Performance Of Professional Athletes Research Articles

Effects of single session transcranial direct current stimulation on aerobic performance and one arm pull-down explosive force of professional rock climbers.

Objective: To explore the effects of single-session transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on aerobic performance and explosive force in the one-arm pull-down of long-term trained rock climbers. Method: Twenty athletes (twelve male and eight female) from the Rock Climbing Team of Hunan province (Hunan, China) were selected for a randomized double-blind crossover study. After baseline tests, All subjects visited laboratories twice to randomly receive either sham or a-tDCS at a current intensity of 2mA for 20min. The two visits were more than 72h apart. Immediately after each stimulation, subjects completed a 9-min 3-level-load aerobic test and a one-arm pull-down test. Results: Differences in the heart rate immediately after 9-min incremental aerobic exercises revealed no statistical significance between each group (p > 0.05). However, the decrease in heart rate per unit time after exercise after real stimulation was significantly better than before stimulation (p < 0.05), and no statistical significance was observed between after sham stimulation and before stimulation (p > 0.05). One-arm pull-down explosive force on both sides after real stimulation was improved by a-tDCS compared with before stimulation, but with no significant difference (p > 0.05). Real stimulation was significantly improved, compared with sham stimulation on the right side (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Single-session tDCS could potentially benefit sports performance in professional athletes.

Sleep and Performance in Professional Athletes.

Sleep is an essential human behavior that plays a key role in proper biopsychosocial development as well as short- and long-term biological, physical, psychological, and cognitive health. Sleep plays a key role in athletic performance, influencing an athlete's ability to train, recover, and perform, as well as their overall wellness. Over the recent decade, the awareness of sleep's import has penetrated just about every professional sport domain. The purpose of the review was to identify and synthesize the literature published within the past 5years (2018-2022) that relates to sleep and performance in professional athletes. Literature related to nonprofessional, high-level athletes (e.g., collegiate; Olympic) was omitted as well as those associated with non-traditional professional sports (e.g., eSports). Results from 38 articles were incorporated into this review, which covered (1) the sleep's role in the training, physical injury prevention and recovery, competitive performance, and mental health of professional athletes, (2) common sleep problems and disorders in professional athletes, and (3) the impact of unique challenges from training, travel, competition, and other factors on sleep health. Additionally, we provide an orientation to utilized strategies and interventions to assist with sleep health in professional athletes, as well as conclude with a commentary on critical steps forward. Sleep plays a critically important role in the training, recovery, performance, and overall wellness of professional athletes. Professional athletes are vulnerable to a variety of sleep-related problems and disorders, due to unique factors related to training, travel, and competition, among other factors. Improved, standardized research methodology and partnerships between professional athletes, coaches, teams, and organizations and researchers are necessary to advance the knowledge of sleep and performance in professional athletes, including identifying sport-specific differences and variation across individual characteristics, as well as developing individualizable, dynamic, and appropriate interventions for improving sleep health among professional athletes.

Air Quality Is Predictive of Mistakes in Professional Baseball and American Football.

Air quality is a growing environmental concern that has implications for human physical and mental health. While air pollution has been linked to cognitive disease progression and declines in overall health, the impacts of air quality on athletic performance have not been extensively investigated. Much of the previous research focused on endurance sports indicates that air quality negatively impacts athletic performance; however, the effects of air quality on non-endurance elite team performance remains largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of air quality on errors committed by Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, interceptions thrown by quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL), and overall quarterback performance in the NFL. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the impact of the median air quality index (AQI) of counties with MLB and NFL teams on errors, interceptions, and overall quarterback performance of players on those MLB and NFL teams. AQI was a significant positive predictor of errors and interceptions, indicating increased errors and interceptions with decreased air quality. Similarly, quarterback performance was significantly reduced for quarterbacks from teams in counties with worse air quality. These findings suggest that air quality has a significant impact on performance in the MLB and NFL, indicating impairments in physical and cognitive performance in professional athletes when competing in areas with poorer air quality. Hence, it is likely that air quality impacts athletic performance in numerous sports that have not yet been investigated.

