Eduardo Salazar-Martínez

Basketball referees play a crucial role in game management, yet the physical and physiological demands placed on them during a game remain understudied. This study analyzed the workload of 35 group 1 referees during a U-18 Spanish championship, examining the effects of refereeing technique (two referees vs. three referees) and competition sex (male vs. female) across game quarters. Physical and physiological demands were measured using inertial devices and heart rate monitors during 37 matches (18 men’s and 19 women’s). The results revealed that 2-referee teams experienced significantly greater physical demands, covering approximately 25% more total distance and demonstrating higher values in high-intensity running compared to 3-referee teams. Female competition elicited higher demands in specific variables, particularly in the distance covered above 16 km/h and average speed. Analysis across quarters showed distinct temporal patterns, with the first and third quarters presenting the highest demands, especially for 2-referee teams. These findings suggest that basketball referees’ physical preparation should be tailored to the officiating technique and competition sex, with a particular emphasis on developing specific conditioning programs for the 2-referee technique and implementing targeted recovery strategies between quarters to maintain optimal performance throughout the game.

(1) Background: The breathing pattern is defined as the relationship between the tidal volume (VT) and breathing frequency (BF) for a given VE. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training influenced the response of the breathing pattern during an incremental effort in amateur cyclists. (2) Methods: Eighteen amateur cyclists completed an incremental test to exhaustion, and a gas analysis on a cycle ergometer and spirometry were conducted. Cyclists were randomly assigned to two groups (IMTG = 9; CON = 9). The IMTG completed 6 weeks of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a PowerBreathe K3^® device at 50% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (Pimax). The workload was adjusted weekly. The CON did not carry out any inspiratory training during the experimental period. After the 6-week intervention, the cyclists repeated the incremental exercise test, and the gas analysis and spirometry were conducted. The response of the breathing pattern was evaluated during the incremental exercise test. (3) Results: The Pimax increased in the IMTG (p < 0.05; d = 3.1; +19.62%). Variables related to the breathing pattern response showed no differences between groups after the intervention (EXPvsCON; p > 0.05). Likewise, no differences in breathing pattern were found in the IMTG after training (PREvsPOST; p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: IMT improved the strength of inspiratory muscles and sport performance in amateur cyclists. These changes were not attributed to alterations in the response of the breathing pattern.

(1) Background: During physical exercise, ventilation (VE) adapts to the intensity and characteris-tics of the effort. The breathing pattern is defined as the relationship between the tidal volume (VT) and breathing frequency (BF) for a given VE. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether inspiratory muscle training influenced the response of the breathing pattern during an incremen-tal effort in amateur cyclists. (2) Methods: 18 amateur cyclists completed an incremental test to exhaustion with gas analysis on a cycle ergometer and spirometry. Cyclists were randomly as-signed to two groups (IMTG=9; CON=9). The IMT group completed 6 weeks of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) using a PowerBreathe K3® device at 50% of the maximum inspiratory pressure (Pimax). The workload was adjusted weekly. After the 6-week intervention, the cyclists repeated the incremental exercise test with gas analysis and spirometry. The response of the breathing pat-tern was evaluated during the incremental exercise test. (3) Results: Pimax increased in the IMTG (p0.05). Likewise, no differences were found in the IMTG after training (PREvsPOST; p>0.05). (4) Conclusions: IMT improved the strength of in-spiratory muscles and sports performance in amateur cyclists. These changes were not attributed to alterations in the response of the breathing pattern.

Background The long-term impact of cancer treatment is associated with respiratory dysfunction and physical fitness impairment. Although inspiratory muscle training (IMT) has been shown as an effective exercise therapy in cancer survivors, there is no evidence on the optimal dose, application moment nor specific population effects of this intervention. The main objective of this meta-analysis is to analyse the effects of IMT on pulmonary function, physical fitness and quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors. Methods This systematic review and meta-analysis was preregistered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) register and conducted according to the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis statement. We used a Bayesian multilevel random-effects meta-analysis model to pool the data. Multilevel metaregression models were used to examine the conditional effects of our covariates. Convergence and model fit were evaluated through specific model parameters. Sensitivity analyses removing influential cases and using a frequentist approach were carried out. Results Pooled data showed that IMT intervention is effective to improve pulmonary function (standardised mean difference=0.53, 95% credible interval 0.13 to 0.94, SE=0.19). However, IMT did not present statistically significant results on physical fitness and QoL. Metaregression analyses found that the type of cancer, the moment of application and the evaluation tool used had significant moderation effects on pulmonary function. Conclusion IMT could be an important part in the management of side effects suffered by cancer survivors. Considering the current evidence, this intervention is highly recommended in patients diagnosed with oesophageal and lung cancers. IMT may provide superior benefits before the biological treatment and after the surgery. PROSPERO registration number 304909.

