Surface electromyographic activity of the erector spinae and multifidus during arm and leg ergometer exercises in young healthy men

Surface electromyographic activities of the erector spinae and multifidus during graded arm- and leg-ergometer exercise were investigated. Fifteen young healthy male participants performed arm- and leg-ergometer exercises at 50W and 100W for 1 min, while monitoring the electrocardiograms of the paraspinal muscles and heart rate, and the root mean squares of the electromyograms were calculated. Time series of contractions of the paraspinal and extremity muscles during both exercises were assessed (n = 7). Both paraspinal muscle activities increased with increased workload in both exercises similarly (P < 0.01, each). Heart rate increased with increased workload, and the increase was greater for arm-ergometer exercise than for leg-ergometer exercise. Each contraction time of trunk and limb muscles suggested that the paraspinal muscles facilitated trunk rotation and prevented excessive lateral bending of the trunk, respectively. The activities of these paraspinal muscles increased with increased workload similarly in both exercises, although heart rate response was different between them.

Arm Cycle Ergometer Electro-Mechanical System Design For Post-Stroke Medical Rehabilitation

This study was done to make the electro-mechanical arm ergometer cycle system used as post-stroke patient physiotherapy. The management system was expected to set the rotary frequency according to the therapeutic needs. To set the frequency of the rotation, the PID control with rotation sensor was used as feedback. The rotating sensor used consisted of the optocoupler and a rotary encoder. Based on the research that has been done, obtained constants of Kp = 0055, Ki and Kd = 2545 = 0.00005. Constants were selected because they were the most optimum constant trial and error method. The system is made to have a more significant percentage of error of 5%. In this study, the response time values obtained for each additional mass of the load at each frequency setting result are increased.

Physical fitness: Differences between initial hiring to academy in law enforcement recruits who graduate or separate from academy

BACKGROUND: Law enforcement agencies often include fitness testing as part of the hiring process. However, it can be months from this testing to when a recruit starts academy. OBJECTIVE: To determine fitness changes from hiring to academy in recruits who graduate (GRAD) or separate (SEP; do not complete) from academy. METHODS: Analysis on recruits from one agency, split into GRAD (n = 436) and SEP (n = 78) groups, was conducted. These tests were conducted during initial hiring and academy: push-ups, sit-ups, and arm ergometer revolutions in 60 s; 75-yard pursuit run (75PR); and 2.4 km run. Data were analyzed via a two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Change scores were derived between hiring and academy data for both groups, and analyzed via independent samples t-tests. RESULTS: Push-ups, 75PR, arm ergometer, and 2.4 km run generally improved (p≤0.001). There were no significant between-group interactions or differences in performance changes for GRAD and SEP recruits. SEP recruits tended to have lesser fitness test performance compared to GRAD recruits. CONCLUSIONS: GRAD and SEP recruits showed some fitness improvements between initial hiring through to academy. However, SEP recruits with lesser muscular endurance, running speed, and aerobic capacity during hiring did not substantially improve by academy, which likely impacted their academy survivability.

Comparison of VO2max Prediction of Submaximal Exercise Testing for Six Minute Arm Ergometer Test with Six Minute Walking Test in Untrained Healthy Young Adult Males

Background: Six-minute walking test (6-MWT) is one of the submaximal exercise testing that is commonly used. The 6-MWT has limited use in the condition of individuals with limited limbs. Therefore, a six-minute arm ergometer test (6-MAT) submaximal exercise testing was developed. The presence of 6-MAT for assessing VO2max prediction is still relatively small.Aim: To compare the predicted VO2max of 6-MWT and 6-MAT, and to see if there are differences in each predicted VO2max value.Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with a consecutive sampling, involving 31 untrained healthy young adult males, aged 26-40 years old. Each subject underwent two exercise testing 6-MWT and 6-MAT, which were carried out on different days with a minimum washout period of 24 hours. VO2max prediction value was evaluated for each exercise testing on each subject.Results: There are significant differences between the predicted VO2max values of 6-MWT and 6- MAT (p = 0.00). The mean VO2max prediction values of 6-MAT is higher than 6-MWT with 2288.43 mL.min-1 and 1573.72 mL.min-1, respectively.Conclusion: The 6-MAT could be used for assessing VO2max prediction of individuals, although, there is a difference value between the predicted VO2max of the 6-MWT and 6-MAT submaximal exercise testing, with the VO2max value of the 6-MAT higher than the 6-MWT submaximal exercise testing.

