The purpose of this study was to assess the body composition of male and female basketball athletes (n = 323) across season, year, and sport-position using air displacement plethysmography. An independent sample t-test assessed sport-position differences. An analysis of variance was used to assess within-subjects across season (pre-season, in-season, and off-season), and academic year (freshman, sophomore, and junior). For both men and women basketball (MBB, WBB) athletes, guards had the lowest body fat, fat mass, fat free mass, and body mass. No seasonal differences were observed in MBB, but following in-season play for WBB, a reduction of (p = 0.03) in fat free mass (FFM) was observed. Across years, MBB showed an increase in FFM from freshman to sophomore year, yet remained unchanged through junior year. For WBB across years, no differences occurred for body mass (BM), body fat (BF%), and fat mass (FM), yet FFM increased from sophomore to junior year (p = 0.009). Sport-position differences exist in MBB and WBB: Guards were found to be smaller and leaner than forwards. Due to the importance of body composition (BC) on athletic performance, along with seasonal and longitudinal shifts in BC, strength and conditioning practitioners should periodically assess athletes BC to ensure preservation of FFM. Training and nutrition programming can then be adjusted in response to changes in BC.

Laboratory assessments of maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max) are considered the “gold standard” for ascertaining cardiovascular fitness, but they are not always practical for use in team sport settings. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to compare the criterion assessment of VO_2max on a treadmill to the progressive, multistage 20-m shuttle run test (i.e., Beep test), and to determine the predictability of 6 previously established Beep test predictive equations (i.e., Chatterjee, Flouris, Leger, Leger and Gadoury, Ramsbottom, St. Clair-Gibson). Collegiate women field hockey athletes (n = 65, mean±SD: age 19.6 ± 1.2 years; weight 64.7 ± 6.1 kg) completed criterion VO_2max (mean ± SD: 46.4 ± 4.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and Beep tests to volitional fatigue. According to Bland–Altman and Ordinary Least Products Regressions, the Ramsbottom (46.5 ± 4.2 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and Flouris (46.3 ± 3.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) equations were considered valid predictions of criterion measured VO_2max (46.4 ± 4.6). The Chatterjee, Leger, Leger and Gadoury, and St. Clair-Gibson equations overestimated VO_2max, and are not recommended for use with women collegiate field hockey athletes. The Ramsbottom and Flouris estimates of VO_2max from 20-m shuttle performances may be used in this population. For accurate estimates of VO_2max, the clientele’s age, fitness level, and training history should be considered when selecting equations.

The purposes of this study were to investigate the acute effects of resistance training protocol on kinetic changes in squat jump (SJ), shortened isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP), and isometric squat (ISQ) and to examine the relationship of dynamic maximum strength with performance changes over 48 hours in resistance-trained individuals. Participants completed performance tests at pre-, post-24 hours, and post-48 hours resistance training protocol (Baseline, Post24, and Post48). The training protocol consisted of 5 sets of 10 repetitions of back squat (BSQ) at 60% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM). SJ variables included jump height (JH), peak power (PP), and relative PP. For the IMTP and ISQ, isometric peak force (IPF), relative IPF, rate of force development at 250 milliseconds (RFD250), and impulse at 250 milliseconds (IMP250) were calculated. Significant decreases were observed from Baseline to Post24 (p = 0.023, Cohen’s d_z effect size [d_z] = 1.00) and Post48 (p = 0.032, d_z = 0.94) in SJ JH. IMTP IMP250 significantly decreased from Baseline to Post48 (p = 0.046, d_z = 0.88). Significant negative correlation was found between relative 1RM BSQ and the changes from Baseline to Post48 in ISQ RFD250 (p = 0.046,r = −0.61). Acute performance decreases might remain until 48 hours after resistance training in explosive strength and impulse regardless of isometric testing type.

Klein, IE, White, JB, and Rana, SR. Comparison of physiological variables between the elliptical bicycle and run training in experienced runners.J Strength Cond Res30(11): 2998–3006, 2016—A novel outdoor elliptical bicycle (EBIKE) has been designed to elicit running-similar physiological adaptations while reducing the impact forces that commonly lead to injury. Various cross-training methods have been used to reduce injury risk, restore or maintain fitness, and prevent detraining. The purpose of this study was to compare 4 weeks of EBIKE-only training to run-only training on maximal oxygen consumption, ventilatory threshold, respiratory compensation point, running economy, and 5,000 m time trial times. Twelve experienced runners (age, 22.33 ± 3.33 years; running experience, 9.25 ± 4.53 years) completed 4 weeks of randomly assigned EBIKE or run training. Physiological and performance testing procedures were repeated, and subjects then performed a second matched 4-week training period in a crossover design. Ventilatory threshold was significantly greater after EBIKE (p≤ 0.05; 41.60 ± 6.15 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) and run training (p≤ 0.05; 42.33 ± 6.96 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) compared with the initial time point (40.17 ± 6.47 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹). There were no significant group differences (p> 0.05) for these variables at any time point. In conclusion, EBIKE-only training yielded similar physiological and performance maintenance or improvements compared with run-only training. These results suggest that EBIKE training can be an effective cross-training method to maintain and improve certain physiological and performance variables in experienced runners over a 4-week period.