Low-intensity resistance training attenuates dexamethasone-induced atrophy in the flexor hallucis longus muscle

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

Effects of High-Intensity Interval vs. Continuous Moderate Exercise on Intraocular Pressure

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

The effects of elastic tubing-based resistance training compared with conventional resistance training in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized clinical trial

Objective: To investigate the effects of elastic tubing training compared with conventional resistance training on the improvement of functional exercise capacity, muscle strength, fat-free mass, and systemic inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Design: A prospective, randomized, eight-week clinical trial.Setting: The study was conducted in a university-based, outpatient, physical therapy clinic.Subjects: A total of 49 patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Interventions: Participants were randomly assigned to perform elastic tubing training or conventional resistance training three times per week for eight weeks.Main measures: The primary outcome measure was functional exercise capacity. The secondary outcome measures were peripheral muscle strength, health-related quality of life assessed by the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRDQ), fat-free mass, and cytokine profile.Results: After eight weeks, the mean distance covered during six minutes increased by 73 meters (69) in the elastic tubing group and by 42 meters (+/- 59) in the conventional group (p < 0.05). The muscle strength and quality of life improved in both groups (P < 0.05), with no significant differences between the groups. There was a trend toward an improved fat-free mass in both groups (P = 0.05). After the first and last sessions, there was an increase in interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) in both groups, while tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-) was stimulated only in the conventional training group.Conclusion: Elastic tubing training had a greater effect on functional exercise capacity than conventional resistance training. Both interventions were equally effective in improving muscle strength and quality of life.

Moderate Exercise Reduces Food Consumption in Obese Mice for Activate Jak-2/Stat-3 Pathway in the Hypothalami

It is very known that due to inflammatory processes the obesity leads to resistance to leptin, it reduces phosphorylation via JAK-2/STAT-3, which generates lower STAT-3 activity in the cell nucleus, and it leads to decrease the number of transcription of anorexigenic neurons (POMC/CART) and allowing transcription of orexigenic (NPY/AgRP). PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of moderate aerobic training on food intake of obese mice through analysis of activity of hypothalamic proteins JAK-2/STAT-3. METHODS: It were used 30 Swiss mice (30 days old) divided into 3 groups: Control Group (C): sedentary animals fed with balanced diet ; Obese (OB) sedentary animals fed with high-fat diet throughout the experiment and Trained Obese (TOB) : animals fed with high fat diet throughout the experiment , kept sedentary during the first half of the experiment (8 weeks) and submitted to physical training protocol during the second half of the experiment (8 weeks). The exercise program consisted of treadmill running 1h, 5 days/week during 8 weeks at a speed equivalent to 60 % of maximum potency determined at the beginning of training period. To assess the leptin resistance, after rats were deprived of food for 6h with free access to water, they received i.p injection with leptin (2.0µl, 10-6M), after this, the chow was returned and food intake was determined by measuring the quantity and Kcal consumed at the end of 2h. The hypothalami was removed for determination of JAK-2 and STAt-3 activity. RESULTS: Our results showed that moderate physical exercise was effective in improving the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in the hypothalamus of obese animals. This has made these obese animals had reduced food intake and consequently lower body mass gain. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that physical exercise, for restoring leptin signaling in the hypothalamus, controls the synthesis of neurons responsible for appetite and thus is an important tool in the treatment of obesity.

Physical Exercise in MCI Elderly Promotes Reduction of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines and Improvements on Cognition and BDNF Peripheral Levels

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

Physical Exercise Improves Peripheral BDNF Levels and Cognitive Functions in Mild Cognitive Impairment Elderly with Different BDNF Val66Met Genotypes

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

Carbohydrate-Dependent, Exercise-Induced Gastrointestinal Distress

Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are a common concern of athletes during intense exercise. Ultimately, these symptoms can impair performance and possibly prevent athletes from winning or even finishing a race. The main causes of GI problems during exercise are mechanical, ischemic and nutritional factors. Among the nutritional factors, a high intake of carbohydrate and hyperosmolar solutions increases GI problems. A number of nutritional manipulations have been proposed to minimize gastrointestinal symptoms, including the use of multiple transportable carbohydrates. This type of CHO intake increases the oxidation rates and can prevent the accumulation of carbohydrate in the intestine. Glucose (6%) or glucose plus fructose (8%-10%) beverages are recommended in order to increase CHO intake while avoiding the gastric emptying delay. Training the gut with high intake of CHO may increase absorption capacity and probably prevent GI distress. CHO mouth rinse may be a good strategy to enhance performance without using GI tract in exercises lasting less than an hour. Future strategies should be investigated comparing different CHO types, doses, and concentration in exercises with the same characteristics.

