A method for predicting sports load data in colleges and universities based on deep learning

In the face of the problem of low accuracy of university sports load data prediction method, a deep learning university sports load data prediction method is designed. Identify the style and rules of human movement, extract the characteristics of time domain to calculate in frequency domain, construct the target tracking model by deep learning, calculate the error of the output layer, extract the characteristics of college sports load, judge the rationality of the movement contact configuration between bones, and design the data prediction method. Experimental results: The average prediction accuracy of the college sports load data prediction method in this paper and the other two methods are 0.417, 0.342 and 0.333 respectively, indicating that the precision of the college sports load data prediction method designed after the full integration of deep learning technology has been improved (AU)

A comparative study of Chinese women 3 × 3 basketball players exercise load in Tokyo Olympic preparation cycle.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the variances in-game loads exhibited by Chinese women's 3 × 3 basketball team across different stages of the preparation cycle for the Tokyo Olympic Games, and to summarize the fundamental regulations governing Chinese women's 3 × 3 basketball training and games, in order to establish a theoretical research foundation for the team's new preparation cycle. Methods: This study measured load-related data during the preparation and main competition periods of the 2019-2021 Tokyo Olympics, from April to August 2019 and from April to June 2021. The aim was to compare the changes and differences in a load of competition during different stages and to explore patterns of load changes during the preparation period. This study used wearable devices authorized by FIFA and NBA, along with the Catapult GPS performance monitoring system from Australia (Catapult&Polar Team) as instruments for collecting sports load data. The OptimEye S5 device was worn around the athlete's neck to collect data prior to the game, while the Open Field™ system was utilized for data editing and report generation post-game. Results: Compared to the primary competition load during the 2019 preparation period, the 2021 preparation period exhibited significant increases and decreases (p < 0.05) in competition load, high-intensity load, the number of explosive moves, the number of high-intensity acceleration, several changes to the left and right, and the number of explosive jumps. During the 2021 preparation period, the mean heart rate, mean heart rate percentage, and mean speed of the race demonstrated significant decreases in comparison to the race during the 2019 preparation period (p < 0.05). Throughout the training period spanning from 2019 to 2021, no significant differences were observed in running distance and maximum speed (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that the national training team has fostered positive adaptive changes in athletes, resulting in a significant enhancement in both load and sports performance science data during competition from 2019 to 2021.

Sustained exercise load by young adult females while wearing surgical mask raises core body temperature measured with zero-heat-flux thermometer.

When a pandemic such as that caused by the novel coronavirus disease termed COVID-19 emerges, it is recommended to wear a mask when in public situations, with information regarding the impact on thermoregulation essential, especially during exercise or hard physical labor. The present study investigated changes in core body temperature (CBT) while wearing a surgical mask (SM) during exercise (TCBT) using a non-invasive zero-heat-flux (ZHF) thermometer. Nine young adult females performed ergometer exercise for 30 min at 60 W with (mask group) and without (control) a SM under a non-hot condition, shown by wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT) findings. TCBT, mean skin temperature (TMST), heart rate (HR), and humidity in the perioral region of the face (%RH) were determined. Each of those markers showed increased values during exercise, with the increases in TCBT, HR, and %RH, but not TMST, during exercise found to be significantly greater in the mask group. HR reserve (%HRR), derived as load intensity during exercise, was also significantly higher in the mask group. Each subject completed all of the experimental protocols without noting pain or discomfort. These results suggest that wearing a SM while performing mild exercise contributes to increased TCBT associated with increased exercise intensity, expressed as %HRR in a non-heated condition. Furthermore, the ZHF thermometer was shown to be safe and is considered useful for conducting such studies. Additional examinations will be necessary to examine gender and age group differences, as well as the use of different exercise methods and intensity and ambient conditions.

Effects of acute resistance exercise with different loads on appetite, appetite hormones and autonomic nervous system responses in healthy young men.

