1.
Effects of mechanical bed massage on biochemical markers of exercise-induced back muscle fatigue in athletes: A randomized controlled trial.
Zhong, H, Eungpinichpong, W, Wang, X, Chatchawan, U, Wanpen, S, Buranruk, O, Wang, C
Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. 2020;(5):793-800
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many previous studies have explored the effects of manual massage on back muscle fatigue, and most of the mechanical massage techniques imitate manual massage. However, it is unknown whether mechanical and manual massage have the same functions for exercise-induced back muscle fatigue. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of mechanical bed massage on the biochemical markers of exercise-induced back muscle fatigue in male collegiate athletes. METHODS Twenty-eight male collegiate athletes who met the experimental criteria were recruited in this randomized controlled trial, and randomly assigned to a mechanical bed massage group (experimental group) or resting group (control group). The subjects performed eight bouts of reverse sit-up in the prone position and received 20 minutes of the intervention. Creatine kinase, blood lactate, and serum cortisol levels were measured at baseline, after fatigue, after intervention, and after 24 hours. RESULTS The level of serum cortisol of the control group was significantly higher than that of the experimental group after the intervention (p< 0.05). The comparison of the two groups for blood lactate levels showed no significant differences at any of the measurement time-points (p> 0.05). There was no significant difference in creatine kinase levels immediately after the intervention (p> 0.05), but a significant difference in creatine kinase level was observed between the two groups 24 hours later (p< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Significant differences were observed between mechanical bed massage and rest condition on serum cortisol and creatine kinase for exercise-induced muscle fatigue. Therefore, mechanical bed massage may reduce stress and muscle damage for the athlete after training or competition.
2.
The efficacy of a supervised and a home-based core strengthening programme in adults with poor core stability: a three-arm randomised controlled trial.
Chuter, VH, de Jonge, XA, Thompson, BM, Callister, R
British journal of sports medicine. 2015;(6):395-9
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor core stability is linked to a range of musculoskeletal pathologies and core-strengthening programmes are widely used as treatment. Treatment outcomes, however, are highly variable, which may be related to the method of delivery of core strengthening programmes. We investigated the effect of identical 8 week core strengthening programmes delivered as either supervised or home-based on measures of core stability. METHODS Participants with poor core stability were randomised into three groups: supervised (n=26), home-based (n=26) or control (n=26). Primary outcomes were the Sahrmann test and the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) for dynamic core stability and three endurance tests (side-bridge, flexor and Sorensen) for static core stability. The exercise programme was devised and supervised by an exercise physiologist. RESULTS Analysis of covariance on the change from baseline over the 8 weeks showed that the supervised group performed significantly better on all core stability measures than both the home-based and control group. The home-based group produced significant improvements compared to the control group in all static core stability tests, but not in most of the dynamic core stability tests (Sahrmann test and two out of three directions of the SEBT). CONCLUSIONS Our results support the use of a supervised core-strengthening programme over a home-based programme to maximise improvements in core stability, especially in its dynamic aspects. Based on our findings in healthy individuals with low core stability, further research is recommended on potential therapeutic benefits of supervised core-strengthening programmes for pathologies associated with low core stability. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER ACTRN12613000233729.
3.
Interrelations of muscle functional MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI and (31) P-MRS in exercised lower back muscles.
Hiepe, P, Gussew, A, Rzanny, R, Anders, C, Walther, M, Scholle, HC, Reichenbach, JR
NMR in biomedicine. 2014;(8):958-70
Abstract
Exercise-induced changes of transverse proton relaxation time (T2 ), tissue perfusion and metabolic turnover were investigated in the lower back muscles of volunteers by applying muscle functional MRI (mfMRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) before and after as well as dynamic (31) P-MRS during the exercise. Inner (M. multifidus, MF) and outer lower back muscles (M. erector spinae, ES) were examined in 14 healthy young men performing a sustained isometric trunk-extension. Significant phosphocreatine (PCr) depletions ranging from 30% (ES) to 34% (MF) and Pi accumulations between 95% (left ES) and 120%-140% (MF muscles and right ES) were observed during the exercise, which were accompanied by significantly decreased pH values in all muscles (∆pH ≈ -0.05). Baseline T2 values were similar across all investigated muscles (approximately 27 ms at 3 T), but revealed right-left asymmetric increases (T2 ,inc ) after the exercise (right ES/MF: T2 ,inc = 11.8/9.7%; left ES/MF: T2 ,inc = 4.6/8.9%). Analyzed muscles also showed load-induced increases in molecular diffusion D (p = .007) and perfusion fraction f (p = .002). The latter parameter was significantly higher in the MF than in the ES muscles both at rest and post exercise. Changes in PCr (p = .03), diffusion (p < .01) and perfusion (p = .03) were strongly associated with T2,inc , and linear mixed model analysis revealed that changes in PCr and perfusion both affect T2,inc (p < .001). These findings support previous assumptions that T2 changes are not only an intra-cellular phenomenon resulting from metabolic stress but are also affected by increased perfusion in loaded muscles.