Effects of fatigue on hamstrings and gluteus maximus shear modulus in hip extension and knee flexion submaximal contraction task.

This study examined the effects of fatigue on hamstring muscles and gluteus maximus passive and active shear modulus in hip extension (HE) and knee flexion (KF) at 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction performed until task failure. Measurements were taken before and after the fatigue tasks and the delta (post-pre) was calculated. No differences in the fatigue effects on passive shear modulus were seen between muscles nor between tasks.

Shear Wave Elastographic Investigation of the Immediate Effects of Slump Neurodynamics in People With Sciatica.

Objectives: Neurodynamic techniques are often used to treat people with sciatica pain, but their mechanical effects on the sciatic nerve are unknown. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been shown to effectively estimate the stiffness of peripheral nerves in real time. The aim of this study was to use SWE to assess the effects of slump neurodynamics in the sciatic stiffness of people with sciatica.

Noninvasive Measurement of Sciatic Nerve Stiffness in Patients With Chronic Low Back Related Leg Pain Using Shear Wave Elastography.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether sciatic nerve stiffness is altered in people with chronic low back-related leg pain by using shear wave elastography.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the sciatic nerve shear wave velocity (ie, an index of stiffness) was measured in both legs of 16 participants (8 with unilateral low back-related leg pain and 8 healthy controls). Sciatic stiffness was measured during a passive ankle dorsiflexion motion performed at 2°/s in an isokinetic dynamometer.

Sexual dimorphism in heart rate recovery from peak exercise.

Purpose: There is lack of consensus on whether sex, per se, affects heart rate recovery (HRR). To discriminate between the role of sex and that of cardiovascular fitness on HRR, we compared two groups of male and female participants matched for age and peak oxygen uptake (VO) percentile.

Methods: Forty healthy individuals with above-average cardiovascular fitness (VO >50th percentile), aged 18-27 years (23 men; 17 women), performed maximal cycle-ergometer tests with cardiorespiratory measurements.

Sex and Exercise Intensity Do Not Influence Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Submaximal Swimming.

The aim of this study was to compare the oxygen uptake ([Formula: see text]) kinetics in front crawl between male and female swimmers at moderate and heavy intensity. We hypothesized that the time constant for the primary phase [Formula: see text] kinetics was faster in men than in women, for both intensities. Nineteen well trained swimmers (8 females mean ± SD; age 17.

Responses to static stretching are dependent on stretch intensity and duration.

Information regarding the effects of stretching intensity on the joint torque-angle response is scarce. The present study examined the effects of three static stretching protocols with different intensities and durations on the passive knee extension torque-angle response of seventeen male participants (age ± SD: 23.9 ± 3.

Ventilatory and Physiological Responses in Swimmers Below and Above Their Maximal Lactate Steady State.

The purpose of this study was to understand the ventilatory and physiological responses immediately below and above the maximal lactate steady-state (MLSS) velocity and to determine the relationship of oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics parameters with performance, in swimmers. Competitive athletes (N = 12) completed in random order and on different days a 400-m all-out test, an incremental step test comprising 5 × 250- and 1 × 200-m stages and 30 minutes at a constant swimming velocity (SV) at 87.5, 90, and 92.

Are rest intervals between stretching repetitions effective to acutely increase range of motion?

Unlabelled: Static stretching with rest between repetitions is often performed to acutely increase joint flexibility.

Purpose: To test the effects of the lack of resting between stretching repetitions and the minimal number of stretching repetitions required to change the maximal range of motion (ROM), maximal tolerated joint passive torque (MPT), and submaximal passive torque at a given angle (PT).

Methods: Five static stretching repetitions with a 30-s rest-interval (RI) and a no-rest-interval (NRI) stretching protocol were compared.

Comparison of different passive knee extension torque-angle assessments.

Previous studies have used isokinetic dynamometry to assess joint torques and angles during passive extension of the knee, often without reporting upon methodological errors and reliability outcomes. In addition, the reliability of the techniques used to measure passive knee extension torque-angle and the extent to which reliability may be affected by the position of the subjects is also unclear. Therefore, we conducted an analysis of the intra- and inter-session reliability of two methods of assessing passive knee extension: (A) a 2D kinematic analysis coupled to a custom-made device that enabled the direct measurement of resistance to stretch and (B) an isokinetic dynamometer used in two testing positions (with the non-tested thigh either flexed at 45° or in the neutral position).

The impact of exercise training on liver transplanted familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) patients.

Background: Liver transplantation is nowadays the only effective answer to adjourn the outcome of functional limitations associated with familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP), a neurodegenerative disease characterized by sensory and motor polyneuropathies. Nevertheless, there is a detrimental impact associated with the after-surgery period on the fragile physical condition of these patients. Exercise training has been proven to be effective on reconditioning patients after transplantation.

Effects of aerobic fitness on oxygen uptake kinetics in heavy intensity swimming.

This study aimed to characterise both the VO2 kinetics within constant heavy-intensity swimming exercise, and to assess the relationships between VO2 kinetics and other parameters of aerobic fitness, in well-trained swimmers. On separate days, 21 male swimmers completed: (1) an incremental swimming test to determine their maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max), first ventilatory threshold (VT), and the velocity associated with VO2max (vVO(2 max)) and (2) two square-wave transitions from rest to heavy-intensity exercise, to determine their VO2 kinetics. All the tests involved breath-by-breath analysis of freestyle swimming using a swimming snorkel.

Oxygen uptake kinetics and middle distance swimming performance.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether V˙O(2) kinetics and specifically, the time constant of transitions from rest to heavy (τ(p)H) and severe (τ(p)S) exercise intensities, are related to middle distance swimming performance.

Design: Fourteen highly trained male swimmers (mean ± SD: 20.5 ± 3.

Analysis of power output time series in response to supramaximal exercise: an approach through dynamic factor analysis.

The responses to supramaximal exercise testing have been traditionally analyzed by means of standard parametric and nonparametric statistics. Unfortunately, these statistical approaches do not allow insight into the pattern of variation of a given parameter over time. The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of dynamic factor analysis (DFA) allowed discriminating different patterns of power output (PO), during supramaximal exercise, in two groups of children engaged in competitive sports: swimmers and soccer players.

Body composition, muscle strength, functional capacity, and physical disability risk in liver transplanted familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy patients.

Background: Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is a neurodegenerative disease leading to sensory and motor polyneuropathies, and functional limitations. Liver transplantation is the only treatment for FAP, requiring medication that negatively affects bone and muscle metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare body composition, levels of specific strength, level of physical disability risk, and functional capacity of transplanted FAP patients (FAPTx) with a group of healthy individuals (CON).

Comparing several equations that predict peak VO2 using the 20-m multistage-shuttle run-test in 8-10-year-old children.

This study compared the validity of reported equations as predictors of peak VO(2) in 8-10-year-old children. Participants (90 boys and girls aged 8-10 years) performed the multistage-shuttle-run-test (MSRT) and peak VO(2) was measured in field using a portable gas analyser. The equations that estimated peak VO(2) from the MSRT performance were chosen according to the age range of this study.