Alexandra Avloniti

Time course of changes in performance and inflammatory responses after acute plyometric exercise.

Chatzinikolaou, A, Fatouros, IG, Gourgoulis, V, Avloniti, A, Jamurtas, AZ, Nikolaidis, MG, Douroudos, I, Michailidis, Y, Beneka, A, Malliou, P, Tofas, T, Georgiadis, I, Mandalidis, D, and Taxildaris, K. Time course of changes in performance and inflammatory responses after acute plyometric exercise. J Strength Cond Res 24(5): 1389-1398, 2010-The objectives of the present investigation were to study the inflammatory and performance responses after an acute bout of intense plyometric exercise during a prolonged recovery period. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (P, n = 12) that performed intense plyometric exercises or a control group (C, n = 12) that rested. The delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), knee range of motion (KROM), creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, white blood cell count, C reactive protein (CRP), uric acid (UA), cortisol, testosterone, IL-6, IL-1b strength (isometric and isokinetic), and countermovement (CMJ) and static (SJ) jumping performance were measured at rest, immediately postexercise and at 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 hours of recovery. Lactate was measured at rest and postexercise. Strength remained unchanged throughout recovery, but CMJ and SJ declined (p < 0.05) by 8-20%. P induced a marked rise in DOMS, CK, and LDH (peaked 24-48 hours postexercise) and a KROM decline. An acute-phase inflammatory response consisting of leukocytosis (postexercise and at 24 hours), an IL-6, IL-1b, CRP, and cortisol elevation (during the first 24 hours of recovery) and a delayed increase of UA (peaked at 48 hours) and testosterone (peaked at 72 hours) was observed in P. The results of this investigation indicate that performing an acute bout of intense plyometric exercise may induce a short-term muscle damage and marked but transient inflammatory responses. Jumping performance seems to deteriorate for as long as 72 hours postexercise, whereas strength appears to remain unchanged. The acute-phase inflammatory response after a plyometric exercise protocol appears to follow the same pattern as in other exercise models. These results clearly indicate the need of sufficient recovery between successive plyometric exercise training sessions.

Effect of Rhythmic Gymnastics on Volumetric Bone Mineral Density and Bone Geometry in Premenarcheal Female Athletes and Controls

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Weight-bearing exercise during growth exerts positive effects on the skeleton. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that long-term elite rhythmic gymnastics exerts positive effects on volumetric bone mineral density and geometry and to determine whether exercise-induced bone adaptation is associated with increased periosteal bone formation or medullary contraction using tibial peripheral quantitative computed tomography and bone turnover markers. DESIGN AND SETTING We conducted a cross-sectional study at a tertiary center. SUBJECTS We studied 26 elite premenarcheal female rhythmic gymnasts (RG) and 23 female controls, aged 9-13 yr. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We measured bone age, volumetric bone mineral density, bone mineral content (BMC), cortical thickness, cortical and trabecular area, and polar stress strength index (SSIp) by peripheral quantitative computed tomography of the left tibia proximal to the distal metaphysis (trabecular) at 14, 38 (cortical), and 66% (muscle mass) from the distal end and bone turnover markers. RESULTS The two groups were comparable according to height and chronological and bone age. After weight adjustment, cortical BMC, area, and thickness at 38% were significantly higher in RG (P < 0.005-0.001). Periosteal circumference, SSIp, and muscle area were higher in RG (P < 0.01-0.001). Muscle area was significantly associated with cortical BMC, area, and SSIp, whereas years of training showed positive association with cortical BMC, area, and thickness independent of chronological age. CONCLUSIONS RG in premenarcheal girls may induce positive adaptations on the skeleton, especially in cortical bone. Increased duration of exercise is associated with a positive response of bone geometry.