This study aimed to investigate and compare the effects of repeated-sprint (RSH) and sprint interval training in hypoxia (SIH) on sea level running and cycling performance, and to elucidate potential common or divergent adaptations of muscle perfusion and -oxygenation as well as mitochondrial respiration of blood cells. Eleven team-sport athletes performed either RSH (3x5x10s, 20s and 5min recovery between repetitions and sets) or SIH (4x30s, 5min recovery) cycling training for 3weeks (3 times/week) at a simulated altitude of 2,200m. Before and three days after the training period, a Wingate and a repeated cycling sprint test (5x6s, 20s recovery) were performed with a 30min resting period between the tests. Four to five days after the training, participants performed a repeated miming sprint test (RSA, 6x17m back and forth, 20s recovery) and a Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (YYIR2) with 1 hour active recovery between tests. The order of the tests as well as the duration of the resting periods remained the same before and after the training period. During the cycling tests near-infrared spectroscopy was performed on the vastus lateralis. In four participants, mitochondrial respiration of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and platelets was measured before and after training YYIR2 running distance increased by +96.7 +/- 145.6 m after RSH and by +100.0 +/- 51.6 m after SIH (p = 0.034, eta(2) = 0.449). RSA mean miming time improved by -0.138 +/- 0.14s and -0.107 +/- 0.08s after RSH and SIH respectively (p = 0.012, eta(2) = 0.564). RSH compared to SIH improved re-oxygenation during repeated sprinting. Improvements in repeated cycling were associated with improvements in re-oxygenation (r = 0.707, p < 0.05). Mitochondrial electron transfer capacity normalized per PBMC count was decreased in RSH only. This study showed that cycling RSH and SIH training improves sea-level running performance. Our preliminary results suggest that RSH and SIH training results in different patterns of muscular oxygen extraction and PBMC mitochondrial respiration, without effect on platelets respiration.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ventilatory efficiency (V E /VCO 2 slope) and the respiratory control (Vt/Ti slope) in a wide range of athletes and describe the influence of fitness level, age, ergometer type or BMI on these parameters. Ninety-one males (30.4±10.53 years; 175.52±7.45...

The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on ventilatory efficiency, in normoxia and hypoxia, and to investigate the relationship between ventilatory efficiency and cycling performance. Sixteen sport students (23.05±4.7 years; 175.11±7.1 cm; 67.0±19.4 kg; 46.4±8.7 ml·kg-1·min-1) were randomly assigned to an inspiratory muscle training group (IMTG) and a control group (CG). The IMTG performed 2 training sessions/day (30 inspiratory breaths, 50% peak inspiratory pressure (Pimax), 5 days/wk, 6-wks. Before and after the training period subjects carried out an incremental exercise test to exhaustion with gas analysis, lung function testing and a cycling time trial test in hypoxia and normoxia. Simulated hypoxia (FiO2=16.45%), significantly altered the ventilatory efficiency response in all subjects (p<0.05). Pimax increased significantly in the IMTG whereas no changes occurred in the CG (time x group, p<0.05). Within group analyses showed that the IMTG improved ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope; EqCO2VT2) in hypoxia (p<0.05) and cycling time trial performance (WTTmax(W); WTTmean(W); PTF(W)) (p<0.05) in hypoxia and normoxia. Significant correlations were not found in hypoxia nor normoxia found between ventilatory efficiency parameters (VE/VCO2 slope; LEqCO2; EqCO2VT2) and time trial performance. On the contrary the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) was highly correlated with cycling time trial performance (r=0.89; r=0.82; p<0.001) under both conditions. Even though no interaction effect was found, the within group analysis may suggest that IMT reduces the negative effects of hypoxia on ventilatory efficiency. In addition, the data suggest that OUES plays an important role in submaximal cycling performance.