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Introduction: Some methods such as ergo nutritional aids, cooling or massage among others could improve recovery in combat sports (CS). The effects, doses, duration, and timing of these methods remains unknown. Nowadays, there is no clear consensus regarding the recovery strategies and it is necessary to understand the type of fatigue induced in CS and its underlying mechanisms. The main aim of this article is to review the update literature related to recovery strategies in CS., Evidence Acquisition: A literature search was conducted following preferred reporting items for review statement on the topic of: "combat sports," "recovery," "nutrition," "fatigue," "ergogenic aids," "weight cutting" and "hydration.", Evidence Synthesis: The initial search of the literature detected 369 articles about CS. Later, 307 were excluded after being determined unrelated to recovery or after failure to fulfill the inclusion criteria. Of the 80 included articles, 19 satisfied the final inclusion criteria., Conclusions: To optimize CS performance, adequate recovery is required during training and competition processes. Traditional ergo nutritional supplementation of carbohydrates and proteins combined. Besides, the consumption of evidence supported supplementation (green tea, beetroot gels, creatine or alkaline water) improve recovery processes. Further methods of recovery including physical (cold water immersion, massage or photobiomodulation) and physiological (types of active recovery, sleep and rest) therapies have also been shown useful. This narrative review elucidates the important role of recovery techniques in CS.

Introduction: In current team sports (including volleyball), the players have to play numerous competitive matches without time to recover. Volleyball can be defined as a moderate duration exercise including repeated bouts of high-intensity activity interspersed with brief periods of low to moderate active recovery or passive rest. A match is characterized by repeated explosive activities, such as: jumps, shuffles and rapid changes in direction., Evidence Acquisition: To guarantee adequate recovery after matches, it is necessary to know the type of fatigue induced and if possible its underlying mechanisms. Recovery strategies are commonly utilized in volleyball despite limited scientific confirmation to support their effectiveness to facilitating optimal recovery., Evidence Synthesis: It is particularly important to optimize recovery because players spend a much greater proportion of their time recovering than they do in training., Conclusions: Therefore, the main aim of this brief review is to facilitate useful information for practical application, based on the scientific evidence and applied knowledge specifically in volleyball.

To a proper recovery, is absolutely necessary to know that athletes with enhanced recovery after maximal exercise are likely to perform better in sports. Recovery strategies are commonly used in team sports despite limited scientific evidence to support their effectiveness in facilitating optimal recovery and the players spend a much greater proportion of their time recovering than they do in training. According to authors, some studies investigated the effect of recovery strategies on physical performance in team sports, lack of experimental studies about the real origin of the fatigue, certify the need for further study this phenomenon. Thus, developing effective methods for helping athletes to recover is deemed essential. Therefore, the aim of this review is provide information for his practical application, based on scientific evidence about recovery in team sports.

Background: There is not enough information on the effects of compression therapy in soccer players during recovery after matches. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of wearing compression garments during soccer matches and during recovery period on physical responses., Methods: Eighteen semi-professional soccer players participated in this study. A two-stage crossover design was chosen. Participants acted as controls in one match and were assigned to an experimental group (compression stockings group, full-leg compression group, shorts group) in the other match. Participants in experimental groups played the match wearing assigned compression garments and were worn in the 3 days post-match, for 7 hours/day. Blood lactate concentration, arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, perceived exertion, perceived recovery, anaerobic power (vertical jump, sprint, change of direction) and aerobic capacity (Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 2) were measured. Internal and external loads were measured during both matches., Results: Using compression garments may slightly increase lactate during and after soccer matches and only full-leg garments can moderately attenuate the reduction of arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin. Wearing compression garments can be useful between 24-48 hours post-exercise to promote psychological recovery, especially with full-leg garments and compression shorts. Decreases in anaerobic power can be attenuated but not significantly, mainly with full-leg compression garments or compression shorts. Compression garments could also have positive effect on aerobic capacity, but we cannot exclude a placebo effect., Conclusions: Compression garments could be moderately beneficial, but effects are not significant.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of Whole-Body Vibration (WBV) training on the jumping capabilities of high-level female basketball players., Methods: A 12-week WBV program was applied to 10 national and international level female basketball players. They were randomly distributed into a control group (CG: 23.2±3.96 years, 69.64±11.17 kg, 179.7±7.96 cm) and an experimental group (VG: 24.0±2.65 years, 70.17±9.86 kg, 181.9±10.83 cm). In order to determine the effects of the WBV program on the jumping capabilities of the subjects, the following tests were used: SJ, CMJ, ACMVJ, and 15-seconds maximal jump., Results: In the SJ test, the CG significantly increased from 455.4±25.91 to 476.6±26.6 ms (+4.42%; P=0.05), while the VG also increased significantly from 455±15.62 to 478.33±16.56 ms (+5.13%; P=0.02). In the CMJ test, the CG significantly increased from 470.2±12.15 to 496±23.38 ms (+5.49%; P=0.04), while the VG remained unchanged: 472±15.62 to 474.67±8.74 ms (+0.76%). In the ACMVJ test, the CG increased from 514±37.67 to 520±15.5 ms (+1.42%), while the VG decreased from 515±31.43 to 510.33±16.56 ms (-0.77%). In the 15-seconds jump test, the CG increased from 459±23.48 to 481.6±15.53 ms (+5.15%), while the VG increased from 464±36.66 to 471±33.96 ms (+1.6%). In this same test, the power generated by the CG increased from 20.01±1.84 to 22.14±2.21 W/kg (+11.12%), while the VG increased from 17.28±2.39 to 22.21±5.82 W/kg (+29.7%)., Conclusion: WBV has no extra appreciable effect or benefit on the jumping capabilities of high-level female basketball players compared to regular strength training methods.

