Lower Body Endurance Research Articles

Low physical fitness indicates future injury, mental health, menstrual cycle disruptions and burnout in female emergency service personnel and healthcare providers

Musculoskeletal injury (MSKi), depression, anxiety and burnout place a considerable burden on emergency services personnel and healthcare providers (HCP). Physical fitness is related to both mental and physical health in these populations but females in these are hugely underrepresented in this literature. As female representation in first-responder and HCP roles increases, the need for female specific research is needed. This study examines physical fitness as a short-term indicator of future reproductive health, MSKi, and mental health for females employed as first-responders or HCP. Thirteen first-responders and 29 HCP completed an initial health and demographics questionnaire, a comprehensive physical assessment (e.g., bone mineral density, muscular strength, muscular endurance, muscular power, flexibility, and aerobic capacity), and a health questionnaire 6-7 months after the physical testing. We found that i) bone mineral density, relative upper body strength, and lowerbody power were related to sustaining future MSKi, ii) better lower body endurance and flexibility was related to future menstrual cycle disruptions, and iii) low bone mineral density was related future self-reported burnout and Patient Health Questionnaire score >10. Physical fitness characteristics can be helpful indicators of future MSKi risk, menstrual cycle disruptions, and mental health status in females employed in arduous occupations.

Association of Physical and Emotional Parameters with Performance of Firefighters: A Systematic Review.

Firefighting requires a high level of physical fitness and causes substantial psychological stress, engendering musculoskeletal, mental, and cardiac issues. Consequently, it is necessary to measure the preparation of the firefighters daily through the Firefighting Physical Ability Tests (FPATs). According to the literature, some variables are more important for performance in the FPAT. Therefore, we aimed to summarize evidence that relates physical and mental aspects to the FPAT performance. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) method, screening 1055 records from databases and selecting 15 that met inclusion criteria. No emotional and psychological variables were correlated with the FPAT. Most research shows significant correlations between the FPAT performance and the following: aerobic fitness, upper body endurance and strength, anaerobic capacity, body fat, and age. Lower body endurance and strength, as well as anaerobic power, had a low number of investigations and need to be further explored. Abdominal endurance showed weak correlations, while flexibility did not show any correlations in most studies, although these should be considered for injury prevention. We recommend that fitness programs and evaluations include a global analysis considering the evidence presented for methodological improvements.

Exercise Programming Modelling a Standard of Care Approach Improves Physical Health and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Individuals Living with Breast Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Controlled study designs widely report that exercise improves the health of individuals living with breast cancer. Still, many individuals living with breast cancer are not active enough to experience the benefits of exercise. The Activating Cancer Communities through an Exercise Strategy for Survivors study was developed to reach more individuals living with cancer. This report describes the effects of a 12-week individualized exercise program that models a standard-of-care approach on body composition, physical fitness, and patient-reported outcomes in individuals living with breast cancer. Individuals living with breast cancer were recruited for the study and completed an exercise program twice weekly overseen by a Clinical Exercise Physiologist. A total of 43 participants completed the exercise intervention, and 36 withdrew from the study. All participants had significantly improved aerobic fitness, waist circumference, hip circumference, lower body endurance, physical activity behaviour, health-related quality of life, emotional status, and fatigue levels after completing the program. Flexibility, balance, and sleep scores did not change. The results from the 12-week individualized exercise program largely align with the results from more controlled study designs. These results support future initiatives integrating exercise therapy into the standard of care for individuals living with breast cancer.

