Fulton, SK, Pyne, DB, Hopkins, WG, and Burkett, B. Training characteristics of paralympic swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 24(2): 471-478, 2010-The ability to monitor training is critical to the process of quantifying training periodization plans, yet weekly patterns of volume and intensity for Paralympic swimmers before competition have not been reported. Sixteen swimmers were monitored prospectively over a 16-week training block constituting 4 training phases (early, mid, late, and taper), before a World Championship. Training volume (total and main set distance) and intensity (percentage of peak heart rate [HR], swimming velocity, and rate of perceived exertion [RPE]) were quantified using an online training diary, and changes in training load were examined over the 4 training phases. For a subgroup of swimmers (n = 12), with similarities in underlying disability, change in performance between Selection Trials and World Championships was also quantified. Substantial increases in total training volume (29.6%) were observed late phase, and main set volume was reduced substantially (24.1%) during the taper phase. Small to moderate increases in training intensity (HR 2.4%, velocity 4.5%, and RPE 6.7%) were observed late phase and maintained through the taper. There were no clear associations between discrete training measures and competition performance. Swimmers competing at the Paralympic level seem to follow traditional periodized patterns of training, similar to those of swimmers at the Olympic level, before competition. Coaches of elite swimmers with a disability should review their prescribed patterns of training before major competition: A more substantial taper (larger reduction in volume) could elicit a greater improvement in performance. Training prescription should account for different disabilities and classes and individual circumstances of elite swimmers with a disability.

Robertson, EY, Aughey, RJ, Anson, JM, Hopkins, WG, and Pyne, DB. Effects of simulated and real altitude exposure in elite swimmers. J Strength Cond Res 24(2): 487-493, 2010-The effect of repeated exposures to natural and simulated moderate altitude on physiology and competitive performance of elite athletes warrants further investigation. This study quantified changes in hemoglobin mass, performance tests, and competitive performance of elite swimmers undertaking a coach-prescribed program of natural and simulated altitude training. Nine swimmers (age 21.1 +/- 1.4 years, mean +/- SD) completed up to four 2-week blocks of combined living and training at moderate natural altitude (1,350 m) and simulated live high-train low (2,600-600 m) altitude exposure between 2 National Championships. Changes in hemoglobin mass (Hbmass), 4-mM lactate threshold velocity, and 2,000 m time trial were measured. Competition performance of these swimmers was compared with that of 9 similarly trained swimmers (21.1 +/- 4.1 years) who undertook no altitude training. Each 2-week altitude block on average produced the following improvements: Hbmass, 0.9%(90% confidence limits,+/-0.8%); 4-mM lactate threshold velocity, 0.9%(+/-0.8%); and 2,000 m time trial performance, 1.2%(+/-1.6%). The increases in Hbmass had a moderate correlation with time trial performance (r = 0.47;+/-0.41) but an unclear correlation with lactate threshold velocity (r =-0.23;+/-0.48). The altitude group did not swim faster at National Championships compared with swimmers who did not receive any altitude exposure, the difference between the groups was not substantial (-0.5%;+/-1.0%). A coach-prescribed program of repeated altitude training and exposure elicited modest changes in physiology but did not substantially improve competition performance of elite swimmers. Sports should investigate the efficacy of their altitude training program to justify the investment.

Community networks are being established as part of the Chronic Disease Management program in Edmonton, Alberta. These networks are programs and services from profit and not-for-profit organizations that support people with chronic conditions to address lifestyle choices and issues. Evidence-informed standards and criteria have been developed that have to be met to belong to such a network. The community network approach is developing a "community" of resources that are available and committed to assist healthcare professionals and the public with health promotion for people with chronic conditions.

