Kinesiology Commons^™

Effects Of High-Speed Training On Messenger Rna Expression In Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses, Mackenzie Grace Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Accumulating high-speed exercise has been identified as a significant risk factor for catastrophic injuries in racing Thoroughbreds. Injuries, regardless of severity, are a main cause of withdrawal from the racing industry, raising animal welfare concerns and resulting in significant economic losses. While most of the current literature focuses on catastrophic injuries incurred during racing rather than training, the present study aims to help fill this gap as well as discuss the associated risk factors. The evaluation of messenger RNA (mRNA) expression changes provides an efficient and straightforward approach to identifying horses at risk for catastrophic injury. While alternative injury risk …

What Have We Learnt From Quantitative Case Reports Of Acute Lateral Ankle Sprains Injuries And Episodes Of 'Giving-Way' Of The Ankle Joint, And What Shall We Further Investigate?, Filip Gertz Lysdal, Yuehang Wang, Eamonn Delahunt, Dominic Gehring, Kyle B. Kosik, Tron Krosshaug, Yumeng Li, Kam-Ming Mok, Kati Pasanen, Alexandria Remus, Masafumi Terada, Daniel T. P. Fong

Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition Faculty Publications

Lateral ankle sprains are a commonly incurred injury in sports. They have a high recurrence rate and can lead to the development of persistent injury associated symptoms. We performed a quantitative synthesis of published case reports documenting the kinematics of acute lateral ankle sprains and episodes of ‘giving-way’ of the ankle joint to provide a comprehensive description of the mechanisms. A systematic literature search was conducted to screen records within MEDLINE® and EMBASE®. Additional strategies included manual search of specific journals, as well as contacting researchers in relevant communities to retrieve unpublished data. Twenty-four cases were included in the quantitative …

Long-Lasting Impairments In Quadriceps Mitochondrial Health, Muscle Size, And Phenotypic Composition Are Present After Non-Invasive Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury, Steven M. Davi, Ahram Ahn, Mckenzie S. White, Timothy A. Butterfield, Kate Kosmac, Oh Sung Kwon, Lindsey K. Lepley

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Despite rigorous rehabilitation aimed at restoring muscle health, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is often hallmarked by significant long-term quadriceps muscle weakness. Derangements in mitochondrial function are a common feature of various atrophying conditions, yet it is unclear to what extent mitochondria are involved in the detrimental sequela of quadriceps dysfunction after ACL injury. Using a preclinical, non-invasive ACL injury rodent model, our objective was to explore the direct effect of an isolated ACL injury on mitochondrial function, muscle atrophy, and muscle phenotypic transitions.

Methods: A total of 40 male and female, Long Evans rats (16-week-old) were exposed to …

The Correlation Between Acl Injury & Concussion, Brandon Michael Phillips

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Concussion (also known as mild traumatic brain injury) is a neurological injury that occurs after a blow to the head or neck area and can have affects to movement based on the severity of the injury. Mild traumatic brain injury has possible linkage to an increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The purpose of this thesis was to assess the impact of prior concussion on lower extremity mechanics that are associated with risk of ACL injury. A total of 11 individuals with prior history of concussion and 11 healthy individuals without prior history of concussion (56.5 months since …

Evidence Of Myomir Regulation Of The Pentose Phosphate Pathway During Mechanical Load-Induced Hypertrophy, Taylor Valentino, Vandre C. Figueiredo, C. Brooks Mobley, John J. Mccarthy, Ivan J. Vechetti Jr.

