Not available

Two different weight training programs were compared to determine which was most effective in improving strength. The experiment was conducted with the bench press, leg press, and sitting press for a period of fifteen weeks.

M.Phil. / The effects of an upper body resistance training (UBRT) programme on spirometry values are not well documented or researched. The sparse number of studies that have focussed on this topic have generated inconclusive data on the effects of UBRT on pulmonary function. The present investigation made use of an eight-week UBRT programme in order to evaluate whether this would yield significant changes with regards to the following spirometry values: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), 25% of forced expiratory flow (FEF-25), 50% of forced expiratory flow (FEF-50), 75% of forced expiratory flow (FEF-75), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), peak inspiratory flow (PIF), vital capacity (VC), inspiratory vital capacity (IVC), FEV1/VC ratio, expiratory reserve volume (ERV) and minute ventilation (VE). The study made use of 36 sedentary but healthy male smokers (mean age: 33 years and 6 months), who were assigned into either a non-exercising control (CG) (n = 18) or exercising experimental (EG) (n = 18) group. A seven-day smoking analysis was recorded for both the EG and CG before and after the eight-week experimental period in order to control for any changes that might have occurred with regards to their smoking behaviour in an attempt to account for any changes in pulmonary function. The EG group were assigned to exercise for eight-weeks three times weekly on non-consecutive days using an UBRT programme. Their spirometry values were assessed at the commencement of and subsequent to the eight-week period. The EG¡¦s training programme consisted of latissimus-dorsi pulls, seated chest press, seated rows, seated shoulder press, shoulder shrugs, bent knee crunches and diagonal crunches. Each exercise was performed for three sets of 15 repetitions each. These exercises were performed at 50% 1-repetition maximum (1-RM) for the first week, at 60% 1-RM for the second and third week and at 70% 1-RM for the fourth week. Once each subject¡¦s 1-RM was reevaluated after four weeks, the same intensity progression was followed for the fifth (50% 1-RM), sixth (60% 1-RM), seventh (60% 1-RM) and eighth (70% 1-RM) weeks. The CG was instructed to not take part in any structured exercise throughout the eight-week period. The present investigation made use of the dependent and independent paired t-tests. The CG¡¦s FEV1/VC ratio increased significantly (p „T 0.05) by 2.97% and VC decreased significantly by 4.46%, while the EG¡¦s PEF and PIF increased significantly by 12.6% and 13.9%, respectively. No statistically significant changes were found in FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEF-25, FEF-50 and FEF-75, IVC, ERV and VE for both the EG and CG. Both groups indicated no statistically significant changes in daily cigarette consumption from the pre- to post-tests. The investigation concluded that eight weeks of UBRT was insufficient to result in significantly positive changes in the majority of pulmonary function variables, except for PIF, in sedentary male smokers. / Dr. L. Lategan

This research examined the time-course of muscle damage in the squat, bench press, and deadlift. Ten resistance-trained males performed four sets to failure with 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM) for each exercise on three separate weeks. Swelling, range of motion (ROM), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase (CK), and average concentric velocity (ACV) were assessed pretraining and at five timepoints post-training: -0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Swelling (p<0.01) increased immediately post-training, and DOMS (p<0.01) increased at 24 hours post-training in the bench press condition. Additionally, DOMS increased at 48 hours in both squat and deadlift conditions (p<0.01). Squat and deadlift elevated CK immediately post-training (p<0.01), but LDH only increased in the squat post-training. Immediately post in the bench press ACV was decreased (p<0.01) along with in the squat for up to 72 hours (p<0.01), however, ACV did not change following the deadlift (p>0.05). / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study is to compare linear periodized (LP) and daily undulating (DUP) periodized strength training programs, and determine if either method of periodization elicits superior gains in 1 Repetitions maximums (1RM) for back squat (BS) and bench press (BP) (core exercises). Nineteen subjects (n=19) underwent a 6-week resistance-training (RT) program. Participants performed both BS and BP two day a week. The LP group linearly increased intensity while decreasing volume. While the DUP group daily changed intensity and volume. Total volume for both BS and BP were equal for both LP and DUP. Both BP and BS increased significantly from pre to post for both groups. However, there was no significant difference in pre-post strength measure in the LP compared to DUP.

Few studies have examined the acute effects of resistive-type exercise on lipid-lipoprotein profiles. This study examined the acute effects of a single session of circuit weight training (CWT) on plasma lipid-lipoprotein profiles: triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the ratio of TC to HDL-C. The subjects in the study were 17 healthy, nonsmoking male university students, ages of 18-25 years, enrolled in weight lifting classes. Subjects were required to fast overnight (at least 12 hours) before CWT. Subjects repeated a four-station weight training circuit three times, with a resistance determined by their individual 3 repetition maximum (3-RM). The stations were bench press, parallel squat, leg extension, and seated row. Blood samples were drawn from the antecubital vein at pre-CWT, completion of the 1st and 3rd circuits, and 15 min post-CWT. All concentrations of plasma lipid and lipoprotein cholesterol were corrected for plasma volume changes. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to determine if significant differences existed among mean values for the dependent variables (i.e., levels of TG, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, and TC/HDL-C ratio at specified time points). Results of the study indicated that plasma TC and HDL-C levels were changed significantly during and following CWT. However, the change was not in the anticipated direction: Plasma TC and HDL-C levels were lower at completion of the 1st circuit of CWT (p<0.05). The ratios of TC to HDL-C were changed significantly, reflecting a decrease in HDL-C during CWT and a slight increase in HDL-C at 15 min post-CWT. Plasma TG and LDL-C levels were not changed significantly during CWT or 15 min post-CWT. It was concluded that apparent changes in lipoprotein patterns occur during short-term moderate intensity CWT and return to pre-CWT levels in a relatively short time. / Graduation date: 1991

