162 research outputs found
Effects of Dynamic Stretching on Strength, Muscle Imbalance, and Muscle Activation
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the acute effects of dynamic stretching on concentric leg extensor and flexor peak torque, eccentric leg flexor peak torque, and the conventional and functional hamstring–quadriceps (H:Q) ratios.
Methods: Twenty-one women (mean ± SD age = 20.6 ± 2.0 yr, body mass = 64.5 ± \u3e.3 kg, height = 164.7 ± 6.5 cm) performed maximal voluntary isokinetic leg extension, flexion, and eccentric hamstring muscle actions at the angular velocities of 60°· s-1 and 180° · s-1 before and after a bout of dynamic hamstring and quadriceps stretching as well as a control condition.
Results: Leg flexion peak torque decreased under both control (mean ± SE for 60°· s-1 = 75.8 ± 4.0 to 72.4 ± 3.7 N · m, 180° · s-1 = 62.1 ± 3.2 to 59.1 ± 3.1 N· m) and stretching (60°· s-1 = 73.1 ± 3.\u3e to 65.8 ± 3.3 N· m, 180°· s-1 = 61.2 ± 3.3 to 54.7 ± 2.6 N· m) conditions, whereas eccentric hamstring peak torque decreased only after the stretching (60°· s-1 = 87.3 ± 5.1 to 73.3 ± 3.6 N· m, 180°· s-1 = 89.2 ± 4.4 to 77.0 ± 3.4 N · m) intervention (P ≤ 0.05). Stretching also caused a decrease in conventional H:Q (60°· s-1 = 0.58 ± 0.02 to 0.54 ± 0.02, 180°· s-1 = 0.67 ± 0.02 to 0.61 ± 0.03) and functional H:Q ratios (60°· s-1 = 0.69 ± 0.03 to 0.60 ± 0.03, 180°· s-1 = 1.00 ± 0.06 to 0.60 ± 0.03) (P ≤ 0.05).
Conclusions: Because dynamic stretching reduced concentric and eccentric hamstring strength as well as the conventional and functional H:Q ratios, fitness and allied-health professionals may need to be cautious when recommending dynamic rather than static stretching to maintain muscle force
Effects of creatine loading on electromyographic fatigue threshold during cycle ergometry in college-aged women
This is the publisher's version, also found at http://www.jissn.com/content/4/1/20The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 5 days of Creatine (Cr) loading on the
electromyographic fatigue threshold (EMGFT) in college-aged women. Fifteen healthy college-aged
women (mean ± SD = 22.3 ± 1.7 yrs) volunteered to participate in this double-blind, placebocontrolled
study and were randomly placed into either placebo (PL – 10 g of flavored dextrose
powder; n = 8) or creatine (Cr – 5 g di-creatine citrate plus 10 g of flavored dextrose powder; n
= 7; Creatine Edge, FSI Nutrition) loading groups. Each group ingested one packet 4 times per day
(total of 20 g/day) for 5 days. Prior to and following supplementation, each subject performed a
discontinuous incremental cycle ergometer test to determine their EMGFT value, using bipolar
surface electrodes placed on the longitudinal axis of the right vastus lateralis. Subjects completed a
total of four, 60 second work bouts (ranging from 100–350 W). The EMG amplitude was averaged
over 10 second intervals and plotted over the 60 second work bout. The resulting slopes from each
successive work bouts were used to calculate EMGFT. A two-way ANOVA (group [Cr vs. PL] ×
time [pre vs. post]) resulted in a significant (p = 0.031) interaction. Furthermore, a dependent
samples t-test showed a 14.5% ± 3.5% increase in EMGFT from pre- to post-supplementation with
Cr (p = 0.009), but no change for the PL treatment (-2.2 ± 5.8%; p = 0.732). In addition, a significant
increase (1.0 ± 0.34 kg; p = 0.049) in weight (kg) was observed in the Cr group but no change for
PL (-0.2 kg ± 0.2 kg). These findings suggest that 5 days of Cr loading in women may be an effective
strategy for delaying the onset of neuromuscular fatigue during cycle ergometry
Effects of a supplement designed to increase ATP levels on muscle strength, power output, and endurance
