STUDY ON EFFECT OF QUADRICEPS MUSCLE RESISTANCE TRAINING ON CARDIORESPIRATORY PARAMETERS IN YOUNG HEALTHY FEMALES

Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine and compare acute changes in the cardiorespiratory parameters in young, healthy females in response to 3 weeks resistive exercises to quadriceps muscle using DeLorme’s and MacQueen’s protocol. Methods: The study was carried in 30 young, healthy females aged 18–25 years. Resting blood pressure measured in systole blood pressure (SBP), blood pressure measured in diastole diastolic blood pressure (DBP), respiratory rate (RR), and heart rate (HR) were measured. Subjects were then divided randomly into two groups containing 15 subjects in each group. Ten repetition maximum was measured for each subject. Group A subjects were given resistive exercises for the quadriceps muscle bilaterally using DeLorme’s protocol and Group B subjects were given training with MacQueen’s protocol. In both groups, training was given thrice a week for 3 weeks. Results: SBP, HR, and RR showed significant statistical differences after 3 weeks of PRE using DeLorme’s protocol; however, DBP changes were non-significant. SBP, HR, RR, and DBP showed significant statistical difference after 3 weeks of PRE using MacQueen’s protocol. In a comparison of DeLorme’s protocol and MacQueen’s protocol, a significant statistical difference in parameters of SBP and HR was observed. Improvement was more in subjects trained with MacQueen’s protocol. Conclusion: The resistive training has beneficial effects on HR, systolic SBP, and RR. MacQueen protocol is more effective than DeLorme’s protocol. Hence, resistive training should be included in an exercise program.

Effect of inspiratory resistive training on diaphragm shear modulus and accessory inspiratory muscle activation

This study aimed to elucidate changes in diaphragm and accessory inspiratory muscle (sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle and intercostal muscle (IC)) function after a 6-week training program. Nineteen male elite collegiate swimmers were assigned to either a control group (n = 9) or training group (n = 10). The subjects in the training group performed 30 maximum inspirations at a load resistance of 50% of maximum inspiratory mouth pressure (PImax) using an inspiratory muscle training device. These were conducted twice per day and 6 days per week. At baseline and after 6 weeks, PImax, shear modulus of the diaphragm, and electromyograms (EMG) of the SCM and IC during a maximal inspiratory maneuver were evaluated. Relative change in PImax was greater in the training group than in controls. The shear modulus during a PImax maneuver had increased significantly in both groups after 6 weeks. EMG amplitudes of the SCM increased in the training group after 6 weeks, but not in the control group. EMG amplitudes of the IC did not change after 6 weeks in either group. These results suggest that 6-week inspiratory resistive training significantly improves the activation of the SCM, which could be one of the major mechanisms behind increases in inspiratory muscle strength after resistive training. Novelty Six-week inspiratory resistive training increased diaphragm stiffness during maximal inspiration maneuver. Six-week inspiratory resistive training increased electromyogram amplitudes of the sternocleidomastoid during maximal inspiration maneuver.

Effects of 4-Week Intensive Active-Resistive Training with an EMG-Based Exoskeleton Robot on Muscle Strength in Older People: A Pilot Study

This study aims to investigate the idea that an active-resistive training with an EMG-based exoskeleton robot could be beneficial to muscle strength and antagonist muscle cocontraction control after 4-week intensive elbow flexion/extension training. Three older people over 65 years participated the training for an hour per session and completed total 20 sessions during four weeks. Outcome measures were chosen as the maximum joint torque and cocontraction ratio between the biceps/triceps brachii muscles at pre-/post-training. The Wilcoxon signed-ranks test was performed to evaluate paired difference for the outcome measures. As a result, there was no significant difference in the maximum flexion or extension torque at pre- and post-training. However, the cocontraction ratio of the triceps brachii muscle as the antagonist was significantly decreased by 9.8% after the 4-week intensive training. The active-resistive training with the exoskeleton robot in the older people yielded a promising result, showing significant changes in the antagonist muscle cocontraction.