One lumbar extension training session per week is sufficient for strength gains and reduction in pain in patients with chronic low back pain ergonomics

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is the leading cause of absenteeism from the workplace and research into exercise interventions to address this problem is required. This study investigated training frequency for participants with CLBP. Participants either trained once a week (1 × week, n = 31), or twice a week (2 × week, n = 20) or did not (control group, n = 21). Participants were isometric strength tested in weeks 1 and 12 and trained dynamically either 1×week (80% of maximum) or 2×week (80% and 50%). The results (pre vs. post) showed significant increases in maximal strength, range of motion and reductions in pain for both training groups. Pain scores for the 1 × week and 2 × week both reached minimal clinical improvement change unlike the control group. Thus, one lumbar extension training session per week is sufficient for strength gains and reductions in pain in low back pain in CLBP patients

Strenght training methods and the work of Arthur Jones

This article is not available through ChesterRep. It is available at http://www.asep.org/files/Smith.pdfThis paper reviews research evidence relating to the strength training advice offered by Arthur Jones, founder and retired Chairman of Nautilus Sports/Medical Industries and MedX Corporation. Jones advocated that those interested in improving their muscular size, strength, power and/or endurance should perform one set of each exercise to muscular failure (volitional fatigue), train each muscle group no more than once (or, in some cases, twice) per week, perform each exercise in a slow, controlled manner and perform a moderate number of repetitions (for most people, ~8-12). This advice is very different to the strength training guidelines offered by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the American College of Sports Medicine and most exercise physiology textbooks. However, in contrast to the lack of scientific support for most of the recommendations made by such bodies and in such books, Jones' training advice is strongly supported by the peer-reviewed scientific literature, a statement that has recently been supported by a review of American College of Sports Medicine resistance training guidelines. Therefore, we strongly recommend Jones' methods to athletes and coaches, as they are time-efficient and optimally efficacious, and note that, given his considerable contribution to the field of strength training, academic recognition of this contribution is long overdue

On the New Notion of the Set-Expectation for a Random Set of Events

The paper introduces new notion for the set-valued mean set of a random set. The means are defined as families of sets that minimize mean distances to the random set. The distances are determined by metrics in spaces of sets or by suitable generalizations. Some examples illustrate the use of the new definitions.mean random set, metrics in set space, mean distance, Aumann expectation, Frechet expectation, Hausdorff metric, random finite set, mean set, set-median, set-expectation

Força lumbar en jugadors d'hoquei sobre herba

Introducció: El dolor lumbar té una alta prevalença entre els esportistes, s’ha relacionat amb dèficits en la força extensora lumbar, i el fet de patir-ne representa un obstacle important per a la pràctica d’esports d’alta intensitat. Mètode: S'ha mesurat la força lumbar en dos grups de practicants d'hoquei sobre herba mitjançant màquina MedX® i un test de resistència isomètric lumbar. Resultats: Entre ambdós grups els resultats han estat molt homogenis. Els dos tests no presenten relació entre si, ni amb les característiques biomèdiques dels jugadors (edat, índex de massa corporal o VO2màx). Els nivells de força màxima i resistència isomètrica obtinguts han estat superiors als de referència entre sedentaris. D’una manera característica, entre els jugadors d'hoquei la relació entre la força extensora del tronc en flexió (M) respecte la força extensora del tronc en extensió (m) és més gran que en altres esportistes (ràtio M/m > 1,6, mentre que en la població normal és 1,4) a causa probablement de la posició en semiflexió pròpia de l'hoquei. Conclusió: Els resultats dels test de força extensora lumbar tenen unes característiques pròpies entre els jugadors d’hoquei

The effects of pre-exhaustion, exercise order, and rest intervals in a full-body resistance training intervention

