title: Carbohydrate use and reduction in number of balance beam falls: implications for mental and physical fatigue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Artistic Gymnastics is a sport where athletes are frequently fatigued. One element that might influence this aspect is carbohydrate, an important energy substrate for the muscles and the CNS. Our goal was to investigate the influence of fatigue over artistic gymnastics athlete's performance and the effects of a carbohydrate supplementation on their performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 15 athletes divided in 2 groups (control and fatigue) from 12 to 14 years old in two different experimental days. On the first day (water day), they did 5 sets of exercises on the balance beam (experimental protocol) ingesting only water, CG (control group) warmed up before the experimental protocol and FG (fatigue group) did a fatigue circuit, warm up exercises and then the experimental protocol. On the second day (carbohydrate day), we used the same protocol but CG ingested a sugar free flavored juice and FG ingested a 20% concentration maltodextrin solution before the protocol on the balance beam.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a greater number of falls from the balance beam from the FG on the first day (5.40 ± 1.14 FG vs 3.33 ± 1.37 CG; p = 0.024) and a decrease in the number of falls on the second day (2.29 ± 1.25 FG water day vs 5.40 ± 1.14 FG carbohydrate day; p = 0.0013). Carbohydrate solution was able to supply muscle demands and improve the athlete's focus showed by the reduced number of falls.
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helena Angélica Pereira
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Batatinha
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de França
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Igor Roberto
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Xavier
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ladeira
authors.affiliation: São Judas Tadeu University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Education, São Paulo State University, UNESP, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fabio Santos
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: de Lira
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia Cavalcante
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.affiliation: Mackenzie Presbyterian University, 546, Taquari St, Moóca, Sao Paulo, Brazil ; São Judas Tadeu University, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Erico Chagas
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Caperuto
keywords: Artistic gymnastics; Maltodextrin supplementation; Mental fatigue