Effect of Suryanamaskar on upper body verses lower endurance and flexibility amongst children at the end of six-week training (A comparative study)

Background: Physical fitness is defined as asset of attributes that people have or achieve that relates to ability to perform physical activity. Physical fitness is important in children increases strength and endurance, psychological well-being as reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Physical exercise influence cognitive, emotional and learning, neurological domains, both direct and indirect. Suryanamaskar is branch of complementary medicine that concentrate physical health and mental wellbeing and one of the basic yoga practice its perfect for those looking to perform an intensive workout in a small amount of time. Aim: To see the effect of suryanamaskar on upper body and lower body endurance and flexibility on children after 6 weeks of training. Methodology: School children both girls and boys of age 10 to 16 has been included in the study, pre-evaluation has been done using outcome measure. Suryanamaskar training done for 5 times a week for 6 consecutive weeks. After that post evaluations done. Outcome measures: push up test, shoulder stretch test, squats test, sit and reach test. Results: Lower limb flexibility and endurance is improved than upper limb flexibility and endurance. Which was proved statistically significant (p=0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that more improvement in lower body endurance and flexibility after 6 weeks training of suryanamaskar than upper body.

Evenness of Dietary Protein Intake Is Positively Associated with Lean Mass and Strength in Healthy Women.

Background:Evenness of protein intake is associated with increased lean mass, but its relationship with muscle strength and performance is uncertain.Objectives:We determined the association of evenness of protein intake with lean mass, muscle strength and endurance, and functional ability.Design:This was a cross-sectional study.Setting:Data were collected at a research university in the upper midwestern United States.Participants:One hundred ninety-two healthy women, aged 18 to 79 years, mean ± SEM 41.9 ± 1.3, completed the study.Measurements:Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food diaries verified with food frequency questionnaires. To assess evenness of protein intake, the day was divided into 3 periods: waking to 11:30, 11:31 to 16:30, and after 16:30. Lean mass was measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Lower-body muscle strength and endurance were determined using isokinetic dynamometry. Upper-body muscle strength was maximal handgrip strength. Functional ability was assessed using 6-m gait speed and 30-second chair stand tests. Accelerometry measured physical activity.Results:Intakes of 25 g or more of protein at 1 or more of the 3 periods was positively associated with lean mass (β ± S.E.; 1.067 ± 0.273 kg, P < .001) and upper-body (3.274 ± 0.737 kg, P < .001) and lower-body strength (22.858 ± 7.918 Nm, P = .004) when controlling for age, body mass index, physical activity, and energy and protein intakes. Consuming at least 0.24 g/kg/period for those under 60 years and 0.4 g/kg/period for those 60 years and older was related to lean mass (0.754 ± 0.244 kg, P = .002), upper-body strength (2.451 ± 0.658 kg, P < .001), and lower-body endurance (184.852 ± 77.185 J, P = .018), controlling for the same variables.Conclusions:Evenness of protein intake is related to lean mass, muscle strength, and muscular endurance in women. Spreading protein intake throughout the day maximizes the anabolic response to dietary protein, benefiting muscle mass and performance.

Upper- vs. Lower-Body Exercise Performance in Female and Male Cross-Country Skiers.

Purpose: To investigate the interaction between exercise modality (i.e., upper- and lower-body exercise) and sex in physiological responses and power output (PO) across the entire intensity spectrum (i.e., from low to maximal intensity).Methods: Ten male and 10 female cross-country (XC) skiers performed a stepwise incremental test to exhaustion consisting of 5 min stages with increasing workload employing upper-body poling (UP) and running (RUN) on two separate days. Mixed measures ANOVA were performed to investigate the interactions between exercise modalities (i.e., UP and RUN) and sex in physiological responses and PO across the entire exercise intensity spectrum.Results: The difference between UP and RUN (ΔUP−RUN), was not different in the female compared with the male XC skiers for peak oxygen uptake (18 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 6 mL·kg−1·min−1, p = 0.843) and peak PO (84 ± 18 vs. 91 ± 22 W, p = 0.207). At most given blood lactate and rating of perceived exertion values, ΔUP−RUN was larger in the male compared with the female skiers for oxygen uptake and PO, but these differences disappeared when the responses were expressed as % of the modality-specific peak.Conclusion: Modality-differences (i.e., ΔUP−RUN) in peak physiological responses and PO did not differ between the female and male XC skiers. This indicates that increased focus on upper-body strength and endurance training in female skiers in recent years may have closed the gap between upper- and lower-body endurance capacity compared with male XC skiers. In addition, no sex-related considerations need to be made when using relative physiological responses for intensity regulation within a specific exercise modality.

