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Biomedical subjects

M L Pollock

Publications and source records attributed to M L Pollock.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Hormonal responses in elders experiencing pre-syncopal symptoms during head-up tilt before and after exercise training.

BACKGROUND: Hormonal responses of elderly individuals experiencing pre-syncopal symptoms during head-up tilt testing (HUT) were compared with responses of nonsymptomatic subjects both before (T1) and after (T2) 6 months of endurance training. METHODS: Based on responses to HUT at T1, 35 men and women (ages 61-79 years) were placed into symptomatic and nonsymptomatic groups for analysis. Symptomatic subjects (n = 5) experienced lightheadedness, nausea, sweating, or syncope during T1 HUT but completed 15 minutes of HUT at T2. Training consisted of treadmill walking or stairclimbing 3 x/wk, 30-45 min/day, at 75-85% of maximal heart rate reserve. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), vasopressin, aldosterone, norepinephrine, epinephrine, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were measured during supine rest prior to HUT, and either at the end of the 15-minute HUT or at symptom onset. Plasma volume (PV) was measured at supine rest; tilt-induced changes in PV were calculated from changes in hemoglobin and hematocrit. RESULTS: During T1 HUT, symptomatic subjects had greater increases in vasopressin and a greater rate of PV loss (p < .05). Increases in ACTH and aldosterone were greater in symptomatic subjects at T1 and T2, while increases in norepinephrine were greater at T2 (p < .05). Reductions in tilt-induced vasopressin concentration and a decreased rate of PV loss were seen at T2 in symptomatic subjects. CONCLUSIONS: T1 results from symptomatic subjects are consistent with greater stimulation of volume-sensitive receptors induced by a greater rate of fall in PV. Exercise training resulted in increased tilt tolerance for symptomatic subjects associated with reductions in vasopressin concentration and rate of PV loss during tilt.

Aged

Effect of 6 months of exercise training on cardiovascular responses to head-up tilt in the elderly.

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of 6 months of exercise training on cardiovascular responses to 70 degrees head-up tilt (HUT) in the elderly. Forty-four elderly men and women (ages 60-82 years) were assigned to endurance training alone (n = 18), endurance training in combination with selected resistance exercises (n = 17), or to a non-exercising control group (n = 9). Head-up tilt testing at the start (T1) and end (T2) of 26 weeks of training consisted of 30 min of supine rest, 15 min of 70 degrees HUT, and 15 min of supine recovery. Endurance training consisted of uphill treadmill walking or stair climbing exercise 3 times per week, 30-45 min/day, at 75-85% of maximal heart rate reserve. In addition, the endurance/resistance group completed one set of 8-15 repetitions of biceps curl (BC), triceps extension (TE), and leg press, 3 times per week. After 26 weeks, increases in VO2max averaged 16.2% and 12.3% for endurance and endurance/resistance groups, respectively. In addition, the endurance/resistance group increased BC and TE strength by 25.3% and 26.1%, respectively. Results from the HUT test indicated that only the endurance group increased supine resting stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (Q) from T1 to T2; however, SV and Q during HUT were not augmented as a result of training. Training did not affect heart rate, blood pressure, or peripheral resistance responses at rest or during HUT in any of the groups. These results suggest that 6 months of endurance training, alone or in combination with selected resistance exercises, is not detrimental to blood pressure controlling mechanisms to head-up tilt in the elderly.

Aged

Body fat and muscle thickness distributions in untrained young females.

Brightness-mode (B-mode) ultrasound was used to measure fat and muscle thicknesses on 44 untrained females (age = 18-29 yr, body density = 1.050 +/- 0.009 (SD)g.ml-1, %fat = 21.5 +/- 4.1%) at eight sites (triceps, biceps, forearm, subscapular, abdomen, quadriceps, hamstrings, and posterior calf). The correlation coefficients between fat and muscle thickness were not significant at any measurement site except for the triceps (r = -0.32, P < 0.05). Intercorrelation analyses among the eight sites were significant (P < 0.05) in almost all cases for fat thickness, while mainly between adjoining sites for muscle thickness. However, both tissues had a low degree of generality in thickness among sites. Fat thickness at all measurement sites was significantly correlated with body density except for the posterior calf; the best correlation was found with the quadriceps (r = -0.73). On the other hand, for muscle thickness, only the forearm and triceps were significantly correlated with body density. These results show 1) the extent of muscled and fat thicknesses are independent each of other within the same region, 2) fat and muscle thicknesses have a high degree of specificity in site distribution, and 3) fat thickness measurements determined from B-mode ultrasound may be of significant value assessing total body composition.

