The purpose of this study is to examine details of domestic and foreign papers that verified the effect of endurance training using molecular biological approaches and to investigate the directivity of molecular biological study, analytical technology and analytical factors for the analysis of training effects. Existing domestic and foreign papers on endurance training that investigated the effect of training based on molecular biological analysis of human beings were reviewed. In order to increase reliability of the selected papers and their compatibility with the purpose of this study, the papers were reclassified by a group of experts that consisted of physical education professors and doctors of exercise physiology. The final papers selected were studied for the change in hormones and enzymes through blood and muscular tissues based on study topic and trend analysis from a macroscopic perspective. Analytical methods used include western blot, RT-PCR, ELISA and immunohistochemistry of molecular biology. Analytical variables investigated / analyzed were ACE, ACTN, PPARs, UCP, mitochondrial DNA variant, creatine kinase, renin-angiotensin, AMPK for blood and COX, myosin binding protein C fast-type, glycogen phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase, GLUT, PPARs, and AMPK for muscle. Such molecular biological analytical techniques and variables should be widely used to provide 1) conditioning of professional athletes and life sports athletes, 2) analysis of training effect, and 3) scientific and future-oriented methods for health enhancement.
This single-case study explored the impact of eight sessions of psychological skills training to improve the performance of a student basketball player struggling with high negative emotions and underperforming due to limited psychological skills. The study participant underwent three baseline assessments of mood state, sports performance strategies (test of performance strategies), and perceived performance (perceived performance inventory and interview) before embarking on the A-B design intervention. Following the eight-week training program, consisting of 50–60 minute sessions encompassing MBTI/self-analysis, goal setting, relaxation/imagery training, self-talk training, concentration training, and routine training, assessments were repeated at four and eight weeks post-intervention. The quantitative data gathered from inventory scores were analyzed using Excel, and presented in a table. Qualitative data from interviews produced further insights into the patient’s experience. This study suggests that eight sessions of psychological skills training can effectively improve mood state, sports performance strategies, and perceived performance in student baseball players. This highlights the potential of such interventions to enhance athletic performance and well-being in individuals struggling with psychological barriers.
This study examined the effects of an eight-week neuromuscular training (NMT) program on knee valgus angle in African American female athletes. Twenty-six female collegiate athletes participated. NMT group (n=15, 19.6±1.12 years) underwent an intervention training program that included three main components (plyometric and movement, core strengthening and balance, and resistance training). While, control group (n=11, 19.3±1.50 years) underwent the resistance training protocol for eight weeks. We hypothesized the NMT program would significantly decrease knee valgus angles during a drop vertical jump (DVJ) at landing for the NMT group when compared to the control group. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were done on the Pre-and Post-test findings. Results showed maximum valgus angle (VGmax) is significantly decreased (p<.05), and Maximum flexion (Flexmax) is significantly increased during the drop vertical jump in dominant leg (p<.05). The results support the hypothesis that an 8-week NMT program that combines injury prevention-training components can decrease an injury risk factor such as knee valgus in African American female athletes.
The aim of the present study was to find out the effects of 12 weeks of competitive phase specific training on basal levels of selected biochemical and haematological variables in male Taekwondo players. A total of 15 Indian male Taekwondo players (Age: 16.9±1.4 years; Height: 173.5±0.81 cm; Weight: 60.92±11.79 kg, BMI: 20.04±2.44 kg/m2) were volunteered for this study. Twelve weeks of competitive phase specific Taekwondo training was given to the participants for the perfection of technical skills and for the improvement of general physical conditioning abilities. Blood samples were collected from antecubital vein in the morning after overnight fasting and 24 hours of rest, both before and after training. The samples were analyzed for the selected biochemical and haematological parameters such as Lipid profile, Iron Profile, Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and Complete Blood Picture (CBP). Data were analyzed by paired-t test by using SPSS software. A significant increase (P<0.05) of Serum Iron, Total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, Hematocrit, and Mean Corpuscular Volume were observed after training. Also a significant reduction (P<0.05) in total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol Ratio, Lactate Dehydrogenase and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) were noted after the training. From this study it is concluded that the competitive phase specific Taekwondo training is effective for improving lipid profile and some of the biochemical parameters in national level male Taekwondo players and biochemical monitoring will be helpful for the evaluation of training effects and training related adaptations at molecular level.
