TY - JOUR A1 - Stöggl, Thomas L. A1 - Sperlich, Billy T1 - The training intensity distribution among well-trained and elite endurance athletes JF - Frontiers in Physiology N2 - Researchers have retrospectively analyzed the training intensity distribution (TID) of nationally and internationally competitive athletes in different endurance disciplines to determine the optimal volume and intensity for maximal adaptation. The majority of studies present a "pyramidal" TID with a high proportion of high volume, low intensity training (HVLIT). Some world-class athletes appear to adopt a so-called "polarized" TID (i.e., significant % of HVLIT and high intensity training) during certain phases of the season. However, emerging prospective randomized controlled studies have demonstrated superior responses of variables related to endurance when applying a polarized TID in well-trained and recreational individuals when compared with a TID that emphasizes HVLIT or threshold training. The aims of the present review are to: (1) summarize the main responses of retrospective and prospective studies exploring TID; (2) provide a systematic overview on TIDs during preparation, pre-competition, and competition phases in different endurance disciplines and performance levels; (3) address whether one TID has demonstrated greater efficacy than another; and (4) highlight research gaps in an effort to direct future scientific studies. KW - pyramidal retrospective KW - high volume KW - prospective KW - high intensity training KW - adaptations KW - cyclists KW - speed skaters KW - skeletal-muscle KW - polarized training KW - world championships KW - low intensity KW - optimize performance KW - blood lactate KW - cross-country skiers KW - aerobic performance KW - anaerobic threshold KW - threshold training Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-138883 VL - 6 IS - 295 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zinner, Christoph A1 - Sperlich, Billy A1 - Krueger, Malte A1 - Focke, Tim A1 - Reed, Jennifer A1 - Mester, Joachim T1 - Strength, Endurance, Throwing Velocity and in-Water Jump Performance of Elite German Water Polo Players JF - Journal of Human Kinetics N2 - The purpose of this study was threefold: 1) to assess the eggbeater kick and throwing performance using a number of water polo specific tests, 2) to explore the relation between the eggbeater kick and throwing performance, and 3) to investigate the relation between the eggbeater kick in the water and strength tests performed in a controlled laboratory setting in elite water polo players. Fifteen male water polo players of the German National Team completed dynamic and isometric strength tests for muscle groups (adductor, abductor, abdominal, pectoralis) frequently used during water polo. After these laboratory strength tests, six water polo specific in-water tests were conducted. The eggbeater kick assessed leg endurance and agility, maximal throwing velocity and jump height. A 400 m test and a sprint test examined aerobic and anaerobic performance. The strongest correlation was found between jump height and arm length (p < 0.001, r = 0.89). The laboratory diagnostics of important muscles showed positive correlations with the results of the in-water tests (p < 0.05, r = 0.52-0.70). Muscular strength of the adductor, abdominal and pectoralis muscles was positively related to in-water endurance agility as assessed by the eggbeater kick (p < 0.05; r = 0.53-0.66). Findings from the current study emphasize the need to assess indices of water polo performance both in and out of the water as well as the relation among these parameters to best assess the complex profile of water polo players. KW - physiological characteristics KW - cinematographic analysis KW - penalty throw KW - strength KW - jump height KW - team sports KW - diagnostics KW - anaerobic and aerobic testing Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-148812 VL - 45 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zinner, Christoph A1 - Hauser, Anna A1 - Born, Dennis-Peter A1 - Wehrlin, Jon P. A1 - Holmberg, Hans-Christer A1 - Sperlich, Billy T1 - Influence of Hypoxic Interval Training and Hyperoxic Recovery on Muscle Activation and Oxygenation in Connection with Double-Poling Exercise JF - PLoS One N2 - Here, we evaluated the influence of breathing oxygen at different partial pressures during recovery from exercise on performance at sea-level and a simulated altitude of 1800 m, as reflected in activation of different upper body muscles, and oxygenation of the m. triceps brachii. Ten well-trained, male endurance athletes (25.3±4.1 yrs; 179.2±4.5 cm; 74.2±3.4 kg) performed four test trials, each involving three 3-min sessions on a double-poling ergometer with 3-min intervals of recovery. One trial was conducted entirely under normoxic (No) and another under hypoxic conditions \((Ho; F_iO_2 = 0.165)\). In the third and fourth trials, the exercise was performed in normoxia and hypoxia, respectively, with hyperoxic recovery \((HOX; F_iO_2 = 1.00)\) in both cases. Arterial hemoglobin saturation was higher under the two HOX conditions than