Laurent Bosquet

• PhD
• CEO at Université de Poitiers

Menopause‐related cognitive decline, often worsened by vasomotor symptoms (VMS), might be mitigated by high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). Although acute exercise supports neurocognitive function, its effects vary by exercise and individual characteristics. In this study, we investigated the acute effects of isometric resistance exercise (IRE) an...

Objectives : This study aimed to report (1) the correlation between net metabolic cost (NMC) of running and Achilles tendon (AT) and ankle plantar flexor passive stiffness and (2) explore the relationship between passive stiffness and key running biomechanics. Methods : Twenty-two male recreational runners participated in this study. The runners pe...

Purpose: To examine the association between reactive strength index (RSI) and metabolic cost of running (MCr) in master athletes. We hypothesized that individuals with a higher RSI would exhibit a lower MCr, that both variables would be associated, and that age would moderate this relationship. Methods: Forty-five male master athletes participat...

Background Endothelial function (EndFx) is a core component of cardiovascular (CV) health and cardioprotection following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Hypothesis AMI patients experience endothelial dysfunction (EndDys), associated with traditional CV risk factors and sleep patterns...

The objectives of the study were (i) to evaluate the effects of whole‐body cryostimulation (WBC) after training as an effective tool to improve sleep and recovery and (ii) to determine which exposure schedule for WBC (immediately after training vs. 1h before bedtime) is the most appropriate to improve sleep and recovery. Twenty‐two well‐trained mal...

In energy-dominant disciplines, such as swimming, performance depends largely on the difference between the levels of fatigue and physicalfitness: the greater this difference, the higher the probability of reaching a peak performance. The main challenge before majorevents such as the Olympic games is therefore in identifying the most efficient stra...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of daily whole-body cryostimulation (WBC) sessions during 5 consecutive days on wellness and sleep parameters in healthy young men and women. Twenty healthy subjects (9 women; 11 men) aged 23.1 ± 2.6 years old participated in this randomized protocol, with 5 consecutive days with (CRYO) or without W...

Hypertensive postmenopausal women are more likely to develop adverse cardiac remodelling and respond less effectively to drug treatment than men. High intensity interval exercise (HIIE) is a non-pharmacological strategy for the treatment of hypertension, however, the effectiveness in women remains uncertain. This study was designed to evaluate (1)...

Introduction In swimming, performance gains after tapering could be influenced by the pre-taper level of fatigue. Moreover, this level of fatigue could be associated with sleep. This study aimed to assess (1) the effect of tapering on performance according to the pre-taper level of fatigue in swimmers and (2) the association between sleep and pre-t...

Hormonal changes associated with menopause increase the risk of hypertension. Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is an important tool in the prevention and management of hypertension; however, menopause may alter this response. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42023297557) was to evaluate the effect of exercise modalit...

Purpose: The accuracy of heart rate (HR) measured with a wrist-worn photoplethysmography (PPG) monitor is altered during rest-exercise and exercise-rest transitions, which questions the validity of postexercise HR-recovery (HRR) parameters estimated from this device. Methods: Thirty participants (50% female) randomly performed two 13-minute sequ...

Purpose: Short sleep duration and poor sleep quality are common in swimmers. Sleep-hygiene strategies demonstrated beneficial effects on several sleep parameters. The present study assessed the impact of a multisession sleep-hygiene training course on sleep in elite swimmers. Methods: Twenty-eight elite swimmers (17 [2] y) participated. The slee...

Purpose: To assess the effects of a sleep hygiene strategy on parameters of sleep quality and quantity in youth elite rugby union players. Method: Eleven male players (age: 19.0 [1.4] y) undertook a sleep hygiene strategy composed of 2 theoretical sessions and 3 practical sessions over a 4-week period. Sleeping time, time in bed, total sleep tim...

Cognitive-motor dual-tasking is a complex activity that predicts falls risk and cognitive impairment in older adults. Cognitive and physical training can both lead to improvements in dual-tasking; however, less is known about what mechanisms underlie these changes. To investigate this, 33 healthy older adults were randomized to one of three trainin...

Aging is characterized by cognitive decline affecting daily functioning. To manage this socio-economic challenge, several non-pharmacolog- ical methods such as physical, cognitive, and com- bined training are proposed. Although there is an important interest in this subject, the literature is still heterogeneous. The superiority of simultaneous tra...

Menopause accelerates increases in arterial stiffness and decreases cognitive performances. The objective of this study was to compare cognitive performances in physically active pre- and post-menopausal females and their relationship with arterial stiffness. We performed a cross-sectional comparison of blood pressure, carotid–femoral pulse wave ve...

The rapid increase in population aging and associated age-related cognitive decline requires identifying innovative and effective methods to prevent it. To manage this socio-economic challenge, physical, cognitive, and combined stimulations are proposed. The superiority of simultaneous training compared to passive control and physical training alon...

