Influence of resistance training on muscle architecture in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Resistance training (RT) consists of planned exercise programs to increase muscle strength capacity through neural and structural adaptations, such as changes in the geometric arrangement of muscle fibers. This study aimed to analyze the influence of RT on muscle architecture in older people. METHODS: This PROSPERO-registered systematic review and meta-analysis (identification number CRD42022340477) followed the PRISMA guidelines. Four electronic databases were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that observed older individuals submitted to RT programs that reported muscle architecture outcomes. RESULTS: Seventeen RCTs met the eligibility criteria with a total of 488 participants. The main results of the meta-analysis showed that RT interventions had a significant effect on the thickness of the medial gastrocnemius (SMD = 0.12; 95% CI: - 0.07 to 0.17; p < 0.00001; I2 = 0%). CONCLUSION: Based on available evidence, studies included in this review showed improvement in maximum isometric force, pennation angle, fascicle length, thickness, and muscle activation after RT interventions. In turn, the meta-analysis suggested a potential for improving the thickness of the medial gastrocnemius after the intervention. However, any clinical implications drawn from the analyses should be interpreted with caution, as these findings are substantially limited due to a low number of included studies and a potential heterogeneity between studies.

Analysis of physiological markers and risk factors for the development of rhabdomyolysis in military personnel: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze case reports with individual patient data belonging to the Armed Forces submitted to specific physical or military combat training that was affected by rhabdomyolysis and identify factors that influenced the diagnosis and clinical evolution of the syndrome. CONTENT: We conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021242465). We searched MedLine (via PubMed), Scopus, Cochrane, Lilacs, SciELO, CINAHL, Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, ScienceDirect, and PEDro databases for studies that reported cases of military personnel affected by rhabdomyolysis. SUMMARY AND OUTLOOK: Thirteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Forty-nine individual cases of rhabdomyolysis were analyzed. From them, it was possible to identify several associated factors, which were responsible for developing rhabdomyolysis in military personnel. Thirty military personnel (60%) practiced physical training and 20 (40%) practiced specific military combat training. The creatine kinase (CK) peak ranged from 1,040 to 410,755 U/L, with an average of 44.991 U/L, and 14 (28%) of the cases reported alteration of renal function and four militaries (8%) evolved to death condition. Physical activities performed strenuously and without proper planning conditions such as room temperature, the period without adequate water intake, the amount of equipment used during the activity contributed to the development of rhabdomyolysis in the cases of military personnel analyzed in the present study. Therefore, it is recommended that future studies investigate the relationship between the prevalence of rhabdomyolysis cases and the severity of its consequence when associated with progressive methods of training, hydration control, acclimatization to austere environments, monitoring for the existence of hereditary diseases, and control of the use of supplementary nutritional substances.

The acute effect of two massage techniques on functional capability and balance in recreationally trained older adult women: A cross-over study.

With aging comes a reduction in neuromuscular and neuromotor function. Different strategies have been used to mitigate these functional losses. Certain manual therapy techniques and interventions have been explored with regard to their ability to improve functional capability and balance in an older adult population. The purpose of this study was to analyze the acute effects of two massage techniques on functional capability and balance performance in recreationally trained older adult women. Twenty-eight older adult women (66.74 ± 4.61 years) completed three interventions: a) stick massage followed by functional capability and balance performance tests (MMS), b) manual massage followed by functional capability and balance performance tests (MM), c) no MMS or MM (control condition (CC)) - only performed the functional capability and balance performance tests. Functional capability was assessed by four tests that are part of the Senior Fitness Test: the 6-min walk (W6), the chair sit-and-reach (CSR), the 8-foot up-and-go (8FUG), and the 30s-chair stand (30s-CS). Balance was assessed using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). Significant differences (p < 0.001) were observed between MM and MMS compared to CC among 30s-CS, W6, CSR, and 8FUG. BBS showed a significant difference between MM and CC (p = 0.041). Both MM and MMS demonstrated significant acute improvements in the functional capability of recreationally trained elderly women and may be included in an exercise program.

Analysis of pain symptoms, flexibility and hydroxyproline concentration in individuals with low back pain submitted to Global Postural Re-education and stretching.

Aim: To evaluate pain, flexibility and hydroxyproline (HP) urinary levels in patients with nonspecific low back pain submitted to Global Postural Re-education (GPR) and stretching. Materials & methods: 39 individuals who reported low back pain were randomly assigned to a group submitted to GPR (GPRG) or stretching exercises (SG) for 8 weeks. Pain and flexibility were assessed using the Borg CR10 scale and goniometry, respectively. Results: The GPR group showed a significant reduction in the HP levels and significant improvements in flexibility after the intervention when compared with SG. Both groups presented a significant reduction in HP and pain after the intervention. Conclusion: Both interventions were effective in the treatment of low back pain. However, the GPR method presented better responses than stretching.

Maximal strength performance, efficiency, and myoelectric responses with differing intra-set rest intervals during paired set training.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different rest intervals within paired sets (PS) on total work and training volume, efficiency (training volume load/session duration time), and myoelectric activity. METHOD: Fifteen trained men participated in this study. Four experimental protocols were applied: P30 (30 s rest), P60 (60 s rest), P90 (90 s rest), and P120 (120 s rest). The PS bout consisted of a bench press (BP)/lat pull down (LPD), 30° incline bench press (BP30)/wide-grip seated row (SR), and triceps extension (TE)/biceps curl (BC) exercises. Surface electromyography (sEMG) activity of the biceps and triceps brachii were recorded. RESULTS: Volume load (repetitions x number of exercise sets x loads) was significantly lower for the P30 (5385.8 ±â€¯1224 kg) versus the P60 (6755.6 ±â€¯1398.5 kg), P90 (7358.3 ±â€¯1490.3 kg), and P120 (7463 ±â€¯1310 kg) protocols. No significant differences in sEMG activity was noted between protocols. The efficiency (kg·min-1) of P30 (633.6 ±â€¯144) was significantly higher versus P60 (397.4 ±â€¯82.2), P90 (288.5 ±â€¯58.4), and P120 (219.5 ±â€¯38.5). CONCLUSION: Short intra-set rest intervals (60 s) within PS may be a potential alternative for increasing the volume load, since longer intra-rest (90 s and 120 s) intervals do not provide additional benefits.

Pain perception and low back pain functional disability after a 10-week core and mobility training program: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a 10-week core and mobility training program on pain perception and low back disability score in professors, students and employees of a university. METHODS: Twenty-four individuals of a university who previously reported pain and low back disability were randomly assigned to an experimental group (EG; n= 8) that received 2 weekly sessions of 50 minutes of core and mobility training for 10 weeks; or to a control group (CG; n= 16). Both groups received a guideline to adopt ergonomic postures during work and activities of daily living. The visual analog pain scale (VAS) and the Roland-Morris questionnaire (RMQ) were applied pre- and post intervention. RESULTS: Significant reductions in the pain intensity perception (p= 0.014) and low back functional disability (p= 0.011) were noted in the EG pre- and post measures. However, no significant difference was observed in the CG. Thus, there was a significant difference between the EG and the CG in the post-intervention measures (p= 0.001). CONCLUSION: Core and mobility training and home-ergonomic instructions were effective to reduce the pain intensity perception and low back functional disability in the EG.