Exercise-induced changes in body fat, upper leg skeletal muscle area, BMI and body weight in overweight people with risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes

The study compared effects of maximal resistance training (MRT) versus endurance resistance training (ERT) in overweight people at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes. Dependent variables included changes in body fat %, upper leg skeletal muscle area (left + right), BMI and body weight pre-to post intervention. Eighteen individuals, 33-69 years of age, were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Group 1 engaged in MRT three days/week over a four month period while members of Group 2 acted as controls. Later, Group 2 engaged in ERT three days/week over a four month period and the members acted as their own controls. Both interventions consisted of eight exercises. Pre- to post changes were significant for MRT with a reduction in BMI (p=0.013) and body weight (p=0.010), while percentage of body fat was significantly reduced (p=0.009) and skeletal muscle area increased (p=0.021) with ERT. The results support both approaches as interventions in primary prevention of obesity and consequently in reducing risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Psychophysiological effects of synchronous versus asynchronous music during cycling

"This is a non-final version of an article published in final form in (https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=2014&issue=02000&article=00024&type=abstract )"Purpose: Synchronizing movement to a musical beat may reduce the metabolic cost of exercise, but findings to date have been equivocal. Our aim was to examine the degree to which the synchronous application of music moderates the metabolic demands of a cycle ergometer task. Methods: Twenty-three recreationally active men made two laboratory visits. During the first visit, participants completed a maximal incremental ramp test on a cycle ergometer. At the second visit, they completed four randomized 6-min cycling bouts at 90% of ventilatory threshold (control, metronome, synchronous music, and asynchronous music). Main outcome variables were oxygen uptake, HR, ratings of dyspnea and limb discomfort, affective valence, and arousal. Results: No significant differences were evident for oxygen uptake. HR was lower under the metronome condition (122 T 15 bpm) compared to asynchronous music (124 T 17 bpm) and control (125 T 16 bpm). Limb discomfort was lower while listening to the metronome (2.5 T 1.2) and synchronous music (2.3 T 1.1) compared to control (3.0 T 1.5). Both music conditions, synchronous (1.9 T 1.2) and asynchronous (2.1 T 1.3), elicited more positive affective valence compared to metronome (1.2 T 1.4) and control (1.2 T 1.2), while arousal was higher with synchronous music (3.4 T 0.9) compared to metronome (2.8 T 1.0) and control (2.8 T 0.9). Conclusions: Synchronizing movement to a rhythmic stimulus does not reduce metabolic cost but may lower limb discomfort. Moreover, synchronous music has a stronger effect on limb discomfort and arousal when compared to asynchronous music

Sickness Absence due to Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: The Exploration of a Predictive Psychological Model Including Negative Moods, Subjective Health and Work Efficacy in an Adult County Population (The HUNT Study)

The relation between musculoskeletal pain and sickness absence was tested in an adult county population. Maximal explained variance in absence from work due to chronic musculoskeletal pain (sickness absence) was tested in a model in which subjective health was expected to mediate the associations between such pain and dysphoria, respectively, and work efficacy. In turn, work efficacy was expected to mediate the link between subjective health and sickness absence. All the residents in the County of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway, aged 20 and older, were invited to take part in a public health survey during 1995-97 (HUNT-2), and 66,140 (71.2%) participated. Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain, dysphoria, subjective health and work efficacy were assessed, as well as sickness absence last year due to musculoskeletal pain. The model test was performed by use of the LISREL procedure based upon data from 30,158 employees reporting chronic musculoskeletal pain last year. The measurement model fitted the data well: χ2 = 9075, df = 52, p < .0004, Critical N = 1041, RMSEA = 0.038, CFI = 0.99, SRMR = 0.020. The structural model fitted the data equally well, and the best prediction of sickness absence was obtained with lower back pain, upper and lower extremity pain, as well as dysphoria as the primary variables affecting subjective health that, in turn, was the convergent predictor of work efficacy that, finally, best explained the variance in sickness absence (56%). The data supported an indirect sequence of complaint-health-efficacy (CHE-model) as the best predictor of sickness absence due to musculoskeletal pain.publishedVersionThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cite

Passive heat exposure alters perception and executive function

Findings regarding the influence of passive heat exposure on cognitive function remain equivocal due to a number of methodological issues including variation in the domains of cognition examined. In a randomized crossover design, forty-one male participants completed a battery of cognitive function tests [Visual Search, Stroop, Corsi Blocks and Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) tests] prior to and following 1 h of passive rest in either hot (39.6 ± 0.4°C, 50.8 ± 2.3% Rh) or moderate (21.2 ± 1.8°C, 41.9 ± 11.4% Rh) conditions. Subjective feelings of heat exposure, arousal and feeling were assessed alongside physiological measures including core temperature, skin temperature and heart rate, at baseline and throughout the protocol. Response times were slower in the hot trial on the simple (main effect of trial, P 0.05). Subjective feelings of thermal sensation and felt arousal were higher, feeling was lower in the hot trial, whilst skin temperature, core temperature and heart rate were higher (main effects of trial, all P < 0.001). The findings of the present study suggest that response times for perception and executive function tasks are worse in the heat. An improvement in accuracy on perceptual tasks may suggest a compensatory speed-accuracy trade-off effect occurring within this domain, further highlighting the task dependant nature of heat exposure on cognition

Mouth Rinsing With Carbohydrate Solutions at the Postprandial State Fail to Improve Performance During Simulated Cycling Time Trials.

