Cardiovascular risk and androgenic anabolic steroids
- Authors: Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Grace, Fergal , Angell, Peter , Baker, Julien , George, Keith
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Cardiac Nursing Vol. 7, no. 6 (2013), p. 266-275
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Although several drugs are purported to improve exercise performance, androgenic anabolic steroids (AAS) are the most widespread. Furthermore, unlike other drugs, their use has expanded beyond competition, to non-competitive and recreational athletes. Correspondingly health professionals are more likely to come into contact with users of AAS than with users of other performance-enhancing drugs. While there are numerous reports outlining serious cardiovascular consequences to high-dose AAS abuse, this evidence is often limited by difficulties in gaining access to users due to the legal status of AAS. Additionally the co-abuse of other substances (as additional muscle mass enhancers, or to mitigate possible side effects) is a further confounding factor. This review examines the evidence for AAS having a negative effect on the cardiac and vascular tissue and the corresponding risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Possible mechanisms of action by which AAS bring about these changes are also discussed.
Utility of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype in the cardiometabolic risk assessment of youth stratified by body mass index
- Authors: Buchan, Duncan , Boddy, Lynne , Despres, Jean , Grace, Fergal , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Mahoney, Craig , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Pediatric Obesity Vol. 11, no. 4 (2016), p. 292-298
- Full Text: false
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- Description: BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype (HTWP) can be used to identify those at most risk of cardiometabolic disorders. OBJECTIVES: The utility of the HTWP as a useful predictor of cardiometabolic risk in youth stratified by body mass index was assessed. METHODS: Three hundred and eighty-seven children (12-17.5 years) were used within this cross-sectional study. Participants were classified as normal weight or overweight/obese according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. The HTWP phenotype was defined as having a waist circumference >/=90th percentile for age and gender with concomitant triglyceride concentrations >/=1.24 mmol L(-1) . Cardiometabolic risk profiles were compared using MANCOVA. RESULTS: Normal weight participants with the HTWP had significantly higher levels of C-reactive protein 2.6 +/- 0.4 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.3 mg L(-1) (P < 0.05) and cardiometabolic risk scores (1.3 +/- 0.3 vs. -0.7 +/- 0.2 and 2.1 +/- 0.4 vs. -0.5 +/- 0.2; both P < 0.05) compared with those of a normal weight without the HTWP. Overweight/obese participants with the HTWP had significantly higher C-reactive protein levels (3.5 +/- 0.6 vs. 2.6 +/- 0.5; P < 0.05) as well as both cardiometabolic risk scores (1.6 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2 and 2.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.2; both P < 0.001) when compared with overweight/obese participants without the HTWP. CONCLUSIONS: The HTWP may serve as a simple and clinically useful approach to identify youth at increased cardiometabolic risk.
Commercial golf glove effects on golf performance and forearm muscle activity
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Darroch, Paul , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 25, no. 4 (2017), p. 451-461
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The study aimed to determine whether or not commercial golf gloves influence performance variables and forearm muscle activity during golf play. Fifteen golfers participated in the laboratory based study, each performing 8 golf swings with a Driver and 7-iron whilst wearing a glove and 8 without wearing the glove. Club head speed, ball speed and absolute carry distance performance variables were calculated. Surface electromyography was recorded from the flexor digitorum superficialis and extensor carpi radialis brevis on both forearm muscles. Club head speed, ball speed and absolute carry distance was significantly higher when using the Driver with the glove in comparison to the Driver without the glove (p < 0.05). No significant differences were evident when using the 7-iron and no significant differences were displayed in muscle activity in either of the conditions. Findings from this study suggest that driving performance is improved when wearing a glove.