Measures Derived from Panoramic Ultrasonography and Animal-Based Protein Intake Are Related to Muscular Performance in Middle-Aged Adults.

Ultrasonography advantageously measures skeletal muscle size and quality, but some muscles may be too large to capture with standardized brightness mode (B-mode) imaging. Panoramic ultrasonography can capture more complete images and may more accurately measure muscle size. We investigated measurements made using panoramic compared to B-mode ultrasonography images of the rectus femoris with muscular performance. Concurrently, protein intake plays an important role in preventing sarcopenia; therefore, we also sought to investigate the association between animal-based protein intake (ABPI) and muscular performance. Ninety-one middle-aged adults were recruited. Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and thickness were obtained using B-mode and panoramic ultrasound and analyzed with Image J software. Muscular performance was assessed using isokinetic dynamometry, a 30-s chair test, and handgrip strength. Three-day food diaries estimated dietary intakes. Linear regression models determined relationships between measures from ultrasonography and muscular performance. Mixed linear models were used to evaluate the association between ABPI and muscular performance. Muscle CSA from panoramic ultrasonography and ABPI were positively associated with lower-body strength (β ± S.E.; CSA, 42.622 ± 20.024, p = 0.005; ABPI, 65.874 ± 19.855, p = 0.001), lower-body endurance (β ± S.E.; CSA, 595 ± 200.221, p = 0.001; ABPI, 549.944 ± 232.478, p = 0.020), and handgrip strength (β ± S.E.; CSA, 6.966 ± 3.328, p = 0.004; ABPI, 0.349 ± 0.171, p = 0.045). Panoramic ultrasound shows promise as a method for assessing sarcopenia. ABPI is related to better muscular performance.

Cardiac adaptation to endurance exercise training: Differential impact of swimming and running

Objectives: High-intensity training has been associated with bi-ventricular and bi-atrial remodelling and a potentially increased risk of arrhythmias. Most of the evidence is based on endurance disciplines mainly involving the lower part of the body, while few data is available on upper body disciplines. The purpose of this study was to compare chronic cardiac remodelling induced by running and swimming as well as the acute response of ventricular and atrial performance after an upper-body and a lower-body endurance race. Methods: Standard and speckle tracking echocardiographic assessment of left ventricle, right ventricle and both atria was performed at baseline and immediately after a 9.5 km open-water swimming race in 26 healthy men and before and after a 35 km-trail-running race in 21 male runners. Results: No significant differences were observed in baseline ventricular dimensions. However, both right ventricular and atrial systolic deformation were greater in runners. This group also showed slightly larger atrial volumes as compared to swimmers. After the race, right ventricular dilatation was observed in both groups, but only runners showed a decrease in right ventricular deformation and a decrease in atrial volumes and deformation. Significant increases in atrial deformation without reduction in atrial volumes were observed only in swimmers after the race. Conclusions: Right ventricular and atrial remodelling is different depending on the endurance training discipline. Long-distance running races induce a greater impairment in right ventricular performance and atrial function compared to endurance swimming competitions.

Cancer Patients Who Exercise In Pairs Gain Greater Fitness Compared To Individually Trained Patients

