BACKGROUND: Shoulder girdle pain is a common disabling complaint with a high lifetime prevalence. Interventions aimed at decreasing shoulder pain without stressing shoulder girdle structures have the potential to improve participation in multimodal shoulder rehabilitation programs. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the acute effects of moderate intensity lower extremity exercise on mechanically induced shoulder pain in individuals without shoulder injury. It was hypothesized that participants would exhibit less shoulder pain, as indicated by increased pain thresholds, following lower extremity exercise. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated measures study. METHODS: Thirty (30) healthy participants were recruited to participate in this study. Pain pressure algometry was used to mechanically induce shoulder pain over the infraspinatus muscle belly. This was performed on the dominant shoulder before and immediately after performing 10 minutes of moderate intensity lower extremity exercise using a recumbent exercise machine. Heart rate and rate of perceived exertion were measured following exercise. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare pain pressure threshold scores between the baseline and post-exercise time points. Significance was set at p ≤ 0.05 . Effect size (ES) was calculated using Glass's Δ. RESULTS: Moderate intensity lower extremity aerobic exercise led to significantly (F = 8.471, p = 0.003) decreased evoked shoulder pain in healthy adults with moderate effect sizes (0.30-0.43). CONCLUSIONS: Lower extremity aerobic exercise significantly decreased pain of the infraspinatus in this sample of young healthy participants. Utilization of lower extremity exercise may be of benefit for younger patients to decreased acute shoulder pain. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b: individual cohort study.

ABSTRACT The Effects of a Novel Exercise Training Suit on Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Composition and Leg Strength Trevor Michael Curry The physiological responses to physical activity or exercise using external load carriage systems (LCS) in the form of weighted personal protective equipment, backpacks, or vests have biomechanical and human performance implications. It remains unclear whether a new unique LCS in the form of a weighted (5.45 kg) full-bodied exercise suit can induce greater improvements in performance and body composition. Twenty-one healthy males (20±3 years; 24.9±3.6 body mass index (BMI); 25.1±6.4% total percentage body fat ( % fat); 120.1±17.3 kg lean mass; 146.2±35.4 kg leg press 1-repetition max; 1.25±0.14 g·cm-2 bone mineral density; 49.5±8.53 mLO2·kg-1·min-1 maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max)) were matched for VO2max and physical characteristics before being randomly allocated into an aerobic exercise intervention with or without the exercise suit using a treadmill at the Cal Poly Recreation Center. Participants jogged at 60%-70% of their maximum heart rate for 30 min three times a week on nonconsecutive days for six weeks. Weight was recorded before and after each session while heart rates, blood pressures, and tympanic membrane temperatures were recorded incrementally during each session. Thereafter, VO2max and the same physical characteristics were measured and used to analyze the changes before and after the 6-week program. The results indicate that there was no difference for the change in any of the variables measured during and between the exercise intervention. Future studies examining the effect of the exercise suit on these variables should strongly consider larger sample sizes and other subpopulations to gain the statistical power to measure the effects of the exercise suit.

University evaluations often reflect an individual’s ability to memorize and recall lecture material during exams. Consequently, the ability to effectively encode, store, and later retrieve information is an integral part of learning and academic success. Notably, students who are more physically active tend to have better academic performance. The neurobiology of stress is a strong candidate for the mechanism underlying this exercise-cognition interaction. Given that exercise is a physical stressor, it is hypothesized that exercise-induced adrenocortical activations increase cortisol levels. Critically, cortisol increases memory consolidation for newly learned information. One hundred twenty-eight young adults (36 males; age: M±SD =19.47±1.55 years) viewed a video lecture before exercise (n = 41), after exercise (n = 42), or after rest (n = 45). The exercise was high intensity interval training on a cycle ergometer and memory for the lecture material was assessed using a multiple-choice quiz conducted 14 minutes and 48 hours after the lecture. There was a significant positive correlation between aerobic fitness and grade point average [r(95) = 0.22, p < .05], immediate recall [r(100) = 0.39, p < .001], and delayed recall [r(98) = 0.28, p < .01]. A mixed model ANOVA found a significant main effect of group on comprehension of the lecture material, F(2, 96) = 3.34, p < .05, revealing greater memory benefits at both 14 minutes and 48 hour delays for those who exercised compared to those who did not exercise; however, pairwise comparisons found this effect specific to the exercise post group. There was also a main effect of group on cortisol levels, F(2, 107) = 3.97, p < .05; however, only the exercise prior group exhibited significantly greater levels than the control group. Thus cortisol levels collected during the experimental session did not clearly differentiate the exercise conditions or reflect the observed memory benefits for the exercise post group. This may have resulted from the gradual increase in cortisol following exercise that had time to increase when exercise was completed at the beginning of the exercise session (exercise prior) rather than at the end (exercise post). Overall, this study suggests that both physical fitness and an acute bout of aerobic exercise are associated with academic and memory performance. More research is needed to understand the mechanism. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

No description available.

