This study was designed to analyze the chronical responses of the hormonal and immune systems after a CrossFit^® training period of six months as well as to compare these results between genders. Twenty-nine CrossFit^® practitioners (35.3 ± 10.4 years, 175.0 ± 9.2 cm, 79.5 ± 16.4 kg) with a minimum CrossFit^® experience of six months were recruited, and hormonal and immune responses were verified every two months during training. The training was conducted in five consecutive days during the week, followed by two resting days. Testosterone (T) values were significantly higher at the last measurement time (T6 = 346.0 ± 299.7 pg·mL⁻¹) than at all the other times (p < 0.002) and were higher in men than in women (p < 0.001). Cortisol (C) levels were lower at all times compared to the initial level before training, and differences were observed between men and women, with men having a lower value (T0: p = 0.028; T2: p = 0.013; T4: p = 0.002; and T6: p = 0.002). The TC ratio in women was lower at all times (p < 0.0001) than in men. Significant effects on CD8 levels at different times (F_(3.81) = 7.287; p = 0.002; η_p² = 0.213) and between genders (F_(1.27) = 4.282; p = 0.048; η_p² = 0.137), and no differences in CD4 levels were observed. CrossFit^® training changed the serum and basal levels of testosterone and cortisol in men (with an increase in testosterone and a decrease in cortisol).

The benefits of warm-up in sports performance has received a special interest in the current literature. However, there is a large gap of knowledge about the tasks to be performed, specifically in the real competitive environment. The purpose of the study was to verify the acute effects of a warm-up including ballistic exercises in 100 m running performance. In addition, a second 100 m trial was assessed to better understand the warm-up effects in training and competition. Eleven men (25.4 ± 6.2 years of age, 1.76 ± 0.08 m of height, 78.2 ± 8.6 kg of body mass) were submitted to three different protocols, in a randomized order: no warm-up (NWU), typical warm-up (WU) and WU complemented with ballistic exercises (PAP). Biomechanical, physiological and psychophysiological variables were assessed. Differences were found between the three conditions assessed in the first 100 m sprint with 7.4% and 7.6% faster performances after the WU and PAP, compared to NWU. Stride length was higher in the second part of the 100 m after PAP compared with WU. These results highlight the positive effects of warm-up for sprinting performance. The inclusion of ballistic exercises, besides being used to improve sprint performance, can increase stride length in the final of the 100 m race.

Background: Paralympic Powerlifting (PP) training tends to promote fatigue and oxidative stress. Objective: To analyze the effects of ibuprofen use on performance and oxidative stress in post-training PP athletes. Methodology: Ten national level PP athletes (age: 27.13 ± 5.57) were analyzed for oxidative stress in post-training. The study was carried out in three weeks, (1) familiarization and (2 and 3) evaluated the recovery with the use of a placebo (PLA) and ibuprofen (IBU), 800 mg. The Peak Torque (PT), Torque Development Rate (TDR), Fatigue Index (FI), reactive substances to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) and sulfhydryl groups (SH) were evaluated. The training consisted of five sets of five repetitions (80–90%) 1-Repetition Maximum (1-RM) in the bench press. Results: The IBU showed a higher PT (24 and 48 h, p = 0.04, ɳ² p = 0.39), a lower FI (24 h, p = 0.01, ɳ²p = 0.74) and an increased lymphocyte count (p < 0.001; ɳ²p = 4.36). There was no change in oxidative stress. Conclusions: The use of IBU provided improvements in strength and did not protect against oxidative stress.

O presente estudo objetivou analisar os efeitos do treinamento funcional com cargas (TFC) na composição corporal de mulheres fisicamente inativas. Vinte mulheres (25.70 ± 4.20 anos) foram designadas aleatoriamente para os grupos experimental (GE, n = 10) e controle (GC, n = 10), tendo o GE realizado 12 semanas de TFC, enquanto o GC não recebeu qualquer intervenção. As variáveis antropométricas avaliadas em ambos os grupos foram: massa corporal (MC), estatura, índice de massa corporal (IMC), massa de gordura absoluta, massa corporal magra (MCM) e percentual de gordura (%G). Os testes t de Student independente e pareado foram utilizados para a comparação das médias inter e intra-grupos experimental e controle (p < .05). O GE apresentou reduções significativas nos valores de %G (p < .001), enquanto o GC aumentou seus níveis de MCM (p < .001), IMC (p < .001) e MC (p = .021). Os resultados indicaram que após de 12 semanas o TFC reduz os níveis de gordura corporal, mas não promove aumentos de MCM em mulheres fisicamente inativas.

Regular exercise can modulate the immune system functioning through changes in the number and function of leukocytes as well as in red blood cells and other typical blood markers. High intensity exercise promotes increases in cytotoxic activity, phagocytic capacity, chemotaxis and cell apoptosis. The aim of the study was to compare the chronic effects of a 24-week training program using CrossFit® methodology on hematological variables of men vs. women. Twenty-nine CrossFit® athletes (35.3 ± 10.4 years, 175.0 ± 9.2 cm, 79.5 ± 16.4 kg) participated in the study. The blood count, the lipid profile and glucose markers were measured every two months during the study period. The erythrocyte count and hemoglobin concentrations increased in months 4 and 6 in men and women, respectively. Hematocrit levels increased in men in months 2, 4 and 6, while in women only in month 6. Red cell distribution width increased in men in month 6 when compared to the value in month 2. Segmented neutrophils increased in men in month 6 and eosinophil levels increased in women in month 6. Differences between the two sexes were observed in monocytes levels at baseline, as well as in months 2, 4 and 6. Cross-Fit® training increased red cell count indicators in both sexes, which may be related to increased erythropoiesis. Some white blood cell counts were altered and these differed between sexes. The number of lymphocytes remained stable throughout the experiment.

Purpose: to analyze the acute effect of ischemic preconditioning in different compressions of blood flow restriction on the anaerobic performance of trained individuals. Material & methods: the research has a quasi-experimental characteristic, crossed and randomized design, in which the subjects were their own controls and submitted to four experimental conditions before the RAST anaerobic power test: C1 = without IPC; C2 = IPC at 20 mmHg (SHAM); C3 = IPC at 220 mmHg and C4 = IPC at 100% of the auscultatory pulse (AP). The study included 21 trained individuals (21.0 ± 2.3 years), male, who performed the power test after 4 experimental conditions in a randomized manner. Result: Despite the IPC with 100% of the AP demonstrating a positive trend towards the improvement in the averages of Pmax (∆ = 2.6%), Pmed (∆ = 0.7%), Pmin (∆ = 1.8%) and running time in 35 m (∆ = 0.8%), none of the variables showed a significant effect between the experimental conditions. Conclusions: It is concluded that, even presenting a subtle improvement in the maximum, average and minimum powers in a 35-meter running test when using the compression of 100% of the AP, the IPC did not demonstrate a significant increase in performance. However, an increase of 2.6% in maximum power can represent the difference between first and second place in a high-performance test. Keywords: sports performance, anaerobic power, ischemic preconditioning, blood flow restriction, vascular occlusion.