Both obesity and type 2 diabetes are significant health burdens in our society. The prevention of these conditions is vital to individual health and to the health care system, which is inordinately stressed by these chronic diseases. Due to variations in individual response to interventions, prevention strategies may require some tailoring based on heritable traits.The objective of this study was to determine whether insulin sensitivity could be altered by resistance training, and further if body composition or insulin sensitivity response to resistance training in postmenopausal women may be influenced by adrenergic receptor genetic variants and gene-gene interactions.Completers of a 12-month randomized controlled trial of resistance training in sedentary post-menopausal (PM) women, using or not using hormone therapy, were measured for fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) at baseline and one year. These biomarkers were used to compute models of insulin sensitivity. Body composition was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry. Subjects were also re-consented for genotyping of adrenergic receptor (ADR) gene variants, ADRA2B Glu9/12, ADRB3 Trp64Arg, ADRB2 Gln27Glu.The resistance training intervention did not have an overall effect on insulin sensitivity in the largest sample and change in insulin sensitivity was largely dependent body composition. There were small favorable effects of genotype on initial measures of both body composition and insulin sensitivity in the ADRA2B Glu9+ carriers versus non-carriers. The effects of ADRA2B alone were no longer present following intervention, but ADRB3 Arg64+ and ADRB2 Glu27+ contribute to improved insulin sensitivity with exercise, when accounting for body composition. ADRB2 Glu27+ was the key to improved biomarkers of insulin sensitivity when in combination with ADRA2B Glu9+ or ADRB3 Arg64+ and a model of insulin sensitivity was most improved by the combination ADRB3 Arg64+ by ADRB2 Glu27+, compared to other ADRB3 by ADRB2 combinations.This is the first trial of ADRA2B, ADRB3, and ADRB2 genetic variation combinations and resistance training in postmenopausal women relative to body composition and insulin sensitivity. Some specific genotypes were identified as responders and non-responders to exercise. These data support independent associations between body composition and insulin sensitivity and the ADR gene variants.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between exercise induced muscle damage and growth factors during two different modes of exercise. Nine healthy untrained male subjects participated in this study and performed two separate single bouts of isokinetic concentric (Con) and eccentric (Ecc) leg extension exercise on the CYBEX NORMT°". The workload was maintained at 75% of 1 RM for each trial, respectively. The maximum sets of 10 repetitions were performed during the Con trial, and the number was also duplicated during the Ecc trial, with 40 seconds of rest between sets. Serum levels of hGH, creatine kinase (CK), and lactic acid were measured, and the CK level was used to determine the degree of muscle tissue damage. A muscle soreness questionnaire was provided to the subjects to assess the degree of quadriceps muscle soreness following each trial. The EMG activity of the rectus femoris and vastus medialis muscles was recorded during each trial. The results of the present study demonstrated no significant differences in hGH output and CK activity between the exercise trials, although there was a significant different lactic acid response (P < 0.05). However, the Con trial produced significant increases (P < 0.05) in hGH and CK levels above the resting value at the post-exercise times. In fact, the 75% Con trial conducted in this study induced an increase in hGH release (peak: 8.23 ± 3.21 ng/ml) that was 2 X higher than a 120% Ecc trial (peak: 3.8 ± 1.2 ng/mI) of the prior study. The results of the present study demonstrate that a single bout of Con resistance exercise at the same intensity (75% of 1 RM), angular velocity, and ROM as a single bout of Ecc exercise can produce greater increases in hGH output and CK response than its Ecc counterpart. This finding does not support the previous results from this laboratory, showing that Ecc exercise is a stronger promoter of hGH output. However, it suggests that the amount of work performed is an important factor for hGH release because the exercise volume applied in the present study was greater than that of the prior study. The CK response of the subjects in this study, as well as the previous work indicate that hGH output is also dependent on exercise that elicits muscle damage. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that the mode of exercise, Con vs. Ecc, is not as important as the stress placed on the exercising muscle in order to induce optimal muscle hypertrophy. / School of Physical Education

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a resistance exercise routine that consists of a minimum of 1 set of 8-12 repetitions on 8-10 exercises, 2 times per week. These guidelines are less than traditional programs and are based on the premises that longer programs are associated with lower adherence and that additional sets and repetitions produce little, if any, additional increases in strength. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if greater gains in strength and endurance could be attained by doubling the recommended dose. Sixteen subjects were randomly assigned to one of two training groups that performed 1 or 2 sets of 8-12 repetitions for 10 weeks on 7 exercises (chest press, lat pull-down, leg ext., leg curl, shoulder press, triceps ext., biceps curl) and 8 subjects were assigned to a non-training group. Pre- and post-training 1repetition maximum (RM) and muscular endurance were measured. To assess endurance, subjects completed as many repetitions as possible at 75% of their pre-training 1-RM on all exercises except the shoulder press (60% of 1-RM). Both training groups showed a significant increase in 1-RM strength and endurance compared to controls (P < 0.05). Only the biceps curl exercise showed a significant difference in strength between the two training groups (P < 0.05). The 2 sets group increased post-training endurance to a greater degree than the 1 set group, but only the lat pull-down exercise was significant (P < 0.05).. Contrary to previous studies, these findings pertain to 8-10 exercises that use larger muscle groups. It was concluded that 1 set of 8-12 repetitions was as effective as 2 sets in increasing muscular strength and endurance. / School of Physical Education