Lasting Effects of Surgically Used Topical Vasodilators on DIEP Artery Vascular Function.

Background:  Surgeons routinely apply papaverine, lidocaine, or verapamil to produce acute vasodilation and prevent vasospasms during microvascular surgeries. There is evidence that topical vasodilators may induce postoperative endothelial and smooth muscle dysfunction, which would present after the acute vasodilatory effects of the topical drugs wear off. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the lasting effects of papaverine, lidocaine, and verapamil on human deep inferior epigastric perforator artery vasodilatory function after the acute effects of the topical drugs had worn off.

Effect of acute meal and long-term intake of a Mediterranean Diet providing different amounts of carbohydrates on physical performance and biomarkers in non-professional strength athletes.

The study aims to evaluate the effect of an acute meal and long-term intake of Mediterranean Diet (MD) on different parameters such as strength, physical performance, body composition and blood markers in a group of non-professional athletes who practice a strength activity. Thirteen volunteers completed two 8-week dietary interventions in a randomised, cross-over design. Also an acute study was performed.

Energetics of sinusoidal exercise below and across critical power and the effects of fatigue.

Purpose: Previous studies investigating sinusoidal exercise were not devoted to an analysis of its energetics and of the effects of fatigue. We aimed to determine the contribution of aerobic and anaerobic lactic metabolism to the energy balance and investigate the fatigue effects on the cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses to sinusoidal protocols, across and below critical power (CP).

Methods: Eight males (26.

Speed Effects on the Accuracy of Heart Rate as Oxygen-Uptake Indicator in Short-Distance Shuttle Running.

Despite the accuracy of heart rate (HR) as an indicator of the aerobic engagement has been evaluated in several intermittent on-court activities, its validity as an oxygen uptake () indicator during shuttle running over short paths remains uncertain. Moreover, it is unclear whether speed may affect such validity. This study evaluated the HR ability in estimating the during 5-m shuttle running at different speeds.

Gait Variability at Different Walking Speeds.

Gait variability (GV) is a crucial measure of inconsistency of muscular activities or body segmental movements during repeated tasks. Hence, GV might serve as a relevant and sensitive measure to quantify adjustments of walking control. However, it has not been clarified whether GV is associated with walking speed, a clarification needed to exploit effective better bilateral coordination level.

Is the Interpolated-Twitch Technique-Derived Voluntary Activation Just Neural? Novel Perspectives from Mechanomyographic Data.

Purpose: Voluntary activation (VA) determined by interpolation-twitch technique could be affected by the characteristics of the in-series elastic components. To overcome this possible bias, a novel approach based on the mechanomyographic (MMG) signal to detect voluntary activation (VA MMG ) has been proposed. We examined the changes in VA and VA MMG after passive stretching to check the influence of neural and mechanical factors in the force output.

Determining voluntary activation in synergistic muscles: a novel mechanomyographic approach.

Purpose: Drawing on correlations between the mechanomyographic (MMG) and the force signal, we devised a novel approach based on MMG signal analysis to detect voluntary activation (VA) of the synergistic superficial heads of the quadriceps muscle. We hypothesized that, after a fatiguing exercise, the changes in the evoked MMG signal of each quadriceps head would correlate with the changes in the level of VA in the whole quadriceps.

Methods: Twenty-five men underwent a unilateral single-leg quadriceps exercise to failure.

Passive stretching decreases muscle efficiency in balance tasks.

The current study aimed to verify whether or not passive static stretching affects balance control capacity. Thirty-eight participants (19 women and 19 men) underwent a passive static stretching session, involving the knee extensor/flexor and dorsi/plantarflexor muscles, and a control session (no stretching, CTRL). Before (PRE), immediately after (POST), after 15 (POST15) and 30 min (POST30) from stretching (or rest in CTRL), balance control was evaluated under static and dynamic conditions, with open/closed eyes, and with/without somatosensory perturbation (foam under the feet).

Training status affects between-protocols differences in the assessment of maximal aerobic velocity.

Purpose: Continuous incremental protocols (CP) may misestimate the maximum aerobic velocity (V) due to increases in running speed faster than cardiorespiratory/metabolic adjustments. A higher aerobic capacity may mitigate this issue due to faster pulmonary oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]O) kinetics. Therefore, this study aimed to compare three different protocols to assess V in athletes with higher or lower training status.

