Anthropometric and physiological predictors of flat-water 1000 m kayak performance in young adolescents and the effectiveness of a high volume training camp.

Our purpose was to determine the relationship of anthropometric and physiological variables with 1000m flat-water kayak (K1000) performance. A secondary purpose was to determine the effectiveness of a high volume training camp. High performance young adolescent kayakers (n=13, 8 males, 5 females, 15±1 yrs) participated in this study. Testing before and after the 3-4 week training camp included anthropometric measurements (height, sitting height, arm span, and body mass), strength (1-RM: bench press and bench pull), flexibility (sit and reach), and an incremental kayak ergometer test to determine peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and anaerobic threshold, and an open water K1000 time trial. K1000 time was significantly correlated with height (r=-0.81; p\u3c0.01), sitting height (r=-0.85; p\u3c0.01), arm span (r=-0.87; p\u3c0.01), bench press (r=-0.92; p\u3c0.01), bench pull (r=-0.85; p\u3c0.01), VO2peak (r=-0.87; p\u3c0.01) and anaerobic threshold (r=-0.83; p\u3c0.05). Following the training camp there were no significant differences in body mass, strength, and VO2 peak, however, anaerobic threshold (33.6±6.2 to 42.3±8.8 ml•kg-1•min-1, p=0.001) and K1000 (302±44 to 289±31 sec, p=0.007) significantly improved. The results of this study suggest that K1000 performance in young adolescent kayakers appears to require a high aerobic and strength contribution and that a high volume training camp is effective for improving anaerobic threshold and performance

Effect of Post-Exercise Dry Cupping Therapy on Muscle Recovery

College of Kinesiology Research Theme: Human Performance Introduction: Dry cupping therapy has gained popularity in athletic settings as a recovery modality, yet empirical evidence supporting its effectiveness remains limited. The practice involves using suction to create negative pressure on the skin, which is theorized to promote blood flow and tissue recovery. Purpose: To determine whether post-exercise dry cupping therapy would improve recovery of muscle strength, reduce muscle soreness, and limit swelling compared to a sham control arm. Methods: Ten resistance-trained adults (aged 20-22) participated in a randomized, within-subject, blinded trial. Participants performed a biceps-focused muscle-damaging exercise. One arm received dry cupping therapy post-exercise, while the opposite arm received a sham cupping treatment (cups applied with no suction). Assessments were conducted at six time points: pre-exercise, post-exercise, post-cupping, and 24, 48, and 72 hours post-exercise. Outcomes included muscle strength (isometric torque via Biodex), muscle thickness (ultrasound), and soreness (Visual Analog Scale). Differences were analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA to assess arm × time interactions and time main effects. Results: There were no significant arm × time interactions for any outcome, indicating similar recovery patterns between cupped and control arms. Significant time main effects were observed for all outcomes (p < 0.01). Muscle strength decreased post-exercise and remained below baseline at 24, 48, and 72 hours (p < 0.05). Muscle thickness increased post-exercise and remained elevated at 24 and 48 hours before returning to baseline by 72 hours (p < 0.05). Muscle soreness increased post-exercise and remained elevated at all follow-up time points (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Dry cupping therapy applied after resistance exercise did not significantly improve recovery of strength, soreness, or swelling compared to the control, who received sham treatment. These findings suggest that cupping may not provide additional recovery benefits beyond placebo

Effects of Short-Term Ashwagandha Supplementation on Recovery Following Intense Exercise

