Journal of Physical Activity and Hormones
Volume:3 Issue: 1, Winter 2019

Instability resistance training (IRT) is a combination of unique training movements aimed at improving strength, endurance, coordination, flexibility, power, and core stability within a single workout. The aim of present study was to comparison the effect of instability vs. high-volume resistance training (HVRT) on thigh muscles hypertrophy and hormonal adaptations.

Based on physical health screening, twenty middle-aged men (aged: 26.5 ± 3.6 years; ± SD) selected as the subject. The subjects divided into two groups randomly: HVRT group (n=10) or IRT group (n=10). The subjects in the HVRT group were performed biceps brachii, triceps, chest press, lat pull down, side lateral raise, leg press, dead lift, squat, hamstring and calf sitting with 6 to 10 RMs in 4 sets and 1 min rest between sets for 8 weeks. The subjects in the IRT group were performed total resistance exercise (TRX) suspension training with 10 rep in 2 sets and 20 second rest between the sets for 8 weeks. Paired-sample t-test, independent- sample t-test, wilcoxon and Mann-witney U teases were use for data analyzing.

The results indicated that quadriceps and total thigh muscles cross-sectional area (CSA) were increased after two types of resistance training (P<0.05) and hamstrings CSA was increased only after HVRT method. The data indicated that growth hormone (GH) and testosterone concentration and testosterone/cortisol ratio were increased after HVRT and IRT methods (P<0.05), however for cortisol levels no significant changes were observed.

In conclusion, it seems that instability and high volume resistance training-induced changes in anabolic hormones contribute in thigh muscles hypertrophy in untrained men.

Physical activity improves the regulation of glucose homeostasis in both type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients and healthy individuals, but the effect on pancreatic β cell function is unknown. The aim of present study was to examine the effect of 8 weeks resistance training on pancreatic β-cells function and insulin resistance in male patients with T2D.

Seventeen obese/overweight men (age: 53.1 ± 11.0 years and BMI: 27.0 ± 2.8 Kg/m2 mean± SD) with T2D participated as the subject. The subjects were randomly assign to control group (n=8) or the resistance training group (n=9). Subjects executed six resistance exercises selected to stress the major muscle groups in the following order: chest press, shoulder press, latissimus pull down, leg extension, leg curls and leg press. Resistance training consisted of 40-50 min of station weight training per day, 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. This training was performed in 6 stations and included 3 sets with 8-10 maximal repetitions at 70-80% of 1-RM in each station.

The data indicated that fasting glucose (from 162.5 ± 27.8 to 116.7 ± 34.9 mg/dl; P=0.04), fasting insulin (from 6.6 ± 1.2 to 4.8 ± 1.6 IU/ml; P=0.03) and insulin resistance index (from 2.6 ± 0.7 to 1.4 ± 0.4; P=0.03) were decrease and pancreatic β-cells function (from 25.4 ± 7.8 to 42.6 ± 20.6; P=0.04) was increased significantly in the training group compare to the control group.

In summary, it seems that resistance training utilized in this study improves pancreatic β-cells function and insulin resistance in male patients with T2D.

Sanda is a modern unarmed combat sport that developed from traditional wushu techniques, and primarily makes use of punching, kicking, throwing, wrestling and defensive techniques. The effects of antioxidant supplements on immune responses to this sport are unclear; thus the aim of present study was to investigate the effects of vitamin C and E supplementation on immune responses to a competition bout of sanda.

Eighteen elite sanda athletes were assigned either an experimental (200 mg of vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E; n=9) or a placebo group (Same dosage of juice powder; n=9) using a double-blind research design. Experimental group received the antioxidant supplements for a week before the competition. Thereafter, athletes in each weight categories competed together according with the rules of International Wushu Federation (IWUF) 2016. Blood samples were taken before and immediately after the competition.

The data revealed that C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were lower significantly in the experimental group than the placebo group (1.1 ± 0.6 vs. 1.6 ± 0.9 pg/dl; P = 0.001). For white blood cells (WBC, 8777.7 ± 100.5 vs. 9466.6 ± 972.1 n/mm3; P = 0.4), neutrophils (50.7 ± 6.4% vs. 49.0 ± 7.8%; P = 0.4), monocytes (3.2 ± 1.6% vs. 3.6 ± 1.6%; P = 0.7), lymphocytes (43.6 ± 7.3% vs. 44.6 ± 7.5%; P = 0.6) and eosinophils (1.4 ± 0.5% vs. 1.6 ± 0.7%; P = 0.6) no significant differences were observed between the experimental and the placebo group.

