European Journal Of Applied Physiology[JOURNAL]
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200 papers
Caffeinated chewing gum improves military performances in special forces soldiers.
Shiu YJ, Chen CH, Lin HY … +5 more , Yang CC, Yen CW, Chang HY, Chen HT, Chiu CH
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42142184 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on the cognitive tasks, strength and military performance of tier 1 special forces soldiers in Taiwan. METHODS: Sixteen male se...
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of caffeinated chewing gum on the cognitive tasks, strength and military performance of tier 1 special forces soldiers in Taiwan. METHODS: Sixteen male serving special forces soldiers (age: 34 ± 7 years; height: 172 ± 4 cm; BMI: 25.4 ± 2.7 kg/m²) completed the caffeinated chewing gum (CAF) trial and the placebo (PL) trial using a randomised crossover experimental design. After chewing the caffeinated chewing gum containing 3 mg·kg of caffeine (CAF trial) or placebo gum (PL trial), participants completed the cognitive tasks, grip strength, weighted vertical jump and the special forces military performance tests which included rapid-fire test and close-quarters battle (CQB) tests. Before, during, and after the experiment, the heart rate variability and salivary α-amylase were collected. RESULTS: Grip strength (increase 4.4 ± 7.1 kg; P = 0.037), weighted vertical jump height (increase 1.3 ± 2.1 cm; P = 0.032), cognitive tasks (simple response times, stroop task and visual search reaction time in 20 items) (P < 0.05), shooting scored in rapid-fire test (increase 1.0 ± 2.1 points; P = 0.030), the CQB tests (increase 1.1 ± 1.8 points; P = 0.044) and the completion times of CQB tests (increase 9.8 ± 7.2 s; P = 0.015) of the CAF trial were significantly better than those of the PL trial. The values of LF, LF/HF, salivary caffeine and α-Amylase concentration in the CAF trial were significantly higher compared to the PL trial (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Caffeinated chewing gum may improve military performance and cognitive performance by increasing sympathetic nervous system activity, as indicated by heart rate variability and salivary α-amylase concentration in CAF trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06638372.
A speed-oriented phenotype is beneficial for 1500 m rowing at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Baumann E, van der Vorst EMC, Hofmijster MJ
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42142183 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The shorter rowing course at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which is 1500 m instead of 2000 m, potentially alters the physiological demands of racing. This study aims to elucidate whether the shortened distance...
PURPOSE: The shorter rowing course at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, which is 1500 m instead of 2000 m, potentially alters the physiological demands of racing. This study aims to elucidate whether the shortened distance favours rowers with a more speed-oriented phenotype, using two non-invasive profiling approaches: locomotor profiling and force-velocity (F-v) profiling. METHODS: Nine nationally competitive male rowers completed 2000 m and 1500 m rowing ergometer time trials. Peak power tests and graded exercise tests were used to determine the athletes' locomotor profiles expressed as Power Reserve Ratio (PRR) and loaded back squat testing was performed to establish individual F-v profiles. Relative performance was expressed as the ratio between mean power output of the 1500 m and 2000 m time trials (MPO). RESULTS: PRR showed a strong positive correlation with MPO (r = 0.61), indicating that athletes with a more speed-oriented locomotor profile performed relatively better over the shorter distance. F-v slope demonstrated a moderate positive correlation with MPO (r = 0.36), which became very strong after excluding an outlier (r = 0.88). CONCLUSION: Together, these findings support the notion that the shortened Olympic rowing distance places greater emphasis on speed -ability, a challenge that suits athletes leaning towards a more speed-oriented phenotype. While aerobic capacity remains essential in 1500 m rowing, subtle adjustments in athlete selection and training toward increased anaerobic and explosive qualities may optimize performance at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
What are the neurological, neurovascular, and psychological responses to stretching across the general population?
Behm DG, Warneke K, Blazevich AJ … +1 more , Afonso J
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42133057 · Publisher ↗
Stretching is extensively studied and implemented to improve flexibility, as a component of warm-ups to prepare for activity, to mitigate musculotendinous injury risk, improve cardiovascular health parameters, and optimi...