Evidence of direct cardiac damage following high-intensity exercise in chronic energy restriction : A case report and literature review
- Authors: Baird, Marianne , Grace, Fergal , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Graham, Scott , Fleming, Audrey , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Medicine Vol. 96, no. 27 (2017), p. 1-7
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- Description: Rationale: Following prolonged endurance events such as marathons, elevated levels of cardiospecific biomarkers are commonly reported. Although transiently raised levels are generally not considered to indicate clinical myocardial damage, comprehension of this phenomenon remains incomplete. The popularity of high-intensity interval training highlights a paucity of research measuring cardiac biomarker response to this type of exercise. This a posteriori case report discusses the elevation of cardiac troponins (cTn) associated with short interval, high-intensity exercise. Patient concerns: In this case report, an apparently healthy 29-year-old recreationally active female presented clinically raised cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels (>0.04 ng/mL), after performing high-intensity cycle ergometer sprints. As creatine kinase (CK) is expressed by multiple organs (e.g., skeletal muscle, brain, and myocardium), cTnI assays were performed to determine any changes in total serum CK levels not originating from skeletal muscle damage. Diagnosis: A posteriori the individual's daily energy expenditure indicated chronically low-energy availability. Psychometric testing suggested that the individual scored positive for disordered eating, highly for fatigue levels, and low in mental health components. Outcomes: The current case report provides novel evidence of elevated cTnI occurring as a result of performing short duration, high intensity, cycle ergometer exercise in an individual with self-reported chronically depleted energy balance. A schematic to identify potentially “at risk” individuals is presented. Lessons: Considering this as a case report, results cannot be generalized; however, the main findings suggest that individuals who habitually restrict their calorie intake below their bodies’ daily energy requirements, may have elevated biomarkers of exercise induced myocardial stress from performing high-intensity exercise.
Sprint interval training and the school curriculum : Benefits upon cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity profiles, and cardiometabolic risk profiles of healthy adolescents
- Authors: Martin-Smith, Rhona , Buchan, Duncan , Baker, Julien , Macdonald, Mhairi , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Easton, Chris , Knox, Allan , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Pediatric Exercise Science Vol. 31, no. 3 (2019), p. 296-305
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- Description: Background: This study examined the impact of a 4-week school-based sprint interval training program on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), daily physical activity (PA) behavior, and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) outcomes in adolescents. Methods: A total of 56 adolescents (22 females) were allocated to either an intervention (n = 22; 17.0 [0.3] y) or control group (n = 30; 16.8 [0.5] y). Intervention group performed 5 to 6, 30 second "all out" running sprints, interspersed with 30-second rest intervals, 3 times per week, for 4 consecutive weeks, whereas control group performed their normal physical education lessons. CRF was estimated from the 20-m multistage fitness test and PA behavior was determined using accelerometry. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure biochemical markers of CMR. Results: Significant group x time interactions were observed for CRF (5.03 [1.66 to 8.40]; P < .001; d = 0.95), sedentary time (136.15 [91.91 to 180.39]; P = .004; d = 1.8), moderate PA (57.20 [32.17 to 82.23]; P < .001; d = 1.5), vigorous PA (5.40 [4.22 to 6.57]; P < .001; d = 1.2), fasting insulin (0.37 [-0.48 to 1.21]; P = .01; d = 1.0), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (0.26 [0.15 to 0.42]; P < .001; d = 0.9), and clustered CMR score (0.22 [-0.05 to 0.68]; P < .001; d = 10.63). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate that 4 weeks of school-based sprint interval training improves CRF, improves PA profiles, and maintains CMR in adolescents during the school term.
