Ramadan fasting does not adversely affect neuromuscular performances and reaction times in trained karate athletes.
BACKGROUND
The present study aimed to investigate the concomitant effects of Ramadan intermittent fast (RIF) and muscle fatigue on neuromuscular performances and reaction times in young trained athletes.


METHODS
Eight karate players (17.2 ± 0.5 years) were tested on three sessions: during a control period (S1: one week before Ramadan), and during the first (S2) and the fourth week of RIF (S3). Dietary intake and anthropometric measurements were assessed before each session. During each test session, participants performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVC) and a submaximal contraction at 75 % MVC until exhaustion (T lim ) of the right elbow flexors. Surface electromyography was recorded from biceps brachii muscle during MVC and T lim . Simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction times were evaluated at rest and just after T lim in a random order.


RESULTS
The total daily energy (S2: +19.5 %, p < 0.05; S3: +27.4 %, p < 0.01) and water (S2: +26.8 %, p < 0.01; S3: +23.2 %, p < 0.05) intake were significantly increased during RIF. However, neither body mass nor body mass index was altered by RIF (F (2,14) = 0.80, p = 0.47 and F (2,14) = 0.78, p = 0.48, respectively). In addition, T lim (F (2,14) = 2.53, p = 0.12), MVC (F (2,14) = 0.51, p = 0.61) and associated electrical activity (F (2,14) = 0.13, p = 0.88) as well as neuromuscular efficiency (F (2,14) = 0.27, p = 0.76) were maintained during RIF. Moreover, neither SRT nor CRT was affected by RIF (F (2,14) = 1.82, p = 0.19 and F (2,14) = 0.26, p = 0.78, respectively) or neuromuscular fatigue (F (1,7) = 0.0002, p = 0.98 and F (1,7) = 3.78, p = 0.09, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The present results showed that RIF did not adversely affect the neuromuscular performances and anthropometric parameters of elite karate athletes who were undertaking their usual training schedule. In addition, neither RIF nor neuromuscular fatigue poorly affects reaction times in elite karate athletes.
Research Laboratory: "Medical Imaging Technologies" (LR 12ES06, TIM), Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia ; Research Unit: "Education, Motricity, Sports and Health" (UR 15JS01), Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Nidhal
N
Zarrouk
Research Laboratory: "Equipe de Physiologie, Biomécanique et Imagerie du Mouvement" (CeRSM, EA 2931), UFR STAPS, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense, 200 avenue de la République, 92000 Nanterre, France.
Omar
O
Hammouda
Research Unit: "Exercise Physiology and Pathophysiology: from the Integrated to the Molecular Biology, Medicine and Health" (UR 12ES06), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Imed
I
Latiri
Research Laboratory: "Sport Performance Optimization", National Center of Medicine and Sciences in Sport (CNMSS), Tunis, Tunisia.
Hela
H
Adala
Research Unit: "Exercise Physiology and Pathophysiology: from the Integrated to the Molecular Biology, Medicine and Health" (UR 12ES06), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, Tunisia.
Ezzedine
E
Bouhlel
Research Unit: "Education, Motricity, Sports and Health" (UR 15JS01), Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
Haithem
H
Rebai
Research Laboratory: "Medical Imaging Technologies" (LR 12ES06, TIM), Faculty of Medicine of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
Mohamed
M
Dogui
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D005215:Fasting / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time
Cognitive performance; Electromyography; Karate; Ramadan fasting; Reaction time; Strength