Mixed circuit training acutely reduces arterial stiffness in patients with chronic stroke: a crossover randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Investigate whether a single bout of mixed circuit training (MCT) can elicit changes in arterial stiffness in patients with chronic stroke. Second, to assess the between-day reproducibility of post-MCT arterial stiffness measurements. METHODS: Seven participants (58 ± 12 years) performed a non-exercise control session (CTL) and two bouts of MCT on separate days in a randomized counterbalanced order. The MCT involved 3 sets of 15 repetition maximum for 10 exercises, with each set separated by 45-s of walking. Brachial-radial pulse wave velocity (br-PWV), radial artery compliance (AC) and reflection index (RI1,2) were assessed 10 min before and 60 min after CTL and MCT. Ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) was calculated from 24-h recovery ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. RESULTS: Compared to CTL, after 60 min of recovery from the 1st and 2nd bouts of MCT, lower values were observed for br-PWV (mean diff = - 3.9 and - 3.7 m/s, respectively, P < 0.01; ICC2,1 = 0.75) and RI1,2 (mean diff = - 16.1 and - 16.0%, respectively, P < 0.05; ICC2,1 = 0.83) concomitant with higher AC (mean diff = 1.2 and 1.0 × 10-6 cm5/dyna, respectively, P < 0.01; ICC2,1 = 0.40). The 24-h AASI was reduced after bouts of MCT vs. CTL (1st and 2nd bouts of MCT vs. CTL: mean diff = - 0.32 and - 0.29 units, respectively, P < 0.001; ICC2,1 = 0.64). CONCLUSION: A single bout of MCT reduces arterial stiffness during laboratory (60 min) and ambulatory (24 h) recovery phases in patients with chronic stroke with moderate-to-high reproducibility. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Ensaiosclinicos.gov.br identifier RBR-5dn5zd.

Concurrent exercise circuit protocol performed in public fitness facilities meets the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines for energy cost and metabolic intensity among older adults in Rio de Janeiro City.

The current study investigated whether a single bout of concurrent exercise (Ex Rx) at Third Age Academies (TAAs) in Rio de Janeiro City meets the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines for energy cost and metabolic intensity in older adults. Nine subjects (5 males and 4 females, 63-80 years of age) visited the laboratory for clinical screening and for anthropometrical, resting, and maximal oxygen uptake assessments. Thereafter, subjects performed an Ex Rx circuit consisting of a single circuit alternating aerobic and resistance exercises with outdoor exercise equipment using body mass as the load (total of 9 exercises, 1-2 sets of 15 repetitions). Expired gases were collected via a metabolic cart during exercise bouts. The mean observed energy cost value of 169.1 kcal was slightly greater than the minimum value of 150 kcal reported in the ACSM guidelines (p = 0.018). Like energy cost, all the intensity markers adopted to analyze the physiological strain induced by the Ex Rx circuit significantly exceeded their reference values for moderate intensity (reference values: 3.2 METs (mean observed value = 4.6 METs, p = 0.002); 40% of oxygen uptake reserve (mean observed value = 51.5%, p = 0.040); 40% of heart rate reserve (mean observed value = 64.1%, p < 0.001)), according to the ACSM guidelines. In conclusion, a single bout of Ex Rx circuit performed at TAAs in Rio de Janeiro City was able to induce a physiological strain (i.e., energy cost and intensity) compatible with ACSM recommendations for eliciting health benefits among older adults.

Influence of exercise order on the number of repetitions, oxygen uptake, and rate of perceived exertion during strength training in younger and older women.

The study investigated the effect of resistance exercise order on the number of repetitions, oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) and rate perceived exertion (RPE) in younger (YG: N = 10; 22 ± 2 years; VO(2peak) 42.2 ± 2.9 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1)) and older (EG: N = 8; 69 ± 7 years; VO(2peak)22.7 ± 2.5 ml·kg(-1)·min(-1)) women. The subjects performed 3 sets of each exercise until fatigue using 10 repetition maximum in 2 sequences of opposite order: (a) sequence A (SEQA): bench press (BP), machine shoulder press (SP), pulley triceps extension (TE); (b) sequence B (SEQB): TE-SP-BP. The VO(2) was assessed during the exercises, rest intervals, and 20 minutes after sequences (postexercise oxygen consumption [EPOC]). The number of repetitions decreased in both groups (p < 0.05) throughout sets. No difference (p > 0.22) was found between sequences for total VO(2) (exercise sequences + EPOC) in YG (SEQA = 25.41 ± 6.51 L vs. SEQB = 24.81 ± 4.08 L) and EG (SEQA = 26.45 ± 5.24 L vs. SEQB = 26.91 ± 4.62 L). In both groups, the VO(2) within the sequences was higher during BP when it was placed at the end of SEQB, the same occurring with TE in SEQA (p < 0.05). The VO(2) within sequences and RPE were higher in SEQB compared with SEQA (p < 0.05) in EG but not in YG. In conclusion, the exercise order did not affect total VO(2). The VO(2) within a given sequence was always lower when an exercise was performed first as compared with last regardless of the exercise order. Accumulated fatigue reflected by the VO(2) within sequences and RPE was influenced by the exercise order only in EG, suggesting that to prevent early fatigue, resistance training sessions in this group should preferably progress from large toward small-muscle group exercises.