hamid. rajabi

The aim of this study was to compare the metabolic profile of elite male karate athletes based on their physical fitness level during different phases of six competitions in one day, similar to real karate competitions.Study

Ten young elite karateka participated in this research. Based on the Z scores obtained from physical fitness tests, including aerobic power (Bruce test), anaerobic power (30 s Wingate test), vertical jump, 30 m sprint, and agility (9×4 m), they were divided into two groups of high (n=5) and low (n=5) physical fitness. Each karateka performed six simulated committee competitions with the same rest interval as official tournaments and according to the rules of the World Federation. Venous blood samples were collected before and after the first and sixth competition. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to investigate differences at p<0.05.

Decreases in pH (p<0.001), increases in tryptophan (p=0.034), lactate (p<0.001), and malondialdehyde (p=0.007), and changes in glucose (p=0.003) were significant in total measured time points. Moreover, by examining time×group interaction, a significant difference was observed between the groups in plasma lactate (p=0.014), so that it was significantly higher after the sixth competition in the low physical fitness group than the other group (5 ± 0.1 vs. 3.9 ± 0.2 mmol/L, p=0.002).

Karate athletes with low physical fitness seem to provide a larger portion of ATP needed during the sixth competition than the first competition from the anaerobic glycolysis pathway and by consuming extracellular carbohydrate sources such as plasma glucose.

Changes in hemodynamic factors such as blood pressure, rate of pressure product (RPP) and flow mediated dilation (FMD), are the most important cardiovascular changes in older age. This study aims to investigate the effect of resistance training on some hemodynamic and functional factors in older men.

In this quasi-experimental study, 24 older men were selected from among 100 older residents of Kahrizak Nursing Home in Alborz Province, Iran and were randomly divided into control and training groups. Before and after eight weeks of resistance training, mean blood pressure (MBP), RPP, FMD, hand grip strength and timed up & go (TUG) time were measured. The difference in the variables between the two groups was analyzed by independent and paired t-test using SPSS software version 25. The significance level was set at 0.05

The mean of age of participants was 67.75 years. Decreased MBP (P=0.027), increased FMD changes (P=0.022), decreased RPP (P=0.023), increased hand grip strength (P=0.019), and decreased TUG time (P=0.032) were reported in the training group.

Resistance training can reduce the load on the cardiovascular system by improving hemodynamic factors and possibly prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases related to older age. Therefore, resistance training with sufficient intensity can be considered as a supplement to aerobic training in old age.

Changes in corticospinal excitability will cause a change in the neural output and finally the maximum force will be changed. Various training and non-training factors affect this neuromuscular response and it seems that the intensity of the intervention is one of the effective factors in this regard. Based on this, the present study sought to investigate the response of corticospinal excitability to different intensities of postactivation potentiation in young trained subjects.

Eight young men (24.8±2.70 year) performed the research protocol in three separate sessions with preparatory contractions during the handgrip movement with intensities of 20, 50 and 80% root mean square of maximal voluntary contraction. Several times after that, the amount of corticospinal excitability, the electrical activity of the flexor carpi radialis muscle (FCR) and the maximum force in the hangrip were measured with a dynamometer. Then, the results were extracted by using the statistical method of repeated-measures analysis of variance at a significance level of p<0.05.

The amplitude of motor evoked potential increased after preparatory contraction with intensity of 20%, but it decreased significantly after intensity of 50% and 80%; so that, there was no significant difference between the intensity of 50% and 80%. On the other hand, the amount of voluntary force measured by the maximum voluntary contraction did not show any significant change as well as the electrical activity immediately and after 5 minutes of preparatory contraction.

None of the changes in corticospinal excitability were associated with changes in muscle strength and electrical activity. Therefore, there is a complex interaction between changes in supraspinal excitability following preparatory contractions and their effect on an individual’s ability to improve or maintain force output, and further investigations are needed in this area.

 Due to the population growth rate, Iran will face an aging explosion soon. Thus, maintaining functional independence and fall prevention should be considered as the main policy concerns in caring for this group. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of training with unstable sandals on some functional indicators related to falls in healthy elderly men prone to falls during the corona epidemic.

 In this quasi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test design, 42 elderly men who were prone to fall (age: 70.69±4.11 years, height: 174.12±6.07 cm, weight: 73.29±7.58 kg, BMI: 24.2±2.42 kg/cm2) with some diagnostic performance indicators were selected from 61 elderly people and divided into three groups of 14 people. One group performed home exercises with unstable sandals, the second group performed these exercises with stable sandals, and the control group was engaged in their normal life and did not participate in any exercise training intervention. The training course was performed in three sessions per week on non-consecutive days for four weeks. Before and after the training session, participants were assessed using the Berg Balance Scale,Timed Up & Go, Functional Reach Test, and 30-second stand chair.

 Analysis of variance with repeated measures showed a significant difference in all performance tests of both training groups compared with the control group after 4 weeks of training (P<0.001). There was a significant improvement in the unstable sandal group in the Berg Balance Scale and Timed Up & Go tests with a progress of 12.3% and -27.1% compared with the pretest, and 8.5% and -21.1% compared with the stable sandal group (P<0.05). Despite the improvement in Functional Reach and 30-s stand-chair tests in the unstable sandal group compared with the stable sandal group, no significant difference was observed between them (P ≥0.05).

 Using unstable sandals in a home exercise protocol as an overload training tool for greater improvement in healthy elderly men who are prone to falls can effectively improve some static and dynamic performance indicators, but it has no effect on increasing the strength of the lower limbs.

Performing a mental exertion before and during an exercise increase fatigue indices. One of the important factors in inducing fatigue indices is the type of mental effort engaged. So, the purpose of the present study is comparing the effects of performing types of mental exertion during cycling exercise on fatigue indicators.