<p>Aerobic exercise can stimulate mixed muscle protein synthesis (MPS) acutely post-exercise; however, the types of proteins synthesized as a result of aerobic exercise are not known by studying changes in mixed MPS. We aimed to study the effect of aerobic exercise intensity on the 4 and 24 h post-exercise fractional synthesis rate (FSR) of myofibrillar proteins. Using a within-subject design, eight males (21 ± 1 years, VO_{2 peak}: 46.7 ± 2.0 mL kg^-1 min^-1) underwent 2 trials with a primed constant infusion of L-[<em>ring</em>-¹³C₆]phenylalanine in the fasted state for each work-matched exercise intensity (LOW: cycling for 60 min at 30% W_max and HIGH: 30 min at 60% W_max). Muscle biopsies were obtained to determine resting, 4 and 24 h post-exercise myofibrillar FSR. We also studied the phosphorylation of signaling proteins involved in protein synthesis at each time point using immunoblotting methods. Phospho-p38^{Thr180/Tyr182} was greater at 4.5 h after exercise compared to 0.5, 24 and 28 h post-exercise (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Additionally, a strong trend was present for phospho-mTOR^Ser2448 (<em>p</em> = 0.056) with 0.5 h post-exercise phosphorylation significantly higher after HIGH than after LOW exercise (<em>p </em>< 0.05). Myofibrillar protein synthesis was stimulated 1.5–fold 0.5 – 4 h post-exercise (<em>p</em> < 0.05), returning to rest in the LOW condition 24 h post-exercise, while 6 out of 8 subjects maintained increased myofibrillar FSR 24 h post HIGH exercise (<em>p</em> < 0.05). The increase in myofibrillar FSR 0.5 – 4 h post-exercise was correlated with phospho-mTOR^Ser2448 0.5 h post-exercise (r = 0.698, <em>p</em> < 0.01), indicating the role of this signaling pathway in myofibrillar protein synthesis. It is concluded that aerobic exercise has an effect on myofibrillar protein synthesis and intensity may play a role in the duration of this response.</p> / Master of Science in Kinesiology

<p>A comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms regulating vascular structure and function may assist in designing effective strategies to decrease cardiovascular disease risk. The current studies were designed to investigate a) relationships between collagen markers and arterial stiffness and markers of vasoconstriction and inflammation and endothelial function in humans with a wide range of vascular health, including overweight women, elderly healthy men, individuals with coronary artery disease, individuals with spinal cord injury and young healthy men and b) changes in arterial structure and function and circulating serum markers of type I collagen synthesis and degradation, vasoconstriction and inflammation in overweight pre-menopausal women before and after a 16- week diet and exercise intervention. Resting brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD), upper limb and/or central pulse wave velocity (PWV_c-r and PWV_c-f) and carotid artery distensibility were assessed at baseline in all groups and, in the overweight population, after the 16-week intervention. Pro-collagen type I C-peptide (PIP), C-telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), markers of collagen synthesis and degradation respectively, endothelin-1 (ET-1) a vasoconstrictor and interleukin-6 (IL-6) an inflammatory marker were measured. In the spectrum of vascular health, a negative relationship exists between collagen markers and central PWV (CTX–PWV_c-f: r = -0.41, p = 0.001 and PIP – PWV_c-f: r = -0.32, p = 0.01) and a positive relationship between markers and carotid distensibility (CTX: r = 0.59, pc-r increased over time in the overweight population (FMD pre: 4.1 ± 0.5 % vs. post: 6.9 ± 0.7 %, pc-r pre: 8.1 ± 0.3 m/s vs. post: 8.9 ± 0.3 m/s, p</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