Although the effect of continuous aerobic exercise on the appetite has been widely explored, the influence of resistance exercise (RE) with different variables, including training loads, training volume, and inter-set rest, on appetite responses requires further investigation. This study examined the importance of training load in RE-induced appetite regulation, with the total training volume and inter-set rest equalized. In total, 11 healthy young men (age = 23 ± 2 years, body mass index = 22 ± 2 kg/m2) were included. Participants completed 3 trials, namely moderate-load RE (MOD; 4 sets of 8 repetitions at 85% 8RM), low-load RE (LOW; 4 sets of 15 repetitions at 45% 8RM), and a control (CON; no exercise), in a randomized, crossover design. Subjective appetite ratings; concentrations of ghrelin, peptide YY (PYY), and lactate; and the autonomic nervous system activity were evaluated before exercise and 1 h after exercise. The hunger and predicted food consumption ratings, and ghrelin concentrations immediately after exercise were significantly lower in the MOD and LOW trials (p < 0.05 vs. CON). The PYY and lactate concentrations immediately after exercise were significantly higher in the MOD and LOW trials (p < 0.05 vs. CON). Heart rate variability recovery was slower in the MOD trial. These findings suggest that both moderate-load and low-load RE at equal training volumes and inter-set rest induce similar responses on hunger suppression and orexigenic signals, except for the slower recovery of autonomic modulation after moderate-load RE. Our results suggest that when individuals aim to potentiate appetite suppression after a bout of RE, both moderate- and low-load RE could be applied.

Coronal-plane leg alignment in adolescence and the effects of activity: A full leg length MRI study.

The aim of this study was to explore the association between developing coronal-plane leg alignment and activity levels during adolescence. We performed a cross-sectional cohort study with individuals from soccer club academies and an age-matched control population. Outcome measures were the hip knee angle (HKA), medial proximal tibial physeal angle (MPTPhyA), lateral distal femoral physeal angle (LDFPhyA) on full leg length magnetic reasonance imagine scans, and the physical activity questionnaire (PAQ) score. The cohort comprised 57 elite male soccer players, 34 male and 34 female controls aged 11-21 years. Mean HKA became more varus with age, with little change after 16 years or skeletal maturity. Skeletally mature elite male soccer players were significantly more varus than male controls with a HKA 2.28° less than male controls (p < 0.001). Skeletally mature male controls had a HKA 1.34° less than female controls (p < 0.001). A negative correlation existed between HKA and PAQ score (coefficient -0.24, p = 0.029). A positive correlation existed between HKA and MPTPhyA (coefficient 0.32, p = 0.008). In conclusion, high activity levels during adolescence are associated with the development of varus leg alignment. Mean HKA becomes more varus with age until skeletal maturity. The development of varus alignment may represent a physiological adaptation to load at the proximal tibial physis. Clinical Significance: A time period may exist for intervention before the development of varus leg alignment in young athletes, such as training load modification or proximal tibial morphology monitoring.

Accuracy of Heart Rate and Respiratory Rate Measurements Using Two Types of Wearable Devices.

Objectives: Wearable devices such as fitness trackers have become popular in the healthcare field. Tracking heart rate and respiratory rate, in addition to physical activity, may provide an accurate picture of daily health. We believe that a combination of two types of devices can simultaneously measure and record physical activity, heart rate, and respiratory rate. However, the measurement accuracies of these two types of devices are not clear. This study aimed to determine the measurement accuracies of two wearable devices for heart and respiratory rate measurements. Methods: Ten healthy men performed incremental load tests (ILTs) and constant load tests (CLTs) on a cycle ergometer. The heart and respiratory rates were measured using wrist-worn (Silmee W22, TDK, Japan, Tokyo) and respiratory tracking devices (Spire Stone, Spire Health, San Francisco, CA, USA), respectively. A 12-lead electrocardiograph and the breath-by-breath method were used as external standards for heart and respiratory rates, respectively. Results: Bland-Altman analysis showed that heart rate had a fixed bias at rest and during ILT and CLT and had a proportional bias during CLT. The standard error values of the regression at rest and during CLT were less than 10 bpm for heart rate and less than 5.0 /min for respiratory rate. During ILT, the standard error was greater than 10 bpm for heart rate and approximately 5.0 /min for respiratory rate. Conclusions: The heart and respiratory rate measurements obtained using wearable devices were accurate within the practical margin of error.

