A Novel Eccentric Resistance Training Strategy to Maximize Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Exercise-induced muscle damage is one of the primary stimuli for muscle growth. PURPOSE: Test whether a novel strategy for very fast eccentric chest press will induce higher exercise-induced muscle damage than slow eccentric chest press. METHODS: Seven healthy college students (4 men, 3 women) with a history of resistance training, but not currently training more than once per week, enrolled for this study. Each participant completed a familiarization trial in which they were tested for maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) on the chest press and then practiced loading according to the fast and slow conditions. In the fast condition, participants were instructed to allow the weight to accelerate before catching it before it touched the chest. In both conditions, research assistants lifted the weight for the concentric part of the lift. After a one-week recovery, participants were randomized into either the fast or slow condition. Following a two-week recovery, each participant completed the alternate condition. The fast condition consisted of 3 min warm-up, three MVIC trials, 3 sets of 10 eccentric reps at 70% of MVIC, and 3 MVIC trials. Damage was measured as the difference between the pre-post MVIC trials and was analyzed using paired samples t-tests. RESULTS: The fast eccentric condition elicited significantly higher force average production across the 3 sets (740 ± 219 N vs. 569 ± 166 N, Cohen’s d=1.89, p=0.001). The fast eccentric condition also caused a greater reduction in force from pre-post (15 ± 6% vs. 10 ± 6%, Cohen’s d=0.52, p=0.05). CONCLUSION: These data show that fast eccentric resistance training requires greater force production and causes greater muscle damage than standard slow eccentric training. More research should be conducted to determine whether long-term training leads to strength and size improvements

Inter-Rater Reliability Validation Via the Military Training Mental Toughness Inventory in Firefighters: Follow-up Psychometric Analysis

Mental toughness (MT) is a critical psychological attribute, often assessed using cross-sectional self- assessment methods. Research links MT to superior performance, particularly within high-stress domains like tactical environments (e.g., firefighting). The Military Training Mental Toughness Inventory (MTMTI) is an established tool for measuring MT from a tactical perspective. Despite the relevance of MT in high- pressure professions, research in this context is limited, and specific instruments for assessing firefighting-related MT are absent. Preliminary work on examining the inter-rater reliability of MTMTI on firefighters concluded that there was no agreement on MT peer-rating by using the MTMTI. Since still there is no specialized instrument tailored to evaluate MT in firefighting, continuation of data was deemed justified. PURPOSE: To validate the inter-rater reliability of MTMTI in firefighters in a two-point longitudinal design. METHODS: Sixty-two male firefighters from two southern Florida fire departments participated in this study, completing an MTMTI survey over two days. The survey was administered by a colleague and an officer who conducted peer-ratings. The MTMTI comprises six items, each rated on a 7- point Likert scale, evaluating an individuals ability to maintain performance under stressful conditions. Statistical measures, including Cohen’s kappa (κ), Cronbach’s alpha (α), McDonald’s omega (ω), and the Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), were employed for inter-rater reliability assessment. The analysis was performed using R statistical packages within Jamovi version 2.4.8 (p \u3c .05). RESULTS: The inter- rater reliability, indicated by the Kappa coefficient, was minimal on both days, with low agreement between raters. Internal consistency measures (Alpha and Omega) were also unacceptable on both days. Inter-rater correlations were weak. CONCLUSION: The study\u27s findings do not demonstrate concurrence between the two raters, reinforcing previous data. Consequently, the inferences drawn regarding the MTMTI scores assigned by these two distinct raters also lack accord. Factors contributing to this lack of agreement should be explored. Future research should aim to refine measurement tools and explore the multifaceted nature of MT within firefighting

Comparing The Effect Of N-95 Vs Surgical Mask Use On Resting Metabolic Data Change

