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Glucose Curve Morphology and Peak Time as Metabolic Health Indicators
Full text linkType 2 diabetes is a multifaceted condition characterized by disruptions in insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and associated metabolic defects such as impaired glucose and lipid metabolism and metabolic inflexibility. The oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is a key diagnostic tool for assessing glucose tolerance and metabolic function. Glucose response curve morphology and timing of the glucose peak (at 30 minutes vs \u3e30 minutes) provide valuable insights into the balance between insulin secretion and glucose tolerance. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate glucose curve morphology and glucose peak time as potential markers of metabolic health, focusing on their associations with glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, substrate utilization, and body fat composition. METHODS: Ninety healthy adults (40/50 males/females; age 26.8 ± 4.5 years; BMI 23.1 ± 2.4 kg/m2) underwent a 3-hour OGTT with blood glucose measurements at the 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 minutes. Participants’ insulin sensitivity was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, whole body substrate utilization was measured by assessing sleep respiratory quotient (RQ) in a metabolic chamber and body composition was measured byEchoMRI-AH™ Whole Body Composition Analyzer. Participants were then categorized by glucose curve morphology monophasic (having only one glucose peak) vs. biphasic (having two glucose peaks). Participants were also categorized by glucose peak time (early peak (\u3c30 \u3eminutes) vs. late peak (\u3e30 minutes)) for comparison. RESULTS: Biphasic glucose curve was indicative of lower 2-hr blood glucose level and better glucose tolerance (AUC) than Monophasic glucose curve (p0.05). Early glucose peak time was associated with a higher glucose tolerance (2hr and 3hr AUC), higher insulin sensitivity, higher fat oxidation capacity, and lower body fat percentage compared with late peak time group (pCONCLUSION: Biphasic glucose curve and early peak time are indicative of better glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Comparing glucose curve morphology and glucose peak time during an OGTT demonstrates a stronger discriminative index of metabolic health (insulin sensitivity, fat metabolism, and body fat percentage) and could therefore serve as an additional useful marker of the OGTT for identifying potential diabetes risks
Effects of Inter-set Inspiratory Muscle Activation on Post High-intensity Resistance Exercise Autonomic Regulation, Baroreflex Sensitivity, and Blood Pressure
Full text linkInspiratory muscle exercise and slow breathing have been demonstrated to improve blood pressure control, possibly via an improved sympatho/vagal balance mechanism. Purpose: To test the hypothesis that inter-set inspiratory muscle exercise would attenuate the increase of sympatho/vagal activity ratio and the reduction of baroreflex sensitivity after high-intensity resistance exercise. Methods: A total of 14 recreational active males (n=8, aged= 24±1yrs, BMI=22±1 kg/m2) and females (n=6, aged=24±1yrs, BMI=22±2 kg/m2) were recruited and underwent maximum muscle strength (1RM), maximum inspiratory pressure (PImax) determination after familiarization. Participants were asked to engage in 4 acute bouts of high-intensity resistance exercise (bench press, bicep curl, and squat exercise at 80%1RMÍ10repsÍ5setsÍ1.5min rest interval) with no inter-set breathing control (CON), slow breathing (10 breaths/min, SB), 30%PImax, and 60%PImax by using a randomized, repeated measures study design. Blood pressure, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(baPWV), hemodynamic parameters, heart rate variability (HRV), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) were obtained at Pre, Post, and Post-30 and Post-60 minutes. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24hr AMBP) was also performed following exercise to determine average real variability (ARV), the indicator of blood pressure variability. Female participants were tested during the early follicular phase to avoid possible confounding effects from the menstrual cycle. Results: Compared with the Pre, HR significantly increased at Post in all treatments and remained elevated at Post-30 min in CON (P=0.005) and 60%PImax (P=0.03). Cardiac output increased at Post in CON (P=0.05) and 60%PImax(P=0.04), whereas stroke volume and mean arterial pressure were maintained. There was no time and treatment difference in post-exercise blood pressure, 24-hour AMBP, and baPWV. Compared with the Pre, LF/HF ratio was significantly higher at Post in CON (P=0.001) and SB (P=0.03), whereas 30%PImax and 60%PImax did not elicit significant changes. BRS was significantly reduced at Post in CON (P=0.04), yet it was maintained and significantly higher (P=0.03) at Post-60 min after the 30%PImax session. There were no group differences on 24hrAMBP ARV, despite 30%PImax appeared to elicit lower variability on systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: Compared with no breathing control, inter-set inspiratory muscle activation with resistance at 30%PImax appears effective in maintaining autonomic regulation and baroreflex sensitivity when engaging in high-intensity resistance exercise in apparently healthy young adults
