Acceptability of Performing Resistance Exercise Breaks in the Workplace to Break Up Prolonged Sedentary Time: A Randomized Control Trial in U.S. Office Workers and Students.

We investigated the acceptability of bodyweight resistance exercise breaks (REB) to disrupt prolonged sedentary behavior in the workplace. Twenty-nine individuals completed a REB, where they performed 3-min REB 4, 8, and 16 times on days 1-2, 3-4, and 5 of the workweek, respectively, and a control condition (i.e., SIT). Productivity was assessed on days 1 and 5 each week. The acceptability of each REB frequency was assessed. When asked to complete 4, 8, and 16 REB, participants completed (mean values) 3.2, 6.2, and 9.2 REB/day, respectively. Moreover, 88%, 40%, and 9% of participants expressed that the 4-, 8-, and 16-REB frequencies were acceptable, respectively. Decision-making ability and concentration levels increased from day 1-5 of the REB week (p=0.048) but were stable during SIT. REB (4/day) are highly acceptable and could be a promising intervention strategy for reducing occupational sitting, thus decreasing sedentary-behavior-induced risk.

Acute effects of commercial energy drink consumption on exercise performance and cardiovascular safety: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial.

The aim of this study was to examine the acute effects of a non-caloric energy drink (C4E) compared to a traditional sugar-containing energy drink (MED) and non-caloric placebo (PLA) on exercise performance and cardiovascular safety. Thirty healthy, physically active males (25 ± 4 y) completed three experimental visits under semi-fasted conditions (5-10 h) and in randomized order, during which they consumed C4E, MED, or PLA matched for volume, appearance, taste, and mouthfeel. One hour after drink consumption, participants completed a maximal, graded exercise test (GXT) with measurement of pulmonary gases, an isometric leg extension fatigue test (ISOFTG), and had their cardiac electrical activity (ECG), leg blood flow (LBF), and blood pressure (BP) measured throughout the visit. Neither MED nor C4E had an ergogenic effect on maximal oxygen consumption, time to exhaustion, or peak power during the GXT (p > 0.05). Compared to PLA, MED reduced fat oxidation (respiratory exchange ratio (RER) +0.030 ± 0.01; p = 0.026) during the GXT and did not influence ISOFTG performance. Compared to PLA, C4E did not alter RER (p = 0.94) and improved impulse during the ISOFTG (+0.658 ± 0.25 V·s; p = 0.032). Relative to MED, C4E did not significantly improve gas exchange threshold (p = 0.05-0.07). Both MED and C4E increased systolic BP at rest (+7.1 ± 1.2 mmHg; p < 0.001 and + 5.7 ± 1.0 mmHg; p < 0.001, respectively), C4E increased SBP post-GXT (+13.3 ± 3.8 mmHg; p < 0.001), and MED increased SBP during recovery (+3.2 ± 1.1 mmHg; p < 0.001). Neither MED nor C4E influenced ECG measures (p ≥ 0.08) or LBF (p = 0.37) compared to PLA. C4E may be more efficacious for improving performance in resistance-type tasks without altering fat oxidation under semi-fasted conditions during fatiguing exercise bouts, but promotes similar changes in BP and HR to MED.

The effects of sleep disruption on metabolism, hunger, and satiety, and the influence of psychosocial stress and exercise: A narrative review.

Sleep deficiency is a ubiquitous phenomenon among Americans. In fact, in the United States, ∼78% of teens and 35% of adults currently get less sleep than recommended for their age-group, and the quality of sleep appears to be getting worse for many. The consequences of sleep disruption manifest in a myriad of ways, including insulin resistance and disrupted nutrient metabolism, dysregulation of hunger and satiety, and potentially increased body weight and adiposity. Consequently, inadequate sleep is related to an increased risk of various cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Exercise has the potential to be an effective therapeutic to counteract the deleterious effects of sleep disruption listed above, whereas chronic psychosocial stress may causally promote sleep disruption and cardiometabolic risk. Here, we provide a narrative review of the current evidence on the consequences of short sleep duration and poor sleep quality on substrate metabolism, circulating appetite hormones, hunger and satiety, and weight gain. Secondly, we provide a brief overview of chronic psychosocial stress and its impact on sleep and metabolic health. Finally, we summarise the current evidence regarding the ability of exercise to counteract the adverse metabolic health effects of sleep disruption. Throughout the review, we highlight areas where additional interrogation and future exploration are necessary.

