Marins, EF, Cabistany, L, Farias, CB, Dawes, J, and Del Vecchio, FB. Effects of personal protective equipment on metabolism and performance during an Occupational Physical Ability Test for Federal Highway Police officers. J Strength Cond Res 34(4): 1093–1102, 2020—Federal Highway Police (FHP) officers perform their duties while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Given the need for officers to wear PPE, it is important to understand the effects this additional load can have on occupational performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of load carriage on physiological, perceptual, and performance responses during an Occupational Physical Ability Test (OPAT). Thirteen male FHP officers completed an OPAT with PPE (WPPE, load = 12.0 kg) and without PPE (NPPE, load = 5.2 kg) in 2 separate sessions in a randomized and counterbalanced order. Metabolic responses (heart rate [HR] and its variability, and blood lactate concentration [Lac]), perceptual (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]), and OPAT performance were measured. Paired t and Wilcoxon tests were used to identify differences between conditions, and 2-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc was performed to analyze the results of Lac between the conditions. Occupational Physical Ability Test completion time was significantly greater in the WPPE condition compared with the NPPE condition (125.9 ± 13.8 vs. 118.3 ± 11 seconds, p < 0.01). Lac after the OPAT was higher in the NPPE condition compared with the WPPE (respectively 11.7 ± 2.7 vs. 9.6 ± 1.5 mmol·L−1, p < 0.05). The HRmax (NPPE = 180.5 ± 8.9 vs. WPPE = 178.3 ± 6.6 b·min–1, p = 0.44) and RPE (NPPE = 8.6 ± 0.8 vs. WPPE = 8.7 ± 1.0, p = 0.77) were not different between conditions. Personal protective equipment reduces performance in specific occupational circuit, changing Lac but without affecting HR and RPE. Strength and conditioning programs for FHP should aim to reduce the negative impact of additional load associate with wearing PPE.

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Marins, EF, Cabistany, L, Bartel, C, Dawes, J, and Del Vecchio, FB. Effects of personal protective equipment on the performance of Federal Highway Policemen in physical fitness tests. J Strength Cond Res 34(1): 11–19, 2020—Personal protective equipment (PPE), worn by police officers, provides protection and can modify physiological and performance responses during physical efforts. Physiological, perceptual, and physical responses were compared with PPE (WPPE) and without PPE (NPPE) among the Brazilian Federal Highway Policemen (FHP). Nineteen (n = 19) FHP completed 2 experimental trials: NPPE and WPPE (load = 8.3 kg). Tests of aerobic and anaerobic power, muscular strength and endurance, as well as change of direction speed (CODS) were performed under both conditions. Heart rate reductions were shown at the second ventilatory threshold (1.4%) and maximal exercise (1.5%) WPPE. In comparison with NPPE, physical performance in the WPPE condition showed decreases in the following: treadmill time at maximal exercise (21%, p < 0.001); time in the isometric trunk test (28.9%, p < 0.001); vertical jump height (11.6 and 10.5%, p < 0.001); standing long jump distance (7.3%, p < 0.001); bar hang time (14.8%, p < 0.05); and CODS (2.6%, p < 0.05). Results indicate that PPE use reduces physical performance of FHP in cardiorespiratory, strength, power, and CODS tests.

Tissues usually super compensate during the period that follow physical exercise. Although this is widely accepted for muscle and glycogen, the compensatory effect is not usually applied to fat tissues. Notwithstanding, evidence for this has been present since the 1970s when it was first suggested that the increased lipogenic activity in response to training might be an adaptation that enables to restore an energy reserve that can be used in times of need. In this context, the present review aimed to summarize information about the effect of detraining on fat metabolism and the physiological responses associated with fat regain. A systematic search on PubMed and Scielo was performed using “training cessation,” “detraining,” “exercise detraining,” and “exercise cessation” combined with “fat tissue,” “adipose tissue,” “adipose metabolism,” and “fat metabolism,” as descriptors. From 377 results, 25 were included in this review, 12 humans and 13 rodents, resulting in a sample of 6772 humans and 613 animals. The analysis provided evidence for fat super compensation, as well as differences in humans and rodents, among different protocols and possible mechanisms for fat gain after exercise cessation. In summary, exercise cessation appears to increase the ability of the adipose tissue to store energy. However, caution should be taken, especially regarding conclusions based on investigations on humans, considering the multiple factors that could affect fat metabolism.

High-intensity intermittent exercise (HIIE) elicits large improvements in health and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). HIIE can be applied with calisthenics exercises to improve strength and endurance. The acute effects of high-intensity circuit training (HICT) considering different CRF on myological variables are unknown. The aim was measure acute effects of HICT in young women considering different levels of CRF. Twelve women were allocated in two groups, who achieve 41mLO 2 •kg -1 •min -1 or more= High Physical Fitness (HPF, n=5) and who achieve less than 41mLO 2 •kg -1 •min -1 = Low Physical Fitness (LPF,n=7). Protocol: 2x4 sets of 20 seconds at maximum intensity (all-out fashion) interspersed with 10 seconds of passive rest (jumping jacks, squat and thrust using 2kg dumbbells, mountain climber, and burpees). Blood samples were collected before, immediately after, 15minutes, 30minutes, one hour and 24 hours after. Heart rate, serum myoglobin, lactate, and creatine kinase (CK) concentration were analyzed. The HR achieved 94.1±3.7% of HR max for LPF and 104.5±20.3% for HPF, p=0.03. The mean of delta lactate was similar between groups. The highest myoglobin has reached at 1h after the exercise protocol, with 50.0±30.2 ng/mL for LPF and 36.9±9.25 ng/mL for HPF. The delta of total CK before and after the exercise protocol shows that the serum CK level in LPF was significantly higher than HPF group (p=0.042). HICT composed by calisthenic protocol produced elevated and similar effects on HRmax, serum lactate and myoglobin in the woman with HPF and LPF. However, LPF group presented higher muscle damage inferred by serum CK concentrations.Key words: Creatine kinase; High-intensity interval training; Myoglobin; Sodiun lactate. Resumo -O exercício intermitente de alta intensidade(HIIE) melhora a saúde e a aptidão cardiorrespiratória(CRF). HIIE pode ser aplicado com exercícios calistênicos para melhorar a força e resistência. Os efeitos agudos do treinamento de alta intensidade(HICT) considerando diferentes CRF em variáveis miológicas são desconhecidos. O objetivo foi medir os efeitos agudos do HICT em mulheres jovens, considerando diferentes níveis de CRF. Elas foram alocadas pelonível de VO 2 máx. em dois grupos, as que atingiram 41mLO2•kg -1 •min -1 ou mais= alta aptidão física(HPF,n=5) e menos de 41mLO2•kg -1 •min -1 = baixo aptidão física(LPF,n=7). Protocolo: 2x4 séries de 20s com intensidade máxima (all-out) intercalados com 10s de repouso passivo (jumping jacks, squat and thrust usando halteres 2kg, mountain climber e burpees). Sangue foi coletado antes, zero, 15, 30min, 1h e 24hs depois. Foram analisadas, freqüência cardíaca, mioglobina sérica, lactato e creatina quinase (CK). A FC alcançou 94,1±3,7% da FCmax para LPF e 104,5±20,3% para HPF, p=0,03. A média do delta lactato foi semelhante entre os grupos. O pico de mioglobina foi 1h após o protocolo de exercício, com 50.0±30.2ng/mL para LPF e 36.9±9.25ng/mL para HPF. O delta de CK total antes e depois do protocolo de exercício mostra que o nível sérico de CK no LP...