Elastic tubing training had a greater effect on functional exercise capacity than conventional resistance training. Both interventions were equally effective in improving muscle strength and quality of life.

Reactive oxygen species oxidize proteins and modulate the proteasomal system in muscle-wasting cancer cachexia. On day 5 (D5), day 10 (D10), and day 14 (D14) after tumor implantation, skeletal muscle was evaluated. Carbonylated proteins and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances were measured. Chemiluminescence was employed for lipid hydroperoxide estimation. Glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and total radical antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The proteasomal system was assessed by mRNA atrogin-1 expression. Increased muscle wasting, lipid hydroperoxide, and superoxide dismutase, and decreased glutathione levels and total radical antioxidant capacity, were found on D5 in accordance with increased mRNA atrogin-1 expression. All parameters were significantly modified in animals treated with α-tocopherol. The elevation in aldehylde levels and carbonylated proteins observed on D10 were reversed by α-tocopherol treatment. Oxidative stress may trigger signal transduction of the proteasomal system and cause protein oxidation. These pathways may be associated with the mechanism of muscle wasting that occurs in cancer cachexia.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily cold water immersion (CWI) on physical performance, muscle damage, and inflammatory, hormonal, and oxidative stress markers in volleyball. Six players were submitted to CWI and six players to a placebo, during 5 training days. Thigh circumference, squat jump, and agility were measured on the 1, 3 and 6 days. On the 1 and 6 days, blood and saliva were collected for analysis of oxidative stress, muscle damage, and inflammatory and hormonal levels. Muscle soreness and countermovement jump were quantified daily. The physical performance comparisons did not present differences and the only between group comparison with a large effect size (ES = -1.39) was in Δ% between day 1 and day 2 for CMJ. DOMS and creatine kinase increased in both groups and the ES of between group comparisons of Δ% between moments were not more than moderate. Thigh circumference increased only in the placebo group (P = 0.04) and the ES of the between group comparisons of Δ% between moments was large (1.53). No differences were found in oxidative stress, or inflammatory markers. Cortisol decreased only in the CWI-group (P < 0.05) and the ES of the between group comparisons of Δ% between moments of the testosterone/cortisol ratio (- 1.94) and IGF-1 (- 1.34) were large. Despite the positive effects of daily CWI on muscle edema and hormonal status, the limited effects of CWI on performance, muscle damage, inflammation markers, and ROS mediators signal the unimportance of the daily practice of this recovery method in volleyball players.