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The present study examined the acute effects of a nutritional supplement intended to improve adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations on vertical jump height, isometric strength of the leg extensors, leg extension endurance, and forearm flexion endurance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-four healthy men (mean age ± SD = 23 ± 4 yrs, stature = 181 ± 7 cm, and body mass = 82 ± 12 kg) volunteered to complete a familiarization trial plus 2 randomly-ordered experimental trials separated by a 7-day washout period. Participants received either 6 (body mass < 91 kg) or 8 (body mass ≥ 91 kg) tablets of the treatment (TR; 625 mg of adenylpyrophosphoric acid and calcium pyruvate, 350.8 mg of cordyceps sinensis extract and yohimbine hydrochloride) or placebo (PL; 980 mg of microcrystalline cellulose) 1 hour prior to the following tests: countermovement vertical jump (CVJ), forearm flexion repetitions to exhaustion, isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the leg extensors, and a 50-repetition maximal concentric isokinetic leg extension endurance test.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There were no differences between the TR and PL trials for CVJ height (<it>P </it>> 0.05), isometric MVC peak torque (<it>P </it>> 0.05), maximal concentric isokinetic peak torque (<it>P </it>> 0.05), percent decline during the leg extension endurance tests (<it>P </it>> 0.05), or repetitions to exhaustion during the forearm flexion endurance tests (<it>P </it>> 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings indicated no improvements in the measured variables as a result of ingesting this nutritional supplement. Future studies should examine whether chronic supplementation or a loading period is necessary to observe any ergogenic effects of this supplement.</p
Acute effects of a thermogenic nutritional supplement on cycling time to exhaustion and muscular strength in college-aged men
This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.jissn.com/content/6/1/15.The purpose of the present study was to examine the acute effects of a thermogenic nutritional supplement containing caffeine, capsaicin, bioperine, and niacin on muscular strength and endurance performance.
Methods
Twenty recreationally-active men (mean ± SD age = 21.5 ± 1.4 years; stature = 178.2 ± 6.3 cm; mass = 76.5 ± 9.9 kg; VO2 PEAK = 3.05 ± 0.59 L/min-1) volunteered to participate in this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. All testing took place over a three-week period, with each of the 3 laboratory visits separated by 7 days (± 2 hours). During the initial visit, a graded exercise test was performed on a Lode Corival cycle ergometer (Lode, Groningen, Netherlands) until exhaustion (increase of 25 W every 2 min) to determine the maximum power output (W) at the VO2 PEAK (Parvo Medics TrueOne® 2400 Metabolic Measurement System, Sandy, Utah). In addition, one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength was assessed using the bench press (BP) and leg press (LP) exercises. During visits 2 and 3, the subjects were asked to consume a capsule containing either the active supplement (200 mg caffeine, 33.34 mg capsaicin, 5 mg bioperine, and 20 mg niacin) or the placebo (175 mg of calcium carbonate, 160 mg of microcrystalline cellulose, 5 mg of stearic acid, and 5 mg of magnesium stearate in an identical capsule) 30 min prior to the testing. Testing included a time-to-exhaustion (TTE) ride on a cycle ergometer at 80% of the previously-determined power output at VO2 PEAK followed by 1-RM LP and BP tests.
Results
There were no differences (p > 0.05) between the active and placebo trials for BP, LP, or TTE. However, for the BP and LP scores, the baseline values (visit 1) were less than the values recorded during visits 2 and 3 (p ≤ 0.05).