Interclass Reliability of Sit2Stand.ai
Full text linkFree applications to evaluate certain fitness or performance parameters are becoming widely used. The Sit2Stand is an open-source web based tool that is becoming increasingly popular and may have utility for clinical purposes. PURPOSE: To explore the reliability of this open source tool for time, acceleration, and flexion during the sit-2-stand test. METHODS: Participants (n=29, age=29.6±15.1 yrs, ht=165.7±8.8 cm, wt=68.4±18.3 kg) performed a 5-repetition sit-2-stand test two times while filmed with an iPhone (Ph1) and phone using Android (Ph2). Participant were instructed to cross arms and to stand all the way up and sit back on the chair as quickly and safely as possible. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to assess differences for each variable. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess interclass reliability. Alpha was set at .05 for all tests. RESULTS: There were no significant difference between phones and trials for time (F(3, 26) = 1.3, p = 0.281) and acceleration (F(3, 26) = 1.6, p = 0.198). There was a significant difference between phones within trials, F(3, 26) = 21.5, p = 0.001. Ph1 (29.7±10.0 degrees) was significantly lower than Ph2 (32.5±9.5), p = 0.001 for trial 1 as well as trial 2 (28.7±9.0 and 31.0±8.4 degrees, respectively), p = 0.001. There was very strong to moderate reliability between trials for both phones in time and flexion but not for acceleration using Ph1, which was weak reliability and not significant (rxx=0.28, p=0.130). CONCLUSION: While this study adhered to the parameters for camera placement, differences between phones may have contributed to these findings. Although phones were placed side by side, parallax (scaling) error may be a reason for differences in flexion between phones. Due to significant reliability in some parameters, this no-cost, readily-available tool may be of use those in a clinical setting
Postural Balance Adaptations Following an 8-Week Classical Mat Pilates Program in Healthy Individuals
Full text linkThe central nervous system uses proprioceptive inputs from muscles, joints, and skin to maintain postural balance. Pilates exercises, which strengthen abdominal and pelvic muscles, are known to improve spinal stability and postural control. However, limited research has specifically examined the effects of mat-based Pilates training on center of pressure (COP) parameters, a key indicator of postural stability, especially over different training durations. PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the effects of mat-based Pilates training on postural balance by analyzing center of pressure (COP) parameters at three time points: before training (Pre-T), after four weeks of training (4W-T), and after eight weeks of training (8W-T). METHODS: The training and the balance tests were performed at the Biomechanics Laboratory at the São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro – Sao Paulo, Brazil. Seven university students (7 female), with a mean age of 21.7 ± 4.0 years, participated in the Pilates training (8 weeks) and unipodal balance tests done on the AMTI® force platform, for 30 seconds. The variables analyzed were: 1) COPx and COPy; 2) ellipse area produced by COP displacement with 95% of the data; and 3) COP displacement average velocity. Friedman and Bonferroni post hoc tests were applied to compare the results, with a significance level of \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed significant improvements in most parameters after eight weeks of training. The Ellipse Area of the Center of Pressure Displacement with 95% of the Data (Area95COP) decreased from 24 cm² (IQ: 18.7–28.3) to 4.7 cm² (IQ: 3.9–6.0) (p \u3c 0.01). Significant reductions were also observed for the Displacement of the Center of Pressure on the Y-axis (COP-Y) (2.9 cm to 0.55 cm, p \u3c 0.05) and the Average Velocity of the Center of Pressure (AvgVelCOP) (3.1 cm/s to 2.4 cm/s, p \u3c 0.05) at 8W-T. However, no significant changes were observed at 4W-T compared to Pre-T. CONCLUSION: Pilates exercises showed significant improvements in postural balance only after eight weeks of training. These results suggest that the method enhances the control of deep postural muscles (stabilizers), promoting greater trunk stability. Consequently, trunk-related movements become more precise and controlled, with stabilizer muscles responding more efficiently to external stimuli
