Introduction The physiological effects of single and multiday road running races have been studied extensively and include the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis, reflected by significantly increased urinary myoglobin (uMb), as well as increased concentrations of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), cortisol and cardiac troponin-T (cTnT), dehydration and compromised renal function. Furthermore, in hyperthermic athletes, a positive relationship has been noted between hyperthermia, muscle damage, dehydration and pacing. The physiological effects of a multiday trail run of similar duration to single day road races, however, are unknown. The side-effects of the use of statin medication for hypercholesterolaemia include muscle fatigue, cramping and increased muscle damage. These have been found to be aggravated in endurance athletes and it has been reported that females, especially when being medicated from a young age, are more susceptible to these side-effects. Objectives 1. To investigate the effect of a three-day trail run on systemic and urinary markers of muscle damage and inflammation in recreational runners and to establish the association of dehydration and hyperthermia with these markers. 2. To observe the effect of the three day trail run on systemic and urinary markers of muscle damage and inflammation on an additional hypercholesterolaemic female athlete using statin medication in combination with a lipid uptake inhibitor. Method Firstly, an observational cohort study was conducted on 19 recreational male (n=6) and female (n=13) athletes during a 95km trail run over three days. Pre-and post-stage and 24 and 72 h post-race concentrations of serum CPK, hsCRP, cortisol, cTnT, and osmolality (sOsm) as well as uMb, changes in body mass, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and thigh circumference (TC) were measured. Continuous recordings of heart rate (HR) and intestinal temperature (Tintest ) were made throughout each stage. In addition, a case report is included on one trained female endurance athlete currently being treated for familial hypercholesterolaemia with 20 mg Aspavor and 10 mg Ezetrol daily and not included in the above cohort, to investigate the degree of muscle damage and inflammation she experienced as a result of participation in the three-day event. Results: Heart rate ranged between 77 and 83% age-predicted-maximum (APmax) and Tintest between 36.1 and 40.2 ºC during the three stages. Significant rises in mean serum CPK, hsCRP, sOsm and blood neutrophil count reached peak concentrations of 1 488U/L, 8.91mg/l, 298mosm/L and 10.21 10^9/L (p≤0.001), respectively. No evidence of elevations in uMb and cTnT were detected. The stage-induced increments in DOMS correlated positively with CPK, r=0.71; 95% CI [0.62, 0.78]. TC decreased significantly post S1post and S2post (p≤0.05) and a maximum mean body mass loss of 3.09% (±1.04%) occurred during S2. There was no significant difference between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) users and non-users in terms of serum CPK, hsCRP, cortisol, post race DOMS scores, running times, TC or sOsm (p>0.05). The post-pre change in sOsm during each stage correlated inversely with the changes in % body mass, r = -0.36, 95% CI [-0.57,-0.094] and the pooled data examining the relationship between the change of sOsm and change in serum CPK for the three stages (n=57), revealed an insignificant positive correlation (r= 0.034, 95% CI [-0.228, 0.291]. The maximum Tintest ranged between 38.3 º C and 40.2 º C and only exceeded 40º C in two of the 12 athletes monitored. The relationship between the change in Tintest and serum CPK was insignificant (p>0.05) for the 11 individuals from whom complete sets of data were available (r= 0.24, 95% CI [-0.42, 0.734]. In the hypercholesterolaemic athlete, the maximum serum CPK (665U/L), hsCRP (1.9mg/Ll) and cortisol (845nmol/L) concentrations corresponded with undetected uMb despite a maximum body mass loss of 4.5% Conclusion: Three consecutive days of 95km trail running resulted in low markers of muscle damage and inflammation, when compared to results obtained in previous single day road races of similar duration despite the maintenance of a heart rate above 77% APmax, Tintest rising above 39o C and mean body mass decrement of >2.0%. The unchanged concentrations of serum cTnT and uMb confirmed the low values of the markers of muscle damage and inflammation. An insignificant positive correlation between muscle damage and dehydration was noted. Furthermore the daily use of 0.4 mg/kg Atorvastatin in combination with 10mg Ezetrol did not result in the subject experiencing subjective myalgia, cramps, fatigue or increased markers of muscle damage following her participation in the trail run. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2012.