Neuromuscular Correlates of the Contralateral Stretch-induced Strength Loss.

Purpose: The current study investigated the effects of unilateral passive stretching on the neuromuscular mechanisms involved in the force-generating capacity of the contralateral muscle.

Methods: Twenty-six healthy men underwent unilateral passive stretching of the plantarflexors (5 × 45 s on + 15 s off; total stretching time, 225 s). Before and after the stretching protocol, contralateral ankle range of motion, maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the plantarflexors, and surface electromyographic root-mean-square (sEMG RMS) of the soleus and the gastrocnemii muscles were determined.

No effect of passive stretching on neuromuscular function and maximum force-generating capacity in the antagonist muscle.

Purpose: The present study investigated whether or not passive stretching increases the force-generating capacity of the antagonist muscle, and the possible neuromuscular mechanisms behind.

Methods: To this purpose, the neuromuscular function accompanying the force-generating capacity was assessed in 26 healthy male volunteers after passive stretching and in a control session. Before and after passive intermittent static stretching of the plantar flexors consisting of five sets × 45 s + 15 s-rest, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) and surface electromyographic root mean square (sEMG RMS) were measured in the tibialis anterior (the antagonist muscle).

The effects of 12 weeks of static stretch training on the functional, mechanical, and architectural characteristics of the triceps surae muscle-tendon complex.

Purpose: We investigated the effects of 12 weeks of passive static stretching training (PST) on force-generating capacity, passive stiffness, muscle architecture of plantarflexor muscles.

Methods: Thirty healthy adults participated in the study. Fifteen participants (STR, 6 women, 9 men) underwent 12-week plantarflexor muscles PST [(5 × 45 s-on/15 s-off) × 2exercises] × 5times/week (duration: 2250 s/week), while 15 participants (CTRL, 6 women, 9 men) served as control (no PST).

The Effects of Verbal Instructions on Lower Limb Muscles' Excitation in Back-Squat.

The present study investigated whether or not verbal instruction affects the electromyographic (EMG) amplitude of back-squat prime movers. Fifteen resistance-trained men performed back-squat at 50%1-RM and 80%1-RM and received external (EF) or internal focus (IF) on lower-limb posterior muscles. EMG amplitude of , and was recorded during both concentric and eccentric phases.

Uphill walking at iso-efficiency speeds.

Uphill walking gait has been extensively studied, but the optimal uphill speed able to enhance the metabolic demand without increasing fatigability has so far received little attention. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the metabolic/kinematic demand at constant speed (6 km·h G0 level, G2 2% uphill, G7 7% uphill) and at iso-efficiency speeds (G2IES 5.2 km·h 2% uphill and G7IES 3.

Shoes and Insoles: The Influence on Motor Tasks Related to Walking Gait Variability and Stability.

The rhythmic control of the lower limb muscles influences the cycle-to-cycle variability during a walking task. The benefits of insoles, commonly used to improve the walking gait, have been little studied. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the walking gait variability and stability on different walking conditions (without shoes, WTS, with shoes, WS, with shoes and insoles, WSI) related to brain activity.

Vastus intermedius muscle architecture predicts the late phase of the knee extension rate of force development in recreationally resistance-trained men.

Objectives: The current study investigated the correlation between quadriceps muscle architecture and the knee extension rate of force development (RFD).

Design: cross-sectional study.

Methods: Muscle thickness, pennation angle and fascicle length normalized per the thigh-length were measured via ultrasound in vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus intermedius and vastus medialis.

Local fat content and muscle quality measured by a new electrical impedance myography device: correlations with ultrasound variables.

The present study investigated the relationship between local fat percentage (SK) and muscle quality (MQ) estimated by a new hand-held electrical impedance myography (EIM) device or derived from ultrasound and strength assessments. The right anterior thigh of 90 healthy participants (mean ± SD; age=22.9 ± 2.

Reading words and pseudowords: an eye movement study of developmental dyslexia.

The pattern of eye movements during reading was studied in 12 developmental dyslexics and in 10 age-matched controls. According to standard reading batteries, dyslexics showed marked reading slowness and prevalently used the sublexical procedure in reading. Eye movements were recorded while they read lists of short and long words or pseudowords.