Physiology Faculty Publications

Many of the molecular and cellular mechanisms discovered to regulate skeletal muscle hypertrophy were first identified using the rodent synergist ablation model. This model reveals the intrinsic capability and necessary pathways of skeletal muscle growth in response to mechanical overload (MOV). Reminiscent of the rapid cellular growth observed with cancer, we hypothesized that in response to MOV, skeletal muscle would undergo metabolic programming to sustain increased demands to support hypertrophy. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the gene expression of specific metabolic pathways taken from transcriptomic microarray data of a MOV time course. We found an upregulation of genes involved …

Impact Of Pediatric Obesity On Diurnal Blood Pressure Assessment And Cardiovascular Risk Markers, Margaret O. Murphy, Hong Huang, John A. Bauer, Aric Schadler, Majd Makhoul, Jody L. Clasey, Aftab S. Chishti, Stefan G. Kiessling

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background: The prevalence of hypertension is increasing particularly among obese children and adolescents. Obese children and adolescents with hypertension are likely to remain hypertensive as they reach adulthood and hypertension is linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has become one of the most important tools in diagnosing hypertension in children and adolescents and circadian patterns of blood pressure may be important disease-risk predictors.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients aged 6–21 years who underwent 24-h ABPM at Kentucky Children's Hospital (KCH) from August 2012 through June 2017. Exclusion criteria …

Applications Of The Critical Power Model To Dynamic Constant External Resistance Exercise: A Brief Review Of The Critical Load Test, Haley C. Bergstrom, Taylor K. Dinyer, Pasquale J. Succi, Caleb C. Voskuil, Terry J. Housh

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

The study and application of the critical power (CP) concept has spanned many decades. The CP test provides estimates of two distinct parameters, CP and W′, that describe aerobic and anaerobic metabolic capacities, respectively. Various mathematical models have been used to estimate the CP and W′ parameters across exercise modalities. Recently, the CP model has been applied to dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) exercises. The same hyperbolic relationship that has been established across various continuous, whole-body, dynamic movements has also been demonstrated for upper-, lower-, and whole-body DCER exercises. The asymptote of the load versus repetition relationship is defined as …

Lat1 Protein Content Increases Following 12 Weeks Of Resistance Exercise Training In Human Skeletal Muscle, Paul A. Roberson, Christopher Brooks Mobley, Matthew A. Romero, Cody T. Haun, Shelby C. Osburn, Petey W. Mumford, Christopher G. Vann, Rory A. Greer, Arny A. Ferrando, Michael D. Roberts

Physiology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Amino acid transporters are essential for cellular amino acid transport and promoting protein synthesis. While previous literature has demonstrated the association of amino acid transporters and protein synthesis following acute resistance exercise and amino acid supplementation, the chronic effect of resistance exercise and supplementation on amino acid transporters is unknown. The purpose herein was to determine if amino acid transporters and amino acid metabolic enzymes were related to skeletal muscle hypertrophy following resistance exercise training with different nutritional supplementation strategies.

Methods: 43 college-aged males were separated into a maltodextrin placebo (PLA, n = 12), leucine (LEU, n = 14), …

Comparison Of The Times To Exhaustion, Physiological, Perceptual, And Neuromusuclar Responses During Constant Heart Rate, Constant Vo2, And Constant Power Exercise, Pasquale Jiovanni Succi

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purposes of this study were to: 1) Determine if there are differences in the sustainability of exercise when anchored at critical heart rate (CHR), the VO₂ associated with CHR (VO₂CHR), or the power output associated with CHR (PCHR); 2) examine the patterns of responses in power output, metabolic (heart rate [HR], VO₂, respiration rate [RR]), neuromuscular (electromyographic [EMG] amplitude [AMP], mean power frequency [MPF], mechanomyographic [MMG] AMP and MPF, perceptual (rating of perceived exertion [RPE]), and muscle oxygenation responses (%SmO₂) during exercise anchored by HR, VO₂, and power output; and …

Examination Of Sex- And Intensity-Specific Fatigue During Bilateral Leg Extension Exercise, Taylor Kayln Dinyer

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purposes of this study were to: 1) examine sex-related differences in the performance of repetitions to failure below (CL_-10%, CL_-20%) and above (50%, 60%, 70%, and 80% 1RM) the critical load (CL) to make inferences regarding the mechanisms responsible for variability in the performance of repetitions to failure at varying loads; 2) examine the time course of neuromuscular and muscle oxygen saturation responses during the performance of repetitions to failure below and above the CL; 3) to make inferences regarding motor unit activation strategies used to maintain force during the completion of repetitions below and …