Purpose: To assess the effect of a rugby-specific high-intensity interval-training (HIITRugby) protocol on the repeated high-intensity-effort ability of young elite rugby union players and to verify the influence of 2 preconditioning sequences composed either of physical contacts (ie, tackles) or of additional runs on the magnitude of improvement....

Objectif Dans cette étude, l’impact d’un programme d’éducation au sommeil sur le rythme activité/repos de nageurs de haut niveau a été évalué. Méthode Vingt-huit nageurs de haut niveau (18 ± 2 ans) ont pris part à cette recherche. L’éducation au sommeil était composée de 2 séances collectives (1 h30 par session), et 1 séance individuelle (15 min p...

Purpose: The benefits of exercise on vascular health are inconsistent in postmenopausal females. We investigated if blood pressure and markers of vascular function differ between physically active early post- and late premenopausal females. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional comparison of 24-h blood pressure, brachial artery flow-mediated d...

Objectives Studies suggest that cognitive training and physical activity can improve age-related deficits in dual-task performances. However, both of these interventions have never been compared in the same study. This paper investigates the improvement in dual-task performance in two types of exercise training groups and a cognitive training group...

To assess the effects of a taper combined with proactive recovery on the repeated high intensity effort (RHIE) of elite rugby union players, and the possible interaction of pre-taper fatigue and sleep. Eighteen players performed a 3-week intensive training block followed by a 7-day exponential taper combined with a multicomponent recovery strategy....

Background: Many athletes worldwide have endured home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their opportunities to train were strongly limited. This study describes the impact of lockdown on training volume and heart rate variability (HRV) in elite swimmers. Methods: HRV data of seven elite males were collected each Monday morning over 20 w...

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between physical fitness and repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) ability in elite rugby union players, depending on playing position. Method: Thirty-nine players underwent a fitness testing battery composed of a body composition assessment, upper-body strength (1-repetition maximum bench press and 1-rep...

Purpose: To assess the effects of a short-term taper on the ability to perform repeated high-intensity efforts, depending on players' fatigue level following an intensive training block. Method: After a 3-day off-season camp, 13 players followed the same 3-week preseason training block followed by a 7-day exponential taper. Performance was asses...

Objectives Mobility is a complex but crucial clinical outcome in older adults. Past observational studies have highlighted that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), energy cost of walking (ECW), and cognitive switching abilities are associated with mobility performance, making these key determinants of mobility intervention targets to enhance mobility...

Evidence supports the implementation of concurrent strength and running training, within the same mesocycle, to improve performances in middle- and long-distance events. However, very little is known about the effects of concurrent training cessation. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the effects of 4 weeks of explosive strength tra...

Background Studies report benefits of physical exercise and cognitive training to enhance cognition in older adults. However, most studies did not compare these interventions to appropriate active controls. Moreover, physical exercise and cognitive training seem to involve different mechanisms of brain plasticity, suggesting a potential synergistic...

Research shows that negative or threatening emotional stimuli can foster movement velocity and force. However, less is known about how evaluative threat may influence movement parameters in endurance exercise. Based on social self-preservation theory, the authors predicted that evaluative threat would facilitate effort expenditure in physical exerc...

This study aimed to adapt a repeated high-intensity effort (RHIE) test to the rugby union physical demands and assess both sprint time and tackle indices reliability. Following a familiarization session, sixteen elite rugby union players completed two RHIE tests consisting of 12 × 20 m sprint + tackle. Total sprint time and total g-force during tac...

Purpose: To assess the effects of a taper strategy on neuromuscular and metabolic fitness in team sport athletes, through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Method: To be included in this meta-analysis, studies had to involve competitive team sport athletes and a tapering intervention providing details about the procedures used to decrease the...

Introduction: Many studies have reported that regular physical activity is positively associated with cognitive performance and more selectively with executive functions. However, some studies reported that the association of physical activity on executive performance in younger adults was not as clearly established when compared to studies with ol...

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) on the prefrontal cortex (PFC) oxygenation and dual-task performance in healthy young males. Changes in the concentration of oxygenated (ΔHbO2) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (ΔHHb) in the right and left PFC were examined during a cognitive aud...

Background: Hypertension guidelines recommend moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for the primary or secondary prevention of hypertension. However, alternative modalities, such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on dry land or in water, have been studied less widely. Aim: To assess chronic blood pressure (BP) response to a 2-we...

Introduction: Hyperthermia during exercise induces central and peripheral fatigue and impairs physical performance. To facilitate heat loss and optimize performance, athletes can hasten body cooling prior (pre-cooling) or during (per-cooling) exercise. However, it is unclear whether per-cooling effect is the same on ‘aerobic’ and ‘anaerobic’ types...

