The aim of this study was to determine whether there are associations between cardiovascular fitness (and aerobic capacity) and changes in temporal skin temperature during and after a single bout of high-intensity exercise. Twenty-three men with varying levels of physical activity (VO2max: 59.03 ± 11.19 (ml/kg/min), body mass 71.5 ± 10.4 (kg), body height 179 ± 8 (cm)) participated in the study. Each subject performed an incremental test and, after a 48-h interval, a 110%Pmax power test combined with an analysis of the thermal parameters, heart rate recovery and heart rate variability. Thermal radiation density from the body surface (temple) was measured using a Sonel KT384 thermal imaging camera immediately after warm-up (Tb), immediately after exercise (Te) and 120 sec after the end of exercise (Tr). The differences between measurements were then calculated. The correlation analysis between the thermal and cardiovascular function parameters during the recovery period showed strong positive associations between the Tr-Te difference and measures of cardiovascular fitness (50 < r < 69, p < 0.05). For example, the correlation coefficient between Tr-Te and VO2max reached 0.55 and between Tr-Te and Pmax reached 0.68. The results obtained indicate that the measurement of temporal temperature during and after an intense 3-min bout of exercise can be used to assess aerobic physical capacity and cardiovascular fitness.

Purpose. In most circumstances it is possible to provide the precise estimation of force and weight by means of kinesthetic differentiation. In some conditions, like physical effort or fatigue, kinesthetic differentiation can become reduced. The kinesthetic differentiation capacity can be expressed as repeatability of muscular contraction force or movement. The present study investigates the direction of changes in kinesthetic differentiation of force applied by both arms during elbow flexion and extension before and after exercise. Basic procedures. The study sample consisted of 23 cyclists (mean ± SD) aged 18.1 ± 1.8 years, 17 rowers aged 18.1 ± 1.8 years, and a control group consisting of 32 subjects aged 21.3 ± 1.3 years. All subjects performed a progressive exercise test. Kinesthetic differentiation was measured as the repeatability of force applied during elbow flexion and extension. Main findings. The results obtained confirm that kinesthetic differentiation in both arms after exercise improved by means of elbow extension. Further research can contribute to the development of ways of control of adaptation changes in the central nervous system and the locomotor system on a general level, since the studies so far have described either local changes, e.g. EMG, or provided specific data related to typical patterns of activity in a given sport. Conclusions. The proposed method allows identification of effects of intense exercise on the kinesthetic differentiation capacity on a more general level.

The study was conducted to compare peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) measured with the incremental graded test (GXT) (VO2peak) and two tests to verify maximum oxygen uptake, performed 15 min after the incremental test (VO2peak1) and on a separate day (VO2peak2). The aim was to determine which of the verification tests is more accurate and, more generally, to validate the VO2max obtained in the incremental graded test on cycle ergometer. The study involved 23 participants with varying levels of physical activity. Analysis of variance showed no statistically significant differences for repeated measurements (F = 2.28, p = 0.118, η2 = 0.12). Bland–Altman analysis revealed a small bias of the VO2peak1 results compared to the VO2peak (0.4 ml⋅min–1⋅kg–1) and VO2peak2 results compared to the VO2peak (−0.76 ml⋅min–1⋅kg–1). In isolated cases, it was observed that VO2peak1 and VO2peak2 differed by more than 5% from VO2peak. Considering the above, it can be stated that among young people, there are no statistically significant differences between the values of VO2peak measured in the following tests. However, in individual cases, the need to verify the maximum oxygen uptake is stated, but performing a second verification test on a separate day has no additional benefit.

This experiment examined changes in body sway after Wingate test (WAnT) in 19 adolescents practicing alpine skiing, subjected to the same type of training load for 4–5 years (10 girls and nine boys). The postural examinations were performed with eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and sway reverenced vision (SRV) in the medial-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) planes. The displacement of center of foot pressure (CoP), range of sway (RS), mean sway velocity (MV), way length, and surface area were measured in bipedal upright stance before and after the WAnT to assess the influence of fatigue on postural balance. There were no significant differences in WAnT parameters between girls and boys. Relative peak power (RPP), relative total work (RWtot) were (girls vs. boys) 8.89 ± 0.70 vs. 9.57 ± 1.22 W/kg, p < 0.05 and 227.91 ± 14.98 vs. 243.22 ± 30.24 W/kg, p < 0.05 respectively. The fatigue index (FI) was also on similar level in both genders; however, blood lactate concentration (BLa) was significantly higher in boys (10.35 ± 1.16 mM) than in girls (8.67 ± 1.35 mM) p = 0.007. In the EO examination, statistically significant differences between resting and fatigue conditions in the whole group and after the division into girls and boys were found. In fatigue conditions, significant gender differences were noted for measurements in the ML plane (sway path and RS) and RS in the AP plane. Comparison of the three conditions shows differences between EO vs. EC and SRV in AP plane measured parameters, and for RS in ML plane in rest condition in girls. The strong correlations between FI and CoP parameters mainly in ML plane in the whole group for all examination conditions were noted. By genders, mainly RS in ML plane strongly correlates with FI (r > 0.7). No correlation was found between BLa and CoP parameters (p > 0.06). The presented results indicate that subjecting adolescents of both genders to the same training may reduce gender differences in the postural balance ability at rest but not in fatigue conditions and that girls are significantly superior in postural balance in the ML plane than boys. It was also shown that too little or too much information may be destructive to postural balance in young adolescents.

Purpose. the unstable environment and the swaying, rolling, and pitching motions experienced when offshore sailing may disturb motor function and negatively affect personal safety. the aim of the study was to investigate changes in lower limb kinaesthetic sense in sailors after spending time onboard a seagoing vessel. Methods. the study involved 39 subjects, of which 13 were professional sailors (PS) (age = 22.56 ± 0.83 years), 13 were recreational sailors (rS) (age = 31.50 ± 7.35 years), and 13 served as a non-sailor group (NS) (age = 21.02 ± 0.82 years) with no sailing experience. PS attended a 1-month on-sea training course, rS attended a 1-month seagoing cruise, and NS did not sail or participate in any congruent activity during the study duration. Kinaesthetic sense was quantified before and after the interventions by a force-matching task in which the force production accuracy (FPA) was measured on a customdesigned kinesthesiometer. the participants performed 5 right and left single-leg extensions at a force perceived to be equal to 10 kg (98 N). Results. right and left limb FPA increased in PS by 0.70% and 79.12% and in rS by 18.97% and 20.26%, respectively. In NS, right and left FPA decreased by 6.97% and 1.42%, respectively. Only the difference for left limb FPA in the PS group achieved statistical significance (p = 0.0006). Conclusions. A 1-month sailing intervention reduced lower limb kinaesthesia as measured by the accuracy of reproducing a pre-specified force magnitude.