Rodrigo Zacca

Rodrigo Zacca
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Rodrigo verified their affiliation via an institutional email.
University of Porto | UP · Research Center in Physical Activity, health and Leisure (CIAFEL), Faculty of Sports, University of Porto (FADEUP), Portugal and Laboratory for Integrative and Translational Research in Population Health (ITR), Porto, Portugal

Doctor of Philosophy
Exercise, Health and Sports Performance

About

119
Publications
64,464
Reads
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677
Citations
Introduction
- Experience in assessing physical fitness in different populations and evaluating human performance (land and aquatic) in recreational, amateur, and High Performance athletes.
Additional affiliations
March 2021 - February 2023
University of Porto
Position
  • Research Assistant
Description
  • Research Field: Medical and Health Sciences - Health Sciences - Sport and Fitness Sciences Exercise; Health; Exercise and Sport Physiology; Energetics; Human locomotion; Oxygen Uptake Kinetics; Biomarkers; Physical Activity Monitoring; Performance Analysis; Training and Detraining; Exercise and Sport Biomechanics; Digital Technologies; Wearable Technologies; Smart Textiles; Quality of Life.
March 2019 - March 2021
University of Porto
Position
  • PostDoc Position
Description
  • Research topic: "Health and performance related factors of ultra-endurance exercise"
March 2019 - March 2021
University of Porto
Position
  • PostDoc Position
Description
  • Research topic: "Health and performance related factors of ultra-endurance exercise"
Education
September 2013 - June 2018
University of Porto
Field of study
  • Sport Sciences
January 2010 - January 2012
Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul
Field of study
  • Human Movement Science
January 2007 - January 2008

Publications

Publications (119)
Article
Background: Sarcopenia is a progressive and age-related skeletal muscle disease related to adverse health outcomes and to an increased economic burden. Recent evidence pinpoints the human gut microbiota (GM) as a contributing factor in the development of sarcopenia via the gut- muscle axis. To date, no study specifically analysed the optimal type o...
Article
Full-text available
Citation: Hermosilla-Palma, F.; Loro-Ferrer, J.F.; Merino-Muñoz, P.; Gómez-Álvarez, N.; Zacca, R.; Cerda-Kohler, H.; Brito, C.; Pérez-Contreras, J.; Portes-Junior, M.; Aedo-Muñoz, E. Optimizing Muscle Performance in Young Soccer Players: Exploring the Impact of Resisted Sprint Training and Its Relationship with Distance Covered. Sports 2025, 13, 26...
Article
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This study aimed to present an updated version of VO2FITTING software, where it is possible to dynamically edit, process, filter and model O2 post-exercise data and to characterize the O2 on/off symmetry along different exercise intensity domains. Validation datasets were developed and applied to four widely used models for describing low, moderate...
Article
Full-text available
Abstract: Background: Elite kayaking demands peak conditioning, and tracking these athletes reveals the science behind world-class performance. Physiological demands and body composition changes in elite male kayakers were tracked during the preparatory and transition periods of a kayaking competitive season. Methods: Laboratory (body composition a...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Combining pool-based and resistance workouts, both in the pool and on dry land, is a valuable approach to enhancing swimming performance. However, few investigations have been conducted on this topic. Through a randomized controlled trial study, we investigated the effects of a 10-week concurrent resistance training program, which integ...
Preprint
Full-text available
Background: Elite kayaking demands peak conditioning—tracking these athletes reveals the science behind world-class performance. We tracked physiological demands and body composition changes of Elite male kayakers during the preparatory and transition periods of a kayaking competitive season. Methods: We applied laboratory (body composition assessm...
Preprint
Full-text available
Combining pool based + resistance workouts both in the pool and on dry land is a valuable ap-proach to enhance breaststroke swimming performance. However, few investigations have been conducted on this topic. Through a randomized controlled trial study, we investigated the effects of 10-week concurrent resistance training program, which integrates...
Preprint
Full-text available
Argentina is the current and three-time “World Cup” Champion, as well as the current and most successful team in “Copa América” history. We aimed to evaluate the cardiopulmonary fitness profile of youth soccer players from the first league of the Argentine Football Association (AFA). We evaluated ten highly trained youth soccer players from the AFA...
Article
Full-text available
Objective The pressure pain threshold is commonly employed to assess pain in various conditions. Despite its widespread use, the measurement of pressure pain thresholds is not consistently described across studies. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically examine the evidence regarding the assessment of pressure pain thresholds in patients wi...
Preprint
Full-text available
The MOVE-Air study was designed to explore the role of movement behaviours on the association between air pollutants and health outcomes in Portuguese children. Secondarily, it aims to characterize the settings (both indoor and outdoor) where children are exposed to air pollutants and to co-create solutions with participants to mitigate the exposur...
