Kate Pumpa

University College Dublin | UCD · School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the effects of a field-based priming session on perceptual, physiological, and performance responses in female rugby sevens athletes. Methods: Thirteen highly trained female rugby sevens players (age: 20.7 [2.0] y; height: 169.3 [4.8] cm; weight: 68.8 [7.9] kg) completed either a 20-minute field-based primi...

Introduction Epidemiological evidence supports an association between higher levels of physical activity and improved cancer survival. Trial evidence is now needed to demonstrate the effect of exercise in a clinical setting. The E xercise during CH emotherapy for O varian cancer (ECHO) trial is a phase III, randomised controlled trial, designed to...

Obesity is one of the most important factors responsible for the marked increase in both the incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in recent decades. Addressing the lifestyle factors associated with the progression to T2DM would present a potential rational early prevention strategy. The current evidence suggests that excessiv...

This double-blind randomised placebo-controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of α-lactalbumin consumption on sleep quality and quantity in female rugby union athletes during a competition season. Eighteen semi-professional female rugby union players (age 23.8 ± 5.2 y; mean ± SD) wore wrist actigraphy watches for four seven-day blocks corr...

Background: To date, there is limited consensus on post-contest recovery recommendations for natural physique athletes. The available literature emphasizes the negative consequences of extreme dieting associated with physique contests, yet offers only speculative suggestions to facilitate physiological recovery post-contest. This scoping review ev...

The aim of this study was to identify game day preparation strategies used by performance staff to improve team sport performance and to determine consensus regarding the application and importance of these strategies. Twenty-five performance staff working in high performance or professional team sports participated in this Delphi study, which impl...

Purpose: To compare the habitual sleep of female basketball and soccer athletes to age- and sex-matched controls and to characterize the sleep of basketball and soccer athletes at different competition locations and on the days surrounding competition. Methods: Using an observational case-control design, 41 female participants were recruited to...

With the recent growth in female sport, practitioners need to be able to provide specific support to female athletes to ensure their sleep, health and athletic performance are optimised. Examine the patterns, duration and quality of sleep among elite female athletes, and consider the impact of situational challenges and their effects on the sleep o...

We thank Dunican and Walsh [...]

Background: Quantitative evidence suggests that interventions involving telephone calls and text message are feasible and effective for improving lifestyle intervention adherence and clinical outcomes among adults with obesity. The aim of this article is to provide qualitative insight into the perspectives and experiences of participants who compl...

Purpose: Determine the efficacy of α-lactalbumin (A-LAC) supplementation for improving sleep and performance recovery following simulated evening competition in female athletes. Methods: Sixteen trained females (mean ± SD; age 27 ± 7 years; mass 62 ± 10 kg; stature 167 ± 8 cm) participated in this randomised double-blind three-arm crossover stud...

Athletes often experience sleep disturbances and poor sleep as a consequence of extended travel, the timing of training and competition (i.e., early morning or evening), and muscle soreness. Nutrition plays a vital role in sports performance and recovery, and a variety of foods, beverages, and supplements purportedly have the capacity to improve sl...

Objectives Determine the extent and underlying causes of post-exercise hyperthermia in athletes with a spinal cord injury following exercise. Design Observational. Methods Thirty-one males (8 with tetraplegia [TP; C5-C8], 7 with high paraplegia [HP; T1-T5], 8 with low paraplegia [LP; T6-L1] and 8 able-bodied [AB]), recovered in 35 °C/50%RH for 45...

Issues addressed: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with weight gain post a diagnosis of breast cancer in a cohort of Australian women. Methods: In this retrospective clinical audit, objectively measured weight, age and menopause status, treatment type/s, grade, stage, oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor (PR) status w...

Gastrointestinal disturbances are one of the most common issues for endurance athletes during training and competition in the heat. The relationship between typical dietary intake or nutritional interventions and perturbations in or maintenance of gut integrity is unclear. Twelve well-trained male endurance athletes (peak oxygen consumption = 61.4...

Background The use of exercise as a priming strategy to enhance sport performance is becoming increasingly popular in professional sports and as an area of research interest. Early research suggests that the acute physiological responses to exercise can positively influence performance for up to 48 h. There is yet to be a comprehensive review of ex...