African Americans have the highest prevalence of hypertension in the world which may emanate from their predisposition to heightened endothelial inflammation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in vivo influence of aerobic exercise training (AEXT) on the anti-inflammatory biomarker interleukin-10 (IL-10), the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP), the endothelial activation marker CD62E+ endothelial microparticle (EMP), and the vasodilatory biomarker nitric oxide (NO) in an African American cohort. A secondary purpose was to conduct a complementary in vitro study on the influence of IL-10 and laminar shear stress (LSS) on African American endothelial cells. In Vivo Methods: The subjects were sedentary, putatively healthy, 45-71 y/o African American men and women. A pre-post study design was employed with baseline and post-intervention evaluations of office blood pressure, fasting blood sampling, and graded exercise testing. Subjects engaged in AEXT three times per week for six months at an intensity equivalent to 65% of their VO2max. Plasma concentrations of IL-10 and IL-6 were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) were determined using a modified Griess assay. Plasma samples for CRP were sent to Quest Diagnostics Inc. for analysis. Circulating CD62E+ EMPs were quantified using a flow cytometer. In Vitro Methods: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) from an African American donor were cultured and exposed to four experimental conditions: Static, Static with IL-10 Incubation, LSS at 20 dynes/cm2, and LSS at 20 dynes/cm2 with IL-10 Incubation. Western blotting experiments were conducted to measure endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein expression and its phosphorylated form (p-eNOS) at Serine 1177 in the cells in all four conditions. A modified Griess assay was used to measure NOx in the cell culture supernatant. In Vivo Results: There was a significant increase in NO (n=24; p=0.002), a significant decrease in IL-6 (n=32; p=0.04), a significant decrease in CRP (n=37; p=0.01), and a significant decrease in CD62E+ EMPs (n=28; pIn Vitro Results: Protein expression levels of both eNOS and p-eNOS were significantly increased in the LSS at 20 dynes/cm2 and LSS at 20 dynes/cm2 with IL-10 Incubation experimental conditions when compared to the Static experimental condition. NO concentration levels were significantly increased in the LSS at 20 dynes/cm2 and LSS at 20 dynes/cm2 with IL-10 Incubation experimental conditions when compared to the Static experimental condition. Conclusion: Based on these results, AEXT may be a viable, non-pharmacologic method to improve vascular inflammation status and vasodilation, and thereby contribute to reduced hypertension and cardiovascular disease risk in African Americans. / Kinesiology

Sixteen males and sixteen females were recruited for this study; eight of each gender were aerobically trained athletes; the remaining eight were untrained control subjects. Each subject performed a maximal exercise stress test for aerobic capacity (VO2max). On a separate day the blood volume and the cardiovascular responses to progressive (0 to -50 torr) lower body negative pressure (LBNP) were determined. The female subjects were observed to be significantly more tolerant of the LBNP than the male subjects. No differences between groups were observed in changes in leg volume, cardiac index, blood pressure, or heart rate during LBNP. However, the females, in comparison to the males, maintained stroke index at a higher level, and increased regional vasoconstriction more, during the LBNP induced hypotensive stress. These findings suggest that female subjects withstand LBNP to -50 torr better than male subjects.

