The purpose of the study was to determine whether serial graded exercise test (GXT) responses, known to have prognostic importance, in the coronary artery disease population generally, can differentiate certain cardiovascular morbidity and mortality endpoints among physically active patients. Data were obtained in 1989 at three community-based cardiac rehabilitation programs from three serial GXT results in 23 paired cardiac event (CE) and non-event (NE) patients. A cardiac event was defined as having an myocardial infarction (MI), percutaneous translumial angioplasty (PTCA), coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and cardiac death. Comparisons were made just prior to each CE patients event. Statistical analyses were done on four exercise test variables: ST-segment depression (ST80) at peak exercise, heart rate adjusted 5Tsegment depression (ST/HR slope), exercise induced ventricular dysrhythmias (PVC), and exercise induced chest pain. Chi-square analyses showed no significant changes across the serial tests for any of the variables examined in either the CE or NE groups (P)0.05). Nevertheless, the CE group had significantly more 8Tsegment depression, ST/HR slope, and exercise chest pain in all GXT intervals in comparison to the NE group. These findings do not support the use of serial exercise GXTs for prognostic information for the physically active cardiac rehabilitation maintenance patients. / Master of Science

Controversy exists regarding the effects of beta-blocker medications on functional capacity in cardiac patients and in the effects of disease-related impairments on cardiorespiratory dynamics during exercise testing. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the exercise responses of 26 subjects (ages 37-66 years) to a graded exercise test. Subjects were divided into three groups based on clinical status: apparently healthy (AH; N=8); cardiacs receiving beta-blockers (C-BB; N=8); cardiacs not receiving beta-blockers (Câ NBB; N=lO). / Master of Science

Hyperventilation has been reported to cause false-positive ischemic shifts in the ST-segment of the electrocardiogram during exercise. These responses have been observed to occur at a higher incidence in females than males. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the performance of pretest hyperventilation on ECG components that are suggestive of myocardial ischemia in females. A standard 12-lead Mason-Likar recording set was used including leads I, II, II, aVR, aVL, aVF, V₂, and V₅. Fifteen females comprised the subject pool for this study, which was screened on the basis of J-point depression in a preliminary exercise procedure. The fifteen subjects each performed two exercise sessions, one with no hyperventilation and the other with a preliminary hyperventilation. Statistically significant differences were found between the baseline and post-hyperventilation ECG (P<.05). Analysis of the results revealed no significant differences in J-junction depression, ST slope, and the ST integral between the two testing conditions. Hyperventilation did affect the ST responses of the ECG in these young adult females at baseline and its continued use in conjunction with graded exercise testing may help uncover ST-segment changes associated with false-positive exercise responses. Hyperventilation may be performed in young adult females in conjunction with GXTs without the liklihood of augmenting ST-segment shifts during the exercise. / Master of Science

Populations that utilize deep water running (DWR) are described in Chapter I. A review of the literature concerning maximal and submaximal responses during DWR, shallow water running and swimming is presented in Chapter II. The protocols to elicit maximal responses during DWR and treadmill running (TMR), subject characteristics, and statistical methods employed are described in Chapter III. The results, presented in Chapter IV, indicate that the DWR protocol is a reliable test for eliciting peak oxygen consumption and heart rate. Furthermore, the metabolic responses during DWR are lower than TMR. Chapter V discusses factors which might limit maximal responses during DWR. Chapter VI contains suggestions for further research. Raw data are presented in Appendix A.

