Young Male Athletes Research Articles

The effect of three different sets method used in resistance training on hypertrophy and maximal strength changes

Background and Study Aim. To compare the effects of three different sets method, which is frequently used in resistance training, on strength and hypertrophy values.
 Materials and Methods. Thirty-three young male athletes with similar daily activities and nutrient intakes at the Fitlife fitness center in Sakarya were included in the study. Participants were randomly divided into three different groups as Modified German Volume Training (MGVT) (n=11, 21.5 ± 2.4 years), Super Set (SS) (n=11, 22.4 ± 2.9) and Giant Set (GS) (n=11, 23.0 ± 4.3 years). The study was started with a total of thirty-three people, but two participants in the Giant set group were excluded from the measurements because they left the study due to personal reasons. Strength, muscle thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements were made in the upper extremity muscles before and after the six-week training period. 
 Results. After six weeks of training, significant increases were observed in the cross-sectional area and thickness (p<0.05) of pectoralis major, deltoid, and latissimus dorsi muscle groups in all three groups, and in the strength parameter (p<0.05) in bench press, barbell row and shoulder press exercises. There was no difference in strength, muscle cross-sectional area and thickness parameters between the groups (p>0,05). 
 Conclusions. Modified German Volume Training (MGVT), Super Set (SS) and Giant Set (GS) methods reveal that there is no difference between the set methods in the 1 Repetition Maximum (1RM) strength and hypertrophy development of young male individuals who do not have a history of resistance exercise but have completed the adaptation period, and that there is an improvement in all set methods.

The Influence of Different Training Load Magnitudes on Sleep Pattern, Perceived Recovery, and Stress Tolerance in Young Soccer Players.

Ferreira, ABdM, Ribeiro, BLL, Batista, EdS, Dantas, MP, and Mortatti, AL. The influence of different training load magnitudes on sleep pattern, perceived recovery, and stress tolerance in young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 37(2): 351-357, 2023-The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of 3 weeks on sleep parameters, perceived recovery, and stress tolerance in young soccer players using different training load magnitudes. A total of 13 young male soccer athletes (15.9 ± 0.5 years; 68.7 ± 6.1 kg; 170 ± 7 cm) who performed 3 typical training weeks with different workloads were analyzed. The external training load (ETL) was verified by the PlayerLoad method, and the internal training load (ITL) was determined using the session rating of perceived exertion method. Sleep was monitored using a wrist-actigraphy monitor. Sleep variables, including total time in bed (TTB), total sleep time (TST), sleep latency (SL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), and sleep efficiency (SE), were evaluated across all nights of sleep. The recovery status was assessed with the perceived recovery status (PRS) scale, and the stress tolerance was monitored using the "daily analysis of life demands of athletes" questionnaire. There was an increase in sleep time during the week with the highest training load (week 2) (TTB: +35 minutes, TST: +46 minutes, SL: -5 minutes, SE: +3%). There was no difference in the PRS or in the stress tolerance during the evaluation weeks. A very large within-individual correlation was observed between ITL and ETL ( r = 0.78) and moderate within-individual correlation between ETL and TST ( r = 0.34), between ITL and TST ( r = 0.45), and between ITL and SE ( r = 0.359). These results showed that there was an increase in TST during a microcycle with intensified loads, without impairing bedtime and resulting in maintenance of the perceived recovery or stress tolerance values.

The impact of existing and modify wrestling shoes on foot posture deformities in 12-13 years old athletes

Background and Study Aim. In the early years when sports footwear became compulsory, the importance of shoe design was not considered in terms of athletes’ health. Since the early years of wrestling shoe use, these gears have been manufactured according to the rules of competition, and modifications have been very limited. In this regard, this study aims to determine the effect of existing wrestling shoes on foot deformation.
 Material and Methods. The study was carried out with the participation of 108 young male athletes who had the same training on the same ground for three years in the Wrestling Training Center. The athletes were divided into two groups, an experimental and a control group. While the control group wore wrestling shoes produced by widely used brands, the experimental group wore newly designed wrestling shoes. Foot arch values and images of both groups were determined using a podoscope device at the beginning and end of the study. The evaluations were made according to the Staheli arch index.
 Results. The results of the statistical analysis revealed that differences were found in the footprint measurement values of the control group. It was determined that this difference in the footprints was greater among the freestyle wrestlers. The decrease in the averages between the first and second measurement values of the group using the newly designed wrestling shoes was found to be highly positive and in a linear direction. Also, it was determined that the pain score values of the control group were higher than the scores of the experimental group after training.
 Conclusions. The results revealed that there were deformations in the feet of the control group wrestlers wearing available wrestling shoes. It was observed that freestyle wrestling athletes had more deformation than Greco-Roman style wrestlers, and leg pains were more prevalent after training and competitions. Based on these results, it was concluded that the design of wrestling shoes produced with today's technology needs to be redesigned.

