23 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Structured Exercise to Offset Physical and Cognitive Decline Among Generians and Parkinson’s Patients
No full textHealthy aging involves not only an active lifestyle, but also setting explicit goals in an attempt to maximize independence and quality of life. Although exercise prescriptions exist for nearly all populations, optimal training modalities for the elderly and those with Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains to be determined. To our knowledge, Study 1 is the first randomized control trial to compare traditional slow-velocity strength training to high-velocity power training in PD patients using pneumatic resistance machines. Studies 2 and 3 explored the impact of similar protocols in both active older and PD populations, with manipulations in the timing and placement of functional exercise days during daily undulating periodization models. Given the strong associations between cognitive health, exercise and functional independence in older adults, Study 4 compared the impact of high-speed circuit resistance training (HVCRT) to a moderate-intensity treadmill training intervention and control group, while examining potential changes across measures of executive function (EF) and aerobic power. Finally, complementary and alternative approaches to rehabilitation are becoming increasingly understood and more widely accepted in the West. Therefore, Study 5 compared the relative efficacy of yoga meditation and a proprioceptive training across indices of body awareness, balance, and functional movement among those with PD. Findings from this work suggest that both strength- and power-specific training can improve select neuromuscular variables in the elderly and persons with PD. We also found that HVCRT improved select measures of EF over steady-state aerobic training, suggesting some advantage for the use of complex resistance training and the importance of intensity when targeting domains of cognition. Further, yoga meditation, which incorporated both mentally and visually guided movements, led to significant improvements in functional gait and indices of body awareness mediated through kinesthetic feedback in those diagnosed with Parkinson's.</p
Mindfulness with Collegiate Gymnasts: Effects on Flow, Stress and Overall Mindfulness Levels
No full textThe physical and psychological demands of sports can place an athlete under a variety of stressors. Subsequently, the way in which athletes deal with such stressors can positively or negatively affect their performance. Flow is defined as a type of experience where one is completely engaged in an activity and optimally functioning. Recently, an increase in mindfulness and acceptance based approaches have been utilized as a means to augment negative emotions in sport and many have suggested a link between mindfulness and flow. Thus, if mindfulness can positively influence flow, perhaps performance can also be positively affected. There has also been a need to determine optimal intervention lengths to successfully teach mindfulness practices within sports teams. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of a mindfulness training program on mindfulness scores, dispositional flow scores, and perceived stress scores within a population of Division I female collegiate gymnasts. Results from a repeated measures ANOVA indicated that athletes who participated in the mindfulness training demonstrated a statistically significant difference in the dispositional flow dimensions of loss of self-consciousness and the autotelic experience. These results suggest that mindfulness may influence factors associated with athletic performance
EEG Responses to Incremental Self-Paced Cycling Exercise in Young and Middle Aged Adults
No full textInternational Journal of Exercise Science 12(3): 800-810, 2019. Electroencephalography (EEG) is a non-invasive method of measuring electrical activity of the brain during exercise. There is conflicting evidence as to how neural activity changes in relation to incremental exercise testing (IET), or if age has any effect. The purpose of this study was to determine 1) how brain activity changes throughout an IET, and 2) if age affects this response. 13 younger (age: 24.9 ± 2.6 years, 9 males) and 10 middle-aged (49.1 ± 3.2 years, 3 males) recreationally active individuals volunteered for this study. A self-paced, perceptually regulated IET was performed, while subjects wore an EEG electrode strip. Power spectral density (PSD) was calculated; alpha (8-13 Hz) and beta (13-30 Hz) activity from the prefrontal and motor cortices was compared to baseline measures. A one-way repeated-measures ANOVA with age as a between-subjects factor was used to determine the effect of test stage and age on PSD. Relative PSD in both the alpha and beta frequency bands increased with exercise intensity. In the prefrontal and motor cortices there was a main effect of stage (both p \u3c .05), and PSD increased markedly at the end of the test. There was no difference between age groups (all p \u3e .05). The lack of a downregulation in neural activity in the final stage of the test is in contrast to some studies but corroborates others. A likely cause for the differences between studies is exercise modality preference. There was no age effect, which may be due to the subjects used (middle-aged regular exercisers)
