Muscle hypertrophy, strength development, and serum hormones during strength training in elderly women with fibromyalgia.

To examine the effects of strength training on maximal force, cross-sectional area (CSA), and electromyographic (EMG) activity of muscles and serum hormone concentrations in elderly females with fibromyalgia (FM).Twenty-six patients with FM were randomly assigned to a training (FMT; n = 13; mean age 60 years) or a control (FMC; n = 13; 59 years) group. FMT performed progressive strength training twice a week for 21 weeks. The measurements included maximal isometric and concentric leg extension forces, EMG activity of the vastus lateralis and medialis, CSA of the quadriceps femoris, and serum concentrations of testosterone (T), free testosterone (FT), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth…

Kaularangan koukistaja- ja ojentajalihasten isometrinen voima, voima-aika -käyrä ja lihaskestävyys terveillä 18-55 -vuotiailla miehillä ja naisilla

Maximal force, force/time and activation/coactivation characteristics of the neck muscles in extension and flexion in healthy men and women at different ages

This study examined the force production characteristics, activation/coactivation and endurance capacity of the neck extension and flexion muscles in healthy men (n=29) and women (n=28) divided into three age groups (18–26 years, 30–37 years and 45–55 years). Force and electromyography (EMG) measurements were performed during the maximal voluntary isometric extension and flexion actions. This was followed by an endurance test (ET; 60% force level of maximal voluntary contraction sustained until exhaustion), after which the force and EMG recordings were repeated. Men were both stronger and had higher values (P<0.001) for explosive force (rate of force development, RFD) than women in both act…

Acute heavy-resistance exercise–induced pain and neuromuscular fatigue in elderly women with fibromyalgia and in healthy controls: Effects of strength training

Objective To examine heavy-resistance exercise–induced acute neuromuscular fatigue, blood lactate concentration, and muscle pain in elderly women with fibromyalgia (FM) and in healthy controls before and after a period of strength training. Methods Thirteen elderly women with FM (mean ± SD age 60 ± 2 years) and 10 healthy women (mean ± SD age 64 ± 3 years) performed a heavy-resistance fatiguing protocol (5 sets of leg presses with 10 repetitions maximum) before and after a 21-week strength training period. Maximal isometric force and electromyography (EMG) activity of leg extensors and blood lactate concentration were measured during the loading. Pain was assessed by visual analog scale. Re…

Effects of aerobic and strength training on aerobic capacity, muscle strength, and gene expression of lymphomonocytes in patients with stable CAD

This study examined the effectiveness, suitability, and safety of a mixed interval-type aerobic and strength training program (MIAST) on physical fitness in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) without history of myocardial infarction (MI). Twenty-three patients with stable CAD were randomly assigned to a MIAST (n = 12; mean age 58.6 years) or control (n = 11; 63.3 years) group. The MIAST group participated in the progressive training program twice a week for 21 weeks. Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), workload, and exercise time were measured as were maximal muscle strength, serum lipids, glucose concentration, and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of knee extensors. The safety and …

Effects of Concurrent Strength and Endurance Training on Physical Fitness and Symptoms in Postmenopausal Women With Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract Valkeinen H, Alen M, Hakkinen A, Hannonen P, Kukkonen-Harjula K, Hakkinen K. Effects of concurrent strength and endurance training on physical fitness and symptoms in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial. Objective To examine the effectiveness of concurrent strength and endurance training on muscle strength, aerobic and functional performance, and symptoms in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia (FM). Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Local gym and university research laboratory. Participants Twenty-six women with FM. Intervention Progressive and supervised 21-week concurrent strength and endurance training. Main Outcome Measures Muscle …

Physical Fitness in Postmenopausal Women with Fibromyalgia

The purpose of this study was to compare physical fitness and health-related quality-of-life between twenty-three postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia (age 58 +/- 3 years) and eleven healthy women (58 +/- 5 years). Aerobic fitness and isometric force of different muscle groups were measured. Functional performance was assessed by walking and stair-climbing times. Symptoms were assessed by visual analog scale and quality-of-life by RAND-36 questionnaire. Women with fibromyalgia had significantly lower isometric force in bilateral leg extensors (1285 vs. 1898 N), unilateral knee extensors (414 vs. 502 N) and flexors (197 vs. 235 N) than healthy women, but no differences were observed in for…

Physical fitness, pain and fatigue in postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia : effects of strength training

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic non-inflammatory pain syndrome characterized mainly by widespread pain, fatigue and sleep disturbance. Its pathophysiology is still unknown and no curative treatment exists. Exercise training is usually recommended to persons with FM as one part of the treatment program; however, strength training has been studied very seldom in persons with FM.The purpose of this thesis was 1) to compare neuromuscular and aerobic performance, functional capacity, pain and fatigue between postmenopausal women with fibromyalgia (FMW) and healthy women (HW) and 2) to examine the acute responses of heavy resistance fatiguing loading and the effects of regular strength training on…

Selective muscle hypertrophy, changes in EMG and force, and serum hormones during strength training in older women.

Effects of strength training (ST) for 21 wk were examined in 10 older women (64 ± 3 yr). Electromyogram, maximal isometric force, one-repetition maximum strength, and rate of force development of the leg extensors, muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the quadriceps femoris (QF) and of vastus lateralis (VL), medialis (VM), intermedius (VI) and rectus femoris (RF) throughout the lengths of 3/12–12/15 (Lf) of the femur, muscle fiber proportion and areas of types I, IIa, and IIb of the VL were evaluated. Serum hormone concentrations of testosterone, growth hormone (GH), cortisol, and IGF-I were analyzed for the resting, preexercise, and postexercise conditions. After the 21-wk ST, maximal for…