CRITICAL VS ESTIMATED HEART RATE IN ELDERLY SUBJECTS

ABSTRACT Introduction: Heart rate (HR) has been a simple and easy-to-use physiological parameter widely used to determine exercise intensity. The critical power fatigue limit model, known as the critical heart rate (CHR), can be extrapolated to HR. However, an estimate for a CHR mathematical model has not yet been extrapolated for upper limb exercise in the elderly. Objective: To compare the mathematical model previously used to estimate CHR with the heart rate values at the critical power (CP) during arm-ergometer exercises in elderly subjects. Methods: After an initial maximum-incremental exercise test on a cycle arm-ergometer, seven elderly people performed four high-intensity constant-load tests to the limit of tolerance (Tlim), to determine CP and critical heart rate (CHR). For each power output, the heart rate of the last five seconds (HRlim) and total time to exhaustion (in minutes) were obtained. The slope coefficients of the regression lines between HRlim and Tlim were defined as CHR, and between Wlim and Tlim as CP. A square-wave test was performed on a different day, in the power determined as equivalent to CP, and the heart rate at CP (CPHR) was assessed. Results: The HR-Tlim relationship was found to be hyperbolic in all subjects, who were able to sustain upper-limb exercise at CP for 20 min. CP attained 66.8±9.4% of peak work rate in the ramp test. The real average HR measured in the CP test was strikingly similar to the CHR calculated by the mathematical model of PC (137.6±16.9 versus 139.7±13.3bpm, respectively, p=0.53). There was strong correlation between the real and the estimated CHR. Conclusion: This study indicated that the maximal sustainable exercise intensity can be based on a physiological variable such as HR, and the CHR test can define exercise endurance, which can be useful in performance assessment and training prescription. Level of evidence II; Diagnostic studies – Investigating a diagnostic test.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE ASSESSMENT OF ANAEROBIC CAPACITY IN COMBAT ATHLETES

Aim. The article deals with the assessment of anaerobic capacity in wrestlers depending on wrestling style and morphological indicators. Materials and methods. 33 male wrestlers participated in the experiment. All participants are apparently healthy people at the moment of the study and have their sports grades (from 1st grade to the Master of Sport). The test was conducted with the Monark 891E arm ergometer (Switzerland). The following parameters were obtained during the experiment: peak power (W), average power (W), time to peak power (ms). Results. Power was assessed with an arm ergometer. This power is mostly achieved by the muscles responsible for arm flexion and extension in the shoulder joint and, to a lesser extent, by the biceps and triceps responsible for flexion and extension in the elbow joint. This statement is based on the correlations between the peak power, average power, and chest circumference, which look as following: r = 0.58 ± 0.019 (р = 0.0006) and r = 0.68 ± 0.15 (р < 0.0001). At the same time, shoulder circumference is less correlated with power, while chest circumference correlates with the average power in a more pronounced way than body weight does (r = 0.68 ± 0.15 against r = 0.58 ± 0.19, at р = 0.049 – one-way analysis). Therefore, in wrestlers, it is necessary to take into account chest circumference, which will allow predicting the potential power of the locomotion connected with the shoulder girdle (in case if the test is adjusted to a specific wrestling style), as well as the degree of shoulder girdle muscles development and training as one of the important predictors of successful combat. Conclusion. There are statistically significant correlations between the morphological indicators of wrestlers and their power. This can be used for the assessment of motor qualities depending on chest circumference, shoulder circumference, and skin-fat folds. It will be helpful for estimating a potential power and the efficiency of the training process as one of the main predictors of successful combat, especially at the first stages of multiyear training.

Anaerobic Capacity of Sailors with Disabilities

Introduction. A review of Polish and international literature does not give a clear indication of the level of anaerobic capacity that sailors with disabilities demonstrate with regard to their functional capacities. This study sought to determine differences in functional capacity levels between sailors from three medical and functional groups. Material and methods. The research was carried out during a sports camp at the National Sailing Centre in Górki Zachodnie in 2014. Eighteen males with locomotor disabilities were included in the study. The athletes were members of the National Team of Sailors with Disabilities of the Polish Yachting Association. The sportsmen competed in the Skud 18 and 2.4mR Paralympic classes. A 30-second Wingate test for upper limbs was employed in the study. Results. Significant differences in mean power (MP) values were noted between the groups under investigation. The group of wheelchair sailors with improper core stability (A) and the group of wheelchair sailors with proper core stability (B) had significantly lower scores than the group of study participants who were able to move freely, that is to walk (C). Conclusions. The study revealed that a 30-second anaerobic capacity test performed on an arm ergometer differentiated disabled sailors from selected groups in terms of mean power. Research on anaerobic capacity may be used to verify the current classification in Paralympic sailing and will make it possible to differentiate present competition categories.