Adipose Tissue Lipolysis Is Upregulated in Lean and Obese Men During Acute Resistance Exercise

OBJECTIVE—To investigate the effect of acute resistance exercise on adipose tissue triacylglycerol lipase activity (TGLA) in lean and obese men. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Nine lean and eight obese men performed 30 min of circuit resistance exercise. Adipose tissue and blood were sampled during exercise for TGLA, metabolite, and hormone determinations. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was measured throughout exercise. RESULTS—Energy expenditure of exercise relative to body mass was higher in the lean and RER was higher in the obese men, suggesting lower fat oxidation. TGLA increased 18-fold at 5 min of exercise in the lean men and 16-fold at 10 min of exercise in the obese men. The delayed lipolytic activation in the obese men was reflected in serum nonesterified fatty acid and glycerol concentrations. Plasma insulin increased in the obese but did not change in the lean men. CONCLUSIONS—Resistance exercise upregulated adipose tissue lipolysis and enhanced energy expenditure in lean and obese men, with a delayed lipolytic activation in the obese men.

Muscle damage, inflammatory, immune and performance responses to three football games in 1 week in competitive male players

PurposeWe examined effects of a three-game, 1-week microcycle (G1, G2, G3) on recovery of performance and inflammatory responses in professional male footballers.MethodsPlayers were randomized into an experimental (EXP; N = 20) and a control group (CON; N = 20). Blood was drawn and repeated sprint ability (RSA), muscle soreness and knee range of motion (KJRM) were determined pre- and post-games and during recovery.ResultsHigh-intensity running during G2 was 7–14 % less compared to G1 and G3. RSA declined in EXP by 2–9 % 3 days post-game with G2 causing the greatest performance impairment. In EXP, game play increased muscle soreness (~sevenfold) compared to CON with G2 inducing the greatest rise, while KJRM was attenuated post-game in EXP compared to CON (5–7 %) and recovered slower post G2 and G3 than G1. CK, CRP, sVCAM-1, sP-Selectin and cortisol peaked 48 h post-games with G2 eliciting the greatest increase. Leukocyte count, testosterone, IL-1β and IL6 responses, although altered 24 h post each game, were comparable among games. Plasma TBARS and protein carbonyls rose by ~50 % post-games with G2 eliciting the greatest increase 48 h of recovery. Reduced to oxidized glutathione ratio declined for 24 h post all games with G2 displaying the slowest recovery. Total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity increased (9–56 %) for 48 h in response to game play.ConclusionIn summary, post-game performance recovery and inflammatory adaptations in response to a three-game weekly microcycle displayed a different response pattern, with strong indications of a largest physiological stress and fatigue after the middle game that was preceded by only a 3-day recovery.

Time of sampling is crucial for measurement of cell-free plasma DNA following acute aseptic inflammation induced by exercise.

OBJECTIVES To determine the time-course changes of cell-free plasma DNA (cfDNA) following heavy exercise. METHODS cfDNA concentration, C-reactive protein levels (hs-CRP), uric acid concentration (UA), creatine kinase activity (CK) were measured before and post-exercise (immediately post, 0.5h, 1h, 2h, 3h, 4h, 5h, 6h, 8h, 10h, 24h). RESULTS cfDNA increased (15-fold) 30-min post-exercise and normalized thereafter. hs-CRP increased (56%, p<0.001) 1h post-exercise, remained elevated throughout recovery (52-142%, p<0.0001), and peaked (200% rise, p<0.0001) at 24h post-exercise. UA and CK increased (p<0.05), immediately post-exercise, remained elevated throughout recovery (p<0.0001), and peaked (p<0.0001) at 24h of post-exercise recovery. CONCLUSIONS cfDNA sampling timing is crucial and a potential source of error following aseptic inflammation.

