Effects of Padel Competition on Brain Health-Related Myokines

Francisco Pradas, María Pía Cádiz, María Teresa Nestares, Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz and Luis Carrasco
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Francisco Pradas: Training, Physical Activity and Sports Performance Research Group (ENFYRED), Faculty of Health and Sports Sciences, Pabellón Polideportivo Río Isuela, E-22001 Huesca, Spain
María Pía Cádiz: Department of Pedagogy, Faculty of Educational Sciences, San Sebastián University, Bellavista 7, Recoleta Piso 6, Santiago 1457, Chile
María Teresa Nestares: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Cartuja University Campus, E-18071 Granada, Spain
Inmaculada C. Martínez-Díaz: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Seville, E-41013 Seville, Spain
Luis Carrasco: Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Seville, E-41013 Seville, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-11

Abstract: Padel is becoming one of the most widespread racket sports that may have potential health benefits. Considering that several myokines mediate the cross-talk between skeletal muscles and the brain, exerting positive effects on brain health status, this study was designed to evaluate the responses of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and irisin (IR) to padel competition in trained players and to determine whether these responses were sex-dependent. Twenty-four trained padel players (14 women and 10 men with a mean age of 27.8 ± 6.3 years) participated voluntarily in this study. Circulating levels of BDNF, LIF, and IR were assessed before and after simulated padel competition (real playing time, 27.8 ± 8.49 min; relative intensity, 75.2 ± 7.9% maximum heart rate). Except for BDNF responses observed in female players (increasing from 1531.12 ± 269.09 to 1768.56 ± 410.75 ng/mL), no significant changes in LIF and IR concentrations were reported after padel competition. In addition, no sex-related differences were found. Moreover, significant associations between IR and BDNF were established at both pre- and post-competition. Our results suggest that while competitive padel practice stimulates BDNF response in female players, padel competition failed to boost the release of LIF and IR. Future studies are needed to further explore the role of these exercise-induced myokines in the regulation of brain functions and to identify the field sports that can contribute to myokine-mediated muscle–brain crosstalk.

Keywords: padel; sports competition; myokines; BDNF; leukemia inhibitory factor; irisin (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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