Effects of 6-Week Betaine Supplementation on Muscular Performance in Male Collegiate Athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 6-week betaine supplementation during a preparatory period of collegiate athletes on muscular power and strength. Sixteen male collegiate athletes received 5 g/day of betaine (betaine group, n = 9) or carboxymethyl cellulose (placebo group, n = 7) for 6 weeks. All participants engaged in their regular training during the experimental period. The overhead medicine-ball throw (OMBT), countermovement jump, and maximal strength (one repetition maximum, 1-RM) on the bench press, overhead press, half squat, and sumo dead lift by the participants were assessed before and after betaine supplementation. Blood lipids were also analyzed before and after betaine supplementation. After supplementation, there were no significant differences between betaine and placebo groups on any variables. Compared to presupplementation, the performance of OMBT and 1-RM of overhead press and half squat in the betaine group had significantly improved (p < 0.05). By contrast, no significant differences were observed in the placebo group before and after supplementation. Blood analysis revealed no negative effect on blood lipid profiles. Betaine seems to be a useful nutritional strategy to improve and maintain performance during 6-week preparatory periods in collegiate athletes.

sEMG ACTIVITIES OF THE THREE HEADS OF THE TRICEPS BRACHII MUSCLE DURING CRICKET BOWLING

The aim of the present study was to analyze the surface electromyography (sEMG) activities generated by the three heads of the triceps brachii (TB) muscle among the different phases during fast and spin bowling. sEMG signals from the lateral, long and medial heads of the TB from 20 bowlers were measured individually during bowling. To analyze the sEMG activities, the root mean square (RMS) value in each bowling phase for every trial per bowler was calculated from the sEMG signals from the three heads of the TB. Higher sEMG activities at the three heads of the TB were found during the fifth phase followed by the sixth, seventh, third, fourth, second and first phases in both types of bowling. sEMG activities were significantly different among the three heads of the TB and among the seven bowling phases for both bowling types at an alpha level of [Formula: see text]. These findings will be of particular importance for assessing different physical therapies for the three headed TB muscle which can improve the performance in ball delivery of cricket bowlers.