Background: Breathing technique may influence endurance exercise performance by reducing overall breathing work and delaying respiratory muscle fatigue. We investigated whether a two-month yoga-based breathing intervention could affect breathing characteristics during exercise. Methods: Forty-six endurance runners (age = 16.6 ± 1.2 years) were randomized to either a breathing intervention or control group. The contribution of abdominal, thoracic, and subclavian musculature to respiration and ventilation parameters during three different intensities on a cycle ergometer was assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: Post-intervention, abdominal, thoracic, and subclavian ventilatory contributions were altered at 2 W·kg⁻¹ (27:23:50 to 31:28:41), 3 W·kg⁻¹ (26:22:52 to 28:31:41), and 4 W·kg⁻¹ (24:24:52 to 27:30:43), whereas minimal changes were observed in the control group. More specifically, a significant (p < 0.05) increase in abdominal contribution was observed at rest and during low intensity work (i.e., 2 and 3 W·kg⁻¹), and a decrease in respiratory rate and increase of tidal volume were observed in the experimental group. Conclusions: These data highlight an increased reliance on more efficient abdominal and thoracic musculature, and less recruitment of subclavian musculature, in young endurance athletes during exercise following a two-month yoga-based breathing intervention. More efficient ventilatory muscular recruitment may benefit endurance performance by reducing energy demand and thus optimize energy requirements for mechanical work.

1) Background: The objective of the study was to check the relationship between laterality, amount of muscle mass (MM), and selected strength parameters on lower extremities and assessment of asymmetry like a result of training. (2) Methods: The screened sample consisted of soccer players (n = 65, age = 16.0 ± 1.2 years). The legs were assessed for MM, height of reflection on a force plate, and power over 30 s Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT). The relationships between the individual parameters and age dependence were assessed using a correlation analysis. The differences between the dominant and non-dominant leg were assessed using the t-test. (3) Results: A relationship between the jump height and the mean 30 s power in WAnT (r = 0.375, p ˂ 0.01) and between the amount of MM and the absolute power of the individual legs in WAnT (r = 0.695-0.832, p ˂ 0.01) was proved. A relationship between the takeoff force and the MM, or between the MM and the relative power during a velocity force load was not found. (4) Conclusions: The amount of MM in young soccer players does not affect takeoff force or strength power in WAnT. The more specific the movement is, the lower the effect on the achieved power output of the concerned MM. Differences in the performance between the dominant and non-dominant leg decrease with duration of the training.

We evaluated the efficacy of heart rate variability (HRV)-guided training in adolescent athletes during a 2-week, high altitude (≈1900 m) training camp. Sixteen middle- and long-distance runners (4 female/12 male, 16.9 ± 1.0 years, 65.44 ± 4.03 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) were divided into 2 matched groups, both of which received the same training plan, but one of which acquired postwaking HRV values that were used to tailor the training prescription. During the camp, seven athletes in the HRV-guided group combined for a total of 32 training adjustments, whereas there were only 3 runners combined for 14 total training adjustments in the control group. A significant group by time interaction (p < 0.001) for VO₂max was driven by VO₂max improvements in the HRV group (+2.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, +4.27%; p_Bonf = 0.002) that were not observed in the control condition (+0.8 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹, +1.26%; p_Bonf = 0.643). After returning from the camp, all athletes in the HRV group set a personal best, and six out of eight achieved their best positions in the National Championship, whereas only 75% of athletes in the control group set a personal best and five out of eight achieved their best positions in the National Championship. These data provide evidence in support of HRV-guided training as a way to optimize training prescriptions in adolescent athletes.

