Michael A. Coday

L-Carnitine l-tartrate supplementation favorably affects biochemical markers of recovery from physical exertion in middle-aged men and women

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Carnipure tartrate (Lonza, Allendale, NJ) supplementation (total dose of 2 g/d of l-carnitine) on markers of performance and recovery from physical exertion in middle-aged men and women. Normally active and healthy men (n = 9, 45.4 +/- 5.3 years old) and women (n = 9, 51.9 +/- 5.0 years old) volunteered to participate in the investigation. Double-blind, placebo, balanced treatment presentation and crossover design were used with 3 weeks and 3 days of supplementation followed by a 1-week washout period before the other counterbalanced treatment was initiated. After 3 weeks of each supplementation protocol, each participant then performed an acute resistance exercise challenge of 4 sets of 15 repetitions of squat/leg press at 50% 1-repetition maximum and continued supplementation over the recovery period that was evaluated. Blood samples were obtained at preexercise and at 0, 15, 30, and 120 minutes postexercise during the acute resistance exercise challenge and during 4 recovery days as well. Two grams of l-carnitine supplementation had positive effects and significantly (P < or = .05) attenuated biochemical markers of purine metabolism (ie, hypoxanthine, xanthine oxidase), free radical formation (malondialdehyde), muscle tissue disruption (myoglobin, creatine kinase), and muscle soreness after physical exertion. However, markers of physical performance (ie, strength, power, get up and go) were not affected by supplementation. These findings support our previous findings of l-carnitine in younger people that such supplementation can reduce chemical damage to tissues after exercise and optimize the processes of muscle tissue repair and remodeling.

Salivary hormonal values from high-speed resistive exercise workouts.

Caruso, JF, Lutz, BM, Davidson, ME, Wilson, K, Crane, CS, Craig, CE, Nissen, TE, Mason, ML, Coday, MA, Sheaff, RJ, and Potter, WT. Salivary hormonal values from high-speed resistive exercise workouts. J Strength Cond Res 26(3): 625–632, 2012—Our study purpose examined salivary hormonal responses to high-speed resistive exercise. Healthy subjects (n = 45) performed 2 elbow flexor workouts on a novel (inertial kinetic exercise; Oconomowoc, WI, USA) strength training device. Our methods included saliva sample collection at both preexercise and immediately postexercise; workouts entailed two 60-second sets separated by a 90-second rest period. The samples were analyzed in duplicate for their testosterone and cortisol concentrations ([T], [C]). Average and maximum elbow flexor torque were measured from each exercise bout; they were later analyzed with a 2(gender) × 2(workout) analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures for workout. The [T] and [C] each underwent a 2(gender) × 2(time) ANOVA with repeated measures for time. A within-subject design was used to limit error variance. Average and maximum torque each had gender (men > women; p < 0.05) effects. The [T] elicited a 2-way interaction (p < 0.05), as men incurred a significant 14% increase over time, but womens values were unchanged. Yet multivariate regression revealed that 3 predictor variables (body mass and average and maximum torques) did not account for a significant amount of variance associated with the rise in male [T]. Changes in [C] were not significant. In conclusion, changes in [T] concur with the results from other studies that showed significant elevations in male [T], despite the brevity of current workouts and the rather modest volume of muscle mass engaged. Practical applications imply that salivary assays may be a viable alternative to blood draws from athletes, yet coaches and others who may administer this treatment should know that our results may have produced greater pre-post hormonal changes if postexercise sample collection had occurred at a later time point.

Performance Evaluation of a High-Speed Inertial Exercise Trainer

Caruso, JF, Hari, P, Coday, MA, Leeper, A, Ramey, E, Monda, JK, Hastings, LP, and Davison, S. Performance evaluation of a high-speed inertial exercise trainer. J Strength Cond Res 22(6): 1760-1768, 2008-A high-speed, low-resistance inertial exercise trainer (IET, Impulse Training Systems, Newnan, Ga) is increasingly employed in rehabilitative and athletic performance settings. Repetitions on an IET are done through a large range of motion because multijoint movements occur over more than one plane of motion, with no limitation on velocities or accelerations attained. The current study purpose is to assess data reproducibility from an instrumented IET through multiple test-retest measures. Data collection methods required the IET left and right halves to be fitted with a TLL-2K force transducer (Transducer Techniques, Temecula, Calif) on one of its pulleys, and an infrared position sensor (Model CX3-AP-1A, automationdirect.com) located midway on the underside of each track. Signals passed through DI-158U signal conditioners (DATAQ Instruments, Akron, Ohio) and were measured with a four-channel analog data acquisition card at 4000 Hz. To assess data reproducibility, college-age subjects (n = 45) performed four IET workouts that were spaced 1 week apart. Workouts entailed two 60-second sets of repetitive knee- and hip-extensor muscle actions as subjects were instructed to exert maximal voluntary effort. Results from multiple test-retest measures show that the IET elicited reproducible intra- and interworkout data despite the unique challenge of multiplanar and multijoint exercise done over a large range of motion. We conclude that future studies in which IET performance measurement is required may choose to instrument the device with current methodology. Current practical applications include making IET data easier to comprehend for the coaches, athletes, and health care providers who use the device.