Yoga Breathing Techniques Have No Impact on Isokinetic and Isoinertial Power
No full textWooten, SV, Cherup, N, Mazzei, N, Patel, S, Mooney, K, Rafiq, A, and Signorile, JF. Yoga breathing techniques have no impact on isokinetic and isoinertial power. J Strength Cond Res 34(2): 430-439, 2020-As an exercise discipline, yoga incorporates breathing (pranayama) and posture (asana) techniques to facilitate improvements in flexibility, strength, and meditation. Both techniques have been used to enhance muscular strength and power output. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of various yoga breathing techniques on lower-limb power output. Thirty-two individuals (15 men and 17 women) participated in the study. All subjects performed a baseline 1 repetition maximum (1RM) on a pneumatic leg press machine and isokinetic testing on a Biodex 4 dynamometer. Participants then performed 3RM power tests at 50% of 1RM on the pneumatic leg press machine using 3 different yoga breathing techniques (Ujjayi, Bhastrika, and Kapalabhati) and normal breathing (control) across all repetitions. After power testing, participants completed an isokinetic test on the Biodex 4 dynamometer using their dominant leg. Subjects had their knee placed at a predetermined starting position (90°) and executed knee extension at 3 randomized testing speeds (60, 180, and 300°·s). The implementation of specific breathing protocols before and during the leg press produced no significant differences in power output. For isokinetic power measured at 60, 180, and 300°·s, there was a significant difference among testing speeds (η = 0.639; p < 0.0001) and a significant sex × speed interaction (η = 0.064; p < 0.0001), where men consistently demonstrated greater isoinertial power, isokinetic power, isokinetic torque, and isokinetic work than women. No other significant differences or interactions were detected. The differences between our study and others, which have concluded that adopting specific breathing techniques can enhance core stability and force production during lifting, may be attributable to the acute nature of the design, the novice participants who had insufficient time to practice the breathing techniques or testing protocols, and the use of tests that isolated specific muscle groups. Nonetheless, the current findings do not support the use of yoga breathing techniques as a method to enhance power output, whether used before or during power performance
Cortical neural arousal is differentially affected by type of physical exercise performed
No full textPeriodized Resistance Training With and Without Functional Training Improves Functional Capacity, Balance, and Strength in Parkinson's Disease
No full textPeriodized progressive resistance training (PRT) is a common method used to improve strength in persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). Many researchers advocate the addition of functional training to optimize translation to activities of daily living; however, machine-based PRT, using both force and velocity training components, may elicit similar benefits. Thirty-five persons with PD (Hoehn and Yahr I–III) were randomized into a strength, power, and hypertrophy (SPH; n = 17) or strength, power, and functional (SP + Func; n = 18) group, training 3 times weekly for 12 weeks. Both groups performed machine-based strength and power training on days 1 and 2 each week, respectively; whereas, on day 3, SPH group performed machine-based hypertrophy training and SP + Func group performed functional training. Functional performance was tested using the timed up and go, 30-second sit-to-stand (30-s STS), gallon-jug shelf-transfer, and seated medicine ball throw (SMBT) tests. Balance (Mini-BESTest), strength, motor symptoms (UPDRS-III), quality of life, and freezing of gait (FOG) were also assessed. Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed a main effect for time (p ≤ 0.05) with significant improvements for the sample in the 30-s STS (p = 0.002), SMBT (p = 0.003), Mini-BESTest (p < 0.001), upper-body strength (p = 0.002) and lower-body strength (p < 0.001). A significant group × time interaction was seen for FOG, with SP + Func alone showing improvement (p = 0.04). Furthermore, the SPH group produced a clinically important difference for the UPDRS-III (mean difference = 4.39, p = 0.18). We conclude that both exercise strategies can be equally effective at improving functional capacity, balance, and muscular strength in individuals with PD. In addition, FOG and motor symptoms may be targeted through SP + Func and SPH, respectively. The results provide options for individualized exercise prescriptions.måsjekke
Neuropsychological Function in Traumatic Brain Injury and the Influence of Chronic Pain
