Resistance exercise (RE) training is a well-known and effective method for promoting increases in muscle mass and strength. A single bout of RE induces physiological disturbances that require coordinated activation of the immune system and intramuscular signaling in order to return the tissue to homeostasis and adapt to the RE challenge. On the other hand, acute binge alcohol consumption can affect the immune response to an inflammatory challenge, intramuscular anabolic signaling, and muscle protein synthesis, and the effects of alcohol on these processes are opposite that of RE. Furthermore, individuals who report more frequent exercise also report a greater frequency of binge drinking. However, few investigations exist regarding the effects of binge alcohol consumed after a bout of RE on RE-induced physiological changes and performance recovery. Therefore, the overarching purpose of the investigations contained within this dissertation was to investigate the effect of alcohol consumed after RE on the RE-induced changes in mTOR pathway signaling, muscle protein synthesis, inflammatory capacity, strength recovery, and power recovery. Although RE increased mTOR pathway signaling and inflammatory capacity after exercise and reduced maximal strength and explosive power the day after exercise, we observed no effects of alcohol (1.09 g ethanol∙kg-1 lean body mass, designed to result in a peak blood alcohol concentration of approximately 0.12 g∙dl-1) consumed after RE on mTOR pathway signaling, 24-hour rates of muscle protein synthesis, inflammatory capacity, or strength and power recovery in resistance-trained individuals.

Forty normal subjects, 19 males and 21 females, between the ages of 16 and 43 years were studied to examine the reliability of Cybex knee extension curves utilizing Segmental Curve Analysis (SCA). Each subject performed a standardized isokinetic knee extension/flexion test on the Cybex II isokinetic dynamometer. Test protocol consisted of 5 maximum repetitions at a speed of 60 deg/sec. Within one week of the initial test, each subject performed a retest. During testing, all torque and angle measurement information from the Cybex was transmitted to the SCA system. The SCA system plotted, analyzed, and quantified each torque curve for seven specific parameters. The following parameters were quantified by the SCA system: (1) torque at 20 degrees, 70 degrees, and peak torque of knee extension; (2) area of the curve to 20 degrees, 70 degrees and peak torque of knee extension; and (3) area of the torque curve between 20 and 70 degree angles of knee extension. The parameters of peak torque (r=.83 to .97; R=.98 to .99), area to 70 degree angle of knee extension (r=.76 to .87; R=.96 to .98), and area between 20 and 70 degree angles of knee extension (r=.75 to .92; R=.97 to .99) appeared to be the most reliable across trials and days, and were also found to elicit the least amount of variation for both male and female subjects. Coefficients of variation on the parameters of peak torque, area to 70, area between 20 and 70 for females ranged from 15% to 18%. For males, the coefficients of variation for peak torque, area to 70, and area between 20 and 70 ranged from 23% to 27%. Variables quantifying torque and power indices in the middle segment of torque curves appeared to be most reliable as analyzed by the SCA system. / Master of Science

This study investigated the determination of an optimal resistive force for use during a short-term, high-intensity cycling power test. Twenty-four college females [age (yrs) x̄=22.0 ± 0.50; weight (kg) x̄=60.3 ± 1.46] gave consent and participated in a 1 repetition maximum (RM) test of the leg extensors and 5 maximal 15 s cycling tests using a modified Monark cycle ergometer. The 1 RM test was performed using a Nautilus leg extensor machine. Even increments between six to ten % 1RM test were utilized to determine the resistive force applied to the flywheel. The 5 tests were divided into a 2 testing sessions occurring at least 48 h apart. Each subject warmed-up at 50 - 60 rpms for 2 - 5 minutes without resistance prior to testing. Each test consisted of a maximal cycling bout of 15 s with 20 minutes rest between tests. The variables measured included peak power (PP), time to peak power (TTPP), power fatigue rate (PFR), power fatigue index (PFI), and average power (AP). These values were collected by a microcomputer interfaced with the cycle ergometer. In general, PP decreased at a resistance greater than 9 % 1RM. The average reported PP values were 363±15, 413±19, 465±19, 520±21, and 460±41 for loads 6 to 10 % 1RM respectively. Similar results were reported for AP. The differences in PP for loads between 8 and 10 % 1RM were statistically different. Results show that PP varies based on loads of % 1RM and the optimal range is between 8 and 10% 1RM. / Master of Science

