Search Results (775)

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the preliminary evidence supporting the validity of the Running Advisor Billat Training test (RABIT^®) in determining the three intensity domains in male adults with obesity. Methods: Thirteen male adults with obesity completed a graded (GRAD) and a RABIT^® test. The RABIT^® test consisted of three fixed levels of perceived exertion (RPE): (1) 10 min at RPE 13, (2) 5 min at RPE 16, and (3) 3 min at RPE 18. GRAD was composed of 1 min step, increasing speed by 0.5 km/h every minute until volitional exhaustion. Results: At RPE 18, maximal oxygen consumption ($\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}$O₂max), minute ventilation ($\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}$_E), maximal heart rate (HRmax), and running speed were not significantly different from the values measured during the GRAD. As well, oxygen consumption ($\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}$O₂), $\stackrel{.}{\mathrm{V}}$_E, and HR measured during RPE 16 and RPE 13 of the RABIT^® test were not significantly different from the anaerobic threshold (AnT) and aerobic Threshold (AerT) values measured during GRAD. However, running speed at RPE 16 and RPE 13 of the RABIT^® test was lower by −5.03% (p = 0.041) and −7.00% (p < 0.001), compared to GRAD. Conclusions: The data obtained in our study provide preliminary evidence supporting the ability of the RABIT test to estimate maximal exercise parameters, as well as most parameters associated with AerT and AnT. Consequently, the test may be useful for identifying the three training intensity domains and for planning training sessions for adults with obesity. Full article

Construction sectors in developing countries continue to experience disproportionately high fatality rates, largely due to reactive safety practices and the limited adoption of digital safety technologies. While Building Information Modeling (BIM) and the Internet of Things (IoT) offer significant potential for proactive safety management, their integrated application remains underexplored in resource-constrained contexts. This study examines stakeholder readiness to adopt IoT-enhanced BIM-based safety monitoring systems in large-scale infrastructure projects in Pakistan, including China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiatives and the Barakahu Bypass project. An integrated Technology Acceptance Model–Technology–Organization–Environment (TAM–TOE) readiness framework is employed, wherein TAM-derived cognitive-motivational factors (Technology Awareness and Perceived Benefits) and TOE-derived contextual factors (Organizational Readiness and Perceived Barriers) are examined as joint predictors of Behavioral Intention (BI). Data were collected from 107 purposively sampled construction professionals using a structured questionnaire. The results indicate high attitudinal readiness (BI mean = 4.7; perceived benefits mean = 4.6) alongside moderate organizational readiness (mean = 3.4). Regression analysis reveals that perceived benefits (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and technology awareness (β = 0.29, p = 0.003) are the strongest positive predictors of adoption intention. In contrast, perceived barriers exert a significant negative effect (β = −0.22, p = 0.022). The model explains 61.2% of the variance in behavioral intention. This study advances the literature by providing empirical evidence on stakeholder readiness for BIM–IoT safety adoption within construction management processes, estimated through a multiple regression model. It offers practical implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to accelerate data-driven decision-making and digital safety transformation in developing economies. Full article

Background/Objectives: In the school setting, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) has emerged as a time-efficient strategy to improve children’s physical fitness; however, different implementation modalities have not been compared. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of an individual versus paired HIIT protocol based on functional bodyweight exercises on physical fitness-related and anthropometric outcomes in primary school children. Methods: Sixty-one children (11.6 ± 0.3 years) participated in a 10-week experimental study with three parallel groups: individual HIIT (EG1, n = 21), paired HIIT (EG2, n = 20), and a control group (CG, n = 20). Although both HIIT groups performed the same bodyweight functional exercises, in EG2 the exercises required coordinated movement between the partners. The HIIT protocol was integrated into the warm-up of Physical Education (PE) classes twice per week (Tabata-type protocol; 8 × 20 s/10 s/≤8 min per session). Body composition, muscular strength, and cardiorespiratory fitness (estimated VO₂max) were assessed at pre- and post-test, along with a rating of perceived exertion (1–10 scale) and enjoyment/motivation (1–5 scale) across several sessions (1, 7 and 14). Data were analyzed using pre-post comparisons, ANOVA, and ANCOVA models adjusted for baseline values. Results: Body fat percentage decreased in all groups. The individual HIIT group showed within-group improvements in VO₂max (+5.3%, p < 0.001), handgrip strength (+10.1%, p = 0.003), and standing long jump (+4.1%, p = 0.033), with moderate-to-large effect sizes, whereas the paired HIIT group showed smaller and statistically non-significant changes. Between-group comparisons suggested a tendency toward greater improvements in VO₂max and handgrip strength in the individual HIIT group compared with the paired group, although the overall ANOVA for VO₂max was not statistically significant. Perceived exertion declined over time in the paired group but remained relatively stable in the individual group. Conclusions: A low-volume HIIT program performed individually was associated with improvements in several physical fitness outcomes in schoolchildren. In contrast, paired execution showed smaller and mostly non-significant changes, together with a progressive reduction in perceived intensity. Full article