Physiological and psychological demands during training and competition generate fatigue and reduce an athlete´s sport-specific performance capacity. The magnitude of this decrement depends on several characteristics of the exercise stimulus (e.g. type, duration, intensity) as well as on individual characteristics (e. g. fitness, profile, fatigue r...

Exercise is recognized as a promising approach to counteract aging-associated declines in cognitive functions. However, the exact molecular pathways involved remain unclear. Aerobic training interventions and improvements in peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) have been associated with increases in the peripheral concentration of brain-derived neurotrophi...

Regular physical activity has been recognized as an effective strategy for limiting the cognitive decline observed during aging. Much evidence has supported that maintaining a high level of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better cognitive performances across the lifespan. From childhood to adulthood, a high level...

Background: Spontaneous walking speed (SWS) is one of the most important indicators of health in older adults. Studies have shown benefits of physical trainings on SWS in older adults but the impact of cognitive training and multidomain interventions remains understudied. Aims: This original study aimed at comparing the impact of aerobic/resista...

Introduction/purpose: This study compared cognitive performances and cardiac autonomic measures of higher fit and lower fit middle-aged and older highly active adults. The working hypotheses were that higher fit (master athletes) would show cognitive benefits in executive control conditions due to a high level of fitness compared to lower fit peop...

The benefits of physical exercise on brain function and its metabolism are well documented, and it is established that acute aerobic exercise could enhance executive function. The aim of this study was to report the effect of exercise intensity during acute intermittent exercise (IE) on executive function and heart rate outcomes. Twenty male subjec...

The classical work by Robert C. Hickson showed in 1980 that the addition of a resistance training protocol to a predominantly aerobic program could lead to impaired leg strength adaptations in comparison to a resistance-only training regimen. This interference phenomenon was later highlighted in many reports, including a meta-analysis. However, it...

Introduction: The aim of the present work was to perform a meta-analysis evaluating the impact of recovery techniques on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), perceived fatigue, muscle damage, and inflammatory markers after physical exercise. Method: Three databases including PubMed, Embase, and Web-of-Science were searched using the following term...

An evidence-based approach to choose the recovery you need to reduce muscle damage, soreness, fatigue and inflammation: a systematic review with meta-analyses / Douleurs musculaires après exercice physique : une méta-analyse pour connaître les techniques de récupération les plus efficaces (Frontiers in Physiology 2018, in revision)

The relationship between recovery and fatigue and its impact on performance has attracted the interest of sports science for many years. An adequate balance between stress (training and competition load, other life demands) and recovery is essential for athletes to achieve continuous high-level performance. Research has focused on the examination o...

During isometric muscle contraction, various cytoskeleton proteins are involved in lateral and longitudinal force transfer (Hugues et al. 2015). An over-imposed vibration can induce rapid stretch-shortening cycles of low magnitude. A first consequence is an elevation of the muscle level of activation (Lienhard et al. 2015). A second one depends on...

Several studies have reported benefits of exercise interventions (see Bherer, Erickson & Liu-Ambrose, 2013 for review) and cognitive training (see Belleville & Bherer, 2012 for a review) on cognitive performance in older adults, but the effect of combining both interventions has rarely been studied. This talk will present findings from dual-task co...

Combined strength and aerobic (S+A) and gross motor skills programs (GMS) have shown promise in selectively improving executive functions (EF) of older adults. However, interruptions in training may occur resulting in losses of training-induced physiological benefits. So far, little is known about the effects of physical training cessation on EF. T...

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the net effects of strength training on middle- and long-distance performance through a meta-analysis of the available literature. Methods: Three databases were searched from which 28 out of 554 potential studies met all inclusion criteria. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) were calculated an...

Everyday activities like walking and talking can put an older adult at risk for a fall if they have difficulty dividing their attention between motor and cognitive tasks. Training studies have demonstrated that both cognitive and physical training regimens can improve motor and cognitive task performance. Few studies have examined the benefits of c...

Purpose: Gait speed is associated with survival in older adults and it was suggested that an elevated energy cost of walking (Cw) is an important determinant of gait speed reduction. Thus far, little is known about the factors that contribute to a lower Cw but it was shown that lower body strength training could reduce the Cw. Therefore, the objec...

Purpose Physical exercise and cognitive training have been shown to enhance cognition among older adults. However, few studies have looked at the potential synergetic effects of combining physical and cognitive training in a single study. Prior trials on combined training have led to interesting yet equivocal results. The aim of this study was to e...

Objective: We aimed to compare prolonged hypotension following moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE), high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in dry land or HIIE in immersed condition, using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Design and method: Forty-two individuals (Table 1) suffering from hypertension or with a baseline...