It has been suggested that highly motivated and passionate referees are more inclined to pursue higher league levels and, thereby, invest more hours in performance preparations and more general soccer activity. However, limited knowledge is available about practice and mental preparation among elite soccer referees. Our study aim was to investigate referees’ practice and involvement in unmediated soccer activity. We further sought to examine possible preparation differences between elite and sub-elite referees. Comparing elite with sub-elite referees practice may reveal underlying performance principles that may form a basis for trainings methods facilitating referee performance. The following hypotheses were tested: a) elite referees will report higher frequency of physical and mental training compared with sub-elite referees and b) elite referees will report higher involvement in unmediated relevant soccer activity compared with sub-elite referees. Among the 98 top-class referees in Norway, 83 (84.7% response rate, 73 men and ten women, aged 20–46 years) completed a survey about their training volume and content, mental training and involvement in unmediated soccer activity. Reported training volume and content are consistent with referees’ physical demands. Elite referees report significantly greater use of mental training compared with sub-elite referees, while there were no group differences on physical training volume and content or unmediated soccer activity. The results confirm only one of the hypotheses and support the assumption that mental training requires more motivation than physical training even though the latter has quantifiable results that are more regularly measured.
This research reviews studies on sports performance and visual exploration strategies in the field of sports proficiency and comprehension. Accepting visual information is conducted through visual search, now referred to as visual exploration. Visual exploration refers to the process of paying attention to appropriate key clues that contain the necessary information to prepare and execute actions in a given circumstance or to make pertinent decisions. The visual exploration study uses an eye-tracking system to measure gaze fixation time and position, and to discern the disparity in the process of obtaining information between experienced and amateurs depending on the various sports fields and presents meaningful results in revealing the characteristics of the former: experienced individuals. The Vision-in-Action system presents a methodology that can solve the limitations of the visual exploration paradigm. That is, the movement pattern of the gaze is recorded at the same time as performing the physical technical movement performed in the actual sporting event. This methodology is consistent with a theoretical flow that emphasizes the perceptual-action coupling process. Research on visual exploration and exercise performance has been conducted in various sporting events such as aiming, conceptual, and tactical tasks. Specifically, in aiming tasks, QED is a crucial facet linked to performance accuracy. Based on these exploration studies, perceptual technology training is applied. Perception technology training is applied as a method of QED and gaze control training, and it is reported that it has a distinctively positive effect on improving performance.
Weightlifting is a sport that demands dynamic strength and power which involves a multi joint movement and whole body lifts. As an important kinetic chain involved in motions of weightlifting, previous literatures reported shoulder injuries due to muscular imbalance of shoulder rotator cuff muscles. Therefore, the study was conducted to evaluate the effects of isokinetic versus isotonic training on strength, power and muscular balance of the rotator cuff. A total of 24 state-level weightlifters were recruited and randomly assigned (gender- and weight-matched) into either isokinetic or isotonic group. However, only 19 participants successfully completed the intervention programme. Both groups went through 24 sessions of a training program three times per week for eight weeks. The intensity of training was increased progressively in terms of number of repetitions and set. Isokinetic variables of peak torque per body weight, time to peak torque, average power and external to internal rotators muscular strength ratio were recorded before and after the commencement of training and one month following the cessation of training. There was a non-statistically significant trend that indicated positive changes in the biomechanical adaptations of the rotator cuff in the isokinetic group compared to the isotonic group in terms of peak torque/body weight, time to peak torque and average power. In conclusion, both isokinetic and isotonic training specifically for rotator cuff has a potential to be proposed as an additional training among experienced weightlifters to improve their performance.
