Ran Wang

Shanghai University of Sport | SUS · School of Athletic Performance

Background. Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) has demonstrated efficacy in acutely improving athletic performance. However, its distinction from general warm-up (GW) effects remains ambiguous and experimental designs adopted in most PAPE studies exhibit important limitations. Objectives. To i) examine the effects of research methodolog...

The aim of the meta-analysis was to determine the acute effects of resisted (RST), assisted (AST), and unresisted (UST) sprint training on sprint performance and to identify the optimal training protocol. A computerized search was conducted in five databases, resulting in the inclusion of 23 studies and 395 participants. The findings indicated that...

Objective: To explore the topic selection and methodological issues in meta-analyses which published in Chinese sports core journals, and to provide recommendations for the improvement of research quality. Methods: Meta-analyses published in 16 Chinese sports core journals were retrieved from the CNKI database. Based on the Cochrane Handbook and cl...

In this study a single wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) and machine learning methodologies were used to conduct player level evaluation and classification five prototype tennis strokes in real-time. The International Tennis Number (ITN) test was used to verify the accuracy of this IoT system in evaluating participant level. We conducted the...

From this article, the reader should be able to • Identify top 20 fitness trends for Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, Mexico, Spain, and the United States. • Recognize individual and unique fitness trends represented within Australia, Brazil, China, Europe, Mexico, Spain, and the United States.

This study examined the reliability of a tennis stroke classification and assessment platform consisting of a single low-cost MEMS sensor in a wrist-worn wearable device, smartphone, and computer. The data that was collected was transmitted via Bluetooth and analyzed by machine learning algorithms. Twelve right-handed male elite tennis athletes par...

Predicting the fitness trends can provide information for business owners, club operators, program directors, and health/fitness professionals to make business development decisions in the future year. During August 1 and 31 of 2020, we conducted an on-line questionnaire with the fitness professionals in China as the targeted population. Based on t...

International awareness of the American College of Sports Medicine's (ACSM's) Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends has exponentially increased since its inception 15 years ago. Practitioners across the world recognize the value in assessing health and fitness trends annually as one approach to guide future programming efforts. For this reason, severa...

Content Distance running is one of the most popular physical activities, and running-related injuries (RRIs) are also common. Foot strike patterns have been suggested to affect biomechanical variables related to RRI risks. Objective To determine the effects of foot strike techniques on running biomechanics. Data Sources The databases of Web of Sc...

After 50 years’ development (1969-2019), Sports Science has become an important weapon in modern world competitive sports. However, in the context of constructing a powerful sports nation, the new mission requires us to reflect on the current status of Sports Science and make decisive choice, in order to further develop the discipline and to provid...

Apply It! • Nation specificity of fitness trends should be considered by international fitness organizations or companies when making strategic plans in other countries. • Ten trends can be recognized as the current stable trends within the health/fitness industry in China.

Background: Recently, much attention has been paid to the role of neuromuscular function in long-distance running performance. Complex Training (CT) is a combination training method that alternates between performing heavy resistance exercises and plyometric exercises within one single session, resulting in great improvement in neuromuscular adapt...

β-alanine supplementation increases muscle carnosine content and improves anaerobic exercise performance by enhancing intracellular buffering capacity. β-alanine ingestion in its traditional rapid-release formulation (RR) is associated with the symptoms of paresthesia. A sustained-release formulation (SR) of β-alanine has been shown to circumvent p...

Purpose This study evaluated the contributions of somatic maturity (years from estimated peak height velocity) and training experience as developmental indicators of muscle morphology, biomechanical parameters, and bilateral asymmetries in youth judo athletes. Methods Twenty-six judo athletes aged 8–18 years (mean ± SD; age = 12.9 ± 2.6 years, mat...

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive method of identifying vagal and sympathetic control of heart rate via time‐domain and frequency‐domain measures. Caffeine has shown to enhance autonomic responsiveness by increasing parasympathetic influence, however a time‐release caffeine supplement has not yet been investigated. OBJECTIVE To determi...

Purpose As a novel altitude training approach, repeated sprint training in hypoxia (RSH) is based on repetition of “all‐out” efforts of short duration separated by incomplete recovery. Although several investigations have reported that RSH provides additional benefits when compared with the same training under normoxia (RSN), the data regarding the...

Objective: The present study evaluated the effects of repeated-sprint training in normobaric hypoxia and β-alanine supplementation (BA) on aerobic and anaerobic performance in recreationally active men. Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: normoxia/β-alanine (NB, n = 11), normoxia/placebo (NP, n = 8), normoba...

