The effect of upper extremity support on upper extremity posture and muscle activity during keyboard use

Forearm support during keyboard use has been reported to reduce neck and shoulder muscle activity and discomfort. However, the effect of forearm support on wrist posture has not been examined. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 3 different postures during keyboard use: forearm support, wrist support and floating. The floating posture (no support) was used as the reference condition. A wrist rest was present in all test conditions. Thirteen participants completed 20 min wordprocessing tasks in each of the test conditions. Electromyography was used to monitor neck, shoulder and forearm muscle activity. Bilateral and overhead video cameras recorded left and right wrist extension, shoulder and elbow flexion and radial and ulnar deviation. The forearm support condition resulted in significantly less ulnar deviation

The effect of wrist rests and forearm support during keyboard and mouse use

Supporting the forearm on the work surface during keyboard operation may increase comfort, decrease muscular load of the neck and shoulders, and decrease the time spent in ulnar deviation. Wrist rests are used widely in the workplace and are more commonly being incorporated in keyboard design. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of wrist rest use on wrist posture during forearm support. A laboratory based, experimental study was conducted (subjects n=15) to examine muscle activity and wrist postures during keyboard and mouse tasks in each of two conditions; wrist rest and no wrist rest. There were no significant differences for right wrist flexion/extension between use of a wrist rest and no wrist rest for keyboard or mouse use. Left wrist extension was significantly higher without a wrist rest than with a wrist rest during keyboard use (df=14; t=2.95; p=0.01; d=0.38). No differences with respect to use of a wrist rest were found for the left or right hand for ulnar deviation for keyboard or mouse use. There were no differences in muscle activity between the test conditions for keyboard use

The effects of Lyprinol ® on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in well trained athletes: A double-blind randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if Lyprinol® is effective in reducing pain, indicators of inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn improving performance in well trained athletes suffering from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Design: A double blind randomised placebo controlled trial. Setting: Twenty well trained male volunteers, matched by VO2 max were randomly assigned to consume 200 mg of Lyprinol® or an indistinguishable placebo daily for 8 weeks prior to a downhill treadmill running episode designed to induce DOMS. Main outcome measures: Performance measures (Kin-Com, counter movement and squat jump), pain assessments (visual analogue scale, algometer) and blood analyses (Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-10, tumour necrosis factor-α, C-reactive protein, myoglobin, creatine kinase) were assessed at 7 time points over 5 days (pre, post, 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the downhill run). Results: No statistically significant differences were identified in any parameters between the active and placebo groups at any time point. Conclusion: After 2 months ingestion of Lyprinol® at the currently recommended dosage (200 mg/day) and a demanding eccentric exercise intervention, Lyprinol® did not convincingly affect DOMS and indicators of muscle damage

The effects of topical Arnica on performance, pain and muscle damage after intense eccentric exercise

The aim of the study was to determine if topical Arnica is effective in reducing pain, indicators of inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn improve performance in well-trained males experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Twenty well-trained males matched by maximal oxygen uptake ( Max) completed a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial. Topical Arnica was applied to the skin superficial to the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles immediately after a downhill running protocol designed to induce DOMS. Topical Arnica was reapplied every 4 waking hours for the duration of the study. Performance measures (peak torque, countermovement and squat jump), pain assessments (visual analogue scale (VAS) and muscle tenderness) and blood analysis (interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumour necrosis factor-alpha, C-reactive protein, myoglobin and creatine kinase) were assessed at seven time points over five days (pre-, post-, 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after the downhill run). Participants in the topical Arnica group reported less pain as assessed through muscle tenderness and VAS 72 hours post-exercise. The application of topical Arnica did not affect any performance assessments or markers of muscle damage or inflammation. Topical Arnica used immediately after intense eccentric exercise and for the following 96 hours did not have an effect on performance or blood markers. It did however demonstrate the possibility of providing pain relief three days post-eccentric exercise

The effects of Lyprinol® on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in well trained athletes: a double-blind randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if Lyprinol ® is effective in reducing pain, indicators of inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn improving performance in well trained athletes suffering from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

