Individuals participating in exercise beyond their level of fitness may be at higher risk for exercise-induced muscle damage, however the impact of training status on muscle damage development is not well understood. The purpose of this study was to measure skeletal muscle damage and soreness after five days of high and low intensity exercise in previously trained and untrained individuals. Eighteen males and females (9 trained and 9 untrained) completed five consecutive days of high intensity (HI) exercise and five consecutive days of low intensity (LI) exercise. Blood was drawn at the initial visit and after completion of each exercise intensity period. CK was elevated post exercise for both groups during both intensities, but was greater in trained vs. untrained (HI: 203.6 vs. 143.4 IU/L and LI: 156.4 vs. 109.3 IU/L; P<0.01). Myoglobin was significantly higher after exercise for both groups (P<0.01) and was higher following high vs. low intensity in trained (P<0.01), but not untrained (P=0.052). Untrained experienced soreness following one day of high intensity exercise vs. after 3 days in trained participants (P=0.04, P=0.02). The current study suggests that high intensity exercise results in greater muscle damage in both trained and untrained individuals vs. low intensity exercise. However untrained participants experience more pain and with earlier onset and should therefore take caution when beginning exercise programs that require consecutive sessions of high intensity exercise.

Background. North Americans report insufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and ample sedentary behaviors (SBs), suggesting possible barriers to an active lifestyle. This study compared self-reported MVPA and SB before and during COVID-19 “Stay-at-Home” restrictions as a potential barrier across North America. Methods: Questionnaires were distributed from 21 April to 9 May 2020. ANOVAs compared data overall and by group (age, sex, race, income, education, employment status). Results: During restrictions, 51.4% (n = 687) of the 1336 responses (991 female, 1187 Caucasian, 634 18–29 years) shifted to work from home and 12.1% (n = 162) lost their job. Overall, during restrictions, 8.3% (n = 110) fewer reported work-related MVPA (−178.6 ± 20.9 min/week). Similarly, 28.0% (n = 374) fewer reported travel-related MVPA, especially females and younger age groups. While the 7.3% (n = 98) fewer reporting recreational MVPA was not statistically significant (−30.4 ± 11.5 min/week), there was an increase in SB (+94.9 ± 4.1 min/week) in all groups, except the oldest age group (70+ years). Locomotive activities and fitness class remained the predominant MVPA mode. Of those reportedly using facilities (68%; n = 709) before COVID, 31.3% (n = 418) would not return due to it “being unsafe”. Conclusion: While barriers related to pandemic restrictions had a negative short-term impact on MVPA and SB in North America, the long-term impact is unknown.

Public health guidelines and a myriad of studies have proven that exercise is beneficial in the alleviation of various cardio-metabolic diseases. Congenital heart disease (ConHD) is one of the most frequently occurring congenital structural malfunctions in the pediatric population, affecting nine of every 1,000 live births. Only a few studies have established the impact of a structured exercise program on cardiopulmonary fitness in diverse groups of patients with ConHD. It is also alarming to know that a substantial number of these patients and their caregivers often remain very wary of exercise. Anxiety about exercise may increase the risk of developing morbid obesity and other long-term health complications of ConHD. The present review of a critically appraised topic is undertaken to answer the question, “Does structured exercise intervention (cardiac rehabilitation) improve cardiorespiratory fitness in children and young adults with ConHD?” Exercise science and the medical literature were searched for studies that engaged the use of aerobic exercise in patients with different ConHD diagnoses. The search yielded four studies after screening with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, which were further narrowed to three studies after a full-text review. These studies yielded results showing significant increments in peak exercise workload, duration, power output, peak oxygen uptake, or improved tissue oxygenation and muscle strength after an exercise training intervention. It is noteworthy that a group identified as “cyanotic palliated” exhibited the most significant impairment both at baseline and after the exercise intervention. This review provides level 1b medical evidence that a structured exercise program may improve cardiopulmonary fitness in patients with ConHD, which is likely to be beneficial to their overall physical, motor, and psychosocial development. The results of this review may be useful for alleviating the anxiety of patients and their caregivers about participation in structured exercise programs. This review should also motivate future research investigations to develop clinical guidelines for the management of patients with ConHD by adding exercise prescriptions to their daily therapeutic regimens.

Tart cherries possess properties that may reduce inflammation and improve glycemic control, however human data on supplementation and the gut microbiota is equivocal. Processing (i.e., juice concentrate, dried, frozen) may affect the properties of tart cherries, and therefore alter their efficacious health benefits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 30 days of supplementation with Montmorency tart cherry (MTC) in concentrate or freeze-dried form on the gut microbiome and markers of inflammation and glycemic control. Healthy participants with no known disease (n = 58, age: 28 ± 10 y, height: 169.76 ± 8.55 cm, body mass: 72.2 ± 12.9 kg) were randomly allocated to four groups and consumed either concentrate or freeze-dried capsules or their corresponding placebos for 30 days. Venous blood samples were drawn at baseline, day 7, 14, and 30 and analyzed for inflammatory markers TNF-alpha, uric acid, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and glycemic control markers glycated albumin, glucose and insulin. A fecal sample was provided at baseline, day 14 and 30 for microbiome analysis. TNF-alpha was significantly lower at 30 vs. 14 days (p = 0.01), however there was no other significant change in the inflammatory markers. Insulin was not changed over time (p = 0.16) or between groups (p = 0.24), nor was glycated albumin different over time (p = 0.08) or between groups (p = 0.56), however glucose levels increased (p < 0.001) from baseline (4.79 ± 1.00 mmol·L⁻¹) to 14 days (5.21 ± 1.02 mmol·L⁻¹) and 30 days (5.61 ± 1.22 mmol·L⁻¹) but this was no different between groups (p = 0.33). There was no significant change in composition of bacterial phyla, families, or subfamilies for the duration of this study nor was there a change in species richness. These data suggest that 30 days of MTC supplementation does not modulate the gut microbiome, inflammation, or improve glycemic control in a healthy, diverse group of adults.Clinical Trail Registration:https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04467372, identifier: NCT04467372.