The heart rate achieved with maximal upper limb exercise is quoted as being on average thirteen beats per minute lower than when performing maximal leg exercise. Many canoeists use heart rate monitors during training and seek advice on setting their heart rate training zones. Existing guidelines are based on lower limb-derived heart rates, which may not be appropriate. As canoeists use predominantly their upper limbs during canoeing, it was hypothesized that as their upper limbs are trained, they may achieve heart rates and oxygen consumption similar to those achieved with lower limb exercise. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the relationship between heart rate and oxygen consumption when exercising on either a kayak ergometer or treadmill. Fifteen volunteer canoeists, who compete regularly, were recruited by convenience, purposive sampling and randomly allocated to a V02max test using open circuit spirometry, on either a kayak ergometer or treadmill. They returned within 5 to 7 days for a V02max test on the other apparatus. Their heart rates were also measured during these activities. The heart rate oxygen consumption relationship for upper and lower limb exercise was then analysed. Maximum heart rate was on average only 6 beats per minute lower with upper limb exercise, with some subjects achieving the same or very similar HRmax; the median difference in heart rate maximum was only 4 beats per minute. Although the response of heart rate and oxygen consumption to kayaking and running was similar at any given workload, the heart rate on the kayak was about 8 beats per minute higher at any submaximal workload. V02max. on the kayak was lower than on the treadmill. At any metabolic equivalent, the tidal volume was lower on the kayak and there was a lower respiratory rate on the treadmill. At any tidal volume, the metabolic equivalent was lower on the kayak ergometer. The minute volume on the kayak was higher than on the treadmill, for all but the highest intensities of exercise. Using the leg heart rate max to determine the training zones, a slightly higher (negligible) percentage of arm V0max is achieved at any given percentage heart rate. Kayakers who train regularly, appear to be able to attain similar maximum heart rates with upper and lower limb exercise, but a lower V02max when exercising with their arms. The heart rate oxygen consumption response is the same for upper and lower body exercise; and a reduced HRmax and increased heart rate at any sub maximal workload do not appear to apply to canoeists. It is therefore concluded that heart rate training zones based on leg HRmax are suitable for kayak training. This study has helped distinguish the difference between the heart rates of the upper and lower limbs at any given oxygen consumption in canoeists. The benefits of performing this study have also been to provide better advice to canoeists on how to train using heart rate monitors. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2003.

Post exercise lymphocytopenia is a well documented phenomenon. Studies have reported exercise induced DNA damage in leucocytes and have postulated a possible link to apoptosis. Five subjects of differing fitness levels underwent a ramped treadmill test to exhaustion. Venous sampling was undertaken before, immediately post exercise, and 24 and 48 hours after exercise. Single cell gel electrophoresis showed evidence of single strand DNA breaks (as evidenced by an increase in tail moment measurements using the comet assay) in 100% oflymphocytes immediately after exercise, and in the 24 hour and 48 hour post exercise samples. Flowcytometric analysis oflymphocytes revealed a minimal amount of both apoptosis and necrosis at all time intervals. Lymphocyte apoptosis has again been demonstrated after exercise, however the percentage of apoptosis was a maximum of 4.8% at 24 hours. These findings may in part account for the exercise induced lymphocytopenia and reduced immunity demonstrated by numerous previous other studies. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

No description available.