Comparison of Two Types of High-Intensity Interval Training: Heart Rate Based vs. Speed/Time Based

Background: Monitoring exercise intensity accurately is a constant concern for athletes and researchers. Objectives: The objective of this study was to compare the effects of controlling high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with heart rate (HTHR) and speed/time (HTST) on some fatigue-related variables. Methods: Twenty young male athletes (age 22.75 ± 2.5 years, weight 76.6 ± 8.8 kg, height 179.7 ± 6.5 cm) were randomly allocated to one of the two arms. Then two-time acute running was performed with intensity control based on heart rates (HR) and speed/time for 40 min on the treadmill with a one-week washout. In order to measure vVO2max, a VIFT test (30 - 15 intermittent fitness test) was taken. Serum levels of glucose, lactate, glycerol, pyruvate, and creatine kinase were measured before and at the end of each exercise. The normality of data was determined by the Shapiro-Wilk test. The t-test and univariate test were used to analyze within- and inter-group changes between the two types of HIIT, respectively. Results: The speed decreases at the identical intensity HTHR over time. The average speed in HTST was significantly higher (P < 0.05), but the maximum and minimum speed in HTHR was significantly higher and lower, respectively. The average distance covered by subjects in HTST was significantly higher (P < 0.05). The post-exercise blood fatigue indexes (i.e., pH, creatine kinase, lactate, glycerol, lactate/pyruvate, and glucose) in HTHR was significantly less compared to those in HTST. Heart rate increases at the identical intensity based on vVIFT in HTST gradually. Conclusions: In general, HTHR can exert the recovery and relative intensity between subjects more accurately. In fact, training based on HR, in contrast to speed/time, decreases internal load differences and increases external load differences between individuals.

Adaptation to stress in football athletes: The importance of cognitive appraisal.

This study analysed the adaptation of football athletes to competitive stressors regarding the upcoming match. For that, the study adopted a cross-sectional methodology using a critical incident approach. The participants were 352 young male football athletes, aged between 15 and 19 years (M = 16.91, SD = 0.99), who were competing in the national football championship. The results indicated that cognitive appraisal partially mediated the relationship between competitive stressors and emotions: athletes who perceived stressors as a challenge, tended to feel more control over the situation and more resourceful (coping perception), leading to a more positive emotional experience, while those perceiving the stressors as a threat were more prone to experience less control and more negative emotions. This mediation model was moderated by athletes’ competitive level (U17 or U19), as the role of challenge perception was more pronounced in the U19 team, while the relationship between threat perception and less control was only observed for the U17 team. In sum, the data reveals the importance of cognitive appraisal in young football athletes’ adaptation to competitive stressors, bolstering the theoretical models in this area and the importance of psychologists to consider these variables during intervention, particularly cognitive appraisal.

