[Purpose] In this study, combined training with breathing resistance and sustained
physical exertion was carried out to evaluate its physiological effects and its effect on
improve endurance capacity. [Subjects and Methods] The subjects were nine healthy adults
(mean age 20.4, SD ± 1.7 years). The combined training group (n = 5) carried out 6 weeks
of combined training using a cycle ergometer, with exercise load tests and respiratory
function tests performed before and after the training. The results of the training were
compared to a control group (n = 4) that only performed the cycling exercise without the
combined training with breathing resistance. [Results] In the combined training group,
ventilatory threshold, maximal load of the cycle ergometer in exercise load tests, and
maximal voluntary ventilation increased after training. These increases after training
were all significant, but none of these variables changed significantly in the control
group. [Conclusion] The results imply that in comparison to conventional training methods,
combined training with breathing resistance and sustained physical exertion is beneficial
for increasing endurance capacity and respiratory muscle function. This result provides
important information regarding the effects of the new training method for improving
endurance capacity.
[Purpose] This study compared the efficacy of passive and active stretching techniques on
hamstring flexibility. [Subjects] Fifty-four healthy young subjects were randomly assigned
to one of three groups (2 treatment groups and 1 control group). [Methods] Subjects in the
passive stretching group had their knees extended by an examiner while lying supine 90° of
hip flexion. In the same position, subjects in the active stretching group extended their
knees. The groups performed 3 sets of the assigned stretch, with each stretch held for 10
seconds at the point where tightness in the hamstring muscles was felt. Subjects in the
control group did not perform stretching. Before and immediately after stretching,
hamstring flexibility was assessed by a blinded assessor, using the active knee-extension
test. [Results] After stretching, there was a significant improvement in the hamstring
flexibilities of the active and passive stretching groups compared with the control group.
Furthermore, the passive stretching group showed significantly greater improvement in
hamstring flexibility than the active stretching group. [Conclusion] Improvement in
hamstring flexibility measured by the active knee-extension test was achieved by both
stretching techniques; however, passive stretching was more effective than active
stretching at achieving an immediate increase in hamstring flexibility.
Objective Osteoarthritis (OA) is induced by accumulated mechanical stress to joints; however, little has been reported regarding the cause among detailed mechanical stress on cartilage degeneration. This study investigated the influence of the control of abnormal joint movement induced by anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the articular cartilage. Design The animals were divided into 3 experimental groups: CAJM group ( n = 22: controlling abnormal joint movement), ACL-T group ( n = 22: ACL transection or knee anterior instability increased), and INTACT group ( n = 12: no surgery). After 2 and 4 weeks, the knees were harvested for digital microscopic observation, soft X-ray analysis, histological analysis, and synovial membrane molecular evaluation. Results The 4-week OARSI scores showed that cartilage degeneration was significantly inhibited in the CAJM group as compared with the ACL-T group ( P < 0.001). At 4 weeks, the osteophyte formation had also significantly increased in the ACL-T group ( P < 0.001). These results reflected the microscopic scoring and soft X-ray analysis findings at 4 weeks. Real-time synovial membrane polymerase chain reaction analysis for evaluation of the osteophyte formation-associated factors showed that the mRNA expression of BMP-2 and VEGF in the ACL-T group had significantly increased after 2 weeks. Conclusions Typically, abnormal mechanical stress induces osteophyte formation; however, our results demonstrated that CAJM group inhibited osteophyte formation. Therefore, controlling abnormal joint movement may be a beneficial precautionary measure for OA progression in the future.
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