Advances and challenges in cancer treatment and nutraceutical prevention: the possible role of dietary phenols in BRCA regulation

Phytochemistry Reviews - Over the years, the attention towards the role of phytochemicals in dietary natural products in reducing the risk of developing cancer is rising. Cancer is the second...     

NMES superimposed on movement is equally effective as heavy slow resistance training in patellar tendinopathy

Objective:This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of an 8-week training protocol, based on neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the quadriceps, which was superimposed onto voluntary exercise (NMES+), in comparison to a traditional heavy slow resistance training (HSRT), in individuals with patellar tendinopathy.Methods:Thirty-two physically active participants, aged: 33.6±10.2 years, were divided into two groups: NMES+ or HSRT. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of knee extensor and flexor muscles, power during a countermovement jump (CMJ), and VISA-p questionnaire scores were recorded at the start(T0), 2-weeks(T1), 4-weeks(T2), 6-weeks(T3), 8-weeks(T4) and 4-months post-training (T5). Knee pain and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded at each training session with a 0-10 scale.Results:Knee pain was significantly lower in NMES+ compared to HSRT during all training sessions. No significant between-group differences were found for VISA-p scores and forces recorded during MVICs at T0,T1,T2,T3,T4 and T5. A significant increase of VISA-p and peak forces during MVIC was recorded across-time in both groups. No significant between-group or across-time differences were found for RPE and CMJ parameters.Conclusions:NMES+ and HSRT were equally effective in decreasing tendinopathy symptoms and increasing strength, with NMES+ having the advantage to be a pain-free resistance training modality.     

Activation of Neck and Low-Back Muscles Is Reduced with the Use of a Neck Balance System Together with a Lumbar Support in Urban Drivers

Driving is associated with high activation of low-back and neck muscles due to the sitting position and perturbations imposed by the vehicle. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of a neck balance system together with a lumbar support on the activation of low-back and neck muscles during driving. Twelve healthy male subjects (age 32±6.71 years) were asked to drive in two conditions: 1) with devices; 2) without devices. During vehicle accelerations and decelerations root mean square (RMS) of surface electromyography (sEMG) was recorded from the erector spinae, semispinalis capitis and sternocleidomastoid muscles and expressed as a percentage of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The pitch of the head was obtained by means of an inertial sensor placed on the subjects’ head. A visual analog scale (VAS) was used to assess the level of perceived comfort. RMS of the low back muscles was lower with than without devices during both acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle (1.40±0.93% vs 29 2.32±1.90% and 1.88±1.45% vs 2.91±2.33%, respectively), while RMS of neck extensor muscles was reduced only during acceleration (5.18±1.96% vs 5.91±2.16%). There were no differences between the two conditions in RMS of neck flexor muscles, the pitch of the head and the VAS score. The use of these two ergonomic devices is therefore effective in reducing the activation of low-back and neck muscles during driving with no changes in the level of perceived comfort, which is likely due to rebalancing weight on the neck and giving a neutral position to lumbar segments.