Cardiovascular Response to Exercise with and Without Alcohol Consumption: Evidence of an Interaction Between Distance Covered and Perceived Exertion Thiago Ferreira de Sousa, Aline de Jesus Santos, José Carlos Aragão-Santos, Sandra Celina Fernandes Fonseca Nutrients, 2026 Background: Acute alcohol consumption may interfere with the dynamics between internal and external load during exercise, potentially attenuating cardiovascular responses. Objective: This study investigated the association between distance covered during a running test and mean heart rate, while examining the moderating role of the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) under conditions with and without acute alcohol ingestion. Methods: This crossover experimental study included 12 physically active male university students (23.7 ± 3.7 years). Participants completed two intermittent running sessions (control and alcohol conditions), separated by ≥48 h. In the alcohol condition, participants consumed 0.4 g of ethanol/kg of body mass. Heart rate was continuously monitored using a Polar RCX5 monitor, and total distance covered and RPE (Borg 6–20 scale) were assessed immediately after test completion. Analyses included paired comparisons, Pearson correlations, and linear regression models with interaction terms. Results: No significant associations between variables were observed in the control condition. With alcohol consumption, distance covered was positively associated with mean heart rate, and RPE significantly moderated this relationship. Conclusions: Acute alcohol ingestion may modify the interaction between external load, perceived exertion, and cardiovascular response during running. These results highlight the importance of integrated monitoring of internal and external load, especially in contexts involving recent alcohol consumption.
Physical Performance Impairment with Cannabis Consumption in Adults Over 12 Hours Waseem Abu-Ashour, Michael Wahl, Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar, Mohammadmahdi Bahrami, Ali Zahiri, et al. Journal of Drug Education, 2026 Assessing cannabis-induced impairment in physical performance is critical for safety-sensitive occupations. This study evaluated the magnitude and duration of impairment following acute cannabis use. Twenty-eight adult users completed baseline and follow-up assessments at 1, 6, and 12 h after smoking a standardized cannabis cigarette. Measures included subjective intoxication, vital signs, psychomotor performance, muscle strength, balance, and endurance. Blood Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations peaked at one hour and declined by six hours ( p < 0.001), while Carboxy-THC showed minimal temporal variation ( p = 0.005). Cannabis use significantly increased systolic blood pressure and heart rate, elevated muscle force variability, reduced the rate of force development, and impaired balance and endurance for up to 12 h. Despite reduced perceived intoxication, measurable functional impairments persisted, indicating prolonged performance effects.
Effects of Foam Roller, and Massage Ball with and Without Vibration on Squat Load-Velocity Profile of Resistance Trained Adults José Carlos Aragão-Santos, Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto, David G. Behm Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2025 Self-massage tools such as foam rollers and massage balls are widely used in warm-ups and recovery, but their effects on dynamic strength tasks like squatting remain unclear. To compare the effects of a foam roller (FR), massage ball (MB), and vibrating massage ball (MBV) versus a control condition on squat load velocity profiles and associated electromyographic (EMG) activity in resistance-trained individuals. In this crossover study, fourteen experienced resistance-trained participants performed four experimental conditions: FR, MB, MBV, and control. After an initial session for incremental load testing and protocol familiarization, each participant performed eight back squats before and after each experimental session, while movement velocity, hip vertical displacement (range of motion), and EMG of the vastus lateralis and semimembranosus were recorded. MBV produced a significant increase in quadriceps EMG during the fastest repetition (β = 0.107; p = 0.003). In contrast, all interventions elicited a reduction in the second fastest repetition versus control (FR: β = -0.033, p = 0.005; MB: β = -0.025, p = 0.029; MBV: β = -0.036, p = 0.002). Moreover, both FR and MBV similarly decreased third fastest repetition and mean velocities relative to control (FR: third fastest repetition β = -0.025, p = 0.027; mean β = -0.046, p = 0.046; MBV: third fastest repetition β = -0.032, p = 0.005; mean velocity β = -0.031, p = 0.004). There were no significant changes in the hip vertical displacement. All self-massage conditions modestly impaired squat velocity, with the MB showing the least detrimental effect on performance.
