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Biomedical subjects

R A Wiswell

Publications and source records attributed to R A Wiswell.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Age-dependent effect of resistance exercise on growth hormone secretion in people.

We measured serum GH responses to a standardized circuit of resistance exercise in 12 young subjects (6 men and 6 women; 27 +/- 1.6 yr old) and in 11 elders (6 men and 5 women; 72 +/- 0.8 yr old). Initial assessment of strength [1 repetition maximum (1RM)] was made of 12 muscle groups using Nautilus equipment. One week later, subjects carried out the exercise protocol, 3 sets of 8 repetitions for each of the 12 exercises, at 70% of predetermined 1RM values. Venous blood was drawn at baseline, after each exercise, and every 2 min during 10 min of recovery. In young subjects serum immunoreactive GH rose by completion of the second exercise, increased and remained elevated through the remainder of the exercise period, and decreased toward baseline by 10 min of recovery. In the elderly subjects, baseline GH values were similar to those in the young (1.76 +/- 0.41 vs. 2.61 +/- 0.73 micrograms/L) and did not increase above 6 micrograms/L at any time during or after exercise. Exercise increased GH in both groups, but peak values (14.9 +/- 3.5 micrograms/L in young; 2.44 +/- 0.6 micrograms/L in old) and integrated (198 +/- 47 in young; 37.8 +/- 0.8 in old) were significantly greater in the young subjects (P less than 0.05). GH responses showed no gender difference in either group. Brief increases in pulse rate were observed during individual exercises, but sustained elevations did not occur. To assess the effect of exercise intensity on GH response, we compared responses to exercise at 70% and 85% of 1RM in 7 young and 11 older people. In the young subjects, GH responses were nonsignificant at 60% and increased progressively at 70% and 85% of 1RM. No significant effect of exercise intensity was observed in the older subjects. We conclude that resistance exercise promptly elevates circulating GH concentrations in healthy young adults. This response is related to the intensity of the resistance stimulus, although a small contribution of aerobic stress cannot be excluded. The GH response to resistance activity is grossly diminished in healthy elderly men and women.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Muscle hypertrophy response to resistance training in older women.

We conducted a 12-wk resistance training program in elderly women [mean age 69 +/- 1.0 (SE) yr] to determine whether increases in muscle strength are associated with changes in cross-sectional fiber area of the vastus lateralis muscle. Twenty-seven healthy women were randomly assigned to either a control or exercise group. The program was satisfactorily completed and adequate biopsy material obtained from 6 controls and 13 exercisers. After initial testing of baseline maximal strength, exercisers began a training regimen consisting of seven exercises that stressed primary muscle groups of the lower extremities. No active intervention was prescribed for the controls. Increases in muscle strength of the exercising subjects were significant compared with baseline values (28-115%) in all muscle groups. No significant strength changes were observed in the controls. Cross-sectional area of type II muscle fibers significantly increased in the exercisers (20.1 +/- 6.8%, P = 0.02) compared with baseline. In contrast, no significant change in type II fiber area was observed in the controls. No significant changes in type I fiber area were found in either group. We conclude that a program of resistance exercise can be safely carried out by elderly women, such a program significantly increases muscle strength, and such gains are due, at least in part, to muscle hypertrophy.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Time course of O2-pulse during various tests of aerobic power.

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that oxygen pulse typically reaches a maximum before maximal oxygen consumption by observing the time course of oxygen pulse throughout exercise to maximal stress and to discern those physiologic variables which might predispose an individual to reach a peak in oxygen pulse before achieving maximal oxygen consumption. Thirty male volunteers ranging in age from 18-25 (X = 20.5) years were recruited for this study. Maximal oxygen uptake was assessed on both bicycle ergometer and treadmill. Based upon the results of the exercise tests, subjects were classified into subgroups as a consequence of whether or not a maximal oxygen pulse or a plateau in oxygen pulse was demonstrated during submaximal exercise. The results indicate that submaximal peaking or at least the achieving of plateau values of oxygen pulse does in fact occur in some but not all indivuals. It was observed that this phenomenon occurs at a relatively high percentage of maximal heart rate and maximal oxygen consumption. It appeared that individuals who demonstrate low heart rates at low-work intensities, high maximal heart rates, and a disproportionate increase in R for a given ventilation are most likely to reach a submaximal peak in oxygen pulse. Oxygen pulse during submaximal exercise appears to provide a good indication of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Effects of water immersion on lung volumes: implications for body composition analysis.

Lung volumes of 20 healthy young men were measured before and after water immersion to the neck level. Immersion resulted in significant decreases (P less than 0.01) in forced vital capacity (FVC) (8.9%), expiratory reserve volume (ERV) (61%), total lung capacity (TLC) (5.6%), and functional residual capacity (FRC) (2.9%). Significant increases were observed in inspiratory capacity (IC) (10%) and residual volume (RV) (6.7%). The increase in RV was attributed to a possible "stiffness" of the lung tissue caused by pulmonary vascular engorgement. Densitometric analysis was made on each subject using hydrostatic weighing techniques. Subsequent calculation of body density and per-cent body fat indicated significant (P less than 0.01) differences when using RV measured on land and in water. Body fat was 14.0% using the land RV in the computation of density and decreased to 13.4% using the RV measured in water. It was concluded that when obtaining body density values. RV should be measured concurrently while the subject is in the water.

Adult↗