Catecholamines Are the Key Trigger of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine-Induced Myocarditis: A Compelling Hypothesis Supported by Epidemiological, Anatomopathological, Molecular, and Physiological Findings.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccine-induced myocarditis is a rare but well-documented complication in young males. The increased incidence of sudden death among athletes following vaccination has been reported and requires further investigation. Whether the risk of myocarditis, a known major cause of sudden death in young male athletes, also increases after coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is unknown. The severity and implications of these critical adverse effects require a thorough analysis to elucidate their key triggering mechanisms. The present review aimed to evaluate whether there is a justification to hypothesize that catecholamines in a “hypercatecholaminergic” state are the key trigger of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine-induced myocarditis and related outcomes and whether similar risks are also present following COVID-19 infection.A thorough, structured scoping review of the literature was performed to build the hypothesis through three pillars: detection of myocarditis risk, potential alterations and abnormalities identified after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination or COVID-19 infection and consequent events, and physiological characteristics of the most affected population. The following terms were searched in indexed and non-indexed peer review articles and recent preprints (<12 months): agent, “SARS-CoV-2” or “COVID-19”; event, “myocarditis” or “sudden death(s)” or “myocarditis+sudden death(s)” or “cardiac event(s)”; underlying cause, “mRNA” or “spike protein” or “infection” or “vaccine”; proposed trigger, “catecholamine(s)” or “adrenaline” or “epinephrine” or “noradrenaline” or “norepinephrine” or “testosterone”; and affected population, “young male(s)” or “athlete(s).” The rationale and data that supported the hypothesis were as follows: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine-induced myocarditis primarily affected young males, while the risk was not observed following COVID-19 infection; independent autopsies or biopsies of patients who presented post-SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine myocarditis in different geographical regions enabled the conclusion that a primary hypercatecholaminergic state was the key trigger of these events; SARS-CoV-2 mRNA was densely present, and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was progressively produced in adrenal medulla chromaffin cells, which are responsible for catecholamine production; the dihydroxyphenylalanine decarboxylase enzyme that converts dopamine into noradrenaline was overexpressed in the presence of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA, leading to enhanced noradrenaline activity; catecholamine responses were physiologically higher in young adults and males than in other populations; catecholamine responses and resting catecholamine production were higher in male athletes than in non-athletes; catecholamine responses to stress and its sensitivity were enhanced in the presence of androgens; and catecholamine expressions in young male athletes were already high at baseline, were higher following vaccination, and were higher than those in non-vaccinated athletes.The epidemiological, autopsy, molecular, and physiological findings unanimously and strongly suggest that a hypercatecholaminergic state is the critical trigger of the rare cases of myocarditis due to components from SARS-CoV-2, potentially increasing sudden deaths among elite male athletes.

Efficacy of Patellar Taping and Electromyographic Biofeedback Training at Various Knee Angles on Quadriceps Strength and Functional Performance in Young Adult Male Athletes with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background The severity of the articular lesion is the single most essential element in investigating the extent of flexion that is required for activities. However, a prior study found no differences in muscle strength gains of quadriceps muscles at different knee angles in people with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). Objective The effects of patellar taping and electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF)-guided isometric quadriceps strengthening at different knee angles (e.g., 30°, 60°, and 90° of knee flexion) on quadriceps strength and functional performance in people with PFPS were compared in this single-blind randomized controlled parallel trial. Methods Sixty adult male athletes with PFPS (age: 26.9 ± 1.4 years) were randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (n = 30) received patellar taping and EMG-BF-guided isometric contraction exercise at 30°, 60°, and 90° angles, and the control group (n = 30) received sham patellar taping without EMG-BF-guided exercises for six weeks. Pain intensity, knee function, muscle strength, and the single-leg triple hop (SLTH) test were assessed. Results The pain intensity and SLTH scores between the groups were significantly different at the end of the trial (p ≤ 0.001). The EMG-BF and control groups had mean pain scores of 1.3 (0.8) and 4.5 (0.8), respectively. The EMG-BF and control groups had mean functional scores of 80.4 (5.1) and 69.1 (6.1), respectively. The mean SLTH score for the EMG-BF group was 540.7 (51.2) and for the control group it was 509.4 (49.8) after the trial. Quadriceps muscle strength was significantly higher in those who performed quadriceps strength training at 60° of knee flexion after six weeks than in those who performed strength training at 30° or 90° of knee flexion. Conclusion The findings indicated that individuals who trained their quadriceps at a 60° knee angle had significantly stronger quadriceps muscles than individuals who trained at 30° or 90° of knee flexion. Trial Registration. This trial is registered at Clinical Trials.gov under the identifier NCT05055284.

