Effect of Short-Term Whole-Body Vibration Training on Metabolic Risk Factors, Inflammatory Markers, and Arterial Stiffness

To investigate the effect of aerobic exercise combined with whole-body vibration (WBV) training on metabolic syndrome risk, and inflammatory markers, and to compare its effects on arterial stiffness and several blood parameters related to metabolic syndrome with those of aerobic training alone. Thirty healthy participants were divided into 2 groups matched for age and body mass index (BMI). Fifteen subjects were assigned to the WBV group (WBV + aerobic training) and the other 15 to the control group (aerobic training only). All participants performed a treadmill exercise 3 days/week for 4 weeks, for 50 min after 30 min rest period. Exercise was performed at a heart rate (HR) corresponding to 60% of the HR at each individual’s maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max). Body weight and BMI after training were significantly lower than those before training in the WBV group (P < 0.01). Concerning arterial stiffness, the pulse-wave velocity after training was significantly lower than that before training in the WBV group (1048.7 ± 105.6 vs. 1008.4 ± 101.1 cm/s, P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the VO2max after training was significantly higher than that before training in the WBV group (47.7 ± 12.8 vs. 51.4 ± 14.1 mL·min-1·kg-1, P < 0.01). However, no significant differences were observed in any parameters before and after training in the control group. Our results suggest that aerobic exercise combined with WBV training may be effective in reducing arterial stiffness and improving cardiorespiratory fitness than aerobic training alone.

Muscular Contraction Ability Develops in the Lower Trapezius Muscle of the Dominant Arm in Team Hand-Ball Players

Eleven male university team hand-ball players (22 shoulders) with 5 or more years of competitive team hand-ball experience who had no history of injuries were included in this study. We compared the thickness of the trapezius muscle between their dominant arm and non-dominant arm, to clarify the correlation between the muscle thickness and muscular strength during internal and external rotation in the shoulder joints used to throw a handball. We measured the thickness of the middle and lower trapezius muscles at an abduction angle of 90&deg descending by the ultrasonic LOGIQ e and measured internal and external rotational muscular strength of the glenohumeral joint by BIODEX. The players showed significantly greater thickness of the lower trapezius muscle during constriction in the dominant arm than that in the non-dominant arm. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between muscle thickness of the lower trapezius muscle and the muscular strength during internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint. It is highly probable that the height of the constricting ability in the lower trapezius muscle in the dominant arm is related to the prevention of throwing injuries.

Erratum to “Muscular Contraction Ability Develops in the Lower Trapezius Muscle of the Dominant Arm in Team Hand-Ball Players” [Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology 6 (2015) 368-374]

Eleven male university team hand-ball players (22 shoulders) with 5 or more years of competitive team hand-ball experience who had no history of injuries were included in this study. We compared the thickness of the trapezius muscle between their dominant arm and non-dominant arm, to clarify the correlation between the muscle thickness and muscular strength during internal and external rotation in the shoulder joints used to throw a handball. We measured the thickness of the middle and lower trapezius muscles at an abduction angle of 90° descending by the ultrasonic LOGIQ e and measured internal and external rotational muscular strength of the glenohumeral joint by BIODEX. The players showed significantly greater thickness of the lower trapezius muscle during constriction in the dominant arm than that in the non-dominant arm. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between muscle thickness of the lower trapezius muscle and the muscular strength during internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint. It is highly probable that the height of the constricting ability in the lower trapezius muscle in the dominant arm is related to the prevention of throwing injuries.

