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The aims of this study were to perform the cross-cultural adaptation of the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) 6-20 Scale to Brazilian Portuguese language and to start testing its validity and reliability. After performing the cross-cultural adaptation of the Scale, concurrent and discriminative validity, and reliability were determined on a treadmill in young (18-30 years) and older adult women (60-75 years). Considering young and older adult women, RPE presented high and moderate positive correlation with heart rate and high and low positive correlation with oxygen consumption, respectively. Older adult women presented RPE (11 ± 2) significantly higher than young ones (8 ± 1) exercising at the same absolute intensity. Intraclass coefficient correlation was excellent for RPE to young and older adult women. The Scale presented concurrent validity only to young adult women, whereas it presented discriminative validity between such groups of women. Moreover, the scale is reliable to young and older adult women.

Purpose: To investigate the internal training loads of a professional Spanish female futsal team throughout 26 weeks of training including preseason and in-season weeks and verify the impact of training period and/or training load magnitudes on heart-rate variability responses. Furthermore, we aimed to assess, intraindividually, the relationship between training load and the coefficient of variation (CV) of weekly natural log of the root mean square difference of successive normal interbeat (RR) intervals (lnRMSSDCV), obtained from ∼5 measures per week, and recorded in the seated position. Methods: A within-subject design involved 12 high-level outfield female futsal players (mean [SD] age: 23.9 [3.4] y). Results: lnRMSSD was significantly lower and lnRMSSDCV was significantly higher during the preseason (weeks 1–6) compared to in-season (weeks 7–26) (P <.001). Individually, players presented moderate to large negative correlations between lnRMSSDCV and lnRMSSD during the 26 weeks of observation. Correlations ranged between rplayer4 = −.41 (95% CI, −.69 to −.02) and rplayer12 = −.55 (−.78 to −.18). Players also presented moderate to verylarge positive correlations between lnRMSSDCV and session rating of perceived exertion. Correlations ranged between rplayer7 =.41 (.04 to.71) and rplayer1 =.71 (.45 to.86). Conclusion: Professional female futsal players in this study presented increased lnRMSSD and reduced lnRMSSDCV during 20 weeks into the competitive season compared to 6 weeks of preseason. Furthermore, lnRMSSDCV was negatively associated with lnRMSSD on an intraindividual basis. Finally, higher internal training loads were positively correlated with lnRMSSDCV, indicating that heart-rate variability is responsive to weekly training loads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The optimal power load is defined as the load that maximizes power output in a given exercise. This load can be determined through the use of various instruments, under different testing protocols. Specifically, the "optimum power load" (OPL) is derived from the load–velocity relationship, using only bar force and bar velocity in the power computation. The OPL is easily assessed using a simple incremental testing protocol, based on relative percentages of body mass. To date, several studies have examined the associations between the OPL and different sport-specific measures, as well as its acute and chronic effects on athletic performance. The aim of this brief review is to present and summarize the current evidence regarding the OPL, highlighting the main lines of research on this topic and discussing the potential applications of this novel approach for testing and training. Conclusions: The validity and simplicity of OPL-based schemes provide strong support for their use as an alternative to more traditional strength–power training strategies. The OPL method can be effectively used by coaches and sport scientists in different sports and populations, with different purposes and configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The authors investigated how the Arena Powerskin R-EVO Closed Back swimsuit and Arena Carbon Triwetsuit (full-sleeve wetsuit), both approved by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) regulations, affect biomechanics and energetics of 3 elite female open water (OW) swimmers at maximal and 4 submaximal swimming intensities. Methods: Three elite female OW swimmers (OW1 = 24 y, 1.64 m, 60 kg; OW2 = 23 y, 1.69 m, 65 kg; OW3 = 27 y, 1.63 m, 64.5 kg) were tested 1 week prior to a FINA/CNSG (China National Sports Group) Marathon Swim World Series event and 40 days before the 18th FINA World Championships 2019. Each OW swimmer completed 2 identical testing sessions, one with a swimsuit and other with a wetsuit, involving shoulder flexion power output assessed from medicine-ball throw, maximal performance and drag coefficient assessment, and an incremental