Overhead sports place high demands on the shoulder complex, making warm-up specificity relevant for acute readiness. This randomized controlled pilot trial compared the immediate effects of a shoulder-specific warm-up with a habitual routine in 24 youth competitive overhead athletes (14–20 years), allocated to an experimental group (EG = 12) and a habitual warm-up group (SWG = 12). The warm-up protocol was administered bilaterally to both shoulders, whereas outcome measurements were collected unilaterally, with each shoulder tested separately. Assessments were performed before and immediately after the warm-up protocol. Outcome measures included shoulder flexion range of motion (ROM), handgrip strength, Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability (CKCUES) performance, and post-warm-up Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE; Borg CR-10). A significant group-by-time interaction was found for right shoulder flexion ROM (p = 0.003, η²p = 0.346), with a significant increase in the EG from baseline to post-test (p = 0.008). No significant effects were observed for left shoulder flexion ROM, handgrip strength, or CKCUES performance. Post-warm-up RPE was statistically significant in the EG compared to the SWG (p = 0.041). These preliminary findings may suggest the potential practical value of more targeted warm-up strategies in overhead sports, while larger longitudinal studies are needed to confirm their broader functional relevance. Full article

Background: Velocity loss (VL) is widely used in velocity-based training (VBT) to index mechanical fatigue, yet attentional focus cues may alter velocity profiles and their relationship with internal load. This study tested whether internal focus, external focus, or control modifies repetition-level velocity, lactate kinetics, and lactate–VL% coupling during bench press (BP) at 60% one-repetition maximum (1RM). Methods: Thirty-six trained men were randomized into three groups. Thirty-four participants completed the study and were included in the final analyses according to outcome-specific data availability. Participants completed two counterbalanced sessions on a Smith machine BP: (i) a single set to technical failure, and (ii) a conventional 3 sets × 10 repetitions at 60% 1RM. Concentric velocity was recorded via a linear position transducer and analyzed at the repetition level using linear mixed-effects models. Lactate was analyzed via Gaussian generalized estimating equations (GEEs). Results: Repetitions to failure and terminal velocity at failure did not differ between groups (Welch p = 0.328; ω² = 0.045). During 3 sets × 10 repetitions, velocity decreased across sets and repetitions (both p < 0.001); adding group terms improved fit (LR χ²(12) = 42.26, p < 0.001), with additional improvement for group-dependent fatigue patterns (LR χ²(6) = 14.90, p = 0.021). Lactate increased over time (Wald χ²(4) = 244.56, p < 0.001) with convergence by post-lactate set 3 and post-lactate 30 s. Lactate–VL% coupling was strongly moderated by group (post-lactate × group: χ²(2) = 80.42, p < 0.001), with slopes (ΔVL% per 1 mmol·L⁻¹) of 5.27 (internal focus), 13.60 (external focus), and 0.04 (control). After Holm correction across prespecified primary outcomes, only the post-session rating of perceived exertion differed (pHolm = 0.004; ω² = 0.045), with higher values in the external focus group. Pairwise effects were calculated as comparator minus external focus; therefore, negative g values indicate a higher rate of perceived exertion (RPE) in the external focus group (gHedges ≈ −1.50 vs. control; −1.37 vs. internal focus). Conclusions: Attentional cueing did not consistently alter averaged VL% outcomes after multiplicity correction, but it was associated with differences in early lactate kinetics and modified the observed association between post-set lactate and VL% in the interaction-based coupling model. Cueing scripts should therefore be reported verbatim and standardized in VBT studies, particularly when VL-derived indices are interpreted alongside internal load markers. Full article

