[Reactive dynamic balance in the geriatric setting : Possibilities for evaluation and quantification in functionally heterogeneous persons]. / Reaktive dynamische Balance im geriatrischen Setting : Möglichkeiten zu Bewertung und Quantifizierung bei funktionell heterogenen Personen.

BACKGROUND: Most falls in older persons occur during walking and are often due to maladaptation in response to gait perturbations. Therefore, the assessment of reactive dynamic balance is highly relevant for determining the individual risk of falling and could enable an early initiation of interventions. OBJECTIVE: The methods available for perturbation of gait and for evaluating the corresponding reaction patterns are critically discussed in order to approach the assessment of reactive dynamic balance. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A diagnostic protocol for perturbation of gait on a treadmill was developed based on the literature. The application of the protocol to map reactive dynamic balance as comprehensively as possible is presented. RESULTS: After the initial determination of the individually preferred gait speed over ~ 6 min, the participant's gait is disrupted with 9 different types of perturbations over a time period of ~ 4:30 min. The evaluation options include spatiotemporal parameters and their variability, the margin of stability and the Lyapunov exponent. CONCLUSION: Dynamic reactive balance is a promising and specific parameter for quantifying the risk of falling in older persons. The comprehensive evaluation of the documented parameters is currently insufficient because there are no established methods or references. The development of a unified method for the sensitive determination of reactive dynamic balance is essential for its use in assessment of the risk of falling in the clinical context and for measuring the success of training.

Chronic, acute and protocol-dependent effects of exercise on psycho-physiological health during long-term isolation and confinement.

Exercise could prevent physical and psychological deteriorations, especially during pandemic times of lock-down scenarios and social isolation. But to meet both, the common exercise protocols require optimization based on holistic investigations and with respect to underlying processes. This study aimed to explore individual chronic and acute effects of continuous and interval running exercise on physical and cognitive performance, mood, and affect and underlying neurophysiological factors during a terrestrial simulated space mission. Six volunteers (three females) were isolated for 120 days. Accompanying exercise training consisted of a continuous and interval running protocol in a cross-over design. Incremental stage tests on a treadmill were done frequently to test physical performance. Actigraphy was used to monitor physical activity level. Cognitive performance, mood (MoodMeter®), affect (PANAS), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), vascular-endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and saliva cortisol were investigated prior to, four times during, and after isolation, pre- and post-exercise on two separate days, respectively. As a chronic effect, physical performance increased (and IGF-1 tended) in the course of isolation and training until the end of isolation. Subjective mood and affect state, as well as cognitive performance, basal BDNF and VEGF levels, were well-preserved across the intervention. No acute effects of exercise were detected, besides slower reaction time after exercise in two out of nine cognitive tests, testing sensorimotor speed and memory of complex figures. Consistently higher basal IGF-1 concentrations and faster reaction time in the psychomotor vigilance test were found for the continuous compared to the interval running protocol. The results suggest that 120 days of isolation and confinement can be undergone without cognitive and mental deteriorations. Regular, individual aerobic running training supporting physical fitness is hypothesized to play an important role in this regard. Continuous running exercise seems to trigger higher IGF-1 levels and vigilance compared to interval running. Systematic and prolonged investigations and larger sample size are required to follow up on exercise-protocol specific differences in order to optimize the exercise intervention for long-term psycho-physiological health and well-being.

Cardiovascular regulation: associations between exercise and head-up tilt.

It was hypothesized that faster cardiorespiratory kinetics during exercise are associated with higher orthostatic tolerance. Cardiorespiratory kinetics of 14 healthy male subjects (30 ± 4 years, 179 ± 8 cm, 79 ± 8 kg) were tested on a cycle ergometer during exercise with changing work rates of 30 and 80 W. Pulmonary oxygen uptake ( ) was measured breath-by-breath and heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were measured beat-to-beat. Muscular oxygen uptake ( ) was estimated from HR and . Kinetic parameters were determined by time-series analysis, using cross-correlation functions (CCFmax(x)) between the parameter and the work rate. Cardiovascular regulations of MAP, HR, and TPR during orthostatic stress were measured beat-to-beat on a tilt seat. Changes between the minima and maxima during the 6° head-down tilt and the 90° head-up tilt positions were calculated for each parameter (Δtilt-up). correlated significantly with ΔTPRtilt-up (r = 0.790, p ≤ 0.001). CCFmax(HR) was significantly correlated with ΔHRtilt-up (r = -0.705, p = 0.002) and the amplitude in HR from 30 to 80 W (rSP = -0.574, p = 0.016). The observed correlations between cardiorespiratory regulation in response to exercise and orthostatic stress during rest might allow for a more differential analysis of the underlying mechanisms of orthostatic intolerance in, for example, patient groups.

