Complex networks analysis reinforces centrality hematological role on aerobic–anaerobic performances of the Brazilian Paralympic endurance team after altitude training

Figures

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  Figure 1. Hematological and physical performance evaluations performed before (PRE), the ascent to altitude, during the stay in Colombia (2500 m) and after returning to lower altitudes (POST). Procedures performed during the entire period of training and evaluations. Assessment schedules: PRE-days -2 and -1 (before the altitude period), POST1-days 5 and 6 (after the altitude period), POST2-days 15 and 16 (after the altitude period). For these moments, the sequential tests performed were anaerobic (AO30) and aerobic (3000 m), respectively.

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  Figure 2. Training model (microcycle) used during altitude training, with details on intensity and quantity in minutes, regarding the training performed 4 weeks before, during, and 2 weeks after altitude training.

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  Figure 3. (A,B) illustrate the apparatus used during the tethered running test. (C) Exemplifies the signals of force, power and velocity, recorded during the test (AO30); black lines representing power and force are the raw data, black dots are the averages every second, and gray lines represent the Y axis velocity (on the right). The two athletes represented in the figure signed statements authorizing the publication of their images in an open access scientific journal.

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  Figure 4. Running performance in 3000 m before (blue bar) and at two moments after altitude exposure (green bar). Box plots depict median value (line in the box) with box edges representing 25th–75th percentiles and whiskers showing range of values (min to max). *Difference of PRE, #difference of POST1 (according to repeated‐measures ANOVA using the Newman–Keuls post-hoc test).

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  Figure 5. Mechanical results obtained during tethered running before (PRE—blue bar) and at two moments after altitude exposure (POST—green bar). Box plots depict median value (line in the box) with box edges representing 25th–75th percentiles and whiskers showing range of values (min to max) for maximum power (PMAX, A), mean power (PMEAN, B), minimum power (PMIN, C), maximum force (FMAX, D), mean force (FMEAN, E), minimum force (FMIN, F), maximum velocity (VMAX, G), mean velocity (VMEAN, H) and minimum velocity (VMIN, I). Power and force data were normalized by body mass. *Different of PRE, #different of POST1 (according to repeated‐measures ANOVA using Newman–Keuls post-hoc test).

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  Figure 6. Red blood cells—RBC (A), hematocrit—Hct (B), Hemoglobin—Hb (C). (D) The red blood cell distribution width (RDW). Box plots depict median value (line in the box) with box edges representing 25th–75th percentiles and whiskers showing range of values (min to max). *Different of PRE; ddifferent of d30; &different of all other groups (according to repeated‐measures ANOVA, using the Newman–Keuls post-hoc test).

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  Figure 7. Centrality metrics in complex networks model. Panels (A–C) represent, respectively, the pondered degree, pagerank and betweenness graphs. The central table presents the positions of centrality for each metric in the two scenarios involved, being PRE immediately before the ascent to the altitude (2500 m) and POST2, 15 days after returning from altitudes.

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  Figure 8. Node-based weighted Jaccard distances. (A) and (B) show the weighted Jaccard distances computed for the Hb and Hct variables, respectively, weighted by the pondered degree, pagerank and betweenness centrality measures.