This study evaluated the effect of 4 weeks of low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction (BFRE) on increasing strength in comparison with high-load resistance exercise (HLE), and assessed changes in blood, vascular and neural function. Healthy adults performed leg extension BFRE or HLE 3 days/week at 30% and 80% of strength, respectively. During BFRE, a cuff on the upper leg was inflated to 30% above systolic blood pressure. Strength, pulse-wave velocity (PWV), ankle-brachial index (ABI), prothrombin time (PT) and nerve conduction (NC) were measured before and after training. Markers of coagulation (fibrinogen and D-dimer), fibrinolysis [tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)] and inflammation [high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP)] were measured in response to the first and last exercise bouts. Strength increased 8% with BFRE and 13% with HLE (P < 0.01). No changes in PWV, ABI, PT or NC were observed following training for either group (P > 0.05). tPA antigen increased 30–40% immediately following acute bouts of BFRE and HLE (P = 0.01). No changes were observed in fibrinogen, D-dimer or hsCRP (P > 0.05). These findings indicate that both protocols increase the strength without altering nerve or vascular function, and that a single bout of both protocols increases fibrinolytic activity without altering selected markers of coagulation or inflammation in healthy individuals.

This study compared the metabolic-ventilatory responses and the glycemic threshold identified during lactate minimum (LM) and individual anaerobic threshold (IAT) tests. In addition, the ability to determine the anaerobic power, aerobic-anaerobic transition (Trans) (e.g. ventilatory threshold; VT) and the maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2max)) all within a single incremental treadmill test (IT) was investigated. Fifteen physically fit men [25.9 (5.5) years; 77.4 (6.5) kg] performed the following: test 1, IT for IAT; and test 2, LM: 30-s Wingate test followed by 8 min rest and then an IT that was the same as test 1. Blood lactate concentration [lac], glucose concentration [gluc], pH, PO(2), PCO(2), base excess (BE) and ventilatory variables were measured. At the beginning of the IT for LM, the ventilation, PO(2) and VO(2) were higher and the pH, BE and PCO(2) were lower in relation to IAT ( P<0.05), while no differences were observed after reaching LM intensity during IT. Moreover, the Trans could be identified by [lac] (IAT, LM), minute ventilation [V(E;) VT identified during IAT protocol (VT-IAT) and VT identified during LM protocol (VT-LM)], and [gluc] (IGT, GM) during the IT for IAT and LM. The velocities (kilometers per hour) corresponding to IAT (12.6+/-1.6), VT-IAT (12.5+/-1.7), IGT (12.6+/-1.6), LM (12.5+/-1.5), VT-LM (12.3+/-1.5), and GM (12.6+/-1.9) were not different from each other and the LM and IAT protocols resulted in the similar VO(2max). We concluded that: (1) after reaching the LM the metabolic responses during IT are similar to IAT; (2) performing a Wingate test prior to an IT does not interfere with the Trans and VO(2max) attainment; (3) and the IGT and GM can predict the Trans.

Acute limb ischemia induced by pressure cuffs before activity (ischemic preconditioning; IPC) has been reported to improve exercise performance at maximal efforts. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of IPC during a submaximal performance test in competitive amateur level cyclists. Twelve healthy, male cyclists participated in two performance tests in which they cycled at successive relative intensities of 30, 50, and 70% of their maximal power output for 5 min each. The test culminated with an intensity of 90% of their maximal power output until exhaustion. Prior to each test, subjects randomly completed a control (CON) or IPC treatment. The IPC treatment consisted of alternating 220 mmHg of pressure applied by a cuff to the proximal portion of both thighs for 3, 5 min bouts separated by 5 min of rest. In addition to performance time to exhaustion, variables associated with aerobic performance (oxygen consumption, ventilation, respiratory exchange ratio, heart rate, and blood lactate) were measured continuously throughout the performance test. Statistical comparisons of data were made with repeated measures analyses of variance or paired T tests and significance was accepted as P < 0.05. Heart rate at the 30% relative intensity was significantly higher for the IPC treatment, but there were no other statistically significant differences between the control and IPC treatments across all variables and relative intensities. In this group of competitive amateur-level cyclists, an acute treatment of IPC did not improve performance at each submaximal intensity or increase time to exhaustion.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of a six-week (16-17 training sessions) low velocity resistance training program (LV) on various performance measures as compared to a traditional strength (TS) and a traditional muscular endurance (TE) resistance training program. Thirty-four healthy adult females (21.1 +/- 2.7 y) were randomly divided into 4 groups: control (C), TS, TE, and LV. Workouts consisted of 3 exercises: leg press (LP), back squat (SQ), and knee extension (KE). Each subject was pre- and posttested for 1 repetition maximum (1RM), muscular endurance, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), muscular power, and body composition. After the pretesting, TS, TE, and LV groups attended a minimum of 16 out of 17 training sessions in which the LP, SQ, and KE were performed to fatigue for each of 3 sets. For each training session, TS trained at 6-10 RM and TE trained at 20-30 RM both with 1-2 second concentric/1-2 second eccentric; and LV trained at 6-10 RM, with 10 second concentric/4 s eccentric. Statistical significance was determined at an alpha level of 0.05. LV increased relative LP and KE 1 RM, but the percent increase was smaller than TS, and not different from C in the SQ. For muscular endurance, LV improved similarly to TE for LP and less than TS and TE for KE. Body composition improved for all groups including C (significant main effect). In conclusion, muscular strength improved with LV training however, TS showed a larger improvement. Muscular endurance improved with LV training, but not above what TE or TS demonstrated. For all other variables, there were no significant improvements for LV beyond what C demonstrated.

The epidemic of metabolic syndrome, prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes is global in scope and comprehensive in its impact on individuals, health care systems, and societies. One in four patients with diabetes will experience depression in their lifetime. Comorbid depression is associated with poorer outcomes, greater functional disability, and early mortality. Prior studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of exercise as an efficacious form of treatment for depression in the general population. Few studies have evaluated this strategy in patients with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes. Program ACTIVE (Appalachians Coming Together to Increase Vital Exercise) was designed to treat depression among adults with type 2 diabetes by pairing aerobic activity with individual cognitive behavioral therapy. This combination treatment approach has been shown to be feasible to implement in a rural environment and promising in terms of depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular outcomes. Data from this study suggest that exercise can be used to achieve multiple benefits for adults with type 2 diabetes. Future work to compare this approach to singular treatment strategies for adults at risk for type 2 diabetes is needed.