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Exercise training improves health-related physical fitness and patient-reported outcomes in cancer survivors, but few interventions have targeted colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. This investigation aimed to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a 12-week supervised exercise training program for CRC survivors. Feasibility was assessed by tracking participant recruitment, loss to follow-up, assessment completion rates, participant evaluation, and adherence to the intervention. Efficacy was determined by changes in health-related physical fitness. Over a 1-year period, 72 of 351 (21%) CRC survivors screened were eligible for the study and 29 of the 72 (40%) were enrolled. Two participants were lost to follow-up (7%) and the completion rate for all study assessments was ≥93%. Mean adherence to the exercise intervention was 91% (standard deviation = ±18%), with a median of 98%. Participants rated the intervention positively (all items ≥ 6.6/7) and burden of testing low (all tests ≤ 2.4/7). Compared with baseline, CRC survivors showed improvements in peak oxygen uptake (mean change (MC) = +0.24 L·min−1, p < 0.001), upper (MC = +7.0 kg, p < 0.001) and lower (MC = +26.5 kg, p < 0.001) body strength, waist circumference (MC = −2.1 cm, p = 0.005), sum of skinfolds (MC = −7.9 mm, p = 0.006), and trunk forward flexion (MC = +2.5 cm, p = 0.019). Exercise training was found to be feasible and improved many aspects of health-related physical fitness in CRC survivors that may be associated with improved quality of life and survival in these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Exercise and breath holding in the water such as that performed in the sport of synchronized swimming may evoke the physiological consequences of the diving response. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physiological responses of breath holding during underwater arm cranking in synchronized swimmers who are trained in breath holding and compare these responses to untrained women. Each participant performed 6 breath holding periods in the water (2 x 10s, 2 x 20s and 2 x 25s) with 2 minutes of normal breathing in between, in either an ascending or descending order while performing arm crank exercise. The intensity of arm crank exercise was set below the individual ventilatory threshold. Both synchronized swimmers and controls were matched on sitting height and then randomly divided into 2 groups: one group started breath holding with the longest (25s) breath holding periods while the other group began breath holding with the shortest (10s) breath holding periods. The synchronized swimmers experienced a significant decrease in heart rate while breath holding for 20 and 25s but the changes in heart rate for the control group was not consistent between subgroups. Full recovery from breath holding was identified for minute ventilation after 25s of recovery from breath holding for all groups. Results suggest synchronized swimmers exhibited a better adaptation to breath holding while exercising underwater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of rowing training combined with different breathing entrainment patterns on physiological changes during submaximal and maximal rowing exercise. Thirty-one male and female rowers were randomly assigned to a group (n=10)that did not intentionally control their breathing during rowing training, a group (n=11) that controlled their breathing at 2 breaths per stroke during training (2:1) and a group (n=10) that performed 1 breath per stroke (1:1) during training. The program included 8 weeks of stationary rowing (4d·wk-1) and strength training (2d·wk-1) that was equated between groups. Variables were measured during 3 different trials of submaximal rowing exercise that was performed using the 3 different breathing patterns (uncontrolled, 2:1 and 1:1) and during a maximal 2000-m simulated rowing race, before and after training. HR and V̇CO2 were lower (p<0.05) during submaximal exercise after training regardless of which breathing frequency was used. Submaximal V̇O2 at a breathing rate of 2:1 and 1:1 strokes per breath (p<0.05) and submaximal V̇E at a frequency of 2:1 were decreased after training in all groups (p<0.05). Tidal volume was higher during the first half of the maximal 2000-m simulated rowing race after training only in the training group that controlled breathing at a rate of 1:1 (p<0.05). These results indicate that controlling breathing at 1 or 2 breaths per rowing stroke during submaximal exercise improves rowing economy after training. Ventilation was also lower after training when a frequency of 2 breaths per stroke was used during submaximal exercise. Training with a breathing frequency of 1 breath per stroke resulted in a higher tidal volume during the first half of the maximal 2000-m simulated rowing race. Therefore, the use of breathing entrainment during exercise in combination with training can improve some physiological responses to submaximal and maximal rowing exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the biomechanical and physiological parameters measured during a simulated 2000m rowing race and how these are influenced by physical training. Nineteen women and 12 men performed a 2000m simulated race on a rowing machine before and after 8 weeks of physical training. The simulated 2000m race was separated into 4 quadrants of 500m and kinematic measurements were taken during the last 100m of each quadrant while cardiorespiratory variables were monitored every minute. Force and power production decreased from the first 500m to the third 500m, followed by an increase during the final 500m (p<0.05) of the simulated 2000m race. Significant changes occurred in hip, knee and elbow angle at various phases of the rowing