According to the study results, vitamin C and E supplementation may have potential to enhance immune functions in sanda athletes.

Hot temperature and exercise independently lead to metabolic changes in the human body and depress the immune system. Changes on immunoglobulin A (IgA) and cortisol in response to an intensive exercise in hot environment especially in the soccer players are not well known. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an intensive exercise in thermoneutral and hot conditions on salivary IgA (s-IgA) and cortisol concentrations in soccer players.

Twelve elite male soccer players (age, 21 to 34 years) participated in this study as the subject. Total unstimulated saliva samples were collected before, immediately and 30 min after the exercise training in thermoneutral (HT: 20 ○C and 20% RH) and hot environments (HT: 30 ○C and 20% RH). Water was available ad-libitum.

s-IgA and cortisol levels were increased after an intensive exercise at both environments and their levels were significantly higher than baseline until 30 min after the exercise (P<0.05). Total protein concentration was increased 30 min after the exercise in the heat (P<0.05), however no significant differences were observed between two occasions. Salivary flow rate was not affected by 2 conditions or differed at any time-point post-exercise. No significant differences were observed in s-IgA and cortisol levels between two environments.

In conclusion, enduring hot temperature intensified stressful responses elicited by intensive exercise. This study advocates that hot temperature deteriorates exercise performance under exhaustive stress and effort conditions in soccer players.

Dysmenorrhea is a painful syndrome that accompanies the menstrual cycles. The effects of aerobic exercise on primary dysmenorrhea are not well known. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of regular aerobic exercise on primary dysmenorrhea in young girls.

This study was a randomized clinical trial of 20 colleagues girl students in Marvdasht city that suffering from severe dysmenorrhea. The subjects were randomly divided into exercise group (n=10) or control group (n=10). The subjects in the exercise group run 10 to 15 × 2 to 5 minute with 75 to 90% of maximum heart rate 3 days a week for 8 weeks. Estrogen and progesterone levels and psychological and physical symptoms of dysmenorrhea were measured before and after the intervention. Moo’s Menstrual Distress Questionnaire was used to evaluate psychological and physical symptoms of dysmenorrhea.

Physical premenstrual symptoms were significantly reduced (12.6 ± 3.2 vs. 7.1 ± 4.6) and estrogen levels were significantly increased (7.4 ± 4.4 vs. 9.4 ± 3.1 ng/ml) after the intervention compare to the control group. For psychological premenstrual symptoms (11.4 ± 7.6 vs. 11.9 ± 6.1) and progesterone levels (7.4 ± 6.4 vs. 7.5 ± 5.1 ng/ml) no significant changes were observed in response to 8 weeks aerobic exercise.

The results suggested that selected aerobic exercises positively influenced physical menstrual symptoms and its related hormones.

Galectin-3 is a new and promising biomarker for heart failure and myocardial fibrosis. Although clinical studies indicated that galectin-3 levels are strongly associated with changes of left ventricular structure and function in patients with chronic heart failure, but these relationships in athletes are not well known. The present study was conducted to examine the relationships between galectin-3 levels with cardiac structure and function in resistance-trained athletes.

Fifteen resistance-trained male athletes (aged: 23.0 ± 1.4 years and BMI: 24.1 ± 1.4 kg/m2; ± SD) volunteered to participate in this study. Galectin-3 concentrations were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits and cardiac morphology and function were assessed by echocardiography. Pearson correlation test was used to analyze the relationship between the variables.

The results demonstrated that there were no significant relationships between galectin-3 concentrations with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) (r= ‒ 0.12 , P = 0.6), aorta (r = 0.12 , P = 0.6) and pulmonary artery diameter (r = 0.25 , P = 0.3), posterior wall thickness of left ventricle at end diastole (PWTLV) (r = ‒ 0.27 , P = 0.3), interventricular septal (r = ‒ 0.15 , P = 0.9), left ventricle end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) (r = 0.009 , P = 0.9), and left ventricle end-systolic volume (LVESV) (r = 0.24 , P = 0.3).

In conclusion, galectin-3 concentration is not a powerful predictor for cardiac structure and function in resistance-trained athletes.