10 cyclist men (with average age 34.5 ± 4.5 kg, height 177 ± 4.5cm, peak power output 236 ± 36 W) invited for 5 different sessions. In the first session, anthropometric characteristics and of cycling peak power output have determined. In the next four sessions, cycling for 45-min at 65% PPO on the cycle ergometer with (Stroop, AX-CPT and PVT) or without (watching a movie) mental exertion. Rate of perceived exertion and heart rate were recorded while cycling every 10 min and cortisol concentration was measured before and 30 min after exercise finished. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were used to analyzing data.

Performing 45 minutes of Stroop mental exertion during cycling exercise increased effort perception, mental demand in the NASA questionnaire, and cortisol concentration compared to cycling exercise alone (P˂0/05) but there is no differences between AX-CPT and PVT to cycling exercise alone .

The results of present study showed that performing different mental effort simultaneously with the cycling exercise depending on the amount of challenge and their duration may affect some of the fatigue indices.

Evidence suggests a link between serum adropin levels and coagulation factors, with physical activity boosting adropin circulation. This study investigates the correlation between adropin and blood coagulation factors in young adults at varying activity levels.

Fifty healthy young adults were divided into active and inactive groups using the Baecke questionnaire. Blood samples assessed adropin and coagulation factors. Statistical tests included Mann-Whitney and independent t-tests for comparison, with Spearman's correlation coefficient determining strength.

Active participants exhibited significantly lower fibrinogen (p<0.05) and higher adropin levels (p<0.05) compared to inactive peers. Physical activity correlated negatively (r=-0.27, p=0.05) with fibrinogen but not with adropin and other coagulation factors.

 Elevated physical activity levels correlate with heightened serum adropin and reduced serum fibrinogen. Moreover, serum fibrinogen, a critical coagulation factor influencing blood clot formation, appears particularly sensitive to the effects of physical activity.

Enhancing muscular power capacity in competitive sports that require strength, power, and speed is of great importance. Research has shown that warming up using post-activation potentiation (PAP) can significantly improve athletic performance. Unlike traditional warm-ups, which involve low-intensity aerobic movements and stretching, the PAP method employs maximum or near-maximum intensity speed, plyometric, or resistance exercises.  The mechanisms behind PAP include improved neural conduction, increased motor unit recruitment, reduced synaptic inhibition, and mechanical adaptations such as optimized muscle-tendon junction angles. These neuromuscular adaptations are particularly effective in explosive movements like jumping and throwing. Among PAP implementation methods, plyometric exercises are considered a practical and efficient option due to their lack of special equipment requirements, lower fatigue induction, and activation of fast-twitch motor units. However, research findings in this area are inconsistent. Some studies confirm performance improvements, while others report fatigue or no significant effects due to inappropriate exercise volume or intensity. For example, high-volume exercises (such as 70 seconds of continuous tension) may lead to fatigue, whereas protocols with higher repetitions (e.g., 20 jumps) have shown favorable results. This study systematically reviews existing research to examine the variables of volume, intensity, and rest intervals in plyometric exercises, aiming to determine the optimal combination for enhancing power performance. The ultimate goal is to provide practical strategies for designing effective warm-up protocols in strength-speed sports. 

Methods & Materials:

This systematic review examined research articles published in English between 2007 and 2023, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed up to August 2023, using keywords such as "post activation potentiation," "PAP," and "muscle power." Only peer-reviewed journal articles were included, excluding conference abstracts. Additional manual searches on Google Scholar ensured no relevant studies were missed. Inclusion criteria required participants aged 18–35 with at least two years of training, excluding studies using electrical stimulation or isokinetic dynamometers, and focusing on explosive power performance (e.g., jumps, throws). Two researchers independently extracted and coded data, categorizing plyometric exercises by volume (>20 or <20 reps), intensity (bodyweight-only vs. weighted), and rest intervals (<5 min, 5–10 min, >10 min) between conditioning and main activities. From 1,974 initially identified studies, 20 duplicates and 1,856 irrelevant studies were excluded, leaving 98 for full-text screening, with 24 meeting final eligibility criteria.

After an initial screening of 1,974 identified studies, duplicate and irrelevant articles were removed, leaving 98 studies for full-text evaluation. Ultimately, 24 eligible studies meeting the inclusion criteria—participants aged 18–35 years, at least two years of training experience, no use of electrical stimulation or isokinetic dynamometer devices, and assessment of explosive power movements—were analyzed. These studies, published between 2007 and 2021, included a total of 309 participants, with sample sizes ranging from 5 to 34 individuals.The findings revealed that a post-activation potentiation (PAP)-based warm-up protocol using plyometric exercises could enhance athletes' performance if three key factors were considered. First, regarding exercise volume, performing movements with fewer than 20 repetitions demonstrated more positive effects compared to higher repetitions. Second, in terms of exercise intensity, bodyweight plyometric exercises (without additional resistance) were sufficient to induce adequate stimulation and improve power performance. Third, concerning rest intervals, a recovery period of less than 5 minutes between plyometric exercises and the main activity had the most beneficial impact on athletic performance.

