Submit to IJERPH Review for IJERPH Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Global Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2023) | Viewed by 19490

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Michał Krzysztofik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Institute of Sport Sciences, The Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, 40-065 Katowice, Poland
Interests: training interventions; athletic performance; physical fitness; rehabilitation; sport science
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to deliver novel insights into the effectiveness of innovative training methods and nutrition strategies associated with athletic performance, body composition, metabolic, and physiological benefits during various types of exercise. Linking knowledge related to nutrition and exercise is a passion that health and sports professionals, athletes, and sport scientists share. Therefore, the papers submitted for this Special Issue should examine some of the latest innovations and practical applications in sports science and sports nutrition that consider athletic performance and health. This may include novel approaches in supplementation of evidence-based ergogenic aids, nutrition, and training strategies. This comprehensive professional journal features articles (original research, reviews, case reports) and research notes encompassing such topic areas as exercise physiology, sports medicine, sports nutrition, and exercise and health issues, including aspects of sports performance.

Dr. Michał Krzysztofik
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

performance enhancement
sports performance
strength and conditioning
physical activity
health promotion
lifestyle interventions
physical fitness
ergogenic aids
supplements
sports nutrition

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

13 pages, 3041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physiological and Mechanical Responses to a Graded Exercise Test in Traditional Rowing

by Alfonso Penichet-Tomas, Jose M. Jimenez-Olmedo, Basilio Pueo and Javier Olaya-Cuartero

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2023, 20(4), 3664; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20043664 - 18 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3012

Abstract

Maximum oxygen consumption and maximum power output are critical measures for training prescription in endurance sports such as rowing. The objective of this investigation was twofold: to compare the physiological and mechanical responses of female and male traditional rowers during a graded exercise test and to establish reference values in this specific rowing modality that have not yet been documented, unlike in Olympic rowing. Twenty-one highly trained/national level rowers participated in the study: 11 female (age: 30.1 ± 10.6 years, height: 167.3 ± 5.0 cm, body mass: 61.9 ± 4.9 kg) and 10 males (age: 33.5 ± 6.6 years, height: 180.8 ± 6.9 cm, body mass: 74.4 ± 6.9 kg). Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in rowing performance between sexes, with a very large effect size (d = 7.2). The peak power output for the female rowers was 180.9 ± 11.4 W and 287.0 ± 17.7 W for the male rowers. The female rowers reached a VO_2max of 51.2 ± 6.6 mL/kg/min at a mean of 174.5 ± 12.9 W, while the males’ VO_2max was 62.1 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min at a mean of 280.0 ± 20.5 W. These differences in VO_2max and maximal aerobic capacity were significant (p < 0.05), with a large (d = 1.9) and very large (d = 6.2) effect size, respectively. A moderate association between VO_2max, and rowing performance expressed in watts per kilogram of muscle mass was observed in the female rowers (r = 0.40, p = 0.228). For the male rowers, the correlation between VO_2max and relative peak power output in watts per kilogram of body mass was strong (r = 0.68; p = 0.031). This study highlights the differences in the kinetics of ventilatory and mechanical parameters between female and male rowers and the importance of these differences for specific physical preparation in traditional rowing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 373 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Proprioceptive Training on Balance, Strength, Agility and Dribbling in Adolescent Male Soccer Players

by Diana Victoria Gidu, Dana Badau, Marius Stoica, Adrian Aron, George Focan, Dan Monea, Alina Mihaela Stoica and Nicoleta Daniela Calota

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 2028; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19042028 - 11 Feb 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5803

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of proprioceptive training (PT) on balance, strength, agility and dribbling in adolescent soccer players. In this research, we included an experimental (n = 48) and a control (n = 48) group (CG) with 14 years old players. The experimental group (EG) participated in an 8 week PT program, with four 30 min sessions per week. The experimental program included 12 bosu ball exercises to improve balance, stability and strength which were grouped into two subprograms: the first not using the soccer ball, the second subprogram using the soccer ball. The subprograms were implemented alternately during 16 proprioceptive training sessions, on two types of firm and foam surfaces. Pre- and post-tests included the static balance [Balance Error Scoring System (BESS)], vertical, horizontal, and lateral jumping, and the completion of agility (“arrowhead”) and dribbling (“short dribbling”) tests. Regarding the total BESS score, the CG has demonstrated progress between the pre- and the post-test, with 0.780 ± 0.895, fewer errors, while the EG had 5.828 ± 1.017 fewer errors. The difference between the two groups was of 5.148 fewer errors for the EG who had practiced the proposed program of proprioceptive training. The highest difference registered between the pre- and the post-test was at the test “single-leg forward jump with the right leg”, with a result of 1.083 ± 0.459 cm for the CG and of 3.916 ± 0. 761 cm for the EG. Through the analysis of average differences between the pre- and the post-tests, we observe that, regarding the “Agility right side test”, the EG has progressed with 0.382 s in comparison with the CG; regarding the “Agility left side test”, the EG has progressed with 0.233 s compared to the CG; regarding the “Agility right and left side test”, the EG has progressed with 0.196 s compared to the CG; in the “Short dribbling test”, the EG has progressed with 0.174 s compared to the CG. The highest progress was made at the “Agility right side test”, of 0.402 s for the EG, while the CG registered 0.120 s. Most of the results in all tests for both experimental groups show an effect size ranging from small to medium. The progress made by the experimental group in all tests was statistically significant, while in the control group the progress was mostly statistically insignificant for p < 0.05. The results suggest that a PT program performed at about 14 years of age could be successfully implemented in the training regime of soccer players to improve components of fitness along with dribbling skills. The results of the study revealed that sports training on the foam surfaces determined a superior progress of the development of proprioception compared to the increased training on the firm surfaces. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health)

