Education and research RSC

In the 'I Keep Cycling' study, the Donders Institute is investigating whether it is possible to get people who no longer dare to cycle but who really want to, back onto the bike. The motivation for this study comes from two sources: (1) fundamental research into how people maintain their balance on a bicycle, and (2) clinical research into the effectiveness of strength training as an instrument for fall prevention while walking. The research consists of balance training on a bicycle simulator and spinning lessons on stationary bicycles aimed at increasing bicycle-specific muscle strength. This last part takes place at Radboud Sport & Culture.

With the research project 'Sport & Friendship', sociologists Rob Franken, Hidde Bekhuis and Jochem Tolsma want to increase knowledge about how and why the transition to higher education is accompanied by changes in active lifestyles, and what role the social network has in this. An active lifestyle has many benefits. Unfortunately, we see that the transition to higher education often has a (permanent) negative impact on physical activity. The transition to higher education is accompanied by a new study environment, often a new living environment, new responsibilities, and a changing social network. New knowledge gained from this research, thanks to the contribution of many students active at the RSC, helps organizations to develop interventions or programs that can promote an active lifestyle after the transition to higher education.

Within this minor from the HAN University of Applied Sciences towards Sports & Exercise, students will work on giving form and content to evidence-based strength and conditioning advice that they will develop for a team or association and (where possible) will implement this. They develop this advice based on bio mechanical, physiological and sports nutrition knowledge to optimize sports performance and reduce the risk of injuries. Students conduct a literature study, make an analysis of the target group and perform various tests and measurements. Based on this, they develop tailor-made advice that they will also present to those involved within Radboud Sport & Culture and the association. By carrying out this assignment, they not only support the sports club and/or the group of athletes, but they also gain valuable practical experience within the sports context.

Our muscles are maintained by an active process in which new muscle proteins are continuously produced and at the same time 'old', dysfunctional muscle proteins are broken down. Various factors, such as physical activity and nutrition, influence this process and can therefore be used specifically to achieve optimal muscle adaptation during training, for example, but also in the treatment of various conditions. In patients with mitochondrial myopathy (muscle disease), there are genetic effects in various proteins that ensure energy management in the muscle. This is accompanied by greatly reduced exercise tolerance. It is currently unclear to what extent the production of specific muscle proteins has also changed and what the effect of physical exertion is on this process in these patients. Possible insights from the research could be used to better tailor exercise advice for this patient group and as starting points for new treatments.

In the Psephite study, muscle protein synthesis will be determined in patients with mitochondrial myopathy, and the effect of HIIT (high intensity interval training) on ​​muscle protein synthesis will also be studied. For this purpose, 16 patients with mitochondrial myopathy are recruited via Radboudumc. During a period of fourteen days, these patients will perform a HIIT protocol every two days at Radboud Sport & Culture. Both at the beginning and at the end of this period, the muscle protein synthesis rate and the effect of the training on this will be determined using muscle biopsies and so-called 'stable isotopes'. The Psephite study concerns a collaboration between Radboudumc and Maastricht UMC+.

In the FLAIR study, the Donders Institute investigates what influence the immune system has on our brain and our behavior. At a certain stage of this research, the researchers want to know what role mild inflammation can play in the way people make choices and how the brain processes this. The research is conducted on healthy people with a higher weight, because mild inflammation is relatively common in them. Radboud Sport & Culture helps the Donders Institute recruit participants.

The project 'Online support for sports and exercise in Parkinson's and atypical Parkinson's disease' focuses on facilitating people with Parkinson's disease to exercise more and/or exercise. Thanks to ParkinsonTV, ParkinsonNet already had experience in making broadcasts, but in order to get people with Parkinson's moving (more) and to introduce them to different forms of exercise, they wanted to make 6 broadcasts in which people really started moving together. Radboud Sport & Culture has made its location available for the recordings.