A Case of Iliopsoas Hematoma Caused by Prophylactic Anticoagulation against COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), and prophylactic anticoagulation is recommended for the prevention of VTE in COVID-19 patients. We encountered a patient with COVID-19 who developed iliopsoas hematoma (IPH) that was likely caused by prophylactic anticoagulation against VTE; we report the case here because IPH is an important risk in rehabilitation treatment. CASE: The patient was a 73-year-old man with severe COVID-19 who received anticoagulation therapy from the time of admission (day 0). On day 22, decreased hemoglobin levels, muscle weakness in the left lower extremity, and pain on passive movement of the left hip joint were noted. On day 29, computed tomography (CT) was performed and revealed a mass lesion suspicious of a hematoma in the left iliopsoas muscle. On day 36, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was carried out to re-evaluate the mass lesion and revealed a multicystic lesion that could also have been an abscess. CT-guided puncture drainage was performed, but no pus-like material was collected; this finding led to a diagnosis of IPH. Subsequent exercise loads were gradually increased while the status of the hematoma was assessed. DISCUSSION: The prevalence of IPH in COVID-19 patients has been reported to be 7.6 cases per 1000 admissions, and the use of anticoagulation is likely to increase the risk of IPH. Because rehabilitative interventions can lead to the discovery or aggravation of IPH, the possibility of IPH should be kept in mind when providing rehabilitation treatment for COVID-19 patients.

cfDNA Changes in Maximal Exercises as a Sport Adaptation Predictor.

Changes of circulating free plasma DNA (cfDNA) are associated with different types of tissue injury, including those induced by intensive aerobic and anaerobic exercises. Observed changes are dependent from induced inflammation, and thus it may be a potential marker for athletic overtraining. We aimed to identify the response of cfDNA to different types of exercise, with association to exercise intensity as a potential marker of exercise load. Fifty volunteers (25 athletes and 25 physically active men) were assigned to the study and performed maximal aerobic (Bruce test) and anaerobic (Wingate Anaerobic Test) test. Blood samples for cfDNA analysis were collected at four time-points: before, 2-5 min after, 30 min after and 60 min after each type of maximal physical activity. The two-way ANOVA revealed a significant effect of group factor on serum cfDNA concentrations (32.15% higher concentration of cfDNA in the athletes). In turn the results of the post hoc test for the interaction of the repeated measures factor and the group showed that while the concentration of cfDNA decreased by 40.10% in the period from 30 min to 60 min after exercise in the control group, the concentration of cfDNA in the group of athletes remained at a similar level. Our analysis presents different responses depending on the intensity and duration of exercise. Our observations imply that formation of cfDNA is associated with response to physical activity but only during maximal effort.

Exercise Training Duration and Intensity Are Associated With Thicker Carotid Intima-Media Thickness but Improved Arterial Elasticity in Active Children and Adolescents.

Even though exercise generally has a positive effect on health, intensive exercise can have adverse effects on the vascular system of adults. This study aimed to investigate the association between training duration and intensity and vascular structure and function in 427 physically active children and adolescents (14.0 ± 1.94 years). In this study, we examined carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), carotid diameter, and cIMT:diameter-ratio as parameters of carotid arterial structure and arterial compliance (AC), stiffness index ß (ß), elastic modulus (Ep), and carotid pulse wave velocity (PWVß) as parameters of carotid arterial function with high-resolution ultrasound. We collected central systolic blood pressure (cSBP) and aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV) as parameters of central arterial stiffness with an oscillometric device. We used the MoMo Physical Activity Questionnaire to record training duration and intensity. Training duration (p = 0.022) and intensity (p = 0.024) were associated with higher cIMT. Further, training duration was associated with lower central arterial stiffness (cSBP: p = 0.001; aPWV: p = 0.033) and improved AC (p < 0.001). Higher training intensity was related to improved AC (p < 0.001) and larger carotid diameter (p = 0.040). Boys presented thicker cIMT (p = 0.010), improved AC (p = 0.006), and lower central arterial stiffness (cSBP: p < 0.001; aPWV: p = 0.016) associated with higher training duration. Girls presented improved AC (p = 0.023) and lower Ep (p = 0.038) but higher ß (p = 0.036) associated with higher training duration. Only boys demonstrated thicker cIMT (p = 0.016) and improved AC (p = 0.002) associated with higher training intensity. A quintile analyses of the training duration revealed thicker cIMT of children and adolescents in Q1 and Q5 than that in Q4 and Q5. Besides, Q1 showed lower cSBP compared to Q4 and Q5. Regarding training intensity, Q5 had thicker cIMT than Q2 and Q3. Although a higher training load is associated with thicker cIMT, the common carotid artery is also more elastic. This suggests that a higher training load leads to a functional adaptation of the carotid artery in youth.