10 pages, 475 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancement of Countermovement Jump Performance Using a Heavy Load with Velocity-Loss Repetition Control in Female Volleyball Players

by Michal Krzysztofik, Rafal Kalinowski, Robert Trybulski, Aleksandra Filip-Stachnik and Petr Stastny

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(21), 11530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182111530 - 2 Nov 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3117

Abstract

Although velocity control in resistance training is widely studied, its utilization in eliciting post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) responses receives little attention. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of heavy-loaded barbell squats (BS) with velocity loss control conditioning activity (CA) on PAPE in subsequent countermovement jump (CMJ) performance. Sixteen resistance-trained female volleyball players participated in this study (age: 24 ± 5 yrs.; body mass: 63.5 ± 5.2 kg; height: 170 ± 6 cm; relative BS one-repetition maximum (1RM): 1.45 ± 0.19 kg/body mass). Each participant performed two different conditions: a set of the BS at 80% 1 RM with repetitions performed until a mean velocity loss of 10% as the CA or a control condition without CA (CNTRL). To assess changes in jump height (JH) and relative mean power output (MP), the CMJ was performed 5 min before and throughout the 10 min after the CA. The two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures showed a significant main effect of condition (p = 0.008; η² = 0.387) and time (p < 0.0001; η² = 0.257) for JH. The post hoc test showed a significant decrease in the 10th min in comparison to the value from baseline (p < 0.006) for the CNTRL condition. For the MP, a significant interaction (p = 0.045; η² = 0.138) was found. The post hoc test showed a significant decrease in the 10th min in comparison to the values from baseline (p < 0.006) for the CNTRL condition. No significant differences were found between all of the time points and the baseline value for the CA condition. The CA used in the current study fails to enhance subsequent countermovement jump performance in female volleyball players. However, the individual analysis showed that 9 out of the 16 participants (56%) responded positively to the applied CA, suggesting that the PAPE effect may be individually dependent and should be carefully verified before implementation in a training program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5983 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chronic Ingestion of Bicarbonate-Rich Water Improves Anaerobic Performance in Hypohydrated Elite Judo Athletes: A Pilot Study

by Jakub Chycki, Maciej Kostrzewa, Adam Maszczyk and Adam Zajac

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4948; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094948 - 6 May 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3505

Abstract

In combat sports, anaerobic power and anaerobic capacity determine sport performance and the dominant metabolic pathways. The decline in performance during exercise that is attributed to the cumulative effects of fatigue, including excessive accumulation of metabolites, depletion of energy substrates, and water and electrolyte disturbances, seems to be of greatest significance. In our experiment, we evaluated the effectiveness of three weeks of bicarbonate-rich water ingestion on anaerobic performance in a state of hydration and dehydration in elite judo athletes. Eight male, elite judo athletes participated in two single-blind, repeated-measures trials. They were assigned to two hydration protocols, ingesting low mineralized table water and bicarbonate-rich water. Anaerobic performance was evaluated by two 30 s Wingate tests for lower and upper limbs, respectively, under conditions of hydration as well as exercise-induced dehydration. Resting, post-ingestion, and post-exercise concentrations of bicarbonate (HCO₃), urine osmolality (U_OSM), urine specific gravity (U_GRAV), and lactate (La) were measured. The current investigation assessed two related factors that impair anaerobic performance—hypohydration and buffering capacity. High-bicarbonate water ingestion improved buffering capacity, and we demonstrated the potential role of this mechanism and its phenomenon in masking the adverse effects of dehydration in the context of repeated high-intensity anaerobic exercise (HIAE). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 853 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Fluid Loss and Customary Fluid Intake among a Selected Group of Young Swimmers: A Preliminary Field Study

by Damian Wiśniewski, Ewa Śliwicka, Jakub Malik and Krzysztof Durkalec-Michalski

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(6), 3205; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063205 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2672

Abstract

This study aimed to assess fluid loss (FL) and customary fluid intake (FI) during a training session, and the relationship between FL and total body water (TBW) content in a selected group of young swimmers. The study involved 17 (seven females, 10 males) individuals whose anthropometric and body composition analyses and FI during training units were carried out. The total average FI and total actual FL oscillated around 531 mL and −513 mL for the whole study group (469 mL and −284 mL for females, 574 mL and −674 mL for males). The dependent and independent sample t-tests, the Cohen’s d effect size and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were analysed. Significant differences were observed between pre-workout and post-workout body weights after training without FI in the whole group (66.5 kg vs. 66.0 kg, p < 0.001, d = 0.06), in females (61.2 kg vs. 60.9 kg, p = 0.015, d = 0.04) and males (70.3 kg vs. 69.6 kg, p < 0.001, d = 0.9). For the TBW content and fat-free mass (FFM) before and after training, significant differences were observed only in males (TBW: 43.8 L vs. 43.2 L, p = 0.002, d = 0.14; and 62.4% vs. 61.7%, p < 0.001, d = 0.36; FFM: 59.8 kg vs. 59.1 kg, p = 0.002, d = 0.12). Moreover, the relationship between the actual FL and TBW before training was observed in the whole (mL vs. %: r = −0.64, p = 0.006; mL vs. L: r = −0.84, p < 0.001) and the male group (mL vs. L: r = −0.73, p = 0.017). These results indicated FL in young swimmers during training and the relationship between FL and pre-training TBW content, which suggests that it is important to also pay special attention to effective hydration procedures before and during training in aquatic environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Training and Nutrition Strategies for Performance Enhancement and Health

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editor

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI