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Aim: Fatigue during team sports requiring multiple sprints can result from the combined effects of metabolic, mechanical, neurological, and immune factors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of capsaicin on performance of and the physiological response to an exercise test simulating the fitness demands of team sport game conditions. Methods: This study was a placebo-controlled, crossover design. Nineteen healthy male experienced athletes age 18-30 yr consumed either 3 g/d cayenne (25.8 mg/d capsaicin) or placebo for 1 wk. Directly following the supplementation period, they completed a repeated sprint test consisting of 15 30 m maximal effort sprints on 35 s intervals. Sprint times were recorded via electronic dual-beam timing system. Fasted blood draws for interleukin-6 (IL-6) were taken at baseline prior to supplementation, 45-min pretest, and immediately post test. Heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), rate of perceived exertion (RPE), muscle soreness (MS), and gastrointestinal distress (GD) were measured 1-min pretest, during, posttest, and 1-min posttest. MS was also measured for 3 d posttest. Results: Relative to the placebo, capsaicin significantly reduced maximum HR by 9.3%, total average HR by 8.5%, and sprinting average HR by 6.0% (P<0.05). Capsaicin caused GD of at least 2/5 in 24.5% of subjects. There was no difference between treatments in fastest or mean sprint time, fatigue, percent change or difference in IL-6, BP, RPE, sprint or posttest MS. Conclusion: Capsaicin did not influence repeated sprint performance or the inflammatory response, but reduced HR during intense activity and causes substantial GD. / Master of Science

Self-Control Training (SCT) and Brain Endurance Training (BET) are novel training modalities designed to enhance physical endurance by building fatigue resiliency. Despite their similarities, it has yet to be examined whether combining SCT and BET provides an additive or redundant/overlapping effect on endurance exercise performance. This study investigated the effects of SCT and combined SCT+BET on performance of a maximal exertion isometric resistance endurance task (high plank) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Participants (N = 33) were randomized to engage in 4 weeks (18 training sessions) of SCT (isometric handgrip; n = 13), SCT+BET (10-minute cognitively demanding task, followed by SCT; n = 10), or no-training/control (n = 10). Isometric endurance performance trials were completed at pre-, mid-, and post-training. One-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) models were computed for each of the mid- and post-training trials (controlling for pre-training high-plank performance) to assess effects on performance. Results showed no significant effects of training on high plank performance between groups at mid-training; however, a large and significant effect for SCT compared to control was observed at post-training (p = .044, d = .961). No significant main effects or interaction effects were found for changes in RPE over time (p’s > .05). Findings support the use of SCT as an effective training method for physical endurance performance and suggest that BET may not offer additional performance benefit compared to SCT under the training and testing conditions used in this protocol. Future research should explore potential dose-response effects of SCT on performance and moderators such as trait self-control. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

This study is a subset of a larger body of research that examined shoulder time to fatigue during overhead work in an attempt to reduce the prevalence and impact of work-related musculoskeletal problems in the shoulder associated with overhead work, particularly during automobile assembly. Existing evidence suggests that shoulder injuries are diverse in terms of tissues affected and symptoms presented. Furthermore, the cause of these injuries is multifactorial. The work presented here assumes that musculoskeletal injuries of the shoulder mechanism are at least related to, if not caused by, fatigue localized to the shoulder musculature. While the exact relationship between fatigue and injury has not been clearly established, there is consensus among researchers that fatigue plays and important role. Muscular fatigue, therefore, is viewed as a surrogate measure of risk, and task design to avoid fatigue is seen as a rational method to minimize this risk. An experiment to determine the effects of tool weight on shoulder fatigue and performance during overhead work with work/rest cycles was performed. Times to fatigue were derived based on dependent measures including total task duration, controlled maximum muscle contractions, subjective ratings based on Borg's CR-10 RPE scale, electromyogram behavior (MdPF), and hand force performance measures. Experimental findings indicated that duty cycle (percentage of total task cycle time spent working) significantly affected task duration (p<0.0001), changes in maximum voluntary contraction values for the infraspinatus (p<0.05), and the minimum time for any shoulder muscle to fatigue as determined by changes in the EMG power spectrum (p<0.05). Time to fatigue for the mid deltoid as determined by changes in the median frequency of the EMG power spectrum was shown to change significantly (p<0.05) with change in tool weight. Large intersubject variation was observed for the dependent measures, which showed subjects experiencing different levels of fatigue while performing the same task. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future direction are also discussed. / Master of Science

Repetitive and forceful exertions have been dentified as an important risk factor for occupational injuries. One method used to determine appropriate exposures to these and other risk factors is psychophysics, which is based on individual perceptions of task demands and/or risk. Effects of work exposure have been indicated as of potential importance, but have not been well studied. Indications from an earlier study related to psychophysical limits for a repetitive manual torquing task were that five days of work conditioning had minimal effects on resulting Maximum Acceptable Repetition Rates (MARR). However, it is unknown whether and how longer work exposure durations might influence MARRs. The current study investigated the effects of work exposure on MARR and adjustment time over 10 working days (two weeks) with two days of rest after five days. Ten participants (five males and five females) performed a manual torquing (45 Nm load) task at mid-chest level in the coronal plane for a one hour test session. Starting repetition rate for each participant was set at single high and low rate on alternate days. Temporal (exposure) effects were determined, where day of exposure was the independent variable, and MARR and adjustment time were the dependent variables. Final MARRs were relatively lower during the first few exposure days (14 - 15 repetitions/min) and increased for days 5 - 7 (16 - 18 repetitions/min). On average participants made four adjustments to reach MARR . Day was not found to significantly affect MARR, though week affected both MARR and adjustment time. Thus, an exposure of two weeks may be needed to obtain stable and valid psychophysical limits for manual torquing and, perhaps, related tasks. / Master of Science

O objetivo do estudo foi examinar a influência de variáveis fisiológicas, perceptuais e mecânicas nas diferentes estratégias de corrida e no desempenho de atletas. Doze corredores especialistas em 5.000m realizaram: 1) um teste escalonado máximo para identificação do consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2máx), velocidade de corrida associada ao VO2máx (vVO2máx), pico de velocidade em esteira (PVE) e velocidade de corrida associada ao limiar anaeróbio (vLAn); 2) uma prova de corrida de 5.000m avaliada a cada trecho (n = 5) de 1.000m em pista de atletismo para registro da frequência cardíaca (FC), percepção subjetiva de esforço (PSE) e velocidade de corrida. Os sujeitos foram divididos em dois grupos: saída lenta (SL) e saída rápida (SR) de acordo com a estratégia adotada, que por sua vez foi baseada na relação da velocidade de corrida no trecho inicial (Vel20%) com a velocidade média do teste de 5.000m. Os dados foram comparados entre os grupos de estratégia e posteriormente entre os trechos da prova esportiva para cada variável analisada. A velocidade de corrida no trecho inicial (SL = 16,9km.h-1 e SR = 19,1km.h-1) e no trecho final (SL = 19,1km.h-1 e SR = 16,7km.h-1) foi significantemente diferente (p < 0,05), o mesmo não ocorreu com a PSE. Já a FC nos três últimos trechos (SL = 185; 188 e 195 bpm e SR = 191; 193 e 200 bpm) apresentou diferença significante (p < 0,05) entre os grupos avaliados. Adicionalmente, foram encontradas associações entre PVE e Vel20% (rs = 0,57; p < 0,05), vVO2máx e Vel20% (rs = 0,55; p < 0,05), e entre vLAn e Vel20% (rs = 0,54; p < 0,05). Quando os parâmetros de desempenho (FC, PSE e velocidade de corrida) foram comparados dentro de cada grupo, apresentaram diferença significante (p < 0,05) entre todos os trechos analisados do teste. Dessa forma, concluímos haver influência da estratégia adotada no início da prova sobre a regulação da velocidade e sobre o desempenho na corrida de 5.000m, sobretudo, quando relacionada a parâmetros fisiológicos, perceptuais e mecânicos / The objective of this study was to examine the influence of physiological, perceptual and mechanical parameters in different pacing strategies and performance of athletes. Twelve runners performed: 1) a test scaled maximal to identify the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), running velocity associated with VO2max (vVO2max), peak treadmill velocity (PTV) and running velocity associated with the anaerobic threshold (vAnT); 2) a time trial evaluated in each 1,000m in the track to record heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and running speed. The subjects were divided into two groups: slow start (SS) and fast start (FS) in accordance with the strategy used, which in turn was based on the ratio of the velocity of the initial split (Vel20%) with the speed average of the time trial. Data were compared between groups of the pacing strategy for each variable analyzed. The velocity at the initial split (SS = 16.9 km.h-1 and FS = 19.1 km.h-1) and in the final split (SS = 19.1 km.h-1 and FS = 16.7 