Low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction and arterial stiffness in humans: A systematic review.

Low-intensity resistance exercise with blood flow restriction exercise is an emerging type of exercise recognition worldwide. This systematic review evaluated the effects of low-intensity resistance exercise performed with concurrent blood flow restriction (LIRE-BFR) on acute and chronic measures of arterial stiffness in humans. A systematic search in six healthcare science databases and reference lists was conducted. Data selected for primary analysis consisted of post-intervention changes in arterial stiffness markers. This systematic review included randomized and non-randomized controlled trials of LIRE-BFR in humans. 156 articles were initially identified, 15 of which met inclusion criteria. Ten studies were excluded because they did not match predefined arterial stiffness markers. Thus, five articles were included in this review: two acute studies (N = 39 individuals, age = 20-30 years old, 30.8% women and 69.2% men) and three longitudinal studies (N = 51 individuals, age = 24-86-years old, 41.2% women and 58.8% men). Acute LIRE-BFR demonstrated both positive and negative effects on arterial stiffness in healthy young people. In contrast, longitudinal studies reported neutral effects in healthy young and older people. In conclusion, LIRE-BFR applied to the upper and lower limbs may acutely induce increases in central blood pressure and pulse wave velocity in healthy young people, whereas LIRE-BFR for the lower limbs may elicit positive effects related to indirect markers of arterial stiffness. Moreover, longitudinal LIRE-BFR studies showed no changes in arterial stiffness in young and older people. Hence, LIRE-BFR should be prescribed with a degree of caution to avoid non-intended responses in arterial stiffness markers in humans.

Effects of remote ischemic conditioning on cognitive performance: A systematic review.

The aging process leads to subtle decline in cognitive function, and in some overt dementia. Like physical activity Remote Ischemic Conditioning (RIC) may ameliorate these changes on cognitive impairment in humans. The purpose of this study was to compared the effects of single, repeated short-term and long-term treatment RIC, and analyze its effect registered as immediate vs. long-term on cognitive performance in humans. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement and was registered with PROSPERO, number (CRD42021285668). A systematic review was conducted to identify relevant studies through six healthcare science databases (Cochrane, PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, Scopus, and Web of Science) up to December 2021. Eligibility criteria included (1) a study sample of participants aged ≥18 years, (2) post-intervention changes on cognitive performance in humans, and (3) this systematic review included only randomized controlled trials of RIC in humans. The quality of the included studies was assessed by GRADEpro tool. A total of 118 articles were initially identified, 35 of which met the inclusion criteria. Based on title/abstract, age and RIC protocol, 14 articles were included in this review: 5 studies investigated the immediate and long-term effect of a single RIC (n = 370 patients), 4 studies examined intermittent short-term RIC (n = 174 patients) and 5 studies evaluated repeated long-term RIC (n = 228 patients). A single pre-operative RIC treatment had an immediate effect that disappeared at one week. Short-term RIC showed either a positive or no effects on cognitive function. The majority of studies examining long-term RIC treatment showed improvements in cognitive performance, particularly in very old adults and older patients with cognitive impairments. Single RIC treatment did not show any persisting effect on cognition. However, repeated short term RIC showed some improvement and long-term RIC may improve cognitive performance after stroke or enhance neuropsychological tests in patients diagnosed with vascular dementia. The mixed results might be explained by different RIC treatment protocols and populations investigated.

The Effect of a Single Bout of Resistance Exercise with Blood Flow Restriction on Arterial Stiffness in Older People with Slow Gait Speed: A Pilot Randomized Study.

