Sarcopenia and frailty are age-related syndromes with negative effects on the quality of life of older people and on public health costs. Although extensive research has been carried out on the effects of physical exercise and physical syndromes, there is a knowledge gap when it comes to the effect of resistance training on muscular strength, physical performance, and body composition at early (prevention) and late (treatment) stages in both syndromes combined. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis (CRD42019138253) to gather the evidence of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of resistance training programs lasting ≥8 weeks on strength, physical function, and body composition of adults ≥65 years old diagnosed with pre-sarcopenia, sarcopenia, pre-frailty, or frailty. A search from the earliest record up to and including December 2020 was carried out using the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. A total of 25 studies (n = 2267 participants) were included. Meta-analysis showed significant changes in favour of resistance training for handgrip (ES = 0.51, p = 0.001) and lower-limb strength (ES = 0.93, p < 0.001), agility (ES = 0.78, p = 0.003), gait speed (ES = 0.75, p < 0.001), postural stability (ES = 0.68, p = 0.007), functional performance (ES = 0.76, p < 0.001), fat mass (ES = 0.41, p = 0.001), and muscle mass (ES = 0.29, p = 0.002). Resistance training during early stages had positive effects in all variables during early stages (ES > 0.12), being particularly effective in improving gait speed (ES = 0.63, p = 0.016) and functional strength (ES = 0.53, p = 0.011). Based on these results, resistance training should be considered as a highly effective preventive strategy to delay and attenuate the negative effects of sarcopenia and frailty in both early and late stages.

An understanding of basketball physical demands during official matches is fundamental for designing specific training, tactical and strategic plans as well as recovery methods during congested fixture periods. Such assessments can be performed using wearable indoor time motion tracking systems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the time-motion profile of under 18-years of age (U’18) basketball players and compare their physical demands in relation to team ranking, playing position, match periods and consecutive matches during a seven-day tournament. Relative Distance (RD), percentage of High-Intensity Running (%HIR), Player Load (PL), Acceleration (Acc), Deceleration (Dec), Peak Speed (PSpeed) and Peak Acceleration (PAcc) were recorded from 94 players (13 centers, 47 forwards and 34 guards) belonging to eight elite teams (age: 17.6±0.8 years; height: 1.91±0.08 m; body mass: 82.5±8.8 kg). WIMU PROTM inertial measurement units with ultra-wide band (UWB) indoor-tracking technology recorded 13 matches during the Adidas Next Generation Tournament Finals in the 2016-2017 season. Paired t-tests and one-way analyses of variance with omega partial squared (ωp²) and Cohen's effect sizes (d) were used to analyze for differences between variables According to team quality, the best teams had lower RD (p= .04; d= -0.14). Guards presented higher RD (p< .01; ωp²= 0.03), PSpeed (p< .01; ωp²= 0.01) and PAcc (p< .01; ωp²= 0.02) compared to forwards and centers. The first quarter showed differences with higher RD (p< .01; ωp²= 0.03), %HIR (p< .01; ωp²= 0.02), and PL (p< .01; ωp²= 0.04) compared to all other quarters. The third match of the tournament presented higher demands in RD (p< .01; ωp²= 0.03), HIR (p< .01; ωp²= 0.01) and PL (p< .01; ωp²= 0.02) compared with the first two matches. This study showed that team quality, playing position, match period and consecutive matches throughout an U'18 basketball tournament influenced the kinematic demands experienced by players during official competition. Therefore, each of these contextual factors should be considered in managing the load and developing individualized strategies for players in tournament settings.

Background: Nowadays, there is a lack of consensus and high controversy about the most effective range of motion (ROM) to minimize the risk of injury and maximize the resistance training adaptations.Objective: To conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of the scientific evidence examining the effects of full and partial ROM resistance training interventions on neuromuscular, functional, and structural adaptations.Methods: The original protocol (CRD42020160976) was prospectively registered in the PROSPERO database. Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant articles from the earliest record up to and including March 2021. The RoB 2 and GRADE tools were used to judge the level of bias and quality of evidence. Meta‐analyses were performed using robust variance estimation with small‐sample corrections.Results: Sixteen studies were finally included in the systematic review and meta‐analyses. Full ROM training produced significantly greater adaptations than partial ROM on muscle strength (ES = 0.56,p = 0.004) and lower‐limb hypertrophy (ES = 0.88,p = 0.027). Furthermore, although not statistically significant, changes in functional performance were maximized by the full ROM training (ES = 0.44,p = 0.186). Finally, no significant superiority of either ROM was found to produce changes in muscle thickness, pennation angle, and fascicle length (ES = 0.28,p = 0.226).Conclusion: Full ROM resistance training is more effective than partial ROM to maximize muscle strength and lower‐limb muscle hypertrophy. Likewise, functional performance appears to be favored by the use of full ROM exercises. On the contrary, there are no large differences between the full and partial ROM interventions to generate changes in muscle architecture.