km.h-1) was different significantly (p < 0.05), but the same did not occur with the RPE. The HR in the last three splits (SS = 185, 188 and 195 beats.min-1 and FS = 191, 193 and 200 beats.min-1) showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between groups. In addition, associations were found between PTV and Vel20% (rs = 0.57, p < 0.05), vVO2max and Vel20% (rs = 0.55, p < 0.05) and between vAnT and Vel20% (rs = 0.54, p < 0.05). When the performance parameters (HR, RPE and running speed) were compared within each group, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) among all splits analyzed. Thus, we conclude there is influence of the strategy adopted at the start of the time trial and the speed regulation on the performance in the 5,000m running, especially when related to physiological, perceptual and mechanical parameters

Les travaux conduits dans le cadre de cette thèse avaient pour objectif d’étudier les mécanismes psychophysiologiques impliqués dans la mobilisation et la gestion des ressources nécessaires à la réalisation d’une performance de haut niveau en cyclisme sur route. Les mécanismes centraux et les paramètres psychologiques susceptibles d’influencer la commande motrice ont ainsi été analysés dans le contexte de compétitions cyclistes de haut-niveau.L’ensemble des résultats obtenus mettent en évidence que les mécanismes de régulation de l’intensité d’exercice, évalués à l’aide de la nouvelle méthode « Exposure Variation Analysis » (EVA) développée dans le cadre de cette thèse, seraient des paramètres déterminants pour la performance cycliste en contre-la-montre (CLM). En compétition officielle, la capacité du cycliste à exploiter au mieux ses qualités physiques et donc à développer la plus haute puissance moyenne possible était directement reliée à sa capacité à maintenir un niveau d’intensité d’exercice constant sur l’ensemble du CLM. De plus, cette justesse de régulation de l’intensité de l’effort serait également liée aux paramètres psychologiques de plaisir ressenti et de focus attentionnel : plus l’athlète ressentait un plaisir important et était capable de focaliser ses pensées sur des éléments extérieurs pertinents pour la performance et plus il était capable de maintenir un niveau de puissance constant sur l’ensemble de l’effort. Ainsi, la performance cycliste serait dépendante de l’interaction complexe entre les paramètres psychologiques, les mécanismes de régulation de l’effort et les qualités physiques des athlètes.Cependant, les résultats des études menées dans le cadre de cette thèse mettent également en évidence que les mécanismes de régulation de l’intensité d’exercice et les paramètres psychologiques associés varient selon le contexte environnemental et les caractéristiques de l’effort réalisé. Par exemple, la présence d’un équipier en montée permettrait au cycliste de ressentir un plaisir plus élevé pendant l’effort et de puiser davantage dans ses réserves afin de réaliser un sprint final plus important dans les derniers mètres avant l’arrivée. A l’inverse, les cyclistes de niveau élite possèderaient des qualités de gestion de l’effort remarquables leur permettant de réguler l’effort de manière identique lors de plusieurs montées répétées que lors d’un effort unique. L’étude de la performance cycliste doit donc prendre en compte le contexte environnemental ainsi que les caractéristiques des athlètes et de l’effort réalisé afin de réellement permettre une compréhension complète de la performance cycliste de haut-niveau.De plus, ces résultats mettent également en évidence que les mécanismes de régulation de l’effort peuvent évoluer entre les différentes compétitions, et pourraient ainsi expliquer les variations journalières de performance pour un même niveau de qualité physique. Les travaux menés dans le cadre de cette thèse ont ainsi tenté d’optimiser la méthode EVA afin de permettre le suivi de la justesse des mécanismes de régulation de l’effort du cycliste lors de plusieurs CLM. Cette méthode pourrait se révéler très intéressante pour les entraîneurs et les athlètes sur le terrain afin de tenter d’optimiser leurs mécanismes de régulation de l’effort avec l’entraînement dans le but d’exploiter au mieux leurs qualités physiques. Des techniques psychologiques pourraient notamment être utilisées afin d’augmenter le plaisir ressenti des athlètes ou d’optimiser leur gestion des pensées pendant l’effort, leur permettant ainsi de mieux réguler l’intensité d’exercice et d’améliorer leurs performances en CLM. / The studies conducted during this PhD thesis aimed to analyse the psychophysiological mechanisms of effort regulation during elite road cycling performance. Central mechanisms and psychological parameters influencing motor units recruitment were studied in different contexts of elite road cycling competitions.All the results show that exercise intensity regulation, quantified using the “Exposure Variation Analysis” method developed during this PhD, is a key parameter of cycling individual time-trial (ITT) performance. During official competitive ITT, the cyclists’ abilities to have a maximal use of their physical capacities in order to develop the highest mean power output possible was strongly related to their abilities to maintain a constant level of exercise