Underwent Strength Training Research Articles

Implementation and Clinical Outcomes of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Adults With Cerebral Palsy: A Case Series.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a congenital neurological disorder that causes musculoskeletal weakness and biomechanical dysfunctions. Strength training guidelines recommend at least 70% of 1-repetition maximum to increase muscle strength and mass. However, individuals with CP may not tolerate such high exercise intensity. Blood flow restriction (BFR) can induce similar gains in strength and muscle mass using loads as low as 20% to 30% 1-repetition maximum. This case series described the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of BFR in adults with CP and examined changes in muscle mass and strength. Three male participants with gross motor function classification system level 3 CP underwent strength training using a periodized 8-week BFR protocol. Outcomes included: Safety via blood pressure during and post-BFR exercises in addition to adverse event tracking; Feasibility via number of support people and time-duration of BFR exercises; Acceptability via rate of perceived discomfort (0-10) and qualitative interviews; Muscle Mass via ultrasonographic cross-sectional area of the quadriceps and hamstring; and Strength via (1) 3-repetition maximum in the leg press and knee extension, (2) isometric knee flexor and extensor muscle force measured with a hand-held dynamometer, and (3) 30-second sit-to-stand test. Participants replaced 2 exercises from their current regimen with seated knee extension and leg press exercises using progressively higher limb occlusion pressure and exercise intensity. Limb occlusion pressure started at 60%, by week 4 progressed to 80%, and then remained constant. The exercise repetition scheme progressed from fixed nonfailure repetition sets to failure-based repetition sets. Blood pressure never exceeded safety threshold, and no adverse events were reported. The BFR training was time-consuming and resource-intensive, but well-tolerated by participants (rate of perceived discomfort with a mean value of 5.8, 100% protocol adherence). Strength, as measured by 3-repetition maximum testing and 30-second sit-to-stand test, increased, but isometric muscle force and muscle mass changes were inconsistent. Blood flow restriction may be an effective means to increase strength in adults with CP who cannot tolerate high-intensity resistance training. Future research should compare BFR to traditional strength training and investigate mediators of strength changes in this population. for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A473 ).

The Effect of Velocity-Based Contraction Strength Training on Performance in Female 400m Athletes

This study aims to compare the differences in strength training at velocity of muscle contraction in 400-meter runners. The sample group consisted of 12 female athletes who participated in the Thailand National Sports competition qualifiers in 2023. The group was divided into two: the first group underwent strength training at a fast muscle contraction rate with 80 bpm, while the second group trained at a normal muscle contraction rate with 40 bpm. The training lasted for 8 weeks, and after a 2-week post-training period, both groups were tested by swapping strength training programs. They were tested for 400-meter speed, strength from finding the 1 RM of Leg curl, Leg extension, and Leg press measured in kilograms, and explosive power from Squat jump, Countermovement jump, and Long jump. The data collected was analyzed to find the average, standard deviation, and one-way ANOVA with a statistical significance level set at .05. From the research's results, it was found that percentage change muscle contraction rates differs significantly between the two strength training formats: one with fast muscle contraction and the other with normal- muscle contraction rate (1.04±0.02 and 1.02±0.02, respectively) at a significance level of .05. Additionally, the strength and explosive power percentage change also significantly differ between the two strength training formats. Therefore, based on this study, it is possible to utilize the fast muscle contraction rate strength training format to enhance the athletic performance of athletes.

Accuracy of a continuous glucose monitoring system applied before, during, and after an intense leg-squat session with low- and high-carbohydrate availability in young adults without diabetes.

