Percentual responses proximal to the onset of blood lactate accumulation.

AIM: Running at incremental velocities proximal to the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) elicits linear increases in VO(2), and HR, while the increases in V(E) and blood lactic acid concentrations (BLa) are curvilinear. In addition, effort sense is often measured in the field with the traditional 15-point scale Ratings of Perceived Exertion scale, increases linearly whereas the perceptual response of affect seem to decrease in a nonlinear manner. This study examined the changes in effort sense (RPE) and affect, utilizing the Feeling Scale (FS), at 3 running intensities proximal to the onset of blood lactate accumulation. In addition, the relationship between these perceptual responses and V(E), VO(2), HR, RER, and BLa were examined. METHODS: Eleven highly-trained distance runners (VO(2max) = 67.65+/-1.24) participated in 2 sessions of data collection. During Session 1 subjects performed a discontinuous progressive treadmill protocol to determine peak aerobic power. After each stage a finger tip blood sample was taken to determine BLa. A regression line between the 2 successive workloads that produced BLa above and below 4 mM was calculated to predict the VO(2) that would generate 4mM BLa (VO(2) @ 4 mM). Within 1 week each subject returned for Session 2, which included a 10-min warm-up run followed by 3 submaximal runs lasting 5 min each: the VO(2) at 10% below OBLA (VO(2) 10% ), the VO(2) at OBLA (VO(2) @ 4 mM), and the VO(2) at 10% above OBLA (VO(2) 10%). During the last minute of each run VO(2), V(E), HR, RER, RPE, and FS were assessed. In addition, Bla was assessed immediately following each run. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that VO(2) 10%, VO(2) @ 4 mM, and VO(2) 10% - elicited BLa of 2.66+/-0.33, 3.75+/-0.40, and 6.10+/-0.68 mM, respectively. In addition, RPE increased significantly from VO(2) 10% to VO(2) @ 4 mM and from VO(2) @ 4 mM to VO(2) 10% -; whereas FS demonstrated a slight decrease from VO(2) 10% to VO(2) @ 4 mM, and a more substantial and significant decrease from VO(2) @ 4 mM to VO(2) 10% -. Correlational analyses revealed significant relationships at VO(2) 10% -. Specifically, RPE and FS were negatively related (r=0.62), while RPE and VO(2) were positively related (r=0.53). Correlations across all workloads revealed a tendency for more powerful relationships to exist among RPE and physiological cues than FS and physiological cues. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to directly examine changes in RPE and FS in relation to the physiological threshold for anaerobic metabolism, Bla, which responds to linear increases in exercise intensity in a curvilinear manner. Results support previous investigations suggesting a that the drop in FS has some distinction from the increase in RPE and that FS may be more sensitive to the onset of anaerobic metabolism. Moreover, the relationship of RPE to FS at VO(2) 10% -, but not VO(2) 10% and VO(2) @ 4 mM, supports the hypothesis that the unique variability of FS is diminished at higher intensities of exercise when physiological cues are unambiguous.

Kinematic changes at intensities proximal to onset of lactate accumulation.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to examine changes in selected kinematic variables at 3 running intensities proximal to the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA; 4 mM of blood lactate). It was hypothesized that greater changes in lower body mechanics would occur when running faster than normal race pace compared to when running slower than race pace. METHODS: Nine competitive male distance runners ran at 3 running intensities (RI): 1) each runner's VO(2) at 10% below the VO(2) at OBLA, 2) VO(2) at OBLA, and 3) VO(2) at 10% above the VO(2) at OBLA. Selected kinematic and physiological variables were measured at each RI. RESULTS: VO(2) at RI 1, 2 and 3 was highly correlated with running speed (r=0.93). The blood lactate (BL) showed a nonlinear increase from RI 1 (2.9+/-0.8 mM) to 2 (4.1+/-0.9 mM) to 3 (6.7+/-1.8 mM). The vertical oscillation of center of gravity (VOCOG), stride frequency (SF), range of motion (ROM) of trunk angle, and maximal knee flexion during flight phase (MKFF) changed nonlinearly as did the BL. Significant relationships between BL and VOCOG (r=0.44) and between BL and SF (r=0.51) were found (ps<0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings show a possibility that lower body running mechanics have a relationship with BL.

Circuit weight training and its effects on excess postexercise oxygen consumption.

OBJECTIVE: There is a paucity of research concerning energy expenditure during and after circuit weight training (CWT). There is evidence that duration of rest between sets affects metabolic responses to resistive exercise. The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of rest-interval duration upon the magnitude of 1 h of excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC). METHODS: Seven healthy men completed two randomized circuit weight training sessions using 20-s and 60-s rest intervals (20 RI, 60 RI). Sessions included two circuits of eight upper and lower body resistive exercises in which 20 repetitions were performed at 75% of a previously determined 20 repetition maximum. RESULTS: The 1 h EPOC of 10.3 +/- 0.57 L for the 20 RI session was significantly higher than 7.40 +/- 0.39 L for the 60 RI session. The net caloric expenditure during 1 h of recovery from the 20 RI session was significantly higher than that of the 60 RI session (51.51 +/- 2.84 vs 37.00 +/- 1.97 kcal); however, total gross energy expenditure (exercise + 1 h recovery) was significantly greater for the 60 RI protocol (277.23 kcal) than the 20 RI protocol (242.21 kcal). CONCLUSION: Data demonstrate that shortening the rest interval duration will increase the magnitude of 1 h EPOC from CWT; however, the exercise + recovery caloric costs from CWT are slightly greater for a longer rest interval duration protocol. These data suggest that total caloric cost be taken into account for CWT.