Novel Energy Drink Improves Cognitive Function and Mood, without Influencing Myocardial Oxygen Demand or Ventricular Repolarization in Adult Gamers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the efficacy of acute consumption of a novel energy drink (C4S) versus placebo for improving cognitive and gaming performance and mood. Secondarily, we examined the cardiovascular safety profile of acute C4S consumption. METHODS: Forty-five healthy, young adult video gamers completed two experimental visits in randomized order where they consumed either C4S or a placebo and then completed a validated battery of neurocognitive tests, played five video games, and completed a mood state survey. Blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation, and electrocardiogram measurements were taken at baseline and repeated throughout each visit. RESULTS: Acute consumption of C4S improved cognitive flexibility (absolute mean or median difference [95% CI] = +4.3 [2.2-6.4]; p < 0.001; d = 0.63), executive function (+4.3 [2.3-6.3]; p < 0.001; d = 0.63), sustained attention (+2.1 [0.6-3.6]; p = 0.01; d = 0.44), motor speed (+2.9 [0.8-4.9]; p < 0.001; d = 0.44), psychomotor speed (+3.9 [0.1-7.7]; p = 0.04; d = 0.32) working memory (+1.0 [0.1-1.9]; p = 0.02; d = 0.35), and performance in the two-dimensional visuospatial game Tetris (+463 [-419-2,065] pts; p = 0.049; d = 0.30) compared to placebo. C4S also improved Fatigue-Inertia (-1 [-3-0]; p = 0.004; d = 0.45), Vigor-Activity (+2.4 [1.3-3.6]; p < 0.001; d = 0.64), Friendliness (+0 [0-1]; p = 0.04; d = 0.32), and Total Mood Disturbance (-3 [-6-0]; p = 0.002; d = 0.44). BP increased slightly in C4S versus placebo, while HR decreased from baseline to post-drink in the C4S condition. Rate-pressure-product was higher in C4S versus placebo independent of time but did not increase from baseline. There was no effect on corrected QT interval. CONCLUSION: Acute consumption of C4S was efficacious for cognitive performance, visuospatial gaming performance, and mood enhancement, and had no effect on myocardial oxygen demand or ventricular repolarization, despite being associated with increases in BP.

Resistance exercise lowers blood pressure and improves vascular endothelial function in individuals with elevated blood pressure or stage-1 hypertension.

Lifestyle modifications are the first-line treatment recommendation for elevated blood pressure (BP) or stage-1 hypertension (E/S1H) and include resistance exercise training (RET). The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of a 9-wk RET intervention in line with the current exercise guidelines for individuals with E/S1H on resting peripheral and central BP, vascular endothelial function, central arterial stiffness, autonomic function, and inflammation in middle-aged and older adults (MA/O) with untreated E/S1H. Twenty-six MA/O adults (54 ± 6 yr; 16 females/10 males) with E/S1H engaged in either 9 wk of 3 days/wk RET (n = 13) or a nonexercise control (Con; n = 13). Pre- and postintervention measures included peripheral and central systolic (SBP and cSBP) and diastolic BP (DBP and cDBP), flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), cardiac output (CO), total peripheral resistance (TPR), heart rate variability (HRV), and C-reactive protein (CRP). RET caused significant reductions in SBP {mean change ± 95% CI = [-7.9 (-12.1, -3.6) mmHg; P < 0.001]}, cSBP [6.8 (-10.8, -2.7) mmHg; P < 0.001)], DBP [4.8 (-10.3, -1.2) mmHg; P < 0.001], and cDBP [-5.1 (-8.9, -1.3) mmHg; P < 0.001]; increases in FMD [+2.37 (0.61, 4.14)%; P = 0.004] and CO [+1.21 (0.26, 2.15) L/min; P = 0.006]; and a reduction in TPR [-398 (-778, -19) mmHg·s/L; P = 0.028]. RET had no effect on cfPWV, BRS, HRV, or CRP relative to Con (P ≥ 0.20). These data suggest that RET reduces BP in MA/O adults with E/S1H alongside increased peripheral vascular function and decreased TPR without affecting cardiovagal function or central arterial stiffness.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is among the first studies to investigate the effects of chronic resistance exercise training on blood pressure (BP) and putative BP regulating mechanisms in middle-aged and older adults with untreated elevated BP or stage-1 hypertension in a randomized, nonexercise-controlled trial. Nine weeks of resistance exercise training elicits 4- to 8-mmHg improvements in systolic and diastolic BP alongside improvements in vascular endothelial function and total peripheral resistance without influencing central arterial stiffness or cardiovagal function.