Exercise-induced responses in salivary testosterone, cortisol, and their ratios in men : A meta-analysis
- Authors: Hayes, Lawrence , Grace, Fergal , Baker, Julien , Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sports Medicine Vol. 45, no. 5 (2015), p. 713-726
- Full Text: false
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- Description: BACKGROUND: Testosterone, cortisol and their ratios may be indicators of anabolic status, but technical issues surrounding blood sampling has limited wider application. The advent of salivary testosterone (sal-T) analysis simplified sample acquisition, resulting in a subsequent rapid increase in the number of published research articles. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to undertake a meta-analysis to determine the effect of acute exercise bouts on post exercise sal-T and salivary cortisol (sal-C) concentrations and their ratio (sal-T:C). DATA SOURCES: Relevant databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and SPORTDiscus were searched up to and including 31 December 2013 for the term 'saliva AND testosterone AND exercise'. STUDY SELECTION: Studies (n = 21) selected from the 933 identified included randomised controlled trials (RCTs; n = 2), uncontrolled trials (UCTs; n = 18) and control trials (CTs; n = 1), all of which had an exercise component characterised as either aerobic, resistance or power training, each with acute sal-T and sal-C measurement obtained within 30 min of exercise bout completion. STUDY APPRAISAL AND SYNTHESIS METHODS: A meta-analysis was conducted on change in sal-T, sal-C and the sal-T:C ratio following exercise using standard difference in means (SDM) and a random effects model. RESULTS: For aerobic, resistance and power exercise, the overall SDMs for sal-T were 0.891, 1.061 and 0.509, respectively; for sal-C, the SDMs were 3.041, 0.773 and 1.200, respectively. For sal-T:C, the SDMs were -2.014, 0.027 and -0.968, respectively. RCTs, UCTs and CTs were separated by subgroup analysis. There were significant differences in overall weighted SDM values for sal-T between RCTs, UCTs and CTs within exercise modes. When examining aerobic exercise interventions, a quantitative interaction of study design was observed. RCTs resulted in a greater SDM than UCTs (1.337 vs. 0.446). Power interventions displayed a qualitative interaction with study design. UCTs where baseline measures were obtained 24 h before exercise had an SDM of -1.128, whereas UCTs where baseline was determined immediately prior to exercise had an SDM of 0.486. The single CT trial had an SDM of 2.260. Resistance exercise interventions were primarily UCTs; however, an observed influence of baseline sampling time whereby immediately pre- and 24 h pre-exercise resulted in differing SDMs. The sole resistance exercise RCTs resulted in the greatest SDM (2.500). CONCLUSION: The current body of evidence regarding acute responses of sal-T to exercise is weak. This meta-analysis identifies varying exercise-dependent effect sizes. Each appear to be greatly influenced by study design and sample timing. There is a need for more RCTs and a standardised methodology for the measurement of salivary hormones in order to better determine the effect of exercise modality.
Six weeks of conditioning exercise increases total, but not free testosterone in lifelong sedentary aging men
- Authors: Hayes, Lawrence , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Herbert, Peter , Baker, Julien , Spagna, Roberto , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Aging Male Vol. 18, no. 3 (2015), p. 195-200
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- Description: INTRODUCTION: Advancing age is associated with a gradual decline in circulating androgens, and the putative role of exercise training on systemic androgens remains to be adequately defined. METHODS: The present investigation examined the impact of 6 weeks of supervised exercise training on resting levels of systemic hormones in a cohort of lifelong sedentary men [SED (n = 28), 62.5 +/- 5.3 years], compared with a positive control group of age-matched lifelong exercisers [LE (n = 20), 60.4 +/- 4.7 years, >30 years training history]. Blood hormones were sampled pre- and post-intervention from an antecubital forearm vein and analysed using electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. Cardiorespiratory fitness ([Formula: see text]) was determined via indirect calorimetry during an incremental cycle test to volitional exhaustion. RESULTS: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed a lack of significant change in any parameter amongst LE, whilst SED experienced a significant exercise-induced improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness and total testosterone (all p < 0.05). Concurrent increases in sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG; p < 0.05) resulted in a lack of change to either bioavailable or calculated free testosterone (p > 0.05) amongst SED. CONCLUSIONS: Although resting levels of systemic total testosterone increased in response to 6 weeks of exercise training, increases in SHBG negated any potential relationship between calculated-free or bioavailable testosterone. These findings indicate that increases in bioavailable testosterone fraction are not required for cardiorespiratory fitness improvements in aging men.