Stretching is extensively studied and implemented to improve flexibility, as a component of warm-ups to prepare for activity, to mitigate musculotendinous injury risk, improve cardiovascular health parameters, and optimize post-exercise recovery, among others. However, less attention has focused on the effects of stretching on neurological, neurovascular, and psychological outcomes. Stress represents a pervasive element in contemporary life, with chronic mental and physical stress contributing to adverse health consequences. Evidence suggests that a bout of stretching can acutely increase sympathetic activation stimulation. However, following both acute and chronic stretching, direct and indirect measures of stress show improvements, including reductions in heart rate, blood pressure, sympathetic‒parasympathetic control, cortisol release, and psychological stress (e.g., anxiety scales) along with modifications in heart rate variability and other related changes. This review synthesizes current knowledge regarding stretch-induced adaptations to neurological, neurovascular, and psychological parameters and is intended to assist researchers, health and fitness professionals, university level students, and informed fitness enthusiasts. Based on this growing literature base, we propose evidence-based practical applications that still warrant further scientific investigation.
Effect of sodium bicarbonate on performance and markers of kidney and gastrointestinal injury during repeated sprints in the heat.
Specht JW, Ramirez M, Raef J … +11 more , Schwartz M, Bailly AR, Chavez O, Kumbasar O, Dawson JX, Apodaca J, Freire R, Atkins WC, de Castro Magalhães F, Siegler J, Amorim FT
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42133056 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: We tested the hypotheses that sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation improves performance, reduces markers of acute kidney injury (AKI) risk, and increases markers of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) during...
PURPOSE: We tested the hypotheses that sodium bicarbonate (SB) supplementation improves performance, reduces markers of acute kidney injury (AKI) risk, and increases markers of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) during repeated sprints in the heat. METHODS: Using a double-blind design, 10 recreationally endurance-trained participants ingested 0.2 g/kg of body weight of SB or placebo before cycling in the heat (dry-bulb: 40 °C, relative humidity: 20%). Exercise bouts included a 22-min warm-up, then 4-sets of 5 × 6-sec maximal-effort standing cycling sprints. Core temperature (Tc) was measured at baseline, end of warm-up, after set two of sprints, and post-exercise bouts. Urine and plasma collected pre-ingestion and pre-, post-, and 1-h post-exercise were analyzed for markers of AKI risk, AGI, and endotoxemia. RESULTS: SB increased peak (average difference between conditions: 21 ± 11 W, condition effect: p = 0.02) and average (p = 0.03) power across the sprints. Tc increased from pre- to post-exercise (placebo: Δ1.3 ± 0.3 °C, SB: Δ1.4 ± 0.4 °C, time effect: p < 0.001), but there were no effects of condition or interaction. Exercise increased the primary marker of AKI (urinary IGFBP7×TIMP-2, time effect: p = 0.005) but not urinary NGAL. There were no condition or interaction effects for either AKI marker. Plasma I-FABP, a marker of AGI, increased post-exercise bouts (placebo: Δ291 ± 550 pg/mL, SB: Δ397 ± 482 pg/mL, p = 0.03), with no condition or interaction effects. There were no significant effects for markers of endotoxemia (LBP, sCD14). CONCLUSIONS: SB supplementation improves repeat sprint performance in the heat without altering Tc, markers of AKI risk, or markers of AGI.
Validity of energy expenditure from combined accelerometry and heart rate during load carriage in adults with overweight to mild obesity.
Dossou J, Majed L, Townsend N
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42133055 · Publisher ↗
The primary aim of this study was to examine the validity of energy expenditure (EE) estimated via branched chain modeling (BCM) during treadmill walking with a weighted vest. Thirteen sedentary adults with overweight/mi...