The majority of barefoot running studies have not considered speed as an influential factor on foot strike pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in foot strike pattern and spatiotemporal characteristics between barefoot and shod overground running at varying speeds. We first determined maximal running speed (Vm) over 50 m in...

Introduction. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 10-week introductory Judo class on force-time characteristics during an explosive isometric gripping task. Material and methods. Twenty-two healthy men and women (age: 21.8±3.2yr; height: 169.6±7.4cm; body mass: 75.4±13.2 kg), 10 in an introductory judo class and 12 age-matched...

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of moderate normobaric hypoxia on the parameters of the work-time relationship in the upper body. Methods: Twenty-one recreationally active men completed a graded exercise test in both normobaric hypoxia (H) and normoxia (N) to exhaustion on an arm ergometer to determine V̇O2peak and peak power output (PPO). Each...

This study examined the effect of a 10-week introductory judo course on postural control during a bilateral reactionary gripping task using varied stance conditions. Twenty volunteers were divided into experimental (JDO) or control (CON) groups. Countermovement jump (CMJ) was measured and center of pressure (COP) variables were evaluated while perf...

Objective: β-alanine (BA) is a nonproteogenic amino acid that combines with histidine to form carnosine. The amount taken orally in individual doses, however, is limited due to symptoms of paresthesia that are associated with higher doses. The use of a sustained-release formulation has been reported to reduce the symptoms of paresthesia, suggestin...

Carnosine is a naturally occurring intramuscular dipeptide that is thought to attenuate fatigue during high-intensity exercise. Carnosine content is influenced by various factors, including gender and diet. Despite research reporting that carnosine content is lower in women compared to men and lower in vegetarians compared to omnivores, no investig...

Beyer, KS, Stout, JR, Fukuda, DH, Jajtner, AR, Townsend, JR, Church, DD, Wang, R, Riffe, JJ, Muddle, TWD, Herrlinger, KA, and Hoffman, JR. Impact of polyphenol supplementation on acute and chronic response to resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 31(11): 2945–2954, 2017—This study investigated the effect of a proprietary polyphenol blend (PPB) o...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the physiological responses of a high-volume (HV; 8 sets of 10 repetitions) versus high-intensity (HI; 8 sets of 3 repetitions) exercise protocol in resistance-trained men. Methods: Twelve men (24.5 ± 4.2 years; 82.3 ± 8.4 kg; 175.2 ± 5.5 cm) with 6.3 ± 3.4 years of resistance training experience...

Judo is an intermittent sport associated with explosive movements reliant on static and dynamic grip strength. Analysis of force-time curves has been implemented in many judo related analyses; however, the effects of judo training in novice practitioners as an intervention is absent. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of a 10-week introductory judo cl...

Background β‐alanine (BA) is a non‐proteogenic amino acid that combines with histidine to form carnosine in skeletal muscle. Carnosine is an intracellular buffer, and has been suggested to have anti‐oxidant properties. The ergogenic effects of BA supplementation have been well‐established, especially in anaerobic exercise performance lasting betwee...

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) and musclin are myokines implicated in glucose uptake signaling. SPARC has been shown to increase expression of GLUT4 on myocytes, while musclin has been shown to inhibit insulin signaling, suggesting a possible increased reliance on fat metabolism during exercise. SPARC and musclin concentration...

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of load on force and power performance during a ballistic push-up. Methods: Sixty (24.5±4.3 y, 1.75±0.07 m, 80.8±13.5 kg) recreationally-active men who participated in this investigation completed all testing and were included in the data analysis. All participants were require...

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of the ballistic push-up (BPU) exercise, and to develop a prediction model for both maximal strength (1RM) in the bench press exercise and upper body power. Methods: Sixty recreationally-active men completed a 1RM bench press and two BPU assessments in three separate testing sessi...

The aim of this study was to compare how respiratory compensation point (RCP) and end-test power (EP) change in response to the same four-week high intensity interval training (HIIT). The power output associated with RCP and EP before and after HIIT were recorded in 24 recreationally active participants (14 men and 10 women). RCP was determined fro...

PurposeTo compare the effects of two different resistance training programs, high intensity (INT) and high volume (VOL), on changes in isometric force (FRC), rate of force development (RFD), and barbell velocity during dynamic strength testing. Methods Twenty-nine resistance-trained men were randomly assigned to either the INT (n = 15, 3–5 RM, 3-mi...