Adipose Tissue

Incidence of injury during moderate- and high-intensity walking training in the elderly.

To evaluate the effect of 26 weeks of moderate- and high-intensity walking training on injury rates in the elderly, 68 healthy volunteers (31 men, 37 women) were assigned to moderate intensity (MOD, n = 26) or high-intensity (HI, n = 24) training, or to a control (CONT, n = 18) group. To achieve prescribed training intensity, many subjects walked uphill on a treadmill. Seven of 50 subjects who trained (14%) suffered a training-related orthopedic injury; one subject was injured during treadmill testing. Four training injuries (lower leg and foot) occurred during weeks 1-13; three training injuries (leg and groin) occurred during weeks 14-26. Six of the injuries were to women. Because only one training injury occurred during uphill treadmill walking, injuries appeared related to fast walking and not exercise intensity. The higher incidence of injury in females is consistent with our earlier work, indicating the importance of further research to determine the underlying cause.

Aged

Effect of reduced frequency of training and detraining on lumbar extension strength.

To investigate the effect of reduced frequency of training and detraining on lumbar extension strength, 50 subjects (34 men, aged 34 +/- 11 yrs; and 16 women, aged 33 +/- 11 yrs) were recruited from ongoing strength training programs. Initial training consisted of 10 or 12 weeks of variable resistance lumbar extension strength exercise to volitional fatigue 1, 2, or 3 times a week. After the initial training, subjects reduced the frequency of training to once every 2 weeks (n = 18) or once every 4 weeks (n = 22) for 12 weeks. Only the frequency of training was changed; the mode, volume, and intensity of exercise remained constant for both reduced frequency of training groups. An additional ten subjects terminated training and acted as controls (detraining group). Isometric lumbar extension strength was evaluated at seven angles through a 72 degree range-of-motion before training, after training, and after reduced frequency of training or detraining. Analysis of variance with repeated measures indicated that lumbar extension strength improved (P < or = 0.05) for all groups after the initial 10 or 12 weeks of training. After 12 weeks of reduced training, the once every 2 weeks and once every 4 weeks groups showed no significant reduction in lumbar extension strength at any angle tested, whereas the detraining group demonstrated an average 55% reduction in strength. These findings indicate that isometric lumbar extension strength can be maintained for up to 12 weeks with a reduced frequency of training as low as once every 4 weeks when the intensity and the volume of exercise are maintained.

Adult

Abnormal neuroendocrine responses during exercise in heart transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Osmotic and neural factors stimulate neuroendocrine activity during exercise. In contrast to excitatory mechanisms, afferent information from cardiac mechanoreceptors inhibits integrative centers in the hypothalamus and medula oblongata, which serves to buffer neuroendocrine activity. Orthotopic cardiac transplantation results in the loss of afferent information from cardiac mechanoreceptors. Thus, transplantation possibly results in exaggerated neuroendocrine responses when patients are physically active. METHODS AND RESULTS: We measured the neuroendocrine response to moderate and strenuous exercise performed at the same relative intensity in 11 heart transplant recipients (50 +/- 14 years old) 18 +/- 12 months after transplantation and 11 control subjects matched with respect to sex, age, and body size. Plasma levels of norepinephrine, vasopressin, renin activity, atrial natriuretic peptide, angiotensin II, and aldosterone were measured at rest, during a maximal graded exercise test, and during submaximal exercise at 40% and 70% of peak power output on a cycle ergometer (W). Plasma renin activity and atrial natriuretic peptide were elevated at rest in heart transplant recipients (p < or = 0.05). Heart rate (%HRmax reserve), rating of perceived exertion, and reductions in plasma volume (% delta from rest) at the conclusion of the three exercise conditions did not differ between heart transplant recipients and control (p > or = 0.05). Relative changes in neuroendocrine hormones were similar (p > or = 0.05) in heart transplant recipients and control during exercise at 40% of peak power output. Relative changes in plasma norepinephrine, vasopressin, atrial natriuretic peptide, and plasma renin activity were greater (p < or = 0.05) in heart transplant recipients during exercise at 70% of peak power output and the graded exercise test. CONCLUSIONS: We interpret these data as a possible indication of ablation of cardiac mechanoreceptor afferents and unopposed neuroendocrine stimulation in heart transplant recipients. Furthermore, chronic neuroendocrine hyperactivity is likely in ambulatory heart transplant recipients. Although cyclosporine nephrotoxicity is implicated in the development of hypertension, our data suggest that chronic neuroendocrine hyperactivity, which alters renal volume regulation, also contributes to the incidence and severity of hypertension in heart transplant recipients.

