Valmor Tricoli

Purpose: To investigate the effects of self-selected and different fixed rest intervals (RI) lengths between sets on the volume-load of upper- and lower-body resistance exercises in resistance-trained individuals. Methods: Nineteen resistance-trained males performed six randomized resistance training (RT) sessions separated by at least 72 hours, including bench press and back squat exercises. Each RT session consisted of four sets of maximum repetitions with a 6RM load for both exercises with different rest intervals (RI), 2-min, 5-min, and a self-selected RI length. In the self-selected RI session, subjects started subsequent sets when they indicated perceived readiness (PR) at 4. Results: For the back squat exercise, volume-load and repetitions were similar across conditions (p > 0.05), whereas self-selected rest intervals were longer than those in the 2-min session across all sets (p ≤ 0.001). No significant differences in PR scores were observed between sessions (p > 0.05). For the bench press exercise, volume-load was higher in both the self-selected (p ≤ 0.001) and 5-min (p ≤ 0.01) sessions than in the 2-min session. The number of repetitions performed during the third and fourth sets was lower in the 2-min session than in both the self-selected and 5-min conditions (p < 0.05). Self-selected rest intervals were shorter than 5 min during the first two intervals (p = 0.001; p = 0.006, respectively) but longer than 2 min across all intervals (p ≤ 0.001). PR scores were significantly higher during the third rest interval than during the first in both the 5-min (p = 0.045) and 2-min (p = 0.010) sessions. Conclusions: Longer or self-selected intervals were beneficial for maintaining volume-load during the bench press but not necessary for the back squat.

Purpose: To compare the effects of 7 weeks of training with different hang-power-clean (HPC) intensities on the maximum dynamic strength, vertical jump, and sprint performance of female handball players. Methods: Professional handball athletes with at least 1 year of HPC experience volunteered to participate. The athletes were balanced by position and randomly assigned to a group with HPC at 90% (HPC90%) or 50% (HPC50%) of HPC 1-repetition maximum (1RM). The training volume was equalized between groups. Pretraining and posttraining assessments included 1RM HPC, jump height in the squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ), and sprint speeds at 5, 20, and 30 m. Results: From pretraining to posttraining, both groups significantly increased (P ≤ .05) 1RM HPC, although a small effect size was observed in favor of HPC90%. HPC90% and HPC50% did not induce significant changes (P > .05) in the SJ and CMJ height, although for the SJ, a small effect size was observed in favor of HPC90%. Both groups induced a significant improvement (P ≤ .05) in 5-, 20-, and 30-m sprint speeds, although for all speeds, small to moderate effect sizes were observed in favor of HPC90%. Conclusions: Both training groups induced significant improvements in 1RM HPC and sprint speeds, whereas no significant changes were observed in vertical jumps. In addition, based mainly on the effect sizes, the HPC90% group was more effective for increasing 1RM HPC, SJ, and sprint speeds than the HPC50% group.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is preceded by prediabetes, and these conditions place a great burden on patients and society. These conditions are significantly associated with poor glycemic control, which is improved by resistance exercise. It has been suggested that resistance exercise should be performed with a high degree of effort to improve glucose metabolism, but this is associated with negative psychological responses that might lead to lower long-term adherence. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the degree of effort during a resistance exercise session on glycemic control and psychological responses in individuals living with prediabetes or T2D. Methods: This study will be a crossover, 3-arm, randomized controlled trial. A total of 15 participants living with prediabetes or T2D will be thoroughly familiarized with 7 resistance exercises; afterward, they will perform 3 randomized experimental sessions, each lasting approximately 48 hours each, separated by at least 4 washout days. In 2 of these sessions, supervised resistance exercise will be performed, but the sessions will differ in the degree of effort in each set (high vs low) and will be equalized in terms of total weight lifted and session duration. For this, proximity to failure will be manipulated by changing the number of sets per exercise, the number of repetitions per set, and the resting interval between sets and exercises. Participants will also complete a sedentary (control) session, where they will not perform any exercise. In response to each session, psychological responses will be assessed (exertion, affect, enjoyment, self-efficacy, and discomfort). Glycemic control will be assessed by a continuous glucose monitoring device every 5 minutes, throughout the approximately 48 hours of each experimental session. Food and drink will be individually prescribed by a registered dietitian nutritionist and provided to participants, in order to control for the confounding effect of energy intake and diet composition. Physical activity levels will be assessed by accelerometry. Randomization will be done using the opaque, sequentially numbered envelopes technique. Participants and researchers will be blinded for continuous glucose monitoring and accelerometry data, and data will be analyzed by a blinded statistician. Results: This study has been funded, and data collection is expected to take place between June 2024 and May 2025. Final manuscript submission should happen by August 2025. Conclusions: The results of this project might encourage individuals living with prediabetes and T2D to engage in resistance exercise while better informing exercise specialists on how to best incorporate resistance exercise in their client’s or patient’s routine. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06208189; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06208189 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/63598