Effect of Energy Drinks on Manual Dexterity and Reaction Time in Esports Athletes
Full text linkINTRODUCTION: With the rise of esports and energy drink use among gamers, it is essential to understand its effect on performance. PURPOSE: To examine how energy drinks affect esport athletes\u27 manual dexterity and reaction time. METHODS: Twenty volunteers, ages 18 to 40, were tested after ingesting 16 oz of G Fuel, Red Bull, Bang Energy Drink, and a placebo. Sessions were counterbalanced and separated by three to seven days. The Box and Block Test assessed manual dexterity, AimLab Detection and Grid Shot assessed hand-eye coordination, and Human Benchmark assessed reaction time. Repeated measures ANOVA were used to assess difference with alpha set at .05 for all tests. RESULTS: No significant differences in manual dexterity or reaction time across all conditions (p \u3e .05). However, a notable increase in heart rate was observed with Bang Energy Drink (11.2±5.3 b/min) compared to the placebo (6.5±3.2 b/min), p = .003. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that while energy drinks may not enhance manual dexterity or reaction time, it is possible they can significantly affect physiological responses, such as heart rate. Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and potential health risks associated with energy drink consumption in esports athlete
A Comparative Analysis of Nutritional Knowledge among Division 1 College Athletes
Full text linkNutrition is a cornerstone of athletic performance, yet many athletes at the collegiate level lack sufficient knowledge about how to properly fuel their bodies for optimal performance. While athletes generally recognize that nutrition is important for health and performance, many fail to fully understand the specific nutritional needs that support their intense physical demands. This gap in nutritional knowledge can hinder not only their performance, but also their recovery and long-term health. Given the complex role that nutrition plays in athletes’ training, competition, and recovery, addressing this knowledge gap is essential for ensuring athletes can reach their full athletic potential. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the nutritional knowledge of NCAA Division 1 athletes in relation to their gender, major, or sport. METHODS: This study was conducted via survey of NCAA Division 1 athletes utilizing the A- NSKQ survey, which asks questions on general nutrition knowledge and sports nutrition knowledge. RESULTS: Once all the surveys were completed, an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted to determine whether there were significant differences in Nutritional Knowledge questions by Gender. The ANOVA was examined based on an alpha value of .002. The results of the ANOVA were not significant, F(1, 14) = 3.10, p = .100, indicating the differences in Nutritional Knowledge among Genders were all similar. There were also no significant relationships between Nutritional Knowledge and sport or major. Frequencies and percentages were calculated for the survey question “Should Vitamin C always be taken by athletes?” All responses were incorrect. Additionally, when given a multiple-choice question about drinking water, no respondents could correctly identify that drinking water was important to keep blood plasma volume stable. Finally, when asked in a multiple-choice format, no respondents could correctly identify how many grams of protein an athlete should consume after a workout. Overall, it was found that NCAA Division 1 athletes lack the nutritional knowledge they may need to further enhance their athletic performance. This study determined that athletes have better knowledge on general nutrition than sports nutrition. CONCLUSION: Division 1 athletes tend to have poor sports nutritional knowledge which can hinder their athletic performance and recovery. Therefore, providing educational programs on nutrition for athletes can improve athlete’s nutritional knowledge and overall enhance their athletic performance and recovery since athlete will be aware of what foods are better for their body and when to consume them
Mitochondrial Function in T-Cells: The Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Body Fat in Men and Women
