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No description available.

Anxiety disorders are highly debilitating mental illnesses. They are characterized by heightened worry, physiological arousal, and avoidance behaviours that manifest as psychological, physiological, and behavioral disturbances. Critically, a large proportion of the population suffers from elevated anxiety symptoms. Physical exercise has been proposed as a potential treatment for managing anxiety symptoms. The present study examined the effect of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training on both general and state anxiety symptoms in young adults. We hypothesized that general anxiety would be significantly lower after nine weeks of aerobic exercise training compared to no exercise training. We also hypothesized that a single bout of exercise would reduce state anxiety, and this reduction would be augmented with training. Fifty-five inactive participants (47 females, 85%) age 18 to 24 (M ± SD = 19.29 ± 1.37 years) were randomized into one of two groups: 1) exercise group, or 2) non-exercise control group. The exercise group completed three moderate intensity continuous aerobic exercise sessions per week for nine weeks, whereas the control group were asked to remain inactive. General anxiety was measured before and after the intervention using the Beck Anxiety Inventory, while state anxiety was measured twice a week using the short-form of the state scale of Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. There was a significant interaction between group and baseline anxiety severity (p = .041) when controlling for aerobic fitness. Further exploration of this interaction revealed that the effect of aerobic exercise on post-intervention general anxiety was moderated by baseline anxiety severity [B = -9.84, p = .041, CI = -19.23 to -0.44]. Only the exercise subgroup with functionally-relevant baseline anxiety had lower post-intervention anxiety than the control group [B = -10.66, p = .0033, CI = -17.60 to -3.73]. Furthermore, an acute bout of exercise reduced state anxiety relative to the control group, but the effect did not emerge until weeks 4 to 6 of training (p < .001). Neither anxiety outcome was associated with changes in aerobic fitness, suggesting that some other aspect of the exercise program may have caused the benefits on anxiety. Collectively, these findings point to regular aerobic exercise as an effective tool for young adults to manage anxiety. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

The benefits of brief-duration, early exercise programs in stroke have been shown, but the effects of longer-duration aerobic training early after stroke have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an early aerobic exercise program that extended beyond inpatient into outpatient rehabilitation on aerobic capacity, walking parameters (walking distance, speed, and symmetry), health-related quality of life, and balance. Patients in the subacute phase after stroke (n = 15) with mild to moderate impairment received aerobic exercise in addition to conventional rehabilitation. The study participants demonstrated significant improvement in aerobic and walking capacity, peak work rate, quality of life, balance, and gait velocity from baseline to midpoint. However, no difference was found between midpoint and final. This early aerobic exercise program following stroke significantly improved aerobic capacity, walking ability, quality of life and balance during the inpatient period although no further improvement was observed during the outpatient period.

The benefits of brief-duration, early exercise programs in stroke have been shown, but the effects of longer-duration aerobic training early after stroke have not been examined. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an early aerobic exercise program that extended beyond inpatient into outpatient rehabilitation on aerobic capacity, walking parameters (walking distance, speed, and symmetry), health-related quality of life, and balance. Patients in the subacute phase after stroke (n = 15) with mild to moderate impairment received aerobic exercise in addition to conventional rehabilitation. The study participants demonstrated significant improvement in aerobic and walking capacity, peak work rate, quality of life, balance, and gait velocity from baseline to midpoint. However, no difference was found between midpoint and final. This early aerobic exercise program following stroke significantly improved aerobic capacity, walking ability, quality of life and balance during the inpatient period although no further improvement was observed during the outpatient period.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brock University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 69-85).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: David L. Kirchman, College of Marine and Earth Studies. Includes bibliographical references.

It has been well-documented in the literature that there are many physical and psychological benefits to be derived from regular aerobic exercise. It has also been noted that adherence/compliance to aerobic exercise regimens tends to be quite low. Investigators have found that a number of factors tend to correlate with adherence, but it has been difficult thus far to determine a mechanism which underlies a tendency to adhere versus a tendency to drop-out. This study examined the problem of non-adherence from the perspective of Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1977). Subjects for this investigation included all patients seen during a four week period in the Cooper Clinic at the Aerobics Center in Dallas, Texas. Patients at the clinic receive a complete physical examination and health prescriptions based upon the results of their examination. During this four week period, half were administered a Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. Approximately three months later all patients seen during this four week period received a followup (adherence questionnaire in the mail). It was hypothesized that there would be a positive relationship between responses on the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and responses on the Adherence Questionnaire. A second hypothesis stated that there would be a positive relationship between items which specifically pertained to exercise on each of the questionnaires. In addition, it was expected that there would be no difference in adherence rates between those who made self-efficacy judgments and those who did not. Results of a t-test conducted between the group which made self-efficacy judgments and the group that was not asked to make such an evaluation demonstrated no significant difference in adherence rates. A correlational analysis revealed that there was not a statistically significant relationship between total self-efficacy scores and total adherence scores. There was, however, a statistically significant relationship between levels of exercise self-efficacy and levels of exercise adherence. In addition to these main variables of interest, correlations between other variables (sex, age, percent bodyfat, etc.) were examined and discussed.

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1963 R57 / Master of Science