Circuit Training Improves the Levels of β-Amyloid and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Related to Cognitive Impairment Risk Factors in Obese Elderly Korean Women.

: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of circuit training on β-amyloid, BDNF, and cognitive function in untrained obese elderly Korean women. : The subjects for the study were aged 65-70 years and were each assigned to a circuit training group (EG, = 12) or a control group (CG, = 11). The 60 min combined exercise was performed 3 times per week for 16 weeks.

Effects of Multi-joint Eccentric Training on Muscle Function When Combined With Aquatic Plyometric Training: A Minimal Dose, Mixed Training Study.

Objectives: To examine the effects of a combined eccentric overload and aquatic-based plyometric training program on muscle function/performance measures and soreness versus an eccentric-only training protocol using a minimal dose training paradigm.

Methods: Twenty-five participants were randomized into either an eccentric-only training group (ECC) or a combined eccentric and aquatic plyometric group (ECC + AQP). The ECC group performed eccentric training once per week for 6-weeks while the ECC + AQP group performed the same eccentric training but with an additional aquatic plyometric training session.

Kinetics of Depth Jumps Performed by Female and Male National Collegiate Athletics Association Basketball Athletes and Young Adults.

The depth jump (DJ) is commonly used to evaluate athletic ability, and has further application in rehabilitation and injury prevention. There is limited research exploring sex-based differences in DJ ground reaction force (GRF) measures. This study aimed to evaluate for sex-based differences in DJ GRF measures and determine sample size thresholds for binary classification of sex.

Transfer Effects of a Multiple-Joint Isokinetic Eccentric Resistance Training Intervention to Nontraining-Specific Traditional Muscle Strength Measures.

Relatively few investigations have examined the transfer effects of multiple-joint isokinetic eccentric only (MJIE) resistance training on non-specific measures of muscle strength. This study investigated the transfer effects of a short-term MJIE leg press (Eccentron) resistance training program on several non-specific measures of lower-body strength. Fifteen participants performed Eccentron training three times/week for four weeks and were evaluated on training-specific Eccentron peak force (EccPF), nontraining-specific leg press DCER one-repetition maximum (LP 1 RM), and peak torques of the knee extensors during isokinetic eccentric (Ecc30), isokinetic concentric (Con150) and isometric (IsomPT) tasks before and after the training period.

No effect of a dairy-based, high flavonoid pre-workout beverage on exercise-induced intestinal injury, permeability, and inflammation in recreational cyclists: A randomized controlled crossover trial.

Background: Submaximal endurance exercise has been shown to cause elevated gastrointestinal permeability, injury, and inflammation, which may negatively impact athletic performance and recovery. Preclinical and some clinical studies suggest that flavonoids, a class of plant secondary metabolites, may regulate intestinal permeability and reduce chronic low-grade inflammation. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of supplemental flavonoid intake on intestinal health and cycling performance.

Catching and throwing exercises to improve reactive balance: A randomized controlled trial protocol for the comparison of aquatic and dry-land exercise environments.

Reactive balance, a critical automatic movement pattern in response to a perturbation, is directly linked to fall prevention in older adults. Various exercise interventions have been broadly performed to improve reactive balance and thus prevent falls. Curiously, aquatic exercises have been suggested as an effective balance intervention and a safer alternative to exercises on dry land yet the efficacy of aquatic exercises on reactive balance has not been formally investigated.

Effects of Flywheel Resistance Training on Muscle Function and Sport-Specific Performance in Collegiate Club Water Polo Players.

 This study investigated the effects of flywheel squat training on lower body muscle function adaptations and sport-specific performance in collegiate club water polo players.  Thirteen collegiate club water polo athletes (5 women, 8 men) performed flywheel squat training for 4 weeks. Isokinetic knee extension (KE) peak power (PP) and peak torque (PT), flywheel squat peak power (FPP) and mean power (FMP), countermovement jump (CMJ), in-water jump height (WJH) and foot speed were assessed at baseline (Pre1), 4 weeks (Pre2), and 8 weeks (Post) with the first 4 week block being a control period and the second 4 week block being the experimental training.

