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ObjectiveTo systematically review, summarise and appraise findings of published systematic reviews, with/without meta-analyses, examining associations between Ramadan fasting observance (RO), health-related indices and exercise test performances in athletes and physically active individuals.DesignOverview of systematic reviews with assessment of reviews’ methodological quality.Data sourcesPubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, SPORTDiscus, ProQuest, PsycINFO and SciELO.Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesSystematic reviews with/without meta-analyses examining associations of RO with health-related indices and exercise performances in athletes and physically active individuals.ResultsFourteen systematic reviews (seven with meta-analyses) of observational studies, with low-to-critically-low methodological quality, were included. Two reviews found associations between RO and decreased sleep duration in athletes and physically active individuals. One review suggested athletes may experience more pronounced reductions in sleep duration than physically active individuals. One review found associations between RO and impaired sleep quality in athletes and physically active individuals. RO was associated with decreased energy, carbohydrate and water intake in adult-aged athletes, but not adolescents. One review suggests RO was associated with athletes’ increased feelings of fatigue and decreased vigour. No association was found between RO and athletes’ lean mass or haematological indices. RO was unfavourably associated with changes in athletes’ performance during high-intensity exercise testing.ConclusionContinuance of training during RO could be associated with athletes’ mood state disturbances, decreased sleep duration and performance decline during high-intensity exercise testing, while preserving lean mass. However, careful interpretation is necessary due to the low-to-critically-low methodological quality of the included reviews.

Objective To directly compare clinical and MRI outcomes of multiple intra-articular injections of adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).Design We retrospectively compared 24-month outcomes in (1) 27 patients receiving 3-monthly intra-articular injections with a total of 43.8 million ASCs and (2) 23 patients receiving 3-monthly injections of 3-ml preparation of PRP. All patients had Kellgren-Lawrence grade 1, 2, or 3 knee OA with failed conservative medical therapy. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) scores; Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at baseline, 6, 12, and 24 months after the first injection; and the MRI Osteoarthritis Knee Score (MOAKS) at 12 and 24 months were considered as outcomes.Results No major complications occurred in any patient. Both groups significantly improved in pain NPRS score and KOOS at 6 months. At 12- and 24-month evaluations, the ASC group significantly decreased scores to a greater degree (P< 0.001) than the PRP group. MOAKS scores indicated a decrease in disease progression in the ASC group.Conclusion Both ASCs and PRP were safe and resulted in clinical improvement in patients with knee OA at 6 months; however, at 12 and 24 months, ASCs outperformed leukocyte-poor PRP in clinical and radiological outcomes.

AbstractThe aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of Ramadan observance on dietary intake and body composition in adult athletes. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis. Data sources used were PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Taylor and Francis. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies were as follows: single-group, pre-/post-Ramadan, with or without control group, conducted in athletes aged ≥19 years training at least twice a week, and published in any language before August 25, 2021. Studies assessing dietary intake and/or body composition were deemed eligible. The methodological quality of studies was assessed using QualSyst. Nine studies evaluated dietary intake; 4 of these were rated as strong quality and the remaining as moderate. Of the 17 selected studies evaluating body composition, 7 were of strong quality and the remaining 10 were rated as moderate. Compared to pre-Ramadan, energy (number of studies, K= 7; number of participants, N = 78; g= −0.781; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.416 to −0.145; p= 0.016), carbohydrate (K= 5; N = 50; g= −1.643; 95% CI, −2.949 to −0.336; p= 0.014), and water (K= 4; N = 39; g= −1.081; 95% CI, −1.371 to −0.790; p= 0.000) intakes decreased during Ramadan. However, fat (K= 5; N = 50; g= −0.472; 95% CI, −1.085 to 0.140; p= 0.131) and protein (K= 5; N = 60; g= −0.574; 95% CI, −1.213 to −0.066; p= 0.079) intakes remained unchanged. Compared to pre-Ramadan, body mass (K= 16; N = 131; g= −0.262; 95% CI, −0.427 to −0.097; p= 0.002) and body fat percentage (K= 8; N = 81; g= −0.197; 95% CI, −0.355 to −0.040; p= 0.014) decreased in the fourth week of Ramadan. Lean body mass did not change during Ramadan (K= 4; N = 45; g= −0.047; 95% CI, −0.257 to 0.162; p= 0.658). Carbohydrate and total water intake decreased with the observance of Ramadan, but fat and protein intake were unchanged. Continued training of athletes during Ramadan was associated with a decreased body mass and body fat percentage, but not lean body mass, toward the end of the fasting month.Key pointsRamadan fasting decreases body mass and body fat percentage of athletes, but not lean body mass.Longer durations of fasting could provoke more pronounced decrements in body mass.Carbohydrate and total water intake decreased during Ramadan in athletes.Future studies, with greater methodological rigor, are required to better discern changes in dietary intake and body composition during Ramadan.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/07315724.2021.2000902 .