intensity during the entire ITT. These exercise intensity regulation mechanisms were also strongly related to pleasure and attentional focus psychological parameters: the more the athletes felt a high level of pleasure and were able to focus mainly on external thoughts salient to the performance, the more they were able to maintain a constant power output over the entire ITT. Cycling performance seems related to the complex interaction between psychological parameters, exercise intensity regulation mechanisms and physical capacities.However, the studies conducted also revealed that exercise intensity regulation mechanisms and psychological parameters varied depending on the environmental context and the characteristics of the effort. For example, a leading teammate in uphill cycling allowed the athlete to increase their pleasure and to dig deeper into their physiological reserves in order to perform a greater end-spurt. Conversely, elite cyclists exhibited outstanding exercise intensity regulation capacities which allowed them to regulate their effort during repeated uphill ITT in the same way that during single ITT. Consequently, the study of elite cycling performance must consider both environmental context and characteristics of the athletes concerned to allow a complete understanding of the mechanisms underlying performance.Furthermore, these results also underline that exercise intensity regulation mechanisms can vary between races, and consequently can explain the day-to-day variability in cycling performance despite similar physical capacities. Thus, the EVA method was optimised in order to monitor exercise intensity regulation mechanisms during several ITT performed by the same athletes. This method can be interesting for coaches and athletes on the field to try to improve their exercise intensity regulation with training. Specific psychological interventions can be added to the training programs in order to help the athlete to increase their pleasure or to improve their attentional focus, allowing them to improve their exercise intensity regulation and to have a greater use of their physical capacities during ITT.

Considerando que a duração do combate de judô pode variar entre poucos segundos até um período superior a 5 min, a caracterização da demanda fisiológica do combate na sua duração regulamentar e fracionada, assim como a relação dessas respostas com o nível de aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia dos atletas é relevante para o aperfeiçoamento dos métodos de treinamento. Assim, o objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a aptidão física, ações técnicas e respostas fisiológicas durante a luta de judô com diferentes durações. Para tanto, 12 atletas de judô foram submetidos a 10 sessões de avaliação. Nas duas primeiras sessões foram realizados quatro testes físicos para caracterização da aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia dos membros superiores e inferiores. Nas demais sessões, os atletas foram submetidos a 15 combates simulados de judô (3 condições x 5 durações - 1, 2, 3, 4 e 5 min) com o mesmo oponente, em ordem aleatória e vendados quanto à duração do combate. Em uma das condições, os atletas simularam um combate real. Na segunda condição, os atletas lutaram usando um analisador de gases para mensurar o consumo de oxigênio, para a estimativa da contribuição dos sistemas de transferência de energia. Nessa condição foram impostas algumas adaptações de movimento. Para verificar se o uso do analisador de gases modificou as respostas obtidas, na terceira condição, os atletas lutaram com as mesmas adaptações, porém não usaram o equipamento. Em cada sessão foram conduzidos dois combates, intercalados por 60 min de recuperação. Foram quantificadas as respostas fisiológicas, perceptivas, de desempenho, de estrutura temporal e ações técnicas em todos combates. A comparação das variáveis dependentes foi realizada com uma análise de modelos mistos para medidas repetidas, seguida do post hoc de Bonferroni. As associações entre a aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia com as variáveis do combate foram verificadas por meio da correlação de Pearson. Para todas as comparações pareadas significantes foi calculado o tamanho do efeito (d de Cohen). Em todas as análises foi adotado 5% como nível de significância. Os principais resultados demonstraram aumento da contribuição aeróbia com concomitante redução da contribuição dos sistemas anaeróbios com o transcorrer do combate, sendo a contribuição aeróbia superior à contribuição dos sistemas anaeróbios a partir do primeiro min de combate. O sistema anaeróbio lático contribuiu com a menor proporção do custo energético do combate de judô. As taxas de incremento das respostas fisiológicas e perceptivas por min de combate foram reduzidas com o transcorrer do combate, sendo as principais modificações observadas no início do combate, sugerindo que os atletas podem apresentar estratégia para modular seus esforços. Com o transcorrer do combate observou-se manutenção do tempo médio de esforço e ações aplicadas, porém houve aumento do tempo médio dos períodos de pausa. Após a realização do combate observou-se declínio da resistência muscular dinâmica dos membros superiores, manutenção da