The purpose was to examine actual force (AF) productions of males for accuracy during leg extensions when given a random desired force (DF) ranging from 10-90% of maximal force (MF). Thirty males ranging from 18 to 30 years of age (M = 21.99 + 3.04), who had no previous experience with the test equipment, went through 9 randomly ordered submaximal efforts followed by a maximal effort. Correlations between AF and DF were high (r > .79) and test-retest was consistent between AF (r = .87) and MF (r = .90). Participants consistently undershot DF on both test and retest from 20-90% and overshot DF only at 10%. Power functions revealed exponents of less than 1, indicating that AF grows slower then DF for both test .70 (.95 CI = .63 - .77) and retest .66 (.95 CI = .60 - .73). The results replicate a prior study by Jackson, Martin, Koziris, Ludtke, and Dishman (2001) that used incremental rather than random increases in DF.

Aim The purpose of this study was to assess muscle hypertrophy outcomes from high and low load strength training routines performed to muscular fatiguein a unilateral design. Method 14 well-trained men and women (age 26.4 ±4.4 years, weight 79.9 ±10.7 kg, height 179.4 ±76 cm) volunteered to participate in eight weeks of fully supervised training two times per week. Subjects had their legs randomized to a HL protocol performing 3-5reps and LL protocol performing 20-25 reps. Training was performed in leg press and leg extension and all sets were performed until volitional failure. Subjects were measured for muscle thickness by ultrasound at mid and distal portion of vastus lateralis before and after the study. Paired sample t-test and independent sample t-test was used to establish differences in pre and post and between leg differences. Results Muscle thickness increased inHL: MID 8% p=0,002 and DIST 14% p=0.009, in LL: MID 7% p=0.004 and was unchanged at DIST 4% p=0.512. Total muscle thickness for both measurement sites combined increases significantly in both legs, HL: 9% p=0.001 and LL: 5% p=0.045. There were no between leg differences at MID (p=0.404) or DIST (p=0.989) after eight weeks. Conclusion We conclude that high and low load strength training performed unilaterally to volitional failure yields equal increases in muscle thickness after eight weeks for well-trained men and women. / <p>Kursen Projektarbete.</p>

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a frequência cardíaca fetal e as respostas cardiorrespiratórias de gestantes e não-gestantes, durante e ao longo de 30 minutos após a execução de exercícios de força para membros superiores e inferiores, em dois volumes distintos. A amostra desse estudo foi composta por 20 mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 32 anos, sendo 10 gestantes (com idade gestacional entre 22 e 24 semanas) e 10 não-gestantes, que realizaram cinco sessões experimentais: sessão 1: familiarização com os equipamentos de coletas de dados e determinação de uma repetição máxima estimada; sessões 2, 3, 4 e 5: coleta das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias durante e ao longo de 30 minutos após os exercícios de força nos equipamentos cadeira extensora de joelhos bilateral e voador peitoral, com 1 e 3 séries de 15 repetições, com carga de 50% de uma repetição máxima estimada. Utilizou-se ANOVA para medidas repetidas com 2 e 3 fatores, com post-hoc de Bonferroni (α=0,05) (SPSS vs 13.0). Os resultados demonstraram que as respostas de pressão arterial durante os exercícios de força apresentam um comportamento mais baixo no grupo gestantes. Quando estes foram realizados com série única, somente a frequência cardíaca e o duplo produto apresentaram respostas diferentes entre os exercícios, com maiores valores no exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral, entretanto, quando os exercícios foram realizados com séries múltiplas, as respostas das variáveis frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial sistólica, diastólica e média, duplo produto, ventilação e consumo de oxigênio absoluto foram diferentes entre os exercícios, com maiores valores no exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral. As variáveis analisadas apresentaram diferenças ao longo dos 30 minutos de recuperação pós-exercício, em geral, retornando aos valores basais após 10 minutos do término do exercício. Não houve ocorrência de contrações uterinas em nenhuma gestante ao longo deste período. A resposta da frequência cardíaca fetal não apresentou diferenças nos diferentes exercícios e volumes e ao longo dos 30 minutos de recuperação pós-exercício e se manteve dentro dos padrões de normalidade (120-160 bpm). Conclui-se que, durante a realização dos exercícios de força extensor de joelhos bilateral e voador peitoral, as respostas de pressão arterial de gestantes foram menores do que as não-gestantes, o exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral apresentou maiores valores das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias comparado ao exercício voador e as variáveis apresentaram aumento das suas respostas com o aumento do número de séries realizadas. A resposta fetal não diferiu entre os exercícios e volumes. / The aim of the present study was to verify fetal heart rate and the cardiorespiratory responses in pregnant and non-pregnant women during and along 30 minutes postexecution of resistance exercises for upper and lower body, with two different volumes. The sample was composed of 20 healthy women, aged between 20-32 years old, being 10 pregnant women (gestational age between 22 and 24 weeks) and 10 non-pregnant women, who performed five experimental sessions: session 1: familiarization with the equipments and the determination of one estimated maximum repetition (1-RM); sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5: determination of the cardiorespiratory responses during and along 30 minutes post-resistance exercise on the bilateral leg extension and fly, with 1 and 3 sets of 15 repetitions, 50% of 