Chebbi, S, Chamari, K, Van Dyk, N, Gabbett, T, and Tabben, M. Hamstring injury prevention for elite soccer players: A real-world prevention program showing the effect of players' compliance on the outcome. J Strength Cond Res36(5): 1383–1388, 2022—The aim of this study was to determine the effect of implementing the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) to prevent hamstring injuries in soccer. A professional team was followed by the same medical team during 5 successive seasons (2012/2013 through 2016/2017). During the first and last seasons (2012/2013 and 2016/2017), no hamstring preventive action was implemented. For the seasons 2013/2014, 2014/2015, and 2015/2016, a noncompulsory (few players refusing to participate) NHE prevention program was implemented with accurate recording of the players' training and match exposure and attendance to the prevention sessions. The first 10 weeks of the season were used to progressively increase the volume and intensity of the NHE exercises, and at the end of the season, players were split in low-, moderate-, and high-attendance groups to the prevention sessions. Overall, 35 time-loss hamstring strain injuries were accounted for. The injury incidence was 0.30 per player per season, and the injury rate was 0.95 injury/1000 hour of exposure. A nonstatistically significant higher risk of hamstring injury was observed in the control, low, and moderate attendance groups compared with the high-attendance group. The greatest risk of hamstring injury was observed in the low-attendance group (odds ratio 1.77, confidence interval 0.57–5.47, p= 0.32). Implementing a NHE prevention program has a positive effect on the injury rate in a soccer team; however, the compliance of players with such interventions may be critical for its success.

BackgroundWhile football injury and illness epidemiology surveillance at professional club level in Europe is available, epidemiological data from other continents are lacking.PurposeInvestigating injury and illness epidemiology in professional Asian football.Study designDescriptive prospective study.MethodsProfessional teams from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) league were followed prospectively for three consecutive AFC seasons (2017 through 2019, 13 teams per season, 322 team months). Time-loss injuries and illnesses in addition to individual match and training exposure were recorded using standardised digital tools in accordance with international consensus procedures.ResultsIn total, 232 665 hours of exposure (88.6% training and 11.4% matches) and 1159 injuries were recorded; 496 (42.8%) occurred during matches, 610 (52.6%) during training; 32 (2.8%) were reported as ‘not applicable’ and for 21 injuries (1.8%) information was missing. Injury incidence was significantly greater during match play (19.2±8.6 injuries per 1000 hours) than training (2.8±1.4, p<0.0001), resulting in a low overall incidence of 5.1±2.2.The injury burden for match injuries was greater than from training injuries (456±336 days per 1000 hours vs 54±34 days, p<0.0001). The two specific injuries causing the greatest burden were complete ACL ruptures (0.14 injuries (95% CI 0.9 to 0.19) and 29.8 days lost (29.1 to 30.5) per 1000 hours) and hamstring strains (0.86 injuries (0.74 to 0.99) and 17.5 days (17.0 to 18.1) lost per 1000 hours).Reinjuries constituted 9.9% of all injuries. Index injuries caused 22.6±40.8 days of absence compared with 25.1±39 for reinjuries (p=0.62). The 175 illnesses recorded resulted in 1.4±2.9 days of time loss per team per month.ConclusionProfessional Asian football is characterised by an overall injury incidence similar to that reported from Europe, but with a high rate of ACL ruptures and hamstring injury, warranting further investigations.

ABSTRACTBackground: We assessed SARS-CoV-2 contamination of random surfaces in football training facilities in an environment with a high prevalence of infections.Methods: In six clubs of the Qatar Stars League, surfaces of random locations (high-touch areas, ventilation systems, toilets, cleaning tools, freezers, pantries) in routinely cleaned training facilities, locker rooms, medical and administrative areas were swabbed for SARS-CoV-2. The swabs were screened for the presence of viral RNA using a SARS-CoV-2 qPCR Probe Assay.Results: None of the 103 swabs reached a cycle threshold (cT) value ≤30 (strong viral presence, suggestive of potential surface transmission). Four samples showed cT values >30 and <35 (low quantity of virus) and 16 swabs returned a cT value ≥35 and <40 (inactive virus remnants). The remaining 83 samples were negative (cT value ≥40). Most samples with viral or viral remnant presence originated from high-touch areas.Conclusion: We did not find evidence for potential surface transmission in football club facilities when routine cleaning procedures are in place despite the presence of infected subjects.

