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Background: Patients with end-stage renal disease are sedentary, frail, and have low functional ability (FA) compared to healthy age-matched controls. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an intradialytic, supervised, 8-week resistance training (RT) program on strength (ST), FA, and quality of life (QOL) in a sample of patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods: Twenty hemodialysis patients were randomized to an exercise (E, n = 12) or control (C, n = 8) group. Patients randomized to E received intradialytic RT immediately before and during treatment, 3 d per week for 8 weeks. Patients randomized to C received usual care and no exercise. ST and FA were assessed at baseline and at 4 and 8 weeks with manual muscle testing and the Short Physical Performance Battery. QOL was assessed at baseline and 8 weeks with the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36). Mixed factorial ANOVAs were used to determine the effects of RT on ST, FA, and QOL. Results: Significant interactions were found for ST for the right (p = 0.006) and left (p = 0.008) gastrocnemius, right quadriceps (p = 0.003), right (p = 0.005) and left (p = 0.004) hamstrings, and right adductor (p = 0.020). ST improved for E but not C across time (p < 0.05). Significant time effects for FA were found for chair (p = 0.001) and total (p = 0.008) SPPB scores but were not different between groups (p > 0.05). Similar effects were found for the physical performance component of the SF-36 (p = 0.023). Conclusion: A supervised 8-week, intradialytic RT program improved lower body ST in patients with end-stage renal disease; however, these improvements did not impact FA or QOL.

Background: Interventions targeting a reduction in sedentary behaviour in office workers need to be scaled-up to have impact. In this study, the RE-AIM QuEST framework was used to evaluate the potential for further implementation and scale-up of a consultation based workplace intervention which targeted both the reduction, and breaking up of sitting time. Methods: To evaluate the Springfield College sedentary behaviour intervention across multiple RE-AIM QuEST indicators, intervention participant, non-participant (employees who did not participate) and key informant (consultation delivery team, members of the research team and stakeholders in workplace health promotion) data were collected using interviews, focus groups and questionnaires. Questionnaires were summarized using descriptive statistics and interviews and focus groups were transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Results: Barriers to scale-up were: participant burden of activity monitoring, lack of management support, influence of policy, flexibility (scheduling/locations), time and cost. Facilitators to scale up were: visible leadership, social and cultural changes in the workplace, high acceptability, existing health and wellbeing programmes, culture and philosophy of the participating college. Conclusions: There is potential for scale-up, however adaptations will need to be made to address the barriers to scale-up. Future interventions in office workers should evaluate for scalability during the pilot phases of research.

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of chronic ingestion of a proprietary beta-alanine supplement on body composition, indices of strength and power performance, and markers of cardiovascular endurance in physically active, college-aged males commissioning within the armed services. Subjects (n = 30) participated in four separate testing sessions, both pre and post assessment consuming either 6.0 g/day beta-alanine or Placebo supplementation for 6 weeks. Parameters evaluated included body fat percentage (BF%), fat free mass (FFM), vertical jump (VJ), 1 repetition maximum back squat (SQ) and bench press (BP), and a repetition maximum bench press (RMBP) at 75% of the attained maximum, maximal oxygen consumption (VO2peak), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), lactate threshold (LT), and peak lactate concentration. For all variables, no significant interactions existed across condition and time (p > .05). In addition, for all variables, no significant differences existed between conditions (p > .05). Beta-alanine did not show any benefit for improving body composition or physical performance parameters in this group of individuals.

Cold water immersion (CWI) is used by endurance athletes to speed recovery between exercise bouts, but little evidence is available on the effects of CWI on subsequent endurance performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of CWI following an acute bout of interval training on 5000 m run performance 24 hrs after interval training, perceived muscle soreness (PMS), range of motion (ROM), thigh circumference (TC), and perceived exertion (RPE). Nine endurance-trained males completed 2 trials, each consisting of an interval training session of 8 repetitions of 1200 m at a running pace equal to 75% of VO2peak, either a control or CWI treatment, and a timed 5000 m run 24 hrs post interval training session. CWI was performed for 12 min at 12 degrees Celsius on the legs. Recovery treatments were performed in a counterbalanced design. Run time for 5000 m was not different between the CWI and control trials (CWI = 1317.33 ± 128.33 sec, control = 1303.44 ± 105.53 sec; p = 0.48). PMS increased significantly from baseline to immediately post exercise (BL = 1.17 ± 0.22, POST = 2.81 ± 0.52; p = 0.02) and remained elevated from baseline to 24 hrs post exercise (POST24 = 2.19 ± 0.32; p = 0.02), but no difference was observed between the treatments. No differences were observed for the interaction between time and treatment for TC (λ = 0.73, p = 0.15) and ROM (λ = 0.49; p = 0.10). CWI performed immediately following an interval training exercise bout did not enhance subsequent 5000 m run performance or reduce PMS. CWI may not provide a recovery or performance advantage when athletes are accustomed to the demands of the prior exercise bout.

