Concurrent Resistance and Aquatic Treadmill Training Elicits Greater Lean Mass Gains than Resistance Training Alone.

PURPOSE: To examine the effects of combined aquatic treadmill training (ATM) and resistance training (RT) on body composition (Bcomp), strength, and VO2max following 12 wks of training compared to RT alone. METHODS: 5 healthy, sedentary men (32.6yr ±11, 187.5 cm ±4.9, 107.9 kg ±19.5) and 6 women (34.2 yrs ±14.3, 166.6 cm ±8.4, 78.6 kg ±19.69) were recruited and screened to assess VO2max (GXT), Bcomp (DEXA), and strength. During strength assessment, 1RMs were assessed in this order: leg press, chest press, leg curl, lat pull, leg ext, triceps push-down, biceps curl. Subjects were then randomized into 2 groups. Both groups (R = resistance training, CT = concurrent training) performed progressive RT for 12 wks (2/wk, 3 x 8-12 @ 60%1RM, ~1.5min rest int.). Following wk 6, 1RMs were reassessed and intensity was increased for wks 7-12 (3 x 4-8, beginning @ 75%1RM). Concurrently, the CT group performed 12 wks of progressive ATM (60→85%VO2max). VO2max was reassessed following wk 6. ATM occurred immediately following RT sessions and in isolation on a 3rd day during the wk. After training, baseline tests were again performed. A 2x3 factorial ANOVA w/ repeated measures for group (2) by time (3) was used to examine absolute and relative changes in body composition, strength, and VO2max

Prediction of the Total Energy Cost of an Acute Bout of Resistance Exercise in Young Men and Women

Prediction of the Total Energy Cost of an Acute Bout of Resistance Exercise in Young Men and Women Brad S. Lambert†, Steven E. Martin‡, John S. Green‡ (FACSM), Aaron F. Carbuhn†, Stephen F. Crouse‡ (FACSM). Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX (Sponsor S.F. Crouse) ACSM currently recommends resistance training (RT) for each major muscle group at least 2 times per week with a traditional repetition range of 8-12 per set. Because many investigators as well as fitness professionals consider kcal expenditure when creating training protocols, energy costs during both RT and aerobic training must be considered. PURPOSE: To develop a regression equation to predict kcal expenditure for a RT bout involving each major muscle group using VO2max, height, weight, lean body mass, fat mass, and total exercise volume (TV=sets*reps*wt) as independent variables. METHODS: Twelve subjects (7 men, 5 women, age 21-25 yrs) were tested using the standard Bruce treadmill protocol for VO2max, and strength tested to determine their 3-5 repetition max (RM) on Keiser® RT equipment 1 week prior to their experimental RT bout. Body composition was assessed using DEXA. For their experimental RT bout, a warm-up set followed by 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps at 60-70% predicted 1RM were performed for each exercise. Each set was started every two minutes. Exercises progressed in the following order: leg press, chest press, leg curl, lat pull, leg ext., triceps ext., biceps curl. Oxygen consumption was measured continuously throughout the RT bout using an automated metabolic cart. Multiple Linear Regression was used to determine the best model for prediction of kcal consumption. Results: Mean kcal expenditure for the entire RT bout was 221.8±20.65 kcal (men = 272±36 & women = 150±16) with a mean kcal cost of 26.32-38.94 per exercise. Large muscle group/multi-joint exercises had the highest total kcal expenditures as expected. Collinearity diagnostics from the regression revealed that VO2max (L/min) and the square root of TV (TV0.5) were the only predictors needed in the model with all other variables being highly intercorrellated with VO2max (L/min), thus not adding significant improvement to the model. The prediction equation was (p\u3c0.05, R2=0.86): Total kcal = (37.264*VO2max L/min) + (1.087*TV0.5) – 132.488 CONCLUSIONS: VO2max (L/min) and TV0.5 were found to be significant predictors of the energy cost of a RT bout involving each major muscle group. In regards to fitness, performance, and weight management, this equation may aid practitioners and young exercising adults in documenting kcal expenditure from resistance training