The effects of a formal exercise training programme on salivary hormone concentrations and body composition in previously sedentary aging men
- Authors: Hayes, Lawrence , Grace, Fergal , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Herbert, Peter , Ratcliffe, John , Kilduff, Liam , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: SpringerPlus Vol. 2, no. 18 (2013), p. 1-5
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- Description: Alteration in body composition, physical function, and substrate metabolism occur with advancing age. These changes may be attenuated by exercise. This study examined whether twenty eight, previously sedentary males (62.5 +/- 5.3 years of age; body mass of 89.7 +/- 16.4 kg) adhering to the ACSM minimum guidelines for aerobic exercise for six weeks would improve exercise capabilities, body composition and salivary hormone profiles. After six weeks of adhering to the guidelines, salivary testosterone and vo(2max) (absolute and relative) increased (p < 0.05), whilst body fat percentage and body mass decreased (p < 0.05). Peak power output, fat free mass and cortisol values were not significantly different. Interestingly, salivary testosterone correlated inversely with body fat percentage (R(2) = .285, p = 0.011). These results suggest that despite previous inactivity, older males can achieve improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and anabolism by adhering to simple lifestyle changes.
Electromyographic analyses of the erector spinae muscles during golf swings using four different clubs
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Sports Sciences Vol. 36, no. 7 (2017), p. 717-723
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The purpose of this study was to compare the electromyography (EMG) patterns of the thoracic andlumbar regions of the erector spinae (ES) muscle during the golf swing whilst using four different golfclubs. Fifteen right-handed male golfers performed a total of twenty swings in random order using thedriver, 4-iron, 7-iron and pitching-wedge. Surface EMG was recorded from the lead and trail sides of thethoracic and lumbar regions of the ES muscle (T8, L1 and L5 lateral to the spinous-process). Three-dimensional high-speed video analysis was used to identify the backswing, forward swing, acceleration,early and late follow-through phases of the golf swing. No significant differences in muscle-activationlevels from the lead and trail sides of the thoracic and lumbar regions of the ES muscle were displayedbetween the driver, 4-iron, 7-iron and pitching-wedge (P > 0.05). The highest mean thoracic and lumbarES muscle-activation levels were displayed in the forward swing (67–99% MVC) and acceleration (83–106% MVC) phases of the swing for all clubs tested. The findings from this study show that there wereno significant statistical differences between the driver, 4-iron, 7-iron and pitching-wedge whenexamining muscle activity from the thoracic and lumbar regions of the ES muscle.
Evidence from randomised controlled trials does not support current dietary fat guidelines : A systematic review and meta-analysis
- Authors: Harcombe, Zoe , Baker, Julien , DiNicolantonio, James , Grace, Fergal , Davies, Bruce
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Open Heart Vol. 3, no. 2 (2016), p. e000409
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- Description: OBJECTIVES: National dietary guidelines were introduced in 1977 and 1983, by the USA and UK governments, respectively, with the ambition of reducing coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality by reducing dietary fat intake. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis by the present authors, examining the randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence available to the dietary committees during those time periods, found no support for the recommendations to restrict dietary fat. The present investigation extends our work by re-examining the totality of RCT evidence relating to the current dietary fat guidelines. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs currently available, which examined the relationship between dietary fat, serum cholesterol and the development of CHD, was undertaken. RESULTS: The systematic review included 62 421 participants in 10 dietary trials: 7 secondary prevention studies, 1 primary prevention and 2 combined. The death rates for all-cause mortality were 6.45% and 6.06% in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The risk ratio (RR) from meta-analysis was 0.991 (95% CI 0.935 to 1.051). The death rates for CHD mortality were 2.16% and 1.80% in the intervention and control groups, respectively. The RR was 0.976 (95% CI 0.878 to 1.084). Mean serum cholesterol levels decreased in all intervention groups and all but one control group. The reductions in mean serum cholesterol levels were significantly greater in the intervention groups; this did not result in significant differences in CHD or all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The current available evidence found no significant difference in all-cause mortality or CHD mortality, resulting from the dietary fat interventions. RCT evidence currently available does not support the current dietary fat guidelines. The evidence per se lacks generalisability for population-wide guidelines.