Acute resistance exercise results in catecholaminergic rather than hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stimulation during exercise in young men

Exercise is a paradigm of a stress situation. The adaptive response to stressors comprises the activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and components of the autonomic sympathetic system. An aseptic inflammatory reaction is triggered by exercise, involving the stimulation of the so-called proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and IL-6. The anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-8, and IL-10 increase moderately during resistance exercise. To investigate the effect of a short bout of resistance exercise on components of the stress and inflammatory responses during the exercise period, 17 healthy, young, untrained male volunteers were studied during 3 equal consecutive cycles of resistance exercises of 30 min total duration. Blood sampling was performed at baseline and at the end of each cycle. Lactate, cortisol, catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine), IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, epidermal growth factor (EGF), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) were measured at all time-points. Circulating levels of catecholamines and lactate increased significantly (P < 0.05) whereas cortisol did not. During the time course of the exercise, circulating levels of TNFα, IL-2, and EGF increased, whereas MCP-1 decreased significantly. IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels did not change significantly. Statistically significant positive linear correlations were found between areas under the curve for increases in levels of IL-2 and TNFα, TNFα and cortisol, as well as epinephrine and norepinephrine. We conclude that acute resistance exercise results in catecholaminergic, but not HPA axis stimulation during exercise, in parallel with a mild inflammatory reaction. The absence of a major inflammatory reaction and of a cortisol increase during acute resistance exercise makes this a good candidate for the exercise of sedentary individuals.

The microcycle of inflammation and performance changes after a basketball match

Abstract Basketball incorporates intense eccentric muscle activity that induces muscle microtrauma and an inflammatory response. This study investigated time-dependent inflammatory and performance responses during a weekly microcycle after a basketball match. Twenty elite-standard players underwent a trial that comprised a match followed by a 6-day simulated in-season microcycle. The trial was preceded by a control condition that did not have a match. Blood sampling and tests of maximal-intensity exercise performance and muscle damage occurred before each condition, immediately after the match and daily thereafter for 6 consecutive days. The match induced marked increases in heart rate, lactate, ammonia, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides. Performance deteriorated for 24–48 h after the match, whereas knee flexor and extensor soreness increased for 48 and 24 h post-match, respectively. Inflammatory (leukocytes, C-reactive protein, creatine kinase activity, adhesion molecules, cortisol, uric acid and cytokines) and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, protein carbonyls, oxidised glutathione, antioxidant capacity, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) markers increased for ~24 h and subsided thereafter. Reduced glutathione declined for 24 h after exercise. These results suggest that a basketball match elicits moderate and relatively brief (~24–48 h) inflammatory responses, is associated with marked but short-lived performance deterioration, but is less stressful than other intermittent-type sports.

The time-frame of acute resistance exercise effects on football skill performance: The impact of exercise intensity

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the recovery rate of football skill performance following resistance exercise of moderate or high intensity. Ten elite football players participated in three different trials: control, low-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets, 8–10 repetitions/set, 65–70% 1 repetition maximum [1RM]) and high-intensity resistance exercise (4 sets, 4–6 repetitions/set, 85–90% 1RM) in a counterbalanced manner. In each experimental condition, participants were evaluated pre, post, and at 24, 48, 72 h post exercise time points. Football skill performance was assessed through the Loughborough Soccer Passing Test, long passing, dribbling, shooting and heading. Delayed onset muscle soreness, knee joint range of motion, and muscle strength (1RM) in squat were considered as muscle damage markers. Blood samples analysed for creatine kinase activity, C-reactive protein, and leukocyte count. Passing and shooting performance declined (P < 0.05) post-exercise following resistance exercise. Strength declined post-exercise following high-intensity resistance exercise. Both trials induced only a mild muscle damage and inflammatory response in an intensity-dependent manner. These results indicate that football skill performance is minimally affected by acute resistance exercise independent of intensity suggesting that elite players may be able to participate in a football practice or match after only 24 h following a strength training session.