Erratum to “Muscular Contraction Ability Develops in the Lower Trapezius Muscle of the Dominant Arm in Team Hand-Ball Players” [Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology Vol.6 No.5 (2015) 368-374]

Eleven male university team hand-ball players (22 shoulders) with 5 or more years of competitive team hand-ball experience who had no history of injuries were included in this study. We compared the thickness of the trapezius muscle between their dominant arm and non-dominant arm, to clarify the correlation between the muscle thickness and muscular strength during internal and external rotation in the shoulder joints used to throw a handball. We measured the thickness of the middle and lower trapezius muscles at an abduction angle of 90&deg descending by the ultrasonic LOGIQ e and measured internal and external rotational muscular strength of the glenohumeral joint by BIODEX. The players showed significantly greater thickness of the lower trapezius muscle during constriction in the dominant arm than that in the non-dominant arm. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between muscle thickness of the lower trapezius muscle and the muscular strength during internal rotation of the glenohumeral joint. It is highly probable that the height of the constricting ability in the lower trapezius muscle in the dominant arm is related to the prevention of throwing injuries.

Effects of hypoxic training on physiological exercise intensity and recognition of exercise intensity in young men

This study aimed to examine the effects of hypoxic training on physiological exercise intensity and recognition of exercise intensity in young men. The participants included 9 healthy young males (23.2 ± 6.5 years old, 176.2 ±6.7 cm, 74.3 ±16.4 kg). VO2 was measured during running with subjective exercise intensities of “somewhat hard” for 3 min and “fairly light” for 3 min. After the measurements, the participants answered the question “what percentage of your maximal effort was performed during both running exercises.” The exercise intensity recognition for the “fairly light” and “somewhat hard” intensities and the physiological exercise intensity measured by relative VO2 (%) and relative heart rate (HR, %) were then evaluated. The hypoxic training was performed 3 times a week for 4 weeks in a normobaric hypoxic chamber?(oxygen concentration, 15.4% and altitude, 2500 m). The participants ran at an exercise intensity of 60% VO2max for 40 min after a 5 min warm-up and then performed a 5 min cool-down. After training, they sat on a chair in the same room for 30 min. VO2max and HRmax changed significantly after the training. At “fairly light” intensity, the physiological measures were significantly higher than recognition of exercise intensity, with relative VO2 (%) increasing after training. In conclusion, hypoxia training causes an increase in VO2max and physiological exercise intensity during running at a “fairly light” intensity.

Effect of normobaric hypoxia on cardiorespiratory and metabolic risk markers in healthy subjects

The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of hypoxic physical exercise on metabolic risk markers and to compare the effects on maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), arterial stiffness, and several blood parameters to a control group training under normoxic conditions. Eight healthy men were examined. Each participant performed exercise at a heart rate (HR) corresponding to 60% of the HR at VO2max on a treadmill device for 50 min (including 5 min warm-up and 5 min cool-down) after 30 min rest, on 3 days per week, for 4 weeks, in either normobaric hypoxia or normobaric normoxia. Each participant performed the exercise program under both environmental conditions with a wash-out period of 4 months. Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity after training was significantly lower in the hypoxic group than in the normoxic group (P = 0.02). The VO2max in the hypoxic group was significantly higher after than before training (P = 0.04). Our results suggest that hypoxic training may more effectively reduce arterial stiffness and improve cardiorespiratory function compared with training performed at the same relative exercise intensity under normoxic conditions.

Differences between Fallers by Tripping and Nonfallers in the OSFS Test

This study evaluates the effects of a fall experience caused by tripping during the repetitive stepping movements over an obstacle [obstacle-single leg forward step (OSFS) test]. The study included 147 participants who were divided into 2 groups: 25 fallers caused by tripping and 122 nonfallers. The subjects were asked to step forward over a 10-cm-high obstacle with 1 leg and then return to their original position, as quickly as possible, and this test was repeated for 5 times. The OSFS test was evaluated in 2 phases: the OSFS-F phase, wherein the participants stepped forward on one leg, and the OSFS-R phase, wherein they returned to their original position. Significant differences were observed in both phases of the OSFS test between the two groups, and the fallers by tripping were significantly inferior to the nonfallers. The area under the curve [AUC;area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve] was more than 0.63 for all the parameters, which was statistically significant. In conclusion, the fallers by tripping were inferior to the nonfallers in the obstacle step movement.