intermittent swim test at 4 different relative intensities. Results: Estimated peak oxygen uptake was 4.4 L·min−1 for OW1, 5.6 L·min−1 for OW2, and 5.0 L·min−1 for OW3. Despite a distinct behavior observed on index of coordination for OW3, a null index of synchronization, increased stroke rate (mean difference = 2%–8%), reduced drag factor (minimum = −14%; maximum = −30%), lower energy cost (mean difference = −2% to −6%), and faster performance (mean difference = 2% to 3%) were observed with the wetsuit compared with swimsuit for all elite OW swimmers. Conclusion: The wetsuit enhances submaximal swimming performance, and this increase is dependent on the OW swimmer's characteristics. The higher stroke rate and lower stroke length detected with wetsuit could be related to movement constraints imposed by the suit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to elucidate the internal load, performance, physiological, and perceptual recovery responses during four weeks of traditional judo training. Ten cadet and junior judo athletes were evaluated daily for four weeks, in which their perception of recovery, heart rate variability, handgrip strength, and countermovement jump performance were assessed. A one-way repeatedmeasures ANOVA was performed to analyze the variables across the weeks. A significant time effect in internal load (F = 6.51; p = 0.001) has been observed. Handgrip test performance showed significantly higher values in the 3rd and 4th weeks (p <0.001), while countermovement jump performance was significantly higher in the 4th week (p =0.0007). The heart rate variability's coefficient of variation was lower in both the 3rd and 4th weeks (p =0.02). Regarding perceptual aspects, the Hooper Index showed a significant time effect (p =0.04), but pairwise comparison did not reveal differences between weeks. The present study indicates that neuromuscular, physiological, and perceptual responses to training load alterations present different time courses. This must be considered for the adequate monitoring of training programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the posttraining recovery timeline of elite Brazilian futsal athletes before (Pre-PS) and after 10 weeks of the preseason (Post-PS) period of high-intensity technical–tactical training. Methods: At the start (n = 13) and at the end of the preseason (n = 7), under-20 male futsal players undertook fitness testing for maximal aerobic power, the countermovement jump (CMJ), and the 10-m sprint with change of direction. Furthermore, at both Pre-PS and Post-PS, the players participated in a training session where performance and psychophysiological measures were recorded before, immediately, 3, 24, and 48 hours postsession. The measures included CMJ, 10-m sprint, creatine kinase, Total Quality Recovery Scale, and Brunel Mood Scale. Effect size (ES) analyses compared fitness and posttraining recovery values for each parameter at Pre-PS versus Post-PS. Results: Only trivial ES (−0.02 to 0.11) was evident in maximal aerobic power, CMJ, and 10-m sprint at Post-PS compared with Pre-PS. For the timeline of recovery, only trivial and small ESs were evident for the 10-m sprint (−0.12 to 0.49), though CMJ recovery was improved at 3 hours (0.87) and 48 hours (1.27) at Post-PS and creatine kinase was lower at 48 hours (−1.33) at Post-PS. Perception of recovery was improved in Post-PS at 3 hours (1.50) and 24 hours postsession (0.92). Furthermore, perception of effort was lower immediately after the session (−0.29), fatigue was lower at 3 hours (−0.63), and vigor responses were improved in all postseason assessments (0.59 to 1.13). Conclusion: Despite minimal changes in fitness, preseason training attenuated players' perception of effort and fatigue and improved their recovery profile following a high-intensity technical–tactical training session. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The current study aimed to compare the effects of plyometric (PT) versus optimum power load (OPL) training on physical performance of young high-level soccer players. Methods: Athletes were randomly divided into PT (horizontal and vertical drills) and OPL (squat + hip thrust exercises at the load of maximum power output) interventions, applied over 7 weeks during the in-season period. Squat and countermovement jumps, maximal sprint (10 and 30 m), and change of direction (COD; agility t test) were the pretraining and posttraining measured performance variables. Magnitude-based inference was used for within- and between-group comparisons. Results: OPL training induced moderate improvements in vertical squat jump (effect size [ES]: 0.97; 90% confidence interval [CI], 0.32–1.61) and countermovement jump (ES: 1.02; 90% CI, 0.46–1.57), 30-m sprint speed (ES: 1.02; 90% CI, 0.09–1.95), and COD performance (ES: 0.93; 90% CI, 0.50–1.36). After PT training method, vertical squat jump (ES: 1.08; 90% CI, 0.66–1.51) and countermovement jump (ES: 0.62; 90% CI, 0.18–1.06) were moderately increased, while