Training prescription in running activities have benefited from power output (P_W) data obtained by new technologies. Nevertheless, to date, the suitability of P_W data provided by these tools is still uncertain. The present study aimed to: (i) analyze the repeatability of five commercially available technologies for running P_W estimation, and (ii) examine the concurrent validity through the relationship between each technology P_W and oxygen uptake (VO₂). On two occasions (test‐retest), twelve endurance‐trained male athletes performed on a treadmill (indoor) and an athletic track (outdoor) three submaximal running protocols with manipulations in speed, body weight and slope. P_W was simultaneously registered by the commercial technologies Stryd_App, Stryd_Watch, RunScribe, Garmin_RP and Polar_V, while VO₂ was monitored by a metabolic cart. Test‐retest data from the environments (indoor and outdoor) and conditions (speed, body weight and slope) were used for repeatability analysis, which included the standard error of measurement (SEM), coefficient of variation (CV) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). A linear regression analysis and the standard error of estimate (SEE) were used to examine the relationship between P_W and VO₂. Stryd device was found as the most repeatable technology for all environments and conditions (SEM ≤ 12.5 W, CV ≤ 4.3%, ICC ≥ 0.980), besides the best concurrent validity to the VO₂ (r ≥ 0.911, SEE ≤ 7.3%). On the contrary, although the Polar_V, Garmin_RP and RunScribe technologies maintain a certain relationship with VO₂, their low repeatability questions their suitability. The Stryd can be considered as the most recommended tool, among the analyzed, for P_W measurement.

Martínez-Cava, A, Hernández-Belmonte, A, Courel-Ibáñez, J, Morán-Navarro, R, González-Badillo, JJ, and Pallarés, JG. Bench press at full range of motion produces greater neuromuscular adaptations than partial executions after prolonged resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 10–15, 2022—Training at a particular range of motion (ROM) produces specific neuromuscular adaptations. However, the effects of full and partial ROM in one of the most common upper-limb exercises such as the bench press (BP) remain controversial. In this study, 50 recreationally to highly resistance trained men were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 training groups: full bench press (BP _FULL ), two-thirds bench press (BP _2/3 ), and one-third bench press (BP _1/3 ) and control (training cessation). Experimental groups completed a 10-week velocity-based resistance training program using the same relative load (linear periodization, 60–80% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]), only differing in the ROM trained. Individual ROM for each BP variation was determined in the familiarization and subsequently replicated in every lift during training and testing sessions. Neuromuscular adaptations were evaluated by 1RM strength and mean propulsive velocity (MPV). The BP _FULL group obtained the best results for the 3 BP variations (effect size [ES] = 0.52–1.96); in turn, partial BP produced smaller improvements as the ROM decreased (BP _2/3 : ES = 0.29–0.78; BP _1/3 : ES = −0.01 to 0.66). After 10-week of training cessation, the control group declined in all neuromuscular parameters (ES = 0.86–0.92) except in MPV against low loads. Based on these findings, the BP _FULL stands as the most effective exercise to maximize neuromuscular improvements in recreational and well-trained athletes compared with partial ROM variations.

Despite the rising interest in the use of portable force sensors during isometric exercises to inform on neuromuscular performance, the design of practical field-based methods to obtain reliable measures is an ongoing challenge. We aim at identifying the intra-session and test-retest reliability of a rapid, isometric knee extension test to evaluate the maximal voluntary concentric force (MVC), rate of force development (RFD) and impulse following a field-based approach. On two occasions, 14 athletes unfamiliar with the test completed three sets of 2 s ballistic contractions (as fast and hard as possible) with 30 s rest. Raw and filtered data were collected in real time using a portable force sensor. RFD and impulse were highly reliability during “late” phases of the contraction (0–250 ms) since the first session (coefficient of variation (CV) < 9.8%). Earlier phases (0–150 ms) achieved a moderate reliability after one familiarization session (CV < 7.1%). Measures at 0–50 ms did not reach sufficient reliability (CV~14%). MVC was accurately assessed. Dominant limbs were not importantly altered by the familiarization. In opposite, non-dominant limbs showed large variations. New evidence is provided about the positive effects of a single familiarization session to improve the reliability the isometric knee extension test for rapid force production assessment. Coaches and practitioners may benefit of from these findings to conduct practical and reliable assessments of the rapid force production using a portable force sensor and a field-based approach.