Hypoxia and an acute bout of exercise partially influence RMCPT and TMD. Furthermore, a moderate-intensity bout of exercise (60%) may be a more potent stimulant for improving cognitive function than low-intensity (40%) exercise. The present data should be considered by aeromedical personnel performing cognitive tasks in hypoxia.Seo Y, Gerhart HD, Stavres J, Fennell C, Draper S, Glickman EL. Normobaric hypoxia and submaximal exercise effects on running memory and mood state in women. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2017; 88(7):627-632.

Alterations in running shoe design have been studied and used in the prevention of injury and enhancement of performance allowing running shoe companies to market to a variety of runners based on skill level, foot-strike pattern, and even sex. These alterations have been shown to affect biomechanical and physiological variables associated with running. Some shoe companies have designed shoes specifically for biological female runners due to the morphological differences found between male and female feet. The purpose of this study is to determine if sex-specific running shoes can alter female runner biomechanics or physiology. Female runners were asked to run in the male and female models of the Altra Torin 4 Plush shoe to determine if there were differences in ground reaction forces (GRFs), sagittal plane joint angles and moments, oxygen consumption (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and perceived level of comfort while running; There were no significant differences in GRFs, sagittal joint angles and moments, VO2, RER, or perceived comfort; There were no differences in measured biomechanical or physiological variables between the female and male version of the shoes suggesting that the alterations made to the female-specific shoe do not provide any additional benefit to female recreational runners.

Introduction: Identifying an accurate, user friendly alternative to skinfold calipers may allow for accurate assessment of body composition in more applied settings, such as various training and competition venues.  The purpose of our study was to determine the validity of B-mode ultrasound (BMUS) for body composition assessment by comparing this method to values obtained using air displacement plethysmography (ADP). Methods: Twenty-four active runners underwent two forms of body composition assessment during a single lab visit; ADP and BMUS. ADP body density was estimated using an air displacement chamber in combination with measured lung volume. BMUS body density was estimated from measuring the Jackson-Pollock 7 site skinfolds with a portable, app-based ultrasound device to determine subcutaneous fat thickness. Images were analyzed using proprietary software. Body density values for both methods were converted to body fat percentage using the Siri equation. A paired samples t-test was used to compare values obtained from ADP and BMUS. Results: There was no difference between ADP (18.3 ± 7.3%) and BMUS (17.2 ± 7.6%; p = 0.1) for percent body fat. Conclusions: BMUS provides a valid method for assessing body composition when compared to ADP, thus providing a portable, accurate method for assessing body composition in applied settings.

METHODS: 210 males and females with nearly normal weight (BMI = 23-26 kg/m 2 ) were equally divided into 3 age groups: 1) Young adults 18-34 yo; 2) Middle age adults 35-59 yo; and 3) Older adults 60-88 yo. Body fat % was assessed for each using 4 METHODS: 1) Bioelectrical impedance Inbody 770 (BI) -criterion method; 2) Body mass index (BMI); 3) Abdominal and buttock circumferences (C); and 4) Skinfold (SF). Regression equations were used to calculate body fat % in latter 3 methods. A repeated measures 2-way ANOVA (p < 0.05) with post hoc tests were employed. RESULTS: There were no significant interactions between age group and body fat technique. Collapsed across age groups for males, % body fat was significantly greater in BMI (22.7±5.0) than BI (20.7±7.7), C (21.2±5.8), and SF (16.6±5.7), and significantly greater in C and BI than SK. Collapsed across body fat techniques for males, % body fat was significantly greater in Older adults (24.5±6.1) than Middle age adults (20.0±5.8) and Young adults (16.7±5.2), and greater in Middle age adults than Young adults. Collapsed across age groups for females, % body fat was significantly greater in C (33.1±7.8) and BMI (32.0±5.5) than BI (29.4±9.4) and SF (23.7±5.3), and greater in BI than SK. When collapsed across body fat techniques for females, % body fat was significantly greater in Older adults (34.4±7.9) than Middle age adults (28.0±6.2) and Young adults (25.6.7±7.2), and greater in Middle age adults than Young adults. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the criterion reference BI, body fat % was generally overestimated by C and BMI groups by 1-3% and underestimated by SF group by 4-5%. All 4 methods are practical and reliable ways to assess body fat % in 1 minute or less time and without needing expensive equipment or training, and all 4 methods provided fairly similar results. SK measurements can be taken in as few as 3 sites and skinfold calipers are typically less than $200, C measurements only requires a tape measure, while BMI only requires a weigh scale for weight and tape measure for height. The BI is most expensive

Postexercise hypotension (PEH) is the immediate reduction in blood pressure (BP) after an acute exercise persisting for 24 hr. We have suggestive evidence autonomic activity as measured by heart rate variability (HRV) may influence PEH that requires confirmation. PURPOSE:To better establish the relationship between PEH and HRV before and after aerobic training among adults with hypertension. METHODS: Participants completed a moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic training program for 40-50 min/session, 3 d/wk for 12 wk. Before and after training, they performed a peak graded exercise stress test (GEST) and non-exercise control (CONTROL) session leaving the laboratory attached to an ambulatory BP monitor for 19 hr. HRV was measured in the supine position for 5 min using a 12-lead electrocardiogram prior to CONTROL. RESULTS: Participants were middle-aged (52.1±11.7yr) men (n=9) and women (n=9) with hypertension (131.7±9.8mmHg/85.9±8.5mmHg) and obesity (body mass index [BMI] 30.0±3.7 kg.m -2 ). Before training, ambulatory systolic BP (ASBP) decreased 3.2±2.1 mmHg (p=0.016), and diastolic ABP (ADBP) decreased 2.5±1.5mmHg (p=0.015) from baseline during the day following GEST versus CONTROL. After training, ASBP tended to decrease 3.5±2.2 mmHg (p=0.055), and ADBP decreased 1.7±2.5 mmHg (p<0.001) from baseline during the day following GEST versus CONTROL. Before training, HRV high frequency (HFms 2 ) (β=0.441), age (β=-0.568), and resting SBP (β=-0.504) accounted for 66.8% of the variance in ASBP (p<0.001), whereas the low frequency (LF)/HF ratio (β=-0.516) and resting DBP (β=-0.277) accounted for 35.7% of the variance in ADBP during the day (p=0.037). After training, the standard deviation of NN intervals (SDNN) (β=0.556), age (β=-0.506), and resting SBP (β=-0.259) accounted for 60.7% of the variance in ASBP (p=0.004), whereas SDNN (β=0.236) and resting DBP (β=-0.785) accounted for 58.5% of the variance in ADBP during the day (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with hypertension and parasympathetic predominance, as reflected by higher SDNN and HFms2 and lower LF/HF at rest, elicited PEH to a greater extent independent of training status compared to adults with sympathetic predominance. Our results highlight resting autonomic activity is an important determinant of PEH that should be explored further.