The Influence of a Total Body Resistance Training Program on Autonomic Modulation and Strength Variables in Young Adults

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(2): 802-814, 2021. The purpose of this study was to examine autonomic modulation using multiple quantitative measures before and after a resistance training (RT) intervention. Seventeen young adults (age 18-35 years) were tested for body composition, muscular strength, and autonomic activity. The RT protocol targeted total-body large muscle groups, which were performed three days a week for eight-weeks. Autonomic assessments included respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), static handgrip exercise, Valsalva maneuver, heart rate variability (HRV), and tilt-table testing. The main finding was that tilt-table duration increased by 68 seconds (p = 0.05) after RT. Upper body strength increased by 11.2 kg (p = 0.001) and lower body strength increased by 68.3 kg (p \u3c 0.001) following completion of the RT intervention. The average total lean mass increased by 1.5 kg (p \u3c 0.01), while total fat mass was unchanged (∆ = 0.5 kg, p = 0.23). RSA (∆ = 0.4, p = 0.89), Valsalva ratio (∆= -0.09, p = 0.48), static handgrip (∆ = 8 mm Hg, p = 0.07), and HRV (∆ = -0.4, p = 0.53) were not affected by RT. The results from this study suggest that RT improves tilt-table tolerance in a young healthy population as evidence by improved tilt-table duration. However, RT seemed to have no effect on cardio-vagal or adrenergic function

Head Trauma not Associated with Long Term Effects on Autonomic Function

International Journal of Exercise Science 14(3): 779-790, 2021. Contact-sports can elicit concussions, which impacts autonomic function, as well as elicit repetitive head trauma, where autonomic function has not yet been assessed. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in autonomic function exist among three groups (CTRL: healthy non-contact-sport participant, RHT: repetitive head trauma contact-sport participant, CONC: previous concussion). Forty participants (16 men and 24 women), aged 18-37 (22 ± 3), participated in the study. Participants were grouped based on their sport and concussion history (CTRL, RHT, and CONC). Body composition was measured via air displacement plethysmography. Prior to testing, participants were outfitted with equipment to evaluate heart rate, blood pressure, and cerebral-artery blood flow velocity (CBFv). The participant performed against three stimuli: deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver, and a 70° head-up tilt test. Following autonomic function testing, a YMCA submaximal cycle test was performed. All group comparisons were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA and all data are presented as means ± standard deviation. The results of this study indicated that the groups did not differ in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (CTRL: 22 ± 6 bpm, RHT: 21 ± 8 bpm, CONC: 19 ± 7 bpm, p = 0.471), Valsalva ratio (CTRL: 2.19 ± 0.39, RHT: 2.09 ± 0.37, CONC: 2.00 ± 0.47, p = 0.519), CBFv (CTRL: 47.74 ± 25.28 cm/s, RHT: 40.99 ± 10.93 cm/s, CONC: 43.97 ± 17.55 cm/s, p = 0.657), or tilt time (CTRL: 806.09 ± 368.37 sec, RHT: 943.07 ± 339.54 sec, CONC: 978.40 ± 387.98 sec, p = 0.479). However, CONC (113.24 ± 11.64 mmHg) had a significantly higher mean systolic blood pressure during the tilt test than CTRL (102.66 ± 7.79 mmHg, p = 0.026), while RHT (107.9 ± 9.0 mmHg) was not significantly different than CTRL (p = 0.39) or CONC (p = 0.319). The results of this study are the first step in determining if long-lasting deficits to the autonomic nervous system occur following a diagnosis of concussion. However, concussions do not seem to have lasting effects on autonomic function. Overwhelmingly, dysautonomia is not present during chronic recovery from concussions or in individuals with RHT from contact-sports. In the future, sex should be considered as a variable

Effect of Sex and Menstrual Cycle on Skin Sensory Nerve Contribution to Local Heating