The aim was to assess the accuracy of a continuous blood glucose monitoring (CGM) device (Abbott FreeStyle Libre 3) against capillary blood glucose measurement (BGM) before, during, and after an intense lower body strength training session in connection with high- versus low-carbohydrate breakfasts. Nine adults (22 ± 2 years) completed a strength training session (10 × 10 at 60% 1RM) twice after high-carbohydrate and twice after low-carbohydrate breakfasts. CGM accuracy versus BGM was assessed across four phases: post-breakfast, pre-exercise, exercise, and post-exercise. Overall fed state mean BGM levels were 84.4 ± 20.6mg/dL. Group-level Bland-Altman analysis showed acceptable agreement between CGM and BGM across all phases, with mean biases between -7.95 and -17.83mg/dL; the largest discrepancy was in the post-exercise phase. Mean absolute relative difference was significantly higher post-exercise compared to pre-exercise and exercise phases, for overall data and after the high-carbohydrate breakfast (all p ≤ 0.02). Clark Error Grid analysis showed 50.5-64.3% in Zone A and 31.7-44.6% in Zone B, with an increase in treatment errors during and after exercise. In this group of healthy participants undergoing strength training, CGM showed satisfactory accuracy in glucose monitoring but varied substantially between individuals compared to BGM and fails in meeting clinical criteria for diabetic monitoring. CGM could aid non-diabetic athletes by tracking glucose fluctuations due to diet and exercise. Although utilization of CGM shows potential in gathering, analyzing, and interpreting interstitial glucose for improving performance, the application in sports nutrition is not yet validated, and challenges in data interpretation could limit its adoption.

Effect of Proprioceptive Training and Strength Training on Agility among Table Tennis Players

Background: Table tennis is a dynamic sport. Proprioception is an important sensory and motor function for all mobility action which also plays an important role in sports and contribute greatlyto the performance of athletes. Strength training involves the performance of physical exercise thatare designed to improve strength. Agility is the ability to move and change the direction and position of the body quickly and effectively under control. Objective: To find out effect of proprioceptive training and strength training on agility among table tennis players. Methodology: The study design was experimental study, conducted in KG college of Physiotherapy with total sample of 20 players were included in the study with 10 players each in the group. Sampling method was convenient sampling. Study duration was 6 months and individual training was 6 weeks. Male table tennis players, aged between 18-25 years who were practicing and playing table tennis for more than one year were included in the study. Players withany soft tissue injuries, recent fractures, recent musculoskeletal surgeries and neurological problems, irregular in training regime have been excluded. Result: The post-test mean values of proprioceptive training group (N=10) was 9.38 whereas the players who are underwent strength training (N=10) was 10.20. Thus, proprioceptive training reflects better agility when compared with the strength training. Conclusion: Agility involves starting, stopping, changing the direction, rotation, reaction and complex movements. Table tennis realize heavily on agility. Thus, proprioceptive training and strength training has to been given for better agility among table tennis players who are underwent proprioceptive training showed significant improvement in agility than strength training.

Hormonal changes in strength training during the menstrual cycle: a systematic review

Introduction: During the menstrual cycle, women are exposed to continual variations in serum concentrations of various female sex steroid hormones. The fluctuations of the main female hormones, estrogen, progesterone, follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone, are essential for regulating ovulatory cycle patterns. In this sense, it is speculated that strength training can stimulate the signaling pathways of essential hormones to regulate the patterns in the different phases of the ovulatory cycle. Objective: To analyze hormonal changes and strength performance in different phases of the menstrual cycle in experienced women undergoing strength training. Methods: A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA recommendations. The terms “Strength Training”, “Resistance Exercise” and “Menstrual Cycle” were searched in Medline (PubMed), Virtual Health Library (VHL) and ScienceDirect databases. Experimental studies that evaluated hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle in strength training in women trained in resistance exercise were included. Results: From a total of 592 documents, six studies met the inclusion criteria. Interventions in the included studies ranged from 2 to 140 days. The protocols demonstrated that the intervention with strength training provides changes in the hormones progesterone, testosterone, estradiol and ammonia in the follicular and luteal phase. Conclusion: The studies investigated in this review demonstrated that Strength Training induced hormonal and strength increases, in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle, in women experienced in strength training.

