Biomedical subjects

I S Vrabas

Publications and source records attributed to I S Vrabas.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Effects of an intermittent exercise fatigue protocol on biomechanics of soccer kick performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of fatigue on biomechanical indices of soccer kick performance. Ten male amateur soccer players performed maximal instep kicks prior to, in the middle and after the implementation of a 90 min intermittent exercise protocol. Three-dimensional data, ground reaction forces (GRFs) and segmental moments were measured during the kick while blood lactate and ammonia concentrations were monitored throughout the protocol. Analysis of variance designs with repeated measures indicated a significant increase in ammonia (P<0.01) and lactate levels (P<0.01) following fatigue. The GRFs and joint displacement curves during the kick remained unaltered after fatigue (P>0.01). However, post-fatigue maximum angular velocity of the shank, the net moments acting on the shank and the resultant joint moments were significantly lower compared with the corresponding pre-exercise values (P<0.01). The velocity of the ball was 24.69 m/s prior to the protocol and significantly decreased to 21.78 m/s after (P<0.01). Similarly, the ball/foot speed ratio significantly (P<0.01) declined from 1.40+/-0.12 (pre-fatigue) to 1.33+/-0.18 (post-fatigue). The present results suggest that an exercise protocol that simulates soccer game conditions results in significant impairment of soccer kick performance. This could be attributed to alterations of the function of the neuromuscular system and force generation capacity, which may have altered the mechanics of soccer kick performance.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation training induced alterations in muscle fibre type and cross sectional area.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) and isokinetic training on fibre type distribution and cross sectional area of the vastus lateralis muscle. METHODS: Twenty four male university students were divided into two equal groups: PNF training and isokinetic training (ISO). The training regimen for the PNF group consisted of three sets of 30 repetitions against maximal resistance, alternating two patterns of sequential movements of the right lower extremity: (a) toe flexion and ankle plantar flexion and eversion; (b) knee extension and hip extension, abduction, and internal rotation. The ISO group performed three sets of 30 repetitions alternating knee extension and flexion of the right leg at angular velocities of 180 and 90 degrees /s in an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex). Both groups trained three times a week for a total of eight weeks. Muscle biopsy specimens were obtained from the right vastus lateralis muscle before and after training. RESULTS: The mean percentage area of type IIB fibre was significantly decreased (p<0.01) after eight weeks of PNF training, whereas that of type IIA fibre was significantly (p<0.05) increased. The mean percentage area of ISO trained type IIAB fibres exhibited an augmentative pattern (p<0.01) with a parallel reduction (p<0.05) in type IIA. Percentage fibre type distribution exhibited a similar pattern. CONCLUSIONS: Both PNF and ISO training alter fibre type distribution and mean cross sectional area. These changes occur in the type II fibre subgroup.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Cardiorespiratory and metabolic responses during straight and bent knee cycling.

BACKGROUND: This study examined the influence of knee angle on the cardiorespiratory system loading during submaximal and maximal stationary cycle ergometry. METHODS: Experimental design and participants: eighteen untrained women (age: 21+/-1.88 years, weight: 57+/-5.75 kg, height: 165+/-5.03 cm, values are mean+/-SD) volunteered as subjects and underwent two-cycle ergometer incremental (Jaeger ER900) tests: 1) straight knee (180 degrees), 2) bent knee (140 degrees). MEASURES: oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilation (VE) and respiratory exchange ratio (RER) were measured continuously during each test using an open circuit spirometry and blood lactate concentration was determined by means of an enzymatic method. RESULTS: Comparing cycling with "straight knee" to cycling with "bent knee" at 50 W, heart rate (HR), V(E) and VO2 were significantly higher (10.6%, 12.5%, 17.8%). At 100 W, blood lactate was significantly lower (10.8%) while VO2 and RER was higher (5.5%, 7.1%). During maximal exercise, the total exercise time was significantly longer (11.2%) and VE, VO2 and HR were significantly higher during cycling with "straight knee" compared to cycling with "bent knee". No significant difference in peak lactate was evident between the two sitting positions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that cycling with bent knee requires lower oxygen uptake while pedaling with straight knee is the only way to reach VO2max during cycle testing, since the cardiorespiratory system is fully taxed.

