CrossFit is high-intensity interval training involving routines called ‘workouts of the day’ (WOD). The aim of the present study is to analyse biochemical parameters and physical performance after two modalities of CrossFit WODs, and to evaluate 48-hour recovery. Twelve trained CrossFit...

A moderate hypoxic stimulus is considered a promising therapeutic modality for several pathological states including obesity. There is scientific evidence suggesting that when hypoxia and physical activity are combined, they could provide benefits for the obese population. The aim of the present study was to investigate if exposure to hypoxia combined with two different protocols of high-intensity interval exercise in overweight/obese women was more effective compared with exercise in normoxia. Study participants included 82 overweight/obese women, who started a 12 week program of 36 sessions, and were randomly divided into four groups: (1) aerobic interval training in hypoxia (AitH; FiO₂ = 17.2%; n = 13), (2) aerobic interval training in normoxia (AitN; n = 15), (3) sprint interval training in hypoxia (SitH; n = 15), and (4) sprint interval training in normoxia (SitN; n = 18). Body mass, body mass index, percentage of total fat mass, muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, fat, and carbohydrate oxidation, and fat and carbohydrate energy were assessed. Outcomes were measured at baseline (T1), after 18 training sessions (T2), 7 days after the last session (T3), and 4 weeks after the last session (T4). The fat mass in the SitH group was significantly reduced compared with the SitN group from T1 to T3 (p < 0.05) and from T1 to T4 (p < 0.05) and muscle mass increased significantly from T1 to T4 (p < 0.05). Fat mass in the AitH group decreased significantly (p < 0.01) and muscle mass increased (p = 0.022) compared with the AitN group from T1 to T4. All training groups showed a reduction in the percentage of fat mass, with a statistically significant reduction in the hypoxia groups (p < 0.05). Muscle mass increased significantly in the hypoxia groups (p < 0.05), especially at T4. While fat oxidation tended to increase and oxidation of carbohydrates tended to decrease in both hypoxia groups, the tendency was reversed in the normoxia groups. Thus, high-intensity interval training under normobaric intermittent hypoxia for 12 weeks in overweight/obese women seems to be promising for reducing body fat content with a concomitant increase in muscle mass.

Background: The relative age effect is essential throughout all of the talent selection processes in sports, especially during adolescence, which leaves fewer athletes within each cohort that are born late in the selected year. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of relative age in anthropometric and physical performance characteristics of youth handball players by gender. Methods: The sample that was selected included 47 participants (male n = 23, female n = 24). The data collection included anthropometric, body compositions parameters, and physical performance levels. Results: There was a significantly higher representation of players in the first semester in comparison with the second semester, for all of the gender groups, except for the selected male players. In males, statistically significant differences were found in height, sitting height, weight, wingspan, arm and leg circumferences, and in throws speed (in support and in suspension) between those players that were born in the first and second semester. Conclusion: The results confirmed an effect of relative age in the players born in 2002 that were selected to participate in the Spanish Championship, which was different for males and females. In spite of this effect, which only appeared in females, significant differences in the anthropometric and physical conditions appeared in the male players.

Post‐activation potentiation (PAP) has been defined as a major enhancement of muscular performance following a preload stimulus. The eccentric actions seem to cause a potentiating effect on subsequent explosive exercises. The aim of this study was to determine whether a protocol of squat exercise using an inertial flywheel could have a potentiating effect on jump performance. Sixteen physically active volunteers participated in the study (age: 21.8 ± 2.7 years; body mass index: 23.6 ± 3). All participants completed two different protocols on separate days: a Traditional Protocol (using a half squat with a guided barbell) and an Inertial Flywheel Protocol (using a half squat with an inertial flywheel). Both protocols were similar and consisted of 3 x 6 reps at the load that maximized power, with a 3‐minute rest interval between sets. The squat jump (SJ) was measured by a contact platform at baseline, and four, eight and twelve minutes after the PAP stimulus. A two‐way ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to analyze significant differences over time. There were significant increases of SJ height (p = 0.004, d = 0.665), velocity (p = 0.003, d = 0.688) and power (p = 0.004, d = 0.682) from baseline after the inertial flywheel protocol. A significant interaction effect (time x protocol) was observed, showing that the inertial flywheel protocol had a potentiating effect on the jump performance compared to the traditional protocol, more specifically at 4 and 8 minutes after the PAP stimulus. In conclusion, the inertial flywheel protocol showed a potentiating effect on the squat jump performance, thus this pre‐ conditioning activity could be useful during the warm‐up before the competition.

Promising benefits on cardiometabolic risk factors have been reported with prolonged programs of cyclic hypoxia. The aim of this study was to examine whether cyclic hypoxia exposure while exercising through two protocols of high-intensity interval training in overweight/obese women is more effective to improve cardiometabolic risk markers than exercising in normoxia. Participants included 86 overweight/obese women, who started a 12-week program of 36 sessions, and were randomly divided into four groups: (1) interval training in hypoxia (IHT; FIO2 = 17.2%; n = 13), (2) interval training in normoxia (INT; n = 15), which included 3-minute high-intensity exercise (90% Wmax) followed by 3 minutes of active recovery (55%-65% Wmax), (3) repeated-sprint training in hypoxia (RSH; FIO2 = 17.2%; n = 15), and (4) repeated-sprint training in normoxia (RSN; n = 18), which included 30 seconds of all-out effort (130% Wmax) followed by 3 minutes of active recovery (55%-65% Wmax). Body composition, anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical parameters were assessed at baseline (A), after 18 training sessions (B), and during the 7 days after the last session (C). IHT and RSH showed a significant (p < 0.001 and p = 0.016, respectively) decrease in the waist circumference at both B and C assessments compared with A. Hypoxia groups presented a significant reduction in the percentage of trunk fat with a moderate effect size (IHT: d = 0.56; RSH: d = 0.93). In the normoxia groups, total cholesterol (CHOL) tended to decrease (INT: -4.21% and RSN: -5.18%), whereas it tended to increase in the hypoxia groups (IHT: +2.91% and RSH +4.07%). An interaction effect between conditions (through pooled data) on waist circumference (p = 0.01), percentage of trunk fat mass (p < 0.001), and CHOL (p = 0.019) was observed. Both training regimens under normobaric cyclic hypoxia were more effective at causing decreased abdominal fat in overweight/obese women than the same protocols in normoxia.