Impact of strength training on selected physiological variables among kabaddi players

This study was designed to investigate the impact of strength training on selected physiological variables among kabaddi players. To achieve the purpose of the study (N=40) forty men kabaddi players were selected from the Department of Physical Education, Vijaynagara Sri Krishnadevara University, Bellary, Karnataka, India was selected as subjects. Their age ranged in between 19 and 24years. The subjects will be randomly assigned in to two equal groups (N=20) namely one experimental group and one control group. Group I underwent strength training Group II as control group they do not have any specific training. The physiological variables such as blood pressure, breath holding time and resting heart rate were selected as criterion variables and was assessed by sphygmomanometer, manual test and stethoscope respectively. The subjects were concerned with their particular training for a period of six weeks, three days per week. The pre and post-test were taken before and after the end of six weeks of the training. The Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyse the significant differences between the means and the level significance was fixed at 0.05 for all the cases to test the hypothesis. The strength training produced significant enhancement in selected physiological variables among kabaddi players.

Efficacy of Bilateral Lower-Limb Training Over Unilateral Lower-Limb Training To Reeducate Balance and Walking in Post-Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background and objective While designing the rehabilitation regime of a hemiplegic patient, most physiotherapists focus on the affected/hemiparetic side. The less affected/unaffected side remains unused and loses its properties, i.e., muscle strength, girth, balance, and gait, thus causing deconditioning effects in patients' overall rehabilitation. To enhance the recovery process, the focus should be drawn to training both sides equally to fasten the recovery process. The rationale behind designing this study was to maintain the integrity of the unaffected side along with rehabilitation of the affected side in hemiplegic patients. Many proven studies focus on bimanual upper-limb training in post-stroke survivors, but there is a lack of literature regarding the same in the lower limbs. This clinical trial was designed to study the effect of bilateral lower-limb training over unilateral lower-limb training on balance and walking in post-stroke survivors. Methods 40 hemiplegic patients were selected and randomly divided into two groups: Group A (unilateral training group (UTG)) and Group B (bilateral training group (BTG)). Patients in Group A underwent approach-oriented training using the motor relearning program (MRP) and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) for the affected side, while those in Group B underwent strength training for the lower-limb muscles using DeLorme's principle for the unaffected side and approach-oriented training using the MRP and PNF for the affected side for a period of six weeks, five days per week. A strengthening regimen was designed for the unaffected side, considering the frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITTs) principle provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The static and dynamic balance along with gait parameters were measured using the functional reach test (FRT), one-leg stance test (OLST), Berg balance scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), gait parameters (stride length, gait velocity, and cadence), and Brunnstrom recovery stages (BRS) at the baseline and post rehabilitation. Results Both groups significantly improved following therapy (p<0.05). Group B showed more significant results both statistically and clinically. The enhancement in the FRT (2.25, p<0.03), OLST (5.12. p<0.0001), BBS (0.68, p<0.020), and DGI(1.70, p<0.030) scores indicated improvement in static and dynamic balance in the two groups. Patients showed improvement in the stereotyped sequence of movements indicating recovery on the BRS (4.62, p<0.0001). The overall gait parameters in patients, i.e., gait velocity (6.78, p<0.0001), stride length (3.59, p<0.001) and cadence (6.15, p<0.0001), improved post rehabilitation. Conclusion The results of this study showed that the BTG had positive impacts on the postural balance and walking capacities of subacute hemiparetic stroke patients, promoting early recovery in comparison to the UTG. This study also helped to design a strengthening protocol for the unaffected side according to DeLorme's principle in line with the FITTs principle.