Cheung, Pui-yee. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 77-83). / Text in English; abstracts in English and Chinese. / Cheung, Pui-yee. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Table of Contents --- p.iv / List of Tables --- p.vii / List of Figures --- p.viii / Chapter CHAPTER ONE --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Fitness Testing in children --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Constraints in the direct VO2 peak measurement on children --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- The application of field test in assessing children aerobic fitness --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2 --- Purpose of the Study --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3 --- Operational Definitions --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Delimitations --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5 --- Limitations --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Hypotheses --- p.10 / Chapter 1.7 --- Significance of the Study --- p.11 / Chapter CHAPTER TWO --- LITERATURE REVIEW / Chapter 2.1 --- Needs of assessment on children aerobic fitness --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Common field tests to measure children's aerobic fitness --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Run Test --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Walk Test --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Step Test --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Comparison of field tests --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- Different step test protocols --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Astrand-Rhyming Step Test --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Harvard Step Test --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- The Katch Pulse Recovery Step Test --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Hodgkins and Skubin Step Test --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Queen College Step Test --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Height-Adjusted Step Test --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- The Canadian Home Fitness Step Test --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4 --- Related issues in evaluating aerobic fitness by step test --- p.35 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Heart rate measurement --- p.35 / The accuracy of HR measurement --- p.37 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Leg Length --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Platform Height --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4.4 --- Body Mass --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4.5 --- Stepping Frequency --- p.44 / Chapter 2.5 --- Summary --- p.46 / Chapter CHAPTER THREE --- METHODOLOGY / Chapter 3.1 --- Participants --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2 --- Procedures and Equipment --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Anthropometric measurement --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- 3-minute Step Test --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Graded Exercise Treadmill Test --- p.52 / Graded Exercise Test Protocol --- p.53 / Determination of peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) --- p.53 / Chapter 3.3 --- Statistical analysis --- p.54 / Chapter CHAPTER FOUR --- RESULT / Chapter 4.1 --- Physical Characteristics of Participants --- p.56 / Chapter 4.2 --- Physiological Responses of Participants from the Step Tests --- p.57 / Chapter 4.3 --- Influence of the Order in the Participation of the Step Tests --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4 --- VO2 Peak Measurement --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5 --- HR Responses for Step Tests --- p.59 / Chapter 4.6 --- VO2 Consumption during Step Tests --- p.62 / Chapter 4.7 --- Regression Analysis for Different Stepping Frequencies of Step Tests --- p.64 / Chapter 4.8 --- Accuracy of Regression Models --- p.66 / Chapter 4.9 --- Summary of the Results --- p.69 / Chapter CHAPTER FIVE --- DISCUSSION / Validity --- p.70 / Stepping Frequency --- p.72 / HR measurement in Step Tests --- p.74 / Recommendation for future studies --- p.76 / Reference --- p.77 / Appendix A --- p.84 / Appendix B --- p.85 / Appendix C --- p.86 / Appendix D --- p.87 / Appendix E --- p.88 / Appendix F --- p.89

The purpose of this investigation was to examine differences under resting conditions (baseline) and after a bout of resistance exercise, in the total amount and the activation (phosphorylation) of the p42/44 MAPK signaling cascade proteins (ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK 1) in young and old men. Eight young (22±1 yr) and eight old (79±3 yr) men underwent a resting muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis, then a knee extensor resistance exercise session (29 contractions at -70% of max), followed by a post-exercise biopsy. The total protein expression and phosphorylation state for ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK 1 was determined by Western immunoblot analysis. Total protein expression of ERK 1/2 and MNK 1 were not different between the young and old, before and after exercise. The resistance exercise bout caused an increase in phosphorylation of the ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK 1 proteins (73, 95, and 61%, respectively; P<0.05) in the young men. Conversely, the older men showed a decrease in ERK 1/2, p90RSK, and MNK1 phosphorylation (-48, -62, and -37%, respectively; P<0.05) after the exercise bout (versus old pre). Although, the old men displayed higher pre-exercise phosphorylation of these proteins versus young pre-exercise (131, 248, and 74%, respectively; P<0.05). This investigation is the first to provide evidence that MAPK signaling pathways differentially respond under resting and exercise conditions in skeletal muscle of young and old men. These findings may have implications for other processes (e.g. transcription and translation) involved in skeletal muscle type and growth, when examining the changes occurring with aging muscle before and after resistance exercise/training. / School of Physical Education

The relationship between the PQ-segment slope on ST-segment depression during vigorous exercise was examined in 26 apparently healthy females between 18 and 26 years of age. Each subject performed 2 submaximal cycle ergometer exercise tolerance tests (trial A and trial B) on nonconsecutive days wherein the following variables, as delta scores, were measured; P-wave amplitude (microvolts), PQ-segment slope (uV!sec), and J-point at 0 and 60 msec (uV). Each variable was measured by both visual and computer averaging. The degree of reproducibility within and between trials differed for the visual and computer averaged measures. Generally higher reproducibility was found with computer averaging particularly within trial B (r =0.63-0.89, p<O.OI). Trial b served as a basis for assessment of PQ-segment slope effect on ST segment response. Computer analysis of frequency distribution for responses revealed a greater frequency of downsloping PQ-segment with clinically significant ST-segment depression (>50 uV) at both 0 and 60 msec after the J-point in lead II. However, there was a greater percentage (91%) of flat PQ-segment slopes with clinically significant ST-segment depression at J-point 0 msec in lead V5. These findings suggest possible influence of lead selection on the measurements of the PQ-segment slope and ST-segment. Implication of clinical application would be to use lead VS for diagnosing CHD and by measuring ST-segment depression at J-point 60 msec. However when screening exercise ECG tests in apparently healthy women use J-point at 0 msec. / Master of Science