Which Exercise Interventions Can Most Effectively Improve Reactive Balance in Older Adults? A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Reactive balance is the last line of defense to prevent a fall when the body loses stability, and beneficial effects of various exercise-based interventions on reactive balance in older adults have been reported. However, their pooled evidence on the relative effects has yet to be described.

Objective: To review and evaluate the comparative effectiveness of various exercise-based interventions on reactive balance in older adults.

Association and Agreement between Reactive Strength Index and Reactive Strength Index-Modified Scores.

Since the reactive strength index (RSI) and reactive strength index-modified (RSI-mod) share similar nomenclature, they are commonly referred as interchangeable measures of agility in the sports research literature. The RSI and RSI-mod are most commonly derived from the performance of depth jumping (DJ) and countermovement jumping (CMJ), respectively. Given that DJ and CMJ are plyometric movements that differ materially from biomechanical and neuromotor perspectives, it is likely that the RSI and RSI-mod measure distinct aspects of neuromuscular function.

Predictive Ability of Body Fat Percentage and Thigh Anthropometrics on Tissue Cooling During Cold-Water Immersion.

Context: Cold-water immersion (CWI) is a common aid in exercise recovery. The effectiveness of CWI depends on the magnitude of muscle and core cooling. Individual cooling responses to CWI vary and are likely influenced by the CWI dose and individual physiological characteristics.

A systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the effect of aquatic and land exercise on dynamic balance in older adults.

Background: Balance impairments are the leading causes of falls in older adults. Aquatic-based exercises have been broadly practiced as an alternative to land-based exercises; however, the effects on dynamic balance have not been comprehensively reviewed and compared to land exercises. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of aquatic exercises (AE) to land exercises (LE) on dynamic balance in older adults.

Comparison of High Versus Low Eccentric-Based Resistance Training Frequencies on Short-Term Muscle Function Adaptations.

Crane, JS, Thompson, BJ, Harrell, DC, Bressel, E, and Heath, EM. Comparison of high versus low eccentric-based resistance training frequencies on short-term muscle function adaptations. J Strength Cond Res 36(2): 332-339, 2022-Eccentric resistance training is beneficial for improving a number of performance and health metrics.

Effects of aquatic exercise on insulin-like growth factor-1, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and cognitive function in elderly women.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a 16-week aquatic exercise program on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, as well as cognitive function in elderly women. The subjects were 20 elderly women aged 68-80 years, randomly divided into an aquatic exercise group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10). The aquatic exercises were performed for 60 min, three times per week for 16 weeks, and the intensity was progressively increased every 4 weeks (40-50% of heart rate reserve (HRR) for weeks 1-4, 50-60% of HRR for weeks 5-8, 60-65% of HRR for weeks 9-12, and 65-70% of HRR for weeks 13-16).

A Mixed-Methods Approach to Evaluating the Internal Validity of the Reactive Strength Index.

The reactive capacity of the muscle-tendon complex is commonly assessed using the reactive strength index (RSI). Conventionally, the RSI is a ratio of rebound jump height to ground contact time in depth jumping. Several assumptions regarding the linear mechanics acting through the whole-body center of gravity may threaten the internal validity of computation and interpretation of RSI scores.

Comparison of motor skill learning, grip strength and memory recall on land and in chest-deep water.

Immersion in chest-deep water may augment explicit memory in healthy adults however, there is limited information on how this environment might affect implicit memory or motor learning. The purpose of this study was to compare the speed and accuracy for learning a motor skill on land and in chest-deep water. Verbal word recall and grip strength were included to gain a more complete understanding of the intervention.

Effects of isokinetic eccentric versus traditional lower body resistance training on muscle function: examining a multiple-joint short-term training model.

Early adaptations in eccentric training show several advantages over those in concentric training. The purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of 4 weeks of multiple-joint eccentric versus traditional leg press (TLP) training on muscle strength, rate of torque development (RTD), and jump and sprint performance adaptations. Twenty-six resistance-trained adults performed either an eccentric or a TLP resistance-training program twice per week for 4 weeks.

Water Immersion Affects Episodic Memory and Postural Control in Healthy Older Adults.