This editorial has two purposes that are addressed in the two major sections of this article. The first major section of this editorial provides a reflection on 20 years of publications in MPEES an...

In June 2015, Eddie Lam completed his second term as Editor-in-Chief for Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science (MPEES). We thank Eddie for his service and we look forward to his co...

Introduction: Mortality rates are high in end-stage renal disease due to cardiovascular complications. Perfusion of the myocardium declines during and after hemodialysis sessions with the potential for aerobic exercise to mitigate these during hemodialysis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate acute changes in hemodynamics in subjects with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) during exercise. Patients and Methods: Subjects (n = 10) were monitored for 1.5 hours during hemodialysis treatment during a control (CON) and an exercise (EX) session. Subjects cycled using an ergometer strapped to the reclining dialysis chair at an RPE of 11-13 for 30 minutes during the EX session beginning at 30 min into dialysis and ending at 60 minutes. Data for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were collected using an automated blood pressure cuff attached to the hemodialysis machine. Data for cardiac output (Q̇ ), cardiac power index (CPI), stroke volume (SV), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and heart rate (HR) were collected using the NICaS bioelectrical impedance device. Results: During the EX session, CPI, Q̇ , SV, and HR were significantly greater (PConclusion: In conclusion, exercise during dialysis may decrease the likelihood of experiencing ischemic or hypotensive events by enhancing myocardial perfusion through increasing CPI and Q̇ .

Prolonged sedentary behaviour (SB) has shown to be detrimental to health. Nevertheless, population levels of SB are high and interventions to decrease SB are needed. This study aimed to explore the effect of a personalized intervention aimed at reducing SB and increasing breaks in SB among college employees. A pre-experimental study design was used. Participants (n = 36) were recruited at a college in Massachusetts, USA. SB was measured over 7 consecutive days using an activPAL3 accelerometer. Following baseline measures, all participants received a personalized SB consultation which focused on limiting bouts of SB &gt, 30 min, participants also received weekly follow-up e-mails. Post-intervention measures were taken after 16 weeks. Primary outcome variables were sedentary minutes/day and SB bouts &gt, 30 min. Differences between baseline and follow-up were analyzed using paired t-tests. The intervention did not change daily sedentary time (&minus, 0.48%, p &gt, 0.05). The number of sedentary bouts &gt, 30 min decreased significantly by 0.52 bouts/day (p = 0.010). In this study, a personalized SB intervention was successful in reducing number of bouts &gt, 30 min of SB. However, daily sedentary time did not reduce significantly. These results indicate that personalized, consultation-based interventions may be effective if focused on a specific component of SB.

Chronic supplementation of L-carnitine and carbohydrate has been reported to increase L-carnitine content in skeletal muscle and have positive influences on exercise variables and performance. This study investigated the acute intake of L-carnitine and carbohydrate on the exercise parameters of cycling. A total of 10 males (27.0 ± 4 years) completed two exercise sessions consisting of 40 min of cycling at 65% of VO2peak, followed by cycling to exhaustion at 85% of VO2peak. L-carnitine or a placebo was consumed 3 hours prior to exercise, and beverages consisting of 94 g of carbohydrate were consumed at both 2 hours, and 30 minutes prior to exercise. Repeated measures ANOVAs were used to compare respiratory exchange ratio (RER), blood lactate, and power output across experimental trials and time. A repeated measures t-test was used to analyze differences between conditions and time to exhaustion. RER was significantly lower (p=0.01) at baseline with L-carnitine ingestion (.83 ± .05) compared to the placebo ingestion (.86 ± .06). Blood lactate was significantly lower (p=0.02) after 10 minutes of cycling at 65% of VO2peak with ingestion of L-carnitine (35% change from baseline) compared to placebo ingestion (53% change from baseline). No differences were found for power output or time to exhaustion at 85% of VO2peak. Despite mentioned differences, acute intake of L-carnitine and carbohydrate does not appear to influence exercise parameters, likely due to a lack of sufficient change in the content of L-carnitine in skeletal muscle.