Article
Full-text available
Abstract: Background: Strength assessment is one of the main fields in sports performance, physical rehabilitation, physical activity and health. Purpose: To compare maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and paired voluntary isometric contractions (VIC) of knee extensors between an isokinetic dynamometer (BIODEX) and a portable and lightw...
Book
Full-text available
This reprint represents the collaborative efforts of the Guest Editors to explore new and emerging methodologies for delivering innovative solutions in exercise, health, and sports. We are grateful to all the authors of the manuscripts published in this special edition. Without their contributions, this reprint would not have been possible. The com...
Preprint
Full-text available
Background: Strength assessment is one of the main fields in sports performance, physical rehabilitation, physical activity and health. Purpose: To compare maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVIC) and paired voluntary isometric contractions (VIC) of knee extensors between an isokinetic dynamometer (BIODEX) and a portable and lightweight devi...
Article
Full-text available
The digital era is opening countless possibilities in “Sport Sciences”; “Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health”; and “Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy, and Rehabilitation” areas [...]
Poster
Full-text available
Overall muscle strength seems to have a protective effect on lung function in smokers and non-smokers firefighters.
Article
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Background: Chemotherapy associated with breast cancer often induces cardiotoxicity, which compromises patients' health and quality of life. Objective: To verify the effect of physical exercise on chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, through the assessment of cardiac function in patients with breast cancer. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analy...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to quantify the relationships among internal training load, wellness, physiological, isokinetic profile, and technical performance and assessed changes before and after a six-week pre-season structured combining physical fitness, small-sided-game and skill-based training program in young soccer players. Forty-five national-level yo...
Article
Full-text available
We compared the front-crawl kinematics, arm-stroke sufficiency, and internal load of a 2 km test (time-trial) between pool and open water swimming. Fifteen trained male Master swimmers (age = 39.7 ± 8.3 years), who competed predominantly in open water swimming events and engaged in regular swimming pool training, were assessed at specific range dis...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: The complexity of open water swimming performance, particularly from an anthropometric, physical performance, propulsive swimming force and bioenergetics point of view, can be fully appreciated when considering and determining the correlation between these features. In the current study, we examined the relationships between the above...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION The performance of open-water swimmers (OWS) is influenced by a complex process encompassing multiple factorial phenomenon, with recent research stating that anthropometric, bioenergetics, biomechanics, and propelling efficiency all play an important role in OWS performance (Vanheest et al., 2004; Baldassarre et al., 2017). Beside, evi...
Article
Full-text available
TO OUR READERS: An error appeared in the following article: Zacca R, de Souza Castro FA, Mottini Monteiro AS, Pyne DB, Vilas-Boas JP, Pinto Fernandes RJ. Swimming with the COSMED AquaTrainer and K5 wearable metabolic system in breath-by-breath mode: accuracy, precision, and repeatability. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2023;18(10):1152–1160. https:/...
Article
Aim: To quantify the physiological demands and impact of muscle function of the Fran workout, one of the most popular CrossFit benchmarks. Methods: Twenty experienced CrossFitters-16 male: 29 (6) years old and 4 female: 26 (5) years old- performed 3 rounds (with 30-s rests in between) of 21-21, 15-15, and 9-9 front squats to overhead press plus...
Article
Purpose: To compare ventilatory and cardiorespiratory responses between the COSMED AquaTrainer coupled with the K4b2 and K5 wearable metabolic systems in breath-by-breath mode over a wide range of swimming speeds. Methods: Seventeen well-trained master swimmers performed 2 front-crawl 7 × 200-m incremental intermittent protocols (increments of 0...
Article
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There is current scientific interest in naturally sourced phenolic compounds and their potential benefits to health, as well as the effective role polyphenols may provide in an exercise setting. This study investigated the chronic effects of supplementation with a biodynamic and organic olive fruit water phytocomplex (OliPhenolia® [OliP]), rich in...
Article
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Purpose: To assess changes in swimming performance, anthropometrics, kinematics, energetics, and strength after 5-week training cessation. Methods: Twenty-one trained and highly trained swimmers (13 males: 17.4 [3.1] y; 50-m front crawl 463 [77] FINA points; 8 females: 16.7 [1.7] y; 50-m front crawl 535 [48] FINA points) performed a 50-m front-c...
Article
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Background: Physical exercise can affect the immune system. We studied the effect of antioxidants on hematological and immune biomarkers after heavy training. Methods: 24 well-trained and well-fed male firefighters were randomly divided into supplemented and placebo groups, and tested for immunology-related variables using venous blood samples i...
