Background: Breathing technique may influence endurance exercise performance by reducing overall breathing work and delaying respiratory muscle fatigue. We investigated whether a two-month yoga-based breathing intervention could affect breathing characteristics during exercise. Methods: Forty-six endurance runners (age = 16.6 ± 1.2 years) were randomized to either a breathing intervention or control group. The contribution of abdominal, thoracic, and subclavian musculature to respiration and ventilation parameters during three different intensities on a cycle ergometer was assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Post-intervention, abdominal, thoracic, and subclavian ventilatory contributions were altered at 2 W·kg⁻¹ (27:23:50 to 31:28:41), 3 W·kg⁻¹ (26:22:52 to 28:31:41), and 4 W·kg⁻¹ (24:24:52 to 27:30:43), whereas minimal changes were observed in the control group. More specifically, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in abdominal contribution was observed at rest and during low intensity work (i.e., 2 and 3 W·kg⁻¹), and a decrease in respiratory rate and increase of tidal volume were observed in the experimental group. Conclusions: These data highlight an increased reliance on more efficient abdominal and thoracic musculature, and less recruitment of subclavian musculature, in young endurance athletes during exercise following a two-month yoga-based breathing intervention. More efficient ventilatory muscular recruitment may benefit endurance performance by reducing energy demand and thus optimize energy requirements for mechanical work.

1) Background: The objective of the study was to check the relationship between laterality, amount of muscle mass (MM), and selected strength parameters on lower extremities and assessment of asymmetry like a result of training. (2) Methods: The screened sample consisted of soccer players (n = 65, age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years). The legs were assessed for MM, height of reflection on a force plate, and power over 30 s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). The relationships between the individual parameters and age dependence were assessed using a correlation analysis. The differences between the dominant and non-dominant leg were assessed using the t-test. (3) Results: A relationship between the jump height and the mean 30 s power in WAnT (r = 0.375, p ˂ 0.01) and between the amount of MM and the absolute power of the individual legs in WAnT (r = 0.695-0.832, p ˂ 0.01) was proved. A relationship between the takeoff force and the MM, or between the MM and the relative power during a velocity force load was not found. (4) Conclusions: The amount of MM in young soccer players does not affect takeoff force or strength power in WAnT. The more specific the movement is, the lower the effect on the achieved power output of the concerned MM. Differences in the performance between the dominant and non-dominant leg decrease with duration of the training.

(1) Background: Breathing economy during endurance sports plays a major role in performance. Poor breathing economy is mainly characterized by excessive breathing frequency (BF) and low tidal volume (V_T) due to shallow breathing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a 4 week intervention based on the Wim Hof breathing method (WHBM) would improve breathing economy during exercise in adolescent runners. (2) Methods: 19 adolescent (16.6 ± 1.53 years) middle- and long-distance runners (11 boys and 8 girls) participated in the study. Participants were randomly divided into experimental (n = 11) and control groups (n = 8). The study was set in the transition period between competitive race seasons and both groups had a similar training program in terms of running volume and intensity over the course of the study. The experimental group performed breathing exercises every day (~20 min/day) for 4 weeks. The control group did not perform any kind of breathing exercise. The breathing exercises consisted of three sets of controlled hyperventilation and consecutive maximum breath holds. Before and after the intervention, participants performed incremental cycle ergometer testing sessions consisting of two minute stages at 1, 2, 3, and 4 W·kg⁻¹ with breath-by-breath metabolic analysis. During the testing sessions, BF, V_T, and minute ventilation (V_E) were assessed and compared. (3) Results: There were no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) in BF, V_T, or V_E between experimental and control groups before or after the intervention. A nonsignificant small-to-large effect for an increase in V_E and BF in both groups following the 4 week intervention period was observed, possibly due to a reduction in training volume and intensity owing to the down period between competitive seasons. (4) Conclusions: The 4 week intervention of WHBM did not appear to alter parameters of breathing economy during a maximal graded exercise test in adolescent runners.