Progressive iso-inertial resistance exercise promotes more favorable cardiovascular adaptations than traditional resistance exercise in young adults.

We compared the cardiovascular adaptations to resistance training (RT) using either traditional isotonic or iso-inertial resistance exercise in a randomized controlled study. Thirty-one healthy young adults (means ± SD, age = 24 ± 3 yr) completed 10 wk of traditional isotonic RT (TRT; n = 7 female/5 male), iso-inertial flywheel RT (FWRT; n = 7 female/4 male), or a habitual activity control (Con; n = 5 female/3 male). Before and following the intervention period, blood pressure, blood pressure reactivity, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and heart rate variability (RMSSD) were assessed. TRT and FWRT similarly improved isometric muscle strength. TRT significantly increased systolic blood pressure reactivity during isometric exercise compared with both FWRT (mean difference ± 95% CI, +10.8 ± 8.8 mmHg) and Con (+11.8 ± 9.1 mmHg). Cardiovagal BRS was significantly reduced in TRT versus FWRT (-6.82 ± 4.9 ms/mmHg; P = 0.006) but not between TRT versus Con (P = 0.12) or FWRT versus Con (P = 0.43). Resting heart rate (RHR) and RMSSD worsened in TRT compared with FWRT (RHR, +8 ± 5.8 beats/min, P = 0.006; RMSSD, -22.3 ± 15.6 ms, P = 0.004). Changes in BRS and RMSSD were associated with changes in blood pressure reactivity in the RT groups (r = -0.51 to -0.52). There were no significant changes in FMD or cfPWV in any group (P > 0.13). In conclusion, 10 wk of TRT and FWRT resulted in similar improvements in strength, but TRT caused impairments in blood pressure reactivity compared with FWRT and Con and parasympathetic nervous system activity compared with FWRT.NEW & NOTEWORTHY We characterized the cardiovascular effects of traditional, isotonic resistance training (TRT) versus flywheel-based iso-inertial resistance training (FWRT) in young healthy adults. Both TRT and FWRT improved strength, but TRT reduced cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability while increasing exercising blood pressure compared with FWRT. Our data indicate that TRT and FWRT result in different cardiovascular adaptations, where TRT, but not FWRT, may impair cardiovagal function and blood pressure reactivity in healthy, active young adults.

Acute effects of daily step count on postprandial metabolism and resting fat oxidation: a randomized controlled trial.

To examine the effects of daily step count on same-day fat oxidation and postprandial metabolic responses to an evening high-fat mixed meal (HFMM). Ten healthy participants (5 females, 30 ± 7 yr) completed four different daily step counts-2,000 (2 K), 5,000 (5 K), 10,000 (10 K), and 15,000 (15 K) steps-on separate days in randomized order. On experimental days, participants ate the same meals and walked all steps on an indoor track at a pace of 100 steps/min in three roughly equal bouts throughout the day. After the final walking bout, participants' resting energy expenditure (REE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and fat oxidation rate (FATOX) were measured. Blood samples were obtained before (BL) and 30-, 60-, 90-, 120-, and 240-min following consumption of an HFMM (960 kcal; 48% fat) to measure triglycerides (i.e., postprandial lipemia; PPL), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), insulin, and glucose. Two-way ANOVAs indicated condition effects where PPL was significantly higher after 2 K versus 10 K (+23 ± 8 mg/dL, P = 0.027), and NEFAs were significantly higher after 15 K versus 2 K (+86 ± 23 µmol/L; P = 0.006). No differences were found for insulin, glucose, or REE among conditions (all P > 0.124). Similarly, RER (P = 0.054; ηp2 = 0.24) and FATOX (P = 0.071; ηp2 = 0.23) were not significantly different among conditions. In young adults, 10 K steps elicited the greatest decrease in PPL, an established cardiovascular disease risk factor. NEFA levels were highest after the 15 K condition, likely due to alterations in adipose tissue lipolysis or lipoprotein lipase activity with increased activity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This randomized controlled trial demonstrated that walking 10,000, compared with 2,000, steps/day significantly reduced postprandial lipemia (PPL), an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) following same-day evening meal consumption. These experimental data support walking 10,000 steps/day to lower CVD risk.