Afferent Pathways

[A comparison of fat and muscle thickness in Japanese and American women].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethnic differences in the body composition, thickness of subcutaneous fat and muscle between Japanese and American white females. Thirty-six Japanese (aged 20-30 years) and 42 American white females (aged 20-29 years) served as subjects. Percentage of fat weight (%fat) and fat free weight (FFW) were assessed by hydrostatic weighing. Subcutaneous fat and muscle thickness were measured by using B-scan ultrasound equipment with a 5MHz transducer at eight sites: forearm, biceps, triceps, subscapular, abdomen, quadriceps, hamstrings and posterior calf. There were no significant differences in %fat between Japanese and American subjects. However, American subjects had significantly higher values in FFW compared to Japanese. The Americans showed higher muscle thickness than Japanese at every site and higher fat thickness of biceps, triceps and hamstrings compared to Japanese subjects. For fat thickness at the abdomen, however, Japanese indicated significantly higher values than American. In both Japanese and Americans, relative values of fat weight (FW) and FFW per unit of height were significantly related to each of the sum of fat and muscle thicknesses obtained from every measurement site respectively. There were no differences in fat thickness at a given FW/height between Japanese and Americans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adipose Tissue

Limited range-of-motion lumbar extension strength training.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of limited range-of-motion (ROM) resistance training on the development of lumbar extension strength through a 72 degrees ROM. Thirty-three men and 25 women (age = 30 +/- 11 yr) were randomly assigned to one of three training groups or a control group (C; n = 10) that did not train. Training was conducted once per week for 12 wk and consisted of one set of 8-12 repetitions of variable resistance lumbar extensions until volitional fatigue. Group A (n = 18) trained from 72 degrees to 36 degrees of lumbar flexion; group B (n = 14) from 36 degrees to 0 degree of lumbar flexion; and group AB (n = 16) from 72 degrees to 0 degree of lumbar flexion. Prior to and after training, isometric lumbar extension torque was assessed at 72 degrees, 60 degrees, 48 degrees, 36 degrees, 24 degrees, 12 degrees, and 0 degree of lumbar flexion. Analysis of covariance showed that groups A, B, and AB increased lumbar extension torque (P less than or equal to 0.05) at all angles measured when compared with C. The greatest gains in torque were noted for groups A and B in their respective ranges of training but A and B did not differ from AB (P greater than 0.05) at any angle. These data indicate that limited ROM lumbar extension training through a 36 degrees ROM is effective for developing strength through 72 degrees of lumbar extension.

Adult

Rehabilitation and life-style modification in the elderly.

The projected growth of the elderly population in the United States in the coming years underlines the importance of assuring that the quality of life for older persons is maintained. Because CHD is prevalent in this population, measures for preventing disease as well as for optimizing the abilities of those with disease will assume greater significance. Exercise training is a key component in achieving and maintaining optimal capacities in the elderly cardiac and noncardiac populations. These groups can safely undergo exercise training with proper screening and program design. Modifications in the components of the exercise prescription (i.e., frequency, intensity, duration, and activity mode) must be individualized according to the abilities, needs, and goals of each person. Risk factors for CHD still prevail in the elderly, although the predictive value of some risk factors may change with age. For this reason, efforts to control risk factors in older individuals should still be effective in reducing risk from CHD. Dietary modification, weight control, blood pressure control, smoking cessation, and endurance exercise training are several of the interventions used in concert to control risk for CHD.

