Effects of Weight Cutting on Exercise Performance in Combat Athletes: A Meta-Analysis.

Weight cutting in combat sports is a prevalent practice whereby athletes voluntarily dehydrate themselves via various methods to induce rapid weight loss (RWL) to qualify for a lower weight category than that of their usual training body weight. The intention behind this practice is to regain the lost body mass and compete at a heavier mass than permitted by the designated weight category. The purpose of this study was to quantitatively synthesize the available evidence examining the effects of weight cutting on exercise performance in combat-sport athletes.

Comparison of energy expenditure and heart rate responses between three commercial group fitness classes.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare the energy expenditure and heart rate responses between three commercial group fitness classes (group resistance exercise [PUMP]; indoor stationary cycling [RIDE]; and step aerobics [STEP]).

Design: One-Way Repeated Measures incorporating a Latin Square Design for class randomisation.

Methods: Ten participants (5 males and 5 females) completed each group fitness class in random order with energy expenditure and heart rate determined using an Actiheart monitor.

Acute effects of a dopamine/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor on neuromuscular performance following self-paced exercise in cool and hot environments.

Dopamine/norepinephrine (DA/NE) reuptake inhibitors have been used to manipulate the central mechanisms affecting arousal and motivation during exercise. Eight healthy, physically active males performed 30min fixed-intensity cycling at 50% Wmax followed by 30min of self paced time trial (TT) with each section interspersed with a 30 s maximal sprint at 9, 19 and 29min. The DA/NE re-uptake inhibitor administered was bupropion (BUP) versus a placebo (PLA) in either warm (32°C, BUP32 or PLA32) or moderate (20°C; BUP20, PLA20) ambient conditions.

The effects of acute versus chronic training status on pacing strategies of older men in a hot, humid environment.

The combined effects of age and training on the regulation of exercise performance may be confounded by the additional challenge of thermoregulation. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the pacing strategy of older men who have recently completed 12 weeks of exercise training (acute) to men who have been regularly (>3 times/week) training for at least 6 months (chronic) in a hot, humid environment and to observe disparity, if any, between acute and chronic exercise training on thermoregulation. Eleven chronically trained men (OT) completed a familiarisation trial before returning after 7-10 days to repeat the protocol.

Cerebral responses to innocuous somatic pressure stimulation following aerobic exercise rehabilitation in chronic pain patients: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to assess the functional brain activity and perceptual rating of innocuous somatic pressure stimulation before and after exercise rehabilitation in patients with chronic pain.

Materials And Methods: Eleven chronic pain patients and eight healthy pain-free controls completed 12 weeks of supervised aerobic exercise intervention. Perceptual rating of standardized somatic pressure stimulation (2 kg) on the right anterior mid-thigh and brain responses during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) were assessed at pre- and postexercise rehabilitation.

The effect of double--blind carbohydrate ingestion during 60 km of self-paced exercise in warm ambient conditions.

This study evaluated double blind ingestions of placebo (PLA) versus 6% carbohydrate (CHO) either as capsules (c) or beverage (b) during 60 km self-paced cycling in the heat (32°C and 50% relative humidity). Ten well-trained males (mean ± SD: 26±3 years; 64.5±7.

Evidence for reduced neuromuscular function in men with a history of androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

Background: Indices of body composition and muscular strength were compared between men with prostate cancer (PCa) treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and asymptomatic matched men.

Methods: Nine subjects aged 63-83 years with PCa who received ADT (PCa+ADT; duration 6-180 months) and 11 asymptomatic aged-matched eugonadal men (HM) aged 59-80 years were assessed for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and total testosterone (TT). Total body non-osseous lean mass (TBLM) and right thigh non-osseous fat-free mass (RTLM) were assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Triphasic multinutrient supplementation during acute resistance exercise improves session volume load and reduces muscle damage in strength-trained athletes.