Evaluation the application of the 26-workout to enhance the physical fitness – A case study in young male distance cycling athletes in an Giang province, Vietnam

The purpose of this study was to select and apply the 26 workouts in order to improve the physical fitness for young male distance cycling athletes in An Giang province, Vietnam. 08 healthy male were chosen with at least 3-4 years training in distance cycling.Results showed that the 26 workouts were selected to improve the physical fitness through the actual of training in An Giang province, participant’s characteristics, former studies, and expert interviews. Besides, there were significant differences in all 05 tests to evaluate the physical fitness after the application of the 26-workout. Moreover,the highest rate of growth was in flexibility test (9.76%), while the lowest one in 10km cycling (0.56%). This reflects that the endurance ability of participants was so high (caused by low improvement). Therefore, it is necessary to apply the 26-workout more flexibly and closely to improve the physical fitness next year. It was concluded that the application of the 26-workout has brought a good result and was suitable for the development of physical fitness in young male cycling athletes in An Giang province, Vietnam.Future studies should be conducted on a group of females, diverse in training levels, and/ or on the other ability that need to promote a good distance cycling athlete.

Assessment of lower extremity functional performance in young male volleyball athletes

Assessment of lower extremity functional performance in young male volleyball athletes

Normative values for heart rate response to exercise in young athletes at 10–18 years old

ABSTRACT The assessment of the chronotropic response during acute physical exertion can allow the discovery of many cardiovascular diseases even at a young age. However, the increase in heart rate (HR) depends on the age and sex of the subject and the modality of the graded exercise test. This study aims to provide sex- and age-related normative values for heart rate performance in young athletes aged 10–18. A retrospective study was carried out on 7896 young athletes (5356 males and 2540 females) aged between 10 and 18 who underwent pre-participation screening to obtain eligibility for competitive sport. First, anthropometric parameters, performance data, and HR are reported. Thus, each age calculated third, tenth, twenty-fifth, fiftieth, seventy-fifth, ninetieth, and ninety-seventh percentiles for the stage-by-stage HR response, according to sex and graded exercise test modality category. Young female athletes of all ages showed lower performance with fewer stages performed on the cycle ergometer and the treadmill. Young male athletes on treadmill and cycle ergometers show lower HR values at submaximal intensities. The treadmill allows a longer duration than the cycle ergometer for males and females. Sex, age, and the specificity of the movement performed must be considered in assessing the chronotropic response in the young population, particularly for those who carry out a training program. In addition, providing reference values of HR response to acute physical exertion may allow for a better functional assessment of the young athletes. Highlights Growth and physical training induce continuous changes in the cardiovascular system. However, each young athlete shows individual features. The chronotropic response to incremental load is a common method for assessing health and fitness. Comparing the heart rate data obtained from the incremental effort with the reference percentiles can provide information in a short time in the evaluation of young athletes and the general youth population. Therefore, this methodology is regularly performed in the evaluation of anthropometric growth. In evaluating the chronotropic response to physical exertion, in addition to age and sex, should take the specificity of the movement performed during the test into account.

Effects of parental support and coach-initiated motivational climate on young athletes’ psychosocial behaviors and well-being

This study examined the effect of coach-initiated motivational climate and parental support on intrinsic motivation, enjoyment of sport participation, subjective vitality, sport-related violence, and academic achievement of youth soccer players. The second purpose was to examine if intrinsic motivation mediates the impact of coach-initiated climate and parental support on the above endogenous variables. Two measurements Time 1 (T1) and Time 2 (T2) were conducted. In T1, 494 young soccer male athletes completed surveys of coach-created motivational climate, parental praise and understanding, intrinsic motivation, sport-related violence, vitality, sport enjoyment and Grade Point Average (GPA). After five months, 188 of those soccer athletes responded again to the same surveys (T2). In both measurements the findings suggest that perceived coach-initiated empowering climate and parental praise and understanding have indirect effects on sport-related violence, GPA, vitality and sport enjoyment through intrinsic motivation in sport.

Bone Health Status, Muscular Strength and Power, and Aerobic and Anaerobic Capacities of Malaysian Male Athletes Involved in Sports with Different Mechanical Loading on Bones.

BackgroundPhysical activity is beneficial for bone health. Bones respond and adapt to applied loads that can vary among physical activity. This study investigated differences in bone health status, muscular performance, and aerobic and anaerobic capacities of young male Malaysian athletes competing at the state level.MethodsA total of 44 participants (age: 17.1 ± 1.6 years old) were randomly divided into sedentary control, weightlifting, cycling or squash groups. The bone speed of sound (SOS), muscular performance, maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) and anaerobic capacities of the participants were measured.ResultsAll athletes exhibited significantly higher tibial and radial bone SOS (P < 0.01) values than the sedentary group. Weightlifting athletes showed the highest radial bone SOS value in the arm, whereas cycling athletes exhibited the highest tibial bone SOS value in the leg among the groups. Weightlifting athletes also had significantly higher isokinetic knee extension, shoulder extension and shoulder flexion peak torque (PT) and average power (AVG.P) (P < 0.05) as well as significantly greater anaerobic peak power (P < 0.05) compared to cyclists and squash players. However, the aerobic capacity of cyclists and squash players was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the weightlifters. The cyclists had significantly higher anaerobic capacity and power (P < 0.001) than weightlifters and squash players.ConclusionThe findings imply that the bone health and physiological profiles of athletes are influenced by the type of sporting activity they undertake.

