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Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 January 2021) | Viewed by 157165

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Dr. Christopher Ballmann

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Guest Editor

Department of Human Studies, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
Interests: exercise physiology; ergogenic aids; nutraceuticals; oxidative stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of IJERPH, I am organizing a Special Issue about exercise and sport under stressful conditions. IJERPH is a peer-reviewed scientific journal that publishes manuscripts in the interdisciplinary area of environmental health sciences and public health.

It is well established that exercise is an acute stressor to skeletal muscle, cardiopulmonary, and many other organ systems. Based on specific demands/stressors, organisms will adapt to better combat homeostatic disturbances during exercise challenge. Adaptations to exercise are largely influenced by stressful environments and conditions, that have the ability to improve or inhibit adaptations. In this Special Issue, we are looking for original investigations describing how stressful environments/conditions during sport and exercise influence adaptive responses. Below are some examples of topics fitting the scope of this Special Issue for IJERPH:

Exercise during hypoxia/altitude
Exercise and heat/cold stress
Exercise and oxidative stress
Supramaximal exercise
Exercise and nutrient deprivation
Exercise and psychological stress

Dr. Christopher Ballmann
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Exercise
Altitude
Hypoxia
Oxidative stress
Nutrient deprivation
Environment
Psychological stress

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 714 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Circuit Weight-Interval Training on Physical Fitness, Cardiac Autonomic Control, and Quality of Life in Sedentary Workers

by Silvio A. Oliveira-Junior, Daniel Boullosa, Maria L. M. Mendonça, Larissa F. C. Vieira, Wania W. Mattos, Bruna O. C. Amaral, Dayanne S. Lima-Borges, Filipe A. Reis, Marcelo D. M. Cezar, Luiz C. M. Vanderlei and Paula F. Martinez

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(9), 4606; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18094606 - 27 Apr 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2762

Abstract

Sedentary behaviors, those that involve sitting and low levels of energy expenditure, have been associated with several adverse cardiometabolic effects. This study evaluated the chronic effects of a combined circuit weight interval training (CWIT) on physical fitness, quality of life, and heart rate variability (HRV), and compared the effects of CWIT-induced autonomic adaptations on different postures in adult sedentary workers. Twenty-seven sedentary workers (age 36.9 ± 9.2 years old, 13 men and 14 women) were divided into two groups: control, who continued their sedentary behavior, and experimental, who were submitted to a CWIT for 12 weeks, completing two ~40 min sessions per week. Monitoring of 8th, 16th, and 24th sessions revealed a moderate training load during sessions. Participants exhibited an improved aerobic capacity (VO₂max, 34.03 ± 5.36 vs. 36.45 ± 6.05 mL/kg/min, p < 0.05) and flexibility (22.6 ± 11.4 vs. 25.3 ± 10.1 cm, p < 0.05) after the training period. In addition, they showed greater quality of life scores. However, the CWIT did not change body composition. Interestingly, more HRV parameters were improved in the seated position. The CWIT used in the current study was associated with improvements in several fitness and quality of life parameters, as well as in cardiac autonomic control of HR in adult sedentary workers. Examination of different body positions when evaluating changes in HRV appears to be a relevant aspect to be considered in further studies. Future randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with larger samples of both sexes should confirm these promising results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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12 pages, 1260 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heat Acclimation Following Heat Acclimatization Elicits Additional Physiological Improvements in Male Endurance Athletes

by Courteney L. Benjamin, Yasuki Sekiguchi, Jeb F. Struder, Michael R. Szymanski, Ciara N. Manning, Andrew J. Grundstein, Elaine C. Lee, Robert A. Huggins, Lawrence E. Armstrong and Douglas J. Casa

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(8), 4366; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18084366 - 20 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3624

