Effects of Low-Volume Resistance Training on Muscle Strength and Functionality of People with Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system that affects the elderly and results in a decrease of functional capacity, motor control, and muscle strength. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to be a non-drug alternative in both elderly and parkinsonian patients in increasing functional capacity and muscle strength. The present study aimed to verify the effects of low-volume RT in people with PD in relation to muscular strength, body composition, anthropometry and functional capacity. Fifteen elderly patients with idiopathic PD were divided into two groups: 7 in the resistance-training group (RTG): RT twice a week for 12 weeks, and 8 in the control group (CG): No exercise. Before the training period, the subjects performed maximum strength (1-RM), body composition (Bioimpedance), anthropometry, and functional capacity (GDLAM protocol) tests. The endpoints were analyzed by the Generalized Estimates (GEE) with post hoc Bonferroni, being adopted for the analyses α < 0.05. The results showed that the RTG had muscle strength gains: Bench Press 113.33%, Lat Pull Down 71.83% and Leg press 45º 94.48%, (p < 0.001), functional capacity (IG: -10.47%), and lean mass: 11.98%, (p < 0.001), while the GC presented significant changes before and after functional capacity only (GI: -1.61%) (p < 0.001). In addition, the RTG obtained reductions in the percentage of body fat (-2.30%) and in the waist-hip ratio (-2.22) without changes indicated in the CG. RT was efficient in improving muscle strength, functional capacity, body composition and anthropometric health indicators in individuals with PD.

Effects of load carriage on physiological determinants in adventure racers.

Adventure racing athletes need run carrying loads during the race. A better understanding of how different loads influence physiological determinants in adventure racers could provide useful insights to gauge training interventions to improve running performance. We compare the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), the cost of transport (C) and ventilatory thresholds of twelve adventure running athletes at three load conditions: unloaded, 7 and 15% of body mass. Twelve healthy men experienced athletes of Adventure Racing (age 31.3 ± 7.7 years, height 1.81 ± 0.05 m, body mass 75.5 ± 9.1 kg) carried out three maximal progressive (VO2max protocol) and three submaximal constant-load (running cost protocol) tests, defined in the following quasi-randomized conditions: unloaded, 7% and, 15% of body mass. The VO2max (unload: 59.7 ± 5.9; 7%: 61.7 ± 6.6 and 15%: 64.6 ± 5.4 ml kg-1 min-1) did not change among the conditions. While the 7% condition does neither modify the C nor the ventilatory thresholds, the 15% condition resulted in a higher C (5.2 ± 0.9 J kg-1 m-1; P = 0.001; d = 1.48) than the unloaded condition (4.0 ± 0.7 J kg-1 m-1). First ventilatory threshold was greater at 15% than control condition (+15.5%; P = 0.003; d = 1.44). Interestingly, the velocities on the severe-intensity domain (between second ventilatory threshold and VO2max) were reduced 1% equivalently to 1% increasing load (relative to body mass). The loading until 15% of body mass seems to affect partially the crucial metabolic and ventilatory parameters, specifically the C but not the VO2max. These findings are compatible with the concept that interventions that enhance running economy with loads may improve the running performance of adventure racing's athletes.