Athalie J. Redwood-Brown

Chronic diseases, responsible for 74% of global mortality, impose a substantial health burden. This study investigates the perceived effects of CrossFit, a form of functional training, on medication use in the UK population. The research aims to provide insights into how CrossFit might relate to medical interventions for individuals with long-term health conditions. The study, encompassing 1,211 UK residents (over 18yrs.) recruited via CrossFit Affiliates, involved a 14-question online survey covering information pertaining to participants’ training background, medication use, medical interventions as well as specific comments relating to the impact of CrossFit on participants overall health. Following engagement in CrossFit training, a 54% reported reduction in medication usage was observed. This included 69 participants discontinuing medication and 82 reporting significantly reducing medication use within the first 6 months. Younger age groups (20-39 years) showed greater medication reduction, with 43% of those aged 20-29 reducing medication by over half and 27% eliminating it entirely. In the 30-39 age group, 29% eliminated medication and 20% reduced it significantly. Older age groups also saw reductions, though less pronounced. A Spearman's rank correlation identified a strong positive correlation between age and reductions to medication usage r(1137) = 0.110, p = 0.001. Further analysis of CrossFit training history indicated that neither CrossFit training age, nor CrossFit training frequency impacted perceptions of medication usage (r(1137) = -0.051, p = 0.085 and r(1137) = -0.043, p = 0.150) suggesting that participants did not need to be experienced or frequent CrossFit participants to experience the perceived benefits when it came to reducing medication use. Antidepressants, asthma inhalers, and painkillers were the most common medications used. Forty percent of all participants also reported fewer medical appointments, with this figure rising to 43% among those who were on medication before starting CrossFit. CrossFit training years and training frequency did not significantly correlate with whether participants reduced medical appointments or not (r(1137) = -0.034, p = 0.248, r(1137) = -0.032, p = 0.275) indicating that neither training history nor frequency impacted the perceived benefits of CrossFit training when associated with medical intervention. Seventy-one respondents reported cancelling or postponing surgeries due to the benefits of CrossFit, of these 55% reported reduced symptoms and 31% reported no longer needing surgery. A chi-squared test was conducted to explore the relationship between session frequency and medication reduction, which suggested a potential association; however, the result was not statistically significant (χ² = 12.72, df = 12.59, p = 0.10). Overall, CrossFit participants reported reduction in medication usage, medical appointments, and surgical intervention needed.

Background and Aims: The period between March 2020 and March 2021 saw an unprecedented change to everyday life due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. This included the closure of businesses in the health and fitness sector. Such closures impacted people in several ways; increasing stress, reducing mental well‐being, and decreasing motivation to exercise. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of UK lockdowns on the behavior, motives, and general health & well‐being of CrossFit™ gym members in the United Kingdom.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted on 757 CrossFit™ participants (height 1.71 ± 0.10 m; weight 76.4 ± 16.1 kg; body mass index [BMI]: 26.1 ± 4.7 kg/m²) using an online survey, which included questions pertaining to COVID‐19, lockdown behaviors, motivation, health, and well‐being. Participants also reported on their training background and exercise habits during lockdown restrictions.Results: Differences were observed in levels of exercise (p = 0.004), motivation to train at home (p < 0.001), and the feeling of being more stressed during the second lockdown compared with the first lockdown (p = 0.008). It was also highlighted that motivation to exercise was lower and stress levels significantly higher, in the 18–24 and 25–34 age groups compared with older ages groups.Conclusion: This study found that exercise behavior, motivation, and stress levels were significantly impacted by the second government‐imposed lockdown. It is argued that these factors need to be addressed in planning for future National lockdowns to maintain the health and well‐being of UK residents, especially in younger adults.

This study investigates the relationships between boat velocity, stroke rate and displacement per stroke in Paracanoe 200m Sprint Kayak races. Data were analysed from 646, 200m efforts performed by 13 international Paracanoe athletes between 2017 and 2020 (Male: N= 6, female: N= 7) using boat-based GPS unit (Catapult S5). Significant differences between the Paralympic classifications were observed for boat velocity, stroke rate and displacement per stroke across both genders (p < 0.001) and Paracanoe classification (p < 0.001). Stroke rate was found to be the best predictor of boat velocity across classifications explaining between 13% and 34% of the variation. However, displacement per stroke was found to be more important for males than females potentially due to strength and anthropometric differences. Boat velocity, stroke rate and displacement per stroke values for the final 150m (measured in 50 m splits) indicated evidence for a mix of all-out and positive pacing strategies. The results of this study suggest intricate differences exist in Paracanoe Sprint Kayak based on gender and classification between athletes. This information is useful in the coaching of Paracanoe Sprint Kayak with evidence that physical preparation, training, and race strategy can be individualised to each athlete.

