Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity Are Associated with Cardiac Fat
Obesity is a primary etiology of many adverse health outcomes. The body has two primary types of fat tissue: subcutaneous fat and visceral fat. Subcutaneous fat is the adipose tissue that lies below the surface of the skin, whereas visceral fat is the adipose tissue that lines the internal organs. Visceral fat, compared to subcutaneous […]
Learning from Experience: Growth Potential of Exercise from Free-Living Protein Synthesis in Men and Women
Skeletal muscle is the engine that drives human health and performance and is influenced by modifiable healthy lifestyle behaviors (i.e., nutrition and exercise) and non-modifiable factors (i.e., sex and age). It is well-established that resistance exercise stimulates the synthesis of skeletal muscle protein (especially the force-generating myofibrillar fraction) for up to 48 hours. This ultimately […]
Sprint Interval Training and Its Effects on Central Hemodynamical Factors
In the last decade, various forms of interval training have gained popularity. In fact, high-intensity interval training has been in the top five in ACSM’s Annual Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends since 2014. Sprint interval training has also gained popularity in recent years. These two forms of interval training are used in many different populations, including patients […]
The Heritage Family Study: Honoring the Past and Looking Forward
In 2022 we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the HERITAGE (HEalth, RIsk factors, exercise Training And GEnetics) Family Study. The May issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise® (MSSE) highlights a multitude of the more than 200 publications and other dissemination products from data generated from this groundbreaking and important research program. The HERITAGE study described the role of […]
Exercise Modality Influences Why Our Muscles Fatigue
During strenuous exercise, the neuromuscular system is repeatedly stressed, causing impairments to occur at various potential sites along the brain-to-muscle pathway. These perturbations cause a reduction in the ability of our muscles to generate force, which can increase our sense of effort, cause us to slow down and reduce our capacity to perform high intensity […]
How Does Exercise Improve Immune Bioenergetics?
Natural killer (NK) cells, which are found in the blood, are crucial in the prevention and treatment of cancer. They function by eliminating malignant tumors in an innate immune manner. NK cells express an array of activating and inhibitory receptors that recognize cancer cells without the need for immunization. Cytotoxicity is a process that results […]
High Intensity Physical Activity in Individuals with Elevated Levels of Coronary Artery Calcium Appears to Be Safe
The 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans notes that there is no obvious “best amount” of physical activity and no evidence of increased risk, even among those that engage in high intensity activities. However, vigorous physical activity may acutely increase the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac death in some individuals. Recent studies have shown that large […]
High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) Enhances Neuroplasticity in Healthy Older Adults
Neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to physiologically change due to our experiences. There is accumulating evidence for the benefits of a single session of aerobic exercise to enhance motor learning and neuroplasticity in young adults. Stationary cycling exercise performed immediately before or after skilled motor practice enhances motor learning that involves movements of […]
Highly Cushioned Shoes Improve Running Performance Even in the Presence of Muscle Damage
From a physiological perspective, long-distance running performance is determined by the interaction of three factors: maximal oxygen uptake, the highest oxygen uptake that can be sustained (at steady-state) and running economy (the amount of oxygen required to transport the body mass over a given distance). While each one of these factors is important to performance, […]
“Mind the Drift” of HR for Accurate Exercise Intensity Implementation in Prolonged Aerobic Exercise
An appropriate and individualized dose of regular aerobic exercise is recommended to promote and preserve cardiorespiratory health throughout life. The exercise dose is defined by four ingredients: frequency, intensity, time and type of exercise. Among these, intensity is the most elusive term of the exercise “prescription.” It is typically determined from an external load (such […]
