Clinical Research Institute

Purpose: To investigate the effects of a sports specific maximal 6-week strength and conditioning program on Critical Velocity (CV), anaerobic running distance (ARD) and 5-km time trial performance (TT). Methods: 16 moderately trained, recreational endurance runners were tested for CV, ARD and TT performances on three separate occasions (baseline, mid and post study). Design: Participants were randomly allocated into a strength and conditioning group (S&C; n=8) and a comparison, endurance training only group (EO; n=8). During the first phase of the study (6 weeks), the S&C group performed a concurrent maximal strength and endurance training, whilst the EO group performed an endurance only training. After the re-test of all variables (mid study) both groups subsequently, during phase two, performed another 6 weeks of endurance only training which was followed by post study tests. Results: No significant change for CV was identified in either groups. The S&C group demonstrated a significant decrease for ARD values after the first and second phase of the study. TT performances were significantly different in the S&C group after the intervention with a performance improvement of 3.62%. This performance increase returned close to baseline after the 6-week endurance only training. Conclusion: combining a 6-week resistance training program with endurance training significantly improves 5-km time trial performance. Removing strength training results in some loss of those performance improvements.

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of a moderate intensity strength training on changes in critical velocity (CV), anaerobic running distance (D'), sprint performance and Yo-Yo intermittent running test (Yo-Yo IR1) performances. Methods: two recreational soccer teams were divided in a soccer training only group (SO; n = 13) and a strength and soccer training group (ST; n = 13). Both groups were tested for values of CV, D', Yo-Yo IR1 distance and 30-m sprint time on two separate occasions (pre and post intervention). The ST group performed a concurrent 6-week upper and lower body strength and soccer training, whilst the SO group performed a soccer only training. Results: after the re-test of all variables, the ST demonstrated significant improvements for both, YoYo IR1 distance (p = 0.002) and CV values (p<0.001) with no significant changes in the SO group. 30-m sprint performance were slightly improved in the ST group with significantly decreased performance times identified in the SO group (p<0.001). Values for D' were slightly reduced in both groups (ST-44.5 m, 95% CI =-90.6 to 1.6; SO-42.6 m, 95% CI =-88.7 to 3.5). Conclusions: combining a 6-week moderate strength training with soccer training significantly improves CV, Yo-Yo IR1 whilst moderately improving 30-m sprint performances in non-previously resistance trained male soccer players. Critical Velocity can be recommended to coaches as an additional valid testing tool in soccer.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of detraining on fitness performance in 7-3 year-old children following 8 weeks of muscular fitness training which took place during the first 4 15 min of regularly scheduled physical education (PE) class. Children from two PE classes were 5 cluster randomized into either an exercise group (n=20) or a standard PE control group (n=19).

The aim of this study was to describe the pacing distribution during 6 editions of the world cross-country championships. Methods: Data from the 768 male runners participating from 2007 to 2013 were considered for this study. Blocks of 10 participants according to final position (eg, 1st to 10th, 11 to 20th, etc) were considered. Results: Taking data from all editions together, the effect of years was found to be significant (F 5,266 = 3078.69, P < .001, ω 2 = 0.31), as well as the effect of blocks of runners by final position (F 4,266 = 957.62, P < .001, ω 2 = 0.08). A significant general decrease in speed by lap was also found (F 5,1330 = 2344.02, P < .001, ω 2 = 0.29). Post hoc analyses were conducted for every edition where several pacing patterns were found. All correlations between the lap times and the total time were significant. However, each lap might show different predicting capacity over the individual outcome. Discussion: Top athletes seem to display different strategies, which allow them to sustain an optimal speed and/or kick as needed during the critical moments and succeed. After the first group (block) of runners, subsequent blocks always displayed a positive pacing pattern (fast to slow speed). Consequently, a much more stable pacing pattern should be considered to maximize final position. Conclusions: Top-10 finishers in the world cross-country championships tend to display a more even pace than the rest of the finishers, whose general behavior shows a positive (fast-to-slow) pattern.

We investigated the effects of ingesting a multi-ingredient (53g carbohydrate, 14.5g whey protein, 5g glutamine, 1.5g L-carnitine-L-tartrate) supplement, carbohydrate only, or placebo on intermittent performance, perception of fatigue, immunity, and functional and metabolic markers of recovery. Sixteen amateur soccer players ingested their respective treatments before, during and after performing a 90-min intermittent repeated sprint test. Primary outcomes included time for a 90-min intermittent repeated sprint test (IRS) followed by eleven 15 m sprints. Measurements included creatine kinase, myoglobin, interleukine-6, Neutrophil; Lymphocytes and Monocyte before (pre), immediately after (post), 1h and 24h after exercise testing period. Overall, time for the IRS and 15 m sprints was not different between treatments. However, the perception of fatigue was attenuated (P&lt;0.001) for the multi-ingredient (15.9±1.4) vs. placebo (17.8±1.4) but not for the carbohydrate (17.0±1.9) conditio...