Background And Purpose: Previous research has reported that younger adults make fewer cognitive errors on an auditory vigilance task while in chest-deep water compared with on land. The purpose of this study was to extend this previous work to include older adults and to examine the effect of environment (water vs land) on linear and nonlinear measures of postural control under single- and dual-task conditions.

Methods: Twenty-one older adult participants (age = 71.

A lower extremity strength-based profile of NCAA Division I women's basketball and gymnastics athletes: implications for knee joint injury risk assessment.

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive strength-based physiological profile of women's NCAA Division I basketball and gymnastic athletes; and to make sport-specific comparisons for various strength characteristics of the knee flexor and extensor muscles. A focus on antagonist muscle balance (hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratios, H:Q) was used to elucidate vulnerabilities in these at-risk female athletes. Fourteen NCAA Division I women's basketball and 13 gymnastics athletes performed strength testing of the knee extensors and flexors.

Biomechanical Comparison of Loaded Countermovement Jumps Performed on Land and in Water.

Louder, T, Bressel, E, Nardoni, C, and Dolny, D. Biomechanical comparison of loaded countermovement jumps performed on land and in water. J Strength Cond Res 33(1): 25-35, 2019-Researchers have observed physical improvements after the completion of aquatic-based jump training.

Six-week physical rehabilitation protocol for anterior shoulder dislocation in athletes.

Anterior shoulder dislocations are common in young athletes. The mechanism for the first or primary shoulder dislocation may involve a collision or a fall typically with the arm in an abducted and externally rotated position. The aim of this study was to design a physical rehabilitation program using the elastic band and resistive exercise to improve joint strength and range of motion in individuals diagnosed with a first-time shoulder dislocation.

Biomechanical Comparison of Countermovement Jumps Performed on Land and in Water: Age Effects.

Context: The aquatic environment provides a low-impact alternative to land-based exercise and rehabilitation in older adults.

Objective: Evaluate the biomechanics of older adults and young adults performing jumping movements on land and in water.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional, mixed-factorial experiment; adjustable-depth pool at sports medicine research facility.

The Influence of Oblique Angle Forced Exercise in Surgically Destabilized Stifle Joints Is Synergistic with Bone, but Antagonistic with Cartilage in an Ovine Model of Osteoarthritis.

Large animal models of osteoarthritis are a necessary testing ground for FDA approval of human medicine applications. Sheep models have advantages over other available large animals, but development and progression of osteoarthritis in sheep is exceedingly slow, which handicaps progress in development of potential treatments. We combined oblique angle forced exercise to increase stress on the stifle, with surgical destabilization to hasten the development of osteoarthritis in ewes.

Acute and chronic effects of aquatic treadmill training on land treadmill running kinematics: A cross-over and single-subject design approach.

The aim of this study was to determine if selected kinematic measures (foot strike index [SI], knee contact angle and overstride angle) were different between aquatic treadmill (ATM) and land treadmill (LTM) running, and to determine if these measures were altered during LTM running as a result of 6 weeks of ATM training. Acute effects were tested using 15 competitive distance runners who completed 1 session of running on each treadmill type at 5 different running speeds. Subsequently, three recreational runners completed 6 weeks of ATM training following a single-subject baseline, intervention and withdrawal experiment.

Mechanical parameters and flight phase characteristics in aquatic plyometric jumping.

Plyometric jumping is a commonly prescribed method of training focused on the development of reactive strength and high-velocity concentric power. Literature suggests that aquatic plyometric training may be a low-impact, effective supplement to land-based training. The purpose of the present study was to quantify acute, biomechanical characteristics of the take-off and flight phase for plyometric movements performed in the water.

Age-Related Changes in Postural Sway Are Not Consistent Between Land and Aquatic Environments.

Background And Purpose: Quantifying how the environment (land vs water) influences age-related changes in postural sway is important for the development of new therapies that improve balance. The authors are not aware of any previous studies that have compared postural sway in an aquatic environment between age groups or when water depth and/or perturbations are incorporated into the comparison. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of water depth and jet intensity on postural sway in older and younger adults.