Utility of three anthropometric indices in assessing the cardiometabolic risk profile in children
- Authors: Buchan, Duncan , Boddy, Lynne , Grace, Fergal , Brown, Elise , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Cunningham, Conor , Murphy, Marie , Dagger, Rebecca , Foweather, Lawrence , Graves, Lee , Hopkins, Nicola , Stratton, Gareth , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of Human Biology Vol. , no. (2016), p. 1-10
- Full Text: false
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- Description: OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ability of BMI, WC, and WHtR to identify increased cardiometabolic risk in pre-adolescents. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 192 children (10.92 +/- 0.58 years, 56% female) from the United Kingdom between 2010 and 2013. Receiver operating characteristic curves determined the discriminatory ability of BMI, WC and WHtR to identify individuals with increased cardiometabolic risk (increased clustered triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, cardiorespiratory fitness, and glucose). RESULTS: A WHtR >/= 0.5 increased the odds by 5.2 (95% confidence interval 2.6 - 10.3) of having increased cardiometabolic risk. Similar associations were observed for BMI and WC. Both BMI-z and WHtR were fair predictors of increased cardiometabolic risk, although BMI-z demonstrated the best trade-off between sensitivity and specificity, 76.1% and 63.6%, compared with 68.1% and 65.5% for WHtR. Cross-validation analysis revealed that BMI-z and WHtR correctly classified 84% of individuals (kappa score = 0.671, 95% CI 0.55, 0.79). The sensitivity of the cut-points suggests that 89.3% of individuals were correctly classified as being at risk with only 10.7% misdiagnosed whereas the specificity of the cut-points indicated that 77.8% of individuals were correctly identified as being healthy with 22.2% of individuals incorrectly diagnosed as being at risk. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that WHtR provides similar cardiometabolic risk estimates to age and sex adjusted BMI.
Resting steroid hormone concentrations in lifetime exercisers and lifetime sedentary males
- Authors: Hayes, Lawrence , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Herbert, Peter , Baker, Julien , Hullin, David , Kilduff, Liam , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Aging Male Vol. 18, no. 1 (2015), p. 22-26
- Full Text: false
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- Description: INTRODUCTION: Advancing age in men is associated with a progressive decline in serum testosterone (T) and interactions between exercise, aging and androgen status are poorly understood. The primary aim of this study was to establish the influence of lifelong training history on serum T, cortisol (C) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in aging men. A secondary aim was to determine the agreement between serum and salivary measurement of steroid hormones in ageing men. METHODS: Serum and salivary steroid hormones (serum C, T and SHBG, and salivary measures of C and T) were determined and compared between two distinct groups; lifelong exercising males (LE [n = 20], 60.4 +/- 4.7 year) and age matched lifelong sedentary individuals (SED [n = 28], 62.5 +/- 5.3 years). RESULTS: T-test revealed a lack of significant differences for serum C or SHBG between LE and SED, while Mann-Whitney U revealed a lack of differences in total T (TT), bioavailable T (bio-T) or free testosterone (free-T). Further, salivary T (sal-T) did not correlate with serum markers of T in LE, SED, or when pooled (r = 0.040; p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this investigation suggested that resting levels of serum T and calculated free-T was unable to distinguish between diverse lifelong training histories in aging men. Further, sal-T was not an appropriate indicator of serum T and calculated free-T values in older males and considerable caution should be exercised when interpreting sal-T measurements in aging males.
Strength adaptation to squat exercise is different between Caucasian and South Asian novice exercisers
- Authors: Knox, Allan , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Baker, Julien , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 25, no. 3 (2017), p. 373-383
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This study compared the progression of muscular strength (MS) adaptation between age-matched Caucasian (CAUC) and South Asian (SOU) men during 6 weeks (3x week-1) of resistance training. MS was determined pre and post intervention by 3-repetition maximum (3RM) strength tests, and data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Pre-intervention upper and lower body 3RM were similar between groups and both upper and lower body 3RM increased in CAUCs (P < .001) and SOUs (P < .001) following resistance training. However, lower body strength adaptation (3RM) was higher in CAUCs compared with SOUs (P = .002). There was a significant group x time interaction in strength progression of the squat exercise (P = 0.03) from session 7 through to 18 (completion). The present study offers novel but provisional data that lower body strength adaptation is slower in SOU than CAUC men despite comparable adaptation to upper body strength.
