Nuno Manuel Frade de Sousa

Two Consecutive Days of Crossfit Training Affects Pro and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines and Osteoprotegerin without Impairments in Muscle Power

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two consecutive extreme conditioning program training sessions (24 h apart) designed to enhance work-capacity that involved both cardiovascular and muscular exercises on cytokines, muscle power, blood lactate and glucose. Nine male members of the extreme conditioning community (age 26.7 ± 6.6 years; body mass 78.8 ± 13.2 kg; body fat 13.5 ± 6.2%; training experience 2.5 ± 1.2 years) completed two experimental protocols (24 h apart): (1) strength and power exercises, (2) gymnastic movements, and (3) metabolic conditioning as follows: 10 min of as many rounds as possible (AMRAP) of 30 double-unders and 15 power snatches (34 kg). The same sequence as repeated on session 2 with the following metabolic conditioning: 12 min AMRAP of: row 250 m and 25 target burpees. Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, and osteoprotegerin were measured before, immediately post and 24 h after workout of the day (WOD) 1, immediately post, 24 and 48 h after WOD 2. Peak and mean power were obtained for each repetition (back squat with 50% of 1 repetition maximum) using a linear position transducer measured before, immediately post and 24 h after WOD 1, immediately post and 24 h after WOD 2. Blood lactate and glucose were measured pre and immediately post WOD 1 and 2. Although both sessions of exercise elicited an significant increase in blood lactate (1.20 ± 0.41 to 11.84 ± 1.34 vs. 0.94 ± 0.34 to 9.05 ± 2.56 mmol/l) and glucose concentration (81.59 ± 10.27 to 114.99 ± 12.52 vs. 69.47 ± 6.97 to 89.95 ± 19.26 mg/dL), WOD 1 induced a significantly greater increase than WOD 2 (p ≤ 0.05). The training sessions elicited significant changes (p ≤ 0.05) in IL-6, IL-10 and osteoprotegerin concentration over time. IL-6 displayed an increase immediately after training WOD 1 [197 ± 109%] (p = 0.009) and 2 [99 ± 58%] (p = 0.045). IL-10 displayed an increase immediately after only WOD 1 [44 ± 52%] (p = 0.046), and decreased 24 and 48 h following WOD 2 (~40%; p = 0.018) as compared to pre-exercise values. Osteoprotegerin displayed a decrease 48 h following WOD 2 (~25%; p = 0.018) as compared with pre intervention. In conclusion, two consecutive extreme conditioning training sessions increase pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines with no interference on muscle performance in the recovery period.

Enhancing of Women Functional Status with Metabolic Syndrome by Cardioprotective and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Combined Aerobic and Resistance Training

These data describe the effects of combined aerobic plus resistance training (CT) with regards to risk factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS), quality of life, functional capacity, and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in women with MetS. In this context, thirteen women (35.4±6.2 yr) completed 10 weeks of CT consisting of three weekly sessions of ∼60 min aerobic training (treadmill at 65–70% of reserve heart rate, 30 min) and resistance training (3 sets of 8–12 repetitions maximum for main muscle groups). Dependent variables were maximum chest press strength; isometric hand-grip strength; 30 s chair stand test; six minute walk test; body mass; body mass index; body adiposity index; waist circumference; systolic (SBP), diastolic and mean blood pressure (MBP); blood glucose; HDL-C; triglycerides; interleukins (IL) 6, 10 and 12, osteoprotegerin (OPG) and serum nitric oxide metabolite (NOx); quality of life (SF-36) and Z-Score of MetS. There was an improvement in muscle strength on chest press (p = 0.009), isometric hand-grip strength (p = 0.03) and 30 s chair stand (p = 0.007). There was a decrease in SBP (p = 0.049), MBP (p = 0.041), Z-Score of MetS (p = 0.046), OPG (0.42±0.26 to 0.38±0.19 ng/mL, p<0.05) and NOx (13.3±2.3 µmol/L to 9.1±2.3 µmol/L; p<0.0005). IL-10 displayed an increase (13.6±7.5 to 17.2±12.3 pg/mL, p<0.05) after 10 weeks of training. Combined training also increased the perception of physical capacity (p = 0.011). This study endorses CT as an efficient tool to improve blood pressure, functional capacity, quality of life and reduce blood markers of inflammation, which has a clinical relevance in the prevention and treatment of MetS. Trial Registration Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry (ReBec) - RBR-6gdyvz - http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-6gdyvz

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase Glu298Asp gene polymorphism influences body composition and biochemical parameters but not the nitric oxide response to eccentric resistance exercise in elderly obese women.