Adult↗

PubMed1999

Endurance training reduces the rate of diaphragm fatigue in vitro.

PURPOSE: The present study examined the effects of endurance training on the contractile and biochemical properties of the rat costal diaphragm in vitro. METHODS: Sixty-four rats were divided into two groups: exercise trained (T) and control (C). Training consisted of treadmill running 5 d x wk(-1), 60 min x d(-1) at approximately 70% of VO2max, over a 10-wk period. RESULTS: Control diaphragm strips produced an average of 12% less force from minute 15 to 50 of a 60-min in vitro fatigue protocol, compared with the T diaphragm strips (P < 0.01). T diaphragms had 10.1% higher citrate synthase (CS) and 12.1% higher superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities compared with the C (P < 0.05). Despite a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in Type IIb myosin heavy chains (MHC) and an increase (P < 0.05) in Type I MHC in T diaphragms, maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) in the diaphragm was not different between T and C animals. No differences were observed in specific force or the relative proportions of myosin light chains between groups. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that endurance training reduces the rate of diaphragm fatigue in vitro but has no effect on Vmax or specific force.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Effects of intermittent ischemia on contractile properties and myosin isoforms of skeletal muscle.

PURPOSE: This study determined the effects of intermittent ischemia on the contractile properties, fatigue (Tf), and myosin heavy chain composition (MHC) in the rat gastrocnemius-plantarissoleus muscle (GPS) complex. METHODS: Fifty rats were divided into four groups: control (C, N = 12), severed (femoral artery) (S, N = 12), exercise (E, N = 13), and severed/exercise (SE, N = 13). Ischemia was elicited only in the SE group by daily exercise and the other groups served as controls. Exercise in the E and SE groups consisted of running on a treadmill approximately 35 min.d-1, 5 d.wk-1 for 7 wk. RESULTS: Body weight, muscle weight, and absolute force were less in the SE group compared with those in C (12, 18, and 12% respectively). However, relative force (N.g-1 of muscle) was greater in the SE group compared with that in C (8%). Maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) was lower in the SE group compared with that in all others (10-14%). Tf was less in the S group compared with that in C and E (28 and 30%, respectively). Type IIx MHC increased and type IIb decreased in gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles in SE compared with those in C. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that intermittent ischemia caused a decrease in muscle mass, maximal force development, and Vmax, but had no effect on Tf. The decrease in Vmax may have been related to myosin alterations in the muscles.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Thermal and metabolic responses to cold-water immersion at knee, hip, and shoulder levels.

To examine the effect of cold-water immersion at different depths on thermal and metabolic responses, eight men (25 yr old, 16% body fat) attempted 12 tests: immersed to the knee (K), hip (H), and shoulder (Sh) in 15 and 25 degrees C water during both rest (R) or leg cycling [35% peak oxygen uptake; (E)] for up to 135 min. At 15 degrees C, rectal (Tre) and esophageal temperatures (Tes) between R and E were not different in Sh and H groups (P > 0.05), whereas both in K group were higher during E than R (P < 0.05). At 25 degrees C, Tre was higher (P < 0.05) during E than R at all depths, whereas Tes during E was higher than during R in H and K groups. Tre remained at control levels in K-E at 15 degrees C, K-E at 25 degrees C, and in H-E groups at 25 degrees C, whereas Tes remained unchanged in K-E at 15 degrees C, in K-R at 15 degrees C, and in all 25 degrees C conditions (P > 0.05). During R and E, the magnitude of Tre change was greater (P < 0.05) than the magnitude of Tes change in Sh and H groups, whereas it was not different in the K group (P > 0.05). Total heat flow was progressive with water depth. During R at 15 and 25 degrees C, heat production was not increased in K and H groups from control level (P > 0.05) but it did increase in Sh group (P < 0.05). The increase in heat production during E compared with R was smaller (P < 0.05) in Sh (121 +/- 7 W/m2 at 15 degrees C and 97 +/- 6 W/m2 at 25 degrees C) than in H (156 +/- 6 and 126 +/- 5 W/m2, respectively) and K groups (155 +/- 4 and 165 +/- 6 W/m2, respectively). These data suggest that Tre and Tes respond differently during partial cold-water immersion. In addition, water levels above knee in 15 degrees C and above hip in 25 degrees C cause depression of internal temperatures mainly due to insufficient heat production offsetting heat loss even during light exercise.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Effects of clenbuterol on contractile and biochemical properties of skeletal muscle.