Temporal dissociation between muscle and pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics: influences of perfusion dynamics and arteriovenous oxygen concentration differences in muscles and lungs.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to test whether or not the arteriovenous oxygen concentration difference (avDO2) kinetics at the pulmonary (avDO2pulm) and muscle (avDO2musc) levels is significantly different during dynamic exercise. METHODS: A re-analysis involving six publications dealing with kinetic analysis was utilized with an overall sample size of 69 participants. All studies comprised an identical pseudorandom binary sequence work rate (WR) protocol-WR changes between 30 and 80 W-to analyze the kinetic responses of pulmonary ([Formula: see text]) and muscle ([Formula: see text]) oxygen uptake kinetics as well as those of avDO2pulm and avDO2musc. RESULTS: A significant difference between [Formula: see text] (0.395 ± 0.079) and [Formula: see text] kinetics (0.330 ± 0.078) was observed (p < 0.001), where the variables showed a significant relationship (rSP = 0.744, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences between avDO2musc (0.446 ± 0.077) and avDO2pulm kinetics (0.451 ± 0.075), which are highly correlated (r = 0.929, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that neither avDO2pulm nor avDO2musc kinetic responses seem to be responsible for the differences between estimated [Formula: see text] and measured [Formula: see text] kinetics. Obviously, the conflation of avDO2 and perfusion ([Formula: see text] ) at different points in time and at different physiological levels drive potential differences in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] kinetics. Therefore, [Formula: see text] should, in general, be considered whenever oxygen uptake kinetics are analyzed or discussed.

Impact of 60 days of 6° head down tilt bed rest on muscular oxygen uptake and heart rate kinetics: efficacy of a reactive sledge jump countermeasure.

PURPOSE: The effects of 60 days of head down tilt bed rest (HDBR) with and without the application of a reactive jump countermeasure were investigated, using a method which enables to discriminate between pulmonary ([Formula: see text]O2pulm) and muscular ([Formula: see text]O2musc) oxygen uptake kinetics to control for hemodynamic influences. METHODS: 22 subjects were randomly allocated to either a group performing a reactive jumps countermeasure (JUMP; n = 11, male, 29 ± 7 years, 23.9 ± 1.3 kg m- 2) or a control group (CTRL; n = 11, male, 29 ± 6 years, 23.3 ± 2.0 kg m- 2). Heart rate (HR) and [Formula: see text]O2pulm were measured in response to repeated changes in work rate between 30 and 80 W before (BDC-9) and two times after HDBR (R+ 2, R+ 13). Kinetic responses of HR, [Formula: see text]O2pulm, and [Formula: see text]O2musc were assessed applying time series analysis. Higher maxima in cross-correlation functions (CCFmax(x)) between work rate and the respective parameter indicate faster kinetics responses. Statistical analysis was performed applying multifactorial analysis of variance. RESULTS: CCFmax([Formula: see text]O2musc) and CCFmax([Formula: see text]O2pulm) were not significantly different before and after HDBR (P > 0.05). CCFmax(HR) decreased following bed rest (JUMP: BDC-9: 0.30 ± 0.09 vs. R+ 2: 0.28 ± 0.06 vs. R+13: 0.28 ± 0.07; CTRL: 0.35 ± 0.09 vs. 0.27 ± 0.06 vs. 0.33 ± 0.07 P = 0.025). No significant differences between the groups were observed (P > 0.05). Significant alterations were found for CCFmax of mean arterial blood pressure (mBP) after HDBR (JUMP: BDC-9: 0.21 ± 0.07 vs. R+ 2: 0.30 ± 0.13 vs. R+ 13: 0.28 ± 0.08; CTRL: 0.25 ± 0.07 vs. 0.38 ± 0.13 vs. 0.28 ± 0.08; P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Despite hemodynamic changes, [Formula: see text]O2 kinetics seem to be preserved for a longer period of HDBR, even without the application of a countermeasure.

