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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

Impact of Muscle Quality on Muscle Strength and Physical Performance Beyond Muscle Mass or Diabetes Status.

BACKGROUND: Muscle quality, represented by myosteatosis, is recognized as an important factor in sarcopenia. In this study, we aimed to determine the associations between myosteatosis, muscle strength and physical performance among the elderly South Korean population. METHODS: We included 1440 participants (mean age 62.7 ± 6.2 years) from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES). Based on the computed tomography attenuation of mid-thigh imaging, the total muscle area (TMA), normal-attenuation muscle area (NAMA), low-attenuation muscle area (LAMA) and inter-intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and its indices were used to evaluate myosteatosis. Muscle strength was evaluated using hand grip strength, whereas physical performance was evaluated through 4-m gait speed, a 30-s sit-to-stand test and 2-min walking test. RESULTS: Of the 1440 patients, 51.5% were women, and 37.2% had diabetes. With aging, the LAMA index gradually increased, and the NAMA index gradually decreased in both men and women (p for trend < 0.001). The NAMA index was positively associated, whereas the LAMA and IMAT indices were negatively associated with muscle strength and physical performance after adjusting for age and sex. Higher tertiles of the NAMA index were consistently associated with improved physical performance across all appendicular skeletal muscle tertiles. The relationship between the NAMA index or LAMA index and muscle strength and physical performance did not differ according to diabetic status. Regular exercise was associated with a higher NAMA index and a lower LAMA index in the non-diabetic group; however, no significant difference in muscle quality was observed in the diabetic group in relation to exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced myosteatosis was positively associated with greater muscle strength and better physical performance in both men and women, regardless of muscle mass or diabetes status; improving myosteatosis may be a therapeutic target for the prevention of sarcopenia.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Exercise Therapy in Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Focused on Muscle Strength, Redox Balance, and Inflammatory Profile.

OBJECTIVE: This study systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials investigating the impact of exercise therapy on muscle strength, redox balance, and inflammatory profile in individuals with Down syndrome. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE, and PEDro. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials exploring exercise therapy effects on muscle strength and redox balance in individuals with Down syndrome. Although no initial restrictions on age, gender, or health condition were applied during the search process, all included studies focused on adult participants (>18 yr old). No language restrictions were applied, and the search covered the period from 1970 to 2021. RESULTS: We assessed the abstract of 1964 studies. Of the 46 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for the period 2004-2021, 32 focused on muscle strength, and 14 examined redox balance and inflammation. A total of 1611 participants with a mean age of 27 yr were included. This review confirmed that different exercise modalities are prone to improve muscle strength (random effect (95% confidence interval): 0.66, 0.54 to 0.78), redox balance and inflammatory profile (random effect (95% confidence interval): -1.04, -1.31 to -0.76) in this population. The multimodel inference suggested that the frequency of training (times per week) might play a significant role in the main effect. Unsupervised machine learning algorithms displayed a pattern-based graphic representation to assess heterogeneity. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training demonstrated a positive impact on muscle strength in adults with Down syndrome. The review provides valuable insights into the effects of exercise therapy on individuals with Down syndrome, emphasizing the need for tailored training prescriptions.

Humans↗

PubMed1978

Swelling of the upper extremity, function and muscle strength of shoulder joint following mastectomy combined with radiotherapy.

Swelling of the arm, mobility of the shoulder joint and muscle strength were examined in 76 patients with breast cancer 4.5 to 14 years (mean 8 years) after primary therapy. Marked arm swelling was found on the operated side in 31% of the patients operated by radical mastectomy and in 18% of those having undergone total mastectomy. The swelling was more marked in the upper arm than in the forearm. Patients irradiated postoperatively with a megavoltage technique showed more often and more oedema than those treated with a kilovoltage technique. Obese patients had more swelling than patients of normal weight. Of the various movements of the shoulder joint, abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, horizontal extension and internal rotation were significantly reduced on the operated side in comparison with the non-operated side, but the differences were not great. Neither swelling of the arm nor the patient's weight had any effect on the function of the shoulder joint, as expressed in terms of abduction. Of the muscle groups in the shoulder joint adductors, flexors and extensors were significantly weaker on the operated than on the non-operated side. The muscle strength of the operated side averaged 25% weaker than that of the control side. Swelling of the arm did not reduce the muscle strength of the shoulder joint.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Colocalization and functional analyses identify GBE1 as a gene linking muscle strength and cardiometabolic fitness.