Background High levels of sedentary behavior are linked to increased mortality. In the United States, individuals spend 55–70% of their waking day being sedentary. Since most individuals spend large portions of their daily lives at work, quantifying the time engaged in sedentary behavior at work is emerging as an important health determinant. Studies profiling academic institutions, where a variety of personnel with diverse job descriptions are employed, are limited. Available studies focus mostly on subjective methods, with few using objective approaches. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess sedentary behavior among all occupational groups of a college in the Northeastern United States utilizing both a subjective and an objective method. Methods College employees (n = 367) completed the Occupational Sitting and Physical Activity Questionnaire (OSPAQ). A sub-sample of these employees (n = 127) subsequently wore an activPAL3 accelerometer 24 h per day for seven consecutive days. Outcome variables were time spent sitting, standing, stepping, and total number of steps. To assess fragmentation of sedentary behavior, the average duration of a sitting bout and sitting bouts/sitting hour were calculated. Differences between administrators, faculty, and staff, were analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of variance. Results The OSPAQ results indicated that administrators spent more of their working day sedentary (73.2 ± 17.7%) than faculty members (58.5 ± 19.6%, p

Background: Identifying lifestyle factors such as physical activity (PA) patterns and eating behaviors of children may be beneficial in implementing interventions in urban elementary schools. Purpose: To examine PA levels and self-efficacy (SE) in PA and health eating (HE) of third, fourth, and fifth graders in 3 low economic elementary schools in an urban setting. Method: Students (N = 295) were administered SE in PA and HE inventories and given Omron HJ7201TC pedometers. Results: Girls had significantly (P

Background: The purposes of the study were to test the factor structure of the models of functional fitness for older adults, in which the latent factor flexibility represents scores in chair sit-and-reach and back scratch, and the latent factor Physical Power represents scores in chair stand, arm curl, 8-foot up-and-go, and 2-minute step. Correlates of the latent factors including age, sex, and physical activity level were also investigated. Methods: Functional fitness tests were administered to 94 older adults (age: 73.61 ± 5.77 years). Demographic data were collected and physical activity level was measured by using the Physical Activity Scale for Elderly (PASE). The structural equation modeling technique was used to investigate the factor structure of flexibility model and physical power model as well as the contribution of the correlates. Results: The goodness-of-fit indices were excellent for the flexibility model (χ²-square = 4.725, df = 5, p = 0.451, comparative fit index [CFI] = 1.00, Root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.001, standardized root mean square of residuals [SRMR] = 0.0646) and physical power model (χ²-square = 17.962, df = 14, p = 0.209, CFI = 0.981, RMSEA = 0.055, SRMR = 0.0651). Age and sex were significant predictors to flexibility and physical power (p

Limited research exists on rest-pause or cluster-set (CS) protocols. Acute effects of a traditional set (TS) and CS protocols of resistance exercise on serum growth hormone (GH), cortisol (C), blood lactate (BL), countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) and standing long jump (SLJ) were compared. Eleven resistance-trained males (22.9 ± 2.6 year; 176.9 ± 10.6 cm; 78.5 ± 1.6 kg; 12.9 ± 3.1% BF) completed one repetition maximum tests for clean pull (CP), back squat (BS) and bench press (BP). Subjects were then randomly assigned to TS or CS protocols for sessions 2 and 3, and performed CP and BS lifts followed by two circuits of three sets of three exercises. GH, C, BL, CMVJ and SLJ were measured pre-exercise (Pre), mid-exercise following completion of CS or TS protocol (Mid), immediately (IP), 15 (15P) and 30 (30P) minutes post-exercise. Repeated measures ANOVAs examined differences in GH, C, BL, CMVJ and SLJ. No differences (p>0.05) existed between protocols for GH and C. GH levels 15P were elevated (p