The purpose of this investigation was to compare associative and dissociative psychological strategies of attentional focus for their effects on self - report ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and heart rate during endurance exercise. Trained cyclists (n = 7) performed three 60 minute experimental rides on a bicycle ergometer which consisted of an association ride (attention focused on heart rate feedback), a dissociation ride (attention focused on responding to a cue word on a videotape), and a control condition ride in which focus of attention was not purposely manipulated. Results indicated that the deliberate application of a cognitive strategy designed to encourage an individual to associate or dissociate did not differentially effect either actual efficiency (heart rate) or perception of exercise intensity (RPE scores). Overall, it was concluded that there was a trend for the dissociation condition to result in higher RPE scores than the association condition or control condition. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to compare selected kinematic characteristics of distance runners over a twenty year period. The subjects in the investigation were 14 long distance runners who at the time of the first observation were considered highly trained (running more than 50 miles per week). The second observation occurred approximately 20-23 years after the first observation. At this time the average weekly mileage per runner had decreased to 37 miles per week. The first observation's data were collected with a Locam camera at film speeds ranging from 60 to 120 frames/second. The film data were digitized at the same time as the second observation's data. The second observation's data were collected with a Panasonic 5000 shutter video camera. The Peak Performance Motion Measurement System video interface allowed a 60 frame/second field rate. Ten subjects ran at a speed of 3.4 m/s; two subjects at the speeds of 3.1 and 3.6 m/s; and one subject at each of the following speeds: 4.0, 4.5, and 4.9 m/s. Statistical analyses (ANOVA) of the stride length, stride frequency, support and non-support time, and joint angular displacement indicated no significant difference (p > .05) between the first observation and the second observation. The results of this study indicated that the kinematics of continually active long distance runners do not change with an increase in age. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to determine if using a humor program affected hospital oncology and osteology patients' recuperation times or use of pain medications. A quasi-experimental, retrospective study was designed. Thirty pairs of patients were identified from existing records at a hospital that has a comprehensive humor program. One patient in each pair had used the humor program, the other had not. Chi-square analysis on the demographic variables of race, marital status, smoking status and sex showed no significant association between humor usage and all variables except sex. No correlation was found between patient age and humor program use. Independent t-tests (a = 0.05) were performed on the duration of stay for treatment and control populations, for the oncology and the osteology groups. No statistically significant differences were found in either population. Two independent t-tests (a = 0.05) were performed to analyze pain medication usage. The first examined the differences in the mean percent of p.r.n. pain medications used. Neither population showed statistically significant differences. The second t-tests examined coded scores for changes in pain medication orders. Again, no statistically significant differences were found in either population. / Department of Physiology and Health Science

The aim of this study was to examine whether vitamins E (200 IU) and C (1 g) in combination would influence exercise-induced lipid peroxidation to a greater extent than vitamin E (400 IU) alone. A placebo-controlled study was carried out on 7 collegiate cyclists who were supplemented with 1) vitamin C (1 g); 2) vitamins E (200 IU) and C (1 g); and vitamin E (400 IU) during 3 treatments, each 3 weeks in duration. The serum concentrations of hematocrit and MDA, one marker of lipid peroxidation, were measured immediately before, immediately after, and 24 hours after each exercise bout. After the vitamin C treatment, MDA serum concentration of the athletes (n=7) increased 85% above the baseline values of the placebo values, the vitamin E/C treatment showed a 29% increase, and the vitamin E treatment showed a 39% decrease. Pre- to post-exercise serum MDA levels increased 64% in the placebo group, a 29% increase in the vitamin C treatment group, a 23.2% increase in the vitamins E/C treatment group, and a 46.9% increase in the vitamin E treatment group. It is concluded that exercise-induced lipid peroxidation is more greatly influenced post-exercise by a combination of vitamins E (200 IU) and C (1 g), than by either vitamin C (1 g) alone, or vitamin E (400 IU) alone. / Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Although the benefits of exercise to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are well-known, individuals with NIDDM are at risk for macrovascular and microvascular complications associated with an abnormal systolic blood pressure (SBP) elevation during exercise. In order to compare the SBP and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) response between individuals with NIDDM and apparently healthy controls during submaximal exercise, eight individuals representative of each group completed a 10-minute submaximal treadmill exercise trial at 65% of functional capacity. Heart rate, blood pressure and RPE were monitored throughout the trial. Between group comparisons were made for SBP and RPE response, and the frequency of exercise SBP response _> 200 mmHg was investigated. No significant differences were observed in either SBP or RPE response between groups during the submaximal treadmill trials. In addition, none of the subjects from either group achieved a SBP ? 200 mmHg. While this study indicates that exercise at 65% of functional capacity is safe for this particular group of subjects with NIDDM, additional research is warranted to investigate cardiovascular response to exercise in a broader subject pool representative of the entire NIDDM population. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of the study was to determine the affect of SkyFlex training would have on jumping ability. The SkyFlex is a shoe constructed with a forefoot platform elevating the heel. The design purports enhancement of the stretch reflex in the Gastrocnemius and Soleus muscles. The SkyFlex includes an Airlon Flexfit sock liner designed to keep the ankle warm during training, minimizing tightness and flexibility reductions. Division I varsity male volleyball players (n= 17) were tested for the following: standing vertical jump, approach jump, court sprint, shuttle run, and anthropometry. Two-way AN OVA found no statistical significance (p<0.05) on any of the variables except for the differences between sessions of reaction forces. SkyFlex test group Ankle flexibility decreased with dorsiflexion while the control group increased both dorsal and plantar flexion. Based on the results of this study, training in the SkyFlex does not provide training advantages over training in a regular athletic shoe. / School of Physical Education