Differences in brain structure and theta burst stimulation-induced plasticity implicate the corticomotor system in loss of function after musculoskeletal injury.

Traumatic musculoskeletal injury (MSI) may involve changes in corticomotor structure and function, but direct evidence is needed. To determine the corticomotor basis of MSI, we examined interactions among skeletomotor function, corticospinal excitability, corticomotor structure (cortical thickness and white matter microstructure), and intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS)-induced plasticity. Nine women with unilateral anterior cruciate ligament rupture (ACL) 3.

Obesity Risk Among West Point Graduates Later in Life.

Szivak, TK, Thomas, MM, Pietrzak, RH, Nguyen, DR, Ryan, DM, and Mazure, CM. Obesity Risk Among West Point Graduates Later in Life. J Strength Cond Res 37(6): 1284-1291, 2023-The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate sex differences in health and fitness outcomes among United States Military Academy (USMA) graduates (class years 1980-2011).

Body Composition in Elite Strongman Competitors.

Kraemer, WJ, Caldwell, LK, Post, EM, DuPont, WH, Martini, ER, Ratamess, NA, Szivak, TK, Shurley, JP, Beeler, MK, Volek, JS, Maresh, CM, Todd, JS, Walrod, BJ, Hyde, PN, Fairman, C, and Best, TM. Body composition in elite strongman competitors. J Strength Cond Res 34(12): 3326-3330, 2020-The purpose of this descriptive investigation was to characterize a group of elite strongman competitors to document the body composition of this unique population of strength athletes.

Resistance Training and Milk-Substitution Enhance Body Composition and Bone Health in Adolescent Girls.

Increased soft-drink consumption has contributed to poor calcium intake with 90% of adolescent girls consuming less than the RDA for calcium. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the independent and additive effects of two interventions (milk and resistance training) on nutrient adequacy, body composition, and bone health in adolescent girls. The experimental design consisted of four experimental groups of adolescent girls 14-17 years of age: (1) Milk + resistance training [MRT];  = 15; (2) Resistance training only [RT];  = 15; (3) Milk only [M]  = 20; (4) Control [C]  = 16.

Effects of Different Hand Widths on Plyometric Push-up Performance.

Nichols, IA and Szivak, TK. Effects of different hand widths on plyometric push-up performance. J Strength Cond Res 35(2S): S80-S83, 2021-The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of hand width placement during the performance of plyometric push-ups.

Adrenal Stress and Physical Performance During Military Survival Training.

Introduction: The purpose of this research was to evaluate neuroendocrine and physical performance responses in sailors and Marines undergoing U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape (SERE) training.

The effects of a roundtrip trans-American jet travel on physiological stress, neuromuscular performance, and recovery.

The purpose was to examine the effects of a round trip trans-American jet travel on performance, hormonal alterations, and recovery. Ten matched pairs of recreationally trained men were randomized to either a compression group (COMP) (n = 10; age: 23.1 ± 2.

The Effects of Nitrate-Rich Supplementation on Neuromuscular Efficiency during Heavy Resistance Exercise.

Objective: Nitrate-rich (NR) supplements can enhance exercise performance by improving neuromuscular function and the aerobic cost of exercise. However, little is known about the effects of nitrate on dynamic, multijoint resistance exercise.

Methods: Fourteen resistance-trained men (age, 21.

Physiological Readiness and Resilience: Pillars of Military Preparedness.

Warfighters require a range of physical capabilities to meet the demands of the military profession, and physical training must address performance along an entire continuum, depending on individual needs and mission requirements. Strength and power capabilities are needed for optimal performance of anaerobic tasks such as heavy load carriage, sprinting under load, and maneuvering over uneven terrain. For optimal performance, soldiers must also be able to recover from mission demands and strenuous training.

Electromyographical and Perceptual Responses to Different Resistance Intensities in a Squat Protocol: Does Performing Sets to Failure With Light Loads Produce the Same Activity?

This investigation examined peak motor unit activity during sets that differed in resistance (50, 70, or 90% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]). Ten resistance-trained men (age, 23 ± 3 years; height, 187 ± 7 cm; body mass, 91.5 ± 6.

Physiological Effects of Nucleotide Supplementation on Resistance Exercise Stress in Men and Women.

Nucleotide supplementation can reduce postexercise immunosuppression and hypothalamic-pituitary axis (HPA) axis activation in endurance exercise models. Nucleotide supplementation may aid recovery from other exercise modalities, such as heavy resistance exercise. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to investigate the effects of nucleotide supplementation on the acute cortisol and immune responses to heavy resistance exercise and its effects on recovery.

The role of strength and power during performance of high intensity military tasks under heavy load carriage.

Objective: Previous research has investigated the physiological determinants of heavy load carriage while performing medium to long distance road marching, yet research examining the physiological underpinnings of high-intensity battlefield tasks is limited. This study sought to examine the role of strength and power during high-intensity combat tasks under heavy load carriage.

Methods: Eighteen recreationally trained men (mean±SD: age, 21±2 years; height, 172±6 cm; weight, 80±13 kg) participated in this study and performed an anaerobic combat course under 2 randomized experimental conditions; unloaded and loaded.

Acute resistance exercise stimulates sex-specific dimeric immunoreactive growth hormone responses.

Purpose: We sought to determine if an acute heavy resistance exercise test (AHRET) would elicit sex-specific responses in circulating growth hormone (GH), with untreated serum and serum treated with a reducing agent to break disulfide-bindings between GH dimers.