Face masks reduce the spread of viral respiratory particles, however, their impact on respiratory physiology requires further research. Previous studies reported reduced gas exchange when wearing a surgical mask, however, breath-by-breath data has not been analyzed. PURPOSE: To compare physiological changes when wearing an N95 mask and surgical mask at rest. Variables measured include oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide ventilation (VC02), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (MV), and discomfort. METHODS: 42 subjects ages 18-55 (19 men; age 22.98±3.83) were recruited. Exclusion criteria was a history of metabolic disease/claustrophobia. Respiratory and metabolic data was collected using indirect calorimetry under a hood. RR was recorded via a smart skin apparatus for breath-by-breath data. Testing consisted of three 15-minute trials: no mask, N-95 mask, and a surgical mask. HR, VO2, VC02, RER, RR and MV were recorded at 1-minute intervals. Discomfort was assessed using a Likert scale. Results were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: VCO2 was significantly lower in surgical masks when compared to the control (p=.05). Both surgical and N95 masks had significantly lower RERs (p\u3c.001, p\u3c.005). MV was higher in N95 and surgical conditions, but only significant in N95 (p\u3c.001). RR was not significantly different across conditions (p=.102). Subjects reported the most discomfort wearing the N95 mask (p\u3c.001). CONCLUSION: Variance in gas exchange data suggests alterations in respiratory efficiency and metabolic rate while using face masks. This is supported by the significant decrease in RER with both masks, indicating a shift in substrate preference towards fat metabolism. While there were no significant differences in RR, MV was increased, suggesting compensation for altered gas exchange. This may account for the increased discomfort associated with mask use, particularly with N95s

Physical Activity Assessment of People with Type II Diabetes in the Dominican Republic

The prevalence of type II diabetes has increased nearly 25% in the past 10 years, leading to significantly higher risk of morbidity and premature mortality. Although it is well-known that physical activity (PA) improves diabetes outcomes, little is known about PA among Dominicans. PURPOSE: To evaluate PA participation and perceptions among people with type II diabetes in the Dominican Republic (DR). METHODS: Participants (N=29) were recruited from an urban diabetes clinic in Nagua, DR. Age, height, and weight were self-reported. Actigraph wGT3X-BT triaxial accelerometers were fitted for wear on the non-dominant wrist, and participants were instructed not to change their activity level. After seven days, participants returned the accelerometers and completed the Spanish-language Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (GLTEQ) and two questions regarding perceptions of PA. Accelerometer data was considered acceptable if worn for at least 10 hours/day on at least four days. RESULTS: Eighteen women and 11 men enrolled (Age: 55 ± 13 yrs; BMI: 28.6 ± 4.5 kg∙m-2). Acceptable wear time was reached by 27 participants. Moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) was 132 ± 48 min∙day-1; steps∙day-1 was 9994 ± 2983. GLTEQ scores (103 ± 98) classified 25 participants as active and two as moderately active. Anecdotally, there were significant challenges in ascertaining accurate light-intensity physical activity from the participants. There were no gender differences in age, BMI, or MVPA. Men reported significantly higher GLTEQ scores (144 vs. 78, p0.2). Participants who reported being ‘very active’ (n=17) did significantly more MVPA than those that reported being ‘not very active’ or ‘somewhat active’ (n=10)(p=0.033). CONCLUSION: Dominicans with type II diabetes are highly physically active but do very little vigorous physical activity. Although there were no objective differences between men and women, men subjectively report nearly double the physical activity compared to women, indicating the need for differential interventions. The GLTEQ is not a valid measure of physical activity among Dominicans with type II diabetes

The development and assessment of a physical activity intervention for cancer survivors

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common forms of cancer among women, and the rate of disease is expected to increase significantly in the next several years. Ethnically diverse EC survivors may be at increased risk for comorbidities or cancer recurrence because of lower physical activity participation and higher rates of obesity. A systematic review of physical activity interventions for overweight and obese female cancer survivors was conducted. The first study was a cross-sectional study, which assessed the differences between 62 active and inactive Bronx EC survivors for body mass index (BMI), quality of life and physical activity behavioral variables. The second study of this dissertation was a wait-list controlled trial for 28 obese to determine the feasibility of a 12-week physical activity intervention in this population. The primary findings from the systematic review were that center-based physical activity interventions were feasible and led to an increase in physical activity for overweight and obese female cancer survivors. The first study found that 65% of the sample was obese, and 47% reported being physically active. The Active group reported significantly higher quality of life of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy – Endometrial questionnaire (FACT-En: 154 ± 13 vs. 145 ± 20, d=0.57, p<0.05), compared to the Insufficiently Active group. BMI was 3.3 kg•m -2 lower in the active group (d=0.40, p=0.057). The active group also reported higher walking self-efficacy, barrier self-efficacy and outcome expectations (p<0.05). In the third study, adherence to the physical activity intervention was 60%, and the dropout rate was modest, indicating that the intervention was feasible. Participants who completed the program had significantly greater increase in six-minute walk test distance (+22 meters) and quality of life (+10 points) compared to the control p<0.05). These studies show that this population has an elevated need for physical activity interventions that can promote the adoption of physical activity. Physically active EC survivors have better health and employ in more behavioral processes than their Insufficiently Active counterparts. A 12-week physical activity intervention was feasible and supports the potential effectiveness of a physical activity interventions

