Kinematic Comparisons of Increased Exercise Repetitions and Intensities on the Dominant and Non-Dominant Upper Limbs for Prevention of Dyskinesia

Background: Increased exercise repetitions and intensities need to be compared between dominant and non-dominant sides to prevent asymmetrically conducted movements for possible dyskinesia. Methods: A total of 20 participants were enrolled from Inha University, Incheon, Korea in 2019. They were assessed for comparisons of asymmetrical motion between the dominant and non-dominant arms during the abduction and adduction lateral raises during more than fifteen repetitions and low and high exercise intensity by giving different weight loads based on 1-RM. Results: Repetition led to significant reductions in range of motion for both dominant and non-dominant sides. In addition, increased repetitions led to significant greater reductions in range of motion especially toward the last phases of repetitions. Moreover, the dominant side showed significantly increased accelerations with increased intensities. Conclusion: Increased repetitions and exercise intensity led to reduced range of motion and increased accelerations especially for the dominant sides. Dispersing kinematics should be considered to minimize possible dyskinesia between the symmetric sides when performing repetitive and loading physical activity.

Predicting Emotion and Engagement of Workers in Order Picking Based on Behavior and Pulse Waves Acquired by Wearable Devices

Many logistics companies adopt a manual order picking system. In related research, the effect of emotion and engagement on work efficiency and human errors was verified. However, related research has not established a method to predict emotion and engagement during work with high exercise intensity. Therefore, important variables for predicting the emotion and engagement during work with high exercise intensity are not clear. In this study, to clarify the mechanism of occurrence of emotion and engagement during order picking. Then, we clarify the explanatory variables which are important in predicting the emotion and engagement during work with high exercise intensity. We conducted verification experiments. We compared the accuracy of estimating human emotion and engagement by inputting pulse wave, eye movements, and movements to deep neural networks. We showed that emotion and engagement during order picking can be predicted from the behavior of the worker with an accuracy of error rate of 0.12 or less. Moreover, we have constructed a psychological model based on the questionnaire results and show that the work efficiency of workers is improved by giving them clear targets.

Acute physical exercise improves memory consolidation in humans via BDNF and endocannabinoid signaling

Regular physical exercise enhances memory functions and neurogenesis in the hippocampus, an effect partially mediated by BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor). Acute exercise promotes the release of endocannabinoids (especially anandamide, AEA), which enhance BDNF release and improve hippocampal plasticity in rodents. How acute exercise affects BDNF and AEA levels and influences memory performance in humans remains to date unknown. Here we combined blood biomarkers, behavioral and fMRI measurements to assess the impact of acute physical exercise on associative memory and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. For each participant, memory was tested after three conditions: rest, moderate or high exercise intensity. A long-term memory retest took place 3 months later. At both test and retest, memory performance increased after moderate but not high intensity exercise or rest. We also show that memory benefited from exercise-related increases in both AEA and BNDF levels: AEA boosted hippocampal activity during memory recall, while BDNF enhanced hippocampal memory representations and long-term performance.

Evaluating a Nationwide Recreational Football Intervention: Recruitment, Attendance, Adherence, Exercise Intensity, and Health Effects

The present study evaluated a nationwide exercise intervention with Football Fitness in a small-scale society. In all, 741 adult participants (20–72 yrs) were successfully recruited for Football Fitness training in local football clubs, corresponding to 2.1% of the adult population. A preintervention test battery including resting heart rate (RHR), blood pressure, and body mass measurements along with performance tests (Yo-Yo Intermittent Endurance level 1 (Yo-Yo IE1), the Arrowhead Agility Test, and the Flamingo Balance Test) were performed (n=502). Training attendance (n=310) was 1.6 ± 0.2 sessions per week (range: 0.6–2.9), corresponding to 28.8 ± 1.0 sessions during the 18 wk intervention period. After 18 wks mean arterial pressure (MAP) was −2.7 ± 0.7 mmHg lower (P<0.05;n=151) with even greater (P<0.05) reductions for those with baseline MAP values >99 mmHg (−5.6 ± 1.5 mmHg;n=50). RHR was lowered (P<0.05) by 6 bpm after intervention (77 ± 1 to 71 ± 1 bpm). Yo-Yo IE1 performance increased by 41% (540 ± 27 to 752 ± 45 m), while agility and postural balance were improved (P<0.05) by ~6 and ~45%, respectively. In conclusion, Football Fitness was shown to be a successful health-promoting nationwide training intervention for adult participants with an extraordinary recruitment, a high attendance rate, moderate adherence, high exercise intensity, and marked benefits in cardiovascular health profile and fitness.

