3 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Commentary. Key aspects of multimodal prehabilitation in surgical patients with cancer: a practical approach to integrating resistance exercise programmes
Surgical prehabilitation aims to optimise patients’ physiological reserves to better withstand the stress of surgery, reduce the risk of postoperative complications, and promote a faster and optimal recovery. The purpose of this commentary is to outline the key aspects of prehabilitation before surgery for cancer which seem to impact its effectiveness and wider implementation. Particular attention is paid to the role and integration of resistance training programmes as a key component of multimodal prehabilitation for patients with cancer. We firstly analyse some of the barriers currently hindering the implementation of prehabilitation programmes in the National Health Service (United Kingdom). Later, we describe essential aspects of resistance training design, such as exercise modality and order execution, volume and intensity, rest periods between sets or exercises, and workout frequency. Furthermore, we propose a methodology to use the perception of effort to control patients' progression during a prehabilitation programme
Effects of adding post-workout microcurrent in male cross country athletes
Post-exercise microcurrent based treatments have shown to optimise exercise-induced adaptations in athletes. We compared the effects of endurance training in combination with either, a microcurrent or a sham treatment, on endurance performance. Additionally, changes in body composition, post-exercise lactate kinetics and perceived delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) were determined. Eighteen males (32.8±6.3 years) completed an 8-week endurance training programme involving 5 to 6 workouts per week wearing a microcurrent (MIC, n=9) or a sham (SH, n=9) device for 3-h post-workout or in the morning during non-training days. Measurements were conducted at pre- and post-intervention. Compared to baseline, both groups increased (P<0.01) maximal aerobic speed (MIC, pre =17.6±1.3 to post=18.3±1.0; SH, pre=17.8±1.5 to post =18.3±1.3 km.h-1) with no changes in V ̇O2peak. No interaction effect per group and time was observed (P=0.193). Although both groups increased (P<0.05) trunk lean mass (MIC, pre=23.2±2.7 to post=24.2±2.0; SH, pre=23.4±1.7 to post=24.3±1.6 kg) only MIC decreased (pre=4.8±1.5 to post=4.5±1.5, p=0.029) lower body fat. At post-intervention, no main differences between groups were observed for lactate kinetics over the 5 min recovery period. Only MIC decreased (P<0.05) DOMS at 24-h and 48-h, showing a significant average lower DOMS score over 72-h after the completion of the exercise-induced muscle soreness protocol. In conclusion, a 3-h daily application of microcurrent over an 8-week endurance training programme produced no further benefits on performance in endurance-trained males. Nonetheless, the post-workout microcurrent application promoted more desirable changes in body composition and attenuated the perception of DOMS over 72-h post-exercise
Recommended from our members
Physiological effects of microcurrent and its application for maximising acute responses and chronic adaptations to exercise
Microcurrent is a non-invasive and safe electrotherapy applied through a series of sub-sensory electrical currents (less than 1 mA), which are of a similar magnitude to the currents generated endogenously by the human body. This review focuses on examining the physiological mechanisms mediating the effects of microcurrent when combined with different exercise modalities (e.g., endurance, strength) in healthy physically active individuals. The reviewed literature suggests the following candidate mechanisms could be involved in enhancing the effects of exercise when combined with microcurrent: (i) increased adenosine triphosphate resynthesis; (ii) maintenance of intercellular calcium homeostasis that in turn optimises exercise-induced structural and morphological adaptations; (iii) eliciting a hormone-like effect, which increases catecholamine secretion that in turn enhances exercise-induced lipolysis and (v) enhanced muscle protein synthesis. In healthy individuals, despite a lack of standardisation on how microcurrent is combined with exercise (e.g., whether the microcurrent is pulsed or continuous), there is evidence concerning its effects in promoting body fat reduction, skeletal muscle remodelling and growth as well as attenuating delayed onset muscle soreness. The greatest hindrance to understanding the combined effects of microcurrent and exercise is the variability of the implemented protocols, which adds further challenges to identifying the mechanisms, optimal patterns of current(s) and methodology of application. Future studies should standardise microcurrent protocols by accurately describing the used current [e.g., intensity (μA), frequency (Hz), application time (minutes) and treatment duration (e.g., weeks)] for specific exercise outcomes, e.g., strength and power, endurance, gaining muscle mass or reducing body fat