Habitual Total Drinking Fluid Intake Did Not Affect Plasma Hydration Biomarkers among Young Male Athletes in Beijing, China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The purposes of this study were to explore the drinking patterns, and urinary and plasma hydration biomarkers of young adults with different levels of habitual total drinking fluid intake. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 111 young male athletes in Beijing, China. Total drinking fluids and water from food were assessed by a 7-day, 24-h fluid intake questionnaire and the duplicate portion method, respectively. The osmolality and electrolyte concentrations of the 24-h urine and fasting blood samples were tested. Differences in groups LD1 (low drinker), LD2, HD1, and HD2 (high drinker), divided according to the quartiles of total drinking fluids, were compared using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis H-tests, and chi-squared tests. A total of 109 subjects completed the study. The HD2 group had greater amounts of TWI (total water intake) and higher and lower contributions of total drinking fluids and water from food to TWI, respectively, than the LD1, LD2, and HD1 groups (p < 0.05), but the amounts of water from food did not differ significantly among the four groups (all p > 0.05). Participants in the HD2 group had higher amounts of water than participants in the LD1, LD2, and HD1 groups (p < 0.05); SSBs were the second top contributor of total drinking fluids, ranging from 24.0% to 31.8%. The percentage of subjects in optimal hydration status increased from 11.8% in the LD1 group to 58.8% in the HD2 group (p < 0.05). The HD2 and HD1 groups had 212–227 higher volumes of urine than the LD1 and LD2 groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the plasma biomarkers (p > 0.05), with the exception of higher concentrations of K in the HD1 group than in the LD1 group (p < 0.05). Subjects with higher amounts of total drinking fluids had better hydration status than those with lower total drinking fluids, but not better drinking patterns. Habitual total drinking fluids did not affect the plasma biomarkers.

Взаимосвязи гормонального статуса и показателей красной крови с кардиореспираторной выносливостью у спортсменов и нетренированных юношей

The aim of this paper was to study red blood cell parameters and levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4) and cortisol, as well as their correlations in young male athletes and non-athletes, depending on their cardiorespiratory endurance. Materials and methods. The study involved 18 athletes (weightlifting, kickboxing) with the ranks ranging from First-Class Sportsman to Candidate for Master of Sport and 38 non-athletes. Hormone concentrations in the blood (cortisol, TSH, FT4) and blood parameters (haemoglobin, red blood cell count (RBC), their mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and haematocrit (НСТ)) were determined. The subjects’ physical endurance was assessed by calculating the cardiorespiratory index (heart rate divided by the respiratory rate). Results. In young men not involved in sports, no statistically significant differences between red blood cell parameters and hormonal status depending on the cardiorespiratory index were observed. At the same time, athletes with low exercise tolerance had statistically significantly lower MCV, MCHC, FT4, and TSH as well as elevated cortisol levels compared to endurance athletes. In young male non-athletes, we established an inverse correlation of TSH with RBC (r = –0.27) and HCT (r = –0.31) as well as of FT4 with RBC (r = –0.35), HCT (r = –0.28) and cardiorespiratory index at rest (r = 0.29). In athletes, cortisol correlated with exercise tolerance (r = 0.74), while FT4 correlated with cardiorespiratory index after exercise (r = 0.69). Thus, a decrease in thyroxine and an increase in cortisol blood levels in athletes correlate with lower cardiorespiratory endurance and exercise tolerance, while in non-athletes, with the activation of the erythropoietic function.

Comparison of bilateral isokinetic and isometric strength differences in elite young male and female taekwondo athletes.

