William C. Byrnes

Walking and running energy expenditure estimated by Caltrac and indirect calorimetry

The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of the Caltrac personal activity computer during walking and running. Ten women and 10 men walked at speeds of 2-5 mph and ran at speeds of 4-8 mph on a horizontal treadmill. Two Caltrac monitors were attached over opposite hips: one programed to give caloric expenditure and the other to give Caltrac counts. Oxygen uptake was measured simultaneously. Significant correlations were found during walking between Caltrac estimated and actual energy expenditure (r = 0.91) and between activity counts and net exercise VO2.kg-1 (r = 0.87). However, the Caltrac significantly overestimated energy cost during horizontal walking at speeds above 2 mph. Although there was a significant correlation between Caltrac estimated and actual energy expenditure during running (r = 0.71), the correlation between Caltrac counts and net exercise VO2.kg-1 was not significant (r = 0.29). There was no significant increase in Caltrac kcal or counts with increased running speed between 5 and 8 mph. It is concluded that the Caltrac is a valid indicator of physical activity during walking but does not adequately discriminate between running speeds of 5-8 mph.

Factors influencing excess postexercise oxygen consumption in trained and untrained women

This study investigated the effects of blood lactate and norepinephrine levels and rectal temperature on excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) following two different exercise intensities. Six trained and seven untrained women each performed two exercise tests, short-term high-intensity exercise ([HI] approximately 80% maximum oxygen consumption [VO2max]) and long-term low-intensity exercise ([LOW] approximately 65% VO2max) until 300 kcal were expended. Rectal temperature, oxygen consumption (VO2), and lactate and norepinephrine levels were monitored at rest, during exercise, and for 60 minutes into recovery. Exercise times averaged 30.0 +/- 4.5 and 23.7 +/- 0.9 minutes in trained women and 45 +/- 3.6 and 30.0 +/- 0.4 minutes in untrained women for LOW and HI, respectively. Rectal temperature, VO2, and lactate and norepinephrine levels were significantly elevated (P < .05) during HI compared with LOW in both groups. VO2 was elevated throughout recovery following LOW and HI in untrained women only. Additionally, VO2 was elevated until minutes 50 and 40 following LOW and HI, respectively, in trained subjects. Rectal temperature returned to resting levels after 30 minutes of recovery following LOW, but remained significantly elevated throughout minute 50 of recovery following HI in trained women. However, values remained significantly elevated throughout recovery following both exercise bouts in untrained subjects. Norepinephrine levels remained elevated above resting levels throughout recovery following HI and until minute 50 following LOW in trained subjects, whereas levels remained elevated for 5 minutes following LOW and 50 minutes following HI in untrained subjects. Lactate levels remained elevated above baseline values throughout recovery following HI and LOW in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Treatment of exercise-induced muscle injury via hyperbaric oxygen therapy

PURPOSE This study examined the role of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) in the treatment of exercise-induced muscle injury. METHODS 21 college-aged male volunteers were assigned to three groups: control, immediate HBO (iHBO), and delayed HBO (dHBO). All subjects performed 6 sets (10 repetitions per set) of eccentric repetitions with a load equivalent to 120% of their concentric maximum. HBO treatments consisted of 100-min exposure to 2.5 ATA and 100% oxygen with intermittent breathing of ambient air (30 min at 100% O2, 5 min at 20.93% O2). HBO treatments began either 2 (iHBO) or 24 h (dHBO) postexercise and were administered daily through day 4 postexercise. Forearm flexor cross-sectional area (CSA) and T2 relaxation time via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were assessed at baseline, 2, 7, and 15 d postinjury. Isometric strength and rating of perceived soreness of the forearm flexors were assessed at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 15 d postinjury. Serum creatine kinase (CK) was assessed on day 0 and on days 1, 2, 7, and 15 postinjury. RESULTS Mean baseline CSA values were: 2016.3, 1888.5, and 1972.2 mm2 for control, iHBO, and dHBO, respectively. All groups showed significant increases in CSA in response to injury (21% at 2 d, 18% at 7 d) (P < 0.0001), but there were no significant differences between groups (P = 0.438). Mean baseline T2 relaxation times were: 26.18, 26.28, and 27.43 msec for control, iHBO, and dHBO, respectively. Significant increases in T2 relaxation time were observed for all groups (64% at 2 d, 66% at 7 d, and 28% at 15 d) (P < 0.0001), but there were no significant differences between groups (P = 0.692). Isometric strength (P < 0.0001), serum CK levels (P = 0.0007), and rating of perceived soreness (P < 0.0001) also indicated significant muscle injury for all groups, but there were no differences between groups (P = 0.459, P = 0.943, and P = 0.448, respectively). CONCLUSION These results suggest that hyperbaric oxygen therapy was not effective in the treatment of exercise-induced muscle injury as indicated by the markers evaluated.

