Daily Physical Training Research Articles

The Effect of Inspiratory Muscle Training on Health-Related Fitness in College Students.

In an era characterized by rapid economic growth and evolving lifestyles, college students encounter numerous challenges, encompassing academic pressures and professional competition. The respiratory muscle endurance capability is important for college students during prolonged aerobic exercise. Therefore, it is of great significance to explore an effective intervention to enhance the endurance level of college students. This study explores the transformative potential of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) to improve the physical functions of college students. This research comprised a group of 20 participants who underwent IMT integrated into their daily physical education classes or regular training sessions over an 8-week period, with 18 participants forming the control group. The IMT group adhered to the manufacturer's instructions for utilizing the PowerBreathe device. The findings indicated a significant positive effect on inspiratory muscle strength (p < 0.001), showing improvements in pulmonary function, exercise tolerance, cardiac function, and overall athletic performance. These results revealed the substantial benefits of IMT in enhancing physical fitness and promoting health maintenance among college students.

APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE VELOCIDADE E FORÇA EXPLOSIVA EM JOGADORES DE FUTEBOL

ABSTRACT Introduction: Besides good physical condition, soccer players should also possess good technical and psychological abilities. Physical fitness is a crucial factor in the competitive ability improvement of soccer players. Objective: Explore the improvement of running speed and explosive strength in soccer players. Methods: We selected 30 soccer players by random sampling. Individuals were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Members of both groups participated in daily physical activities, and speed and strength training was added to the experimental group through a protocol with regular exercises. The athletes trained for ten weeks. The speed and explosiveness of the athletes were measured before and after the test. A mathematical and statistical analysis was made of the data collected. Results: There were significant differences in running speed and explosiveness strength in the athletes of the experimental group compared to the control group in the 30-meter dash, long jump, and Illinois run. Conclusion: Speed and strength exercises can significantly improve the running speed of athletes, and increase the muscular explosive force and physical agility of soccer players. The speed and strength exercises developed in this paper are consistent with the technical characteristics of soccer. These results can lay the foundation for future daily training planning and project work in soccer teams. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

Appropriate Timing and Type of Physical Training in Patients with COVID-19 for Muscle Health and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review.

Physical activity is beneficial to modulate immune system function and has inverse relationship to ARDS linked with SARS-CoV-2. Physical activity consists of daily activity and physical training. Studies regarding effect of physical training on patients with COVID-19 are controversial. This systematic review aims to investigate physical training on muscle health and QOL in patients with COVID-19. The literature review was carried out using keywords: (Exercise) AND (COVID) AND (Muscle) AND (Observational Study) in several databases of PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). All references were reviewed using critical appraisal Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) and Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (CEBM) checklist. The studies were subsequently screened for reporting exercise, muscle, and COVID-19. The descriptions of the extracted data are guided by Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) statement with GRADE approach. This study is registered in PROSPERO: ID CRD42021295188. Six studies pooled and entered review synthesis. Studies were reviewed using critical appraisal by NOS and CEBM. Two clinical trial studies and four observational designs were selected. Our result showed physical training improved patients' outcomes in the acute phase, critical phase, and post-COVID-19 phase. Multiple types of physical trainings were suggested by those studies, and most of them showed beneficial effects to patients with COVID-19 in different phases. The level of evidence by GRADE was downgraded, and further investigations are needed to establish guidelines and strong recommendation for a specific stage of COVID-19.

Analysis of Knee Joint Injury Caused by Physical Training of Freshmen Students Based on 3T MRI and Automatic Cartilage Segmentation Technology: A Prospective Study.