Examination Of Sex- And Limb-Specific Fatigue During Unilateral, Isometric Forearm Exercise, Caleb Christian Voskuil

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of unilateral, isometric handgrip holds to failure for the dominant (Dm) and non-dominant (NDm) limb on ipsilateral ([IPS] exercised side) and contralateral ([CON] non-exercised side) performance fatigability. Twenty individuals participated in this study (Men [n =10]; Women [n = 10; Composite Demographics: Age: 22.2 years; Height: 174.4 cm; Body Mass: 75.0 kg) and completed three visits. Two, 6 s maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) for the Dm and NDm limb were performed during visit 1, followed by a familiarization of the fatigue test. Visits 2 and 3 included an isometric, …

Sport-Specific Differences In Dynamic Visual Acuity And Gaze Stabilization In Division-I Collegiate Athletes, Carolina Quintana, Nicholas R. Heebner, Anne D. Olson, J. P. Abt, Matthew C. Hoch

Sports Medicine Research Institute Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: The vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) integrates the vestibular and ocular systems to maintain gaze during head motion. This reflex is often negatively affected following sport-related concussion. Objective measures of gaze stability, a function mediated by the VOR, such as the computerized dynamic visual acuity test (DVAT) and gaze stabilization test (GST), may have utility in concussion management. However, normative data specific to sport, sex, or concussion history have not been established in collegiate athletes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to establish normative values for the DVAT and GST in collegiate athletes and explore the effect of sport, sex, …

Energy Compensation With Exercise Is Not Dependent On Dose, H. Michael Hays

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Background: Exercise induced weight loss is often less than expected due to a coordinated set of compensatory mechanisms that serve to maintain energy homeostasis. The extent to which exercise frequency, duration, intensity and exercise energy expenditure (ExEE) influences the compensatory response to an exercise-induced energy deficit (energy compensation) is controversial. Determining how these variables impact energy compensation would help health care providers prescribe exercise with greater probability of creating a sustained negative energy balance and subsequent weight loss.

Methods: 44 Overweight/obese men and women (BMI=25-35kg/m²) aged 18 to 40 years were randomized to perform aerobic exercise 2 or 6 days/week …

Atv Dynamics And Pediatric Rider Safety, James T. Auxier Ii

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

It has been observed through numerous academic and governmental agency studies that pediatric all-terrain vehicle ridership carries significant risk of injury and death. While no doubt valuable to safety, the post-hoc approach employed in these studies does little to explain the why and how behind the risk factors. Furthermore, there has been no prolonged, widespread, organized, and concerted effort to reconstruct and catalog the details and causes of the large (20,000+) number of ATV-related injuries that occur each year as has been done for road-based motor vehicle accidents. This dissertation takes the opposite approach from a meta-analysis and instead examines …

Appetite-Regulating Hormones In Energy Compensation With Exercise, Jack Moreland

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Background: The appetite-regulating hormones may influence compensatory increases in energy intake with exercise, although this causal relationship has been difficult to prove in a longitudinal trial.

Methods: 37 participants (29 female) aged 18 to 40 years performed aerobic exercise 6 days (6d), 2 days (2d), or 0 days per week for 12-weeks. Concentrations of ghrelin, leptin, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), and insulin were assessed before (fasting, minute 0) and after a standardized meal at minute 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, and 180. Linear mixed-effects models were used to model the relationships between time point (12 weeks vs. baseline) …

Metformin Blunts Muscle Hypertrophy In Response To Progressive Resistance Exercise Training In Older Adults: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled, Multicenter Trial: The Masters Trial, R. Grace Walton, Cory M. Dungan, Douglas E. Long, S. Craig Tuggle, Kate Kosmac, Bailey D. Peck, Heather M. Bush, Alejandro G. Villasante Tezanos, Gerald Mcgwin, Samuel T. Windham, Fernando Ovalle, Marcas M. Bamman, Philip A. Kern, Charlotte A. Peterson

