The arena or E-games triathlon as a unique real world and virtual mixed-model endurance sports event.

The sport of triathlon has evolved to become a discipline comprising races of different lengths and formats. It has also undergone significant growth in popularity and exposure with several variations in format from the classic swim - bike - run combination attracting significant television and media coverage. Since 2021 an original and unique format called the Arena Games Triathlon (or in 2024 the E-Games) has evolved that involves athletes competing against each other in swimming, cycling and running combining both the real and virtual worlds in one race.

Different descending pathways mediate early and late portions of lower limb responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Although recent studies in nonhuman primates have provided evidence that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) activates cells within the reticular formation, it remains unclear whether descending brain stem projections contribute to the generation of TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in skeletal muscles. We compared MEPs in muscles with extensive direct corticomotoneuronal input (first dorsal interosseous) versus a prominent role in postural control (gastrocnemius) to determine whether the amplitudes of early and late MEPs were differentially modulated by cortical suppression. Suprathreshold TMS was applied with and without a preceding suprathreshold TMS pulse at two interstimulus intervals (50 and 80 ms).

Analysing the contributions of lower limb muscles to eccentric cycling using musculoskeletal modeling and simulation.

Eccentric (ECC) cycling, compared to traditional concentric cycling, has been shown to improve muscle strength and neuromuscular control at a lower metabolic cost. Despite the popularity of this exercise in the sports and rehabilitation contexts, there is a gap in our knowledge of which muscles are behaving eccentrically during ECC cycling. To this end, we used a musculoskeletal model and computer simulations to calculate joint kinematics and muscle lengths during ECC cycling.

Use of planar covariation in lower limb kinematics to characterize adaptations of running after cycling in elite triathletes.

Purpose: To characterize alterations of lower limb intersegmental coordination during the acute phase of running after cycling among highly trained triathletes using an analysis of planar covariation.

Methods: Nine highly trained triathletes completed a control run (CR) and a run after transitioning from cycling exercise (transition run, or TR condition) on a motorized treadmill at a self-selected pace. Sagittal plane kinematics were recorded using a 3D Vicon motion capture system.

Postural support requirements preferentially modulate late components of the gastrocnemius response to transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Mounting evidence suggests that motor evoked potentials (MEPs) recorded in upper limb muscles with postural support roles following transcranial magnetic stimulation receive contributions from both corticospinal and non-corticospinal descending pathways. We tested the hypothesis that neural structures responsible for regulating upright balance are involved in transmitting late portions of TMS-induced MEPs in a lower limb muscle. MEPs were recorded in the medial gastrocnemius muscles of each leg, while participants supported their upright posture in five postural conditions that required different levels of support from the target muscles.

Reliability and Variability of Lower Limb Muscle Activation as Indicators of Familiarity to Submaximal Eccentric Cycling.

Submaximal eccentric (ECC) cycling exercise is commonly used in research studies. No previous study has specified the required time naïve participants take to familiarize with submaximal ECC cycling. Therefore, we designed this study to determine whether critical indicators of cycling reliability and variability stabilize during 15 min of submaximal, semi-recumbent ECC cycling (ECC cycling).

A Semi-recumbent Eccentric Cycle Ergometer Instrumented to Isolate Lower Limb Muscle Contractions to the Appropriate Phase of the Pedal Cycle.

Eccentric (ECC) cycling is used in rehabilitation and sports conditioning settings. We present the construction and mode of operation of a custom-built semi-recumbent ECC cycle designed to limit the production of lower limb muscle activity to the phase of the pedal cycle known to produce ECC contractions. A commercially available semi-recumbent frame and seat (Monarch, 837E Semi-recumbent Bike, Sweden) were used to assemble the ergometer.

Evidence for constancy in the modularity of trunk muscle activity preceding reaching: implications for the role of preparatory postural activity.

Postural muscle activity precedes voluntary movements of the upper limbs. The traditional view of this activity is that it anticipates perturbations to balance caused by the movement of a limb. However, findings from reach-based paradigms have shown that postural adjustments can initiate center of mass displacement for mobility rather than minimize its displacement for stability.

Reliability of a Protocol to Elicit Peak Measures Generated by the Lower Limb for Semi-recumbent Eccentric Cycling.

Semi-recumbent eccentric (ECC) cycling is increasingly used in studies of exercise with healthy and clinical populations. However, workloads are generally prescribed using measures obtained during regular concentric cycling. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to quantify the reliability of measures derived from a protocol that elicited peak ECC torque produced by the lower limb in a semi-recumbent position.

Sub 3-Hour Marathon Runners for Five Consecutive Decades Demonstrate a Reduced Age-Related Decline in Performance.

Estimation of the age-related decline in athletic performance by analyzing age-group world record performances presents an inherent limitation because the records generally belong to different individuals. Longitudinal studies describing the changes in performance with advancing age for the same individuals with a consistent training regimen are more appropriate to determine age-related changes in performance. The aim of this longitudinal study was to examine the age-related decline in running performance of sub 3-h marathoners for five consecutive calendar decades.