Methods: 19 untrained participants (nine men and ten women) participated in an acute heavy resistance exercise test using the back squat. Blood samples were drawn before exercise (Pre), immediate post (IP), +15 min (+15), and +30 min (+30) afterwards.

The addition of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate and isomaltulose to whey protein improves recovery from highly demanding resistance exercise.

Objective: This study evaluated whether a combination of whey protein (WP), calcium beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB), and carbohydrate exert additive effects on recovery from highly demanding resistance exercise.

Methods: Thirteen resistance-trained men (age: 22.6 ± 3.

Roles of an Upper-Body Compression Garment on Athletic Performances.

Compression garments (CGs) have been previously shown to enhance proprioception; however, this benefit has not been previously shown to transfer to improved performance in sports skills. The purpose of this study was to assess whether enhanced proprioception and comfort can be manifested in improved sports performance of high-level athletes. Eleven Division I collegiate pitchers (age: 21.

The effects of exercise training programs on plasma concentrations of proenkephalin Peptide F and catecholamines.

To determine if exercise training alters the pattern and magnitude of plasma concentrations of proenkephalin Peptide F and epinephrine, plasma proenkephalin [107-140] Peptide F(ir) and catecholamines were examined pre-training (T-1), and after 4- (T-2), 8- (T-3), and 12-weeks (T-4) of training. 26 healthy men were matched and randomly assigned to one of three groups: heavy resistance strength training (Strength, n=9), high intensity endurance training (Endurance, n=8), or both training modalities combined (Combined, n=9). Blood was collected using a syringe with a cannula inserted into a superficial arm vein with samples collected at rest, after each 7 min stage and 5 and 15 min into recovery.

Synthetic garments enhance comfort, thermoregulatory response, and athletic performance compared with traditional cotton garments.

The ability of a fabric to transfer moisture is referred to as "wicking," and an increase in this property may have benefits in terms of comfort and thermoregulation. However, this phenomenon has not been studied in the context of sporting-type activities. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess whether comfort, thermal physiological parameters, and physical performance can be affected by the garment that is used.

Developmental differences between boys and girls result in sex-specific physical fitness changes from fourth to fifth grade.

To better understand how developmental differences impact performance on a broad selection of common physical fitness measures, we examined changes in boys and girls from fourth to fifth grade. Subjects included 273 boys (age, 9.5 ± 0.

Similar hormonal stress and tissue damage in response to National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football games played in two consecutive seasons.

The recovery process from a college football game has been studied, yet the stability of such findings year to year in the same players remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the same players' biochemical recovery process in 2 consecutive seasons to a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I football game. Ten starting players volunteered to participate in the study in each of the 2 seasons.

Influence of HMB supplementation and resistance training on cytokine responses to resistance exercise.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a multinutritional supplement including amino acids, β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB), and carbohydrates on cytokine responses to resistance exercise and training.

Methods: Seventeen healthy, college-aged men were randomly assigned to a Muscle Armor™ (MA; Abbott Nutrition, Columbus, OH) or placebo supplement group and 12 weeks of resistance training. An acute resistance exercise protocol was administered at 0, 6, and 12 weeks of training.

Relationships of physical performance tests to military-relevant tasks in women.

Purpose: This investigation sought to determine the most predictive measures of performance on a repetitive box lifting task (RBLT) and load bearing task (LBT) among 123 women (aged ±4 years, height 165±7 cm, body mass 64±10 kg).

Methods: To determine the relationship of various predictors to performance on the RBLT and LBT, multiple regression analysis was conducted on body mass, height, leg cross-sectional area, upper and lower body muscular strength, lower body explosive power, upper and lower body local muscular endurance, and aerobic capacity.

Results: The mean±SD (range) number of repetitions for the RBLT was 86±23 (20-159).

Effects of fatigue from resistance training on barbell back squat biomechanics.

Exhaustive resistance training programs that have been previously referred to as extreme conditioning protocols have increased in popularity in military and civilian populations in recent years. However, because of their highly fatiguing nature, proprioception is likely altered during such programs that would significantly affect the safety and efficacy of such programs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the alterations in movement patterns that result from extreme conditioning protocols and to evaluate if these protocols can be deemed safe and effective.

The effects of high intensity short rest resistance exercise on muscle damage markers in men and women.

Within and between sexes, universal load prescription (as assigned in extreme conditioning programs) creates extreme ranges in individual training intensities. Exercise intensity has been proposed to be the main factor determining the degree of muscle damage. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine markers of muscle damage in resistance-trained men (n = 9) and women (n = 9) from a high intensity (HI) short rest (SR) (HI/SR) resistance exercise protocol.

Epinephrine preworkout elevation may offset early morning melatonin concentrations to maintain maximal muscular force and power in track athletes.

The optimal time of day for training has become an important question for many strength and conditioning specialists, and this study was designed to add some insights into this complex question. The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine physical performance within the temporal context of the relationship between physical performance, epinephrine, and melatonin concentrations in the early morning (0530 hours) and late (1500 hours) afternoon in elite collegiate male track and field athletes (jumpers and sprinters). Subjects had a mean (±SD) age, height, and body mass of 20.

The relationship between muscle action and repetition maximum on the squat and bench press in men and women.

The relationship between muscle action and fatigue is not well understood, especially in terms of potential sex-specific differences. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether a different number of repetitions could be performed on the individual muscle actions of the bench press and squat in men and women. Ten resistance-trained men (n = 10; age, 25.