Handgrip strength is a proxy for muscular fitness, an indicator for general health status, and is associated with cardiometabolic health. The mechanisms connecting handgrip strength to skeletal muscle function are incompletely understood. We applied integrated linkage-disequilibrium-adjusted colocalization analysis of genome-wide association study summary statistics for handgrip strength, combined with expression and splicing quantitative trait loci from skeletal muscle, and identified glycogen branching enzyme 1 (GBE1) as a candidate gene for handgrip strength. CRISPR-interference knockdown of GBE1 in immortalized human skeletal muscle cells (HMCL-7304) demonstrated decreased glycogen content and accumulation of polyglucosan bodies. Knockdown of GBE1 led to increased oxygen consumption rate, oxidative stress, and changes in mitochondrial morphology. Transcriptomic profiling of GBE1 knockdown cells identified upregulation of the human superoxide dismutase 2 and enrichment of pathways related to muscle contraction and oxidative stress responses. These functional genomic analyses prioritize GBE1 as a muscle-relevant candidate gene for handgrip strength and provide mechanistic insights to muscle fitness.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Colocalization of genome-wide association study (GWAS) loci with quantitative trait loci (QTL) in skeletal muscle tissue identified GBE1 as a candidate for handgrip strength. Cellular phenotypes with GBE1 knockdown in immortalized human skeletal muscle cells include decreased glycogen content, accumulation of polyglucosan bodies, changes in mitochondrial function and morphology, and increased expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavengers. Transcriptomic changes suggest a role for GBE1 in muscle contraction and oxidative stress-mediated responses.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of exercise on muscle strength and characteristics in rheumatic diseases and sarcopenia: Protocol for the Care for Muscle (C4M) Study.

OBJECTIVE: Muscle weakness is prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA) and sarcopenia (SARC). Endurance exercises may improve mitochondrial function and oxidative capacity, while strength exercises are thought to stimulate myofibrillar protein synthesis. This study aims to compare the effects of strength and endurance exercise and explore the association between muscle characteristics and exercise outcomes in patients with RA, OA and SARC. We hypothesize that responses to endurance and strength exercises in patients with muscle weakness are influenced by intramuscular pathology including muscle morphology, mitochondrial function, and systemic inflammation, based on their disease pathology, potentially requiring personalized training schedules. METHODS: This two-arm, parallel-group exploratory trial will enroll 69 patients (23 RA, 23 OA, 23 SARC), randomized to endurance (n = 35) or muscle strength exercises (n = 34), using minimization to balance disease type and gender. The 8-week intervention includes two supervised sessions per week using a controlled cable pulley device (Reforter™) and fitness equipment, plus one weekly home-based session. The primary outcome is isokinetic muscle strength (peak torque), measured with the Biodex system®. Secondary outcomes include muscle morphology, mitochondrial function, systemic inflammation and muscle endurance (by Biodex and 6 Minute Walk test). Muscle morphology will be assessed via 3D ultrasound imaging of the vastus lateralis. Mitochondrial function will be analyzed using high-resolution respirometry on muscle biopsies. Systemic inflammation will be measured using multiplex assays or ELISA on serum samples. DISCUSSION: This study will explore differential responses to muscle endurance and muscle strength exercises in patients with RA, OA, and SARC, offering novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of muscle weakness. The findings may help identify potential mechanisms underlying variability in exercise response and provide effect size estimates to guide future confirmatory studies and more targeted exercise interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06480643 (date of registration28-06-24).

