Omid Alizadehkhaiyat

Background and purpose: Diabetes in adolescents is usually associated with cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of exercise and Mindful Self-Compassion Therapy (MSCT) on heart rate variability (HRV), aerobic capacity (VO2peak), and glycemic index of adolescent boys with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: A total of 60 adolescent boys (Age: 12–18 years, Body Mass Index: 19.75 ± 2.26 kg/m ² ) were enrolled in this semi-experimental research. The participants were allocated into four groups: Control Diabetes (CD, n = 15), Exercise Diabetes (ED, n = 15), MSCT Diabetes (MD, n = 15), and Exercise + MSC Diabetes (EMD, n = 15). The ED group received 3 sessions per week of combined resistance and interval (running) and training, the MD group received 8 sessions of 60 min of MSCT, and the EMD group received exercise training + MSCT during a 12-week intervention period. A two-way multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was used with pre-test values as covariate variables to evaluate changes in a range of HRV variables following the interventions. Results: The ED and EMD groups showed increases in High Frequency (HF), Root Mean Square of Successive RR Interval Differences (RMSSD), Standard Deviation of NN Intervals (SDNN), Very-Low-Frequency (VLF), Low-Frequency (LF), and VO2peak. There was a decrease in resting Heart Rate (HR), LF/HF, and HbA1c levels. The MD group had a substantial increase in HF and RMSSD and a significant decrease in HR and LF/HF ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results support the application of combined interval/resistance exercise training and stress control method (MSCT) as an effective non-invasive intervention for enhancing the psychophysiological parameters of HRV in adolescent boys with T1D compared to exercise or MSCT alone.

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is an established marker of oxidative stress and a general stress-response mitokines. In this study, we aim to investigate the association of GDF-15 with the metabolic signature of gut and mitochondrial activity in HF and ageing population. A total of 25 HF (67.9 ± 10.0 years) and 29 age-matched healthy participants (HPs) (67.8 ± 11.1 years) were recruited and underwent detailed body composition assessment via dual X-ray absorptiometry; total fat mass and appendicular lean soft tissue index (ALSTI/body mass index (BMI)) were calculated. Utilizing semi-targeted Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry on fasting plasma, a panel of gut microbial-derived (e.g., hippuric acid, indole derivatives, and sarcosine) and tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites was identified. Results showed higher GDF-15 tertiles were associated with greater HF prevalence, fat mass, NT-proBNP, and TNF-α (p < 0.05). Gut-derived metabolites exhibited phenotype-specific patterns; 3-hydroxyindole predicted higher fat mass in HP; hippuric acid was inversely related in HF; and sarcosine correlated with GDF-15 only in HP. In HF, GDF-15 was strongly driven by pyruvic and fumaric acid, indicating disease-specific mitochondrial stress. In conclusion, these observed associations could be evaluated in future mechanistic studies as sensitive biomarkers of systemic oxidative stress markers, informing potential microbiome-targeted therapeutic avenues.

Background/Objectives: Peak force (PF) reflects maximal strength, while early rate of force development (RFD; 0–100 ms) indicates explosive neuromuscular output. The Athletic Shoulder (ASH) test is gaining popularity in overhead athlete profiling, but its use for assessing explosive strength in various shoulder positions is underexplored. This study compared PF and RFD at shoulder abductions of 180° (ASH-I), 135° (ASH-Y), and 90° (ASH-T) in baseball players. Methods: Seventeen male athletes (age 22.7 ± 4.2 years; height 186.3 ± 7.3 cm; body mass 83.9 ± 10.1 kg) performed isometric ASH tests with the dominant arm. PF, PF relative to body mass (PF/BM), and early RFD were analysed. Results: ASH I showed 25% significantly higher PF (182 ± 41 N), PF/BM (2.15 ± 0.39 N/kg), and 40% higher RFD (545 N/s) than ASH Y or T (all p < 0.001), which did not differ significantly. PF showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.86–0.93); RFD showed moderate-to-good reliability (ICC = 0.75–0.81). Smallest worthwhile changes were ~5% for PF and ~15% for RFD. Conclusions: Maximal isometric shoulder strength and explosiveness were highest at 180° abduction in baseball athletes, with no significant difference between 135° and 90°. PF demonstrated excellent reliability, while early RFD showed moderate to good reliability and higher variability, highlighting the need for repeated measures. These findings provide specific position reference values and support the inclusion of multiple abduction angles in shoulder strength assessment to detect neuromuscular deficits and monitor training adaptations in baseball athletes.