Impacts of travel distance and travel direction on back-to-back games in the National Basketball Association.

Travel fatigue and circadian disruptions are known factors that can hinder performance in professional athletes. The present study focused on travel distance and direction on back-to-back games over the 2013-2020 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The outcomes were based on winning percentage with additional covariates including the direction of travel (eastward or westward), the distance traveled (0-500 km; 501-1,000 km; 1,001-1,500 km; 1,501 km and more), team quality, and season. If a team played both games of a back-to-back sequence on the road, they were considered Away-Away; if a team played the first game of a back-to-back sequence at home they were considered Home-Away; if a team played the first game of a back-to-back sequence on the road they were considered Away-Home. The sequence Away-Home significantly increases the likelihood of winning compared with the Away-Away and Home-Away sequences: 54.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54.4%-54.5%), 39.2% (95% CI, 37.2%-41.2%), and 36.8% (95% CI, 36.7%-36.8%), respectively. When teams travel back home, every additional 500 km reduces the likelihood of winning by approximately 4% (P = .038). Finally, after withdrawing the Away-Home sequence, traveling eastward significantly increases the chance of winning (P = .024) compared with westward travel but has no significant impact on the probability of winning compared with neutral time zone travel (P = .091). The accumulation of travel fatigue and the chronic circadian desynchronization that occurs over the NBA season can acutely disturb sleep and recovery. It appears that tailored sleep and recovery strategies need to be dynamically developed throughout the season to overcome the different challenges of the NBA schedule. Charest J, Samuels CH, Bastien CH, Lawson D, Grandner MA. Impacts of travel distance and travel direction on back-to-back games in the National Basketball Association. J Clin Sleep Med. 2021;17(11):2269-2274.

295 Impacts of travel distance and travel direction on back-to-back games in the National Basketball Association (NBA)

Abstract Introduction Travel fatigue and circadian disruptions are known factors that can hinder performance in professional athletes. The present exploratory study focused on investigating the impact of travel distance and direction on back-to-back games over the 2013–2020 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Methods Data from away and home games of back-to-back sequences, in two different cities, from the 2013 to 2020 seasons in the National Basketball Association were included in this study. Information from every selected game was retrieved from the official website of the NBA (www.nba.com). The outcomes were based on winning percentage with additional covariates including the direction of travel (eastward or westward) and the distance travelled (0-500km – 501-1000km – 1001-1500km – 1501km and more). If a team played both games of a back-to-back sequence on the road, they were considered Away-Away; if a team played the first game of a back-to-back sequence at home they were considered Home-Away; if a team played the first game of a back-to-back sequence on the road they were considered Away-Home. Results The sequence Away-Home significantly increases the likelihood of winning compared to the Away-Away and Home-Away sequences 54.4% (95%CI: 54.4,54.5); 39.2% (95%CI: 37.2,41.2), and 36.8%, (95%CI: 36.7,36.8), respectively. Following a road game, when teams travel back home, every additional 500km reduces the likelihood of winning by approximately 4% (p = 0.038). Finally, after withdrawing the Away-Home sequence, travelling eastward significantly increases the chance of winning (p = 0.024) compared to westward travel but has no significant impact on the probability of winning compared to neutral time zone travel (p = 0.091). Conclusion The accumulation of travel fatigue and the chronic circadian desynchronization that occurs over the NBA season can acutely disturb sleep and recovery. It appears that tailored sleep and recovery strategies need to be dynamically developed throughout the season to overcome the different challenges of the NBA schedule. Support (if any):