The effects of Panax notoginseng on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in well-trained males: A double blind randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if Panax notoginseng is effective in reducing pain, indicators of inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn improve performance in well trained males who underwent a bout of eccentric exercise designed to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Design: A double blind randomised placebo controlled trial. Setting: Twenty well trained male volunteers, matched by maximum aerobic capacity were randomly assigned to consume a regime of 4000 mg of P. notoginseng capsules or an indistinguishable placebo before and after a downhill treadmill running episode designed to induce DOMS. Main outcome measures: Performance measures (Kin—Com, counter movement and squat jump), pain assessments (visual analogue scale (VAS), algometer) and blood analyses (interleukin-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein, myoglobin, creatine kinase) were assessed at 7 time points over 5 days (pre, post, 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after the downhill run). Results: The placebo group demonstrated a significant decrease in squat jump performance immediately post the downhill run, with a mean change ± 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.8 cm (−3.53 to 1.93). The placebo group also experienced increased pain in the quadriceps 96 h after the downhill run, with a mean VAS change ± 95% CI of −0.32 cm (−0.34 to 0.98).The serum concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly lower in the placebo group 24 h after the downhill run. Mean IL-6 change ± 95% CI of 0.50 pg/mL (−1.59 to 0.59), and mean TNF-α change ± 95% CI was 0.98 pg/mL (−2.04 to 0.09). No other significant differences were identified between the groups for any other outcome measure

The effects of Panax notoginseng on delayed onset muscle soreness and muscle damage in well-trained males: A double blind randomised controlled trial

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine if Panax notoginseng is effective in reducing pain, indicators of inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn improve performance in well trained males who underwent a bout of eccentric exercise designed to induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Design: A double blind randomised placebo controlled trial. Setting: Twenty well trained male volunteers, matched by maximum aerobic capacity were randomly assigned to consume a regime of 4000. mg of P. notoginseng capsules or an indistinguishable placebo before and after a downhill treadmill running episode designed to induce DOMS. Main outcome measures: Performance measures (Kin-Com, counter movement and squat jump), pain assessments (visual analogue scale (VAS), algometer) and blood analyses (interleukin-1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein, myoglobin, creatine kinase) were assessed at 7 time points over 5 days (pre, post, 4, 24, 48, 72 and 96. h after the downhill run). Results: The placebo group demonstrated a significant decrease in squat jump performance immediately post the downhill run, with a mean change. ±. 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.8. cm (-3.53 to 1.93). The placebo group also experienced increased pain in the quadriceps 96. h after the downhill run, with a mean VAS change. ±. 95% CI of -0.32. cm (-0.34 to 0.98).The serum concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly lower in the placebo group 24. h after the downhill run. Mean IL-6 change. ±. 95% CI of 0.50. pg/mL (-1.59 to 0.59), and mean TNF-α change. ±. 95% CI was 0.98. pg/mL (-2.04 to 0.09). No other significant differences were identified between the groups for any other outcome measure. Conclusion: Considering all data from this study, P. notoginseng did not convincingly have an effect on performance, muscular pain or assessed blood markers in well-trained males after an intense bout of eccentric exercise that induced DOMS

Physiological and performance benefits of halftime cooling

This study examined the effect of a 10-min, halftime cooling application on physiological and psychological parameters known to affect performance. Fourteen volunteers (10 male, 4 female) completed two randomised trials 48 hr to 7 days apart. Trials consisted of a 1-hr cycling protocol: 30 min at 75% V̇O2max followed by 10 min cooling (application of a cooling jacket) or passive recovery (control), and a second 30-min exercise bout consisting of 20 min at 75% V̇O2max, immediately followed by a 10-min maximal effort, where work was measured as energy expended (kJ). Performance of the 10-min maximal intensity phase tended to improve (171.5±30.4 kJ vs 165.4±29.2 kJ, p= 0.087) following the cooling trial. Heart rate during the 5th min of the maximal effort, (183±9 beats.min−1 vs 180±7 beats.min−1, p= 0.024), blood lactate concentration at 6 min post-exercise (9.3±3.1 mmol•L−1 vs 7.9±3.2 mmol•L-1, p= 0.007), rating of perceived exertion at the 20th min post-halftime recovery (15±2 vs 16±2, p= 0.042), and subjective rating of feelings and emotions differed between the cooling and control conditions. Sweat loss, core and mean skin temperature and rating of thermal sensation failed to differ significantly between conditions. Halftime cooling tended to result in greater aerobic performance. Psychological assessment revealed a dramatic placebo effect from the cooling application confounding these results. Furthermore, the cooling intervention failed to induce any significant thermoregulatory effects