Center for Muscle Biology Faculty Publications

Progressive resistance exercise training (PRT) is the most effective known intervention for combating aging skeletal muscle atrophy. However, the hypertrophic response to PRT is variable, and this may be due to muscle inflammation susceptibility. Metformin reduces inflammation, so we hypothesized that metformin would augment the muscle response to PRT in healthy women and men aged 65 and older. In a randomized, double-blind trial, participants received 1,700 mg/day metformin (N = 46) or placebo (N = 48) throughout the study, and all subjects performed 14 weeks of supervised PRT. Although responses to PRT varied, placebo gained more lean body …

Inducing Incentive Sensitization Of Exercise Reinforcement Among Adults Who Do Not Regularly Exercise—A Randomized Controlled Trial, Kyle D. Flack, Kelsey Elise Ufholz, Luann Johnson, James N. Roemmich

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Background

Increasing exercise reinforcement, or decreasing sedentary reinforcement, may reduce sedentary activity and promote habitual exercise. Repeated exposures to a reinforcer may increase its reinforcing value (i.e., incentive sensitization). It is not yet known whether incentive sensitization occurs for exercise or factors associated with incentive sensitization for exercise reinforcement. The purpose was to determine whether exercise exposures increase exercise reinforcement relative to a sedentary alternative and whether this sensitization of exercise reinforcement would alter physical or sedentary behavior. This work also determined whether exercise dose, intensity, and preference and tolerance for exercise intensity were associated with incentive sensitization of exercise. …

Arterial Stiffness During Whole-Body Passive Heat Stress In Healthy Older Adults, Zachary J. Schlader, Yoshiyuki Okada, Stuart A. Best, Qi Fu, Craig G. Crandall

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

We tested the hypothesis that whole‐body passive heat stress reduces arterial stiffness in older adults. At preheat stress (baseline) and when core temperature was elevated by 0.6 ± 0.2°C (mild) and 1.2 ± 0.3°C (moderate), arterial stiffness was measured in eight healthy younger (26 ± 5 years) and eight healthy older (70 ± 4 years) adults in the supine position. Arterial stiffness was estimated from carotid‐to‐femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV, applanation tonometry). cfPWV was higher at baseline in older adults (8.8 ± 2.3 m/sec vs. 5.6 ± 0.9 m/sec, P < 0.01) and this difference was maintained throughout passive heat stress (P < 0.01). cfPWV did not change (P ≥ 0.49) with passive heat stress in either …

Longitudinal Descriptive Profile Of Collegiate Pitchers Participating In A Summer Baseball League, Isabelle Leslie Gillis

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purpose of this study was to provide a longitudinal profile of pitching performance in a cohort of pitchers over two collegiate seasons and a summer league. Thus, this study utilized a longitudinal design to evaluate the impact of summer league participation on subsequent collegiate regular season pitching performance. Specifically, the performance of a cohort of Division 1 collegiate baseball pitchers during the 2018 Spring collegiate season, 2018 Summer League season, and the 2019 Spring collegiate season was evaluated and stratified by pitcher designation, arm dominance, and academic status. Analyses of variance were used to identify main and interaction effects …

A Singer’S Stress: Yoga And Meditation Techniques In The Collegiate Voice Studio, Zackery David Morris

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Often neglected in voice study is the understanding that a singer’s instrument lives in his/her body and therefore cannot be packed away like other musical objects. Yoga and mindfulness compliment the belief of a whole body instrument. Data gathered on college campuses report that stress and anxiety are on the rise, thus reinforcing the need for MBSR and yoga as beneficial and proven tools for stress relief. The current state of research in the realm of mental health in colleges merits the study of a cohesive layout of these exercises and their expected outcomes in singing as well as stress …

Walking With A Robotic Exoskeleton Does Not Mimic Natural Gait: A Within-Subjects Study, Chad Swank, Sharon Wang-Price, Fan Gao, Sattam Almutairi

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Background: Robotic exoskeleton devices enable individuals with lower extremity weakness to stand up and walk over ground with full weight-bearing and reciprocal gait. Limited information is available on how a robotic exoskeleton affects gait characteristics.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine whether wearing a robotic exoskeleton affects temporospatial parameters, kinematics, and muscle activity during gait.