Strength Training of the Nonhemiplegic Side Promotes Motor Function Recovery in Patients With Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of strength training of the nonhemiplegic side (NHS) on balance function, mobility, and muscle strength of patients with stroke. DesignA single-blinded (evaluator) randomized controlled trial. SettingA tertiary hospital rehabilitation center. Participants139 patients with first stroke (N=139) were recruited and randomly separated into a trial (n=69) or control group (n=70). InterventionsThe control group underwent usual rehabilitation training, including step training and trunk control training in standing position. The trial group underwent strength training of NHS on the basis of usual rehabilitation training. The strength training of NHS included lower limb stepping training with resisting elastic belt and upper limb pulling elastic belt training in standing position. The training for both groups was 45 min, once a day, 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Main Outcome MeasuresBalance evaluation was done with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS); mobility assessment with the 6-minute walk test (6-MWT); activities of daily life was examined via the modified Barthel Index (MBI); muscle strengths of the biceps brachii, iliopsoas, and quadriceps were measured via the isokinetic muscle strength testing system. All assessments were performed at baseline (T0) and after intervention (T1). ResultsThe trial group performed better than control group in BBS scores (adjusted mean difference: 6.83; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.71-8.94) and 6-MWT (adjusted mean difference: 50.32; 95% CI: 40.58-60.05) after intervention. In terms of muscle strength of the hemiplegic side, the trial group displayed greater gains in biceps brachii, iliopsoas, and quadriceps than control group after intervention. ConclusionStrength training of the NHS can promote recovery of balance, mobility, and muscle strength of the paretic side of patients with stroke.

Effects of oral contraceptive use on muscle strength, muscle thickness, and fiber size and composition in young women undergoing 12 weeks of strength training: a cohort study

BackgroundIt is suspected that hormonal fluctuations during menstruation may cause different responses to strength training in women who use oral contraceptives (OC) versus those who do not. However, previous studies that investigated the existence of such differences produced conflicting results. In this study, we hypothesized that OC use has no effect on muscle strength and hypertrophy among women undergoing strength training. Thus, we compared the differences in muscle strength and thickness among women who used OCs and those who did not.MethodsWe investigated the influence of OC use on muscle strength (Fmax), muscle thickness (Mtk), type 1-to-type 2 muscle fiber (NO) ratio, muscle fiber thickness (MFT), and nuclear-to-fiber (N/F) ratio. Seventy-four healthy young women (including 34 who used OCs and 40 who did not) underwent 12 weeks of submaximal strength training, after which Fmax was evaluated using a leg-press machine with a combined force and load cell, while Mtk was measured using real-time ultrasonography. Moreover, the NO ratio, MFT, and N/F ratio were evaluated using muscle needle biopsies.ResultsParticipants in the non-OC and OC groups experienced increases in Fmax (+ 23.30 ± 10.82 kg and + 28.02 ± 11.50 kg respectively, p = 0.073), Mtk (+ 0.48 ± 0.47 cm2 and + 0.50 ± 0.44 cm2 respectively, p = 0.888), Fmax/Mtk (+ 2.78 ± 1.93 kg/cm2 and + 3.32 ± 2.37 kg/cm2 respectively, p = 0.285), NO ratio (type 2 fibers: + 1.86 ± 6.49% and − 4.17 ± 9.48% respectively, p = 0.169), MFT (type 2 fibers: + 7.15 ± 7.50 µm and + 4.07 ± 9.30 µm respectively, p = 0.435), and N/F ratio (+ 0.61 ± 1.02 and + 0.15 ± 0.97 respectively, p = 0.866) after training. There were no significant differences between the non-OC and OC groups in any of these parameters (p > 0.05).ConclusionsThe effects of 12 weeks of strength training on Fmax, muscle thickness, muscle fiber size, and composition were similar in young women irrespective of their OC use.

EFFECT OF STRENGTH AND PLYOMETRIC TRAINING ON PHYSICAL FITNESS VARIABLES OF COLLEGE FEFEMALE VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS

The purpose of the study was to find out the effect of strength and plyometric training p on physical fitness variables of college Female Volleyball players.To achieve the purpose of the study 30 subjects were randomly selected from Karpagam Academy of Higher Education (Deemed to be University) Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, were selected randomly as subject for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to two equal groups (n=15). Purpose of thirty Female Volleyball players selected from, All the subjects were divided in to two groups with Fifteen (15) subjects each as experimental and control group. The selected subjects were divided into two equal groups with 15 subjects in each group. The experimental group-I (N=15) underwent strength training and control group (N=15) did not undergo any practices the data were collected before and after the training period of 8 weeks and the data collected were statistically analysed with ‘t’ ratio, which was used to find out the significant difference on selected physical fitness variables of arm strength and leg strength. Strength training programme showed significant improvement in arm and leg strength