ABSTRACTThe novel pandemic called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), as a global public health emergency, seems to be having a major impact on physical activity (PA) behaviors. Older adults are at high risk of death from the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2). Health authorities around the world have been implementing preventive health measures, including quarantine and self-isolation, to mitigate the COVID-19 outbreak. This period is characterized by the cessation of outdoor exercising. During this period of lockdown, PA has been one of the rare reasons for going out in some countries. To avoid the harmful effects of periods of exercise cessation, PA could be prescribed to older adults, which is of great importance for breaking their sedentary lifestyle and improving their immunity. The present review discusses the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on sedentary behavior and physical inactivity in older adults. The importance of performing PA to reduce the harmful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is discussed, and useful recommendations on home-based exercise for the older adults to maintain their level of independence, physical and mental health as well as their well-being are provided.

ObjectivesTo describe age group patterns for injury incidence, severity and burden in elite male youth football.MethodsProspective cohort study capturing data on individual exposure and time-loss injuries from training and matches over four seasons (2016/2017 through 2019/2020) at a national football academy (U13–U18; age range: 11–18 years). Injury incidence was calculated as the number of injuries per 1000 hours, injury severity as the median number of days lost and injury burden as the number of days lost per 1000 hours.ResultsWe included 301 players (591 player-seasons) and recorded 1111 time-loss injuries. Overall incidence was 12.0 per 1000 hours (95% CI 11.3 to 12.7) and burden was 255 days lost per 1000 hours (252 to 259). The mean incidence for overall injuries was higher in the older age groups (7.8 to 18.6 injuries per 1000 hours), while the greatest burden was observed in the U16 age group (425 days; 415 to 435). In older age groups, incidence and burden were higher for muscle injuries and lower for physis injuries. Incidence of joint sprains and bone stress injuries was greatest for players in the U16, U17 and U18 age groups, with the largest burden observed for U16 players. No clear age group trend was observed for fractures.ConclusionInjury patterns differed with age; tailoring prevention programmes may be possible.

ObjectivesThe risk of viral transmission associated with contact sports such as football (soccer) during the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown. The aim of this study was to describe the infective and immune status of professional football players, team staff and league officials over a truncated football season resumed at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in a country with high infection rates and to investigate the clinical symptoms related to COVID-19 infection in professional football players.MethodsProspective cohort study of 1337 football players, staff and officials during a truncated football season (9 weeks) with a tailored infection control programme based on preventive measures and regular SARS-CoV-2 PCR swab testing (every 3–5 days) combined with serology testing for immunity (every 4 weeks). Clinical symptoms in positive participants were recorded using a 26-item, Likert-Scale-based scoring system.ResultsDuring the study period, 85 subjects returned positive (cycle threshold (cT) ≤30) or reactive (30

ObjectiveInvestigate the incidence and burden of injuries by age group in youth football (soccer) academy players during four consecutive seasons.MethodsAll injuries that caused time-loss or required medical attention (as per consensus definitions) were prospectively recorded in 551 youth football players from under 9 years to under 19 years. Injury incidence (II) and burden (IB) were calculated as number of injuries per squad season (s-s), as well as for type, location and age groups.ResultsA total of 2204 injuries were recorded. 40% (n=882) required medical attention and 60% (n=1322) caused time-loss. The total time-loss was 25 034 days. A squad of 25 players sustained an average of 30 time-loss injuries (TLI) per s-s with an IB of 574 days lost per s-s. Compared with the other age groups, U-16 players had the highest TLI incidence per s-s (95% CI lower-upper): II= 59 (52 to 67); IB=992 days; (963 to 1022) and U-18 players had the greatest burden per s-s: II= 42.1 (36.1 to 49.1); IB= 1408 days (1373 to 1444). Across the cohort of players, contusions (II=7.7/s-s), sprains (II=4.9/s-s) and growth-related injuries (II=4.3/s-s) were the most common TLI. Meniscus/cartilage injuries had the greatest injury severity (95% CI lower-upper): II= 0.4 (0.3 to 0.7), IB= 73 days (22 to 181). The burden (95% CI lower-upper) of physeal fractures (II= 0.8; 0.6 to 1.2; IB= 58 days; 33 to 78) was double than non-physeal fractures.SummaryAt this youth football academy, each squad of 25 players averaged 30 injuries per season which resulted in 574 days lost. The highest incidence of TLI occurred in under-16 players, while the highest IB occurred in under-18 players.

