Igor Freitas Cruz

Research in football has been embracing the complex systems paradigm in order to identify different insights about key determinants of performance. The present study explored the multifractal properties of several football-related scenarios, as a candidate method to describe movement dynamics. The sample consisted of five footballers that were engaged in six different training situations (jogging, high intensity interval protocol, running circuit, 5 vs. 5, 8 vs. 8 and a 10 vs. 10 small-sided game). All kinematic measures were collected using a 100 Hz wireless and wearable inertial measurement unit (WIMUPRO©). Data were processed using a discrete wavelet leader transform in order to obtain a spectrum of singularities that could best describe the movement dynamics. The Holder exponent for each of all six conditions revealed mean values h < 0.5 indicating presence of long memory with anti-correlated behavior. A strong trend was found between the width of the multifractal spectrum and the type of task performed, with jogging showing the weakest multifractality ∆h = 0.215 ± 0.020, whereas, 10 vs. 10 small-sided game revealed the strongest ∆h = 0.992 ± 0.104. The Hausdorff dimension indicates that a maximal fluctuation rate occurs with a higher probability than that of the minimal fluctuation rate for all tasks, with the exception of the high intensity interval protocol. Moreover, the spectrum asymmetry values of jogging, running circuit, 5 vs. 5, 8 vs. 8 and 10 vs. 10 small-sided games reveal their multifractal structures are more sensitive to the local fluctuations with small magnitudes. The multifractal analysis has shown a potential to systematically elucidate the dynamics and variability structure over time for the training situations.

The aims of this study were to describe the session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE), total quality recovery (TQR), and variations in countermovement jump (CMJ) height throughout nine weeks of a competitive period in young female basketball players. In total, 10 young female basketball players (17.2 ± 0.4 years; 71.8 ± 15.0 kg; 177.2 ± 9.5 cm) participated in this study. The sRPE and TQR were assessed in each training session, whereas the CMJ height was assessed prior to the first weekly training session. The magnitude-based inferences method was used to compare the sRPE, TQR, and CMJ height across the nine weeks of training. The training loads accumulated in weeks 1, 2, and 3 were likely to almost certainly be higher than in the following weeks (ES varying from 0.67 to 2.55). The CMJ height in week 1 was very likely to be lower than in weeks 2, 5, 7, and 8 (ES varying from 0.24 to 0.34), while the CMJ height of the 9th week was likely to almost certainly be higher than all previous weeks of training (ES varying from 0.70 to 1.10). Accordingly, it was observed that when higher training loads were accumulated, both CMJ and TQR presented lower values than those presented during periods with lower internal training loads. These results highlight the importance of using a comprehensive and multivariate approach to effectively monitor the physical performance of young athletes.

Heart rate variability has been widely used to monitor athletes’ cardiac autonomic control changes induced by training and competition, and recently shorter recording times have been sought to improve its practicality. The aim of this study was to test the agreement between the (ultra-short-term) natural log of the root-mean-square difference of successive normal RR intervals (lnRMSSD - measured in only 1 min post-1 min stabilization) and the criterion lnRMSSD (measured in the last 5 min out of 10 min of recording) in young female basketball players. Furthermore, the correlation between training induced delta change in the ultra-short-term lnRMSSD and the criterion lnRMSSD was calculated. Seventeen players were assessed at rest pre- and post-eight weeks of training. Trivial effect sizes (-0.03 in the pre- and 0.10 in the post- treatment) were found in the comparison between the ultra-short-term lnRMSSD (3.29 ± 0.45 and 3.49 ± 0.35 ms, in the pre- and post-, respectively) and the criterion lnRMSSD (3.30 ± 0.40 and 3.45 ± 0.41 ms, in the pre- and post-, respectively) (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.95 and 0.93). In both cases, the response to training was significant, with Pearson’s correlation of 0.82 between the delta changes of the ultra-short-term lnRMSSD and the criterion lnRMSSD. In conclusion, the lnRMSSD can be calculated within only 2 min of data acquisition (the 1^st min discarded) in young female basketball players, with the ultra-short-term measure presenting similar sensitivity to training effects as the standard criterion measure.