Eight sedentary elderly subjects (X̅ age = 83.4yr), including two males and six females, were evaluated to determine the effects of a low intensity, chair-based exercise program on selected physiological parameters. Exercise sessions were held 3 alternate days per week, 45 minutes per session, for 8 weeks. Subjects were exercise tested before and after training using a modification of the Smith and Gilligan chair step test; this is a multi-level graded exercise test suitable for very old subjects with aerobic exercise capacities of approximately 2-4 METs. Upon completion of training, group data analyses showed no significant adaptations in resting heart rate or blood pressure, exercise heart rate or blood pressure, peak exercise performance, nor for subject rating of perceived exertion at a fixed exercise intensity. A significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed post-training in the immediate post-exercise blood lactic acid response. Separating subjects (n=4) into high (91% attendance) and moderate (49% attendance) compliers, statistically significant differences were found for training related changes in several physiological parameters. Between-group analysis also showed significant changes (p < 0.05) in the chair exercise performance time. Post-training, the high compliers improved their total exercise tolerance (time) by 33%, whereas the moderate compliers exercise time was 22% less as compared to pre-training. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was also observed between groups in their perception of effort at a fixed-load in the exercise test. After training, the high compliers judged their effort to be 12% less at a fixed load in the chair exercise test, while the moderate compliers showed no significant changes (p < 0.05). Blood lactic acid responses were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after training for the high compliance group but no such change was found in the HLa response of the moderate compliers. There were no significant changes in resting or exercise heart rate and blood pressure responses in either the high or moderate compliance groups. The results of this study suggest that physiological adaptations do not occur in old individuals in response to a low intensity exercise program. Given these preliminary findings, further investigations are indicated to determine the effects of increased frequency and duration of physical activity programs on additional physiological parameters. / Master of Science

The direct effect of spouse presence during graded exercise testing on anxiety and performance has not been previously delineated. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to (a) ascertain if spouse presence during graded exercise testing affects state anxiety or physiological performance variables, and (b) determine differences in psychological status between cardiac patients and healthy adults.

Background That men are prioritised over women has been called the “gender regime in sport”, and has in part been explained by the gender difference in performance. However, gender differences in physical performance between women and men can be debated to depend on how comparisons are made and on the fact that there are many different confounders that may influence the results. Even if attempts are made to overcome this and the groups of women and men are stated to be matched, there are still often differences in training experience in years, or differences in training load. Women tend to have less experience in ice hockey in relation to age and differences in training conditions have also been reported. The aim of this thesis was to investigate how female and male ice hockey players position themselves in their sport and to visualise the interactions between society and biology that may affect performance. Theoretical approach and methods Harding’s three perspectives (Symbolic, Structural and Individual) were applied on information from team administration as well as on results from questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and tests of puck velocity, anthropometrics, body composition, isokinetic muscle strength, ergospirometry and on-ice tests from female and male ice hockey players. Results Vast differences in structural conditions were found, for example in hockey history and in the financial situation within the teams and both women and men were aware of the gender differences in structural conditions. However these differences were not even considered when comparisons of the ice hockey performance of women and men were made. Nine out of ten female players increased puck velocity when a more flexible stick and a lighter puck were used thus indicating that poorly adjusted equipment may affect performance. Male ice hockey players were taller, heavier and stronger, had more lean body mass and a higher aerobic capacity compared to the women in absolute values as well as in relation to body weight. However, the differences diminished or disappeared when the values were expressed in relation to lean body mass. Men had higher expectations on their situation as athletes and the interviewed women described men’s ice hockey as superior to theirs and consequently male ice hockey players deserved better conditions. Conclusions The views of women and men may affect structural conditions in sport which in turn may affect possibilities in sport for the individual. Gender differences in conditions thus risk confirming the traditional views of femininity and masculinity. However, by moving outside the normal gender boundaries individuals may change the traditional views of femininity and masculinity.