The Effects of Physical Fitness and Body Composition on Oxygen Consumption and Heart Rate Recovery After High-Intensity Exercise

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential relationship between excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), heart rate recovery (HRR) and their respective time constants (tvo(2) and t(HR)) and body composition and aerobic fitness (VO(2)max) variables after an anaerobic effort. 14 professional cyclists (age = 28.4 +/- 4.8 years, height = 176.0 +/- 6.7 cm, body mass = 74.4 +/- 8.1 kg, VO(2)max = 66.8 +/- 7.6 mL. kg(-1) . min(-1)) were recruited. Each athlete made 3 visits to the laboratory with 24h between each visit. During the first visit, a total and segmental body composition assessment was carried out. During the second, the athletes undertook an incremental test to determine VO(2)max. In the final visit, EPOC (15-min) and HRR were measured after an all-out 30s Wingate test. The results showed that EPOC is positively associated with % body fat (r = 0.64), total body fat (r = 0.73), fat-free mass (r = 0.61) and lower limb fat-free mass (r = 0.55) and negatively associated with HRR (r = - 0.53, p < 0.05 for all). HRR had a significant negative correlation with total body fat and % body fat (r = - 0.62, r = - 0.56 respectively, p < 0.05 for all). These findings indicate that VO(2)max does not influence HRR or EPOC after high-intensity exercise. Even in short-term exercise, the major metabolic disturbance due to higher muscle mass and total muscle mass may increase EPOC. However, body fat impedes HRR and delays recovery of oxygen consumption after effort in highly trained athletes.

Cigarette smoke exposure severely reduces peripheral insulin sensitivity without changing GLUT4 expression in oxidative muscle of Wistar rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of Statin and Aerobic Physical Exercise Association in the Cardiomyocytes of the Rat. Morphometric Study

Physical exercise and statins, recommended interventions to dyslipidaemia treatment, are independently related to cardiomyocytes alterations, characterized by miocardic hypertrophy and apoptosis, respectively. Thus, the objective of the present study was to analyze the effects of statin and aerobic physical exercise association in the morphometric parameters of cardiac cell nucleus. 40 male rats adults were divided into four groups: exercised (DE); sedentary (DS), exercised and statin use (DES); sedentary and statin use (DSS). The animals received during the whole experimental period a hiperlipidic diet added 20% of coconut oil and 1.25% of cholesterol; after 30 days of its ingestion, a blood collection was made to verify the dyslipidaemia. Simvastatin (20 mg) was taken five days a week, during eight weeks. During this period, the animals exercised 60 minutes daily in the treadmill. After the last day of the protocol, the cardiac muscle was collected and maintained in liquid nitrogen (-180 degrees C); the cuts were stained by Hematoxilin-Eosin method, and the cardiac fibers were submitted to the nuclear morphometric analyses. The data were analyzed using descriptive analyses, paired T test, Kruskal-Wallis test and Dunn post hoc test; for all analyses, it was adopted p<0.05. It was verified that the group receiving statin presented values statistically significant in comparison to the other groups, in the tridimensional and linear variables. The exercised and statin group, the values obtained in the morphometric analyses were similar to the control group. It is suggested that statins alone can cause alterations in the nucleus of cardiac cells that can be related to apoptosis occurrence and, when exercise is practiced associated to statin administration, the effects of statin can be reduced, what can be related to beneficial adaptations of cardiac mitochondrial in response to physical exercise, turning them more resistant to apoptotic stimuli.

Muscle lesion treatment in Brazilian soccer players: Theory vs. Practice

Background: In this study we evaluated the rehabilitation profile of Brazilian soccer players which underwent lower limb muscle lesions.Methods: This is a descriptive investigation. We evaluated 139 professional soccer players (1724 years old). We evaluated the following variables: muscle lesion diagnosis, symptoms, non steroidal anti-inflammatory used, physiotherapy treatment, which physiotherapy recourses was used if treated and train adaptation.Results: In great part of the athletes muscle lesion remained between 2 weeks and 1 month. Around 54% were diagnosed by a physician; the other part was diagnosed by a physical therapist. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory were prescribed by physicians in 42% of the cases; in 7% the physical therapist prescribed the medication while in 49% of the cases the masseur prescribed the drug. More than 1/4 of the athletes received physiotherapy treatement between 48 hours and 5 days. Isometric exercise therapy was applied in 15% of the cases. 63% were not accompanied by the physiotherapist on their return to the field. 48% received massages immediately after injury.Conclusion: We presented discrepancy between the recommended theory described by several researches and the practice. We indicate the necessity of recycling in a general context the rehabilitation of muscle injuries.