BackgroundThe differential effects of various exercises on knee joint injury have not been well documented. Improper physical training can cause irreversible damage to the knee joint. MRI is generally used to precisely analyze morphological and biochemical changes in the knee cartilage. We compared the effects of long-walking and regular daily physical training on acute and chronic knee joint injuries as well as cartilage structure in freshmen students.MethodsA total of 23 young male college freshmen were recruited to participate in an 8-day 240 km long distance walk and a one-year daily training. 3D-DESSwe, 2D T2 mapping, DIXON, and T1WI of the right knee joint were performed using the MAGNETOM Spectra 3T MR scanner. The injury of meniscus, bone marrow edema, ligaments and joint effusion is graded. Cartilage volume, thickness and T2 values of 21 sub-regions of the knee cartilage were estimated using automatic cartilage segmentation prototype software. Friedman’s test and Wilcoxon paired rank-sum test were used to compare quantitative indices of knee cartilage in three groups.ResultsThe injury to the medial meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament of the knee joint, joint effusion, and bone marrow edema was significantly higher in the long-walking group compared to the baseline and daily groups. Furthermore, injury to the lateral meniscus was significantly worse in the long-walking group compared to the baseline group but was significantly better in the daily group compared to the baseline group. No significant changes to the posterior cruciate ligament were observed among the three groups. Knee cartilage volume was significantly increased, mainly in the stress surface of the femur, patella, and the lateral area of the tibial plateau. Regular daily training did not significantly change the thickness of the knee cartilage. Conversely, knee cartilage thickness decreased in the long-walking group, especially in the medial and lateral areas of the femur and tibial plateau. Moreover, no significant changes were observed in the knee cartilage volume of the long-walking group. Both long-walking and daily groups showed reduced T2 values of the knee joint compared to the baseline.ConclusionAmong freshmen students and the training of this experimental intensity, our results show that regular daily training does not cause high-level injury to the knee joint, but improve the knee joint function adaptability by increasing cartilage volume. Moreover, knee injury caused by short-term long walking can be reversible.

Adolescent Food Habits and Its Association with Overweight and Obesity among Female Students in Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia

Background: Adolescence is a period of extreme growth changes.Malnutrition along with the adolescencegrowth changes has significant effects for maternal and neonatal wellbeing. Bad sequences in the prenatalperiod and childbearing are the most important reason of deathsin adolescent girls aged 15–19 years. Aim: Toassess the overall dietary “Food Habits” of adolescent girls. Also, to assess the relationship between obesity,food habits and physical activity patterns in adolescents. Subjects and Method: A quantitative-correlationalresearch design was utilized. A Cluster random sampling strategy was used. The study conducted at sixmiddle and high schools, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. The three sectors covered through two schools from eachsector.The survey was conducted among 593 female school students between November 2019 –January2020. The questionnaire contained two sections. Ethical approval obtained from the Education Departmentof Ministry of Education after obtaining approval from the College of Applied Medical Sciences Researchand Ethical Committee. Results: The mean of body mass index of the participants was 21.1±3.5. It wasclear that (23.6%) of the participants were underweight, while (67.1%) were within normal weight and(7.9%) were overweight and (1.4%) were obese. Near to half of the participants (47.1%) did not make anydaily activity.(19.2%)of the participants took supplementation medicine. Adolescent Food Habits Checklist(AFHC) Score was low between the schoolgirls. Conclusion: The current study reinforced that AdolescentFood Habits Checklist (AFHC) Score was at a low level among the schoolgirls. Near to half of the adolescentdid not make any daily physical training. While range of the physical activity was from (15-30) minutes perday.

Biomarkers, Creatine Kinase, and Kidney Function of Special Operation Candidates During Intense Physiological Training.

The purpose of this pilot study was to assess for biomarkers indicative of passing intense physical training and establishing normative values within the tactical athlete population. Unfortunately, none of the biomarkers assessed were indicative of passing training, however, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and creatine kinase (CK) levels stood out as abnormal. CK levels are commonly used in conjunction with muscle pain and/or myoglobinurea to diagnose exertional rhabdomyolysis (ER) in athletes and the military population. However, research shows that high CK levels may not correlate with acute kidney failure in ER. After IRB approval and informed consent, blood samples were obtained from 21 volunteers during two phases of the combat control training pipeline: the first phase (12 participants) was 2hours of daily physical training followed by 8hours of academics, and the second phase (nine volunteers) a grueling, 72hour, intense training cycle (stress inoculation training, SIT) with a historic pass rate of only 50%. Biomarkers were also tracked 48hours after cessation of SIT. None of the biomarkers assessed showed a correlation with passing SIT, but high CK levels were well above the diagnostic threshold for ER-as high as 28,000 u/L. At a single point in time, a significant correlation did not exist between CK and others markers associated with rhabdomyolysis. Across time, partial correlations controlling for subject did exist between CK and other markers. In our low-powered case control study (pilot study), a nonpathologic elevation of CK is prevalent in high-intensity military training, but not shown to correlate with values associated with acute kidney injury. We assume that real-time collection of these markers could be used once sensors are capable of real-time collection and have the potential for diagnostic affordance. When measured in a between subjects design, our study showed a lack of significance when correlating markers of acute renal injury and elevation of CK. However, when utilized for tracking purposes (within subjects design), the results do show a positive correlation between CK and renal failure biomarkers-specifically only at high physiological stress points.