Methods: The study was completed by 15 healthy adults (mean age 26.2 [SD 8.3] years; 6 males, 9 females). Each participant performed walking under 2 conditions: with and without wearing a robotic exoskeleton (EKSO). A 10-camera motion analysis system synchronized with 6 …

Effects Of Curcumin And Fenugreek Soluble Fiber Supplements On Submaximal And Maximal Aerobic Performance Indices In Untrained College-Aged Subjects, Jensen Goh Zhong Sheng

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Submaximal exercise performance is, in part, limited by the accumulation of metabolic byproducts and energy system capacities. Curcumin and the combination of curcumin and fenugreek soluble fiber (CurQfen^®) have been shown to increase endogenous antioxidants and metabolic byproduct clearance as well as reduce inflammation and lipid peroxidation, and therefore, may enhance submaximal aerobic thresholds. In addition, there is evidence that the galactomannan component of fenugreek, used to enhance bioavailability of curcumin, may also have potential physiological effects related to the up regulation of free fatty acid oxidation Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the effects …

Chronic Low Intensity Continuous And Interval Training Prevent Heart Failure-Related Coronary Artery Stiffness, An Ouyang

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Heart failure (HF) induced by aortic pressure over-load is associated with increased coronary artery stiffness. Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) and advanced glycation end products (AGE) both promote arterial stiffness. However, the mechanisms by which coronary PVAT promotes arterial stiffness and the efficacy of exercise to prevent coronary stiffness are unknown. The present study hypothesized both chronic continuous and interval exercise training would prevent coronary artery stiffness associated with inhibition of PVAT secreted AGE. Yucatan mininature swine were divided into four groups: control-sedentary (CON), aortic-banded sedentary heart failure (HF), aortic-banded HF continuous exercise trained (HF+CONT), and aortic-banded HF interval exercise trained …

Comparison Between Kinetic And Kinetic-Kinematic Driven Knee Joint Finite Element Models, Paul O. Bolcos, Mika E. Mononen, Ali Mohammadi, Mohammadhossein Ebrahimi, Matthew S. Tanaka, Michael A. Samaan, Richard B. Souza, Xiaojuan Li, Juha-Sampo Suomalainen, Jukka S. Jurvelin, Juha Töyräs, Rami K. Korhonen

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Use of knee joint finite element models for diagnostic purposes is challenging due to their complexity. Therefore, simpler models are needed for studies where a high number of patients need to be analyzed, without compromising the results of the model. In this study, more complex, kinetic (forces and moments) and simpler, kinetic-kinematic (forces and angles) driven finite element models were compared during the stance phase of gait. Patella and tendons were included in the most complex model, while they were absent in the simplest model. The greatest difference between the most complex and simplest models was observed in the internal-external …

The Effect Of Coronal Prosthetic Alignment Changes On Socket Reaction Moments, Spatiotemporal Parameters, And Perception Of Alignment During Gait In Individuals With Transtibial Amputation, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Toshiki Kobayashi, Fan Gao, Masataka Kataoka, Kuniharu Okuda

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Introduction: The alignment of a prosthesis is clinically determined based on observations by clinicians and the subjective perception of amputees during gait. However, this process has been reported to be unreliable. Socket reaction moment has been reported to be significantly impacted by alignment changes, but the impact of these alignment changes on other gait parameters is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of coronal alignment changes of a transtibial prosthesis on socket reaction moment, spatiotemporal parameters, and perceptions of alignment during gait in amputees.

