Dynamometric outcomes of the donor site leg after vastus lateralis free flap harvest.

The vastus lateralis muscle is one of the four muscles that make up the quadriceps femoris muscle, and it is also the largest of them. Some studies have shown that patients experience lower quality of life and muscle weakness after surgical treatment of thigh muscles in order to perform reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. The aim of our study was to assess the quantitative and qualitative function of the lower extremities using an isokinetic dynamometer and a validated questionnaire on subjective difficulties in patients who underwent reconstructive surgery with the vastus lateralis free flap. Fourteen participants aged 20-70 years who suffered from malignant tumor in the head and neck region. The free vastus lateralis flap was used for reconstruction. All patients underwent isokinetic dynamometric measurement with the isokinetic dynamometer to test the isokinetic functions of the thigh muscles after surgery. In addition, subjective assessment of the lower extremities was performed using the validated questionnaire Lower Extremity Functional Scale. All isometric dynamometer measurements of the donor leg were compared with those of the unoperated leg. Peak torque and average power were significantly lower in the operated leg compared with the unoperated leg after 60°/s extension (p = 0.018 for peak torque, p = 0.021 for average power) and 180°/s extension (p = 0.019 for peak torque, p = 0.015 for average power). On the other hand, there was no statistically significant difference in dynamometer measurements after 60°/s flexion (p = 0.700 for peak torque, p = 0.854 for average power, and 180°/s flexion (p = 0.634 for peak torque, p = 0.571 for average power). The median value for the LEFS was 65.5 (40.00-71.25). The results of this study showed that there is a significant deterioration regarding the biophysical properties of the operated leg after harvesting vastus lateralis free flap.

Ergogenic Effects of Sodium Bicarbonate on Resistance Exercise: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

ABSTRACT: Varovic, D, Grgic, J, Schoenfeld, BJ, and Vuk, S. Ergogenic effects of sodium bicarbonate on resistance exercise: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. J Strength Cond Res 37(8): 1600-1608, 2023-This study explored the effects of sodium bicarbonate ingestion on muscular endurance, power, and velocity in resistance exercise. Nineteen resistance-trained men ingested either 0.3 g·kg -1 of sodium bicarbonate or 0.21 g·kg -1 of placebo (sodium chloride) 180-60 minutes before exercise. The exercise protocol involved performing 3 sets with 70% of 1 repetition maximum to muscular failure in the bench press and biceps curl exercises. Analyzed outcomes included the number of repetitions performed in every set and throughout all 3 sets. In addition, power and velocity of the repetitions were explored by matching the number of repetitions between the sodium bicarbonate and placebo trials. In the bench press exercise, sodium bicarbonate increased the following: (a) the number of repetitions performed in the third set ( g : 0.30; p = 0.046), (b) the total number of repetitions performed throughout all 3 sets ( g : 0.23; p = 0.04), (c) peak power in the second set ( g : 0.19; p = 0.03), and (d) mean power ( g : 0.23; p = 0.03) and mean velocity ( g : 0.30; p = 0.02) in the third set. We did not find a significant difference between the conditions for any of the analyzed outcomes in the biceps curl exercise. Results indicate that sodium bicarbonate ingestion elicits an ergogenic effect on muscular endurance, power, and velocity in the bench press exercise. Given that ergogenic effects were observed only in the second and third sets, these data suggest that sodium bicarbonate acts by attenuating the suppressive effects of acidosis on muscle contractility.

Drop-Set Training Elicits Differential Increases in Non-Uniform Hypertrophy of the Quadriceps in Leg Extension Exercise.

