This review evaluates current literature on intensity selection, perceptual responses, activity enjoyment and adherence rates of exergaming.The literature search identified manuscripts that investi...

Components of the metabolic syndrome (i.e., hypertension, insulin resistance, obesity, atherosclerosis) are a leading cause of death in the United States and result in low-grade chronic inflammation, excessive oxidative stress, and the eventual development of cardiometabolic diseases (CMD). High-stress occupations (HSO: firefighters, police, military personnel, first responders, etc.) increase the risk of developing CMD because they expose individuals to chronic and multiple stressors (i.e., sleep deprivation, poor nutrition habits, lack of physical activity, psychological stress). Interestingly, heat exposure and, more specifically, sauna bathing have been shown to improve multiple markers of CMD, potentially acting as hormetic stressors, at the cellular level and in the whole organism. Therefore, sauna bathing might be a practical and alternative intervention for disease prevention for individuals with HSO. The purpose of this review is to detail the mechanisms and pathways involved in the response to both acute and chronic sauna bathing and collectively present sauna bathing as a potential treatment, in addition to current standard of care, for mitigating CMD to both clinicians and individuals serving in HSO.

Preventative measures taken worldwide to decrease the transmission of COVID-19 have had a tremendous impact on youth. Following social restrictions, youth with and without physical disabilities are engaging in less physical activity, more increased sedentary behavior, and poor sleep habits. Specifically, youth wheelchair users (YWU) are likely disproportionately affected by COVID- 19 and have a higher risk of contraction due to underlying comorbidities. While we cannot control all of the negative long-term implications of COVID-19 for YWU, participation in positive 24-h activity behaviors can decrease chronic disease risk and the likelihood of long-term complications resulting from infection. This commentary is to extend the discourse on the importance of 24-h activity behaviors by focusing on YWU. Specifically, we discuss the importance of chronic disease prevention, provide a brief overview of 24-h activity behaviors, and outline some of the lessons that can be learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background/Objective : The American College of Sports Medicine preparticipation screening algorithm is designed to identify those with increased risk for adverse exercise-related cardiovascular events. Prior to engaging in an exercise program, individuals are advised to complete a health screening to identify the need for medical clearance. With the potential for referrals to deter exercise engagement, the purpose of this study was to examine the updated guideline’s role in reducing unnecessary medical referrals. Methods : Seventy-one participants (≥40 years of age and/or diagnosed with a chronic disease) were assessed for the need of medical clearance. Participants completed a questionnaire to identify cardiovascular risk factors and to report diagnosed cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic, or renal disease in addition to completing a biometric screening. Need for medical clearance was determined based on the criteria for the ninth and 11th editions of the American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines. Participants were assigned a standardized classification for comparison. Results were analyzed using cross tabulation and chi-square test. Results : Compared with the ninth edition, the updated 11th edition reclassified three participants (10%) from high to moderate risk, and 29 participants (100%) from moderate to low risk reducing medical referrals by 41% (χ ² = 70.0; p < .001). Conclusion : Results suggest the updated guidelines significantly reduce medical referrals as intended but also increase the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors for physical inactivity and hypertension. Significance/Implications : Findings of the present study further support the updated prescreening guidelines in the reduction of medical referrals for those already engaging in physical activity despite having multiple cardiovascular risk factors or various known diseases.

Masters participants (age 35–65 years) represent a growing population of older adults who continue to participate in competitive and recreational sport. Research suggests 66.9% of masters weightlifters participate in concurrent training such as endurance and CrossFit. Despite well-known physical and psychological benefits of CrossFit, musculoskeletal injury prevalence is high (15%–75%), and masters participants may require longer recovery. Disordered eating (DE) and exercise dependence (EXD) may also co-occur in this population, increasing injury risk. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of DE, EXD, and self-reported injuries in female masters CrossFit participants and compared EXD and injury prevalence between athletes at risk for DE and those not at risk. Participants ( n = 127) completed an online survey including the Exercise Dependence Scale, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, and additional questions related to injury history and body dissatisfaction. The majority of participants (85.7%) were classified as symptomatic for EXD, 27.5% were at risk for DE, and 38.3% reported absences from training in the past year due to injury. The most commonly reported injuries included rotator cuff tears, back injuries, and knee injuries. Participants at risk for DE had significantly higher mean EXD scores compared with those not at risk ( p = .004). Additionally, 69.2% of participants reported greater body dissatisfaction after entering the menopausal transition. CrossFit coaches, athletes, and practitioners should be aware of the potential negative effects of DE and excessive exercise on health, injury risk, and performance in female masters CrossFit participants.

Nutritional habits prior to exercise can influence metabolic processes both during and after an exercise bout. Due to the negative impact of excess body fat on metabolic health, pre-exercise nutrition and exercise interventions that target improved fat oxidation following exercise are warranted. The purpose of this study was to examine the combined effects of pre-exercise nutrition interventions and high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) on post-exercise substrate utilization in overweight (OW) females. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was measured in 15 recreationally active OW females at baseline (BASE), immediately post (IP), 30 min (30), and 60 min (60) post-HIRT following ingestion of the following supplements: carbohydrate (CHO), protein (PRO), CHO+CAFF (3 mg/kg body mass), or PRO+CAFF in a randomized, crossover, double-blind design. RER was not significantly different between any of the nutrition interventions (all p > 0.05). However, independent of pre-exercise nutrition ingestion, RER was significantly lower at 30 (0.75 ± 0.05; p < 0.01) and 60 (0.74 ± 0.05; p < 0.01) post-exercise in comparison to BASE (0.81 ± 0.05) and IP (0.78 ± 0.06). Collectively, RER decreased during recovery following HIRT in OW females, regardless of pre-exercise nutrition habits.