While individualized exercise training improves physical and psychosocial health, paired exercise training may result in similar improvements at a reduced patient-to-staff ratio. PURPOSE: To compare the effect of paired vs. individualized exercise training on physical and psychosocial health in cancer patients. METHODS: Twenty-five female cancer patients (mean±SD: 62±8 years) were assigned to exercise in pairs (n=13) or individually (n=12). They completed 36, 90-min sessions consisting of cardiovascular, resistance, balance and flexibility training according to standardized guidelines. Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2peak), muscular strength (1-repetition max), endurance (chair squat test), balance (single leg stance), and flexibility (sit-and-reach) were measured pre- and post-exercise. Psychosocial health was assessed pre-, mid- and post-intervention (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), Insomnia Index, Brief Fatigue Index, Patient Health Questionnaire-9). Two-way ANOVAs (Factors: Group, Time) were used to identify main effects or interactions; differences were detected with post-hoc tests. Significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: Improvements in physical fitness were similar between paired (P) and singly (S) trained patients. VO2peak significantly increased from 26.6±9.2 to 31.0±7.2 ml•kg-1•min-1 (S) and 26.0±6.3 to 29.1±7.1 ml•kg-1•min-1 (P). Upper and lower body strength increased by 20.0% (S) and 19.6% (P); 15.9% (S) and 20.8% (P), respectively. Paired patients exhibited larger improvements in lower body endurance (S: 24.0% vs. P: 52.3%), flexibility (S: 5.3% vs. P: 11.0%), and balance (S: 17.8% vs. P: 36.8%). A significant main effect (Time) was detected in the functional dimension (FACT-G) but not in social (p=0.200), emotional (p=0.054), or physical well-being (p=0.075). Time (main effect) was not significant for insomnia for either group (p=0.0778), but paired patients had significant improvements in sleep from pre- to mid-intervention (9.8±6.9 vs. 7.2±6.3). CONCLUSION: The social aspect associated with paired exercise sessions may have increased motivation, resulting in enhanced improvements in fitness and mental well-being in the paired group. These data suggest that exercising in pairs is a promising approach to cancer rehabilitation.

Examining and comparing the health and performance indices of university undergraduate students according to year of study and gender

This study examined and compared, based on year of study and gender, the health and performance indices of university undergraduate students. Eighty-nine students (mean±standard deviation age, 22.47±2.22 years) were randomly selected for assessment prior to second semester examination of 2015/2016 academic year. body mass index, resting metabolic rate, visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, systolic & diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, upper & lower body endurance, handgrip strength, and lower back and hamstring flexibility were assessed. The students had sedentary heart rate, low skeletal muscle mass, average upper and lower body endurance, and weak handgrip strength. Significant difference existed in the visceral fat (P=0.008) between third and fourth year students. There were significant gender differences in resting metabolic rate (P=0.000), skeletal muscle mass (P=0.000), body fat (P=0.000), systolic blood pressure (P=0.001), heart rate (P=0.005) and handgrip strength (P=0.000). There are gender differences in association between health and performance indices. Dependable health education and pragmatic involvement of undergraduate university students in structured exercise programmes are recommended.

A Randomized Trial on the Effect of Exercise Mode on Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema.

Breast cancer-related lymphedema is a common and debilitating side effect of cancer treatment. This randomized trial compared the effect of progressive resistance- or aerobic-based exercise on breast cancer-related lymphedema extent and severity, as well as participants' muscular strength and endurance, aerobic fitness, body composition, upper-body function, and quality of life. Women with a clinical diagnosis of stable unilateral, upper-limb lymphedema secondary to breast cancer were randomly allocated to a resistance-based (n = 21) or aerobic-based (n = 20) exercise group (12-wk intervention). Women were assessed preintervention, postintervention, and 12 wk postintervention, with generalized estimating equation models used to compare over time changes in each group's lymphedema (two-tailed P < 0.05). Lymphedema remained stable in both groups (as measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy and circumferences), with no significant differences between groups noted in lymphedema status. There was a significant (P < 0.01) time-group effect for upper-body strength (assessed using four to six repetition maximum bench press), with the resistance-based exercise group increasing strength by 4.2 kg (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.2-5.2) postintervention compared with 1.2 kg (95% CI = -0.1 to 2.5) in the aerobic-based exercise group. Although not supported statistically, the aerobic-based exercise group reported a clinically relevant decline in number of symptoms postintervention (-1.5, 95% CI = -2.6 to -0.3), and women in both exercise groups experienced clinically meaningful improvements in lower-body endurance, aerobic fitness, and quality of life by 12-wk follow-up. Participating in resistance- or aerobic-based exercise did not change lymphedema status but led to clinically relevant improvements in function and quality of life, with findings suggesting that neither mode is superior with respect to lymphedema effect. As such, personal preferences, survivorship concerns, and functional needs are important and relevant considerations when prescribing exercise mode to those with secondary lymphedema.