Water movement in the body is determined by the osmotic forces acting on the cell membrane. Ingestion of a highly-hypertonic glycerol solution resulting in high extracellular osmolality could drive water out of the intracellular space into the vascular space resulting in reduced muscle hydration and increased blood volume. The aim of this thesis was to study the effects of altered body water distribution during exercise. In chapter 3, ingestion of a 400 ml glycerol solution (1 g·kg-1 body mass) increased serum osmolality (309 mosmol·kg-1) which was associated with a 4.0% increase in blood volume due to a 7.2% increase in plasma volume, attributed to a shift of water from the intracellular space, resulting presumably in tissue dehydration. Glycerol ingestion was then used as a means of altering body water distribution in the other studies described in this thesis. Altered body water distribution had no acute effect on force production during quadriceps muscle isometric exercise (chapter 4), or handgrip strength (chapter 5). Regarding chronic effects (chapter 5), two groups of participants exercised handgrip and initiated recovery after ingestion of either a glycerol solution or placebo over a period of 8 weeks. Maximum handgrip strength increased in both groups and there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. In chapters 6 and 7, the subjects performed a cycling exercise protocol to fatigue. In the glycerol trial, time to fatigue decreased compared with the iso-osmotic trial during an incremental VO2max test (chapter 6) and during cycling against a constant load at 100% VO2max intensity (chapter 7). In the glycerol trial, there was an accelerated increase in blood lactate and an accelerated increase in serum potassium (chapter 7), indicating altered muscle metabolism which may have contributed to the early development of fatigue.

Thesis (M.S.)--East Carolina University, 2009. / Presented to the faculty of the Department of Exercise and Sport Science. Advisor: Scott E. Gordon. Title from PDF t.p. (viewed May 4, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Žmogaus adaptacija prie karščio yra visapusiškai nagrinėjama ir plati problema (Hori, 1978). Literatūroje gausu tyrimų, nagrinėjančių hipertermijos poveikį neuroraumeninei funkcijai po fizinių pratimų karštyje (Nybo & Nielsen, 2001) ar pasyvaus šildymo (Thomas et al., 2006; Todd et al., 2005). M. M. Thomas et al. (2006) nustatė, kad pasyvaus šildymo metu, padidinus vidinę kūno temperatūrą iki 39,5 oC, sumažėja maksimali izometrinė pėdos lenkiamųjų raumenų jėga ir tai įtakoja raumenų aktyvacijos iš CNS sumažėjimas. Anksčiau atlikti tyrimai patvirtina, kad aukšta organizmo vidinė temperatūra paveikia CNS ir jos galimybę aktyvuoti dirbančius raumenis (Nybo & Nielsen, 2001; Todd et al., 2005). Organizmui aklimuojantis prie karščio, sumažėja TREKT, ŠSD, FSI ir padidėja prakaitavimas, kas lemia mažesnį fiziologinį-terminį stresą hipertermijos sąlygomis (Brazaitis ir kt., 2009; Brazaitis ir Skurvydas, 2010), tačiau sunku rasti tyrimų, nagrinėjančių kaip tai paveikia neuroraumeninę funkciją. M. Brazaitis ir A. Skurvydas (2010) nustatė, kad po 7 pasyvaus šildymo procedūrų (~44 oC vandenyje po 45 minutes), kurios buvo vykdomos kas antrą dieną 2 savaičių laikotarpyje, organizmas aklimavosi prie karščio, bet tai nepaveikė centrinio ir periferinio nuovargio MVJ-2min izometrinio krūvio metu hipertermijos sąlygomis. Mūsų atliktame tyrime buvo naudota unikali pasyvaus šildymo metodika (siekiama TREKT padidinti iki 39,5 0C, maksimalus šildymo procedūros laikas 120 min., šildymo procedūros... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Human adaptation to heat is comprehensive of a broad problem (Hori, 1978). The literature is rich in research of analyzing the influence of hyperthermia on neuromuscular function, after exercising in the heat (Nybo & Nielsen, 2001) or passive heating (Thomas et al., 2006; Todd et al., 2005). M. M. Thomas et al. (2006) ascertained that the increase to 39,5 oC of core temperature in passive heating, reduces maximal isometric force of plantar flexors and this is influence of the reduction on voluntary muscle activation from CNS. Earlier studies show, that high core temperature affects CNS and its ability to activate working muscles (Nybo & Nielsen, 2001; Todd et al., 2005). Heat acclimation occurs with reduced rectal temperature, heart rate, physiological strain index and increased sweat rate, which causes reduction in physiological-thermal stress in the hyperthermia (Brazaitis ir kt., 2009; Brazaitis ir Skurvydas, 2010), but it is difficult to find studies how this affects the neuromuscular function. M. Brazaitis & A. Skurvydas (2010) found out that after 7 passive heating procedures (in ~44 oC water, 45 minutes each), which was carried out every second day for two weeks, heat acclimation occurred, but did not change the central and peripheral fatigue during a 2-min MVC in hyperthermia. In our study, we used the unique passive heating technique (we tried to elevate rectal temperature to 39,5 0C, maximal passive heating time was 120 min., 16 days of passive heating procedure... [to full text]

