Maria Francesca Piacentini

University of Rome Foro Italico

Perception of Velocity (PV) is the ability to estimate single repetition velocity during resistance training (RT) exercises. The main purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of Mental Fatigue (MF) on the accuracy of barbell PV. The secondary aims were to evaluate whether MF affected RT performance and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE; OM...

Romagnoli, R and Piacentini, MF. Does fatigue affect the perception of velocity accuracy during resistance training? J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-The purpose of this study was to investigate whether perception of barbell velocity (PV) is affected by fatigue induced by 2 different training protocols. Twenty-two subjects were randomly div...

Background: In Paralympic sports, classification ensures fair competition by grouping athletes based on their impairments. The International Paralympic Committee has provided scientific principles to guide evidence-based classification procedures. In Paralympic Powerlifting (PPO), athletes compete in one class, divided by sex and bodyweight categor...

Digital devices have gained popularity in the last 10 years as a tool for exercise prescription, the monitoring of daily physical activity, and nutrition for the management of a health-related parameter. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the use of digital devices to monitor exercise data in sedentary persons with...

We assessed the training, work and Life Stress demands of a mixed gender group of 48 top amateur short-distance triathletes using an online retrospective epidemiological survey and the Life Events Survey for Collegiate Athletes. On superficial inspection, these mainly masters athletes appeared to undergo all the types of training that are recommend...

Introduction: In Paralympic powerlifting competitions, movement execution symmetry is a technical requirement influenced by individual athlete characteristics and motor strategies. Identifying the elements associated with individual motor strategies can offer valuable insight for improving sport performance. Therefore, this case series study aimed...

SUMMARY BACKGROUND: In the literature, the relationships between the constitutional biotype endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic and the hormone concentrations of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and cortisol at rest and after exercise resistance training in active persons and athletes seem not to have been analyzed analytically. The ai...

Purpose: Few data are available on sleep characteristics of elite track-and-field athletes. Our study aimed to assess (1) differences in sleep between sexes and among different track-and-field disciplines, (2) the effect of individualized sleep-hygiene strategies on athletes' sleep parameters, and (3) daytime nap characteristics in track-and-field...

Football is a popular sport, but little is known about the youth-to-senior transition rates in elite players, particularly in large and successful countries. This study aims to investigate the youth-to-senior transition rate in the Italian national football team, both prospectively and retrospectively, and to explore if Relative Age Effects (RAEs)...

To date, the literature has failed to individuate a clear motivation for the performance decrement after a mental fatigue-inducing task. This study aimed to evaluate biomechanical and perceptual variables during a swimming training session in different mental fatigue states. Seven amateur triathletes watched a documentary, utilized a smartphone, or...

L'indagine fornisce risultati relativi alle caratteristiche costituzionali, alle prestazioni fisiche e alle concentrazioni ormonali di soggetti allenati. Sulla base dei dati ottenuti, si può ipotizzare che a seguito di una somministrazione di uno stimolo stressante come l'allenamento contro resistenza, i biotipi costituzionali rispondono in forme...

Purpose: Wetsuits have been shown to change swim biomechanics and, thus, increase performance, but not all athletes are comfortable with their use because of possible modifications in motor coordination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of wetsuit use on biomechanical, physiological, and perceptual variables. Methods: Eleven nat...

Acute mental fatigue (MF) is a psychobiological state that may arise during or after prolonged cognitive activities and results in an acute feeling of tiredness and/or a decreased cognitive ability (1). Perception of velocity (PV) is the ability to estimate single repetition velocity during resistance training (RT) exercises (2). The aim of this st...

Purpose The warm-up (WU) application before any physical activity is universally accepted 1. According to literature 2 , the best WU protocol should last 15 minutes including high intensity repetitions to improve short time trial performance, but any WU protocol appears to be ineffective on activity longer than 20 minutes 3. Despite triathlon race...