Marko, D, Bahenský, P, Snarr, RL, and Malátová, R. V̇o ₂peak Comparison of a treadmill vs. cycling protocol in elite teenage competitive runners, cyclists, and swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2875–2882, 2022—The purpose of this study was to compare the cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses of a maximal graded exercise test (GXT) on a treadmill and cycle ergometer in elite-level, youth competitive athletes. Thirty-one athletes (11 distance runners, 11 mountain-bike cyclists, and 9 long-distance swimmers) were randomly selected to complete either a running or cycling GXT on the first day, followed by the alternative 72 hours apart. The initial work rate for each GXT was set at 50% of the individuals' previously established V̇o ₂peak to elicit fatigue within 8–12 minutes. For the treadmill protocol, speed was increased by 1 km·h⁻¹ each minute, with a constant 5% grade, until volitional fatigue. Cycle ergometer work rate was increased by 30 W every minute until volitional fatigue or the inability to maintain proper cadence (i.e., 100 ± 5 rev·min⁻¹). Throughout both testing sessions, V̇o ₂peak, heart rate [HR] peak, breathing frequency (BF), tidal volume (V_T), and minute ventilation (V_E) were assessed and used to compare within-sport differences. Runners displayed a higher V̇o ₂peak (∼7%; d = 0.92), HRpeak (4%; d = 0.77), V_E (6%; d = 0.66), and BF (12%; d = 0.62) on the treadmill vs. cycle. However, the cycling group demonstrated a greater V̇o ₂peak (∼8%; d = 0.92), V_T (∼14%; d = 0.99), and V_E (∼9%; d = 0.78) on the cycle, despite no change in HRpeak. For swimmers, the treadmill GXT elicited higher values in V̇o ₂peak (∼5%; d = 0.75), BF (∼11.5%; d = 0.78), and HRpeak (3%; d = 0.69). Collectively, these findings indicate that exercise mode may greatly affect physiological outcome variables and should be considered before exercise prescription and athletic monitoring.

Background and Objectives: We evaluated the effect of an eleven-day altitude training camp on aerobic and anaerobic fitness in trained adolescent runners. Materials and Methods: Twenty adolescent (14–18 yrs) middle- and long-distance runners (11 males and 9 females; 16.7 ± 0.8 yrs), with at least two years of self-reported consistent run training, participated in this study. Eight of the subjects (4 females/4 males) constituted the control group, whereas twelve subjects (5 females/7 males) took part in a structured eleven-day altitude training camp, and training load was matched between groups. Primary variables of interest included changes in aerobic (VO₂max) and anaerobic (30 s Wingate test) power. We also explored the relationships between running velocity and blood lactate levels before and after the altitude training camp. Results: Following 11 days of altitude training, desirable changes (p < 0.01) in VO₂max (+13.6%), peak relative work rate (+9.6%), and running velocity at various blood lactate concentrations (+5.9%–9.6%) were observed. Meanwhile, changes in Wingate anaerobic power (+5.1%) were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Short duration altitude appears to yield meaningful improvements in aerobic but not anaerobic power in trained adolescent endurance runners.

BACKGROUND: The performance of the respiratory system during the exercise is limiting the final performance in endurance disciplines. The quality of breathing is linked to endurance performance, subject's training state, intensity and duration of the physical load, the implementation of which, thus the economy of breathing, is possible to influence through a targeted breathing exercise. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of breathing intervention exercises on the effectiveness of breathing by monitoring value of tidal volume (V-T) and breathing frequency (BF) during an endurance type load in adolescent endurance runners. METHODS: Thirty-seven 37 adolescent endurance runners were enrolled in this study. The girls were 16.79 +/- 1.51 years old, the boys were 16.5 +/- 1.8 years old. They are involved in endurance training for at least one year. Twenty-one pmbands took part in the intervention scheme; sixteen probands formed the control group. The study investigated the effect of two months and four months of breathing exercise intervention on tidal volume V-T and BF. RESULTS: The probands carried out breathing exercises, which took an average of 13.1 +/- 3.7 minutes per day over the first two months, and an average of 11.1 +/- 3.9 minutes per day over the next two months. The breathing economy was significantly changed as a result of respiratory exercise intervention. Already after 2 months of intervention there was a significant decrease of BF (by 5.92%) and a significant increase of V-T (by 4.44%). After another 2 months, the changes were even more pronounced. In the 4 months of the intervention, the BF decreased by 11.47% and the V-T increased by 10.96% in comparison to the original state. In the control group, there were no significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: It was confirmed that the two-month breathing exercise intervention focused on the activation of the diaphragm is sufficient and resulted in significant changes of in V-T and BF.