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the largest cause of death in breast cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of exercise intensity on aerobic fitness and autonomic cardiac regulation (heart rate variability (HRV)) and salivary biomarkers of the stress systems (HPA-axis, cortisol; sympathetic nervous system...

Probiotic supplementation may offer team sport athletes a range of benefits beyond the immune and gastrointestinal systems. Objective To examine the effects of a probiotic formulation on perceptual markers of sleep quality and quantity, and muscle soreness, leg heaviness and motivation in elite rugby union athletes. Methods A double-blind randomi...

Background Epidemiological studies suggest physical activity (PA) slow or prevent both cognitive decline and age-related atrophy in frontal and hippocampal gray matter volumes. However, much of this evidence is based on self-reported measures of PA. Methods PA was measured objectively with a SenseWear™ Armband to examine the cross-sectional associ...

AimThe aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of metformin in diabetes prevention in a prediabetic population across a range of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels at baseline. A secondary aim was to assess the effectiveness of metformin in preventing diabetes in those participants where impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was relatively...

Purpose: Heat training can be implemented to obtain performance improvements in hot and temperate environments. However, the effectiveness of these interventions for team sports during discrete periods of the season remains uncertain. Methods: We compared the effects of a short pre-season heat training intervention on fitness and thermal tolerance....

Applying heat training interventions in a team sports setting remains challenging. This study investigated the effects of integrating short-term, repeat sprint heat training with passive heat exposure on running performance and general conditioning in team sport players. Thirty male club-level Australian Football players were assigned randomly to:...

Background Behavioral treatment strategies improve adherence to lifestyle intervention for adults with obesity, but can be time and resource intensive when delivered via traditional face-to-face care. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and optimal timing of using telephone calls and text message as adjunctive tools to support a community-...

Introduction Controlled trials support the efficacy of exercise as a treatment modality for chronic conditions, yet effectiveness of real-world Exercise Physiology services is yet to be determined. This study will investigate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of services provided by Accredited Exercise Physiologists (AEPs) for clients with type 2...

Objectives: This study assessed the accuracy of two questionnaires for measuring the duration of physical activity (PA) by intensity compared to an objective measure in older adults. Design: Cross-sectional observation METHODS: A total of 169 (female=43.8%) participants aged 73-78 years (mean: 75.1 y; SD: 1.3) wore a SenseWear™ Armband (SWA) for...

Objectives: The primary aims of the present study were to assess the sleep hygiene knowledge of high performance team sport coaches and sports science support staff; the sleep practices these individuals implement with athletes; and the barriers to the more frequent use of these practices. Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Methods:...

Objective: To examine the effects of a probiotic protocol on the incidence and severity of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections in elite rugby union athletes across an international competition season. Associations were also investigated between salivary biomarkers of stress (cortisol, alpha-amylase) and mucosal immunity (secretory(s)-IgA)....

Purpose: This study aimed to establish the true influence of spinal cord injury (SCI) level on core temperature and sweating during exercise in the heat independently of biophysical factors. Methods: A total of 31 trained males (8 with tetraplegia [TP; C5-C8], 7 with high paraplegia [HP; T1-T5], 8 with low paraplegia [LP; T6-L1], and 8 able bodi...

Objectives: The current study investigated the effects of two exercise interventions on cognitive function amongst breast cancer survivors. Design: Pilot randomised-controlled trial. Methods: Seventeen female cancer survivors (mean: 62.9 ± 7.8 years) were randomised into three groups: high-intensity interval training (HIIT, n = 6); moderate-intensi...

Background Bikram yoga may enhance health outcomes in healthy adults and those at risk for chronic disease, however, challenges remain in achieving optimal adherence to this practice. This study investigated factors influencing adherence to a 16-week Bikram yoga intervention in stressed and sedentary adults. Methods Experimental group participants...

Background/objectives: Humans appear to have innate energy regulation mechanisms that manifest in sensations of satiation during a meal and satiety post ingestion. Interactions between these mechanisms and the macronutrient profile of their contemporary food environment could be responsible for the dysregulation of this mechanism, resulting in a h...

Given the importance of body composition in maintaining optimal physical and functional capacities, the use of appropriate, field-based assessment tools should be a priority to assist in maintaining the occupational safety of firefighters and the community. For ease, body mass index (BMI) has often been used to assess these changes. However, it is...

