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Our purpose in this study was to analyze perceptual and cardiovascular responses in low-load resistance training (RT) sessions associated with a fixed non-elastic band compressed to the proximal region of the arms (p-BFR) versus a pneumatic cuff inflated to a pressure of 150 mmHg (t-BFR). Participants (16 healthy trained men) were randomly assigned to two conditions of low-load RT (20% one repetition maximum [1RM]) with BFR (p-BFR or t-BFR). In both conditions, the participants performed five exercises (4 sets/30-15-15-15) for the upper-limbs, but in one of the conditions, the exercises were performed with a p-BFR induced by a non-elastic band, while in the other, the exercises were performed with a t-BFR using a device with similar width. The devices used to generate the BFR had similar widths (5 cm). Brachial blood pressure (bBP) and heart rate (HR) were measured before, after each exercise and after the experimental session (5-, 10-, 15-, and 20 min post-session). Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and rating of pain perception (RPP) were reported after each exercise and 15 minutes post-session. HR increased during the training session in both conditions, with no differences between p-BFR and t-BFR. Neither intervention increased diastolic BP (DBP) during training, but there was a significant post-session reduction in DBP in the p-BFR, with no differences observed between conditions. There were no significant differences in RPE and RPP in the two training conditions, with both conditions associated with higher RPE and RPP at the end versus beginning of the experimental session. We conclude that when BFR device width and material are similar, low-load training with t-BFR and p-BFR promotes similar acute perceptual and cardiovascular responses in healthy trained men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Resistant hypertension (RH) treatment requires an adequate and intense therapeutic approach. However, the results are not always satisfactory despite intensive treatment. Of the different pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of RH, sympathetic overstimulation and therapies that block the sympathetic system have been widely studied. These approaches, however, are invasive and expensive. Another possible approach is by transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a noninvasive method that modulates activity by using low-frequency transcutaneous electrical stimulation to inhibit primary afferent pathways. Thus, the current study will evaluate the effect of applying TENS in the cervicothoracic region of subjects with RH and will seek to develop a new low-cost and readily available therapy to treat this group of hypertensive individuals.Methods/design: This is a randomized, single blind (subject), parallel-assignment study controlled with a sham group and including participants aged 40 to 70 years with resistant hypertension. The trial has two arms: the treatment and control (sham group). The treatment group will be submitted to the stimulation procedure (TENS). The sham group will not be submitted to stimulation. The primary outcomes will be a reduction in the peripheral blood pressure and adverse events. The secondary outcomes will be a reduction the central blood pressure. The study will last 30 days. The sample size was calculated assuming an alpha error of 5 % to reject the null hypothesis with a statistical power of 80 %, thereby resulting in 28 participants per group (intervention versus sham).Discussion: In recent decades, RH has become very common and costly. Adequate control requires several drugs, and in many cases, treatment is not successful. Sympathetic nervous system inhibition by renal denervation and central inhibition have significant effects in reducing BP; however, these treatments are costly and invasive. Another type of sympathetic nervous system inhibition can also be noninvasively achieved by electric current. Therefore, the application of TENS may be a new therapeutic option for treating resistant hypertensive individuals.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NCT02365974. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart rate variability (HRV) and surface electromyography (sEMG) are important tools in the evaluation of cardiac autonomic system and neuromuscular parameters, respectively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the behavior of HRV and sEMG of the vastus lateralis in two exercise protocols on a cycle ergometer at 60 and 80 rpm. Eight healthy men cyclists who have trained for at least two years were evaluated. Reduction was observed followed by stabilization of RMSSD and SDNN indices of HRV (p<0.05) along with increases in the amplitude of the sEMG signal (p<0.05) in both protocols. Significant correlations were observed between the responses of HRV and sEMG in the cadence of 60 rpm (RMSSD and sEMG: r = -0.42, p=0.03; SDNN and sEMG: r = -0.45, p=0.01) and 80 rpm (RMSSD and sEMG: r = -0.47, p=0.02; SDNN and sEMG: r = -0.49, p=0.01), yet no difference was observed for these variables between the two protocols. We concluded that the parasympathetic cardiac responses and sEMG are independent of cadences applied at the same power output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Music has been proven to promote changes in cardiac autonomic modulation. However, it is not clear whether the effects of the auditory stimulation on heart rate variability (HRV) are dependent on its intensity.Objective: The study intended to investigate the acute effects on the geometric HRV indices of auditory stimulation with heavy metal and baroque music using different intensities of auditory stimulation.Design: The study was a nonrandomized, clinical trial.Setting: The study was conducted at the facility of the Faculty of Sciences of the São Paulo State University, on the campus in Marilia, Brazil.Participants: Participants were 24 healthy women aged between 18 and 27 y.Intervention: HRV was recorded for each participant for 10 min at rest. Subsequently, participants were exposed to baroque or heavy metal music through an earphone. They were exposed to 3 equivalent sound levels-60-70 decibels (dB), 70-80 dB, and 80-90 dB-for 5 min in each intensity range. After the first session of baroque or heavy metal music, participants rested for an additional 5 min. Then they were exposed to the other musical style. The first style played for each musical period was randomly selected for all individuals and then the other style would be played automatically for the second session.Outcome Measures: The HRV analysis was performed using the following geometrical methods: (1) the triangular index (RRtri), (2) the triangular interpolation of the RR interval histogram (TINN), and (3) the Poincaré plot, using SD1-the standard deviation of the instantaneous variability of the beat-to beat heart rate (HR), SD2-the standard deviation of the long-term, continuous, RR interval variability, and the SD1/SD2 ratio-the ratio between the short- and long-term variations among the RR intervals.Results: The classic baroque music by Johann Pachelbel, "Canon in D Major," did not induce significant changes in the geometric indices of HRV at 60-70 dB, 70-80 dB, or 80-90 dB. However, auditory stimulation with heavy metal music, using "Heavy Metal Universe" by Gamma Ray, decreased the RRtri, TINN, and SD2 at 2 specific sound pressures (60-70 dB and 80-90 dB).Conclusions: Auditory stimulation with the selected baroque music did not alter cardiac autonomic modulation, but the selected, heavy metal style of music in the lower and higher intensities reduced the global component of HRV acutely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to compare the acute cardiovascular responses during and after resistance exercise with and without whole-body vibration. Nineteen sedentary adults randomly performed one session of isometric squats without vibration and the same exercise with vibration. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were measured. SBP, DBP and HR were also measured for 20 min after the sessions. The exercise with vibration demonstrated significant values ​​(P< 0.05) for SBP (second to sixth sets), DBP (third to sixth sets) and SVR (second to sixth sets) compared with the exercise without vibration. After the sessions, the values ​​of SBP for both exercises were significantly lower than the respective resting values; with no difference between the sessions. In conclusion, exercise with vibration caused increases in SBP, DBP and SVR compared with exercise with no vibration in sedentary adults. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]