Purpose: Perception of barbell velocity (PV) is a subjective parameter shown to be valid in estimating repetition velocity during resistance exercises (1,2) and useful when training without specific electronic devices. The aim of the study was twofold: to verify the improvement in PV accuracy through training with velocity feedback and to verify if...

PURPOSE: Different resistance exercise can stimulate different hormonal response. Hormonal response is associated with the intensity of exercise, volume of exercise and recovery. DHT increases in response to acute exercise[1]. Testosterone and Cortisol response is specific to the resistance exercise protocol used. The aim of this study is to compar...

Background: the aim of the study was to develop and validate a specific perception velocity scale for the Back Squat exercise to discriminate the velocity of each repetition during a set. Methods: 31 resistance trained participants completed 3 evaluation sessions, consisting of 3 blinded loads (light, medium, heavy). For each repetition, barbell...

INTRODUCTION: The two necessary key components to prescribe velocity-based training are the percentage of loss of velocity (VL) and the mean concentric velocity (MCV) of the fastest repetition1. However, electronic devices are necessary and this is impractical when several athletes train at the same time. Recently a subjective perception of veloci...

INTRODUCTION: Distinct forms of resistance exercise can stimulate different hormonal response. Hormonal response is associated with the intensity of exercise, time under tension, volume of exercise and muscle masses involved. Different protocols of strength exercise can induce different changes in circulating Dihydrotestosterone-DHT. DHT responsive...

The triathlon Mixed-Team-Relay (MTR) is a new race format present for the first time at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The results of the ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay World Championship from 2014 to 2019 were collected to provide practical suggestions for forming a successful MTR, such as the importance of each leg and discipline on MTR and Super-Sp...

The perception of bar velocity (PV) is a subjective parameter useful in estimating velocity during resistance training. The aim of this study was to investigate if the PV can be improved through specific training sessions, if it differs between the back squat (SQ) and bench press (BP), and if there are differences in perception accuracy in the diff...

Abstract: Despite the common belief that sleep quality at altitude is poor, the scientific evidence to support this notion is still modest. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate possible changes of actigraphy-based and subjective sleep parameters in a group of elite open-water swimmers during a 14-day altitude training camp (A...

In children, motor competence (MC) and the amount of physical activity are tightly interconnected. In adults with Down syndrome (DS), MC has been poorly addressed, resulting in a limited understanding of the possibility to improve MC over time. Here, we aim to: (1) investigate MC in adults with DS by comparing them with a group of typically develop...

Abstract: Quantitative evaluation of synergic action among the different body segments is funda- mental to swimming performance. The aim of the present study was to develop an easy-to-use tool for stroke-by-stroke evaluation of a swimmer’s integrated timing of stroking, kicking, and breathing. Twelve swimmers were evaluated during one trial of 100...

Background: Kicking a ball is a very frequent action in sport and leisure time activities and a low proficiency in this skill could limit the participation in recreational sport activities. This issue is emphasised in individuals with Down syndrome (IDS) for which data about motor competence in kicking are limited to children. Here, we aim at eval...

Swimming performance, particularly in short distance events, is highly related to strength and power of the upper body [1]. The growing use of technology in sport and velocity-based training methods allows us to focus on load-velocity and load-power profiles in order to individualize and optimize training [2]. This study aimed to explore the differ...

Introduction Coaches normally prescribe training based on a 3 zone intensity model (Z). Z1 normally corresponds to intensities below the first ventilatory or lactate threshold (LT1), Z2 between LT1 and the second threshold (LT2) and Z3 above LT2. Previous studies have identified specific RPE breakpoints corresponding to the 3 intensity zones on the...

Purpose: Velocity-based training (VBT) is an objective method of autoregulation utilized to monitor the intensity of a lift (1). Perception of bar velocity (PV) is a subjective parameter shown to be valid in estimating velocity during resistance exercises (2,4) and useful when training without specific devices. The aim of this study was to investig...

INTRODUCTION: Continuous interruptions in regular activities caused by government regulations due to COVID-19 have forced coaches, athletic trainers and sports experts to continually readjust training programs to avoid de-training and reduce the risk of injury (1). The current season started after a period of complete lockdown with many athletes in...