Improvement of heart rate variability after exercise training and its predictors in COPD

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efficiency of intermittent exercise on adiposity and fatty liver in rats fed with high-fat diet

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of respiratory muscle training on pulmonary function in preoperative preparation of tobacco smokers

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da utilização de um programa de treinamento específico dos músculos respiratórios sobre a função pulmonar em indivíduos tabagistas. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 50 indivíduos tabagistas assintomáticos com idade superior a 30 anos, nos seguintes momentos: A0 - avaliação inicial seguida do protocolo de exercícios respiratórios; A1 - reavaliação após 10 minutos da aplicação do protocolo; e A2 -reavaliação final após duas semanas de treinamento utilizando o mesmo protocolo três vezes por semana. A avaliação foi realizada através das medidas de pressões respiratórias máximas (PImax. e PEmax.), picos de fluxo respiratórios (PFI e PFE), ventilação voluntária máxima (VVM), capacidade vital Forçada (CVF) e Volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo (VEF1). RESULTADOS: Não houve melhora na CVF e VEF1 da avaliação inicial para a final. Houve aumento significativo das variáveis PFI, PFE, VVM e PImax nas avaliações A1 e A2. A variável PEmax. aumentou somente na avaliação A2. CONCLUSÃO: A aplicação de protocolo de exercícios respiratórios com e sem carga adicional em indivíduos tabagistas produziu melhora imediata na performance dos músculos respiratórios, mas esta melhora foi mais acentuada após duas semanas de exercício.

Relationship of upper-limb and thoracic muscle strength to 6-min walk distance in COPD patients

Study objectives: This study was developed to investigate the influence of thoracic and upperlimb muscle function on 6-min walk distance (6MWD) in patients with COPD.Design: A prospective, cross-sectional study.Setting: the pulmonary rehabilitation center of a university hospital.Patients: Thirty-eight patients with mild to very severe COPD were evaluated.Measurements and results: Pulmonary function and baseline dyspnea index (BDI) were assessed, handgrip strength, maximal inspiratory pressure (Pimax), and 6MWD were measured, and the one-repetition maximum (1RM) was determined for each of four exercises (bench press, lat pull down, leg extension, and leg press) performed on gymnasium equipment. Quality of life was assessed using the St. George Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ). We found statistically significant positive correlations between 6MWD and body weight (r = 0.32; p < 0.05), BDI (r = 0.50; p < 0.01), FEV, (r = 0.33; p < 0.05), PImax (r = 0.53; p < 0.01), and all values of 1RM. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between 6MWD and dyspnea at the end of the 6-min walk test (r = -0.29; p < 0.05), as well as between 6MWD and the SGRQ activity domain (r = -0.45; p < 0.01) and impact domain (r = -0.34; p < 0.05) and total score (r = -0.40; p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis selected body weight, BDI, Pimax, and lat pull down IRM as predictive factors for 6MWD (R-2 = 0.589).Conclusions: the results of this study showed the importance of the skeletal musculature of the thorax and upper limbs in submaximal exercise tolerance and could open new perspectives for training programs designed to improve functional activity in COPD patients.

Combined exercise training in asymptomatic elderly with controlled hypertension: Effects on functional capacity and cardiac diastolic function

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of three exercise programs on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

We compared the effect of three different exercise programs on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease including strength training at 50_80% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) (ST; N = 11), low-intensity general training (LGT; N = 13), or combined training groups (CT; N = 11). Body composition, muscle strength, treadmill endurance test (TEnd), 6-min walk test (6MWT), Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and baseline dyspnea (BDI) were assessed prior to and after the training programs (12 weeks). The training modalities showed similar improvements (P > 0.05) in SGRQ-total (ST = 13 ± 14%; CT = 12 ± 14%; LGT = 11 ± 10%), BDI (ST = 1.8 ± 4; CT = 1.8 ± 3; LGT = 1 ± 2), 6MWT (ST = 43 ± 51 m; CT = 48 ± 50 m; LGT = 31 ± 75 m), and TEnd (ST = 11 ± 20 min; CT = 11 ± 11 min; LGT = 7 ± 5 min). In the ST and CT groups, an additional improvement in 1-RM values was shown (P < 0.05) compared to the LGT group (ST = 10 ± 6 to 57 ± 36 kg; CT = 6 ± 2 to 38 ± 16 kg; LGT = 1 ± 2 to 16 ± 12 kg). The addition of strength training to our current training program increased muscle strength; however, it produced no additional improvement in walking endurance, dyspnea or quality of life. A simple combined training program provides benefits without increasing the duration of the training sessions.

