ABSTRACT 24. Aims To investigate the home advantage (HA) in the Copa Libertadores da América (CLA) from 2005 to 2015. Methods A naive analysis was applied considering how many times a team that played the second leg at home qualified for the next round. To verify differences between home, away and draw results, the Chi-square ( χ2 ) and the Full Bayesian Significance Test were applied. For the binomial variables ("Home" or "Away"), the probability of second-leg knockout occurrence was calculated. Results The probability of second-leg HA varied from 27.27% to 63.64% suggesting fluctuations of second-leg HA during competitive phases (round of 16, quarterfinals, semi-finals and final matches) and decision forms (full time, goals away rule or penalty-shoots). Conclusion The results counteract the common belief that there is a large advantage to playing the second match of a two-leg tie at home during all competition phases. Penalty-shots seemed to affect positively the second-leg HA. Despite the causes of second leg HA in CLA need to be better investigated, soccer coaches could to use these results to think better strategies to win your knockout matches.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O objetivo do presente estudo é avaliar modelos matemáticos de pós-análise do limiar de lactato em grupos de corredores de longa distância muito ou pouco treinados. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo laboratorial experimental. Hospital Público Universitário Terciário. MÉTODO: Vinte e sete corredores homens foram divididos em: pouco treinados (frequência < 4 vezes por semana, < 6 meses, velocidade ≥ 5,0 minutos/km) e muito treinados (frequência ≥ 4 vezes por semana, ≥ 6 meses, velocidade < 5,0 minutos/km). Os participantes foram submetidos a protocolo de esteira escalonado (1% inclinação) = 1 km/h por fase (4 minutos). Ao fim de cada estágio, análise da "impressão digital" metabolômica foi realizada. O limiar do lactato (i.e. velocidade em que o lactato sanguíneo aumenta exponencialmente) foi medido utilizando-se três métodos: aumento de 1 mmol/l da concentração, concentração absoluta de 4 mmol e método semi-log. ANOVA foi utilizada para comparar os diferentes limiares de lactato e grupos. RESULTADO: Atletas muito treinados apresentaram limiares de lactato maiores que os corredores pouco treinados, independentemente do método de cálculo utilizado. Comparando todos os corredores juntos, as análises de aumento de 1 mmol/l e semi-log não foram diferentes, enquanto a concentração absoluta de 4 mmol/l foi significativamente mais baixa que as dos dois outros métodos. Essas mesmas tendências foram observadas ao se compararem os métodos de limiar de lactato no grupo menos treinado. Entretanto, a análise absoluta de 4 mmol/l foi menor do que a do aumento de 1 mmol/l no grupo muito treinado. CONCLUSÃO: O método concentração absoluta de 4 mmol não mostrou mensurações comparáveis de limiar do lactato quando comparado com os protocolos aumento de 1 mmol/l e semi-log nos atletas pouco treinados.

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate different mathematical post-analysis methods of determining lactate threshold in highly and lowly trained endurance runners. DESIGN AND SETTING: Experimental laboratory study, in a tertiary-level public university hospital. METHOD: Twenty-seven male endurance runners were divided into two training load groups: lowly trained (frequency < 4 times per week, < 6 consecutive months, training velocity ≥ 5.0 min/km) and highly trained (frequency ≥ 4 times per week, ≥ 6 consecutive months, training velocity < 5.0 min/km). The subjects performed an incremental treadmill protocol, with 1 km/h increases at each subsequent 4-minute stage. Fingerprint blood-lactate analysis was performed at the end of each stage. The lactate threshold (i.e. the running velocity at which blood lactate levels began to exponentially increase) was measured using three different methods: increase in blood lactate of 1 mmol/l at stages (DT1), absolute 4 mmol/l blood lactate concentration (4 mmol), and the semi-log method (semi-log). ANOVA was used to compare different lactate threshold methods and training groups. RESULTS: Highly trained athletes showed significantly greater lactate thresholds than lowly trained runners, regardless of the calculation method used. When all the subject data were combined, DT1 and semi-log were not different, while 4 mmol was significantly lower than the other two methods. These same trends were observed when comparing lactate threshold methods in the lowly trained group. However, 4 mmol was only significantly lower than DT1 in the highly trained group. CONCLUSION: The 4 mmol protocol did not show lactate threshold measurements comparable with DT1 and semi-log protocols among lowly trained athletes.