Article
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This study aimed to identify the biomechanical features of backstroke to breaststroke transition techniques (open, somersault, bucket, and crossover) in age-group swimmers. Eighteen preadolescent swimmers (12.2 ± 0.4 years old and 3–4 Tanner stages) underwent 4 weeks of systematic contextual interference training, comprising 16 sessions (40 min·ses...
Article
Full-text available
Understanding fluctuations and associations between swimming performance-related variables provide strategic insights into a swimmer's preparation program. Through network analysis, we verified the relationships between anthropometrics, maturation, and kinematics changes (Δ) in 25-m breaststroke (BREAST) and butterfly (FLY) swimming performance, be...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: Combined interventions of pool-based and dry-land workouts is a common practice in swimming training. However, the effects on strength, technique and swimming performance is still not clear. Through a randomized controlled trial study, we investigated the effect of combining high intensity interval training (HIIT) and maximum strength tr...
Article
Full-text available
Aim: We investigated how Arena Powerskin R-EVO Closed Back (swimsuit) and Arena Carbon Triwetsuit (full-sleeve, wetsuit), both approved by the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) regulations, affect biomechanics and energetics of 3 Elite female open water (OW) swimmers at maximal and 4 submaximal swimming intensities. Methods: Three Elite...
Article
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O Laboratório de Biomecânica do Porto (LABIOMEP-UP) é um centro de competências da Universidade do Porto dedicado ao ensino, investigação científica e tecnológica, inovação, prestação de serviços técnicos especializados e transferência de conhecimento e tecnologia em Biomecânica (humana e animal) de interesse ergonómico, clínico, desportivo ou biom...
Article
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Objective: to verify if three-weeks of training cessation affects 200 m front crawl performance and kinematics in 12 years old and under age-group swimmers controlling for anthropometric changes. Method: Sixteen age-group swimmers (11 girls and 5 boys, age: 10.2 ± 1.2 y) performed a 200 m front crawl test (T200) (time trial) PRE- and POST three-wee...
Article
This study aimed to compare three swimming conditions in a swimming flume with water at 26 ℃ (using swimsuit) and 18 ℃ (randomly with swimsuit and wetsuit). Seventeen swimmers (32.4±14.7 years old, 175.6±0.06 cm height, and 70.4±9.8 kg body mass) performed three bouts until exhaustion at a 400-m front crawl pace (24 h intervals). ANOVA repeated mea...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Stretching is known to improve range of motion (ROM), and evidence has sug-gested that strength training (ST) is effective too. However, it is unclear if its efficacy is compa-rable to stretching. The goal was to systematically review and meta-analyze randomized con-trolled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of ST and stretching on ROM...
Article
Full-text available
Surfing is one additional sport proposed by the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee. Surprisingly, substantial efforts to understand surfing energetics are recent, and the impact of a single surfing paddling cycle on fatigue and energy cost is still not clear. Since surfing paddling technique is highly specific, experiments in real practice conditions...
Preprint
Full-text available
Full-text available + supplementary material: https://osf.io/preprints/metaarxiv/2tdfm Background: Range of motion (ROM) is an important feature of sports performance and health. Stretching is usually prescribed to improve promote ROM gains, but evidence has suggested that strength training (ST) also improves ROM. However, it is unclear if its eff...
Preprint
Full-text available
Background: Range of motion (ROM) is an important feature of sports performance and health. Stretching is usually prescribed to improve promote ROM gains, but evidence has suggested that strength training (ST) also improves ROM. However, it is unclear if its efficacy is comparable to stretching. Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-an...
Article
Full-text available
Intensive physical training programs can affect the immune system. This study aims to verify the multi-micronutrient supplementation effects on serum immunoglobulins levels prior to and after a five-week physical training program. Twenty-four male recruit firefighters were randomly allocated into supplemented (with Prisfar Ever-Fit Plus over 35 con...
Article
Full-text available
Intensive physical training programs can affect the immune system. This study aims to verify the multi-micronutrient supplementation effects on serum immunoglobulins levels prior to and after a five-week physical training program. Twenty-four male recruit firefighters were randomly allocated into supplemented (with Prisfar Ever-Fit Plus over 35 con...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: To avoid hypothermia, the Fédération Internationale de Natation (FINA) allows the use of wetsuit in swimming events when the water temperature is between 16 to 20ºC. However, improvements in performance produced by the use of wetsuit 1,2 in different distances highlights the importance in selecting the wetsuit according to thickness a...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
O objetivo deste estudo de caso foi relatar os resultados de desempenho comparativo em termos de cinemática, economia, eficiência geral e coordenação em diferentes intensidades de nado com recurso a dois tipos de fatos de competição (fato de banho, SWIMSUIT; e fato isotérmico, WETSUIT) entre a melhor nadadora de águas abertas da Federação Portugues...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose Breath-by-breath energy expenditure during open water swimming has not yet been explored in an ecological environment. This study aimed to investigate and compare energetics and kinematics of 5 km swimming, in both swimming pool and open water conditions. Methods Through four independent studies, oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics, heart rate...