We hypothesized that triphasic multinutrient supplementation during acute resistance exercise would enhance muscular performance, produce a more favorable anabolic profile, and reduce biochemical markers of muscle damage in strength-trained athletes. Fifteen male strength-trained athletes completed two acute lower-body resistance exercise sessions to fatigue 7 days apart. After a 4-hour fast, participants consumed either a multinutrient supplement (Musashi 1-2-3 Step System, Notting Hill, Australia) (SUPP) or placebo (PLA) beverage preexercise (PRE), during (DUR), and immediately postexercise (IP).

Cold water immersion recovery following intermittent-sprint exercise in the heat.

This study examined the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) on recovery of neuromuscular function following simulated team-sport exercise in the heat. Ten male team-sport athletes performed two sessions of a 2 × 30-min intermittent-sprint exercise (ISE) in 32°C and 52% humidity, followed by a 20-min CWI intervention or passive recovery (CONT) in a randomized, crossover design. The ISE involved a 15-m sprint every minute separated by bouts of hard running, jogging and walking.

Self-paced intermittent-sprint performance and pacing strategies following respective pre-cooling and heating.

This study examined the effects of pre-exercise cooling and heating on neuromuscular function, pacing and intermittent-sprint performance in the heat. Ten male, team sport athletes completed three randomized, counterbalanced conditions including a thermo-neutral environment (CONT), whole body submersion in an ice bath (ICE) and passive heating in a hot environment (HEAT) before 50 min of intermittent-sprint exercise (ISE) in the heat (31 + 1°C). Exercise involved repeated 15 m maximal sprints and self-paced exercise of varying intensities.

Cold application for neuromuscular recovery following intense lower-body exercise.

This study examined the effects of cold therapy (COLD) on recovery of voluntary and evoked contractile properties following high-intensity, muscle-damaging and fatiguing exercise. Ten resistance-trained males performed 6 × 25 maximal concentric/eccentric muscle contractions of the dominant knee extensors (KE) followed by a 20-min recovery (COLD v control) in a randomized cross-over design. Voluntary and evoked neuromuscular properties of the right KE, ratings of perceived muscle soreness (MS) and pain, and blood markers for muscle damage were measured pre- and post-exercise, and immediately post-recovery, 2, 24 and 48-h post-recovery.

Early-phase neuromuscular adaptations to high- and low-volume resistance training in untrained young and older women.

We compared early-phase effects between high- and low-volume moderate-intensity resistance training on lean muscle volume, maximal bilateral leg extension strength, maximal isometric torque, normalized maximal bilateral leg extension strength, normalized maximal isometric torque, and muscle recruitment of the right knee extensors in previously untrained young (23.8 ± 3.7 years, range 20-30 years; n = 16) and older women (67.

Older adults' perceived changes in physical self-worth associated with resistance training.

Using Sonstroem, Harlow, and Josephs' (1994) expanded version of the Exercise and Self-Esteem Model (EXSEM; Sonstroem & Morgan, 1989), we explored how 9 older adults (6 women and 3 men, aged 65-72 years) involved in a resistance training program experienced and perceived changes in physical self-worth (i.e., improved strength, functional competency, physical condition, and body satisfaction).

Effect of an acute bout of plyometric exercise on neuromuscular fatigue and recovery in recreational athletes.

Although plyometric training is widely used by sports coaches as a method of improving explosive power in athletes, many prescribe volumes in excess of the National Strength and Conditioning Association recommendations. The purpose of this study was to assess voluntary and evoked muscle characteristics to assess the neuromuscular impact of a high-volume bout of plyometric exercise that was non-exhaustive. Ten athletes who did not have plyometric training experience and were in their competitive season for club-level sport volunteered for the study.

Effect of age on muscle activation and twitch properties during static and dynamic actions.

In this investigation we examined age-associated changes in peak torque, voluntary activation levels, and potentiated twitch properties of the knee extensors during isometric (ISO), shortening (SHO), and lengthening (LEN) actions in 18 young subjects (19-27 years) and 12 elderly subjects (64-77 years). Peak torque was lower for the elderly subjects under the ISO (-31%) and SHO (-28%) conditions (P < 0.05); however, the loss in LEN peak torque in the elderly was less marked (-17%) (P > 0.

The effects of compression garments on recovery of muscle performance following high-intensity sprint and plyometric exercise.

