Resistance Training Research Articles

Adherence to Physical Activity Guidelines in Manual Wheelchair Users With Spinal Cord Injury and the Association With Shoulder Pain.

The aim of the study is to investigate the association between adherence to spinal cord injury-specific physical activity guidelines in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury and shoulder pain prevalence. This is a cross-sectional analysis of the SwiSCI Community Survey 2022 data, assessing aerobic activity and muscle strength training adherence in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury and shoulder pain prevalence. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the association between meeting the physical activity guidelines and shoulder pain. Low adherence to aerobic activity and strength training guidelines are observed, with 46% and 64% of the study sample not meeting the respective guidelines. The low adherence to physical activity guidelines contrasts with the general Swiss population from which around 75% is physically active for more than 2.5 hrs a week. Manual wheelchair users present a high prevalence of shoulder pain (40%) and nonadherence to aerobic guidelines in the study sample correlates with 1.55-1.97 higher odds of having shoulder pain. Aerobic activity adherence is associated with lower shoulder pain prevalence, emphasizing its potential for injury prevention. Overall, the presented findings necessitate further longitudinal studies and interventions for a comprehensive understanding and effective management of shoulder pain in manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury.

Effects of Creatine Monohydrate Supplementation on Muscle, Bone and Brain- Hope or Hype for Older Adults?

Sarcopenia, generally characterized by the age-related reduction in muscle strength, lean/muscle mass and functional ability, is also associated with reduced bone mass and strength and impaired brain health and function. One potential intervention which has received much 'hype' over the past few decades to countermeasure these negative consequences of biological aging is creatine monohydrate supplementation. From a skeletal muscle perspective, the combination of creatine monohydrate supplementation and resistance training provides 'hope' for older adults as it improves measures of lean mass, regional (limb) muscle thickness, upper- and lower-body muscle strength and functional ability. Further, there is some evidence that creatine (supplementation or habitual diet) provides a ray of 'hope' for improving some aspects of cognitive function. The majority of research suggests that creatine is more 'hype' than 'hope' for improving measures of bone mass in older adults. Creatine monohydrate supplementation provides some anti-sarcopenic benefits for older adults.

Progressive Resistance Training Improves Single-Leg Vertical Jump After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Non-randomized Controlled Trial Study

ObjectivesThe study was investigating the effect of a progressive resistance training program on the recovery of patients with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in terms of kinematics, kinetics and muscle strength. DesignLongitudinal cohort study. SettingHospital laboratory. ParticipantsOf the 42 patients were finally included: 22 patients in the progressive resistance training group and 20 in the control group. Main Outcome MeasuresQuestionnaire, single-leg vertical jump, and muscle strength were collected preoperatively and at 16, 28 weeks, and 1 year postoperatively. ResultsAt 28 weeks, the height of the single-leg vertical jump for the injured knee was 203 and 157 mm (p= 0.045) and the peak knee flexion angle after landing for the injured knee was 31°and 23° (p= 0.027) in the progressive resistance training and control groups, respectively. The progressive resistance training group showed a significant increase in the knee extensor symmetry index after the 24-week exercise training compared from 58% preoperatively to 79% (p= 0.001) after training completion, which lasted up to 1 year postoperatively. ConclusionProgressive resistance training significantly improved knee extensor symmetry, single-leg vertical jump height, and peak knee flexion angle after landing, outperforming the control group across all measures.

A Cable-Driven Exosuit for Bidirectional Upper Limb Resistance Exercises

A Cable-Driven Exosuit for Bidirectional Upper Limb Resistance Exercises

Effects of 12 Weeks Core Strength Training on Bio-motor Fitness Abilities among College Level Soccer Players

Effects of 12 Weeks Core Strength Training on Bio-motor Fitness Abilities among College Level Soccer Players

Editorial note to “Maximizing the performance of badminton athletes through core strength training: Unlocking their full potential using machine learning (ML) modeling”

Editorial note to “Maximizing the performance of badminton athletes through core strength training: Unlocking their full potential using machine learning (ML) modeling”

Validation of SPECT-CT to assess improvement in airway clearance following expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) to reduce chronic aspiration in patients with head and neck cancer treatment related dysphagia

Validation of SPECT-CT to assess improvement in airway clearance following expiratory muscle strength training (EMST) to reduce chronic aspiration in patients with head and neck cancer treatment related dysphagia