Physical Activity: A Missing Link in Asthma Care.

Asthma is the commonest respiratory disease and one of unceasingly increasing prevalence and burden. As such, asthma has attracted a major share or scientific interest and clinical attention. With the various clinical and pathophysiological aspects of asthma having been extensively investigated, the important association between asthma and physical activity remains underappreciated and insufficiently explored. Asthma impacts adversely on physical activity. Likewise, poor physical activity may lead to worse asthma outcomes. This concise clinical review presents the current recommendations for physical activity, discusses the available evidence on physical activity in asthma, and examines the causes of low physical activity in adult asthmatic patients. It also reviews the effect of daily physical activity and exercise training on the pathology and clinical outcomes of asthma. Finally, it summarizes the evidence on interventions targeting physical activity in asthma.

Design Strategy for Porous Composites Aimed at Pressure Sensor Application.

Flexible and highly sensitive pressure sensors have versatile biomedical engineering applications for disease diagnosis and healthcare. The fabrication of such sensors based on porous structure composites usually requires complex, costly, and nonenvironmentally friendly procedures. As such, it is highly desired to develop facile, economical, and environment-friendly fabrication strategies for highly sensitive lightweight pressure sensors. Herein, a novel design strategy is reported to fabricate porous composite pressure sensors via a simple heat molding of conductive fillers and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powders together with commercially available popcorn salts followed by water-assisted salt removal. The obtained TPU/carbon nanostructure (CNS) foam sensors have a linear resistance response up to 60% compressive strain with a gauge factor (GF ) of 1.5 and show reversible and reproducible piezoresistive properties due to the robust electrically conductive pathways formed on the foam struts. Such foam sensors can be potentially utilized for guiding squatting exercises and respiration rate monitoring in daily physical training.

An Overview of Current Physical Activity Recommendations in Primary Care

Primary care physicians should encourage their patients to engage in adequate physical activity. Current recommendations for physical activity in adults are as follows: at least 150–300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity, 75–150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity. Adults should also perform muscle-strengthening activities of moderate intensity or higher that involve all major muscle groups for 2 or more days per week. The elderly should perform additional balance training and fall prevention exercises more than 3 times a week. Children and adolescents should perform at least 1 hour of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily, which includes vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week. As part of their 60 minutes or more of daily physical activity, resistance training and bone strengthening exercise should be done at least 3 days per week. According to new evidence, one bout of any exercises can be shorter than 10 minutes. Previously, physical activities were recommended for more than 10 minutes. For patients with diabetes, it is advisable to perform resistance exercise or short-distance running before aerobic exercise to prevent hypoglycemia. New evidence shows that dynamic resistance training is safe and effective in patients with hypertension provided the load is not too heavy. Exercise reduces pain and improves quality of life and physical function in patients with osteoarthritis,. Therefore, the treatment guidelines for osteoarthritis have been changed recently from not recommending exercise to highly recommending it.

Serum concentration of cobalt, molybdenum and zinc in aerobic, anaerobic and aerobic-anaerobic sportsmen

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to determine changes in the serum concentrations of trace elements Cobalt (Co), Molybdenum (Mo) and Zinc (Zn) among high-level sportsmen.MethodsEighty professional athletes of different metabolic modalities (aerobic, anaerobic and aerobic-anaerobic), were recruited before the beginning of their training seasons. Thirty-one sedentary participants of the same geographic area constituted the control group. Co, Mo and Zn analysis was performed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).ResultsSerum concentration of Mo (p < 0.001) was higher among sportsmen compared to the control group values. Separated by modalities, the concentrations of Co in the aerobic-anaerobic athletes were lower (p < 0.01) than in the control group as well as than in the other athletes. The highest Mo concentration was found in anaerobic sportsmen (p < 0.001), followed by aerobic-anaerobic (p < 0.001) being both statistically higher in comparison with the control group. In relation to Zn, it was observed that aerobic-anaerobic (p < 0.001) and anaerobic (p < 0.001) sportsmen showed higher concentrations than the control participants. However, aerobic sportsmen showed lower concentrations (p < 0.01) than controls.ConclusionThis data manifest that long-term, daily physical training may induce variations in serum concentrations of several essential elements among sportsmen in comparison to untrained men and that these changes seems to be related to the sports modality practiced.