Background: Exercise has been suggested to effectively improve cardiac performance in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) by enhancing the glycemic control. The purpose of this study was to investigate (1) effects of a 12-week combined interval running and resistance training (CIRRT) and (2) 1 month of detraining on cardiac structure and myocardial performance in adolescent males with T1D. Methods: A total of 72 participants, including 48 adolescent males with T1D (fasting blood glucose (FBG): 274.67 ± 52.99 mg/dL, age: 15.20 ± 1.78 years) and 24 healthy adolescents (FBG: 90.75 ± 5.47 mg/dL, age: 15.08 ± 1.67 years), were recruited to the study. Participants were allocated into diabetes exercise (DE), diabetes control (DC), and healthy controls (HC) groups. The DE group performed 12 weeks of a CIRRT program three times per week. Blood glucose profile, echocardiography (ECHO) indices, and peak oxygen consumption (VO _2peak ) were measured pre- and post-intervention and following 1-month detraining period. Repeated measures ANOVA was used for pre- and post-intervention comparisons within the DE group and across the three study groups. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: Exercise intervention resulted in decreased hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c% = Pre: 10.44 ± 2.03, Post: 9.38 ± 1.66, p < 0.05), FBG, left ventricular (LV) internal diameter, and both tricuspid and mitral deceleration time (DT) in the DE group. VO _2peak , ejection fraction (EF% = Pre: 62.38 ± 1.6, Post: 64.08 ± 1.18, p < 0.05), fractional shortening, early tricuspid diastolic inflow E velocity, and tricuspid velocity during atrial contraction were also increased following the exercise training. HbA1c (Pre vs Follow-up: 9.83 ± 1.73, p < 0.05), EF (Pre vs Follow-up: 62.97 ± 1.56, p < 0.05), LV, and DT tricuspid remained significantly improved after detraining period compared to the baseline. In the baseline, the glycemic index and ECHO variable significantly differed in the DE and DC groups with the HC group ( p < 0.05). However, after the intervention, the DC and HC groups did not change significantly ( p > 0.05). Conclusion: The CIRRT intervention was associated with improved cardiac structure and performance in male adolescents with T1D potentially due to exercise-induced adaptations. Meanwhile, the results indicate that most cardiac morphological and functional changes are reversible following periods of inactivity in patients with T1D.

There is an interest within elite sport in understanding the impact of a vibrating platform as an adjunct to exercise in the training and rehabilitation of throwing athletes. However, there has been no comprehensive evaluation of its impact on the rotator cuff muscles or its effect on the timing of shoulder muscle recruitment more globally.

There is currently a lack of research into the energy demands and associated nutritional intakes of elite Gaelic football players during the pre-season period, which is a crucial time of year for physical development. The aim of the current study was to investigate the dietary intake and energy expenditure (EE) of elite Gaelic football players during a typical pre-season week. Over a seven-day period, which included four training days and three rest days, dietary intake (validated self-reported estimated food diary) and EE (Sensewear Pro armband) were recorded in 18 male players from a single elite inter-county Gaelic football team. Average energy intake (EI) (3283 ± 483 kcal) was significantly (p = 0.002) less than average EE (3743 ± 335 kcal), with a mean daily energy deficit of −460 ± 503 kcal. Training days elicited the greatest deficits between intake and expenditure. The mean carbohydrate (CHO) intake was 3.6 ± 0.7 g/kg/day, protein intake was 2.1 ± 0.5 g/kg/day, and fat intake was 1.6 ± 0.2 g/kg/day. These findings indicate that the dietary practices of the sampled players were inadequate to meet EE and CHO recommendations. Training days are of particular concern, with the players not altering energy and CHO intake to encounter increased energy demands. Education on nutritional strategies for elite Gaelic footballers should be considered in relation to training demands to avoid detriments to performance and health.