Objective: This study examined the effect of a physical treatment (speed, power and strength training) and psychosocial treatment (group motivational presentation) on salivary testosterone (sal-T), salivary cortisol (sal-C), and sal-T to sal-C ratio (T:C) in professional rugby. Methods: Fourteen male rugby players aged 25.9 ± 2.5 years, height 1...

Coaches and support staff believe sleep is integral for health and athletic performance. However, no study has assessed the sleep hygiene knowledge of coaches and sports science support staff, or explored the sleep practices staff implement with the athletes they support. Therefore, this study aimed to assess sleep hygiene knowledge and the sleep p...

AIM To determine the impact of low volume high-intensity interval training (LVHIIT) and continuous low to moderate-intensity exercise training (CLMIT) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and health outcomes in cancer survivors. METHODS Sedentary cancer survivors (n = 75, aged 51 ± 12 year) within 24 months of diagnosis, were randomised into three...

Purpose: There is an increasing body of evidence underpinning high-intensity exercise as an effective and time-efficient intervention for improving health in cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to, (1) evaluate the efficacy and (2) the safety of high-intensity exercise interventions in improving selected health outcomes in cancer survivors...

Objective Nursing and allied health professionals (AHPs) are in an ideal position to promote physical activity (PA) as part of their health care provision. The aim of this study was to investigate current promotion and knowledge of PA among people in these disciplines.Methods A cross-sectional online survey of practicing Australian physiotherapists...

Recently, a novel optical player tracking system has been developed to determine positional information of athletes in a non-invasive manner. The aim of this study was to measure the accuracy and reliability of displacement estimates derived from the system. Participants completed five soccer-specific running courses at three different speeds three...

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 16 weeks of Bikram yoga on perceived stress, self-efficacy and health related quality of life (HRQoL) in sedentary, stressed adults. Design: 16 week, parallel-arm, randomised controlled trial with flexible dosing. Methods: Physically inactive, stressed adults (37.2±10.8 yea...

This systematic review investigates the acute effects of physical or psychosocial interventions on testosterone and cortisol responses in elite male rugby union players, and the subsequent association with physical performance areas (e.g. strength, power, sprint performance) or key performance indicators (e.g. coach-identified skills). Medline (via...

Background Physical exercise is seen as a promising intervention to prevent or delay cognitive decline in individuals aged 50 years and older, yet the evidence from reviews is not conclusive. Objectives To determine if physical exercise is effective in improving cognitive function in this population. Design Systematic review with multilevel meta-...

Background Chronic activation of the stress-response can contribute to cardiovascular disease risk, particularly in sedentary individuals. This study investigated the effect of a Bikram yoga intervention on the high frequency power component of heart rate variability (HRV) and associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors (i.e. additional do...

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the acceleration (≥2ms(-2)) and deceleration (≤-2ms(-2)) profiles of elite female soccer players during competitive matches. Design: Single cohort, observational study. Methods: An Optical Player Tracking system was used to determine acceleration (≥2ms(-2)) and deceleration (≤-2ms(-2)) variabl...

Lifestyle intervention programmes are efficacious in the management of obesity but often report poor attendance and adherence rates that hinder treatment effectiveness and health outcomes. The aim of this systematic review is to identify (i) barriers to behaviour change and (ii) predictors of adherence to lifestyle intervention programmes in adults...

Poor adherence to lifestyle intervention remains a key factor hindering treatment effectiveness and health outcomes for adults with obesity. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine if behavioural treatment strategies (e.g. goal setting, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, cognitive restructuring etc.) improve...

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of low-volume high-intensity interval training and continuous low to moderate intensity training on quality of life, functional capacity and cardiovascular disease risk factors in cancer survivors. Methods Cancer survivors within 24 months post-diagnosis were randomly assigned into the low-...

Pre and post variables from 16 participants

Introduction: Increased physical activity (PA) levels and a healthy body weight (BW) are associated with improved health outcomes, decreased fatigue and an improved quality of life in cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to determine what impact (if any) a cancer diagnosis would have on survivors’ activity levels and body weight. Materials a...

The aim of this study was to determine the high-speed running and sprinting profiles of elite female soccer players during competitive matches using a new Optical Player Tracking System. Eight stationary video cameras were positioned at vantage points surrounding the soccer field so that when each camera view was combined the entire field could be...

