Background: Some studies have shown beneficial effects of needle acupuncture on physical performance. Objective: To evaluate immediate effects of a standardized acupuncture treatment on vertical jumping performance. Subjects and Methods: 12 healthy sport students participated in the study. A randomized crossover design was used to investigate specific effects of real acupuncture, sham acupuncture and a no-acupuncture waiting list condition on myoelectric activity and kinematic parameters ( duration of ground contact, maximum jumping height) in one-legged drop jumps. Results: The results of the present study do not demonstrate significant treatment effects on myoelectric and kinematic parameters. However, real acupuncture tends to result in a relative decrease in the duration of ground contact accompanied by increased muscular innervation. Conclusion: Acupuncture treatment had no significant impact on muscular performance of lower leg in stretch-shortening cycle under the present conditions. As to further research, the potential efficacy of acupuncture for improving reactive strength should be investigated in terms of controlled trials with stratified randomization according to physical performance capacity.

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), based on differential absorption of oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of haemoglobin/myoglobin (Hb/MbO2) in the near infrared range, allows continuous monitoring of the dynamics of tissue deoxygenation during exercise. PURPOSE: To determine the relationship between the time course of Hb/MbO2 desaturation and isokinetic torque. METHODS: Twelve male subjects (age 52.9 ± 12 years) performed 30 standardized isokinetic (120°/s) wrist extension and flexion movements. Subjects were verbally engaged to produce their individual maximum after 5, 15 and 25 repetitions. NIRS signals were detected by a probe applicated on the forearm flexor group at a depth of up to 25 mm. RESULTS: Mean group profiles of average Hb/MbO desaturation and maximal isokinetic flexor torque values showed a significant negative correlation (r = −.766, P < 0.05) (Fig. 1). Divided into three time intervals the present study demonstrated that the temporal HbO/torque relationship became more pronounced when exercise time increased (Fig. 2).Figure 1Figure 2CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate the temporal interrelation between oxygen consumption and strength production at constant angular velocity. Muscle oxygenation seems to be of increasing importance in the understanding of the mechanisms of local muscle metabolism during exercise. Future studies should evaluate the influences of muscle fatigue in more detail.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by gradual destruction of articular cartilage. Often called “wear-and-tear arthritis” or “old person's arthritis,” OA tends to get worse as a person gets older. This means that OA is more likely to interfere with an individuals overall health with increasing age. PURPOSE: To determine whether individuals suffering from high intensity athletic activity induced arthralgia, confers benefit in terms of pain, function or inflammation from oral use of Collagen Hydrolysate. METHODS: At the Olympic Center Rhein-Ruhr in Essen a clinical surveillance study was carried out. The inclusion criterion that the participants had to fulfill was pain in the lower (knee n=51, hip n=20) or upper (shoulder n=17) extremities due to physical activity. 88 patients (age 41.5 ± 16.3 years) consumed a daily dosage of 10 grams of collagen hydrolysate for the duration of 12 weeks. Improvement in pain, functional limitations or inflammatory activity were rated on a visual analog scale (1–10) before and after the specified time interval. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of oral administration of collagen hydrolysate, a good tolerance of the nutritional supplement was reported. Furthermore, clinical parameters that were determined like “restricted ability to move”, “pain related to exertion” and “pain when walking up stairs” were found to have significantly (p < .05) improved (Tab. 1).Tab 1: Median values, visual analog scaleCONCLUSION: Although the effects of Collagen Hydrolysate in OA are well docu[[Unsupported Character-Codename ­]]mented in prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials the results are often hard to reproduce in a day-to-day patient care setting. This is a major criticism leveled at uncompromising supporters of evidence-based medicine because this attitude all but ignores the merits of medical experience and expertise. Against the background of these considerations, it is interesting to note that the present findings clearly confirm the favorable effects of Collagen Hydrolysate even in a heterogeneous population under uncontrolled conditions.

Near infrared spectroscopy is a non-invasive method which continuously measures the oxidative status of the haemoglobin during different interventions. The methodology of NIRS involves the detection of differences in light absorption from tissue. PURPOSE To determine the relationship of deoxyhaemoglobin and blood lactate changes during a handgrip dynamometer test under ischaemia. METHODS Twelve healthy male subjects (age 34.3±6.12, height 1.82±0.06m; weight 79.7±10.1kg) participated in this study. After a blood pressure cuff was inflated at the upper arm at 20mmHg above the systolic blood pressure subjects were instructed to perform cyclic maximal voluntary contractions for one minute using a handgrip dynamometer. After one minute the cuff was deflated. Blood samples were taken from the v. cubitalis after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 minutes. NIRS signals were obtained by a probe overlying the forearm flexors. Oxyhaemoglobin and deoxyhaemoglobin values at a depth of up to 25 mm were recorded. The differences in deoxyhaemoglobin (Hb) before and after exercise were calculated and compared to the relative blood lactate changes after 1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 minutes. RESULTS The present findings demonstrated moderate to high linear relationships between relative O2 consumption and blood lactate changes (r = 748, p < 0.05 to r = 863, p < 0.01). Average deoxyhaemoglobin and lactate values are shown in table 1.TableCONCLUSIONS The results illustrate the interrelation between muscle metabolism, reflected by blood lactate, and O2 desaturation. Muscle deoxygenation measured by near infrared spectroscopy could help to predict blood lactate changes and to evaluate the muscular status and exercise capacity.