Progressive exercise training improves cardiovascular psychophysiological outcomes in young adult women with a history of adverse childhood experiences.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are early-life psychosocial stressors that are associated with poorer mental health and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in a dose-dependent manner. We examined the feasibility of an 8-wk combined aerobic and resistance exercise training program to improve systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum endothelin-1 (ET-1), resilience, hope agency, and hope pathways in young women with ACEs. Forty-two healthy women (21 ± 3 yr) with ≥4 (ACE+; n = 28) or 0 ACEs (ACE-; n = 14) participated in this study. Women with ACEs were randomly assigned to an exercise (ACE+EXT; n = 14) or nonexercise control (ACE+CON; n = 14) group, whereas all ACE- participants were assigned to a nonexercise control (n = 14) group. Hope agency and DBP did not change in any group (P ≥ 0.43), but hope pathways improved only in ACE+EXT (means ± SE change; +1.6 ± 0.74 au, P = 0.032, Hedges' g = 0.53). ET-1 decreased in ACE+EXT only (-0.31 ± 0.15 pg/mL, P = 0.043, g = 0.46). Although the interactions for resilience and SBP did not reach significance (P = 0.05-0.06), forced post hoc analyses indicated that resilience improved (+4.9 ± 1.9 au, P = 0.012, g = 0.64) and SBP tended to improve (-4.0 ± 2.0 mmHg, P = 0.053, g = 0.51) in ACE+EXT only. There were significant associations between changes in hope pathways and SBP (ρ = -0.43, P = 0.023) and ET-1 (ρ = -0.53, P = 0.005), and between changes in SBP and ET-1 (ρ = 0.49; P = 0.012) in the ACE+ group. In summary, structured exercise training reduces serum ET-1 levels, improves positive psychological coping, and may improve SBP in young women with ACEs. The relationships among the changes in hope pathways, SBP, and ET-1 suggest a cardiovascular psychophysiological relationship in young women with ACEs.NEW & NOTEWORTHY This randomized controlled pilot trial shows, for the first time, that 8 wk of structured, progressive exercise training lowers serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) and improves positive psychological coping in young women with significant early-life psychosocial stress. Furthermore, the observed associations among changes in psychological attributes, ET-1, and systolic blood pressure signify a potential interplay between positive psychology and cardiovascular disease risk among women with adverse childhood experiences.