Effect of Single-Set Resistance Training on Quality of Life in COPD Patients Enrolled in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Single-set resistance training (SSRT) improves strength and function in older adults with COPD. However, its effect on quality of life (QOL) has not been evaluated. This study evaluated the effect of SSRT on QOL in COPD patients enrolled in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) and identified relationships between muscular strength, endurance and QOL. Nineteen men and women (70.5 ± 5.0 years old) with COPD completed 8 weeks of PR alone or PR plus SSRT. QOL was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36. Upper and lower body strength was measured using chest and leg press, and lower body endurance was measured with the 6-min walk test. There were no significant differences in QOL between PR with versus without SSRT before or after PR. Both groups demonstrated significant improvements in QOL, including the Physical Function (P = .02), Role Physical (P = .002), Vitality (P = .03), Social Functioning (P = .03), and Mental Health (P = .04) domains. Before PR, only lower body strength and endurance were significantly related to Physical Function (r = 0.53, P = .02 and r = 0.51, P = .03, respectively). After the exercise program, upper body strength as well as lower body strength and endurance were significantly related to Physical Function (r = 0.57, P = .01, r = 0.51, P = .03, and r = 0.62, P = .005, respectively), although improvements in Physical Function were predicted solely by improvements in upper body strength (r = 0.54, P = .02). The addition of SSRT to traditional PR does not affect overall improvements in QOL that are influenced primarily by an increase in upper body strength. Our findings suggest a threshold effect for exercise training, such that, once a threshold stimulus has been achieved, further improvements in QOL are not dose-dependent.

Disparities in Physical Fitness Between Fitness Center and Safety Net Community Health Center Members

Access to affordable and reliable health care remains a concern for millions of US adults. Safety net community health centers (CHC) are community-based providers who offer health services to vulnerable populations, including those without insurance. However, health disparities go beyond access to health care services and include limited opportunities and access for improving physical fitness (PF). PURPOSE: To compare PF measures in sedentary adults who recently joined a medically affiliated fitness center (FC) with individuals who joined a safety net CHC. METHODS: Subjects who expressed interest in learning more about their PF were invited to participate. Each subject completed the Rikili and Jones Senior Fitness Test (SFT), which included functional assessments of: 1) lower body endurance (LBE, mean number of chair stands) 2) upper body endurance (UBE, mean number of arm curls); 3) aerobic endurance (AE, distance walked, m); 4) lower body flexibility (LBF, mean distance reached); 5 and 6) right and left upper body flexibility (R and L UBF, distance between finger tips, cm); and 7) percent body fat (%BF). RESULTS: 30 FC (15 male) and 29 CHC (15 male) subjects (mean age for all participants = 59±7.9 yr) completed the study. Baseline demographic characteristics were similar between groups (p>0.05). Independent t-tests (mean±SD) revealed FC participants performed significantly better on each measure when compared to CHC: LBE (FC=18±4, CHC=9±4, p<0.001); UBE (FC=20±5, CHC=15±6, p<0.001); AE (FC=724.2±86.4, CHC=422.7±182.4, p<0.001); LBF (FC=1.4±5.2, CHC=-5.8±16.1, p<0.05); RUBF (FC=-0.3±4.3, CHC=-26.0±14.2; p<0.001); LUBF (FC=-1.55 ±5.2, CHC=-26.0±14.2, p<0.001); and %BF (FC=28±10, CHC=38±14; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Low levels of PF are strongly related to negative health outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality. Distinct differences exist in measures of PF, even among newly joined sedentary individuals participating in FC or CHC. Thus, there is a clear need to identify low-cost and accessible means for vulnerable populations to improve PF levels.