The shoulder relies heavily on coordinated muscle activity for normal function owing to its limited osseous constraint. However, previous studies have failed to examine the sophisticated interrelationship between all muscles. It is essential for these normal relationships to be defined as a basis for understanding pathology. Therefore, the primary aim of the study was to investigate shoulder inter-muscular coordination during different planes of shoulder elevation. Twenty healthy subjects were included. Electromyography was recorded from 14 shoulder girdle muscles as subjects performed shoulder flexion, scapula plane elevation, abduction and extension. Cross-correlation was used to examine the coordination between different muscles and muscle groups. Significantly higher coordination existed between the rotator cuff and deltoid muscle groups during the initial (Pearson Correlation Coefficient (PCC) = 0.79) and final (PCC = 0.74) stages of shoulder elevation compared to the mid-range (PCC = 0.34) (p = 0.020–0.035). Coordination between the deltoid and a functional adducting group comprising the latissimus dorsi and teres major was particularly high (PCC = 0.89) during early shoulder elevation. The destabilising force of the deltoid, during the initial stage of shoulder elevation, is balanced by the coordinated activity of the rotator cuff, latissimus dorsi and teres major. Stability requirements are lower during the mid-range of elevation. At the end-range of movement the demand for muscular stability again increases and higher coordination is seen between the deltoid and rotator cuff muscle groups. It is proposed that by appreciating the sophistication of normal shoulder function targeted evidence-based rehabilitation strategies for conditions such as subacromial impingement syndrome or shoulder instability can be developed.

An aberrant upper body posture has been proposed as one of the etiological factors contributing to the development of subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS). Clinicians have translated this supposition into assessment and rehabilitation programs despite insufficient and conflicting evidence to support this approach. The purpose of this study was to compare several postural variables between the SAIS patients and asymptomatic healthy controls. Case-Control Study. A total of 75 participants including 39 patients (20 females; 19 males) and 36 healthy controls (15 females; 21 males) participated in the study. Study evaluated several postural variables including forward head posture (FHP), forward shoulder posture (FSP), thoracic kyphosis index (TKI), scapular index (SI), normalized scapular protraction (NSP), and the lateral scapular slide test (LSST). The variables were compared between patient and control groups according to sex. Significant differences were observed in the female patients compared to asymptomatic controls for the FHP (49.38 + 9.6o vs 55.5o+8.38, p=0.03), FSP (45.58 + 10.1o vs 53.68 + 7.08, p=0.02), and LSST in third position (10.2 + 2.1cm vs 11.5 + 0.7cm, p=0.01). Male patients showed a significant difference only in the FSP compared to controls (61.9o+9.4o vs 49.78 + 9.28, p<0.001). While inadequate data on the relationship between dysfunctional posture and SAIS has led to broad variations in current rehabilitation strategies, the results of the present study revealed different patterns of postural aberrations in female and male patients with SAIS. This clarifies the need to develop individualized or sex-specific approaches for assessing posture in men and women with SAIS and rehabilitation programs based on the assessment results. 3b.

Hyperaminoacidemia following ingestion of cows-milk may stimulate muscle anabolism and attenuate exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). However, as dairy-intolerant athletes do not obtain the reported benefits from milk-based products, A2 milk may offer a suitable alternative as it lacks the A1-protein. This study aimed to determine the effect of A2 milk on recovery from a sports-specific muscle damage model. Twenty-one male team sport players were allocated to three independent groups: A2 milk (n = 7), regular milk (n = 7), and placebo (PLA) (n = 7). Immediately following muscle-damaging exercise, participants consumed either A2 milk, regular milk or PLA (500 mL each). Visual analogue scale (muscle soreness), maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), countermovement jump (CMJ) and 20-m sprint were measured prior to and 24, 48, and 72 h post EIMD. At 48 h post-EIMD, CMJ and 20-m sprint recovered quicker in A2 (33.4 ± 6.6 and 3.3 ± 0.1, respectively) and regular milk (33.1 ± 7.1 and 3.3 ± 0.3, respectively) vs. PLA (29.2 ± 3.6 and 3.6 ± 0.3, respectively) (p < 0.05). Relative to baseline, decrements in 48 h CMJ and 20-m sprint were minimised in A2 (by 7.2 and 5.1%, respectively) and regular milk (by 6.3 and 5.2%, respectively) vs. PLA. There was a trend for milk treatments to attenuate decrements in MVIC, however statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.069). Milk treatments had no apparent effect on muscle soreness (p = 0.152). Following muscle-damaging exercise, ingestion of 500 mL of A2 or regular milk can limit decrements in dynamic muscle function in male athletes, thus hastening recovery and improving subsequent performance. The findings propose A2 milk as an ergogenic aid following EIMD, and may offer an alternative to athletes intolerant to the A1 protein.