletes, aged 16-19, from elite Chinese national basketball camps, were divided into experimental and control groups. All subjects received cervical adjustment one time per week done by a team chiropractor. The program aimed to enhance agility, muscular strength, endurance, and speed through professional training. Measurements were taken at baseline, at six weeks, and after twelve weeks, using tests such as the ¾ court sprint, box agility, 1RM back squat, 1RM bench press, 65kg bench press for maximum reps, and 17-line shuttle run. The experimental group showed significant improvements in all metrics except the box agility test, while the control group exhibited fewer substantial changes. Results indicate that structured strength and conditioning programs combined with chiropractic adjustment significantly enhance adolescent athletes’ physical performance. The level of significance was set at p &lt; 0.05. The study concludes that consistent chiropractic care and professionally supervised training are beneficial for adolescent athletes’ development, suggesting the integration of such programs into training routines for adolescent athletes to improve their physical capabilities and minimize injury risks.

Impact of Acute Dietary and Exercise Manipulation on Next Day RMR Measurements and DXA Body Composition Estimates.

To investigate the effects of acute diet and exercise manipulation on resting metabolic rate (RMR) measurement variability and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) body composition estimates. 10 male and 10 female endurance athletes (12 cyclists, 5 triathletes, 4 runners) of Tier 2 (n = 18) to Tier 3 (n = 2) calibre underwent five conditions using a Latin square counterbalance design. For 24 hours, athletes consumed a diet providing excessive energy availability (75 kcal‧kg fat free mass (FFM)-1) without exercise (GEArest), high energy availability (45 kcal‧kg FFM-1) without (HEArest) or with exercise (HEAex), or low-energy availability (15 kcal‧kg FFM-1) without (LEArest) or with exercise (LEAex). Exercise involved two bouts of cycling (morning bout: 149 ± 34 min at 55% of maximal aerobic capacity (VO2 max); afternoon bout: 60 min at 65% of VO2 max) that resulted in a cumulative exercise energy expenditure of 30 kcal‧kg FFM-1. The following day, RMR and DXA measurements occurred after a 10-hour fast and 12-hours post-exercise. There were no sex differences in relative RMR (p = 0.132) nor effects of any of the five conditions on RMR (p = 0.353). For both male and female athletes, FFM estimates were decreased following the LEArest (-0.84 ± 0.66 kg; p = 0.001) and LEAex (-0.65 ± 0.86 kg; p = 0.016) conditions compared to the GEArest condition and following the LEArest (-0.73 ± 0.51 kg; p = 0.001) and LEAex (-0.54 ± 0.79 kg; p = 0.024) conditions compared to the HEAex condition. There was no effect of condition on fat mass estimates (p = 0.819). Acute periods of diet and exercise manipulation did not create artifacts in next-day RMR measurements. However, as changes in estimates of FFM were seen, diet and exercise should be controlled in the 24-hours prior to DXA scans.

CMR native T1 and T2 Mapping in Olympic athletes: the influence of sport discipline and sex

Abstract Background Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) has a growing role in evaluating athletes’ hearts. Mapping techniques provide added value for tissue characterisation, but data on athletes and sports disciplines are lacking. Aim To describe native mapping values in a cohort of Olympic Athletes and evaluate the influence of sports discipline and sex. Methods A group of 300 Olympic athletes (13% skill, 20% power, 25% mixed, 42% endurance, 58% male) with unremarkable cardiovascular screening and a control group of 42 sedentary subjects (52% male) underwent CMR without contrast administration. Athletes were divided based on sex and sports categories according to the ESC classification. Results Among athletes of different sports categories and controls, endurance presented the lowest value of T1 mapping (p&amp;lt;0.001). No differences in T2 mapping were observed (p=0.472). Female athletes had higher values of T1 native myocardial mapping compared to males (p=0.001), while there were no differences in T2 mapping (p=0.817). Male athletes with higher left ventricular mass indexed (LV-Massi) had lower values of T1 mapping (p=0.006) and slightly higher values of T2 mapping, even if not significant (p=0.150). Female athletes with higher LV-Massi did not show significant differences in T1 and T2 mapping (p=0.053 and p=0.438) Conclusions T1 native myocardial mapping showed significant differences related to sports disciplines and gender. Athletes with the largest LV remodelling, mostly endurance and mixed, showed the lowest values of T1 mapping. Male athletes showed lower values of T1 mapping than females. No significant differences were observed in T2 mapping related to sports disciplines and gender.

Cycling Intensity Effect on Running Plus Cycling Performance among Triathletes.

