Background: The ACTN3 R577X polymorphism has been associated with an elite athlete status. Several studies have determined that the R allele is connected with power-oriented athletic performance, whereas the nonfunctional XX genotype may give some beneficial effect for endurance performance. The main aim of the study was to determine the possible interaction between the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism and an endurance athlete status in a group of Polish rowers in comparison with sedentary individuals. Material/Methods: 121 male Polish rowers, members of academic sports clubs, and 115 unrelated volunteers were recruited for the study. Genotyping for the R577X variant was performed by PCR–RFLP. Results: The genotype distribution amongst the rowers (52.06% RR, 38.85% RX, 9.09% XX) was significantly different from that amongst sedentary individuals (RR-33.5%; RX- 49.60%; XX-17,35%; P = 0.024). A significant excess of the R allele was noted in the rowers (71.48%, P = 0.008) when comparing with the controls (60.0%). Conclusions: The obtained results show that the ACTN3 X allele and XX genotype are underrepresented in Polish rowers and they are not advantageous for the endurance-type athletes in the studied population. On the contrary, the R allele seems to be useful for a top-level rower. However, additional studies are needed to clarify this problem.
Angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACE) is the most frequently investigated genetic marker in the context of genetic conditioning of athletic predispositions. The product of the gene is a key component of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), mainly responsible for the regulation of blood pressure. The main aim of the study was to determine the possible interaction between the ACE l/D polymorphism and endurance athlete status in a group of Polish rowers in comparison with sedentary individuals. 121 male Polish rowers, members of academic sports clubs, and 115 unrelated volunteers, were recruited for the study. The PCR amplification of the insertion (I) or deletion (D) fragment of the ACEgene was performed. Compared with control group, the frequency of the I allele differ significantly from that found in rowers (57.4% vs. 44.3%; P = 0.013) and the ACE genotype frequency amongst the whole cohort of rowers (30.6% II, 53.7% ID, 15.7% DD) was also different from expected values (control group 19.1% II, 50.4% ID, 30.4% DD; P=0.017). Our investigation confirms a positive association of the I allele of the ACE gene with endurance athlete status in a group of Polish rowers.
The present study was performed to clarify of training-related modulations of the cardiopulmonary system (CPS) response sensitivity to a hypoxic and hypercapnia stimulus in young endurance athletes. The practical objective was to estimate a possible association between the reduction in sensitivity to respiratory homeostasis shifts and young athletes’ early sports specialization. Twenty-eight young male athletes aged 12.4–17.5 years with experience of strenuous endurance training in kayaking served as the subjects. The impact of strenuous endurance training was estimated in three parts of studies with athletes divided into age groups. Studies have demonstrated that endurance training in kayaking results in a distinct decrease in the CPS response sensitivity to hypoxia in young athletes. The responses to hypoxia in elite 16-year-old athletes do not significantly differ vs. elite adult athletes. Respiratory responses to hypercapnia also decreased (although to a lesser extent). Hypercapnic sensitivity in 16.3 yrs. do not significantly differ vs. elite adult athletes. When the responses were normalized to body mass, body surface and vital capacity, such differences were reliable. Chemo sensitivity CPS of young elite kayakers in 16.3 yrs. was significantly lower than in 14.9 yrs. The most expressed changes of respiratory responsiveness were noted in the response output during standard levels of hypercapnia and hypoxia. The greatest differences between young and adult elite athletes were revealed in hypercapnic ventilatory response. It is possible to believe that monitoring sensitivity and kinetic features of CPS responses in long-lasting high intensity of endurance training may be a prerequisite of best stimulation of its morphological and functional improvement. It can be assumed that the decrease in the CPS response sensitivity to the combined hypoxic and hypercapnic stimuli at long-lasting heavy kayaking training may deviate from the optimal one. In young kayakers it may be linked with trainability decline. But special studies need to confirm this assumption.