No full textCognitive dysfunction, pain, and psychological morbidity all present unique challenges to those living with traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study we examined (a) the impact of pain across domains of attention, memory, and executive function, and (b) the relationships between pain and depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in persons with chronic TBI. Our sample included 86 participants with a TBI and chronic pain (n = 26), patients with TBI and no chronic pain (n = 23), and a pain-free control group without TBI (n = 37). Participants visited the laboratory and completed a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests as part of a structured interview. Multivariate analysis of covariance using education as a covariate, failed to detect a significant group difference for neuropsychological composite scores of attention, memory, and executive function (p = .165). A follow-up analysis using multiple one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted for individual measures of executive function. Post-hoc testing indicated that those in both TBI groups preformed significantly worse on measures of semantic fluency when compared to controls (p < 0.001, ηρ2 = .16). Additionally, multiple ANOVAs indicated that those with TBI and pain scored significantly worse across all psychological assessments (p < .001). We also found significant associations between measures of pain and most psychological symptoms. A follow-up stepwise linear regression among those in the TBI pain group indicated that post concussive complaints, pain severity, and neuropathic pain symptoms differentially contributed to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. These findings suggest deficits in verbal fluency among those living with chronic TBI, with results also reinforcing the multidimensional nature of pain and its psychological significance in this population
Recommended from our members
A preliminary study evaluating self-reported effects of cannabis and cannabinoids on neuropathic pain and pain medication use in people with spinal cord injury
No full textApproximately 60% of individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) experience neuropathic pain, which often persists despite the use of various pharmacological treatments. Increasingly, the potential analgesic effects of cannabis and cannabinoid products have been studied; however, little research has been conducted among those with SCI-related neuropathic pain. Therefore, the primary objective of the study was to investigate the perceived effects of cannabis and cannabinoid use on neuropathic pain among those who were currently or had previously used these approaches. Additionally, the study aimed to determine if common pain medications are being substituted by cannabis and cannabinoids. Participants (N = 342) were recruited from existing opt-in listserv sources within the United States. Of those, 227 met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. The participants took part in an anonymous online survey regarding past and current use of cannabis and their perceived effects on neuropathic pain, including the use of pain medication. Those in the sample reported average neuropathic pain intensity scores over the past week of 6.8 ± 2.1 (0 to 10 scale), reflecting a high moderate to severe level of pain. Additionally, 87.9% noted that cannabis reduced their neuropathic pain intensity by more than 30%, and 92.3% reported that cannabis helped them to better deal with their neuropathic pain symptoms. Most participants (83.3%) also reported substituting their pain medications with cannabis, with the most substituted medication categories being opioids (47.0%), gabapentinoids (42.8%) and over-the-counter pain medications (42.2%). These preliminary results suggest that cannabis and cannabinoids may be effective in reducing neuropathic pain among those with SCI and may help to limit the need for certain pain medications
Recommended from our members
Optimal loads for power in older men and women using plate-loaded resistance machines
No full textAge-related decrements in power affect quality of life in older adults; however, no studies have determined the optimal loads that maximize power outputs using the most commonly employed lifting equipment, plate-loaded machines.
Fifteen older men (69.2 ± 6.9 y) and 22 older women (68.9 ± 5.9 y) performed two sessions of strength and power testing. Individuals completed ten plate-loaded exercises to determine their maximum dynamic strengths (1RM) and peak power outputs (PP). Power was tested at 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80% 1RM using a linear position transducer. PP was expressed relative to the highest power produced (PPREL).
Multi-joint exercises produced optimal load values at 50–60%1RM for leg press, 50%1RM for chest press, and 40–60%1RM for seated row, with no significant differences among loads for shoulder press. Single-joint exercise optimal loads were seen at 50–60% for hip adduction, 50–70%1RM for calf raise, 60–80%1RM for biceps curl, and 50–80%1RM for triceps extension, with no significant differences between loads for hip abduction or leg curl. No significant differences were found between sexes for any exercise.
Different optimal load ranges are required for individual plate-loaded exercises in older persons. Specifically, multi-joint exercises demonstrated a narrow optimal load range favoring the velocity end of the load-velocity curve, while single-joint exercises produced a wider optimal load range extending into the upper limits of the load end of the curve.
•Optimal loads for power differ among plate-loaded resistance exercises.•Multi-joint exercise favor velocity, while single joint exercise favor load.•No difference was seen in optimal load for older men and women