This systematic review examined the impact of plyometric exercises used for post-activation potentiation (PAP) on athletes' explosive power performance (e.g., vertical jump height, discus/hammer throw distance). The analysis included 24 studies (309 participants), focusing on competitive athletes with at least two years of training experience. Key findings highlighted the influence of exercise volume, intensity, and rest intervals on PAP effectiveness.Low-volume plyometrics (<20 reps) as a conditioning activity (CA) enhanced power performance more than high-volume protocols. Excessive repetitions (>20) led to fatigue (e.g., phosphagen depletion, hydrogen ion accumulation), masking PAP benefits. Studies suggest that <10 seconds of tension per set optimizes PAP, whereas prolonged efforts (>70 seconds) impair performance.Bodyweight plyometrics (no external load) consistently improved power output. Adding resistance reduced movement velocity (inverse force-velocity relationship) and increased fatigue, diminishing PAP effects. Dynamic contractions in plyometrics maypreferentially recruit high-threshold motor units, but excessive loading risks muscle damage (e.g., Z-line disruption) and central fatigue.A 5-minute rest between plyometrics and the main activity balanced PAP potentiation and fatigue recovery. Shorter rests (<5 min) favored fatigue, while longer rests (>10 min) diminished PAP effects. Unlike heavy resistance training, plyometrics induced faster metabolic recovery (e.g., lactate clearance), justifying shorter rest periods. Athlete fitness level may further modulate optimal recovery timing.Several limitations warrant consideration when interpreting these findings. The inherent heterogeneity in plyometric exercise selection across studies - encompassing variations in jump types, contact surfaces, and movement amplitudes - introduces some degree of programming ambiguity. Additionally, the reviewed literature demonstrates relative paucity in addressing potential individual response variability based on training status, fiber type distribution, or sex-specific considerations. These areas represent valuable targets for future investigative efforts.In summary, the preponderance of evidence supports the implementation of plyometric-based PAP protocols characterized by restrained volume (below twenty repetitions), bodyweight resistance, and five-minute recovery intervals as a reliable means of enhancing acute power performance. These findings provide sports practitioners with an evidence-based framework for optimizing warm-up strategies in power-dependent disciplines, while simultaneously highlighting important avenues for continued research into individualized protocol refinement. The consistent demonstration of performance enhancements across diverse athletic populations underscores the practical value of these recommendations for competitive training environments.

Beta-alanine supplement, which is a precursor of carnosine, may improve performance by providing a buffering effect. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of beta-alanine supplementation and regular Taekwondo training on anaerobic, aerobic, and endurance activity substrate metabolism in female Taekwondo athletes.

Twenty-four female professional taekwondo practitioners (age, 18.0±2.5 years), from Tehran province volunteered to participate in this research. Based on the body composition and training history, the subjects were divided into two groups (n=12) of supplement and placebo. The pre-tests consisted of the an aerobic specific test (Progressive Specific Taekwondo Test, PSTT) including repeated strikes of Bandal-Tchagui to exhaustion time during a maximum duration of 15 minutes and a taekwondo anaerobic test (Frequency Speed of Kick Te, FSKT) including 5 sets of 10-second high-speed Bandal-Tchagui kicks with maximum strength. Furthermore, the substrate metabolism of the endurance activity was measured by a gas analyzer, and the VCO2, VO2, VO2peak, HR, and HRpeak were measured. During and immediately after the test, the level of perception of fatigue was evaluated. Moreover, blood lactate levels were measured using a lactometer after the anaerobic and aerobic tests. After 28 days of receiving the supplement or placebo (5g/day) at the designated day times, the pre-test measurements were repeated. Repeated measures of ANOVA with between-group factor and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used to compare the data.

There was no significant difference between the two supplement and placebo groups for anaerobic capacity, aerobic capacity, and substrate metabolism (p<0.05). Although, both groups (supplement and placebo) showed significant improvements in the time to exhaustion and the number of steps to exhaustion in the post-test compared to the pre-test, these improvements were significantly higher in the supplement group compared to the placebo (p<0.05).

During the research period, beta-alanine supplementation had only an effect on some performance indicators and probably more pronounced effects on the performance of elite athletes would be seen in the long term. However, this little gain can be important in professional athletes, and more studies are needed in this field for a concrete conclusion.

 Type 2 diabetes is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and glucose dysregulation. It is a major concern of the World Health Organization, affecting millions of people worldwide. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of  8 weeks of high-intensity interval training on the expression of activating transcription factor-6 (ATF-6) and C/EBP homologue (CHOP) proteins in liver tissue in rats with type 2 diabetes. 

  The current study was experimental with a post-test design with a control group. A number of 24 Wistar male rats, aged 6 weeks and weighing approximately 200-250 grams, were obtained from the Pasteur Institute of Iran. Rats were randomly divided into 3 groups of 8 high intensity interval training (HIIT) diabetic, diabetic control and healthy control. The training groups performed 5 HIIT training sessions on the treadmill during 8 weeks and each week (the training protocol was 8 weeks of interval training, 5 sessions per week with intense 2-minute intervals with 2-8 repetitions and 80-90 The percentage of maximum running speed and 1-minute rest intervals were performed with 50-56% of maximum running speed. After 48 hours from the last training session and after fasting days, all rats were anesthetized and liver tissue was harvested. The data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

 The results showed that ATF-6 protein levels in type 2 diabetic male rats did not change significantly after 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training (P = 0.73). But CHOP protein levels showed a significant increase after 8 weeks (P = 0.001). CHOP protein levels in the diabetic training group showed a non-significant decrease compared to the diabetic control group (P < 0.05), but in the diabetic training group compared to the healthy control group, it showed a significant increase (P = 0.001).  

 As a result, 8 weeks of high-intensity interval training can have beneficial effects on reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress in liver tissue caused by type 2 diabetes in diabetic rats. Furthermore, further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential mechanisms involved.

Physical activity is one of the promising interventions with positive effects on the quality of sleep and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. With the development of various physical programs, including physical-cognitive combined training,, it seems that these dual interventions may better affect neurodegenerative diseases, such as MS. In the same direction this study aimed to investigate the quality of sleep and psychomotor Vigilance of patients with MS by performing combined aerobic-cognitive training (Brythonic) and conventional aerobic training (Aerotonic).