The effects of a novel bicarbonate loading protocol on serum bicarbonate concentration: a randomized controlled trial

Background Previous studies have shown that sodium bicarbonate ingestion may enhance intense exercise performance, but may also cause severe gastrointestinal distress. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a modified sodium bicarbonate (SB) ingestion protocol would elevate serum bicarbonate concentration more than previous methods without causing gastrointestinal distress. Methods In randomized order, seven (5 men, 2 women) elite middle-distance runners ingested either placebo, Modified SB (600 mg·kg− 1 over 19.5 h), or Acute SB (300 mg·kg− 1) in opaque gelatin capsules. Baseline and post-ingestion blood samples were analyzed for bicarbonate, pH, sodium, hematocrit, and lactate. Repeated measures ANOVA (2 time points × 3 conditions) were analyzed to determine differences in serum bicarbonate, lactate, sodium, blood pH, and hematocrit. Gastrointestinal distress was assessed via self-report on a Likert scale of 1–10. Simple (condition) and repeated (time) within-participant contrasts were used to determine the location of any statistically significant main and interaction effects (p ≤ 0.05). Results Both Modified SB (7.6 mmol·L− 1, p < 0.01) and Acute SB (5.8 mmol·L− 1, p < 0.01) increased serum bicarbonate concentration compared to the placebo (p ≤ 0.05). Post-ingestion serum bicarbonate concentration was significantly higher for the Modified SB (34.7 ± 2.2 mmol·L− 1, 28.0% increase) trials than the Acute SB (33.5 ± 2.0 mmol·L− 1, 20.9% increase) trials (p = 0.05). There was no reported severe GI distress in the Modified SB trials, but two cases in the Acute SB trials. Conclusions Modified SB elevated serum bicarbonate concentration more than Acute SB, without any severe gastrointestinal side effects. Consequently, it is recommended that future experimentation involving SB by researchers and athletes use the novel ingestion protocol described in this study due to its potential for improved effectiveness and reduced gastrointestinal impact. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03813329 . Registered 23 January 2019 - Retrospectively registered

Comparing the Effect of N-95 vs Surgical Mask Use on Resting Metabolic Data Changes

Face masks reduce the spread of viral respiratory particles, however, their impact on respiratory physiology requires further research. Previous studies reported negative changes in gas exchange data when wearing a surgical mask, however, breath-by-breath data has not been analyzed. PURPOSE: To compare physiological changes when wearing an N95 mask and surgical mask at rest. Variables measured include oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide ventilation (VC02), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), minute ventilation (MV), and discomfort. METHODS: 42 subjects ages 18-55 (19 men; age 22.98±3.83) were recruited. Exclusion criteria was a history of metabolic disease/claustrophobia. Respiratory and metabolic data was collected using indirect calorimetry under a hood. RR was recorded via a smart skin apparatus for breath-by-breath data. Testing consisted of three 15-minute trials: no mask, N-95 mask, and a surgical mask. HR, VO2, VC02, RER, RR and MV were recorded at 1-minute intervals. Discomfort was assessed using a Likert scale. Results were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: VCO2 was significantly lower in surgical masks when compared to the control (p=.05). Both surgical and N95 masks had significantly lower RERs (pCONCLUSION:Variance in gas exchange data suggests alterations in respiratory efficiency and metabolic rate while using face masks. This is supported by the significant decrease in RER with both masks, indicating a shift in substrate preference towards fat metabolism. While there were no significant differences in RR, MV was increased, suggesting compensation for altered gas exchange. This may account for the increased discomfort associated with mask use, particularly with N95s

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-her-10.1177_19375867231151687 - Exploring the Association Between the Healthcare Design Elements and Physician Well-Being: A Scoping Review

Supplemental Material, sj-pdf-1-her-10.1177_19375867231151687 for Exploring the Association Between the Healthcare Design Elements and Physician Well-Being: A Scoping Review by Amerigo Rossi, Nina Brojan Heyman, Mónica Ortiz Rossi, Sarah Wolf and Takeesha White in HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal</p