Acute physiological responses and muscle recovery in females: a randomised controlled trial of muscle damaging exercise in hypoxia.

Background: Studies have investigated the effects of training under hypoxia (HYP) after several weeks in a male population. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on the acute hypoxic effects on physiology and muscle recovery in a female population.

Methods: This randomized-controlled trial aimed to investigate the acute effects of muscle damaging exercise, performed in HYP and normoxia (CON), on physiological responses and recovery characteristics in healthy females.

Intramuscular Oxygenation and Muscle Activity of Extensor Carpi Radialis Brevis During Piano Performance: An Observational Study.

Background: Repetitive piano movements have been associated with playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs) such as forearm myalgia and symptoms of lateral epicondylopathy. Despite the high prevalence of PRMDs among pianists, there is poor understanding regarding the underlying physiological mechanisms. Intramuscular oxygenation may play a role in the development of PRMDs.

Mechanisms underlying the health benefits of intermittent hypoxia conditioning.

Intermittent hypoxia (IH) is commonly associated with pathological conditions, particularly obstructive sleep apnoea. However, IH is also increasingly used to enhance health and performance and is emerging as a potent non-pharmacological intervention against numerous diseases. Whether IH is detrimental or beneficial for health is largely determined by the intensity, duration, number and frequency of the hypoxic exposures and by the specific responses they engender.

Effects of 3-week repeated cold water immersion on leukocyte counts and cardiovascular factors: an exploratory study.

This exploratory study aimed to investigate the effects of a 3-week repeated cold water immersion (CWI) intervention on leukocyte counts and cardiovascular factors (mean arterial pressure [MAP], heart rate [HR]) in healthy men. A total of = 12, non-cold-adapted men (age: 25.2 ± 4.

Environmental and behavioral regulation of HIF-mitochondria crosstalk.

Reduced oxygen availability (hypoxia) can lead to cell and organ damage. Therefore, aerobic species depend on efficient mechanisms to counteract detrimental consequences of hypoxia. Hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs) and mitochondria are integral components of the cellular response to hypoxia and coordinate both distinct and highly intertwined adaptations.

The effects of normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia on cognitive performance and physiological responses: A crossover study.

This partially randomised controlled, crossover study sought to investigate the effects of normobaric hypoxia (NH) and hypobaric hypoxia (HH) on cognitive performance, the physiological response at rest and after a 3-min step-test. Twenty healthy participants (10 females and 10 males, 27.6±6.

Sex differences during a cold-stress test in normobaric and hypobaric hypoxia: A randomized controlled crossover study.

Cold and hypoxia are two stressors that are frequently combined and investigated in the scientific literature. Despite the growing literature regarding normobaric hypoxia (NH) and hypobaric hypoxia (HH), responses between females and males are less often evaluated. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the physiological sex differences following a cold-stress test under normoxia, normobaric- and hypobaric hypoxia.

The Comparative Effect of Different Timings of Whole Body Cryotherapy Treatment With Cold Water Immersion for Post-Exercise Recovery.

Despite several established benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) for post-exercise recovery, there is a scarcity of research which has identified the optimum WBC protocol for this purpose. This study investigated the influence of WBC treatment timing on physiological and functional responses following a downhill running bout. An additional purpose was to compare such responses with those following cold water immersion (CWI), since there is no clear consensus as to which cold modality is more effective for supporting athletic recovery.

The Methodological Quality of Studies Investigating the Acute Effects of Exercise During Hypoxia Over the Past 40 years: A Systematic Review.

Exercise under hypoxia and the physiological impact compared to normoxia or hypoxia has gained attention in the last decades. However, methodological quality assessment of articles in this area is lacking in the literature. Therefore, this article aimed to evaluate the methodologic quality of trials studying exercise under hypoxia.

The Effect of Repetitive Whole Body Cryotherapy Treatment on Adaptations to a Strength and Endurance Training Programme in Physically Active Males.

Despite its potential merit in sport and exercise recovery, the implications of repetitive Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) during training programmes require further review due to the possibility of repetitive cold interfering with long term adaptations. This study investigated the impact of two weekly 3 min WBC sessions (30 s at -60°C, 150 s at -120°C) on adaptations to a 6 week strength and endurance training programme. Sixteen male participants (mean ± SD age 33.

Effects of Rehearsal Time and Repertoire Speed on Upper Trapezius Activity in Conservatory Piano Students.

Background: Repetitive piano play may overload neck and shoulder muscles and tendons, leading to playing-related musculoskeletal disorders (PRMDs).

Methods: In this pilot study (EMG data of the extensor carpi radialis have been published separately), surface electromyography (sEMG) activity of the upper trapezius (UT) was captured in 10 conservatory piano students while playing a fast and a slow music score selected from the individual's repertoire, each 3 minutes long. Measurements were made at baseline and again after 2 hrs and 4 hrs of rehearsal time of the piano études.

Local Heat Applications as a Treatment of Physical and Functional Parameters in Acute and Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders or Pain.

Objectives: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of local heat applications (LHAs) in individuals with acute or chronic musculoskeletal disorders.

Data Sources: An electronic search was conducted on MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials, Current Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Physiotherapy Evidence databases up to December 2019.

Study Selection: Studies incorporating adults with any kind of musculoskeletal issues treated by LHA compared with any treatment other than heat were included.