Background:Breathing exercises based on the Wim Hof method, which is a combination of deep breathing and breath holds, increase arterial CO2 concentration. (i.e., hypercapnia). Induction of hypercapnia prior to exercise is purported to elicit a sympathetic response, leading to an increase in tidal volume and elevated blood flow to skeletal muscle in a manner that may improve exercise performance. We evaluated whether pre-exercise breathing techniques may impact VO2 kinetics during incremental cycling exercise. Methods: 16 adolescent (16.6±1.4 years) middle- and long-distance runners (8 males and 8 females) participated in our study. Participants performed two incremental cycle ergometer testing sessions consisting of two minute stages at 1, 2, 3, and 4 W·kg-1, which were immediately preceded by either a series of deep breathing exercises and breath holdsbased on each participant`s CO2 tolerance, or an equal duration of seated rest, the order of which was randomized. Heart rate, oxygen consumption, and respiratory parameters were continually assessed throughout the cycle ergometer tests and session rating of perceived exertion (Borg scale) was obtained at the end of the test. Results: Whereas all participants completed the final testing stage (4 W·kg-1) during the session preceded by breathing exercises, five participants were unable to complete this testing stage in the control trial. Oxygen consumption was significantly greater during the testing stages preceded by the breathing techniques (2.4–4.9%; p<0.05) and perceived effort throughout the training session was attenuated (18.5±1.2 vs. 17.4±1.1; p<0.01) following breathing exercises.All participants completed the final testing stage preceded by breathing exercises.Without breathing exercises five participants were unable to complete this stage. Conclusions: Breathing exercises, incorporating deep breathing and breath holds, performed prior to an acute exercise bout appears to accelerate VO2 kinetics and reduces subjective strain in young endurance athletes.

BACKGROUND: Minimizing the energy required for breathing muscles is based on the adaptation of the respiratory muscles which is reflected in the reduction of breathing frequency (BF) and tidal volume (VT) increase. This may be influenced through a targeted BE and the quality of breathing may be linked to endurance performance. Aim of this study was assess dynamic ventilation parameters at different load intensities and their changes due to the systematic breathing exercise (BE). METHODS: Study recruit 36 runners of both sexes with a mean age 16.8±1.6 years. A random distribution was performed. The intervention program consisted of a set of BE aimed at the activation of the diaphragm. We monitored the dynamics of ventilation parameters at intensities 2, 3, 4 W/kg during a stepped test on a bicycle ergometer. RESULTS: The BE was focused on the activation of the diaphragm for a 12.2±3.6 minutes per day, sixteen weeks. After eight weeks, there were significant changes in VT and BF (P<0.05). After sixteen weeks there was a significant increase in VT of 5.7-18.3% (P<0.01), depending on the load level, BF values decreased significantly by 5.4-14.4% (P<0.01). VE and VO2 values were without changes. There were no significant changes in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It was confirmed that the two-month BE intervention focused on the activation of the diaphragm is sufficient and resulted in a significant change in the values of dynamic ventilation parameters. After four months of intervention, the changes are significantly greater compared with values found after a two-month intervention period.

Beta-alanine (βA) is a non-essential amino acid purportedly used to enhance aerobic exercise performance. While previous research indicates the benefits of βA on time to exhaustion (TTE) and aerobic capacity (VO_2peak) in adults, evidence is lacking in adolescent athletes. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of 4 weeks of βA supplementation on aerobic performance in adolescent runners. Twenty-seven middle- and long-distance runners (aged 17.36 ± 2.17 years) were randomly divided into a βA or placebo (PL) group (maltodextrin). Subjects performed maximal graded exercise tests (GXT) and submaximal trials (SMT; 80% of VO_2peak for 1500 m) on a treadmill before and after 14 and 28 days of supplementation or PL. Respiratory (V_E) metabolic (VO₂, RER, lactate [La]), and cardiovascular (HR) variables were measured during the GXT and SMT, along with the first (VT1) and second ventilatory threshold (VT2) and TTE monitored during the GXT only. Within- and between-group differences were assessed using a repeated-measures mixed-model analysis of variance. Findings indicated that despite a trivial increase in VO_2peak over 4 weeks, the βA group increased TTE by 6.5% compared to 1.4% in the PL group (d = 0.46). Additionally, small effects in HR_max, V_E, [La], and TTE were observed between groups favoring βA. Regarding the SMT, both average HR and RER decreased by 4% in the βA group, with no changes for the PL. Despite no evidence to suggest increases in VO_2peak, practitioners should note that improvements in TTE may be observed after 28 days of βA supplementation in adolescent runners.