Association of Cardiovascular Fitness and Syndrome X in Male Firefighters

Metabolic syndrome has been shown in numerous studies to be related to a higher incidence of coronary artery disease. A study by Jurca and coworkers (Med. Sci. Sports Exerc 36(8):1301-1307, 2004) found a relationship between cardiovascular fitness and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a group of men enrolled in the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study (ACLS). In addition, recent work in our lab (Int J Exerc Sci 2(1): S43, 2009) has supported these findings. However, research exploring this relationship is still lacking in male firefighters, whose leading cause of line-of-duty deaths is heart attacks. Purpose: To further evaluate the association of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular fitness in male fire fighters. Methods: As part of an annual physical exam, 224 male fire fighters (average age = 36) underwent evaluation of risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome as defined by NCEP III. These include the presence of three or more of the following: Waist Circumference \u3e 40 , HDL Cholesterol \u3c 40 mg/dL, Triglycerides \u3e 150 mg/dL, Blood Glucose \u3e 110 mg/dL, and Resting Blood Pressure \u3e 130/85 mm Hg. Cardiovascular Fitness was determined by estimating VO2max from time on treadmill during a Bruce protocol. Results: The subjects were ranked and divided into quartiles based on VO2max. All data were analyzed using a Chi Square test (p \u3c 0.05). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased significantly across quartiles as cardiovascular fitness declined. Conclusion: These data suggest that as cardiovascular fitness improves, the likelihood of male firefighters having metabolic syndrome decreases

The Relationships between Fitness Assessments, Fitness Levels and Coronary Heart Disease Risk Markers in Police Officers

Given the physical nature of a position in law enforcement, the assessment of cardiovascular (CV) health as well as muscular strength and endurance is paramount to ensuring the safety of these personnel and the citizens they serve. The present study retrospectively examined correlations between several markers of CV and muscular fitness for 65 local police officers (8 female, average age 35.6 ± 9.0 yrs, height 70.5 ± 2.8 in, weight 91.8 ± 18.7 kg, VO2 33.0 ± 5.3 mL/kg/min) taken from their annual screening including a graded exercise test (GXT; Bruce protocol), pushups completed in 1 minute, situps completed in 1 minute, handgrip strength, body composition (through DEXA and circumference measures) and bloodwork. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was estimated using the Foster equation. Coronary heart disease risk (CHD risk) was calculated using the online NIH 10-year heart attack risk calculator, which uses age, gender, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, smoking status, and blood pressure status in its algorithm. Significance was determined using an alpha level of 0.05. Interestingly, there was no significant correlation between VO2max and CHD risk (p = 0.1851). Apart from risk markers included in the risk calculation, CHD risk was significantly correlated with waist-hip ratio (r = 0.24739), and LDL cholesterol (r = 0.39117). VO2max was significantly negatively correlated with fat mass (r = -0.51849), body fat percentage (%BF; r = -0.64297), total cholesterol (TC; r = -0.3371), and LDL cholesterol (r = -0.267). Positive correlations were found between VO2max and other measures of fitness such as pushups (r = 0.54274), situps (r = 0.3282), and handgrip strength (r = 0.32041). As for body composition measures, %BF was significantly positively correlated with TC (r = 0.30188), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.28795), LDL cholesterol (r = 0.26533), and fasting glucose (r = 0.26536), but negatively correlated with fitness markers such as pushups (r = -0.58599), situps (r = -0.43604), and handgrip strength (r = -0.32393). Lean mass was significantly correlated with handgrip strength (r = 0.71835), though not pushups, situps or VO2max. Waist circumference was significantly negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -0.39202). Additionally, 62 of the participants (7 female) completed both a 1.5 mile run and GXT, allowing for a comparison of a submaximal to a maximal fitness assessment of CV fitness. Time to complete 1.5 miles was significantly correlated to GXT VO2max, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of -0.79593. Overall, relationships found between health markers, fitness, and CHD risk in this sample were in line with previous research on CHD risk factors and the assessment of CV and muscular fitness