Background: Contemporary literature indicates that a higher body mass index (BMI) serves as a risk factor for metabolic disease and is also correlated with greater disease severity. Subsequently, it has been linked to increased COVID-19 severity. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether regular CrossFit™ participation was associated with lower BMI, decreased COVID-19 severity and susceptibility. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1806 CrossFit™ (CF) participants. Participants were asked about their age (yrs), sex (male vs. female), ethnic group, body height (cm) and weight (kg). Body mass index (BMI, kg/m²) was computed and consistent with WHO (2018) criteria. Participants self-reported their training history, health and lifestyle history, nutritional customs, present training status and suspected levels of exposure to COVID-19. Once submitted the collected data were coded, cleaned and analysed. Results: The final model comprised of 1806 CF individuals from an online survey response rate of 2086. The participants age ranged from 18 to 65+ yrs. Self-reported mean body mass index (BMI: kg/m²) reported that < 1% were underweight, 41% were healthy, 46% overweight, 10% class I obese, 2% class II obese, and < 1% class III obese. A Kruskal–Wallis H test compared gender and self-reported probability of being infected with COVID-19 with significant differences between subgroups (x² (4, N = 1739) = 10.86, p = 0.03). Analysis of BMI and perceived severity of COVID-19 revealed a difference however not, significant (x² (4, N = 1739) = 9.46, p = 0.051). Results on BMI and perceived probability of COVID-19 infection revealed no significant difference (x² (4, N = 1739) = 2.68, p = 0.61). A separate analysis on BMI and perceived COVID-19 susceptibility revealed no significant difference (x² (4, N = 1740) = 6.02, p = 0.20). Conclusions: The purpose of the study was to establish whether habitual CrossFit™ participation is associated with reduced BMI, and to further investigate whether habitual participation impacted perceptions of disease. Results of the study indicate that self-reported CrossFit™ participation during the first UK lockdown, measured in minutes of exercise was indicative of a lower BMI. This has been associated with greater host immunity to disease. A history of CrossFit™ participation was not shown to impact perceptions of disease. However, our sample population reported few changes to habitual exercise during lockdown which may be due to the ‘community’ and increased adherence associated with CrossFit™.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of playing position, pitch location, team ability and opposition ability on technical performance variables (pass, cross, corner, free kick accuracy) of English Premier League Soccer players in difference score line states. A validated automatic tracking system (Venatrack) was used to code player actions in real time for passing accuracy, cross accuracy, corner accuracy and free kick accuracy. In total 376 of the 380 games played during the 2011–12 English premier League season were recorded, resulting in activity profiles of 570 players and over 35’000 rows of data. These data were analysed using multi-level modelling. Multi-level regression revealed a “u” shaped association between passing accuracy and goal difference (GD) with greater accuracy occurring at extremes of GD e.g., when the score was either positive or negative. The same pattern was seen for corner accuracy away from home e.g., corner accuracy was lowest when the score was close with the lowest accuracy at extremes of GD. Although free kicks were not associated with GD, team ability, playing position and pitch location were found to predict accuracy. No temporal variables were found to predict cross accuracy. A number of score line effects were present across the temporal factors which should be considered by coaches and managers when preparing and selecting teams in order to maximise performance. The current study highlighted the need for more sensitive score line definitions in which to consider score line effects.

The aim of this study were to investigate the effects of playing position, pitch location, team ability and opposition ability on the physical activity profiles of English premier league soccer players in difference score line states. A validated automatic tracking system (Venatrack Ltd.) was used to track players in real time (at 25 Hz) for total distance covered, high speed running distance and sprint distance. This is the first study to include every team from an entire season in the English premier league, resulting in 376 games, 570 players and 35 000 rows of data from the 2011‐12 season being analyzed using multi‐level modelling. Multi‐level regression revealed an inverted “u” shaped association between total distance covered and goal difference (GD), with greater distances covered when GD was zero and reduced distances when GD was either positive or negative. A similar “u” shaped association was found with high speed distance covered at home. In addition distance covered (both at home and away) were predicted by playing position. All activity profiles (with the exception of sprint distance at home) were predicted by pitch location and time scored. Lastly, distance away from home and high speed running at home were predicted by opposition ability. Score line appears to effect player activity profiles across a number of situational factors and thus should be considered by managers when preparing and selecting teams to maximize performance. The current study also highlighted the need for more sensitive score line definitions in which to consider score line effects.

The purpose of this research was to investigate elite soccer players’ perceptions and experiences of psychological momentum (PM) using a mixed methodological approach. Specifically, by comparing responses, the study aimed to provide coaches with a more appropriate method for collecting PM data. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 10 English Academy, elite male soccer players. In addition, 75 professional male soccer players completed a 49-item measure about their experiences of PM. Interviews and focus groups were manually analysed using a combination of inductive and deductive approaches with Chi-square tests used to assess differences between responses to the PM measure. The majority of questionnaire responses were supported by themes highlighted by players interviewed. Scoring and conceding goals were the most frequently reported match variables associated with positive and negative PM, respectively. In addition, “feeling confident”, “having a positive attitude” and “being cohesive as a team” were important aspects of positive PM. A “perceived lack of ability” and “feeling anxious” were the most frequently reported experiences of negative PM. The similarity of results from both methods support the measure as a useful tool for coaches to collect data pertaining to players’ experiences and perceptions of PM. Overall, findings suggest that PM is a complex (dynamic) process whereby triggers, characteristics, and consequences can hardly be separated. By understanding players’ experiences and perceptions of PM, coaches may incorporate specific training methods to help players maximise positive PM, reduce negative PM as well as develop strategies to optimise PM.

The aim of the current study was to determine the validity of an automated multiple-camera tracking system (Venatrack™), for the measurement of speed during soccer. 18 recreationally active males (mean age 27±8.6 years) performed a series of runs (total 391), representative of the movements made by soccer players, at given speeds. The speeds recorded by the automatic tracking system were compared statistically with speed measurements made using timing gates. For all the runs combined the mean speed recorded by the automated system was 15.4±5.5 km·h^− 1 compared with the recorded mean speed of 15.2±5.4 km·h^− 1 and the mean difference and 95% limits of agreement were − 0.25±0.64 km·h^− 1. Pearson correlations (r) among timing gate speed and automated tracking speed were ≥ 0.99 (P 0.7). For the zig-zag shuttle the mean speed recorded by the automated system was 21.2±3.5 km·h^− 1 compared with the recorded mean speed of 20.8±3.4 km·h^− 1. The results demonstrate good validity over a range of soccer specific movements and speeds, up to and including sprinting. The results of this study suggest that the automated system (Venatrack™) is a valid real-time motion analysis system for tracking player movements during soccer.