Perspectives on Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and doping in sport and health
- Authors: Grace, Fergal , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Edited book
- Full Text: false
Exercise
- Authors: Grace, Fergal , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Perinatal mental health - A Clinical guide Part 6. Chapter 31 p. 389-401
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Health pregnant women are encouraged to partake in exercise, which is increasingly being shown to to be beneficial for both the mother and child (Davies et al., 2003; Dempsey et al., 2005). While exercise training during pregnancy is common practice among a subgroup of physically active women, pregnancy and postpartum studies reveal there is generally a high risk for inactivity among pregnant womwn, with signficant reductions in previously established levels of activity (Albright and Maddock, 2006; Downs and Hausenbals, 2004; Zhang and Savitz, 1996
Comparison of thoracic and lumbar erector spinae muscle activation before and after a golf practice session
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Applied Biomechanics Vol. 33, no. 4 (2017), p. 288-293
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Lower back pain is commonly associated with golfers. The study aimed: to determine whether thoracic- and lumbar-erector-spinae muscle display signs of muscular fatigue after completing a golf practice session, and to examine the effect of the completed practice session on club head speed, ball speed and absolute carry distance performance variables. Fourteen right-handed male golfers participated in the laboratory-based-study. Surface electromyography (EMG) data was collected from the lead and trail sides of the thoracic- and lumbar-erector-spinae muscle. Normalized root mean squared (RMS) EMG activation levels and performance variables for the golf swings were compared before and after the session. Fatigue was assessed using median frequency (MDF) and RMS during the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) performed before and after the session. No significant differences were observed in RMS thoracic- and lumbar-erector-spinae muscle activation levels during the five phases of the golf swing and performance variables before and after the session (p > .05). Significant changes were displayed in MDF and RMS in the lead lower lumbar and all trail regions of the erector-spinae muscle when comparing the MVC performed before and after the session (p < .05). Fatigue was evident in the trail side of the erector-spinae muscle after the session.
Anabolic steroid use : Patterns of use and detection of doping
- Authors: Graham, Michael , Davies, Bruce , Grace, Fergal , Kicman, Andrew , Baker, Julien
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sports Medicine Vol. 38, no. 6 (2008), p. 505-525
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) were the first identified doping agents that have ergogenic effects and are being used to increase muscle mass and strength in adult males. Consequently, athletes are still using them to increase physical performance and bodybuilders are using them to improve size and cosmetic appearance. The prevalence of AAS use has risen dramatically over the last two decades and filtered into all aspects of society. Support for AAS users has increased, but not by the medical profession, who will not accept that AAS use dependency is a psychiatric condition. The adverse effects and potential dangers of AAS use have been well documented. AAS are used in sport by individuals who have acquired knowledge of the half-lives of specific drugs and the dosages and cycles required to avoid detection. Conversely, they are used by bodybuilders in extreme dosages with the intention of gaining muscle mass and size, with little or no regard for the consequences. Polypharmacy by self-prescription is prevalent in this sector. Most recently, AAS use has filtered through to 'recreational street drug' users and is the largest growth of drugs in this subdivision. They are taken to counteract the anorexic and cachectic effects of the illegal psychotropic street drugs. Screening procedures for AAS in World Anti-Doping Agency accredited laboratories are comprehensive and sensitive and are based mainly on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, although liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry is becoming increasingly more valuable. The use of carbon isotope mass spectrometry is also of increasing importance in the detection of natural androgen administration, particularly to detect testosterone administration. There is a degree of contentiousness in the scenario of AAS drug use, both within and outside sport. AAS and associated doping agents are not illegal per se. Possession is not an offence, despite contravening sporting regulations and moral codes. Until AAS are classified in the same capacity as street drugs in the UK, where possession becomes a criminal offence, they will continue to attract those who want to win at any cost. The knowledge acquired by such work can only assist in the education of individuals who use such doping agents, with a view to minimizing health risks and hopefully once again create a level playing field in sport.