Effects of concurrent strength and endurance training on power

The purpose of the present study was to know the effects of concurrent strength and endurance training on power of junior athletes. Thirty school junior athletes from Alagappa Model Higher Secondary School, Karaikudi were randomly selected as subjects. The age of the subjects ranged between 15 to 17 years. The thirty subject were divided into three equal groups. The experimental group-1 (n=10, STb ET) underwent strength training before endurance training, the experimental group-2 (n=10, STa ET) underwent strength training after endurance training and group 3 served as control group (n=10, CG).The power was chosen as criterion variables and tested by stnding broad jump. The selected two treatment group’s were performed three days in a week for the period of nine weeks, as per the stipulated training program. The power was tested before and after the training period. The collected pre and post data was critically analyzed with apt statistical tool of oneway analysis of co-variance. The ability of power have show better in both treatment groups than the control group.

Supplementation with Spirulina platensis Prevents Uterine Diseases Related to Muscle Reactivity and Oxidative Stress in Rats Undergoing Strength Training.

Strength training increases systemic oxygen consumption, causing the excessive generation of reactive oxygen species, which in turn, provokes oxidative stress reactions and cellular processes that induce uterine contraction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of Spirulina platensis (SP), an antioxidant blue algae, on the contractile and relaxation reactivity of rat uterus and the balance of oxidative stress/antioxidant defenses. Female Wistar rats were divided into sedentary (CG), trained (TG), and T + supplemented (TG50, TG100) groups. Reactivity was analyzed by AQCAD, oxidative stress was evaluated by the malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, and the antioxidant capacity was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Strength training increased contractile reactivity and decreased the pharmaco-mechanical component of relaxing reactivity in rat uterus. In addition, training decreased oxidation inhibition in the plasma and exercise increased oxidative stress in the uterine tissue; however, supplementation with algae prevented this effect and potentiated the increase in antioxidant capacity. Therefore, this study demonstrated that food supplementation prevents changes in reactivity and oxidative stress induced by strength training in a rat uterus, showing for the first time, that the uterus is a target for this exercise modality and antioxidant supplementation with S. platensis is an alternative means of preventing uterine dysfunction.

History of Strength Training Research in Man: An Inventory and Quantitative Overview of Studies Published in English Between 1894 and 1979.

Nuzzo, JL. History of strength training research in man: an inventory and quantitative overview of studies published in English between 1894 and 1979. J Strength Cond Res 35(5): 1425-1448, 2021-Limited scholarship exists on the history of strength training research. The current review advances existing qualitative and biographical work by inventorying all experimental studies and case reports published before 1980 on the effects of ≥1 week of strength training on human health and function. Data on authors, journals, citations, study samples, training interventions, study outcomes, and study themes were extracted and summarized. Three hundred thirty-nine strength training studies were published between 1894 and 1979. Studies included 14,575 subjects, with 10,350 undergoing strength training. Subjects were usually healthy (81.1% of articles), university students (51.0%), or aged 18-65 years (86.7%). Men comprised 70.0% of subjects. Interventions typically involved isoinertial only (64.6%) or isometric only (35.4%) training. Upper-body interventions were more common (35.4%) than lower-body interventions (27.4%). Duration and frequency of training were typically 4-8 weeks (55.3%) and 3 days per week (39.2%), respectively. Isometric maximal voluntary contractions (54.0%) and one repetition maximum (20.4%) were the most common muscle strength tests. Other common outcomes included limb girths (20.9%) and muscle endurance (19.5%). Common research themes were physiology (54.3%), physical fitness (28.9%), and injury/rehabilitation (20.4%). The 339 studies have been cited 21,996 times. Moritani and deVries' 1979 article on time course of neuromuscular adaptations is the most highly cited (1,815 citations). DeLorme (5 articles and 772 citations), Hellebrandt (4 articles and 402 citations), Rasch (9 articles and 318 citations), and Berger (12 articles and 1,293 citations) made the largest contributions. Research Quarterly published the most articles (27.4%). The history of strength training research is discussed in the context of the results.

Strength Training Modulates Prostate of Wistar Rats Submitted to High-Fat Diet.