The primary aim of this study was to examine the validity of energy expenditure (EE) estimated via branched chain modeling (BCM) during treadmill walking with a weighted vest. Thirteen sedentary adults with overweight/mild obesity [M = 11, F = 2; 29.0 (5.5) yr; maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O): 27.4 (2.0) mL·kg·min body mass index (BMI) = 29.6 (3.0)] were recruited. Participants completed a ramp incremental and steady-state walking (4.0, 4.5, 5.0, and 5.5 km·h) whilst wearing weighted vest (10% body mass; VEST) and unweighted control (CON). EE was estimated via indirect calorimetry (EE) and BCM (EE), using a combined accelerometry/heart rate (HR) sensor (ActiHeart 5), and cardiorespiratory responses were determined from gas analysis. Limits of agreement (LoA) and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) were used to assess validity of EE. Repeated-measures ANOVA (conditionvelocity) was used to examine physiological responses. Significant main effects of VEST included elevated oxygen consumption (V̇O; ml.kg.min;p < 0.001), ventilation (p < 0.001), respiratory exchange ratio (RER; p < 0.001), HR (p < 0.001), and both EE (p < 0.001) and EE (p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between EE and EE in both CON (CCC = 0.80) and VEST (CCC = 0.82). Mean bias (95% LoA) between EE and EE was - 6.7 (-71.5,58.2) J·kg·min (CON) and 3.6 (-50.3,57.6) J·kg·min (VEST). Adults with overweight/mild obesity demonstrated an increase in EE during treadmill walking with a weighted vest. BCM was sensitive to this increase and also to treadmill velocity., However the agreement in estimated EE between indirect calorimetry and BCM was marginal for both CON and VEST conditions, and thus not interchangeable.
Electrical stimulation reduces post-exercise muscle stiffness and enhances flexibility in hamstring muscles.
Uehara H, Itoigawa Y, Morikawa D … +6 more , Tsurukami H, Saigo Y, Hatae F, Yoshimura Y, Yoshida K, Ishijima M
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42133054 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Post-exercise increases in muscle stiffness contribute to reduced muscle flexibility and increased injury risk. While electrical stimulation (ES) is used for recovery, its effect on muscle stiffness remains uncl...
PURPOSE: Post-exercise increases in muscle stiffness contribute to reduced muscle flexibility and increased injury risk. While electrical stimulation (ES) is used for recovery, its effect on muscle stiffness remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ES on hamstring muscle stiffness following eccentric exercise. METHODS: Fifteen healthy men participated in this study. Hamstring muscle stiffness (shear modulus), flexibility (passive straight leg raise angle), and maximal isometric knee flexion force were measured before and after a standardized leg curl exercise, and then at 0, 30, and 60 min following ES on one leg. The contralateral leg served as a control. ES was applied using interferential current in the device's three-dimensional mode for 10 min at an intensity that induced visible muscle contraction. RESULTS: The leg curl exercise increased the stiffness in the semitendinosus (ST) and semimembranosus (SM). In the ST, the stiffness was significantly decreased at 30 min after ES (16.4 ± 8.36 kPa) compared with that immediately after exercise (22.1 ± 11.0 kPa). The passive straight leg raise angle was decreased after exercise and gradually increased over time, with faster recovery observed when ES was applied. Isometric knee flexion force decreased after exercise but did not significantly improve after ES. CONCLUSION: The application of ES following eccentric exercise may reduce stiffness in the ST and SM muscles and improve flexibility. These findings suggest a potential role for ES in post-exercise recovery protocols. Further investigation is needed to determine the long-term effects and optimal protocols for different muscle groups.
Normoxic brain endurance training is associated with cognitive and oculomotor performance during acute hypoxia.
Xu S, Xue Z, Lu J … +6 more , Wang R, Tan Y, Gan J, Zheng T, Bao D, Chen Y
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42133053 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Acute hypoxia can impair processing speed and visual search. In this exploratory non-randomised controlled study, we examined whether normoxic brain endurance training (BET) is associated with cognitive and ocul...
PURPOSE: Acute hypoxia can impair processing speed and visual search. In this exploratory non-randomised controlled study, we examined whether normoxic brain endurance training (BET) is associated with cognitive and oculomotor performance during acute hypoxic exposure. METHODS: Thirteen adults (7 females) completed a 6-week BET programme, while 23 separately recruited control participants (10 females) did not. Both groups were tested under normobaric hypoxia (fraction of inspired oxygen, FiO = 0.14, simulated 3,200 m). Participants performed a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT), visual search task (VST) with eye tracking, and stop-signal task (SST) before and after a 20-min Stroop task. Linear mixed-effects models (LMMs) tested Group × Time effects; propensity-score sensitivity analyses were conducted. RESULTS: Compared with controls, BET was associated with faster PVT reaction time (p < 0.05, d = - 0.84) and faster VST target and non-target reaction times (both p < 0.001; d = - 2.45 and - 1.70), while maintaining accuracy; VST target accuracy was higher (p < 0.05, d = 0.89). SST outcomes showed no group differences (all p > 0.05). Pupil diameter increased from baseline to post-fatigue (p < 0.05, d = 0.81) with no clear group difference. Saccade duration showed a Group×Time interaction (p < 0.001, partial η² = 0.29), with a larger post-fatigue reduction in the BET group; sensitivity analyses showed consistent directions. CONCLUSION: Normoxic BET was associated with faster processing speed and altered oculomotor behaviour under acute hypoxia, while inhibitory control was unaffected. Findings are exploratory and should be interpreted cautiously given the non-randomised and imbalanced design. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was not prospectively registered.
