The present study aimed to test if a long-term passive stretching training causes adaptations of the medial gastrocnemius architecture and the Achilles tendon (AT) tangent modulus.
A total of 20 males took part in the study. The stretching group (n = 12), performed stretching exercises for the plantar flexors for 10 weeks, 4–5 times a week, which comprised two static positions sustained twice each during 30 s.
For the stretching group, maximum dorsiflexion angle, peak passive torque, and muscle–tendon unit maximum length significantly increased after training. No other differences were found related to muscle architecture and AT tangent modulus.
Joint amplitude gain after a long-term stretching of the triceps surae was not accompanied by structural or mechanical changes of the medial gastrocnemius and AT tendon, and seems to reflect an increasing stretch tolerance level.
Isometric strength training (IST) with rapid non-sustained contraction (RIST) is effective in improving the ability to generate force rapidly. However, the neuromuscular adaptation of IST with sustained contraction (SIST) and RIST is not known. Therefore, the aim of the study was to compare the neuromuscular adaptations of RIST with SIST.
Thirty-three national floorball players (23.9 ± 3.1 years old; 1.69 ± 0.08 m; 64.6 ± 11.1 kg) were recruited for this study. Pre- and post-test included countermovement jump (CMJ), 30-m sprint (TT30), isometric squat at 90° (ISqT90) and 120° (ISqT120) knee angles. They were randomly assigned to either control (Con) (n = 9), RIST (n = 12) or SIST (n = 12) group and performed 12 sessions of intervention training. All groups performed the same sets of exercises, but RIST and SIST had to perform ISqT with and without sustained contraction, respectively.
Time × group effect for CMJ height (P = 0.01, ƞ p 2 = 0.25), peak force (PF) (P = 0.03, ƞ p 2 = 0.22) and rate of force development (RFD) (P = 0.02, ƞ p 2 = 0.22) obtained from ISqT120 were noted. A main effect for time was observed in CMJ height, PF obtained from ISqT90 and ISqT120, and RFD obtained from ISqT90 (P < 0.01, 0.27 < ƞ p 2 < 0.57). There was greater improvement in TT30 (P = 0.043, d = 3.00), ISqT90 PF (P = 0.034, d = 3.12), ISqT120 PF (P = 0.003, d = 4.54) and ISqT120 RFD (P = 0.033, d = 1.36) in the SIST than the Con group.
SIST was more effective in improving strength and dynamic performance as compared to RIST, making it a viable training method to enhance dynamic performances.
External Counterpulsation (ECP) is a well-established treatment for coronary disease, with interest growing in the potential to act as a sports recovery modality or pre-performance strategy. This pilot study compared the effects of different ECP durations upon neuromuscular function (NF), cortisol and subjective perceptions in a rested state.
Eleven physically active male volunteers received two ECP treatments (Renew Sport, Singapore) of differing duration (20-min and 40-min) in a randomised, repeated measures crossover design. Testing occurred pre-ECP, post-ECP, and 24-h post-ECP. NF testing comprised counter-movement jumps (CMJs) and 6-s sprint cycling. Saliva samples were analysed for cortisol. Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE, 6 to 20) and Bipolar Comfort Scales (− 10 to 10) quantified participants’ experiences, and ECP duration preference was examined. Repeated measures ANOVA and effect size (ES: Cohen’s d) analysed NF and cortisol results. Paired t-tests analysed RPE and comfort ratings.
ECP demonstrated no effect, neither positive nor negative, upon NF outcome measures in both groups. A trend of reduced salivary cortisol levels across both groups following ECP was observed (P = 0.066). No RPE difference existed between groups. 20-min of ECP was rated as significantly more comfortable than 40-min (P < 0.05) and participants predominantly identified the 20-min ECP session as “more acceptable”.
These results indicate that there were no effects for either duration upon the defined outcome measures, and thus, in these circumstances, no differences between the two durations were observed with respect to effects upon NF and salivary cortisol. The use of ECP warrants further investigation for potential benefits to performance before it can be proposed as an effective preparatory modality.
Quality of life and psychological health in the field of competitive sport are emergent research topics, specifically for issues such as sport anxiety and depression. With the rise of contemplative practices, yoga has started to be used and included as part of athletes’ mental training. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on the impact of yoga interventions on quality of life, performance anxiety and sport performance among healthy elite adult athletes. Based on PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review includes articles published up to December 2019. The search strategy was conducted in six databases (PUBMED, EMBASE, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, SportDiscuss and Érudit). Screened by two independent researchers, only six of the 37 articles drawn from the search met the preselected inclusion criteria and moved forward to the data extraction process. Data from six trials of poor quality (M = 46.91%, SD = 13.39, IRR of 92%) were included in this comprehensive literature search, indicating that elite athletes benefit from yoga interventions (with or without mindfulness), in terms of changes in performance anxiety M = 65% (SD = 122.49), sport performance M = 7.9% (SD = 5.46) and life satisfaction. These interventions lasted on average 5.7 weeks (SD = 2.07). Based on the collected evidence, methodological and measurement limitations of the sport psychology literature should be addressed to improve the replicability of reported results. Overall, this review provides encouraging but limited evidence for the value of yoga interventions in healthy adult athletes. However, the important reporting inconsistencies and theoretical limitations that have been raised highlight the need for trials with greater methodological rigor.