Allergic Rhinitis (AR) is an IgE-mediated inflammatory disorder that impairs quality of life and systemic function. Following the ‘one airway, one disease’ paradigm, AR-related inflammation often extends to the lower respiratory tract. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of an 8-week moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MOA) program on clinical symptoms, nasal airflow, airway inflammation, pulmonary function, and cardiorespiratory parameters in young adults with physician-confirmed persistent AR. To isolate the exercise effects, all participants discontinued antihistamines, corticosteroids, and leukotriene antagonists before and during the study period. Eighteen participants were allocated to either the MOA group (n = 9), which performed treadmill walking or jogging at 50–60% heart rate reserve three times per week for eight weeks, or a control group (CON, n = 9) that maintained usual daily activities. Clinical symptoms, peak nasal inspiratory flow, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, pulmonary function, heart rate, blood pressure, aerobic fitness, and perceived exertion were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8 using standardized procedures. Compared with baseline and the CON group, the exercise intervention resulted in significant reductions in nasal congestion, itching, sneezing, and rhinorrhea, accompanied by increased nasal airflow and reduced airway inflammation. Pulmonary function indices and cardiorespiratory parameters also improved following training. These findings suggest that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise may offer a valuable non-pharmacological approach to support conventional care, potentially enhancing respiratory and physiological outcomes in young adults with persistent AR. Full article

Background/Objectives: Melatonin (MEL) promotes sleep and recovery, while caffeine (CAF) enhances alertness and performance. Despite their common use among athletes, their potential interaction remains underexplored. This study examined the effects of MEL and CAF, administered separately or in combination, on sleep, physical performance, physiological, biochemical, and perceptual responses in trained males. Methods: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study, fourteen trained males (22.4 ± 2.9 years) underwent four conditions, designed to isolate the effects of each substance and their interaction: (1) PLA + PLA: placebo before sleep and placebo in the morning; (2) PLA + CAF: placebo before sleep and caffeine (3 mg·kg⁻¹) in the morning; (3) MEL + PLA: melatonin (6 mg) before sleep and placebo in the morning; and (4) MEL + CAF: melatonin before sleep followed by caffeine in the morning. One hour after the morning ingestion, participants performed the 5 m shuttle run test (5mSRT). Blood samples were collected pre- and post-exercise to assess markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase) and inflammation (C-reactive protein). Peak heart rate (HR_peak) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout the test. Sleep was assessed only during the night following melatonin or placebo ingestion. Results: No differences were observed in sleep parameters between conditions (p > 0.05). Total distance in the 5mSRT increased following MEL + CAF and PLA + CAF conditions compared with PLA + PLA. Moreover, MEL + CAF reduced muscle damage and inflammation markers compared with PLA + PLA, MEL + PLA, and PLA + CAF conditions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The ingestion of nocturnal MEL and next-day CAF was associated with improvements in certain high-intensity exercise performance outcomes, along with changes in muscle damage and inflammation. Full article

Background: Acute alcohol consumption may interfere with the dynamics between internal and external load during exercise, potentially attenuating cardiovascular responses. Objective: This study investigated the association between distance covered during a running test and mean heart rate, while examining the moderating role of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) under conditions with and without acute alcohol ingestion. Methods: This crossover experimental study included 12 physically active male university students (23.7 ± 3.7 years). Participants completed two intermittent running sessions (control and alcohol conditions), separated by ≥48 h. In the alcohol condition, participants consumed 0.4 g of ethanol/kg of body mass. Heart rate was continuously monitored using a Polar RCX5 monitor, and total distance covered and RPE (Borg 6–20 scale) were assessed immediately after test completion. Analyses included paired comparisons, Pearson correlations, and linear regression models with interaction terms. Results: No significant associations between variables were observed in the control condition. With alcohol consumption, distance covered was positively associated with mean heart rate, and RPE significantly moderated this relationship. Conclusions: Acute alcohol ingestion may modify the interaction between external load, perceived exertion, and cardiovascular response during running. These results highlight the importance of integrated monitoring of internal and external load, especially in contexts involving recent alcohol consumption. Full article

Background/Objective: Mental fatigue (MF) significantly impairs psychomotor performance in dynamic sports; however, its specific impact on closed-skill precision-demanding tasks remains underexplored. This study investigated the acute effects of experimentally induced MF exposure on psychophysiological responses, mood states, and archery shooting performance. Methods: Fifteen well-trained male compound-bow archers participated in a randomized crossover study. Participants completed an MF condition (30 min modified Stroop task) and a control condition (CON; passive viewing of a neutral documentary), separated by a 72 h washout period. Continuous heart rate (HR), archery shooting accuracy, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), rating scale of mental effort (RSME), state anxiety (VAS-A), mood states, and exercise enjoyment scale (EES) were assessed. Results: The Stroop task successfully induced subjective MF. Consequently, shooting accuracy significantly deteriorated in the MF condition compared to that in the CON condition (p < 0.001; g = 0.731). While HR and VAS-A remained consistent across conditions, the MF condition elicited a significant increase in RPE (p = 0.007; g = 0.836) and RSME (p = 0.010; g = 0.794). Furthermore, MF significantly increased feelings of anger and fatigue while drastically reducing PACES (p < 0.001; g = 1.530). Conclusions: Acute MF significantly degrades fine motor accuracy in precision sports. The pronounced dissociation between elevated RPE and stable peripheral physiological strain suggests that performance decline is driven by top-down cognitive burden rather than physiological limitations. Therefore, systematic monitoring of cognitive load is crucial for optimizing performance in precision sports. Full article