Both endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism and nitric oxide (NO) are involved in important cardiovascular, muscular and inflammatory physiological mechanisms during ageing and response to exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate the NO kinetic response following an acute eccentric resistance exercise (ERE) session and the possible effect of the Glu298Asp eNOS gene polymorphism in elderly obese women. Eighty‐seven women (age 69·4 ± 6·1 years, body weight 74·9 ± 12·7 kg, height 151·9 ± 6·0 cm and BMI 32·5 ± 5·7 kg m−2) completed seven sets of ten eccentric repetitions at 110% of the ten repetitions maximum (10RM). NO concentrations remained elevated up to 48 h following the acute ERE session as compared with baseline, for GG and GT/TT groups (P<0·05), with no differences between genotypes. The GG genotype group had higher body weight, prevalence of obesity (BMI classification – 81% versus 56%), BMI and higher relative muscle strength, while they had significantly lower triglycerides, VLDL and urea concentrations as compared with TT/TG group. In conclusion, NO remains elevated for up to 48 h after an acute ERE session, without genotype interaction. The TT/TG genotype had a negative impact on triglycerides, VLDL and urea concentrations. Thus, T carriers should increase their attention to cardiovascular risk factor and metabolic disorders.

Blood flow restriction attenuates eccentric exercise‐induced muscle damage without perceptual and cardiovascular overload

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of high‐intensity eccentric exercise (HI‐ECC) combined with blood flow restriction (BFR) on muscle damage markers, and perceptual and cardiovascular responses. Nine healthy men (26 ± 1 years, BMI 24 ± 1 kg m−²) underwent unilateral elbow extension in two conditions: without (HI‐ECC) and with BFR (HI‐ECC+BFR). The HI‐ECC protocol corresponded to three sets of 10 repetitions with 130% of maximal strength (1RM). The ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and pain (RPP) were measured after each set. Muscle damage was evaluated by range of motion (ROM), upper arm circumference (CIR) and muscle soreness using a visual analogue scale at different moments (pre‐exercise, immediately after, 24 and 48 h postexercise). Systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before exercise and after each set. RPP was higher in HI‐ECC+BFR than in HI‐ECC after each set. Range of motion decreased postexercise in both conditions; however, in HI‐ECC+BFR group, it returned to pre‐exercise condition earlier (post‐24 h) than HI‐ECC (post‐48 h). CIR increased only in HI‐ECC, while no difference was observed in HI‐ECC+BFR condition. Regarding cardiovascular responses, MBP and SBP did not change at any moment. HR showed similar increases in both conditions during exercise while DBP decreased only in HI‐ECC condition. Thus, BFR attenuated HI‐ECC‐induced muscle damage and there was no increase in cardiovascular responses.

Acute changes in muscle thickness and pennation angle in response to work-matched concentric and eccentric isokinetic exercise

Acute changes in muscle architecture influenced by muscle swelling might be associated with chronic adaptations to resistance exercise, including skeletal muscle growth. Concentric (CON) and eccentric (ECC) muscle actions both play a role in hypertrophic processes, but the influence of each on acute indices of muscle swelling (i.e., muscle thickness (MT) and pennation angle (PA)) remains relatively unknown. Therefore, this study compared the acute changes in MT and PA in response to work-matched CON versus ECC isokinetic exercise. Twelve university-aged students performed 2 bouts of maximal isokinetic knee extensions at 120°·s-1 on the same day: 50 CON followed by a work-matched ECC bout (∼5000 J; 28 ± 5 reps) with the contralateral limb. Ultrasound images were captured from the middle and distal sites of the vastus lateralis before and immediately after each exercise bout. From these images, MT and PA were measured. Middle and distal MT (11% and 14%, respectively; p < 0.001) and middle PA (39%, p < 0.001) increased only after CON. In addition, changes in MT were strongly related to the amount of total work performed (r = 0.76) during CON. Our results suggest that when the workload is matched between CON and ECC muscle actions performed at a moderate velocity, CON actions seem to be a more potent stimulus for inducing acute changes in MT and PA.