Comparison of Skeletal Muscle Tissue Oxygen Saturation Responses between Genders

Special attention should be given to subcutaneous thigh fat accrual and its impact on the amount of skeletal muscle blood flow and accumulation when using different initial restrictive pressure (IRP) during blood flow restriction (BFR) training. Due to different patterns of fat distribution and deposition in males and females, it is important to test the effects of subcutaneous fat on tissue oxygenation and lactate production during exercises with BFR. PURPOSE: The present study investigated the importance of thigh subcutaneous fat as a variable that may be associated with affecting the magnitude of initial pressure (tightness of cuffs before inflation with air) on skeletal muscle tissue oxygen saturation and lactate between males and females. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers, 10 males (25 ± 4.83 yr) and 10 females (20.7 ± 1.06 yr), performed exercises with an IRP of 40mmHg. The following procedures were performed in order: a) subcutaneous fat thickness, b) pre-maximal isometric force (MVC), c) 4 sets (1 × 30 reps and 3 × 15 reps) of dynamic knee extension exercises performed at 20% MVC, d) post-MVC. Skeletal muscle tissue oxygen saturation was continuously monitored before, during, and after exercises with near-infrared spectroscopy placed to a mark that was made at 50% on the line from the anterior superior iliac spine to the superior part of the patella. Plasma lactate levels were assessed prior to, in between the first and second set, immediately after post MVC, 5min-post, 10 min-post, and 20 min-post. RESULTS: Thigh subcutaneous fat thickness was significantly greater in females than males (p\u3c0.01). Tissue oxygenation significantly decreased (p\u3c0.03) throughout exercise in both genders with an observed significant time × gender interaction (p\u3c0.01). Both male and females responded to the BFR similarly with a significant decrease (p\u3c0.01) in peak force production from pre to post exercise, while plasma lactate levels significantly differed (p\u3c0.01) throughout the exercise with no time × gender interaction (p\u3c0.3). CONCLUSION: The observed gender difference in tissue oxygenation in response to BFR with an IRP of 40mmHg underline the necessity for future studies to consider subcutaneous fat as a variable to influence the magnitude of physiological adaptations between genders and adjust the IRP accordingly

Neuromuscular Responses during Knee Extension Exercise in Combination with Different Blood Flow Restriction Initial Pressures

Specifications of blood flow restriction training technique have been widely discussed to create a valid and reliable protocol. One of the unexplored variables is the effect of different initial restrictive pressures (tightness of cuffs, IRP) in combination with resistance exercise on neuromuscular responses and strength. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine any differences in amplitude (RMS) and median frequency (MDF) of electromyography (EMG) signals, as well as changes in strength during knee extension exercises with IRPs of 40-45 mmHg and 60-65 mmHg. METHODS: Twenty male subjects (age = 25.7 ± 4.3 yrs), participated in this study. They were required to attend the lab on 3 different occasions, with the first one being a familiarization session. On the subsequent sessions, participant\u27s upper leg was measured starting from the lateral epicondyle to the greater trochanter of the femur. An EMG electrode was placed at one-third the distance over the longitudinal axis of the vastus lateralis (VL) after shaving, abrading and cleaning with isopropyl alcohol. Initial restrictive pressure was randomly selected and participants completed a pre-exercise maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) test to determine their torque. For dynamic exercises, load was set at 20% MVC and each participant performed one set of 30 repetitions and three sets of 15 repetitions, separated by one minute rest. Post-exercise MVC was performed to assess the changes in leg strength following exercises. RESULTS: Results showed significant main effects (p\u3c0.01) in leg strength for condition (40-45 mmHg vs. 60-65 mmHg) and trial (pre vs. post MVC). A significant main effect was observed for condition for MVC EMG amplitude (p\u3c0.01). In addition, there were significant main effects for contractions (p\u3c0.01) in both EMG amplitude and MDF during dynamic exercises. CONCLUSION: The significant decreases in knee extension strength at IRP of 60-65 mmHg compared to IRP of 40-45mmHg from pre- to post-exercise suggest that subjects experienced more fatigue at 60-65 mmHg because of the decreased availability of oxygen to the working muscle. The use of different IRP will affect the level of blood flow and oxygen supply to skeletal muscle possibly causing variation in neuromuscular adaptation due to changes in total and type of muscle fiber recruitment

Cancer Survivors\u27 Self-Efficacy and Spirituality Outcomes Following a Holistic Integrative Intervention

Cancer treatments often negatively impact health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) for cancer survivors (CS), ignoring the multi-dimensional nature of the human experience of cancer and its impact on mental and spiritual domains. A holistic integrative approach was implemented on a heterogenous population of cancer survivors during the COVID epidemic with the goal of improving their overall well-being by looking beyond physical functioning. PURPOSE: To examine the relationship between spirituality and self-efficacy of cancer survivors of all types of cancer following a holistic intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: Subjects were recruited via network partners and self-referral. Subjects were eligible to participate if they were cancer survivors of any type at any stage of cancer treatment; subjects were ineligible to participate if they presented with any absolute contraindications to exercise testing as per ACSM guidelines. For 16 weeks, subjects were asked to participate in three 75-minute sessions of therapeutic yoga-based with loving kindness meditation per week. Psychosocial support text messages were sent daily to subjects based on their motivational state to encourage participation in these health enhancing behaviors. Data was collected through numerous channels including BlueJay Mobile Telehealth medicine application. RESULTS: A total of 29 survivors provided informed consent. The average age of the subjects was 58.9 years, 25 female survivors and 4 male survivors; 11 of the 29 self-reported as Latino/ Hispanic. The 29 subjects were survivors of the following primary cancers: breast cancer (n=21), cervical cancer (n=2), ovarian cancer (n=1), prostate cancer (n=1), sarcoma (n=1), lymphoma (n=1), thyroid cancer (n=1), or leukemia (n=1). There is a positive association between how confident a cancer survivor feels towards performing exercise in various situations and the amount of social support they receive from their family (p\u3c.001) and friends (p\u3c.001). The individual’s confidence to overcome the obstacle to exercise and their level of hope are associated with the support they receive from loved ones. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that to improve exercise behavior in adult cancer survivors, one should incorporate social support to strengthen barriers self-efficacy to improve outcome expectations. To further understand these associations, longitudinal research is needed and should include more survivors