Non-invasive estimation of muscle oxygen uptake kinetics with pseudorandom binary sequence and step exercise responses.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to test for significant differences in non-invasively estimated muscle oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) kinetics, assessed by a square-wave exercise protocol (STEP) as well as by a time series approach with pseudorandom binary sequence (PRBS) work rate (WR) changes. METHODS: Seventeen healthy and active individuals (10 women, 7 men; 23 ± 2 years old; height 175 ± 11 cm; body mass 73 ± 14 kg [mean ± SD]) completed five repetitions of WR transitions from 30 to 80 W for the STEP approach and two sequences of pseudorandom binary WR changes between 30 and 80 W for the PRBS approach. Pulmonary oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) was measured breath by breath. [Formula: see text] kinetics were estimated during phase II [Formula: see text] in the STEP approach and during the pseudorandom binary sequence WR changes in the PRBS approach. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between different models of the STEP and the PRBS approach for estimation of [Formula: see text] kinetics (p > 0.05). In addition, a very high variability between the models was determined for [Formula: see text] kinetics [mean time constants (τ) difference: - 2.5 ± 11.4 s]. A significant correlation for τ of [Formula: see text] between the STEP approach with experimentally determined phase I [Formula: see text] lengths and the PRBS approach was noticed (r = 0.536; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Both approaches (STEP and PRBS) are not significantly different for estimating the [Formula: see text] kinetics, but the very high variability impairs the predictability between the models. However, the determination of the length of phase I [Formula: see text] should be as appropriate as possible because predefined duration lengths can result in overestimations in [Formula: see text] kinetics.

Oxygen uptake kinetics following six weeks of interval and continuous endurance exercise training - An explorative pilot study.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the responses of pulmonary (V˙O2pulm) and muscle (V˙O2musc) oxygen uptake kinetics before (PRE) and after (POST) six weeks of endurance exercise training. METHODS: Nine untrained individuals performed pseudo-random binary sequences work rate changes between 30W and 80W at PRE and POST training intervention. Heart rate (HR) and V˙O2pulm were measured beat-to-beat and breath-by-breath, respectively. V˙O2musc was estimated applying the approach of Hoffmann et al. (Eur J Appl Physiol 113: 1745-1754, 2013). RESULTS: Maximal oxygen uptake showed significant increases from PRE (3.2±0.3Lmin-1) to POST (3.7±0.2Lmin-1; p<0.05). For HR, V˙O2pulm and V˙O2musc kinetics no significant changes from PRE to POST training intervention were observed (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Discrepancies in the adaptations of the involved exercise induced physiological systems seem to be responsible for the observed significant alterations in maximal V˙O2 after six weeks of the training intervention in contrast to no changes in the kinetics responses.

Analysis of heart rate and oxygen uptake kinetics studied by two different pseudo-random binary sequence work rate amplitudes.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the kinetics responses of heart rate (HR), pulmonary (V˙O2pulm) and predicted muscular (V˙O2musc) oxygen uptake between two different pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) work rate (WR) amplitudes both below anaerobic threshold. METHODS: Eight healthy individuals performed two PRBS WR protocols implying changes between 30W and 80W and between 30W and 110W. HR and V˙O2pulm were measured beat-to-beat and breath-by-breath, respectively. V˙O2musc was estimated applying the approach of Hoffmann et al. (Eur J Appl Physiol 113: 1745-1754, 2013) considering a circulatory model for venous return and cross-correlation functions (CCF) for the kinetics analysis. RESULTS: HR and V˙O2musc kinetics seem to be independent of WR intensity (p>0.05). V˙O2pulm kinetics show prominent differences in the lag of the CCF maximum (39±9s; 31±4s; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A mean difference of 14W between the PRBS WR amplitudes impacts venous return significantly, while HR and V˙O2musc kinetics remain unchanged.

Cardiorespiratory Kinetics Determined by Pseudo-Random Binary Sequences - Comparisons between Walking and Cycling.

This study aims to compare cardiorespiratory kinetics as a response to a standardised work rate protocol with pseudo-random binary sequences between cycling and walking in young healthy subjects. Muscular and pulmonary oxygen uptake (V̇O2) kinetics as well as heart rate kinetics were expected to be similar for walking and cycling. Cardiac data and V̇O2 of 23 healthy young subjects were measured in response to pseudo-random binary sequences. Kinetics were assessed applying time series analysis. Higher maxima of cross-correlation functions between work rate and the respective parameter indicate faster kinetics responses. Muscular V̇O2 kinetics were estimated from heart rate and pulmonary V̇O2 using a circulatory model. Muscular (walking vs. cycling [mean±SD in arbitrary units]: 0.40±0.08 vs. 0.41±0.08) and pulmonary V̇O2 kinetics (0.35±0.06 vs. 0.35±0.06) were not different, although the time courses of the cross-correlation functions of pulmonary V̇O2 showed unexpected biphasic responses. Heart rate kinetics (0.50±0.14 vs. 0.40±0.14; P=0.017) was faster for walking. Regarding the biphasic cross-correlation functions of pulmonary V̇O2 during walking, the assessment of muscular V̇O2 kinetics via pseudo-random binary sequences requires a circulatory model to account for cardio-dynamic distortions. Faster heart rate kinetics for walking should be considered by comparing results from cycle and treadmill ergometry.