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of traditional high volume multiple set resistance training and low volume progressive single set training on muscular strength and power in healthy male college students. A total of 19 students were randomly assigned to either a single set (ST, n=6), multiple sets (MT, n=7), or control group (CON, n=6). The ST (every 3rd day, 50-100% of 1RM, maximum 8 reps, single set) and MT (3 times/week, 70% of 1RM, 10 reps with 3 sets) trained for 8 weeks using an inclined leg press. One-repetition maximum (1RM), muscle maximal voluntary contraction, peak power, and electromyography were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of training. Repeated-measured ANOVAs were used to find interaction effect between trial and treatment group factors. There was no significant increase on peak power after 8 weeks of resistance training both in MT (p = .286) or ST (p = .372). 1RM in both training groups was significantly increased compared to their baseline values (p < .001). However, there was no significant difference in 1RM between the two training groups after 8 weeks of training. It indicates that ST is as effective as traditional high volume multi sets training protocol (MT) for increasing muscle strength.
This review aimed to analyze the impact of whole-body-vibration (WBV) training on strength, power, muscle endurance, functional lower-extremity flexibility (FLEF), and functional lower-extremity strength (FLES) in older adults and to evaluate the effectiveness of different WBV training periods. Electronic searches were conducted using four databases. The methodological quality and level of evidence of the selected articles were assessed by two reviewers. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Nineteen studies were included (474 participants; mean age 74.27 years). Strength was measured by isokinetic, isometric, or isotonic contraction using an isokinetic dynamometer or weight-training machines. Power was measured by an assessment task that required maximal force in a short period of time. Endurance was evaluated by maximal repetition of tasks, FLEF by chair stand-and-reach and functional reach tests, and FLES by the sit-to-stand test. Meta-analysis showed that WBV training had significant effects on strength (SMD = .54; CIs = .40, .67), power (SMD = .58; CIs = .28, .89), muscle endurance (SMD = .82; CIs = .36, 1.29), FLEF (SMD = .31; CIs = .06, .55), and FLES (SMD = −.75; CIs = −1.18, −.33). Our findings suggest that 1) WBV training improves overall lower-extremity muscle function in older adults, especially muscle endurance; 2) a minimum of 8 weeks of WBV training is recommended to improve strength, muscular endurance, and power; and 3) a longer period of the WBV training is more effective at improving muscle endurance, power, and strength but not FLEF and FLES. Therefore, WBV training is strongly recommended to improve various muscle function parameters in older adults.
This study investigated whether different exercise intensities during detraining could maintain muscle hypertrophy and mitochondrial biogenesis signaling pathways activated high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in the flexor pollicis longus and soleus muscles of Sprague-Dawley rats. Fiver groups were studied: non-exercise ([NEG], n=6), HIIT only ([CTG], n=6), resting control ([CD], n=6), low-intensity exercise (LID, n=6), moderate-intensity exercise ([MID], n=6). The HIIT program consisted of 30-minute sessions of 24 m/min for eight weeks. During detraining (two weeks), LID and MID groups exercise three times per week at 8 m/min and 16 m/min, respectively. Muscle hypertrophy and mitochondrial biogenesis-related protein expression in the flexor pollicis longus and soleus muscles were analyzed using Western blotting. Compared to NEG, PI3K was higher in the CTG and LID in the flexor pollicis longus, while Akt and p-mTOR signaling pathways were significantly activated in MID and CTG. In the soleus muscle, p-AMPK expression was higher in CD and MID than in NEG, and FNDC5 was upregulated in LID compared to CTG and CD. These findings suggest that moderate-intensity exercise during detraining may help maintain HIIT-induced muscle hypertrophy signaling, while low-intensity exercise may contribute to sustaining HIIT-activated aerobic metabolism in skeletal muscle.