Effects of a sequential square mat walking training program Fisior® on improving physical performance in older adults with Parkinson's disease: A pilot study

BackgroundThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of a 12-week functional walking training program utilizing a sequential square mat (Fisior® Mat) on the physical performance of older adults diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease (PD). MethodsParticipants, aged over 60 and diagnosed with mild to moderate PD, underwent progressive resistance training sessions lasting 30-40 minutes, three times a week, using the Fisior® sequential square mat. A randomized clinical trial was conducted with participants from a patient association. Multiple linear regression models were employed to analyze physical performance variation between intervention and control groups. ResultsTwenty-eight patients (14 in each group) participated, with improvements observed in total Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score, chair test score, gait speed score, and balance test score. Participants in the intervention group showed significant improvement in chair and balance test scores compared to controls. ConclusionThe Fisior® sequential square mat program, as an adjunct to conventional outpatient physiotherapy, effectively enhances physical performance in older adults with PD.

Letter to the Editor on: "Does a resistance training program affect between-arms volume difference and shoulder-arm disabilities in female breast cancer survivors? The role of surgery type and treatments."

Letter to the Editor on: "Does a resistance training program affect between-arms volume difference and shoulder-arm disabilities in female breast cancer survivors? The role of surgery type and treatments."

Cardiac health in breast cancer (CHiB): protocol for a single-centre, randomised controlled trial.

The incidence of breast cancer has increased from 900 000 to 2.3 million new annual cases over the last 25 years. The 5-year survival rate has markedly risen to over 90% worldwide due to significant therapeutic advancements. Longer survival in patients with breast cancer means more patients may experience long-term effects of their treatments, including cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). To date, there is no established primary prevention to minimise CTRCD. The Cardiac Health in Breast Cancer study is a two-arm, single-centre, randomised controlled trial investigating the impact of an exercise programme on cardiac changes in patients with breast cancer undergoing cardiotoxic cancer therapy. 48 females with breast cancer will be randomised to either a 12-month intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The IG will receive a combination of supervised high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) for 6 months, while the CG will follow WHO guidelines for physical activity independently. All participants will undergo transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging and cardiopulmonary exercise testing at baseline, after 6 months and after 12 months. The primary endpoint is the occurrence of symptomatic or asymptomatic CTRCD at the time points of examination, detected by cardiac imaging, which may be mitigated by structured physical exercise. Secondary endpoints include assessments of cardiac inflammation as detected by CMR, mitochondrial dysfunction, health-related quality of life, the occurrence of fatigue, depression and anxiety, as well as exercise capacity, average heart rate, heart rate variability and daily physical activity.

Causal mediation analysis of factors influencing physical activity and community access among people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease

ObjectiveTo examine how known causal factors (exercise self-efficacy, balance, walking capacity) affect outcomes (moderate intensity physical activity, community access) in people with Parkinson's disease (PD): through a direct pathway, indirectly through potential mediators (non-motor impairments), or through combined direct and mediated paths. DesignCausal mediation analyses using baseline and three-month data from pooled treatment groups in a randomized controlled trial. SettingData were collected at two university clinical research centers. ParticipantsOne hundred thirty-eight people with PD. InterventionsHome and community-based walking and strength exercise program. Main Outcome Measure(s)Exposures were exercise self-efficacy, walking ability, and balance. Potential mediators included pain, fatigue, mood (anxiety, depression, affect, apathy), stigma, and cognition (executive function and cognitive flexibility). Outcomes were physical activity and community access behaviour at three-month follow-up. Separate models were developed for each causal factor-mediator-outcome combination. To minimise bias, all models were adjusted for known confounders (comorbidities, freezing of gait, severity of motor impairments, and/or age) and baseline values of the outcomes. ResultsSelf-efficacy of walking duration had a causal relationship with moderate intensity physical activity through direct and combined paths (p<.001). Walking capacity had a causal relationship with community access through direct (p=.03-.04) and combined (p=.02-.03) paths. Balance did not affect community access (p>.05). There were no significant mediation effects through indirect pathways for either outcome. ConclusionsThe effect of known causal factors on physical activity and community access was not mediated by non-motor impairments. Walking self-efficacy and walking capacity remain the primary intervention targets for improving physical activity and community access, respectively, in people with PD.

