Corey A. Rynders

The effectiveness of traditional and sling exercise strength training in women.

Dannelly, BD, Otey, SC, Croy, T, Harrison, B, Rynders, CA, Hertel, JN and Weltman, A. The effectiveness of traditional and sling exercise strength training in women. J Strength Cond Res 25(2): 464-471, 2011-Strength training often combines closed-kinetic-chain exercises (CKCEs) and open kinetic-chain exercises (OKCEs). The CKCE may be more effective for improving performance in lower-body training. Recently, we reported upper-body CKCE (using a commercially available system of ropes and slings, Redcord AS, Staubo, Norway) was as effective as OKCE training for strength gains and that CKCE was more effective than OKCE for improving throwing performance. To our knowledge the effectiveness of a strength training program that uses exclusively CKCE is unknown. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of CKCE vs. OKCE strength training programs in women enrolled in an introductory strength training program. Twenty-six participants were randomized to OKCE (traditional exercises) or CKCE (sling-based exercises). Participants completed 6 sets per week for 13 weeks. Pre and posttraining evaluations included the following: 1 repetition maximum (1RM) leg and bench press; sling exercise push-ups; isokinetic dynamometry; lateral step-down test; and the Star Excursion Balance Test. Both groups significantly improved bench press (by an average of 4-6 kg) and leg press (by an average of 23-35 kg) (p < 0.001). There was a significant group × time interaction (p < 0.001) for sling exercise push-ups (OKCE pre = 5.5 ± 8.6, OKCE post = 6.1 ± 8.2, CKCE pre = 6.8 ± 6.0, CKCE post = 16.9 ± 6.6). Isokinetic measures of knee extension, knee flexion, shoulder internal rotation, and shoulder external rotation increased (improvements ranged from 2.7 to 27.7%), with no group differences. Both OKCE and CKCE strength training elicited similar changes in balance. We conclude that CKCE training is equally as effective as OKCE training during the initial phases of a strength training program in women. The fact that only CKCE improved sling exercise push-ups supports previous findings suggesting functional superiority of CKCE.

Effects of Exercise Intensity on Postprandial Improvement in Glucose Disposal and Insulin Sensitivity in Prediabetic Adults

BACKGROUND A single bout of exercise improves postprandial glycemia and insulin sensitivity in prediabetic patients; however, the impact of exercise intensity is not well understood. The present study compared the effects of acute isocaloric moderate (MIE) and high-intensity (HIE) exercise on glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity in prediabetic adults. METHODS Subjects (n=18; age 49±14 y; fasting glucose 105±11 mg/dL; 2 h glucose 170±32 mg/dL) completed a peak O2 consumption/lactate threshold (LT) protocol plus three randomly assigned conditions: 1) control, 1 hour of seated rest, 2) MIE (at LT), and 3) HIE (75% of difference between LT and peak O2 consumption). One hour after exercise, subjects received an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide concentrations were sampled at 5- to 10-minute intervals at baseline, during exercise, after exercise, and for 3 hours after glucose ingestion. Total, early-phase, and late-phase area under the glucose and insulin response curves were compared between conditions. Indices of insulin sensitivity (SI) were derived from OGTT data using the oral minimal model. RESULTS Compared with control, SI improved by 51% (P=.02) and 85% (P<.001) on the MIE and HIE days, respectively. No differences in SI were observed between the exercise conditions (P=.62). Improvements in SI corresponded to significant reductions in the glucose, insulin, and C-peptide area under the curve values during the late phase of the OGTT after HIE (P<.05), with only a trend for reductions after MIE. CONCLUSION These results suggest that in prediabetic adults, acute exercise has an immediate and intensity-dependent effect on improving postprandial glycemia and insulin sensitivity.

Lifestyle intervention improves fitness independent of metformin in obese adolescents.