30 patients (22 women and 8 men) with Relapsing-Remitting and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) less than four, an average age of 36.66±9.36 years, average height of 164.5±6.30 cm, average weight of 65.43 ± 9.80 kg and average body mass index 24.02 ± 3.02 kg/m2 were randomly divided into 3 groups of 10 people: Brythonic training, Aerotonic training, and control without training. Two groups, Brythonic and Aerotonic, during 10 weeks (20 sessions), two sessions per week, performed relevant online training at home, including 10 minutes of warm-up, 15 to 35 minutes of physical activities, and five minutes of cool-down. In the pre-test and also after 10 weeks of online practice at home (post-test), psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), volunteer patients were measured. All the procedure was conducted under the supervision of neurologist with precision. Descriptive statistics (mean ± standard deviation) were used to analyze the data. To investigate the difference between the three groups and the intra-group differences before and after the training period, the repeated analysis of variance test with between-group factor was used and the significance level was considered P≥0.05.

Despite observing a relative improvement in most variables of the PVT test in the Brythonic group compared to the Aerotonic and control groups, these changes were not significant. Also, in the PSQI test, even though a 1-point improvement was observed in the sleep quality of patients in the Brythonic and Aerotonic groups, the changes were not significant.

This study showed that although the repetition of motivational words with aerobic movements in a short training period does not have a significant effect on the quality of sleep and the levels of psychomotor vigilance of patients with MS, due to the improving trend in the Brythonic training group, it is probably suggesting that significant changes in these variables may require more duration or intensity of exercise or cognitive interventions..

The use of new training for improve the learning of beginners in executive skills such as shooting is one of the topics of interest in recent researches. The aim of research was to investigate the effect of a course of resistance training and neurofeedback on improving shooting skills and neural performance of military beginners. For this purpose, 25 people (mean age 20 years and weight 73.8 kg) were randomly selected and using the pre-test-post-test plan, shooting score, and supraspinal nerve function. Using TMS, before and after 12 sessions of resistance training with SMR and Alpha, it was studied in five resistance, resistance-neurofeedback, neurofeedback, Sham, and control groups. Multiple variance analysis in the graphpadprism9 software showed that in intra-group changes, the shooting score in resistance-neurofeedback (P<0.0001), resistance (P = 0.0229), and neurofeedback (P = 0.0241) increased, and the amplitude decreased significantly in the resistance-neurofeedback (P = 0.0115), but latency increased only in resistance training (P>0.05). The follow-up test between groups in the post showed that the changes in the shooting score and the amplitude in the resistance-neurofeedback were not significantly different compared to other groups. Considering the importance of muscle strength and brain functions regarding the proper performance of the shooter and according to the results of this research, it can be said that the use of training methods to strengthen muscles and improve the function of brain waves related to shooting skills, probably at the same time Strengthening the supraspinal nerve function improves part of the learning process and skill implementation in this field.

Athletes use diverse strategies, including caffeine supplementation, to reduce fatigue and improve their performance. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the post-activation potentiation method and caffeine supplementation on peripheral fatigue after Wikstrom's fatigue protocol in young male volleyball players.

In this study, forty male volleyball players with an average age of 27.33 ± 1.78 years and an average weight of 76.5 ± 7.45 kg participated. They were divided into four experimental groups: a group that used only the PAP method (n=10), a group that consumed only caffeine (n=10), a group that both performed PAP and consumed caffeine (n=10), and a control group (n=10). For the groups receiving caffeine, a caffeine supplement was administered at a dose of 6 mg per kilogram of body weight, 15 minutes before starting the protocol. PAP exercises were performed at an intensity of 70% of the one-repetition maximum. Blood samples were taken one hour before and one hour after completing the Wikstrom six-station protocol. All subjects participated in this study voluntarily and they had no illness or injury at the start of the research.

The results of the present study showed that the implementation of PAP along with caffeine showed a significant increase in the variables of time to exhaustion and the number of rounds (p<0.05), while the rate of ammonia showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). In contrast, uric acid showed no significant difference (p>0.05).

The results of the present study, showed that the use of caffeine reduces peripheral fatigue. Also, since the use of PAP did not have an adverse effect on the participant's performance, athletes can use this method concurrently with caffeine to improve their performance in endurance activities.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is used to describe a spectrum of structural abnormalities that involve the growing hip. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to providing the best possible functional outcome. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of DDH in neonates with and without risk factors and determine the role of ultrasound screening on the initial diagnosis.   

This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 399 infants at the Pediatric Treatment Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, between December 2015 and June 2016. Infants with suspected DDH who underwent hip ultrasonography were included, and the presence or absence of each risk factor was documented according to the checklist. The ultrasound findings were also registered in the checklists. The odds ratio (OR) of each risk factor for DDH was calculated. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 18 at a 0.05 significance level.  

In 16 months of study, 174 (43.6%) male and 225 (56.4%) female infants under the age of 18 months were studied. Risk factors were detected in the medical history of 329 infants. Out of them, 230(57.6%) were firstborn children, 7 (1.75%) had a positive family history of DDH, and 26 (6.5%) had limb anomalies. There was also a history of breech presentation in 16 (4.01%) and a history of oligohydramnios in 21 (5.1%) of infants. The prevalence of DDH was 25.8% in infants with risk factors and 2.8% in those without risk factors. (OR = 11.84, P < 0.05).  

  In this study, the frequency of DDH was significantly higher in infants with risk factors. The female gender and limb anomalies were stronger risk factors for DDH. Overall, ultrasound showed great potential for DDH screening.

Recent research has shown that stress of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in liver tissue plays a significant role in development of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 8 weeks high-intensity interval training on two known markers of liver ER stress in rats with type 2 diabetes.