Impact of resistance training on salivary interleukin-6 and c-reactive protein – A scoping review

This review examines the impact of resistance training on salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). These biomarkers are essential indicators of inflammation and immune response. The study employed a systematic literature review method following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. 20 articles published so far were included in the literature review, sourced from various databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, ERIC, EBSCO, Embase, Medline, Global Health, and Scopus. Keywords including MESH terms “resistance training,” “salivary IL-6,” “salivary CRP,” and “inflammation.” The inclusion criteria were fixed to studies that involved human participants, measured salivary IL-6 and CRP, and incorporated resistance-training protocols. Studies were excluded if they focused on other forms of exercise or used invasive measurement techniques and were not randomized control traits or quasi-experimental trials. The study population in these articles includes a diverse range of patients, such as the general population, adults, elderly adults, individuals with type 2 diabetes, COVID-19 patients with and without diabetes, patients with systemic inflammation and cardiovascular disease, overweight and obese individuals, and men with varying levels of physical fitness. By focusing on salivary measurements, this review emphasizes non-invasive methods for monitoring the physiological effects of resistance training. This review highlights the potential of resistance training to modulate inflammation as measured by salivary biomarkers. It underscores the importance of considering various factors when designing training programs and interpreting their physiological impacts. The variability in findings suggests that the relationship between resistance training and salivary IL-6 and CRP is complex. The reductions in these markers observed in some studies may be attributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of regular exercise. The final remarks from an intense review of the literature have shown resistance training has the potential to influence salivary IL-6 and CRP levels, reflecting changes in systemic inflammatory and immune responses. However, the impact varies based on training protocols and individual differences. Resistance training and biomarkers have practical applications in physiotherapy, such as developing tailored treatment programs, making progressive load adjustments, selecting appropriate exercise modalities, and providing patient feedback and monitoring. Additionally, more focused studies could investigate the underlying mechanisms behind observed outcomes, and new technologies such as advanced imaging and biomarkers could be incorporated to gain deeper insights. Research could also explore the impact of combining resistance training with other therapeutic modalities or investigate the role of individualized treatments in enhancing patient outcomes.

The Association Between Physical Activity Levels and Health-related Quality of Life in Korean Elderly: The Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVES This study identified the association between physical activity levels and health-related quality of life in Korean elderly.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using data collected from the 8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The data for the analysis included socioeconomic variables, adherence to WHO-recommended levels of aerobic physical activity and resistance exercise, subjective perceived health and health-related quality of life as measured by the EuroQol-5 Dimension (EQ-5D). Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated for the association using the complex samples logistic regression analysis.RESULTS There were significant differences in subjective perceived health and health-related quality of life based on the levels of aerobic physical activity and resistance exercise. Elderly individuals who engaged in aerobic physical activity and resistance exercise at levels recommended by the WHO had higher perceived health and better health-related quality of life. And it was confirmed that the level of physical activity and health-related quality of life had a significant association even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors.CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study indicate that performing aerobic activity and resistance exercise at levels recommended by the WHO significantly improved health-related quality of life in Korean elderly.

Total Hip Replacement or Resistance Training for Severe Hip Osteoarthritis

BackgroundTotal hip replacement is routinely recommended for severe hip osteoarthritis, but data from randomized trials are lacking regarding comparison of the effectiveness of this procedure with that of nonsurgical treatment such as resistance training.MethodsWe conducted a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial to compare total hip replacement with resistance training in patients 50 years of age or older who had severe hip osteoarthritis and an indication for surgery. The primary outcome was the change in patient-reported hip pain and function from baseline to 6 months after the initiation of treatment, assessed with the use of the Oxford Hip Score (range, 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating less pain and better function). Safety was also assessed.ResultsA total of 109 patients (mean age, 67.6 years) were randomly assigned to total hip replacement (53 patients) or resistance training (56 patients). In an intention-to-treat analysis, the mean increase (indicating improvement) in the Oxford Hip Score was 15.9 points in patients assigned to total hip replacement and 4.5 points in patients assigned to resistance training (difference, 11.4 points; 95% confidence interval, 8.9 to 14.0; P<0.001). At 6 months, 5 patients (9%) who had been assigned to total hip replacement had not undergone surgery, and 12 patients (21%) who had been assigned to resistance training had undergone total hip replacement. The incidence of serious adverse events at 6 months was similar in the two groups; the majority of such events were known complications of total hip replacement.ConclusionsIn patients 50 years of age or older who had severe hip osteoarthritis and an indication for surgery, total hip replacement resulted in a clinically important, superior reduction in hip pain and improved hip function, as reported by patients, at 6 months as compared with resistance training. (Funded by the Danish Rheumatism Association and others; PROHIP ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04070027.)