PURPOSE Obesity in adolescence increases the risk for early adult cardiovascular disease. We recently showed that 6 months of diet, exercise, and metformin resulted in reductions in adiposity and that diet/exercise alone reduced proinflammatory factors and intrahepatic fat in pubertal children with uncomplicated obesity. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether changes in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) after 6 months of structured diet and exercise (DE) or DE plus metformin are related to the previously observed changes in adiposity, markers of inflammation, and intrahepatic fat. METHODS Sixteen obese pubertal adolescents between the ages of 10 and 17 were randomized into a structured lifestyle program consisting of DE or DE plus metformin. Subjects performed aerobic and resistance exercise 3 d·wk⁻¹, 30 min per session. Cycle ergometer maximal oxygen consumption (V˙O2max), body composition, blood markers (glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, interleukin-6, hsCRP), and intrahepatic fat were measured at baseline and 6 months. RESULTS In the cohort, as whole-body weight decreased by 4.0% (P = 0.009), body mass index decreased by 4.9% (P = 0.003), percent body fat decreased by 8.8% (P < 0.001), and V˙O2max improved in 10 of 16 subjects. The addition of metformin provided no further effect on body composition, CRF, or inflammatory factors. More favorable changes in adiposity, adiponectin, and a trend toward blood glucose and interleukin-6 concentrations (P = 0.07) were observed in subjects who increased V˙O2max at 6 months (n = 10) compared with no change in these variables in those who did not improve V˙O2max. CONCLUSIONS Metformin did not provide benefits above lifestyle modification for improving CRF in obese adolescents. Improvements in V˙O2max seem to be associated with more favorable metabolic outcomes.

Sedentary behaviour is a key determinant of metabolic inflexibility

Metabolic flexibility is defined as the ability to adapt substrate oxidation rates in response to changes in fuel availability. The inability to switch between the oxidation of lipid and carbohydrate appears to be an important feature of chronic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Laboratory assessment of metabolic flexibility has traditionally involved measurement of the respiratory quotient (RQ) by indirect calorimetry during the fasted to fed transition (e.g. mixed meal challenge) or during a hyperinsulinaemic–euglycaemic clamp. Under these controlled experimental conditions, ‘metabolic inflexibility’ is characterized by lower fasting fat oxidation (higher fasting RQ) and/or an impaired ability to oxidize carbohydrate during feeding or insulin‐stimulated conditions (lower postprandial or clamp RQ). This experimental paradigm has provided fundamental information regarding the role of substrate oxidation in the development of obesity and insulin resistance. However, the key determinants of metabolic flexibility among relevant clinical populations remain unclear. Herein, we propose that habitual physical activity levels are a primary determinant of metabolic flexibility. We present evidence demonstrating that high levels of physical activity predict metabolic flexibility, while physical inactivity and sedentary behaviours trigger a state of metabolic ‘inflexibility’, even among individuals who meet physical activity recommendations. Furthermore, we describe alternative experimental approaches to studying the concept of metabolic flexibility across a range of activity and inactivity. Finally, we address the promising use of strategies that aim to reduce sedentary behaviours as therapy to improve metabolic flexibility and reduce weight gain risk.

High-Intensity Exercise Training for the Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Aerobic exercise training and diet are recommended for the primary prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that adults with prediabetes engage in ≥ 150 minutes per week of moderate activity and target a 7% weight loss. However, traditional moderate-intensity (MI) exercise training programs are often difficult to sustain for prediabetic adults; a commonly cited barrier to physical activity in this population is the “lack of time” to exercise. When matched for total energy expenditure, high-intensity (HI) exercise training has a lower overall time commitment compared with traditional low-intensity (LI) or MI exercise training. Several recent studies comparing HI exercise training with LI and MI exercise training reported that HI exercise training improves skeletal muscle metabolic control and cardiovascular function in a comparable and/or superior way relative to LI and MI exercise training. Although patients can accrue all exercise benefits by performing LI or MI activities such as walking, HI activities represent a time-efficient alternative to meeting physical activity guidelines. High-intensity exercise training is a potent tool for improving cardiometabolic risk for prediabetic patients with limited time and may be prescribed when appropriate.

Exercise Intensity Modulates Glucose-Stimulated Insulin Secretion when Adjusted for Adipose, Liver and Skeletal Muscle Insulin Resistance

Little is known about the effects of exercise intensity on compensatory changes in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) when adjusted for adipose, liver and skeletal muscle insulin resistance (IR). Fifteen participants (8F, Age: 49.9±3.6yr; BMI: 31.0±1.5kg/m2; VO2peak: 23.2±1.2mg/kg/min) with prediabetes (ADA criteria, 75g OGTT and/or HbA1c) underwent a time-course matched Control, and isocaloric (200kcal) exercise at moderate (MIE; at lactate threshold (LT)), and high-intensity (HIE; 75% of difference between LT and VO2peak). A 75g OGTT was conducted 1 hour post-exercise/Control, and plasma glucose, insulin, C-peptide and free fatty acids were determined for calculations of skeletal muscle (1/Oral Minimal Model; SMIR), hepatic (HOMAIR), and adipose (ADIPOSEIR) IR. Insulin secretion rates were determined by deconvolution modeling for GSIS, and disposition index (DI; GSIS/IR; DISMIR, DIHOMAIR, DIADIPOSEIR) calculations. Compared to Control, exercise lowered SMIR independent of intensity (P<0.05), with HIE raising HOMAIR and ADIPOSEIR compared with Control (P<0.05). GSIS was not reduced following exercise, but DIHOMAIR and DIADIPOSEIR were lowered more following HIE compared with Control (P<0.05). However, DISMIR increased in an intensity based manner relative to Control (P<0.05), which corresponded with lower post-prandial blood glucose levels. Taken together, pancreatic insulin secretion adjusts in an exercise intensity dependent manner to match the level of insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue. Further work is warranted to understand the mechanism by which exercise influences the cross-talk between tissues that regulate blood glucose in people with prediabetes.