The use of wetsuits during triathlon and open water swimming competitions is regulated by water temperature. Swimming with a wetsuit has been shown to change buoyancy and biomechanics of swimming, with an associated enhancement of performance. In literature, the rating of perceived exertion or heart rate were not different between wetsuit and swims...

Introduction Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) show a delayed acquisition of gross motor skills. Among gross motor skills, hopping is a particular form of jumping that can be performed using one leg. Despite its large use during play and physical activity, this skill in adults with DS has not received much attention so far. Here, we aim at invest...

Purpose: Although wearing a wetsuit while swimming, when permitted, is primarily for safety reasons (ie, to protect against hypothermia), changes in buoyancy, biomechanics, and exercise performance have been reported. This narrative review covers the benefits of different wetsuit models on performance in swimming and triathlon. Methods: A comput...

INTRODUCTION: During resistance training (RT), autoregulation (AR) methods have been shown to be reliable to prescribe training load. Autoregulatory approaches are based on subjective parameters such as rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale or the repetitions-in-reserve (RIR) method, and objective parameters such as barbell velocity which are hi...

Introduction Up to 50% of regular runners report having more than one injury each year. The same has been reported in triathletes as well. Most Running-Related Injuries (RRI) are due to overuse. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between running experience, performance in half-marathon, and frequencies of RRI in runners and triath...

Purpose: The sensation of fatigue experienced at a certain point of the race is an important factor in the regulation of pacing. The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is considered one of the main mediators utilized by athletes to modify pacing. The aim was to analyze the relationship between pacing and RPE of elite open water swimmers during nat...

Purpose The aim of present study was to test the effect of carbohydrate ingestion, simulating a 10-km open water race competition on energy cost (Csw), perceived exertion (RPE), heart rate (HR), stroke rate (SR) and performance. We hypothesized that carbohydrate ingestion would reduce Csw and RPE in elite open water swimmers (OW-swimmers) and impro...

TeamGym is a popular form of gymnastics, including tumbling (Tu), trampette (Tr) and floor exercises (F) characterized by intensive practice placing high levels of stress on athletes. The aim of the study was to investigate athletes’ stress-related changes during TeamGym training and competition, considering hormonal and enzymatic responses (i.e.,...

This study originates from the need of understanding which is the real kinematic parameters, making effective pole vault jumping, to deepen gender differences and also whether there are aspects distinguishing International élite athletes and the best Italian athletes. Kinematic data of the athletes, participating in the Italian Indoor Championships...

Purpose: This study aims to analyse training intensity distribution (TID) using different independent monitoring systems for internal training load in a group of elite open water swimmers (OW-swimmers). Methods: 160 training sessions were monitored in four elite OW-swimmers (2 females and 2 males; 23.75 ± 4.86 y; 62.25 ± 6.18 Kg; 167 ± 6.68 cm) dur...

How to predict a 3000 steeplechase performance by knowing the time performance of two other distances, for male steeplechaser.

Altitude Training (AT) is a component of modern athletic preparation for endurance sports because it facilitates key physiological adaptations within the athlete improving sea level performance. However, one possible drawback of AT is sleep disturbance (i.e., sleep efficiency) that may result in impairment in training, increased Training Load (TL)...

Altitude Training (AT) is a component of modern athletic preparation for endurance sports because it facilitates key physiological adaptations within the athlete improving sea level performance. However, one possible drawback of AT is sleep disturbance (i.e., sleep efficiency) that may result in impairment in training, increased Training Load (TL)...

We are glad to introduce the Third Journal Club of Volume five, the third issue. This edition is focused on relevant studies published in the last years in the field of PhysioMechanics of Human Locomotion, chosen by our Editorial Board members and their colleagues. We hope to stimulate your curiosity in this field and to share with you the passion...

