The Cognitive Function and Taekwondo-Specific Kick Performance of Taekwondo Athletes at Different Hydration Statuses

The Effect of Acute Dehydration upon Muscle Strength Indices at Elite Karate Athletes: A Randomized Crossover Study

Background/Objectives: Acute dehydration, commonly induced through fluid restriction and/or excessive sweating, is a common weight-cutting strategy among combat sport athletes. However, its impact on muscle strength and power remains a concern. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of 2% body mass reduction via dehydration on lower-limb strength and power in elite karate athletes. Methods: Fourteen male elite karate athletes completed two conditions: euhydrated (EUH) and dehydrated (DEH) (-2% body mass via 24-h fluid restriction). Performance was assessed using squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests, along with isokinetic knee flexion and extension at 60, 180, and 300°/s. Results: Dehydration significantly reduced squat jump height (37.19 ± 3.69 vs. 39.34 ± 5.08 cm (EUH), p = 0.04), power output (2188.2 ± 307.2 vs. 2351.1 ± 347.2 W (EUH), p = 0.001), and knee extension and flexion strength at 60°/s (p = 0.018). CMJ height and higher-velocity knee flexion/extension were unaffected (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Acute dehydration impairs lower-body maximal force production at low velocities but has no significant effect on high velocity movements. Athletes and coaches should carefully manage hydration strategies when "cutting weight" to avoid any negative performance effects.

A, M. P. A narrative review on the role of cognition, nutrition and energy availability in athletes of competitive sports to combat RED-S

Background

In the present scenario, competitive sports require athletes to achieve a phenomenal balance between cognitive abilities, motor skills, nutritional intake, and energy deficiencies. Such stability would enable the athletes to excel in their sporting field. Evidence shows that athletes develop specific cognitive abilities based on their sporting field. Nutrition is vital in creating an athlete's cognitive ability and physical needs required to participate in competitive sports. The reduction in the intake of nutrients required before, after and during sports participation could result in relative energy deficiency in sports (RED-S), affecting the parts of the body.

Methods

The rationale behind the survey is to understand the role of nutrition and energy deficiency on the athletes' cognitive abilities. The review's research areas were identified as athletes' cognition and nutrition in the context of RED-S. Search keywords were found based on the research area, such as "cognitive", "nutrition", and "energy deficiency/availability" in athletes. The search keywords were combined to form search queries (SQs). SQs were used to carry out the search on the Web of Science and Scopus databases.

Results

Sports play an important role in athletes' cognitive abilities, such as decision-making, attention, memory, etc. Nutritional intakes, such as caffeinated, carbohydrate, alkaline, and protein-based supplements and diets, also significantly affect athletes' cognitive and motor abilities. Low energy availability (LEA) causes cognitive and physical health problems in both female and male athletes.

Conclusion

The review identified that nutrition and LEA play crucial roles in athletes' cognitive performance. Deficits in nutritional intake and energy availability lead to RED-S. Hence, cognitive performance could be used as an early indication to identify the nutritional and energy deficits in advance, enabling athletes to combat RED-S.

Impact of sports vision training on visuomotor skills and shooting performance in elite skeet shooters

Introduction

Vision serves as a critical channel for athletes to acquire information during competitions and constitutes a vital component of their competitive ability. Through scientifically designed sports visual training, specific visual skills can be enhanced, thereby assisting athletes in achieving optimal performance in competitive settings. This study aim to explore the visuomotor abilities and shooting performance of skeet shooters through Sports Vision Training (SVT).

Methods

Twenty elite skeet shooters were recruited and randomly assigned to an experimental group (EXP, n = 10) and a control group (CON, n = 10). The EXP underwent 6-week of SVT on Senaptec Seneory Station, twice a week, while the CON completed an equivalent workload of target-tracking training.

Result

Visuomotor skills testing showed significant improvements in Near- Far Quickness, Perception Span, and Eye-hand Coordination in the EXP (p < 0.05), with no changes in the CON. Comparative post-test results between the two groups showed significant differences in N/F Q, Target Capture, Perception Span, Eye-hand Coordination, and Go/ No Go (p < 0.05). In shooting performance indicators, EXP shooters showed a highly significant improvement in hit accuracy (p < 0.01), with a similar difference compared to the CON. Additionally, they exhibited a highly significant improvement in shotgun-mounting reaction time (p < 0.01). Kinematic indicators of shotgun movement during the firing process for shot 2 showed significant differences in peak velocity (p < 0.01), X-axis (p = 0.033) and Y-axis (p = 0.001) displacement.

Conclusion

SVT can enhance visuomotor abilities in skeet shooters and has a positive impact on their shooting technique. This is primarily manifested in shorter shotgun-mounting reaction time and improved efficiency in action at shot 2, effectively improving their shooting accuracy.