Different Training Modalities Improve Energy Cost and Performance in Master Runners

Normative cardiorespiratory values in Italian first-division male soccer players: effects of age, playing position and season phase

The study aimed to provide reference values of cardiorespiratory parameters and maximal exercise velocity (MEV) of first-division soccer players measured during a ramp exercise running test. A large (N = 741) database of cardiopulmonary exercise tests collected over a decade on Serie A teams in Italy was scrutinized. The reference values were stratified for age, playing position, and season phase. We found an averageV ˙ O 2 peak of 4.78 ± 0.56 l/min, a relativeV ˙ O 2 peak of 61.5 ± 5.96 ml/kg/min and an MEV of 19.0 ± 1.3 km/h. RelativeV ˙ O 2 peak was constant from 18 to 30 years of age and then decreased, while MEV decreased constantly with increasing age. While the absoluteV ˙ O 2 peak was similar for all playing roles (P = 0.782), the midfielders were the players with the highest relativeV ˙ O 2 peak (P = 0.020) and they had lower body mass than the others (P < 0.001). This study presents estimates of the influence of age, player position, and season phase onV ˙ O 2 peak in men's elite soccer.V ˙ O 2 peak values ~62 ml/kg/min fulfil the demands forV ˙ O 2 peak in men's professional soccer. Midfielders showed larger relative, but not absolute,V ˙ O 2 peak.

The effects of high-intensity interval training versus moderate-intensity continuous training on athletes' aerobic endurance performance parameters

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate and meta-analyze the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on athletes of aerobic endurance performance parameters.

METHODS

PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. The assessment of quality was conducted employing The Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool, while heterogeneity examination and subgroup analysis were performed. Moreover, regression and sensitivity analyses were executed.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference between the effects of HIIT and MICT on the enhancement of athletes' running economy (RE) (P > 0.05); 1-3 weeks and 4-9 weeks of HIIT were more effective in improving athletes' maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) (P < 0.05), and 10 weeks and above were not significant (P > 0.05); 1-3 weeks of HIIT was more effective in improving athletes' anaerobic threshold (AT) (P < 0.05), and 4-10 weeks was not significant (P > 0.05); 3 weeks of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) did not significantly enhance athletes' minute ventilation (VE) (P > 0.05), whereas a duration of 6-10 weeks yielded superior results (P < 0.05); 8 weeks of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) did not significantly enhance athletes' hemoglobin (Hb) level (P > 0.05), whereas a duration of 2-3 weeks yielded superior results (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

(1) HIIT and MICT have similar effects on enhancing athletes' RE. (2) 6-9 weeks' HIIT was more effective in improving athletes' VO2max and VE, and 3 weeks' HIIT was more effective in improving athletes' AT. (3) Within 3 weeks, MICT was more effective in improving the Hb level of athletes.

REGISTRATION NUMBER ON PROSPERO

CRD42024499039.

The Impact of Training on the Loss of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Aging Masters Endurance Athletes

Elite masters endurance athletes are considered models of optimal healthy aging due to the maintenance of high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) until old age. Whereas a drop in VO2max in masters athletes has been broadly investigated, the modifying impact of training still remains a matter of debate. Longitudinal observations in masters endurance athletes demonstrated VO2max declines between -5% and -46% per decade that were closely related to changes in training volume. Here, using regression analyses, we show that 54% and 39% of the variance in observed VO2max decline in male and female athletes, respectively is explained by changes in training volume. An almost linear VO2max decrease was observed in studies on young and older athletes, as well as non-athletes, starting a few days after training cessation, with a decline of as much as -20% after 12 weeks. Besides a decline in stroke volume and cardiac output, training cessation was accompanied by considerable reductions in citrate synthase and succinate dehydrogenase activity (reduction in mitochondrial content and oxidative capacity). This reduction could largely be rescued within similar time periods of training (re)uptake. It is evident that training reduction or cessation leads to a considerably accelerated VO2max drop, as compared to the gradual aging-related VO2max decline, which can rapidly nullify many of the benefits of preceding long-term training efforts.

Fractal Correlation Properties of Heart Rate Variability: A New Biomarker for Intensity Distribution in Endurance Exercise and Training Prescription?