We compared the movement patterns of cricketers in different playing positions across three formats of cricket (Twenty20, One Day, multi-day matches). Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence cricketers (n = 42) from five positions (batting, fast bowling, spin bowling, wicketkeeping, and fielding) had their movement patterns (walk, jog, run, stride, and sprint) quantified by global positioning system (GPS) technology over two seasons. Marked differences in movement patterns were evident between positions and game formats, with fast bowlers undertaking the greatest workload of any position in cricket. Fast bowlers sprinted twice as often, covered over three times the distance sprinting, with much smaller work-to-recovery ratios than other positions. Fast bowlers during multi-day matches covered 22.6 +/- 4.0 km (mean +/- s) total distance in a day (1.4 +/- 0.9 km in sprinting). In comparison, wicketkeepers rarely sprinted, despite still covering a daily total distance of 16.6 +/- 2.1 km. Overall, One Day and Twenty20 cricket required approximately 50 to 100% more sprinting per hour than multi-day matches. However, multi-day cricket's longer duration resulted in 16-130% more sprinting per day. In summary, the shorter formats (Twenty20 and One Day) are more intensive per unit of time, but multi-day cricket has a greater overall physical load.

Nutritional practices that promote good health and optimal athletic performance are of interest to athletes, coaches, exercise scientists and dietitians. Probiotic supplements modulate the intestinal microbial flora and offer promise as a practical means of enhancing gut and immune function. The intestinal microbial flora consists of diverse bacterial species that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria are integral to the ontogeny and regulation of the immune system, protection of the body from infection, and maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. The interaction of the gut microbial flora with intestinal epithelial cells and immune cells exerts beneficial effects on the upper respiratory tract, skin and uro-genital tract. The capacity for probiotics to modulate perturbations in immune function after exercise highlight their potential for use in individuals exposed to high degrees of physical and environment stress. Future studies are required to address issues of dose-response in various exercise settings, the magnitude of species-specific effects, mechanisms of action and clinical outcomes in terms of health and performance.

PURPOSE: The validity and reliability of three commercial global positioning system (GPS) units (MinimaxX, Catapult, Australia; SPI-10, SPI-Pro, GPSports, Australia) were quantified. METHODS: Twenty trials of cricket-specific locomotion patterns and distances (walking 8800 m, jogging 2400 m, running 1200 m, striding 600 m, sprinting 20- to 40-m intervals, and run-a-three) were compared against criterion measures (400-m athletic track, electronic timing). Validity was quantified with the standard error of the estimate (SEE) and reliability estimated using typical error expressed as a coefficient of variation. RESULTS: The validity (mean +/- 90% confidence limits) for locomotion patterns walking to striding ranged from 0.4 +/- 0.1 to 3.8 +/- 1.4%, whereas for sprinting distances over 20 to 40 m including run-a-three (approx. 50 m) the SEE ranged from 2.6 +/- 1.0 to 23.8 +/- 8.8%. The reliability (expressed as mean [90% confidence limits]) of estimating distance traveled by walking to striding ranged from 0.3 (0.2 to 0.4) to 2.9%(2.3 to 4.0). Similarly, mean reliability of estimating different sprinting distances over 20 to 40 m ranged from 2.0 (1.6 to 2.8) to 30.0%(23.2 to 43.3). CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy and bias was dependent on the GPS brand employed. Commercially available GPS units have acceptable validity and reliability for estimating longer distances (600-8800 m) in walking to striding, but require further development for shorter cricket-specific sprinting distances.