Injury and illness surveillance, and epidemiological studies, are fundamental elements of concerted efforts to protect the health of the athlete. To encourage consistency in the definitions and methodology used, and to enable data across studies to be compared, research groups have published 11 sport-specific or setting-specific consensus statements on sports injury (and, eventually, illness) epidemiology to date. Our objective was to further strengthen consistency in data collection, injury definitions and research reporting through an updated set of recommendations for sports injury and illness studies, including a new Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist extension. The IOC invited a working group of international experts to review relevant literature and provide recommendations. The procedure included an open online survey, several stages of text drafting and consultation by working groups and a 3-day consensus meeting in October 2019. This statement includes recommendations for data collection and research reporting covering key components: defining and classifying health problems; severity of health problems; capturing and reporting athlete exposure; expressing risk; burden of health problems; study population characteristics and data collection methods. Based on these, we also developed a new reporting guideline as a STROBE Extension—the STROBE Sports Injury and Illness Surveillance (STROBE-SIIS). The IOC encourages ongoing in- and out-of-competition surveillance programmes and studies to describe injury and illness trends and patterns, understand their causes and develop measures to protect the health of the athlete. Implementation of the methods outlined in this statement will advance consistency in data collection and research reporting.

The aim of this study was to examine systemic responses of oxidant/antioxidant status following 2 training sessions of different intensity in amateur rhythmic gymnasts.

ABSTRACTObjectives: The present review provides a summary of basketball referees’ game activities, fitness assessment, cognitive function, and energy expenditure (EE) during official games.Methods: Analyzing the literature on basketball referees. Literature review conducted using Pub Med, WOK, SCOPUS, and Google Scholar, with search criteria including the terms ‘referees’, ‘game officials’, ‘basketball’ and performance terms such as ‘physiological’, ‘physical demands’, ‘decision-making’, and ‘mental fatigue’.Results: the relevant studies (n = 19) showed that referees cover ~5000 m during a game with mean heart rates (HR) of ~140 beats.min−1(>75% HRmax) and oxygen uptake (VO2) of ~52 ml.min−1.kg−1(~86.19% VO2max). The YO-YO intermittent recovery test level 1 (YO-YO-IRT1) performance has revealed a direct validity to assess the intermittent aerobic activity as it was correlated to the on-field activity of the referees. The estimated referees' EE during a game exceeds 500 kcal (~5 kcal.kg-1.h−1). The threshold of low intensity and high intensity could be considered as lower than 3.8 METs and higher than 9.8 METs, respectively. The physical abilities of referees decrease gradually with the chronological age. However, older referees (>32 years old) have a significantly better quality of officiating than young referees. The perceptual-cognitive demands of basketball refereeing are also discussed in the present review.Conclusion: Basketball referees’ game-analysis showed an intermittent activity (~1:12 ratio of high-intensity effort/recovery). The YO-YO-IRT1 could be used as a specific fitness test to estimate their aerobic capacity. The referees’ EE showed a “moderate energy intensity“ when expressed by the metabolic equivalent (~5 METs). A specific training program should be prescribed for the referees, taking into consideration their age. The cognitive processes influencing basketball referees’ decisions should be studied in further researches.

AimTo study the association between player characteristics, technical components of the game and the risk of match injuries during the 2017 Men’s Handball World Championship.MethodsTeam physicians of the participating teams (n=24) were requested to provide injury report forms throughout the Men’s Handball World Championship (France, January 2017). The individual time played, age, number of international matches played and all technical and penalty variables for each player were extracted from the official International Handball Federation (IHF) online database and used as risk factors in a general logistic linear model analysis.ResultsOf 387 players, 49 sustained one or more injuries (93 injuries in total). The total incidence of match injuries was 82.1 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI 66.2 to 100.5), non-time-loss injury incidence was 40.6 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI 29.3 to 54.9), while time-loss injury incidence was 30.9 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI 21.5 to 42.9). Multivariate analysis showed that age (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18, p=0.011), player position (backs: OR 6.79, 95% CI 2.25 to 20.54, p=0.001; goalkeepers: OR 5.03, 95% CI 1.15 to 21.94, p=0.031) and 2 min suspensions (1–2 times: OR 2.77, 95% CI 1.27 to 6.04, p=0.011; 3 or more times: OR 2.66, 95% CI 1.18 to 6.38, p=0.029) were significant risk factors for getting injured during competition matches.ConclusionAge, player position (backs, goalkeepers) and 2 min suspensions were associated with match injury. Stricter rule enforcement should be considered to prevent match injuries in elite handball.