Serum creatine kinase activity following forearm flexion isometric exercise

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to 1) compare serum creatine kinase (CK) activity following two forearm flexion isometric exercise regimens differing in work to rest ratio, and 2) examine the CK response to a repeated bout of isometric exercise. Eleven males were tested on two sessions (bouts) spaced 1 week apart. For bout 1, five subjects (group A) performed a forearm flexion isometric exercise consisting of 40 10-s maximal contractions with 20-s inter-trial rests (10∶20), while six (group B) performed 40 maximal 10-s contractions with 5-s inter-trial rests (10∶5). The increase in serum CK activity following the 10∶20 exercise (143%) was significantly greater than that following the 10∶5 exercise (52%). The 10∶20 exercise was also associated with greater tension generation over trials. One week later, both groups performed a bout of 10∶20 exercise. A substantial reduction in the serum CK response was found following this second bout. The data suggest that for bout 1 the isometric exercise associated with the greater overall tension levels resulted in the greater CK response. However, when the 10∶20 exercise was repeated 1 week later, a substantial reduction in the CK response was found which was unrelated to the tension generated.

Energy expenditure estimates of the Caltrac accelerometer for running, race walking, and stepping

Objective To examine the accuracy of the Caltrac accelerometer for estimating energy expenditure (EE) during three exercise modes. Methods A subset of 31 women (mean (SEM) age 22.6 (5) years) was selected from a training study comparing various physiological parameters during race walking, running, and stepping. Subjects each performed mode specific graded exercise tests to peak V̇o2. Regression equations for V̇o2 v heart rate (HR) were generated from each individuals test data. EE (kcal and kJ) was estimated for each V̇o2 value based on the respiratory exchange ratio, and kcal v HR regression equations were generated to predict EE from each subjects HR data (EE-HR). HR in the field was monitored by telemetry, and two Caltrac monitors, one set for EE and one to give counts, were attached to a belt over opposite hips. Results EE-HR was not significantly different across exercise modes. Caltrac overestimated EE (P<0.01) in runners (14%) and walkers (19%) but underestimated EE in steppers by about 10% (P = 0.12). Conclusions The Caltrac is a reliable instrument but it did not accurately distinguish EE in running, race walking, or stepping in a group of young women.

The reproducibility of VO2max, ventilatory, and lactate thresholds in elderly women.

The reproducibility of VO2max, ventilatory, and lactate thresholds in elderly women. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 425-430, 1986. This investigation examined the reproducibility of maximal (VO2max) and submaximal measures of fitness for elderly women. Eight subjects [age (yr): mean = 80.6 +/- 3.7; range = 73-86] volunteered to repeat three continuous, incremental maximal effort treadmill tests. Blood lactate determinations were made for each increment from blood samples taken from an indwelling venous catheter located in the back of the hand. Average VO2max values (ml X min-1 X kg X l-1) were 13.21 + 1.95 for test 1, 13.44 +/- 1.83 for test 2, and 13.62 + 2.95 for test 3. In all but one subject, a threshold was not definable by either ventilatory or lactate measurements. Maximal lactate values were low, with the average values for tests 1, 2, and 3 being 1.89, 1.46, and 1.86 mmol X l-1, respectively. The data demonstrates that VO2max is reproducible for older women and can, therefore, be used for fitness assessment and exercise prescription. The use of ventilatory or lactate thresholds as submaximal measures of fitness or as minimal intensities for exercise prescription was determined not to be applicable for women in the eighth and ninth decades of life.

A comparison of skeletal muscle morphology with training between young and old Fischer 344 rats.

Muscle mass, fiber area, total fiber number, fiber population and capillarity were assessed in 6- and 25-month-old animals trained by treadmill running at 75% mean maximal capacity for 10 weeks. Serial cross-sections were stained for ATPase activity to differentiate fiber types and expose capillaries. Aging and training effects were demonstrated in maximal running speed and endurance running time. Soleus muscle mass increased in the aged, however, soleus and EDL total fiber number were declining. When adjusted for muscle weight, a significant reduction existed in fiber number for the aged soleus. Fiber area increased in the old soleus compared to young. All changes in the EDL were specific to the deep region. While there was a tendency for the capillaries/fiber and fiber area to be higher with training in the Type I fibers of the soleus, it was only significant for the young animals. Thus, while the majority of variables that showed a training effect did so across both age groups, this was not the case for vascularity. Age-associated changes in muscle morphology appear to be both muscle and fiber specific.