Computer-mediated communication [CMC] is beginning to be used more frequently in traditional classrooms. A group of physical chemistry professors have developed Physical Chemistry On-Line [PCOL] modules designed to augment in-class instruction and engage students at geographically dispersed institutions in activities to help them learn physical chemistry concepts. These modules use context-rich scenarios with a guided-inquiry approach, and the WWW and e-mail for information distribution and communication. This allows for intra- and inter-institutional collaboration between module participants. Three modules implemented during the Fall 2000 term are evaluated in this study. In order to assess the effectiveness of PCOL, each student completed a pre-module and post-module survey, pre-module and post-module content questions, and participated in an online discussion group. The primary focus of this analysis was to determine the student's: 1) perception of on-line activities, 2) perception of on-line interactions, and 3) use of computers. / School of Physical Education

[Truncated abstract] Resistance training is increasingly popular for improving strength qualities such as hypertrophy, maximal strength, endurance and power. Although many resistancetraining programmes now adhere to the concept of periodisation, the number of studies examining its structure and design are few, and there are just a handful of studies that have examined periodised training for the maintenance of strength and power. Even rarer, are periodised resistance-training studies that utilise female subjects. Previous studies have compared non-periodised training regimens such as Progressive Resistance Exercise (PRE), and the two main models of periodisation, Linear Periodisation (LP) and Undulating Periodisation (UP). Results are inconclusive as to whether the efficacy of the periodised training programmes were due to the manipulation of training variables such as volume and intensity, or that training programmes with higher doses of volume induced better training responses. However, to make effective comparisons between training programmes, the training volume or workload (total load lifted x total repetitions) and training intensity have to be equated between the groups under examination. While the intensities (percentage of one-repetition maximum, 1 RM) for improving strength qualities such as hypertrophy and maximal strength have general consensus among resistance-training practitioners, there exists disagreement over the intensity that should be used during the training of power. Thus, it is important to first identify the load for power training before comparisons can be made between LP and UP programmes using equal training volumes. ... The final study found that adhering to two UP maintenance training programmes with equalised volumes and intensities twice a week increased upper-body strength and maintained lower-body strength adequately across a 3-wk phase. The results from these studies support previous results that suggest training programmes with higher workloads and repetitions produce superior strength and power adaptations, and it is not specifically the variation of training volume and intensity within a periodised programme that improves strength qualities. Thus, both periodised programmes used in this thesis can be recommended for untrained and moderatelytrained women as both LP and UP were found to be similarly effective for increasing upper- and lower-body hypertrophy, strength and power.

