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Homer KA, Cross MR, Helms ER. Peak Week Carbohydrate Manipulation Practices in Physique Athletes: A Narrative Review. SPORTS MEDICINE - OPEN 2024; 10:8. [PMID: 38218750 PMCID: PMC10787737 DOI: 10.1186/s40798-024-00674-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physique athletes are ranked by a panel of judges against the judging criteria of the corresponding division. To enhance on-stage presentation and performance, competitors in certain categories (i.e. bodybuilding and classic physique) achieve extreme muscle size and definition aided by implementing acute "peaking protocols" in the days before competition. Such practices can involve manipulating nutrition and training variables to increase intramuscular glycogen and water while minimising the thickness of the subcutaneous layer. Carbohydrate manipulation is a prevalent strategy utilised to plausibly induce muscle glycogen supercompensation and subsequently increase muscle size. The relationship between carbohydrate intake and muscle glycogen saturation was first examined in endurance event performance and similar strategies have been adopted by physique athletes despite the distinct physiological dissimilarities and aims between the sports. OBJECTIVES The aim of this narrative review is to (1) critically examine and appraise the existing scientific literature relating to carbohydrate manipulation practices in physique athletes prior to competition; (2) identify research gaps and provide direction for future studies; and (3) provide broad practical applications based on the findings and physiological reasoning for coaches and competitors. FINDINGS The findings of this review indicate that carbohydrate manipulation practices are prevalent amongst physique athletes despite a paucity of experimental evidence demonstrating the efficacy of such strategies on physique performance. Competitors have also been observed to manipulate water and electrolytes in conjunction with carbohydrate predicated on speculative physiological mechanisms which may be detrimental for performance. CONCLUSIONS Further experimental evidence which closely replicates the nutritional and training practices of physique athletes during peak week is required to make conclusions on the efficacy of carbohydrate manipulation strategies. Quasi-experimental designs may be a feasible alternative to randomised controlled trials to examine such strategies due to the difficulty in recruiting the population of interest. Finally, we recommend that coaches and competitors manipulate as few variables as possible, and experiment with different magnitudes of carbohydrate loads in advance of competition if implementing a peaking strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai A Homer
- Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, 17 Antares Place, Rosedale, Auckland, 0632, New Zealand.
| | - Matt R Cross
- Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, 17 Antares Place, Rosedale, Auckland, 0632, New Zealand
| | - Eric R Helms
- Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), Auckland University of Technology, 17 Antares Place, Rosedale, Auckland, 0632, New Zealand
- Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Muscle Physiology Laboratory, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
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Moreno EN, Hammert WB, Montgomery TR, Abe T, Loenneke JP, Buckner SL. Skeletal muscle mass in competitive physique-based athletes (bodybuilding, 212 bodybuilding, bikini, and physique divisions): A case series. Am J Hum Biol 2024; 36:e23978. [PMID: 37563889 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES (1) To examine the muscle thickness of various muscle groups of the body to estimate the absolute and relative skeletal muscle mass (SM) in competitive physique-based athletes (Bodybuilding, 212 Bodybuilding, Bikini, and Physique divisions) and (2) to compare values across various divisions of competition and to resistance trained and non-resistance trained individuals. METHODS Eight competitive physique-based athletes (2 M and 6 F), two recreationally resistance trained (1 M and 1 F) and two non-resistance trained (1 M and 1 F) participants had muscle thickness measured by ultrasound at nine sites on the anterior and posterior aspects of the body. SM was estimated from an ultrasound-derived prediction equation and SM index was used to adjust for the influence of standing height (i.e., divided by height squared). RESULTS SM values ranged from 19.6 to 60.4 kg in the eight competitive physique-based athletes and 16.1 to 32.6 kg in the four recreationally resistance trained and non-resistance trained participants. SM index ranged from 7.2 to 17.9 kg/m2 in the eight competitive physique-based athletes and 5.8 to 9.3 kg/m2 in the four recreationally resistance trained and non-resistance trained participants. CONCLUSION Overall, varying magnitudes of SM and SM index were present across competitors and their respective divisions of bodybuilding. The Men's Open Bodybuilder in the present study had greater values of total SM and SM index compared to previously published values in the literature. Our data provides insight into the extent of SM present in this population and further extends the discussion regarding SM accumulation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique N Moreno
- USF Muscle Laboratory, Exercise Science Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - William B Hammert
- USF Muscle Laboratory, Exercise Science Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
| | - Tony R Montgomery
- USF Muscle Laboratory, Exercise Science Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
- Human Performance Lab, Kinesiology, Applied Health, and Recreation, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Takashi Abe
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Institute of Health and Sports Science & Medicine, Juntendo University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jeremy P Loenneke
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, and Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, Mississippi, USA
| | - Samuel L Buckner
- USF Muscle Laboratory, Exercise Science Program, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
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