Humans↗

PubMed1975

Back pain and isometric back muscle strength of workers in a Danish factory.

105 factory workers (38 females and 67 males) have been questioned about their frequency of back pain. 60% of the females and 61% of the males have previously experienced episodes of back pain. 21% of the females and 37% of the males have been absent from work due to back pain. The incidence of back pain is not related to age, height, sort of work, or isometric muscle strength of the back (IS). For the males the incidence rises with increasing weight, i.e. combination of height and obesity, but is not related to any two single factors. For the females there is no correlation between the incidence of pain and weight. IS is correlated to height and age in the males but not in the females. Standards for IS are presented and suggested as a guide to evaluation of the working capabilities of individual subjects with back pain.

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Effects of blood flow restriction training combined with plyometric training on lower limb muscle strength and motor unit recruitment in basketball players: An experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that plyometric training (PT) improves neuromuscular function and explosive power but not maximal strength. Blood flow restriction training (BFR) combined with low-intensity resistance training (RT) increases muscle mass and strength. This study investigated the effects of PT, and BFR combined with PT on lower-limb muscle function. METHODS: Twenty elite basketball players were randomly assigned to two groups: PT-alone group (PT, n = 10) and BFR combine with PT group (PT-BFR, n = 10). All participants underwent bodyweight-based plyometric training three times per week for eight weeks. Peak torque values for hip and knee flexion and extension, as well as root mean square (RMS) values derived from electromyography, were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: After the 8-week intervention, both groups showed significant improvements in knee flexion and extension peak torque at 180°/s (all p < 0.01). Between-group comparisons revealed greater gains in the PT-BFR group for hip extension and flexion at 60°/s (p = 0.036-0.002; ηp2 = 0.225-0.233). RMS of the rectus femoris increased significantly more in the PT-BFR group than in the PT group (right: p = 0.004, ηp2 = 0.385; left: p = 0.020, ηp2 = 0.266), whereas no significant changes were observed in the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, or biceps femoris (all p > 0.05). CMJ height also improved more in the PT-BFR group, with a significant group × time interaction (p = 0.042, ηp2 = 0.210). CONCLUSION: Both training protocols enhanced bilateral lower-limb strength, with notable gains in the non-dominant leg; however, the magnitude did not differ substantially between groups. In contrast, compared with PT alone, BFR combined with PT produced superior enhancements in lower-limb muscle strength and neuromuscular recruitment. These findings suggest that when PT is employed to improve explosive power, it may be effectively combined with BFR to further augment muscular strength.

Humans↗

PubMed1976

Muscle strength, fibre types and enzyme activities in man.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1975

Enzyme activities and muscle strength after "sprint training" in man.

Sprint type strength training was performed 3-4 times a week for 8 weeks by 4 healthy male students (16-18 yrs). The training was carried out on a treadmill at high speed and with high inclination. Muscle biopsies were obtained from vastus lateralis before and after the training period for histochemical classification of slow and fast twitch muscle fibres and for biochemical determination of metabolites and enzyme activities. Muscle fibre type distribution was unchanged, whereas fibre area indicated an increase for both fibre types in 3 subjects after training. The muscle enzyme activities of Mg2+ stimulated ATPase, myokinase and creatine phosphokinase increased 30, 20, and 36 percent, respectively. Muscle concentration of ATP and creatine phosphate (CP) did not change with training. Sargent's jump increased with on average 4 cm (from 47 to 51 cm), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with 19 kp (from 165 to 184 kp), and endurance at 50 percent of MVC with 9 s (from 47 to 56 s), respectively. After training all subjects showed a gain in body weight (mean 1.4 kg) and in thigh circumference (mean 1.5 cm) indicating a larger leg muscle volume and consequently also an increase in total ATP and CP.