College of Kinesiology Research Theme: Human Performance. Ashwagandha, an herbal supplement commonly used for stress reduction and general well-being, has gained attention in sports science for its potential role in muscle recovery. This study examined the short-term effects of ashwagandha supplementation on muscle recovery by assessing muscle strength, soreness, and swelling over a 72-hour period following resistance exercise. Ten healthy adults (ages 18–35 years) participated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Participants were assigned to either a 600 mg/day ashwagandha supplementation group or a placebo group, receiving a vitamin B pill, for seven days before completing an acute resistance exercise protocol targeting the biceps. Muscle recovery was assessed using ultrasound (muscle thickness), a Biodex machine (torque), and subjective soreness ratings (Visual Analog Scale). Follow-up assessments occurred at 24-, 48-, and 72-hours post-exercise. Results of a 2 (group) × 5 (time) repeated-measures ANOVA revealed a significant group × time interaction for muscle thickness (p = 0.013). Post-hoc analysis indicated that muscle thickness in the ashwagandha group returned to baseline within 24 hours, whereas the placebo group exhibited persistent swelling at 24-, 48-, and 72-hours post-exercise (p < 0.05). No significant interaction was found for torque recovery, though a time main effect (p < 0.01) indicated that strength declined post-exercise and recovered by 48 hours in both groups. Similarly, muscle soreness followed a typical time-dependent recovery pattern, peaking at 24 hours and declining at 48 and 72 hours (p < 0.05), with no significant difference between groups. These findings suggest that short-term ashwagandha supplementation may accelerate muscle swelling reduction but does not significantly impact strength recovery or muscle soreness compared to placebo. Due to the small sample size, further research is necessary to confirm these results and establish a definitive relationship between ashwagandha and muscle recovery.  &nbsp

Effect of Resistance Training on Microvascular Density and eNOS Content in Skeletal Muscle of Sedentary Men

The effects of resistance training (RT) on muscle mass, strength and insulin sensitivity are well established, but the underlying mechanisms are only partially understood. The main aim of this study is to investigate whether RT induces changes in endothelial enzymes of the muscle microvasculature, which would increase NO bioavailability and could contribute to improved insulin sensitivity. Eight previously sedentary males (age 20±0.4y, BMI 24.5±0.9 kg.m-2) completed 6wk of RT 3x/week. Muscle biopsies were taken from the m. vastus lateralis and microvascular density and endothelial specific eNOS content, eNOS Ser1177 phosphorylation and NOX2 content were assessed pre- and post-RT using quantitative immunofluorescence microscopy. Whole body insulin sensitivity (measured as Matsuda Index), microvascular filtration capacity (functional measure of the total available endothelial surface area) and arterial stiffness (augmentation index, central and peripheral pulse wave velocity) were also measured. Measures of microvascular density, microvascular filtration capacity, microvascular eNOS content, basal eNOS phosphorylation and endothelial NOX2 content did not change from pre-RT to post-RT. RT increased insulin sensitivity (P <0.05) and reduced resting blood pressure and augmentation index (P <0.05), but did not change central or peripheral pulse wave velocity. In conclusion RT did not change any measure of muscle microvascular structure or function

Exercise and Bone Mineral Density

N/AThesisMaster of Science (MS

Influence of training status and exercise modality on pulmonary O2 uptake kinetics in pre-pubertal girls

The limited available evidence suggests that endurance training does not influence the pulmonary oxygen uptake (V(O)(2)) kinetics of pre-pubertal children. We hypothesised that, in young trained swimmers, training status-related adaptations in the V(O)(2) and heart rate (HR) kinetics would be more evident during upper body (arm cranking) than during leg cycling exercise. Eight swim-trained (T; 11.4 +/- 0.7 years) and eight untrained (UT; 11.5 +/- 0.6 years) girls completed repeated bouts of constant work rate cycling and upper body exercise at 40% of the difference between the gas exchange threshold and peak V(O)(2). The phase II V(O)(2) time constant was significantly shorter in the trained girls during upper body exercise (T: 25 +/- 3 vs. UT: 37 +/- 6 s; P &#60; 0.01), but no training status effect was evident in the cycle response (T: 25 +/- 5 vs. UT: 25 +/- 7 s). The V(O)(2) slow component amplitude was not affected by training status or exercise modality. The time constant of the HR response was significantly faster in trained girls during both cycle (T: 31 +/- 11 vs. UT: 47 +/- 9 s; P &#60; 0.01) and upper body (T: 33 +/- 8 vs. UT: 43 +/- 4 s; P &#60; 0.01) exercise. The time constants of the phase II V(O)(2)and HR response were not correlated regardless of training status or exercise modality. This study demonstrates for the first time that swim-training status influences upper body V(O)(2) kinetics in pre-pubertal children, but that cycle ergometry responses are insensitive to such differences