Suspension training vs. traditional resistance training: effects on muscle mass, strength and functional performance in older adults.

PURPOSE: We compared the effects of suspension training (ST) with traditional resistance training (TRT) on muscle mass, strength and functional performance in older adults. METHODS: Forty-two untrained older adults were randomized in TRT, ST (both performed 3 sets of whole body exercises to muscle failure) or control group (CON). Muscle thickness (MT) of biceps brachii (MTBB) and vastus lateralis (MTVL), maximal dynamic strength test (1RM) for biceps curl (1RMBC) and leg extension exercises (1RMLE), and functional performance tests (chair stand [CS], timed up and go [TUG] and maximal gait speed [MGS]) were performed before and after 12 weeks of training. RESULTS: MTBB increased significantly and similarly for all training groups (TRT 23.35%; ST 21.56%). MTVL increased significantly and similarly for all training groups (TRT 13.03%; ST 14.07%). 1RMBC increased significantly and similarly for all training groups (TRT 16.06%; ST 14.33%). 1RMLE increased significantly and similarly for all training groups (TRT 14.89%; ST 18.06%). MGS increased significantly and similarly for all groups (TRT 6.26%; ST 5.99%; CON 2.87%). CS decreased significantly and similarly for all training groups (TRT - 20.80%; ST - 15.73%). TUG decreased significantly and similarly for all training groups (TRT - 8.66%; ST - 9.16%). CONCLUSION: Suspension training (ST) promotes similar muscle mass, strength and functional performance improvements compared to TRT in older adults.

Effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on resting energy expenditure in women.

BACKGROUND: Bariatric surgery is the gold standard treatment for morbid obesity, but little is known about its effects on resting energy expenditure. METHOD: Twenty-one women underwent anthropometric and resting energy expenditure (REE) measurements before and 3 months after bariatric surgery using the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) technique developed by Capella. RESULTS: The patients experienced a significant reduction in body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The cardiopulmonary variables oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, non-protein respiratory quotient, and heart rate all decreased, whereas oxygen pulse did not change significantly. Absolute REE showed a significant reduction 3 months postoperatively (2006.7 +/- 376.4 kcal/day to 1763.3 +/- 310.5 kcal/day), but no significant difference was found compared with REE relative to body weight (0.71 +/- 0.15 kcal kg(-1)h(-1) to 0.75 +/- 0.12 kcal kg(-1) h(-1)) or as percent of Harris-Benedict predicted REE (106.2 +/- 21.0% to 103.3 +/- 15.1%). CONCLUSION: In this study, bariatric surgery using the RYGBP technique (Capella) led to a significant decrease of body weight that decreased resting energy expenditure proportional to this weight loss, and to an increase in the utilization of fat as an energy substrate. It can be concluded that after 3 months, the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery may provide significant metabolic benefits to morbidly obese women.

Water exercise in coronary artery disease patients, effects on heart rate variability, and body composition: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It is important to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of water-based training programs in order to prescribe it as an alternative in cardiac rehabilitation for patients who have coronary artery disease (CAD). In these patients, autonomic dysfunction is an important physiological change strongly associated with adverse outcomes, morbidity, and mortality. Given that the beneficial effects of physical training in CAD patients have been traditionally evidenced with programs involving land-based aerobic exercises, this study aims to evaluate the effects of water aerobic exercise training (WAET) on the autonomic modulation of heart rate (HR) and body composition, in the rehabilitation of CAD patients. METHODS: Twenty-six male subjects with CAD were randomly divided into a training group (n = 14), submitted to the WAET, and a control group (n = 12). The WAET consisted of 3 weekly sessions on alternate days, totalling 48 sessions. The analysis of HR variability was used to evaluate the autonomic modulation of HR, from the recording of R-R intervals for 15 min, at rest in the supine position, and the body composition was evaluated through the bioelectrical impedance analysis. RESULTS: Only the training group participants had improvement in the HR variability indices; patterns without variation decreased (0V, p = .005) and an increase of patterns of two different variations (p < .001), Shannon entropy (p = .02), and normalized conditional entropy (p = .03), whereas the control group had an increase of 0V (p = .04) and a decrease of normalized conditional entropy (p = .01). All body composition variables remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The WAET protocol improved the cardiac autonomic modulation of patients with CAD and can be considered as exercise training strategy in cardiac rehabilitation programs.

New auxiliary indicators for the differential diagnosis of functional cardiorespiratory limitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To differentiate the nature of functional cardiorespiratory limitations during exercise in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure (CHF) and to determine indicators that may help their classifications. METHODS: The study comprised 40 patients: 23 with COPD and 17 with CHF. All individuals underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a treadmill. RESULTS: The values of peak gas exchange ratio (R peak), peak carbon dioxide production (VCO2 peak), and peak oxygen ventilatory equivalent (V E O2 peak) were higher in the patients with CHF than in those with COPD, and, therefore, those were the variables that characterized the differences between the groups. For group classification, the differentiating functions with the R peak, VCO2 peak (L/min), and V E O2 peak variables were used as follows: group COPD: - 44.886 + 78.832 x R peak + 5.442 x VCO2 peak + 0.336 x V (E) O(2) peak; group CHF: - 69.251 + 89.740 x R peak + 8.461 x VCO2 peak + 0.574 x V (E) O(2) peak. The differentiating function, whose result is greater, correctly classifies the patient's group as 90%. CONCLUSION: The R peak, VCO(2) peak, and V(E) O(2) peak values may be used to identify the cause of the functional cardiorespiratory limitations in patients with COPD and CHF.

Immune parameters, symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, and training-load indicators in volleyball athletes.

BACKGROUND: The control of immunological alterations becomes important during in-season training, as a result of increased incidence of infectious diseases, and may assist in avoiding interruptions to training due to illness. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate 28 weeks of chronic immune modulations in female volleyball athletes. METHODS: The sample was composed of twelve athletes aged 19.47 ± 2.49 years, height 1.78 ± 0.08 cm, and body mass 66.77 ± 7.8 kg. Leukocytes, individual immune cell count, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plasma cytokines were measured during the competitive period. RESULTS: Results revealed that immune variables were correlated with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections and training-load indicators, indicating a possible marker of immune status. There was a statistically significant increase in total leukocytes, neutrophils, and monocyte count, a decrease in lymphocytes, and an increase in upper respiratory tract infection symptoms, with no change in IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α. Correlations between subjective levels of tiredness, total leukocyte count, and neutrophils with upper respiratory tract infection symptoms were observed. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, these correlations can represent important tools to access the immune status of an athlete during long training periods, preventing a possible immunosuppressive status.