Conclusion
Our findings indicated that the active supplement containing caffeine, capsaicin, bioperine, and niacin did not alter muscular strength or cycling endurance when compared to a placebo trial. The lack of increases in BP and LP strength and cycle ergometry endurance elicited by this supplement may have been related to the relatively small dose of caffeine, the high intensity of exercise, the untrained status of the participants, and/or the potential for caffeine and capsaicin to increase carbohydrate oxidation
Can Recruiting Rankings Predict the Success of NCAA Division I Football Teams? An Examination of the Relationships among Rivals and Scouts Recruiting Rankings and Jeff Sagarin End-of-Season Ratings in Collegiate Football
This is the publisher's version, also available electronically from http://www.degruyter.com.The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationships among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football teams' 2002 recruiting rankings from the Rivals (RIV) and Scouts (SCO) recruiting services and the Jeff Sagarin end-of-season performance ratings from 2002–2006. The RIV and SCO recruiting services included rankings for 100 common NCAA Division I football teams for the 2002 recruiting season. Each recruiting service included a total point system rating (TOTPTS) and average star rating (AVESTAR). The Jeff Sagarin NCAA football ratings system was chosen as an indicator of the teams' performance. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients (R) and the corresponding predictive indices (R2) were used to examine whether the 2002 RIV & SCO TOTPTS and RIV & SCO AVESTAR ratings could predict the Jeff Sagarin end-of-season ratings and total number of wins for each football team for the 2002 through 2006 seasons. In addition, R and R2 values were computed to examine whether the 2002 Jeff Sagarin end-of-season ratings and total number of wins could predict the following season's recruiting rankings (2003 RIV & SCO TOTPTS and RIV & SCO AVESTAR). The results indicated that RIV & SCO TOTPTS and AVESTAR predicted up to 45% of the variances in the end-of-season ratings and total wins. Thus, other factors (besides recruiting rankings) must be contributing to the end-of-season ratings for the 100 NCAA football teams included in this study. In addition, up to 51% of the variance in RIV & SCO AVESTAR and TOTPTS was predicted by the previous year's end-of-season ratings or total wins, which suggests that more successful seasons tend to yield better subsequent recruiting classes
Acute effects of passive stretching of the plantarflexor muscles on neuromuscular function: the influence of age
Abstract The acute effects of stretching on peak force (F peak), percent voluntary activation (%VA), electromyographic (EMG) amplitude, maximum range of motion (MROM), peak passive torque, the passive resistance to stretch, and the percentage of ROM at EMG onset (%EMGonset) were examined in 18 young and 19 old men. Participants performed a MROM assessment and a maximal voluntary contraction of the plantarflexors before and immediately after 20 min of passive stretching. F peak (−11 %), %VA (−6 %), and MG EMG amplitude (−9 %) decreased after stretching in the young, but not the old (P > 0.05). Changes in F peak were related to reductions in all muscle activation variables (r = 0.56–0.75), but unrelated to changes in the passive resistance to stretch (P ≥ 0.24). Both groups experienced increases in MROM and peak passive torque and decreases in the passive resistance to stretch. However, the old men experienced greater changes in MROM (P < 0.001) and passive resistance (P = 0.02–0.06). Changes in MROM were correlated to increases in peak passive torque (r = 0.717), and the old men also experienced a nonsignificant greater (P = 0.08) increase in peak passive torque. %EMGonset did not change from pre- to post-stretching for both groups (P = 0.213), but occurred earlier in the old (P = 0.06). The stretching-induced impairments in strength and activation in the young but not the old men may suggest that the neural impairments following stretching are gamma-loop-mediated. In addition, the augmented changes in MROM and passive torque and the lack of change in %EMGonset for the old men may be a result of age-related changes in muscle-tendon behavior
VALIDATION OF A 3-DIMENSIONAL VIDEO MOTION CAPTURE SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING BARBELL POWER AND VELOCITY DURING THE BENCH PRESS