Aged

Effect of 12 and 20 weeks of resistance training on lumbar extension torque production.

This study compared the effect of varied training frequencies on the development of isometric lumbar extension torque (strength) over 12- and 20-week training periods. Fifty-six subjects were randomly assigned to training once every other week (training group 1, n = 10), once per week (training group 2, n = 12), twice per week (training group 3, n = 12), or three times per week (training group 4, n = 7) or to a nontraining control group (n = 15). Training consisted of one set of 8 to 12 variable-resistance lumbar extensions to volitional muscular fatigue. Prior to and following 12 and 20 weeks of training, subjects were given a test that evaluated isolated isometric lumbar extension torque in a seated position at seven positions (angles) through a 72-degree range of motion. The control group showed no change in isometric torque. All training groups showed significant increases in lumbar extension torque at 12 and 20 weeks of training, whereas no significant differences were found among the groups with respect to the magnitude of torque gained. Pooled training showed a significant time x angle interaction at 12 weeks and a continuing trend at 20 weeks, indicating that the shape of the isometric torque-angle curve changed as a result of training. This effect was due to greater increases in isometric torque at the fully extended position than at the fully flexed position at 12 weeks (92% versus 16%, respectively) and at 20 weeks (123% versus 17%, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult

Injuries and adherence to walk/jog and resistance training programs in the elderly.

To evaluate the effects of 26 wk of aerobic and resistance training on the incidence of injury and program adherence in 70- to 79-yr-old men and women, 57 healthy volunteers (25 males, 32 females) were randomly assigned to a walk/jog (W/J, N = 21), strength (STREN, N = 23), or control (CONT, N = 13) group. Walk/jog training was for 30-45 min, 3 d.wk-1 with intensity equal to 40-70% heart rate max reserve (HRmax reserve) during the first 13 wk, and 75-85% HRmax reserve for weeks 14-26. STREN training consisted of one set (10-12 repetitions) each of 10 variable resistance exercises performed to volitional fatigue. Forty-nine of the original participants completed the training program. Walk/jog training increased VO2max from 22.5 to 27.1 ml.kg-1.min-1 (P less than or equal to 0.05) while STREN and CONT showed no change. STREN improved significantly in chest press and leg extension strength (P less than or equal to 0.05) while W/J and CONT showed no change. Adherence to training was 20/23 (87%) and 17/21 (81%) in STREN and W/J, respectively. One repetition maximum (1-RM) strength testing resulted in 11 injuries in the 57 subjects (19.3%) while STREN training resulted in only two injuries in 23 subjects (8.7%). Walk training during weeks 1-13 resulted in one injury in 21 subjects (4.8%). Eight of 14 subjects (57%) who began jogging intervals at week 14 incurred an injury: two of eight (25%) of the men and all of the women (6 of 6). All W/J training injuries were to the lower extremity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged

Effect of exercise training on blood pressure in 70- to 79-yr-old men and women.

Men and women 70-79 yr of age (N = 49) were studied to assess the effect of 6 months of resistance or endurance exercise training on their blood pressure, hemodynamic parameters, and pressor hormone levels. Resistance training consisted of one set of 8-12 repetitions on ten Nautilus machines three times per week. The endurance training group progressed to training at 75-85% VO2max for 35-45 min three times per week for the last 2 months of training. No changes in body weight or estimated lean body mass occurred; however, the sum of seven skinfolds, as an index of percent body fat, decreased in both exercise groups. Upper and lower body strength increased with resistance training, while VO2max increased by 20% in the endurance training group. Blood pressure did not change with resistance training in individuals with normal or somewhat elevated blood pressures. Diastolic and mean blood pressure decreased significantly, by 5 and 4 mm Hg, with endurance training. Subjects with blood pressure greater than 140/90 reduced their systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure by 8, 9, and 8 mm Hg, respectively, with endurance exercise training. Cardiac output, peripheral vascular resistance, and plasma levels of angiotensin I and II and epi- and norepinephrine did not change in any of the groups. Thus, resistance exercise training does not adversely affect, or reduce, blood pressure, while endurance exercise training produces modest reductions in blood pressure in 70-79-yr-old individuals with somewhat elevated blood pressures.

