Balasekaran, Govindasamy

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of soy protein supplementation to improve performance and recovery during repeated running anaerobic sprint test (RAST). Ten males (age: 23.2 ± 1.23 yrs) performed two RAST with a soy milk intervention (SOY; 500 mL soy milk + 4 g stevia sweetener) and a placebo control (CON; 500 mL water + 4 g stevia sweetener) over 7 days. The RAST consisted of six 35-m sprints with a 10-sec recovery between each sprint. The total effort time (sec) was not significant between SOY (32.77 ± 1.23) and CON (33.28 ± 1.71) (P = 0.179). Fatigue index in SOY (31.64 ± 5.20) was significantly lower than CON (37.30 ± 5.70) (P = 0.023). Mean power (Watts) (Soy: 499.27 ± 62.72, Con: 486.39 ± 86.13) (P = 0.410), relative power (Watts) (Soy: 9.34 ± 1.02, Con: 9.55 ± 1.51) (P = 0.461), peak blood lactate (mmol·L-1) (Soy: 9.75 ± 1.61, Con: 10.24 ± 1.90) (P = 0.488), and peak blood glucose (mmol·L-1) (Soy: 23.94 ± 3.90, Con: 25.09 ± 4.61) (P = 0.497) between trials were not significant. Peak blood lactate (r = -0.654) and glucose (r = -0.662) concentrations were inversely associated with mean power in the SOY trial. The results indicate that the soy milk intervention in RAST significantly lowered the fatigue index and, therefore, may be used to enhance sports performance involving anaerobic activities.

The purpose of this study was to utilize the Running Energy Reserve Index (RERI) model and two-trial procedure to predict all-out athletic performances. Twenty-nine trained athletes tested for differences between RERI_E and RERI_spd (hypothesis 1). Six sprint trained (ST), six middle distance (MD), and six endurance trained (ET) athletes were selected to test for differences in the value of the constant. The prediction of all-out run performances using the RERI model (hypothesis 2) and two treadmill trials procedure (hypothesis 3) were tested on eighteen trained athletes. Lastly, three trained athletes were utilized to predict all-out running performances utilizing two track trials equation (hypothesis 3). RERI_E and RERI_spd were significantly different between ST, MD, and ET athletes. The RERI_E model with a fixed c_E value of 0.0185 s⁻¹ predicted all-out running performances to within an average of 2.39 ± 2.04% (R² = 0.99, n_T = 252) for all athletes, with treadmill trials to within an average of 2.26 ± 1.89% (R² = 0.99, n_T = 203) and track trials to within an average of 2.95 ± 2.51% (R² = 0.99, n_T = 49). The two trials equations predicted all-out track performances to within errors of 2.43%. The RERI model may be accurate in determining running performances of 200 m and 5000 m, and treadmill performances ranging between 5 and 1340 s with a high level of accuracy. In addition, the two-trial procedure can be used to determine short and middle distance running performances of athletes and world-class runners.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of classroom-based Brain Breaks® Physical Activity Solution in Southeast Asia Singaporean primary school students and their attitude towards physical activity (PA) over a ten-week intervention. A total of 113 participants (8-11 years old) were randomly assigned to either an experimental (EG) or a control group (CG), with six classes to each group; the Brain Breaks® group (EG: six classes) and the Control group (CG: six classes). All EG members participated in a Brain Breaks® video intervention (three-five min) during academic classes and the CG continued their lessons as per normal. The student's attitudes towards PA in both research conditions were evaluated using the self-reported Attitudes toward Physical Activity Scale (APAS), applied before and after intervention. The effects of the intervention on APAS scores were analysed using a mixed model analysis of variance with Time as within-subject and Group as between-subject factors. The analysis revealed evidence in support of the positive effect of classroom video interventions such as Brain Breaks® on student's attitudes toward benefits, importance, learning, self-efficacy, fun, fitness, and trying to do their personal best in PA. The Brain Breaks® intervention provided a positive significant impact on students in Singapore. This study also revealed that interactive technology tools implemented into the school curriculum benefit students in terms of health and education.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify a normalized RPE response at ventilatory breakpoint (Vpt) for male adolescents 13-17 years old, and whether these adolescents could self-regulate at target RPEs of 4 and 6.
METHODS: Twenty healthy males participated in the study, with 10 males in each of the cycling and walking/running groups. Participants performed orientation and V̇O2peak trials before performing a perceptual estimation exercise trial to obtain RPE Vpt, and two production trials to assess self-regulation ability.
RESULTS: Vpt corresponded to 67.7% V̇O2peak for the cycling group and 70.4% V̇O2peak for the walking/running group. There were no group differences on RPE-Overall Vpt (cycling: 4.6; walking/running: 4.4), RPE-Legs Vpt (cycling: 5.4; walking/running: 4.6), and RPE-Chest Vpt (cycling: 4.0; walking/running: 4.8). A normalized RPE-Overall Vpt response was identified at five. V̇O2 did not differ between the estimation and production trials at targets RPE of 4 (1.59 vs. 1.57 L·min-1) and 6 (1.87 vs. 1.79 L·min-1). Similarly, heart rate (HR) did not differ between estimation and production trials at targets RPE 4 (152.4 vs. 151.1 beats·min-1) and 6 (167.1 vs. 162.4 beats·min-1). Both V̇O2 and HR were significantly higher at RPE 6 compared to RPE 4. Responses were not affected by exercise mode or production sequence.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that undifferentiated and differentiated RPE Vpt were similar between cycling and walking/running participants. Male adolescents between 13- and 17-year-olds were able to use the OMNI scale to self-regulate exercise intensities that would be useful in field settings.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to an acceleration of innovative technological ideas in the sporting industry. People had to learn to adapt and make changes in their sporting habits or physical activity (PA) during lockdown. Purpose: This study investigated the effects of COVID-19 on the levels of PA and sporting industry in Singapore. A total of 1,000 participants (≥21 years old) volunteered in this virtual survey. The survey collected participants’ levels of PA according to exercise intensity and type of PA. The findings revealed that 61.5% of participants (n = 795) participated in PA and expended more than 500 METs-minute/week. 23.8% of participants had an increase in PA, 40.3% of participants maintained their PA and 25.5% of participants had a decrease in PA. 49.6% of participants used online visual programmers (OVP) as part of their PA. More individuals are utilising OVP and home sporting equipment in place of their usual exercise facilities. Sporting industries are switching to virtual platforms to further engage consumers, which may have ensued in the increase in PA for 23.8% of participants. Therefore, this may have resulted in an increase or sustainability of revenue for certain sporting industries (e.g., gym equipment).