Anthony G. Pinzone

Pinzone, AG, Abu-Amara, Y, Gant, RW, Rivera, J, Tagesen, EC, Barkley, JE, and Jajtner, AR. The relationship between relative rest and team performance across competitive seasons in the National Football League. J Strength Cond Res 39(8): 875–879, 2025—This investigation aimed to assess the relationship between relative rest index (RRI) and team performance across multiple seasons of National Football League (NFL) competition. To examine this relationship, all NFL regular season games from the 1970–71 to 2022–23 NFL seasons ( N = 12,290) were analyzed with rest intervals calculated for each team on a game-to-game basis as the number of days between current and previous games. Next, RRI was calculated as the discrepancy in rest intervals between competing teams for all games and averaged for all teams across all seasons with teams categorized by season average RRI (<−0.70; −0.7 to −0.5; −0.5 to −0.25; −0.25 to 0; 0 to 0.25; 0.25 to 0.5; 0.5 to 0.7; >0.70). Win percentage and playoff depth (lost in wild card round; lost in divisional round; lost in conference championship; lost in Super Bowl; won Super Bowl; did not make playoffs) quantified team performance. Pearson product correlations were implemented to assess the relationship between season average RRI and win percentage. One-way analyses of variance assessed differences in win percentage across RRI categories and RRI across playoff depth categories. A trivial negative correlation between RRI and win percentage across all seasons was noted. Moreover, win percentage did not differ across RRI categories, while RRI was attenuated among teams that lost in the Super Bowl and divisional round compared with teams that did not qualify for the playoffs, suggesting that RRI has no significant effect on team performance with competitive eras of NFL competition collated.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine whether season average relative rest (RR) influences winning percentage (WIN%) in professional American Football. We define RR as the difference in rest intervals between teams from prior games. To address this, we analyzed each game played in the 2022 NFL season (n=271) and calculated rest intervals between each successive game for each team. The rest interval was defined as the number of days between the schedule start for each successive game, with all teams being assigned a rest interval of 0 during Week 1. Each team’s RR was then determined by subtracting the opposing team’s rest interval. The RR for each game for all teams were then averaged across the season. Subsequently, a correlation between season average RR and WIN% was performed and a tertial split in season average RR was conducted to separate teams into HIGH (teams 1-11), MID (teams 12-21) and LOW (teams 22-32). A one-way ANOVA comparing WIN% between HIGH, MID and LOW was then conducted while independent samples t-tests were employed to assess season average RR between teams with records above (WIN) and below 0.500 (LOSE) and those qualifying (PO) and not qualifying (NPO) for the playoffs. Data indicate that a significant positive relationship exists between WIN% and season average RR (r=0.338; p = 0.029). Moreover, successful teams (WIN/PO) had significantly greater season average RR than unsuccessful teams (LOSE/NPO). Therefore, a team’s rest interval, relative to their opponent was associated with the outcome of the competition during the 2022 NFL season.

Isometric handgrip (IHG) coupled with post-exercise muscular ischemia (PEMI) and the cold pressor test (CPT) have been demonstrated to increase measures of hemodynamics and to reduce vagal tone. However, little is known about how acute resistance exercise (RE) alters these responses. The purpose was to evaluate an acute bout of RE in conjunction with a single- or dual-stressor task on hemodynamics and autonomic modulation in resistance-trained individuals. Ten resistance-trained individuals (Mean ± SD; Age: 23 ± 3 years) completed a single- (SS: IHG + PEMI only) or dual-stressor (DS: IHG + PEMI + CPT) task condition. Before and after the acute RE variables were monitored during five minutes of rest (REST), two minutes of IHG, three minutes of PEMI with or without concurrent CPT (STRESS). Hemodynamics included heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (Q). stroke volume (SV) and total peripheral resistance (TPR), while autonomic data were measured via heart rate variability and heart rate complexity. There were no significant (p > 0.05) three-way interactions for HR, Q, or TPR. However, there was a significant three-way interaction (p = 0.007) for SV such that SV was significantly increased during STRESS compared to REST in the SS condition but did not change in the DS condition. There were no significant (p > 0.05) interactions for measures of autonomic modulation. These data suggest that young, resistance-trained individuals have a significant cardiac sympathetic reserve and thus a large capacity to handle multiple stressors following acute RE.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine inter-set and inter-session reliability of the HUMAC360 measures for duration (DUR), peak velocity (PV) and mean velocity (MV) across three segments of the bench press. Seventeen recreationally active adults participated in this investigation. During visit one, participants completed a bench press one-repetition maximum (1RM). Visits two and three consisted of two sets of three repetitions at 30%-, 50%-, 60%-, and 70 %-1RM. Segments were defined by dividing total displacement into equal thirds at the bottom (BOT), middle (MID) and top (TOP). Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were used to assess reliability while paired samples t-tests were used to identify differences between sets or sessions with significance set at p≤0.05. Excellent ICCs were present for PV and MV at most intensities in each segment between sets, while ICCs for DUR varied. MV and PV displayed excellent ICCs at lower intensities across segments between sessions, with decreases at higher intensities, while variable inter- session reliability for DUR was present across intensities and segments. The HUMAC360 reliably measured MV and PV during each segment across sets, though caution is warranted for DUR.