Aged

Effect of aerobic and resistance training on fractionated reaction time and speed of movement.

To evaluate the effect of aerobic and variable resistance exercise training on fractionated reaction time (RT) and speed of movement (SM) in elderly individuals, premotor time (PMT), motor time (MT), total RT, and SM were measured in 49 healthy, untrained men and women, 70 to 79 years of age, before and after 6 months of training. Subjects were randomized into either a walk/jog (n = 17), a strength training (n = 20), or a control group (n = 12). Improvements in aerobic capacity were only weakly related to reduced total RT (r = 0.30, p less than .05). Analysis of covariance revealed that there were no differences (p greater than .05) among the three groups after training with respect to PMT, MT, total RT, and SM. These findings indicate that 6 months of aerobic and strength training did not induce significant changes in RT or SM in this group.

Aged

Quantitative assessment of full range-of-motion isometric lumbar extension strength.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability and variability of repeated measurements of isometric (IM) lumbar extension (LB EXT) strength made at different joint angles. Fifty-six men (age, 29.4 +/- 10.7 years) and 80 women (age, 24.3 +/- 9.1 years) completed IM LB EXT strength tests on 3 separate days (D1, D2, and D3). On D1 and D2, subjects completed two tests (T1 and T2) separated by a 20- to 30-minute rest interval. For each test, IM LB EXT strength was measured at 72, 60, 48, 36, 24, 12, and 0 degrees of lumbar extension. Mean IM strength values, within-day reliability coefficients, and test variability over the seven angles improved from D1 to D2 (D1: mean, 160.0 to 304.1 N.m, r = 0.78 to 0.96, SEE = 37.6 to 46.9 N.m; D2: mean, 176.3 to 329.1 N.m, r = 0.94 to 0.98, SEE = 29.0 to 34.4 N.m). Mean strength values leveled off by D3 (174.5 to 317.0 N.m). The most reliable test results showed that the IM LB EXT strength curves were linear and descending from flexion to extension and ranged from 235.8 +/- 85.2 to 464.9 +/- 150.7 N.m for men (extension to flexion) and from 134.6 +/- 53.2 to 237.3 +/- 71.9 N.m for women. Lumbar extension strength was clearly greatest in full flexion, which is in contrast to previously reported results. One practice test was required to attain the most accurate and reliable results. These data indicate that repeated measures of IM LB EXT strength are highly reliable and can be used for the quantification of IM LB EXT strength through a range of motion.

Adult

Effect of training frequency and specificity on isometric lumbar extension strength.

To investigate the effects of training frequency and specificity of training on isolated lumbar extension strength, 72 men (age = 31 +/- 9 years) and 42 women (age = 28 +/- 9 years) were tested before and after 12 weeks of training. Each test involved the measurement of maximum voluntary isometric torque at 72 degrees, 60 degrees, 48 degrees, 36 degrees, 24 degrees, 12 degrees, and 0 degrees of lumbar flexion. After the pretraining tests, subjects were randomly stratified to groups that trained with variable resistance dynamic exercise every other week (1X/2 weeks, n = 19), once per week (1X/week, n = 22), twice per week (2X/week, n = 23) or three times per week (3X/week, n = 21); a group that trained isometrically once per week (n = 14); or a control group that did not train (n = 15). Analysis of covariance showed that all training groups improved their ability to generate isometric torque at each angle measured when compared with controls (P less than 0.05). There was no statistical difference in adjusted posttraining isometric torques among the groups that trained (P greater than 0.05), but dynamic training weight increased to a lesser extent (P less than 0.08) for the 1X/2 weeks group (26.6%) than for the groups that trained 1X/week, 2X/week, and 3X/week (37.2 to 41.4%). These data indicate that a training frequency as low as 1X/week provides an effective training stimulus for the development of lumbar extension strength. Improvements in strength noted after isometric training suggest that isometric exercise provides an effective alternative for developing lumbar strength.

Adult