Definition of strength imbalance between legs and muscles does not only play a decisive role for higher performance but also prevents sport injury. The purpose of this study was to determine bilateral differences on isokinetic and isometric strength of knee extensor and flexor muscles in male and female elite young taekwondo athletes. Ten male (age: 19.40±0.84 years) and female (age: 18.24±1.42 years) taekwondo athletes of the Turkish national team between 17–20-year of age participated in the study. Concentric peak torque of hamstring (H) and quadriceps (Q) of the dominant (D) and nondominant leg (ND) was evaluated using isokinetic machine (Cybex Humac Norm) at 60° and 180°/sec. Isometric peak torque of both legs was determined at 60°. Significant differences were found between genders (P<0.05). Concentric and isometric knee strength was significantly greater in male than that of female (P< 0.05). Although no significant bilateral strength difference was found in both sexes in concentric and isometric strength (P>0.05), and isometric H strength was in favor of the dominant leg 15% for men athletes and 11% for women. H/Q ratio was similar between gender and legs. The study revealed no bilateral knee strength asymmetry in both male and female taekwondo athletes. However, male had 20%–30% higher isometric and concentric knee extensor and flexor strength than female in both legs.

Effects of Hypoxia-Hyperoxia Preconditioning on Indicators of Muscle Damage After Acute Resistance Exercise in Male Athletes.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of acute repeated hypoxia–hyperoxia preconditioning on resistance exercise (RE)-induced muscle damage in male athletes.MethodsEleven young male athletes participated in this randomized double-blind counter-balanced crossover study, and were divided into Normoxia (N) and Hypoxia–Hyperoxia (HH) trials. Subjects of the respective trials were supplied with normoxic (FiO2 = 0.21), or alternating hypoxic/hyperoxic air (FiO2 = 0.10/0.99, 5 min each) for 60 min. Thirty minutes after preconditioning, subjects performed acute bouts of RE consisting of bench press, deadlift, and squats. Each exercise included 6 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% one-repetition maximum (1RM) with 2 min rest between sets. After a 2-week washout period, subjects changed trials and completed the same study procedure after the alternate preconditioning. Muscle soreness, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and circulating biochemical markers were tested before preconditioning (baseline) and during recovery at 0, 24, and 48 h after exercise.ResultsAcute RE significantly increased levels of muscle soreness, creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin (Mb), and decreased levels of peak knee extension torque in the N trial. Muscle soreness, CK, and Mb levels of the HH trial were significantly lower than that of the N trial after exercise. Interestingly, interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels of the HH trial increased significantly 0 h after exercise compared to baseline and were significantly higher than that of the N trial 0 and 24 h after exercise. However, no significant differences of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), cortisol, testosterone, peak torque, and average power levels were found between N and HH trials during recovery.ConclusionOur data suggest that pre-exercise treatment of alternating hypoxic/hyperoxic air could attenuate muscle damage and pain after acute RE, but has no effect on muscle strength recovery in young male athletes.

Effects of Individualized Versus Traditional Power Training on Strength, Power, Jump Performances, and Body Composition in Young Male Nordic Athletes.

This study aimed to examine the effects of individualized-load power training (IPT) versus traditional moderate-load power training (TPT) on strength, power, jump performance, and body composition in elite young Nordic athletes. In a randomized crossover design, 10 young male athletes (ski jumpers, Nordic combined athletes) age 17.5 (0.6) years (biological maturity status: +3.5y postpeak height velocity) who competed on a national or international level performed 5weeks of IPT (4 × 5 repetitions at 49%-72% 1-repetiton maximum [RM]) and TPT (5 × 5 repetitions at 50%-60% 1-RM) in addition to their regular training. Testing before, between, and after both training blocks comprised the assessment of muscle strength (loaded back squat 3-RM), power (maximal loaded back squat power), jump performance (eg,drop-jump height, reactive strength index), and body composition (eg,skeletal muscle mass). Significant, large-size main effects for time were found for muscle strength (P < .01; g = 2.7), reactive strength index (P = .03; g = 1.6), and drop-jump height (P = .02; g = 1.9) irrespective of the training condition (IPT, TPT). No significant time-by-condition interactions were observed. For measures of body composition, no significant main effects of condition and time or time-by-condition interactions were found. Our findings demonstrate that short-term IPT and TPT at moderate loads in addition to regular training were equally effective in improving measures of muscle strength (loaded back squat 3-RM) and vertical-jump performance (reactive strength index, drop jump, and height) in young Nordic athletes.

