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O'Connor, FK, Doering, TM, Minett, GM, Reaburn, PR, Bartlett, JD and Coffey, VG. Effect of divergent solar radiation exposure with outdoor versus indoor training in the heat: implications for performance. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1622–1628, 2022—The aim of this study was to determine physiological and perceptual responses and performance outcomes when completing high-intensity exercise in outdoor and indoor hot environments with contrasting solar radiation exposure. Seven cyclists and 9 Australian Football League (AFL) players undertook cycling trials in hot conditions (≥30 °C) outdoors and indoors. Cyclists completed 5 × 4 minutes intervals (∼80% peak power output [PPO]) with 2 minutes recovery (∼40% PPO) before a 20-km self-paced ride. Australian Football League players completed a standardized 20 minutes warm-up (∼65% mean 4-minute power output) then 5 × 2 minutes maximal effort intervals. Heart rate (HR), PO, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), thermal comfort (TC), and thermal sensation (TS) were recorded. Core (Tc) and skin temperature (Tsk) were monitored in cyclists alone. In both studies, ambient temperature, relative humidity, and solar radiation were monitored outdoors and matched for ambient temperature and relative humidity indoors, generating different wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) for cyclists, but the similar WBGT for AFL players through higher relative humidity indoors. The statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Cyclists' HR (p = 0.05), Tc (p = 0.03), and Tsk (p = 0.03) were higher outdoors with variable effects for increased RPE, TS, and TC (d = 0.2–1.3). Power output during intervals was not different between trials, but there were small-moderate improvements in cyclists' PO and 20-km time indoors (d = 0.3–0.6). There was a small effect (d = 0.2) for AFL players' mean PO to increase outdoors for interval 4 alone (p = 0.04); however, overall there were small-moderate effects for lower RPE and TS indoors (d = 0.2–0.5). Indoor training in hot conditions without solar radiation may promote modest reductions in physiological strain and improve performance capacity in well-trained athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to evaluate the effect of periodized fluctuations in training load on wellness and psychological questionnaires, perceived exertion, performance, and neuromuscular measures in team-sport athletes. Thirteen amateur Australian rules football athletes completed 6 weeks of periodized training, consisting of 2-week normal training (NT), intensified training (IT), and taper training (TT). Training sessions were quantified using global positioning system devices, heart-rate, and session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), with wellness (general soreness, sleep quality/quantity, readiness to train, fatigue, stress, mood, and motivation) questionnaires collected daily. Psychological (Recovery-Stress Questionnaire for Athletes) and physical performance (countermovement jump, cycle ergometer peak power, 30-m sprint, and 2-km time trial) markers were measured after each training period. Perceived (sRPE) and mechanical loading were higher for IT than NT, and IT than TT (p < 0.03; d = 0.65–25.34). Cycle ergometer peak power, 30-m sprint, 2-km time trial, and countermovement jump height showed reductions in performance after IT compared to initial testing (p < 0.02; d = 0.51–1.46), with subsequent increases in performance after TT (p < 0.04; d = 0.66–2.27). Average wellness was higher during NT compared to IT (p = 0.005; d = 1.11). Readiness to train did not significantly differ from NT to IT or TT (p < 0.55; d = <0.59); however, readiness to train did improve during TT after the IT (p = 0.01; d = 1.05). The disturbances in performance, perceptual, and mood states may indicate a state of functional overreaching. The findings suggest that an averaged wellness score may be useful in potentially identifying overreaching. However, despite the popularity of wellness in monitoring systems, these measures overall demonstrated a limited capacity to differentiate between periodized fluctuations in load. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents research on tennis training, with a focus on the effects of the court surface on players' physiological, perceptual, and technical responses to training. Topics include physical conditioning in training sessions, use of global positioning satellite devices to measure distances covered, and athletes' rating of perceived exertion (RPE).

The article discusses research which was conducted to investigate the effect post-match alcohol consumption had on recovery from competitive rugby league matches. Researchers evaluated nine players who consumed alcohol four hours after a match. They found that alcohol consumption after a match may have some detrimental effects on peak power and cognitive recovery the morning after the match.

The article offers information on the study conducted by the authors related to effects of precooling volume on neuromuscular performance and function in intermittent-sprint exercise in the heat. It states that ten male team-sport athletes who reported three or more days of training per week participated in the study. It mentions that exercise protocol was based on fast-bowling-specific intermittent-sprint exercise. It highlights that physical activity, fluid intake and diet were documented in diaries 24 hours before the first test session. They performed intermittent-sprint running protocol which included 70 minutes of exercise. It concludes that relationship between performance of exercise and precooling volume looks apparent.

Purpose: Cold water immersion (CWI) is the most effective treatment for exertional heat stroke (EHS). However, knowledge on core temperature response during CWI treatment and the relation with patient characteristics (i.e., sex, anthropometrics) is limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the core temperature response (in °C) during CWI treatment of recreational athletes participating in large running events and investigate the impact of sex and anthropometric characteristics on the cooling rate (in °C/min)., Methods: This observational study includes 57 athletes (n = 22 females; 39%) who suffered from EHS during an exercise event in the Netherlands. After admission to the medical facilities, a rectal temperature (Trec) probe was inserted and all clothing was removed before immersion in an ice bath (6.4 ± 1.6 °C). Rectal temperature was continuously measured throughout treatment, and treatment was continued until Trec ≤ 38.9 °C, or based on the decision of the emergency physician., Results: Initial Trec did not differ between males (41.3 ± 0.9 °C) and females (41.2 ± 0.8 °C, p = 0.83). A non-linear response to CWI was observed, with the decrease in Trec beginning after 6 minutes of CWI. The decrease in Trec did not differ between both sexes (ptime*sex = 0.96). The cooling rate did not differ between males (0.21 ± 0.15 °C/min) and females (0.19 ± 0.08 °C/min, p = 0.55), and was not related to body mass, body surface area and body surface area to mass ratio (all p-values >0.05)., Conclusions: We demonstrated that the cooling rate during CWI did not differ between men and women suffering from EHS, and that the Trec response to CWI is non-linear and not dependent on anthropometric characteristics. This suggests that no sex differentiation is needed in the EHS treatment guidelines and confirms the necessity to continuously monitor Trec during treatment., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest and Funding Source: The study received no funding. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Sports Medicine.)