Background: Soccer aerial duels require rapid take-off, repeated-performance maintenance, and effective head–neck control under physically demanding conditions. This study examined the effects of caffeine (CAF), Rhodiola rosea (RHO), and their combination on repeated aerial duel performance and neck neuromuscular function in male collegiate soccer players. Methods: Ninety-six players were randomly assigned, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel design, to placebo control (CTR), RHO, CAF, or RHO + CAF groups (n = 24 each) for 4 weeks. CAF was acutely administered at 3 mg·kg⁻¹ before testing, whereas RHO was chronically supplemented at 2.4 g·day⁻¹. Outcome measures included countermovement jump height, early take-off impulse, repeated heading contact height, ball exit velocity, heading duel success rate, neck maximal voluntary isometric contraction, and session rating of perceived exertion (session-RPE). Results: Significant group × time or group × repetition effects were observed for CMJ height (p = 0.0034), early take-off impulse (p = 0.0007), and post-intervention repeated heading contact height (p < 0.0001), with additional significant effects across heading-specific, neck strength, duel-success, and perceived-load outcomes. CAF was mainly associated with improved take-off-related explosive performance and duel success, whereas RHO was mainly associated with lower perceived exertion and better maintenance of heading contact height during the later repeated trials. Combined RHO + CAF supplementation produced the broadest pattern of benefits across explosive output, ball-contact performance, duel success, and multidirectional neck strength. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, in male collegiate soccer players, CAF and RHO may contribute differently to repeated aerial duel-related performance, and their combination may offer broader sport-specific benefits under repeated high-intensity demands. Full article

This study analysed the potential influence of crew size on performance (stroke rate, strokes/min; distance travelled, m/min; and average power, W), physiological responses (post-exercise heart rate and heart rate measured three minutes after exercise) and perceptual responses (Borg scale). A total of 136 adolescent athletes (100 males and 36 females; mean age = 15.79 ± 1.14 years) performed four three-minute maximal-effort trials on a rowing ergometer across four conditions: individual trials (C1), two-person crews (C2), four-person crews (C3), and eight-person crews (C4). Results showed a significant increase in stroke rate (strokes/min) in both sexes as crew size increased (C1 33.16 ± 2.54 vs. C4 34.19 ± 2.21 strokes/min; C1–C4 p = 0.01; C2–C4 p = 0.003). Men reported greater perceived exertion in C1 compared with C4 (Borg 7.80 ± 0.79 vs. 7.46 ± 0.74; p = 0.032), despite no associated changes in performance (863.88 ± 45.10 vs. 863.26 ± 47.63 m/min) or average power (311.71 ± 46.43 vs. 311.44 ± 50.43 W), whereas no differences in perceived exertion were observed in women (Borg 7.59 ± 0.84 vs. 7.56 ± 0.76). Cardiovascular responses were similar across sexes and experimental conditions. In summary, these preliminary findings could point toward the existence of sex-differentiated patterns. The data appear to suggest a more pronounced tendency toward the ‘crew-size effect’ among the men in the sample, whereas an inclination toward maintaining individual responsibility is observed in the women. Full article

This study examined the influence of the follicular (FP) and luteal phases (LP) of the menstrual cycle on sweat rate, estimated sweat sodium concentration, heart rate, hydration status, fluid intake, and perceived exertion in first-division university female football players. A small sample of eight athletes completed two monitored training sessions, one in each estimated-menstrual phase, following a repeated-measures field-based design under habitual training conditions. Sweat rate was determined using pre- to post-exercise body mass changes and microfluidic sweat patches, while estimated sweat sodium concentration was obtained via wearable colorimetric sensors. Heart rate was continuously monitored, hydration status was assessed using urine specific gravity, fluid intake was recorded, and perceived exertion was evaluated using the Borg CR-10 scale. Sweat rate was significantly higher during LP compared with FP (0.83 ± 0.20 vs. 0.55 ± 0.25 L·h⁻¹, p = 0.026), alongside greater estimated sweat sodium concentration (695 ± 305 vs. 404 ± 159 mg·L⁻¹, p = 0.031) and higher perceived exertion (4.63 ± 1.41 vs. 3.13 ± 0.83, p = 0.021). Fluid intake was also significantly greater during LP (0.99 ± 0.19 vs. 0.49 ± 0.25 L, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed for urine specific gravity, mean heart rate, or total body mass change (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that the luteal phase may be associated with higher thermoregulatory and perceptual responses during football training, highlighting the potential importance of menstrual cycle-informed hydration and training management strategies in female athletes. Full article