Twenty four male Wistar rats (8 weeks age and 200-250 g weight) were used. The "healthy control" group (8 mice) had free access to standard food and drinking water for 13 weeks. Another 16 mice were fed a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Then these 16 rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin and allocated in two groups: "diabetic control" (maintenance of a high-fat diet for 9 weeks without exercise) and "diabetic exercise" (maintenance of a high-fat diet, one week familiarization with treadmill and then 8 weeks high intensity interval training). Then, the expression levels of eukaryotic initiator factor 2-alpha (eIF-2-α) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the liver tissue of all rats were measured by western blot method.

Blood glucose level and expression of both eIF2-α and TNF-α were significantly higher in the "diabetic control" than the "healthy control" (P≤0.05). The "diabetic exercise" group showed significantly lower glucose level than the the "diabetic control" group (P≤0.05). However, neither eIF-2-α nor TNF-α showed significant change in "diabetic exercise" compared to the "diabetic control" group.

Intense intermittent exercise with the parameters used in this research could not change two stress markers of liver ER in type 2 diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of combined exercise on aortic atherosclerosis and FGF23 in male rats with chronic renal failure.

In this study, 20 male Wistar rats (mean weight 10 ± 250  g) were induced by NX5 / 6 method for chronic renal failure. After 2 weeks of recovery, they were randomly divided into two groups of control (n= 10) and combined training (n= 10) and performed a combined training protocol for 8 weeks. The combined training protocol consisted of two resistance training exercises on a ladder with 2 sets and 6 repetitions with percentages of body weight and aerobic exercise included 30 minutes of low-intensity treadmill activity.

The results showed that combined exercise reduced aortic atherosclerosis and decreased plaques, and FGF23 decreased significantly (p = 0.001). Parathoromon hormone also significantly decreased (p = 0.041) and calcium and phosphorus significantly decreased (p = 0.004 and p = 0.005, respectively).

Overall, the results showed that combined training could decrease FGF23, parathoromon hormone, calcium and phosphor on aortic atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease indices in chronic renal failure patients.

The purpose of this study was determine the effect of upper body plyometric training on anaerobic power and record of 25 meters front crawl performance in 10 years old swimmer boys. 16 swimmer boys chosen voluntarily (The mean age was 9.9 ± 0.7 years ، weight 45.9 ±9 kg , Height 149.8 ± 5 cm، BMI  is 19.20 ± 3 Kg / m 2 ) And Subjects divided into two groups of training (n=8) and control(n=8).Before and after the implementation of the protocol investigate test 25 meters front crawl performance  at the distance 10, 20 and 25  metrs  and the number of hand strocke to check the performance of the swimming also anaerobic hand wingiting test function was evaluated. To analyze data, used the covariance test.The results showed six weeks upper body plyometric training Performance Indicators an hands Front crawl Including Peak power increased Significantly (18%) but the average power increase (7%) was not significant (p>0.05). Also, Swimming performance at of 10 meters) 8% (,10 to 20)6%(and 25 meters distance(3/80%) growth in compare to control group that was significant(p <0.05) As well as in the number of hand strocke, Plyometric training group although had growth in swim 10 meters (11%), 10-20 meters (7.5%) and in 25 meters distance (5.33%) but the isnt significance (p>0.05). results indicate that six week upper body plyometric traning to an increase and improvement in the measured parameters, and can be used as a complementary training method in young swimmers.

Modern training methods to improve the learning of beginners in executive skills such as shooting is one of the topics of interest in recent researches. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a course of resistance training and neurofeedback on shooting indices related to psychological performance in military beginners. By using pretest -posttest plan and using the electronic scoring system, the shooting performance of 25 beginners, before and after 12 sessions of resistance training and reinforcement of SMR wave in C4 and reinforcement of alpha wave in F3 was studied .Statistical analysis was done using Graph Pad Prism 9 software and considering 5% measurement error, and it was found that training interventions increased the shooting score in resistance(P=0.0011), resistance-neurofeedback(p<0.0001) and neurofeedback(P=0.0014) groups; decrease in shooting speed in resistance (P=0.0014), resistance-neurofeedback(P<0.0001) and neurofeedback(P=0.0372) groups, increased stability in resistance(P=0.0005), resistance-neurofeedback(P<0.0001) and neurofeedback(p=0.029) groups. But accuracy did not change significantly. Also, the follow-up test between groups in the post-test showed the changes in the shooting speed in the resistance-neurofeedback group compared to the resistance group(P=0.0124) and the stability in the resistance-neurofeedback group compared to the resistance group(P=0.0315) and neurofeedback(p =0.0001) has been better.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) has been shown to be suitable for studying the effects of exercise on multiple sclerosis pathophysiology. Considering the role of Bax and BCL2 proteins in cell apoptosis, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of swimming training before EAE induction on cell apoptosis in the thymus gland.

Totally, 30 mice were randomly divided into three groups (training+EAE, control+EAE, and control). The training program began (30 minutes/day, five days/week, and four weeks). To induce EAE, subcutaneous injection of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide was used for immunization and intraperitoneal injection of pertussis toxin was performed. Bax and BCL2 proteins were measured in thymus tissue.

EAE induction caused a significant increase in expression of Bax (p=0.001) and a significant decrease in expression of BCL2 (p=0.012) compared to the control group. The expression of Bax in the training+EAE group had a significant decrease (p=0.0001) compared to the control+EAE group and a significant increase compared to the control group (p=0.003). The expression of BCL2 in the training+EAE had a significant increase compared to the control+EAE group (p=0.001) and a significant decrease compared to the control group (p=0.01). The Bax/BCL2 in the control+EAE group increased significantly compared to the control group, and this ratio decreased significantly in the training+EAE group compared to the control+EAE group (p=0.002).