Background: The present study was performed to clarify fatigue-induced effects of a strenuous and moderate intensity endurance training session on temporary changes of cardiopulmonary (CP) chemosensitivity and fast kinetics response. Material/Methods: Eleven high performance (national level) male rowers participated in this study [age 21.8 ±1.7 (range 18-25 years), 89.3 ±2.0 kg, 190.1 ±1.7 cm, VO2 max 67.9 ±1.1 ml·kg-1·min-1]. The studies involved three steps: 1) a study of effects related to a training session of moderate intensity, 2) effects of a high intensity session, and 3) an impact of a high intensity session on values of peak response. The high intensity session consisted of intermittent training loads made up of five sets of four repetitions of sixty-second work intervals (HR of 149-186 bt·min-1). The moderate intensity session consisted of unvarying type of exercise (HR of 138-167 bt·min-1). Measurements were made at rest before, 13-15, and 37-39 hours after the training session. In rebreathing tests ventilatory sensitivity to CO2 and HR response sensitivity to normocapnic hypoxia were measured. Fast kinetics of ventilation, oxygen uptake, CO2 production and the heart rate were measured in a 5-min standard power test (0.7 VO2 max, 5 min, transition from 25 w) and in a 6-min test (1.12 ±0.11 VO2max). Results: We found that a training session of high intensity resulted in a significant decrease in sensitivity to hypercapnia, an increase in CP sensitivity to hypoxia, a decrease in CP fast kinetics and stability of peak response 13-15 hours after the session vs. baseline. Mean power in a 6-min maximum test decreased, which was mainly determined by a decrease in mean power during the first 3 min and utilization of VO2 max for a 6-min test. Moderate intensity of a training session resulted in an increase in ventilatory sensitivity to hypercapnia whereas sensitivity CP to hypoxia and fast kinetics remained unaffected. Conclusions: These results suggest that not only CP chemosensitivity to hypoxia but also CP chemosensitivity to hypercapnia are variable in high intensity endurance training. The variability related to the effect of fatigue in the recovery phase (up to 15-15 hours) after strenuous training sessions.
The objective of this study is to check whether the type of sport is important for the development of the dual career in professional sport. This study utilised the Chi-square test of the independence measurement model and student’s T test. It also analysed 7 scenarios. A final survey-list consisted of the 38 items of competences and it was completed by 243 young people who took part in this study; the sample included 151 (67.7%) athletes training individual disciplines and 72 (32.3%) team disciplines. The statistically significant results between the groups are in terms of competence (scenarios 3 and 6). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of life experience. Results in both parts of the study confirmed the three hypotheses. It turned out that the type of sport does not affect the course of the dual career in professional athletes.
It is known that high sports performances are based upon optimization of adaptation process. In order to achieve the above, one should provide a maximal account of individual vivid features of athlete's abilities, peculiarities of his/her physiological reactivity. The aim was to study individualities of sensitivity to shifts in respiratory homeostasis and responsiveness to high intensity physical exercises in homogeneous groups of high performance endurance athletes.Individual peculiarities of the cardiorespiratory system (CRS) physiological reactivity were evaluated in 118 high performance endurance athletes (cyclists, runners and rowers) aged 20-27 years (competing regularly in sports for 6.8 ± 1.1 years). The sensitivity of response to CO2-H+ (rebreathing), fast kinetics and the peak response of CRS to various physical loads were measured. The level of VO2max and accumulated oxygen deficit were determined as well.The results indicate distinctive individual peculiarities of CRS response to the shifts of respiratory homeostasis in homogeneous groups of endurance athletes with respect to sensitivity and stability of responses to CO2-H+. Sensitivity to CO2-H+ demonstrated a positive correlation with fast kinetics and peak levels in responses to physical loads and anaerobic potential realization.Hyperkinetic and hypokinetic types of an individual physiological responsiveness of CRS to shifts in the respiratory homeostasis and physical exercise in homogeneous groups of high performance athletes were revealed as a premise for athletes' high specific work capacity.
Background: The aim of the study was to determine additional effects of 8 weeks’ whole body rotation vibration combined with a fitness exercise program of health-related training on chosen motor coordination abilities and flexibility in young females. Material/Methods: Thirty-seven young females aged 20-25 (students) voluntarily participated in the study. The training program included 24 training sessions which were performed over the course of 8 weeks (3 sessions a week) and was based on basic principles of health-related protocols. The program of sessions was performed by subjects of the experimental group with a working whole body vibration platform (20 Hz), whereas those of the control group performed the same exercises with a non-working (placebo) vibration platform. Chosen motor coordination abilities (body balance, reproducing of strength and whole body rotation angle) and flexibility (active and passive) were measured at the 4th and the 8th week. Results: This study showed additional effects of concomitant whole body vibration and physical exercises for 24 sessions of training (40-50 min). A significant increase in some values of the motor coordination ability (body balance, reproduction of strength and angle in rotation) and hip active and passive flexibility was shown in the experimental group vs. the control one. Conclusions: The results indicate that chronic rotation whole-body vibration, as an accompanying impact to a fitness exercise program, has additional positive effects on coordination and flexibility in young females.
