Background The aim of the present study was to analyse the effects of placebo on bench throw performance in Paralympic weightlifting athletes. Methods The study involved four Paralympic weightlifting male athletes (age: 40.25 ± 9.91 years, weight: 60.5 ± 8.29 kg, height: 1.60 ± 0.15 m) that visited the laboratory in three occasions, separated by 72 h. In the first session, the athletes were tested for bench press one repetition maximum (1RM). The other two sessions were performed in a randomized counter-balanced order and involved bench throw tests performed either after taking placebo while being informed that the capsule contained caffeine or without taking any substance (control). The bench throw tests were performed with loads corresponding to 50, 60, 70 and 80% of the bench press 1RM. Results According to the results, mean velocity (∆: 0.08 m/s, ES 0.36, p < 0.05) and mean propulsive velocity (∆: 0.11 m/s, ES 0.49, p < 0.05) at 50% of 1RM were significantly higher during placebo than control ( p < 0.05). However, there were no difference between control and placebo for 60, 70 and 80% of 1RM ( p > 0.05). Conclusion Our results suggest that placebo intake, when the athletes were informed they were taking caffeine, might be an efficient strategy to improve the performance of explosive movements in Paralympic weightlifting athletes when using low-loads. This brings the possibility of using placebo in order to increase performance, which might reduce the risks associated with ergogenic aids, such as side-effects and positive doping testing.

BackgroundAlthough multidisciplinary treatment is recommended for type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension (HTN), there is a lack of scientific literature supporting the hypothesis of extending this treatment strategy to patients with both diabetes and HTN. Aiming to report results of long-term multidisciplinary treatment for these patients and identify strategies to improve their management, we conducted this study.MethodsData of patients with diabetes and HTN with regular follow-up visits in a multidisciplinary HTN treatment center from Brazil’s Midwest were retrospectively assessed. Patients ≥ 18 years enrolled in the service by June 2017 with a minimum of three visits were included. Anthropometric, blood pressure (BP), laboratory, pharmacological treatment, lifestyle, and cardiovascular events data were collected from first (V1), intermediate (V2) and most recent (V3) visits to the service. BP < 130 × 80 mmHg, LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) < 70 mg/dL and HbA1C < 7.0% were defined as treatment targets. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare variables along study visits. A linear regression model was built to identify variables associated with better overall patient control.ResultsA total of 162 patients were included (mean age of 56.5 ± 10.8 years). Median follow-up time was 60 (IQR 40–109) months, 80.2% of the sample was female and 83.3% had no cardiovascular event history. BP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides and HbA1C values showed a significant trend to improve along the study visits (p < 0.001). Growing trend in aspirin (p = 0.045) and statins (p < 0.001) use was found, in addition to treatment compliance increase (p < 0.001). Significant improvement trends in BP (p < 0.001), LDL-C (p = 0.004) and HbA1C (p = 0.002) control were also found across visits. Control rates of BP, LDL-C and HbA1C in combination were low in V1, V2 and V3 (1.2, 1.9 and 6.8%, respectively), but showed significant improvement trend (p < 0.001). Treatment compliance (β-coefficient = 1.20; 95% CI 1.07–1.34; p < 0.001) was positively associated with better overall patients control.ConclusionsMultidisciplinary treatment of patients with diabetes and HTN significantly improved clinical and laboratory parameters, despite ageing of population evaluated. Although combined control of HbA1C, BP and LDL-cholesterol increased along follow-up, management of all these three conditions needs to improve, and focus on treatment compliance should be given to attain this goal.

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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of 5 month kettlebell-based training on jumping performance, balance, blood pressure and heart rate in female classical ballet dancers. It was a clinical trial study with 23 female dancers (age = 21.74 ± 3.1 years; body height = 168.22 ± 5.12 cm; body mass = 53.69 ± 5.91 kg) took part in the study. Participants were divided into two groups: a kettlebell group (n = 13), that followed a commercial kettlebell training protocol named the “Simple & Sinister protocol”, and a traditional dance training control group (n = 10). In the kettlebell group, kettlebell training completely replaced the jump and balance section of dance classes. Both groups performed balance and jumping tests before and after the training period. Blood pressure and the heart rate were also measured. The kettlebell group showed significant improvements in the balance tests (antero-posterior and medio-lateral oscillation) with both legs and eyes open as well as in all types of jump exercises (unrotated: +39.13%, p < 0.005; with a turnout: +53.15%, p < 0.005), while maximum and minimum blood pressure and the heart rate decreased significantly (max: -7.90%, p < 0.05; min: -9.86%, p < 0.05; Heart rate: -17.07%, p < 0.01). The results for the control group were non-significant for any variable. Comparison between groups showed significant differences for all variables analyzed, with greater improvements for the kettlebell group. Our results suggest that specific kettlebell training could be effective in improving jump performance and balance in classical dancers to a significantly greater degree compared to classical dance training.

Objective:Assess the acute effects of a high-intensity resistance training session on central blood pressure (CBP) parameters of elderly hypertensive women.Methods:Forty physically active hypertensive women were included in resistance training and control protocols. Resistance training exercises were bench press, leg press and lat pull-down. The resistance training protocol consisted of three sets of 10 repetitions to volitional failure with 90 s of rest between sets. No exercise was performed in the control protocol. CBP parameters were measured in four moments: before (PRE), immediately after (T0), 30 min (T30) and 60 min (T60) following both protocols.Results:Resistance training significantly increased central SBP (cSBP) 107.4 ± 16.3 vs. 117.5 ± 16.7), augmentation index ((24.9 ± 12.7 vs. 33.1 ± 12.0), pulse wave velocity (PWV 9.7 ± 1.0 vs. 10.3 ± 1.1), peripheral pulse pressure (pPP 48.5 ± 11.7 vs. 58.9 ± 13.1), central pulse pressure (cPP 38.3 ± 11.6 vs. 46.5 ± 13.1) and amplified pulse pressure (ampPP 10.2 ± 4.2 vs. 12.4 ± 5.6) immediately after exercises. The comparison between groups showed higher values of cSBP (117.5 ± 16.7 vs. 106.3 ± 14.6), augmentation index (20.9 ± 11.0 vs. 33.1 ± 12.0), pPP (46.6 ± 11.0 vs. 58.9 ± 13.1) and cPP (36 ± 10.2 vs. 46.5 ± 13.1) at T0. After 30 min, all variables returned to the baseline values.Conclusion:High-intensity resistance training session increased CBP parameters immediately after exercises, but those changes were not sustained after 30 min.