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between spatial awareness, agility, and distance covered in global positioning system (GPS) derived velocity zone classifications during a collegiate rugby match. Twelve American collegiate rugby union players (mean±SD; age: 21.2±1.4 y; weight: 85.0±16.0 kg; 7 forwards & 5 backs) on...

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the maximal distance (Dmax)-EMG method for estimating physical working capacity at fatigue threshold (PWCFT ). Methods: Twenty-one men and women (age: 22.9 ± 3.0 yrs) volunteered to perform 12 sessions of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) over 4 weeks. Pre- and post- H...

This study compared the acute and chronic response of circulating plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to high-intensity low-volume (HI) and low-intensity high volume (HV) resistance training. Twenty experienced resistance trained men (23.5±2.6 y, 1.79±0.05 m, 75.7±13.8 kg) volunteered for this study. Prior to the resistance training pro...

Partial least squares regression structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine relationships between the endocrine response to resistance exercise and muscle hypertrophy in resistance-trained men. Pre-testing (PRE) measures of muscle size (thickness and cross-sectional area) of the vastus lateralis and rectus femoris were collected in...

Minimal postural sway while standing is indicative of good balance. The most prevalent method for evaluating postural sway is monitoring center of pressure (COP) motion for a specified duration as an individual stands on a force platform under several pre-planned conditions. Despite the potential need to generate upper body force bilaterally, previ...

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been demonstrated to have an important role in neuronal remodeling and modulating synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release. Acute elevations in BDNF concentrations have been seen during exercise, the understanding in resistance trained (RT) men, and the difference between high intensi...

Brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been demonstrated to have an important role in neuronal remodeling and modulating synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release. Acute elevations in BDNF concentrations have been seen following resistance exercise (RE), however knowledge regarding the training response from different resistance traini...

Purpose: The purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships between isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) force and strength, sprint, and agility performance in collegiate rugby union players. Methods: Fifteen members of a champion-level university's club rugby union team (mean±SD: 20.67±1.23y, 1.78±0.06m, and 86.51±14.18kg) participat...

This study examined the anthropometric and physical performance differences between forwards and backs in a championship-level American male collegiate rugby team. Twenty-five male rugby athletes (mean±SD; age 20.2±1.6yr) were assessed. Athletes were grouped according to position as forwards (n=13) and backs (n=12) and were evaluated on: anthropome...

This study investigated the effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric free acid (HMB) supplementation on physical working capacity at the onset of neuromuscular fatigue (PWCFT). Thirty-seven participants (22 men, 15 women; 22.8±3.4y) completed an incremental cycle-ergometer test (GXT); electromyographic amplit...

This investigation compared the effect of high-volume (VOL) versus high-intensity (INT) resistance training on stimulating changes in muscle size and strength in resistance-trained men. Following a 2-week preparatory phase, participants were randomly assigned to either a high-volume (VOL; n = 14, 4 × 10-12 repetitions with ~70% of one repetition ma...

This study compared caffeine pharmacokinetics, glycerol concentrations, metabolic rate, and performance measures following ingestion of a time-release caffeine containing supplement (TR-CAF) versus a regular caffeine capsule (CAF) and a placebo (PL). Following a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over design, ten males (25.9 ± 3.2...

To evaluate the time course of EMG frequency changes during a three-minute maximal effort cycling test (3MT) session and to examine which parameter between mean (MNF) and median (MDF) frequency is more suitable for evaluation of changes in neuromuscular function throughout a 3MT. Eighteen recreationally-active men volunteered to participate in this...

Background: Physiological adaptation consequent to resistance training is thought to be specific to training intensity and training volume. However, studies comparing high intensity and high training protocols on muscle strength and growth in experienced, resistance trained (RT) men are limited. Purpose: Compare high volume versus high intensity t...

The Live Low‐Exercise High (LoHi) method has shown to effectively improve athletic performance in various sports. However, the examination of this method in female combat sports athletes is limited. Purpose To investigate the effect of LoHi on anaerobic performance of amateur women boxers. Methods Sixteen amateur women boxers were randomly assign...

Previous research combining Calcium β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (CaHMB) and running high-intensity interval training (HIIT) have shown positive effects on aerobic performance measures. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyric free acid (HMBFA) and cycle ergometry HIIT on maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak), v...