Deficits in medio-lateral balance control and the implications for falls in individuals with multiple sclerosis

A major health concern faced by individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the heightened risk of falling. Reasons for this increased risk can often be traced back to declines in neurophysiological mechanisms underlying balance control and/or muscular strength. The aim of this study was to assess differences between persons with MS and age-matched healthy adults in regards to their falls risk, strength, reactions and directional control of balance. Twenty-two persons with multiple sclerosis (mean age 56.3±8.9 years) and 22 age-matched healthy adults (mean age 59.1±7.1 years) participated in the study. Assessments of falls risk, balance, fear of falling, lower limb strength, and reaction time were performed. Balance control was assessed under four conditions where the combined effects of vision (eyes open/closed) and standing surface (firm/pliable surface) were evaluated. Results demonstrated that, in comparison to healthy older adults, persons with MS had a significantly higher falls risk, slower reaction times, and weaker lower- limb strength. For balance, persons with MS exhibited greater overall COP motion in both the medio-lateral (ML) and anterior-posterior (AP) directions compared to older adults. Additionally, during more challenging balance conditions, persons from the MS group exhibited greater ML motion compared to sway in the AP direction. Overall, the results confirm that persons with MS are often at a heightened risk of falling, due to the multitude of neuromuscular changes brought about by this disease process. However, the increased ML sway for the MS group could reflect a decreased ability to control side-to-side motion in comparison to controlling AP sway.

Comparing Simple Insulin Sensitivity Indices to the Oral Minimal Model Postexercise.

PURPOSE This study aims to establish whether changes in indices of insulin sensitivity (Si) derived from fasting glucose and an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) are comparable to Si determined by the oral minimal model (OMM) in response to acute moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) and high-intensity exercise (HIE). METHODS Eighteen prediabetic subjects completed three conditions: control (no exercise), ∼ 200 kcal of MIE (∼ 50% of VO2peak), and ∼ 200 kcal of HIE (∼ 80% VO2peak). One hour postexercise (or control), subjects underwent a 75-g OGTT; plasma glucose and insulin were measured to determine Si using several OGTT-based indices (OMM, Belfiore index, Cederholm index, Matsuda index, Gutt index, oral glucose insulin sensitivity index, Stumvoll metabolic clearance rate, Stumvoll insulin sensitivity index, 1/mean OGTT insulin, and 1/insulin incremental area under the curve) and fasting indices (1/homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance, 1/adipose tissue insulin resistance, 40/fasting insulin, and Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index). ANOVA and Pearsons correlations were used to examine relationships between changes in Si (ΔSi) among various indices compared to the OMM. RESULTS Exercise resulted in a significant increase in Si, according to OGTT-based indices ranging from 11% to 51% (MIE, P < 0.04) and from 8% to 85% (HIE, P < 0.05). Fasting indices showed no change in response to MIE (P > 0.29) and a decrease in Si following HIE (P < 0.001). OGTT-based and fasting indices underpredicted ΔSi-OMM by ∼ 40% and ∼ 90% following MIE and HIE, respectively. ΔSi-OMM following MIE was moderately correlated with ΔSi estimated by OGTT-based indices, but not fasting indices. In contrast, ΔSi-OMM following HIE was not significantly correlated with any Si index. CONCLUSIONS Insulin sensitivity increases postexercise, according to most Si models. However, there is high variability between indices under each condition, and these measures only correlate with the OMM following MIE. Caution should be exerted when drawing conclusions about the insulin-sensitizing effects of exercise based on OGTT and fasting indices.

Ability to adjust nocturnal fat oxidation in response to overfeeding predicts 5-year weight gain in adults

To determine whether metabolic responses to short‐term overfeeding predict longitudinal changes in body weight.

Endothelial function following glucose ingestion in adults with prediabetes: Role of exercise intensity

To determine whether high intensity exercise (HIE) would improve endothelial function more than an isocaloric bout of moderate intensity exercise (MIE) following glucose ingestion in adults with prediabetes.