Orientador: Luiz Carlos Marques Vanderlei / Banca: Carlos Marcelo Pastre / Banca: Francis da Silva Lopes / Resumo: A perda de massa muscular secundária à idade e à inatividade física é clinicamente relevante na população cardíaca, contudo a prescrição do exercício resistido dinâmico para esses pacientes apresenta-se inconclusiva na literatura. Objetivo: Reunir informações sobre a especificidade dos componentes do treinamento resistido prescrito à população cardiopata. Metodologia: Foi realizada busca sistemática de literatura, a partir das bases de dados LILACS, SciELO e PubMed, utilizando os seguintes descritores na língua portuguesa: força muscular, exercício isométrico, esforço físico, cardiopatia e coronariopatia, e seus correspondentes na língua inglesa (muscle strength, isometric exercise, physical effort, heart disease e artery coronary disease), os quais foram ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Loss of muscle mass secondary to age and physical inactivity is clinically relevant in cardiac population, however dynamic resistance exercise prescription to these patients presents inconclusive in literature. Objective: Adjoin information about specific components of resistance exercise prescribed to cardiac population. Methodology: Systematic search was performed, using the data bases LILACS, SciELO and PubMed. The descriptors used were: muscle strength, isometric exercise, physical effort, heart disease and artery coronary disease, which were surveyed separately and combined, considering for this review articles that ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The effects of isometric exercises on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) indexes have been investigated. However, the samples are usually reduced, which makes it difficult to generalize the data. Systematic reviews with meta-analyzes are presented as alternatives because it allows the grouping of data from different studies. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of age on acute PA and HR changes in adults generated by isometric exercise (Study I), as well as to investigate the chronic effects on these same parameters (Study II). To do so, we searched the PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus and PeDro databases for clinical trials published until May 23, 2016 that evaluated changes in BP and HR in adults after isometric exercises and performed with subjects> 18 years. The studies that studied the responses after an isometric exercise session were selected and separated according to the age of the sample, <and> 60 years, to analyze the influence of age on the acute effect. Those with intervention period ≥4 weeks were selected for chronic effect assessment. Thus, 4 articles were included in study I and, although half of the studies were performed with adults and the other with the elderly, the direct comparison of the studies was not performed, due to divergences between the exercise characteristics used. In study II, 2 studies were identified that demonstrated that isometric manual grip training is able to significantly reduce SBP and MAP only, -1.58 [-2.64, -0.51], p = 0.004, and -0.91 [-1.58, -0.24], p = 0.008, respectively, after an intervention period of 8-10 weeks. Thus, it was observed a need to produce studies that seek to evaluate the acute responses to isometric exercise protocols with similar characteristics used in current chronic training programs, especially in the elderly and hypertensive, so that questions about risk and differences between Populations are identified. In addition, isometric manual grip training significantly reduces systolic BP and mean BP of adults. However, studies with different samples and modalities of different isometries are still necessary to safely subsidize the use of this training modality in the management of hypertension. / Os efeitos de exercícios isométricos sobre os índices de pressão arterial (PA) e frequência cardíaca (FC) vêm sendo investigado. No entanto, as amostras costumam ser reduzidas o que dificulta a generalização dos dados. Revisões sistemáticas com meta-análises se apresentam como alternativas por possibilitar o agrupamento dos dados de diferentes estudos. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar na literatura a influência da idade sobre as alterações agudas de PA e FC de adultos geradas pelo exercício isométrico (Estudo I), bem como investigar os efeitos crônicos sobre estes mesmos parâmetros (Estudo II). Para tal, foram realizadas buscas nas bases de dados: PubMed, Lilacs, Scopus e PeDro, por ensaios clínicos publicados até 23 de Maio de 2016 que avaliaram mudanças de PA e FC em adultos após exercícios isométricos e realizados com sujeitos com idade >18. Os estudos que estudaram as respostas após uma sessão de exercício isométrico foram selecionados e separados de acordo com a idade da amostra, < e > 60 anos, para análise da influência da idade sobre o efeito agudo. Aqueles com período de intervenção ≥4 semanas foram selecionados para avaliação de efeito crônico. Assim, foram incluídos 4 artigos no estudo I e, apesar de metade dos trabalhos ter sido realizada com adultos e a outra com idosos, a comparação direta dos estudos não foi realizada, devido às divergências entre as características de exercício utilizadas. No estudo II, foram identificados 2 trabalhos que demonstraram que o treino isométrico de preensão manual é capaz de reduzir significativamente apenas a PAS e a PAM, -1,58 [ -2,64 , -0,51 ] , p = 0,004, e -0,91 [-1,58 , -0,24], p = 0,008, respectivamente, após um período de intervenção de 8-10 semanas. Com isso, observou-se uma necessidade de produção de trabalhos que busquem avaliar as respostas agudas a protocolos de exercicio isométrico com caracteristicas similares as utilizadas nos programas de treinamentos crônicos atuais, sobretudo em idosos e hipertensos, para que questões sobre o risco e diferenças entre as populações sejam identificadas. Além disso, o treino de preensão manual isométrico reduz significativamente a PA sistolica e PA média de adultos. Todavia ,estudos com amostras diferentes e modalilidades de isometrias diferentes ainda são necessarios para subsidiar com segurança a utilização desta modalidade de treino no manejo da hipertensão. / São Cristóvão, SE