Running performance is crucial for triathlon performance. However, the prior bout of cycling may affect the running split time. This study compared the triathletes' cycling plus running (C+R) time, when cycling was performed at three different intensities and running was maximal. A total of 38 athletes (21 males and 17 females) were included. Body composition, maximal oxygen uptake, and functional threshold power (FTP) was evaluated. The participants visited the laboratory three times to cycle 20 km at 80%, 85%, or 90% FTP (in randomized order) and run 5 km as fast as possible. Males ran faster after cycling at 80% FTP than after cycling at 90% FTP (mean difference=35.1 s; CI% 2.2, 68.1 s; p=0.035). The C+R time was faster when cycling at 90% FTP than at 80% FTP (mean difference=57.7 s; CI% 26.1, 89.3 s; p<0.001). For females, no significant difference was observed in the running time after cycling at 80%, 85%, or 90% FTP. The C+R time was faster when cycling at 90% FTP than at 80% FTP (mean difference=80.9 s; CI% 29.7, 132.1 s; p=0.002). In conclusion, to optimize triathlon performance, male and female athletes should cycle at a minimum of 90% FTP.

Does Colostrum Bovinum Supplementation Affect Swimming Performance in Endurance-Trained Males? A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Study.

Background/Objectives: Colostrum Bovinum (COL) is recognized for its unique composition and potential ergogenic and immunological benefits. Unlike mature milk, COL is rich in immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, and various growth factors, making it one of the most potent natural immune stimulants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-weeks of COL supplementation on swimming-specific performance (SSP) and exercise adaptations in endurance-trained male athletes. Methods: Twenty-eight male triathletes and swimmers (age: 31.1 ± 10.2 years; body mass: 81.9 ± 9.0 kg; height: 1.82 ± 0.06 m) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PLA)-controlled crossover study and received 25 g∙day-1 of COL or PLA for 12 weeks. The study assessed the effects of COL on SSP (8 × 100 m performed at various intensities) and exercise adaptations [heart rate (HR) and blood lactate concentrations ([La-])]. Four main study visits were conducted-before and after COL (COLPRE and COLPOST) and PLA (PLAPRE and PLAPOST) supplementation. Results: COL had no significant effect on SSP. Still, the total time of the SSP test was about ~3.04 s shorter after COL supplementation, and ~7.13 s longer after PLA supplementation. Neither COL nor PLA supplementation affected HR during the SSP test. Post-exercise blood [La-] was significantly reduced after both COL and PLA supplementation. The analysis of SSP results in the consecutive study visits revealed possible existence of the practice effect. Conclusions: Colostrum Bovinum and high-quality milk protein (PLA) seem to be comparably effective in evoking exercise adaptation in endurance-trained male athletes. Long-term crossover supplementation protocols in athletes must consider the impact of possible practice effect when interpreting the outcomes related to exercise performance, but not biochemical or physiological markers of exercise adaptation.

"Comparative Analysis Of Achievement Motivation Across Competitive Levels Among Male And Female Athletes"

"Comparative Analysis Of Achievement Motivation Across Competitive Levels Among Male And Female Athletes"

Epidemiology of injuries in united states high school track and field jumping events from 2008 – 2019

ABSTRACT Objectives Reports of injury characteristics of high school track and field athletes participating in jumping events in the United States are limited. In this descriptive epidemiological study, we report injury rates and patterns in these athletes. Methods Injuries and athletic exposures (AE) from the National High School Sports Related Injury Surveillance System, and High School Reporting Information Online (RIO) from 2008-2019 were analyzed. Jumping events included high jump, long jump, triple jump, and pole vault. Injury rate ratios (IRR) and injury proportion ratios (IPR) were examined by sex. Results A total of 727 injuries related to jumping events during 5,486,279 AEs occurred with the highest frequency at the thigh (20.3%) followed by the ankle (18.2%), knee (16.1%), and lower leg (11.0%). The most common types of injuries were muscle strain (29.0%) and ligament sprain (21.2%). Most athletes returned to sport within 1 week (43.1%, n = 312) or 3 weeks (34.7%, n = 243). Few jumping-related injuries resulted in surgery (4.9%, n = 35) or medical disqualification (4.4%, n = 31). The jumping-related injury rate was 1.33 injuries/10,000 AEs from 2008 to 2019. The rate of jumping-related injuries was higher in competition than in practice (IRR = 2.63, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.25–3.06). Injury rates were significantly higher in practice for female athletes than for males (IRR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.23–1.86). Compared to male athletes, female athletes sustained a higher proportion of ankle injuries (IPR = 1.63, 95% CI: 1.15–2.32) and ligament sprains (IPR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.16–2.09). Conclusions This study describes injury characteristics of high school track and field jumping athletes from 2008 to 2019. We found an overall injury rate of 1.33 injuries per 10,000 AEs. Higher overall rates of jumping-related injuries occurred during competitions than in practice, and female athletes displayed a significantly higher rate of injuries during practices compared to male athletes.

The Impact of Stroboscopic Visual Conditions on the Performance of Elite Curling Athletes.