Pre-exhaustion (PreEx) training is advocated on the principle that immediately preceding a compound exercise with an isolation exercise can target stronger muscles to pre-exhaust them to obtain greater adaptations in strength and size. However, research considering PreEx training method is limited. The present study looked to examine the effects of a PreEx training programme. Thirty-nine trained participants (male = 9, female = 30) completed 12 weeks of resistance training in 1 of 3 groups: a group that performed PreEx training (n = 14), a group that performed the same exercise order with a rest interval between exercises (n = 17), and a control group (n = 8) that performed the same exercises in a different order (compound exercises prior to isolation). No significant between-group effects were found for strength in chest press, leg press, or pull-down exercises, or for body composition changes. Magnitude of change was examined for outcomes also using effect size (ES). ESs for strength changes were considered large for each group for every exercise (ranging 1.15 to 1.62). In conclusion, PreEx training offers no greater benefit to performing the same exercises with rest between them compared with exercises performed in an order that prioritises compound movements

The effects of load and effort-matched concentric and eccentric knee extension training in recreational females

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of load and intensity of effort-matched concentric and eccentric knee extension training on isometric strength. Methods. Unilateral isometric torque was measured using a MedX knee extension after which eleven recreationally trained females performed both concentric-only (CONC) and eccentric-only (ECC) unilateral knee extension exercise once per week for 8 weeks. Participants performed a single set of both CONC and ECC exercise load matched at 80% of maximum isometric torque for each condition. All participants exercised to repetition maximum in both CONC and ECC conditions at a pace of ~3 s duration for each muscle action. This ensured that participants exercised to the same intensity of effort for both CONC and ECC training interventions. Results. Analyses revealed significant increases in isometric torque for both CONC (14.8%) and ECC (13.0%) conditions (p 0.05). Effect sizes are reported as 0.60 (CONC) and 0.53 (ECC). In addition, analyses revealed significantly greater mean total training volume for ECC compared with CONC conditions (15903 vs. 8091, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusions. The present findings indicate that, when matched for intensity of effort, both CONC and ECC knee extension exercise can significantly improve strength to the same extent. This supports previous research that load and repetitions are not as important as intensity of effort in resistance exercise

Validation of the Medonic CA620/530 Vet 20-ml microcapillary sampler system for hematology testing of feline blood

The aim of the current study was to compare feline hematologic variables in blood collected in microcapillary tubes (20 ml) and conventional blood tubes with the Medonic CA620/530 Vet in-house hematologic analyzer. A comparison of results obtained in 60 cats presented at the clinics of the veterinary school showed that the correlations between the 2 methods were 0.97 for white blood cell, 0.95 for red blood cell, and 0.93 for platelet counts; 0.92 for hemoglobin concentration; and 0.99 for mean corpuscular volume. No clinically relevant differences between the 2 blood sampling techniques were observed for any variable, which suggests that both techniques are interchangeable in cats. Moreover, microcapillary tubes would allow easier repeated sampling in the same cat and would likely be useful in other small species

Fuerza lumbar en jugadores de hockey hierba

Introducción: El dolor lumbar tiene una alta prevalencia entre los deportistas, se ha relacionado con déficits en la fuerza extensora lumbar, y el hecho de padecerlo representa un obstáculo importante para la práctica de deportes de alta intensidad. Método: Se ha medido la fuerza lumbar en 2 grupos de practicantes de hockey hierba mediante máquina MedX® y un test de resistencia isométrico lumbar. Resultados: Entre ambos grupos los resultados han sido muy homogéneos. Los 2 tests no presentan relación entre sí ni con las características biomédicas de los jugadores (edad, índice de masa corporal o VO2máx). Los niveles de fuerza máxima y resistencia isométrica obtenidos han sido superiores a los de referencia entre sedentarios. Característicamente, entre los jugadores de hockey hierba la relación entre la fuerza extensora del tronco en flexión (M) respecto a la fuerza extensora del tronco en extensión (m) es mayor que en otros deportistas (ratio M/m &gt; 1,6, mientras que en la población normal es 1,4) debido probablemente a la postura en semiflexión propia del hockey. Conclusión: Los resultados de los test de fuerza extensora lumbar tienen unas características propias entre los jugadores de hockey hierba