Effects of Regular Exercise on Blood Components and Serum Lipids in Elderly with Low Cognitive Function

Exercise is known as an effective method to reduce morbidity related to the cognitive impairment in the elderly. It has been reported that combined exercise including aerobic exercise and resistance training promotes cardiovascular function to facilitate volumetric oxygen transfer into brain and body tissues. The purpose of the present study was to determine the changes of blood components (RBC, WBC, HCT, Hb, MCV, MCH, Platelet) and serum lipids (TC, TG, HDL-c, LDL-c) by regular combined exercise in elderly with low cognitive function. 18 elderly women out of 23 completed all study requirements in this study. Following a baseline screening session that included a measurement of body composition (BIA) and mental status examination (MMSE-K and MoCA-K), subjects were randomly divided into two groups as the exercise group (N=10) and the control group (N=8). The exercise group participated in combined exercise program that was composed of aerobic and resistance exercises (50-60 min, 3 times/week, 12 weeks). Blood components and serum lipids were measured pre and post assessments. Data were statistically analyzed using independent t-test and paired t-test by SPSS 12.0 program. Significance was set a

Effects of Training with Blood Flow Restriction on Muscular Strength: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Exercise Science 15(3): 1563-1577, 2022. The purpose of this study was to analyze how blood flow restriction (BFR) training influences muscular strength through a systematic review and meta-analysis. The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The following databases were used to conduct the research: Academic Search Complete, Medline, Web of Science, SPORT-Discus, HealthSource: Consumer, and HealthSource: Nursing. The following search limitations were included in this study: full-text articles investigating the effects of BFR training on muscular strength, published in a peer-reviewed academic journal, and published in the English language. Out of 327 articles, 25 were eligible to be included in this study. Comprehensive meta-analysis v.3 software was used to run statistics of the collected data from each study. The results showed that BFR training positively affects muscular strength. However, no group difference was found by gender, duration, workload, and cuff type/pressure in current data. This study provides additional information that can be used in future studies to obtain optimum strength results during BFR training

Kinesio Taping does not Alter Muscular Performance of Lower Extremity in Obese Adults

Obese adults often experience a weight burden imposed on the joints during physical activities. Taping is known as an effective therapy that can lessen the stress on joints during physical activity. Specially, Kinesio taping has gained recognition to improve exercise performance. However, the acute effects of Kinesio taping using obese population have not been well established. The purpose of this study was to examine the acute effects of Kinesio taping on the muscular strength, power, and endurance of lower extremity in obese adults. This study was conducted in randomized crossover design with 7 days washout periods. Fourteen obese adults (male: 5, female: 9), mean age of 24.0 ± 3.04 years and percent body fat of 37.44 ± 7.64 % (male: 33.25 ± 8.12, female: 38.16 ± 6.91) took part in the study. All subjects underwent three different trials which were no taping, placebo taping (3M tape), and Kinesio taping. The tape was applied to the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and patella ligament based on the Kinesio taping techniques. Subjects wore an eye mask and the taped leg was covered by clothes for preventing subjects and researchers from identifying different tapings (double-blind). Muscular power, isometric muscle strength, and muscle endurance of lower extremity were assessed. Repeated measures one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine differences among three trials. There were no statistical differences in peak power (F= 0.978, p= .402), mean power (F=1.386, p=.285), muscular strength (extension: F= 1.138, p= .350; flexion: F= 3.326, p= .068, and endurance (F= 3.675, p= .060) among three trials. Interpretation of these findings suggests that the Kinesio tape did not improve lower limb performance in obese adults. Short application period may affect to the non-significance result. Further studies are needed to investigate the effective period of taping on lower limb exercise performance in obese adults

Acute Effects of Different Stretching Protocols Combined with Potentiating Exercise on Flexibility, Power, and Muscle Performance