Interval and circuit weight training are popular training methods for maximizing time-efficiency, and are purported to deliver greater physiological benefits faster than traditional training methods. Adding interval training into a circuit weight-training workout may further enhance the benefits of circuit weight training by placing increased demands upon the cardiovascular system. Our purpose was to compare acute effects of three circuit weight training protocols 1) traditional circuit weight training, 2) aerobic circuit weight training, and 3) combined circuit weight-interval training on blood lactate (BLA), heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE). Eleven recreationally active women completed 7 exercise sessions. Session 1 included measurements of height, weight, estimated VO2max, and 13 repetition maximum (RM) testing of the weight exercises. Sessions 2-4 were held on non-consecutive days for familiarization with traditional circuit weight training (TRAD), aerobic circuit weight training (ACWT), and combined circuit weight-interval training (CWIT) protocols. In sessions 5-7, TRAD, ACWT, and CWIT were performed in a randomized order > 72 hr apart for measures of BLA, HR, and RPE at pre-exercise and following each of three mini-circuit weight training stations. Repeated-measures ANOVAs yielded significant interactions (p < 0.05) in BLA, HR, and RPE. Combined circuit weight- interval training (CWIT) produced higher BLA (7.31 ± 0.37 vs. TRAD: 3.99 ± 0.26, ACWT: 4.54 ± 0.31 mmol.L-1), HR (83.51 ± 1.18 vs. TRAD: 70.42 ± 1.67, ACWT: 74.13 ± 1.43 beats.min-1) and RPE (8.14 ± 0.41 vs. TRAD: 5.06 ± 0.43, ACWT: 6.15 ± 0.42) at all measures. Aerobic circuit weight training (ACWT) elicited greater RPE than traditional circuit weight training (TRAD) at all measures. Including combined circuit weight-interval training (CWIT) workouts into exercise programming may enhance fitness benefits and maximize time-efficiency more so than traditional circuit training methods

Preserving fat-free mass (FFM) during weight loss is important in older adults. The purpose was to examine a low-fat diet (LFD) versus a carbohydrate-restricted diet (CRD) with and without progressive resistance exercise (PRE) on preservation of FFM in older men with metabolic syndrome.A total of 42 men (59±7 years) were matched [body mass index (BMI)] and randomized to LFD, LFDPRE, CRD, and CRDPRE. PRE groups performed supervised strength training three times per week. Body weight, composition, metabolic syndrome criteria, and strength were measured at baseline and week 12. A 3-day diet record was kept at baseline and at weeks 1, 6, and 12.Attrition (24%) was similar between groups. Depicted as % carbohydrate:fat:protein, the intervention diet was: LFD=55:24:18, LFDPRE=57:20:20, CRD=16:54:28, and CRDPRE=12:56:31. Weight (lb) decreased similarly in all groups (LFD, -18.0±7.4; LFDPRE, -19.8±12.8; CRD, -20.2±8.0; CRDPRE, -22.7±6.0; P0.001), and number of participants with metabolic syndrome decreased in all groups (-3, -6, -3, -4, respectively). Percent of weight loss from appendicular FFM was 27.5%, 15.9%, 15.7%, and 17.3% respectively. A trend was found when comparing LFD and LFDPRE (P=0.068), and when comparing LFDCRD (P=0.072). Triglycerides improved more for the LFDPRE, CRD, and CRDPRE groups compared to the LFD group (P0.05). Improvements in high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol were better in the CRDPRE group (4.1±5.1 mg/dL) versus the LFD group (-5.0±5.9 mg/dL; P0.01).LFDPRE, CRD, and CRDPRE preserve FFM similarly. PRE is an important component of a LFD during weight loss in this population.

The purpose of this article is to introduce a 12-step approach for an abbreviated research project to promote research writing in an undergraduate measurement course. This 12-step approach assumes a 14-week semester schedule that is common among many colleges and universities. The steps for the proposed research project include selecting a topic, identifying and reading published research, writing the Introduction section, designing the methods, developing the Methods section, applying for Institutional Review Board approval, scheduling appointments with participants, collecting data, analyzing the data, writing the Results section, writing the Discussion section, and presenting the final product. Content of this article includes both details of the 12-step approach to research writing and a discussion of possible concerns that measurement instructors may have when considering adoption of the proposed research project.

There is much controversy surrounding the use of very high fat, low carbohydrate ketogenic diets and athletic performance. Specifically, it has been hypothesized that anaerobic activity, which is primarily fueled by ATP that is formed through the metabolism of carbohydrate sources, may be hindered w

Introduction: Prior studies have shown obesity, lower activity levels and increased stress among emergency personnel, yet it is unclear if the specific sub-type of emergency personnel impacts stress levels and physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to compare emergency personnel sub-types for risk of heart disease and compare on and off duty PA and stress levels. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that there would be differences in cardiac risk factors, exercise behaviors, and salivary cortisol by type of emergency responders and would be different when on/off duty. Methods: We recruited 37 male emergency personnel workers (12 paramedics, 12 police officers and 13 firefighters, ages 20-40) who then underwent three non-sequential days of testing. We measured body composition, lipids, blood pressure, and peak VO2 with a standard Bruce treadmill protocol and calculated Framingham Risk Scores (FRS) on the first day of testing. Participants then wore an accelerometer and measured AM and PM salivary cortisol on and off duty. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, PA levels did not differ between on and off duty. Firefighters expended significantly more kcals per day and took more steps per day compared to paramedics (p < 0.05). Cortisol concentration was significantly higher AM vs. PM on duty (p < 0.05); although off duty cortisol remained elevated. No significance was found between off duty values. Firefighters’ FRS was significantly higher than paramedics (p < 0.05). See Table. Conclusion: In conclusion, although firefighters were more active than police and paramedics, they had a higher FRS. Among all emergency personnel types, cortisol concentrations showed a prolonged stress response in the emergency personnel population suggesting a sustained off duty stress response for unclear reasons. These finding suggest that firefighters should focus on decreasing cardiac risk factors and interventions are needed to reduce emergency personnel off duty stress.