Back Problems: Pros and Cons of Core Strengthening Exercises as a Part of Athlete Training.

While competitive training is usually associated with the prevalence of back pain and injuries in athletes, little attention is being paid to the positive effects of sport-specific exercises on core musculature in the prevention of back problems. This scoping review aims (i) to map the literature that addresses the effects on reduction of back problems following athlete training with differing demands on the core musculature and (ii) to identify gaps in the existing literature and propose future research on this topic. The main literature search was conducted on the MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases and was completed on Elsevier, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. A total of 21 research articles met the inclusion criteria. The findings of 17 studies identified that core strengthening and core stabilization exercises, alone or in combination with athlete training, contribute to the reduction of back pain in athletes, whereas only four studies revealed no significant association of core muscle strength and/or endurance with back problems. Nevertheless, more research is warranted to elucidate the pros and cons of purely sport-specific training with differing demands on the core musculature on back health in athletes. This could help us to design prevention strategies specifically tailored to individual athletes.

Exploring intensity-dependent modulations in EEG resting-state network efficiency induced by exercise.

PURPOSE: Exhaustive cardiovascular load can affect neural processing and is associated with decreases in sensorimotor performance. The purpose of this study was to explore intensity-dependent modulations in brain network efficiency in response to treadmill running assessed from resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) measures. METHODS: Sixteen trained participants were tested for individual peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and performed an incremental treadmill exercise at 50% (10 min), 70% (10 min) and 90% speed VO2 peak (all-out) followed by cool-down running and active recovery. Before the experiment and after each stage, borg scale (BS), blood lactate concentration (BLa), resting heartrate (HRrest) and 64-channel EEG resting state were assessed. To analyze network efficiency, graph theory was applied to derive small world index (SWI) from EEG data in theta, alpha-1 and alpha-2 frequency bands. RESULTS: Analysis of variance for repeated measures revealed significant main effects for intensity on BS, BLa, HRrest and SWI. While BS, BLa and HRrest indicated maxima after all-out, SWI showed a reduction in the theta network after all-out. CONCLUSION: Our explorative approach suggests intensity-dependent modulations of resting-state brain networks, since exhaustive exercise temporarily reduces brain network efficiency. Resting-state network assessment may prospectively play a role in training monitoring by displaying the readiness and efficiency of the central nervous system in different training situations.

Identification of the Exercise Load When Using a Balance Exercise Assist Robot.

OBJECTIVES: The Balance Exercise Assist Robot (BEAR) is a boarding-type robot developed to improve users' balance performance. However, the exercise load experienced by users of the BEAR remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the exercise load of BEAR users. METHODS: Recruited healthy participants were fitted with an expiratory gas analyzer, and instructed to control the avatar displayed on the computer monitor by shifting their weight on the BEAR. Three types of activity (tennis, skiing, and rodeo) were prepared for the BEAR, and the difficulty of each activity had 40 levels. Each balance exercise for each level lasted for 90 s. The BEAR was administered at levels 1, 5, 10, and then up to 40 in steps of 5 for each activity. The major parameters that were evaluated were oxygen consumption (grossVO2, netVO2), metabolic equivalents (METs), and heart rate (HR). Two-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post hoc test was applied to each level of each activity. RESULTS: Fourteen healthy participants were recruited. For the rodeo activity, netVO2 and MET values were significantly higher than those for tennis and skiing at level 20 (tennis vs. skiing vs. rodeo: netVO2 114.0±59.7 vs. 160.6±71.1 vs. 205.6±82.9, METs 1.47±0.22 vs. 1.72±0.37 vs. 1.90±0.29) and higher. Furthermore, comparisons within activity types showed that at level 40, netVO2 and MET were significantly higher than for level 1. The exercise intensity was found to increase along with the exercise level for all three activity types, with rodeo being the highest at 2.74 METs. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings show that the BEAR can be used for balance practice without generating excessive cardiopulmonary stress.

