Short-Duration Resistive Exercise Sustains Neuromuscular Function after Bed Rest.

Abstract

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness of a short duration, three times weekly, high-load resistive exercise program on preventing deterioration in neuromuscular function after prolonged bed rest. METHODS: Twenty-four male subjects performed high-load resistive exercise (RE; n=8), high-load resistive exercise with whole-body vibration (RVE; n=9) or no exercise (control, n=9) during 60-day head-down tilt bed rest as part of the 2nd Berlin Bed Rest Study (BBR2-2). Peak countermovement jump power and height, sit-to-stand performance, sprint time over 15m and 30m and leg-press one repetition maximum were measured before and after bed rest. RESULTS: The exercise interventions were capable of ameliorating losses of peak countermovement jump power (p<0.001) and height (p<0.001), deterioration of sit-to-stand time from 45cm (p=0.034) and 30cm (p<0.001) sitting positions, increases of 15m (p=0.037) and 30m (p=0.005) sprint time and losses of one-repetition maximum leg-press (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The short duration (6 minutes time under tension per training session) exercise countermeasure program performed three times a week was capable of reducing the impact of prolonged bed rest on a number of neuromuscular function measures.