1-RM. Results were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures with two and three factors with Bonferroni correction for post-hoc comparisons (α=0.05) (SPSS vs 13.0). The blood pressure responses during resistance exercises showed a lower behavior in the pregnant group. When the exercises were performed with a single set, only heart rate and rate-pressure product showed different responses between exercises, with increased values for bilateral leg extension, however, when the exercises were performed with multiple sets the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, rate-pressure product, ventilation and oxygen uptake responses were different between exercises, with increased values for bilateral leg extension. The analyzed variables showed differences along 30 minutes post-exercise but in general it was similar to those pre-exercise values after 10 minutes from the end of the resistance exercise. There was no occurrence of uterine contractions along this period. The fetal heart rate responses did not presented differences between the exercises and volumes and along the 30 minutes post-resistance exercise and kept the normality patterns (120-160 bpm). In conclusion, during the performance of the bilateral leg extension and fly resistance exercises the blood pressure response was lower in the pregnant group. The bilateral leg extension showed higher values for the cardiorespiratory variables compared to fly exercise and the variables responses presented an increase with the addition of the sets performed. The fetal response was not different between exercises and volumes performed.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a frequência cardíaca fetal e as respostas cardiorrespiratórias de gestantes e não-gestantes, durante e ao longo de 30 minutos após a execução de exercícios de força para membros superiores e inferiores, em dois volumes distintos. A amostra desse estudo foi composta por 20 mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 32 anos, sendo 10 gestantes (com idade gestacional entre 22 e 24 semanas) e 10 não-gestantes, que realizaram cinco sessões experimentais: sessão 1: familiarização com os equipamentos de coletas de dados e determinação de uma repetição máxima estimada; sessões 2, 3, 4 e 5: coleta das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias durante e ao longo de 30 minutos após os exercícios de força nos equipamentos cadeira extensora de joelhos bilateral e voador peitoral, com 1 e 3 séries de 15 repetições, com carga de 50% de uma repetição máxima estimada. Utilizou-se ANOVA para medidas repetidas com 2 e 3 fatores, com post-hoc de Bonferroni (α=0,05) (SPSS vs 13.0). Os resultados demonstraram que as respostas de pressão arterial durante os exercícios de força apresentam um comportamento mais baixo no grupo gestantes. Quando estes foram realizados com série única, somente a frequência cardíaca e o duplo produto apresentaram respostas diferentes entre os exercícios, com maiores valores no exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral, entretanto, quando os exercícios foram realizados com séries múltiplas, as respostas das variáveis frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial sistólica, diastólica e média, duplo produto, ventilação e consumo de oxigênio absoluto foram diferentes entre os exercícios, com maiores valores no exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral. As variáveis analisadas apresentaram diferenças ao longo dos 30 minutos de recuperação pós-exercício, em geral, retornando aos valores basais após 10 minutos do término do exercício. Não houve ocorrência de contrações uterinas em nenhuma gestante ao longo deste período. A resposta da frequência cardíaca fetal não apresentou diferenças nos diferentes exercícios e volumes e ao longo dos 30 minutos de recuperação pós-exercício e se manteve dentro dos padrões de normalidade (120-160 bpm). Conclui-se que, durante a realização dos exercícios de força extensor de joelhos bilateral e voador peitoral, as respostas de pressão arterial de gestantes foram menores do que as não-gestantes, o exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral apresentou maiores valores das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias comparado ao exercício voador e as variáveis apresentaram aumento das suas respostas com o aumento do número de séries realizadas. A resposta fetal não diferiu entre os exercícios e volumes. / The aim of the present study was to verify fetal heart rate and the cardiorespiratory responses in pregnant and non-pregnant women during and along 30 minutes postexecution of resistance exercises for upper and lower body, with two different volumes. The sample was composed of 20 healthy women, aged between 20-32 years old, being 10 pregnant women (gestational age between 22 and 24 weeks) and 10 non-pregnant women, who performed five experimental sessions: session 1: familiarization with the equipments and the determination of one estimated maximum repetition (1-RM); sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5: determination of the cardiorespiratory responses during and along 30 minutes post-resistance exercise on the bilateral leg extension and fly, with 1 and 3 sets of 15 repetitions, 50% of 1-RM. Results were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures with two and three factors with Bonferroni correction for post-hoc comparisons (α=0.05) (SPSS vs 13.0). The blood pressure responses during resistance exercises showed a lower behavior in the pregnant group. When the exercises were performed with a single set, only heart rate and rate-pressure product showed different responses between exercises, with increased values for bilateral leg extension, however, when the exercises were performed with multiple sets the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, rate-pressure product, ventilation and oxygen uptake responses were different between exercises, with increased values for bilateral leg extension. The analyzed variables showed differences along 30 minutes post-exercise but in general it was similar to those pre-exercise values after 10 minutes from the end of the resistance exercise. There was no occurrence of uterine contractions along this period. The fetal heart rate responses did not presented differences between the exercises and volumes and along the 30 minutes post-resistance exercise and kept the normality patterns (120-160 bpm). In conclusion, during the performance of the bilateral leg extension and fly resistance exercises the blood pressure response was lower in the pregnant group. The bilateral leg extension showed higher values for the cardiorespiratory variables compared to fly exercise and the variables responses presented an increase with the addition of the sets performed. The fetal response was not different between exercises and volumes performed.