This study aims to assess the correspondence between session rating of perceived exertion (sRPE) breakpoints with both the first lactate threshold (LT1) and the second lactate threshold (LT2) in elite open water swimmers (OWS). Six elite OWS of the National Olympic Team specialized in distances between 5 and 25 km participated to the study. OWS per...

Purpose: To analyze training-intensity distribution (TID) using different independent monitoring systems for internal training load in a group of elite open-water swimmers. Methods: One hundred sixty training sessions were monitored in 4 elite open-water swimmers (2 females and 2 males: 23.75 [4.86] y, 62.25 [6.18] kg, 167 [6.68] cm) during 5 we...

Purpose: To assess 16-weeks improvements of physical fitness, metabolic and psychologic parameters in people living with HIV (PLWH) exercising with the support of a smartphone application, as compared to a control group exercising without application. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, pilot study enrolling PLWH in a 16-week protocol co...

In 2009, the International Triathlon Union created a new triathlon race format: The World Triathlon Series (WTS), for which only athletes with a top 100 world ranking are eligible. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the three disciplines on performance within all the WTS Olympic distance races within two Olympic cy...

Background: It has been shown that the fastest open-water swimmers (OW-swimmers) increase significantly the speed in the last split of the open-water events. The aim of the present work was to determine if the fastest OW-swimmers have a higher speed in the middle- and long-distance pool swimming events, and to develop a multivariate model that can...

The aim of this study is to investigate whether the change in (sub)maximal heart rate after intensified training is associated with the change in performance. Thirty subjects were recruited who performed cardiopulmonary exercise tests to exhaustion 2 weeks before (pre), 1 week after (post) and 5 weeks after (follow-up) an 8-day non-competitive amat...

The aim of this study was to analyze the ability of recreational master runners to accurately maintain their pre-race target time and compare pacing and perceived exertion (RPE) of different groups of athletes according to how close they were to their predicted time. One hundred and seventy half marathoners ( n = 135 males; 45 ± 6.6 yrs and n = 35...

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of age on the sex differences in (3.8 km) swim, (180 km) cycle, (42 km) run, and overall performance time at the 2018 Ironman triathlon World Championship. Sex differences in performance times were analysed for the top 10 male and female amateur triathletes of each 5 years age group between 18–24...

Resistance training (RT) is considered the most important method to improve the athlete’s strength and rate of force development (RFD). In the last decade, the importance of monitoring velocity during RT has drastically grown, because of an increased availability of linear position transducers (LPT) and inertial measurement units (IMU). The purpose...

The aim of the present study was to test the effectiveness of carbohydrate (CHO) feeding supplemented every 2.5-km, as in official races, on the performance, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and glycaemia during a 10-km intermittent training workout in elite open-water swimmers. A randomized crossover design was used. Participants completed two...

Endurance exercise is associated with a transient increase in neutrophil counts in the peripheral blood. Here we investigate the impact of intensified endurance exercise on the neutrophil compartment. We hypothesized that intensified endurance exercise leads to mobilization of neutrophil subsets, which are normally absent in the blood. Furthermore,...

Neutrophil gating strategy. Neutrophils and monocytes were gated based on FSC and SSC, excluding eosinophils (large FSC/SSC), lymphocytes and debris. Single cells were gated. Monocytes were excluded from the neutrophil gate by gating the CD66b+ cells. (TIF)

Expressions of CD35, CD66b, CD11b, CBRM1/5, CD49s and LAIR-1 on the different CD16/CD62L neutrophil subsets. The median fluorescent intensities ± SD of A) CD35, B) CD66b, C) CD11b, D) CBRM1/5, E) CD49d and F) LAIR-1 are shown for the different neutrophil subsets at morning day 1, morning day 5 and morning day 8. * p<0.05. (TIF)

The neutrophil freezing protocol is sufficient for identification of neutrophil subsets based on CD16/CD62L expression. A) FACS plot of CD16 vs. CD62L expression of the total neutrophil population during acute inflammation (LPS model). Cells were frozen and thawed before staining the neutrophils. B) histogram of CD35 and CD11b expression of CD16dim...