Aim: In order to measure game intensity in female basketball players, 2 teams (Olympic National Team - I -and a team at 1(st) National Division - N) were studied for a total of 12 games (10 official competitions and 2 practice games -P)., Methods: Both blood lactate concentration ([La](b)) and mean heart rate (HR) were measured during the games and then compared with a progressive field test where maximal blood lactate (max[La](b)), individual lactate threshold and maximal heart rate (HR max) values were obtained. All different categories (International, National and Practice) and positions (Guard, Forward and Center) were taken into account in this study., Results: Differences (p<0.05) in HR were found between all positions (Guard=185+/-5.9; Forward=175+/-11 and Center=167+/-12 beats x min(-1)) and between the International team and the rest of the categories (International=186+/-6; National=175+/-13 and Practice=170+/-11 beats x min(-1)). The [La](b) differed between the Guard and the other 2 positions (Guard=5.7+/-2.1; Forward=4.2+/-2.1 and Center=3.9+/-2.0 mmol x L(-1)) and between Practice and the rest of the categories (International=5.0+/-2.3; National=5.2+/-2.0 and Practice=2.7+/-1.2 mmol x L(-1)). The game intensity of International players reached 94.6% of their maximum HR value, whereas National players reached 90.8%, this percentage descending to 89.8% during Practice. International games reached the individual lactate threshold at 89.2% of the maximum HR; National games at 88.6%., Conclusion: We can conclude that the game intensity of female basketball increases according to the level of competition. It may also differ according to playing position, being greatest in guards. The game intensity at international level surpasses the individual lactate threshold, whereas it reaches a lower level in training games.

Background: The aim of this study is to measure and compare the physiological characteristics and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in 72 high level road cyclists of 3 different categories., Methods: These cyclists were divided in 3 groups according to their age (24 professionals, mean age 26 years, 22 amateurs, 22 years and 26 juniors, 18 years)., Measures: they carried out a progressive test to exhaustion in a specific cycloergometer, starting with a power output of 100 watts and increasing 50 watts each 4 min. VO2 was measured continuously. At the end of each one of the 4 min steps the subject was asked about his RPE using the 6-20 Borg's scale., Results: Professional cyclists showed a VO2max, VO2 x kg(-1) and a maximum power output significant higher than other groups, while there were no significant differences between amateurs and juniors. VO2 and RPE were significantly different, in all the categories, during high work loads. No significant differences were found between RPE and %VO2max. RPE and heart rate (HR) were significantly different between professionals and juniors. RPE and %HR max were significantly different with low loads, but no with high loads. In the same way, RPE/w and RPE/(w x kg(-1) were significantly different in all categories., Conclusions: We conclude that professional road cyclists reached a VO2max, VO2max x kg(-1) and a maximum power higher than the other categories; so, therefore, these parameters are good as performance indicators, and RPE is of practical value to prescribe exercise training intensities in each category.