Physiological and Biomechanical Responses of Highly Trained Distance Runners to Lower-Body Positive Pressure Treadmill Running

Background: As a way to train at faster running speeds, add training volume, prevent injury, or rehabilitate after an injury, lower-body positive pressure treadmills (LBPPT) have become increasingly commonplace among athletes. However, there are conflicting evidence and a paucity of data describing the physiological and biomechanical responses to LBPPT running in highly trained or elite caliber runners at the running speeds they habitually train at, which are considerably faster than those of recreational runners. Furthermore, data is lacking regarding female runners’ responses to LBPPT running. Therefore, this study was designed to evaluate the physiological and biomechanical responses to LBPPT running in highly trained male and female distance runners. Methods: Fifteen highly trained distance runners (seven male; eight female) completed a single running test composed of 4 × 9-min interval series at fixed percentages of body weight ranging from 0 to 30% body weight support (BWS) in 10% increments on LBPPT. The first interval was always conducted at 0% BWS; thereafter, intervals at 10, 20, and 30% BWS were conducted in random order. Each interval consisted of three stages of 3 min each, at velocities of 14.5, 16.1, and 17.7 km·h−1 for men and 12.9, 14.5, and 16.1 km·h−1 for women. Expired gases, ventilation, breathing frequency, heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and stride characteristics were measured during each running speed and BWS. Results: Male and female runners had similar physiological and biomechanical responses to running on LBPPT. Increasing BWS increased stride length (p \u3c 0.02) and flight duration (p \u3c 0.01) and decreased stride rate (p \u3c 0.01) and contact time (p \u3c 0.01) in small-large magnitudes. There was a large attenuation of oxygen consumption (VO2) relative to BWS (p \u3c 0.001), while there were trivial-moderate reductions in respiratory exchange ratio, minute ventilation, and respiratory frequency (p \u3e 0.05), and small-large effects on HR and RPE (p \u3c 0.01). There were trivial-small differences in VE, respiratory frequency, HR, and RPE for a given VO2 across various BWS (p \u3e 0.05). Conclusions: The results indicate the male and female distance runners have similar physiological and biomechanical responses to LBPPT running. Overall, the biomechanical changes during LBPPT running all contributed to less metabolic cost and corresponding physiological changes. Keywords: AlterG, Lower-body positive pressure, Body weight support, Anti-gravity, Running, Stride characteristics, Physiological characteristics, Metabolic demand, Oxygen demand, Oxygen cos

The Bachelor/Master structure in Medicine - Statement of Beliefs

In July 2007 medical student representatives from all over Europe developed a consensus statement about the Bachelor/Master structure in Medicine on the 6th IFMSA/EMSA Bologna-Process-follow up conference in Amsterdam. The document analyzes this action line of the Bologna Declaration regarding the following: common European core curriculum, integrated curricula, integrity of the course, quality assurance and audit, access to the Master phase, promoting the European dimension, utilisation of medical degrees, and tuition fees. No stance, either for or against the two-cycled structure is made. Rather prerequisites, opportunities and dangers of implementation are looked at and discussed. The document was adopted by IFMSA as Statement of Beliefs and as position paper by bvmd.Im Juli 2007 erarbeiteten Medizinstudierendenvertreter aus ganz Europa eine einvernehmliche Erklärung zur Bachelor/Master-Struktur in der Medizin auf der 6. Bologna-Prozess Folgekonferenz der IFMSA und der EMSA in Amsterdam. Das Dokument analysiert dieses Kernthema der Bologna Deklaration in den Aspekten gemeinsames, europäisches Kerncurriculum, integrierte Curricula, Integrität des Studiums, Qualitätssicherung und Audit, Zugang zum Masterstudiengang, Förderung der europäischen Dimension, Verwendung der Abschlüsse und Studiengebühren. Dabei werden keine Aussagen für oder gegen die zweistufige Struktur getroffen, sondern vielmehr Voraussetzungen, Chancen und Gefahren einer Implementierung betrachtet und diskutiert. Das Dokument wurde als Statement of Beliefs von der IFMSA und als Positionspapier von der bvmd verabschiedet

The double sensor-a non-invasive device to continuously monitor core temperature in humans on earth and in space

The objective of our study was to establish whether rectal temperature recordings in humans could be replaced by a non-invasive skin temperature sensor combined with a heat flux sensor (Double Sensor) located at the forehead to monitor core body temperature changes due to circadian rhythms. Rectal and Double Sensor data were collected continuously for 24h in seven men undertaking strict head-down tilt bed-rest. Individual differences between the two techniques varied between -0.72 and +0.55 degrees C. Nonetheless, when temperature data were approximated by cosinor analysis in order to compare circadian rhythm profiles between methods, it was observed that there were no significant differences between mesor, amplitude, and acrophase (P>0.310). It was therefore concluded that the Double Sensor technology is presently not accurate enough for performing single individual core body temperature measurements under resting conditions at normal ambient room temperature. Yet, it seems to be a valid, non-invasive alternative for monitoring circadian rhythm profiles