Effects of aerobic exercise on serum leptin levels in obese women.

It has been demonstrated that leptin concentrations in obese patients may be altered by weight loss. We examined the effects of a 9-week aerobic exercise program on serum leptin concentrations in overweight women (20-50% above ideal body mass) under conditions of weight stability. Sixteen overweight women, mean (SE) age 42.75 (1.64) years, comprised the exercise group which adhered to a supervised aerobic exercise program. A graded exercise treadmill test was conducted before and after the exercise program to determine maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) using open-circuit spirometry. The women demonstrated improved aerobic fitness (VO2max increased 12.29%), however, body fat and the body mass index did not change significantly [42.27 (1.35)-41.87 (1.33)%]. Fourteen women, age 40.57 (2.80) years, did not exercise over the same time period and served as a control group. Serum leptin levels were not significantly altered for either the exercise [28.00 (2.13)-31.04 (2.71) ng x ml(-1)] or the control group [33.24 (3.78)-34.69 (3.14) ng x mg(-1)]. The data indicate that 9 weeks of aerobic exercise improves aerobic fitness, but does not affect leptin concentrations in overweight women.

Serum leptin concentrations in response to acute exercise in postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement therapy.

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of acute exercise and hormone replacement therapy on serum leptin concentrations in postmenopausal women. Subjects were 15 healthy, postmenopausal women, 8 on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and 7 not on hormone replacement therapy (NHRT). Group comparisons indicated no significant differences between HRT and NHRT groups with respect to age, height, weight, BMI, sum of skinfolds, or VO2max, and verified significant differences in estradiol and FSH concentrations. After an overnight fast, each subject completed 30 min of treadmill exercise at approximately 80% VO2max. Over 2 hr and 10 min, baseline, exercise, and recovery blood samples were collected from an intravenous catheter. A control session conducted a month later consisted of the same blood sampling protocol without exercise. Leptin concentrations declined significantly over the course of both the exercise and control sessions, gradually decreasing from baseline levels to -1.54 +/- 0.49 ng. ml-1 postexercise, and continuing to decline to a low of -2.89 +/- 0.59 ng. ml-1 at the end of the session. There was no significant difference between groups with respect to this decline. This is the first study to document that diurnal changes in leptin concentrations in postmenopausal women are not altered by acute treadmill exercise or HRT status. The study underscores the need to account for a diurnal reduction in leptin over the course of an exercise trial.

Effects of hormone replacement on growth hormone and prolactin exercise responses in postmenopausal women.

Exercise elevates growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) blood concentrations in premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) maintain higher estrogen levels that could affect GH and PRL. The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of HRT on GH and PRL responses to treadmill exercise. Seventeen healthy women who were postmenopausal (naturally or surgically) [8 on HRT; 9 not on HRT (NHRT)], completed 30 min of treadmill exercise at 79.16 +/- 1.2% maximal O2 consumption (HRT group) and 80.19 +/- 0.91% maximal O2 consumption (NHRT) group). Blood samples were collected from an intravenous catheter during an exercise session and during a control session without exercise. GH and PRL concentrations were significantly higher in the exercise trial than in the nonexercise trial, whereas resting concentrations were similar for both trials. GH and PRL peaked at 10.8 +/- 1.60 and 12.67 +/- 2.58 ng/ml, respectively, for HRT subjects and at 4.90 +/- 1.18 and 9.04 +/- 2.17 ng/ml, respectively, for NHRT subjects. GH concentrations in the exercise trial were significantly higher for HRT than for NHRT subjects. This is the first study to demonstrate that HRT enhances treadmill-exercise-induced GH release and that similar PRL responses to treadmill exercise occur in postmenopausal women regardless of HRT status.

Effects of estrogen replacement therapy on dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and cortisol responses to exercise in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA sulfate (DHEAS), and cortisol (F) responses to treadmill exercise. DESIGN: Controlled clinical study. SETTING: Female volunteers in an academic research environment. PATIENT(S): Sixteen healthy, postmenopausal women (7 were receiving HRT, 9 were not). INTERVENTION(S): Blood samples were taken from an intravenous catheter before, during, and after 30 minutes of treadmill exercise following an overnight fast. A second session was conducted one month later for the same subjects using the same blood sampling protocol without exercise. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum DHEA, DHEAS, and F concentrations. RESULT(S): The HRT and untreated DHEA area under the curve (AUC) for the exercise trials was significantly greater than that for the control trials. The untreated, but not the HRT, DHEAS AUC for the exercise trials was significantly greater than that for the control trials. The HRT and untreated F AUC for the exercise trials was significantly greater than that for the control trials. The AUC for the HRT exercise trials was significantly higher than the untreated exercise trials for DHEA and F, but not DHEAS. CONCLUSION(S): Data suggest that treadmill exercise elevates DHEA, DHEAS, and F levels in postmenopausal women and that HRT enhances the DHEA and F responses.