The Effects of a 10-Week Aerobic and Unilateral Lower Extremity Resistance Training Program on Amplitude and Nerve Conduction Velocity of Sensory and Motor Nerves in Diabetic Patients with Neuropathy.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 10-week aerobic and unilateral lower extremity resistance training on nerve conduction velocity and amplitude of sensory and motor nerves in diabetic patients with neuropathy. This clinical trial was conducted on twenty women and men (aged 30-60 years old) with diabetic neuropathy. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups: an exercise group (EG; n = 10) and a control group (CG; n = 10). The EG performed a 10-week programme with one session of aerobic exercises (40% to 70% of HR reserve), supplemented with one session of specific lower extremity resistance exercises (60-90 min/day) on the same day for four days per week. The CG subjects performed their regular daily activities. The nerve conduction velocity, amplitude of sensory and motor nerves and glycosylated haemoglobin A1c were measured before and after the intervention. The repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant increase in the conduction velocity of the sural sensory nerve as well as the peroneal motor nerve (p < 0.01, p < 0.01). The changes in the conduction velocity of the tibial nerve were similar when compared to the control group (p > 0.05). A significantly greater decrease in glycosylated haemoglobin was also observed in the EG group (p < 0.01). Performing 10 weeks of aerobic and specific unilateral lower extremity exercises can improve the function of sensory and motor nerves and improve symptoms in diabetic patients with neuropathy. Given the limited studies in this area, the exact mechanisms of this performance improvement need further examination.

High-intensity circuit training change serum myostatin but not myogenin in adolescents' soccer players: a quasi-experimental study.

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle contractions due to exercise lead to the secretion of many proteins and proteoglycan peptides called myokines. Myostatin (MSTN) and Myogenin (MyoG) are two of the most important skeletal muscle growth regulatory factors related to myoblast differentiation and muscle hypertrophy. The present study aims at investigating the effects over eight weeks of high-intensity circuit training (HICT) on serum MyoG and MSTN in male soccer players. METHOD: The present study is a quasi-experimental study on 21 male soccer players (Experimental group: n = 11, Control group: n = 10) (ages 15.0 ± 3.4 years, body mass 55.7 ± 7.8 kg, height 173.3 ± 8.0 cm, Body mass index 18.4 ± 1.9 kg m-2, maximum oxygen uptake 61.89 ± 3.01 ml kg-1 and the peak height velocity 14.5 ± 0.3 years). Participants were randomly divided into two groups: training group and a control group. The first resting blood samples were obtained in the morning-fasting state, and the second blood samples were obtained after the maximum aerobic test at pre- and post-HICT. RESULTS: There were non-significant differences in resting serum values of MyoG (p = 0.309, p > 0.05) but significant differences in resting serum values of MSTN between the training and control groups after eight weeks of HICT (p = 0.003, p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between groups in the acute response of serum values of MyoG (p = 0.413, p < 0.05) and MSTN (p = 0.465, p < 0.05) to the maximum aerobic test after eight weeks of HICT. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that eight weeks of HICT can decrease the resting serum values of MSTN but not change the resting serum values of MyoG in male adolescent soccer players. Also, eight weeks of HICT does not affect the acute response of MSTN and MyoG after a maximum aerobic test.

Moderate treadmill exercise improves spatial learning and memory deficits possibly via changing PDE-5, IL-1 ß and pCREB expression.

Alzheimer's is a progressive disorder of the nervous system. Prior studies suggested that physical activity contributes to the improvement of cognitive impairment and slows down pathogenesis of AD; however, the exact mechanisms for this have not been fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we examined the effect of aerobic training before and after induction of Alzheimer's on spatial learning and memory, expression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), cAMP-responsive element-binding protein (pCREB), and Phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) in the hippocampus of male rats Wistar. Aß was microinjected into the CA1 area of the hippocampus animals. The moderate treadmill exercise protocols for pre and post induction of Alzheimer's were the same (5 days/week, for 4 weeks with a customized regime). The Morris Water Maze (MWM) method has been to assess spatial learning and memory. The real time-PCR method was used to measure gene expression. Our results showed that intra-hippocampal injection of Aß1-42 impaired spatial learning and memory which was accompanied by reduced pCREB activity and elevated IL-1ß and PDE-5 in the hippocampus of rats. In contrast, moderate treadmill exercise ameliorated the Aß1-42-induced spatial learning and memory deficit, which was accompanied by restored pCREB activity and decreasing IL-1ß and PDE-5 levels. In conclusion, our finding suggests that exercise before and after Alzheimer's induction leads to an increase in pCREB and an alleviation of inflammation which likely involved in ameliorating spatial learning and memory deficits in an animal model of AD.

A combined exercise model for improving muscle strength, balance, walking distance, and motor agility in multiple sclerosis patients: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with a variety of signs and symptoms. Exercise therapy has been shown to improve physical functions in MS. However, questions about an optimal exercise therapy remain. In this regard, we suggest a combined exercise therapy including aerobic and resistance exercises for MS patients. The study is designed to observe, test and compare the effects of proposed combined exercises on strength, balance, agility, fatigue, speed, and walking distance in people with mild to moderate MS [0 < expanded disability status scale (EDSS) < 5]. METHODS: A total of 40 people with relapse-remitting MS (16 male, 0 < EDSS < 5) were randomized into one of the four groups (3 intervention and one control). The intervention consisted of various combinations of aerobic and resistance exercises with different repetition rates. Pre- and post-intervention scores of fatigue severity scale (FSS), timed up and go (TUG) test, 6-minute walk test (6MWT), 10- and 20-MWT, Berg balance scale (BBS), and one repetition maximum (1RM) test were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: For most tests, post-intervention values of the group 1, with 3-aerobic and 1-resistance exercises, were significantly higher compared to control group (P < 0.050). However, no significant progression was observed in the other two intervention groups. CONCLUSION: A combination of three aerobic exercises with one resistance exercise may result in improved balance, locomotion, and endurance in MS patients.

The effect of eight weeks endurance training and high-fat diet on appetite-regulating hormones in rat plasma.

OBJECTIVES: Consumption of high-fat foods is one of the major causes of obesity. Physical exercise is a strategy used to counteract obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of eight weeks endurance training and high-fat diet (HFD) on appetite-regulating hormones in rat plasma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TWENTY EIGHT MALE WISTAR RATS WERE RANDOMLY DIVIDED INTO FOUR GROUPS: Control group with standard diet (CSD), endurance training with a standard diet (ESD), control group with high-fat diet (CHFD) and endurance training with high-fat diet (EHFD). Twenty-four hr after the last training session, the blood samples were obtained and analyzed for hormones levels. RESULTS: The significant increased weight gain and food intake and decreased plasma nesfatin-1 and PYY3-36 levels were observed in CHFD group, while exercise under the HFD antagonized these effects. There were no significant changes in ghrelin, insulin and leptin levels in different groups. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that exercise can prevent fattening effect of HFD. Probably, performing exercise makes a reduction of food intake and weight gain in rat via the increase in nesfatin-1 and PYY levels. However, further studies are necessary to understand the exact mechanisms involved in this field.