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of heat acclimatization (HAz) followed by heat acclimation (HA) on physiological adaptations. 25 male endurance athletes (age 36 ± 12 y, height 178.8 ± 6.39 cm, body mass 73.03 ± 8.97 kg, and VO_2peak 57.5 ± 7.0 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹) completed HAz and HA. HAz was 3 months of self-directed summer training. In the laboratory, a 5-day HA prescribed exercise to target a hyperthermic zone (HZHA) of T_rec between 38.50 and 39.75 °C for 60 min. Exercise trials were 60 min of running (59% ± 2% VO_2peak) in an environmental chamber (wet bulb globe temperature 29.53 ± 0.63 °C) and administered at: baseline, post-HAz, and post-HAz+HA. Measured variables included internal body temperature (T_rec), heart rate (HR), and sweat rate (SR). Repeated measure ANOVAs and post hoc comparisons were used to assess statistically significant (p < 0.05) differences. T_rec was lower post-HAz+HA (38.03 ± 0.39 °C) than post-HAz (38.25 ± 0.42 °C, p = 0.009) and baseline (38.29 ± 0.37 °C, p = 0.005). There were no differences between baseline and post-HAz (p = 0.479) in T_rec. HR was lower post-HAz (143 ± 12 bpm, p = 0.002) and post-HAz+HA (134 ± 11 bpm, p < 0.001) than baseline (138 ± 14 bpm). HR was lower post-HAz+HA than post-HAz (p = 0.013). SR was higher post-HAz+HA (1.93 ± 0.47 L·h⁻¹) than post-HAz (1.76 ± 0.43 L·h⁻¹, p = 0.027). Combination HAz and HA increased physiological outcomes above HAz. This method can be used to improve performance and safety in addition to HAz alone. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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12 pages, 1138 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Solution Including Bicarbonate Ion Ad Libitum Ingestion on Urine Bicarbonate Retention during Mountain Trekking: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

by Masahiro Horiuchi, Tatsuya Hasegawa and Hiroshi Nose

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(4), 1441; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18041441 - 04 Feb 2021

Viewed by 2033

Abstract

We investigated whether bicarbonate ion (HCO₃⁻) in a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution (CE+HCO₃) ingested during climbing to 3000 m on Mount Fuji could increase urine HCO₃⁻ retention. This study was a randomized, controlled pilot study. Sixteen healthy lowlander adults were divided into two groups (six males and two females for each): a tap water (TW) group (0 kcal with no energy) and a CE+HCO3 group. The allocation to TW or CE+HCO3 was double blind. The CE solution contains 10 kcal energy, including Na⁺ (115 mg), K⁺ (78 mg), HCO₃⁻ (51 mg) per 100 mL. After collecting baseline urine and measuring body weight, participants started climbing while energy expenditure (EE) and heart rate (HR) were recorded every min with a portable calorimeter. After reaching a hut at approximately 3000 m, we collected urine and measured body weight again. The HCO₃⁻ balance during climbing, measured by subtracting the amount of urine excreted from the amount of fluid ingested, was −0.37 ± 0.77 mmol in the CE+HCO3, which was significantly higher than in the TW (−2.23 ± 0.96 mmol, p < 0.001). These results indicate that CE containing HCO₃⁻ supplementation may increase the bicarbonate buffering system during mountain trekking up to ~3000 m, suggesting a useful solution, at least, in the population of the present study on Mount Fuji. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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11 pages, 643 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Acute Beetroot Juice Supplementation Attenuates Morning-Associated Decrements in Supramaximal Exercise Performance in Trained Sprinters

by Amanda M. Dumar, Anna F. Huntington, Rebecca R. Rogers, Thomas J. Kopec, Tyler D. Williams and Christopher G. Ballmann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(2), 412; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18020412 - 07 Jan 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3309

Abstract

Diurnal fluctuations in power output have been well established with power loss typically occurring in morning (AM) times. Beetroot juice (BRJ) is a source of dietary nitrate that possess ergogenic properties, but it is unknown if ingestion can mitigate performance decrements in the morning. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute BRJ supplementation on diurnal fluctuations in anaerobic performance in trained sprinters. Male Division 1 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sprinters (n = 10) participated. In a double-blinded crossover study design, participants completed three counterbalanced exercise trials under different conditions: Morning–placebo (8:00 HR, AM-PL), Morning–BRJ (8:00 HR, AM-BRJ), and Afternoon–no supplement (15:00 HR, PM). For each trial, participants completed 3 × 15 s Wingate anaerobic tests separated by 2 min of rest. Each trial was separated by a 72 h washout period. Mean power output (p = 0.043), anaerobic capacity (p = 0.023), and total work (p = 0.026) were significantly lower with the AM-PL condition compared to PM. However, BRJ supplementation prevented AM losses of mean power output (p = 0.994), anaerobic capacity (p = 0.941), and total work (p = 0.933) in the AM-BRJ compared to the PM condition. Rate of perceived exertion was not significantly different between any conditions (p = 0.516). Heart rate was significantly lower during the AM-BRJ condition compared to AM-PL (p = 0.030) and PM (p < 0.001). Findings suggest anaerobic capacity suffers during AM versus PM times in trained sprinters, but BRJ ingestion abolishes AM-associated decrements in performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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13 pages, 825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inter- and Intra-Day Comparisons of Smartphone-Derived Heart Rate Variability across Resistance Training Overload and Taper Microcycles

