Construct Validity of a Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) in Measuring Postural Sway and the Effect of Visual Deprivation in Healthy Older Adults.

Inertial Motor sensors (IMUs) are valid instruments for measuring postural sway but their ability to detect changes derived from visual deprivation in healthy older adults requires further investigations. We examined the validity and relationship of IMU sensor-derived postural sway measures compared to force plates for different eye conditions in healthy older adults (32 females, 33 males). We compared the relationship of the center of mass and center of pressure (CoM and CoP)-derived total length, root means square (RMS) distance, mean velocity, and 95% confidence interval ellipse area (95% CI ellipse area).

The impact of skinfold thickness and exercise intensity on the reliability of NIRS in the vastus lateralis.

Purpose: The aims of this study were (1) to assess the test-retest reliability of the primary near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) variables (i.e., StO, T[Hb], [HbO] and [HHb]) during cycling and (2) to investigate potential influences of exercise intensity and adipose tissue thickness (ATT) on this reliability.

A comparison of critical power and the respiratory compensation point at slower and faster pedaling cadences.

We investigated whether pedal cadence (60 vs. 100 rpm) affects oxygen uptake (V̇O) and power output (PO) at two indexes of the heavy-to-severe-intensity domain boundary (i.e.

The Respiratory Compensation Point: Mechanisms and Relation to the Maximal Metabolic Steady State.

At a point during the latter third of an incremental exercise protocol, ventilation begins to exceed the rate of clearance of carbon dioxide (CO) at the lungs ( CO). The onset of this hyperventilation, which is confirmed by a fall from a period of stability in end-tidal and arterial CO tensions (PCO), is referred to as the respiratory compensation point (RCP). The mechanisms that contribute to the RCP remain debated as does its surrogacy for the maximal metabolic steady state of constant-power exercise (i.

Feasibility and effectiveness of a 6-month, home-based, resistance exercise delivered by a remote technological solution in healthy older adults.

Background: Aging is characterized by a physiological decline in physical function, muscle mass, strength, and power. Home-based resistance training interventions have gained increasing attention from scientists and healthcare system operators, but their efficacy is yet to be fully determined.

Aims: to verify the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of a home-based resistance training program delivered by innovative technological solution in healthy older adults.

Application and performance of heart-rate-based methods to estimate oxygen consumption at different exercise intensities in postmenopausal women.

Purpose: Heart rate (HR) is a widespread method to estimate oxygen consumption ( O), exercise intensity, volume, and energy expenditure. Still, accuracy depends on lab tests or using indexes like HR and HR. This study addresses HR indexes' applicability in postmenopausal women (PMW), who constitute over 50% of the aging population and may have unique characteristics (e.

Ecological monitoring of physical activity, emotions and daily life activities in schizophrenia: the DiAPAson study.

Background: Schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) compromise psychosocial functioning, including daily time use, emotional expression and physical activity (PA).

Objective: We performed a cohort study aimed at investigating: (1) the differences in PA, daily activities and emotions between patients with SSD and healthy controls (HC); (2) the strength of the association between these variables and clinical features among patients with SSD.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients with SSD (53 residential patients, 46 outpatients) and 111 matched HC were assessed for several clinical variables, and levels of functioning by means of standardised clinical measures.

Effect of acute heat exposure on the determination of critical power and W' in women and men.

The goal of this study was to investigate to what extent acute heat exposure would affect the parameters of the power-duration relationship, i.e. CP and W', using multiple constant workload tests to task failure, in women and men.

Temporal, Kinematic and Kinetic Variables Derived from a Wearable 3D Inertial Sensor to Estimate Muscle Power during the 5 Sit to Stand Test in Older Individuals: A Validation Study.

The 5-Sit-to-stand test (5STS) is widely used to estimate lower limb muscle power (MP). An Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) could be used to obtain objective, accurate and automatic measures of lower limb MP. In 62 older adults (30 F, 66 ± 6 years) we compared (paired -test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis) IMU-based estimates of total trial time (totT), mean concentric time (McT), velocity (McV), force (McF), and MP against laboratory equipment (Lab).

Critical power, W' and W' reconstitution in women and men.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare critical power (CP) and work capacity W', and W' reconstitution (W') following repeated maximal exercise between women and men.

Methods: Twelve women ([Formula: see text]O: 2.53 ± 0.

Easy Prediction of the Maximal Lactate Steady-State in Young and Older Men and Women.

Maximal Lactate steady-state (MLSS) demarcates sustainable from unsustainable exercise and is used for evaluation/monitoring of exercise capacity. Still, its determination is physically challenging and time-consuming. This investigation aimed at validating a simple, submaximal approach based on blood lactate accumulation ([Δlactate]) at the third minute of cycling in a large cohort of men and women of different ages.

Type 2 Diabetes Related Mitochondrial Defects in Peripheral Mononucleated Blood Cells from Overweight Postmenopausal Women.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a multisystem disease that is the subject of many studies, but the earliest cause of the disease has yet to be elucidated. Mitochondrial impairment has been associated with diabetes in several tissues. To extend the association between T2D and mitochondrial impairment to blood cells, we investigated T2D-related changes in peripheral mononucleated blood cells’ (PBMCs) mitochondrial function in two groups of women (CTRL vs.

Effect of recovery time on [Formula: see text]-ON kinetics in humans at the onset of moderate-intensity cycling exercise.

