Katsuya Yamauchi

Effects of Home-Based Interval Walking Training on Thigh Muscle Strength and Aerobic Capacity in Female Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients: A Randomized, Controlled Pilot Study

Due to the reduced physical activity of patients who have undergone total hip arthroplasty (THA), there are no home-based exercise training regimens for preventing muscle atrophy and aerobic capacity impairment in these patients. We examined whether interval walking training (IWT) could prevented these issues. Twenty-eight female patients (∼60 years of age) who had undergone THA more than 2 months prior were randomly divided into IWT (n = 14) and control (CNT, n = 14) groups. The IWT subjects trained at a target of 60 min of fast walking at >70% peak aerobic capacity for walking (O2peak) per wk for 12 wk, while those in the CNT maintained their previous sedentary life during the same period. We measured the energy expenditure of the daily physical activity, except during sleeping and bathing, every minute and every day during the intervention. We also measured the isometric knee extension (FEXT) and flexion (FFLX) forces, O2peak, and anaerobic threshold during the graded cycling exercise (O2AT) before and after the intervention. All subjects, except for one in IWT, completed the protocol. FFLX increased by 23% on the operated side (P = 0.003) and 14% on the non-operated side of IWT (P = 0.006), while it only increased on the operated side of CNT (P = 0.03). The O2peak and O2AT in IWT increased by 8% (P = 0.08) and 13% (P = 0.002), respectively, and these changes were significantly higher in the IWT than in CNT group (both, P<0.05). In conclusion, IWT might be an effective home-based training regimen for preventing the muscle atrophy from reduced daily physical activity in THA patients. Trial Registration UMIN-CTR UMIN000013172

Cardiovascular Responses to Static Muscle Contraction in Patients with Brachial Plexus Injury Treated with Intercostal Nerve Transfer

Pressor response is carried in afferent fibers of somatic nerves to increase blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during static exercise in humans. However, there is no information that peripheral responses restore muscle contraction with nerve transfer operation. In this study, we aimed to assess isometric exercise-induced pressor responses in patients with brachial plexus injury (BPI) after intercostal nerve transfer (ICNT) to restore elbow flexor muscles. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HR during 2-min sustained isometric muscle contraction of elbow flexors at 20% and 35% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) on the unaffected side and the ICNT side, were measured in seven subjects with BPI treated with ICNT. SBP, DBP, and HR during 2-min sustained isometric muscle contraction of elbow flexors at 20% of MVC on the unaffected side were similar to those recorded before and after the exercise. However, the same variables increased significantly (p<0.001) during a similar type of exercise at 35% MVC on the unaffected side. On the ICNT side, no significant differences were noted in elbow flexors at 20% and 35% MVC. Isometric static exercise at 35% of MVC did not induce pressor and HR changes on the ICNT side. The difference in the responses between the two sides could have been caused by incomplete recovery of afferent nerve function following nerve repair, despite the restoration of efferent nerve function. Alternatively, the HR and BP responses to static contraction may depend upon the active muscle mass.

Recommendation of a Whey Protein Diet Combined with Rehabilitation for Patients with Hip Fracture in the Early Postoperative Period

Sarcopenia is the loss of muscle mass that frequently occurs during aging. Reductions in protein anabolism are caused by chronic inflammation, increased insulin resistance, low sensitivity to amino acids, and reduced physical activity in the elderly [1]. An inadequate protein intake is more common among the elderly, and the synthetic responses of muscle protein to food intake are also impaired. A positive association has been reported between protein intake and muscle mass in the elderly [2]. However, the effects of resistance training on muscle strength and mass were found to be less prominent in the elderly than in young adults [3].