stroke throughout the race as a result of accumulated fatigue. Stroke length decreased from the first two 500m quadrants to the third, as well as between the second and last 500m quadrants (p<0.05). Stroke rate decreased over the first 1500m but was highest in the last 500m of the race (p<0.05). Heart rate increased throughout the race while V̇O2 increased (p<0.05) over the first 1500m only (p<0.05). After training, power production and the percent of stroke that peak force and power occurred increased. These alterations corresponded to changes in hip and elbow angles as well as strength and V̇O2 max that resulted in a faster 2000m rowing race time (p<0.05). Significant differences in mechanical and physiological variables were observed between men and women. It was concluded that changes in mechanical and physiological variables occur as a result of fatigue during a simulated 2000m rowing race that vary by gender and these can be positively influenced by training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) and exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH) in female varsity ice hockey players following a competitive season. Arterial saturation (%SpO[sub 2]) levels were measured using non-invasive oximetry during a maximal oxygen consumption test (VO[sub 2 max]) on a cycle ergometer, and pulmonary function was assessed at rest and 1, 10, 15, and 25 min after the VO[sub 2 max] test conducted at ice level in an arena. The arena and outdoor environment were examined for temperature, relative humidity, gaseous chemicals, molds, and fungus. Four of 17 players presented with EIB, and 13 of 17 players suffered from EIH. Mean forced expiratory flow (FEF[sub 25-75%]) at 10, 15, and 25 min after exercise was significantly lower than the 1 min post-exercise value. There was a positive correlation between %SpO[sub 2] and forced vital capacity obtained 10, 15, 25 min post VO[sub 2 max] test (r = 0.57, 0.55, 0.57). The arena temperature was 16°C and relative humidity was 40% during testing. Sulfur dioxide was 0.9 ppm, and carbon monoxide 0.16 ppm. In addition, a variety of airborne molds were revealed in the arena. It was concluded that previously undiagnosed EIB and EIH were apparent in 23.5% and 76% of the female varsity hockey players in the present study at the end of a competitive season. It also was shown that the ice arena environment in which they trained and competed throughout the season contained the presence of some airborne contaminants known to influence EIB and pulmonary function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of a case study on distilling a complex prescription for type 2 diabetes management through pedometry. The study found that a pedometer can serve to facilitate increased walking intensity for people with type 2 diabetes when introduced within an educational framework designed for increasing physical activity. Participants of the Pick Up the Pace pedometer-based program increased their walking speeds to a level that elicited significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Insulin, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) I and II, and IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs) 1 and 3 have been implicated in breast cancer outcomes. We conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the physiological effects of exercise training on changes in these biological markers in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Fifty-three postmenopausal breast cancer survivors were randomly assigned to an exercise (n = 25) or control group (n = 28). The exercise group trained on cycle ergometers three times per week for 15 weeks. The control group did not train. End points included changes in fasting insulin, glucose, insulin resistance, IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-3, and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratio between baseline and week 15. All of the statistical tests were two-sided (alpha = 0.05). Fifty-two participants completed the trial. The exercise group completed 44.3 of 45 (98.4%) prescribed exercise sessions. Baseline hormone concentrations did not differ between groups except that IGF-II was higher in the exercise group (P = 0.011). No significant differences between groups were observed for changes in fasting insulin (+6.3 pmol/liter; P = 0.941), glucose (+0.09 mmol/liter; P = 0.824), insulin resistance (+0.4; P = 0.247), IGF-II (-40.7 ng/ml; P = 0.101), or IGFBP-1 (+1.4 ng/ml; P = 0.774). However, significant differences between groups were observed for changes in IGF-I (-7.4 ng/ml; P = 0.045), IGFBP-3 (+180.5 ng/ml; P = 0.021), and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratio (-0.006; P = 0.017). Exercise training had significant physiological effects on IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and IGF-I:IGFBP-3 molar ratio in postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. The clinical implications of these findings remain to be defined.

This article reviews the use of therapeutic and functional electrical stimulation in subjects after a spinal cord injury (SCI). Muscles become much weaker and more fatigable, while bone density decreases dramatically after SCI. Therapeutic stimulation of paralyzed muscles for about 1 h/day can reverse the atrophic changes and markedly increase muscle strength and endurance as well as bone density. Functional electrical stimulation can also improve the speed and efficiency of walking in people with an incomplete SCI. Finally, a modified wheelchair is described in which electrical stimulation or residual voluntary activation of leg muscles can produce movements of a footrest that is coupled to the wheels. The wheelchair can provide greater mobility and fitness to persons who are not functional walkers and currently use their arms to propel a wheelchair.