Andrew C. Fry, Luke Bradford, Trent Herda, Joseph Weir FACSM, Michael Lane, Matthew Andre, Andrea Hudy, J. Deckert and J. Siedlik.Neuromechanics Laboratory and Kansas Athletics Inc., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Analyses of barbell kinetics and kinematics have typically required the use of force plates, tether-based position transducers, or digitized video analysis. PURPOSE: To determine the validity of a 3-dimensional video markerless motion capture system for determining barbell kinetics and kinematics. METHODS: Two 3-D video cameras sampling at 30 Hz and mounted on the top of a power rack were interfaced with a self-contained computer and software system, and operated with a touch screen (EliteForm, Lincoln, NE). For laboratory comparison purposes, a ceiling–mounted linear position transducer (Unimeasure, Corvallis, OR) was attached via a tether to the barbell. Data from the position transducer was sampled at 1000 Hz using a BioPac data acquisition system (Goleta, CA). Velocity (m.s-1) and power (W) were derived using LabView software (National Instruments, Austin, TX). One weight-trained male subject (age = 25 yrs, hgt = 1.75 m, BW = 82.6 kg, 1 RM = 161.0 kg) performed the barbell bench press exercise for 10 sets x 1 repetition at 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80% 1 RM loads using maximal acceleration during the concentric phase. Dependent variables included peak (PV) and X̅ velocity (MV) and peak (PP) and X̅ power (MP). Linear regressions between lab-derived and 3-D video-derived data provided correlation coefficients, and regression slopes (b). Bland-Altman plots were used to determine X̅ differences, from which effect sizes (Cohen’s D) and % error for the 3-D camera system was determined. RESULTS: Lab-derived mean values for all loads ranged as follows; MV = 0.36 – 1.00 m.s-1, PV = 0.47 – 1.60 m.s-1, MP = 460.9 – 621.6 W, and PP = 619.9 – 1055.6 W.
CONCLUSION: The 3-D video markerless motion capture system provided accurate and valid barbell velocity and power data for the bench press exercise.
Supported in part by Nebraska Global LL
Learning 3D Human Pose from Structure and Motion
3D human pose estimation from a single image is a challenging problem,
especially for in-the-wild settings due to the lack of 3D annotated data. We
propose two anatomically inspired loss functions and use them with a
weakly-supervised learning framework to jointly learn from large-scale
in-the-wild 2D and indoor/synthetic 3D data. We also present a simple temporal
network that exploits temporal and structural cues present in predicted pose
sequences to temporally harmonize the pose estimations. We carefully analyze
the proposed contributions through loss surface visualizations and sensitivity
analysis to facilitate deeper understanding of their working mechanism. Our
complete pipeline improves the state-of-the-art by 11.8% and 12% on Human3.6M
and MPI-INF-3DHP, respectively, and runs at 30 FPS on a commodity graphics
card.Comment: ECCV 2018. Project page: https://www.cse.iitb.ac.in/~rdabral/3DPose
Age-related changes in the rate of muscle activation and rapid force characteristics
Abstract Declines in muscle size and strength are commonly reported as a consequence of aging; however, few studies have investigated the influence of aging on the rate of muscle activation and rapid force characteristics across the lifespan. This study aims to investigate the effects of aging on the rate of muscle activation and rapid force characteristics of the plantar flexors. Plantar flexion peak force (PF), absolute (peak, 50, and 100–200 ms), and relative (10 %, 30 %, and 50 %) rate of force development (RFD), the rapid to maximal force ratio (RFD/PF), and the rate of electromyography rise (RER) were examined during an isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) in young (age = 22 ± 2 years), middle-aged (43 ± 2 years), and old (69 ± 5 years) men. The old men exhibited lower PF (30.7 % and 27.6 % lower, respectively) and absolute (24.4–55.1 %) and relative (16.4–28.9 %) RFD values compared to the young and middle-aged men (P ≤ 0.03). RER values were similar between the young and old men (P ≥ 0.30); however, RER values were greater for the middle-aged men when compared to the young and old men for the soleus (P < 0.01) and the old men for the medial gastrocnemius (P ≤ 0.02). Likewise, RFD/PF ratios were similar between young and old men (P ≥ 0.26); however, these ratios were greater for the middle-aged men at early (P ≤ 0.03), but not later (P ≥ 0.10), time intervals. The lower PF and absolute and relative RFD values for the old men may contribute to the increased functional limitations often observed in older adults. Interestingly, higher rates of muscle activation and greater early RFD/PF ratios in middle-aged men may be a reflection of physiological alterations in the neuromuscular system occurring in the fifth decade
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