Research examining the changes in muscle oxygen saturation across multiple sets of resistance exercise is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe the physiological response of muscle oxygenation parameters during upper-body resistance exercise and examine the differential effects of relevant participant characteristics on resistance training performance and muscle oxygen saturation dynamics. Sixty-one recreationally trained men (n = 44; 21.8 ± 2.6 years) and women (n = 17; 20.2 ± 1.8 years) completed five-repetition maximum sets of barbell bench presses at a load equal to 75% 1-RM with a 2 min rest interval. Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO₂) dynamics within the anterior deltoid were monitored using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy sensor. The percent change in SmO₂ (∆%SmO₂), the muscle oxygen re-saturation rate (SmO₂RecSlope), and the highest measured SmO₂ value during recovery periods (SmO₂Peak) were measured. Two-way (sex [men, women] x time [sets 1–5]) repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA) were performed on muscle saturation variables. To examine the effect of relevant controlling variables, separate analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) with repeated measures were also performed. No differences were seen with ∆%SmO₂ across sets. The main effects for sets occurred for SmO₂RecSlope, whereby a decline was noted on sets 4 and 5 (p = 0.001) compared to set 1. Additionally, SmO₂Peak was the lowest on set 5 (p < 0.001) compared to all other sets. Moreover, body mass (p = 0.013), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.044), and mean arterial pressure (p = 0.033) for ∆%SmO₂ were the only significant covariates noted amongst the muscle oxygenation variables. In conclusion, no sex differences and only a few set differences in muscle oxygen saturation dynamics were seen without employing any covariates. Body mass, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure were identified as factors that could influence observed responses.

L-citrulline serves as a nitric oxide precursor with the potential to increase blood flow and improve resistance exercise performance, yet more research is needed to examine its ergogenic potential. To examine the effect of L-citrulline supplementation on resistance exercise performance, muscle oxygenation, and the subjective perception of effort, energy, focus, fatigue, and muscle pump, eighteen resistance-trained men (n = 11) and women (n = 7) (21.4 ± 1.8 years; 172.3 ± 7.5 cm; 76.9 ± 10.8 kg) were randomly assigned for supplementation with 8 g of L-citrulline (CIT) or a placebo (PL) in a cross-over fashion one hour prior to testing. Participants completed an isometric mid-thigh pull test (IMTP), a ballistic bench press protocol [two sets of two repetitions at 75% 1-repetition maximum (1 RM) with maximum ballistic intent], and a strength-endurance bench press protocol [five repetition-maximum sets at 75% 1RM]. Barbell velocity and power were measured via a linear position transducer during the ballistic protocol, while the repetitions completed, volume load and muscle oxygenation were quantified during the strength-endurance protocol. Subjective measures were assessed at the baseline and immediately pre- and post-exercise. Repeated measures of the analysis of variance and Bayesian equivalents revealed no significant interactions, providing evidence favoring the null hypothesis (BF10 < 1) for IMTP (PL 497.5 ± 133.6 vs. CIT 492.5 ± 129.4 N), barbell velocity, and power, and repetitions completed (PL 36.7 ± 7.2 vs. CIT 36.9 ± 8.1 repetitions). There were also no significant interactions for muscle oxygenation parameters or subjective measures except perceived fatigue. Women reported greater fatigue across all time points compared to men (~1.88 au, p = 0.045, BF10 = 0.2). The results indicate that a single 8 g dose of L-citrulline did not enhance isometric force production, muscle endurance, or muscle oxygenation parameters during the protocol implemented in this study.