Methods: Nine individuals with transtibial amputation participated in this study. Socket …

An Electromyography Study Of Muscular Endurance During The Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test, Neil A. Evans, Emily Dressler, Timothy L. Uhl

Physical Therapy Faculty Publications

The primary purpose was to determine if there is a difference between the median frequency slopes of 5 posterior shoulder muscles during the initial portion of the Posterior Shoulder Endurance Test (PSET) at the 90° and 135° shoulder abduction positions. Fifty-five healthy volunteers (31 females) participated. The median frequency of the posterior deltoid (PD), upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT), lower trapezius (LT), and infraspinatus (INF) was measured during the PSET at 90° and 135° of shoulder abduction. External torque of 13 ± 1 Nm was used for females and 21 ± 1 Nm for males. A fixed effect multi-variable …

Statewide Dissemination And Implementation Of Physical Activity Standards In Afterschool Programs: Two-Year Results, Michael W. Beets, R. Glenn Weaver, Keith Brazendale, Gabrielle Turner-Mcgrievy, Ruth P. Saunders, Justin P. Moore, Collin Webster, Mahmud Khan, Aaron Beighle

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Background: In 2015, YMCA afterschool programs (ASPs) across South Carolina, USA pledged to achieve the YMCA physical activity standard calling for all children to accumulate 30 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while attending their ASPs. This study presents the final two-year outcomes from the dissemination and implementation efforts associated with achieving this MVPA standard.

Methods: Twenty ASPs were sampled from all South Carolina YMCA-operated ASPs (N = 97) and visited at baseline (2015) and first (2016) and second year (2017) follow-up. All ASPs were provided training to increase MVPA during the program by extending the scheduled time for …

Examination Of Resistance Settings Based On Body Weight For The 3-Minute All-Out Critical Power Test, Marlene J. Schulte, Jody L. Clasey, Bradley S. Fleenor, Haley C. Bergstrom

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

There are conflicting suggestions regarding the most valid resistance (3-5% of body weight) to use for the critical power (CP) 3-min all-out (CP_3min) test to estimate CP and anaerobic work capacity (AWC). The purpose of this study was to determine if the CP and AWC estimates from the CP_3min test were affected by the percentage of body weight used to set the resistance on a Monark cycle ergometer. Ten recreationally trained participants (mean ± SD: Age: 22.2 ± 2.2 yrs.) completed the CP_3min test at resistances of 4.5% (CP_4.5%) and 3% (CP_3%) …

Effects Of Very Short-Term Dynamic Constant External Resistance Exercise On Strength And Barbell Velocity In Untrained Individuals, M. Travis Byrd, Haley C. Bergstrom

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

This study examined the effect of an upper body dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) exercise (barbell bench press [BP]), using the very short-term training (VST) model on strength and barbell velocity. Ten (5 females, 5 males) subjects (mean ± SD age: 21.4 ± 2.8 yrs; height: 1.75 ± 0.12 m; body mass: 83 ± 8.8 kg) completed two pre-test visits (pre-test 1 and pre-test 2) to serve as the within subjects control, three training visits, and one post-test visit. The subject’s 1 repetition maximum (1RM) for the BP as well as the mean (BP_MV) and peak (BP_{PV …}

Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Associates With Myocardial Oxygen Demand And Exercise Tolerance In Postmenopausal Women, Stephen J. Carter, David R. Bryan, William H. Neumeier, Stephen P. Glasser, Gary R. Hunter

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

The functional implications of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a marker of oxidative stress, on hemodynamic parameters at rest and during physical exertion are unclear. The aims of this investigation were to examine the independent associations of TNF-α on myocardial oxygen demand at rest and during submaximal exercise, while also evaluating the association of TNF-α on exercise tolerance. Forty, postmenopausal women, provided blood samples and completed a modified-Balke protocol to measure maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max). Large artery compliance was measured by pulse contour analyses while rate-pressure product (RPP), an index of myocardial oxygen demand, was measured at rest …