Browsing by Subject "Exercise intensity"

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Open Access
Dopamine replacement therapy, learning and reward prediction in Parkinson’s disease: Implications for rehabilitation
(Frontiers Research Foundation, 2016) Ferrazzoli, D.; Carter, A.; Ustun, F. S.; Palamara, G.; Ortelli, P.; Maestri, R.; Yucel, M.; Frazzitta, G.
The principal feature of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the impaired ability to acquire and express habitual-automatic actions due to the loss of dopamine in the dorsolateral striatum, the region of the basal ganglia associated with the control of habitual behavior. Dopamine replacement therapy (DRT) compensates for the lack of dopamine, representing the standard treatment for different motor symptoms of PD (such as rigidity, bradykinesia and resting tremor). On the other hand, rehabilitation treatments, exploiting the use of cognitive strategies, feedbacks and external cues, permit to “learn to bypass” the defective basal ganglia (using the dorsolateral area of the prefrontal cortex) allowing the patients to perform correct movements under executive-volitional control. Therefore, DRT and rehabilitation seem to be two complementary and synergistic approaches. Learning and reward are central in rehabilitation: both of these mechanisms are the basis for the success of any rehabilitative treatment. Anyway, it is known that “learning resources” and reward could be negatively influenced from dopaminergic drugs. Furthermore, DRT causes different well-known complications: among these, dyskinesias, motor fluctuations, and dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) are intimately linked with the alteration in the learning and reward mechanisms and could impact seriously on the rehabilitative outcomes. These considerations highlight the need for careful titration of DRT to produce the desired improvement in motor symptoms while minimizing the associated detrimental effects. This is important in order to maximize the motor re-learning based on repetition, reward and practice during rehabilitation. In this scenario, we review the knowledge concerning the interactions between DRT, learning and reward, examine the most impactful DRT side effects and provide suggestions for optimizing rehabilitation in PD.
Open Access
Effect of high intensity interval training on elite athletes' antioxidant status
(Elsevier Masson, 2013) Ugras, A. F.
Objective: The effects of high intensity interval exercises on antioxidant defense system are not clear. Since there is an evident lack of studies focused on oxidative stress experienced following combat sports and high intensity interval training, we investigated oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPX], superoxide dismutase [SOD]) by completing high intensity interval training program (HIITP) and following International Muay Thai Championship (IMTC). Methods: The study was carried out on 21 elite players (15 males and six females) who had regular exercising and training habits. The participants were subjected to a daily 3-hour HIITP during brief training camp (10-day) before IMTC. They were instructed to maintain their normal dietary practices throughout the camp and during the study to take no antioxidant containing vitamin tablets. Results: There was a significant increase in MDA levels and significant decrease in CAT activities of players (P<. 0.05). The differences in SOD and GPX activities were not significant. Conclusion: These results suggested that high intensity interval training and competition could affect the oxidative status of Muay Thai (MT) athletes. © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS.