Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 77 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of a long-term static stretching program on flexibility and spinal reflexes in the human soleus muscle. Day-to-day reliability over two days of H-reflex gain (Hslp/Mslp) and pre-synaptic inhibition of spinal reflexes in the human soleus was measured in an initial study. Thirty subjects (age=23.4 ± 3.9 yr, height=175.64 ± 10.87 cm, weight=84.5 ± 24.18 kg) with no history of lower leg pathology and/or injury within the previous 12 months volunteered. The slopes of the ascending portions of the H-reflex and M-wave recruitment curves were used to evaluate H-reflex gain (Hslp/Mslp). The mean soleus H-reflex from 10 conditioning stimulations and 10 unconditioned stimulations was used to calculate the amount of pre-synaptic inhibition. Measurements of H-reflex gain and pre-synaptic inhibition yielded test-retest reliability of R=.95 and R=.91, respectively. The contribution of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic reciprocal mechanisms in flexibility adaptations has not been measured during the same study. A long-term static stretching program (5 times per week for 6 weeks) of the soleus implemented within an experimental group of 20 subjects was used as an intervention to measure both spinal control flexibility changes. Additionally, 20 control subjects were measured that did not participate in the stretching program. Passive ankle dorsiflexion, Hmax/Mmax, H-reflex gain (Hslp/Mslp), pre-synaptic and post-synaptic reciprocal mechanisms were measured at baseline, 3 weeks, and 6 weeks for all 40 subjects. A 2 (Group) X 2 (Sex) X 3 (Time) mixed MANOVA with Tukey HSD with (a<0.05) was used. Only ROM had a significant interaction between Group and Time, whereas, a significant difference was not detected in the other dependent variables. The experimental group demonstrated significantly improved dorsiflexion ROM from baseline to 3 weeks (mean=6.2 ± .88, P<0.001), 3 weeks to 6 weeks (mean=4.9 ± .84, P<0.001), and baseline to 6 weeks (mean=11.2 ± .91, P<0.001). Consequently, the increase in flexibility by 42% after 30 stretching sessions was not the result of spinal reflex changes. / Graduation date: 2006

Shoulder pain is very common, affecting 14-21 % of the population at some time during their lifetime. The aims of this thesis were to improve the understanding of various aspects concerning the pathogenesis and treatment of subacromial pain and rotator cuff tears. Patients and healthy individuals were examined and compared in five studies: Study I) Seventy patients were retrospectively examined, clinically and with ultrasound, 15 years after arthroscopic subacromial decompression. All patients had an intact rotator cuff at surgery. Ultrasound showed significantly fewer rotator cuff tears compared to the prevalence of asymptomatic tears reported in the literature for the same age group. This indicates that arthroscopic subacromial decompression might protect the rotator cuff. Study II) Forty-two patients were retrospectively examined, clinically and with ultrasound, 39 months (mean) after an acute rotator cuff repair. All patients had pseudoparalysis after trauma, a full thickness tear and no previous history of shoulder symptoms. A delay in surgical treatment of three months and the number of tendons injured did not affect the outcome. Age affected outcome negatively. Study III) Plasma samples from 17 patients with cuff tears and 16 plasma samples from healthy age- and gender-matched controls were collected and analysed regarding the levels of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors, TIMP1-4. Elevated levels of TIMP-1 were found in the patients with cuff tears compared to controls. Higher levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-3 and MMP-9 were found in patients with full-thickness tears compared to patients with partial-thickness tears. Study IV) Ninety-seven patients with longstanding subacromial pain, on the waiting-list for arthroscopic subacromial decompression, were prospectively randomised to specific shoulder exercises or control exercises for three months. Thereafter they were clinically examined and asked if they still wanted surgery. The specific shoulder exercises focusing on eccentric exercise for the rotator cuff and scapula stabilisers were found to be effective in reducing subacromial pain and improving shoulder function, thereby reducing the need for surgery. Study V) All patients including those operated, in Study IV were re-examined after one year using clinical assessment scores. The option of surgery was continuously available up to the one-year follow-up. Ultrasound and radiological examinations performed at inclusion were analysed in relation to the choice of surgery. The positive effects of the specific exercise programme were maintained after one year and significantly fewer patients in this group chose surgery. Surgery was significantly more often chosen by patients who had a low baseline shoulder score, and/or a full thickness rotator cuff tear.  All patients showed significant improvement in the clinical scores one year after inclusion or one year after surgery. These results support the concept that subacromial pain has a multifactorial aetiology and that the first line of treatment should be specific shoulder exercises. When conservative treatment fails, an acceptable result can be achieved with arthroscopic subacromial decompression. The rotator cuff status is important to consider when treating and studying these patients.

The purpose of this project was to design a concise weight loss and exercise program that could be incorporated into a typical family physician's office utilizing routine personnel and physician time commitments. The program was developed to include caloric restriction, diet instructions, behavioral modification, and patient education. It also included outlining an exercise program that was specific enough to allow patients to have a concrete amount of exercise to do but flexible enough to be applicable to all patients. The accompanying manual can serve as a general guide to all physicians who wish to instruct patients on weight loss and exercise. Where the physicians did not agree with the specific information offered in the manual they could substitute their own information but still follow the same general guidelines for use in handling patients. If used properly this program could be quite helpful for handling a very difficult and common problem for the busy family practitioner.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2009. / Principal faculty advisor: David G. Edwards, Dept. of Health, Nutrition, & Exercise Sciences. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2009. / Prepared for: Dept. of Health and Human Performance. Title from title-page of electronic thesis. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 30, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 79-90).

Thesis (M. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-101).

Diss. Örebro : Örebro universitet, 2007.

Thesis (D.W.S.)--Institute for Worship Studies, 2002. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 212-214).