This study compared heart rate recovery (HRR) after incremental maximal exercise performed at the same external power output (Pext) on dryland ergocycle (DE) vs. immersible ergocycle (IE). Fifteen young healthy participants (30±7 years, 13 men and 2 women) performed incremental maximal exercise tests on DE and on IE. The initial Pext on DE was 25 W...

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare prolonged hypotension following moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE), high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in dry land or HIIE in immersed condition, using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). DESIGN AND METHOD: Forty-two individuals (Table 1) suffering from hypertension or with a baseline blo...

We aimed to study the impact of a combined 9-month lifestyle program (Mediterranean diet nutritional counselling, and high-intensity interval training twice a week) on blood pressure (BP) in individuals with abdominal obesity, taking into account the regression-to-the-mean phenomena. We retrospectively analyzed 115 participants (53±9 years; 84 wome...

The purpose of the study was to determine whether total work measured during a high intensity isokinetic fatigue test (TWFAT) could be considered as a valid measure of anaerobic work capacity (AWC), such as determined by total work measured during a Wingate Anaerobic Test (TWWAnT). Twenty welltrained cyclists performed 2 randomly ordered sessions i...

The effectiveness of regular exercise in decreasing both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) is well-established. Our purpose was to assess the impact of both subject and physical activity program characteristics on ambulatory BP through a meta-analysis of the existing literature. Three databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science) were searche...

We aimed to compare blood pressure (BP) responses following moderate-intensity continuous exercise (MICE), high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) in dry land or HIIE in immersed condition, using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Forty-two individuals (65±7 years, 52% men) with a baseline BP ≥130/85 mm Hg (systolic/diastolic, SBP/DBP), wer...

Methods: Official French track-running rankings for the 3000-m, 5000-m, and 10000-m events from 2006 to 2014 were examined. The performance level was determined from the official references table of the "Fédération Française d'Athlétisme", and the runners were divided in three groups (i.e., low, moderate and high levels). Only male runners who per...

Objective Isokinetic tests regularly contribute to the assessment of muscle performance. However, to evaluate an athlete who mainly uses the lactic anaerobic metabolism to perform or in specific pathological contexts, fatigue-resistance protocol could be complementary to short maximal strength evaluation. Although the reproducibility of the protoco...

To assess the relationship between exercise intensity, cerebral HbO2 and cognitive performance (Executive and non-Executive) in young adults. We measured reaction time (RT) and accuracy, during a computerized Stroop task, in 19 young adults (7 males and 12 females). Their mean ± SD age, height, body mass and body mass index (BMI) were 24 ± 4 years,...

To assess the relationship between selected measures (the slope and average performance) obtained during a high intensity isokinetic fatigue test of the knee (FAT) and relevant measures of anaerobic and aerobic capacities. 20 well-trained cyclists performed 3 randomly ordered sessions involving a FAT consisting in 30 reciprocal maximal concentric c...

Heart rate (HR) at the ventilatory threshold (VT) is often used to prescribe exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation. Some studies have reported no significant difference between HR at VT and HR measured at the end of a 6-min walk test (6-MWT) in cardiac patients. The aim of this work was to assess the potential equivalence between those param...

Heart rate (HR) at the ventilatory threshold (VT) is often used to prescribe exercise intensity in cardiac rehabilitation. Some studies have reported no significant difference between HR at VT and HR measured at the end of a 6-min walk test (6-MWT) in cardiac patients. The aim of this work was to assess the potential equivalence between those param...

Abstract The aim was to test the influence of sex and specialty (3000, 5000 and 10000 m) on the validity of middle-distance running performance predictions obtained from the Mercier et al.'s nomogram. Consequently, we examined all official French track running rankings for the 3000-, 5000- and 10000-m events (men and women) from 2006 to 2012. A sco...

The effects of physical activity on cognition in older adults have been extensively investigated in the last decade. Different interventions such as aerobic, strength, and gross motor training programs have resulted in improvements in cognitive functions. However, the mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical activity and cognition ar...

Objectives To investigate the effect of water immersion on oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and central hemodynamic responses during incremental maximal exercise at the same external power output (Pext) and recovery on an immersible ergocycle (IE) vs a dryland ergocycle (DE). Design Cross-over design study. Methods Twenty healthy participants (32 ± 7 years;...

Introduction The isokinetic testing is a reference in muscular performance evaluation. Isokinetic device is mainly used to assess maximal strength using short length protocols. In some cases, such as to evaluate an athlete who mainly uses the lactic anaerobic metabolism, clinicians increase the lengthening of the protocol in order to investigate mo...

High blood pressure is a frequent pathology with many cardiovascular complications. As highlighted in guidelines, the therapeutic management of hypertension relies on non-pharmacological measures, which are diet and regular physical activity, but both patients and physicians are reluctant to physical activity prescription. To acquire the conviction...