Mariana F. Souza

Resistance training improves inflammatory level, lipid and glycemic profiles in obese older women: A randomized controlled trial

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of resistance training on inflammatory levels, lipid and glycemic profile in obese older women. Thirty-eight obese older women (68.2±4.2years, and 41.0±6.2% of body fat) were randomly assigned to one of two groups: A training group (TG, n=19) that performed 8weeks of RT; or a control group (CG, n=19) that did not perform any type of exercise. The RT program consisted of 8 whole-body exercises for 3 sets of 10-15 repetition maximum (RM) carried out 3 times a week. Anthropometric, body composition (DXA), muscular strength (1RM), and blood sample measurements were performed pre- and post-training. After the intervention period, the TG demonstrated significantly (P<0.05) lower values than CG for interleukin-6 (TG=3.3±1.2pg/mL vs. CG=3.8±1.4pg/mL), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TG=3.1±1.5pg/mL vs. CG=3.5±1.8pg/mL), C-reactive protein (TG=1.8±1.4mg/L vs. CG=3.2±1.8mg/L), low-density lipoprotein (TG=85.1±11.0mg/dL vs. CG=148.7±0.1mg/dL), glucose (TG=90.8±11.1mg/dL vs. CG=97.9±6.9mg/dL), trunk fat (TG=12.7±3.5kg vs. CG=14.1±4.3kg), and total body fat (TG=37.5±5.7% vs. CG=43.1±5.6%). Furthermore, TG presented significantly (P<0.05) higher values for high-density lipoprotein (TG=58.3±15.4mg/dL vs. CG=55.2±11.8mg/dL). These results suggest that 8weeks of RT promote improvements on inflammatory levels, and the lipid and glycemic profile in obese older women. These findings further support the important role of RT in healthy aging.

Resistance training in older women: Comparison of single vs. multiple sets on muscle strength and body composition

BACKGROUND: Studies are conflicting as to whether single-set resistance training (RT) are as effective as multi-set protocols with respect to promoting muscular adaptations. Several meta-analyses have shown that a clear dose-response relationship exists between RT volume and muscular adaptations. However, a majority of studies were not specific to older individuals, particularly women. OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in strength and body composition in elderly women following 1 vs. 3 sets of RT. METHODS: Thirty older women participated in a 12-week supervised total body RT program. Participants were randomly assigned to perform either 1 set (G1S) or 3 sets (G3S) per session. All other RT variables were held constant. Body composition was assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry, muscle strength was evaluated by 1RM in chest press and knee extension. RESULTS: Increases in strength were significantly (p 0.05) differences were noted in body composition components between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that multiple set protocols are required to optimize strength gains in older women. Changes in body composition appear to be similar irrespective of training volume during the initial stages of RT.

Traditional and pyramidal resistance training systems improve muscle quality and metabolic biomarkers in older women: A randomized crossover study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of RT performed in a pyramid (PR) and traditional (TD) straight set training system on muscle quality and metabolic biomarkers in older women. Twenty-five physically independent older women (67.6±5.1years, 65.9±11.1kg, 154.7±5.8cm) performed a RT program in TD and PR training systems in a balanced crossover design. Measurements of muscle quality, serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), glucose (GLU), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG) were obtained at different moments. The TD program consisted of 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions maximum (RM) with a constant weight for the 3 sets, whereas the PR training consisted of 3 sets of 12/10/8 RM with incremental weight for each set. The training was performed in 2 phases of 8weeks each, with a 12-week washout period between phases. Significant (P<0.05) improvements were observed in both groups for muscle quality (TD=+8.6% vs. PR=+6.8%), GLU (TD=-4.5% vs. PR=-1.9%), TG (TD=-18.0% vs. PR=-11.7%), HDL-C (TD=+10.6 vs. PR=+7.8%), LDL-C (TD=-23.3% vs. PR=-21.0%), and CRP (TD=-19.4% vs. PR=-14.3%) with no differences between training systems. These results suggest that RT improves muscle quality and metabolic biomarkers of older women independently of the training system.

Correlates of sports practice, occupational and leisure‐time physical activity in Brazilian adolescents

To analyze the relationship between different physical activity (PA) domains and sociodemographic, psychological, behavioral and biological factors in Brazilian adolescents.

The improvement in walking speed induced by resistance training is associated with increased muscular strength but not skeletal muscle mass in older women

Abstract Objective: The purpose of the present study was to analyze whether improvements in fast walking speed induced by resistance training (RT) are associated with changes in body composition, muscle quality, and muscular strength in older women. Methods: Twenty-three healthy older women (69.6 ± 6.4 years, 64.95 ± 12.9 kg, 1.55 ± 0.07 m, 27.06 ± 4.6 kg/m²) performed a RT program for 8 weeks consisting of 8 exercises for the whole body, 3 sets of 10–15 repetitions maximum, 3 times a week. Anthropometric, body composition (fat-free mass [FFM], skeletal muscle mass [SMM], legs lean soft tissue [LLST], fat mass), knee extension muscular strength (KE1RM), muscle quality index (MQI [KE1RM/LLST]), and 10-meter walking test (10-MWT) were performed before and after the intervention. Results: Significant (P < .05) changes were observed from pre- to post-training for FFM (+1.6%), MQI (+7.2%), SMM (+2.4%), LLST (+1.8%), KE1RM (+8.6%), fat mass (−1.4%), and time to perform 10-MWT (−3.7%). The percentage change in 10-MWT was significantly associated with percentage change in MQI (r = −0.46, P = .04) and KE1RM (r = −0.45, P = .04), however not associated percentage of changes in SMM (r = 0.01, P = .97), LLST (r = −0.22, P = .33), and body fat (r = 0.10, P = .66). Conclusion: We conclude that the improvement in the 10-MWT after an 8-week RT program is associated with increases in lower limb muscular strength and muscle quality, but not with muscle mass or body fat changes in older women.

