Reference equations for quadriceps strength, endurance and power: a multicentre study.

Introduction: The lack of reference values of lower-limb muscle function hinders the clinical recommendations of its measurement in patients with COPD. Therefore, this study aimed to develop reference equations to predict reference values for quadriceps strength, endurance and power and evaluate their construct validity in patients with COPD. Methods: Quadriceps strength, endurance and power were assessed in 158 healthy individuals and 87 patients with COPD. In addition, patients with COPD performed a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and a 1-min sit-to-stand test (1STS). Multiple linear regressions were performed to develop reference equations. The proportion of patients with COPD with reduced quadriceps function was determined, and correlations between quadriceps strength, endurance and power expressed in percentage of predicted values and 6MWT and 1STS performance were used to document the construct validity of the reference equation. Results: Except for quadriceps isometric endurance, the proposed reference equations explained 50-70% of the variance of the quadriceps properties in healthy individuals. All quadriceps properties were systematically reduced in a large proportion of patients with COPD compared to healthy individuals. Correlation coefficients between quadriceps properties expressed in percentage of predicted values and 6MWT and 1STS performance ranged between 0.28 and 0.49 (all p<0.05). Conclusion: In healthy individuals, age, sex, height and body mass index explained 50-70% of the variance of quadriceps strength, endurance and power. When expressed in percentage of predicted values, these quadriceps properties correlated with 6MWT and 1STS performance, suggesting construct validity of the reference values in patients with COPD.

Sprint interval and traditional endurance training induce similar improvements in peripheral arterial stiffness and flow-mediated dilation in healthy humans.

Low-volume sprint interval training (SIT), or repeated sessions of brief, intense intermittent exercise, elicits metabolic adaptations that resemble traditional high-volume endurance training (ET). The effects of these different forms of exercise training on vascular structure and function remain largely unexplored. To test the hypothesis that SIT and ET would similarly improve peripheral artery distensibility and endothelial function and central artery distensibility, we recruited 20 healthy untrained subjects (age: 23.3 +/- 2.8 yr) and had them perform 6 wk of SIT or ET (n = 5 men and 5 women per group). The SIT group completed four to six 30-s "all-out" Wingate tests separated by 4.5 min of recovery 3 days/wk. The ET group completed 40-60 min of cycling at 65% of their peak oxygen uptake (Vo2peak) 5 days/wk. Popliteal endothelial function, both relative and normalized to shear stimulus, was improved after training in both groups (main effect for time, P < 0.05). Carotid artery distensibility was not statistically altered by training (P = 0.29) in either group; however, popliteal artery distensibility was improved in both groups to the same degree (main effect, P < 0.05). We conclude that SIT is a time-efficient strategy to elicit improvements in peripheral vascular structure and function that are comparable to ET. However, alterations in central artery distensibility may require a longer training stimuli and/or greater initial vascular stiffness than observed in this group of healthy subjects.