Effect of training on the anaerobic capacity

Intense exercise of short duration is heavily dependent on energy from anaerobic sources, and subjects successful in anaerobic types of sports may therefore have a larger anaerobic capacity and be able to release energy at a higher rate. Performances in these kinds of sports are improved by training, suggesting that the anaerobic capacity is trainable. The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of training on anaerobic capacity. We therefore determined the anaerobic capacity, expressed as the maximal accumulated O2 deficit during treadmill running, of untrained, endurance-trained, and sprint-trained young men. In addition, seven women and five men trained for 6 wk, and their anaerobic capacity was compared before and after the training period. There was no difference in anaerobic capacity between the untrained and endurance-trained subjects, whereas the sprinters' anaerobic capacity was 30% larger (P less than 0.001). The women's anaerobic capacity was 17% less than the men's (P = 0.03). Six weeks of training increased the anaerobic capacity by 10%. We conclude that the anaerobic capacity varies significantly between subjects and that it can be improved within 6 wk. Moreover, there was a close relationship between a high anaerobic capacity and a high peak rate of anaerobic energy release.     

Effect of acupuncture treatment on chronic neck and shoulder pain in sedentary female workers: a 6-month and 3-year follow-up study

The study was carried out to examine whether acupuncture treatment can reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache, and also to examine whether possible effects are long-lasting. Therefore, 24 female office workers (47+/-9 years old, mean+/-SD) who had had neck and shoulder pain for 12+/-9 years were randomly assigned to a test group (TG) or a control group (CG). Acupuncture was applied 10 times during 3-4 weeks either at presumed anti-pain acupoints (TG) or at placebo-points (CG). A physician measured the pain threshold (PPT) in the neck and shoulder regions with algometry before the first treatment, and after the last one and six months after the treatments. Questionnaires on muscle pain and headache were answered at the same occasions and again 3 years after the last treatment. The intensity and frequency of pain fell more for TG than for CG (Pb < or = 0.04) during the treatment period. Three years after the treatments TG still reported less pain than before the treatments (Pw < 0.001) contrary to what CG did (Pb < 0.04) The degree of headache fell during the treatment period for both groups, but more for TG than for CG (Pb=0.02) Three years after the treatments the effect still lasted for TG (Pw < 0.01) while the degree of headache for CG was back to the pre-treatment level (Pb < 0.001) PPT of some muscles rose during the treatments for TG and remained higher 6 months after the treatments (Pw < 0.05) which contrasts the situation for CG. Adequate acupuncture treatment may reduce chronic pain in the neck and shoulders and related headache. The effect lasted for 3 years.     

Reduced pulmonary function is associated with lower levels of endogenous total and free testosterone. The Tromsø Study

Men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease have reduced endogenous testosterone levels. Little is known, however, about the relationship between pulmonary function and endogenous testosterone levels in a general population. In the present study we have examined the cross-sectional associations between sex hormones measured by immunoassay and pulmonary function assessed with spirometry and oxygen saturation in 2,197 men participating in the fifth Tromsø study. The data were analyzed by univariate correlations, multiple linear regression analyses and analyses of variance and covariance. Total and free testosterone were positively and independently associated with forced vitality capacity, FVC (% of predicted) (P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second, FEV₁ (% predicted) (P = 0.033 and P = 0.002, respectively), and men with severe pulmonary obstruction (FEV₁ % of predicted < 50) had lower free testosterone levels (P = 0.005). In this cross-sectional data from Tromsø, a reduction in pulmonary function was associated with lower levels of total and free testosterone. We suggest that the reduction of total and free testosterone could be due?to an alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary response.     

Lung function testing in the elderly—Can we still use FEV1/FVC<70% as a criterion of COPD?

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be diagnosed when the FEV(1)/FVC ratio is below 70%, according to global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD). COPD is known as a disease which is frequently under-diagnosed. However, there is a risk of over diagnosis when this diagnostic threshold is applied among the elderly. AIMS: To contribute to the discussion about the criteria for diagnosing COPD, by describing lung function and pulmonary symptoms in a population aged 60 years or more, and in particular the changes in the mean and 5% percentile of the FEV(1)/FVC ratio by increasing age. METHODS: A cross sectional population-based study was performed in the city of Troms?, Norway, in 2001-2002. Spirometry was performed in 4102 people 60 years and older (54.6% women), who also filled in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Decreased FEV(1)% predicted and FEV(1)/FVC ratio were associated with smoking, increasing age, and reported pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. Dyspnoea and coughing were also strongly associated with smoking and reported pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases, but coughing did not become more frequent by increasing age. In never smokers aged 60-69 years the frequency of FEV(1)/FVC ratio<70% was approximately 7% compared to 16-18% in those 70 years or more (p<0.001). FEV(1)/FVC ratio<70% among never smokers aged 60-69 years was just as frequent as FEV(1)/FVC ratio <65% in never smokers older than 70 years. CONCLUSION: Adjustments of the GOLD criteria for diagnosing COPD are needed, and FEV(1)/FVC ratios down to 65% should be regarded as normal when aged 70 years and older.     