Career Outlook and Performance of Professional Athletes After Achilles Tendon Rupture: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this systematic review is to examine the literature on Achilles tendon (AT) injuries in professional athletes to determine their rate of return to play (RTP), performance, and career outcome after AT rupture. A literature search of MEDLINE, Google Scholar, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. Included studies reported outcomes related to RTP (time and rate), durability and player participation, and player performance following AT rupture in professional athletes of the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), and professional soccer leagues. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria for analysis. Athletes were able to return to professional sport participation 76% of the time, with mean time to RTP of 11 months following AT injury. Athletes experienced a decline in player efficiency ratings, power ratings, and sport- and position-specific statistics in the NFL, NBA, and professional soccer leagues compared to noninjured controls. RTP rate was significantly lower following AT rupture in comparison to athletes sustaining other common orthopedic injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament injuries, meniscal tears, and ankle fractures in both NFL and NBA athletes. AT rupture prohibits nearly 25% of professional athletes from returning to their respective sport. Of those able to return to compete at a professional level, the mean time to RTP is 11 months-nearly double the estimated 6-month recovery for RTP in the general population. Furthermore, player performance and durability were curtailed following AT rupture. This review of the literature should be used to set evidence-based goals and establish realistic expectations for RTP for elite athletes following AT injuries. Level III, systematic review.

Exploiting dietary supplements with antioxidant properties for enhancing physical efficiency at the state of physical fatigue in sports

The aim of the review was to analyze the current scientific data concerning the dietary supplements (DS) with antioxidant activity to be recommended for using in order to improve physical performance in professional athletes experiencing fatigue. Material and methods. Online publications reviewing has been performed using the PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar databases, eLibrary platform, Cyberleninka. Results. Maintaining an athlete organism various systems functioning at the optimum level is known to be represented enough effective only with application of dietary supplements. The results of comprehensive up-to-date foreign and domestic scientific researches concerning dietary supplements including components with antioxidant activity to be recommended for delaying fatigue onset and improving physical performance in athletes have been analyzed. Application of such dietary supplements is dictated by the necessity to increase antioxidant organism defense, to maintain the normal functioning of a number of enzymes and prevent oxidative stress. The effectiveness of dietary supplements containing such components as vitamins E, A, and C; selenium, succinic and alpha-lipoic acid, coenzyme Q10, glutathione and other natural sources of antioxidants have been discussed in the review. The analysis of the data presented in the current scientific literature have confirmed the urgency of additional researches with the aim of receiving sufficient pieces of evidences of effectiveness of a number of dietary supplements with antioxidant activity in physical fatigue. Conclusion. For postponing fatigue and improving physical efficiency in sports there appear to be reasonable to use dietary supplements possessing antioxidant properties with effectiveness confirmed by scientific researches.

Change of Direction Performance in Elite Players From Different Team Sports.

Loturco, I, Pereira, LA, Reis, VP, Abad, CCC, Freitas, TT, Azevedo, PHSM and Nimphius, S. Change of direction performance in elite players from different team sports. J Strength Cond Res 36(3): 862-866, 2022-The primary aim of this study was to examine the differences in change of direction (COD) deficit between elite futsal, soccer, handball, and rugby players. A secondary aim was to compare the performance in both COD and linear speed tests among these athletes. One-hundred sixty-one elite male players from 4 team sports performed a 20-m linear sprint speed and a Zigzag COD speed test. The COD deficit was calculated as the difference between linear and Zigzag test velocities. Differences in COD speed, COD deficit, and sprint velocity were assessed via 1-way analysis of variance. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Soccer players displayed significantly lower performance than the remaining team sports, and rugby players performed better than all the other groups in the Zigzag COD test. Moreover, the COD deficit was significantly higher in soccer players in comparison with the other disciplines (p < 0.05). No differences were observed in the COD deficit among rugby, futsal, and handball players (p > 0.05). In summary, soccer players were slower than futsal, handball, and rugby players to change direction and presented the greatest COD deficit magnitude. By contrast, the fastest athletes in the COD speed test (rugby players) were not more effective than futsal and handball players at changing direction (as they exhibited similar levels of COD deficit). Coaches should be aware of this evidence, which reinforces previous findings, indicating that very specialized training strategies might be required to improve COD performance in professional athletes.

