Background and Study Aim. Common use of surgical face masks is recommended for social and individual health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is no systematic report for responses of organism to wearing a surgical face mask during different exercises. In this context the purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of wearing a surgical face mask during a one-hour brisk walking. Material and Methods. A total of thirty male (n=16) and female (n=14) volunteers (mean age and BMI of 32±1.07 years and 25.1±0.68 kg/m2, respectively) completed the protocol. This was a multiple cross-over trial for healthy volunteers. All participants took a one-hour brisk walking with and without a surgical face mask. Specific physiological measurements (HR - heart rate; BP - blood pressure, SaO2 - arterial oxygen content) were compared before and immediately after two brisk walking. Each subject served their own control. Results. The evaluation found that there was no statistically significant difference between the mean HR and blood pressure values during the brisk walking with and without a surgical face mask, while there was a statistically significant difference in the SaO2 values on behalf of no-mask-walking (p<0.05). Conclusions. The use of surgical face masks in healthy volunteers causes a decrease in SaO2 during brisk walking. However, it does not affect the mean pulse rate and blood pressure. Although there was a statistically significant decrease in the SaO2 parameter during mask-walking, it is possible to state that brisk walking with a surgical face mask does not have a physiologically negative impact, because this decrease is in ranges that are accepted to be normal.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two-week high intensity interval training (HIIT) on aerobic and anaerobic performance of kick boxers. Material: 24 male kick boxers (age 19.39 ± 0.72 y, body mass 74.14 ± 6.22 kg, height 177.95 ± 5.29 cm) volunteered for the study. Participants were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. As well as routine training program, experimental group carried out Wingate-based HIIT 3 times per week for two weeks. Wingate protocol was as follow: 4 repetitions with 4 mins recovery (4X30sn all-out effort) during the first week, 5 repetitions with 4 mins recovery (5X30sn all-out effort) during the second week. In order to determine aerobic capacity, 20m shuttle run test was used while Wingate anaerobic test was used to determine anaerobic performance. Descriptive statistic was used to demonstrate mean values and standard deviation of the variables. Non-parametric Mann Whitney-U test was used to show the differences between groups. Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to compare intra-groups results from pre and post-test applications. Results: There was no significant difference between groups during pre-test measurements There was significant difference in PP, MP in experimental group compared to control during the post-test measurements. There was no difference in body mass, body fat (%) and predicted VO2max in both groups between measurements. Conclusions: According to intra and inter-group results, it can be concluded that two-week Wingate-based HIIT can be used to improve aerobic and anaerobic performances of kick boxers.

(1) Background: Enhancing repeated sprint ability (RSA) is critical to soccer performance. Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocols, particularly those utilizing heavy resistance preloading, have shown promise in improving RSA. Yet, the optimal preloading intensity for amateur players is still unknown. This study investigated the effects of two PAPE protocols using different preloading intensities (85% and 90% of 1 RM back squat) on RSA. (2) Methods: A double-blind, randomized, two-period crossover design was used, and 18 amateur male players were included in this study. RSA was assessed using a 6 × 35 m sprint protocol with 10 s rest intervals (RAST). (3) Results: While the main effect of time significantly (p = 0.01, η² = 0.71) influenced performance decline across all groups, there was no significant (p = 0.65, η² = 0.01) interaction between time and condition. Individual responses to PAPE varied, highlighting the importance of individual differences. Interestingly, the BS85% group exhibited a less pronounced decline in performance compared to the control group, while the BS90% group only showed significant differences in three sprint levels. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a lower preload of 85% of 1 RM may be as adequate as a higher preload of 90% of 1 RM in enhancing RSA in amateur soccer players. These results may indicate a potential fatigue-delaying effect of PAPE protocols and emphasize the importance of individualized approaches for optimizing PAPE strategies.