Intramuscular Temperature Changes in the Quadriceps Femoris Muscle After Post-Exercise Cold-Water Immersion (10°C for 10 min): A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Post-exercise cold-water immersion (CWI) is a widely accepted recovery strategy for maintaining physical performance output. However, existing review articles about the effects of CWI commonly pool data from very heterogenous study designs and thus, do rarely differentiate between different muscles, different CWI-protocols (duration, temperature, etc.), different forms of activating the muscles before CWI, and different thickness of the subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Assessment of neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury using quantitative pain drawings.

Study Design: Clinimetric cross-sectional cohort study in adults with paraplegic spinal cord injury (SCI) and neuropathic pain (NP).

Objective: To assess the reliability of standardized quantitative pain drawings in patients with NP following SCI.

Setting: Hospital-based research facility at the Spinal Cord Injury Center, Balgrist University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.

Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Myofascial Trigger Points in Clinical Trials on Physical Therapy: Updated Systematic Review.

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct an updated systematic review of diagnostic criteria for myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) used in clinical trials of physical therapy interventions from 2007 to 2019.

Methods: MEDLINE and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) were searched using the following MeSH keywords: "trigger points," "trigger point," "myofascial trigger point," "myofascial trigger points," "myofascial pain," and "myofascial pain syndrome." The MeSH keywords were combined by using Boolean operators "OR"/"AND.

Physical Management of Scar Tissue: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to describe the status on the effects of physical scar treatments on pain, pigmentation, pliability, pruritus, scar thickening, and surface area. Systematic review and meta-analysis. Adults with any kind of scar tissue.

Comparison of two skin temperature assessment methods after the application of topical revulsive products: Conductive iButton data logger system vs contact-free infrared thermometry.

Background: Skin temperature assessments comprise conductive and contact-free techniques. Comparison between conductive data loggers and contact-free thermometry after the application of revulsive products is scarce. This study aimed to compare iButton data loggers with an infrared thermometer after the application of two revulsive products.

Partial-body cryotherapy (-135°C) and cold-water immersion (10°C) after muscle damage in females.

This randomized controlled trial examined the effects of cold-water immersion (CWI), partial-body cryotherapy (PBC), or a passive control (CON) on physiological and recovery variables following exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD, 5 × 20 drop jumps) in females. Twenty-eight females were allocated to PBC (30 seconds at -60°C, 2 minutes at -135°C), CWI (10 minutes at 10°C), or CON (10 minutes resting). Muscle oxygen saturation (SmO ), cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and local skin temperature were assessed at baseline and through 60 minutes (10-minute intervals), while delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), muscle swelling, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), and vertical jump performance (VJP) were assessed up to 72 hours (24-hour intervals) following treatments.

Acute Injuries in Male Elite and Amateur Mountain Bikers: Results of a Survey.

Together with the growing popularity of mountain biking, the number of riders at risk for an acute injury has increased. A cross-sectional observational study was performed to describe the prevalence of acute injuries among elite and amateur riders and to determine predictive factors leading to a severe injury. A retrospective questionnaire was created comprising questions aiming on demographics, training volume, injury events and wearing of protective gear items.

Perfusion of the skin's microcirculation after cold-water immersion (10°C) and partial-body cryotherapy (-135°C).

Background: Investigations of the perfusion of the skin's microcirculation with laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) after cold treatments are rare. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the effects between cold-water immersion (CWI) conduction and partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) convection on perfusion of the microcirculation and skin temperature on the thigh.

Materials And Methods: Twenty healthy males were randomly allocated to CWI (10°C for 10 minutes) or PBC (-60°C for 30 seconds, -135°C for 2 minutes).

Cold-water or partial-body cryotherapy? Comparison of physiological responses and recovery following muscle damage.

The aim of this study is to compare (a) the physiological responses following cold-water immersion (CWI) and partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) and (b) the effects on recovery following a muscle-damaging protocol (5 × 20 drop jumps). Nineteen healthy males were randomly allocated into either a CWI (10°C for 10 minutes; n = 9) or a PBC (-60°C for 30 seconds, -135°C for 2 minutes; n = 10) group. The physiological variables (thigh muscle oxygen saturation [SmO ], cutaneous vascular conductance [CVC], mean arterial pressure [MAP], and local skin temperature) were assessed immediately prior and up to 60 minutes post-treatment (10-minutes intervals).

Evaluation and review of body fluids saliva, sweat and tear compared to biochemical hydration assessment markers within blood and urine.

Evaluating and testing hydration status is increasingly requested by rehabilitation, sport, military and performance-related activities. Besides commonly used biochemical hydration assessment markers within blood and urine, which have their advantages and limitations in collection and evaluating hydration status, there are other potential markers present within saliva, sweat or tear. This literature review focuses on body fluids saliva, sweat and tear compared to blood and urine regarding practicality and hydration status influenced by fluid restriction and/or physical activity.

Changes in balance coordination and transfer to an unlearned balance task after slackline training: a self-organizing map analysis.

How humans maintain balance and change postural control due to age, injury, immobility or training is one of the basic questions in motor control. One of the problems in understanding postural control is the large set of degrees of freedom in the human motor system. Therefore, a self-organizing map (SOM), a type of artificial neural network, was used in the present study to extract and visualize information about high-dimensional balance strategies before and after a 6-week slackline training intervention.