Age, Sex, and Training Specific Effects on Cross-Education Training Aymen Ben Othman, Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar, José Carlos Aragão-Santos, Anis Chaouachi, David G. Behm Pediatric Exercise Science, 2025 An extensive number of publications have examined cross-education effects with adults, primarily investigating contralateral homologous (same) muscles. There are far fewer investigations on cross-education effects on contralateral heterologous (different) muscles and age (youth vs adult) and no studies investigating sex differences. Hence, the objective was to compare cross-education in female and male youth and young adults to contralateral homologous (chest press [CP], elbow flexors and extensors, handgrip isometric strength, and shot put) and heterologous (leg press, knee extension isometric strength, and countermovement jump) muscles. Twenty-eight female adults, 28 female youth, 28 male adults, and 28 male youth (total: 112) were examined before and after an 8-week (3 sessions/wk) unilateral, dominant arm, CP training program. Unilateral testing assessed dominant and nondominant leg press and CP 1-repetition maximum, knee extensors, elbow extensors, elbow flexors, and handgrip maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) strength, as well as shot put distance and countermovement jump height. Unilateral CP training induced training specific (CP 1-repetition maximum) and nonspecific (elbow extensors, elbow flexors, handgrip MVIC force, and shot put distance) improvements (P < .04, η2: .45–.85) but no significant lower body improvements. There was evidence for testing limb specificity as the dominant arm provided significantly (P < .021, η2: .17–.75) greater training gains than the nondominant arm. Youth’s training adaptations exceeded with unilateral CP 1-repetition maximum, elbow extensors MVIC force, and shot put distance (P < .049, η2: .14–.49). No sex main effect differences were apparent. In conclusion, cross-education was training specific (greatest gains with upper body and dominant limbs) with greater benefits for youth and generally no sex differences with the exception of elbow extensors MVIC.
Functional training improves cognitive function, functional fitness, and BDNF levels in older women with mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial Salviano Resende-Silva, Antônio Gomes de Resende-Neto, Alan Bruno Silva Vasconcelos, Marcos Raphael Pereira-Monteiro, Alan Pantoja-Cardoso, et al. Frontiers in Physiology, 2025 IntroductionTo oppose the aging-related cognitive and functional decline, the efficacy of different training methods has been tested, aiming body multisystemic adaptations. In this sense, Functional Training (FT) has shown relevant results in the physical fitness of older adults. However, little is known about its impact on older women with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).ObjectiveTo compare the effects of functional and aerobic training on cognitive function and functional fitness in older women with mild cognitive impairment.MethodsSixty-eight older women completed a 16-week intervention through three groups: 1) Functional Training (FT: n = 28; mean age = 67.5 ± 4.8 years), 2) Aerobic Training (AT: n = 22; mean age = 66.3 ± 4.6 years), and 3) Control Group (CG: n = 18; mean age = 67.5 ± 4.6 years). The training sessions did occur three times per week, with a duration of 50 min per session for both exercised groups. The training load was quantified daily in the FT group. Cognitive function, serum levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), and functional fitness were assessed pre- and post-intervention.ResultsFT and AT groups showed improvements in cognitive status (FT: d = 0.99, p ≤ 0.001; AT: d = 0.97, p ≤ 0.001) and semantic memory (FT: d = 0.95, p &lt; 0.001; AT: d = 0.97, p &lt; 0.001); however, only FT led to improvements in executive function (d = 0.63, p = 0.043) and increased serum BDNF levels (d = 0.95, p = 0.011). Regarding functional fitness, both groups showed improvements in gait and stand up ability, as well as cardiorespiratory fitness. However, only FT improved dexterity and upper limb strength. No statistically significant differences were observed between the FT and AT groups in the measured outcomes.ConclusionBoth FT and AT improve cognitive function and functional fitness in older women with mild cognitive impairment. However, in addition to eliciting a greater magnitude of effects on some outcomes, FT was the only intervention to modulate peripheral BDNF concentration.
