Vitor Tajra

Decreased functional capacity and muscle strength in elderly women with metabolic syndrome

Purpose To compare the metabolic parameters, flexibility, muscle strength, functional capacity, and lower limb muscle power of elderly women with and without the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods This cross-sectional study included 28 older women divided into two groups: with the MetS (n = 14; 67.3 ± 5.5 years; 67.5 ± 16.7 kg; 1.45 ± 0.35 m; 28.0 ± 7.6 kg/m2), and without the MetS (n = 14; 68.7 ± 5.3 years; 58.2 ± 9.9 kg; 1.55 ± 0.10 m; 24.3 ± 3.8 kg/m2). Body composition was evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and dynamic muscle strength was assessed by one-maximum repetition (1RM) tests in leg press, bench press and biceps curl exercises. Six-minute walk test, Timed Up and Go (TUG); 30-second sitting-rising; arm curl using a 2-kg dumbbell, sit-and-reach (flexibility), and vertical jump tests were performed. Results There was no difference between groups regarding age (P = 0.49), height (P = 0.46), body fat (%) (P = 0.19), systolic (P = 0.64), diastolic (P = 0.41) and mean blood pressure (P = 0.86), 30-second sitting-rising (P = 0.57), 30-s arm curl (P = 0.73), leg press 1RM (P = 0.51), bench press 1RM (P = 0.77), and biceps curl 1RM (P = 0.85). However, women without the MetS presented lower body mass (P = 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.0001), waist circumference (P = 0.02), waist-to-height ratio (P = 0.02), fat body mass (kg) (P = 0.05), lean body mass (kg) (P = 0.02), blood glucose (P = 0.05), triglycerides (P = 0.03), Z-score for the MetS (P = 0.05), higher high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.002), better performance on TUG (P = 0.01), flexibility (P = 0.03), six-minute walk test (P = 0.04), vertical jump (P = 0.05) and relative muscle strength for leg press (P = 0.03), bench press (P = 0.04) and biceps curl (P = 0.002) exercises as compared to women with the MetS. Conclusion Elderly women with the MetS have higher metabolic risk profile and lower functional capacity, muscle strength, lower limb power and flexibility as compared to women without the MetS. The evaluation of functional capacity may help to determine the degree of physical decline in older persons with the MetS, while exercise interventions should be encouraged.

Understanding the individual responsiveness to resistance training periodization

This study was designed to compare the effects of linear periodization (LP) and undulating periodization (UP) on functional capacity, neuromuscular function, body composition, and cytokines in elderly sedentary women. We also aimed to identify the presence of high responders (HR), medium responders (MR), and low responders (LR) for irisin, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to resistance training (RT). Forty-nine elderly women were assigned to a control group, LP, and UP scheme. Functional capacity, body composition, maximal strength, irisin, TLR-4, BDNF, and IL-1β were evaluated. Both periodization models were effective in improving 45° leg press 1RM, chair-stand, arm curl, and time-up and go tests, with no significant differences in body composition and cytokines. Furthermore, HR, MR, and LR were identified for irisin, IL-1β, TLR-4, and BDNF, with differences between groups and moments. This study provides evidence that both periodization models were effective in improving functional capacity and neuromuscular function, with no effect on body composition and cytokines (probably as a consequence of the different responsiveness). Furthermore, for the first time, HR, MR, and LR were identified for irisin, IL1-β, TLR-4, and BDNF in response to RT.

Identification of high responders for interleukin-6 and creatine kinase following acute eccentric resistance exercise in elderly obese women

OBJECTIVES Resistance exercise is used as a non-pharmacological tool to elicit both gains in and maintenance of physical function in the elderly. Thus, the present study examined the acute response of creatine kinase and interleukin-6 following an eccentric resistance exercise session in elderly obese women classified as high responders or normal responders. DESIGN Cross-sectional field study. METHODS Ninety elderly obese women (69.4 ± 6.01 years) were tested for a 10 repetition maximum on the leg extension exercise and then completed an acute eccentric resistance exercise session consisting of seven sets of 10 repetitions at 110% of 10 repetition maximum with a rest of 3 min between sets. Subjects were divided into normal response or high response on the basis of the peak serum interleukin-6 (NR = 59 and HR = 7) and creatine kinase (NR = 81 and HR = 9) concentration being greater than (HR) or less than (NR) the 90th percentile. RESULTS Creatine kinase was higher at 0 h, 3h, 24h and 48 h following the ERE for the HR group. The peak creatine kinase was significantly higher in HR group versus the normal response group. The average increase in the serum interleukin-6 Δ for the HR group (∼ 850%) was significantly higher versus the normal response group (∼ 55%). Serum interleukin-6 was significantly higher at 0 h and 24h following eccentric resistance exercise only for the high response group, while peak levels were significantly higher in high response group versus the normal response group (p ≤ 0.005). Only one subject met the criteria to be classified as high response for both creatine kinase and interleukin-6 responsiveness. CONCLUSIONS Elderly individuals classified as high response experienced greater creatine kinase and interleukin-6 responses to ERE. Thus, a prudent approach for eccentric resistance exercise prescription might be programming additional recovery days and/or lower intensity training, especially in the beginning stages of a program.

EFFECTS OF REST INTERVAL LENGTH ON SMITH MACHINE BENCH PRESS PERFORMANCE AND PERCEIVED EXERTION IN TRAINED MEN

This study compared two different rest intervals (RI) between sets of resistance exercise. Ten resistance-trained men (M age=24.3, SD = 3.5 yr.; M weight = 80.0 kg, SD = 15.3; M height = 1.75 m, SD = 0.04) performed five sets of Smith machine bench presses at 60% of one repetition maximum, either with 1.5 min. or 3 min. RI between sets. Their repetition performance, total training volume, velocity, fatigue, rating of perceived exertion, and muscular power were measured. All of these measures indicated that performance was significantly better and fatigue was significantly lower in the 3min. RI as compared with the 1.5 min. RI, except the rating of perceived exertion which did not show a significant difference. A longer RI between sets promotes superior performance for the bench press.

Different acute cardiovascular stress in response to resistance exercise leading to failure versus not to failure in elderly women with and without hypertension – a pilot study

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of resistance exercise (RE) leading to failure versus not to failure on 24‐h blood pressure (BP) and rate‐pressure product (RPP) responses in normotensive and hypertensive trained elderly women.

Avaliação da pressão arterial em mulheres sedentárias e sua relação com a força muscular - doi: 10.5020/18061230.2012.p337

Objective: To compare the ambulatory blood pressure in women with different values of relative muscle strength. Methods: Data from 21 (aged 33.8±8.0 years) sedentary women from Vila Telebrasilia was collected during the period of November 2010 to July 2011. The volunteers were submitted to the evaluation of the handgrip strength and ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure (AMBP) for a 72-hour period. Following the evaluation of handgrip strength to determine the absolute muscle strength, an adjustment in the body mass was made, in order to determine the relative muscle strength. Based on the relative value of muscular strength, the sample was divided into tertiles to compare systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure during the periods of 24 hours, daytime and night-time, by using an one-way ANOVA, followed by Bonferroni test when appropriate, with a significance level of p<0.05. Results: Significant differences were found for systolic blood pressure between tertile 1 (99.3±12.2) and tertile 3 (106.8±11.1) in the night-time (P<0.05). Values of mean blood pressure were also significantly different between tertile 1 (70.2±6.3) and tertile 3 (80.3 ± 8.8) in the night-time (p<0,05). Conclusion: Women with higher relative muscle strength present lower values of blood pressure during night-time.