Analysis of cardio-pulmonary and respiratory kinetics in different body positions: impact of venous return on pulmonary measurements.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to compare the kinetics responses of heart rate (HR), pulmonary ([Formula: see text]O2pulm), and muscular ([Formula: see text]O2musc) oxygen uptake during dynamic leg exercise across different body positions (-6°, 45°, and 75°). METHODS: Ten healthy individuals [six men, four women; age 23.4 ± 2.8 years; height 179.7 ± 8.3 cm; body mass 73 ± 12 kg (mean ± SD)] completed pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) work rate (WR) changes between 30 and 80 W in each posture. HR was measured beat-to-beat by echocardiogram and [Formula: see text]O2pulm by breath-by-breath gas exchange. [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics were assessed by the procedure of Hoffmann et al. (Eur J Appl Physiol 113:1745-1754, 2013) applying a circulatory model and cross-correlation functions (CCF). RESULTS: For [Formula: see text]O2pulm kinetics significant differences between -6° (CCF-values: 0.292 ± 0.040) and 45° (0.256 ± 0.034; p < 0.01; n = 10) as well as between -6° and 75° (0.214 ± 0.057; p < 0.05; n = 10) were detected at lag '40 s' of the CCF course as interaction effects (factors: Lag × Posture). HR and [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics yield no significant differences across the postures. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of cardio-dynamic and respiratory kinetics, especially with an emphasis on muscular and cellular level, has to consider venous return and cardiac output distortions. Simplified observations of kinetics responses resulting in time constants and time delays only should be replaced by the time-series analysis for a more sophisticated evaluation. The results illustrate that isolated [Formula: see text]O2pulm measurements without cardio-dynamic influences may not represent the kinetics responses originally revealed at muscular level.

Muscular Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Aged Adults.

Pulmonary oxygen uptake (V˙O2) kinetics and heart rate kinetics are influenced by age and fitness. Muscular V˙O2 kinetics can be estimated from heart rate and pulmonary V˙O2. In this study the applicability of a test using pseudo-random binary sequences in combination with a model to estimate muscular V˙O2 kinetics was tested. Muscular V˙O2 kinetics were expected to be faster than pulmonary V˙O2 kinetics, slowed in aged subjects and correlated with maximum V˙O2 and heart rate kinetics. 27 elderly subjects (73±3 years; 81.1±8.2 kg; 175±4.7 cm) participated. Cardiorespiratory kinetics were assessed using the maximum of cross-correlation functions, higher maxima implying faster kinetics. Muscular V˙O2 kinetics were faster than pulmonary V˙O2 kinetics (0.31±0.1 vs. 0.29±0.1 s; p=0.004). Heart rate kinetics were not correlated with muscular or pulmonary V˙O2 kinetics or maximum V˙O2. Muscular V˙O2 kinetics correlated with maximum V˙O2 (r=0.35; p=0.033). This suggests, that muscular V˙O2 kinetics are faster than estimates from pulmonary V˙O2 and related to maximum V˙O2 in aged subjects. In the future this experimental approach may help to characterize alterations in muscular V˙O2 under various conditions independent of motivation and maximal effort.

V̇O2 and HR kinetics before and after International Space Station missions.

