Protocol for Minute Calisthenics: a randomized controlled study of a daily, habit-based, bodyweight resistance training program.

BACKGROUND: Resistance-training (RT) provides significant health benefits. However, roughly 3/4 of adults in the United States do not meet current Physical Activity Guidelines in this regard. There has been a call for research examining the effectiveness of interventions to increase participation in physical activity and to better understand the dose response relationship upon health outcomes. Studies are needed that assess the effectiveness of RT programs that are time-efficient and simple to perform. This fully-powered, randomized controlled study will assess a habit-based RT program consisting of one set of push-ups, angled-rows, and bodyweight-squats performed every weekday for 12-24 weeks in untrained individuals. METHODS: Forty-60 untrained osteopathic medical students and college/university employees who work in an office setting will be recruited and randomized (1:1) to an intervention or waitlist control group. After 12-week follow-up assessment, the intervention group will continue the program and the control group will initiate the program for 12 weeks. In addition to the equipment and training needed to safely perform the exercises, all participants will receive training in the Tiny Habits® Method (THM) and digital coaching for the duration of the study. Participants will complete weekly assessments regarding the program during their initial 12-week intervention phase. The primary outcome is the change from baseline to 12 weeks in the intervention group versus the control group, in the combined number of repetitions performed in one set of each of the three exercises (composite repetitions) under a standardized protocol. Secondary outcomes include adherence to and satisfaction with the program, and change from baseline to 12- and 24-week follow-up in blood pressure, fasting lipid panel, hemoglobin A1c, body mass index, anthropometry, body composition, mid-thigh muscle thickness, and habit strength. DISCUSSION: This study will evaluate a simple, habit-based RT intervention in untrained individuals. The approach is unique in that it utilizes brief but frequent bodyweight exercises and, via the THM, focuses on consistency and habit formation first, with effort being increased as participants are motivated and able. If effective, the program can be easily scaled for wider adoption. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04207567 , on December 23rd, 2019.

Quantification and Qualification of Stem Cells From Blood After Mobilization With Filgrastim, and Concentration Using a Platelet-Rich Plasma System.

PURPOSE: To determine the cellular composition of a product created with peripheral blood harvested after systemic mobilization with filgrastim and processed with one point-of-care blood concentrating system, i.e., a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) system. The second purpose was to compare mobilized platelet-rich plasma (M-PRP) with a concentrated bone marrow aspirate (cBMA) and a PRP created from the same subjects with the same PRP system. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteer subjects were recruited for collection and analysis of 3 tissue sources: non-treated peripheral blood, bone marrow aspirate, and filgrastim-mobilized peripheral blood, involving 4 doses of weight-based filgrastim. One point-of-care blood and bone marrow concentrating system was used to create 3 products: PRP, cBMA, and M-PRP. Automated hematologic analysis was performed on all products to quantify total red blood cells, white blood cells (WBCs), monocyte, platelet, and hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) concentrations. Flow cytometry was used to determine hematopoietic and mesenchymal progenitor cell populations. Lastly, concentrates were cultured and fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-F) and morphology of adherent cells were evaluated. RESULTS: M-PRP contained a greater concentration of WBC (mean difference = 53.2 k/µL; P < .0001), monocytes (mean difference = 8.3 k/µL; P = .002), and a trend toward a greater concentration of HPC (mean difference = 200.5 /µL; P = .060) when compared with PRP. M-PRP contained a greater concentration of monocytes (mean difference = 5.5 k/µL; P = .017) and a trend toward a greater concentration of platelets (mean difference = 348 k/µL; P = .051) and HPC (mean difference = 193.4 /µL; P = .068) when compared with cBMA. M-PRP had a similar concentration of platelets to PRP (mean difference = 110 k/µL; P = .051) and PRP had a greater concentration than cBMA (mean difference = 458 k/µL; P = .003). cBMA remained the only product capable of producing CFU-Fs (446 ± 247 /mL) as neither the M-PRP nor PRP produced CFU-Fs. M-PRP produced colonies consistent with WBC. CONCLUSIONS: M-PRP, produced with filgrastim mobilized blood and a proprietary PRP system, contained more total WBCs, monocytes, platelets, and HPCs than cBMA and more WBCs, monocytes, and HPCs than PRP. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Filgrastim mobilized PRP may be an alternative to cBMA for use as a point-of-care product for orthopaedic treatments.