Nitric-oxide-stimulating dietary supplements are widely available and marketed to strength athletes and weightlifters seeking to increase muscle performance and augment training adaptations. These supplements contain ingredients classified as nitric oxide (NO) precursors (i.e., “NO boosters”). Endogenous NO is generated via a nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent pathway and a NOS-independent pathway that rely on precursors including L-arginine and nitrates, with L-citrulline serving as an effective precursor of L-arginine. Nitric oxide plays a critical role in endothelial function, promoting relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and subsequent dilation which may favorably impact blood flow and augment mechanisms contributing to skeletal muscle performance, hypertrophy, and strength adaptations. The aim of this review is to describe the NO production pathways and summarize the current literature on the effects of supplementation with NO precursors for strength and power performance. The information will allow for an informed decision when considering the use of L-arginine, L-citrulline, and nitrates to improve muscular function by increasing NO bioavailability.

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the validity and reliability of the Humac360 linear position transducer (LPT) as compared to Tendo Weightlifting Analyzer. Seventeen recreationally active men and women completed three visits. Visit one included maximal strength assessments via one-repetition maximum (1RM) for the barbell back squat. On visits two and three, participants completed two sets of three repetitions at 30-, 50-, 60-, and 70% 1RM. Mean Concentric Velocity (MCV), Peak Velocity (PV), Displacement (D), and Duration (T) were collected. Repetition data agreement was assessed with Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICCs) and were categorized as poor (0.90). Significance was accepted at an alpha (p) value < 0.05. Repetition-to-repetition comparisons between devices demonstrate varying degrees of agreement, with significant differences between devices across all intensities and all measurements (p < 0.001). Inter-set reliability was excellent for MCV, PV, D, and T with the exceptions of MCV and PV at 70% 1RM (ICC2,k = 0.548 and 0.816). Inter-session reliability data demonstrated reduced agreeableness in an intensity-dependent manner, with ICCs decreasing and SEMs increasing with increases in intensity. The Humac360 LPT does not appear to be valid when compared to the criterion reference, though we contend it maintains construct validity. Coaches may use the Humac360 LPT as a tool to monitor fatigue, and the associated changes in trainee movement velocity on an inter-set and inter-session basis.

Gonzalez, AM, Pinzone, AG, Bram, J, Salisbury, JL, Lee, S, and Mangine, GT. Effect of multi-ingredient preworkout supplementation on repeated sprint performance in recreationally active men and women. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 918–923, 2020—The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of acute supplementation of a multi-ingredient preworkout supplement (MIPS), containing a proprietary blend of ancient peat and apple extracts, creatine monohydrate, taurine, ribose, and magnesium, on sprint cycling performance. Seventeen recreationally active men and women (23.2 ± 5.9 years; 172.9 ± 14.3 cm; 82.4 ± 14.5 kg) underwent 2 testing sessions administered in a randomized, counterbalanced, double-blind fashion. Subjects were provided either MIPS or placebo (PL) one hour before performing a sprint cycling protocol, which consisted of ten 5-second “all-out” sprints interspersed by 55 seconds of unloaded pedaling. Average power (P_AVG), peak power (P_PK), average velocity (V_AVG), and distance covered were recorded for each sprint. Separate linear mixed models revealed decrements (p < 0.05) compared to the first sprint in P_AVG (75–229 W) and P_PK (79–209 W) throughout all consecutive sprints after the initial sprint during PL. Likewise, diminished (p ≤ 0.029) V_AVG (3.37–6.36 m·s⁻¹) and distance covered (7.77–9.00 m) were noted after the third and fifth sprints, respectively, during PL. By contrast, during MIPS, only V_AVG decreased (2.34–5.87 m·s⁻¹, p ≤ 0.002) on consecutive sprints after the first sprint, whereas P_AVG and P_PK were maintained. In addition, a significant decrease (p = 0.045) in distance covered was only observed on the ninth sprint during MIPS. These data suggest that recreational athletes who consumed the MIPS formulation, one hour before a repeated sprinting session on a cycle ergometer, better maintained performance compared with PL.