Constancy of Preparatory Postural Adjustments for Reaching to Virtual Targets across Different Postural Configurations.

Postural and movement components must be coordinated without significant disturbance to balance when reaching from a standing position. Traditional theories propose that muscle activity prior to movement onset create the mechanics to counteract the internal torques generated by the future limb movement, reducing possible instability via centre of mass (CoM) displacement. However, during goal-directed reach movements executed on a fixed base of support (BoS), preparatory postural adjustments (or pPAs) promote movement of the CoM within the BoS.

Corrigendum: Neuromuscular and Perceptual Responses to Sub-Maximal Eccentric Cycling.

[This corrects the article on p. 354 in vol. 10, PMID: 30984032.

Reorganization of motor modules for standing reactive balance recovery following pyridoxine-induced large-fiber peripheral sensory neuropathy in cats.

Task-level goals such as maintaining standing balance are achieved through coordinated muscle activity. Consistent and individualized groupings of synchronously activated muscles can be estimated from muscle recordings in terms of motor modules or muscle synergies, independent of their temporal activation. The structure of motor modules can change with motor training, neurological disorders, and rehabilitation, but the central and peripheral mechanisms underlying motor module structure remain unclear.

Randomising stimulus intensity improves the variability and reliability of the assessment of corticospinal excitability.

Background: Advances in the control of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) have enabled greater randomisation of stimulus intensity. It is unclear if such randomisation improves assessments of corticospinal excitability.

New Method: We recorded the amplitude of TMS-induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the first dorsal interosseous muscle of eleven participants, during three TMS protocols: blocks of increasing intensity (IB), randomised blocks (RB) and inter-stimulus randomisation (IR).

Global Corticospinal Excitability as Assessed in A Non-Exercised Upper Limb Muscle Compared Between Concentric and Eccentric Modes of Leg Cycling.

This study investigated the effects of eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) semi-recumbent leg cycling on global corticospinal excitability (CSE), assessed through the activity of a non-exercised hand muscle. Thirteen healthy male adults completed two 30-min bouts of moderate intensity ECC and CON recumbent cycling on separate days. Power output (POutput), heart rate (HR) and cadence were monitored during cycling.

Age-Related Adaptations of Lower Limb Intersegmental Coordination During Walking.

Lower-limb intersegmental coordination is a complex component of human walking. Aging may result in impairments of motor control and coordination contributing to the decline in mobility inducing loss of autonomy. Investigating intersegmental coordination could therefore provide insights into age-related changes in neuromuscular control of gait.

Neuromuscular and Perceptual Responses to Sub-Maximal Eccentric Cycling.

Objective: Eccentric (ECC) cycle-ergometers have recently become commercially-available, offering a novel method for rehabilitation training. Many studies have reported that ECC cycling enables the development of higher levels of muscular force at lower cardiorespiratory and metabolic loads, leading to greater force enhancements after a training period. However, fewer studies have focused on the specific perceptual and neuromuscular changes.

Effect of physical exercise on physical performance and fall incidents of individuals living with dementia in nursing homes: a randomized controlled trial.

: To determine the effects of an exercise intervention on physical performance and reported fall incidents among individuals living with dementia in nursing homes. : The study was a randomized controlled trial to determine the effect of the physical activity on physical performance and reported fall incidents. A sample of 60 participants from two nursing homes in Australia were randomly allocated to either: (1) Intervention Group 1: physical exercise intervention for 45 min, once a week; (2) Intervention Group 2: physical exercise intervention for 15 min, three times a week; or (3) usual care Control Group.

Development and Validation of a Questionnaire to Assess Barriers to Physical Activity After Stroke: The Barriers to Physical Activity After Stroke Scale.

Objective: To develop and validate a self-reported questionnaire assessing the barriers to physical activity (PA) among stroke survivors.

Design: Psychometric study.

Setting: Ambulatory stroke care.

Do postural constraints affect eye, head, and arm coordination?

If a whole body reaching task is produced when standing or adopting challenging postures, it is unclear whether changes in attentional demands or the sensorimotor integration necessary for balance control influence the interaction between visuomotor and postural components of the movement. Is gaze control prioritized by the central nervous system (CNS) to produce coordinated eye movements with the head and whole body regardless of movement context? Considering the coupled nature of visuomotor and whole body postural control during action, this study aimed to understand how changing equilibrium constraints (in the form of different postural configurations) influenced the initiation of eye, head, and arm movements. We quantified the eye-head metrics and segmental kinematics as participants executed either isolated gaze shifts or whole body reaching movements to visual targets.

Predicting vection and visually induced motion sickness based on spontaneous postural activity.

Evidence is mounting that differences in postural instability can be used to predict who will experience strong illusory self-motions (vection) and become sick when exposed to global patterns of optical flow (e.g., Apthorp et al.