Resistance training prescription with different load-management methods improves phase angle in older women

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of two different resistance training (RT) prescription methods on phase angle (PA) in older women. Seventy-six older women (68.5 ± 5.7 years) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: two training groups that performed an eight-week RT programme either in a constant load (CT, n = 25) or an ascending pyramidal load (PR, n =  26) routine three times per week, or a control group (CG, n =  25) that performed no exercise. The CT programme consisted of three sets of 8–12 repetition maximum (RM) with a constant load for the three sets, whereas the PR training consisted of three sets of 12/10/8 RM with incremental loads for each set. PA was assessed by whole-body spectral bioelectrical impedance. After the RT period, both CT and PR achieved higher (P < .05) values of PA (CT =  5.76 ± 0.59°, PR =  5.63 ± 0.61°, CG =  5.48 ± 0.46°) compared to the CG; however, there was no difference (P > .05) between trained groups. The results suggest that eight weeks of RT based on a PR and CT load routines promote an improvement in PA, and both prescription methods performed similarly.

Analysis of the training load during a hypertrophy-type resistance training programme in men and women

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze the specific training load during a resistance training (RT) programme designed to increase muscular hypertrophy in men and women. Thirty-four women (22.7 ± 4.1 years, 58.8 ± 11.9 kg, 162.6 ± 6.2 cm and 22.1 ± 3.6 kg.m−2) and 30 men (22.7 ± 4.4 years, 68.4 ± 9.0 kg, 174.5 ± 6.6 cm and 22.5 ± 2.4 kg.m−2) underwent a supervised RT programme that was divided into two phases of 8 weeks each. Training consisted of 10–12 exercises performed with three sets of 8–12 repetitions at repetition maximum resistances performed 3 times per week on nonconsecutive days. There was a significant (P < 0.05) main effect for gender by time interaction for average training load of all the exercises performed in the first 8 weeks of RT with women showing a higher relative increase than men (+43.6% vs. +32.5%, respectively). This result was not observed during the second 8-week phase of the RT programme during which no significant gender by time interaction (P > 0.05) was shown with both genders having a similar relative increase (+28.7% vs. +24.3%, respectively). Women had a higher increase than men in specific average training load of the upper limb exercises during both the first 8 weeks of training (+30.2% vs. +26.6%, respectively) and the second 8 weeks of training (+31.1% vs. +25.3%, respectively). We conclude that the adaptation in specific training load is influenced by gender.

Effect of Different Warm-up Procedures on the Performance of Resistance Training Exercises:

Warm-up has been shown to mediate numerous acute physiological alterations that have been purported to confer beneficial effects on performance. This study investigated the acute effects of different warm-up procedures on resistance training performance. Employing a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design, 15 men performed 3 exercises (4 sets of bench press, squat, and arm curl at 80% of 1RM) to failure in 4 conditions (control, specific, aerobic, and combined). Outcome measures included the sum of repetitions and a fatigue index measuring the decline between sets. There was no significant difference for the sum of repetitions or for fatigue index among conditions for the 3 exercises. Performance in the resistance training exercises was not influenced by warm-up.

Resistance training reduces metabolic syndrome and inflammatory markers in older women: a randomized controlled trial

This study analyzed the effects of a 12‐week resistance training (RT) program without dietary interventions on metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and inflammatory biomarkers in older women.

Correlates of Blood Pressure According to Early, On Time, and Late Maturation in Adolescents

The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and correlates of blood pressure (BP) according to somatic maturation in Southern Brazilian adolescents. A total of 1321 adolescents participated in the study (732 girls), aged between 10 and 16 years, enrolled in public schools. The assessment of BP was performed using oscillometric equipment. Measurements of body weight, height, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness were performed. Somatic maturation was estimated by the age at peak height velocity. Behavioral and hereditary variables were obtained using a questionnaire. Early‐maturing adolescents had the highest prevalence of high BP (28%; 95% confidence interval, 24.6–33.5) compared with other maturational groups (P=.003). In late‐maturing adolescents, the variables associated with BP were paternal hypertension (systolic BP: β=4.9; diastolic BP: β=5.3) and early physical activity (systolic BP: β=−4.0; diastolic DBP: β=−3.6). In average‐maturing adolescents, waist circumference (systolic BP: β=0.3), body mass index (diastolic BP: β=0.5), and mothers hypertension (diastolic BP: β=1.8) were positively related to BP. In early‐maturing adolescents, only waist circumference (systolic BP: β=0.3; diastolic BP: β=0.3) was associated with BP. The authors conclude that the prevalence of high BP is greater in adolescents with early maturity and the outcome appears to be related to biological indicators in this group. On the other hand, in late‐maturing adolescents, behavioral and hereditary variables are more related to BP.