Determinants and prognostic value of blood pressure trajectories during graded exercise.
Cauwenberghs N, Carlén A, Lindow T … +4 more , Elmberg V, Brudin L, Ekström M, Hedman K
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42101623 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to exercise reflects cardiovascular health, with both exaggerated and blunted responses linked to adverse outcomes. Prior studies relied typically on peak SBP or two-po...
PURPOSE: The systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to exercise reflects cardiovascular health, with both exaggerated and blunted responses linked to adverse outcomes. Prior studies relied typically on peak SBP or two-point slopes for evaluation. We aimed to identify distinct SBP responses from full times-series recorded during maximal, graded exercise and assess their clinical determinants and prognostic relevance. METHODS: In this cohort study, we analysed SBP recordings from 6107 patients (mean age, 55.4 years; 45% women) who underwent maximal cycle ergometry. Group-based trajectory modelling (GBTM) extracted sex-specific responses from absolute SBP and relative change (∆SBP) traces. Associations with clinical factors and incident major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were assessed using ordinal logistic regression and Cox survival analyses, respectively. RESULTS: Per sex, GBTM identified four SBP and four ∆SBP trajectories, with weak overlap between them. Higher SBP and lower ∆SBP trajectories were associated with adverse clinical profiles, including higher age and lower exercise capacity. MACE incidence was highest in the high SBP and low ∆SBP groups, but these response categories did not independently predict MACE after adjustment for resting SBP. Among patients with normotension at rest, however, a high SBP response (along with a low ∆SBP in men) was independently associated with increased MACE risk. Patients presenting both high SBP and low ∆SBP consistently conferred the highest MACE risk. CONCLUSIONS: Time-series analysis of SBP measurements during graded exercise revealed distinct response patterns with value for MACE prediction, particularly in normotensive individuals. Integrating such analyses into exercise testing may refine cardiovascular risk stratification.
The effects of carbonated cold water immersion of the arm during half-time on intermittent exercise performance in the heat.
Choo DHW, Yang HB, Cheong R … +3 more , Ihsan M, Xu C, Choo HC
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42101622 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of half-time cooling via single arm immersion in carbonated water (COWI) during intermittent exercise in the heat (34.63 ± 0.49 °C, 54.2 ± 1.8% relative humidity [RH]). METHODS: Eight m...
PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of half-time cooling via single arm immersion in carbonated water (COWI) during intermittent exercise in the heat (34.63 ± 0.49 °C, 54.2 ± 1.8% relative humidity [RH]). METHODS: Eight male and two female recreational athletes (age: 26 ± 3; height: 176.5 ± 6.2 cm; body mass: 73.3 ± 11.4 kg) completed 2 × 39 min sprint cycling, interspersed by a 13-min single arm cooling (21.79 ± 0.76 °C, 64.5 ± 2.4%RH): (1) cold water immersion (CWI, 9.56 ± 0.60 °C); (2) cold CO water (COWI, 9.37 ± 0.51 °C); and (3) control condition (CON). Rectal (T) and skin temperature (T), heart rate (HR), working memory (serial 7), mean (MPO), peak power output (PPO), thermal sensation, thermal comfort, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and whole-body sweat loss (WBS) were assessed. RESULTS: During cooling, reduction in T was 0.15 °C greater in CWI versus CON only (p = 0.031), and reductions in T were 1.18 °C and 0.38 °C greater in COWI versus CON (p = 0.007) and CWI (p = 0.038). When normalised to the first half, percentage decrease in MPO was greater in CON versus CWI by 4.2% (p = 0.055), whereas percentage change in PPO was similar between conditions (p = 0.280). WBS, thermal comfort, thermal sensation, HR, working memory and RPE were similar between conditions (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: COWI did not have additional ergogenic effects than CWI. Furthermore, both CWI and COWI did not decrease T or improve thermal perception appreciably more than CON.
