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    The Effect of Ammonia Inhalants on Mental-Fatigue-Related Force Loss
    (MDPI (Basel, Switzerland), 2025-12-01) Barnes MJ; O’Connor E; van Zanten J
    Objectives: Ammonia inhalants (AIs) are commonly used in competition with the assumption that they will increase arousal and reduce the detrimental effects of mental fatigue on performance. However, as the effect of AIs on mental fatigue is unclear, this study investigated (1) whether mental-fatigue-related changes in mood states are associated with reductions in maximal lower-body force production and (2) whether AIs reduce any mental-fatigue-induced changes in performance. Methods: In a randomized, crossover designed study, nine resistance trained males completed two trials, with and without AIs. Profile of mood states, isometric midthigh pull force, and electromyography were measured before and after completion of a 75 min AX-continuous performance test (AX-CPT). For AI trials, AIs were used prior to post-AX-CPT IMTPs. Results: The AX-CPT significantly increased all negative mood subscales, while decreasing vigor (all p < 0.05), resulting in an increase in total mood disturbance (pre-AX-CPT: 27.1 ± 3.17 vs. post-AX-CPT: 64.49 ± 4.01; p = 0.005). Additionally, compared to baseline, force was reduced immediately (1699 ± 345 vs. 1521 ± 324 N; p = 0.009), but not five minutes post-AX-CPT (p = 0.328). Electromyography did not change over time, and no differences between treatments were evident for any of the measures. Conclusions: Mental fatigue, and related mood disturbance, has the potential to acutely reduce lower-body, maximal force. This finding may have implications for athletes competing in strength sports where mental focus, arousal and maximal force production determine optimal performance. However, AIs offer no benefit to alleviating the detrimental effects of mental fatigue.
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    A comparison of the effects of sheep's milk and cow's milk on recovery from eccentric exercise
    (Frontiers Media S.A., 2024-01-11) Ravenwood B; Coad J; Barnes MJ
    Introduction: When consumed after eccentric exercise, cow's milk has been shown to improve recovery and alleviate symptoms of exercise induced muscle damage. Although currently less commercially available than cow's milk, sheep's milk may offer similar or greater benefits for recovery as it is higher in protein and energy; however, the effect of sheep's milk in any exercise context has not been explored. This study compared the effects of a sheep's milk beverage and a cow's milk beverage on recovery from strenuous eccentric exercise. Additionally, the effects of each beverage on satiety and gastrointestinal comfort were assessed. Methods: Ten healthy males completed baseline measures of perceived muscle soreness and maximal voluntary concentric, eccentric, and isometric quadriceps force of one leg before completing 200 maximal eccentric knee extensions on an isokinetic dynamometer. Measures were repeated 0.5, 24, 48 and 72 h post-eccentric exercise. After 0.5 h measures, participants consumed either 450 ml of chocolate flavored sheep's milk or chocolate flavored cow's milk. Following a washout period, participants completed a second trial on the contralateral leg and consumed the other beverage. Additionally, a satiety and gastrointestinal comfort questionnaire was completed before and after each beverage was consumed. Results: Eccentric exercise brought about a significant decrease in muscle function over time (all P < 0.012). No difference between treatments (all P > 0.097) was found. Measures of muscle soreness increased over time (all P < 0.002), however no difference was observed between treatments (all P > 0.072). Only sheep's milk altered perceived satiety, however, only the response to “How full do you feel” differed between treatments (P = 0.04). Discussion: The results of this study suggest that consuming sheep's milk may provide similar benefits as cow's milk when recovering from exercise-induced muscle damage. While these findings provide initial support for the use of sheep's milk in a muscle recovery context, further research is warranted to confirm these findings. Given its superior nutritional profile, greater impact on satiety and lower environment impact, sheep's milk may be a more efficient post-exercise recovery beverage, compared to cow's milk.