Comparisons between low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction and high-intensity resistance training on quadriceps muscle mass and strength in elderly.

High-intensity resistance training (HRT) has been recommended to offset age-related loss in muscle strength and mass. However, part of the elderly population is often unable to exercise at high intensities. Alternatively, low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (LRT-BFR) has emerged. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of LRT-BFR and HRT on quadriceps muscle strength and mass in elderly. Twenty-three elderly individuals, 14 men and 9 women (age, 64.04 ± 3.81 years; weight, 72.55 ± 16.52 kg; height, 163 ± 11 cm), undertook 12 weeks of training. Subjects were ranked according to their pretraining quadriceps cross-sectional area (CSA) values and then randomly allocated into one of the following groups: (a) control group, (b) HRT: 4 × 10 repetitions, 70-80% one repetition maximum (1RM), and (c) LRT-BFR: 4 sets (1 × 30 and 3 × 15 repetitions), 20-30% 1RM. The occlusion pressure was set at 50% of maximum tibial arterial pressure and sustained during the whole training session. Leg press 1RM and quadriceps CSA were evaluated at before and after training. A mixed-model analysis was performed, and the significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Both training regimes were effective in increasing pre- to post-training leg press 1RM (HRT: ∼54%, p < 0.001; LRT-BFR: ∼17%, p = 0.067) and quadriceps CSA (HRT: 7.9%, p < 0.001; LRT-BFR: 6.6%, p < 0.001); however, HRT seems to induce greater strength gains. In summary, LRT-BFR constitutes an important surrogate approach to HRT as an effective training method to induce gains in muscle strength and mass in elderly.

Acute effect of high-intensity aerobic exercise performed on treadmill and cycle ergometer on strength performance.

Concurrent training (i.e., combination of endurance with strength training) may result in negative interference on strength performance. Moreover, there are indications that the magnitude of this interference is dependent on endurance exercise mode. Thus, this study aimed to verify the acute effects of previous running and cycling on strength endurance performance. After the determination of the maximum intensity reached (Imax) during treadmill running and cycle ergometer pedaling and half-squat maximum strength (1 repetition maximum [1RM]), 10 physically active men were submitted to 3 experimental conditions: control condition (S) comprised of 4 sets of maximum repetitions at 80% 1RM, intermittent running (RS), and cycling (CS) conditions (15 × 1 minute:1 minute in the Imax) followed by the strength exercise (S). Maximum number of repetitions (MNR), total session volume (TV), and vastus lateralis electromyographic signal (VLRMS) were analyzed. It was observed that MNR and TV performed in set 1 in the S condition was superior to that performed in set 1 in the RS (p < 0.001) and CS (p < 0.001) conditions; and set 2 in the S condition was superior to set 2 only in the CS for the MNR (p = 0.032) and TV (p = 0.012). For the VLRMS, there was a main effect for repetition, with higher values in the last repetition compared with the second one (p < 0.01). In conclusion, an aerobic exercise bout before strength exercise impairs the subsequent strength endurance performance. In addition, the magnitude of the interference effect was higher after the aerobic cycling exercise.

Vascular occlusion training for inclusion body myositis: a novel therapeutic approach.

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory myopathy. It is known to produces remarkable muscle weakness and to greatly compromise function and quality of life. Moreover, clinical practice suggests that, unlike other inflammatory myopathies, the majority of IBM patients are not responsive to treatment with immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory drugs to counteract disease progression. Additionally, conventional resistance training programs have been proven ineffective in restoring muscle function and muscle mass in these patients. Nevertheless, we have recently observed that restricting muscle blood flow using tourniquet cuffs in association with moderate intensity resistance training in an IBM patient produced a significant gain in muscle mass and function, along with substantial benefits in quality of life. Thus, a new non-pharmacological approach for IBM patients has been proposed. Herein, we describe the details of a proposed protocol for vascular occlusion associated with a resistance training program for this population.

Intermittent exercise as a conditioning activity to induce postactivation potentiation.

Postactivation potentiation (PAP) is defined as a short-term increase in voluntary muscle activation following a previous conditioning activity (CA). Controversy about PAP is mostly attributed to the characteristics of the CA and the training status of the subjects. While some studies have found that PAP can be induced by series of 5-10 second maximal voluntary isometric contractions or near maximal dynamic contractions (e.g., 3-5 repetition maximum), others have failed to do so. On the other hand, some studies suggest that intermittent contractions can also induce PAP. However, even though PAP was observed, its duration was not taken into account, leaving ground for further investigations. The purpose of this study was threefold: (a) to verify if PAP can progressively enhance performance of voluntary actions throughout a set of intermittent contractions; (b) to verify PAP duration when induced by an intermittent contractions protocol; and (c) to verify if PAP effects were reproducible in different sessions when induced by intermittent contractions. Ten physically active men, not engaged in strength training, underwent 5 randomized experimental sessions, during which they performed a set of 10 unilateral knee extensions (KE) (1 every 30 seconds) at 60 degrees x s(-1) in an isokinetic dynamometer. Peak torque was evaluated over the 10 unilateral KE and at the randomized intervals of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 minutes post CA. Peak torque was potentiated 1.3 (+/-0.79) N x m per unilateral KE, and the potentiation effect persisted for 12 minutes after the last contraction. These findings were reproduced in all 5 experimental sessions. Thus, intermittent conditioning activities seem to be an effective way to produce PAP. However, these activities should be tested in a more real world situation to verify the applicability as a warm-up routine.

Potência muscular em jogadores de basquetebol: relaçäo entre dinamometria isocinética e salto vertical / Muscle power in basketball and volley: relationship between isokinetic dynamometry and vertical jump

Os objetivos do estudo foram: 1) determinar as características antropométricas e a composiçao corporal dos jogadores, 2) avaliar a potência máxima dos músculos extensores do joelho com a dinamometria isocinética, 3) verificar a relaçao entre o teste isocinético e o teste de salto vertical e 4) comparar os dois grupos de jogadores. Uma amostra de 12 jogadores de basquetebol e 13 de voleibol foi submetida a uma avaliaçao antrométrica e dois testes de potência muscular. A composiçao corporal foi calculada a partir da equaçao de Jackson & Pollock (1978). O teste de salto vertical foi realizado sem o auxílio dos membros superiores e a dinamometria isocinética executada no movimento de extensao do joelho às velocidades de 60, 180, 240 e 300 graus/seg. Nos jogadores de basquetebol foram encontrados valores mais altos para estatura, peso e quantidade de gordura comparados com os voleibolistas. Os dois grupos apresentaram desempenho neuromuscular semelhantes em termos absolutos. Relativo ao peso corporal os voleibolistas foram superiores no salto vertical e na potência à 60 graus/seg. e também no salto vertical relativo à massa magra. Na relaçao entre os dois testes em termos absolutos, correlaçoes moderadas para altas foram encontradas à 180 e 300 graus/seg. para os jogadores de basquete e 180 e 240 graus/seg. para os de voleibol. Resultados semelhantes ocorreram nos praticantes de basquetebol relativo ao peso corporal e a massa magra, contudo, para os voleibolistas as relaçoes foram de baixas para moderadas.