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.