Actomyosin↗

PubMed2026

Impact of creatine supplementation alone or combined with exercise on inflammatory and clinical outcomes in chronic musculoskeletal pain treated in the rheumatological field: a systematic review.

Creatine supplementation has demonstrated ergogenic and anabolic effects in healthy and clinical populations. However, its potential therapeutic role in individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain treated in rheumatological contexts remains unclear. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of creatine supplementation on pain, physical function/disability, quality of life, muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass, and inflammatory markers in people with chronic musculoskeletal pain usually treated from the rheumatological field. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. Searches were performed in MEDLINE, Web of Science, CINAHL, Scopus, and EMBASE up to July 2026. Eligible studies were randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials that provided creatine supplementation alone or in combination with exercise as a treatment compared to a control or placebo group. Eight studies (n = 189) were included, encompassing fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Creatine dosages varied from chronic low-dose to loading protocols (20 g/d, 2-5 g/d). Combined creatine plus resistance training may improve strength, skeletal muscle mass, and quality of life beyond exercise alone in osteoarthritis. Trials on fibromyalgia suggest an increase in muscle strength, but inconsistent effects on pain. Rheumatoid arthritis studies suggest gains in skeletal muscle mass and, in pilot studies, reduced disease activity. No major adverse events were reported. In conclusion, creatine supplementation alone may be insufficient to obtain clinical benefits, while combined with resistance exercise it could offer potential benefits for muscle strength, skeletal muscle mass and certain aspects of quality of life in these clinical conditions. However, evidence on pain and inflammation remains limited; Furthermore, the response across different clinical conditions is heterogeneous, highlighting the need for larger, high-quality trials.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Tumor Signatures of Physical Fitness: Insights from a Preclinical Model.

PURPOSE: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscle strength are associated with cancer risk/mortality in adults. However, there is yet no evidence for pediatric tumors. This study investigated the association of CRF and muscle strength with several tumor-related phenotypes in an aggressive childhood malignancy, high-risk neuroblastoma. METHODS: Twelve mice-bearing orthotopic high-risk neuroblastomas were studied. CRF and muscle strength were assessed using treadmill and grip strength testing, respectively. The following tumor-related outcomes were studied: survival, clinical severity, tumor weight/volume, metastasis, and intratumor immune infiltrates. In addition, tumor samples underwent quantitative proteomic analysis via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Spearman correlations (or logistic regression) were performed between CRF/muscle strength and the abovementioned variables. Proteins that were significantly correlated with CRF or muscle strength were mapped into protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks using the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING) database. RESULTS: CRF was inversely correlated with clinical severity score ( r = -0.657, P = 0.020). Of 6840 identified tumor proteins, 76 correlated significantly with CRF (19 positively, 57 negatively), whereas 194 correlated with muscle strength (97 positively, 97 negatively). Proteins correlated with CRF were primarily involved in metabolic and structural pathways, including angiotensinogen and elastin. In turn, muscle strength-associated proteins were more abundant and included keratin family proteins (e.g., keratin, type I cytoskeletal 14, and type II cytoskeletal 5), proteins involved in cell adhesion (e.g., desmoglein-1-alpha), and translational regulators (e.g., eukaryotic initiation factor 4A). Network analysis revealed significant enrichment in structural organization and cellular adhesion pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Besides the association of CRF with clinical severity of the tumor, distinct novel tumor proteomic signatures associated with CRF and muscle strength were identified, highlighting potential mechanisms linking physical fitness with childhood cancer biology.

Muscle Strength↗

PubMed1979

Adaptations in skeletal muscle following strength training.