Correction: Effects of 4-week continuous hypoxic training on skeletal muscle oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy and functional magnetic resonance imaging.
Zhou L, Tu J, Liu M … +4 more , Zhang L, Guo Z, Zhang Y, Bao D
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 Jun · PMID 42091719 · Publisher ↗
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Is there a threshold for use-dependent plasticity? A study of repeated motor skill training in the human lower limbs.
Woodhead A, Norbury R, Hill J … +4 more , Murphy CP, North JS, Kidgell D, Tallent J
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42089992 · Publisher ↗
Use-dependent plasticity, induced by voluntary movement, shares neural mechanisms with stimulation-based approaches but lacks a defined dose-response profile. We tested whether sequential bouts of lower-limb visuomotor t...
Use-dependent plasticity, induced by voluntary movement, shares neural mechanisms with stimulation-based approaches but lacks a defined dose-response profile. We tested whether sequential bouts of lower-limb visuomotor training modulates corticospinal excitability, and whether a threshold exists beyond which further training triggers homeostatic downregulation. Fourteen healthy participants performed two bouts of a force tracking task targeting the knee extensors, separated by 60 min. A control condition matched the experimental timeline without active training. Corticospinal excitability (MEP amplitude), corticospinal inhibition (silent period), short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and spinal excitability (LEP) were measured at baseline and at four post-task time points. Motor performance was assessed via force steadiness. Force steadiness improved across the session (P < 0.05), indicating motor skill learning. No significant changes were observed in MEP amplitude, SICI, or LEP (all P > 0.05). A delayed increase in silent period duration was noted at the final time point (P = 0.032). No session*time interactions were found. Findings suggest that repeated bouts of visuomotor training do not facilitate corticospinal output in the knee extensors. Despite behavioural improvement, neurophysiological markers remained unchanged. The lack of neurophysiological effect may reflect a task-or muscle-specific threshold for inducing plasticity, or a ceiling imposed by homeostatic mechanisms. Contrasting upper-limb protocols, lower-limb motor tasks may require greater intensity/novelty to engage plastic processes. We conclude that, under the conditions tested, the dose of voluntary movement was insufficient to alter corticospinal excitability. Going forwards, researchers should assess whether adaptive responses can be enhanced through modified task parameters or multimodal stimulation.
Differential changes in the effective neural drive following new motor skill acquisition between vastus lateralis and medialis.
Cosentino C, Cabral HV, Dos Santos MA … +3 more , Pourreza E, Inglis JG, Negro F
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42084634 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: To investigate whether short-term acquisition of a new motor task is mediated by changes in common synaptic inputs to motor neurons within and between synergistic muscles. METHODS: Twenty one participants perfor...
PURPOSE: To investigate whether short-term acquisition of a new motor task is mediated by changes in common synaptic inputs to motor neurons within and between synergistic muscles. METHODS: Twenty one participants performed 15 repetitions of a complex force-matching task at 10% of maximal voluntary contraction. Two trials were selected for analysis, the one with the highest force-target error (pre-learning) and the one with the lowest (post-learning). High-density surface electromyograms recorded from vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) were decomposed into motor unit spike trains, and units were tracked between trials. Motor unit discharge behavior and common synaptic oscillations across the delta, alpha, and beta bands were calculated and compared between pre- and post-learning. RESULTS: Force-target matching improved across trials, accompanied by a significant decrease in discharge rate variability in VL (p < 0.001), while the mean discharge rate remained similar (p > 0.14). The area under the curve in delta band coherence decreased for VM (p = 0.01), VL (p < 0.001) and VM-VL motor units (p < 0.001). In contrast, alpha band decreased for VL (p < 0.001), but not for VM (p = 0.41). Notably, reductions in alpha band correlated significantly with performance improvements only in VL (R = 0.77) but not VM. CONCLUSION: The acquisition of a new motor task is mediated by modulations in common synaptic inputs to motor units, leading to improved force control. Our findings suggest muscle-specific associations between these changes in common synaptic inputs and short-term motor learning, particularly in the alpha band.
Position dependent elasticity of the anterior talofibular ligament in healthy young women: an in-vivo shear wave elastography study.
Chen Z, Zhou W, Liang H … +5 more , Liu X, Li Y, Yang L, Xiang H, Du R
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42082749 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the primary restraint to ankle inversion, yet quantitative in vivo data on its elastic behavior across functional positions are limited. Shear wave elastography (SWE)...