Background and Study Aim. Thyroid hormone responses to acute maximal aerobic exercise is still unclear, so the aim of the study is to investigate the effect of acute maximal aerobic exercise resulting in fatigue on blood thyroid levels in men and women. Material and Methods. The study included 8 male and 7 female subjects who did not actively exercise. Both group participants were students in the Kastamonu University in the period of study. The heights, weights, resting hearth rates and 5 cc. venous blood samples of subjects were taken before the exercise. The subjects warmed up for ten minutes before they had 20 m shuttle run. The purpose of this test was to tire the subjects to the exhaustion. The heart rate were measured at the end of the test in order to determine the exhaustion levels of the participants. The 5 cc. venous blood samples were taken again just after the exhaustion exercise. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 23 program (SPSS Inc. Chicago. II. USA). P value was set at p0.05). There was significant change in TSH values in all group. They increased following the exercise compared to pre-exercise values. Moreover, total T3 decreased in all group. No other significant difference was found in free T3 and free T4 variables. Conclusions. In conclusion, thyroid responses to exercise emerge in a very complex way, which makes it difficult to reach a clear conclusion about its effects. The reason why the results are so contradictory is that the duration and intensity of the exercise, age, not being able to control the diet, and the timing of collection of blood samples after exercise.

Background and Objectives: This study compared the effects of blood flow restriction resistance exercise (BFR-RE) and high-load resistance exercise (HL-RE) in voluntary exhaustion on quadriceps muscle adaptations in untrained young males. Materials and Methods: This study used a randomized controlled design that included 30 untrained young males (age = 21.42 ± 2.51). The BFR-RE group performed leg extension exercises with 60% occlusion pressure and 30% of one maximum repetition in volitional exhaustion. The same exercise was conducted at 70% 1RM in the HL-RE group. Fourteen variables were used to evaluate the intervention efficacy, including muscle thickness, stiffness, strength, cross-sectional area (CSA), and subcutaneous fat thickness. Analyses were reported using frequentist and Bayesian approaches. The Bayes factor (BF10 and BFincl) was interpreted based on negative and positive values. Results: The results revealed that the main effect of time was statistically significant for muscle strength, thickness, CSA, and stiffness (p < 0.05, BFincl > 1) and, in intragroup comparisons, both groups showed improvements in these parameters (p < 0.05, BF10 > 1). A statistically significant decrease in subcutaneous fat thickness was observed in the BFR-RE group (p < 0.05, BF10 > 1), while this change was not observed in the HL-RE group (p > 0.05, BF10 < 1). Similarly, a statistically significant increase in right rectus femoris muscle stiffness was detected in the BFR-RE group (p < 0.05, BF10 > 1) but not in the HL-RE group (p > 0.05, BF10 < 1). Furthermore, time’s main effect was statistically insignificant for thigh circumference (p > 0.05, BFincl < 1). The group × time interaction was statistically significant only for peak power leg flexion left (p < 0.05, BFincl > 1), and a statistically significant difference in favor of the BFR-RE group was observed in the intergroup comparisons (p < 0.05, BF10 > 1). Conclusions: In conclusion, BF-RE exercise with voluntary exhaustion may be as effective as HL-RE for hypertrophic adaptations in untrained young males.

(1) Background: Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) protocols using heavy resistance preloading may improve RSA, yet optimal preloading intensity for amateur players is still unknown. This study investigated the effects of two PAPE protocols using different preloading intensities (85% and 90% of 1RM back squat) on RSA. (2) Methods: A double-blind, randomized, two-period crossover design was used, and 18 amateur male players were included in the study. RSA was assessed using a 6 x 35m sprint protocol with 10-second rest intervals (RAST). (3) Results: While the main effect of time significantly (p=0.01, η²=0.71) influenced performance decline across all groups, there was no significant (p=0.65, η²=0.01) interaction between time and condition. Individual responses to PAPE varied, highlighting the importance of individual differences. Interestingly, the BS85% group exhibited a less pronounced decline in performance compared to the control group, while the BS90% group only showed significant differences in three sprint levels. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a lower preload of 85% of 1RM may be as adequate as a higher preload of 90% of 1RM in enhancing RSA in amateur soccer players. These results may indicate a potential fatigue-delaying effect of PAPE protocols and emphasize the importance of individualized approaches for optimizing PAPE strategies.