Assessing Physical Fitness of Athletes in a Confined Environment during Prolonged Self-Isolation: Potential Usefulness of the Test of Maximal Number of Burpees Performed in 3 Minutes

Environmental study and stress-related biomarkers modifications in a crew during analog astronaut mission EMMPOL 6

PURPOSE

Human presence in space is increasingly frequent, but we must not forget that it is a hostile environment. We aimed to study the characteristics of experimental scenarios, to obtain data on human response to isolation, disruption of circadian rhythm and high levels of psychophysical stress.

METHODS

In these experiments, we evaluated stress response in five young healthy subjects inside an earth-based moon-settlement-like habitat during a 1-week long analog astronaut mission. Wearable devices were used to monitor daily step count of the subjects, physical activity, heart rate during physical exercise and at rest, and sleep parameters. From saliva and urine samples collected every day at awakening, we studied oxy-inflammation biomarkers and hormones (stress and appetite) were studied too.

RESULTS

At the end of the week, all subjects revealed an increase in oxidative stress and cortisol levels but no inflammation biomarkers variations, in conjunction with increasing time/daily exercise. Furthermore, a significant decrease in hours of sleep/day, sleep quality, and REM phase of sleep was recorded and correlated with the increase of reactive oxygen species.

CONCLUSION

Oxidative stress increased in a short period of time and may be attributed to the influence of psychological stress during confinement, as well as increased exercise and decreased amount of sleep. On a long-term basis, this could impact performance.

The Relationship Between the Burpee Movement Program and Strength and Endurance Performance Measures in Active Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

OBJECTIVES

This paper aimed to assess the motor performance in the Burpee Movement Program through the acceleration recorded by the Phyphox mobile app and define its relationship to strength and endurance parameters.

METHODS

Altogether, 15 students in physical education teaching completed the 3 × 3 min Burpee Movement Program, consisting of the repeated execution of a single burpee with maximum effort at regular intervals triggered by a sound signal. During the load phase, the intensity of the burpee and the fatigue index expressed in percentages were evaluated by means of the acceleration recorded through a mobile phone. In the second part of testing, we evaluated the performance parameters during a bench press and squat where the intensity was measured using a linear displacement transducer (Tendo Power Analyzer) and aerobic endurance was assessed with a 20 m shuttle run test (20 mSR).

RESULTS

The average intensity of the burpee ranged from 3.12 to 11.12 ms-2. The fatigue index ranged from -21.95% (which represented an increase in performance) to 33.63% (which represented a decrease in performance). The performances in the bench presses ranged from 58 to 480 W and from 175 to 696 W during the squats. The distance in the 20 m shuttle run test (20 mSR) ranged from 540 to 2000 m. The intensity of the burpee showed a significant correlation to the performances achieved in the bench presses and squats r = 0.82 and 0.79. The fatigue index showed a significant correlation to the 20 m shuttle run test (20 mSR) r = -0.67.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that in, our case, the results from the Burpee Movement Program are significantly associated with the participants' strength and endurance abilities. We recommend using BMP for the development of strength-endurance abilities, but further exploration is needed regarding the potential use of BMP as a diagnostic test.

The Reliability of Specific Physical Fitness Assessments in Elite Female Chinese Wrestlers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of eight specific fitness tests for elite female Chinese wrestlers. Twenty-eight elite female wrestlers participated in the study (age: 26.9 ± 2.81 years). The reliability of the tests was analyzed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the 95% confidence interval (CI), the coefficient of variation (CV), and other metrics. The 30-s Sit-Up (SU30) and 6-m Rope Climb (RC6m) tests showed excellent reliability (ICC > 0.9). The 30-s Dummy Throw (DT30) had good to excellent reliability, while the 30-s Bridge-Return (B-R30) showed moderate to good reliability. The 30-s Burpee (BUR30), 15-s Leg Attack (LA15), 15-s Leg Defense (LD15), and Dummy Suplex and Gut Wrench (DS&GW) tests ranged from poor to good reliability. SU30, DT30, LA15, and RC6m tests displayed low variability (CV < 5%), while others exhibited moderate variability. SU30, B-R30, DT30, and RC6m tests are reliable for assessing wrestling fitness. However, BUR30 and LA15 tests showed high variability and should be used carefully. LD15 and DS&GW tests are not recommended for assessing fitness in elite female wrestlers.

Reliability, validity, usefulness, and sensitivity of a submaximal test of performing burpees in 3 minutes, in assessing and detecting changes in aerobic fitness of athletes during future prolonged self-isolation in a confined environment

BACKGROUND

During a prolonged quarantine, there is a need to monitor aerobic fitness levels of trained individuals who are isolated with a simple fitness test that can be performed in confined space of their own homes. This study examined the reliability, validity, usefulness and sensitivity of a novel 3-min submaximal heart rate burpees test (or SubHR3-MBT) to assess and monitor changes in aerobic fitness, of trained athletes. In the SubHR3-MBT, male and female athletes performed 48 and 39 burpees respectively, within 3 min by following a constant beeping pace. The performance criterion of the SubHR3-MBT is the highest heart rate attained (or exercise HRpeak) at the end of 3-min (wherein a lower exercise HRpeak indicates a higher level of aerobic fitness).

METHODS

A total of 40 male and female national athletes from various sports volunteered for the study.

RESULTS

For reliability (Part 1), the SubHR3-MBT showed good relative and excellent reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficient 0.90 and coefficient of variation 2.6%, respectively. For validity (Part II), there was significant negative correlation between relative exercise HRpeak with respiratory gas-measured VO2max (r=-0.51, large; P<0.001). The test's technical error of measurement of 2.3 is slightly greater than its smallest worthwhile change of 1.5. For sensitivity (Part III), the athletes were tested twice for their SubHR3-MBT and VO2max, once at baseline and another at a followed-up test after >10 weeks. There was a significant correlation between the % change in relative exercise HRpeak with the % change in VO2max (r=-0.66, large; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The SubHR3-MBT is a reliable, valid, marginally useful test and may be able to track changes in aerobic fitness in trained athletes with moderate levels of sensitivity, in case of future isolation due to pandemic occurrence.

Relationship Between the Japanese Physical Fitness Test and the 3-Minute Burpee Test

Background Japan has conducted a national physical fitness survey every year since 1964, when the first Tokyo Summer Olympics were held. The survey is a test that evaluates eight physical fitness components: speed, total body endurance, instantaneous force, dexterity, muscle strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and agility, but it requires specialized equipment and space, and it takes time to measure them all. Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the 3-minute burpee test (3MBT), which has been reported to be associated with various physical fitness components, and a "new physical fitness test." Materials and methods The relationship between the "new physical fitness test" and the 3MBT was examined in 122 college students (male=70, female=52) with no health problems. Results The "new physical fitness test" and the 3MBT showed a moderate relationship between the 20-m shuttle run (r = 0.685, p < 0.05), side stepping (r = 0.566, p < 0.05), standing long jump (r = 0.545, p < 0.05), grip strength (r = 0.461, p < 0.05), sit and reach (r = 0.305, p < 0.05), and sit-ups (r = 0.572, p < 0.05), indicating a moderate relationship. Because this study used the Pearson product-rate correlation analysis, it is not possible to definitively assert a relationship with physical fitness factors. Conclusions However, the 3MBT is a very useful test because it requires whole-body strength, power, endurance, and aerobic capacity.