Metabolic and microvascular function assessed using near-infrared spectroscopy with vascular occlusion in women: age differences and reliability.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Can the near-infrared spectroscopy with vascular occlusion test (NIRS-VOT) reliably measure skeletal muscle metabolic and microvascular function in women? What is the main finding and its importance? The NIRS-VOT can be used as a reliable technique for the assessment of skeletal muscle metabolism and microvascular function in women, with reliability being generally greater in younger women. These findings have important implications for the planning and development of future studies employing the NIRS-VOT in women, and provide insights into the effects of age on these parameters in women specifically. ABSTRACT: We investigated the test-retest reliability of, and age-related differences in, markers of skeletal muscle metabolism and microvascular function derived from the near-infrared spectroscopy with vascular occlusion test (NIRS-VOT) in younger women (YW) and middle-aged and older women (MAOW). Seventeen YW (age 23 ± 4 years) and 17 MAOW (age 59 ± 8 years) completed this study. Participants completed identical experimental visits separated by ∼4 weeks during which the NIRS-VOT was used to quantify the occlusion slope, minimum and maximum tissue saturation, ischaemic index, reperfusion magnitude, the reperfusion and 10-s reperfusion slopes (slope 2 and slope 210-s ), time to max tissue saturation, and area under the reperfusion curve using the local tissue oxygen saturation signal. Except for slope 210-s (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.37; coefficient of variation (CV) = 31%), time to max tissue saturation (ICC = 0.21), and ischaemic index (ICC = 0.37) for MAOW, all of the NIRS variables demonstrated good to excellent relative reliability for the YW (ICCs = 0.74-0.86) and the MAOW (ICCs = 0.51-0.87), with CVs of 2-21% and 2-22%, respectively. The occlusion slope was significantly lower, indicating accelerated deoxygenation, while maximum tissue saturation, reperfusion magnitude, and ischaemic index were significantly higher in YW versus MAOW. No other group differences were found. In conclusion, our data support the use of the NIRS-VOT as a simple, reliable, non-invasive technique for the assessment of peripheral skeletal muscle metabolism and microvascular function in women, with the reliability being generally greater in YW versus MAOW. Further, our data suggest that ageing is associated with lower skeletal muscle metabolism and microvascular hyperaemic responsiveness in women.

The contributory role of vascular health in age-related anabolic resistance.

Sarcopenia, or the age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, is an increasingly prevalent condition that contributes to reduced quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in older adults. Older adults display blunted anabolic responses to otherwise anabolic stimuli-a phenomenon that has been termed anabolic resistance (AR)-which is likely a casual factor in sarcopenia development. AR is multifaceted, but historically much of the mechanistic focus has been on signalling impairments, and less focus has been placed on the role of the vasculature in postprandial protein kinetics. The vascular endothelium plays an indispensable role in regulating vascular tone and blood flow, and age-related impairments in vascular health may impede nutrient-stimulated vasodilation and subsequently the ability to deliver nutrients (e.g. amino acids) to skeletal muscle. Although the majority of data has been obtained studying younger adults, the relatively limited data on the effect of blood flow on protein kinetics in older adults suggest that vasodilatory function, especially of the microvasculature, strongly influences the muscle protein synthetic response to amino acid feedings. In this narrative review, we examine evidence of AR in older adults following amino acid and mixed meal consumption, examine the evidence linking vascular dysfunction and insulin resistance to age-related AR, review the influence of nitric oxide and endothelin-1 on age-related vascular dysfunction as it relates to AR, briefly review the potential causal role of arterial stiffness in promoting skeletal muscle microvascular dysfunction and AR, and provide a brief overview and future considerations for research examining age-related AR.

Who would benefit most from postprandial lipid screening?

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Individuals with fasting triglycerides (TG) <150 mg/dL can experience a deleterious postprandial TG response ≥220 mg/dL to a high-fat meal (HFM). The purpose of this study was to identify individuals based on fasting TG that would benefit most from additional postprandial screening. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of 7 studies from our laboratories featuring 156 disease-free participants (64 M, 92 F; age 18-70 years; BMI 18.5-30 kg/m2). Participants observed a 10-12 h overnight fast, after which they consumed an HFM (10-13 kcal/kg body mass; 61-64% kcal from fat). Two methods were used to identify lower and upper fasting TG cut points. Method 1 identified the lower limit as the TG concentration at which ≥90% of individuals presented peak postprandial TG (PPTG) <220 mg/dL and the upper limit as the concentration which ≥90% of individuals presented PPTG ≥220 mg/dL. Method 2 utilized receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and identified the lower limit as the fasting TG concentration where sensitivity was ≈95% and the upper limit as the concentration at which specificity was ≈95%. RESULTS: In Method 1, 90% of individuals with fasting TG >130 mg/dL (>1.50 mmol/L) exhibited PPTG ≥220 mg/dL (≥2.50 mmol/L), while 100% of individuals with fasting TG <66 mg/dL (0.75 mmol/L) had PPTG that did not exceed 220 mg/dL (2.50 mmol/L). In Method 2, when sensitivity was ≈95%, the corresponding fasting TG concentration was 70 mg/dL (0.79 mmol/L). When specificity was ≈95%, the corresponding fasting TG concentration was 114 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L). Based on methods 1 and 2, there was a moderate positive association (r = 0.37, p < 0.004) between fasting and PPTG for individuals with fasting TG between 70 and 130 mg/dL (0.79-1.50 mmol/L), in which 24% exhibited PPTG ≥220 mg/dL (≥2.50 mmol/L) while 76% did not. CONCLUSIONS: Postprandial TG testing is likely most useful for individuals with fasting TG concentrations between 70 and 130 mg/dL (0.79-1.50 mmol/L). Outside of this range, postprandial TG responses are largely predictable. Establishing a specific patient group for which postprandial TG testing is most useful may lead to earlier risk detection in these individuals.

