muscle biopsy as part of training ?
forward_loop
Posts: 314
Recently been generally appraoched about this but fall outside of the age limits.
Out of curiosity - has anybody had a muscle biopsy done as part of their training, what really would these be able to detect, fast, slow twitch tendencies ? could the knowledge provided by this help individuals training plans or be only really usefull within a group statistical exercise.
If you were offered this opportunity would youtake it ? - see below
At xxxxxxxxxxxxwe are conducting a number of
experiments with colleagues at the University xxxxxxxx). We
require participants for these studies, and individuals who volunteer
can select to have their assessments undertaken at my laboratory in
xxxxxxx or at the University xxxxx facility at xxxxx
We have recently been involved in a number of investigations into
efficiency of movement in cyclists (Basically how much power you produce
for a given physiological effort). Basic training interventions have
shown that we can improve power output by 8% using specific cycle
training techniques.
We are now beginning to start a series of investigations into the
physiological mechanisms behind:
1) why there are differences between individuals,
2) why there are differences with age and ability,
3) and ultimately what are the components that change in an individual
when we induce these improvements through training.
We are at the stage of recruiting for a study where we want to compare
trained and untrained cyclists in two age ranges (Group 1: 18-30 years
old Group 2: 50-75 years old).
The demands for the participants in the first instance are fairly
straightforward, and full details will be given on request before
signing up for the study. To briefly outline, there will be 3 visits
to the laboratory to perform cycling related tests. The first is a
maximal test, (A standard ramp test) and following a rest period a 30
second sprint test. The second visit will assess your cycling
efficiency and this simply involves riding at a number of submaximal
(relatively low) power values to assess the oxygen you use, we will take
some finger prick blood samples to assess your blood lactate
concentrations, and we will places some sensors on your quadriceps
(Thighs) to assess muscle activation. The third visit to the laboratory
involves a one hour performance test (this will ascertain the power
output that you can sustain for a whole hour) with oxygen consumption
measurements at various stages.
There is one final demand with this study, and this is to have a muscle
biopsy taken by trained medics (from the University College London), to
assess the muscular properties associated with your overall
capabilities. This assessment will take place in xxxxx and involves a
small 1cm incision and the removal of tissue (similar to the size of a
pea) under local anaesthetic. Again full details will be given to
anyone who is interested at this stage on this procedure. There are
four dates set out in the next 3 months to collect the biopsy data, and
we would require you to sign up to one of those.
The data generated across these tests will be fed back to participants,
and we will fully support individuals who have got involved to ensure
they can use this data for training and racing purposes, to fully
benefit from their commitment.
In the first instance if you email or call me I can then start the
process of fully informing individuals before they sign up.
Kind regards
Out of curiosity - has anybody had a muscle biopsy done as part of their training, what really would these be able to detect, fast, slow twitch tendencies ? could the knowledge provided by this help individuals training plans or be only really usefull within a group statistical exercise.
If you were offered this opportunity would youtake it ? - see below
At xxxxxxxxxxxxwe are conducting a number of
experiments with colleagues at the University xxxxxxxx). We
require participants for these studies, and individuals who volunteer
can select to have their assessments undertaken at my laboratory in
xxxxxxx or at the University xxxxx facility at xxxxx
We have recently been involved in a number of investigations into
efficiency of movement in cyclists (Basically how much power you produce
for a given physiological effort). Basic training interventions have
shown that we can improve power output by 8% using specific cycle
training techniques.
We are now beginning to start a series of investigations into the
physiological mechanisms behind:
1) why there are differences between individuals,
2) why there are differences with age and ability,
3) and ultimately what are the components that change in an individual
when we induce these improvements through training.
We are at the stage of recruiting for a study where we want to compare
trained and untrained cyclists in two age ranges (Group 1: 18-30 years
old Group 2: 50-75 years old).
The demands for the participants in the first instance are fairly
straightforward, and full details will be given on request before
signing up for the study. To briefly outline, there will be 3 visits
to the laboratory to perform cycling related tests. The first is a
maximal test, (A standard ramp test) and following a rest period a 30
second sprint test. The second visit will assess your cycling
efficiency and this simply involves riding at a number of submaximal
(relatively low) power values to assess the oxygen you use, we will take
some finger prick blood samples to assess your blood lactate
concentrations, and we will places some sensors on your quadriceps
(Thighs) to assess muscle activation. The third visit to the laboratory
involves a one hour performance test (this will ascertain the power
output that you can sustain for a whole hour) with oxygen consumption
measurements at various stages.
There is one final demand with this study, and this is to have a muscle
biopsy taken by trained medics (from the University College London), to
assess the muscular properties associated with your overall
capabilities. This assessment will take place in xxxxx and involves a
small 1cm incision and the removal of tissue (similar to the size of a
pea) under local anaesthetic. Again full details will be given to
anyone who is interested at this stage on this procedure. There are
four dates set out in the next 3 months to collect the biopsy data, and
we would require you to sign up to one of those.
The data generated across these tests will be fed back to participants,
and we will fully support individuals who have got involved to ensure
they can use this data for training and racing purposes, to fully
benefit from their commitment.
In the first instance if you email or call me I can then start the
process of fully informing individuals before they sign up.
Kind regards
0
Comments
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Ooh! I qualify for group 2. Is XXXXXXX quite close to UCL or are their trained medics travelling to do the biopsies??0
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Sounds good as I believe to have these tests normally you would have to pay.
Id ask about the biopsy though as a piece of your leg muscle missing is a little worrying0 -
WraithWarrior23 wrote:Sounds good as I believe to have these tests normally you would have to pay.
Id ask about the biopsy though as a piece of your leg muscle missing is a little worrying
Normally you couldn't get a muscle biopsy for athletic testing purposes, think they're banned over here for being too intrusive, don't know how they've gotten round that in this instance. The procedure usually involves something similar to an apple corker (not a small incision as it says there), and is by all accounts a massive fanny on, because you need to be extremely quick in taking a sample and freezing it, and it only provides a brief insight into what is happening in the muscle at a very specific point in time (usually at maximal output)."A cyclist has nothing to lose but his chain"
PTP Runner Up 20150 -
Keef66
They're travelling, but if your happy someone to take an apple corer to your thigh and willing to travel an hour and 1/2 or so I'll send you the contact detaills.?
This reseach function has carried out tests on cyclists for several years now but I personally cant vouch for anything - you would need to talk with the Doctor concerned and make your own decision.0 -
Go on then; feel free to pm me if you don't want to post on here. I remember watching a program in which Colin Jackson had the old thigh muscle biopsy to see if he had the very fast twitch muscle fibres (he did).
Surely can't be any more painful than having sea-urchin spines dug out of your foot with no anaesthetic.0 -
Pm'd you the full details
you'll have to update the thread when you've had the op !
I guess it'l be no worse than having a filling...0