Our aim is to evaluate the effects of high-fat diet and strength training on ventral prostate health through investigations of rat prostate histology, endocrine modulation, and the expression of proliferative and apoptotic marker, including androgen receptors (AR), glucocorticoid receptors (GR), B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2 associated X protein (BAX), Fas cell surface death receptor (Fas/CD95/Apo-1), and Nuclear Factor Kappa-B (NF-κB). Eighty Wistar rats were into one of four subgroups: control (CT), strength training (ST), high-fat diet consumption (HF), and high-fat diet consumption with strength training (HFT). Animals then underwent strength training and/or high-fat diet consumption for 8 or 12weeks, after which animals were euthanized and markers of prostatic health were evaluated histologically and through immunolabeling. Our results indicate that physical strength training reduced the expression of the prostate cell proliferation marker Bcl-2 while increasing expression of the pro-apoptotic marker BAX, as well as increasing expression of AR and GR relevant in the Bcl-2 pathway. We conclude that a high-fat diet can alter hormone receptor levels and cell-cycle protein expression, thereby modifying prostatic homeostasis, and that strength training was able to reduce prostate damage induced by high-fat diet consumption.

Relationship between muscle-strengthening activities recommended by physical activity guidelines and knee extensor strength in the elderly.

[Purpose] This study aimed to cross-sectionally examine the relationship between the practice of muscle-strengthening activities assessed according to Japanese and foreign physical activity guidelines and knee extensor strength in the elderly. [Participants and Methods] Overall, 223 (66 males and 157 females) participants aged ≥60 years were included. The questionnaire included four items on muscle-strengthening activities: undergoing strength training, performing vigorous farming and gardening, carrying heavy loads, and climbing stairs and hills. Thereafter, participant performance was classified as “sufficient” or “insufficient” based on whether they practiced each muscle-strengthening activity for ≥2 or <2 days a week, respectively. [Results] After the adjustment for age, gender, body mass index, physical activity level, and the practice of other muscle-strengthening activities, knee extensor strength was significantly higher in the elderly participants who sufficiently practiced strength training than in those who did not. Furthermore, those who sufficiently practiced farming and gardening had significantly higher knee extensor strength than those who did not. [Conclusion] Our findings suggest that the non-exercise muscle-strengthening activity of sufficient farming and gardening practiced according to physical activity guidelines is positively associated with knee extensor strength independent of other muscle-strengthening activities or the amount of physical activity in healthy elderly individuals.

EFFECTS OF ELASTIC WRAP ON MUSCLE ACTIVITY AND ISOMETRIC FORCE OF KNEE EXTENSORS

ABSTRACT Introduction: The elastic knee wrap (EKW) is a device used by powerlifters, weightlifters and subjects undergoing strength training with the aim of stabilizing the knee joint and increasing the development of strength (carryover effect). Objective: To compare the effects of elastic knee wrap use on muscular activity of the vastus lateralis (VL) and on knee extension force during maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) on the knee extensor chair. Methods: The study included 18 healthy male strength trained (&gt;1 year) subjects (age: 25.56 ± 4.84 years, total body mass: 81.83 ± 8.73 kg, height: 176 cm ± 5.17). Three five-second maximum voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the knee extensors were performed with a 10-second interval between attempts, for each experimental condition: control (C), with elastic knee wrap (EKW), and with tensor (T). The performance of the knee extensors and VL muscle activity were evaluated. A repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare the dependent variables (carryover, peak force, IEMG and Impulse). Results: For carryover, the use of EKW presented a higher value (74.21%) than the control condition (p &lt;0.001, d = 0.96) and was 79.37% higher than the tensor (p &lt;0.001, d = 0.97). Peak force was 12.2% higher in condition C compared to EKW (p = .018, d = 0.71). For impulse, the control condition presented an increase of 8% compared to EKW use (p = .015, d = 0.62). No significant differences were observed for IEMG. Conclusion: Elastic knee wrap use increased strength production capacity during knee extension. The removal of the mechanical effect originating from carryover during MVIC reduces the strength performance of the knee extensors, but not the muscular activation of the VL. Level of Evidence I; Therapeutic studies - Investigation of treatment results.

