Effects of 6-Week Sprint-Strength and Agility Training on Body Composition, Cardiovascular, and Physiological Parameters of Male Field Hockey Players

Association of self-perceived physical condition with cardiovascular parameters: data analysis from the EVasCu study

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a significant global health burden, with risk factors such as age, sex, smoking, and metabolic disorders contributing to their prevalence. While preventive measures focus on lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy, attention has increasingly turned to hemodynamic parameters, including arterial stiffness, as prognostic markers for CVD risk. A total of 390 healthy adults from the EVasCu were included. Cardiovascular parameters were measured by oscillometric techniques using Mobil-O-Graph equipment. Self-perceived physical fitness was measured with the IFIS questionnaire. The EVasCu study revealed significant associations between general physical fitness and cardiovascular parameters, such as HR, SV and AIx 75 (p < 0.01). Similarly, significant associations were shown between cardiorespiratory fitness (p < 0.001), muscular strength (p < 0.001) and speed-agility (p < 0.01) and HR, SV and AIx 75. A positive self-perception of fitness was related to more favourable cardiovascular profiles (p < 0.05). The findings of this study revealed associations between cardiovascular parameters (HR, SV and AIx 75) and cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and speed-agility. However, further research is needed in this field.

Associations between Agility, the Relative Age Effect, Siblings, and Digit Ratio (D2:D4) in Children and Adolescents

BACKGROUND

This study aims to analyze the influence of relative age effects, siblings, and digit ratio on the agility of children and adolescents.

METHODS

The study included 283 children (9.54 ± 1.36 years) and 296 adolescents (14.68 ± 1.36 years) from four different schools. The analyzed variables included anthropometric data, the presence of siblings, relative age effect, and results from the 10 × 5 m shuttle run test.

RESULTS

The findings indicated no significant association between agility and either the 2D:4D ratio or the relative age effect in both children and adolescents (p > 0.05). Additionally, having siblings did not have a notable impact on agility. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that relative age did not influence this lack of association (quarter of birth: p = 0.345, β = 0.039; siblings: p = 0.100, β = -0.069). However, boys showed higher performance than girls in the 10 × 5 m shuttle run test, and higher body mass index was related to lower agility.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings contribute to existing knowledge on the relative effects of age and provide valuable information for physical education teachers on the influence of the 2D:4D ratio and the presence of siblings on the physical fitness of children and adolescents.

Changes in Body Composition and Athletic Performance in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Female Field Hockey Athletes Throughout a Competitive Season

ABSTRACT

Summer, LC, Cheng, R, Moran, JT, Lee, M, Belanger, AJ, TaylorIV, WL, and Gardner, EC. Changes in body composition and athletic performance in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I female field hockey athletes throughout a competitive season. J Strength Cond Res 38(1): 146-152, 2024-The purposes of this study were (a) to analyze the changes in total and regional body composition measurements in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I female field hockey team throughout a 17-game competitive season using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA); (b) to examine improvements, if any, in athletic performance measures after a season; and (c) to report on the relationship between these body composition changes and changes in athletic performance. Preseason and postseason dual-energy DXA and performance data from the 2019-2020 season were retrospectively identified for 20 field players (forwards, midfielders, and defenders). Body composition data included total and regional fat mass, lean mass, and body fat percentage, whereas athletic performance measures included the vertical jump, 10-yard dash, and pro-agility (5-10-5) shuttle run. All variables were quantitative and analyzed using paired t -tests or its nonparametric equivalent and an alpha level of p < 0.05 was used to determine significance. After a competitive season, athletes had significant decreases in fat mass and increases in lean mass in their arms, legs, trunks, gynoids, and total body measurements. Android fat mass and body fat percentage also decreased. Athletes performed significantly better on the pro-agility shuttle run at the end of the season, but no significant differences were observed in other performance metrics. Moderate correlations were observed between changes in body composition (total fat mass and total lean mass) and changes in athletic performance. Our study provides a novel, longitudinal assessment of body composition and athletic performance for elite female field hockey athletes that will help trainers and coaches better understand how these variables change throughout a season and allow them to better prepare their players for competitive success.

Beetroot juice ingestion does not improve neuromuscular performance and match-play demands in elite female hockey players: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

PURPOSE

Beetroot juice is a dietary supplement that contains high levels of inorganic nitrate (NO_3-) and that its intake has proven effective at increasing blood nitric oxide (NO) concentrations improving endurance performance. However, the effect of this supplement in team sport performance, especially in female athletes, has been barely studied. This study aimed to compare the acute effects of beetroot juice supplementation on neuromuscular performance and match-play demands in elite female field hockey players.

METHODS

Eleven elite female hockey players (22.8 ± 5.1 years) belonging to a bronze team medal in Eurohockey Club Champions Cup participated in this study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups undergoing a test battery with beetroot juice (70 mL, 6.4 mmol NO₃^-) or placebo (70 mL, 0.04 mmol NO₃^-) in two different days with one week between protocols. The neuromuscular test battery consisted of a countermovement jump, isometric handgrip strength (i.e., dominant hand), 20 m-sprint and repeated sprint ability test (RSA). Afterward, a simulated hockey match play (2 × 12.5 min) was performed and recorded by Global Positioning System (GPS).