The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the health-related physical fitness profile of untrained adolescent boys in comparison to adolescent soccer players, (2) determine the intensity and enjoyment of 6 v 6 and 4 v 4 small-sided games, and (3) evaluate the health-related effects of a short-period of soccer training in the untrained group.

AbstractThis study analyses the injury incidence and related factors during the World Judo Championship of 2013. For this purpose, 673 athletes (258 females and 415 males) of all weight categories have been evaluated concerning factors related to occurred injuries (severity, body area, situation, type and mechanism) in an epidemiological observational study. Concussions were identified and analysed separately for injury risk and incidence rate per 1000 A-E (athlete-exposures). ANOVA, Tukey, Chi-squared and a Logistic Regression Analysis were performed, p ≤ .05. The overall incidence rate was of 47.2 injuries. The incidence rate separated by sex was 38.0 and 52.9 for males and females, respectively. There was a higher prevalence of soft-tissue injuries (58.8%) characterised as stress injuries (36.8%) and miscellaneous traumas (42.6%), mostly occurring during being thrown (29.4%) and gripping fight (32.4%). Concerning the phases of the competition, there was a higher prevalence of injuries in the Eliminatory (54.4%) followed by the Final (20.6%). Male athletes had a prevalence of injury mechanism “contact with mat”, while an increase in the weight division was negatively associated with the incidence of miscellaneous traumas, musculoskeletal injuries and neck chokes. These risks in competitions could be minimised with prevention systems.

ABSTRACTObjective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of 3-day Islamic intermittent fasting (3d-IF) on cognitive performance and serum levels of neurotrophic factors (brain-derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]) before and after repeated sprints.Methods: Twenty-one physically active male Muslims (29.8 ± 5.9 years, exercising 4 ± 1.5 times/week) were randomly assigned to one of 2 experimental sessions: the control or nonfasting session (CS) or the fasting session (FS). These 2 sessions occurred 7 days apart in a counterbalanced crossover design. In both conditions, the test was performed at the same time of day, approximately 1 hour before sunset. In the FS, the test occurred on the third day of the 3d-IF and involved the participants' performance of the following: (a) two series of 5 maximal 5-second sprints and (b) 2 cognitive tasks: One Touch Stockings (OTS) and reaction time (simple and complex RTI).Results: In both conditions, the participants' reaction times during the RTI test were similar at the pre- and mid-exercise points, but postexercise, simple and complex reaction times were higher in FS compared to CS (p= 0.045, effect size [ES] = 0.21 and p= 0.006, ES = 0.41, respectively). However, OTS performance and serum levels of neurotrophic factors were not influenced by the 3d-IF.Conclusion: Simple and complex reaction times during the RTI test were negatively affected by the 3d-IF after 2 bouts of intensive repeated sprints.

The aim of this study was to compare time-motion and technical analysis in mixed martial arts (MMA) home advantage situation with paired bouts of the same athletes in home and away matches. For this purpose, we analyzed, 202 bouts and 606 rounds from UFC™ events (2012-2014), paired by both athletes competing at home (n=101) or away (n=101). The time-motion variables were categorized into low or high intensity, standup or groundwork situations. Techniques were analyzed by observing total strikes to the head and body, takedowns, submission, choking and joint locking actions. Repeated measures analysis of variance with Bonferroni was used to compare the situations, p≤0.05. A significant effect was observed when comparing home vs. away bouts in total strikes landed (21.4±16.2 vs. 27.7±21.4 attempts), total strikes attempts (37.3±23.9 vs. 46.4±26.3 attempts), head strikes attempts (21.5±15.1 vs. 26.5±16.2 attempts) and in body strikes attempts (4.3±3.6 vs. 3.4±3.8 attempts). Time-motion and technical-tactical differences did not impact the combats’ outcomes suggesting tactical adjustments by professional athletes from MMA, according to the condition of fighting.