Dual-task training is as effective as functional training on the functional fitness of older women: a randomized clinical trial José C. Aragão-Santos, David G. Behm, Tatiana R. de Moura, Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto BMC Geriatrics, 2024 BackgroundThe interest in approaches that improve older individuals’ functional fitness and autonomy is increasing. However, the effects of dual-task training on older women’s functional fitness and the comparison with the functional training approach are unclear. Therefore, we compared dual-task and functional training on the functional fitness of older women and the effects of three months of detraining.MethodsSixty-one women performed 16 weeks of dual-task training or functional training. The functional fitness was measured pre-, post-training, and post-detraining, based on the ability to put on and take off a t-shirt, evaluating the mobility of the upper limb, standing-up from the prone position measuring the global functionality, five times sit-to-stand test to assess the lower limbs muscle power, timed up and go to measure the dynamic balance and agility, gallon-jug shelf-transfer to evaluate the global functionality emphasizing the upper limbs and 10 m walk test to analyze the gait ability.ResultsDual-task training and functional training generally provided significant small to moderate magnitude performance increases in the put on and take off a t-shirt (dual-task training: d = 0.35 / functional training: d = 0.49), five times sit-to-stand test (dual-task training: d = 0.41 / functional training: d = 0.77), timed up and go (dual-task training: d = 0.34 / functional training: d = 0.78), and gallon-jug shelf-transfer (dual-task training: d = 0.76 / functional training: d = 0.82). Only the functional training improved the 10 m walk test (d = 0.32;p = 0.013), and both groups did not change the standing-up from the prone position performance. After the detraining period, both groups kept the adaptations for the gallon-jug shelf-transfer and five times sit-to-stand test. At the same time, only the dual-task training maintained the adaptations for the put on and take off a t-shirt and the functional training for the timed up and go.ConclusionSixteen weeks of dual-task and functional training are similarly effective in improving older women’s functional fitness, maintaining their benefits even after three months of detraining.Trial registrationRBR-10ny848z (https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-10ny848z).
Relative Cross-Education Training Effects of Male Youth Exceed Male Adults Aymen Ben Othman, Saman Hadjizadeh Anvar, José Carlos Aragão-Santos, David G. Behm, Anis Chaouachi Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 2024 Ben Othman, A, Anvar, SH, Aragão-Santos, JC, Behm, DG, and Chaouachi, A. Relative cross-education training effects of male youth exceed male adults. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000–000, 2024—Cross-education has been studied extensively with adults, examining the training effects on contralateral homologous muscles. There is less information on the cross-education effects on contralateral heterologous muscles and scant information comparing these responses between adults and youth. The objective was to compare cross-education training effects in male youth and adults to contralateral homologous and heterologous muscles. Forty-two male children (10–13-years) and 42 adults (18–21-years) were tested before and following an 8-week unilateral, dominant or nondominant arm, chest press (CP) training program or control group (14 subjects each). Unilateral testing assessed dominant and nondominant limb strength with leg press and CP 1 repetition maximum (1RM), knee extensors, elbow extensors (EE), elbow flexors, and handgrip maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) strength and shot put distance and countermovement jump height. Upper-body tests demonstrated large magnitude increases, with children overall exceeding adults (p = 0.05—p < 0.0001, η 2: 0.51, 10.4 ± 11.1%). The dominant trained limb showed significantly higher training adaptations than the nondominant limb for the adults with CP 1RM (p = 0.03, η 2: 0.26, 6.7 ± 11.5%) and EE (p = 0.008, η 2: 0.27, 8.8 ± 10.3%) MVIC force. Unilateral CP training induced significantly greater training adaptations with the ipsilateral vs. contralateral limb (p = 0.008, η 2: 0.93, 27.8 ± 12.7%). In conclusion, children demonstrated greater training adaptations than adults, upper-body strength increased with no significant lower-body improvements, and ipsilateral training effects were greater than contralateral training in adults.
Brain functional training: a perspective article Marzo Edir Da Silva-Grigoletto, Marcos Raphael Pereira-Monteiro, José Carlos Aragão-Santos, Alan Bruno Silva Vasconcelos, Pablo Jorge Marcos-Pardo, et al. Frontiers in Aging, 2024
Functional training induces greater variety and magnitude of training improvements than traditional resistance training in elderly women Journal of Sports Science and Medicine, 2019
Functional training versus traditional strength training: Effects on muscle late pain and functional fitness in elderly Revista Andaluza De Medicina Del Deporte, 2019