Motivational Effects of Enhanced Expectancies for Motor Learning in Individuals With High and Low Self-Efficacy.

Previous research has shown that enhanced expectancies can foster a person’s motivational state and facilitate motor learning. However, the effects of enhanced expectancies on motivational state and subsequent motor learning in individuals with varied motivational states (e.g., self-efficacy; SE) are not well understood. This study examined the effects of enhanced expectancies on motivational state and motor learning in individuals with high and low SE by manipulating the type of knowledge of results (KR). We selected 60 participants from 251 male undergraduate students, based on their SE level, and assigned them to four groups: (a) Good Performance KR and High SE, (b) Poor Performance KR and High SE, (c) Good Performance KR and Low SE, and (d) Poor Performance KR and Low SE. We asked participants to throw beanbags at a target with their nondominant hand during an acquisition phase (10 blocks of six trials each) and during subsequent retention and transfer tests. During acquisition, the Good KR groups received KR from their three most accurate trials in each training block, whereas the Poor KR groups received KR from their three poorest attempts in each block. We measured accuracy scores and changes in SE as dependent variables. Results showed that KR from good trials, relative to KR from poor trials, led to better accuracy scores during acquisition and retention and transfer tests, independent of participants’ initial SE levels. Moreover, KR on good trials enhanced SE in the Good KR and Low SE group and kept SE at a high level in the Good KR and High SE group during acquisition and on the retention and transfer tests. These results provide support for the OPTIMAL (optimizing performance through intrinsic motivation and attention for learning) theory of motor learning, and we discuss results in terms of the potential effects of positive feedback on motor performance in professional athletes.

Acupuncture in prevention, treatment of injuries and improvement of performance in athletes: Literature review

Studies have shown that acupuncture improves physical performance in professional athletes, but the big problem is sports injuries, which can leave them away from activities for long periods. The study conducted a literature review, seeking the efficacy of the technique in the prevention, improvement of performance and in the treatment of lesions. Some authors exemplify and clarify the process of pain neurophysiology and the way in which acupuncture can intervene in this problem, others, develop and apply protocols to achieve an improvement in performance, treatment of diseases and prevention of Injury. Among the results were found eighty-nine articles on the subject, where: twenty two reported the treatment of lesions and thirty-seven the prevention and improvement of athletic performance, directing the application once in the week, of 20 – 30 minutes, presenting satisfactory results for the analyzed data. Based on this literature and evidence-based practice it can be concluded that acupuncture is a great intervention to achieve these goals within the area of sport.

POLIMORFISME GEN ALPHA ACTININ-3 (ACTN 3) BERHUBUNGAN DENGAN MUSCLE PERFOMANCE ATLET

Background: The performance of professional athletes is very important for the achievement of athletes. The athlete's performance is influenced by various factors, namely environmental factors such as training, diet and sociocultural. One important factor that also affects the performance of athletes is genetic factor that are currently being studied. One of the genetic factors believed to play a role in athlete's performance is the Alpha Actinin-3 gene (ACTN 3). Purpose : to examine how the Alpha Actinin-3 (ACTN 3) gene polymorphism causes variation among individuals in athletic muscle performance. Method : study literature. Result : The ACTN 3 gene codes for the ?-actinin-3 protein which plays a role in producing a large force of contraction (rapid forceful contraction). The genetic variation of the ACTN 3 gene causes several variants of the ACTN 3 gene that play a role in the athlete's muscle performance.Keywords: Polymorphism, ACTN Gen 3, Muscle performance.