PURPOSE: Heart rate (HR), pulmonary and muscle oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2pulm, [Formula: see text]O2musc) kinetics after changes of work rate (WR) indicate regulatory characteristics related to aerobic metabolism. We analysed whether the kinetics of HR, [Formula: see text]O2pulm and [Formula: see text]O2musc are slowed after missions to the International Space Station (ISS). The changes of the kinetics were correlated with [Formula: see text]O2peak data. METHODS: 10 astronauts [4 females, 6 males, age: 48.0 ± 3.8 years, height: 176 ± 7 cm, mass: 74.5 ± 15.9 kg (mean ± SD)] performed an incremental test to determine [Formula: see text]O2peak (before missions on L-110 days, after return on R+1/+10/+36 days), and a cardio-respiratory kinetics test (CRKT) with randomized 30-80 W WR changes to determine HR, [Formula: see text]O2pulm and [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics by time-series analysis (L-236/-73, R+6/+21). Kinetics were summarized by maximum and related lag of cross-correlation function (CCFmax, CCFlag) of WR with the analysed parameter. RESULTS: Statistically, significant changes were also found for CCFmax([Formula: see text]O2musc) between L-236 and R+6 (P = 0.010), L-236 and R+21 (P = 0.030), L-72 and R+6 (P = 0.043). Between pre-to-post mission change in [Formula: see text]O2peak and CCFmax(HR), a correlation was shown (r SP = 0.67, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: The [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics changes indicate aerobic detraining effects which are present up to 21 days following space flight. The correlations between changes in [Formula: see text]O2peak and HR kinetics illustrate the key role of cardiovascular regulation in [Formula: see text]O2peak. The addition of CRKT to ISS flight is recommended to obtain information regarding the potential muscular and cardiovascular deconditioning. This allows a reduction in the frequency of higher intensity testing during flight.

Essential Hypertension: Cardiovascular Response to Breath Hold Combined with Exercise.

Essential hypertension (EH) is a widespread disease and might be prevalent in apnea divers and master athletes. Little is known about the influence of EH and the antihypertensive drugs (AHD) on cardiovascular reactions to combined breath hold (BH) and exercise. In this pilot study, healthy divers (HCON) were compared with treated hypertensive divers with regard to heart rate (HR) and mean blood-pressure (MAP) responses to BH, exercise and the combination of both. Ten subjects with EH and ten healthy divers were tested. 3 different 20 s stimuli were applied: BH combined with 30 W or 150 W and 150 W without BH. The time-charts during the stress intervals and during recovery were compared. Subjects treated with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor showed higher changes for MAP values if breath hold was performed. HR responses were obviously changed if a ß-blocker was part of the medication. One subject showed extreme MAP responses to all stimuli and conspicuous HR if BH was involved. The modulation of HR-/MAP-response in EH subjects depends on the mechanisms of antihypertensive agents. The combination of an ACE inhibitor and a ß-blocker may give the best protection. It is recommended to include short apnea tests in the fitness-to-dive examination to individually predict potential endangerment.

Oxygen uptake and heart rate kinetics during dynamic upper and lower body exercise: an investigation by time-series analysis.

PURPOSE: The study compared the kinetic responses of heart rate (HR), pulmonary ([Formula: see text]O2pulm) and muscular oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O2musc) for upper (UpBody) and lower body (LoBody) exercise. METHODS: Eleven healthy men (24 ± 2 years, 184 ± 8 cm, 79 ± 7 kg) performed pseudo-random binary sequence (PRBS) work rate (WR) changes on a semi-recumbent cycle ergometer (30 and 80 W) and an arm cranking exercise device (20 and 50 W); followed by stepwise increases in WR (UpBody: 20 W 5 min(-1); LoBody: 50 W 5 min(-1)). [Formula: see text]O2pulm was measured breath-by-breath and HR beat-to-beat. [Formula: see text]O2musc was estimated by the approach as reported by Hoffmann et al. (Eur J Appl Physiol 113:1745-1754, 2013), accounting for circulatory distortions. Time constants (τ) for HR (τHR), [Formula: see text]O2pulm (τ [Formula: see text]O2pulm) and [Formula: see text]O2musc (τ [Formula: see text]O2musc) were estimated during the PRBS phases by time-series analysis. RESULTS: Peak oxygen uptake differed significantly between UpBody (37.8 ± 5.0 ml min(-1) kg(-1)) and LoBody exercises (56.1 ± 7.4 mL min(-1) kg(-1); p < 0.001). Significant differences were observed for τ [Formula: see text]O2musc (UpBody: 41.1 ± 11.3 s vs LoBody: 29.5 ± 5.2 s; p < 0.05), but not for τ [Formula: see text]O2pulm (49.1 ± 17.1 s vs 39.6 ± 11.2 s; p > 0.05) and τHR (29.1 ± 15.6 s vs 25.6 ± 8.0 s; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Meaningful dissociations between [Formula: see text]O2pulm and [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics exist for both UpBody and LoBody exercise during rapid work rate changes. Therefore, isolated [Formula: see text]O2pulm kinetic estimations without the consideration of the circulatory distortions may not allow a reliable assessment of [Formula: see text]O2musc kinetics.