Background: Small-sided games (SSG) and running-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) are commonly used in soccer conditioning to improve aerobic fitness and performance. Although both modalities induce high cardiovascular stress, their acute neuromuscular, perceptual, and cognitive responses remain incompletely understood when examined within the same cohort. This study compared the acute physical, psychophysiological, and cognitive responses to SSG and Tabata-type HIIT in amateur male soccer players. Methods: Thirty-two male amateur players (n = 32; age: 20.53 ± 1.65 years) completed a counterbalanced within-subject crossover design. Participants performed a 4v4 SSG protocol and a running-based Tabata-HIIT protocol (8 × 20 s, 10 s recovery) on separate days (48 h apart). Countermovement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), 20-m sprint, agility t-test, heart rate, perceived exertion (Borg CR-10), mental effort, and cognitive performance (d2 test) were assessed pre- and post-exercise. Parametric variables were analyzed using 2 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVA (time × protocol; η²p), and non-parametric data were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon tests (r) (p < 0.05). Results: Both protocols elicited similar cardiovascular responses (~90% HR_max). A significant protocol × time interaction was observed for CMJ (p < 0.001), showing a decline after Tabata-HIIT, whereas performance was maintained after SSG. No inter-protocol differences were found for SJ, sprint, or agility. Perceived exertion and mental effort during recovery were higher following Tabata-HIIT (p < 0.05). Cognitive performance improved after both protocols (p < 0.001), with no between-protocol differences. Conclusions: Despite comparable cardiovascular load, Tabata-HIIT was associated with greater acute neuromuscular and perceptual strain, whereas SSG preserved neuromuscular performance. Perceptual and mental responses may therefore differ despite similar physiological intensity, which may inform soccer training prescription. Full article

Background: Older adults are particularly vulnerable to heat related illness due to impaired thermoregulatory responses. Heat acclimation (HA) strategies can mitigate the negative impacts of high environmental temperatures on physiological and perceptual responses. Whilst active HA strategies may prove problematic for older adults, passive approaches such as hot water immersion (HWI) may be more feasible. Methods: This study investigated the effects of four consecutive days of HWI on physiological and perceptual markers in individuals aged over 65 years during moderate exercise. Nine healthy, recreationally active participants (76 ± 5 years) completed two 30 min cycling bouts at 75–80% age predicted HR_max pre- and post-four days of HWI at 40 °C. Measures of average HR, gastrointestinal temperature, skin temperature, thermal sensation, thermal comfort, rate of perceived exertion, power output, and distance covered were recorded during both exercise bouts. Results: Results showed a significant increase in exercise capacity as measured by power output (p < 0.05, 7.45 W) post-intervention, despite no change in ratings of perceived exertion, and reductions in average heart rate (112 ± 3 vs. 109 ± 4 bpm). There were no alterations in gastrointestinal or skin temperature, and ratings of thermal comfort and sensation remained unchanged post-intervention. Conclusions: These preliminary findings provide important new evidence that four days of passive HWI may be a practical and effective method of inducing physiological adaptations in older individuals, which may be of use in interventions to mitigate the negative impact of high environmental temperatures in this population. Full article

Strategies that support repeated high-intensity sprint performance are of considerable interest in competitive sprinting and team sports; however, evidence regarding acute citrulline malate (CM) supplementation during recovery intervals remains limited. This study examined the effects of acute CM supplementation on repeated 100 m sprint performance and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in trained sprinters. Eleven trained male collegiate sprinters (100 m personal best: 11.22 ± 0.47 s; range: 10.35–12.16 s) completed randomized, double-blind, crossover trials (CM vs. placebo) on separate days. Each trial consisted of two maximal 100 m sprints separated by an 80–90 min recovery interval, during which 8 g of CM or placebo was ingested. Sprint performance was primarily evaluated using wind-adjusted 100 m sprint time based on Mureika’s model. A significant condition × trial interaction was observed for wind-adjusted sprint time (p = 0.010), with a greater improvement in the CM condition (p = 0.008). RPE (Borg 6–20 scale) before the second sprint was lower (p = 0.004) following CM supplementation. These findings suggest that acute CM supplementation may modestly support repeated sprint performance under extended recovery conditions; however, the results should be interpreted with caution. Full article