New Citations | The secret is always exercise!

Recent Exercise Physiology studies feature BIOPAC’s MP Research series of Data Collection recorders and AcqKnowledge software. These studies promote healthy living and observe muscle response to normal physiological motions during exercise!

Trampoline Workouts for Seniors?

Instant muscle activation caused by trampoline jumps may help muscle health.

As we get older, our joints ache and muscles stiffen—but scientists are finding new ways to not only help us live longer but also live healthier lives as we age. Keeping core muscle groups taut and fit is crucial to physical health as we age; in this study, the research team used test subjects with a mean age of 69! This paper documents a test of plyometric exercises, which involved a trampoline-based jump routine, to measure muscle gain. BIOPAC’s EMG 100C amplifier recorded Electromyographic activity during the jump routine, which was analyzed with AcqKnowledge software.

Read the full study: Bouncing Back! Counteracting Muscle Aging With Plyometric Muscle Loading (Martino V. Franchi, Elena Monti, Austin Carter, Jonathan I. Quinlan, Philip J. J. Herrod, Neil D. Reeves, Marco V. Narici)

Pressure Point Massages Easing Muscle Pain

One of the problems with accurately diagnosing pain involves the reliability and pain tolerance of the subject. With this handicap, it is difficult to adequately and repeatedly treat pain, depending on the source and frequency of discomfort. As a means to test relief for sore and painful muscles in the spinal region, researchers tested sensitivity to muscle pressure release using BIOPAC MP160 Data Recorders. With a triple-blind, sham-controlled crossover study, Subjects were unaware of particularly what was being tested, allowing researchers to measure muscle release without subject bias.

Read the full study: Immediate biomechanical, systemic, and interoceptive effects of myofascial release on the thoracic spine: A randomised controlled trial (Ellie Cathcart, Terence McSweeney, Ross Johnston, Hayley Young, Darren J. Edwards)

Keep Your Feet on the floor! 

The bench press is a popular modern workout, lifting a weight bar straight up, lying on one’s back on a cushioned bench. Common lifting form involves keeping your feet on the floor during the routine for stability, but is that necessary for proper form and strength training for the upper body? This study measured muscle activity in the upper extremities, to see how leg motion and placement may change the upper actions.

Read the full study: Leg-drive Does Note Affect Upper Extremity Muscle Activation during a Bench Press Exercise (Jacob K. Gardner, Justin T. Chia, Kelsey L. Miller)