The effect of exercise load deviations in whole body vibration on improving muscle strength imbalance in the lower limb.

BACKGROUND: The amount of patients with muscle imbalance of the left and right side increases rapidly due to an incorrect lifestyle. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the optimal exercise load required to improve muscle imbalance. METHODS: Thirty participants were enrolled in the study. They performed squat exercises according to a whole body vibration (WBV) frequency protocol over a period of eight weeks. The exercises were performed three days a week and comprised five sets of fifteen trials per set per day. We validated muscle imbalance improvement using WBV by comparing and analyzing the results at different vibration frequencies. The participants were divided into three WBV protocol groups: no WBV, low-frequency WBV (25 Hz and 5 mm amplitude), and high-frequency WBV (50 Hz and 5 mm amplitude). We estimated the isokinetic muscle functions of the hip, knee, and ankle joints using BIODEX system 3. Ultimately, low-frequency WBV improved balance 10.2 ∼ 26.5% more than high-frequency WBV. RESULTS: Continuous load-deviation motions during low-frequency WBV were more effective at improving muscle imbalance than high-frequency WBV. WBV load variation methods improved muscle function and contractility more than external weights or loads by directly transferring kinetic energy into the body. CONCLUSION: In this clinical study, we demonstrated that low-frequency WBV was more effective at improving muscle imbalance. The WBV protocol can be used in rehabilitation programs to improve imbalance without requiring elderly or physically decompensated patients to participate in excessive exercise.

Relationship Between Muscle Oxygen Saturation and Exercise Load in Patients with Malignant Hematopoietic Disease.

Our previous research confirmed that patients with malignant hematopoietic disease already had a low hemoglobin level before allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). However, no study has determined whether a correlation exists between exercise load, hemoglobin level, and muscle oxygen saturation (SmO2), during exercise. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-derived SmO2 is associated with exercise load, as determined by a dynamometer, before allo-HSCT. This study included 19 male patients who received allo-HSCT in Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital (Japan) between November 2009 and October 2012. Patients performed isometric repeated dorsiflexion at 50% maximum voluntary contraction for 180 s to determine exercise load, and SmO2 was evaluated during exercise at the same time using NIRS (BOM-L1TRW, Omega Wave, Inc., Japan). The hemoglobin level was also evaluated before allo-HSCT. Patients with hematopoietic disease before allo-HSCT already had a low hemoglobin level. There was a significant correlation between exercise load and ∆SmO2; however, the hemoglobin level was not correlated with exercise load. In these patients, exercise load might be affected by muscle oxygen consumption rather than by the hemoglobin level. This finding shows that NIRS can used to assess fatigue in patients with malignant hematopoietic disease.

Perceptions of Overuse Injury Among Swedish Ultramarathon and Marathon Runners: Cross-Sectional Study Based on the Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised (IPQ-R).

