William A. Braun

Effect of 4 wk of deep water run training on running performance.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether trained competitive runners could maintain on-land running performance using 4 wk of deep water run training instead of on-land training. Eleven well-trained competitive runners (10 males, 1 female; ages, 32.5 +/- 5.4 yr; height, 179.8 +/- 9.3 cm; weight, 70.4 +/- 6.7 kg (mean +/- SD)) trained exclusively using deep water run training for 4 wk. Subjects trained 5-6 d.wk-1 for a total of 20-24 sessions (mean +/- SD, 22 +/- 1.5 sessions). Instruction and practice sessions were conducted prior to the training period. Before and after the deep water run training, subjects completed a 5-km race on the treadmill using a computer based system, a submaximal run at the same absolute workload to assess running economy, and a combined lactate threshold and maximal oxygen consumption test. No significant differences were found for (mean +/- SEM): 5-km run time (pre, 1142.7 +/- 39.5 s; post, 1149.8 +/- 36.9 s; P = 0.28), submaximal oxygen consumption (pre 44.8 +/- 1.2 mL.kg-1.min-1; post, 45.3 +/- 1.5 mL.kg-1.min-1; P = 0.47), lactate threshold running velocity (pre, 249.1 +/- 0.9 m.min-1; post, 253.6 +/- 6.3 m.min-1; P = 0.44), or maximal oxygen consumption (pre, 63.4 +/- 1.3 mL.kg-1.min-1; post, 62.2 +/- 1.3 mL.kg-1.min-1; P = 0.11). Also no differences were found among Global Mood State pre-training, each week during training, and post-training. Competitive distance runners maintained running performance using 4 wk of deep water run training as a replacement for on-land training.

Influence of Menstrual Cycle on Indices of Contraction-Induced Muscle Damage

Abstract Markofski, MM and Braun, WA. Influence of menstrual cycle on indices of contraction-induced muscle damage. J Strength Cond Res 28(9): 2649–2656, 2014—Limited evidence suggests women exhibit a dampened response to contraction-induced muscle damage (CIMD). The purpose of this study was to examine if differences in symptoms of CIMD exist when induced in the menstrual cycle follicular or luteal phase. Sixteen resistance exercise trained women between the ages of 18–37 completed 75 eccentric-biased extension exercises with their nondominant arm. Creatine kinase (CK), elbow joint angles, arm volume, strength, and soreness were measured over 7 days. Estrogen was higher (p < 0.001) in the luteal group. The high estrogen group (luteal) had an overall greater strength decrement and higher CK concentration at 96 hours. Significant time effects were present for CK, elbow extension, elbow flexion, arm volume, and soreness. With the exception of strength and CK, signs and symptoms of CIMD were independent of menstrual cycle phase. Estrogen concentration in women may have limited effects on symptoms associated with muscle damage, but further research in this area is warranted.

Influence of acute submaximal exercise on T-lymphocyte suppressor cell function in healthy young men

Abstract A defect in T-lymphocyte suppressor cell function has been reported to occur in a number of autoimmune diseases. The influence of exercise on suppressor cell function has not been determined in individuals with autoimmune diseases, nor has it been determined in healthy individuals. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of an acute bout of submaximal exercise on suppressor cell function in healthy males. Each subject (n=10) completed an exercise trial (E; 1 h of cycle ergometry at 70.6% of maximal oxygen uptake, followed by 2 h of recovery) and a resting trial (R; 3 h of seated rest), separated by at least 1 week. Treatment (E or R) order was counterbalanced. Venous blood samples were obtained pre-exercise (PRE), immediately after exercise (POST), and 2 h post-exercise (2HPOST), and at the same time points in the R trial. Lymphocyte phenotype percentages were determined by flow cytometry, while concanavalin- A-induced suppressor cell function was determined on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. No change was observed in the percentage of T-cytotoxic/suppressor cells. Suppressor cell function was significantly different between treatments, with the POST E value [mean (SD) 56.8 (1.6)%] being higher than the POST R value [41.7 (1.9)%]. No significant difference was observed 2HPOST. In conclusion, acute submaximal exercise resulted in a transient increase in suppressor cell function in healthy males.