Effects of Nordic Walking training on exercise capacity and fitness in men participating in early, short-term inpatient cardiac rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome — a controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effects of Nordic Walking training supplemental to a standard, early rehabilitation programme on exercise capacity and physical fitness in men after an acute coronary syndrome. Design: A controlled trial. Setting: Cardiac rehabilitation service of a provincial hospital. Subjects: Eighty men 2—3 weeks after an acute coronary syndrome, with good exercise tolerance. Interventions: Three-week, inpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme (control group) supplemented with Nordic Walking (Nordic Walking group), or with traditional walking training (walking training group). Main measures: Exercise capacity was assessed as peak energy cost (in metabolic equivalents) in symptom-limited treadmill exercise test, and physical fitness with the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test. Results: Exercise capacity after the rehabilitation programme was higher in the Nordic Walking group than in the control group (10.8 ± 1.8 versus 9.2 ± 2.2 metabolic equivalents, P =0.025). The improvement in exercise capacity in the Nordic Walking group was higher than in the control group (1.8 ± 1.5 versus 0.7 ± 1.4 metabolic equivalents, P =0.002). In contrast to the control group, the results of all components of the Fullerton test improved in the Nordic Walking and walking training groups. After the programme, lower body endurance, and dynamic balance were significantly better in the Nordic Walking group in comparison with the walking training and control groups, and upper body endurance was significantly better in the Nordic Walking and walking training groups than in the control group. Conclusions: Nordic Walking may improve exercise capacity, lower body endurance and coordination of movements in patients with good exercise tolerance participating in early, short-term rehabilitation after an acute coronary syndrome.

Aerobic and Resistance Training in Coronary Disease

The purpose of this study was to compare resistance training (RT) (one set vs three sets) combined with aerobic training (AT) versus AT alone in persons with coronary artery disease. Subjects (n = 72) were randomized to AT (5 d x wk(-1)) or combined AT (3 d x wk(-1)) with either one set (AT/RT1) or three sets (AT/RT3) of RT performed 2 d x wk(-1). VO2peak, ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), strength and endurance, body composition, and adherence were measured before and after 29 wk of training. Fifty-three subjects (mean +/- SEM age 61 +/- 2) completed the training. The increase from baseline in VO2peak (L x min(-1)) averaged 11% for AT (P < 0.05), 14% for AT/RT1 (P < 0.01), and 18% for AT/RT3 (P < 0.001), however, the difference between groups was not significant. VAT improved significantly in the AT/RT3 group only (P < 0.05). The AT/RT3 group gained more lean mass than the AT group (1.5 versus 0.4 kg, P < 0.01), yet gains between AT/RT1 and AT were similar (P = 0.2). Only AT + RT groups demonstrated a reduction in body fat (P < 0.05). Strength and endurance increased more in the AT + RT groups than AT alone (P < 0.05). Adherence to number of sets performed was lower in AT/RT3 than AT/RT1 (P < 0.02). Combined AT + RT yields more pronounced physiological adaptations than AT alone and appears to be superior in producing improvements in VO2peak, muscular strength and endurance, and body composition. The data support the use of multiple set RT for patients desiring an increased RT stimulus which may further augment parameters that affect VO2peak, VAT, lower body endurance, and muscle mass in a cardiac population.

노년 전기 여성 고령자 체격 및 활동체력의 10년간 시대차

The purpose of this study was to examine chronological trends in functional capacity-related physical fitness over a decade. A group of 207 women and another group of 137 one, who were healthy with ages from 65 to 74 years and residents of the city of Jinju, were recruited from local wellness centers at the years of 1996 and 2006, respectively. Basic physique measures (i.e., weight and height) and functional capacity-related physical fitness (i.e., muscular strength and endurance, walking ability, agility, dynamic balance, hands coordination, balance, flexibility) were measured by using the standardized protocols. For comparison purposes, we classified the participants as either group 1 or group 2; group 1 was defined as those who aged from 65 to 69 years, and group 2 as those who aged from 70 to 74 years. From this study, we found the following results; 1. Regardless of age-based groups, physique including mean height and weight increased significantly from 1996 to 2006; the group 1 (aged from 65 to 69 years) had average increases of 1.77㎝ and 2.16㎏ of height and weight, respectively, and the group 2 (aged from 70 to 74 years) had average increases of 1.3㎝ and 2.86㎏ of height and weight, respectively. 2. Similarly, functional capacity-related physical fitness including muscular strength, arm endurance, walking ability, agility/dynamic balance, hands coordination, balance also increased significantly from 1996 to 2006. But there were declining tendencies in lower body endurance and flexibility at the same time period. In conclusion, the current findings of the study suggest that 1) a modification of the standard activity fitness evaluation would be necessary in order to more appropriately reflect the chronological trends in the functional capacity-related physical fitness of old women, and 2) specialized exercise programs targeting at leg endurance and flexibility improvements are urgently needed to developed for those populations.