BACKGROUND: Long-distance runners' understandings of overuse injuries are not well known which decreases the possibilities for prevention. The common sense model (CSM) outlines that runners' perceptions of a health problem can be described using the categories identity, consequence, timeline, personal control, and cause. The aim of this study was to use the CSM to investigate perceptions of overuse injury among long-distance runners with different exercise loads. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design. An adapted version of the illness perception questionnaire revised (IPQ-R) derived from the CSM was used to investigate Swedish ultramarathon and marathon runners' perceptions of overuse injuries. Cluster analysis was employed for categorizing runners into high and low exercise load categories. A Principal Component Analysis was thereafter used to group variables describing injury causes. Multiple logistic regression methods were finally applied using high exercise load as endpoint variable and CSM items representing perceptions of injury identity, consequence, timeline, personal control, and causes as explanatory variables. RESULTS: Complete data sets were collected from 165/443 (37.2%) runners. The symptoms most commonly associated with overuse injury were pain (80.1% of the runners), stiff muscles (54.1%), and stiff joints (42.0%). Overuse injury was perceived to be characterized by the possibility of personal control (stated by 78.7% of the runners), treatability (70.4%), and that the injury context was comprehensible (69.3%). The main injury causes highlighted were runner biomechanics (stated by 78.3%), the runner's personality (72.4%), and running surface biomechanics (70.0%). Among men, a belief in that personality contributes to overuse injury increased the likelihood of belonging to the high exercise load category [Odds ratio (OR) 2.10 (95% Confidence interval (95% CI) 1.38-3.19); P = 0.001], while beliefs in that running biomechanics [OR 0.56 (95% CI 0.37-0.85); P = 0.006) and mileage (OR 0.72 (95% CI 0.54-0.96); P = 0.026] causes injury decreased the likelihood. In women, a strong perception that overuse injuries can be controlled by medical interventions decreased the likelihood of high exercise load [OR 0.68 (95% CI 0.52-0.89); P = 0.005]. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that recognition among long-distance runners of the association between own decisions in overuse injury causation is accentuated by increased exercise loads.

Morphological Changes of Collagen Fibers in Myocardium of Rats under Different Exercise Loads Based on Three-Dimensional Simulation Technique.

In order to improve the visual analysis ability of the morphological changes of rat liulimyocardial collagen fibers under different exercise loads, a method of extracting the morphological changes of collagen fibers in rat myocardium under different exercise loads based on three-dimensional simulation technique is proposed. The three-dimensional morphological characteristics of the collagen fibers in the original rat myocardium are made by CT scanning technique. Like information collection, a gradient decomposition method is used to filter the three-dimensional morphological features of rat myocardial collagen fibers. The edge contour features of the three-dimensional morphological features of rat myocardial collagen fibers under different motion loads are extracted. The threshold segmentation method is used to carry out the rat myocardial glue under different exercise loads. The segmentation of the regional pixel feature block of the three-dimensional morphological features of the original fiber is segmented into a block vector with high resolution, and the regional reconstruction of the three-dimensional morphological features of the rat myocardial collagen fibers under different motion loads is carried out to realize the high resolution identification and classification of the 3D morphological features of the rat myocardial collagen fibers. The simulation results show that the three-dimensional simulation of the morphological changes of rat myocardial collagen fibers under different exercise loads is better, and the accuracy of feature extraction is higher.

Quantification of radial arterial pulse characteristics change during exercise and recovery.

It is physiologically important to understand the arterial pulse waveform characteristics change during exercise and recovery. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive investigation. This study aimed to provide scientific evidence on the arterial pulse characteristics change during exercise and recovery. Sixty-five healthy subjects were studied. The exercise loads were gradually increased from 0 to 125 W for female subjects and to 150 W for male subjects. Radial pulses were digitally recorded during exercise and 4-min recovery. Four parameters were extracted from the raw arterial pulse waveform, including the pulse amplitude, width, pulse peak and dicrotic notch time. Five parameters were extracted from the normalized radial pulse waveform, including the pulse peak and dicrotic notch position, pulse Area, Area1 and Area2 separated by notch point. With increasing loads during exercise, the raw pulse amplitude increased significantly with decreased pulse period, reduced peak and notch time. From the normalized pulses, the pulse Area, pulse Area1 and Area2 decreased, respectively, from 38 ± 4, 61 ± 5 and 23 ± 5 at rest to 34 ± 4, 52 ± 6 and 13 ± 5 at 150-W exercise load. During recovery, an opposite trend was observed. This study quantitatively demonstrated significant changes of radial pulse characteristics during different exercise loads and recovery phases.

Gaussian modelling characteristics changes derived from finger photoplethysmographic pulses during exercise and recovery.