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a frequência cardíaca fetal e as respostas cardiorrespiratórias de gestantes e não-gestantes, durante e ao longo de 30 minutos após a execução de exercícios de força para membros superiores e inferiores, em dois volumes distintos. A amostra desse estudo foi composta por 20 mulheres, com idade entre 20 e 32 anos, sendo 10 gestantes (com idade gestacional entre 22 e 24 semanas) e 10 não-gestantes, que realizaram cinco sessões experimentais: sessão 1: familiarização com os equipamentos de coletas de dados e determinação de uma repetição máxima estimada; sessões 2, 3, 4 e 5: coleta das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias durante e ao longo de 30 minutos após os exercícios de força nos equipamentos cadeira extensora de joelhos bilateral e voador peitoral, com 1 e 3 séries de 15 repetições, com carga de 50% de uma repetição máxima estimada. Utilizou-se ANOVA para medidas repetidas com 2 e 3 fatores, com post-hoc de Bonferroni (α=0,05) (SPSS vs 13.0). Os resultados demonstraram que as respostas de pressão arterial durante os exercícios de força apresentam um comportamento mais baixo no grupo gestantes. Quando estes foram realizados com série única, somente a frequência cardíaca e o duplo produto apresentaram respostas diferentes entre os exercícios, com maiores valores no exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral, entretanto, quando os exercícios foram realizados com séries múltiplas, as respostas das variáveis frequência cardíaca, pressão arterial sistólica, diastólica e média, duplo produto, ventilação e consumo de oxigênio absoluto foram diferentes entre os exercícios, com maiores valores no exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral. As variáveis analisadas apresentaram diferenças ao longo dos 30 minutos de recuperação pós-exercício, em geral, retornando aos valores basais após 10 minutos do término do exercício. Não houve ocorrência de contrações uterinas em nenhuma gestante ao longo deste período. A resposta da frequência cardíaca fetal não apresentou diferenças nos diferentes exercícios e volumes e ao longo dos 30 minutos de recuperação pós-exercício e se manteve dentro dos padrões de normalidade (120-160 bpm). Conclui-se que, durante a realização dos exercícios de força extensor de joelhos bilateral e voador peitoral, as respostas de pressão arterial de gestantes foram menores do que as não-gestantes, o exercício extensor de joelhos bilateral apresentou maiores valores das variáveis cardiorrespiratórias comparado ao exercício voador e as variáveis apresentaram aumento das suas respostas com o aumento do número de séries realizadas. A resposta fetal não diferiu entre os exercícios e volumes. / The aim of the present study was to verify fetal heart rate and the cardiorespiratory responses in pregnant and non-pregnant women during and along 30 minutes postexecution of resistance exercises for upper and lower body, with two different volumes. The sample was composed of 20 healthy women, aged between 20-32 years old, being 10 pregnant women (gestational age between 22 and 24 weeks) and 10 non-pregnant women, who performed five experimental sessions: session 1: familiarization with the equipments and the determination of one estimated maximum repetition (1-RM); sessions 2, 3, 4 and 5: determination of the cardiorespiratory responses during and along 30 minutes post-resistance exercise on the bilateral leg extension and fly, with 1 and 3 sets of 15 repetitions, 50% of 1-RM. Results were analyzed using ANOVA for repeated measures with two and three factors with Bonferroni correction for post-hoc comparisons (α=0.05) (SPSS vs 13.0). The blood pressure responses during resistance exercises showed a lower behavior in the pregnant group. When the exercises were performed with a single set, only heart rate and rate-pressure product showed different responses between exercises, with increased values for bilateral leg extension, however, when the exercises were performed with multiple sets the heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, rate-pressure product, ventilation and oxygen uptake responses were different between exercises, with increased values for bilateral leg extension. The analyzed variables showed differences along 30 minutes post-exercise but in general it was similar to those pre-exercise values after 10 minutes from the end of the resistance exercise. There was no occurrence of uterine contractions along this period. The fetal heart rate responses did not presented differences between the exercises and volumes and along the 30 minutes post-resistance exercise and kept the normality patterns (120-160 bpm). In conclusion, during the performance of the bilateral leg extension and fly resistance exercises the blood pressure response was lower in the pregnant group. The bilateral leg extension showed higher values for the cardiorespiratory variables compared to fly exercise and the variables responses presented an increase with the addition of the sets performed. The fetal response was not different between exercises and volumes performed.