Improvements In Recruit Fitness During A 6-week Firefighter Training Academy

Firefighting is a unique and dangerous career in that, unlike some sports and careers that primarily focus on one training goal, firefighters (FFs) must train both aerobic and anaerobic systems. The leading cause for death of on-duty FFs is sudden cardiac events. Emphasizing physical training early in a firefighters career (academy training) has the potential to impact fitness and perceptions of the importance of fitness, and hence to decrease the risk of sudden cardiac events. PURPOSE: Examine physical fitness parameters, assessed during the first and last week of a 6-wk firefighter (FF) training academy, in male recruit FFs from 2004 through 2016 to establish the effectiveness of the training regimen employed by the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI). METHODS: Participants were male FF recruits (N = 383; 26.2 ± 4.2 yrs, M ± SD) from the IFSI who completed baseline fitness measures including measures of weight, estimated VO2max (1.5-mi run), muscular endurance (60-s sit-ups, 60-s push-ups, bench press), and flexibility (sit and reach). Following the 6-wk fire academy, which included daily physical training, recruit FFs repeated the fitness test battery. RESULTS: Results indicated significant improvements (Mdiff± SE; all Ps < 0.001) for weight (1.12 ± 0.14 kg, Cohen’s d = 0.08), 1.5-mile run (0.92 ± 0.04 min, d = 0.57), 60-s sit-ups (5.11 ± 0.25 reps, d = 0.60), 60-s push-ups (13.21 ± 0.38 reps, d = 1.08), bench press [i.e., 38.6 kg; 2.56 ± 0.26 reps, d = 0.23), and flexibility (2.15 ± 0.19 cm, d = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS: Following a 6-wk training academy, including daily physical training, recruit FFs made significant improvements in weight, BMI, estimated VO2max, three measures of muscular endurance, and flexibility. Since the majority of on-duty deaths can be attributed to stress or overexertion-related cardiac events, it is important to recognize the importance of a varied fitness regimen for FFs’ health as well as performance. All areas of fitness need to be examined with training modalities and performance goals that are consistent with the physical demands of firefighting.

Effect of breathing oxygen-enriched air on exercise performance in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension: randomized, sham-controlled cross-over trial.

The purpose of the current trial was to test the hypothesis that breathing oxygen-enriched air increases exercise performance of patients with pulmonary arterial or chronic thrombo-embolic pulmonary hypertension (PAH/CTEPH) and to investigate involved mechanisms. Twenty-two patients with PAH/CTEPH, eight women, means ± SD 61 ± 14 years, resting mPAP 35 ± 9mmHg, PaO2 ambient air >7.3 kPa, underwent four bicycle ergospirometries to exhaustion on different days, while breathing oxygen-enriched (FiO2 0.50, hyperoxia) or ambient air (FiO2 0.21, normoxia) using progressively increased or constant load protocols (with 75% maximal work rate under FiO2 0.21), according to a randomized, sham-controlled, single-blind, cross-over design. ECG, pulmonary gas-exchange, arterial blood gases, cerebral and quadriceps muscle tissue oxygenation (CTO and QMTO) by near-infrared spectroscopy were measured. In ramp exercise, maximal work rate increased from 113 ± 38 W with normoxia to 132 ± 48 W with hyperoxia, mean difference 19.7 (95% CI 10.5-28.9) W, P < 0.001. Constant load exercise endurance increased from 571 ± 443 to 1242 ± 514 s, mean difference 671 (95% CI 392-951) s, P < 0.001. At end-exercise with hyperoxia PaO2, CTO, QMTO, and PaCO2 were increased, and ventilatory equivalents for CO2 were reduced while the physiological dead space/tidal volume ratio remained unchanged. In patients with PAH/CTEPH, breathing oxygen-enriched air provides major increases in exercise performance. This is related to an improved arterial oxygenation that promotes oxygen availability in muscles and brain and to a reduction of the excessive ventilatory response to exercise thereby enhancing ventilatory efficiency. Patients with PAH/CTEPH may therefore benefit from oxygen therapy during daily physical activities and training. clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01748474.