Role of Carbohydrate and Dietary Fibery for Soccer Players

Soccer is the most well known and a phenomenal sport in the world, with around 270 million players registered to this game (FIFA, 2015). Soccer has already attracted attention either sport scientist and government from many countries to promote the benefit of active physical activity and also maintained people’s health, including the minorities and poorest. (Hammami et al, 2016; Milanovic et al., 2015; Parnell et al., 2016). Furthermore, this sport can be used to support the health public program in order to prevent chronic diseases due to cause lack of physical activity (Krustrup et al., 2010).Quality food choices and adequate nutrition nutrient are important for supporting training program and enhancing the physical performance of professional athletes. Macronutrients provide the metabolic substrates necessary for producing the chemical energy required for skeletal muscle contraction and cardiovascular physiology, while the micronutrients help the metabolic reactions involved in energy production and gas transport in the circulation. Soccer is a sport requiring for both aerobic dominant and also anaerobic energy. It needs the players to exercise repetitively at high intensities using large muscle groups for periods of several seconds to several minutes for the full match (90 min) plus added time. Metabolically, athletes depend to a certain extent on their endogenous glycogen stores in the liver and skeletal muscles. Besides from genetic factor, talent and the effort of training, it has been acknowledged that no single factor plays a bigger role in maximaxing physical performance than dietary plan.This Review article was made to show the important role of carbohydrate and dietary fiber in the aspect of soccer game, resumed from scientific articles especially from Europe/USA where soccer was more advanced there. The writer hoped that this article written and published at Indonesia can be used to developed sport science and sport medicine for his beloved country.

Oral health impact on competitive sport practice. Literature review

The high standards of performance required by a professional athlete can only be achieved by a totally healthy individual, so that oral health becomes very important. The aim of this article is to describe the relationship between oral health and sports performance and the role that sports dentistry plays in improving it. Food changes, characterized by high carbohydrate consumption, qualitative and quantitative variations of saliva, as well as the need to improve oral hygiene are all aspects to be considered by professional and amateur athletes. Sports Dentistry is the specialty responsible for the study, revision, control, prevention and treatment of orofacial injuries with their manifestations and related diseases, for maintenance of oral health in the athlete, as well as, the dissemination and information of new knowledge related to oral health and sport, applied in the world of sports competition, both amateur and professional, as the study of non-dental injuries that occur during a dentofacial trauma. In the case of professional teams it is recommended that the oral examination be performed before the beginning of the season, as well as periodic monitoring by the dentist which is important to prevent, the appearance of decay, periodontal disease, trauma and other dental pathologies that may interfere with the health and performance of professional athletes.

Role of Carbohydrate and Dietary Fiber for Soccer Players

Soccer is the most well known and a phenomenal sport in the world, with around 270 million players registered to this game. Soccer has already attracted attention either sport scientist and government from many countries to promote the benefit of active physical activity and also maintained people’s health, including the minorities and poorest.. Furthermore, this sport can be used to support the health public program in order to prevent chronic diseases due to cause lack of physical activity.Quality food choices and adequate nutrition nutrient are important for supporting training program and enhancing the physical performance of professional athletes. Macronutrients provide the metabolic substrates necessary for producing the chemical energy required for skeletal muscle contraction and cardiovascular physiology, while the micronutrients help the metabolic reactions involved in energy production and gas transport in the circulation. Soccer is a sport requiring for both aerobic dominant and also anaerobic energy. It needs the players to exercise repetitively at high intensities using large muscle groups for periods of several seconds to several minutes for the full match (90 min) plus added time. Metabolically, athletes depend to a certain extent on their endogenous glycogen stores in the liver and skeletal muscles. Besides from genetic factor, talent and the effort of training, it has been acknowledged that no single factor plays a bigger role in maximaxing physical performance than dietary plan.This Review article was made to show the important role of carbohydrate and dietary fiber in the aspect of soccer game, resumed from scientific articles especially from Europe/USA where soccer was more advanced there. The writer hoped that this article written and published at Indonesia can be used to developed sport science and sport medicine for his beloved country.