ABSTRACTObjectives: This study aimed to examine the physical and physiological demands of basketball refereeing.Methods: 16 elite-level basketball referees were studied during U-19 basketball games (n=8) for time-motion analyses, exercise heart rates (HR) and blood lactate concentration [La]. Game activities were considered as time spent and distance covered in five locomotors activities (standing, walking, jogging, running and sprinting).Results: Referees spent more time (p<0.01) walking (63.72±2.02 min) than jogging (3.10±0.29 min), running (4.24±0.46 min) and sprinting (1.69±0.24 min). Referees covered more distance (p<0.01) walking than jogging, running and sprinting across the quarters (Q). Mean HR (74.89±6.86 %HRmax) was not significantly different across the game Q (Q1 to Q4) and halves. [La] did not show significant changes (p=0.221) when comparing the half-time (4.30±3.92 mmol.L−1) and the end of the game (6.70±4.90 mmol.L−1).Conclusion: In light of this study, we conclude that U-19 basketball refereeing is a moderate intensity activity where referees spent 81% of total game time at low-intensity with bouts of high-intensity activities throughout the game.

The purpose of this Current Opinion article is to focus on the appropriate use of the terms ‘aerobic’- and ‘anaerobic’-exercise in sports medicine, in order to try to unify their use across coaches/athletes and sport scientists. Despite the high quality of most of the investigations, the terms aerobic/anaerobic continue to be used inappropriately by some researchers in exercise science. Until late 2014, for instance, 14,883 and 6,136 articles were cited in PubMed, in the field of ‘exercise science’, using the words ‘aerobic’ or ‘anaerobic’, respectively. In this regard, some authors still misuse these terms. For example, we believe it is wrong to classify an effort as ‘anaerobic lactic exercise’ when other metabolic pathways are also simultaneously involved. It has extensively been shown that the contribution of the metabolic pathways mainly depends on both exercise intensity and duration. Therefore, it is our intent to further clarify this crucial point and to simplify this terminology for coaches and sports scientists. In this regard, several research articles are discussed in relation to the terminology used to describe the predominant metabolic pathways active at different exercise durations and the oversimplification this introduces. In conclusion, we suggest that sports scientists and field practitioners should use the following terms for all-out(‘maximal’)efforts based on exercise duration: (a) ‘Explosive Efforts’ (duration up to 6 s, with preponderance of the ‘phosphagens’ metabolic pathway’); (b) ‘High Intensity Efforts’ (efforts comprised between >6 s and 1 min, with preponderance of the ‘glycolytic pathway’), and (c) ‘Endurance Intensive Efforts’ (for exercise bouts longer than 1 min, with preponderance of the ‘oxidative phosphorylation pathway’).

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of partial sleep deprivation on the diurnal variations of cognitive performance of handball goalkeepers. Twelve handball goalkeepers (18.5±1.7 years; 8.3±2.4 years of experiment) performed 3 cognitive tasks by the use of the reaction time (RT), the stroop, and the barrage tests (to evaluate the RT, the selective and supported attention respectively) following 2 situations of sleep deprivation (in the beginning or in the end of the night) and a control situation. The tests were performed at 08:00 and 16:00. Our results showed an increased RT and a fall of the level of the attention after the partial sleep deprivation in the afternoon hours. However, the partial sleep deprivation didn’t affect the morning cognitive performance. In conclusion, partial sleep deprivation affects the diurnal variation of cognitive performance by increasing the RT and reducing the attentional capacities in the afternoon hours.

The goal was to explore the effect of a moderate-intensity exercise on egocentric distance estimates (the distance between the participant and an object in space) in physically trained and untrained participants (N= 54), divided into three groups of 18 national-level soccer players, 18 sedentary people, and 18 controls. Participants engaged in a distance estimation task at rest, and also while pedalling on an ergocycle for 10 min. at 60% of the maximal aerobic intensity. Estimates were recorded during pre-exercise, stability Phase 1 (between the 1stand the 2ndmin. of exercise), Phase 2 (5th to 6th min.), Phase 3, (9thto 10thmin.), and immediately after the exercise. Estimates of egocentric distance were more accurate in trained than untrained participants. Perception improved during and after the exercise in comparison with pre-exercise. In addition, the group x exercise interaction indicated estimation improved during and after exercise, with more accuracy in the trained than untrained participants. Fitness and moderate aerobic exercise improve the egocentric distance estimation in humans.