The effect of a Live-high Train-high exercise regimen on behavioural temperature regulation.

Acute hypoxia alters the threshold for sensation of cutaneous thermal stimuli. We hypothesised that hypoxia-induced alterations in cutaneous temperature sensation may lead to modulation of the perception of temperature, ultimately influencing behavioural thermoregulation and that the magnitude of this effect could be influenced by daily physical training. Fourteen men were confined 10 days to a normobaric hypoxic environment (PIO2=88.2±0.6mmHg, corresponding to 4175m elevation). Subjects were randomly assigned to a non-exercising (Live-high, LH, N=6), or exercising group (Live-high Train-high, LH-TH, N=8) comprised of 1-h bouts of cycle ergometry, twice daily, at a work-rate equivalent to 50% hypoxic peak power output. A subset of subjects (N=5) also completed a control trial under normoxic conditions. The thermal comfort zone (TCZ) was determined in normoxia, and during hypoxic confinement days 2 (HC2) and 10 (HC10) in both groups using a water-perfused suit in which water temperature was regulated by the subjects within a range, they deemed thermally comfortable. Mean skin temperature and proximal-distal temperature gradients (two sites: forearm-fingertip, calf-toe) were recorded each minute throughout the 60-min protocol. The average width of the TCZ did not differ between the control group (9.0±6.9°C), and the LH and LH-TH groups on days HC2 (7.2±4.2°C) and HC10 (10.2±7.5°C) of the hypoxic exposure (p=0.256). [Formula: see text] was marginally higher on HC2 (35.9±1.0°C) compared to control (34.9±0.8°C, p=0.040), but not on HC10 (35.6±1.0°C), reflecting the responses of hand perfusion. There was a little systematic effect of hypoxia or exercise training on TCZ magnitude or boundary temperatures.

The transfer of skills from cognitive and physical training to activities of daily living: a randomised controlled study.

Ageing is associated with the deterioration of all cognitive functions, including attention, memory and psychomotor speed. It has not yet been clearly confirmed whether the effects of cognitive and physical interventions can improve activities of daily living (ADL). This study compared the effectiveness of cognitive and physical training on cognitive functions and the transfer to ADL. Eighty older people with mild cognitive impairment (mean age 67.07±4.3years) were randomly divided into an experimental group (n=40) and a control group (n=40). Data were collected in an outpatient psychiatric clinic in a randomised controlled trial. Primary outcome measures included the following: cognitive functions were evaluated using the mini mental state examination, the AVLT-Auditory verbal learning test, the Stroop test, the TMT-trail making test, the DRT-disjunctive reaction time and the NHPT-nine hole peg test. Secondary outcome measure was the Bristol activities of daily living scale. The experimental group underwent a CogniPlus and physical training; consisting of 20 training sessions over 10weeks. Both groups went through 30min of daily physical training for 10weeks. After the training, significant differences in favour of the experimental group were found in almost all the tests. In memory (AVLT) (p≤0.0001, effect size (ES) η2 =0.218. In reduction of the response time on attention tasks (Stroop tasks) (p≤0.006, ES=0.092-0.115). In lower error rates in all tests: Stroop tasks, DRT, TMT, NHPT (p≤0.02-0.001, ES=0.062-0.176). In ADL (p≤0.0001, ES=0.176). The combined cognitive and physical training had better efficacy for most cognitive functions and for ADL when compared with the physical training only.