The purpose of this study was to investigate the acute effects of different stretching protocols combined with potentiating exercise on flexibility, power, and muscle performance. This study was conducted in repeated and cross-over designed. Thirteen collegiate males aged 25.4±3.46 years voluntarily participated in this study. Prior to conduct stretching session, participants performed jogging on the treadmill for 5 min. Then, four different stretching protocols (non stretching; NS, static stretching; SS, dynamic stretching; DS, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation stretching; PNFS) specially targeted for lower limb muscles combined with potentiating exercise (PE, 3 sets x 5 times tuck jumps) were randomly applied at the same time of the day with 7-days interval. Straight leg raise, and vertical jump tests were measured at baseline, post jogging, stretching, and potentiating exercise. Isokinetic muscle strength, anaerobic power, and agility T-test were measured after each stretching combined with potentiating exercise. Repeated measure ANOVAs were used with significant level set at p\u3c.05. Our results indicate that greater improvement in straight leg raise was observed in SS (9.6%) and PNFS (12.1%) compared to NS (0.6%) and DS (5.0%) at post stretching (p\u3c.001). However, vertical jump performance was significantly improved only in DS (1.8%) (p\u3c.001). After potentiating exercise, greater improvement of vertical jump performance was observed in NS (2.2%), SS (3.2%), and PNFS (6.5%) than DS (-0.4%) (p\u3c.01). Isometric leg flexion was significantly higher in DS and PNFS than NS and SS after completion of PE (p\u3c.05). However, no significant differences in leg extension, anaerobic power, and agility were observed among trials. Our study demonstrated that dynamic and PNF stretching protocols combined with potentiating exercise are efficient for generating muscle strength as well as improving flexibility. It is also noted that potentiating exercise plays a major role for preventing the acute loss of power induced by static and PNF stretching

Impact of placement of fitbit HR under laboratory and free-living conditions

© 2020 by the authors. Wrist-worn activity monitors have become accessible for measuring physical activities, but an activity monitor\u27s accuracy worn at different placements is not well understood. This study aimed to examine the differences in measurements of heart rates, step counts, and calories estimated from the fitness tracker worn at different locations and the accuracy of Fitbit HR against criterion measures. Thirty-two healthy adults participated in this study. Participants wore Fitbit HR at four different locations (right proximal, distal, and left proximal, distal). Treadmill exercise consisted of five 5-min phases including slow walking and jogging. Free-living activities involved ten 5-min activities with four different intensities. We found that the placement of Fitbit HR has no significant influence on the measurement outcomes overall. However, significant differences were observed in the step counts between left and right while climbing stairs (p = 0.003) and sports activities (p \u3c 0.001). The accuracy of Fitbit HR measurements against the criterion measure was moderate. However, we found out that Fitbit HR overestimated the calories regardless of their positions and activity types. In conclusion, the different placements of Fitbit HR do not have a significant influence on the measurements and Fitbit HR was moderately associated with criterion reference devices for measures of heart rate and steps

The Effect of Herbal Diet on Skeletal Muscle Mass After Resistance Training in Rats

Resistance training has been well established as an effective strategy for muscle hypertrophy, increase in skeletal muscle mass and strength. Herbal diet has been introduced as an alternative treatment to alleviate muscle atrophy and therapeutic intervention. However, there is little evidence on the effect of herbal diet on skeletal muscle mass. To investigate whether herbal diet affects skeletal muscle mass after resistance training in rats. Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: 1) Control (CON, N=8), 2) Resistance training (RT, N=8), 3) RT+Herb (RTH, N=8). Resistance training was performed every other day for 8 weeks using ladder climbing. The ladder climbing exercise consisted of 3 sets of 5 repetitions with a 1 min rest interval between the repetitions and a 2 min rest between the sets. Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Membranceus) was given via oral gavage once a day for 8 weeks (1 ml mixed with water based on concentration of 368 mg/kg). All rats received sham treatment, same as treatment groups. All data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA. After 8 weeks of interventions, muscle mass of Gastrocnemius, Plantaris, and Flexor hallucis longus showed significant increases in RT and RTH groups compared to CON (

The Acute and Chronic Effect of Korea Ginseng Supplement on Exercise Performance, Cognitive Function, and Fatigue Recovery

