ECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01
INTRODUCTION: Field hockey is a team sport with extremely high demands on physical fitness, and players’ running capacity and level of aerobic metabolism directly affect match performance[1]. This study aims to analyze the match running characteristics of elite Chinese male field hockey players and explore their correlation with maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂ max), thereby providing recommendations for future training. METHODS: The subjects were 14 male field hockey players from the Liaoning provincial team (age 26.6 ± 4.8 years, height 178 ± 5.3 cm, body mass 75.6 ± 8.6 kg). Running data were collected during 12 official matches using a GPS device (K-Sport, Italy), including total distance, distances in speed zones (Z1: 0–16.2 km/h; Z2: 16.2–19.8 km/h; Z3: 19.8–27 km/h; Z4: >27 km/h), high-speed running distance, and number of sprints. VO₂ max was measured using a treadmill with an incremental load protocol (MetaMax 2B, Cortex, Germany), recording both relative VO₂ max (Re) and absolute VO₂ max (Ab). Data were analyzed with SPSS 27 using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson correlation tests. RESULTS: The team’s average total running distance in a match was 5863 ± 755 m, with an average running distance of 115 ± 7 m per minute, high-speed running distance is 20±7 meters per minute, sprint distance was 5±2 m per minute. Correlation analysis showed that all running performance metrics were positively correlated with relative VO₂ max. The strongest correlation was observed between the number of sprints and relative VO₂ max (r=0.451, P<0.01), followed by high-intensity running distance (Z4, r=0.403, P<0.01), sprint distance (r=0.390, P<0.01), and sprint distance per minute (r=0.373, P<0.01). Maximum speed (r=0.312), high-speed running distance (r=0.318), distance in Z3 (r=0.291), high-speed running distance per minute (r=0.289), and distance per minute (r=0.247) also showed highly significant positive correlations with relative VO₂ max (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Position-specific differences further suggest that forwards and midfielders demonstrate greater high-intensity running demands, whereas defenders show lower sprint and high-speed running outputs. Players’ running performance in field hockey is closely related to their cardiorespiratory aerobic capacity, and high-intensity running and sprinting ability depend on a higher VO₂ max. Therefore, improving VO₂ max through targeted aerobic and high-intensity interval training should be a central objective to enhance match physical performance, in addition, prior research suggests that field hockey conditioning programs should emphasize both aerobic endurance and the ability to perform repeated short sprints[2]. Conditioning programs should remain position-specific, while also promoting balanced fitness development across intensity domains. Overall, aerobic capacity represents a key physiological foundation underpinning match physical demands in elite Chinese male field hockey players. 1.Boyle PM et al., (1994) 2.Cai,(2016).
Read CV Guangxu ZhouECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01
INTRODUCTION: Individual time trials (ITT) represent a key discipline in road cycling, requiring the integration of multiple physiological and performance determinants, such as aerobic power, pacing strategy, and gross efficiency [1]. However, the longitudinal progression of ITT performance from youth categories to the World Tour level is scarcely researched. Therefore, the aim of this case study was to analyze longitudinal changes in mean power output and heart rate during ITT in an elite, World Tour level cyclist. METHODS: Performance data from the best annual ITT of a male World Tour cyclist (age: 23 y; height: 183 cm; body mass: 65.2 kg; estimated maximal oxygen uptake: 84 mL·kg-1·min-1 [2]; functional threshold power: 395 W) were retrospectively analyzed from 2018 (national youth level, age 15 years) to 2025 (World Tour level, age 22 years). All performance data were obtained from official national and international competitions, and were collected using on-bike power meters. Power output (absolute and relative) and heart rate, as well as distance, duration, and elevation gain, were extracted from the power meter. Changes over time were analyzed using Pearson correlations. Significance was accepted at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Strong correlations were observed between year and both absolute and relative mean power output (r = 0.89, p = 0.003 for both). Mean power during the ITTs increased substantially from 332 W (4.99 W·kg-1) in 2018 to 373 W (5.72 W·kg-1) in 2025, representing increases of 12.3% and 14.6%, respectively. Consistent with the changes in power output, a strong negative correlation was also found between year and mean heart rate during the ITTs (r = -0.87, p = 0.005). In contrast to power output, mean heart rate decreased substantially over time, declining from an average of 181 beats·min-1 to 171 beats·min-1 (5.5%). CONCLUSION: This case study provides novel insight into the progression of ITT power output and heart rate responses in an elite World Tour cyclist. Although the cyclist was already highly talented in 2018 and became an under-23 national ITT champion in 2021, large gains in mean ITT power output (12-14%) could still be achieved despite his already high training status. Interestingly, his gains in power output were achieved despite a decreased mean heart rate, suggesting that in addition to increased cardiac output, other mechanisms such as pacing strategies, aerodynamic position, and mental toughness might also play an important role in improving ITT performance. References [1] Lucia A, Hoyos J, Chicharro JL. Sports Med. 2001;31(5):325-337. [2] Sitko S, Cirer-Sastre R, Corbi F, Lopez-Laval I. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021;17(1):9-15.