AltitudeOmics : rapid hemoglobin mass alterations with early acclimatization to and de-acclimatization from 5260 m in healthy humans

It is classically thought that increases in hemoglobin mass (Hbmass) take several weeks to develop upon ascent to high altitude and are lost gradually following descent. However, the early time course of these erythropoietic adaptations has not been thoroughly investigated and data are lacking at elevations greater than 5000 m, where the hypoxic stimulus is dramatically increased. As part of the AltitudeOmics project, we examined Hbmass in healthy men and women at sea level (SL) and 5260 m following 1, 7, and 16 days of high altitude exposure (ALT1/ALT7/ALT16). Subjects were also studied upon return to 5260 m following descent to 1525 m for either 7 or 21 days. Compared to SL, absolute Hbmass was not different at ALT1 but increased by 3.7±5.8% (mean ± SD; n = 20; p<0.01) at ALT7 and 7.6±6.6% (n = 21; p<0.001) at ALT16. Following descent to 1525 m, Hbmass was reduced compared to ALT16 (−6.0±3.7%; n = 20; p = 0.001) and not different compared to SL, with no difference in the loss in Hbmass between groups that descended for 7 (−6.3±3.0%; n = 13) versus 21 days (−5.7±5.0; n = 7). The loss in Hbmass following 7 days at 1525 m was correlated with an increase in serum ferritin (r = −0.64; n = 13; p<0.05), suggesting increased red blood cell destruction. Our novel findings demonstrate that Hbmass increases within 7 days of ascent to 5260 m but that the altitude-induced Hbmass adaptation is lost within 7 days of descent to 1525 m. The rapid time course of these adaptations contrasts with the classical dogma, suggesting the need to further examine mechanisms responsible for Hbmass adaptations in response to severe hypoxia.

Creatine kinase and muscle soreness after repeated isometric exercise.

This study examined adaptation to isometric exercise with regard to changes in serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and muscle soreness. Forty-five college-age males were placed into six groups, each performing two bouts of strenuous isometric exercise of the knee extensors. In experiment 1 (N = 27), after performing the first bout of exercise, groups A, B, and C performed the second bout 3, 6, and 9 wk later, respectively. In experiment 2 (N = 18), groups D, E, and F performed the second exercise bout 1, 2, and 3 wk after the first bout, respectively. In experiment 3, group D performed two additional exercise bouts; thus, this group performed a total of four bouts spaced 1 wk apart. Muscle soreness and CK were assessed prior to and 6, 18, and 24 (or 42) h following each exercise. In experiment 1, no significant difference in soreness or serum CK was found between bouts 1 and 2. In experiment 2, a significant decrease in the CK and soreness responses was found on bout 2 compared with bout 1 (P less than 0.05). In experiment 3, serum CK and soreness responses were highest following bout 1 while bouts 2, 3, and 4 were not significantly different from one another. Performance of this isometric exercise results in an adaptation that lasts approximately 3 wk, with the greatest adaptation occurring after one bout.

Levels of serum creatine kinase and myoglobin in women after two isometric exercise conditions

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to measure serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and serum myoglobin (MG) concentrations in women after two unilateral isometric knee extension exercises. Forty maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) were held for 10 s, with either a 5 s (10∶5) or 20 s 10∶20 exercise (349.4±66.1 mU · ml−1) and 6 h and MG values were measured pre, 0, 3, 6, and 18 h post exercise. For CK, the highest post exercise values were observed at 6 h following the 10∶20 exercise (349.4±66.1 mU · ml−1) and 6 h following the 10∶5 exercise (194.1±18.6 mU · ml−1). For MG, the highest values were found 3 h after the 10∶20 exercise (148.9±61.7 ng · ml−1) and 6 h after the 10∶5 exercise (67.3±10.9 ng · ml−1). Serum CK and MG levels were significantly greater (p<0.01) after the 10∶20 exercise bout. The data demonstrate that CK and MG values for women increase significantly after isometric exercise. Since greater tension levels were maintained during the 10∶20 exercise it is hypothesized that increased serum CK and MG values after isometric exercise may be related to the tension generated by the contracting muscle.