Effectiveness of a strength training program for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: feasibility study

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a disease characterized by chronic pain; it is a syndrome with an unknown cause and has no cure. Objective: Examine the feasibility of a strength training program in patients with FM. Methods: Fortyseven patients from general community were allocated into two groups: strength training group and control group. The patients underwent strength training performed three times per week for eight weeks. We used the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire and Perceived Stress Scale to obtain data. Results: After eight weeks of strength training, there was a significant reduction in pain (p = 0.00) and stress (p = 0.02). No changes were found in the variables analyzed in the control group pre- and post-test. Conclusions: The practice of strength training is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of fibromyalgia patients.

Vitamin C and E supplementation does not affect heat shock proteins or endogenous antioxidants in trained skeletal muscles during 12 weeks of strength training

BackgroundSupplementation with large doses of antioxidants, such as vitamin C and E, has been shown to blunt some adaptations to endurance training. The effects of antioxidant supplementation on adaptations to strength training is sparsely studied. Herein we investigated the effects of vitamin C and E supplementation on acute stress responses to exercise and adaptation to traditional heavy load strength training.MethodsIn a double blind placebo-controlled design, twenty-eight, young, trained males and females were randomly assigned to receive either vitamin C and E (C: 1000 mg, E: 235 mg, per day) or placebo supplements, and underwent strength training for 10 weeks. After five weeks, a subgroup conducted a strength training session to investigate acute stress responses. Muscle samples were obtained to investigate changes in stress responses and in proteins and mRNA related to the heat shock proteins (HSPs) or antioxidant enzymes.ResultsThe acute responses to the exercise session revealed activation of the NFκB pathway indicated by degradation of IκBα in both groups. Vitamin C and E supplementation had, however, no effects on the acute stress responses. Furthermore, ten weeks of strength training did not change muscle αB-crystallin, HSP27, HSP70, GPx1 or mnSOD levels, with no influence of supplementation.ConclusionsOur results showed that although vitamin C and E supplementation has been shown to interfere with training adaptations, it did not affect acute stress responses or long-term training adaptations in the HSPs or antioxidant enzymes in this study.

Effect of endurance and strength training on muscular endurance of college men

The purpose of the present study was to find the effect of endurance and strength training on the muscular endurance of college men. For this purpose, forty-five men students studying of Annamalai University in the age group of 18 – 23 years were selected. They were divided into three equal groups, each group consisted of fifteen subjects, in which group – I underwent endurance training, group – II underwent strength training and group – III acted as a control group who did not participate in any special training. The training period for this study was three days in a week for eight weeks. Prior to and after the training period, the subjects were tested for muscular endurance. The result proved that endurance training displayed mild improvement but strength training elicited greater improvement in muscular endurance. It is concluded that strength training is more suitable for improving core strength than endurance training.

TREINAMENTO DE FORÇA REDUZ PERFIL GLICÊMICO DE RATOS

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a ten-week strength training on the blood glucose of rats. Methods: Eighteen rats were divided into two groups: sedentary and trained. Trained animals underwent strength training for ten weeks. The animals performed four sets of eight jumps with intervals of 30 seconds during ten weeks with a frequency of 3 times per week. An overload weight was imposed to the animals, using appropriate vests, which increased every two weeks. Body weight and food consumption were evaluated weekly. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized and their blood glucose and weights of visceral fat and carcass were measured. Results: No changes were observed in body weight (359.29±38.56 g vs. 355±15.58 g), food intake (162.1±16.6 g vs 156.57±5.4 g) and weight of carcass (222.5±22.7 g vs 230.7±9.3 g), however, reduction of visceral fat (17.4±3.3 g vs 12.9±1.7 g) and blood glucose (180.0±21.9 mg/dL vs. 151.7±19.6 mg/dL) was observed in the trained animals. Conclusion: The protocol used in this study reduced visceral fat and blood glucose in animals subjected to strength training