The purpose of this study was to determine the acute and chronic effects of Korean ginseng supplements on exercise performance, cognitive function, and fatigue recovery. The study used double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Twelve healthy adult males (age = 31 ± 6.86 yrs) were randomly assigned to either KGD or placebo trials. All subjects conducted the exercise consisted with 30 minutes cycling at 70-75% of VO2 max followed by 16 km time trial with 30 minutes resting periods. All subjects were tested for muscular power, strength, endurance, cognitive function, and fatigue. The subjects took KGD (280 ml containing 5.88 mg of ginsenosides) or placebo 90 mins before exercise trials and following 7 days. The blood sample was drawn for IL-6, myoglobin, and total antioxidant capacity immediately after time trial, as well as 2, 24, 48, and 72 hours. After 2 weeks of wash-out period, the subjects were crossed over into the opposite trial and performed the same test. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to examine the effect of acute and chronic intake of ginseng on exercise performance and blood variables. An alpha of .05 was used, and the Greenhouse-Geisser (G-G) adjusted F and degrees of freedom were reported. In a placebo trial, peak power and mean power levels were significantly decreased across time, F (1.47, 13.24) = 4.63, G-G p = .039, h2p = .340 and F (1.46, 13.13) = 5.31, G-G p = .028, h2p = .371 while no differences were found in a ginseng trial. In a placebo trial, average reaction time (ART) was significantly increased across time, F (1.29, 11.63) = 10.81, G-G p = .005, h2p = .546, but in a ginseng trial, no difference in ART was found across time, F (1.54, 13.86) = 4.02, G-G p = .051, h2p = .309. There was a significant increase in TAC across time in a ginseng trial, F (1.42, 11.37) = 5.07, G-G p = .035, h2p = .388 while no difference was found in a placebo trial. No significant differences were found in other variables from placebo and ginseng trails. The 7 days of KRG supplementation significantly reduced the serum myoglobin concentration across time in the KGD trial, F (1.88, 13.17) = 5.18, G-G p = .023, while no difference was found in the placebo trial, F (2.21, 17.66) = .88, G-G p = .443. No significant differences were observed in serum total antioxidant activity and IL-6 between KGD and placebo trials. The study shows that Korean ginseng supplement before stating the exercise improve anaerobic capacity, cognitive function in particular psychomotor vigilance task, and fatigue recovery during cycling exercise. And 7 days of Korean ginseng supplement reduces muscle damage and fatigue after cycling exercise

The Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training vs. Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training on Heart Rate Variability in Physically Inactive Adults

Physically inactive adults are prevalent worldwide. This study compared the effects of short-term high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on heart rate variability (HRV) in physically inactive adults as a preliminary study. Thirteen physically inactive male adults (27.5 ± 3.80 years) were randomly assigned to HIIT (N = 7) or MICT (N = 6). The HIIT program consisted of 20 min of interval training with cycling to rest ratio of 10/50 s at ≥90% HRpeak, while the MICT program consisted of 40 min of continuous cycling at 60–75% HRpeak. Both groups completed eight sessions of training within two weeks. Time and frequency domains of HRV were measured for 20 min with Actiwave-Cardio monitor (CamNtech, UK). The number of R-R interval and inter-beat interval (IBI) were significantly improved (p \u3c 0.05) in both HIIT and MICT programs following eight sessions of training. A significant interaction effect for group by time was found in the lnLF/HF ratio (p \u3c 0.05) where it was only improved in the HIIT group from pre- to post-test. The HIIT program is superior to MICT in improving HRV in physically inactive adults. The HIIT program can be applied as a time-efficient program for improving cardiac-autoregulation

Effects of a Four-Week Core Stability Exercise on Functional Movement and Balance in People with Mild Lower-limb Discomfort

This study aimed to investigate the effects of a short-term core stability exercise on functional movement and balance in people with mild lower-limb discomfort. Twenty people with mild lower-limb discomfort were randomly assigned to control (CG) and core stability exercise training groups (SG, n=10 each). The SG completed twenty 30-min training sessions consisting of Pilates exercises for four weeks. Functional movement, balance, and discomfort level were assessed before and after core stability exercise, using a functional movement test, balance test and visual analogue scale (VAS), respectively. A mixed ANOVA with repeated measures was performed to determine the differences. SG demonstrated a significant increase in hurdle step (p = 0.024, group × time effect) and shoulder mobility (p = 0.037, group × time effect). The dynamic balance scores were significantly increased from the baseline in both limbs (right, p = 0.007; left, p = 0.011, time effect). Post-hoc pairwise comparisons indicated these increases were significant only in SG. Additionally, ankle pain was significantly reduced in SG (p = 0.023, group × time effect). This study highlights that four weeks of core stability exercise can positively affect the lower limbs’ functional movement and balance in people with mild lower-limb discomfort