small enhancements were noticed for 30-m sprint speed (ES: 0.21; 90% CI, −0.02 to 0.45) and COD performance (ES: 0.53; 90% CI, 0.24–0.81). The 10-m sprint speed possibly increased after PT intervention (small ES: 0.25; 90% CI, −0.05 to 0.54), but no substantial change (small ES: 0.36; 90% CI, −0.40 to 1.13) was noticed in OPL. For between-group analyses, the COD ability and 30-m sprint performances were possibly (small ES: 0.30; 90% CI, −0.20 to 0.81; Δ = +1.88%) and likely (moderate ES: 0.81; 90% CI, −0.16 to 1.78; Δ = +2.38%) more improved in the OPL than in the PT intervention, respectively. Conclusions: The 2 different training programs improved physical performance outcomes during the in-season period. However, the combination of vertically and horizontally based training exercises (squat + hip thrust) at optimum power zone led to superior gains in COD and 30-m linear sprint performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To analyze whether exercise training conducted at night disturbs sleep and affects nocturnal cardiac autonomic control in high-level female athletes. Methods: A total of 18 high-level female soccer players (mean [SD] age 20.4 [2.1] y) wore actigraphs and heart-rate (HR) monitors during night sleep throughout night training days (n = 8) and resting days (n = 8), for 3 consecutive weeks. This was a longitudinal study that measured internal training load, sleep, nocturnal cardiac autonomic activity, and well-being ratings prior to training sessions. Results: Training load varied across training days (eg, training impulse range, mean [SD]; effect size, ES [95% confidence interval]: 72.9 [18.8] to 138.4 [29.6] a.u.; F4.62 = 32.331; ηp² = .673 [.001-16], large effect; P < .001). However, no differences in subjective well-being ratings were observed, although ES was large. Total sleep time (training days vs resting days: 07:17 [00:47] h vs 07:51 [00:42] h; ES = 0.742 [0.59-0.92], P - .005; moderate effect) and sleep-onset time (00:58 [00:19] h vs 00:44 [00:16] h; ES = 0.802 [0.68-0.94], P = .001; moderate effect) were negatively affected after night training. In addition, small effects were detected for wake-up time, time in bed, and sleep latency (P > .05). No differences were detected in HR variability during sleep (range of InRMSSD: 4.3 [0.4] to 4.5 [0.4] ln[ms] vs 4.6 [0.3] to 4.5 [0.4] ln[ms]; F3.52 = 2.148; P> .05; ηp² = . 112 [.01- .25], medium effect), but HR during sleep was significantly higher after training days (range of HR: 56 [4] to 63 [7] beats/min vs 54 [4] to 57 [6] beats/min; F2.32 = 15.956; P < .001; ηp² = .484 [.20-.63], large effect). Conclusion: Overall, the results indicate that exercise training conducted at night may disturb sleep and affect HR, whereas limited effects can be expected in HR variability assessed during sleep in high-level female soccer players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Athletes' sleep is the most important recovery strategy and has received growing attention. However, athletes may experience sleep disruptions due to numerous factors, such as training and competition workloads, travel, changes in sleep-wake schedules, and sleeping environments. They often spend nights in unfamiliar hotels, and sharing a bed, room, or both with another person might affect sleep duration and quality. To analyze the effect of sleeping in shared (SRs) versus individual (IRs) rooms on objective and subjective sleep and on slow-wave-sleep–derived cardiac autonomic activity during an official training camp in elite youth soccer players. Training and match workloads were characterized. Observational case study. Hotel accommodations. Thirteen elite male youth soccer players. Players slept longer in IRs than in SRs (+1:28 [95% CI = 1:18, 1:42] hours:minutes; P <.001). Sleep efficiency was higher in IRs than in SRs (+12% [95% CI = 10%, 15%]; P <.001), whereas sleep latency was shorter in IRs than in SRs (−3 [95% CI = −15, −4] minutes; P <.001). Subjective sleep quality was lower in IRs than in SRs (−2 [−3 to −2] arbitrary units; P <.001). No differences were found for slow-wave-sleep–derived cardiac autonomic activity or for training or match workloads between training camps. During soccer training camps, sleep may be affected by whether the athlete is in an SR versus an IR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To assess the sensitivity of nocturnal heart-rate-variability-monitoring methods to the effects of late-night soccer training sessions in female athletes. Methods: Eleven female soccer players competing in the first division of the Portuguese soccer league wore heart-rate monitors during sleep at night throughout a 1-wk competitive in-season microcycle, after late-night training sessions (n = 3) and rest days (n = 3). Heart rate variability was analyzed through "slow-wave sleep episode" (10-min duration) and "hour by hour" (all the RR intervals recorded throughout the hours of sleep). Training load was quantified by session rating of perceived exertion (281.8 [117.9] to 