A swimming training before EAE reduces the severity of the disease and has modulating effects on apoptosis and inflammation.

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that is spreading rapidly around the world (1). Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, with progressive destruction of the sensory and motor nerves of the lower extremities in these patients. Peripheral nerve problems in these patients also lead to functional deficits and muscle mobility (5, 6). In general, it is agreed that metabolic and vascular disorders caused by diabetes lead to peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage in these patients (8). Based on the hypotheses that cause diabetic neuropathy, it can be said that the use of exercise can be effective in improving diabetic neuropathy by improving vascular function (13, 14) and controlling blood sugar (13-15). The present study was to determine the effect of a period of functional training on blood sugar control and nerve conduction velocity in patients with diabetic neuropathic disorders. Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, with progressive destruction of the sensory and motor nerves of the lower extremities in these patients. Peripheral nerve problems in these patients also lead to functional deficits and muscle mobility (5, 6). In general, it is agreed that metabolic and vascular disorders caused by diabetes lead to peripheral neuropathy and nerve damage in these patients (8). Based on the hypotheses that cause diabetic neuropathy, it can be said that the use of exercise can be effective on diabetic neuropathy by improving vascular function (13, 14) and controlling blood sugar (13-15). The present study was to determine the effect of a period of functional training on blood sugar control and nerve conduction velocity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

In the present quasi-experimental study, 12 patients with type 2 diabetes living in Karaj (45-65 years old) were selected as the research sample and randomly divided into 2 groups of 6 exercise and control intervention. The training protocol in the present study was a researcher-made protocol that adjusted the volume and intensity of training based on exercise recommendations for patients with type 2 diabetes. The training program was performed for 8 weeks and 3 sessions per week. These exercises were designed as exercises at home. The exercises were designed to improve general endurance, endurance, strength, muscle flexibility and balance and with the approach of improving the function of the neuromuscular system and were designed as a station (20). In order to study blood variables 48 hours before and 48 hours after the intervention, fasting blood sampling was performed and electromyography devices were used to evaluate the nerve conduction velocity (21). Dependent t-test and independent t-test were used for statistical analysis; Statistical analysis was measured using SPSS software version 26 and the significance level was P <0.05.

According to the results of paired sample t-test  after the training period, a significant decrease where founded in fasting blood sugar (P = 0.046), fasting insulin (P = 0.033) and insulin resistance (P = 0.028) and a significant increase There was founded in median sensory nerve conduction velocity (P = 0.037) and a median motor nerve conduction velocity (P = 0.001) in the exercise group compared to baseline values, but no significant difference was observed in the measured variables in the control group ( P < 0.05). In comparison between the changes, the results of independent t-test showed that there were significant differences in fasting blood sugar (P = 0.007), fasting insulin (P = 0.019), insulin resistance (P = 0.005), Median sensory nerve conduction velocity (P = 0.005) and median motor nerve conduction velocity (P <0.001) compared to the control group.

The results of the present study showed that after the training period, a significant decrease in levels of fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin and insulin resistance was observed compared to the control group without exercise. Due to the pathology of type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance in insulin-sensitive tissues such as muscle tissue and adipose tissue, blood glucose levels increase in these people, and due to increased hyperglycemia, diabetic patients develop complications of diabetes, including neuropathy (7). Even a session of physical activity has been reported to stimulate glucose uptake by upregulating GLUT4 levels in sarcoma. This effect is independent of the effect of insulin and glucose uptake continues for several hours after the end of physical activity. Physical activity also increases insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle; this effect lasts for several hours after the end of physical activity and is clearly dependent on insulin and insulin function in target tissues (22). Regarding the chronic effect of regular exercise on blood sugar control in patients with diabetes, it can be said that regular exercise helps control blood sugar and thus reduces hyperglycemia in these people due to increased cell sensitivity to insulin-dependent molecular pathways. Which improve insulin signaling (ACC and MAPKs PI3-kinase) as well as insulin-independent pathways (Akt and mTOR AMP-kinase), control glycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes and prevent the complications of diabetes (1, 13, 23). In investigating the effect of exercise on nerve conduction velocity, the results of our study showed that after the training period, a significant increase in sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity was observed compared to the pretest and control group; The results of our study showed the effect of almost twice the effect of exercise on increasing the conduction velocity of the median motor nerve compared to the conduction velocity of the median sensory nerve. The conduction of a shock in the human nerve depends on the electrochemical activity of single nerve fibers within the nerve (26). In their study, Galliro et al. (2021) reported that the rate of nerve conduction decreases in diabetic neuropathy, especially in the sensory fields in the lower extremities (18). It has been shown that metabolic abnormalities seen in impaired glucose tolerance may lead to changes in neural conduction (27). Given that diabetic neuropathy is associated with poor glycemic control, and in our study, increased nerve rate was negatively associated with insulin resistance, an increase in nerve conduction velocity can be justified; Research on laboratory animals has shown that exercise improves nerve function through adaptations in the presynaptic and postsynaptic sections (29). It has also been reported that impaired neural conduction in diabetic patients with mild to moderate peripheral neuropathy may be improved by drug doses of antioxidant supplements such as vitamin E (30). Although in the present study, factors related to free radicals, inflammatory factors or total antioxidant levels were not measured and were one of the limitations of the present study, but according to previous research results that show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of exercise in diabetes (31), it can be said that exercise, like antioxidant vitamins, can improve nerve function. Overall, the results of the present study showed the positive effects of functional exercises on metabolic indicators and also increased nerve conduction velocity, which indicates the positive effects of functional exercises on preventing the complications of diabetic neuropathy.