Five men were studied before and after 7 wk of isokinetic strength training to determine its effects on muscle enzyme activities and fiber composition. One of the subject's legs was trained using 10 repeated 6-s maximal work bouts, while the other leg performed repeated 30-s maximal knee extension exercise. The total work accomplished by each leg was constant. Training 4 times/wk achieved similar gains in peak torque for both legs at the training velocity (3.14 rad/s) and at slower speeds. Fatigability of the knee extensor muscles, as measured by a 60-s exercise test, was similar in both legs after training. Biopsy specimens showed significant changes in the % of the muscle area composed of type I and IIa fibers as a result of both strength training programs. In terms of muscle enzymes, only the 30 s exercise program resulted in elevated glycolytic, ATP-CP and mitochondrial activities. Despite these changes, none of the parameters measured were found to be related to the gains in either muscle strength or fatigability during maximal isokinetic contractions.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2026

Celery seed extract attenuates sarcopenic obesity and age-related sarcopenia by reducing intramuscular lipid accumulation in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Sarcopenia is characterized by progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function and is increasingly recognized to be influenced by metabolic disturbances associated with aging and obesity. Intramuscular lipid accumulation has emerged as a key pathological feature linking metabolic dysfunction to skeletal muscle deterioration. Celery seed extract (CSE) possesses anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties; however, its potential role in skeletal muscle metabolism has not been well investigated. This study aimed to determine whether CSE attenuates skeletal muscle deterioration associated with obesity and aging through modulation of intramuscular lipid accumulation and related metabolic pathways. METHODS: Diet-induced obese mice and naturally aged mice were used to evaluate the effects of CSE supplementation. Skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, muscle morphology, intramuscular lipid content, mitochondrial metabolic signaling, inflammatory responses, and muscle protein turnover pathways were assessed using biochemical, molecular, and histological analyses. RESULTS: CSE supplementation significantly improved skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and muscle fiber cross-sectional area in both obese and aged mice. These improvements were accompanied by reduced intramuscular triglyceride and cholesterol accumulation. Mechanistically, CSE improved mitochondrial metabolic signaling by activating the AMPK-PGC-1α pathway and increasing mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation proteins. In addition, CSE suppressed inflammatory signaling pathways, including MAPK activation and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, and improved muscle proteostasis by enhancing myogenic regulators while reducing the expression of proteolytic factors such as MuRF1, Atrogin-1, and myostatin. Correlation analyses further indicated that intramuscular lipid accumulation was closely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory activation, and muscle atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that CSE alleviates skeletal muscle deterioration in both obesity- and aging-associated sarcopenia by reducing intramuscular lipid accumulation and improving mitochondrial metabolism, inflammatory responses, and muscle protein turnover. Targeting intramuscular lipid accumulation may therefore represent a promising nutritional strategy for preventing sarcopenia associated with metabolic and aging-related stress.

AMPK–PGC-1α↗

PubMed2026

Effects of Adding Incentive Spirometry to Hospital-Based Cardiovascular Rehabilitation on Pulmonary Complications, Hospital Length of Stay, and Clinical-Functional Recovery After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the effects of combining incentive spirometry with cardiac rehabilitation compared with cardiac rehabilitation alone on postoperative pulmonary complications, clinical-functional recovery, and hospital length of stay in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Randomized controlled trial was conducted from May 2019 to October 2023 in two hospitals, including 46 inpatients undergoing cardiac surgery. Participants were assigned to incentive spirometry plus cardiac rehabilitation or cardiac rehabilitation alone. Both interventions were performed twice daily; spirometry used a volume-oriented device, and rehabilitation followed a seven-step protocol (2-4 METs). Outcomes included postoperative pulmonary complications, functional capacity (6-min walk test), handgrip strength, respiratory muscle function, and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: The incentive spirometry associated with cardiac rehabilitation group had a longer extracorporeal circulation time (98 ± 26 min) than the cardiac rehabilitation group (76 ± 1; p = 0.008). Both groups showed a postoperative decline in respiratory muscle strength, and walking distance (MD: -64.37 m; 95% CI: [-24.1; -104.6]; d = 0.71), with no difference in postoperative pulmonary complications and handgrip strength. The incentive spirometry associated with cardiac rehabilitation group did not significantly differ on postoperative hospital stay compared with the cardiac rehabilitation group (MD: -1 day; 95% CI: [-4.71; 2.71]; d = -0.19). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, no additional benefit was observed with the addition of incentive spirometry to cardiac rehabilitation compared with cardiac rehabilitation alone. No significant differences were detected between groups in postoperative pulmonary complications, hospital length of stay, or clinical-functional recovery among individuals undergoing cardiac surgery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (REBEC) under the number RBR-8tsjf97.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