An electromyographic study of the effect of hand grip sizes on forearm muscle activity and golf performance
- Authors: Sorbie, Graeme , Hunter, Henry , Grace, Fergal , Gu, Yaodong , Baker, Julien , Ugbolue, Ukadike
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 24, no. 3 (2016), p. 207-218
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The study describes the differences in surface electromyography (EMG) activity of two forearm muscles in the lead and trail arm at specific phases of the golf swing using a 7-iron with three different grip sizes among amateur and professional golfers. Fifteen right-handed male golfers performed five golf swings using golf clubs with three different grip sizes. Surface EMG was used to measure muscle activity of the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECRB) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) on both forearms. There were no significant differences in forearm muscle activity when using the three golf grips within the group of 15 golfers (p > 0.05). When using the undersize grip, club head speed significantly increased (p = 0.044). During the backswing and downswing phases, amateurs produced significantly greater forearm muscle activity with all three grip sizes (p < 0.05). In conclusion, forearm muscle activity is not affected by grip sizes. However, club head speed increases when using undersize grips.
Validation of a six second cycle test for the determination of peak power output
- Authors: Herbert, Peter , Sculthorpe, Nicholas , Baker, Julien , Grace, Fergal
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in Sports Medicine Vol. 23, no. 2 (2015), p. 115-125
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The present study examined the agreement between peak power output during a standard Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) and a six second 'all-out' test on a Wattbike Pro. Nine males (40.7 +/- 19.4 yrs, 1.76 +/- 0.03 cm, 82.11 +/- 8.9 kg) underwent three testing protocols on separate days. The protocols consisted 30 second WAnT (WAnT30), a modified WAnT over 6 seconds (WAnT6) and a 6 second peak power test (PPT6). PPT6 was correlated with WAnT30 (r = 0.9; p < 0.001) with a mean bias of 105 W. PPT6 correlated with WAnT6 (r = 0.95; p < 0.001) with a mean bias of 74 W. WAnT6 correlated with WAnT30 (r = 0.99; p < 0.001) with a mean bias of 31 W. There was no difference in time to peak power between any trial. PPT6 resulted in significantly greater power outputs than in WAnT30 and WAnT6 (p < 0.001). We conclude that PPT6 and WAnT6 are valid measures of peak power output compared with WAnT30. This identifies that PPT6 and WAnT6 as short duration 'all-out' tests that have practical applications for researchers and coaches who wish to assess peak power output without the fatiguing effects associated with a standard WAnT.
Age related vascular endothelial function following lifelong sedentariness: positive impact of cardiovascular conditioning without further improvement following low frequency high intensity interval training
- Authors: Grace, Fergal , Herbert, Peter , Ratcliffe, John , New, Karl , Baker, Julien , Sculthorpe, Nicholas
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Physiological Reports Vol. 3, no. 1 (2015), p.
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- Description: Aging is associated with diffuse impairments in vascular endothelial function and traditional aerobic exercise is known to ameliorate these changes. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is effective at improving vascular function in aging men with existing disease, but its effectiveness remains to be demonstrated in otherwise healthy sedentary aging. However, the frequency of commonly used HIIT protocols may be poorly tolerated in older cohorts. Therefore, the present study investigated the effectiveness of lower frequency HIIT (LfHIIT) on vascular function in a cohort of lifelong sedentary (SED; n = 22, age 62.7 +/- 5.2 years) men compared with a positive control group of lifelong exercisers (LEX; n = 17, age 61.1 +/- 5.4 years). The study consisted of three assessment phases; enrolment to the study (Phase A), following 6 weeks of conditioning exercise in SED (Phase B) and following 6 weeks of low frequency HIIT in both SED and LEX (LfHIIT; Phase C). Conditioning exercise improved FMD in SED (3.4 +/- 1.5% to 4.9 +/- 1.1%; P < 0.01) such that the difference between groups on enrolment (3.4 +/- 1.5% vs. 5.3 +/- 1.4%; P < 0.01) was abrogated. This was maintained but not further improved following LfHIIT in SED whilst FMD remained unaffected by LfHIIT in LEX. In conclusion, LfHIIT is effective at maintaining improvements in vascular function achieved during conditioning exercise in SED. LfHIIT is a well-tolerated and effective exercise mode for reducing cardiovascular risk and maintaining but does not improve vascular function beyond that achieved by conditioning exercise in aging men, irrespective of fitness level.