Purpose: Different aspects of pacing in endurance events have been investigated, however, there are very limited information on pacing strategies during open-water swimming. The aim was to describe and compare the pacing profile used by male and female open-water swimmers (OW-swimmers) during the 5-, 10- and 25 km races in the main international c...

Purpose: The 10-km open water swimming race is an endurance event that takes place in lakes, rivers or sea and is an Olympic event since 2008. The aim of the present brief report is to describe training volume and intensity distribution of elite open-water swimmers (OW-swimmers) during the 2016 Olympic season, verifying if, in order to maximize pe...

Purpose: To analyse the pacing profiles of the world top 800-m annual performances between 2010 and 2016, comparing male and female strategies. Methods: One hundred and forty two performances were characterised for overall race times and 0-200 m, 200-400 m, 400-600 m, 600-800 m split times using available footage from YouTube. Only the best annu...

Aim: Different aspects of pacing in endurance events have been investigated, however there are no studies on pacing strategies during open-water swimming (Baldassarre et al.,2017). The aim was to analyse the pacing profile of 10-km open-water swimmers (OWS) in the Olympic Games (OG) and World Championship (WC). We hypothesized that OWS would adopt...

Aim: Internal (I-TL) and external (E-TL) training load (TL) quantification is basic to evaluate an endurance athlete’s responses to training (Mujika, 2017). The aim of the present study was to compare I-TL perceived by athletes and E-TL proposed by coaches, in a group of open-water swimmers (OWS) during the Olympic season. We hypothesized that the...

Purpose: Reaction time has been proposed as a training monitoring tool, but to date results are equivocal. Therefore, it was investigated whether reaction time can be used as a monitoring tool to establish overreaching. Methods: The study included 30 subjects (11 female/19 male, age: 40.8±10.8 y, VO2max: 51.8±6.3 ml/kg/min) who participated in a...

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of chronotype on mood state and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) before and in response to acute high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) performed at different times of the day. Based on the morningness–eveningness questionnaire, 12 morning-types (M-types; N = 12; age 21 ± 2 years; height 17...

Purpose: Although the popularity of open water swimming (OWS) events has significantly increased in the last decades, specific studies regarding performance of elite or age group athletes in these events are scarce. The purpose of this review is to analyse the existing literature on OWS. Methods: Relevant literature was located via computer-gene...

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether monitoring of easily measurable stressors and symptoms can be used to early distinguish between acute fatigue (AF) and functional overreaching (FOR). Methods: The study included 30 subjects (11 female/ 19 male, age: 40.8±10.8 y, VO2max: 51.8±6.3 ml/kg/min) who participated in an 8-day cyc...

Aim: Anxiety often surfaces when athletes face difficult or threatening goal relevant competitive situations (Allen et al., 2013). Therefore, anxiety has been the most investigated emotion in sport. More anxious athletes are distracted by task irrelevant cues (Allen et al., 2013). Since Open-water swimming (10-km) requires both endurance and tactic...

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a novel approach for predicting the one-repetition maximum (1RM). The prediction is based on the force-velocity and load-velocity relationships determined from measured force and velocity data collected during resistance-training exercises with incremental submaximal loads. 1RM was determined a...

INTRODUCTION Best competition performances in endurance sports are often achieved following a taper phase, which is typically com- pleted after periods of heavy training or training camps (TC) (Aubry et al. 2014). This deliberate overload period may or may not bring to functional overreaching (FO) and recently it has been shown that performance gai...

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to analyze how many finalists of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Junior Championships (WJC) in the middle and long-distance track events had dropped out from high-level competitions. Methods: Starting from 2002, the eight male and the eight female finalists in the midd...

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate the stress-related changes of a TeamGym competition considering both physiological (i.e. salivary cortisol [sC] and alpha-amylase [sAA]) and psychological (i.e. state anxiety) responses in relation to exercise intensity and competition outcomes. Methods: Eleven (5 males and 6 females) e...

