Effects of resistance band exercise on vascular activity and fitness in older adults

This study investigated the effects of a low to moderately intense resistance-band exercise intervention on cutaneous microvascular function in an older population. 18 sedentary healthy participants (age: 58±5) were assessed for their upper and lower-limb endothelial cutaneous vascular conductance using laser Doppler fluximetry with endothelial-dependent (80 μl acetylcholine chloride), and -independent vasodilation (80 μl sodium nitroprusside). In addition, participants underwent a range of functional assessments (cardiopulmonary fitness, strength, flexibility), and completed a perceived quality of life questionnaire. Participants were randomised into 2 groups: Exercise (EX) and Control (CON), and followed either an 8-week self-supervised home-based resistance-band intervention or maintained their habitual lifestyle. Following post-intervention assessment (n=16; EX=7, CON=9), EX improved acetylcholine-chloride-mediated endothelial-dependent vasodilation within the lower limb (cutaneous vascular conductance at 2 000 μCb; P<0.01), but without associated changes in the upper limb. Exercise, compared to CON, significantly affected sodium-nitroprusside-mediated independent vasodilation in the upper limb (P<0.01) at 2 000 μCb, but without associated changes in the lower limb. Of functional assessments, only lower limb strength and flexibility improved for EX (P<0.05). EX experienced positive changes within global measures of General Health, Bodily Pain and Energy/Fatigue (P<0.05). An 8-week home-based resistance-band exercise programme improves age-provoked microcirculatory endothelial vasodilation, but without concomitant changes in cardiopulmonary and anthropometric measures

Sprint, strength and body mass changes following ingestion of a combined supplement by competitive games players

Introduction From survey findings (Airstone et al. 2005), a significant proportion of players chose this supplement to improve muscle mass and performance. The purpose of this investigation is to determine whether the reasons for supplement choice were justified as the evidence available to support supplementation of this combination of ingredients is not sufficient. Methods Fifteen trained male games players (mean body mass 80.4kg±7.7) ingested 1.2g.kg.day-1 of a combined supplement or placebo for a period of 8 weeks, through randomised, double-blind, crossover administration. The effects of the powdered supplement (SUPPL) containing whey protein, carbohydrate, creatine monohydrate and glutamine or lactose placebo (PLA) were determined in ten, 6s cycle ergometer sprints with 24s active recovery in terms of peak power output (PPO), mean power output (MPO), fatigue index (FI) and peak pedal frequency (PPF). Measures of maximal strength during 1 repetition (1RM) of bench press (Max B) and squat (MaxS) exercises and changes in total body mass (TBM) and lean body mass (LBM) were also recorded. Differences between treatment, trial and performance data were established using repeated measures ANOVAs (F1,15) and interactions were determined using the Bonferroni correction (P≤0.0125). Results After determining that activity (P=0.912) and dietary intake of protein (P = 0.260) were consistent during placebo and supplement phases of the investigation and there were no crossover effects, significant interactions (P≤0.0125) between treatments (Placebo, Supplement) and trials (Pre, Post) were determined in terms of PPO (PLA:892W SUPPL:937W F(1,15)=27.000), FI (PLA:43% SUPPL:39% F(1,15)=47.221), PPF (PLA:83rpm SUPPL:90rpm F(1,15)=36.347), TBM (PLA:82kg SUPPL:83kg F(1,15)=54.255) and MaxS (PLA:86kg SUPPL:98kg F(1,15)=88.872). Discussion These findings demonstrate that, to some extent, participants’ reasons for choosing this supplement were justified. The mechanisms of effect can be attributed to participants’ meeting daily requirements for calorie and protein intake, established for these athletes in a previous study (Ellmore, 2017) and a number of previously reported factors including enhanced pre-exercise phosphocreatine storage, adenosine triphosphate availability, a reduction in muscle relaxation time and muscle growth, which may alter protein turnover and enhance training capability. Further research incorporating appropriate dietary control and analysis of supplement content would highlight the impact of such supplement intake more effectively

Impact of a protein-based nutritional supplement upon dietary balance in trained games players

IMPACT OF A PROTEIN-BASED NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENT UPON DIETARY BALANCE IN TRAINED GAMES PLAYERS Ellmore, M.R. 1 1: UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN (Lincoln, UK) Introduction Amongst the athletic community, intake of nutritional supplements is widespread which has led to a significant number of experimental studies seeking to determine the ergogenic effect of such products. Most investigations fail to evaluate the impact of the supplement or placebo constituents upon participants’ dietary status which may result in misleading interpretations if the ingredients serve to optimise nutritional balance rather than directly improve performance. The purpose of this research was to examine dietary intake of trained games players after consumption of a lactose placebo and a whey protein / creatine supplement. Methods Trained games players were recruited as respondents to a supplementation survey (n=15, M±sd Body mass: 80.4kg±7.7, Age: 23.2years±3.8) which indicated that ~13% of athletes took the same named whey protein / creatine product (Airstone et al. 2005). Players completed 7 day weighed food diaries and consumed 1.2g/kg/day supplement or placebo using a double-blind, crossover design for eight weeks. Dietary intake was evaluated using Microdiet® and players’ dietary intake was compared using a dependent t-test (P≤0.05) adapted using the Bonferroni correction for consideration of each nutritional component (P≤0.01). Results Players’ normal dietary calorie intake was the same in placebo and supplement phases of the investigation (P=0.184). Significant differences were evident in energy, carbohydrate, fat and protein intake between the participants’ normal diet, diet plus supplement content and diet plus placebo content (P≤0.001). In comparison to athletic recommendations, the players’ normal diets were deficient in carbohydrate, energy and protein (P≤0.01) and although the protein recommendations were exceeded during supplementation, energy and carbohydrate needs were still not met. Discussion When using similar methods for dietary recording, previous research has shown that games players report intakes which were similar to those found in this study and were insufficient in relation to athletic norms. This evidence contributes to the area of nutritional supplement investigation and emphasises the need for future research to incorporate dietary analyses under supplement and placebo conditions. Supplementing athletes should be cautious about interpreting ergogenic effects as benefits reported may not be consequent to active ingredients but rather due to the constituents of the supplement or placebo compensating for existing dietary deficiencies. Airstone, M.R., Fagbemi, S.O. and Morris, A.E.J. (2005). Dietary supplementation habits and knowledge of competitive athletes and games players. Journal of Sports Sciences 23 (2), 118-119

The Balancing Act of Working and Caring in Higher Education

Around a third of workers in England have caring responsibilities (Family and Care Trust, 2018), though the number of carers and parents currently employed by the university is not known as this data is not routinely collected. By April 2024, the Carer’s Leave Act is likely to be enforced and employers will be expected to be aware of staff with caring responsibilities. In 2022-23 the Eleanor Glanville Institute partnered with the University of Lincoln Carers and Parents Network to carry out research to explore the experience of staff carers and parents at the university. A survey including validated and non-validated measures was developed and rolled out. . The sample was constituted by 89 academic staff and 76 professional services and support staff. Survey responses demonstrated both the diversity and high intensity of caregiving commitments performed by staff. The results highlighted the ways in which different types of caregiving are distinct, dynamic experiences which create different support needs