The Torque Referenced to a Perceived Exertion Level Is Affected by the Type of Movement in Men With Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVES: To compare a standardized submaximal intensity (based on the rate of perceived exertion [RPE]) with the percentage of the average and peak torque during a familiarization session in individuals with different spinal cord injury (SCI) levels in gravity-resisted and gravity-assisted movements. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study at a rehabilitation hospital. Thirty-six individuals stratified in tetraplegia (TP), high paraplegia (HP), and low paraplegia (LP) groups and 12 matched control participants (CG) were enrolled in the study. Participants performed a maximum strength test using isokinetic dynamometry. The familiarization consisted of 10 submaximal repetitions with a level 2 (i.e., 20% of the maximum score) in the Resistance Exercise Scale (OMNI-RES). Fisher's exact test compared the percentages of the average torque (%ATFam) and peak torque (%PTFam) of the familiarization (based on the peak torque during the maximum strength tests) to the %ATFam and %PTFam attained with 20% of RPE. The coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated to assess the torque dispersion during each familiarization set. RESULTS: The %ATFam was lower for gravity-assisted compared to gravity-resisted movements for HP, LP, and CG (p ≤ .05). The CV was significantly lower in gravity-resisted movements during familiarization for TP, LP, and CG. CONCLUSION: Different RPE levels should be adopted for gravity-resisted or gravity-assisted upper limb exercises to maintain the same relative intensity during a familiarization session.

Relationship between sarcopenic obesity-related phenotypes and inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women.

Ageing is associated with changes in body composition that may result in sarcopenic obesity (SO). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are important inflammatory markers related to ageing. SO has been examined as an important public health problem, but its association with inflammatory markers has yet to be investigated. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between SO-related phenotypes and inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women. A total of 130 women (66·7 ± 5·2 years) underwent body composition evaluation using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Volunteers were classified according to a SO definition previously described in the literature. Waist circumference (WC) and handgrip strength (HG) were also measured. Blood samples were collected for CRP, tumour necrosis factor and IL-6 measurements. All the inflammatory markers were higher in SO individuals when compared to non-SO; however, only IL-6 reached statistical significance (median 3·34 versus 1·37 pg ml-1 ; P<0·05). Also, CRP was significantly correlated (P<0·01) with body mass index (rs  = 0·34), fat mass (FM; rs  = 0·25) and WC (rs  = 0·33). Similarly, IL-6 levels were significantly correlated (P<0·05) to age (rs  = 0·19), FM (rs  = 0·19) and WC (rs  = 0·17). HG was found to be significantly reduced among subjects with higher IL-6 levels (P = 0·02). In summary, the combination of reduced muscle mass and excess body fat (i.e. SO) is associated with elevated inflammatory markers in postmenopausal women. Moreover, CRP and IL-6 are associated with SO-related phenotypes in this population.

Balance Exercises Circuit improves muscle strength, balance, and functional performance in older women.

This study introduces the Balance Exercises Circuit (BEC) and examines its effects on muscle strength and power, balance, and functional performance in older women. Thirty-five women aged 60+ (mean age = 69.31, SD = 7.35) were assigned to either a balance exercises group (BG, n = 14) that underwent 50-min sessions twice weekly, of a 12-week BEC program, or a wait-list control group (CG, n = 21). Outcome measures were knee extensor peak torque (PT), rate of force development (RFD), balance, Timed Up & Go (TUG), 30-s chair stand, and 6-min walk tests, assessed at baseline and 12 weeks. Twenty-three participants completed follow-up assessments. Mixed analysis of variance models examined differences in outcomes. The BG displayed improvements in all measures at follow-up and significantly improved compared with CG on, isokinetic PT60, PT180 (p = 0.02), RFD (p < 0.05), balance with eyes closed (p values range .02 to <.01) and TUG (p = 0.03), all with medium effect sizes. No changes in outcome measures were observed in the CG. BEC improved strength, power, balance, and functionality in older women. The BEC warrants further investigation as a fall prevention intervention.