Functional evaluation of ultra-octogenarian patients undergoing Cardiac Rehabilitation: correlation between Six minute Walking Test and Rivermead Mobility Index

There is an increasing need for admission of octogenarians to cardiac rehabilitation programs. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) (scale of mobility) is related to the functional capacity assessed by the 6 Minute Walking Test (6MWT). We selected 108 consecutive patients > 80 years (M = 53, mean age 82.5 +/- 2.7 years, after cardiac surgery n = 72, heart failure n = 36) enrolled to our cardiac rehabilitation unit. All patients were evaluated with the RMI and underwent 6MWT both at admission (RMI(1) and 6MWT(1) and after a period of daily physical training (RMI2 and 6MWT(2)). The RMI(2)/RMI(1) and 6MWT(2)/6MWT(1) ratios were calculated as indexes of functional improvement (IM). The average in hospital stay was 20 +/- 11 days with an average of 11.9 training sessions per patient. The average distance walked at 6MWT(1) and 6MWT(2) was 193 +/- 116 and 278 +/- 122 m, respectively (p <0.001). The average score of RMI1 and RMI2 was 8.5 +/- 3.4 and 13.1 +/- 2.9, respectively (p <0.001). The values of 6MWT(1) and RMI(1) results were significantly correlated (r = 0.56, p <0.001). The RMI IM was significantly correlated to 6MWT IM (r = 0.309, p = 0.002). At multivariate analysis, RMI IM was found to be predictive of 6MWT IM even after correction for age, gender, length of hospitalization and number of sessions of training. In octogenarians, cardiac rehabilitation results in a significant improvement of both RMI and 6MWT. RMI IM is independently correlated to 6MWT IM. Therefore, RMI could be a useful tool for evaluating the improvement of functional capacity even in patients who cannot undergo 6MWT.

Training on uncertain ground: Farma bez jeskyně/Farm without a cave

The recipient of numerous honours including Edinburgh Fringe First, Total Theatre and Herald Angel Awards and the European Prize for New Theatrical Realities (2011), Farma v jeskyni is among the most successful theatre companies to emerge from the Czech new theatre (nové divadlo) scene. Despite, or perhaps because of, its success, Farma's reception domestically is fraught with ambiguity and a suspicion of the company's laboratory-based methodology, which emphasises the daily physical training of company members. This article considers Farma's work and its domestic critical reception and interrogates the disparity between the company's international renown and compromised working conditions in Prague. It demonstrates the extent to which Farma's reception and treatment is shaped by the artistic values and priorities established throughout the historical evolution of Czech theatre as a highly politicised and national art form. Farma's emphasis on training and ensemble practice will be explored as inflecting the company's critical perception and working conditions, with reference to communist-era scepticism concerning Grotowski's actor-training practices, as well as post-communist neo-liberal agendas that emphasise saleable cultural products over artistically rigorous processes.

Effects of physical activity and training programs on plasma homocysteine levels: a systematic review.

Homocysteine is an amino acid produced in the liver that, when present in high concentrations, is thought to contribute to plaque formation and, consequently, increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, daily physical activity and training programs may contribute to controlling atherosclerosis. Given that physical exercise induces changes in protein and amino acid metabolism, it is important to understand whether homocysteine levels are also affected by exercise and to determine possible underlying mechanisms. Moreover, regarding the possible characteristics of different training programs (intensity, duration, repetition, volume), it becomes prudent to determine which types of exercise reduce homocysteine levels. To these ends, a systematic review was conducted to examine the effects of daily physical activity and different training programs on homocysteine levels. EndNote(®) was used to locate articles on the PubMed database from 2002 to 2013 with the keyword combinations "physical activity and homocysteine", "training and homocysteine", and/or "exercise and homocysteine". After 34 studies were identified, correlative and comparative studies of homocysteine levels revealed lower levels in patients engaged in greater quantities of daily physical activity. Regarding the acute effects of exercise, all studies reported increased homocysteine levels. Concerning intervention studies with training programs, aerobic training programs used different methods and analyses that complicate making any conclusion, though resistance training programs induced decreased homocysteine levels. In conclusion, this review suggests that greater daily physical activity is associated with lower homocysteine levels and that exercise programs could positively affect homocysteine control.