by Tyler D. Williams, Michael R. Esco, Michael V. Fedewa and Phillip A. Bishop

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(1), 177; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph18010177 - 29 Dec 2020

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2072

Abstract

The purposes of this study were: (1) to determine if smartphone-derived heart rate variability (HRV) could detect changes in training load during an overload microcycle and taper, and (2) to determine the reliability of HRV measured in the morning and measured immediately prior to the testing session. Twelve powerlifters (male = 10, female = 2) completed a 3-week resistance training program consisting of an introduction microcycle, overload microcycle, and taper. Using a validated smartphone application, daily measures of resting, ultra-short natural logarithm of root mean square of successive differences were recorded in the morning (LnRMSSD_M) and immediately before the test session (LnRMSSD_T) following baseline, post-overload, and post-taper testing. LnRMSSD_M decreased from baseline (82.9 ± 13.0) to post-overload (75.0 ± 9.9, p = 0.019), while post-taper LnRMSSD_M (81.9 ± 7.1) was not different from post-overload (p = 0.056) or baseline (p = 0.998). No differences in LnRMSSD_T (p < 0.05) were observed between baseline (78.3 ± 9.0), post-overload (74.4 ± 10.2), and post-taper (78.3 ± 8.0). LnRMSSD_M and LnRMSSD_T were strongly correlated at baseline (ICC = 0.71, p < 0.001) and post-overload (ICC = 0.65, p = 0.010), whereas there was no relationship at post-taper (ICC = 0.44, p = 0.054). Bland–Altman analyses suggest extremely wide limits of agreement (Bias ± 1.96 SD) between LnRMSSD_M and LnRMSSD_T at baseline (4.7 ± 15.2), post-overload (0.5 ± 16.9), and post-taper (3.7 ± 15.3). Smartphone-derived HRV, recorded upon waking, was sensitive to resistance training loads across an overload and taper microcycles in competitive strength athletes, whereas the HRV was taken immediately prior to the testing session was not. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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9 pages, 2787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Wearing of Cloth or Disposable Surgical Face Masks has no Effect on Vigorous Exercise Performance in Healthy Individuals

by Keely Shaw, Scotty Butcher, Jongbum Ko, Gordon A. Zello and Philip D. Chilibeck

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(21), 8110; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17218110 - 03 Nov 2020

Cited by 115 | Viewed by 85111

Abstract

Wearing face masks is recommended for the prevention of contracting or exposing others to cardiorespiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Controversy exists on whether wearing face masks during vigorous exercise affects performance. We used a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over design to evaluate the effects of wearing a surgical mask, a cloth mask, or no mask in 14 participants (7 men and 7 women; 28.2 ± 8.7 y) during a cycle ergometry test to exhaustion. Arterial oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) and tissue oxygenation index (indicator of hemoglobin saturation/desaturation) at vastus lateralis (near-infrared spectroscopy) were assessed throughout the exercise tests. Wearing face masks had no effect on performance (time to exhaustion (mean ± SD): no mask 622 ± 141 s, surgical mask 657 ± 158 s, cloth mask 637 ± 153 s (p = 0.20); peak power: no mask 234 ± 56 W, surgical mask 241 ± 57 W, cloth mask 241 ± 51 W (p = 0.49)). When expressed relative to peak exercise performance, no differences were evident between wearing or not wearing a mask for arterial oxygen saturation, tissue oxygenation index, rating of perceived exertion, or heart rate at any time during the exercise tests. Wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise had no discernable detrimental effect on blood or muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance in young, healthy participants (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04557605). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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16 pages, 1334 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Term Resistance Training Supported by Whole-Body Cryostimulation Induced a Decrease in Myostatin Concentration and an Increase in Isokinetic Muscle Strength

by Joanna Jaworska, Ewa Rodziewicz-Flis, Jakub Kortas, Marta Kozłowska, Katarzyna Micielska, Anna Babińska, Radosław Laskowski, Giovanni Lombardi and Ewa Ziemann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(15), 5496; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17155496 - 30 Jul 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3178

