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Changes in serum concentration of methylarginines and amino acids after exercise are well documented, whereas the effects of exercise applied together with fasting are still debated and not thoroughly studied. Thus, we hypothesised that alterations in methylarginines such as ADMA, SDMA and L-NMMA might be responsible for decreased exercise performance after 8 days of fasting. Additionally, we propose that conditions in which the human body is exposed to prolonged fasting for more than a week elicit a distinctly different response to exercise than after overnight fasting. A group of 10 healthy men with previous fasting experience participated in the study. The exercise test was performed until exhaustion with a gradually increasing intensity before and after the 8-day fast. Blood samples were collected before and immediately after exercise. ADMA, SDMA, L-NMMA, dimethylamine and amino acids were analysed in serum samples by ID-LC-MS/MS. SDMA, L-NMMA and dimethylamine significantly decreased after 8 days of fasting, whereas ADMA did not change. BCAA, Phe, alanine and some other amino acids increased after fasting. Exercise-induced changes in amino acids were distinct after an 8-day fast compared to overnight fasting. A decrease in physical performance accompanied all of these alterations. In conclusion, our data indicate that neither methyl-arginine changes nor the Trp/BCAA ratio can explain exercise-induced fatigue after fasting. However, the observed decrease in hArg concentration suggests the limited synthesis of creatine, possibly contributing to reduced physical performance.

The present study compared the effects on the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions of the practice of an intensive yoga exercise routine called Dynamic Suryanamaskar (DSN) and a cycle ergometer test (CET) of increasing intensity. The study involved 18 middle-aged volunteers who had previously practiced DSN. The study was conducted in two series (i.e., as CET and DSN with similar intensity) until complete exhaustion. At rest (R), at the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), and at the maximum workload (ML), the variables characterizing cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic functions were determined. In addition, the subjective intensity of both efforts was determined using the Borg test. No functional differences were observed in the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems at similar CET and DSN intensities. Respondents experienced less subjective workload during DSN than during CET (p < 0.001). Since DSN intensifies the activity of the cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic systems to a similar degree to CET both at VAT and ML, but causes less subjective fatigue, this yogic practice can be used as a laboratory exercise test and as an effective training medium.

Background: Vitamin D plays pleiotropic roles in the body and hence, changes in its metabolism and distribution during starvation could play an important role in the adaptive response to famine. We aimed to identify the responses of some vitamin D metabolites to 8 d of fasting and exercise. Methods: A repeated-measures design was implemented, in which 14 male volunteers fasted for 8 d and performed an exercise test before and after fasting. Serum samples were collected on day 1 after night fasting and after 8 d of complete food restriction, before and 1 h and 3 h after exercise. Results: After 8 d of fasting, compared with baseline values, serum 24,25(OH)2D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels significantly increased, those of 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 were unaffected, and those of 25(OH)D2 decreased. Exercise on the first day of fasting induced an increase in serum 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels, while exercise performed after 8 d of fasting induced an increase in 25(OH)D3, 24,25(OH)2D3, 25(OH)D2, and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels. Conclusion: Increases in 24,25(OH)2D3 and 3-epi-25(OH)D3 levels imply that fasting stimulates vitamin D metabolism. The effects of exercise on serum vitamin D metabolites, which are most pronounced after fasting and in subjects with serum 25(OH)D3 above 25 ng/mL, support the notion that fasting and exercise augment vitamin D metabolism.

Sprint interval training (SIT) is a concept that has been shown to enhance aerobic-anaerobic training adaptations and induce larger effects in hypoxia. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 4 weeks of SIT with 15 or 30 s in hypoxia on aerobic, anaerobic performance and critical power (CP). A total of 32 male team players were divided into four groups: SIT with 15 s at FiO2: 0.209 (15 N), FiO2: 0.135 (15 H), SIT with 30 s at FiO2: 0.209 (30 N), and FiO2: 0.135 (30 H). VO2max did not significantly increase, however time-to-exhaustion (TTE) was found to be significantly longer in the post test compared to pre test (p = 0.001) with no difference between groups (p = 0.86). Mean power (MPw.kg) after repeated wingate tests was significantly higher compared to pre training in all groups (p = 0.001) with no difference between groups (p = 0.66). Similarly, CP was increased in all groups with 4 weeks of SIT (p = 0.001) with no difference between groups (p = 0.82). This study showed that 4 weeks of SIT with 15 and 30 s sprint bouts in normoxia or hypoxia did not increased VO2max in trained athletes. However, anerobic performance and CP can be increased with 4 weeks of SIT both in normoxia or hypoxia with 15 or 30 s of sprint durations.