Mouth-rinsing with carbohydrate solutions during cycling time trials results in performance enhancements, however the majority of studies have utilised ∼6% carbohydrate solutions. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of mouth-rinsing with 4%, 6%, and 8% carbohydrate (CHO) solutions on 1-h simulated cycling time trial performance. On four occasions, seven trained male cyclists completed at the postprandial period, a set amount of work as fast as possible in a randomised, counterbalanced order. The subjects mouth rinsed for 5-s, upon completion of each 12.5% of the trial, with 25 mL of a non-CHO placebo, 4%, 6%, and 8% CHO solutions. No additional fluids were consumed during the time trial. Heart rate (HR), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), thirst (TH) and subjective feelings (SF) were recorded after each rinse. Further, blood samples were drawn every 25% of the trial to measure blood glucose (BG) and blood lactate (BG) concentrations, whilst whole body carbohydrate oxidation was monitored continuously. Time to completion was not significant between conditions with the placebo, 4%, 6%, and 8% conditions completing the trials in 62.0 ± 3.0, 62.8 ± 4.0, 63.4 ± 3.4, and 63 ±4.0 minutes respectively. There were no significant differences between conditions in any of the variables mentioned above however significant time effects were observed for HR, RPE, TH, and SF. Post-hoc analysis showed that TH and SF of subjects in the CHO conditions but not in the placebo were significantly increased by completion of the time trial. In conclusion, mouth-rinsing with CHO solutions did not impact 1-h cycling performance in the postprandial period and in the absence of fluid intake. Our findings suggest that there is scope for further research to explore the activation regions of the brain and whether they are receptive to CHO dose, before specific recommendations for athletic populations are established. Consequently mouth-rinsing as a practical strategy for coaches and athletes is questionable under specific conditions and should be carefully considered before its inclusion. The emphasis should be focused on appropriate dietary and fluid strategies during training and competition

Effect of Mouth Rinsing and Ingestion of Carbohydrate Solutions on Mood and Perceptual Responses During Exercise

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether mouth rinsing or ingesting carbohydrate (CHO) solutions impact on perceptual responses during exercise. Methods: Nine moderately trained male cyclists underwent a 90-min glycogen-reducing exercise, and consumed a low CHO meal, prior to completing an overnight fast. A 1-h cycle time trial was performed the following morning. Four trials, each separated by 7days, were conducted in a randomized, counterbalanced study design: 15% CHO mouth rinse (CHOR), 7.5% CHO ingestion (CHOI), placebo mouth rinse (PLAR) and placebo ingestion (PLAI). Solution volumes (1.5ml·g-1 ingestion trials and 0.33ml·kg-1 rinsing trials) were provided after every 12.5% of completed exercise. Perceptual scales were used to assess affective valence (feeling scale, FS), arousal (felt arousal scale, FAS), exertion (ratings of perceived exertion, RPE) and mood (profile of mood states, POMS) before, during and immediately after exercise. Results: There was no difference in RPE (CHOI, 14.0±9; CHOR, 14.2±.7; PLAI, 14.6±1.8; PLAR, 14.6±2.0; P=0.35), FS (CHOI, 0.0±1.7; CHOR, -0.2±1.5; PLAI, -0.8±1.4; PLAR, -0.8±1.6; P0.15), or FAS (CHOI, 3.6±1.1; CHOR, 3.5±1.0; PLAI, 3.4±1.4; PLAR, 3.3±1.3; P=725) scores between trials. While overall POMS score did not appear to differ between trials, the 'vigour' subscale indicated that CHOI may facilitate the maintenance of 'vigour' scores over time, in comparison to the steady decline witnessed in other trials (P=0.04). There was no difference in time trial performance between trials (CHOI, 65.3±4.8min; CHOR, 68.4±3.9min; PLAI, 68.7±5.3min; PLAR, 68.3±5.2min; P=0.21) but power output was higher in CHOI (231.0±33.2 W) relative to other trials (221-223.6 W; Plt0.01). Conclusions: In a CHO-reduced state, mouth rinsing with a CHO solution did not impact on perceptual responses during high-intensity exercise in trained cyclists and triathletes. On the other hand CHO ingestion improved perceived ratings of vigour and increased power output during exercise

Headache and musculoskeletal complaints among subjects with self reported whiplash injury. The HUNT-2 study

