L-Arginine supplementation does not enhance blood flow and muscle performance in healthy and physically active older women.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of acute L-arginine (L-arg) supplementation on peripheral vasodilatation and muscle performance in older women.

Methods: In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, 20 elderly women were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to either an L-arg (ARG, N = 10) or placebo (PLA, N = 10) group. During the first visit, both groups underwent a Doppler ultrasound exam (to assess the femoral artery vasodilatation) at rest (baseline), and immediately before and after the isokinetic strength test (performed at 80 min after supplementation).

A single set of exhaustive exercise before resistance training improves muscular performance in young men.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an additional set of exhaustive exercise before traditional hypertrophic training on quadriceps muscle performance in young men.

Methods: Subjects performed maximal dynamic strength (1RM), local muscular endurance (LME), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests before and after an 8-week hypertrophic training program using a knee extensor machine. After baseline testing, the subjects were divided into 3 groups: untrained control, traditional training (TR), and prior exhaustive training (PE).

A single set of exhaustive exercise before local muscular endurance training improves quadriceps strength and endurance in young men.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an additional set of exhaustive exercise before local muscular endurance (LME) training on maximal dynamic strength and endurance of quadriceps muscle in young men.

Methods: Twenty-seven healthy men (age: 20.9±1.