Summary Study aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the physiological responses of female soccer players recorded during the Beep Test and Yo-Yo Test. Material and methods: Twenty-three high-level women’s soccer players underwent aerobic fitness testing. Modification of the Beep Test consisted of: lengthening the distance between turns to 40 m, extending the time between the increase in speed, and including a rest period between exercise stages. During the running efforts the length of the distance run in both tests was measured as well as circulatory and respiratory variables. For statistical analyses only data obtained at maximum loads in both tests were accepted. Results: Analyzed variables showed that all values recorded in both tests reached maximum values and did not differ statistically significantly. Conclusion: The results show that both applied tests loaded the soccer players to a similar maximum degree and the tests are suitable for assessing the aerobic physical performance.

The aim of the present study is to determine the anaerobic power of men of similar age representing different sports disciplines. Professional athletes representing the following sports participated in the study: soccer (n=15, PS), martial arts (n=12, MA), weightlifting (n=15, WL), powerlifting (n=15, PL), middle- and long distance running (n=12, DR), race walking (n=14, RW), and recreational soccer (n=15, RS). After recording personal and somatic data, the subjects performed a 3-minute warm-up followed immediately by a 30 seconds cycloergometric Wingate test. The following variables of anaerobic power were calculated: total external work (TEW-KJ/30s), maximal power (Pmax-W/kg), mean power (Pmean-W/kg), fatigue index (FI-%). It was shown that the examined groups differed in body weight (F=13.560, p0.001), body height (F=3.342, p0.01) and BMI (F=28.868, p0.01). There were also significant differences in the TEW range (F=5.764, p0.001), Pmax (F=2.807, p=0.013) and FI=4.942, p0.001) and no intergroup difference in the Pmean range. In conclusion, it should be pointed out that various types of sports training develop in the various degree different components of anaerobic power, however they develop similarly its average value.

Introduction: Soccer players are injury prone, and increasing competition - especially at the highest level - leads to increasing training loads, and these may contribute to more injuries to players. Hence, the aim is to increase preventive measures and treatment in this field. Aim: The paper examines soccer players’ susceptibility to injuries occurring at different levels of the sport’s development, and describes the accompanying conditions. Materials and Methods: The study involved 215 players of different levels, of which 105 came from the II and III league clubs (group I) and 110 from IV league clubs (group II ). The conducted research was based on a diagnostic survey using an anonymous questionnaire containing 15 questions developed by the authors. Results: Similar traumas (injuries) were observed among respondents of both groups. Group I had suffered injuries in the case of 92 (87.62%) respondents, while Group II contained 87 (79.09%) subjects who had suffered injuries. Group I trained harder than Group II , but the nature of the injuries was similar for all the players. The surveyed Group I had 100% access to physio-therapeutic help; in Group II this was the case for only 48 (43.64%) subjects. Group I also applied preventive anti-injury measures to a greater extent than Group II , in the form of pre-training warm-ups and post-training stretching and loosening. Conclusions: Among the more advanced soccer players there was a trend toward more traumas with similar kinds of sustained injuries, despite the greater availability of physiotherapy care and their use of more antiinjury prevention techniques than in the group representing the lower levels of sport advancement in soccer. This adverse effect is associated with the more intense training and training loads of the more advanced players

Introduction. Anaerobic power is an important factor determining the physical performance in various kinds of sports. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to present women’s anaerobic power in soccer players (SP), table tennis players (TT) and weightlifters (WL). Methods. This study involved 3 groups of professional athletes women: 15 SP, 12 TT and 12 WL, which are of a similar age and sports’ level. Anaerobic power in all athletes was recorded during 30-second Wingate test, with resistance set at 0,075 kp x kg (–1). Results. Relatively expressed total external work (TW), maximal power output (Pmax) and the fatigue index (FI) of tested athletes were similar. Mean power (Pmean) was different among the treatment groups (F=12,445; p