We compared the effects of varied and constant resistance exercises on muscular adaptations in young women. Seventy young women (21.8 ± 3.4 yrs, 62.0 ± 12.3 kg, 162.3 ± 5.7 cm) were randomly divided into two groups: constant resistance exercises (CON-RE, n = 38) or varied resistance exercises (VAR-RE, n = 32). The resistance training (RT) was performed thrice a week over 10 weeks. CON-RE performed a 45º leg press and stiff-leg deadlift in every training session, while VAR-RE performed 45º leg press and stiff-leg deadlift in the first training session of the week, hack squat and prone leg curl in the second, and Smith machine squat and seated-leg curl in the third. Both groups performed two sets of 10-15 repetitions maximum per resistance exercise. We measured the muscle thickness of the thigh's anterior, lateral, and posterior aspects by ultrasonography at different muscle sites (proximo-distal). Muscular strength was analyzed from the one-repetition maximum (1RM) tests in the 45° leg press and leg extension (non-trained exercise). The muscle thickness increased similarly in both groups for all muscles and sites (CON-RE: +7.8-17.7% vs. VAR-RE: +7.5-19.3%, p > .05). The 1RM increased similarly in both groups (CON-RE: +24.4-32.1% vs. VAR-RE: +29.0-30.1%, p > .05). Both RT routines resulted in virtually similar muscular strength gains and hypertrophy. Therefore, both strategies should be considered for the improvement of strength and muscle growth.

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is preceded by prediabetes, and these conditions place a great burden on patients and society. These conditions are significantly associated with poor glycemic control, which is improved by resistance exercise. It has been suggested that resistance exercise should be performed with a high degree of effort to improve glucose metabolism, but this is associated with negative psychological responses that might lead to lower long-term adherence. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the effect of the degree of effort during a resistance exercise session on glycemic control and psychological responses in individuals living with prediabetes or T2D. METHODS This study will be a crossover, 3-arm, randomized controlled trial. A total of 15 participants living with prediabetes or T2D will be thoroughly familiarized with 7 resistance exercises; afterward, they will perform 3 randomized experimental sessions, each lasting approximately 48 hours each, separated by at least 4 washout days. In 2 of these sessions, supervised resistance exercise will be performed, but the sessions will differ in the degree of effort in each set (high vs low) and will be equalized in terms of total weight lifted and session duration. For this, proximity to failure will be manipulated by changing the number of sets per exercise, the number of repetitions per set, and the resting interval between sets and exercises. Participants will also complete a sedentary (control) session, where they will not perform any exercise. In response to each session, psychological responses will be assessed (exertion, affect, enjoyment, self-efficacy, and discomfort). Glycemic control will be assessed by a continuous glucose monitoring device every 5 minutes, throughout the approximately 48 hours of each experimental session. Food and drink will be individually prescribed by a registered dietitian nutritionist and provided to participants, in order to control for the confounding effect of energy intake and diet composition. Physical activity levels will be assessed by accelerometry. Randomization will be done using the opaque, sequentially numbered envelopes technique. Participants and researchers will be blinded for continuous glucose monitoring and accelerometry data, and data will be analyzed by a blinded statistician. RESULTS This study has been funded, and data collection is expected to take place between June 2024 and May 2025. Final manuscript submission should happen by August 2025. CONCLUSIONS The results of this project might encourage individuals living with prediabetes and T2D to engage in resistance exercise while better informing exercise specialists on how to best incorporate resistance exercise in their client’s or patient’s routine. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06208189; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06208189 INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT PRR1-10.2196/63598

INTRODUÇÃO: O treinamento de força tem sido recomendado na reabilitação clínica, bem como no condicionamento físico de atletas. Não é incomum, em ambos os casos, a presença de dor durante a prática; no entanto, até o momento, não há informação consensual em relação aos efeitos da dor muscular aguda nas adaptações ao treinamento de força. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo piloto foi avaliar os efeitos da dor induzida experimentalmente na adaptação da força muscular após um período de treinamento de 8 semanas. MÉTODO: O estudo incluiu cinco voluntários saudáveis do sexo masculino e não treinados. Os participantes foram submetidos a um protocolo de treinamento de força (3x/semana durante 8 semanas) para os músculos flexores do cotovelo. A dor muscular aguda foi induzida no início de cada sessão de treinamento, por meio de infusão intramuscular de 2,5 ml de solução salina hipertônica (6%) no ventre do músculo bíceps braquial. A força dinâmica máxima (1RM) e a contração isométrica voluntária máxima (CIVM) foram medidas antes e após quatro e oito semanas de treinamento. RESULTADOS: A força dinâmica máxima aumentou, em média, 37,3% e 78,4% após quatro e oito semanas, respectivamente. Entretanto, pouca ou nenhuma diferença foi encontrada na CIVM (-1,7% e -3,0% após quatro e oito semanas, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: Após 24 sessões de treinamento de força, com dor muscular aguda induzida a cada sessão, voluntários saudáveis aumentaram sua capacidade de produzir força dinâmica máxima em mais de 75%; entretanto, a força isométrica apresentou apenas pequenas variações negativas.