Abstract This qualitative-descriptive investigation examining the influence exerted by experienced soccer-players on the ranking obtained from the four best-ranked by their teams in the last four FIFA World Cups (WC). They were divided into experienced-players (at least one WC participation [+1WC]) or non-experienced players (no previous participation [1WC]). Thereafter, they were classified according to their contribution in each of the playoff matches in a given WC: STARTER (started all matches); START/SUBST (started at least one match); SUBST/BENCH (did not start any matches, but replaced a player in at least one match); and BENCH (did not participate in matches). The sample was composed of 33.7% experienced and 66.3% non-experienced players. The number of players +1WC in finalist teams was significantly higher than in the non-finalist teams (p<0.05). In addition, when compared with the non-finalist teams, the finalists presented significantly higher number of players STARTER with +1WC (p<0.05). Possibly, the selection of experienced players to participate in WC may be an effective strategy to achieve better competitive performance.

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar o nível de flexibilidade de homens e mulheres de diferentes faixas etárias através do teste de sentar e alcançar seguindo protocolo do Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness (CSTF); classificá-los de acordo com a tabela sugerida pelo mesmo e, a partir dos resultados obtidos elaborar uma nova tabela normativa que reflita a população estudada. Participaram do estudo 16.405 sujeitos (11.114 mulheres e 5.291 homens) praticantes e não praticantes de exercícios físicos regulares, divididos em grupos etários: 15 a 19 (n=954), 20 a 29 (n=2916), 30 a 39 (n=2161), 40 a 49 (n=2333), 50 a 59 (n=2739), 60 a 69 (n=3195), acima de 70 (n=2107). Os percentis foram calculados com escores do teste original e como pontos de corte considerou-se os percentis 20, 40, 60 e 80 para classificação fraco, abaixo da média, média, acima da média, excelente, respectivamente. De acordo com as classificações do CSTF as faixas etárias entre 15 e 39 anos foram classificadas como fraco, com média de flexibilidade variando entre 24,80±9,68cm e 26,13±10,11cm no feminino e entre 21,48±9,90cm e 22,84±9,64cm no masculino. Nas categorias de 40 a 69 a média variou entre 22,76±9,62cm e 25,39±9,54cm no feminino e entre 16,39±10,13cm e 19,93±9,19cm no masculino, ficando abaixo da média. Apesar de a maioria da amostra ser praticante de exercício físico regular, a média do nível de flexibilidade apresentada não correspondeu à média sugerida pela tabela canadense demonstrando a importância de se construir tabelas de referências nacionais e se estabelecer novos valores normativos como a tabela proposta pelo presente trabalho.

The objective of this study was to examine the level of flexibility in men and women of different ages by the sit-and-reach test and to classify them according to the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness (CSTF). The results were used to elaborate a new table that reflects the population studied. The sample consisted of 16,405 physically active and inactive subjects who were divided according to age: 15 to 19 (n = 954), 20 to 29 (n = 2916), 30 to 39 (n = 2161), 40 to 49 (n = 2333), 50 to 59 (n = 2739), 60 to 69 (n = 3195), and > 70 years (n = 2107). Percentiles were calculated using the original test scores and the 20th, 40th, 60th and 80th percentiles were used as cut-offs for classification as poor, below the average, average, above the average and excellent, respectively. According to the CSTF classification, the age groups from 15 to 39 years were classified as poor, with mean flexibility ranging from 24.805±9.684 to 26.130± 10.111 cm in women and from 21.480±9.905 to 22.848±9.648 cm in men. In the 40- to 69-year age groups, mean flexibility ranged from 22.768±9.627 to 25.396±9.547 in women and from 16.396±10.136 to 19.935±9.192 cm in men and was classified as below the average. Although most of the subjects performed regular exercise, the mean flexibility level observed did not correspond to the average suggested by the CSTF, demonstrating the importance of elaborating national reference tables and of establishing new normative values such as the table proposed in this study.