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Gas exchange and lactate threshold are valid indicators of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, rat study finds

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Gas exchange and lactate threshold are valid indicators of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, rat study finds
Credit: Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Researchers at University of Tsukuba identified a previously unconfirmed gas exchange threshold in rats and demonstrated that this threshold, together with the lactate threshold, serves as an indicator of moderate-intensity exercise to determine the effectiveness of training in enhancing aerobic performance.

The study is published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. This achievement is fundamental for basic research on exercise. It will be useful for researchers in the field of health and fitness promotion as it provides a useful moderate-intensity index for rats.

During incremental aerobic exercise, there are thresholds where blood lactate levels begin to rise, and CO2 production increases rapidly relative to O2 uptake. The former threshold is termed the lactate threshold (LT), and the latter, the gas exchange threshold (GET). In humans, these thresholds are moderate-intensity exercise indices, with LT and GET at 45%–74% of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Training at or above these thresholds improves aerobic performance.

In contrast, in rats, LT has been identified, but GET is not known yet. Furthermore, it is unclear whether the rat GET and LT can be useful indicators of exercise intensity similar to the thresholds in humans.

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The researchers previously established a rat model for identifying the LT during running exercise. This study aimed to simultaneously identify LT and GET by integrating this LT model with the standard human GET identification method, known as the V-slope method.

Subsequently, the relationships among the identified GET, LT, and VO2max, as well as the changes in these thresholds following aerobic training below or above the LT, were examined. The results showed that GET and LT in rats occurred synchronously at intensities ranging from 41.0% to 65.5% VO2max, and that the maximal (VO2max) and submaximal (GET, LT) aerobic capacities were enhanced only in rats that trained at intensities above the LT.

These results suggest that the GET and LT in rats are valid indices of moderate-intensity exercise in training prescription to enhance aerobic performance as in humans. The findings of this study are expected to serve as a catalyst for further research in the field of rat studies focused on exercise intensity, ultimately contributing to the advancement of human exercise prescription strategies. In particular, the noninvasive and easily identifiable nature of the GET from the exhaled gas suggests a wide range of potential applications.

More information:
Koshiro Inoue et al, Setting Treadmill Intensity for Rat Aerobic Training Using Lactate and Gas Exchange Thresholds, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (2024). DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003562

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Boost cardio fitness with this beginner-friendly alternative to the trending 4×4 Norwegian interval workout

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Boost cardio fitness with this beginner-friendly alternative to the trending 4×4 Norwegian interval workout

The Norwegian 4×4 workout has been touted as the ultimate longevity-boosting workout, credited for significantly improving aerobic fitness scores over just eight weeks.

Popular among runners and developed by researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), it involves performing four sets of four-minute cardio intervals at 85-95% of your maximum heart rate, followed by three minutes of light recovery.

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‘You only need 2 sessions a week to get stronger’ – expert PT reveals the benefits of the 2-2-2 workout for busy women

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‘You only need 2 sessions a week to get stronger’ – expert PT reveals the benefits of the 2-2-2 workout for busy women

The 2-2-2 workout is more than an internet trend. It’s a full-body, time-saving, and strength training workout that can be done in the gym or with dumbbells at home, any time. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s backed by science and an expert PT.

Alain Gonzalez popularised the workout most recently, but the longevity perks for women are clear. Strength training offers women benefits, like reducing the risk of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and cardiovascular disease. It also improves mobility and balance. However, we’re often the most time-stretched people in the gym, so anything we can do to shorten the time we need to spend there is appreciated, especially during the busy festive season.

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13 Strength-Training Moves That Taylor Swift Used to Prep for the ‘Eras Tour’

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13 Strength-Training Moves That Taylor Swift Used to Prep for the ‘Eras Tour’

In “The End of an Era,” Taylor Swift gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the workout routine that helped her prepare for her “Eras Tour.”

Episode 3 of the six-part Disney+ docuseries follows Swift as she hits the gym throughout the tour, which ran for nearly two years.

Since each show lasted over three hours, Swift enlisted the help of personal trainer Kirk Myers to help her focus on endurance so she could maintain her energy throughout each concert.

“There are a lot of things that we pulled off on this tour that I’ve never even attempted on past tours. I think the longest show I ever did before was 2 hours and 15 minutes,” she said during the episode. “I never would have believed you if you would have told me we would be doing a 3.5 hour show. Now, saying that is one thing. Doing that physically is another.”

In order to dance and sing for that long, the 36-year-old had to make certain lifestyle changes.

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“I really had to up my game in terms of physical training,” she said.

While reflecting on her workout routine, Swift joked that it wasn’t for the faint of heart. “I’ve never worked out this much in my life. It’s horrible,” she added.

Here are just a few of the exercises Swift focused on as part of her “Eras Tour” workout routine.

She Prioritized Strength Training

Episode 3 of the docuseries shows Swift in the gym prioritizing strength training. She can be seen doing the following moves:

  • Battle waves and wave slams
  • Ski machine
  • Resistance band-assisted pull-ups
  • Medicine ball sit-up throws
  • Overhead hammer slam
  • Assisted reverse crunch
  • Hanging knee raise
  • Medicine ball slams
  • Medicine ball Russian twists
  • Reformer plank pikes
  • Crossover crunch with ankle weights
  • Medicine ball side throws
  • Bosu ball squat and press

She Did Lots of Pull-Ups But Hated Them

Swift can be seen doing pull-ups assisted by a resistance band and revealed that she has a “strong dislike” for them.

“In no way do I ever apply this at any point in the show. I just want to flag that as I do every time I have to do pull-ups,” she quipped.

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Swift’s personal trainer encouraged her and said she’s gotten “stronger” throughout the years while performing the exercise.

“It’s from all the pent up rage and resentment I have for them,” she joked.

She Started Training 6 Months Before the Tour Began

While reflecting on her workout routine, Swift said she started planning for the tour early on.

“Six months ahead of my first rehearsal, (I was) running on the treadmill every single day at the tempo of the songs that I was playing while singing them out loud,” she said. “You just don’t want them to see you panting.”

Swift previously spoke about her intense treadmill workout in an interview with Time.

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“Every day I would run on the treadmill, singing the entire set list out loud,” she told Time. “Fast for fast songs, and a jog or a fast walk for slow songs.”

She Did a LOT of Cardio

Dancing and singing for over three hours is a killer workout, especially when you’re running around the stage all night long. In the docuseries, Swift noted that two of her songs are particularly difficult to perform.

“‘1989’ and ‘Reputation’ are very high cardio. Anything’s hard when you’re scaling a stage that goes the entire length of an NFL stadium,” she said. “I think I run like 8 miles in the show.”

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