Blood Lactate and Hormonal Responses to Prototype Flywheel Ergometer Workouts

Caruso, JF, Coday, MA, Monda, JK, Ramey, ES, Hastings, LP, Vingren, JL, Potter, WT, Kraemer, WJ, and Wickel, EE. Blood lactate and hormonal responses to prototype flywheel ergometer workout. J Strength Cond Res 24(3): 749-756, 2010-The purpose of the study was to compare blood lactate and hormonal responses with flywheel ergometer (FERG) leg presses for preliminary assessment of workouts best suited for future in-flight resistance exercise. Comprised of 10 repetition sets, the workouts entailed 3 sets of concentric and eccentric (CE3) actions, or concentric-only actions done for 3 (CO3) or 6 (CO6) sets. Methods employed included assessment of blood lactate concentrations ([BLa−]) before and 5 minutes postexercise. Venous blood was also collected before and at 1 and 30 minutes postexercise to assess growth hormone, testosterone, cortisol concentrations ([GH], [T], [C]) and [T/C] ratios. [BLa−] were compared with 2 (time) × 3 (workout) analysis of variance. Hormones were assessed with 2 (gender) × 3 (time) × 3 (workout) analysis of covariances. Results showed [BLa−] had a time effect. Growth hormone concentration showed gender × workout, gender × time, and workout × time interactions, whereas [T] had a 3-way interaction. [C] had gender, time, and workout effects. [T/C] yielded a gender × time interaction. It was concluded that, because CO6 and CE3 yielded similar anabolic hormonal data but the latter had a lower [C] 30 minutes postexercise, CE3 served as the best workout. Although the FERG was originally designed for microgravity, the effort put forth by current subjects was like that for workouts aimed at greater athletic performance and conditioning. Practical applications suggest that eccentric actions should be used for FERG workouts geared toward muscle mass and strength improvement.

Anthropometry as a predictor of high speed performance.

To assess anthropometry as a predictor of high-speed performance, subjects performed four seated knee- and hip-extension workouts with their left leg on an inertial exercise trainer (Impulse Technologies, Newnan GA). Workouts, done exclusively in either the tonic or phasic contractile mode, entailed two one-minute sets separated by a 90-second rest period and yielded three performance variables: peak force, average force and work. Subjects provided the following anthropometric data: height, weight, body mass index, as well as total, upper and lower left leg lengths. Via multiple regression, anthropometry attempted to predict the variance per performance variable. Anthropometry explained a modest (R2=0.27-0.43) yet significant degree of variance from inertial exercise trainer workouts. Anthropometry was a better predictor of peak force variance from phasic workouts, while it accounted for a significant degree of average force and work variance solely from tonic workouts. Future research should identify variables that account for the unexplained variance from high-speed exercise performance.

Blood lactate responses to exercise performed on a high-speed inertial device

To assess blood lactate and performance variables obtained from high-speed exercise performed on a device (Impulse Training Systems; Newnan GA) that imposes loads without gravitational resistance, subjects (n = 45) completed two tonic and two phasic workouts. Each high-speed workout entailed two 60-second sets of seated knee- and hip-extension repetitions separated by a 90-second rest period. Pre- and five minutes post-exercise, lactate concentration was measured from a fingertip blood drop with a calibrated analyzer (Accusport, Sports Resource Group, Hawthorne, NY). Mean blood lactate values were compared with a 2(contractile mode: tonic, phasic) x 2(time) x 2 (gender) ANOVA, with repeated measures applied to workout mode and time. Resistance exercise performance variables were assessed with 2 (contractile mode: tonic, phasic) x 2 (gender) ANOVAs. With α ≤ 0.05, results showed a time (post > pre) effect for blood lactate. Exercise performance values were impacted by workout mode and gender, yet those independent variables had no impact on blood lactate. Results concur with prior resistance exercise studies that show significant blood lactate increases over time. Additional inquiry is warranted as to why gender and workout mode influenced resistance exercise performance variables, but did not impact blood lactate.