369.0 [111.7] arbitrary units [a.u.]) and training impulse (77.5 [36.5] to 110.8 [31.6] a.u.), added to subjective well-being ratings (Hopper index = 11.6 [4.4] to 12.8 [3.2] a.u.). These variables were compared between training and rest days using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: The log-transformed slow-wave sleep-episode cardiac autonomic activity (lnRMSSD [natural logarithm of the square root of themean of the sumof the squares of differences between adjacent normal RR intervals] varying between 3.92 [0.57] and 4.20 [0.60] ms; ηp² = .16; 95% confidence interval, .01-.26), lnHF (natural logarithm of high frequency), lnLF (natural logarithm of low frequency), lnSD1 (natural logarithm of short-term beat-to-beat variability), and lnSD2 (natural logarithm of long-term beat-to-beat variability), and the nontransformed LF/HF were not different among nighttraining session days and rest days (P > .05). Considering the hour-by-hour method (lnRMSSD varying between 4.05 [0.35] and 4.33 [0.32] ms; ηp² = .46; 95% confidence interval, .26-.52), lnHF, lnLF, lnSD1, and lnSD2 and the nontransformed LF/HF were not different among night-training session days and rest days (P > .05). Conclusion: Late-night soccer training does not seem to affect nocturnal slow-wave sleep-episode and hour-by-hour heart-rate-variability indices in highly trained athletes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nakamura, FY, Torres, VBC, da Silva, LS, Gantois, P, Andrade, AD, Ribeiro, ALB, Brasileiro-Santos, MdS, and Batista, GR. Monitoring heart rate variability and perceived well-being in Brazilian elite beach volleyball players: A single-tournament pilot study. J Strength Cond Res 36(6): 1708–1714, 2022—The aim of this study was to monitor the changes in heart rate variability (HRV) and perceptual well-being status after a beach volleyball (BV) tournament day in high-level U17 and senior players. Seventeen BV players (U17 [15–16 years]: n = 08; and senior [19–41 years]: n = 09) competing at national and/or international BV level participated in this study. Resting HRV and perceptual well-being measures were recorded across 4 moments: night 1 (prematches night), morning 1 (prematches morning), night 2 (postmatches night), and morning 2 (postmatches morning). Session rating of perceived exertion was assessed 10 minutes after each match, and accumulated match loads were used for analysis. Senior players presented higher values of natural logarithm of square root of the mean squared differences of successive RR intervals (lnRMSSD) at the 4 observation moments than U17 players (p = 0.006). Within-subjects analysis showed a larger mean difference regarding both lnRMSSD and natural logarithm SD of normal R-R intervals (lnSDNN) between night 1 vs. night 2 in U17 players (effect size = 1.11 and, 0.96, respectively) compared with senior (effect size = 0.40 and 0.32, respectively). Accumulated match loads were negatively correlated with percentage change in lnRMSSD (r = −0.54; p = 0.037). U17 players showed higher well-being variation than senior (group × time; p = 0.02). In conclusion, the lnRMSSD index was able to discriminate the U17 and senior BV players, and maintaining high vagally related HRV indices is an important response to BV training and competition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in 24‐h heart rate variability and aerobic fitness, and their associations, in female soccer players during the preseason period. Methods: Sixteen players were assessed (24‐h HRV and Yo‐Yo Intermittent Recovery Test, level 1 [YYIR1]) before and after 4 weeks of preseason. The relationship between R‐R24h length and high‐frequency oscillations (HF24h) was analyzed by a quadratic regression model (revealing or not saturation of vagal activity) assessed 48‐h before (PRE‐preseason) and 48‐h after (POST‐preseason) the preseason period. Additionally, the mean HF24h was calculated from the linear portion of the R–R interval versus the HF24h regression curve (HF index). The average of the corresponding R‐R24h values was defined as the R–R index. Results: In PRE‐preseason, seven players had a saturated HF24h, while in POST‐preseason, five new cases of saturated HF24h were observed. The mean R‐R24h, HF24h, R‐R index, and HF index lengths significantly increased after preseason (p < 0.001). Significant differences were found in YYIR1 PRE‐ compared with POST‐preseason (930 ± 286 m [individual range: 400–1240 m] versus 1265 ± 252 m [640–1640 m], respectively; p < 0.001). Additionally, the relative changes in HF24h and HF index were largely correlated with improvements in the distance covered during the YYIR1 (r = 0.68 and r = 0.56; respectively). Conclusion: Enhanced vagal activity after 4‐week preseason period of soccer training increased the occurrence of vagal saturation in high‐level female soccer players. Additionally, the increases in HF24h and HF index were significantly correlated with aerobic fitness change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]