força isométrica máxima de preensão manual e melhora da potência muscular dos membros inferiores. As variáveis de aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia relacionaram-se com menor queda do desempenho, maior taxa de golpes de perna e maior tempo médio de combate. Assim, observou-se predominância do sistema aeróbio para suprir a energia necessária para a realização do combate de judô. Além disso, maiores níveis de aptidão aeróbia e anaeróbia estão associados positivamente com o desempenho durante a luta / Considering that judo combat can last from a few seconds to up to more than 5 minutes, characterization of the physiological demands of combat in different time frames, and the relationship of these responses to an athlete\'s level of aerobic and anaerobic fitness is relevant to improving training methods. Thus, the objective of the present study was to describe the physiological demands of judo combat. Twelve judo athletes performed 10 experimental sessions. In the first and second sessions, four physical tests to characterize the aerobic and anaerobic fitness of the upper and lower limbs were performed. In the other sessions, the athletes performed 15 judo combat (involving 3 conditions x 5 durations of time: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 minutes) randomly determined, against the same opponent, on different days and blinded for time duration. In one condition, the athletes simulated actual combat. In the second condition, the athletes fought while using a gas analyzer to measure oxygen consumption in order to estimate the contribution of the energy systems. In this condition some motion adjustments were imposed. To verify if the use of the gas analyzer modified the responses obtained, in the third condition the athletes fought with the same adjustments, but did not use the equipment. These combat periods were divided into 8 sessions with two different conditions, separated by an interval of 60 minutes. The physiological, perceptual, performance, time-motion, and technical action responses were quantified in all matches. The comparison of the dependent variables was performed with an analysis of mixed models for repeated measures, followed by a post hoc Bonferroni. The associations between aerobic and anaerobic fitness to combat variables were verified using Pearson\'s correlation. For all significant pairwise comparisons the effect size (d Cohen) was calculated. A 5% level of significance was adopted for all analyses. The main results showed an increase in aerobic contribution with a concomitant reduction of the anaerobic contribution in the course of combat, given that the aerobic contribution was greater than the anaerobic contribution from the first minute of combat. The lactic anaerobic system contributed to the smaller proportion of energy cost in judo combat. The increment in rate of the physiological and perceptual responses per minute of combat decreased throughout the course of the combat, with the highest changes occurring at the beginning of combat, which suggest that judo athletes seem to modulate their effort. In the course of combat, maintenance of the average time of effort and actions occurred, but there was an increase in the average time of pause. After the combat, a decline in the dynamic strength endurance of the upper limbs was observed, while maximal isometric handgrip strength was maintained, and improvement of muscle power in the lower limbs was noted. The aerobic and anaerobic fitness variables were associated with lower fall performance, higher rate of leg attacks and a higher average time of standing combat. Thus, a predominance of the aerobic system in supplying the energy needed for the realization of judo combat was observed. In addition, higher levels of aerobic and anaerobic fitness are positively associated with performance during the combat

O objetivo do estudo foi examinar a influência de variáveis fisiológicas, perceptuais e mecânicas nas diferentes estratégias de corrida e no desempenho de atletas. Doze corredores especialistas em 5.000m realizaram: 1) um teste escalonado máximo para identificação do consumo máximo de oxigênio (VO2máx), velocidade de corrida associada ao VO2máx (vVO2máx), pico de velocidade em esteira (PVE) e velocidade de corrida associada ao limiar anaeróbio (vLAn); 2) uma prova de corrida de 5.000m avaliada a cada trecho (n = 5) de 1.000m em pista de atletismo para registro da frequência cardíaca (FC), percepção subjetiva de esforço (PSE) e velocidade de corrida. Os sujeitos foram divididos em dois grupos: saída lenta (SL) e saída rápida (SR) de acordo com a estratégia adotada, que por sua vez foi baseada na relação da velocidade de corrida no trecho inicial (Vel20%) com a velocidade média do teste de 5.000m. Os dados foram comparados entre os grupos de estratégia e posteriormente entre os trechos da prova esportiva para cada variável analisada. A velocidade de corrida no trecho inicial (SL = 16,9km.h-1 e SR = 19,1km.h-1) e no trecho final (SL = 19,1km.h-1 e SR = 16,7km.h-1) foi significantemente diferente (p < 0,05), o mesmo não ocorreu com a PSE. Já a FC nos três últimos trechos (SL = 185; 188 e 195 bpm e SR = 191; 193 e 200 bpm) apresentou diferença significante (p < 0,05) entre os grupos