Plyometric and Resistance Training: A Dual Approach to Enhance Physical Fitness in 12–15-Year-Old Girls

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week combined plyometric and resistance training program on the physical fitness (PF) of adolescent girls aged 12 to 15 years. The objective was to determine whether combined training (CT) would yield greater improvements in performance measures compared to resistance training (RT) alone. Methods: Forty-seven adolescent girls were randomly assigned to either the CT group or the RT group. Performance measures such as the 20 m sprint, squat jump, vertical jump, handgrip strength, and flexibility (sit and reach test) were assessed before and after the 8-week intervention. Changes in these measures were analyzed to compare the effects of the two training approaches. Results: The CT group showed a significant reduction in sprint time (−6.5%) compared to the RT group (−4.1%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Squat jump height improved significantly by 5.6% in the CT group compared to 1.1% in the RT group (p &lt; 0.05). Similarly, vertical jump height increased by 6.7% in the CT group and by 2.4% in the RT group (p &lt; 0.05). Handgrip strength improved by 7.5% in the CT group and 4.6% in the RT group, with no significant differences between the groups. Flexibility showed slight, non-significant improvements in both groups. Conclusions: The findings suggest that a combined plyometric and RT program is more effective in enhancing explosive power, specifically squat and vertical jump performance, in adolescent girls compared to RT alone. These results highlight the potential of CT programs for improving overall physical performance in this population.

Exercise benefits following breast cancer surgery – a narrative review

One of the most common cancer diseases among women is breast cancer. Treatment following breast cancer surgery leads to many complications. Exercises play an important role from the immediate post operative period which could help in preventing post-surgical complications. Prevention of complications improves the quality of life of women. Though women feel that performing exercises following treatment are difficult there are many positive effects of exercises. This current study was done with an objective to analyse the various effects of exercises especially on the resisted exercises in preventing Secondary lymphedema (SL) and to focus light on the benefits of the exercises during and after chemotherapy. Literature search of PubMed, Clinical Key and Google scholar was performed. For women recovering from breast cancer surgery, resisted exercises, either by themselves or in combination with aerobic exercises, were safe and effective. These exercises improved upper body strength, increased endurance, decreased adipose tissue, decreased waist and hip circumferences, increased lean body mass, improved cardiovascular fitness, improved self-esteem, and decreased depression. Women with breast cancer related lymphedema had a considerable improvement in pain after performing deep breathing exercises combined with upper limb movements. Exercise can help mitigate the negative effects of chemotherapy and helps to overcome cancer related fatigue. Along with conventional exercises including range of motion exercises and aerobic exercises, moderate-intensity upper body resistance exercises are recommended to be a part of exercise protocol prescribed and educated to the women following breast cancer surgery for them to lead a better quality of life.

Virtual reality based rehabilitation and upper limb dysfunction post burn

Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality based rehabilitation in improving upper limb functions and ADL of burned patients. Methods. Randomized controlled trial. Overall, 42 patients of both genders with age ranged from 20-45 years with with second-degree burn were selected from outpatient clinic in the faculty of physical therapy, Cairo university and randomly distributed into two equal groups. Their ages ranged from 20 to 45 years. Group A (virtual reality) received virtual reality (VR)-based rehabilitation in addition to conventional rehabilitation: inform of (Stretching exercises, ROM exercises, strength training) for four weeks. Group B (traditional physical therapy) received traditional physiotherapy (Stretching exercises, ROM exercises, strength training) for four weeks. They were assessed with Arabic quick dash, goniometer and hand dynamometer. Results. There was a significant improvement in DASH, hand grip strength and shoulder ROM post-treatment, compared to pre-treatment (P-value ≤ 0.001) in both groups. There was significant difference between groups in the improvement in DASH, hand grip strength and shoulder ROM at post-treatment (P-value &lt; 0.01), in favor of group A. Conclusion. Virtual reality based rehabilitation were proven effective on improving upper limb functions and ADL of burned patients.

The 24-hour molecular landscape after exercise in humans reveals MYC is sufficient for muscle growth.

