PHYSIOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF SHORT TRAIL RUNNING

The recent worldwide popularity of trail running has raised the necessity of studying the physiological profile of this sport. Although trail running races are long distance endurance events, the variety of their terrain, incline and duration prevents the application of the classical predictive model of level running. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the physiological and anthropometric parameters that determine short trail race performance. Twenty-five moderately trained trail runners participated in a 15 km trail running race, consisting of 9 km positive and 6 km negative incline. Four days after the race they followed a laboratory protocol for the measurement and estimation of anthropometric and physiological parameters (maximal oxygen uptake, velocity at maximal oxygen uptake, ventilatory threshold, velocity at ventilatory threshold, running economy, flexibility, muscle power, aerobic capacity). The results revealed high correlations between the 15 km race performance and velocity at maximal oxygen uptake (r = 0.81), ventilatory threshold (r = 0.88), muscle power of knee extensor (r = 0.50 – 0.53), anaerobic capacity (r = 0.65) and body fat percentage (r = 0.7). Another two parameters that were highly correlated with the 15 km mountain trail race performance were both the positive and negative incline time (r = 0.95 and r = 0.96, respectively). Our conclusions confirmed previous findings that performance in trail running cannot be predicted with the same variable model as level running.  Article visualizations

Exercise and Nutrition Strategies for Combating Sarcopenia and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Older Adults

Medical and technology development have drastically the improved quality of life and, consequently, life expectancy. Nevertheless, the more people who enter the third-age, the more geriatric syndromes expand in the elderly. Sarcopenia and Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are common diseases among the elderly and the literature has extensively studied these two diseases separately. Recent evidence, however, revealed that there is a bidirectional relationship between sarcopenia and T2DM. The aims of the present review were: (1) to present diet and exercise interventions for the management of sarcopenia and T2DM and (2) identify which diet and exercise interventions can be used simultaneously in order to effectively deal with these two disorders. Exercise and a balanced diet are used as effective countermeasures for combating sarcopenia and T2DM in older adults based on their bidirectional relationship. Lifestyle changes such as exercise and a balanced diet seem to play an important role in the remission of the diseases. Results showed that chronic exercise can help towards glycemic regulation as well as decrease the incidence rate of muscle degradation, while diet interventions which focus on protein or amino acids seem to successfully treat both disorders. Despite the fact that there are limited studies that deal with both disorders, it seems that a combined exercise regime (aerobic and resistance) along with protein intake > 1gr/kg/d is the safest strategy to follow in order to manage sarcopenia and T2DM concurrently