avaliados. Adicionalmente, foram encontradas associações entre PVE e Vel20% (rs = 0,57; p < 0,05), vVO2máx e Vel20% (rs = 0,55; p < 0,05), e entre vLAn e Vel20% (rs = 0,54; p < 0,05). Quando os parâmetros de desempenho (FC, PSE e velocidade de corrida) foram comparados dentro de cada grupo, apresentaram diferença significante (p < 0,05) entre todos os trechos analisados do teste. Dessa forma, concluímos haver influência da estratégia adotada no início da prova sobre a regulação da velocidade e sobre o desempenho na corrida de 5.000m, sobretudo, quando relacionada a parâmetros fisiológicos, perceptuais e mecânicos / The objective of this study was to examine the influence of physiological, perceptual and mechanical parameters in different pacing strategies and performance of athletes. Twelve runners performed: 1) a test scaled maximal to identify the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), running velocity associated with VO2max (vVO2max), peak treadmill velocity (PTV) and running velocity associated with the anaerobic threshold (vAnT); 2) a time trial evaluated in each 1,000m in the track to record heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and running speed. The subjects were divided into two groups: slow start (SS) and fast start (FS) in accordance with the strategy used, which in turn was based on the ratio of the velocity of the initial split (Vel20%) with the speed average of the time trial. Data were compared between groups of the pacing strategy for each variable analyzed. The velocity at the initial split (SS = 16.9 km.h-1 and FS = 19.1 km.h-1) and in the final split (SS = 19.1 km.h-1 and FS = 16.7 km.h-1) was different significantly (p < 0.05), but the same did not occur with the RPE. The HR in the last three splits (SS = 185, 188 and 195 beats.min-1 and FS = 191, 193 and 200 beats.min-1) showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between groups. In addition, associations were found between PTV and Vel20% (rs = 0.57, p < 0.05), vVO2max and Vel20% (rs = 0.55, p < 0.05) and between vAnT and Vel20% (rs = 0.54, p < 0.05). When the performance parameters (HR, RPE and running speed) were compared within each group, there were significant differences (p < 0.05) among all splits analyzed. Thus, we conclude there is influence of the strategy adopted at the start of the time trial and the speed regulation on the performance in the 5,000m running, especially when related to physiological, perceptual and mechanical parameters

The impact of nutritional intervention on affective states has largely been ignored in the exercise-affect literature. For decades the impact of such interventions on perceptions of exertion has been well documented. However, Hardy and Rejeski (1989) assert that `what' a person feels, as measured by the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale, may be very different from `how' they feel, and that on its own the RPE provides limited information about the subjective experiences of individuals during exercise. This thesis describes a series of studies that assess the influence of various fluid ingestion regimes on both `how' and `what' a person feels. Seven studies were undertaken, incorporating a variety of exercise modes, including prolonged running (Study 1,3 & 7), prolonged cycling (Study 2& 4) and prolonged intermittent, high intensity exercise (Study 5,6 & 7). The relationship between fluid ingestion during exercise and affective states during and following exercise proved to be a complex one. The initial investigation (Study 1) showed that the ingestion of water during prolonged running resulted in an overall improvement in valence during the recovery period. A significant increase in activation was also noted in the water trial only, from pre to post exercise. Furthermore, subjective ratings of energy post-exercise were higher in the water trial, compared to the no water trial. In study 2 the beneficial effects observed in study 1 were not so apparent. In this instance the only significant change of interest was in energetic arousal, which was found to be higher 5 min post exercise in the water trial compared to the no water trial. When the ingestion of a CHO solution during exercise was compared to a placebo or flavoured water solution (Studies 3-7) the findings also varied. However, the observation of an enhanced affective profile following CHO ingestion in Study 4 and Study 5 highlights the importance of considering nutritional status and intervention when investigating the exercise-affect relationship. These studies have highlighted some important aspects in our understanding of the exercise-affect relationship alone. Firstly, a robust finding across all the studies was the observation of an almost uniformly positive shift in valence from the final within-exercise assessment to the post exercise assessments. Thus emphasising the dynamic nature of affect and the importance of repeated within exercise assessments. Secondly, moderate intensity exercise of a fixed duration was marked by highly variable inter-individual differences in the response of participants to the valence and activation dimensions. However, exercise to fatigue elicited a homogenous valence response as participants came closer to reaching their exercise capacity.