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in most countries in the world. In Poland, after cardiovascular disease, cancer is the leading cause of death, and the number of malignant tumors has more than doubled in the last three decades. Increased cancer mortality in the immediate future is expected to be mainly associated with lung cancer caused by smoking (both sexes), colorectal cancer (both sexes), breast cancer in women, and prostate cancer in men. It is estimated that 20 to 30% of all malignant tumors are diet-dependent, in which cases the cancer-inducing factors are the nutritional components of the food and the ‘hygiene’ of eating. Research by the Institute of Food and Nutrition in Warsaw indicates that an important factor in the prevention of cancer is also the individual’s state of awareness concerning diet. It is emphasized that running nutritional education programs, especially for children and adolescents, may help to limit the occurrence of diet-dependent cancers in Poland over the next few decades. The aim of this review is to assist the promulgation of knowledge about the importance of a high-quality diet in the prevention of cancer. The need for such knowledge is indicated by the upward trend in the incidence of these types of disease in Poland.

The objective of this research was to determine whether chronic (average 3.58 &plusmn, 1.56 years) deliberate adherence to low carbohydrate diets (LCDs) is associated with selected markers of metabolism, risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD), body mass and physical performance in apparently healthy middle-aged men (n = 12). The control group comprised age, body mass and height matched men using mixed diets (MDs). The diets used were registered for 7 days and analyzed in terms of the energy, carbohydrate, fat and protein contents. It was found that the diets used were isoenergetic, yet varied considerably in carbohydrate and fat content. The LCDs significantly intensified the ketogenesis process, increased resting blood total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and heart rate, (HR) and decreased respiratory exchange ratio (RER) in relation to MD subjects. An exercise trial revealed significant impairment of exercise in subjects following the LCDs. The results showed that in the case where the subjects of two investigated groups did not differ in their somatic variables, long-term adherence to the LCDs was associated with substantially reduced exercise performance in apparently healthy subjects, along with an association with a small unfavorable effect on their lipid profile.

The purpose of this study is to present a comparison of the workload demonstrated by young soccer players during the phases of warm-up (WU), first half (FH) and second half (SH) of a league match. Eleven young Polish soccer players took part in this research, playing a league match after completing the WU. During the WU, FH and SH of the match the following variables were recorded: total distance run, maximal and average speed achieved during the runs, number of sprints, distances run in the different speed zones, durations of increased heart rate (HR) in specific ranges, and the maximal, mean and minimal HR. The variables were recorded by means of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The research showed that there were significant differences between the WU, FH and SH in the total distances run (F=30.107, p0.001), the average speed achieved during the runs (F=37.731, p0.001), the distances run at different speeds (p0.001), the duration of increased HR in specific zones, and HRmean (p=0.002) and HRmin (p0.001). Post hoc analysis confirmed that, for the majority of the analyzed parameters, the WU provided a smaller load for the body than did the FH or SH, the intensity of which in some part was higher than that encountered at the anaerobic threshold. In conclusion, it has been shown that the WU and the two halves of the match load the body to varying degrees, the former doing so to a lesser extent than FH or SH.

Wstęp: Somatyczne wielkości, takie jak masa (Mc) i wysokość ciała (Wc), są używane do wyliczania wskaźników wagowo--wzrostowych i stanowią pomoc w diagnozowaniu nadwagi i otyłości. Cel pracy: Celem pracy jest ocena nadwagi i otyłości kobiet i mężczyzn w świetle prostych wskaźników somatycznych. Materiał i metody: W prezentowanej pracy porównano wskaźniki somatyczne 179 kobiet i 181 mężczyzn z nadwagą i otyłością. Do oceny somatycznej badanych użyto: Mc, Wc oraz wskaźników wagowo-wzrostowych: Queteleta, BMI, Rohrera i smukłości. Wyniki: W badanych grupach kobiety i mężczyźni byli w zbliżonym wieku, grupy te różniły się istotnie omawianymi wskaźnikami somatycznymi. Porównania podgrup kobiet i mężczyzn o podobnej wielkości BMI wykazały, że są oni w podobnym wieku i różnią się w zakresie Mc, Wc oraz wskaźników: Queteleta, Rohrera i smukłości. Natomiast między podgrupami kobiet, jak i między podgrupami mężczyzn, występowały istotne różnice wiekowe, Mc oraz wskaźników: BMI, Queteleta, Rohrera i smukłości. Wnioski: Powyższe dane wskazują, że pomimo braku różnic wieku między badanymi kobietami i mężczyznami z podobnym lub różnym BMI istnieje wyraźna somatyczna determinacja płciowa, natomiast w obrębie tej samej płci, różniącej się wskaźnikiem BMI, wiek badanych jest czynnikiem determinacji somatycznej. Wykazano też, że badane wskaźniki somatyczne mają różną moc predykcyjną w zakresie oceny nadwagi i stopnia otyłości badanych kobiet i mężczyzn.

