Improvement In Cross-sectional Area Research Articles

Efficacy of resistance training in hypoxia on muscle hypertrophy and strength development: a systematic review with meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of resistance training under hypoxic conditions (RTH) on muscle hypertrophy and strength development. Searches of PubMed-Medline, Web of Science, Sport Discus and the Cochrane Library were conducted comparing the effect of RTH versus normoxia (RTN) on muscle hypertrophy (cross sectional area (CSA), lean mass and muscle thickness) and strength development [1-repetition maximum (1RM)]. An overall meta-analysis and subanalyses of training load (low, moderate or high), inter-set rest interval (short, moderate or long) and severity of hypoxia (moderate or high) were conducted to explore the effects on RTH outcomes. Seventeen studies met inclusion criteria. The overall analyses showed similar improvements in CSA (SMD [CIs] = 0.17 [− 0.07; 0.42]) and 1RM (SMD = 0.13 [0.0; 0.27]) between RTH and RTN. Subanalyses indicated a small effect on CSA for shorter inter-set rest intervals, moderate hypoxia and moderate loads favoring RTH. Moreover, a medium effect for longer inter-set rest intervals and a trivial to small effect for severe hypoxia and moderate loads favoring RTH was found on 1RM. Evidence suggests that RTH employed with moderate loads (60–80% 1RM) enhances both hypertrophy and strength. Hypertrophy appears to benefit from shorter (≤ 60 s) inter-set rest intervals during RTH while greater gains in strength are achieved with longer rest intervals (≥ 120 s). The use of moderate hypoxia (14.3–16% FiO2) seems to be somewhat beneficial to hypertrophy but not strength. Further research is required with greater standardization of protocols to draw stronger conclusions on the topic.

Randomised Controlled Trial of Fish Oil Supplementation on Responsiveness to Resistance Exercise Training in Sarcopenic Older Women.

This study aims to investigate the effects of fish oil supplementation on the muscle adaptive response to resistance exercise training, physical performance and serum levels of inflammatory cytokines in sarcopenic older women. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is performed with thirty-four sarcopenic women (2010 European Consensus of Sarcopenia), aged ≥ 65 years. The participants are allocated into the following two groups: Exercise and Fish Oil (EFO) and Exercise and Placebo (EP). Both groups undertook a resistance exercise programme over 14 weeks. All participants are instructed to ingest 4 g/day of food supplements; the EP group received sunflower oil capsules, and the EFO group, fish oil capsules. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps muscle is calculated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The strength of the lower limbs is measured using isokinetic dynamometry. Both groups show improvements in CSA and strength after the intervention. Changes in EFO are significantly greater compared with EP for muscle strength (peak torque, 19.46 Nm and 5.74 Nm, respectively, p < 0.001). CSA increased after the intervention in both groups (EFO; 6.11% and EP; 2.91%), although there is no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.23). There are no significant intra-group, inter-group or time differences in any of the cytokines measured. The use of fish oil supplementation potentiates the neuromuscular response to the anabolic stimulus from training, increasing muscle strength and physical performance in sarcopenic older women.

Bone mineral density and hip structure changes over one-year in collegiate distance runners and non-athlete controls

Modification of bone is continuous throughout life and influenced by many factors, including physical activity. This study investigated changes in areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and hip structure among male and female collegiate distance runners and non-athlete controls over 12 months. Using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and hip structure analysis (HSA) software, aBMD at the posterior-anterior (PA) and lateral spine, femoral neck, total hip (TH), whole body (WB), and bone geometry at the narrow neck (NN) of the femur was measured three times over 12 months. HSA included cross-sectional area (CSA), cross-sectional moment of inertia (CSMI), and Z-section modulus (Z). Male runners had significantly higher aBMD at TH and WB and greater CSA, CSMI, and Z than male controls at the end of 12 months. Female controls had higher aBMD at the PA spine than female runners at the end of 12 months. Male runners had significant increases in aBMD at the PA (p = 0.003) and lateral spine (p = 0.002), and TH (p = 0.002), female runners had significant decreases in aBMD at TH (p = 0.015) and WB (p = 0.002), male controls had significant increases in aBMD at the PA spine (p < 0.001) and WB (p < 0.001), and female controls had significant decreases in aBMD at lateral spine and TH (p = 0.008) over the year. When applying covariates of bone-free lean mass and vitamin D, male distance runners demonstrated significant improvement in CSA (3.602 ± 0.139 vs. 3.675 ± 0.122 cm2, p = 0.05), CSMI (3.324 ± 0.200 to 3.467 ± 0.212 cm4, p < 0.05), and Z (1.81 ± 0.08 to 1.87 ± 0.08 cm3, p = 0.05) during the study. No other changes in hip structure occurred over the year. Distance running may be beneficial to aBMD and hip structure in college-age males but not females. Further research is needed on potential influences of weight-bearing activity, energy availability, and hormonal status on aBMD and hip structure in males and females.

The Effect of Swiss Ball Stabilisation Exercise on Deep and Superficial Cervical Muscle and Pain in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain

This study investigated the effect of Swiss Ball stabilisation exercise on deep and superficial cervical muscle and pain with chronic neck pain. Thirty subjects with chronic neck pain were randomly divided into the Swiss Ball Stabilisation Exercise Group (n = 10, SBEG), Craniocervical Flexion Exercise Group (n = 10, CFEG), and Conservative Therapy Group (n = 10, CTG). All patients performed 40-50 minutes a day, thrice a week for 8 weeks. The CSA (Cross-Sectional Area) of neck muscles, longuscolli, longuscapitis, Anterior scalene and Upper trapezius, was measured using functional MRI and VAS and NDI obtained from the subjects was analyzed. After 8-weeks intervention, two groups showed the significant improvement in CSA of deep and superficial muscles; CSA change of SBEG was the most significant among groups compared with CFEG and CTG (P<.001). Swiss Ball stabilisation exercise is likely to widen the CSA of deep and superficial muscles in patient with chronic neck pain, and can be an efficacious therapeutic method that can decrease numerical value of VAS and NDI.

Efficacy of Progressive Core Strengthening Exercise on Functional Endurance Tests and Hypertrophy of Multifidus, Transverses Abdominis in Healthy Female Subjects with Low Core Endurance

Objective: Aim of the present study was to find out the efficacy of core strengthening training on hypertrophy of core group of muscles (i.e) transverses abdominis (TA) and multifidus (MF) and on trunk flexor as well as extensor endurance tests in normal healthy low core endurance females. Methodology: Study Design: Single blind randomized control trail. Sample size: Convenient sample of 20 female college students with low core endurance. They divided into two groups. Intervention: Experimental group received six weeks progressive core stabilization exercise while control group received no treatment. Out come measurement: Pre and post reading of right and left side cross sectional area (CSA) of MF at L4 and L5 level and TA using ultra sound image. Flexor and extensor trunk isometric tests were too taken for functional improvement. Statistics: Related t- test were used to compare means within the group and unrelated t-tests were used to compare means between two unrelated groups. The significance level was set at p≤0.05. Results: Prior to the intervention there was no significant difference in CSA between the groups. After 6 weeks there was no significant improvement in control group. In experimental group, after six weeks on and average 35.41% improvement in CSA with MF L4 left being most improved site (53.50%) and TA left being least improved site (9.01%). All improvements are statistically highly significant with p<0.001. When the experimental group post values were compared with control group post values all MF CSA values were statistically highly significant (p<0.001) but TA CSA were not. Conclusion: The present study results supports that 6 weeks progressive core stabilization can be used as prehabilitation to prevent LBP in normal healthy female students.