Introduction: Adequate hydration status in the sport is essential for good health, yet the relationship between hydration, proteinuria and sports is little studied. Objective: To analyze the influence of an isotonic sports drink as rehydration strategy on the hydration status and proteinuria after karate training. Methods: Ten athletes participated in this study. In the first session of standard training, called observation training session (STO), the athletes hydrated themselves according to their habits, and in the second session of standard training, called nutritional intervention training session (STIN), an ideal practice of hydration protocol was followed, using an isotonic sports drink as a rehydration liquid during the training. The hydration status was verified by monitoring the body weight before and after training, the urine specific gravity pre-and post-training and the urine volume post-training. To observe the influence of practice of hydration on the renal function post exercise proteinuria was measured. Results: We observed a statistically significant difference in urine density between the samples pre- and post-exercise only on STIN (p = 0.047). When we compare the sessions, there was a lower variation in body weight (p = 0.011) and higher urinary volume (p < 0.001), on nutritional intervention training. In STO, there was a higher percentage of athletes who showed proteinuria (70%) compared to the STIN (50%) in the urine sample after training. Conclusion: The use of isotonic sports drink as practice of hydration by karate athletes promoted rehydration during one session of training and reduce post-training proteinuria.

To verify the cardiac autonomic response following the Yo-Yo IR1 and simulated basketball matches (SM) 20 young female Brazilian basketball players (16.92±1.07 years; 179.60±9.27 m; 73.33±15.71 kg; BMI = 22.59±3.56) performed the Yo-Yo intermittent recovery test (Yo-Yo) and the SM. Heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitored continually 10-min before, during, and 10-min after both experimental sessions. Global HRV indexes, measured maximal heart rate (HRmax), and several estimated HRmax were assessed. The time duration of Yo-Yo IR1 was lower than SB (6.12 ± 1.81 and 24.21 ± 4.04 min, respectively; ES=5.78). Higher values of measured-HRmax were registered in SM (195.27±8.40 beats.min^-1) than during Yo-Yo IR1 (187.47±9.54 beats.min^-1; ES=-0.93). No differences were found between the mean HR of the efforts (177±9 and 173±10 beats.min^-1 for Yo-Yo and SM, respectively; ES =0.20). The six estimated HRmax ranged from 92.31±4.59 to 102.59±4.41% of the measured HRmax. Higher cardiac autonomic depression was found after SM. The technical-tactical requirement during the SM seemed to be able to reach HRmax but with lower cardiac autonomic response than Yo-Yo. This information may help coaches and physical conditioners to evaluate, prescribe and monitor training sessions regarding HR and HRV responses during common team sports practices.

Ationship between punching impact and selected strength and power variables in 15 amateur boxers from the Brazilian National Team (9 men and 6 women). Punching impact was assessed in the following conditions: 3 jabs starting from the standardized position, 3 crosses starting from the standardized position, 3 jabs starting from a self-selected position, and 3 crosses starting from a self-selected position. For punching tests, a force platform (1.02 × 0.76 m) covered by a body shield was mounted on the wall at a height of 1 m, perpendicular to the floor. The selected strength and power variables were vertical jump height (in squat jump and countermovement jump), mean propulsive power in the jump squat, bench press (BP), and bench throw, maximum isometric force in squat and BP, and rate of force development in the squat and BP. Sex and position main effects were observed, with higher impact for males compared with females (p ≤ 0.05) and the self-selected distance resulting in higher impact in the jab technique compared with the fixed distance (p ≤ 0.05). Finally, the correlations between strength/power variables and punching impact indices ranged between 0.67 and 0.85. Because of the strong associations between punching impact and strength/power variables (e.g., lower limb muscle power), this study provides important information for coaches to specifically design better training strategies to improve punching impact....