PURPOSE: The anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL) is the primary restraint to ankle inversion, yet quantitative in vivo data on its elastic behavior across functional positions are limited. Shear wave elastography (SWE) provides noninvasive estimates of local elastic parameters (surrogate indices of material stiffness rather than direct measures of structural stiffness). We aimed to characterize ATFL SWE-derived parameters in baseline position and examiner-assisted passive maximal-inversion position. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 50 healthy adult female volunteers (aged 20-39) underwent SWE of the dominant-side ATFL using a high-frequency linear transducer in musculoskeletal mode. Three 1 mm diameter circular regions of interest (proximal, middle, and distal) were assessed in both positions, and ATFL length was measured in each posture. Posture-dependent differences were tested with paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests as appropriate. Associations between Shear wave velocity (SWV) and demographic variables were explored using Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: SWV increased significantly from the baseline to examiner-assisted passive maximal-inversion position at all sites (all P < 0.001), rising from 3.21 to 3.45 m/s to 4.04-4.68 m/s. ATFL length increased modestly from 17.0 ± 1.5 mm to 17.4 ± 1.5 mm (P < 0.017). No significant correlations were observed between SWV and age, height, body mass, BMI, or foot length (all P > 0.0017). CONCLUSIONS: In healthy young women, ATFL SWE-derived elastic parameters increase in an examiner-assisted passive maximal-inversion position, consistent with greater mechanical engagement. These posture-specific reference values support future studies in ankle sprain and chronic ankle instability.
Association of moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviour with cardiovascular disease and the mediating role of white blood cells.
Liu Z, Huang D, Hao C … +1 more , He Y
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42082748 · Publisher ↗
AIMS: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of leisure-time physical activity, particularly moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical...
AIMS: Physical activity and sedentary behaviour are major modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of leisure-time physical activity, particularly moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity, on the development of cardiovascular disease remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential mediating role of white blood cell (WBC) count in the associations among moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: We assessed the data of 11,355 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2018. multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations of moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviour with cardiovascular disease. Subgroup mediation analyses were performed to identify potential modifying factors such as age, WBC count, and triglyceride-glucose index. RESULTS: After adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates, our analyses revealed a significant negative association between moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity and cardiovascular disease, while sedentary behaviour (> 7.5 h/day) showed no significant association, with odds ratios close to 1. Furthermore, the results from our subgroup mediation analyses suggested that WBC count partially mediated these associations, particularly in participants aged 41-59 years and those within the triglyceride-glucose index range of 6.719-8.684. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide insight into the inflammatory mechanisms that link moderate-to-vigorous leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviour with reduced cardiovascular disease risk.
Correction: Metabolic energy expenditure during level, uphill, and downhill running.
Looney DP, Hoogkamer W, Kram R
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42068373 · Publisher ↗
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Inadequate fluid replacement during prolonged cycling in the heat impairs time trial performance independent of serum sodium concentrations.
Sage SA, Smaira FI, Aldous JWF … +4 more , Morris MG, Blow A, Tye J, Newell ML
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 May · PMID 42068372 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Hypohydration of ≥ 2% body mass loss (BML) can impair cycling performance in the heat; however, it remains unclear whether this is primarily due to the body water deficit itself or the concomitant, typically obs...
PURPOSE: Hypohydration of ≥ 2% body mass loss (BML) can impair cycling performance in the heat; however, it remains unclear whether this is primarily due to the body water deficit itself or the concomitant, typically observed increase in serum sodium concentration (S). To disentangle these effects, we examined the performance effects of 60% (60FR) vs. 80% (80FR) fluid replacement, designed to achieve > 2% vs < 2% BML, with personalised sodium prescription targeting condition-matched S. METHODS: Eleven male cyclists (35 ± 6 years, VȮ 58 ± 5 ml·kg·min) completed two trials, consisting of 180 min cycling (90% LT, 32 °C, 50% humidity), followed by a work-matched time-trial (TT). Participants received either 60% or 80% of projected fluid losses, along with sodium supplementation aiming to maintain S where dilution of S was predicted. Outcomes included BML, S, plasma volume change (∆PV), rectal (T) and skin (T) temperatures, whole-body sweat rate (WBSR), and TT performance. RESULTS: BML was greater in 60FR at all time-points (P < 0.01), whereas S remained stable across both trials (P = 0.07). In 80FR, ∆PV was smaller during the preload, T was lower from 120 min onwards and T and WBSR were higher during the TT compared to 60FR (all P < 0.05). TT completion time was 8 ± 10% faster in 80FR (1793 ± 174 vs 1968 ± 246 s, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Fluid replacement resulting in BML > 2% impairs thermoregulation and cycling performance in the heat, compared to maintaining BML < 2%, despite no differences in S.
