Does cross-education minimize the loss of muscle force and power and sEMG amplitude during short-term detraining in older women who are recreationally engaged in resistance training?

This study aimed to investigate whether 4 weeks of unilateral resistance training (RT) could attenuate the decline in muscle function in the contralateral limb of older women recreationally engaged in RT compared to control group (CTL). Twenty-four participants completed a 10-week RT before the cross-education (CR-Edu) phase and subsequent detraining. Afterward, participants were randomized into two groups: CTL (n = 8 women, n = 16 legs) who underwent 4 weeks of detraining without any training, and CR-Edu (n = 16 women, n = 16 legs) who performed 4 weeks of unilateral RT. Muscle force, power, and surface electromyography were measured unilaterally before and after the 4-week period, using five repetitions conducted at 40% and 60% of the 1RM. The results showed a reduction in muscle force at both 40% and 60% of 1RM, as well as a decrease in power at 60% of 1RM (P-time < 0.05) without significant differences between the two groups (P interaction > 0.05). There was a decline in power at 60% of 1RM (P-time < 0.05) but no significant change at 40% of 1RM (P-time > 0.05), and again, no significant differences were observed between the groups (P-interaction > 0.05). The surface electromyography of vastus lateralis decreased only in the CTL group (P-interaction < 0.05). Older women recreationally engaged in RT who perform in unilateral leg extension compared to a brief period of detraining seem not to retain muscle force and power, and sEMG amplitude of their homologous and contralateral limb.

Association between physical and cognitive function in post menopause: a cross-sectional study / Associação entre função física e cognitiva na pós-menopausa: um estudo transversal

Functional tests have been performed to predict cognitive decline in postmenopausal women and may be an important tool to identify early reductions in cognitive performance in this population. However, it is still unclear which functional test is more sensitive for detecting cognitive decline in the investigated sample. The aim of this study was to verify the association between functional per-formance and cognitive function in postmenopausal women and to analyze whether the gait speed of 400 meters (400wt) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) tests are predictors of cognitive function in this sample. One hundred and twenty-eight postmenopausal women (60.8 ± 7.9 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Body composition was assessed using Dual Energy X-ray Absorpti-ometry (DXA), functional performance by the TUG and 400wt tests, cognitive performance by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and muscle strength by maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in lower limbs. An association between functional performance and cognitive function was observed in middle-aged postmenopausal women. The TUG test was associated with the MoCA test (B = -0.79; SE = 0.29; p = 0.008). However, no association was observed between 400wt with the MoCA test (B = 3.03; SE = 1.92; p = 0.117). These results show that the TUG test is a good predictor of cognitive decline in postmenopausal middle-aged women

Testes funcionais têm sido realizados para predizer declínio cognitivo em mulheres na pós-menopausa e podem ser uma ferramenta importante para identificar reduções precoces no desempenho cognitivo nessa população. No entanto, ainda não está claro qual teste funcional é mais sensível para detectar precocemente o declínio cognitivo na amostra investigada. O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar se há associação entre desempenho funcional e função cognitiva em mulheres na pós-menopausa e analisar se os testes de velocidade de marcha de 400 metros ( Vm400) e Timed Up and Go (TUG) são preditores da função cognitiva nesta amostra. Cento e vinte oito mulheres na pós-menopausa (60,8 ± 7,9 anos) participaram deste estudo de carácter transversal. A composição corporal foi avaliada pela Absorciometria Radiológica de Dupla Energia (DXA), desempenho funcional pelos testes Vm400 e TUG, desempenho cognitivo pelo teste Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) e força muscular pela contração isométrica voluntaria máxima (CIVM) dos membros inferiores. Uma associação entre desempenho funcional e função cognitiva foi observada na amostra investigada. O teste TUG foi associado ao teste MoCA (B = -0,79; SE = 0,29; p = 0,008). No entanto, não foi observada associação entre Vm400 com o teste MoCA (B = 3,03; SE = 1,92; p = 0,117). Esses resultados mostram que o teste TUG é um bom preditor de declínio cognitivo em mulheres na pós-menopausa na meia idade

Different cutoff points to diagnose low muscle mass and prediction of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to verify which of the different cutoff points of low muscle mass (LMM) based on appendicular lean mass (ALM) is associated with osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (PMW). METHODS: Cross-sectional study. PMW (n = 355) were classified for the presence of osteoporosis (score <-2.5 standard deviations) at the femoral neck and lumbar spine and LMM (three cutoff points: ALM < 15 kg; ALM/height2 [ALM index] <5.67 kg/m2 and ratio between ALM and body mass index [ALMBMI] <0.512). RESULTS: After adjustments for confounding factors, binary logistic regression showed that ALM and ALM index were associated with osteoporosis at the lumbar spine (odds ratio [OR] = 5.3 [95% CI: 2.3-12.5] and OR = 2.5 [95% CI: 1.0-6.2], respectively) and only ALM was associated with osteoporosis at the femoral neck (OR = 16.1 [95% CI: 4.1-62.5]). When women were classified as having osteoporosis in at least one site, only ALM was associated with osteoporosis (OR = 7.7 [95% CI: 3.3-15.6]). There was no association between ALMBMI and osteoporosis. The predictive value of ALM for osteoporosis decreased after BMI or height were included as a covariate in the model. CONCLUSION: Absolute ALM (<15 kg) seems to be the most suitable for predicting osteoporosis based on LMM in PMW.