Effects Of Ramadan Fasting On Repeated Sprint Ability In Young Children

Abstract

666and time. 50 m, 100 m and 200 m individual short course best performances of the season, in the four swimming strokes, were used to compare with the ACV assessed. Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated and repeated measures t-test was applied (p≤0.05). RESULTS: ACV was correlated with the 50 m swimming event velocity in breaststroke (r=0.92), front crawl (r=0.85) and backstroke (r=0.85), and with the 100 m swimming event velocity in the same swimming strokes (breaststroke: r=0.90; front crawl: r=0.91; backstroke: r=0.86). Considering the 200 m swimming performance, relationships were found in front crawl (r=0.90) and in breaststroke (r=0.89). Differences between ACV and 50 m swimming performance were observed for all swimming strokes, and also in breaststroke, front crawl and backstroke for the 100 m swimming performance. However, when comparing ACV and the 200 m swimming event velocity, there were no differences, in the four swimming strokes. CONCLUSIONS:Linear relationships between ACV and performance in the 50 m and 100 m were found. Simultaneously, the 200 m swimming event velocity seems to be similar to ACV in the four swimming strokes. Therefore, these findings suggest that ACV could be an important parameter of monitoring and prescribing anaerobic training in young swimmers. PURPOSE:Considering young basketball players classified as injured or non-injured throughout a basketball season, the aim of the present study was to compare the initial growth, maturity status, body dimensions, maximal short-term performance, aerobic performance in young basketball players. METHODS:Sample of 50 under-16 basketball players (14.0 -16.0 years) was chosen from players that dispute the district championship and national cadet competition during the sports seasons 2007/08 and 2008/09. Data included chronological age (CA), skeletal age (SA) determined by the Fels method, years of

Effects of Ramadan on physical capacities of North African boys fasting for the first time

“…1). This is opposite to that observed by Girard and Farooq (7) [showing that BM (kg) was elevated at R4 (46±3) and AR2 (47±3) vs. BR (45±3)] but similar to the findings of Meckel et al (6) [no significant change in BM (kg) in the last 2 days of Ramadan (63±7) when compared to BR (63±7)]. Differences in daily habits, occupation and social and geographical environment can influence the energy balance and may contribute to the inconsistency in findings among studies (summarised in Supplementary Table 1) (6).…”

“…Meckel et al (6) concluded that participation in RF reduced endurance (increase in the 3,000-m running time and in the sum of 6×40 m run time) and vertical jump performance but had no significant effect on 40-m sprint performance and 4×10-m shuttle run time. Girard and Farooq (7) concluded that repeated sprinting performance (6×15-m interspersed with 15 s of passive recovery) was compromised towards R4 and that this effect persisted after Ramadan (AR2), while fatigue resistance was not affected. Aloui et al (8) concluded that RF led to impairment in soccer players’ performances in the afternoon and affected the participants’ diurnal pattern observed BR.…”

“…In the study of Girard and Farooq (7), no information is provided about the RF experience of the children. Direct contact with the authors allowed determining that participants in their study had all fasted at least for one Ramadan month before the study was conducted.…”

“…In children, Meckel et al (6) found no significant change in BM when comparing the BR measures to the last 2 days of Ramadan ones. However, Girard and Farooq (7) found that BM was elevated at R4 and AR2 when compared to BR baseline values. Changes in BM could influence physical performance, for instance, through alteration of lean mass.…”

“…They concluded that participation in RF reduced children’s physical work capacity but had no significant effect on sprint performance or agility. In Ramadan 2010, Girard and Farooq (7) investigated the impact of RF on the ability of 18 non-athlete boys aged 12.6±1.5 years to perform repeated sprints between 13:00 and 14:00 h. They concluded that repeated sprinting performance was compromised towards R4, and that this effect persisted for 2 weeks after the end of Ramadan (AR2), while fatigue resistance was not affected. More recently, our group (8) investigated the effect of RF on the performance of 12 male soccer players aged 13.3±0.4 years.…”