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(2): 1265-1279, 2019. The purpose of this study was to determine sex differences in the contribution of sensory nerves to rapid cutaneous thermal hyperemia. Healthy young females (n = 15, tested during both the early follicular (EF) and the mid-luteal (ML) phase of the menstrual cycle) and males (n = 15) had a 4 cm2 area of skin on one forearm and one leg treated with a eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA). EMLA sites, along with corresponding control sites, were instrumented with laser Doppler flowmetry probes and local skin heaters. Baseline (33 °C), rapid and sustained vasodilation (42 °C), and maximal vasodilation (44 °C) skin blood flow data were obtained and expressed as a percentage of maximal cutaneous vascular conductance (%CVCmax). Contribution of sensory nerve involvement was determined by comparing the EMLA site to its matched control site utilizing the formula [(% CVCmax control - % CVCmax treatment) / % CVCmax control] × 100. The contribution of sensory nerves to rapid cutaneous thermal hyperemia in the forearm was 24 ± 18 %CVCmax in males, 41 ± 17 %CVCmax in ML females (p = 0.02 vs. males), and 35 ± 17 %CVCmax in EF females (p \u3e 0.05 vs. males). In the leg, the contribution of sensory nerves was 16 ± 15 %CVCmax in males, 34 ± 17 %CVCmax for ML females (p = 0.02 vs. males), and 28 ± 21 %CVCmax in EF females (p \u3e 0.05 vs. males). ML females exhibited a greater contribution of sensory nerves to rapid cutaneous thermal hyperemia in the forearm and leg, possibly attributed to elevated reproductive hormones during the ML phase

Passion for Exercise: Passion\u27s Relationship to General Fitness Indicators and Exercise Addiction

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(5): 122-135, 2019. Research into the Dualistic Model of Passion (DMP) has suggested that a harmonious passion for an activity is related to more positive outcomes (e.g., higher well-being and satisfaction with life), and an obsessive passion for an activity is related to negative and less adaptive outcomes (e.g., lower self-esteem and burnout; 37, 40, 43). The current study demonstrated differences between passion types (i.e., harmonious passion, obsessive passion, no passion) in terms of physical fitness, risk of exercise addiction, frequency of exercise, and perceptions of exercise. Sixty-one college students from a large, Midwestern university completed the study. A MANOVA with the self-report exercise behavior/perceptions measures (F(8, 96) = 3.94, p\u3c.001, Wilk’s λ= 0.58) was significant with post-hoc analyses revealing significant differences (p\u3c 0.05) between obsessive, harmonious, and non-passionate individuals on time in vigorous activity, risk of exercise addiction, and perceptions of exercise, with no significant differences in fitness levels. Obsessive individuals spend more time in vigorous exercise and are most at risk for exercise addiction, while harmonious individuals do not differ from obsessive on time in vigorous activity and are between obsessive and non-passionate individuals for risk of exercise addiction. The MANOVA with physical fitness indicators (body fat, VO2max, completed push-ups and curl-ups) revealed no significant differences between the passion groups, but follow-up ANOVAs examining trends indicated differences in body fat and pushups, with non-passionate individuals having higher body fat and fewer pushups than the two passion groups. The findings of this study partially support the Dualistic Model of Passion and previous research findings, and these findings demonstrate interactions between passion and performance in fitness tasks

Effect of Sex and Menstrual Cycle on Skin Sensory Nerve Contribution to Local Heating

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(2): 1265-1279, 2019. The purpose of this study was to determine sex differences in the contribution of sensory nerves to rapid cutaneous thermal hyperemia. Healthy young females (n = 15, tested during both the early follicular (EF) and the mid-luteal (ML) phase of the menstrual cycle) and males (n = 15) had a 4 cm2 area of skin on one forearm and one leg treated with a eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA). EMLA sites, along with corresponding control sites, were instrumented with laser Doppler flowmetry probes and local skin heaters. Baseline (33 °C), rapid and sustained vasodilation (42 °C), and maximal vasodilation (44 °C) skin blood flow data were obtained and expressed as a percentage of maximal cutaneous vascular conductance (%CVCmax). Contribution of sensory nerve involvement was determined by comparing the EMLA site to its matched control site utilizing the formula [(% CVCmax control - % CVCmax treatment) / % CVCmax control] × 100. The contribution of sensory nerves to rapid cutaneous thermal hyperemia in the forearm was 24 ± 18 %CVCmax in males, 41 ± 17 %CVCmax in ML females (p = 0.02 vs. males), and 35 ± 17 %CVCmax in EF females (p \u3e 0.05 vs. males). In the leg, the contribution of sensory nerves was 16 ± 15 %CVCmax in males, 34 ± 17 %CVCmax for ML females (p = 0.02 vs. males), and 28 ± 21 %CVCmax in EF females (p \u3e 0.05 vs. males). ML females exhibited a greater contribution of sensory nerves to rapid cutaneous thermal hyperemia in the forearm and leg, possibly attributed to elevated reproductive hormones during the ML phase

Perceived exertion in fatiguing illness: civilians with chronic fatigue syndrome

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