Childhood psychosocial stress is linked with impaired vascular endothelial function, lower SIRT1, and oxidative stress in young adulthood.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are psychosocial stressors that occur during sensitive developmental windows and are associated with increased lifetime cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in a dose-dependent manner. Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a pathophysiological mechanism that promotes hypertension and CVD and may be a mechanism by which ACEs contribute to lifetime CVD risk. We examined whether exposure to ACEs is associated with reduced vascular endothelial function (VEF) in otherwise healthy, young adult women (20.7 ± 3 yr) with (ACE+) versus without (ACE-) ACEs, explored whether differences in circulating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) or systemic oxidative stress could explain ACEs-related differences in VEF, and examined the ability of a pilot, 8-wk exercise intervention to augment VEF and SIRT1 or reduce oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL) in ACE+ young adult women. Forty-two otherwise healthy young adults completed this study. Prior to the intervention, VEF (P = 0.002) and SIRT1 (P = 0.004) were lower in the ACE+ than ACE- group, but oxLDL concentrations were not different (P = 0.77). There were also significant relationships (P ≤ 0.04) among flow-mediated dilation (FMD), SIRT1, and oxLDL in the ACE+, but not ACE- group. Adjusting for circulating SIRT1 and oxLDL reduced the differences in FMD observed between groups (P = 0.10), but only SIRT1 was a significant adjuster of the means (P < 0.05). Finally, the exercise intervention employed was unable to enhance VEF or SIRT1 in the ACE+ exercise group. Our data suggest that ACEs likely increase susceptibility to hypertension and CVD by causing endothelial dysfunction, perhaps through a SIRT1 pathway-related mechanism.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Our study provides novel evidence that young adult women with moderate-to-severe adverse childhood experience (ACE) exposure present impaired endothelial function and lower circulating sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) concentrations than age-matched controls. However, an 8-wk exercise intervention was unable to augment endothelial function or SIRT1 concentrations in a subset of those with ACEs. Our data suggest that ACEs-related impairments in endothelial function may be secondary to decreased NO bioavailability via SIRT1 and/or oxidative stress-related mechanisms.

Increases in motor unit action potential amplitudes are related to muscle hypertrophy following eight weeks of high-intensity exercise training in females.

We examined the motor unit action potential amplitude versus recruitment threshold relationship (MUAPAMP-RT) as an indicator of MU-specific hypertrophy following high-intensity exercise training in females. Participants were assigned to either a high-intensity exercise (EX, n = 9) or control (CON, n = 18) condition and completed pre- (PRE) and post-testing (POST) during which maximal voluntary isometric leg extension strength (MVIT), vastus lateralis (VL) muscle cross sectional area (mCSA), whole leg skeletal muscle mass (SMMRL), and high-density surface EMG (HD-sEMG) signals were recorded from the VL during an isometric ramp contraction at 70% MVIT. The HD-sEMG signals were decomposed and yielded a MUAPAMP and an absolute (ABS; Nm) and normalized (NORM; %MVIC) RT for each MU. Individual MUAPAMP-RT slopes and intercepts were calculated for each subject. Changes in the pooled MUAPAMP-RT relationships for each group were also examined. Finally, relationships among individual changes in slopes of MUAPAMP-RT and individual changes in mCSA and SMMRL were examined. Training elicited increases in MVIT (+18%), mCSA (+12%), and mean and pooled slopes of MUAPAMP-RTNORM. The individual changes in slopes of both the MUAPAMP-RT relationships were moderately to strongly (r = 0.48-0.68) related to changes in mCSA and SMMRL. Eight-weeks of high-intensity exercise elicited increases in MUAPAMP-RT slope in females. Further, the observed change in slope was related to both VL mCSA and SMM of the tested leg. However, changes in slope for the MUAPAMP-RT relationship were more subdued when MUAPAMP was expressed relative to the absolute versus relative RT.

