Temporal changes in physiological and performance responses across game-specific simulated basketball activity

Purpose: The aims of this study were to:(1) provide a comprehensive physiological profile of simulated basketball activity and(2) identify temporal changes in player responses in controlled settings.Methods: State-level male basketball players(n = 10) completed 4 × 10 min simulated quarters of basketball activity using a reliable and valid courtbased test. A range of physiological(ratings of perceived exertion, blood lactate concentration([BLa~—]), blood glucose concentration([BGlu]), heart rate(HR), and hydration) and physical(performance and fatigue indicators for sprint, circuit, and jump activity) measures were collected across testing.Results: Significantly reduced [BLa~—](6.19 ± 2.30 vs. 4.57 ± 2.33 mmol/L; p = 0.016) and [BGlu](6.91 ± 1.57 vs. 5.25 ± 0.81 mmol/L;p = 0.009) were evident in the second half. A mean HR of 180.1 ± 5.7 beats/min(90.8% ± 4.0% HR max) was observed, with a significant increase in vigorous activity(77%—95% HR max)(11.31 ± 6.91 vs. 13.50 ± 6.75 min; p = 0.024) and moderate decrease in near-maximal activity(>95% HR_(max))(7.24 ± 7.45 vs. 5.01 ± 7.20 min) in the second half. Small increases in performance times accompanied by a significantly lower circuit decrement(11.67% ± 5.55% vs. 7.30% ± 2.16%; p = 0.032) were apparent in the second half.Conclusion: These data indicate basketball activity imposes higher physiological demands than previously thought and temporal changes in responses might be due to adapted pacing strategies as well as fatigue-mediated mechanisms.

Effect of different intensities of physical activity on cardiometabolic markers and vascular and cardiac function in adult rats fed with a high-fat high-carbohydrate diet

Background: Physical activity(PA) and diet are 2 lifestyle factors that affect cardiometabolic risk. However, data on how a high-fat highcarbohydrate(HFHC) diet influences the effect of different intensities of PA on cardiometabolic health and cardiovascular function in a controlled setting are yet to be fully established. This study investigated the effect of sedentary behavior, light-intensity training(LIT), and high-intensity interval training(HIIT) on cardiometabolic markers and vascular and cardiac function in HFHC-fed adult rats.Methods: Twelve-week-old Wistar rats were randomly allocated to 4 groups(12 rats/group): control(CTL), sedentary(SED), LIT, and HIIT.Biometric indices, glucose and lipid control, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, vascular reactivity, and cardiac electrophysiology of the experimental groups were examined after 12 weeks of HFHC-diet feeding and PA interventions.Results: The SED group had slower cardiac conduction(p = 0.0426) and greater thoracic aortic contractile responses(p < 0.05) compared with the CTL group. The LIT group showed improved cardiac conduction compared with the SED group(p = 0.0003), and the HIIT group showed decreased mesenteric artery contractile responses compared with all other groups and improved endothelium-dependent mesenteric artery relaxation compared with the LIT group(both p < 0.05). The LIT and HIIT groups had lower visceral(p = 0.0057 for LIT, p = 0.0120 for HIIT)and epididymal fat(p < 0.0001 for LIT, p = 0.0002 for HIIT) compared with the CTL group.Conclusion: LIT induced positive adaptations on fat accumulation and cardiac conduction, and HIIT induced a positive effect on fat accumulation,mesenteric artery contraction, and endothelium-dependent relaxation. No other differences were observed between groups. These findings suggest that few positive health effects can be achieved through LIT and HIIT when consuming a chronic and sustained HFHC diet.