Supertraining

Relevant to the recent post:

Resistance training and timed essential amino acids protect against 
the loss of muscle mass and strength during 28 days of bed rest and 
energy deficit.

J Appl Physiol. 2008 May 15. [Epub ahead of print]
Brooks N, Cloutier GJ, Cadena SM, Layne JE, Nelsen CA, Freed AM, 
Roubenoff R, Castaneda-Sceppa C.

Space flight and bed rest (BR) result in losses of muscle mass and 
strength. Resistance training (RT) and amino acid (AA) 
supplementation are potential countermeasures to minimize these 
losses. However, it is unknown if timing of supplementation with 
exercise can optimize benefits, particularly with energy deficit. We 
examined the effect of these countermeasures on body composition, 
strength, and insulin levels in 31 men (ages 31-55 y) during BR (28-
d) followed by active recovery (14-d). Subjects were randomly 
assigned to: essential AA supplementation (AA, n=7); RT with AA given 
3h after training (RT, n=12); or RT with AA given 5min prior to 
training (AART, n=12). 

Energy intake was reduced by 8+/-6%. Mid-thigh muscle area declined 
with BR for the AA>RT>AART groups: (-11, -3, -4%; p=0.05). Similarly, 
greatest losses in lower body muscle strength were seen in the AA 
group (-22%). These were attenuated in the exercising groups [RT (-
8%) and AART (-6%; p<0.05)]. Fat mass and mid-thigh intramuscular fat 
increased after BR in the AA group (+3% and +14%, respectively), and 
decreased in the RT (-5% and -4%) and AART groups (-1 and -5%; 
p=0.05). Muscle mass and strength returned toward baseline after 
recovery but the AA group showed the lowest re-gains. Combined 
resistance training with AA supplementation pre- or post-exercise 
attenuated the losses in muscle mass and strength by ~2/3 compared to 
AA supplement alone during BR and energy deficit. 

These data support the efficacy of combined AA and RT as a 
countermeasure against muscle wasting due to low gravity. Key words: 
bed rest, resistance training, essential amino acids, muscle mass and 
function, energy deficit.

==================
Jamie Carruthers
Wakefield, UK


> --- In [EMAIL PROTECTED], "carruthersjam" 
> <Carruthersjam@> wrote:
> >
> > The below may be of interest:
> > 
> > Swedish space gym being tested by astronauts  
> > 
> > http://www.alphagalileo.org/index.cfm?
> > fuseaction=readrelease&releaseid=529158&ez_search=1
> >  
> > The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) is presently 
> > testing a Swedish space gym. The gym was developed by Per Tesch, 
a 
> > professor at Mid Sweden University in Sweden. The aim is to 
> > counteract muscle atrophy and osteoporosis in astronauts.
> > 
> > Astronauts who spend a long time in space can face problems when 
> they 
> > return to earth. Weightlessness atrophies the muscles and 
> decalcifies 
> > the skeleton. It doesn't help to "pump iron." Barbells and 
> dumbbells 
> > are also weightless on a space voyage. 
> > 
> > But Per Tesch and his colleagues have found a solution that 
> functions 
> > like a reverse yo-yo. The inertia of a rotating flywheel is 
> exploited 
> > to create resistance. The astronaut velcros him/herself in place 
> and 
> > pulls a cord that is connected to the flywheel. The wheel only 
> weighs 
> > a couple of kilos, but its diameter makes the inertia 
considerable, 
> > and the load on the muscles and skeleton is at least as great as 
in 
> > weight training. 
> > 
> > Per Tesch has researched the topic for 15 years on commission 
from 
> > both the Swedish National Space Board and its American 
counterpart, 
> > NASA. The "yo-yo" is now being tested in space for first time. It 
> was 
> > recently delivered by the U.S. space shuttle Atlantis to the ISS, 
> > which is part of a European laboratory. 
> > 
> > "It's fantastic. I have been working a long time for this," says 
> Per 
> > Tesch. 
> > 
> > He hasn't received any reports about how it's going. 
> > 
> > "It's still secret, but we'll know in a few months." 
> > 
> > Per Tesch was appointed professor of sports science at Mid Sweden 
> > University last autumn. The findings from his research in space 
> > physiology will be put to use in developing training methods for 
> > sports, exercise, and rehabilitation. 
> > 
> > ========================
> > Jamie Carruthers
> > Wakefield UK
> >
>