The influence of mat Pilates training adherence on strength and flexibility parameters in breast cancer survivors undergoing hormone therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of adherence to mat Pilates training on lower and upper body strength and flexibility in breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer survivors (≥40 years) with cancer stages 0-III undergoing hormone therapy participated in this study. For this secondary investigation only the intervention group was analyzed, divided into low and high training adherence. Participants performed a 60-min session of mat Pilates, 3 times/wk, for 24 weeks. Concentric, eccentric, and isometric hip flexor-extensor muscle peak torque, and isometric maximal strength parameters of the shoulder abductors, trunk extensors, and handgrip were assessed. Physical activity level was analyzed as a control variable. The results showed that high training adherence improved (P<0.05) left shoulder abductor strength parameters and lower and upper body flexibility compared to baseline. The low training adherence group improved (P<0.05) trunk extensors, right and left shoulder abductor strength parameters, handgrip strength, and extensor-flexor peak torque compared to baseline. There were no differences (P>0.05) between high and low adherence for physical activity level before and after the intervention. Therefore, it appears that higher training adherence most influences some strength parameters and flexibility, while fewer sessions enable the achievement of significant results for shoulder abductor and hip extensor-flexor muscle strength parameters.

Long-Term Side Effects of Breast Cancer on Force Production Parameters.

ABSTRACT: Bertoli, J, de Souza Bezerra, E, Dias Reis, A, Amice da Costa Barros, E, Gobbo, LA, and Forte Freitas Júnior, I. Long-term side effects of breast cancer on force production parameters. J Strength Cond Res 36(5): 1450-1458, 2022-Breast cancer treatments have long-term side effects, which are associated with muscle strength reduction, negatively affecting the quality of life and increasing the chances of a sedentary life style. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of types of surgery and hormone therapy on muscle strength parameters in breast cancer survivors compared to women without cancer (control). Eighty-three women, 42 breast cancer survivors and 41 control women, volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects performed maximal isometric voluntary contractions, so that force parameters of the right and left shoulder abductor, trunk extensor, and preferred knee extensor-flexor muscles could be evaluated. Overall, breast cancer survivors presented a lower absolute and normalized maximal force (Fmax) for all muscle groups compared with control. The right shoulder abductor muscles of breast cancer survivors presented a significantly lower absolute and normalized rapid force index (RFI) than control. When compared according to hormone therapy treatment, in breast cancer survivors undergoing aromatase inhibitor, all strength parameters except for normalized RFI demonstrated lower values for the right and left shoulder abductors, trunk, and knee extensors compared with control and tamoxifen. When separated by surgery type, breast cancer survivors who underwent quadrantectomy and radical mastectomy presented lower values for some strength parameters for the left and right shoulder abductors, except for trunk extensor muscles, in which quadrantectomy and total mastectomy presented lower strength parameters. It is recommended that breast cancer survivors should be encouraged to perform supervised strength training programs for different muscle groups to improve Fmax and RFI, aiming to reduce muscle weakness and pain, and improve functional capacity and quality of life.

Acute effects of myofascial release with portable electric massager at different frequencies: A randomized pilot study.

INTRODUCTION: The present study aimed to analyze the acute effects of a myofascial release session (MFR) with a portable electric massager (PEM) at different frequencies (25 Hz and 52 Hz) on the superficial and deep fascial motion. METHODS: The limbs of fourteen participants (12 men and 2 women, age = 34 ± 10 years; height = 1.74 ± 0.09 m; weight = 72.77 ± 13.1 kg; right thigh fat thickness = 4.18 ± 3.49 mm; left thigh fat thickness = 4.13 ± 3.35 mm) were randomized to one of the two PEM frequencies (25 Hz vs. 52 Hz). All evaluations were carried out at the same time of day and by the same evaluator (blind). The protocol consisted of 9 min of MFR on the vastus lateralis, alternating between three sites of 5 cm. Before and after the MFR session, the fascial motion was measured in the vastus lateralis (superficial and deep layer) using B-mode ultrasound at two knee positions (0° and 45°). RESULTS: The superficial and deep layers presented significant increases in fascia length after myofascial release with the knee extended 0° (p < 0.001) and flexed 45° (p < 0.001). In addition, the fascial motion was not influenced by the frequency applied during the experimental protocol and was independent of layer and knee position. However, the deep layer showed an increase at knee flexed at 45° compared to the superficial layer. On the other hand, there was no difference between layers when the knee was extended (0°). The findings of this study indicate that PEM appears to be effective in changing the fascial motion of the vastus lateralis.

