Neuromuscular economy, strength, and endurance in healthy elderly men.

Declines in muscular strength resulting from reduced neural activity may influence the reduction in aerobic capacity in older men. However, there has been little investigation into the relationship between muscular strength and economy of movement during aerobic exercise in elderly subjects. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between strength, aerobic performance, and neuromuscular economy in older men. Twenty-eight aged men (65 ± 4 years old) were evaluated in dynamic (1 repetition maximum test), isometric strength (maximal voluntary contraction), and rate of force development. Peak oxygen uptake, maximal workload, and ventilatory threshold were determined during a ramp protocol on a cycle ergometer. Throughout the same protocol, the neuromuscular economy (electromyographic signal) of the vastus lateralis was measured. Significant correlations were found between muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and neuromuscular economy (r = 0.43-0.64, p < 0.05). Our results suggest that cardiorespiratory capacity and economy of movement are associated with muscular strength during aging.

Hormonal responses to resistance exercise in long-term trained and untrained middle-aged men.

This cross-sectional study compared hormonal responses to resistance exercise between trained and untrained men to investigate the adaptations of the endocrine system to long-term strength training in middle-aged men. Twenty-one middle-aged men were recruited for this study and matched into a strength-trained group (SG) (n = 10) and an untrained group (UG) (n = 11). In the SG, the individuals had practiced strength training for hypertrophy for at least 3 years. Upper- and lower-body muscle strength was measured with a 1 repetition maximum (1RM) test. Blood samples were collected at rest and after multiple sets of a superset strength training protocol (SSTP), with an intensity of 75% of 1RM values. With these blood samples, the levels of total testosterone (TT), free testosterone (FT), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) were determined. In addition, the TT-to-cortisol ratio and TT-to-SHBG ratio were calculated. There was no difference at rest between groups in hormonal values for TT, FT, DHEA, cortisol, the TT-to-SHBG ratio, and the TT-to-cortisol ratio. There were increases after SSTP in the levels of TT, FT, DHEA, and cortisol and the TT-to-SHBG ratio in the UG, but only FT increased in the SG. The SG demonstrated lower values in the TT-to-SHBG ratio after the training session. These results suggest the presence of alterations in anabolic and catabolic hormonal responses to resistance exercise in long-term trained middle-aged men, with the trained subjects demonstrating lower responsiveness in the hormone values. Long-term trained men seem to require a higher volume of training, at least similar to their daily workout, to stimulate greater hormone responses.

Effects of Marapuama in the chronic mild stress model: further indication of antidepressant properties.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE: Ptychopetalum olacoides Bentham (PO) (Olacaceae), known as Marapuama, is regarded as a "nerve tonic" in the Amazon. Traditional uses include states of lassitude with noticeable lack of desire/motivation, and to manage particularly stressful (physical and/or psychological) circumstances. Suggestive of antidepressant activity, we have established that a specific PO ethanol extract (POEE) significantly decreases immobility in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of POEE in the unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) depression model in mice, given the construct and face values of the UCMS as an experimental model of depression and the traditional use of this species. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over 6 weeks BALB/c mice were subjected to the UCMS protocol. The effects of POEE (50, 100, 300mg/kg, p.o.) and imipramine (20mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated in relation to coat state, splash-test grooming, and corticosterone levels. RESULTS: The coat state degradation, decreased grooming and increased serum corticosterone induced by UCMS were prevented by POEE and imipramine treatments. CONCLUSION: In addition to supporting traditional claims and previously reported antidepressant properties for POEE, this study shows that POEE prevents stress-induced HPA hyperactivity.

Fatores relacionados com as respostas da testosterona e do cortisol ao treinamento de força / Factors concerned with the testosterone and cortisol response to strength training

Esse artigo visa revisar os resultados encontrados na literatura a respeito dos diversos fatores relacionados com a resposta hormonal aguda e crônica ao treinamento de força. Foi observado que existe uma estreita relação entre a treinabilidade de indivíduos submetidos ao treinamento de força e os níveis circulantes de testosterona nesses sujeitos. Além disso, outros parâmetros hormonais, tais como as razões entre a testosterona e sua proteína carreadora e entre a testosterona com o cortisol, também foram relacionados com a capacidade de aumento de força. Diversos fatores ligados à sessão de treino, além das características da população investigada, influenciam a resposta hormonal aguda e crônica ao treinamento. Entre esses fatores, o volume e a intensidade são as principais variáveis ligadas à magnitude dessa resposta. A determinação de quais fatores possam estar estreitamente relacionados com a resposta hormonal ao treinamento de força pode ser importante para o estabelecimento de uma sessão de treino e uma periodização que otimizem o ambiente anabólico determinado pelas concentrações de testosterona e cortisol, e, dessa forma, maximizar os ajustes neuromusculares decorrentes desse tipo de treinamento.

This study aims to review the results found in the literature concerning a variety of factors related to the acute and chronic hormonal response to strength training. It has been observed that there is a close relationship between the trainability of individuals submitted to strength training and the circulating testosterone levels in these subjects. Moreover, other hormonal parameters, such as the ratios between testosterone and its binding protein and between testosterone and cortisol, were also related to the ability to increase strength. Besides the characteristics of the population investigated, several factors associated with the training session affect the acute and chronic hormonal response to training. Among them, volume and intensity are the main variables associated with the magnitude of this response. Determining which factors might be closely related to the hormonal response to strength training may be important to establish a training session and a periodization that optimize the anabolic environment determined by the testosterone and cortisol concentrations, and thus enhance the neuromuscular adaptations resulting from this type of training.