Studies on postactivation performance enhancement (PAPE) have used different exercises as a conditioning activity to investigate potentiation, but exclusively in upper limbs (UL) or lower (LL) limbs, or contralateral potentiation. A single exercise capable of inducing PAPE in both UL and LL is currently unknown. The present study explored the effect of the clean and jerk (C&J) as a conditioning activity for simultaneously producing PAPE interlimbs at the fourth, seventh, and 12th minutes postintervention. Twelve male weightlifters with 1-repetition maximum (1RM) in the C&J equivalent to ≥1.15 × body mass were randomly submitted to 2 experimental conditions (C&J and control [CON]). The C&J condition consisted of general warm-up (running on a treadmill and self-selected preparatory exercises) and 4 sets of 3 repetitions of C&J with 2 minutes between them (30%1RM, 50%1RM, 65%1RM, and 80%1RM) followed by a countermovement jump and a bench-press throw on a Smith machine after 4, 7, and 12 minutes, to measure the magnitude of PAPE in UL and LL. No previous exercise preceded countermovement-jump and bench-press-throw tests in the CON besides general warm-up. The main finding was that, regardless of time, the C&J resulted in greater height on countermovement jump and Smith machine bench-press throw when compared with the CON, presenting a similar effect size between UL and LL (34.6 [3.9] vs 33.4 [4.1] cm [+3.66%]; P = .038; effect size = 0.30 and 30.3 [4.7] vs 29.0 [5.1] cm [+4.44%]; P = .039; effect size = 0.26), respectively. Thus, C&J can be useful to produce PAPE simultaneously among members.

Low-intensity aerobic training combined with blood flow restriction (LI + BFR) has resulted in increases in aerobic and neuromuscular capacities in untrained individuals. This strategy may help cyclists incapable of training with high intensity bouts or during a rehabilitation program. However, there is a lack of evidence about the use of LI + BFR in injured trained cyclists. Thus, we investigated the effects of LI + BFR on aerobic capacity, maximal isometric strength, cross-sectional area of vastus lateralis (CSA_VL), time to exhaustion test (TTE), and 20 km cycling time-trial performance (TT20 km) in a male cyclist with knee osteoarthritis (OA). After a 4-week control period, a 9-week (2 days/week) intervention period started. Pre- and post-intervention TT20 km, peak oxygen consumption (VO_2peak), power output of the 1st and 2nd ventilatory thresholds (1st W_VT and 2nd W_VT), maximum power output (W_max), TTE, muscle strength and CSA_VL of both legs were measured. Training intensity was fixed at 30% of W_max while the duration was progressively increased from 12 min to 24 min. There was a reduction in time to complete TT20 km (−1%) with increases in TT20 km mean power output (3.9%), VO_2peak (11.4%), 2nd W_VT (8.3%), W_max (3.8%), TTE (15.5%), right and left legs maximal strength (1.3% and 8.5%, respectively) and CSA_VL (3.3% and 3.7%, respectively). There was no alteration in 1st W_VT. Based on the results, we suggest that LI + BFR may be a promising training strategy to improve the performance of knee-injured cyclists with knee OA.

The effects of plyometric training (PT) on middle‐ and long‐distance running performances are well established. However, its influence on pacing behaviour is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PT on pacing behaviour. In addition, verify whether the adaptations induced by PT would change ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and/or affective feelings during the race. Twenty‐eight male runners were assigned to two groups: control (C) and PT. PT held two weekly PT sessions for eight weeks. Drop jump (DJ) performance, 10‐km running performance, pacing behaviour, RPE and affective feelings, VO_2peak, ventilatory thresholds (VT1 and VT2), peak treadmill speed (PTS), and running economy (RE) were measured. For group comparisons, a mixed model analysis for repeated measures, effect size (ES) and 90% confidence interval (90% CI) were calculated for all dependent variables. Significant differences pre‐to‐post was observed for PT group in DP (7.2%; p ≤ 0.01; ES = 0.56 (0.28–0.85)) and RE (4.5%; p ≤ 0.05; ES = −0.52 ((−0.73 to −0.31)) without changes in pacing behaviour. While PT was effective for improving DJ and RE, there is no evidence that pacing behaviour, RPE or affective feelings are directly affected by these adaptations during a 10‐km time trial run.