Assessing body composition in rugby players: agreement between different methods and association with physical performance.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the comparability between air displacement plethysmography (ADP), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) methods for body composition assessment and their correlations with physical performance in rugby players. METHODS: Nineteen male elite players participated in the study. ADP, DXA, and BIA were used to assess fat-mass and fat-free mass. Physical performance was assessed by means of Carminatti's test of peak velocity (PVTCAR), countermovement jump (CMJ), sprint speed (10 and 30-m), and match performance analyses (sprinting, distance covered, and high-intensity running). RESULTS: BIA overestimated fat-mass (13±41%; r2=0.60) and underestimated fat-free mass (-1±7%; r2=0.66) compared to ADP (P=0.001). BIA underestimated fat-mass (-28±3%; r2=0.92) and overestimated fat-free mass (10±5%; r2=0.87) compared to DXA (P<0.001). ADP underestimated fat-mass (-36±37%; r2=0.69) and overestimated fat-free mass (11±8%; r2=0.52) compared to DXA (P<0.001). Fat-mass measured by ADP, DXA, and BIA negatively correlated with PVTCAR (r2≥0.49), height and peak power from CMJ (r2≥0.30), sprinting ability (r2≥0.65), and match performance variables (r2≥0.30). CONCLUSIONS: As long as one considers that ADP and BIA underestimated fat-mass and overestimated fat-free mass compared to DXA, the methods can be used to estimate body composition, particularly to track body fat-mass changes, which negatively influence several physical capacities determinant to rugby performance. The limitations of the methods should be borne in mind when assessing the body composition of rugby athletes.

Effects of Concurrent Training with Elastic Tubes in Hypertensive Patients: A Blind Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Concurrent training (CT) has been recommended to minimize the deleterious effects of aging. However, few studies have investigated whether this type of training reduces blood pressure in the elderly. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the effects of CT on the hemodynamic, cardiorespiratory, and muscle strength responses in medicated hypertensive patients. METHODS: Twenty-three hypertensives (62.65 ± 6.4 years) of both sexes were allocated to the concurrent training group (CTG) or control group (CG). The CTG performed aerobic training (70-85% of reserve heart rate) combined with resistance training with elastic tubes (2sets × 15 repetitions) for 8 weeks. Resting blood pressure (BP), peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), and right knee and elbow flexion strength were evaluated. RESULTS: A reduction of 6.37% was observed in BP and increases of 16.68% in VO2peak and 16% in muscle strength for right elbow flexion in the CTG compared to CG (p < .05). Intragroup comparisons showed reduction of 5% for BP, and increases of 6.79% for VO2peak, 24.79% for elbow flexion, and 16.47% for knee flexion in the CTG (p < .05), without significant improvement in the CG. CONCLUSION: CT promoted a reduction in BP, and increased cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength of the upper limbs in the hypertensive older adults.

Functional resistance training can increase strength, knee torque ratio, and functional performance in elderly women.

Functional resistance training can increase strength, knee torque ratio, and functional performance in elderly women. The aim of the present study was to understand the effects of closed kinetic chain exercises with constant load on muscular strength, the knee torque conventional ratio (hamstring:quadriceps - H:Q), and functional capacity in the elderly. Nine untrained healthy elderly women participated in experimental resistance training. Ten-repetition maximum (10RM) for the deadlift, isokinetic maximum voluntary concentric contraction, and functional capacity were assessed before and after the 7-week resistance-training program. Magnitude based inference analysis was used to examine the differences in muscle strength and functional performance. Therefore, the smallest worthwhile change was calculated and 90% confidence intervals were also determined to characterize muscle strength and functional performance. The analysis demonstrated an increase in the deadlift and knee flexor torque (60o/sec) after the experimental intervention. Furthermore, stair ascent, knee extensor torque (120o/sec), knee flexor torque (120o/sec), and knee ratio (60o/sec) also presented a positive effect in the same training period. Conversely, knee extensor torque (60o/sec), and knee ratio (120o/sec) did not show conclusive responses. In conclusion, resistance training with functional closed kinetic chain exercises and constant volume load (i.e., 65% of 1-repetition maximum) can increase deadlift 10RM, isokinetic concentric torque, the conventional H:Q ratio, and stair ascent performance in elderly women.