Personality and Sport Experience of 20-29-Year-Old Polish Male Professional Athletes.

More and more research reports assert that sport experience has an influence on shaping the personality of athletes. This paper aims at validating the connection between personality and sport experience. The research subject of were young Polish male athletes (N = 1,260) aged 20–29, out of 42 sports disciplines, with sport experience ranging from 3 to 12 years. In order to test the personality of the research subjects, a five-factor model of personality called the Big Five was applied. Statistical calculations and analyses were carried out with ver. 25 of the IBM SPSS Statistics software. The research has shown that all personality traits correlate in a statistically significant way with sport experience (p < 0.001): there is a negative correlation of sports experience with neuroticism and a positive correlation with traits such as extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Thus, we have identified a relationship between sport experience and personality traits of the researched Polish male athletes—the longer the sport experience, the lower level of neuroticism and higher levels of extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Duration of sport experience has a considerable influence on forming the personality of Polish male athletes. However, the interpretation of just the results regarding high level of extraversion and conscientiousness distinguishes Polish male athletes (20–29 years old) from the Polish male population of non-training people.

Quality of Diet and Nutritional Status on Male Young Athletes in Central Java

Fulfilling energy and nutritional intake that is not in accordance with dietary recommendations and nutritional guidelines will affect the quality of athlete’s diet. Preliminary study results that an average of athlete’s energy consumption only 74% of the recommended energy requirement and 8% athletes are undernutrition. This study aims to evaluate the quality of the diet and sufficiency of energy and nutrition and to determine the relationship with the nutritional status of young male athletes. This study was conducted in 2019. Kind of this study is observational analytic, which using a cross sectional design to 85 young male athletes of the Central Java Student Sports Education and Training Center from 9 kind of sports (takraw, weightlifting, swimming, fencing, basketball, rowing, volleyball, soccer, and athletics). The subjects were measured of their weight, height, fat mass, and waist circumference and then determined their nutritional status (BMI age, body fat percentage, and height ratio). Energy and nutritional sufficiency were obtained by interview using the Semi-Quantitative FFQ, and data of food quality were obtained by using the Diet Quality Indexs International (DQI-I) questionnaire. Data analysis used the Spearman Rank Test with a significance level (α) 0.05 and a confidence level of 95% CI. The results showed that the quality of the foods (p = 0.144; 0362; and 0296), as well as the sufficient energy and nutrients (p = 0.143; 0410; 0608; 0153; 0735; 0836; 0222; 0533; 0326; 0553; 0392; and 0308 ) but they were not related to nutritional status (BMI age, body fat percentage, and WtHR). It was concluded that the quality of the diet was related to energy and nutritional sufficiency, but both of them do not show a significant relationship with the nutritional status of young male athletes of Province of Central Java.

Anatomical and Neuromuscular Factors Associated to Non-Contact Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury.

The majority of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur during non-contact mechanisms. Knowledge of the risk factors would be relevant to help prevent athletes’ injuries. We aimed to study risk factors associated with non-contact ACL injuries in a population of athletes after ACL reconstruction. From a cohort of 307 athletes, two populations were compared according to the non-contact or contact mechanism of ACL injury. Gender, age and body mass index (BMI) were reported. Passive knee alignment (valgus and extension), knee laxity (KT-1000 test), and isokinetic knee strength were measured on the non-injured limb. The relationship between these factors and the non-contact sport mechanism was established with models using logistic regression analysis for the population and after selection of gender and cut-offs of age, BMI and knee laxity calculated from Receiver Operating Characteristics curve area and Youden index. Age, BMI, antero-posterior laxity, isokinetic knee strength, passive knee valgus and passive knee extension were associated with non-contact ACL injury. According to the multivariate model, a non-contact ACL injury was associated with non-modifiable factors, age (OR: 1.05; p = 0.001), passive knee extension (OR: 1.14; p = 0.001), and with one modifiable factor (Hamstring strength: OR: 0.27; p = 0.01). For women, only passive knee valgus was reported (OR: 1.27; p = 0.01). Age, passive knee extension and weak Hamstring strength were associated with a non-contact ACL injury. Hamstring strengthening could be proposed to prevent ACL injury in young male athletes or in case of knee laxity.