The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of 21-days comprehensive physiotherapy program on the functional condition of the spine and severity of pain in older people. To achieve this goal, physiotherapeutic procedures were performed on 100 elderly patients suffering from spinal disorders. The comprehensive therapy program consisted of: general improvement exercises, individual exercises with a physiotherapist, exercises in water and physical therapy treatments such as: TENS currents, galvanic current, iontophoresis, laser stimulation, magnetic field on the lumbar spine and hydro massage or mud compresses. Prior and post the therapy program: the Schober’s test - 1 (forward flexion), Schober’s test - 2 (extension), Ott’s test, fingertip-to-floor (FTF) test, pain Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the modified Oswestry low back pain questionnaire were evaluated. Statistically significant improvement (p0.001) in all tested parameters was shown at the end of therapy program. Age, height, body weight and body mass index (BMI) has no impact on results before and after the physiotherapy program in respective tests. In conclusion, the conducted study has shown the effectiveness of applied comprehensive physiotherapy program on the functional condition of the spine and improvement of the quality of life of the treated patients, regardless of their somatic conditions.

Background: Changes in blood pressure during subjects’ exercise are individually different. The reasons of these differences are unknown. Aim of the study: The aim of this paper is to investigate the rate of changes in cardiovascular system at rest and at physical load which enhance systolic blood pressure (SBP) = 200 mmHg in people with different physical performance. Material and methods: The studies included 18 soccer players and 14 students who do not practice any sport, whose age, body mass, body height and BMI have been similar, and who at baseline were measured systolic blood pressure (SBPr), diastolic blood pressure (DBPr) and heart rate (HRr). Then, the subjects performed exercise on a cycloergometer with increasing intensity in which at the level of the systolic blood pressure = 200 mm Hg (SBP200) were measured DBP200 and HR200. In terms of resting and exercise time the size of the mean arterial pressure (MAPr, MAP200), pulse pressure (PPr, PP200) and rate-pressure product (DPr, DP200) were calculated. Moreover the power achieved in PWC170 test (W and W/kg) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) (ml/min and ml/min/kg) were also calculated. Results: Soccer players have reached a higher power in PWC170 and higher VO2max and lower HR200 and DP200 (p

Summary A brief Valsalva manoeuvre, lasting 2–3 s, performed by young healthy men during strength exercise reduces transmural pressure acting on intrathoracic arteries. In this study, we sought to verify this finding in older men. Twenty normotensive, prehypertensive and moderately hypertensive otherwise healthy men 46–69 years old performed knee extensions combined with inspiration or with brief Valsalva manoeuvre performed at 10, 20 and 40 mmHg mouth pressure. Same respiratory manoeuvres were also performed at rest. Non-invasively measured blood pressure, knee angle, respiratory airflow and mouth pressure were continuously registered. In comparison to inspiration, estimated transmural pressure acting on thoracic arteries changed slightly and insignificantly during brief Valsalva manoeuvre at 10 and 20 mmHg mouth pressure. At 40 mmHg mouth pressure, transmural pressure declined at rest (−8·8 ± 11·4 mmHg) and during knee extension (−12·1 ± 11·9 mmHg). This decline ensued, as peak systolic pressure increase caused by this manoeuvre, was distinctly

The types of physical exertion undertaken by weightlifters and race walkers markedly differ. This difference should also be reflected in their respective diets.The aim of the study was to investigate and assess the diets of professional weightlifters and race walkers, along with a comparison to the diets of those students studying physical education (PE). Materials and Methods. Subjects were respectively 12 weightlifters, 12 race walkers and 12 physical education students whose body composition and nutrition were determined by weighing the foods that were both eaten and drunk.The study groups showed body differences, which may have arisen through dietary differences. Higher calorie diets were observed for race walkers according to body mass whilst weightlifters showed no difference with the other groups. Dietary intakes of protein, fat, and carbohydrates were however inappropriate for all groups. Vitamin and mineral intakes in weightlifters and students were within tolerable limits, but the rather aggressive taking of supplements by race walkers resulted in standard/recommended consumption levels being greatly exceeded in some cases.The diets of the study groups of weightlifters and race walkers need to be corrected.nutrition in sport, weightlifting, race walking, food supplementation.