Abstract

The study aimed to determine whether combining cryostimulation with resistance training would effectively increase muscle strength, and if so, whether this adaptation would be related to changes in circulating levels of exerkines (i.e., mediators of systemic adaptation to exercise). Twenty-five students completed 12 sessions of resistance training, each followed by either cryostimulation (n = 15, 3 min exposure at −110 °C) or passive recovery (n = 10). Prior to and post this intervention, participants performed two eccentric cycling bouts (before and after training). At these points, serum concentrations of muscle damage marker (myoglobin), exerkines (interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 15 (IL-15), irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor), hypertrophy-related factors (myostatin, insulin-like growth factor 1), and muscle strength were measured. The applied procedure reduced the physiological burden of the second eccentric cycling bout and myoglobin concentrations only in the group subject to cryostimulation. The same group also exhibited decreased levels of myostatin (from 4.7 ± 1.7 to 3.8 ± 1.8 ng·mL⁻¹, p < 0.05). A significant and large interaction between the group × time was noted in IL-15 concentration (p = 0.01,

η_{p}^{2} = 0.27

). Training and cryostimulation induced a positive and likely significant improvement of isokinetic muscle strength. Altogether, obtained results support the claim that resistance training combined with cold exposure modified muscle strength through modulation of myostatin and IL-15 concentrations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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20 pages, 2140 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cold Water Swimming—Benefits and Risks: A Narrative Review

by Beat Knechtle, Zbigniew Waśkiewicz, Caio Victor Sousa, Lee Hill and Pantelis T. Nikolaidis

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(23), 8984; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17238984 - 02 Dec 2020

Cited by 49 | Viewed by 45973

Abstract

Cold water swimming (winter or ice swimming) has a long tradition in northern countries. Until a few years ago, ice swimming was practiced by very few extreme athletes. For some years now, ice swimming has been held as competitions in ice-cold water (colder than 5 °C). The aim of this overview is to present the current status of benefits and risks for swimming in cold water. When cold water swimming is practiced by experienced people with good health in a regular, graded and adjusted mode, it appears to bring health benefits. However, there is a risk of death in unfamiliar people, either due to the initial neurogenic cold shock response or due to a progressive decrease in swimming efficiency or hypothermia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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8 pages, 437 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

A Comparison of the Acute Effects of Different Forms of Yoga on Physiological and Psychological Stress: A Pilot Study

by Mallory Marshall, McKenzie McClanahan, Sarah McArthur Warren, Rebecca Rogers and Christopher Ballmann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17(17), 6090; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ijerph17176090 - 21 Aug 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 7935

Abstract

Yoga is a frequently recommended stress management strategy; however, the acute stress response to varying types of yoga are not fully clear. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the acute effects of meditative and power yoga on indices of physiological and psychological stress. In a crossover counterbalanced design, physically active females (n = 13; age = 20.8 yrs ± 0.8, height = 164.5 cm ± 6.1, body mass = 65.0 kg ± 13.8) who did not regularly participate in yoga or mindful training enrolled in this study. Participants completed two visits each, with a standardized instructional-video 30-min yoga session with either A) meditative (Hatha style) yoga or B) power (Vinyasa style) yoga. Prior to and immediately after each yoga bout, psychological stress was assessed using the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire, and salivary cortisol samples were obtained to measure indices of physiological stress. State anxiety scores were significantly lower following meditative yoga (p = 0.047) but were not different following power yoga (p = 0.625). Salivary cortisol levels were significantly lower following meditative yoga (p = 0.020) but not following power yoga (p = 0.242). Results indicate that acute engagement in meditative yoga decreases markers of psychological and physiological stress, while power yoga does not impart a significant stress-relieving benefit. Findings indicate that differing types of yoga may have various stress-relieving capabilities and should be considered by individuals seeking anxiolytic benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise and Sport in Stressful Conditions and Environments)

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