Food elimination based on immunoglobulin G antibodies improves gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms and sport performance in professional athletes

Food elimination based on immunoglobulin G antibodies improves gastrointestinal discomfort symptoms and sport performance in professional athletes

Impacts of social capital on performance of professional athletes: evidence from motorboat racing in Japan

Motorboat racing is a sport organised as public gambling in Japan. As well as physical strength and driving technique, skills to adjust equipment are critical for racers to win the race. Most racers participate in small groups to share knowledge and cost of the modification of propellers, which suggests that social capital could constitute another factor in winning the race. Using comprehensive panel data of motorboat racers, this study is the first to analyse determining factors in racers' performance, focusing on social capital as well as physical factors. Estimation results reveal that bridging social capital exerts no effect on performance while bonding social capital has positive impacts on performance. The latter effect is particularly salient for inexperienced racers who most need psychological aid backed by strong ties. The results are consistent with the contingency theory in social capital studies.

Impacts of social capital on performance of professional athletes: evidence from motorboat racing in Japan

Motorboat racing is a sport organised as public gambling in Japan. As well as physical strength and driving technique, skills to adjust equipment are critical for racers to win the race. Most racers participate in small groups to share knowledge and cost of the modification of propellers, which suggests that social capital could constitute another factor in winning the race. Using comprehensive panel data of motorboat racers, this study is the first to analyse determining factors in racers' performance, focusing on social capital as well as physical factors. Estimation results reveal that bridging social capital exerts no effect on performance while bonding social capital has positive impacts on performance. The latter effect is particularly salient for inexperienced racers who most need psychological aid backed by strong ties. The results are consistent with the contingency theory in social capital studies.

The contingent effect of social capital on performance of professional athletes: life cycle stages and changes in regulation as moderators

ABSTRACTMotorboat racing is a sport organized as public gambling in Japan. As well as physical strength and driving technique, skills to adjust equipment are critical for racers to win a race. Based on the contingency theory of social capital, this study analysed comprehensive panel data of motorboat racers and revealed that bonding and bridging social capital had different impacts on performance according to life cycle stages of racers and changes in regulation. First, bonding social capital has a positive impact on performance when racers are less experienced and most need psychological aid stemming from strong ties. Second, bridging social capital has a positive impact on performance when racers are more experienced and have accumulated absorptive capacity to learn efficiently from diverse sources of knowledge. Third, both bonding and bridging social capital lose their explanatory power after the changes in regulation that shifted ownership of propellers from racers to the authority, which could mitigate the significance of the formation of small groups among racers to share cost and knowledge regarding the improvement in propellers. Research and managerial implications of the findings are discussed.

Effects of Exercise on Sport Concussion Assessment Tool-Third Edition Performance in Professional Athletes.

Background:The Sport Concussion Assessment Tool–Third Edition (SCAT3) is currently considered the standard sideline assessment for concussions. In-game exercise, however, may affect SCAT3 performance and the diagnosis of concussions.Purpose:To examine the influence of exercise on SCAT3 performance in professional male athletes.Study Design:Controlled laboratory study.Methods:We examined the SCAT3 performance of 82 professional male athletes under 2 conditions: at rest and after exercise.Results:Athletes reported significantly fewer total symptoms (mean, 1.0 ± 1.5 vs 1.6 ± 2.3 total symptoms, respectively; P = .008; Cohen d = 0.34), committed significantly fewer errors on the modified Balance Error Scoring System (mean, 3.5 ± 3.5 vs 4.6 ± 4.1 errors, respectively; P = .017; d = 0.31), and required significantly less time to complete the tandem gait test (mean, 9.5 ± 1.4 vs 9.9 ± 1.7 seconds, respectively; P = .02; d = 0.30) during the at-rest condition compared with the postexercise condition.Conclusion:The interpretation of in-game (sideline) SCAT3 results should consider the effects of postexercise fatigue levels on an athlete’s performance, particularly if preseason baseline data have been collected when the athlete was well rested.Clinical Relevance:Exercise appears to affect symptom burden and physical abilities, such as balance and tandem gait, more so than the cognitive components of the SCAT3.

Exploring the Role of Spirituality and Spiritual Beliefs in the Pursuit of Excellence and Attainment of Peak Performance in Professional Athletes

Exploring the Role of Spirituality and Spiritual Beliefs in the Pursuit of Excellence and Attainment of Peak Performance in Professional Athletes