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Aim: Dietary supplementation with inorganic nitrate (NO3-) may enhance exercise performance by improving skeletal muscle contractility and metabolism. CrossFit also, is recognized as a new method improves exercise performance but the interaction effects of nitrate supplements and CrossFit on exercise performance are not well known. The present study was done to examine the interaction effects of CrossFit training and beetroot loading on exercise performances in young inactive men. Methods: In this quasi study, twenty inactive men (aged 21-30 years old), were randomly divided into beetroot juice + CrossFit group (n = 10) or placebo + CrossFitt group (n = 10). All participants were performed CrossFit training 3 days a week for 8 weeks. At the end week of the intervention, supplement group received 140 mL beetroot juice containing about 800 mg of NO3 - per day. Exercise performances were evaluated before and after the intervention. Independent and paired sample t-test were used for data analysis and statistical analyses was set at P≤0.05. Results: The results demonstrated that sprint (14.8% vs. 15.5%), anaerobic power (55.7% vs. 75.5%), fatigue index (67.2% vs. 71.5%) and vertical jump test (12.7% vs. 17.8%) were improved in the both groups (P<0.05), however no significant differences were observed between two groups. Peak aerobic power was increased in the both groups (P<0.05), while the increase of peak aerobic power was higher in the supplement group compare to the placebo group (17.9% vs. 13.3%; P<0.05). Conclusion: Generally, we can conclude that CrossFit training caused improves exercise performance but the interaction of beetroot juice and CrossFit cannot enhance these performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Stroke is one of major causes of disability. Therefore, it is important to introduce and develop new treatment approaches in order to improve and enhance post-stroke recovery process for medical, social, and economical purposes. The present study aimed at determining the effect of mirror therapy on walking ability of patients with stroke regarding the muscular power of the affected leg. Materials and Methods: This semi-experimental study was done on 50 stroke patients that were hospitalized in Mashhad Imam Reza and Quaem hospitals. They were randomly classified into two equal groups of control . and mirror therapy(experimental group).For the experimental group, twenty 30 –minute sessions were daily held, so that every . patient did the range of motion of lower extremitiy of the healthy side in front of a mirror and observed just its mirror image. In addition to mirror therapy , the routine program physiotherapy was performed for both groups. Power of muscle in the affected leg was assessed on the basis of a 5-score scale and every patient`s walking ability was assessed before, during, and after intervention using function ambulation classification. Finally, the obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software(V:11.5), using independent T, paired T,Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon statistical tests. Results: The two groups showed no significant difference in terms of walking ability regarding the muscular power of the affected leg and confounding variables before intervention (P=0.210). Walking ability of the affected leg in mirror therapy group did not significantly improve.in comparison with the control group after intervention (P=0.756). But the walking ability regarding the muscular power of the affected leg in mirror therapy group was significantly improved in comparison with the control group in the 10th session (P=0.038). Conclusion: Mirror therapy can improve walking ability of patients with stroke as a simple, inexpensive and a patient-oriented treatment.