This study compared the effects of compression garments on recovery of evoked and voluntary performance following fatiguing exercise. Eleven participants performed 2 sessions separated by 7 days, with and without lower-body compression garments during and 24h post-exercise. Participants performed a 10-min exercise protocol of a 20-m sprint and 10 plyometric bounds every minute.

Reliability of the nociceptive flexor reflex (RIII) threshold and association with Pain threshold.

The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of the RIII reflex threshold and Pain threshold in three repeated trials using electrocutaneous stimuli. Each trial was separated by a mean of 4.3 +/- 2.

Comparative effects of resistance training on peak isometric torque, muscle hypertrophy, voluntary activation and surface EMG between young and elderly women.

We compared the effect of a 10-week resistance training program on peak isometric torque, muscle hypertrophy, voluntary activation and electromyogram signal amplitude (EMG) of the knee extensors between young and elderly women. Nine young women (YW; range 20-30 years) and eight elderly women (EW; 64-78 years) performed three sets of ten repetitions at 75% 1 repetition maximum for the bilateral leg extension and bilateral leg curl 3 days per week for 10 weeks. Peak isometric torque, EMG and voluntary activation were assessed before, during, and after the training period, while knee extensor lean muscle cross-sectional area (LCSA) and lean muscle volume (LMV) were assessed before and after the training period only.

Contralateral muscle fatigue in human quadriceps muscle: evidence for a centrally mediated fatigue response and cross-over effect.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of voluntary muscular fatigue in one lower limb and determine whether a 'cross-over' of fatigue is evident in the contralateral limb. Twenty-eight subjects (13 males and 15 females) performed a series of voluntary and evoked isometric contractions of both the dominant (exercised) and non-dominant (non-exercised) leg extensor muscles, prior to and after a fatigue protocol consisting of a 100-s sustained maximal isometric contraction (MVC) performed by the dominant limb only. Force values and surface electromyography (EMG) from the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained allowing for the determination of twitch and compound action potential (M-wave) values.

Reduced voluntary activation of human skeletal muscle during shortening and lengthening contractions in whole body hyperthermia.

This study examined the effect of whole body hyperthermia on the voluntary activation of exercised and non-exercised skeletal muscle performing a series of lengthening and shortening contractions. Thirteen subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer at 60% of maximal oxygen consumption until voluntary exhaustion in ambient conditions of approximately 40 degrees C and 60% relative humidity. Before and immediately following the cycle protocol, subjects performed a series of 25 continuous isokinetic shortening and lengthening maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) of the leg extensors and forearm flexors.

Exercise heat stress does not reduce central activation to non-exercised human skeletal muscle.

In this study we measured the central activation ratio (CAR) of the leg extensors and the elbow flexor muscles before and after exhaustive exercise in the heat to determine whether exercise-induced hyperthermia affects the CNS drive to exercised (leg extensors) and/or non-exercised (forearm flexors) muscle groups. Thirteen subjects exercised at fixed intensities representative of a percentage of peak power output (PPO) for 10 min periods (50 %, 40 %, 60 %, 50 %) and then at 75 % PPO until exhaustion in ambient conditions of 39.3 +/- 0.

Glycerol hyperhydration fails to improve endurance performance and thermoregulation in humans in a warm humid environment.

It is equivocal whether glycerol hyperhydration improves exercise performance and thermoregulation in the heat. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of glycerol with water hyperhydration, using a reliable, self-paced variable-intensity cycling protocol under hot, humid conditions. Seven moderately-to-well trained subjects ingested either a solution consisting of 1.

Influence of lean body mass on performance differences of male and female distance runners in warm, humid environments.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the influence of lean body mass (LBM) and body weight (BW) on the thermoregulatory responses and endurance performance of male and female athletes in warm, humid environments. Ten (5 males, 5 females) healthy, moderately trained athletes with varying physiques performed a self-paced 30-min run on a motorized treadmill in warm (30 degrees C), humid (60% relative humidity) conditions, with the aim of running the greatest distance possible. Males completed one trial, while females completed two trials, one in each of the follicular (Fol) and luteal (Lut) phases of the menstrual cycle in a randomized fashion.