The Effects of 3 versus 7 Days of Creatine Supplementation on Intramuscular Creatine and Thermoregulation in the Heat Many thermoregulation studies associated with creatine supplementation have utilized a pre/post-supplementation protocol. Additionally, investigations have not measured intramuscular creatine (MCR) levels to ensure increases in MCR while examining thermoregulation. The aim of this investigation was to determine the effects of 3 and 7 d of creatine supplementation (0.3 g.kg.d-1 total body weight) on MCR and thermoregulation while exercising in the heat. Ten subjects participated in two thermoregulation sessions following 3 and 7 d of creatine supplementation. Subjects ran for 60 min at 65-70% of VO2max in the heat (temp = 32.85 + 0.91°C; hum = 17.10 + 3.50%). Pre- and post-test exercise measures included nude body weight (NBW), urine specific gravity (USG), serum creatinine levels (SCR), and MCR. Total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), and intracellular water (ICW) were measured preexercise. Core temperature (Tc) was assessed at 5 min intervals during exercise. Regardless of condition, Tc was not significantly different (p ≥ 0.05) from 0-5 min after which Tc increased throughout exercise. There was no significant difference or interaction (p ≥ 0.05) for TBW, ECW, and ICW. NBW was greater (p

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of switching from a habitual diet to a carbohydrate-restricted diet (CRD) on strength and power performance in trained men (n = 16) and women (n = 15). Subjects performed handgrip dynamometry, vertical jump, 1RM bench press and back squat, maximum-repetition bench press, and a 30-second Wingate anaerobic cycling test after consuming a habitual diet (40.7% carbohydrate, 22.2% protein, and 34.4% fat) for 7 days and again after following a CRD (5.4% carbohydrate, 35.1% protein, and 53.6% fat) for 7 days. Before both testing sessions, body weight and composition were examined using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Three 2 × 2 multiple analyses of variance were used to compare performance variables between the habitual diet and CRD. Subjects consumed significantly fewer (p < 0.05) total kilocalories during the CRD (2,156.55 ± 126.7) compared with the habitual diet (2,537.43 ± 99.5). Body mass decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Despite a reduction in body mass, strength and power outputs were maintained for men and women during the CRD. These findings may have implications for sports that use weight classes, and in which strength and power are determinants of success. A CRD may be an alternative method for short-term weight loss without compromising strength and power outputs. The use of a 7-day CRD could replace weight loss methods employing severe dehydration before competition.

Reasons for participation in National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III athletics vary greatly. The purpose of this study was to investigate if differences in motivational climate existed between championship and non�championship-level NCAA Division III football teams, and differences in player status (starter vs. nonstarter). Players (N = 224) from 3 NCAA Division III football programs (1 championship level and 2 non-championship level) were recruited as participants. All players completed the Sport Motivation Scale, and the results were analyzed using a 2 × 2 multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) to examine differences among the motivation variables for starter vs. nonstarter and championship vs. non-championship teams. A 1-way MANOVA was used to examine differences across year in school. Dependent variables included internal motivation to experience stimulation, internal motivation for accomplishment, internal motivation for knowledge, external motivation for identification regulation, external motivation for introjection regulation, external motivation for external regulation, and amotivation. The interaction between starter status and team was not significant ([LAMBDA] = 0.996, p > 0.40). Additionally, there were no significant differences in the mean vector scores for starter vs. nonstarter ([LAMBDA] = 0.965, p = 0.378). For team type, however, differences did exist across dependent variables ([LAMBDA] = 0.898, p = 0.002). For all variables except amotivation, the championship-level team had significantly higher scores than the non�championship-level teams. Members of NCAA Division III championship-level football teams have higher motivation to participate in their sport compared with members of non-championship teams. These results could have an impact on player morale, coaching strategies, and future success in athletic-related activities.