Exercise-based correlates to calcaneal osteogenesis produced by a chronic training intervention.

Thirty workouts on a gravity-independent device (Impulse Training Systems, Newnan GA) evoked significant calcaneal bone mineral content (BMC, +29%) and density (BMD, +33%) gains. High speeds and impact loads were produced per repetition. We examined exercise performance variables from the 30-workout intervention to identify correlates to delta (∆) calcaneal BMC and BMD variance. Workouts included hip extension and seated calf press exercises done with subject's left legs. ∆ values were obtained from the first and 12th workouts for the hip extension movement, and for the first and 24th workouts for the seated calf press exercise. Per exercise the following variables were quantified: peak force (∆PF), peak acceleration (∆PA), impulse (∆I), and dwell times (∆DT). Dwell times are the elapsed time between the end of the eccentric phase, and the start of the next repetition's concentric phase. Pearson Coefficients assessed correlations between performance and criterion variables. With hip extension ∆DT calculated with data from the first and 12th workouts, there were significant correlations with calcaneal ∆BMC (r = -0.64) and ∆BMD (r = -0.63). With seated calf press ∆DT derived as the difference from the first and 24th workouts, there was a significant correlation with calcaneal ∆BMC (r = -0.48), but only a trend (r = -0.45) with ∆BMD as the criterion. No other variables correlated with significant amounts of calcaneal ∆BMC and ∆BMD variance. Negative correlations infer shorter dwell times evoked greater gains. The gravity-independent device warrants continued inquiry to treat and abate calcaneal losses.

Load-Power Relationships for High-Speed Knee Extension Exercise.

Chen, L, Davison, SW, Selimovic, EA, Mueller, RE, Beatty, SR, Carter, KA, Parmar, PJ, Symons, TB, Pantalos, GM, and Caruso, JF. Load-power relationships for high-speed knee extension exercise. J Strength Cond Res 33(6): 1480-1487, 2019-Seventy subjects did 4 knee extensor workouts with their left legs to assess load-power relationships produced on a high-speed trainer (HST; Newnan, GA, USA). Each workout is composed of 4 sets done on the HST at a different load (1, 4.4, 6.7, 9 kg). A Latin Squares Design determined load sequence per workout. Average power (AP) and peak power (PP) and those same values normalized to body mass (BM) and fat-free mass (AP/BM, PP/BM, AP/FFM, PP/FFM) were each analyzed with 2 (gender) × 4 (load) analysis of variances, with repeated measures for load. We assessed relationships between normalized loads and AP and PP values with correlation coefficients. Average power results revealed a significant interaction, with men > women at 9 kg. Peak power/body mass also yielded an interaction, with women > men at 6.7 and 9 kg. Average power/fat-free mass and PP/FFM each produced interactions, with women > men at 4.4, 6.7, and 9 kg. Correlation coefficients showed significant (r = 0.80-0.82) relationships between normalized loads and AP and PP values. In conclusion, the very low inertial resistance to initiate each repetition on this novel device may in part explain our PP/BM, AP/FFM, PP/FFM results, in which higher values were achieved by women. Our practical applications imply that the low inertial resistance for HST repetitions negates male size and strength advantages typically seen when power is measured.

Health care for all: effective, community supported, healthcare with innovative use of telemedicine technology.

Almost half of the world's total population reside in rural and remote areas and a large number of these people remain deprived of most basic facilities like healthcare and education. It is deemed impossible for government with scarce resources in developing countries to open and run a health facility in every remote community using conventional means. One increasingly popular unconventional mean is the use of existing technology to improve exchange of medical information for the purpose of improving health of underprivileged communities. Telemedicine implies the use of information and communication technology to provide health care remotely from a distance. With the induction of telemedicine, patients who live in rural and remote areas can have increased access to medical services. In many developing countries, use of telemedicine however has been limited mainly to teleconferencing between primary and secondary/tertiary care facilities for diagnosis and management of patients. This system still requires patients from remote communities to travel, often long and arduous journeys to the centre where telecom and medical facilities are available. Health Care 4 All International, a not for profit registered charity is providing primary care to patients by taking telemedicine into their homes in remote communities, thus obviating the need and hardships of travel for patient.

Impact of acceleration on blood lactate values derived from high-speed resistance exercise.

Acceleration, or an increase in the rate of movement, is integral to success in many sports. Improvements in acceleration often entail workouts done at intensities that elicit higher blood lactate concentrations (BLa). The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of acceleration on BLa. Methods required subjects (n = 45) to perform 4 workouts that each involved two 1-minute sets of hip- and knee-extension repetitions on an inertial exercise trainer (Impulse Training Systems, Newnan, Georgia). Subjects performed 2 workouts comprised solely of phasic or tonic repetitions; their sequence was randomized to prevent an order effect. Before and 5 minutes after exercise, subjects' BLa were assessed with a calibrated analyzer (Sports Resource Group, Hawthorne, New York). Post and delta (post-pre) BLa both served as criterion measures for multivariate analysis. Average and peak acceleration values, derived from both phasic and tonic workouts, served as predictor variables. Results showed statistical significance (p < 0.05; R = 0.2534) and yielded the following prediction equation from phasic workouts: delta BLa = 1.40 + 1.116 (average acceleration set 1)--0.011 (peak acceleration set 1)--0.634 (average acceleration set 2) + 0.005 (peak acceleration set 2). Conclusions suggest delta BLa variance, which represents the increase of the metabolite incurred from workouts, is most easily explained by average acceleration values, which describes the mean increase in the rate of movement from phasic workouts. To improve an athlete's tolerance for acceleration-induced BLa increases, workouts should be tailored with respect to the muscles involved and the duration of exercise bouts of their chosen sport.

Performance evaluation of a high-speed inertial exercise trainer.

A high-speed, low-resistance inertial exercise trainer (IET, Impulse Training Systems, Newnan, Ga) is increasingly employed in rehabilitative and athletic performance settings. Repetitions on an IET are done through a large range of motion because multijoint movements occur over more than one plane of motion, with no limitation on velocities or accelerations attained. The current study purpose is to assess data reproducibility from an instrumented IET through multiple test-retest measures. Data collection methods required the IET left and right halves to be fitted with a TLL-2K force transducer (Transducer Techniques, Temecula, Calif) on one of its pulleys, and an infrared position sensor (Model CX3-AP-1A, automationdirect.com) located midway on the underside of each track. Signals passed through DI-158U signal conditioners (DATAQ Instruments, Akron, Ohio) and were measured with a four-channel analog data acquisition card at 4000 Hz. To assess data reproducibility, college-age subjects (n = 45) performed four IET workouts that were spaced 1 week apart. Workouts entailed two 60-second sets of repetitive knee- and hip-extensor muscle actions as subjects were instructed to exert maximal voluntary effort. Results from multiple test-retest measures show that the IET elicited reproducible intra- and interworkout data despite the unique challenge of multiplanar and multijoint exercise done over a large range of motion. We conclude that future studies in which IET performance measurement is required may choose to instrument the device with current methodology. Current practical applications include making IET data easier to comprehend for the coaches, athletes, and health care providers who use the device.