Aerobic Training with Hyperoxia in Patients with Mild/Severe Brain Injury

Background: Previous studies have shown that aerobic training can induce physiological benefits for brain injured patients. However these benefits seem to be limited. Compared with untrained subjects who follow the same training program, patients with brain injury have a reduced exercise capacity and have difficulty in reaching a high intensity exercise level. A possible alternative to help these patients is to conduct the training in hyperoxia (O2 supply). Studies with untrained subjects have shown that training in hyperoxia enhances the fitness performance. Thus, the purpose of this study was to measure the effects of an aerobic training in hyperoxia with brain-injured patients. Methods: Twelve patients were randomly assigned to either one of two aerobic training protocols: A) 100% O2; B) 20.9% O2 (room air). In both protocols training was on stationary bicycle, 2 sessions per week over 10 weeks. Each session lasted 25 min and was composed of 6 intervals with intensity ranging from 60 to 85% of the max HR. The first interesting result is that all patients were able to reach and sustain the 80-85% level of exercise. To measure the working capacity during the training, we recorded the workload (watts) reached at the third interval (80-85% of the HRmax) of each session. Results: A difference (P < 0.05) in the power output on the ergocycle was observed between the pre test (measured on the first week) and the post test (measured on the 6th week) for subjects trained in hyperoxia but no difference was observed for subjects trained in normoxia. However, no difference was observed in the 6 min walk test for all subjects before and after the aerobic training. There was no difference in oxygen consumption (submaximal test 85% HRmax) between the pre and post tests in both groups of subjects (P=0.18). Nonetheless, subjects trained in hyperoxia showed a 16% average increase in their VO2 (85% HRmax) compared with subjects in normoxia who had a 4% average decrease. Conclusion: Our results show that oxygen supply seems to accelerate the benefits of the aerobic training with brain injured patients. We believe that it is the combination of the training protocol (i.e. intervals) and the oxygen addition that induced the early benefits observed

Reliability of the Uchikomi fitness test: a pilot study

L’objectif de cette étude est d’examiner la reproductibilité d’un test intermittent simulant un combat de judo, Uchi komi Fitness Test (UFT) (Almansba et al., 2007 [1]). Sept judokas (20 ± 3 ans) présentant différents niveaux de performance (quatre de niveau départemental, deux régional et un national) ont réalisé ce test au cours de trois sessions, chacune d’elle étant séparée de la suivante par une période de 48 heures. Les résultats ont montré une reproductibilité modérée (ICC = 0,88) pour les valeurs moyennes du score combiné (a + b) correspondant aux deux meilleures séries. Toutefois, la reproductibilité du nombre total d’uchikomi (n) et des réponses de la fréquence cardiaque (FCmoy, FCmax et %FCmax) est très élevée (CCI > 0,90) et l’erreur intraclasse est très faible (< 2 %). Cette étude indique que les performances mesurées durant trois sessions successives sont significativement reproductibles. La FCmax, FCmoy et le %FCmax sont des indices physiologiques fiables pour apprécier la performance du système cardiovasculaire du judoka. En outre, le nombre total d’uchikomi (n) obtenu à l’UFT est un meilleur indicateur pour évaluer la condition physique spécifique du judoka, car il associe sollicitation musculaire et réponse cardiovasculaire à l’exercice (Almansba et al., 2007 [1]). Mots clés : Judo ; Test de terrain ; Fréquence cardiaque ; Reproductibilit

Triple and quintuple hops: utility, reliability, asymmetry, and relationship to performance

Triple and quintuple hops (tht and qht, respectively) are used to test repeated propulsion. This narrative review provides information regarding the use of tht and qht, as well as their reliability, testing norms by sex and athletic level, their ability in detecting asymmetry and relevance to other performance measures. The tests\u27 reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [icc] tht 0.80-0.98; standard error of the mean [sem] tht 0.11-0.23 m; icc qht 0.89) warrants their inclusion during testing batteries. Tht ranges from 4.28 to 6.90 m and asymmetries range from 10 to 15%. Tht is likely related to acceleration capabilities. Practical recommendations are provided to practitioners regarding tests\u27 administration. © 2016 national strength and conditioning association

An Incremental Shuttle Walk Test to Estimate Maximal Aerobic Functional Capacity

Background: The goal of the present study was to compare the maximum walking speed and peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) obtained during the 6-min walk test (6 MWT) and an incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT) in a trained older population. Methods: A total of 22 older adults (16 female and 6 male) with a group mean age of 70&#177;5.8 yr (range 58 to 79) completed the 6 MWT and ISWT within a 2 wk period. Heart rate (HR) and VO2 peak were measured during each test with a portable metabolic cart (Cosmed, K4B2). The VO2 peak, the maximum walking speed and the total distance walked measured during both tests (6 MWT and ISWT) were compared. Results: A total of 110 recordings for the VO2 peak were obtained and analyzed. Strong correlations were found for the VO2 peak and the walking speed (r=0.91 and r=0.89, respectively, for 6 MWT and ISWT). VO2 peak values obtained with the ISWT were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than with the 6 MWT (21.6 &#177; 5.3 vs 18.9 ml/kgmin &#177; 4.5, respectively). There was no difference between sexes. In addition, the maximum heart rate as predicted from age during the ISWT was reached by all participants while it was not during the 6 MWT. Conclusion: Thus, the ISWT appears to a better tool to assess the maximal aerobic functional capacity in older healthy adults based on the higher VO2 peak values obtained in comparison to the 6 MWT