Effect of strenuous strength training on the Na-K pump concentration in skeletal muscle of well-trained men

This study examined how strenuous strength training affected the Na-K pump concentration in the knee extensor muscle of well-trained men and whether leg muscle strength and endurance was related to the pump concentration. First, the pump concentration, taken as ³H-ouabain binding, was measured in top alpine skiers since strength training is important to them. Second, well-trained subjects carried out strenuous eccentric resistance training either 1, 2, or 3 times · week⁻¹ for 3 months. The Na-K pump concentration, the maximal muscle strength in a full squat lift (one repetition maximum, 1 RM), and the muscle endurance, taken as the number of full squat lifts of a mass of 70% of the 1 RM load, were measured before and after the training period. The mean pump concentration of the alpine skiers was 425 (SEM 11) nmol · kg⁻¹ wet muscle mass. The subjects in part two increased their maximal strength in a dose-dependent manner. The muscle endurance increased for all subjects but independently of the training programme. From a mean starting value of 356 (SEM 6) nmol · kg⁻¹ the mean Na-K pump concentration increased by 54 (SEM 15) nmol · kg⁻¹ (+15%, P < 0.001) when the results for all subjects were pooled. The effect was larger for those who had trained twice a week than for those who had trained only once a week (P=0.025), suggesting that the effect of strength training depended on the amount of training carried out. The muscle strength and endurance were not related to the pump concentration, suggesting that the pumping power of this enzyme did not limit the performance during heavy lifting. However, the individual improvements in the endurance test during the training period correlated with the individual changes in the pump concentration (r _Spearman=0.5; P=0.01) which could mean that a common factor both increases the pump concentration and makes the muscles more adapted to repeated heavy lifting. Accepted: 8 August 2000     

The FEV1/FEV6 ratio is a good substitute for the FEV1/FVC ratio in the elderly.

AIMS: To determine the agreement between the FEV1/FEV6 ratio and the FEV1/FVC ratio in an elderly population. METHOD: The study sample consisted of 3874 participants in a cross-sectional population survey in Troms?, Norway, aged 60 years or more, in whom acceptable spirometry had been obtained. Mean differences between the FEV1/FEV6 ratio (%) and the FEV1/FVC ratio (%) were calculated according to age, sex, smoking habit, and the degree of airflow limitation. ROC-curve analysis and Kappa-statistics were used to estimate the utility of the FEV1/FEV6 ratio in predicting an FEV1/FVC ratio < 70%. RESULTS: The mean difference between FEV1/FEV6% and FEV1/FVC% was 2.7% in both men and women. The difference between the two measures increased somewhat with increasing age, and was more pronounced with smoking and decreasing FEV1/FVC ratio. The value for the FEV1/FEV6 ratio which best predicted an FEV1/FVC ratio of 70%, was 73%, and a very good agreement was found between these two cut-off values (kappa = 0.86). CONCLUSION: The FEV1/FEV6 ratio appears to be a good substitute for the FEV1/FVC ratio in an elderly population.     

Lactate release, concentration in blood, and apparent distribution volume after intense bicycling

To study the release of lactate from muscle and its relationship to the blood lactate concentration during and after intense bicycling, young men cycled at 5.5 W kg(-1) body mass for 2 min to exhaustion or stopped after 1 min (nonexhaustive ride). The leg's release of lactate during and after each ride was taken from the measured blood flow and lactate concentrations in arterial and femoral-venous blood. Muscle biopsies were taken in separate experiments and analyzed for lactate. During the bicycling, 6 to 10% of the lactate produced was released to the blood. During exercise and for the first few minutes after, the rate of lactate release did not differ between 2 min exhaustive and 1 min nonexhaustive bicycling. The integrated release (exercise plus recovery) for the 1 min bicycling was 60 to 80% of the corresponding value of the 2 min exhaustive bicycling. In the late recovery, the blood lactate concentration was 3 to 5 times higher after 2 min exhaustive bicycling than after the 1 min nonexhaustive bicycling. There was thus a mismatch between the amount of lactate released and measured concentration in blood, reflecting a smaller distribution volume after the exhaustive bicycling. The blood lactate concentration may therefore not be a good measure of the lactate production and anaerobic energy release during bicycling.