Moderating Influence of Dominant Attentional Style and Exercise Intensity on Responses to Asynchronous Music

We examined independent and combined influences of asynchronous music and dominant attentional style (DAS) on psychological and psychophysical variables during exercise using mixed methods. Participants (N = 34) were grouped according to DAS and completed treadmill runs at three intensities (low, moderate, high) crossed with three music conditions (motivational, oudeterous, no-music control). State attentional focus shifted from dissociative to associative with increasing intensity and was most aligned with DAS during moderate-intensity exercise. Both music conditions facilitated dissociation at low-to-moderate intensities. At high exercise intensity, both music conditions were associated with reduced RPE among participants with an associative DAS. Dissociators reported higher RPE overall during moderate and high intensities. Psychological responses were most positive in the motivational condition, followed by oudeterous and control. Findings illustrate the relevance of individual differences in DAS as well as task intensity and duration when selecting music for exercise.

Changes in circulating microRNAs levels with exercise modality

Here, we studied muscle-specific and muscle-related miRNAs in plasma of exercising humans. Our aim was to determine whether they are affected by eccentric and/or concentric exercise modes and could be biomarkers of muscle injuries or possible signaling molecules. On two separate days, nine healthy subjects randomly performed two 30-min walking exercises, one downhill (high eccentric component) and one uphill (high concentric component). Perceived exertion and heart rate were higher during the uphill exercise, while subjective pain and ankle plantar flexor strength losses within the first 48-h were higher following the downhill exercise. Both exercises increased serum creatine kinase and myoglobin with no significant differences between conditions. Plasma levels of circulating miRNAs assessed before, immediately after, and at 2-, 6-, 24-, 48-, and 72-h recovery showed that 1) hsa-mir-1, 133a, 133b, and 208b were not affected by concentric exercise but significantly increased during early recovery of eccentric exercise (2 to 6 h); 2) hsa-mir-181b and 214 significantly and transiently increased immediately after the uphill, but not downhill, exercise. The muscle-specific hsa-mir-206 was not reliably quantified and cardiac-specific hsa-mir-208a remained undetectable. In conclusion, changes in circulating miRNAs were dependent on the exercise mode. Circulating muscle-specific miRNAs primarily responded to a downhill exercise (high eccentric component) and could potentially be alternative biomarkers of muscle damage. Two muscle-related miRNAs primarily responded to an uphill exercise (high exercise intensity), suggesting they could be markers or mediators of physiological adaptations.

Executive Function During Acute Exercise: The Role of Exercise Intensity

This study was designed to examine the modulation of executive functions during acute exercise and to determine whether exercise intensity moderates this relationship. Eighty college-aged adults were recruited and randomly assigned into one of the four following groups: control, 30%, 50%, and 80% heart rate reserve. The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was administered during each intervention. The results indicated that the majority of the WCST performances were impaired in the high exercise intensity group relative to those of the other three groups, whereas similar performance rates were maintained in the low- and moderate-intensity groups. These findings suggest that transient hypofrontality occurs during high-intensity exercise, but not during low- and moderate-intensity exercises. Future research aimed at employing the dual-mode theory, and applying the reticular-activating hypofrontality model is recommended to further the current knowledge.

The association between vascular factors and subjective memory impairment in older people: The HUNT Study, Norway

<p><em><strong>Objectives:</strong></em> Subjective memory impairment (SMI) is often considered an early sign of dementia. This study investigates the relationship between SMI and dementia-related vascular factors in older people.</p><p><em><strong>Method:</strong></em> This study was based on data from 12,255 individuals, 65 years and older, participating in the Nord-Trøndelag health study, third survey 2006-08 (HUNT3). SMI, vascular diseases, exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption were self-reported. Blood pressure, cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) were clinically measured. SMI were predicted using linear regression analysis.</p><p><em><strong>Results:</strong></em> Stroke and heart disease were associated with SMI. High exercise intensity was associated with less SMI. Respondents with high systolic blood pressure (SBP) reported less SMI than those with moderate SBP. In men, low SBP was associated with significantly more SMI compared to those with moderate SBP. In women, moderate alcohol consumption compared to low alcohol consumption was associated with significantly more SMI.</p><p><em><strong>Conclusion:</strong></em> SMI was positively associated with stroke and heart disease in this study. For the other investigated vascular factors, we did not find strong relationships with SMI. However, for preventive and treatment purposes, it is noteworthy that high exercise intensity and high systolic blood pressure was associated with less SMI in both genders.</p>