Combined lower body endurance and upper body resistance training improves performance and health parameters in healthy active elderly

We investigated the effects of combined lower body (LB) endurance and upper body (UB) resistance training on endurance, strength, blood lipid profile and body composition in active older men. Ten healthy still active men (73+/-4 years, V(O2) peak: 36 (31-41) ml min-1 kg-1) were tested before and after 14 weeks of combined training (3 times week-1). Training consisted of 3x12 min of high intensity interval training on a bicycle for endurance interspersed by 3x12 min of UB resistance exercises. V(O2) peak during leg cycling and arm cranking, isokinetic torque of knee extensor and shoulder abductor and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of several muscles from UB and LB were measured. Sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD) and abdominal fat area were measured on MRI scans. Total body composition was assessed by hydrostatic weighing (HW) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Blood lipid profile was assessed before and after training. By the end of the training period, V(O2) peak (l min-1) increased significantly by 9 and 16% in leg cycling and arm cranking tests, respectively. Maximal isokinetic torque increased both for the knee extensor and shoulder abductor muscle groups. CSA increased significantly in deltoid muscle. Percentage of body fat decreased by 1.3% (P<0.05) and abdominal fat and SAD decreased by 12 and 6%, respectively (P<0.01). There was also a significant decrease in total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Thus, combined LB endurance and UB resistance training can improve endurance, strength, body composition and blood lipid profile even in healthy active elderly.

Muscular Strength and Endurance Alterations in Cancer Patients

0703 Current cancer treatments cause physiological toxicities, which lead to a diminished quality of life for cancer patients during and following treatment. These toxicities can manifest as increased fatigue and muscular weakness. Normal and cancer cells require ATP for normal function, and chemotherapy leads to an apoptotic chemical cascade that depletes ATP. ATP is important for muscular contraction to occur, depletion leads to a decrease in the strength and ability of the muscle to contract. Muscle weakness is also caused by increased protein catabolism that leads to a decrement in skeletal muscle mass. Aerobic exercise programs have decreased fatigue, but little research has focused on muscular strength and endurance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of an individualized six-month muscular strength and endurance exercise intervention on cancer patients. METHODS: One hundred-ten cancer patients were used for this investigation. Subjects were classified as exercise (n = 82) or non-exercise (n = 28) based on participation in the exercise program. Muscular strength was assessed with a hand-held dynamometer. Muscular endurance was assessed by the number of repetitions performed on various weight machines (bench press, shoulder press, leg press, lat pull-down, leg curl, and leg extension). Additionally, muscular endurance was measured by the number of crunches that could be performed per minute. After the six-month intervention, exercise and non-exercise subjects were reassessed in the same manner as the initial assessment. RESULTS: Repeated Measures ANOVA was used to determine significant change from pre to post exercise. The exercise group showed significant improvements in upper body (lat pull-down pp = .017, triceps extension pp = .027, shoulder press pp = .043), abdominal (crunches pp = .000), and lower body (leg press pp = .007) muscular endurance following the exercise intervention with no change in muscular strength. The non-exercise group showed no significant changes in upper body (lat pull-down, triceps extension, shoulder press), abdominal (crunches), or lower body endurance (leg press), and had a decrease in muscular strength (handgrip pp = .017). CONCLUSIONS: Muscular strength and endurance can be maintained or improved with exercise training in cancer patients. Suggesting an improved ATP availability and decreased protein catabolism.