Read CV Aitor Alberdi-GarciandiaECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01
INTRODUCTION: High-intensity interval training is a time-efficient strategy widely used to improve performance and fitness. We previously showed that brief vascular occlusion applied at exhaustion prolongs intracellular signalling and increases antioxidant capacity, responses that depend on muscle oxygenation and metabolite accumulation during recovery from intense exercise. Imposing ischaemia during recovery may therefore prolong cellular stress and potentiate training adaptations. This study tested whether adding post-exercise ischaemia to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) enhances physiological and performance adaptations. METHODS: Nineteen physically active males completed a 12-wk HIIT (3 d/wk; intervals at 85–100% of VO₂max). Participants were randomised to free circulation (CON) or ischaemic recovery (OCLU) with matched training volume. In OCLU, each recovery began with cycling with total vascular occlusion (5–10 s), extended for 20-50s while the subjects rested on the bike. Before and after training, participants performed an incremental test, repeated exercise at 120% VO₂max to assess the functional reserve, a double Wingate separated by 20-s occlusion, a 6-min performance test, and DEXA. Statistics: two-way mixed ANOVA. RESULTS: VO₂max increased in both groups (p<0.001) with similar gains in OCLU (+9.8%) and CON (+7.7%) without interaction. Wmax also increased similarly (p<0.001), including LLM-normalised values (+16.8% vs +6.3%). During the first bout at 120% VO₂max, TTE increased similarly (+71.5% vs +70.5%, p<0.001). Work·kg LLM⁻¹ increased markedly (+68.6% and +74.2%, p<0.001), attained VO₂ rose (~10–14%, p<0.001), and anaerobic contribution decreased (~−34%, p<0.05). Ventilatory responses differed: VE/VCO₂ increased in OCLU but decreased in CON (interaction p=0.011), whereas PETCO₂ decreased in OCLU but increased in CON (interaction p=0.013). The functional reserve improved, with work·kg LLM⁻¹ increasing +22.9% (OCLU) and +12.9% (CON) (p=0.001) without interaction; absolute work rose similarly (~23–26%, p<0.001) and O₂ deficit was unchanged (p>0.05). Double Wingate performance improved, especially bout 2 (p<0.05). Mean power and total work increased (p<0.001), whereas peak power did not (p>0.05). Six-min performance increased similarly (~13%, p<0.01) with reduced HRmean (p<0.05). Body composition showed interactions: fat mass ↓ and lean mass ↑ in OCLU but not CON (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: HIIT improved aerobic capacity and high-intensity performance irrespective of recovery condition. These data provide experimental evidence that functional reserve is trainable. The absence of additional performance gains with post-exercise ischaemia indicates that the additional stimulus was insufficient to further enhance the adaptation to HIIT. Differential ventilatory responses and reduced anaerobic contribution may reflect a shift toward a more oxidative phenotype. PDC2025-165723-I00; CSD (EXP_75097); SD-24/03 (ID 877) CUCIC.
Read CV Francisco Ramos-AlmeidaECSS Paris 2023: CP-AP01