Article
Objective : This study aimed at comparing different recovery-based methods to assess the highest exercise oxygen uptake value ( V ˙ O 2 peak) when swimming at low-moderate, heavy and severe intensities. Complementarily, the different recovery curve kinetics were analysed. Approach : Eighteen competitive swimmers performed a 5 × 200 m front crawl in...
Article
The anaerobic threshold (AnT) seems to be not only a physiologic boundary but also a transition after which swimmers technique changes, modifying their biomechanical behaviour. We expanded the AnT concept to a biophysical construct in the four conventional swimming techniques. Seventy-two elite swimmers performed a 5×200 m incremental protocol in t...
Article
Full-text available
Although performance and biomechanical evaluations are becoming more swimming-specific, dryland testing permits monitoring of a larger number of performance-related variables. However, as the degree of comparability of measurements conducted in-water and on land conditions is unclear, we aimed to assess the differences between force production in t...
Article
Full-text available
Purpose: to compare different methods to assess the arm stroke efficiency (? F ), whenswimming front crawl using the arms only on the Measurement of Active Drag System (MADSystem) and in a free-swimming condition, and to identify biophysical adaptations to swimming onthe MAD System and the main biophysical predictors of maximal swimming speed in th...
Article
Full-text available
The assessment of oxygen uptake (V̇O2) kinetics is a valuable non-invasive way to evaluate cardiorespiratory and metabolic response to exercise. The aim of the study was to develop, describe and evaluate an online V̇O2 fitting tool (VO2FITTING) for dynamically editing, processing, filtering and modelling V̇O2 responses to exercise. VO2FITTING was d...
Article
Full-text available
Changes in performance, energetics and kinematics during age-group swimmers off-season inform the prescription of training for the following season. Age-group swimmers (n = 15, age 14.3 ± 0.7 years) of equal maturational stage performed a 400-m front crawl (T400) before and after a four-weeks training cessation period. Performance-related energetic...
Article
Full-text available
Zacca, R, Azevedo, R, Ramos, VR, Abraldes, JA, Vilas-Boas, JP, Castro, FAdS, Pyne, DB, and Fernandes, RJ. Biophysical follow-up of age-group swimmers during a traditional three-peak preparation program. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2019—The aim of this study was to quantify changes and contributions of bioenergetic, technique, and anthropome...
Poster
Full-text available
The Biomechanics and Medicine in Swimming (BMS) is a series of international symposia organized every four years. The BMS series started in 1970, in Brussels, by the hands of L. Lewillie and J.P. Clarys, with the first proceedings book published one year later. Since 1970, 12 scientific BMS books have been published (the 13th being the present volu...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The aim of this study was to assess the charac- teristics of self-selected active strategies and rate of lactate removal corresponding to difference training phases upon re- peated measures. The [La-] values 3 min after swimming events and at the end of active recovery were obtained from 30 swimmers (14 males and 16 females; 13-18 years old) for tw...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
The aim of the present study was to explore the acute biophysical effects of different water temperatures in swimming. Ten male swimmers (28.20 􀊶 13.15 years old) completed two front crawl time-trials in a flume (24h rest in- between) at 18 and 26􀂐 C water temperature, both with- out wetsuit. The speed was common at both conditions and established...
Conference Paper
Full-text available
Longitudinal studies in swimming are characterized by continuous or repeated data (quantitative, qualitative or both) collected over a period of at least two or more logically spaced time points, involving a combination of exposures and outcomes. Typically, longitudinal studies are stronger for examining cause-and-effect relationships than simple c...
Article
Full-text available
Zacca, R, Azevedo, R, Chainok, P, Vilas-Boas, JP, Castro, FAdS, Pyne, DB, and Fernandes, RJ. Monitoring age-group swimmers over a training macrocycle: energetics, technique, and anthropometrics. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-The aim of this study was to quantify changes and contributions of energetic, technique, and anthropometric profil...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to assess the effects of post-activation potentiation in the strength related variables of a kick start. Thirteen competitive swimmers performed three kick starts after a standardized warm up (denoted USUAL) and another after inducing post-activation through five isotonic repetitions on an eccentric flywheel (denoted PAP). A T-test...