AbstractThis study investigated the effectiveness of a specialized strength training program on maximal handgrip strength in young wrestlers. 72 young wrestlers (36 children: 8–10 years-old and 36 adolescents:13–15 years-old) participated in the present study. Both age-categories were assigned into a training group (18 children and 18 adolescents) and a control group (18 children and 18 adolescents). The training groups, in conjunction with the wrestling training performed a 4-month (2 sessions/week) specialized handgrip training program. Maximal handgrip strength was evaluated pre, at the intermediate (2 months) and at the completion of the program (4 months). Maximal handgrip strength values increased during the intermediate and post-training measurements compared to pre-training measurement in training and control groups (p<0.001). No significant differences were observed on pre-training and intermediate measurements between groups, while significant differences were observed during the post-training measurement. Training group exhibited significantly (p<0.01) greater maximal handgrip strength values than the control group irrespective of age-category and hand-preference. A 4-month handgrip strength training program, incorporated into the conventional wrestling training, provokes greater adaptations in maximal handgrip strength than the wrestling training per se. For greater handgrip training adaptations are required more than 14 specialized handgrip training-sessions.

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) have impaired function of respiratory system and frequently experience dyspnea. Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) offers an alternative way of exercise with a lot of benefits for HF patients. Aim: The aim of this review was to summarize and to reveal the effects of IMT in HF patients. Methods: Electronic searches were performed using Pubmed Database, Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria were: RCTs, patients with HF, full text articles after 2010 and at least one intervention group with IMT. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale. Results: Nineteen articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. In most studies training protocols involved 3 to 7 sessions per week with intensity ≤30-60% of maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), for a total duration of 4-12 weeks. Respiratory muscle strength improved in 11/12 studies, peripheral muscle strength in 4/5 studies, exercise capacity (peak VO2, VE/VCO2 slope) in 4/10, pulmonary function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FVC) in 0/5, functional capacity (6MWT) in 6/8, echocardiography parameters in 1/6, quality of life and dyspnea in 9/16. Control groups followed sham IMT, usual care, no intervention, intervention without exercise, or aerobic training, which could explain in some cases the conflicting results. Conclusions: IMT is beneficial for HF patients and should be included as a complementary method in cardiac rehabilitation programs. The optimal characteristics of ΙΜΤ as well as the benefits when combined with common forms of exercise need further research.

Background: Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) present microcirculation alterations and vascular endothelial dysfunction. Exercise training programs have been shown to improve the functional status of these patients, however less is known yet about the acute systemic effect of exercise on peripheral muscle microcirculation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect of a respiratory muscle exercise bout on the microcirculation of non-exercising muscles (systemic effect). Materials and Methods: Thirty-four (30♂/4♀) stable CHF patients, with a mean age of61.4±9.2 years, ejection fraction (EF): 33.9±7.8%, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP): 78.2±27.1 cmH2O, VO2max: 17.5±4.05 ml/kg/min, VE/VCO2 slope: 32.7±6.4 and a New York Heart Association classification (NYHA) ≥ ΙΙ participated in the study. Microcirculatory assessment was performed at rest and immediately after the respiratory exercise program (5 sets/10 repetitions, training load: 60% of MIP). Basal tissue oxygen saturation (StO2),oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and reperfusion rate (RR) were measured utilizing near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS) at the thenar muscle along with the vascular occlusion test (VOT). Results: RR (%/min), following the release of vascular occlusion, as well as OCR (%/min) increased after the respiratory exercise program (from 3.4±1.6 to 3.9±1.7, p=0.007, and from 12.7±3.8 to 13.2±3.9, p=0.021 respectively), whereas the corresponding basal StO2values difference did not reach the level of statistical significance (from 85.5±6.4. to 84.7±6.2, p=0.065). Conclusions: In the present study, concerning patients with CHF, after an acute respiratory exercise bout, dynamic microcirculatory indices assessed by NIRS in peripheral, non-exercising muscles, were significantly altered.