Purpose: Low-intensity resistance exercise with moderate blood-flow restriction (LIRE-BFR) is a new trending form of exercises worldwide. The purpose of this study was to compare the acute effect of a single bout of traditional resistance exercise (TRE) and LIRE-BFR on arterial stiffness in older people with slow gait speeds. Methods: This was a randomized, controlled clinical study. Seventeen older adults (3 men; 14 women; 82 ± 5 years old) completed a session of TRE (n = 7) or LIRE-BFR (n = 10). At baseline and after 60 min post-exercise, participants were subject to blood pressure measurement, heart rate measurements and a determination of arterial stiffness parameters. Results: There was no significant difference between the TRE and LIRE-BFR group at baseline. Pulse-wave velocity increased in both groups (p < 0.05) post-exercise with no between-group differences. Both exercise modalities did not produce any adverse events. The increase in systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, augmentation pressure and pulse wave velocity (all p > 0.05) were similar after both TRE and LIRE-BFR. Conclusion: TRE and LIRE-BFR had similar responses regarding hemodynamic parameters and pulse-wave velocity in older people with slow gait speed. Long-term studies should assess the cardiovascular risk and safety of LIRE-BFR training in this population.

Portuguese Football Federation consensus statement 2020: nutrition and performance in football.

Nutrition is an undeniable part of promoting health and performance among football (soccer) players. Nevertheless, nutritional strategies adopted in elite football can vary significantly depending on culture, habit and practical constraints and might not always be supported by scientific evidence. Therefore, a group of 28 Portuguese experts on sports nutrition, sports science and sports medicine sought to discuss current practices in the elite football landscape and review the existing evidence on nutritional strategies to be applied when supporting football players. Starting from understanding football's physical and physiological demands, five different moments were identified: preparing to play, match-day, recovery after matches, between matches and during injury or rehabilitation periods. When applicable, specificities of nutritional support to young athletes and female players were also addressed. The result is a set of practical recommendations that gathered consensus among involved experts, highlighting carbohydrates periodisation, hydration and conscious use of dietary supplements.

The Effects of Resistance Exercise With Blood Flow Restriction on Flow-Mediated Dilation and Arterial Stiffness in Elderly People With Low Gait Speed: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: During aging, a significant loss of muscle mass, strength, and power is associated with a decline in daily functional capacities. Traditionally, resistance training is prescribed to prevent or reverse the skeletal muscle weakness, but the required training intensity may be too demanding for older people with poor physical performance. Resistance exercise with blood flow moderation (KAATSU training), originally developed in Japan, combines resistance exercise with blood flow restriction. It has been reported that KAATSU training enhances muscle hypertrophy in many populations. However, few studies have evaluated the effects of resistance exercises with blood flow restriction in elderly people and how this affects vascular structure and function. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate (1) the acute and chronic effects of resistance exercise with blood flow restriction on vascular health in elderly people with low gait speed and (2) whether low-load resistance training with blood flow restriction elicits similar strength and gait speed gains to those elicited by conventional resistance training without blood flow restriction. METHODS: This is an ongoing randomized controlled trial in elderly people with low gait speed. Overall, two study arms of 13 participants each perform resistance exercise with and without blood flow restriction. The 2 groups are as follows: the control group will perform conventional resistance exercise (60% of 1 repetition maximum) and the KAATSU group will perform the low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (20% of 1 repetition maximum) for 12 weeks. Pulse wave velocity, venous occlusion plethysmography, and flow-mediated dilation are used to assess arterial stiffness, muscle blood flow, and endothelial function, respectively. The secondary outcomes are gait speed, strength, and quality of life. All measures will be performed before and after the training program. RESULTS: This research study is in progress. Recruitment has started, and data collection is expected to finish in August 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study will have important implications for the rehabilitation of elderly people. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03272737; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03272737. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/14691.

Creatine or vitamin D supplementation in individuals with a spinal cord injury undergoing resistance training: A double-blinded, randomized pilot trial.

PURPOSE: Determine whether creatine or vitamin D supplementation improves muscle strength in individuals with spinal cord injury undergoing resistance training. METHODS: Thirteen male and one female with spinal cord injury, from two Portuguese rehabilitation centers, were randomized to creatine (3g daily), vitamin D (25000 IU each two weeks) or placebo group in a double-blind design. All participants performed progressive resistance training during eight weeks. The outcome measures, obtained at baseline and after intervention, included: Sum of four skinfolds; Corrected arm muscle area; Seated medicine ball throw; Handgrip strength with dynamometer; Manual wheelchair slalom test and one repetition maximum for Chest press, Triceps, Pec deck and Lat pulldown. Vitamin D levels were obtained in all participants before and after intervention. RESULTS: 71.4% of participants had deficit values of vitamin D. The corrected arm muscle area improved significantly (p<0.05) in creatine group relatively to the control group. There was a significant correlation (p<0.05) between the one repetition maximum Pec deck and levels of vitamin D. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with creatine may improve muscle strength parameters in individuals with spinal cord injury. Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in this population. It is recommended an initial screening of vitamin D levels at the beginning of the physical rehabilitation process.

