Activation of skeletal muscle mechanoreceptors and nociceptors reduces the exercise performance of the contralateral homologous muscles.

Increasing evidence suggests that activation of muscle nerve afferents may inhibit central motor drive, affecting contractile performance of remote exercising muscles. Although these effects are well documented for metaboreceptors, very little is known about the activation of mechano- and mechanonociceptive afferents on performance fatigability. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of mechanoreceptors and nociceptors on performance fatigability.

The corticomuscular response to experimental pain via blood flow occlusion when applied to the ipsilateral and contralateral leg during an isometric force task.

Blood flow occlusion (BFO) has been previously used to investigate physiological responses to muscle ischemia, showing increased perceptual effort (RPE) and pain along with impaired neuromuscular performance. However, at present, it is unclear how BFO alters corticomuscular activities when either applied to the exercising or nonexercising musculature. The present study therefore set out to assess the corticomuscular response to these distinct BFO paradigms during an isometric contraction precision task.

Effects of exercise induced muscle damage on cardiovascular responses to isometric muscle contractions and post-exercise circulatory occlusion.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) influences cardiovascular responses to isometric exercise and post-exercise circulatory occlusion (PECO). We hypothesized that EIMD would increase muscle afferent sensitivity and, accordingly, increase blood pressure responses to exercise and PECO.

Methods: Eleven male and nine female participants performed unilateral isometric knee extension at 30% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) for 3-min.

Efficacy of supervised exercise prehabilitation programs to improve major abdominal surgery outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The optimal package of components for a prehabilitation intervention remains unclear. The aim was to determine the efficacy of supervised exercise prehabilitation programs to enhance patient fitness and improve surgical outcomes. The protocol was preregistered (PROSPERO: CRD42020180693).

Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndromes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cardiorespiratory fitness and neuromuscular function compared with healthy individuals.

Objective: To determine cardiorespiratory fitness and neuromuscular function of people with CFS and FMS compared to healthy individuals.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data Sources: PubMed, Medline, CINAHL, AMED, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and PEDro from inception to June 2022.

Effect of nitrate supplementation on skeletal muscle motor unit activity during isometric blood flow restriction exercise.

Background: Nitrate (NO) supplementation has been reported to lower motor unit (MU) firing rate (MUFR) during dynamic resistance exercise; however, its impact on MU activity during isometric and ischemic exercise is unknown.

Purpose: To assess the effect of NO supplementation on knee extensor MU activities during brief isometric contractions and a 3 min sustained contraction with blood flow restriction (BFR).

Methods: Sixteen healthy active young adults (six females) completed two trials in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design.

The association of elevated blood pressure during ischaemic exercise with sport performance in Master athletes with and without morbidity.

Background: An exaggerated exercise blood pressure (BP) is associated with a reduced exercise capacity. However, its connection to physical performance during competition is unknown.

Aim: To examine BP responses to ischaemic handgrip exercise in Master athletes (MA) with and without underlying morbidities and to assess their association with athletic performance during the World Master Track Cycling Championships 2019.

Age-related declines in muscle and respiratory function are proportionate to declines in performance in Master Track Cyclists.

Purpose: Respiratory and musculoskeletal function decline with age, irrespective of physical activity levels. Previous work has suggested that the age-related rate of decline in function of these two systems might be similar, but it is not known to what extent each system contributes to decreasing performance in ageing master cyclists. Therefore, the purposes of this study are (1) whether the age-related rate of decline in respiratory function, respiratory muscle strength, muscle architecture, muscle function, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit and performance in master cyclists is uniform and (2) which parameters contribute most to the reduction in performance with age.

Superior Physiological Adaptations After a Microcycle of Short Intervals Versus Long Intervals in Cyclists.

Purpose: To compare the effects of a 1-week high-intensity aerobic-training shock microcycle composed of either 5 short-interval sessions (SI; n = 9, 5 series with 12 × 30-s work intervals interspersed with 15-s recovery and 3-min recovery between series) or 5 long-interval sessions (LI; n = 8, 6 series of 5-min work intervals with 2.5-min recovery between series) on indicators of endurance performance in well-trained cyclists.

Methods: Before and following 6 days with standardized training loads after the 1-week high-intensity aerobic-training shock microcycle, both groups were tested in physiological determinants of endurance performance.