Measuring lower limb strength and symmetry is a common practice in elite sports to determine the return to sports point in time during rehabilitation, and this information could be useful for amateur athletes too. However, the devices used for this are highly sophisticated and hardly accessible. The aim of this project is to devise an affordable system for lower limb strength measurement which can be integrated with a common training system, to make this type of information widely available. The system is built up on a flywheel-based leg extension machine (LegExx by Exxentric AB) that allows quadriceps training at maximal force in concentric and eccentric contraction. Inexpensive standard components and software were used for prototyping. The parameters of interest were angular velocity of extension/flexion in the knee and force applied by the athlete. In the first step, evaluation was limited to the concentric phase of movement. Angular velocity and leg position was measured with a gyroscope sensor (Movesense by Suunto). For force measurement, two approaches were tested: In prototype A, the tension of the drive belt, which ultimately puts the flywheel into rotation, was measured with a sensor for tensile forces (Tindeq Progressor 300). In prototype B, a more direct measurement was used, with force sensors mounted under the contact point of the athlete’s shank with the swing beam of the LegExx. Sensor data were transmitted via Bluetooth to a mobile device or a laptop and displayed graphically after synchronization of the data streams. Force values were converted to torque using inverse kinematics to make the two prototypes comparable. The first prototypes were shown to be workable and yielded similar readings for concentric peak torque, with realistic wave forms in the graphical display. Comparison with results of a gold standard isokinetic dynamometer revealed, however, major discrepancies mainly regarding the absolute torque values. Oscillation in the belt system were identified as an issue in prototype A, while cross talk between sensors and vulnerability to leg placement occurred in prototype B. However, these issues are not insurmountable, and it is suggested to proceed with the development of prototype B, as it has the advantage of simultaneous measurement and direct comparison of both legs. / Att mäta styrka och symmetri i nedre extremiteterna är vanligt inom elitidrott för att avgöra när man kan återgå till idrottsutövning under rehabiliteringen, och denna information kan vara användbar även för amatöridrottare. De apparater som används för detta är dock mycket sofistikerade och svårtillgängliga. Syftet med detta projekt är att utforma ett prisvärt system för mätning av styrkan i nedre extremiteterna som kan integreras med ett vanligt träningssystem, för att göra denna typ av information allmänt tillgänglig. Systemet är uppbyggt på en svänghjulsbaserad benspark maskin (LegExx från Exxentric AB) som möjliggör quadriceps träning vid maximal kraft i koncentrisk och excentrisk kontraktion. Kostnadseffektiva standardkomponenter och mjukvara användes för prototypframställning. De parametrar som var av intresse var vinkelhastighet för utsträckning- /böjning i knäet och den kraft som utövades av idrottaren. I det första steget begränsades utvärderingen till rörelsens koncentriska fas. Vinkelhastighet och benposition mättes med en gyroskopisk sensor (Movesense från Suunto). För kraftmätning testades två tillvägagångssätt: I prototyp A mättes dragkraften i drivremmen, som i slutändan sätter svänghjulet i rotation, med en sensor för dragkrafter (Tindeq Progressor 300). I prototyp B användes en mer direkt mätning med kraftsensorer som monterades under kontaktpunkten mellan idrottsutövarens smalben och LegExx:s svängbalk. Sensordata överfördes via Bluetooth till en mobil enhet eller en bärbar dator och visades grafiskt efter synkronisering av dataströmmarna. Kraftvärden omvandlades till vridmoment med hjälp av invers kinematik för att göra de två prototyperna jämförbara. De första prototyperna visade sig fungera och gav liknande mätningar för koncentriskt toppmoment, med realistiska vågformer i den grafiska displayen. En jämförelse med resultaten från en isokinetisk dynamometer med guldstandard visade dock på stora skillnader, främst när det gäller de absoluta vridmomentvärdena. Oscillation i bältesystemet identifierades som ett problem i prototyp A, medan överkoppling mellan sensorer och känslighet för benplacering förekom i prototyp B. Dessa problem är dock inte oöverstigliga, och det föreslås att man fortsätter att utveckla prototyp B, eftersom den har fördelen av samtidig mätning och direkt jämförelse av båda benen.