Electromyographic amplitude versus torque relationships are different in young versus postmenopausal females and are related to muscle mass after controlling for bodyweight.

PURPOSE: To examine differences in the electromyographic vs torque (EMG-T) relationship, as well as muscle strength and indicators of muscle mass and quality between young versus postmenopausal females, and explore whether the potential differences in the EMG-T relationships could be explained by differences in muscle mass. METHODS: Thirty young (age = 20.7 ± 2.8 y) and 30 postmenopausal (age = 56.3 ± 4.7 y) females completed maximal isometric strength testing (MVIT) and isometric ramp contractions at 40% and 70% MVIT, during which electromyographic signals were collected to quantify the slopes (Slope40; Slope70) and intercepts (Intercept40; Intercept70) of the EMG-T relationships. Muscle mass and quality measurements were also completed. RESULTS: Postmenopausal females exhibited lower skeletal muscle mass (- 2.3 ± 1.5 kg), fat-free mass index (- 1.1 ± 0.7 kg·m-2), MVIT (- 17.1 ± 16.3 Nm), phase angle (- 0.5 ± 0.0°), muscle cross-sectional area (- 5.5 ± 1.1 cm2), muscle quality (- 0.1 ± 0.0 a.u), Slope40 (- 0.0003 ± 0.0002 mV·%MVIT-1), Slope70 (- 0.0003 ± 0.0002 mV·%MVIT-1), and had a higher echo intensity (+ 9.8 ± 2.8 a.u), Intercept40 (+ 0.001 ± 0.001 mV), and Intercept70 (+ 0.004 ± 0.003 mV) (p ≤ 0.001-0.04) than the young females. The EMG-T relationship variables were correlated with both muscle mass and quality after controlling for bodyweight. When controlling for muscle mass and bodyweight, group differences in the slopes of the EMG-T relationship and muscle strength were eliminated. CONCLUSION: Muscle mass and quality are primary contributors to the decrements in neuromuscular function observed in postmenopausal versus young females, and the preservation of muscle mass should be prioritized in the years leading up to, during, and immediately after menopause.

Resistance exercise attenuates postprandial metabolic responses to a high-fat meal similarly in younger and older men.

This study examined whether an acute bout of resistance exercise (RE) attenuated postprandial responses to a high fat meal (HFM) similarly in younger versus older adult men, and probed relationships among skeletal muscle mass (SMM), age, the metabolic load index (MLI) response, and the improvement in the MLI elicited by RE versus CON. Eleven younger (24 ±â€¯4y) and 9 older (61 ±â€¯5y) men completed RE or control (CON) the night prior to a HFM. Before and 1, 3, and 5 hours after the HFM, blood triglycerides (TG), glucose (GLU), MLI, and cholesterol concentrations were quantified. Following a 7 ±â€¯1-day washout period, participants returned and completed the opposite condition. Independent of age, TGs were 32.1 ±â€¯27.1 mg/dL and 52.7 ±â€¯26.8 mg/dL lower in RE than CON at 3 and 5 hours, respectively. MLI was also 24.3 to 56.9 mg/dL lower in RE than CON from 1 to 5 hours post-meal independent of age. The TG and MLI area under the curves (AUCs) were 15% to 31% lower in RE than CON. The GLU response was greater in the older than younger men at 1 to 5 hours post-meal. Moreover, the average GLU response was 5.6 ±â€¯2.5 mg/dL lower in RE versus CON and was inversely related to SMM across the sample (r = -0.615). However, age, volume, or SMM were not related to the MLIAUC, nor to the improvement elicited by RE. Therefore, although the older men displayed a greater postprandial glucose response than the younger men, RE attenuated the postprandial metabolic response to a HFM similarly in younger and older men.