without HOX (p<0.05). Integrated muscle electrical activity was not influenced by the oxygen content (best d = 0.51). Furthermore, the only difference in tissue saturation index measured via near-infrared spectroscopy observed was between the recovery periods during the NoNo and HoHOX interventions (P<0.05, d = 0.93). In the case of HoHo the athletes’ \(P_{mean}\) declined from the first to the third interval (P < 0.05), whereas Pmean was unaltered under the HoHOX, NoHOX and NoNo conditions. We conclude that the less pronounced decline in \(P_{mean}\) during 3 x 3-min double-poling sprints in normoxia and hypoxia with hyperoxic recovery is not related to changes in muscle activity or oxygenation. Moreover, we conclude that hyperoxia \((F_iO_2 = 1.00)\) used in conjunction with hypoxic or normoxic work intervals may serve as an effective aid when inhaled during the subsequent recovery intervals. KW - triceps KW - bood KW - medical hypoxia KW - blood KW - arms KW - hyperoxia KW - breathing KW - near-infrared spectroscopy Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-126299 VL - 10 IS - 10 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Sperlich, Paula F. A1 - Holmberg, Hans-Christer A1 - Reed, Jennifer L. A1 - Zinner, Christoph A1 - Mester, Joachim A1 - Sperlich, Billy T1 - Individual versus standardized running protocols in the determination of VO\(_{2max}\) JF - Journal of Sports Science and Medicine N2 - The purpose of this study was to determine whether an individually designed incremental exercise protocol results in greater rates of oxygen uptake VO\(_{2max}\) than standardized testing. Fourteen well-trained, male runners performed five incremental protocols in randomized order to measure their VO\(_{2max}\): i) an incremental test (INC\(_{S+I}\)) with pre-defined increases in speed (2 min at 8.64 km.h\(^{-1}\), then a rise of 1.44 km.h\(^{-1}\) every 30 s up to 14.4 km.h\(^{-1}\)) and thereafter inclination (0.5.every 30 s); ii) an incremental test (INC\(_{I}\)) at constant speed (14.4 km.h\(^{-1}\)) and increasing inclination (2 degrees every 2 min from the initial 0 degrees); iii) an incremental test (INC\(_{S}\)) at constant inclination (0 degrees) and increasing speed (0.5 km.h\(^{-1}\) every 30 s from the initial 12.0 km.h\(^{-1}\)); iv) a graded exercise protocol (GXP) at a 1 degrees incline with increasing speed (initially 8.64 km.h\(^{-1}\) + 1.44 km.h\(^{-1}\) every 5 min); v) an individual exercise protocol (INDXP) in which the runner chose the inclination and speed. VO\(_{2max}\) was lowest (-4.2%) during the GXP (p = 0.01; d = 0.06 - 0.61) compared to all other tests. The highest rating of perceived exertion, heart rate, ventilation and end-exercise blood lactate concentration were similar between the different protocols (p < 0.05). The time to exhaustion ranged from 7 min 18 sec (INC\(_{S}\)) to 25 min 30 sec (GXP) (p = 0.01). The VO\(_{2max}\) attained by employing an individual treadmill protocol does not differ from the values derived from various standardized incremental protocols. KW - maximum oxygen uptake KW - aerobic power KW - treadmill running KW - ramp test KW - treadmill protocol Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-151890 VL - 14 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Zinner, Christoph A1 - Sperlich, Billy A1 - Wahl, Patrick A1 - Mester, Joachim T1 - Classification of selected cardiopulmonary variables of elite athletes of different age, gender, and disciplines during incremental exercise testing JF - SpringerPlus N2 - Incremental exercise testing is frequently used as a tool for evaluating determinants of endurance performance. The available reference values for the peak oxygen uptake \((VO_{2peak})\), % of \(VO_{2peak}\) , running speed at the lactate threshold \((v_{LT})\), running economy (RE), and maximal running speed \((v_{peak})\) for different age, gender, and disciplines are not sufficient for the elite athletic population. The key variables of 491 young athletes (age range 12–21 years; 250 males, 241 females) assessed during a running step test protocol \((2.4 m s^{−1} ; increase 0.4 m s^{−1} 5 min^{−1})\) were analysed in five subgroups, which were related to combat-, team-, endurance-, sprint- and power-, and racquet-related disciplines. Compared with female athletes, male athletes achieved a higher \(v_{peak}\) (P = 0.004). The body mass, lean body mass, height, abs. \(VO_{2peak} (ml min^{−1})\), rel. \(VO_{2peak} (ml kg^{−1} min^{−1})\), rel. \(VO_{2peak} (ml min^{−1} kg^{−0.75})\), and RE were higher in the male participants compared with the females (P < 0.01). The % of \(VO_2\) at \(v_{LT}\) was lower in the males compared with the females (P < 0.01). No differences between gender were detected for the \(v_{LT}\) (P = 0.17) and % of \(VO_2\) at \(v_{LT}\) (P = 0.42). This study is one of the first to provide a broad spectrum of data to classify nearly 500 elite athletes aged 12–21 years of both gender and different disciplines. KW - performance KW - data KW - competition KW - reference values Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-126275 VL - 4 IS - 544 ER -