DFAα1 as an intensity-sensitive biomarker for exercise prescription: a prospective cross-sectional study in healthy young adults.
Deng Y, Tang C, Zeng X … +2 more , Zhang Y, Shi L
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 42053805 · Publisher ↗
BACKGROUND: While heart rate variability (HRV) offers a non-invasive alternative for ventilatory thresholds (VTs) estimation, its conventional linear parameters (e.g., RMSSD) exhibit a "floor effect" limiting utility. DF...
BACKGROUND: While heart rate variability (HRV) offers a non-invasive alternative for ventilatory thresholds (VTs) estimation, its conventional linear parameters (e.g., RMSSD) exhibit a "floor effect" limiting utility. DFAα1 is a promising non-linear HRV parameter, reflecting the complex pattern of autonomic regulation. This study evaluated DFAα1 for threshold estimation, intensity monitoring, and recovery assessment. METHODS: 27 healthy adults underwent an incremental cycle ergometer test. VTs were determined via standard criteria, while HRV thresholds (HRVTs) were determined using multiple parameters. A subset (n = 19) then performed low to severe intensity exercise tests (E1-E4) to validate HRV sensitivity and dynamic responses. RESULTS: For HRVT1 vs. VT1: DFAα1-derived HRVT1 exhibited the highest ICC (> 0.60) among all parameters but with a systematic bias; for HRVT2 vs. VT2: DFAα1-derived HRVT2 exhibited moderate-to-high ICC (> 0.60) and RMSSD-derived achieved the highest ICC (0.88-0.95). During E1-E4, DFAα1 and the natural log of RMSSD (LnRMSSD) both decreased during exercise and increased during recovery. During exercise, DFAα1 in E1 and E2 exceeded in E3 and E4, while LnRMSSD was higher in E1 than in E2-E4 (all P < 0.05). During recovery in E2-E4, DFAα1 exceeded baseline, and this rebound was delayed with intensity, while LnRMSSD was lower than baseline with a downward trend. CONCLUSIONS: DFAα1 showed potential for estimating both VTs, retained sensitivity across intensity domains, and showed recovery dynamics proportional to prior intensity. Despite individual variability suggesting use for broad zoning rather than precise estimation, DFAα1 serves as an intensity-sensitive biomarker for individualized exercise prescription.
Inertial moment and axis misalignment are relevant sources of error in isokinetic dynamometry.
Smirnov Z, Mehley D, Mersmann F … +2 more , Arampatzis A, Bohm S
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 42053804 · Publisher ↗
Human in vivo determination of the moment-angle-angular velocity and muscle force-length-velocity relationships is typically based on dynamometry. Although inertial moment and axis misalignment are inevitable during acti...
Human in vivo determination of the moment-angle-angular velocity and muscle force-length-velocity relationships is typically based on dynamometry. Although inertial moment and axis misalignment are inevitable during active joint rotations, their effect on measurement errors during dynamic plantarflexions is unknown. We studied the effect of moment corrections during concentric plantarflexions at five pre-set angular velocities ranging from 45o/s to 270o/s and at the maximal and two submaximal levels of soleus muscle activation in fourteen healthy young participants. Omitting moment corrections led to considerable errors in the maximum measured moment of up to 39.5% and 86.5% in maximal and submaximal plantarflexions, respectively. Measurement errors also affected the time instants and ankle joint angles at which moment maxima were identified. The contribution of inertial moment and axis misalignment corrections to the occurring errors had a large inter-individual variability and depended both on angular velocity and muscle activation level. The contribution of inertial moment increased with angular velocity and muscle activation level, while the contribution of axis misalignment decreased with angular velocity and increased with muscle activation level. Therefore, we posit a strong necessity to account for these two often neglected corrections during dynamic plantarflexions.