Salivary cortisol response to concurrent strength and high-intensity aerobic exercise: a pilot study

Aim. The aim of this pilot study was to compare strength performance and salivary cortisol levels response during a single strength session, and a strength session after 30 min of high-intensity aerobic exercise (concurrent condition).Methods. Saliva was collected from 7 male subjects, before and after all exercise bouts, and the maximum number of repetitions (MNR) and total volume (TV) in the different conditions assessed.Results. The MNR and TV were reduced in concurrent condition compared with control condition. Strength exercise in the concurrent condition induced higher salivary cortisol in relation to strength exercise or to and high-intensity aerobic exercise, separately.Conclusion. The different salivary cortisol profile in response to concurrent exercise reflects the faster reactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system in this circumstance.

Exercise and oxidative stress: p,otential effects of antioxidant dietary strategies in sports

Free radicals are produced during aerobic cellular metabolism and have key roles as regulatory mediators in signaling processes. Oxidative stress reflects an imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species and an adequate antioxidant defense. This adverse condition may lead to cellular and tissue damage of components, and is involved in different physiopathological states, including aging, exercise, inflammatory, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. In particular, the relationship between exercise and oxidative stress is extremely complex, depending on the mode, intensity, and duration of exercise. Regular moderate training appears beneficial for oxidative stress and health. Conversely, acute exercise leads to increased oxidative stress, although this same stimulus is necessary to allow an up-regulation in endogenous antioxidant defenses (hormesis). Supporting endogenous defenses with additional oral antioxidant supplementation may represent a suitable noninvasive tool for preventing or reducing oxidative stress during training. However, excess of exogenous antioxidants may have detrimental effects on health and performance. Whole foods, rather than capsules, contain antioxidants in natural ratios and proportions, which may act in synergy to optimize the antioxidant effect. Thus, an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals through a varied and balanced diet remains the best approach to maintain an optimal antioxidant status. Antioxidant supplementation may be warranted in particular conditions, when athletes are exposed to high oxidative stress or fail to meet dietary antioxidant requirements. Aim of this review is to discuss the evidence on the relationship between exercise and oxidative stress, and the potential effects of dietary strategies in athletes. The differences between diet and exogenous supplementation as well as available tools to estimate effectiveness of antioxidant intake are also reported. Finally, we advocate the need to adopt an individualized diet for each athlete performing a specific sport or in a specific period of training, clinically supervised with inclusion of blood analysis and physiological tests, in a comprehensive nutritional assessment. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Music tempo's effect on exercise performance: comment on dyer and mckune

Dyer and McKune (2013) stated that music tempo has no influence on performance, physiological, and psychophysical variables in well-trained cyclists during high intensity endurance tasks. However, there are important limitations in the methodology of the study. The participants'music preferences and tempo change were not well measured. It is not possible to affirm that music tempo does not influence athletes'performance. Potential areas of future research include: (a) use of instruments to assess the qualities of music; (b) standardizing music of tempo according to exercise type (e.g., running, cycling, etc.); (c) considering training level of the participants (i.e., athletes and non-athletes); and (d) use of instruments to assess concentration during exercise.

Effects of Water-Based and Callisthenic Exercise on Freezing of Gait, Postural Control, and Functional Independence in Patients With Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease

Objective: This study aimed to analyze and compare the role of a water-based exercise program versus a combination of water and callisthenic exercises on postural control, functional independence, and freezing of gait (FOG) in patients with mild to moderate Parkinson disease.Methods: Twenty-five community-dwelling participants with idiopathic Parkinson disease were recruited. Of these, 9 participants took part in a water-based program of physical exercises and the other 16 participants took part in a combined program that consisted of callisthenic exercises plus an aquatic exercise session. Both programs were 16 weeks in duration. The clinical evaluation assessed the festination by means of the FOG score test; postural control was verified by means of the balance test of the short physical performance battery, and the Spanish validated version of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part 2 was used to assess functional independence. Participants were evaluated before and after 16 weeks of both proposed programs.Results: The results showed improvement in FOG for both groups, although a significant main effect was observed only in the patients who performed the callisthenic exercise plus an aquatic exercise program. Postural control did not show significant improvements after both proposed physical exercise programs as soon as functional autonomy. Our preliminary results suggest that training sessions with the combination of water plus callisthenic exercises may be a useful physical rehabilitation strategy for individuals with mild to moderate Parkinson disease who have FOG.

Rating of perceived exertion as a tool for prescribing and self regulating interval training: a pilot study

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

Respiratory training as strategy to prevent cognitive decline in aging: a randomized controlled trial

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)