We investigated the effects of clenbuterol on the muscle mass, contractile properties, myosin phenotype, and bioenergetic enzyme activity in the gastrocnemius (GS)-plantaris (PL)-soleus (SO) muscle complex. Rats were sham-injected or treated with clenbuterol (2 mg.kg-1, subcutaneously) for 14 d. Clenbuterol increased (P < 0.05) body weight and muscle complex weight. Also, clenbuterol treatment resulted in an increase in total muscle force production and maximal shortening velocity (P < 0.05). No difference (P > 0.05) in relative force production (force.g-1 muscle) existed between experimental groups. However, muscle fatigue increased with clenbuterol treatment. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition was not altered in the GS or PL muscles, but shifted toward the fast Type II MHC in the SO. Myosin light chain (MLC) composition was not altered in any of the muscles. Clenbuterol caused a decrease in oxidative and glycolytic enzyme activity in the GS and PL, but not the SO. These data suggest that the clenbuterol-induced increase in muscle mass and maximal force generation is due to hypertrophy of both fast and slow fibers. Furthermore, these findings support the notion that beta-agonists may be beneficial in combating conditions that result in muscle wasting and dysfunction.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

PubMed1996

Alterations in phenotypic and contractile properties of the rat diaphragm: influence of hypothyroidism.

This study examined the influence of experimental hypothyroidism on myosin isoform distribution and contractile function of the costal diaphragm. Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to control (n = 12) or hypothyroid groups (n = 13) over a 6-wk treatment period. In comparison to the control group, in the hypothyroid group the relative distribution of type I myosin heavy chain (MHC) was increased 35% (P < 0.05), whereas type IIb MHC decreased 63% (P < 0.05). Similarly, Ca(2+)-activated myosin adenosinetriphosphatase activity (nmol Pi.mg-1.min-1) in the hypothyroid group was reduced 30% compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant reductions in diaphragmatic maximal tetanic specific tension (Po; N.cm-2; -21%) and maximal shortening velocity (Vmax; muscle length/s; -25%) were observed in the hypothyroid group. These data provide the first evidence that hypothyroid produces a fast-(type IIb) to-slow (type I) shift in costal diaphragmatic MHC isoform profile that is highly correlated to the observed decrease in Vmax. Finally, the present findings indicate that hypothyroidism does not alter myofibrillar content or noncontractile elements of the diaphragm, thereby suggesting an alternative mechanism(s) to explain the reduction in specific Po.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Interaction of glucocorticoids and activity patterns affect muscle function.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of glucocorticoids on muscle mass and contractile properties of muscles of similar fiber composition but differing in activity patterns. Rats were divided into two groups and administered prednisolone (5 mg/kg per day) (P; N = 9) or served as controls (C; N = 10) for 10 days. Contractile properties were then determined in the left gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus (GPS) muscle complex and a strip of costal diaphragm (D). An index of fatigue was also determined in both muscle preparations. Whole-body, GPS, and D weights decreased (P < 0.05) in the P animals (22%, 17%, and 15%, respectively) when compared to C. Specific tension (PO) increased (P < 0.05) in the GPS complex (21%) and decreased in the D (26%). Maximal shortening velocity (Vmax) was not different (P > 0.05) between groups in either the GPS or the D. While the index of fatigue was not different (P > 0.05) between groups in the D, there was a 30% increase (P < 0.05) in the rate of fatigue in the GPS. These data indicate that, although glucocorticoids cause decreased muscle mass in both D and GPS, a change in muscle architecture may prevent a decrease in force-generating ability in some limb muscles. However, glucocorticoids do not increase D fatigability as seen in the GPS.

Animals↗