RESUMO
The back squat is widely used in strength training programs. Alternatively, the belt squat has been gaining popularity since it loads the weight on the hips, as opposed to the shoulders and spine. The purpose of this study was to determine whether using a belt squat would result in less lumbar extensor activation while providing similar excitation of other prime mover and stabilizer musculature. Ten participants (9 males, 1 female; age 29.3 ± 4.9 years; body mass 96.2 ± 17.8 kg) who regularly trained both belt squats and back squats performed three sets of 5 repetitions with 100% bodyweight for each exercise. Peak and integrated muscle activity was calculated and normalized to a maximum voluntary isometric contraction. A one-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) was used to compare conditions. Belt squatting decreased lumbar erector impulse (45.4%) and peak (52.0%) activation as compared to the back squat. Belt squatting did not alter activation of the lower extremities except for a decrease in the gluteus maximus (35.2% impulse and 32.1% peak), gluteus medius (54.1% impulse and 55.2% peak). Furthermore, belt squatting reduced activation of the rectus abdominus (44.3% impulse; 31.1% peak), and external obliques (45.8% impulse; 53.7% peak) as compared to back squatting. Our results suggest belt squatting provides similar muscular demands for the quadriceps, hamstrings, and plantar flexors, but is less demanding of trunk stabilizers, and gluteual muscles. Belt squats may be a suitable alternative to back squats in order to avoid stressing low back or trunk musculature.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The study was designed to investigate the effects of pH, chloride ions and nature of some bio-fluids on the amount of metal ions released from titanium and TiAl(6)Nb(7) plates following incubation in actual and simulated bio-fluids over time. METHODS: The amounts of released metal ions from commercially pure titanium (CpTi) and TiAl(6)Nb(7)of surgical grade on immersion in 20 mL Hank's solution of pH 4.0 or 7.0, Hank's solution of high chloride ions concentration, Whole Blood Serum (WBS) and Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) at 37° C were determined over an incubation time of 20 weeks using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The levels of released metal ions were compared by two-way ANOVA and Duncan's post-hoc tests. The amounts of titanium ions released by the samples were analyzed by Pearson's correlation. RESULTS: TiAl(6)Nb(7) plate showed no release of Ti ions into the test solutions until after 12 weeks of incubation, while Ti ions were released from the CpTi plate from the 1 day immersion time. The release of measurable amount of Al ions from TiAl(6)Nb(7)was after 12 weeks of incubation. The rate of release of Ti and Al ions from the samples increased initially with incubation time and then stabilized due to adsorption-desorption equilibrium. CONCLUSION: The results showed that variations in pH and chloride ions of the test media has a significant effect on the amounts of Ti ions released, while increase in chloride ions concentration significantly elevates the release of Al ions into the biofluids.