Background: To evaluate the life-time prevalence of self reported whiplash injury and the relationship to chronic musculoskeletal complaints (MSCs) and headache in a large unselected adult population. Methods: Between 1995 and 1997, all inhabitants 20 years and older in Nord-Trondelag county in Norway were invited to a comprehensive health survey. Out of 92,936 eligible for participation, a total of 59,104 individuals (63.6%) answered the question about whiplash injury (whiplash). Among these, 46,895 (79.3%) responded to the questions of musculoskeletal complaints and headache. Results: The total life-time prevalence of self reported whiplash injury was 2.9%, for women 2.7% and for men 3.0%. There was a significant association between self reported whiplash injury and headache (OR = 2.1; 95% CI 1.8-2.4), and chronic MSCs (OR = 3.3; 95% CI 2.8-3.8), evident for all ten anatomical sites investigated. The association was most pronounced for those with a combination of headache and chronic MSC for both men (OR = 4.8; 95% CI 3.6-6.2) and women (OR = 5.2; 95% CI 3.7-7.1). Conclusions: Subjects with self reported whiplash injury had significantly more headache and musculoskeletal complaints than those without, and may in part be due to selective reporting. The causal mechanism remains unclear and cannot be addressed in the present study design.© Myran et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://​creativecommons.​org/​licenses/​by/​2.​0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited

Acute effects of brisk walking on sugary snack cravings in overweight people, affect and responses to a manipulated stress situation and to a sugary snack cue: a crossover study.

Research has shown that acute exercise reduces urges for chocolate in normal weight people. This study aimed to examine the effects of an acute exercise bout on urges to consume sugary snacks, affect as well as 'psychological and physiological responses' to stress and a 'sugary snack cue', in overweight individuals. Following 3 days of chocolate-abstinence, 47 overweight, sugary snack consumers were assessed, in 2 randomly ordered conditions, in a within-subject design: 15-min brisk walk or passive control. Following each, participants completed 2 tasks: Stroop color-word interference task, and handling sugary snacks. Urges for sugary snacks, affective activation and valence were assessed. ANOVAs revealed significant condition x time interaction effects for: urges to consume sugary snacks, affective valence and activation. Obtained data show that exercise reduces urges for sugary snacks and attenuates urges in response to the stress situation and the cue in overweight people

Jakten på helsefremmende faktorer i epidemiologisk forskning: Eksempler fra Helseundersøkelsen i Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT)

Epidemiologisk forskning har tradisjonelt hatt fokus på å studere utbredelsen av sykdommer, risikofaktorer og årsaksfaktorer, og med forebygging som et hovedmål. Forskning på helsefremming har som hensikt å undersøke hvilke faktorer som er vesentlige for å styrke helsa til enkeltmennesker og befolkninger, og undersøke hvilke ressurser som kjennetegner mennesker og samfunn som utmerker seg med god helse. Kunnskapen fra forsking om helsefremmende faktorer skal brukes til å styrke folks helse og mestringsfølelse, enten de i utgangspunktet er friske eller syke. Det er derfor vesentlige forskjeller på både tenkning og empiri knyttet til helsefremming sammenlignet med forebygging. Helsefremming er i dag blitt en viktig innfallsvinkel til helseutfordringer verden over, og i helsefremmende arbeid er politiske beslutninger og policyarbeid en viktig del av prosessene. Men helsefremmende tenkning har enda ikke fått ordentlig fotfeste innen epidemiologien. Målet med denne artikkelen er å beskrive mulighetene for å finne ny kunnskap om helsefremmende faktorer i norske befolkningsdatabaser, med Helseundersøkelsen i Nord-Trøndelag (HUNT) som et eksempel. I HUNT er det allerede samlet ei rekke helsefremmende faktorer, som fysisk aktivitet, kosthold, sans for humor, sosial kapital, livssyn og deltakelse i kulturaktiviteter, og flere studier er publisert. Opplevelse av sammenheng (sense of coherence) og engasjement er andre viktige helsefremmende faktorer. Sammenhengen mellom musikk og helse har vært kjent lenge, og ei rekke studier har vist både nevrologiske, hormonelle, immunologiske, psykiske og sosiale effekter av musikk. Også for flere av de andre helsefremmende faktorene er det beskrevet biologiske effekter, og to oppfølgingsstudier av sans for humor har vist tydelig effekt på dødelighet. Konklusjonen er at epidemiologiske studier kan være viktige kilder til kunnskap om helsefremmende faktorer, og slike studier kan dermed gi vesentlige bidrag til folkehelsearbeidet. Det aller beste vil være å satse på triangulering av kvalitative (intervju), deskriptive (kvantitativ kartlegging/tverrsnittsstudier) og eksperimentelle (kausale) metoder, alle med fokus på utvikling av kunnskap om en bestemt faktor basert på data fra en og samme populasjon