Exercise and training prescription in endurance-type sports has a strong theoretical background with various practical applications based on threshold concepts. Given the challenges and pitfalls of determining individual training zones on the basis of subsystem indicators (e.g., blood lactate concentration, respiratory parameters), the question arises whether there are alternatives for intensity distribution demarcation. Considering that training in a low intensity zone substantially contributes to the performance outcome of endurance athletes and exceeding intensity targets based on a misleading aerobic threshold can lead to negative performance and recovery effects, it would be desirable to find a parameter that could be derived via non-invasive, low cost and commonly available wearable devices. In this regard, analytics conducted from non-linear dynamics of heart rate variability (HRV) have been adapted to gain further insights into the complex cardiovascular regulation during endurance-type exercise. Considering the reciprocal antagonistic behavior and the interaction of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system from low to high exercise intensities, it may be promising to use an approach that utilizes information about the regulation quality of the organismic system to determine training-intensity distribution. Detrended fluctuation analysis of HRV and its short-term scaling exponent alpha1 (DFA-alpha1) seems suitable for applied sport-specific settings including exercise from low to high intensities. DFA-alpha1 may be taken as an indicator for exercise prescription and intensity distribution monitoring in endurance-type sports. The present perspective illustrates the potential of DFA-alpha1 for diagnostic and monitoring purposes as a “global” system parameter and proxy for organismic demands.

Effects of Different Training Intensity Distribution in Recreational Runners

Purpose: To compare the impact of two different training intensity distributions in terms of conditional and performance parameters and spent time to training in recreational athletes.

Methods: Two different training intensity distribution model were performed for 8 weeks by 38 recreational runners. Runners recruited were randomly assigned to 2 different training models based on HR intensity detected with maximal test. The percentage distribution splitted in zone 1, 2, and 3 were by 77/3/20 and 40/50/10 in polarized endurance training group (PET) and focused endurance training (FOC) group, respectively. Programs were balanced for total training impulse (TRIMP). To evaluate effects of training, before and after treatment were performed a maximal exercise test to determine Maximal Oxygen Uptake (V'O_2max), Ventilatory Threshold (VT), respiratory-compensation point (RCT) Running Economy (RE), and 2 Km performance. To investigate the effects of training on muscular performance were performed one repetition maximum (1 RM), squat jump (SJ), and counter movement jump (CMJ).

Results: Both groups significantly improved their velocity at V'O_2max (3.2 and 4.0%), at VT (4.0 and 3.2%), RCT (5.7 and 3.4%), the average velocity in 2 Km performance (3.5 and 3.0%) and RE (−5.3 and −8.7%) for PET and FOC, respectively for each variable. No differences were found between the groups on any parameter investigated except about the total training time (PET = 29.9 ± 3.1 h and FOC = 24.8 ± 2.0 h).

Conclusion: Focused Endurance Training obtains similar improvements than Polarized Endurance Training saving 17% of training time in recreational runners.

The Effects of Interval and Continuous Training on the Oxygen Cost of Running in Recreational Runners: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Oxygen cost of running is largely influenced by endurance training strategies, including interval and continuous training. However, which training method better reduces the oxygen cost remains unknown.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to systematically review the scientific literature and performs a meta-analysis to address the effects of different endurance training modalities on the oxygen cost of running.

METHODS

A literature search on 3 databases (MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus and Web of Science) was conducted on February 28, 2019. After analysing 8028 resultant articles, studies were included if they met the following inclusion criteria: (a) studies were randomised controlled trials, (b) studies included trained runners without previous injuries (c) interventions lasted at least 6 weeks, with participants allocated to Interval (INT) or Continuous (CON) groups, and (d) oxygen cost was assessed pre- and post-training intervention. Six studies (seven trials) met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. This resulted in 295 participants (n = 200 INT; n = 95 CON training method). Standardised mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CI) between INT and CON conditions and effect sizes were calculated. To assess the potential effects of moderator variables (such as, age, VO_2max of participants, number of weeks of intervention) on main outcome (oxygen cost of running), subgroup analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Comparing changes from pre- to post-intervention, oxygen cost improved to a greater extent in CON when compared to INT interventions (0.28 [95% CI 0.01, 0.54], Z = 2.05, p = 0.04, I² = 30%). Oxygen cost improvements were larger in participants with higher VO_2max (≥ 52.3 ml kg^-1 min^-1) (0.39 [95% CI 0.06, 0.72], Z = 2.34, p = 0.02), and in programs greater or equal to 8 weeks (0.35 [95% CI 0.03, 0.67], Z = 2.13, p = 0.03). When the total volume per week of INT was ≥ 23.2 min, there was a significant improvement favorable to CON (0.34 [95% CI 0.01, 0.61], Z = 2.02, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Continuous training seems, overall, a better strategy than interval training to reduce the oxygen cost in recreational endurance runners. However, oxygen cost reductions are influenced by several variables including the duration of the program, runners' aerobic capacity, the intervals duration and the volume of interval training per week. Practitioners and coaches should construct training programs that include both endurance training methods shown to be effective in reducing the oxygen cost of running.