[The evaluation of self-care workshops to carriers of chronic periodontitis: taking care of users and dentists]. / Avaliação de oficinas de autocuidado aos portadores de periodontite crônica: cuidando dos usuários e cirurgiões-dentistas.

The objective of this article is to evaluate the workshops of "accepting the patient" for dentists and of self-care for carriers of chronic periodontitis. The patients assisted at the periodontics clinics of graduation and post-graduation Dentistry courses and periodontics specialty students, in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, took part of educative workshops. A field diary was done in all workshops. The patients of both interventions and control groups answered a structured questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. In order to compare the previous and post moments, in both groups, a McNemar test was performed, with a probability of p<0.05. In the intervention group, there was an increase in knowledge related to the name, the causes and related factors of the disease (p < 0.05). In the control group there wasn't a rise in the understanding of the diseases' chronic character, unlike the intervention group. The dentists showed few abilities in dealing with chronic patients. It can be concluded that the educative workshops for carriers of chronic periodontitis increase the knowledge about the illness, its causes and its chronic character, especially by the pedagogical methodology used and the dialogue with the popular culture.

Avaliação de oficinas de autocuidado aos portadores de periodontite crônica: cuidando dos usuários e cirurgiões-dentistas / The evaluation of self-care workshops to carriers of chronic periodontitis: taking care of users and dentists

O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar as oficinas de "aceitação ao paciente" para os cirurgiões-dentistas e de autocuidado para os portadores de periodontite crônica. Pacientes em atendimento nas clínicas de periodontia dos cursos de graduação e pós-graduação em odontologia e alunos de especialização em periodontia, em Fortaleza (CE), participaram de oficinas educativas. Os pacientes do grupo de intervenção e controle responderam a um questionário estruturado no início e no final do tratamento. Foi realizado o diário de campo em todas as oficinas. Para a comparação entre os momentos antes e depois, nos dois grupos, foi realizado o teste McNemar, com uma probabilidade de p < 0,05. No grupo de intervenção, houve um incremento do conhecimento em relação ao nome, às causas e aos fatores relacionados à doença (p < 0,05). No grupo-controle, não houve aumento na compreensão do caráter crônico, ao contrário do grupo de intervenção. Os cirurgiões-dentistas demonstraram pouca habilidade em lidar com pacientes crônicos. As oficinas educativas aos portadores de periodontite crônica acrescentam conhecimentos sobre a doença, suas causas e seu caráter crônico, principalmente pela metodologia pedagógica utilizada e o diálogo com a cultura popular.

The objective of this article is to evaluate the workshops of "accepting the patient" for dentists and of self-care for carriers of chronic periodontitis. The patients assisted at the periodontics clinics of graduation and post-graduation Dentistry courses and periodontics specialty students, in Fortaleza, Ceará State, Brazil, took part of educative workshops. A field diary was done in all workshops. The patients of both interventions and control groups answered a structured questionnaire at the beginning and at the end of the treatment. In order to compare the previous and post moments, in both groups, a McNemar test was performed, with a probability of p<0.05. In the intervention group, there was an increase in knowledge related to the name, the causes and related factors of the disease (p < 0.05). In the control group there wasn't a rise in the understanding of the diseases' chronic character, unlike the intervention group. The dentists showed few abilities in dealing with chronic patients. It can be concluded that the educative workshops for carriers of chronic periodontitis increase the knowledge about the illness, its causes and its chronic character, especially by the pedagogical methodology used and the dialogue with the popular culture.