Maximal contraction methods influence the magnitude and reliability of global electromyographic signal characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose was two-fold: (1) to examine differences in maximal voluntary isometric torque (MVIT) production, and electromyographic signal amplitude (EMGAMP) and mean power frequency (EMGMPF) values obtained during traditional (MVICTRAD), rapid (MVICRAPID), and ramp (MVICRAMP) maximal voluntary isometric contractions, and (2) to determine if there were differences in the reliability of MVIT, EMGAMP and EMGMPF among the three MVIC types. APPROACH: Twenty-two young males and females completed MVICTRAD, MVICRAPID, and MVICRAMP muscle actions on two separate visits separated by 48 h. During all MVICs, MVIT and EMGAMP and EMGMPF of the vastus lateralis (VL) and rectus femoris (RF) were quantified. MAIN RESULTS: MVIT was greater during MVICTRAD and MVICRAPID than during MVITRAMP (both p < 0.001). VL and RF EMGAMP were greater during MVICRAMP than during MVICRAPID (p = 0.02 and 0.004). For EMGMPF, there were no significant differences among MVIC types. Although all MVIC types generally resulted in reliable measurements of MVIT and EMGAMP, reliability was stronger for EMGMPF quantified during the MVICRAMP. SIGNIFICANCE: Investigators may choose MVIC type based on preference or equipment availability. However, investigators should note that MVICRAMP contractions will likely yield the greatest EMGAMP values and more reliable measurements of VL and RF EMGMPF.

A Mixed-Methods Approach to Evaluating the Internal Validity of the Reactive Strength Index.

The reactive capacity of the muscle-tendon complex is commonly assessed using the reactive strength index (RSI). Conventionally, the RSI is a ratio of rebound jump height to ground contact time in depth jumping. Several assumptions regarding the linear mechanics acting through the whole-body center of gravity may threaten the internal validity of computation and interpretation of RSI scores. First, it is common for rebound jump height to be predicted from rebound jump flight time. This assumes that the angular positioning of body segments is equivalent at the time instances of rebound jump take-off and landing. Prior literature supports a mixed-methods approach for computing the RSI that is void of this assumption. The mixed-methods approach gives a more valid estimation of rebound jump height. In this approach, rebound jump height is estimated from rebound jump take-off velocity of the whole-body center of mass. This is accomplished by subtracting an estimate of impact velocity, acquired using videography, from change in whole-body center of mass velocity estimated from integrated vertical ground reaction force data. Second, it is often assumed that vertical displacement of the whole-body center of mass during the drop phase of the depth jump is predicted perfectly from the height of the platform used to perform the drop. This assumption may affect the internal validity of comparing RSI scores across individuals and within individuals performing depth jumps from varied heights. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the internal validity of RSI scores computed using the conventional approach and impact velocity variability, which may affect the interpretation of RSI scores. Seventy physically active young adults performed depth jumps from drop heights of 0.51, 0.66, and 0.81 m. RSI was computed using the conventional approach and a mixed-methods approach featuring the use of 2-dimensional videography, body segment parameters, and force platform dynamometry. The two computational methods were compared using linear regression performed on data from each drop height. In addition, a 2 (computational method) by 3 (drop height) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed to evaluate for main effects and interactions in RSI data. Multiple one sample t-tests were performed to compare estimated and theoretical impact velocities. The ANOVA revealed no main effect or interactions between computational approaches (p = 0.467-0.938). Linear regression revealed moderately strong associations between RSI scores computed using the conventional and mixed-methods approaches (R2 = 0.685-0.741). Moreover, linear regressions revealed that the conventional approach tends to overestimate the mixed methods approach for RSI scores below 1.0 and underestimate the mixed methods approach for RSI scores above 1.0. Lastly, estimated impact velocities were observed to be as much as 13% lower versus theoretical (p < 0.001). Researchers with access to motion capture and force platform technology may consider using a mixed-methods approach for computing the RSI, which likely maximizes the internal validity of scores. In addition, results suggest for practitioners to practice caution when comparing conventional RSI scores across individuals.