A detailed understanding of molecular responses to a hypertrophic stimulus in skeletal muscle leads to therapeutic advances aimed at promoting muscle mass. To decode the molecular factors regulating skeletal muscle mass, we utilized a 24-h time course of human muscle biopsies after a bout of resistance exercise. Our findings indicate: (1) the DNA methylome response at 30 min corresponds to upregulated genes at 3 h, (2) a burst of translation- and transcription-initiation factor-coding transcripts occurs between 3 and 8 h, (3) changes to global protein-coding gene expression peaks at 8 h, (4) ribosome-related genes dominate the mRNA landscape between 8 and 24 h, (5) methylation-regulated MYC is a highly influential transcription factor throughout recovery. To test whether MYC is sufficient for hypertrophy, we periodically pulse MYC in skeletal muscle over 4 weeks. Transient MYC increases muscle mass and fiber size in the soleus of adult mice. We present a temporally resolved resource for understanding molecular adaptations to resistance exercise in muscle ( http://data.myoanalytics.com ) and suggest that controlled MYC doses influencethe exercise-related hypertrophic transcriptional landscape.

Influence of Prophylactic Ankle Bracing on Knee Joint Moments and Ground Reaction Forces during Side-step Cutting Tasks

OBJECTIVES Prophylactic ankle bracing is widely used to prevent ankle sprains, but its effects on knee joint mechanics, particularly regarding ACL injury risk, are less understood. This study aimed to investigate the influence of ankle bracing on knee joint kinetics and ground reaction forces (GRFs) during a 90° side-step cutting task.METHODS Thirty physically active participants (15 males, 15 females) performed cutting trials under braced and unbraced conditions. Knee flexion, abduction, and internal rotation moments, along with mediolateral, anteroposterior, and vertical GRFs, were measured using a motion analysis system and a force plate. Paired t tests were conducted to compare the knee joint moments and GRFs between the two conditions.RESULTS The results showed that while ankle bracing did not significantly affect GRFs, it significantly increased knee internal rotation moment (&lt;i&gt;p&lt;/i&gt; = 0.003). No significant differences were observed in knee flexion or abduction moments.CONCLUSIONS Ankle bracing, though beneficial for ankle stability, may elevate the risk of ACL injuries during dynamic activities like cutting by increasing knee internal rotation moments. Clinicians and coaches should weigh the benefits of ankle bracing against potential risks to knee health and consider alternative injury prevention strategies focused on neuromuscular control and strength training.

Effects of robot-assisted hand function therapy on brain functional mechanisms: a synchronized study using fNIRS and sEMG.

Robot-assisted hand function therapy is pivotal in the rehabilitation of patients with stroke; however, its therapeutic mechanism remains elusive. Currently, research examining the impact of robot-assisted hand function therapy on brain function in patients with stroke is scarce, and there is a lack of studies investigating the correlation between muscle activity and alterations in brain function. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between forearm muscle movement and brain functional activation by employing the synchronized use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy and surface electromyography methods. Moreover, it sought to compare neural activity patterns during different rehabilitation tasks and refine the mechanism of robot-assisted hand function therapy for post-stroke hand function impairments. Stroke patients with hand dysfunction underwent three sessions of robot-assisted hand function therapy within 2 weeks to 3 months of onset. The fNIRS-sEMG synchronous technique was used to observe brain function and forearm muscle activation. Ten participants were randomly assigned to receive mirror, resistance, or passive rehabilitation training. During the intervention, cortical and muscle activation information was obtained using fNIRS and electromyographic signals. The primary outcomes included changes in oxyhemoglobin concentration and root mean square of surface electromyography. Compared to the resting state, the Oxy-Hb concentration in the brain regions involved in three rehabilitation tasks with robot-assisted hand function therapy significantly increased (p < 0.05). Mirror therapy significantly enhanced the prefrontal cortex and the superior frontal cortex activation levels. In contrast, resistance therapy significantly promoted the activation of the supplementary motor area and the premotor cortex. Passive rehabilitation tasks showed some activation in the target brain area premotor cortex region. Robot-assisted hand function therapy has shown that forearm muscle movement is closely related to oxygenated hemoglobin concentration activity in specific brain regions during different rehabilitation tasks. The simultaneous sEMG-fNIRS study found a significant correlation between muscle movement and brain activity after stroke, which provides an important basis for understanding the treatment mechanism of hand function impairment.