Aim: The purpose of the present study was to report the training of a master athlete in preparation to an ultra-marathon swimming event. Methods: For 32 weeks prior to a 78km "solo" open water swim from Italy to Albania, a male long distance master (48 yrs) swimmer was monitored. Training volume was recorded as total time and distance while inte...

Study objectives: Exposure to hypoxia elevates chemosensitivity, which can lead to periodic breathing. Exercise impacts gas exchange, altering chemosensitivity; however, interactions between sleep, exercise and chronic hypoxic exposure have not been examined. This study investigated whether exercise exacerbates sleep-related periodic breathing in...

Purpose: High training loads combined with other stressors can lead to performance decrements. The time needed to recover determines the diagnosis of (non)-functional overreaching or the overtraining syndrome. The aim of this study was to describe the effects of an 8-day (intensified) training camp of professional female cyclists on physical and c...

Purpose: Monitoring mood state is a useful tool for avoiding non-functional overreaching (NFOR). Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in stress-related mood disorders. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the impact of intensified training-induced mood disturbance on plasma BDNF concentrations at rest and in respon...

To evaluate the effect of a solo ultra-endurance open-water swim upon autonomic and non-autonomic control of heart rate (HR). A male athlete (age: 48yr, height, 172 cm; body mass, 68 kg; BMI, 23 kg/m2) underwent the heart rate variability (HRV) and circulating catecholamine evaluations at different time intervals before and after an ultra-endurance...

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) can have a significant impact on brain function, mostly ascribed to episodes of hypoglycemia and chronic hyperglycemia. Exercise has positive effects on acute and chronic glycemic control in T1D, and has beneficial effects on cognitive function by increasing neurotrophins such as BDNF and IGF-I in non-diabetic humans. The pres...

Baldassarre R, Piacentini MF, Patrizio F, Nicolò A, Scotto di Palumbo A, Sacchetti M. University of Rome Foro Italico, Rome, Italy Introduction For exercise lasting more than 2h, it is well established that carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion during exercise can improve exercise performance by preventing hypoglycemia, maintaining high rates of CHO oxida...

Introduction: Mental impairments, including deterioration of mood and cognitive performance, are known to occur during isolation and space missions, but have been insufficiently investigated. Appropriate countermeasures are required, such as exercise, which is known to prevent mood disorders for prolonged space and isolation missions. Based on the...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the stress--related changes of a TeamGym competition considering both physiological [i.e. salivary cortisol (sC) and alpha--amylase (sAA)] and psychological (i.e. state anxiety) responses in relation to exercise intensity and competition outcomes. Eleven (5 males and 6 females) elite TeamGym athletes...

Exercise is known to have beneficial effects on cognitive function. This effect is greatly favored by an exercise-induced increase in neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), especially with high-intensity exercises (HIE). As a complication of type 1 diabetes (T1D), a cognitive...

Purpose: To evaluate the pacing strategy, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and mood during a 78.1-km solo ultraendurance open-water swim. Methods: Before and after the event, anthropometric parameters, cortisol, and the profile of mood state (POMS) of 1 male athlete (age 48 y, height 172 cm, body mass 68 kg, body fat 7.2%, athletic achievemen...

Purpose: This longitudinal case study evaluated the effectiveness of an online training-monitoring system to prevent nonfunctional overreaching (NFOR). Methods: A female master track and field athlete was followed by means of a daily online training diary (www.spartanova.com) and a weekly profile of mood state (POMS). The online diary consists o...

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate heart rate (HR), salivary cortisol (sC) alpha-amylase (sAA) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in relation to competition outcome during a half marathon. Methods: HR was monitored and salivary samples were collected during an official half marathon in five Master endurance runners (age 47...

Aim: The aim of the present study was to monitor the internal training load and profile of mood states (POMS) during a training camp in junior-elite triathletes. Methods: Sixteen (10 male and 6 female) young triathlon athletes (junior-elite: 18±1 yrs) were included in this study. All triathletes had been training for 7±3 years, and regularly tra...