Leg and calf press training modes and their impact on jump performance adaptations

To examine the effects of resistance exercise (REX) mode on jump performance, subjects were assigned to one of three groups over a 6-week period with no cross-over. Subjects were assigned to leg and calf press REX on either a standard (n = 10) or ergometer (n = 9) device while a third group (n = 9) served as controls (CTRL). REX subjects worked out twice per week, which consisted of a three-set, 10-repetition paradigm for leg and calf press exercises. Immediately before and after the 6-week period, subjects performed tests that assessed jump (standing vertical jump, four-jump test protocol, depth jump) ability, while a fourth estimated knee extensor fast-twitch percentage (FT%) from fatigue incurred through a 50-repetition isokinetic protocol. Data analyses utilized 3 × 2 (group × time) repeated-measures ANCOVAs. Several dependent variables showed effects by group (standard REX, ergometer REX > CTRL) and time (post > pre). An interaction occurred for explosive leg power factor, a four-jump test variable, with standard REX post-test values as the interaction source. A trend for an interaction occurred for depth jump hang time, as ergometer REX values improved over time. Results suggest that mode-specific adaptations occur with REX training. Thus, athletes are best served with the selection of a REX device that is most specific to the demands of their jump performance task.

The impact of resistive exercise training on the relationship between anthropometry and jump-based power indices

Objective: To examine the impact resistive exercise (RE) training has on the ability of anthropometry to predict power output from jump tests. Methods: With a matched-pairs design, subjects (n = 19) were assigned to six weeks of leg and calf press workouts. With no crossover, subjects either performed RE on a traditional seated leg press device to which free weights (FW) were added, or on a flywheel ergometer (FERG). Before and after the intervention, subjects performed jump-based tests and were measured for anthropometric dimensions. Tests included a standing vertical jump, a repetitive four-jump protocol, and a depth jump from a platform; power outputs from each were calculated. Results: The six-week intervention weakened the correlation between anthropometry and jump-based power indices from FERG workouts, while the opposite was true for the FW group. Conclusions: While several reasons may have led to the stark group differences in the ability to account for jump-based power variance, the two most important factors appear to be the degree of workout progression and the rate RE repetitions were performed. FW subjects incurred significantly greater strength gains, as evidenced by the degree of workout progression over the intervention, versus the FERG group. The manner in which the devices operated permitted FW repetitions to occur at faster rates and was more movement-specific to jump-based tests. Thus anthropometry increased the degree of explained variance in jump-based power indices from FW workouts at the conclusion of the six-week intervention.

The effect of flywheel-based resistive exercise workouts on testosterone/cortisol ratios

Toassessthesubsequent testosterone/cortisol ratio(TCr)fromflywheel-basedresistiveexercise, usingawithin-subjects design volunteers (7men, 10 women) performed three seated legpress workouts on an ergometer (YoYoTechnologies, Stockholm Sweden). Comprised of ten-repetition sets, the workouts entailed: a three-set protocol composed of concentric and eccentric actions (CE3), as well as concentric-only paradigms of three (CO3) and six (CO6) sets. Venous blood, collected before bouts and at one and 30 minutes post-exercise, was used to quantify the TCr. Data were examined with ANOVA and multivariate regression. ANOVA yielded a gender x time TCr interaction, as male values declined significantly yet womens data were unchanged. With the TCr at one and 30 minutes post-exercise as separate criterion measures, and data pooled across genders and workouts, multivariate regression revealed significance per dependent variable. Univariate correlations showed the best predictors of the post-exercise TCr in descending order were: body mass, average power and delta lactate. Gender and quadriceps muscle volume may have acted as confounding variables to allow body mass to the best current study predictor. Continued research should examine additional predictor variables, as current results only accounted for roughly 30% of the total criterion measure variance.

Prediction of Resultant Testosterone Concentrations from Flywheel-Based Resistive Exercise

INTRODUCTION Numerous variables impact resultant testosterone concentrations (TC) that foretell the efficacy of workouts. Identifying variables may aid the development of in-flight exercise prescription. METHODS To identify variables that predict the variance in TC from flywheel ergometer exercise, 17 subjects did 3 workouts in a randomized order. Comprised of 10-repetition leg press sets, workouts entailed either: 1) 3 sets of both concentric and eccentric muscle actions (CE3), and concentric-only actions done for 2) three (CO3), or 3) six (CO6) sets. Venous plasma TC were collected before and at 1 and 30 min postexercise. The last two collection points served as criterion measures. Body mass, delta blood lactate levels, peak angular velocity, average power, and total work from workouts were used to predict the variance in TC. RESULTS Predictor variables accounted for significant levels of variance at both 1 and 30 min post-exercise for both the CE3 and the concentric-only (CO3 and CO6 bouts combined) workouts using multivariate regression. Inclusion of eccentric variables (only collected from the CE3 bout; r2 = 0.90) predicted nearly twice the variance than the concentric-only (r2 = 0.54) workouts. CONCLUSIONS Body mass and average power indices were the best predictors of the variance in post-workout TC. Since a flywheel-based device is used to abate in-flight muscle atrophy and strength losses, exercise prescriptions may wish to monitor these indices as they impacted post-workout TC to the greatest extent. Future research should assess why eccentric variables increased the amount of explained variance from flywheel ergometer workouts.