Effect of the duration of daily aerobic physical training on cardiac autonomic adaptations

The present study has investigated in conscious rats the influence of the duration of physical training sessions on cardiac autonomic adaptations by using different approaches; 1) double blockade with methylatropine and propranolol; 2) the baroreflex sensitivity evaluated by alternating bolus injections of phenylephrine and sodium nitroprusside; and 3) the autonomic modulation of HRV in the frequency domain by means of spectral analysis. The animals were divided into four groups: one sedentary group and three training groups submitted to physical exercise (swimming) for 15, 30, and 60 min a day during 10 weeks. All training groups showed similar reduction in intrinsic heart rate (IHR) after double blockade with methylatropine and propranolol. However, only 30-min and 60-min physical training presented an increase in the vagal autonomic component for determination of basal heart rate (HR) in relation to group sedentary. Spectral analysis of HR showed that the 30-min and 60-min physical training presented the reduction in low-frequency oscillations (LF = 0.20–0.75 Hz) and the increase in high-frequency oscillations (HF = 0.75–2.5 Hz) in normalized units. These both groups only showed an increased baroreflex sensitivity to tachycardiac responses in relation to group sedentary, however when compared, the physical training of 30-min exhibited a greater gain. In conclusion, cardiac autonomic adaptations, characterised by the increased predominance of the vagal autonomic component, were not proportional to the duration of daily physical training sessions. In fact, 30-minute training sessions provided similar cardiac autonomic adaptations, or even more enhanced ones, as in the case of baroreflex sensitivity compared to 60-minute training sessions.

Dancing to a different tune: The predictive utility of the theory of planned behaviour when the behaviour is constrained

Objective The predictive utility of the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was tested in a fit, healthy population who were required to exercise regularly. Four physical activity behaviours were examined: one volitional behaviour (dancing) and three activities offered during daily physical training (PT, i.e. running, swimming, team sport). Method RAF trainee aircraftsmen ( N = 186) completed a questionnaire assessing TPB constructs and past behaviour, followed by a 7-day Physical Activity Recall interview. Participants repeated the behaviour measures one-week later. During the week prior to participation, participants were “free living” and did not have to take PT sessions; during the week between measurement sessions, participants were on base, and so had to complete a compulsory 90 min exercise session, although they were free to choose the specific PT activity. Results While intentions were well predicted for all behaviours, the TPB variables explained more of the variance for the volitional behaviour (19.6%) than for constrained behaviours (average 3.5%). Addition of past behaviour resulted in minimal improvement of the existing TPB model of intention and future behaviour for all measured physical activities. Conclusion The TPB appears unsuitable for prediction of physical activity when behaviours are constrained by external influences, but appropriate when they are not. Using an assessment of past behaviour during a period when behaviour had different constraints on it than during the period of behaviour being predicted dramatically reduced the contribution of past behaviour compared to previous research.

Mesures adjuvantes à une corticothérapie systémique prolongée : description des pratiques des médecins internistes français

IntroductionExcept for the prevention of osteoporosis, no consensual recommendations are available regarding the therapeutic measures associated with the prescription of long-term corticosteroid therapy. The aim of this study was to assess the internal medicine physicians’ practices regarding the prescription of long-term corticosteroid therapy. MethodsIn September 2007, we sent, by e-mail, a questionnaire to 813 internal medicine physicians, members of the French National Society of Internal Medicine. With this questionnaire, we assessed the frequency of prescription of measures sometimes associated with systemic corticosteroids and for whom no consensual recommendations were available (dietary advices, physical training, potassium supplementation, gastric protection, influenza vaccination and prescription of hydrocortisone). ResultsThree hundred and thirty-six out of 813 internal medicine physicians completed the questionnaire (response rate: 41%). The practitioners were predominantly male (71%) and mainly engaged in tertiary centres (53%). Regarding the dietary measures associated with the prescription of corticosteroids, low-sodium diet was recommended by most of the physicians, 69% of them prescribing such dietary regimen in more than 80% of their corticosteroid-treated patients. The concomitant prescription of caloric restriction, low-carbohydrate diet and/or high-protein diet was not consensual. The prescription of muscular physiotherapy was unusual, 74% of physicians prescribing such reeducation in less than 20% of their patients. The frequency of recommendation for daily physical training varied between physicians as well as for potassium supplementation, gastric protection, influenza vaccination or hydrocortisone prescription. ConclusionThere is no consensus between French internal medicine physicians regarding most of the measures, which must be prescribed in association with a long-term corticosteroid therapy.