This study determined the effect of long-haul (>5 h) travel on lower body power and match running demands in international rugby sevens players. Lower body power was assessed in twenty-two male international rugby sevens players (age 21.7 ± 2.7 y, mass 89.0 ± 6.7 kg, stature 180.5 ± 6.2 cm; mean ± SD) monitored over 17 rugby sevens tournaments. A c...

Objective: To investigate the physiological and perceptual effects of three precooling strategies during pre-exercise rest in athletes with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Randomized, counterbalanced. Participants were precooled, then rested for 60 minutes (22.7 ± 0.2°C, 64.2 ± 2.6%RH). Setting: National Wheelchair Basketball Training Cent...

Purpose: To investigate the physical and physiological response to different formats of various-sided games. Methods: Eighteen elite female soccer players wore 15Hz global positioning system (GPS) devices and heart-rate monitors during various-sided games (small: 4v4 and 5v5, medium: 6v6 and 7v7, large: 8v8 and 9v9). Results: Players covered m...

Bikram yoga is a style of hatha yoga involving a standarized series of asanas performed to an instructional dialogue in a heated environment (40.6°C, 40% humidity). Several studies evaluating the effect of Bikram yoga on health-related outcomes have been published over the past decade. However, to date, there are no comprehensive reviews of this re...

This study determined whether body composition, strength, and power changes that occur during preseason can be maintained during an international rugby sevens season. Fourteen male international rugby sevens players (age 21.4 ± 2.2 years; mean ± SD) were categorized as forward (n 7) or back (n 7), and assessed for height, mass (M), skinfolds (S) (7...

Objectives We aimed to examine associations between diet quality, falls risk, physical function, physical activity and body composition. DesignCross-sectional study. Setting and ParticipantsData collected from 171 men and women, aged 60–88 years old, as part of the Falls Risk and Osteoporosis Longitudinal Study. MeasurementsDietary Intake (Dietary...

The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of a combined supervised and home-based exercise intervention during chemotherapy for women with recurrent ovarian cancer. Secondary aims were to determine the impact of physical activity on physical and psychological outcomes and on chemotherapy completion rates. Women with recurrent ovarian c...

The aim of this study was to assess the total and exercise energy expenditure of elite female soccer players during a training week. Eight elite female soccer players wore SenseWear Mini Armbands (SWA) for seven consecutive days during the preseason phase of a national league competition. In addition, players wore 15Hz GPSports tracking devices dur...

To investigate the variation in training demands, physical performance and player wellbeing across a female soccer season. Seventeen elite female players wore GPS tracking devices during every training session (n = 90) throughout one national league season. Intermittent high-speed running capacity, 5, 15 and 25m sprint testing were conducted at the...

Mara, JK, Thompson, KG, and Pumpa, KL. Assessing the energy expenditure of elite female soccer players: A preliminary study. J Strength Cond Res 29(10): 2780–2786, 2015—The aim of this study was to assess the total and exercise energy expenditure of elite female soccer players during a training week. Eight elite female soccer players wore SenseWear...

Portable wearable devices that assess energy expenditure during intermittent exercise and recovery would be useful in team sports. Fourteen state-level male rugby union players (22 ±4 y, 88.8 ±11.2 kg; 1.81 ±0.07 m, 18 ±6% body fat; mean ± SD) participated in this study. Energy expenditure was measured by the SenseWear™ Armband (SWA) and validated...

To examine the validity and reliability of the SenseWear Armband Mini and BodyMedia FIT in comparison to the Cosmed K4b(2) portable for assessing energy expenditure during resistance training. Lab based validation and reliability study. Eleven males and 7 females (age=22.7±4.5 years) completed two resistance-training sessions. Total energy expendit...

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine if topical Arnica is effective in reducing pain, indicators of inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn improve performance in well-trained males experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Twenty well-trained males matched by maximal oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]Max) completed a double-...

Purpose Resistance exercise has great potential to aid in the management of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL); however, little is known regarding optimal exercise prescription. The pervasive view is that resistance exercise with heavy loads may be contraindicated, disregarding the dose–response relationship that exists between the load utilis...

Purpose: This study examined the body composition, nutritional knowledge, behaviors, attitudes, and educational needs of senior schoolboy rugby players in Ireland. Methods: Participants included 203 male rugby players age 15–18 yr competing at Senior School's Cup level in Leinster, Ireland. Estimation of body composition included measurement of hei...