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Effects of Long-Haul Travel and the Olympic Games on Heart-Rate Variability in Rugby Sevens Medalists. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2022; 17:951-960. [PMID: 35259726 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To report the impact of long-haul travel and the Olympic tournament on heart-rate variability and subjective well-being in a rugby sevens team. METHODS Players (N = 12 men) recorded daily root mean square of successive differences (LnRMSSD) and brief subjective well-being assessments before and throughout the Olympic tournament. Following a 7-day baseline involving a tournament simulation, 2 flights were taken to Brazil (20-h travel and 4-h time gain) on day 1. Matches occurred on days 13 to 15. Undefeated, the team advanced to the gold-medal final. Team staff used a combination of proactive and reactive strategies to support training adaptations, mitigate negative effects of travel, and facilitate recovery from competition. RESULTS Peak LnRMSSD values from the preceding preparatory period were observed at baseline. Perceived recovery was impaired on day 1 following tournament simulation (P < .05). Lower and less stable LnRMSSD trends were observed in players within the first week following long-haul travel (P < .05), evident primarily in nonstarters (effect size = unclear to very large) versus starters (effect size = unclear). Status markers were subsequently maintained at baseline or improved prior to the tournament and were minimally affected by competition (P > .05). Changes in LnRMSSD were associated (P < .05) with changes in perceived recovery (day 14, ρ = .64) and sleep quality (day 15, ρ = .69) during the tournament. CONCLUSIONS Attentiveness to player health and well-being throughout preparation, travel, and the Olympic tournament potentially mitigated decrements in status markers, thereby reducing potential for fatigue or stress-related performance impairment.
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Burgos J, Viribay A, Calleja-González J, Fernández-Lázaro D, Olasagasti-Ibargoien J, Seco-Calvo J, Mielgo-Ayuso J. Long-Term Combined Effects of Citrulline and Nitrate-Rich Beetroot Extract Supplementation on Recovery Status in Trained Male Triathletes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:75. [PMID: 35053073 PMCID: PMC8772988 DOI: 10.3390/biology11010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Citrulline (CIT) and nitrate-rich beetroot extract (BR) are widely studied ergogenic aids. Nevertheless, both supplements have been studied in short-term trials and separately. To the best of the authors' knowledge, the effects of combining CIT and BR supplementation on recovery status observed by distance covered in the Cooper test, exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and anabolic/catabolic hormone status have not been investigated to date. Therefore, the main purpose of this research was to assess the effect of the long-term (9 weeks) mixture of 3 g/day of CIT plus 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of nitrates (NO3-)) supplementation on recovery by distance covered in the Cooper test, EIMD markers (urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH and CK) and anabolic/catabolic hormones (testosterone, cortisol and testosterone/cortisol ratio (T/C)) in male trained triathletes. Thirty-two triathletes were randomized into four different groups of eight triathletes in this double-blind, placebo-controlled trial: placebo group (PLG), CIT group (CITG; 3 g/day of CIT), BR group (BRG; 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of NO3-)) and CIT-BR group (CIT-BRG; 3 g/day of CIT plus 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of NO3-)). Distance covered in the Cooper test and blood samples were collected from all participants at baseline (T1) and after 9 weeks of supplementation (T2). There were no significant differences in the interaction between group and time in EIMD markers (urea, creatinine, AST, ALT, GGT, LDH and CK) (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed in the group-by-time interaction in distance covered in the Cooper test (p = 0.002; η2p = 0.418), cortisol (p = 0.044; η2p = 0.247) and T/C (p = 0.005; η2p = 0.359). Concretely, significant differences were observed in distance covered in the Cooper test percentage of change (p = 0.002; η2p = 0.418) between CIT-BRG and PLG and CITG, in cortisol percentage change (p = 0.049; η2p = 0.257) and in T/C percentage change (p = 0.018; η2p = 0.297) between CIT-BRG and PLG. In conclusion, the combination of 3 g/day of CIT plus 2.1 g/day of BR (300 mg/day of NO3-) supplementation for 9 weeks did not present any benefit for EIMD. However, CIT + BR improved recovery status by preventing an increase in cortisol and showing an increase in distance covered in the Cooper test and T/C.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Burgos
- Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, University of León, 24071 León, Spain;
- Burgos Nutrition, Physiology, Nutrition and Sport, 26007 Logroño, Spain
| | - Aitor Viribay
- Glut4Science, Physiology, Nutrition and Sport, 01004 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain;
| | - Julio Calleja-González
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country, 01007 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain;
| | - Diego Fernández-Lázaro
- Department of Cellular Biology, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42003 Soria, Spain;
- Neurobiology Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valladolid, 47005 Valladolid, Spain
| | - Jurgi Olasagasti-Ibargoien
- Faculty of Education and Sports, University of Deusto, 20012 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain;
- Health, Physical Activity and Sports Science Laboratory (HealthPASS), Departament of Physical Activity and Sport, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Deusto, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Jesús Seco-Calvo
- Physiotherapy Department, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), University of Leon, Campus de Vegazana, 24071 Leon, Spain;
| | - Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain
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The Travel Demands of an Elite Rugby Sevens Team: Effects on Objective and Subjective Sleep Parameters. Int J Sports Physiol Perform 2021; 16:688-694. [PMID: 33540379 DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the effects of travel related to international rugby sevens competition on sleep patterns. METHODS A total of 17 international male rugby sevens players participated in this study. Actigraphic and subjective sleep assessments were performed daily during 2 separate Sevens World Series competition legs (Oceania and America). The duration of each competition leg was subdivided into key periods (pretour, precompetition, tournament 1, relocation, tournament 2, and posttour) lasting 2 to 7 nights. Linear mixed models in combination with magnitude-based decisions were used to assess (1) the difference between preseason and key periods and (2) the effect of travel direction (eastward or westward). RESULTS Shorter total sleep time (hours:minutes) was observed during tournament 2 (mean [SD], 06:16 [01:08]), relocation (06:09 [01:09]), and the pretour week (06:34 [01:24]) compared with the preseason (06:52 [01:00]). Worse sleep quality (arbitrary units) was observed during tournament 1 (6.1 [2.0]) and 2 (5.7 [1.2]), as well as during the relocation week (6.3 [1.5]) than during the preseason (6.5 [1.8]). When traveling eastward compared with westward, earlier fall-asleep time was observed during tournament 1 (ES - 0.57; 90% CI, -1.12 to -0.01), the relocation week (-0.70 [-1.11 to -0.28]), and the posttour (-0.57 [-0.95 to -0.18]). However, possibly trivial and unclear differences were observed during the precompetition week (0.15 [-0.15 to 0.45]) and tournament 2 (0.81 [-0.29 to 1.91]). CONCLUSION The sleep patterns of elite rugby sevens players are robust to the effects of long-haul travel and jet lag. However, the staff should consider promoting sleep during the tournament and relocation week.
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