Objective: To assess the effect of beetroot juice (BET) on recovery kinetics of physical performance, muscle damage and perceived muscle soreness after simulated soccer match play in soccer players. Method: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, thirteen soccer players completed the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test LIST. Players received either BET or placebo (PLA) (2*150) for 7 days (3 days pre-exercise, on the day trial, and 3 days post-exercise). Physical performance (Squat jump: SJ, countermovement jump: CMJ, maximal voluntary contraction: MVC, and 20 meters sprint: SP), blood markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase: CK, Lactate dehydrogenase: LDH), inflammatory parameter (C-reactive protein: CRP) and perceived muscle soreness (DOMS) were assessed at baseline, 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h following the exercise. Results: Following the LIST, a decrease was observed in CMJ, MVC and SP at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h in both conditions (p < 0.05). However, compared to PLA session, this decrease was significantly attenuated with BET for CMJ at 24 h and at 48 h and for MVC at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and for SP at 48 h after the LIST (p < 0.05). Likewise, DOMS values were significantly lower with BET compared to PLA condition immediately and at 24 h after exercise.CK, LDH and CRP levels increased at 0 h and at 24 h post exercise in both conditions (p < 0.05), but without any significant difference between the two condition (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The results of the present study suggest that chronic beetroot juice supplementation reduces post exercise perceived muscle soreness and maintain better performance during the recovery period in soccer players.

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of intermittent vascular occlusion (IVO) on recovery following simulated soccer physical demand test in soccer players. Twelve soccer players complete...

Background: Exercise capacity is markedly impaired in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to neuromuscular dysfunction and reduced oxygen delivery. This study aimed to investigate the effects of NMES during HD on exercise capacity in patients with ESRD. It specifically examined neuromuscular and hemodynamic adaptations. Methods: Twenty-two patients with ESRD were randomized to a neuromuscular electrical stimulation training group (NSTG, n = 11) or a control group (CG, n = 11). The NSTG underwent intradialytic quadriceps NMES three times per week for 12 weeks (40 min/session). Exercise capacity was evaluated via sustained isometric contraction at 50% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until exhaustion. Neuromuscular function was assessed through voluntary activation (ΔVA) and potentiated twitch force (ΔQ_tw,pot), while muscle oxygenation (ΔO₂Hb, ΔHHb, ΔTHb) of the vastus lateralis was continuously monitored using near-infrared spectroscopy. Results: After the intervention, the NSTG showed a significant +20% increase in Tlim (103.9 ± 14.4 s to 123.3 ± 16.6 s; p = 0.01) and +30% improvement in MVC (421.3 ± 24.9 N to 550.4 ± 20.3 N; p < 0.01), while no improvements were observed in CG. Resting VA increased by ≈7% in NSTG (90.2 ± 3.7% to 96.8 ± 2.5%; p = 0.012). Improved muscle oxygenation and reduced twitch force suggest enhanced oxidative capacity and greater peripheral fatigue tolerance. Conclusions: Intradialytic NMES elicited robust improvements in exercise capacity, muscle strength, and oxygen utilization in ESRD patients by enhancing both central activation and peripheral oxidative adaptations. These findings support NMES as a feasible and effective rehabilitative strategy to counteract fatigue and functional decline in the ESRD population.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of beetroot juice supplementation (BEET) on neuromuscular fatigue etiology during simulated soccer match play. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 13 soccer players completed the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST). Players received either BEET (2×150 mL; ∼8 mmol/L nitrate) or placebo (PLA) for 7 days (6 days prior to the experimental session and on the day of trial, 2 h before LIST). Neuromuscular assessments were performed at baseline, 45 min (half time: HT), and 90 min (full time: FT) following LIST. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and twitch responses, delivered through electrical femoral nerve stimulation, were used to assess peripheral (quadriceps resting twitch force Q_tw,pot) and central fatigue (voluntary activation, VA). Compared with baseline, MVC Q_tw,pot and VA values decreased in PLA and BEET conditions at HT and FT ( P < 0.05). Compared with PLA, the decrease in MVC and Q_tw,pot was significantly attenuated with BEET at HT and FT ( P < 0.001). Likewise, BEET attenuated the decrease in VA at HT ( P < 0.001, d = 1.3) and FT ( P < 0.001, d = 1.5) compared with the PLA condition. Chronic beetroot juice supplementation attenuates neuromuscular fatigue development during simulated soccer matches, and this is due to both central and peripheral factors. Consequently, chronic beetroot may optimize physical performance.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of breathing a hyperoxic gas mixture on recovery kinetics after a simulated soccer match protocol. In a double-blind, randomized design, twenty-eight semiprofessional soccer players completed the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST)...