A Microcycle of Inflammation Following a Team Handball Game

Abstract Chatzinikolaou, A, Christoforidis, C, Avloniti, A, Draganidis, D, Jamurtas, AZ, Stampoulis, T, Ermidis, G, Sovatzidis, A, Papassotiriou, I, Kambas, A, and Fatouros, IG. A microcycle of inflammation following a team handball game. J Strength Cond Res 28(7): 1981–1994, 2014—This study investigated the time-course of performance and inflammatory responses during a simulated 6-day in-season microcycle following a team handball (TH) game. Twenty-four handball players participated in a 1-week control trial and in an experimental trial (TH game participation followed by a 6-day training microcycle). Concentrations of lactate, glucose, glycerol, triglycerides, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs), and ammonia were measured pregame and postgame. Heart rate (HR) was monitored during the game. Performance (jumping, speed, agility, line-drill testing, and strength), muscle damage (knee range of motion [ROM], knee extensors/flexors delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS], and creatine kinase activity [CK]), inflammatory (leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, interleukins 1&bgr; and 6 [IL-1&bgr; and IL-6], soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1 [sVCAM-1], p-selectin, uric acid, cortisol, and testosterone), and oxidative stress (malondialdehyde [MDA], protein carbonyls [PC], reduced [GSH] and oxidized glutathione [GSSG], total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase, glutathione peroxidase activity [GPX]) markers were determined pregame, postgame, and daily for 6 consecutive days postgame. The game induced a marked rise of HR (∼170 b·min−1), lactate (∼8-fold), glycerol (60%), NEFA (105%), and ammonia (∼62%). Performance deteriorated until 24 hours postgame. Knee ROM decreased (3–5%), whereas DOMS and CK increased (3- to 5-fold and 80–100%, respectively) 24 hours postgame. Leukocyte count, IL-1&bgr;, IL-6, cortisol, MDA, PC, and catalase increased only immediately postgame. C-reactive protein and uric acid increased at 24 hours; sVCAM-1, GSSG, and GPX peaked postgame and remained elevated for 24 hours. The GSH declined until 24 hours postgame. Results suggest that a TH game represents a strong metabolic challenge and induces a short-lived and modest inflammatory response that may affect performance for as long as 24 hours postgame.

Interrelations among the adipocytokines leptin and adiponectin, oxidative stress and aseptic inflammation markers in pre- and early-pubertal normal-weight and obese boys

PurposePresumed interrelationships among deleterious aspects of adipose tissue metabolism, inflammation, and cellular oxidative stress could be influenced by pubertal hormonal changes. They were investigated in pre- and early pubertal normal-weight and obese boys before and after an exercise bout employed as an energy demanding stimulator.MethodsCross-sectional study. Seventy-six healthy pre- (mean ± SD, 10.6 ± 0.2 years old, 28 normal-weight, and 11 obese) and early-(11.4 ± 0.2 years old, 25 normal-weight, and 12 obese) pubertal boys, were blood-sampled before and after a bout of exercise at 70% VO2 max. Leptin, adiponectin, markers of inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, high sensitivity IL-6), pro- (thiobarbitouric acid reactive substances, protein carbonyls) and anti- (glutathione, oxidized glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, total antioxidant capacity) oxidation were measured.ResultsBaseline and post-exercise adiponectin was greater and leptin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were lower in normal-weight than in obese pre- and early pubertal boys, while high sensitivity IL-6 was greater in obese than in normal-weight pre-pubertal boys. In pre-pubertal obese boys: at baseline, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein correlated negatively with catalase; high sensitivity IL-6 correlated positively with protein carbonyls; Δ (difference during exercise) adiponectin correlated positively with Δcatalase. In all boys: at baseline, high sensitivity IL-6 correlated positively with leptin and was the best negative and the second best positive predictor for post-exercise glutathione/oxidized glutathione and protein carbonyls, respectively; leptin was the best negative predictor for post-exercise glutathione; waist to height ratio was the best positive predictor for post-exercise thiobarbitouric acid reactive substances; body mass index z-score and adiponectin were, respectively, the best positive predictor for post-exercise protein carbonyls and catalase.ConclusionsIn all subjects, leptin and adiponectin predict negatively and positively anti-oxidation, respectively, while high sensitivity IL-6 predicts positively and negatively pro- and anti-oxidation, respectively. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein is increased and negatively associated with anti-oxidation in pre-pubertal obese boys, suggesting that childhood obesity is associated with aseptic inflammation and oxidative stress.