Purpose: τ of the primary phase of [Formula: see text] kinetics during square-wave, moderate-intensity exercise mirrors that of PCr splitting (τPCr). Pre-exercise [PCr] and the absolute variations of PCr (∆[PCr]) occurring during transient have been suggested to control τPCr and, in turn, to modulate [Formula: see text] kinetics. In addition, [Formula: see text] kinetics may be slower when exercise initiates from a raised metabolic level, i.

Transient speeding of V̇O kinetics following acute sessions of sprint interval training: Similar exercise dose but different outcomes in older and young adults.

An acute session of sprint interval training (SIT) is a potent stimulus for the metabolic and cardiovascular systems. However, the feasibility of SIT in older adults and its effectiveness to acutely improve aerobic function by transiently accelerating the rate of adjustment of oxidative phosphorylation quantified by V̇O kinetics (τV̇O) are unknown. This study evaluated the time course of changes of τV̇O in response to different doses of SIT in older inactive adults compared to their young counterparts.

Modeling V̇o on-kinetics based on intensity-dependent delayed adjustment and loss of efficiency (DALE).

This study presents and evaluates a new mathematical model of V̇o on-kinetics, with the following properties: ) a progressively slower primary phase following the size-principle of motor unit recruitment, explaining the delayed V̇o steady state seen in the heavy exercise intensity domain, and ) a severe-domain slow component modeled as a time-dependent decrease in efficiency. Breath-by-breath V̇o measurements from eight subjects performing step cycling transitions, in the moderate, heavy, and severe exercise domains, were fitted to the conventional three-phase model and the new model. Model performance was evaluated with a residual analysis and by comparing Bayesian (BIC) and corrected Akaike (AICc) information criteria.

An Intensity-dependent Slow Component of HR Interferes with Accurate Exercise Implementation in Postmenopausal Women.

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that a slow component of HR (i.e., scHR) occurs in all intensity domains, greater than the slow component of oxygen uptake (scV˙O2), and we developed an equation to predict it across exercise intensities.

Repeated Passive Mobilization to Stimulate Vascular Function in Individuals of Advanced Age Who Are Chronically Bedridden: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Vascular dysfunction and associated disorders are major side effects of chronic bed rest, yet passive mobilization as a potential treatment has only been theorized so far. This study investigated the effects of passive mobilization treatment on vascular function in older, chronically bedridden people.

Method: The study sample was 45 chronically bedridden people of advanced age (mean age: 87 years; 56% female; mean bed rest: 4 years) randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 23) or a control group (CTRL, n = 22).

Metabolic instability vs fibre recruitment contribution to the [Formula: see text] slow component in different exercise intensity domains.

This study focused on the steady-state phase of exercise to evaluate the relative contribution of metabolic instability (measured with NIRS and haematochemical markers) and muscle activation (measured with EMG) to the oxygen consumption ([Formula: see text]) slow component ([Formula: see text]) in different intensity domains. We hypothesized that (i) after the transient phase, [Formula: see text], metabolic instability and muscle activation tend to increase differently over time depending on the relative exercise intensity and (ii) the increase in [Formula: see text] is explained by a combination of metabolic instability and muscle activation. Eight active men performed a constant work rate trial of 9 min in the moderate, heavy and severe intensity domains.

Quantitative and Qualitative Running Gait Analysis through an Innovative Video-Based Approach.

Quantitative and qualitative running gait analysis allows the early identification and the longitudinal monitoring of gait abnormalities linked to running-related injuries. A promising calibration- and marker-less video sensor-based technology (i.e.

Evaluating the Accuracy of Using Fixed Ranges of METs to Categorize Exertional Intensity in a Heterogeneous Group of Healthy Individuals: Implications for Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Health Outcomes.

Background: Appropriate quantification of exertional intensity remains elusive.

Objective: To compare, in a large and heterogeneous cohort of healthy females and males, the commonly used intensity classification system (i.e.

Ramp vs. step tests: valid alternatives to determine the maximal lactate steady-state intensity?

Purpose: The aims of this study were (1) to investigate if the respiratory compensation point (RCP) as derived from ramp incremental (RI) exercise could accurately predict the power output (PO) at the maximal lactate steady state (MLSS), and (2) to compare its accuracy with the second lactate threshold (LT) obtained from step incremental (SI) exercise.

Methods: Nineteen participants performed a RI test (30 W·min) to determine RCP, a SI test (30 or 40 W·3 min) to determine LT, and two or more constant work rate (CWR) tests to determine MLSS. For each participant, the [Formula: see text]O/PO relationship for RI and CWR exercise was established.

Full characterisation of knee extensors' function in ageing: effect of sex and obesity.

Background/objectives: Muscle function is a marker of current and prospective health/independence throughout life. The effects of sex and obesity (OB) on the loss of muscle function in ageing remain unresolved, with important implications for the diagnosis/monitoring of sarcopenia. To characterise in vivo knee extensors' function, we compared muscles torque and power with isometric and isokinetic tests in older men (M) and women (W), with normal range (NW) of body mass index (BMI) and OB.

Testing the Performance of an Innovative Markerless Technique for Quantitative and Qualitative Gait Analysis.

Gait abnormalities such as high stride and step frequency/cadence (SF-stride/second, CAD-step/second), stride variability (SV) and low harmony may increase the risk of injuries and be a sentinel of medical conditions. This research aims to present a new markerless video-based technology for quantitative and qualitative gait analysis. 86 healthy individuals (mead age 32 years) performed a 90 s test on treadmill at self-selected walking speed.