Impact of body mass index on blood pressure and cardiovascular adaptation to isometric exercise training.
Swift HT, Farmer CK, Wiles JD
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 42047784 · Publisher ↗
OBJECTIVES: Obesity is characterised by excess adipose tissue, which impairs vascular function and blood pressure (BP) regulation. However, it remains unclear whether adiposity influences the BP-lowering response to isom...
OBJECTIVES: Obesity is characterised by excess adipose tissue, which impairs vascular function and blood pressure (BP) regulation. However, it remains unclear whether adiposity influences the BP-lowering response to isometric exercise training (IET). This randomised-controlled trial explored the impact of body mass index on BP and cardiovascular adaptation following IET. METHODS: 80 participants with normal to high-normal systolic BP (range 120-140 mmHg) were recruited for the study. Participants were randomised into two BMI groups: normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m²; n=40) and high BMI (25-34.9 kg/m²; n=40) and then either performed home-based lower-body IET, 3 times per week, for 4 weeks (each session comprised 4 x 2-minute bouts), or were allocated to the control group. Cardiovascular variables, including BP, total peripheral resistance (TPR), and heart rate variability (HRV), were measured at rest pre- and post-intervention. RESULTS: Overall, there were significant reductions in systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in the IET group compared to control. However, the normal-BMI group had significantly greater reductions in diastolic BP (- 8.5 [- 11.8, - 5.3] mmHg) and MAP (- 9.2 [- 11.9, - 6.6] mmHg) compared to the high-BMI group (dBP: - 2.6 [- 6.2, 1.1]; MAP: -4.7 [- 7.6, - 1.8]). Although TPR was significantly greater in the high-BMI group at week 4 (p=0.022), it was also elevated at baseline, and change-score analyses revealed no significant between-group difference in the magnitude of TPR reduction (Δ p=0.964). CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that BMI may modulate the BP-lowering response to IET, suggesting that individuals with higher BMI may require adjunctive or prolonged interventions to optimise BP reduction.
Acute effect of isometric wall squat on hemodynamic and autonomic status according to hypertensive subtypes in adults.
Duque-Villarejo V, Rosero-Cabrera S, Quiceno-Carmona A … +4 more , Mantilla-Gómez F, Calderón JC, Aristizabal-Ocampo D, Gallo-Villegas J
Eur J Appl Physiol · 2026 Apr · PMID 42020779 · Publisher ↗
PURPOSE: Isometric wall squat training (IWST) is effective at lowering blood pressure (BP), primarily through reductions in total peripheral resistance (TPR). However, it remains unclear whether the effects of IWST diffe...
PURPOSE: Isometric wall squat training (IWST) is effective at lowering blood pressure (BP), primarily through reductions in total peripheral resistance (TPR). However, it remains unclear whether the effects of IWST differ according to hypertension (HTN) subtypes. This study aimed to evaluate the acute hemodynamic and autonomic responses to IWST across hypertensive subtypes in adults. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study that included adults with newly diagnosed HTN, according to a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The hemodynamic and autonomic responses during an IWST session (4-repetition) were evaluated using the Task Force®Monitor device according to their hypertensive subtypes: Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) and systolic-diastolic hypertension (SDH). RESULTS: The participants (n = 74) had an average age of 53.0±6.8 years; 56.7% (n = 42) were men. None of the participants were receiving antihypertensive pharmacological treatment. Compared to SDH subtype, IDH showed a lower increase in TPR (–198.2; 95%CI:–386.4 to − 10.1 dyn·s·m²·cm−⁵; p = 0.039) but a greater increase in sympathetic activity (LF/HF ratio) (1.0; 95%CI:0.3 a 1.8; p = 0.008), during the averaged isometric squat repetitions. Likewise, during the averaged resting intervals, IDH subtype showed greater reductions in TPR (–181.8; 95%CI:–358.8 to − 4.7 dyn·s·m²·cm−⁵; p = 0.044) and a smaller decrease in LF/HF ratio compared to SDH subtype. Following an IWST session, both IDH and SDH subtypes exhibited significant reductions in TPR and DBP (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Acute responses to IWST differ by HTN subtype in untreated individuals. In particular, the IDH subtype appears to derive a more favorable peripheral vascular response. However, the intervention effectively reduced BP across subtypes, supporting its effectiveness as a low-cost, non-pharmacological strategy.
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