Gaussian modelling method has been reported as a useful method to analyze arterial pulse waveform changes. This study aimed to provide scientific evidence on Gaussian modelling characteristics changes derived from the finger photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulses during exercise and recovery. 65 healthy subjects (18 female and 47 male) were recruited. Finger PPG pulses were digitally recorded with 5 different exercise loads (0, 50, 75, 100, 125W) as well as during each of 4minute (min) recovery period. The PPG pulses were normalized in both width and amplitude for each recording, which were decomposed into three independent Gaussian waves with nine parameters determined, including the peak amplitude (H1, H2, H3), peak time position (N1, N2, N3) and half-width (W1, W2, W3) from each Gaussian wave, and four extended parameters determined, including the peak time interval (T1,2, T1,3) and amplitude ratio (R1,2, R1,3) between 1st Gaussian wave and 2nd, 3rd Gaussian waves. These derived parameters were finally compared between different exercise loads and recovery phases. With gradually increased exercise loads, the peak amplitude H2, peak time position N1, N2, N3, and half-width W1, W2 increased, peak amplitude H3 decreased significantly (all P<0.05). The peak time interval T1,2 and T1,3 increased significantly from 10.6±1.2 and 36.0±4.4 at rest to 14.4±2.3 and 45.1±6.5 at 100W exercise load, respectively (both P<0.05). The amplitude ratio R1,2 also increased from 1.07±0.2 at rest to 1.22±0.2 at 100W, and the amplitude ratio R1,3 decreased from 1.10±0.3 at rest to 0.42±0.2 at 125W (all P<0.05). An opposite changing trend of these parameters was observed during recovery phases. In conclusion, this study has quantitatively demonstrated significant changes of Gaussian modelling characteristics derived from finger PPG pulse with exercise and during recovery, providing scientific evidence for the physiological mechanism that exercise increases cardiac ejection and vasodilation, and reduces the total peripheral vascular resistance.

Design and implementation of a BSN-based system for plantar health evaluation with exercise load quantification.

BACKGROUND: Plantar pressure measurement has become increasingly useful in the evaluation of plantar health conditions thanks to the recent progression in sensing technology. Due to the large volume and high energy consumption of monitoring devices, traditional systems for plantar pressure measurement are only focused on static or short-term dynamic monitoring. It makes them inappropriate for early detections of plantar symptoms usually presented in long-term activities. METHODS: A prototype of monitoring system based on body sensor network (BSN) is proposed for quantitative assessment of plantar conditions. To further assess the severity of plantar symptoms which can be reflected from the pressure distribution in motion status, an approach to conjoint analysis of pressure distribution and exercise load quantification based on the strike frequency (SF) and heart rate (HR) is also proposed. RESULTS: An examination was tested on 30 subjects to verify the capabilities of the proposed system. The estimated correlation rate with reference devices ([Formula: see text]) and error rate on the average ([Formula: see text]) of HR and SF indicated equal measuring capabilities as the existing commercial products . Comprised of the conjoint analysis based on HR and SF, the proposed method of exercise load quantification was examined on all subjects' recordings. CONCLUSIONS: A prototype of an innovative BSN-based bio-physiological measurement system has been implemented for the long-term monitoring and early evaluation of plantar condition. The experimental results indicated that the proposed system has a great potential value in the applications of long-term plantar health monitoring and evaluation.

The effects of exercise load during development on oxidative stress levels and antioxidant potential in adulthood.

The objective of this study was to elucidate the impact of physical activity during the growth period as well as on oxidative stress and antioxidative potential in adulthood. The experimental animals used were four-week old male Wistar rats, which were randomly divided into three groups. The exercise loads were as follows: control (CON), treadmill exercise (TE), and jumping exercise (JE). The exercise was performed at the same time of day, at a frequency of five days per week, for eight weeks. Derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROSs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were measured during periods of rest prior to commencement of the experiment and after the experiment. Analysis was conducted using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Schaffer's multiple comparison procedure and the significance level was set at p < 0.05. The percent increase in d-ROM levels in the JE group, which experienced short-duration intense exercise loads, was higher than that in the TE group, which experienced moderately intense exercise loads. However, BAP, which is an index of antioxidant potential, markedly decreased in adulthood in the CON group, as compared to that in the developmental period, whereas the exercise groups showed no notable changes in BAP levels. Oxidative stress levels and antioxidant potential are affected differently in adulthood, depending on the intensity of sustained exercise loads experienced during development. Results suggested that in order to increase antioxidant potential, while taking oxidative stress production into account, moderately intense exercise loads are more desirable than highly intense exercise loads.