Background: The objective of this study was to check whether the type of education is related to the development of a dual career in professional sport. Material and methods: This study used the Chi-square test of independence and Student’s t test to analyze 7 scenarios (not experienced and experienced) presented to the participants. A final survey-list, consisting of 38 items of competences (possession and importance) and completed by 243 young people: 218 (89.7%) athletes obtaining secondary education and 25 (10.3%) obtaining or having higher education. Results: There were statistically significant differences between people with higher education and secondary education in terms of possessed competences, but there were no statistically significant differences between higher education and secondary education in terms of the importance of competences. There were statistically significant differences between people with secondary education and people with higher education in experiencing scenario 1 and 5. Conclusions: The results of both studies confirmed three hypotheses. It turned out that the level of education is related to the course of athletes’ dual career. Of particular importance are the athletes’ social competences and life experience.
The authors recently were shown some positive effects of controlled whole body vibration (WBV) as an exercise modality. The purpose of the present study consists of revealing chronic effects (8 weeks) of intermittent whole body rotation vibration combined with sub-maximal static and dynamic resistance physical exercises on strength capacities of young females in health-related training. Thirty-seven healthy females 20-25 years old were randomized into two groups (experimental and control). Results showed the positive effects of dose using rotation whole body vibration in sub-maximal resistance physical exercises upon some characteristics of isometric, isokinetic strength, jumping power, and strength endurance for 24 sessions of training. The 8-week program of young female sub-maximal resistance training combined with intermittent WBV appeared more efficient than the same content of conventional resistance training without WBV. Increasing strength capacities took place first of all during the first 4 weeks of training and was more essential in hand isokinetic and in isokinetic leg and jumping capacities than in isometric leg strengths. There was no significant increase of strength endurance in vibration group in comparison with the conventional training group.
We investigated neuronal activation of the rat intermediolateral (IML) nucleus of the thoracolumbar spinal cord, initiated by Achilles tendon vibration, after intramuscular (m. triceps surae) administration of 7‑nitroindazole (7‑NI) or L‑arginine (LA). The spindle afferent response to vibratory stimuli induced a distinct bilateral increase in the activation of c‑Fos immunoreactivity in the spinal neurons in three groups of rats (tendon‑vibrated, tendon‑vibrated + 7‑NI and tendon‑vibrated + LA). The T5/T13 segments in tendon‑vibrated +7‑NI animals showed the highest increase of Fos‑immunoreactive neurons. This increase was two times higher than that in tendon only‑vibrated control rats and tendon‑vibrated + LA animals. The highest mean number of labelled neurons were observed in the IML nucleus and in layers 4 and 7 of the T5-L3 segments in tendon‑vibrated and tendon‑vibrated + 7‑NI animals, and in the IML nucleus and layer 4 in tendon‑vibrated + LA rats. The highest mean number of activated neurons was found ipsilaterally in the IML nucleus of the T5/T13 segment. These results indicate that decreased nitric oxide release after injection of 7‑NI was accompanied by a potentiation of the early c‑fos gene expression induced by muscle proprioceptive activity within the thoracolumbar region of the rat spinal cord. Thus, enhanced c‑Fos immunoreactivity in the IML nucleus indicated that the sympathetic nervous system can exert a direct influence on the muscle spindles
The effect of C60 fullerene aqueous colloid solution (C60FAS) on the intensity of long‑lasting (persisting for one hour) rotational movements in non‑anesthetized rats was investigated. For this purpose, an experimental hemiparkinsonic animal model was used in the study. Rotational movements in hemiparkinsonic animals were initiated by the intraperitoneal administration of the dopamine receptor agonist apomorphine. It was shown that a preliminary injection of C60FAS (a substance with powerful antioxidant properties) in hemiparkinsonic rats induced distinct changes in animal motor behavior. It was revealed that fullerene‑pretreated animals, in comparison with non‑pretreated or vehicle‑pretreated rats, rotated for 1 h at an approximately identical speed until the end of the experiment, whereas the rotation speed of control rats gradually decreased to 20–30% of the initial value. One can assume that the observed changes in the movement dynamics of the hemiparkinsonic rats after C60FAS pretreatment presumably can be induced by the influence of C60FAS on the dopaminergic system, although the isolated potentiation of the action of apomorphine C60FAS cannot be excluded. Nevertheless, earlier data on the action of C60FAS on muscle dynamics has suggested that C60FAS can activate a protective action of the antioxidant system in response to long‑lasting muscular activity and that the antioxidant system in turn may directly decrease fatigue‑related changes during long‑lasting muscular activity.
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