Metabolic pathways linked to sarcopenia in the Bushehr Elderly Health Program: kynurenine, nicotinamide, B-vitamins, and sulfur amino acids.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia, characterized by the loss of muscle mass and function, is a common condition in the elderly, associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Metabolic pathways, including the kynurenine, nicotinamide, B-vitamins, and sulfur amino acid pathways, may play a significant role in the development and progression of sarcopenia. This study investigates the relationship between metabolic pathways and sarcopenia, aiming to identify potential therapeutic targets. METHOD: Four hundred participants over 60 years were randomly selected from the second stage of the Bushehr Elderly Health Program (BEH). Frozen plasma samples were used to measure metabolomics. We used factor analysis and logistic regression analysis to determine the kynurenine-tryptophan metabolites associated with sarcopenia and its components. RESULT: Study participants included 89 sarcopenic subjects aged 72.92 ± 7.32 years and 307 non-sarcopenic subjects aged 68.12 ± 5.56 years. In full model adjustment, factor 3, which included methionine, tryptophan, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, picolinic acid, and xanthurenic acid, was associated with 38.3% lower risk of sarcopenia (OR = 0.617 [95%CI = 0.436–0.875]); Factor 6, which included methylmalonic acid and total homocysteine, was associated with a 33.7% increased risk of sarcopenia (OR = 1.337 [95%CI = 1.031–1.735]); and factor 7, consisting of nicotinamide, were related to a 25.2% lower risk of developing sarcopenia (OR = 0.748 [95%CI = 0.571–0.979]). Additionally, factor 1, which included quinolinic acid, kynurenine, 3-hydroxykynurenine, neopterin, kynurenic acid, anthranilic acid, cystathionine, and total cysteine, was linked to a 49.2% higher risk of low muscle strength, while factors 3 and 7 were associated with approximately a 24% decrease in risk of low muscle strength. Factors 5, consisting of serine and glycine, and factor 7 were related to 43% and 27.7% lower risk of low skeletal muscle index, respectively. While factor 6 was related to a 32.8% higher risk of low skeletal muscle index. Factor 1 was also related to a 32.9% higher risk of low walking speed, while factor 3 was related to a 28.5% lower risk of low walking speed. CONCLUSION: Specific metabolites from the kynurenine, nicotinamide, B-vitamin, and sulfur amino acid pathways are significantly associated with sarcopenia and its key parameters, such as muscle strength, skeletal muscle index, and walking speed. These findings suggest that metabolic profiling could offer valuable insights for early detection and targeted interventions for sarcopenia in elderly populations.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Therapeutic Exercise Protocol During Hospitalization in Pediatric Oncohematological Patients: Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Leukemias, lymphomas, and central nervous system tumors are among the most common pediatric cancers and may lead to motor deficits, impaired balance, reduced muscle strength, fatigue, and decreased functional capacity. Early physiotherapy during hospitalization may help prevent inactivity and support functional preservation in this population. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a therapeutic exercise program on quality of life, muscle strength, fatigue, and functional capacity in hospitalized pediatric oncohematological patients. METHODS: Thirty participants aged 8-17 years with oncohematological diseases were randomized to an intervention group (IG) or a minimal active physiotherapy comparator group (CG). Assessments included the 6-min walk test, handgrip dynamometry, the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale, and the PedsQL Cancer Module at admission and discharge. The IG performed daily 25-min supervised sessions including aerobic, resistance, and breathing exercises with ambulation guidance, whereas the CG received breathing exercises and ambulation guidance. RESULTS: No significant group × time interactions were observed for total fatigue or its domains, overall quality of life or its assessed domains, handgrip strength, or six-minute walk test distance. Time-related changes were observed for some outcomes, but these occurred without evidence of differential change between groups and were not interpreted as effects of the structured exercise protocol. No intervention-related adverse events requiring permanent protocol discontinuation were recorded. CONCLUSION: The structured in-hospital therapeutic exercise protocol could be delivered under close clinical supervision without recorded intervention-related adverse events requiring permanent discontinuation. However, the structured protocol did not demonstrate superiority over the minimal active physiotherapy comparator for fatigue, quality of life, muscle strength, or functional capacity. These findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the small sample size, clinical heterogeneity, variable intervention exposure, and limited intervention-fidelity data. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (ReBEC), RBR-8sxnfyd.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of blood flow restriction training combined with resistance training on lower-limb strength and sport-specific performance in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: In contemporary sports science, athletes and coaches continuously explore strategies to reduce training load and injury risk while increasing muscular strength and sport-specific performance. This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) combined with resistance training (RT) on lower-limb muscle strength and sport-specific performance in athletes. METHODS: Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched across major databases (e.g. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, CNKI, Wanfang Data, and Embase) from inception until November 2024. Two independent reviewers carefully assessed the studies. Data analysis was carried out using RevMan 5.4 software, which included heterogeneity testing, meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and assessment of publication bias. RESULTS: Ten RCTs (181 athletes; 91 in the BFRT and RT group, 90 in the control group) were included. Outcomes determined BFRT combined with RT yielded notable enhancements in lower-limb muscle strength (SMD = 1.09, 95% CI [0.52, 1.66], p < 0.05) and muscle hypertrophy (MD = 1.09, 95% CI [0.10, 2.09], p < 0.05) compared to control training. However, no significant improvement in sport-specific performance was found (SMD = 0.11, 95% CI [-0.18, 0.40], p = 0.46). Substantial heterogeneity was observed for strength outcomes (I2 = 75%), whereas low heterogeneity was observed for sport-specific performance and hypertrophy outcomes (I2 = 0%). No evidence of significant publication bias was detected. CONCLUSION: BFRT combined with RT appears to provide effective augmentation of lower-limb muscle strength and hypertrophy in athletes compared to RT or conventional training alone. It may be prudent to integrate this approach systematically into training cycles to optimize physiological muscle stimulation and training outcomes, despite not directly improving sport-specific performance.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Effects of different resistance exercise programs on upper limb functional recovery in postoperative breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of grip strength exercise combined with upper limb resistance exercise on upper limb functional rehabilitation in patients after breast cancer surgery. METHODS: A total of 111 patients who underwent either modified radical mastectomy with ALND or breast-conserving surgery with ALND were randomly assigned to a control group, an upper limb resistance exercise group, and a combined grip and upper limb resistance exercise group. Grip strength was measured at baseline, 16 weeks after intervention, and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups, while shoulder function was assessed using the Constant-Murley Scale (CMS). RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in grip strength or CMS scores among the groups before intervention (P > 0.05). At the post-intervention, 3-month, and 6-month follow-ups, compared with the control group, both resistance training protocols significantly improved patients' joint range of motion, pain, muscle strength, total CMS score, and grip strength (P < 0.05). Compared with the upper limb resistance exercise group, the combined grip and upper limb resistance exercise group demonstrated superior grip strength at the 6-month follow-up (P < 0.05), as well as more significant improvements in joint range of motion, pain, muscle strength, and total CMS scores (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A 16-week resistance exercise program effectively improves upper limb function in post-surgical breast cancer patients, with the combined grip and upper limb resistance exercise program yielding superior outcomes.

Humans↗