A Fibromialgia (FM) é uma síndrome de dor crônica caracterizada pelo aparecimento de dor difusa, intermitente e crônica por todo o corpo. A prática de exercícios aeróbicos demonstra resultados no alívio da dor, porém com uma dificuldade de aderência aos protocolos. A Estimulação Transcraniana com Corrente Contínua (ETCC), promove modulação da atividade cerebral e tem demonstrado resultados positivos para redução da dor. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o efeito da terapia combinada utilizando a técnica de ETCC associada ao treino de Exercício Aeróbico (EA) em pacientes portadores de fibromialgia. Para tanto, 45 pacientes foram randomizados em um dos seguintes três grupos: Grupo ETCC / EA, Grupo EA (com ETCC simulada), e Grupo ETCC (com EA simulado). Durante a intervenção os sujeitos passaram por uma etapa de uma semana de ETCC (cinco dias consecutivos) associado ao treino de EA por três dias desta semana; e uma segunda etapa de quatro semanas (sendo realizadas três vezes em cada semana) apenas com o treino de EA. A ETCC foi aplicada posicionando o eletrodo anodal sobre o córtex motor primário e o eletrodo catodal sobre a região supra-orbital contralateral com 2mA por 20 minutos. O EA utilizou uma intensidade de 60 a 70% da frequência cardíaca máxima. A escala visual numérica de dor foi utilizada como desfecho primário, sendo utilizadas avaliações de ansiedade, limiar de dor à pressão, resposta condicionada a dor (DNIC), preenchimento de mapa corporal, questionário de qualidade de vida SF-36, inventário de depressão de Beck, tarefa go-no-go, teste de caminhada de seis minutos, timed up-and-go, e avaliação da excitabilidade cortical utilizando estimulação magnética transcraniana. Houve efeito significativo para a interação tempo X grupo para a intensidade da dor, demonstrando que ETCC / EA foi superior ao AE apenas (F (13,364) = 2.25, p = 0,007) e ETCC (F (13,364) = 2.33, p = 0,0056). Análise ajustada do post hoc demostrou uma diferença entre ETCC / AE e grupo ETCC após a primeira semana de estimulação e depois do período de um mês de intervenção (p = 0,02 e p = 0,03, respectivamente). Além disso, após o tratamento houve uma diferença significativa entre os grupos nos níveis de ansiedade e de humor. O tratamento combinado apresentou a maior resposta. Nenhum dos grupos apresentou diferenças significativas em relação a respostas da plasticidade do córtex motor, tal como avaliado pela EMT. A combinação de ETCC com o exercício aeróbico é superior em comparação com cada intervenção individual (tamanho do efeito pelo teste d de Cohen> 0,55). Este estudo demonstrou que a neuromodulação com ETCC associado ao treino de EA levou a uma melhora na resposta de dor mais intensa do que quando comparado a cada modalidade de intervenção isolada. Os níveis de ansiedade também demonstraram melhora no grupo de associação. Notavelmente, o nível inicial de dor e humor parece ser um preditor do resultado. Observou-se que os indivíduos com níveis de dor mais altos e níveis mais elevados de depressão responderam melhor ao tratamento. Por fim, a intervenção combinada teve um efeito significativo sobre a dor, ansiedade e humor. É provável que a intervenção combinada pode ter afetado outros circuitos neurais, tais como aqueles que controlam os aspectos afetivo-emocionais de dor / Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by the appearance of diffuse pain, intermittent and chronic throughout the body. The aerobic exercise demonstrates results in relieving but with a difficulty of adherence to protocols. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) promotes modulation of brain activity and have demonstrated positive results in reducing pain. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a combination therapy protocol using tDCS technique associated with Aerobic Exercise training (AE) in fibromyalgia patients. Therefore, 45 patients were randomized into one of three groups: tDCS/AE group, AE group (sham tDCS), and tDCS group (sham AE). During the intervention subjects went through a stage of a week of tDCS (five consecutive days) associated with AE training for three days per week; and a second step with four weeks duration (being performed three times per week) only with AE training. The tDCS was applied by placing the anodal electrode on the primary motor cortex and catodal electrode on the contralateral supraorbital region, using 2mA for 20 minutes. AE used an intensity of 60 to 70% of maximum heart rate. The visual numeric pain scale was used as the primary outcome, and as secondary outcome: VNS anxiety ratings, pressure pain threshold, conditioned pain modulation (DNIC), SF-36 questionnaire, beck depression inventory, an emotional go-no-go task, six-minute walk test, timed up-and-go test, and evaluation of cortical excitability using TMS. There was a significant effect for the interaction time X group to the intensity of pain, demonstrating that tDCS / AE was higher than the AE only (F (13.364) = 2.25, p = 0.007) and tDCS (F (13.364) = 2.33, p = 0, 0056). Adjusted post hoc analysis demonstrated a difference between tDCS / AE and tDCS group after first week of stimulation, and after one month\'s intervention (p = 0.02 and p = 0.03, respectively). In addition, after treatment there was a significant difference between the groups in the level of anxiety and mood. The combined treatment showed the greatest response. Neither group showed significant differences from the motor cortex plasticity responses, as assessed by EMT. The combination of tDCS with aerobic exercise is higher compared to each individual intervention (effect size for the test Cohen d> 0.55). This study demonstrated that neuromodulation with tDCS associated with AE training led to an improvement in the intensity of pain greater than when compared to each intervention modality alone. Anxiety levels also showed improvement in the combination group. Notably, the initial level of pain and mood seems to be a predictor of the outcome. It was observed that individuals with higher levels of pain and higher levels of depression responded better to the treatment. Finally, the combined intervention had a significant effect on pain, anxiety and mood. It is likely that the combined intervention may have affected other neural circuits, such as those that control the affective and emotional aspects of pain