 The preconception and during pregnancy periods are now thought to be critical for the long-term effects on fetal development and postnatal growth and may predispose offspring to phenotypic changes and multi-diseases later in life. Moreover, physical activity and different kinds of stress during pregnancy are two important maternal behavioral lifestyles that can influence in health or disease of mothers and fetuses. While there are still many questions about the optimum intensity of maternal exercise, exercise during pregnancy has been considered as a positive environmental factor in the prevention of chronic diseases in the next generation. Several pieces of research have shown the positive effects of short-term and long-term exercise on the gene expression of offspring. High-intensity interval training is a form of cardiovascular exercise in which short periods of intense exercise with less-intense recovery periods. Animal model studies recently highlighted which pregnant mothers could tolerate this intensity during pregnancy. It has recently been determined that the Sirtuins family has a cardioprotective role in the heart. There is evidence that Sirt6 protects the heart from developing diseases through negative regulation of the insulin growth factor (IGF) signaling in the myocardial cells. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the role of high-intensity maternal exercise before and during pregnancy on the expression of cardiac genes Sirt6 and IGF2 as factors of cardiac health in adult female offspring.

Twenty-four female Wistar rats which never experienced a pregnancy, aged 8 weeks, were randomly divided into three maternal groups; mothers sedentary (control group, n = 8), mothers who exercised only before pregnancy (n = 8), and mothers who exercised before and during pregnancy (n = 8). High-intensity interval training consists of running on the treadmill with the speed of 18m/min at 10˚ inclination for 3 mins (85–95% ofVO2max), switching with active recovery, and the speed of 13m/min (65% of VO2max) at 0˚ inclination for 5 days/week which is in accordance with the overload principle; the duration and number of bouts were increased every week. High-intensity-interval training was performed in two parts, the first part included six weeks of HIIT prior to pregnancy and then 3 weeks of HIIT during pregnancy. Two females with one male were mated for two days. After pregnancy, the animals were kept individually per cage to notice the birth process, number, and birth weight of pups. Then the offspring were allocated to pup groups according to their mother groups at the end of the breastfeeding duration (3 weeks old). Ten-week-old rats were anesthetized with Xylazine (3 mg/kg) and Ketamine (30 mg/kg) and the left ventricle was separated after whole blood extraction. The Sirt6 gene expression and IGF-2 gene expression were measured by the RT-PCR method and the data were analyzed by the one-way ANOVA method.

The present study showed that there was no statistically significant in the sex birth weight (P = 0.246) of pup groups as previously published. Also, maternal HIIT did not lead to significant differences in the number of pups (P = 0.16) between different maternal groups. Maternal HIIT before and during pregnancy has effects on the Sirt6 gene expression (P=0.0001) in the heart of female offspring and has no significant effect on IGF-2 gene expression (P=0.268). 

The consequences of maternal exercise in offspring have been investigated as a positive maternal behavior during pregnancy. We have indicated in our previous study that maternal exercise before and during pregnancy has positive effects on the cardioprotective genes of male offspring’s hearts. In the present study, we broaden the investigation to determine the cardioprotective effect of maternal exercise in female offspring. Our finding indicated that maternal high-intensity interval training leads to an increase of Sirt6 mRNA in the female similar to male offspring. Scientific evidence supports a relationship between birth weight and postnatal health outcomes and mentions birth weight as a vital factor in adult multi-disease. Consistent with the previous study, our study showed that maternal high-intensity interval training did not affect the birth weight of offspring. The benefits of high-intensity interval training on the heart are the reduction of glucose consumption as a source of energy so high-intensity interval training compared to traditional moderate-intensity continuous training is a suitable way to promote heart health. It is well established that maternal exercise during pregnancy improves insulin sensitivity in adult offspring. One of the protective factors of maternal exercise is the decreased cardiac glucose uptake in offspring, but its molecular mechanism is not well understood. It is well-known that one of the important pathways of the cardioprotective effect of exercise is an activation of the Sirtuins family. It has been demonstrated that one of the intergenerational effects of exercise in cardiomyocytes is increasing Sirt6 in the neonatal heart. Therefore, one of the possible mechanisms to increase the expression of the SIRT6 gene observed in the present study to improve the cardiovascular health of offspring by maternal HIIT before and during pregnancy is to reduce glucose consumption as fuel and reduce metabolic pressure on the heart of offspring. Likewise, we indicated that maternal high-intensity training could increase Sirt6 in the heart of adult female offspring. Thus, the above findings suggest maternal high-intensity exercise is a positive maternal behavior before and during pregnancy, which can affect the health of the heart in the next generation.

The aim of this study was to the effect of aquatic activity and alogenic bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells fortified with Platelet-Rich Plasma in treatment of Achilles tendon in rat.  74 Sprague-Dawley rats were selected and tendon injury was formed in 69 of them. Subsequently, these rats were randomly divided into 8 groups and 5 rats which were without any injuries were chosen as the control group.  72 hours after the surgery, isolated cells from bone marrow and PRP were injected to the groups via catheters. The experimental groups had aquatic activity for 8 weeks. At the end of the eighth week, the Achilles tendon was separated and H&E and Mason Trichrome were used for special staining to assess the tendon healing. The results show there is a significant difference between the studied groups on the Achilles tendon healing. Also, results from histopathological examination indicated that there is a significant difference between the studied groups on the number of fibroblasts, collagen deposition, cellularity and tendon diameter. It could be generally concluded that, using these treatment methods could help with the tendon healing through bounding with target cells membrane receptors such as fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial, which leads to activation of a series of intracellular proteins and as a result of their activities some reactions happen that lead into formation of matrix and collagen synthesis.

Resistance training with blood flow restriction stimulates the response and release of anabolic hormones and increases hypertrophy in restricted muscles, however, the effect of this training method on adjacent non-restricted muscles has not been studied well. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 4 weeks of resistance training along with blood flow restriction on anatomical cross-sectional area (CSA) of adjacent non-restricted muscles in active young men.