ABSTRACT: Elite athletes often undertake multiple altitude exposures within and between training years in an attempt to improve sea-level performance. PURPOSE:: To quantify the reproducibility of responses to live high/train low (LHTL) altitude exposure in the same group of athletes. METHODS:: Sixteen highly trained runners with maximum aerobic power (V O2max) of 73.1 +/- 4.6 and 64.4 +/- 3.2 mL.kg.min (mean +/- SD) for males and females respectively, completed 2 x 3-wk blocks of simulated LHTL (14 h.day, 3000 m) or resided near sea-level (600 m) in a controlled study design. Changes in 4.5 km time trial performance and physiological measures including V O2max, running economy and hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) were assessed. RESULTS:: Time-trial performance showed small and variable changes after each 3-wk altitude block in both the LHTL (-1.4%;+/-1.1% and 0.7%;+/-1.3%, mean;+/-90% CL) and the Control (0.5%;+/-1.5% and -0.7%;+/-0.8%) group. The LHTL group demonstrated reproducible improvements in (2.1%;+/-2.1% and 2.1%;+/-3.9%) and Hbmass (2.8%;+/-2.1% and 2.7%;+/-1.8%) after each 3-wk block. Compared with the Control group, the LHTL group were substantially faster after the first 3-wk block (LHTL-Control:-1.9%;+/-1.8%) and had substantially higher Hbmass after the second 3-wk block (4.2%;+/-2.1%). There was no substantial difference in the change in mean between the groups after the first (1.2%;+/-3.3%) or second 3-wk block (1.4%;+/-4.6%). CONCLUSION:: 3-wk LHTL altitude exposure can induce reproducible mean improvements in and Hbmass in highly trained runners, but changes in time trial performance appear to be more variable. Competitive performance is dependent not only on improvements in physiological capacities that underpin performance, but a complex interaction of many factors including fitness, fatigue and motivation.

Global positioning system (GPS) monitoring of movement patterns is widespread in elite football including the Australian Football League (AFL). However documented analysis of this activity is lacking. We quantified the movement patterns of AFL football and differences between nomadic (midfield), forward and defender playing positions, and determined whether the physical demands have increased over a four season period. Selected premiership games were monitored during the 2005 (n=80 game files), 2006 (n=244), 2007 (n=632) and 2008 (n=793) AFL seasons. Players were fitted with a shoulder harness containing a GPS unit. GPS data were downloaded after games and the following measures extracted: total distance (km), time in various speed zones, maximum speed, number of surges, accelerations, longest continuous efforts and a derived exertion index representing playing intensity. In 2008 nomadic players covered per game 3.4% more total distance (km), had 4.8% less playing time (min), a 17% higher exertion index (per min), and 23% more time running >18kmh(-1) than forwards and defenders (all p<0.05). Physical demands were substantially higher in the 2008 season compared with 2005: an 8.4% increase in mean speed, a 14% increase in intensity (exertion index) and a 9.0% decrease in playing time (all p<0.05). Nomadic players in AFL work substantially harder than forwards and defenders in covering more ground and at higher running intensities. Increases in the physical demands of AFL football were evident between 2005 and 2008. The increasing speed of the game has implications for game authorities, players and coaching staff.

Swimming speed is a function of the propulsion generated from arm strokes and leg kicks. Kicking is partially obscured underwater, making the kinematics of the kick difficult to analyse. In this study, we quantified 100-m freestyle kick-count and kick-rate patterns for 14 Paralympic swimmers using inertial-sensor technology. Swimmers took 145 +/- 39 kicks (mean +/- s) for swimming trials and 254 +/- 74 kicks for kicking-only trials. Kick rate was 124.9 +/- 20.3 kicks . min(-1) for swimming trials and 129.6 +/- 14.0 kicks . min(-1) for kicking-only trials. There were no marked differences in kick count among 25-m segments in the swimming trials. There was a substantial increase of 10.6%[90% confidence interval (90%CI): 7.3 to 14.0%] in the number of kicks in the kicking-only trials by the fourth 25-m segment. There was a substantial decrease in kick rate by the third 25-m segment for swimming (-12.0%; 90%CI:-12.8 to -11.1%) and kicking-only (-7.3%; 90%CI:-8.6 to -5.9%) trials. The relationship between swimming and kicking-only kick rates was r = 0.67 (0.55 to 0.76; P < 0.001). The temporal patterns of the kick in kicking only differed from those in swimming; increases in kick rate can improve freestyle swimming performance.