The study aimed to compare the effects of drop set resistance training (RT) versus traditional RT on markers of maximal muscle strength and regional hypertrophy of the quadriceps femoris. Sixteen recreationally active young men had one leg randomly assigned to the drop-set method (DS) and the other to training in a traditional manner (TRAD). Participants performed unilateral seated leg extensions using a periodized approach for eight weeks. Rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness (MT), estimated one repetition maximum (RM) in the unilateral knee extension, and peak and average isokinetic knee extension torque at 60°/s angular velocity were measured pre- and post-study. Both conditions increased muscle thickness of the RF and VL from pre- to post-intervention. DS showed statistically greater increases in the RF at 30% and 50% of muscle length, whereas no MT differences were detected at 70% muscle length nor at any aspect of the VL. Both DS and TRAD increased estimated one RM from pre- to post-study (+34.6% versus +32.0%, respectively) with no between-condition differences noted. Both conditions showed similar increases in peak torque (DS: +21.7%; TRAD: +22.5%) and average torque (DS: +23.6%; TRAD: +22.5%) from pre- to post-study. Our findings indicate a potential benefit of the drop-set method for inducing non-uniform hypertrophic gains in the RF muscle pursuant to leg extension training. The strategy did not promote an advantage in improving hypertrophy of the VL, nor in strength-related measures, compared to traditional training.

Resistance Training Frequencies of 3 and 6 Times Per Week Produce Similar Muscular Adaptations in Resistance-Trained Men.

Saric, J, Lisica, D, Orlic, I, Grgic, J, Krieger, JW, Vuk, S, and Schoenfeld, BJ. Resistance training frequencies of 3 and 6 times per week produce similar muscular adaptations in resistance-trained men. J Strength Cond Res 33(7S): S122-S129, 2019-We examined the effects of resistance training (RT) frequency performed 3 times per week (RT3) vs. RT performed 6 times per week (RT6) under volume-equated conditions in resistance-trained men. Twenty-seven men were randomly allocated to RT3 (n = 14) or RT6 (n = 13). The supervised training intervention lasted for 6 weeks. Upper- and lower-body strength were assessed using the 1 repetition maximum test. Also, muscular endurance (60% 1 repetition maximum performed to momentary failure) and muscle thickness (elbow flexors, elbow extensors, rectus femoris, and vastus intermedius) were measured before and after intervention. Pre-to-post intervention, both groups increased upper-body strength (RT3: +4%; RT6: +6%) and lower-body strength (RT3: +22%; RT6: +18%) with no significant between-group differences. No significant pre-to-post intervention increases in muscular endurance were seen in either of the training groups. Both groups increased elbow extensor thickness (RT3: +14%; RT6: +11%), rectus femoris thickness (RT3: +5%; RT6: +6%), and vastus intermedius thickness (RT3: +10%; RT6: +11%) with no significant between-group differences. Only the RT3 group significantly increased elbow flexor thickness from pre-to-post intervention (+7%). When training volume is equated, it seems that RT performed either 3 or 6 times per week can result in similar strength gains over a 6-week training period. Furthermore, under volume-equated conditions, comparable hypertrophy results may also be expected with both RT frequencies. Finally, no changes were seen in muscular endurance possibly because of the considerable interindividual variability in responses. The findings presented herein might be of interest to coaches, exercise practitioners, athletes, and recreational trainees.

External loading and maximum dynamic output in vertical jumping: the role of training history.

We examined the effect of training history on the load-power relationship in vertical jumping (VJ) by employing external loads ranging from -30% to +30% body weight (BW). Based on previous findings, we hypothesized that (1) the maximum dynamic output (power production and momentum generation) would be within the tested loading interval, and (2) the load-power and load-momentum relations would depend on the subject's training history. Thirty-one healthy male subjects of different training history (i.e., 9 strength-trained athletes, 12 speed-trained athletes, and 10 sedentary individuals), performed maximum countermovement jumps on a force plate while a pulley system was used to either reduce or increase the subject's BW. An increase in external loading during VJ resulted in a systematic decrease (p<.001) in power production and momentum generation in all 3 studied groups. We also observed significant Group×Load interactions (p<.01) for the load-power and the load-momentum relationships, probably due to the group differences in slopes of the trend lines that describe the loading-associated changes in power and momentum. The results suggest that, from the evolutionary standpoint, the human muscular system of the lower limbs could be designed to produce the maximum power output against the loads that are well below the mass and inertia of the human body.