Full text linkPURPOSE: Determine whether T-cell mitochondria differ in women and men categorized by cardiorespiratory fitness and percent body fat. METHODS: 9 women (age: (mean ± standard deviation) 29.2 ± 6.8 years) and 17 men (age: 28.0 ± 6.3 years) visited our laboratory for a body fat scan, donate blood sample and complete a VO2max test. For the VO2max test, participants were fitted with a heart rate monitor and a mask for breath analysis with a metabolic cart. Participants cycled on bicycle ergometer with the resistance increased 20 watts/minute until volitional exhaustion. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and stained with Mitotracker Green FM to measure mitochondrial mass, Mitotracker DeepRed to measure mitochondrial polarization, and with a fluorescent antibody against CD3 to identify T-cells. Mitochondria function was identified based on Mitotracker staining and expressed as a ratio: higher ratio values indicate more functional mitochondria within T cells. Data collected from women and men were analyzed separately by independent T-tests to assess differences in T-cell mitochondrial mass and function between high and low cardiorespiratory fitness and between high and low percent body fat. RESULTS: Compared to women with lower VO2max values (range: 24 – 29 ml/min/kg) women with higher VO2max values (range 30 – 39 ml/min/kg) trended towards a greater ratio of functional mitochondria in T-cells (104.7 ± 44.1 vs 47.1 ± 17.8; t=-2.46, p=.073). They did not differ in T-cell mitochondrial mass (t= -0.21, p=.837). Men with higher VO2max (range: 39 – 57 ml/min/kg) compared to men with lower VO2max (range: 25 – 36 ml/min/kg) did not differ in T cell mitochondrial functional ratio (t=-0.47, p=.64) or mass (t=0.36, p= .72). Women grouped by % body fat (low: range: 22 – 28; vs high: range: 29 – 40) did not differ in T cell mitochondrial functional ratio (t=0.23, p=.41) or mass (t=0.74, p= .48). Compared to men with higher % body fat (range: 23 – 30), men with lower % body fat (range: 12 – 20) trended towards having a greater ratio of functional mitochondria in T-cells (238.4 ± 78.3 vs 78.3 ± 46.9; t=1.81, p=.095). They did not differ in T-cell mitochondrial mass (t= -0.01, p=.99). CONCLUSION: T-cell mitochondrial function and mass did not differ as intended. There was a trend towards an increased ratio of functional mitochondria in women with higher VO2max, and a trend towards an increased ratio of functional mitochondria in men with lower % body fat. Given our small sample size, we likely lacked statistical power to detect a difference. Data collection is continuing
January 30, 2025 NAGPRA and Tribal Relations Committee Meeting Minutes
Full text linkMinutes from the January 30, 2025 meeting of Western Kentucky University\u27s NAGPRA and Tribal Relations Committee. The meeting was conducted via Zoom
Do Cheaters Prosper? Effect of Externally Supplied Momentum During Resistance Training on Measures of Upper Body Muscle Hypertrophy
Full text linkInternational Journal of Exercise Science 18(3): 329-342, 2025. Exercise technique, defined as the controlled execution of bodily movements to ensure an exercise effectively targets specific muscle groups while minimizing the risk of injury, is a resistance training (RT) variable frequently highlighted as critical to successful RT program outcomes, with proper technique suggested to play a role in maximizing muscle development. This study examined the effects of externally applied momentum on RT-induced muscular adaptations in the upper extremities. Thirty young adults were recruited to participate in a within-participant design, with one limb randomly allocated to perform biceps curls and triceps pushdowns using strict form (STRICT) and the other using external momentum (CHEAT). Participants completed four sets of each exercise with 8-12 repetitions until momentary muscular failure, twice a week for eight weeks. We obtained pre-post proximal and distal measures of muscle thickness for the elbow flexors and extensors, and assessed circumference changes in the upper arms. Data were analyzed in a Bayesian framework including both univariate and multivariate mixed effect models with random effects. Differences between conditions were estimated as average treatment effects, with inferences based on posterior distributions and Bayes Factors (BFs). Results showed similar between-conditions increases for all muscle thickness sites as well as circumference measures, generating consistent support for the null hypothesis (BF = 0.06 to 0.61). Volume load was markedly greater for CHEAT compared to STRICT across each week of the intervention. In conclusion, the use of external momentum during single-joint RT of the upper extremities neither helped nor hindered hypertrophy of the target muscles
February 27, 2025 NAGPRA and Tribal Relations Committee Meeting Minutes
Full text linkMinutes from the February 27, 2025 meeting of Western Kentucky University\u27s NAGPRA and Tribal Relations Committee. The meeting was conducted via Zoom