Overview
The study will find out if 100 minutes of electrical stimulation of muscle prevents the unfavorable consequence of insufficient exercise.
Description
Exercise resistance is characterized by the absence of exercise induced improvements in fat metabolism following a meal, and results from prolonged sedentary behavior between successive workouts (i.e. 2+ sedentary days between exercise bouts). The suggested energy expenditure threshold for avoiding exercise resistance is the equivalent of walking ~8,500 steps/day. However, population data indicate that the typical adult in the US only walks 5,000 steps/day (i.e. 3,500 steps below the threshold). Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) evokes skeletal muscle contractions and increases energy expenditure. The hypothesis to be explored in this current proposal is: NMES will prevent exercise resistance. The plan is to induce exercise resistance via short-term abstention from activity other than exercise, and then on a separate occasion, use NMES to prevent exercise resistance (i.e. the short-term abstention from exercise will be "replaced" with NMES).
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Regularly active (more than 30 minutes of exercise per day, 3 days per week, over the previous 12 months)
- Ability to complete at least one hour of treadmill exercise (i.e. jogging/running),
- Willing to abstain from caffeine and alcohol for 24-hours prior to three different study visits
- Competency in English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current or previous injuries that may hinder a participant's ability to exercise on a treadmill
- A history of cardiopulmonary disorder that may be contra-indicative to treadmill exercise
- Current use of cardio-pulmonary medication to treat a cardio-pulmonary condition
- Currently breastfeeding
- Pregnancy