In elite curling, precise time perception, speed control, and accuracy are critical components of performance. Stroboscopic training enhances visual processing speed, reaction time, motor skill control, and cognitive abilities by challenging the brain to make quick decisions with limited visual information. This study aimed to investigate the impact of stroboscopic visual conditions on the key performance aspects of elite athletes in curling to determine whether these effects can be leveraged in long-term training to enhance elite curling performance. This study involved the participation of 32 national-level male curling athletes (n = 32, age: 19.9 ± 2.2 years, height: 178.0 ± 6.2 cm, body mass: 71.9 ± 10.6 kg, and training age: 2.7 ± 0.9 years). A cross-over controlled experiment was conducted, with participants randomly assigned to either a stroboscopic-first group (n = 16) or a control-first group (n = 16). Each participant completed tests under both stroboscopic and normal visual conditions, including assessments of time perception error, speed control error, and curling accuracy. Paired sample t-tests were employed to analyse performance differences across conditions, and two-factor ANOVA was used to analyse sequence effects. Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to compare differences if the main effect was significant. Cohen's d was used for two-group comparisons, whereas ηp2 and Cohen's f were used for comparisons involving three or more groups. under stroboscopic conditions, participants experienced increased errors in time perception (p < 0.001, Cohen's d = 1.143), delivery speed control (p = 0.016, Cohen's d = 0.448), and reduced accuracy (p = 0.029, Cohen's d = 0.404). The sequence main effect on speed control error was significant (p = 0.025, ηp2 = 0.081, Cohen's f = 0.297). Stroboscopic visual conditions negatively impacted cognition (especially time perception) and delivery performance focused on speed control and accuracy in elite curling, highlighting the potential and feasibility of using stroboscopic training to enhance elite curling performance.

Early Targeted Heart Rate Aerobic Exercise Reduces Proportion of Subacute Musculoskeletal Injuries After Recovery From Sport-Related Concussion.

There is greater risk of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury after clinical recovery from sport-related concussion (SRC). We determined whether aerobic exercise treatment within 10 days of SRC reduced the proportion of MSK injury in recovered adolescent athletes at 4 months since injury. Planned secondary analysis of a randomized trial of aerobic exercise versus stretching exercise in adolescents after SRC. Outpatient and hospital-based sports medicine centers. Aerobic exercise (n = 38, 58% male, 15.6 years) and stretching exercise (n = 25, 64% male, 15.9 years) participants completed a questionnaire at 3.5 and 3.3 months since recovery, respectively. Individualized subthreshold aerobic exercise versus placebo-like stretching. Proportion of MSK injury, subsequent concussion, and return to exercise training, school, and sport determined 3 months after clinical recovery from SRC. Overall, 24% of participants randomized to stretching experienced an MSK injury versus 5.3% of participants randomized to aerobic exercise. There was no difference in time to return to school, sport, or incidence of subsequent concussion. Stretching participants were 6.4 times (95% confidence interval 1.135-36.053) more likely to sustain MSK injury than aerobic exercise participants when controlling for the duration of exposure to sport and return to preinjury sport participation. All injuries were in male participants. Adolescent male athletes prescribed aerobic exercise within 10 days of SRC had a significantly lower proportion of individuals injured in the 3 months following clinical recovery when compared with stretching. This may be due to a habituation/rehabilitation effect of aerobic activities to improve autonomic, vestibular, and/or oculomotor function after SRC.

Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) for Assessment of Hydration Status: A Comparison between Endurance and Strength University Athletes.

Athletic performance is greatly impacted by hydration status. The combination of several techniques is recommended to accurately measure water losses and gains. The aim of this study is to assess the validity of bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) as a tool for measuring hydration status in endurance and strength athletes. A total of 148 athletes were evaluated on one experimental day, pre- and post-training. Urine samples were collected and analyzed for color and specific gravity. Body weight changes were measured, sweat rate was calculated, and BIVA was performed. Reference ellipses were plotted using data of 200 healthy non-athletic individuals. A moderate significant agreement was noted between raw bioelectrical values and urine specific gravity (USG) (p > 0.05). The sensitivity of classic BIVA in detecting minor changes in hydration status is confirmed both graphically and statistically. R/h and Z statistically significantly decreased post-training. Male athletes exhibited a specific BIA vector distribution compared to the reference population and were slightly more hydrated than female athletes. BIVA validation may be an essential step to allow its use among university students to assess dehydration in a non-invasive, practical, and inexpensive way.

Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Extrinsic and Intrinsic Risk Factors.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries continue to increase in incidence despite extensive research into prevention strategies. Many extrinsic and intrinsic risk factors for sustaining ACL injuries have been identified and continue to be investigated. Extrinsic risk factors for ACL injury relate to the athlete's environment, such as the shoe-surface interaction, weather conditions, and sport played. Intrinsic risk factors relate to the athlete's sex, hormones, knee anatomy, landing and pivoting biomechanics, and neuromuscular control. Recent research has highlighted the role of the bony morphology of the proximal tibia and distal femur on primary ACL injury risk, as well as the risk for ACL graft failure. Sex differences in bony and ligamentous morphology of the knee, neuromuscular control, and hormonal factors, such as serum relaxin levels and variations within the menstrual cycle, have been correlated with a higher risk of noncontact primary ACL injuries in female athletes compared with male athletes.

Improving the Determination of Carbon Isotope Ratios of Endogenous Steroids Found in Human Serum.

The determination of serum concentrations of testosterone (T) and 4-androstenedione (A4) was implemented into the steroidal module of the Athlete Biological Passport in 2023. Monitoring T, A4, and the ratio of T/A4 in a longitudinal manner enables the detection of the misuse of low-dose T administrations especially in female athletes, whereas urinary markers of the steroid profile may not be influenced significantly. In contrast to the urinary steroid profile, knowledge on confounding factors regarding serum concentrations of T and A4 is yet comparably scarce, and corroborating exogenous sources of the target analytes by isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) is desirable. In a recent study, it was demonstrated that carbon isotope ratios (CIRs) of serum steroids can be determined if analyte concentrations permit. The therein-employed method utilized 2D-GC/IRMS, and only a limited number of potential endogenous reference compounds were available. The here-presented approach uses complementary analyte purification strategies, addressing previous limitations. A high-performance liquid chromatography cleanup was developed and fully validated for serum steroids in order to enable all doping control laboratories to potentially implement this method alongside existing protocols for urinary steroids. Besides the already-investigated endogenous steroids cholesterol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, androsterone sulfate, and epiandrosterone sulfate, two additional steroids were included in the test menu, namely, pregnenolone sulfate and 5-androstene-3β,17β-diol sulfate. Serum steroid concentrations down to 25 ng/mL were found to allow robust CIR determinations, and a reference population encompassing 124 male and female athlete samples was investigated to enable the calculation of population-based thresholds for all relevant steroid combinations.

Effects of applying sports liniment with massage on muscular relative strength of hip flexion and knee extension among male Muay Thai athletes: a randomised control trial

Background: Muay Thai, Thailand’s national sport, widely practiced globally, is known for using sports liniment before training and fights. A popular product is ‘Namman Muay’, an iconic symbol of Thailand, though its direct impact on performance lacks research. Objectives: Investigate the impact of Namman Muay on the rectus femoris of the dominant leg. Focus on muscular strength exercises – seated hip flexion and supine knee extension – with relative strength as the primary outcome. Material and Methods: A randomised control trial with 24 male Muay Thai fighters, divided into 12 in the Baby Oil (BO) and 12 in the Namman Muay (NM) group. Both groups received effleurage massage on the dominant kicking legs, followed by a RAMP warm-up. Performance measurements using Lafayette Handheld Dynamometer evaluated two isometric strength tests. Results: NM intervention showed significant increases in hip flexion and knee extension strength. Within groups, a 3% decrease was seen in the BO and an 11.6% increase in NM for hip flexion strength, and 1% decrease in BO and 6.9% increase in NM for knee extension strength. Conclusion: This study provides valuable insight to Muay Thai fighters and trainers, showing that 5 ml NM boosts relative muscular strength of hip flexion and knee extension. This could improve male Muay Thai fighters’ performance particularly when using kicking techniques.

Mapping ethical positions concerning a coach’s decision to organise a hypoxic training camp

ABSTRACT On the basis of qualitative literature data, the ethical value of hypoxic training in sports is subject to debate. The objective of the present empirical study was to map various ethical positions with regard to how individuals mentally combined several factors (the hypoxic training’s objective, fairness, planning/monitoring, and method) when judging the acceptability of holding a hypoxic training camp before an event. Two hundred and sixteen participants (including 126 men and 90 women, and 186 athletes and 30 non-athletes) specified their judgement of acceptability in 36 scenarios created by cross-referencing the four factors. A cluster analysis was applied to the whole dataset. Repeated-measures analyses of variance with a 2 × 3 × 3 × 2 factorial design were then applied to each cluster. Lastly, the relationship between the clusters and the participants’ characteristics was assessed in chi-squared tests. The analyses showed four ethical positions: “Moderately acceptable” for 26% of the participants, “Acceptable, depending mainly on monitoring” for 38% of the participants, “Always acceptable” for 20% of the participants, and “Never acceptable unless planned with an expert in hypoxic training and monitored by a physician” for 16% of the participants. Contrary to female participants and non-athletes, male participants and athletes tended to accept the coach’s decision to organise a hypoxic training camp easily. Our study confirmed empirically that hypoxic training does not violate the spirit of sport. Sports stakeholders might refer to our study’s findings to set up a public relations plan that highlights the ethical value of hypoxic training.