Neuromuscular adaptations after an altitude training camp in elite judo athletes

Tomažin, Katja (author), Almeida, Filipa (author), Štirn, Igor (author), Padial, Paulino (author), Bonitch-Góngora, Juan (author), Morales-Artacho, Antonio J. (author), Strojnik, Vojko (author), Feriche, Belén (author)

The aim of this study was to investigate neuromuscular adaptations in elite judo athletes after three weeks of power-oriented strength training at terrestrial altitude (2320 m). Nineteen men were assigned to altitude training (AL) (22.1 ± 2.3 years) and sea level training (SL) (22.6 ± 4.1 years). Neuromuscular assessment consisted of: (1) maximal isometric knee extensor (KE) torque, (2) KE rate of torque development (RTD), (3) quadriceps activity and voluntary activation, (4) soleus Hreflex, (5) quadriceps single (T$_{TW}$) and double twitch torque (T$_{DB100}$) and contraction time (CT$_{TW}$). There were no significant differences between groups at baseline for any of the observed parameters. Significant differences were found between groups in terms of change in RTD (p = 0.04). Cohen’s d showed a positive significant effect (0.43) in the SL group and a negative significant effect (−0.58) in the AL group. The difference between groups in changes in CT$_{TW}$ as a function of altitude was on the edge of significance (p = 0.077). CT$_{TW}$ increased by 8.1 ± 9.0% in the AL group (p = 0.036) and remained statistically unchanged in the SL group. Only the AL group showed a relationship between changes in T$_{TW}$ and T$_{DB100}$ and changes in RTD at posttest (p = 0.022 and p = 0.016, respectively). Altitude induced differences in muscular adaptations likely due to greater peripheral fatigue.

• Language: English
• Keywords: sport, elite athlete, judo, strength training, twitch, H-reflex, voluntary activation
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FŠ - Faculty of Sport
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 16 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 18, iss. 13, art. 6777
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-135614
• UDC: 796.853.23
• ISSN on article: 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18136777
• COBISS.SI-ID: 68474883
• Publication date in RUL: 22.03.2022

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: International journal of environmental research and public health
• Shortened title: Int. j. environ. res. public health
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 1660-4601
• COBISS.SI-ID: 1818965

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 01.07.2021

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: šport, vrhunski športniki, judo, trening moči, H-refleks, prostovoljno udejstvovanje, živčno-mišična adaptacija