RESULTS

No statistically significant improvements were observed in any physical parameters analysed comparing beetroot juice compared to placebo ingestion, countermovement jump (p = 0.776, ES = 0.16), isometric handgrip strength (p = 0.829; ES = - 0.08), 20 m sprint test (p = 0.227; ES = - 0.23), mean repeated sprint ability (p = 0.955, ES = 0.03) and in any physical match demands measured by GPS (p = 0.243-1.000; ES = 0.02-0.47).

CONCLUSION

Acute beetroot juice supplementation did not produce any statistically significant improvement in neuromuscular performance or match-play demands in elite female field hockey players.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the following ID: NCT05209139. The study was retrospectively registered by 26 January 2022.

Force-Velocity Profiling in Club-Based Field Hockey Players: Analyzing the Relationships between Mechanical Characteristics, Sex, and Positional Demands

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences between sex and positional demands in club-based field hockey players by analyzing vertical force-velocity characteristics. Thirty-three club-based field hockey athletes (16 males - age: 24.8 ± 7.3yrs, body mass: 76.8 ± 8.2kg, height: 1.79 ± 0.05m; 17 females - age: 22.3 ± 4.2yrs, body mass: 65.2 ± 7.6kg, height: 1.66 ± 0.05m) were classified into two key positional groups (attacker or defender) based on dominant field position during gameplay. Force-velocity (F-v) profiles were established by performing countermovement jumps (CMJ) using a three-point loading protocol ranging from body mass (i.e., zero external mass, 0%) to loads corresponding to 25% and 50% of their own body mass. Across all loads, between-trial reliability of F-v and CMJ variables was determined by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and coefficient of variation (CV) and deemed to be acceptable (ICC: 0.87-0.95, CV% 2.8-8.2). Analysis by sex identified male athletes had significantly greater differences in all F-v variables (12.81-40.58%, p ≤ 0.001, ES = 1.10-3.19), a more enhanced F-v profile (i.e., greater theoretical maximal force, velocity, and power values), plus overall stronger correlations between relative maximal power (P_MAX) and jump height (r = 0.67, p ≤ 0.06) when compared to female athletes (-0.71≤ r ≥ 0.60, p = 0.08). Male attackers demonstrated a more 'velocity-oriented' F-v profile compared to defenders due to significant mean differences in theoretical maximal velocity (v₀) (6.64%, p ≤ 0.05, ES: 1.11), however differences in absolute and relative theoretical force (F₀) (15.43%, p ≤ 0.01, ES = 1.39) led to female attackers displaying a more 'force-oriented' profile in comparison to defenders. The observed mechanical differences identify the underpinning characteristics of position specific expression of P_MAX should be reflected in training programmes. Therefore, our findings suggest F-v profiling is acceptable to differentiate between sex and positional demands in club-based field hockey players. Furthermore, it is recommended field hockey players explore a range of loads and exercises across the F-v continuum through on-field and gym-based field hockey strength and conditioning practices to account for sex and positional mechanical differences.

Physiological and Sport-Specific Comparison Between Division I and Division II Italian Male Field Hockey Players

Bartolomei, S, Nigro, F, Gubellini, L, Ciacci, S, Merni, F, Treno, F, Cortesi, M, and Semprini, G. Physiological and sport-specific comparison between Division I and Division II Italian male field hockey players. J Strength Cond Res 33(11): 3123-3128, 2019-The purpose of this study was to compare the anthropometric and performance profiles of Division I (D1) and Division II (D2) Italian field hockey players. Fifteen DI players and 15 D2 players (age = 25.4 ± 5.2 years; body mass = 78.5 ± 9.0 kg; and body height = 179.6 ± 7.8 cm) were assessed on one occasion for anthropometry, body composition, physiological measurements, and sport-specific skills. Differences between the 2 groups were evaluated using a 1-way analysis of variance. Pearson correlations were used to examine relationships between the different measurements. Significantly (p = 0.039) lower percentages of body fat were found on D1 group compared with D2 group (-3.5%). A significant difference between the groups were noted for shooting accuracy (p = 0.013), with the D1 group performing 14.5% better than the DII group. No significant differences between the groups were found for shooting speed (p = 0.103) and slalom and dribbling performances (p = 0.292 and p = 0.416, respectively). Physiological assessments did not show any significant differences between the groups. Large correlations (r = 0.73; p < 0.001) were found between shooting speed and accuracy. Moderate correlations were observed between the shooting speed and the hand grip strength, in particular of the left hand (r = 0.61; p = 0.007). Results of this study indicate that the difference between D1 and D2 players may be more related to technical factors than to physical fitness. Ball control, however, may not be a limiting factor in D2 players.