MUSCLE MASS GAIN AFTER RESISTANCE TRAINING IS INVERSELY CORRELATED WITH TRUNK ADIPOSITY GAIN IN POSTMENOPAUSAL WOMEN

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Plasma hormones, muscle mass and strength in resistance-trained postmenopausal women

Objective: To associate changes of body composition, muscle strength (MS) and plasma hormones (PH) in resistance-training protocol in sedentary postmenopausal women (PMW).Design: This randomized controlled trial, Brazilian 43 PMW (45-70-year-old) able for physical exercises were selected after they have accomplished medical and ethical criteria. They were assigned in two groups: RT, resistance training (n = 22); and CT, not trained control (n = 2 1); with supervision sessions of two to three exercise for large and one exercise for smaller groups in three series of 8-12 rep. (60-80% 1RM) for each exercise. The training period lasted 16 weeks and was preceded by low-load exercise (40-50% 1RM) adaptation period of 4 weeks (3/(times week)). Body weight, height, body mass index (BMI), and composition (BIA) along with fast-PH (FSH, LH, estrachol, cortisol, IGF-1 and testosterone) were assessed before (MO) and after (M 16) the 4 weeks period with the MS (1RM) determined also at 8 weeks (W). The values were correlated by Person's test and the means compared by Student's t-test and ANOVA.Results: At baseline both groups were similar in age, time of PMW, body composition, MS and fast-PH. However after 16 weeks, RT presented higher BMI (2. 1 %), IGF- 1 (37.8%) and MM gain (1.8 +/- 0.8 kg) than CT. MM correlated positively with IGF-1 (r = 0.45, p < 0.05) and MS progressively increased in all exercise greater in pectoral than legs and upper arms.Conclusion: Former sedentary postmenopausal women submitted to resistance training gained MM and MS irrespectively of fat mass changes but significantly associated with IGF-1 increase. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Respiratory Parameters and Exercise Functional Capacity in Preeclampsia

Objective: To evaluate maximal respiratory pressures, pulmonary volumes and capacities and exercise functional capacity in pregnant women with preeclampsia. Method: Primigravid women with preeclampsia and healthy primigravid women were evaluated by means of manovacuometry, spirometry and the 6-minute walk test. Results: The group with preeclampsia showed higher minute ventilation and lower forced vital capacity and exercise tolerance. The presence of preeclampsia and forced vital capacity were predictors in the six-minute walk test. Conclusion: Preeclampsia showed significant alterations in the respiratory system and was associated with lower exercise tolerance; however, it did not affect respiratory muscle functions.

Food-dependent, exercise-induced gastrointestinal distress

Among athletes strenuous exercise, dehydration and gastric emptying (GE) delay are the main causes of gastrointestinal (GI) complaints, whereas gut ischemia is the main cause of their nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and (blood) diarrhea. Additionally any factor that limits sweat evaporation, such as a hot and humid environment and/or body dehydration, has profound effects on muscle glycogen depletion and risk for heat illness. A serious underperfusion of the gut often leads to mucosal damage and enhanced permeability so as to hide blood loss, microbiota invasion (or endotoxemia) and food-born allergen absorption (with anaphylaxis). The goal of exercise rehydration is to intake more fluid orally than what is being lost in sweat. Sports drinks provide the addition of sodium and carbohydrates to assist with intestinal absorption of water and muscle-glycogen replenishment, respectively. However GE is proportionally slowed by carbohydrate-rich (hyperosmolar) solutions. on the other hand, in order to prevent hyponatremia, avoiding overhydration is recommended. Caregiver's responsibility would be to inform athletes about potential dangers of drinking too much water and also advise them to refrain from using hypertonic fluid replacements.