Sixteen young men aged 25-30 years old were randomly divided into two groups (n=8) high-intensity resistance training (HIRT) and low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (L-BFR). Both groups performed bench press and squat exercises three sessions per week during four weeks. In HIRT group, three sets of 10 repetitions (75%1RM), and in the L-BFR, four sets of 30, 15, 15 and 15 repetitions (30%1RM) was performed during every exercise. For L-BFR group, the restriction pressure was considered as 50% resting atrial occlusion pressure (AOP) at the beginning of the exercises and this pressure gradually was increased to 80% AOP during four weeks. At the beginning and 72 hours after the last training session, the CSA of triceps brachii, pectoralis major, quadriceps and gluteus maximus were calculated by MRI. Data were analyzed by paired sample t-test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) test at the significance level of p<0.05.

Four weeks of training lead to significant increase in the cross-sectional area of triceps brachii, quadriceps, pectoralis major and gluteus maximus in the HIRT (4%, 7.5%, 10%, 10% respectively) and L-BFR (11%, 12%, 18%, 22% respectively) groups.

It seems that the anabolic effects caused by blood flow restriction exercises are not limited locally and can be transferred to the adjacent muscles involved in the exercise that are not directly affected by the blood flow restriction.

as getting old, neuromuscular adaptations decrease and the fall rates increase. Analyzing the temporal patterns of muscle synergy can provide a useful framework for describing and interpreting neuromuscular system’s adaptation. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of unstable resistance training with blood flow restriction on the temporal patterns and the number of muscle synergies of elderly with a history of falling while walking.

27 elderly men (62±1.5 years old) with a history of falling were randomly assigned into three groups of unstable resistance training without blood flow restriction, unstable resistance training with blood flow restriction and control. The training program consisted of squat training with body weight on unstable surface for 4 weeks and three sessions per week. Before and after the intervention, electromyography signals from eight muscles of the lower limb were recorded during walking to extract the number of synergies, the amount of muscle use, the duration of muscle use, and the stability of neural commands. Kruskal-Wallis test, Paired Wilcoxon test and analysis of covariance test with Bonferroni post hoc test were used (P˂0/05).

Results showed that although there is significant difference in the number of muscle synergy between the control group and the resistance training group on the unstable surface with blood flow restriction (p=0.002) and without blood flow restriction (p=0.013); But no statistically significant difference was observed between the two training groups (P=0.23). Also, the amount of muscles use and duration of muscles use decreased in both training groups with blood flow restriction (P=0.0001) and without blood flow restriction (P=0.0001). However, statistically significant difference was observed only in the stability variable of neural commands between both training groups with and without blood flow restriction (P=0.005).

Unstable resistance training with blood flow restriction only improves the stability index of neural commands during walking compared to unstable resistance training without blood flow restriction in elderly people with falls’ history.

Impaired Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) index and blood platelet count and its persistence are one of the complications of Covid-19 disease. Exercise with appropriate metabolic and mechanical pressure (combined training) is a regulatory factor for the Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) index and increases platelets. The aimed of this study was to investigated the effect of a combined training course during the recovery period on the NLR index and platelets of a patient’s recovery from Covid-19 disease.

27 recuperate individuals from Covid-19 disease (with a mean age of 35±7 years and BMI of 26.48 ± 3.18 kg/m2) by the matching method in two groups of combined training (N=14) and control group (N=13) were located. Exercises group performed combined exercises 3 sessions per week for 8 weeks. Before the first training session and 24 hours after the last training session of the fourth and eighth weeks, blood samples were taken from the subjects. Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test was used for examining data at the significance level of P<0.05.

The level of NLR index and blood platelets after 8 weeks of combined training, although there was a partial improvement, they were not statistically significant (P>0.05). Bonferroni test showed that the effect of time between all weeks was significant (P<0.05). Also, changes in weight and BMI were not significant (P>0.05).

It seems that combined sports training can to some extent boost and rev the return of the body's immune system to its normal state in people who have recovered from Covid-19.

 Acquisition of cycling skills in autistic and healthy people has different results depending on the training conditions and type of educational intervention. Most people with autism do not learn this skill. The present study aimed to compare the effect of seven sessions of a special training program with the frequency of massed and distributed practice on the acquisition of cycling skills in autistic and healthy boys living in Tehran City. 

 24 autistic boys (Mean±SD age:11.92±2.55 years) and 12 healthy boys (Mean±SD age: 9.33±2.38 years) living in Tehran City were available and, based on inclusion criteria, selected and after performing a pretest of cycling skills proficiency randomly into two homogeneous subgroups with different training frequencies including massed practice (7 consecutive one-hour sessions) and distributed practice (course every other day) was divided. The exercise was performed individually on a regular bicycle without support equipment. After 7 training sessions, repeat the proficiency test as at least 30 meters of independent driving, the ability to brake, start, and turn was done. Data were analyzed using percentage calculation, dependent t-test, and analysis of covariance at the significance level of 0.05.

 The results of the dependent t-test showed that the acquisition of cycling skills with massed practice in autism (0.01) and healthy (0.01) groups and distributed practice in autism (0.02) and healthy (0.00) groups, after the intervention, the educational program had a significant increase compared to the pretest. Also, the results of the analysis of covariance showed that between the effects of the group (0.106) frequency (0.063) and interaction group & frequency (0.269), there is no significant difference in skill acquisition.

 Findings indicate that regardless of the lack of effect of exercise frequency and individual differences in autistic and healthy groups, the training program presented in this study led to the acquisition of cycling skills. Therefore, educators and families can be suggested to use the current program as a method with the lowest cost and highest efficiency to acquire cycling skills in autistic and healthy people.