No description available.

Aims: The overall aim of this thesis was to further our understanding of extensor muscles and their role for hand function. The aims of the studies were: To develop and evaluate a new device for finger extensor force measurements. To evaluate ultrasound as a tool for assessment of muscle architecture. To determine the correlation between extensor muscle force and hand function. To evaluate the degree of impaired finger extensor force in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the correlation to impaired... mer hand function. To analyse the effect of hand exercise in RA patients and healthy subjects with ultrasound and finger extension force measurements. Method: A new finger extension force measuring device was developed and an ultrasound based method was used to be able to objectively measure the finger extension force and analyze the static and dynamic extensor muscle architectures. Measurements were made of healthy volunteers (n=127) and RA patients (n=77) during uninfluenced and experimental conditions. A hand exercise program was performed and evaluated with hand force measurements, hand function test, patient relevant questionnaires (DASH and SF-36) and ultrasound measurements. Results: The new finger extension force measurement device was developed and then validated with measurements of accuracy as well as test-retest reliability. The coefficient of variation was 1.8 % of the applied load, and the test-retest reliability showed a coefficient of variation no more than 7.1% for healthy subjects. Ultrasound examination on m. extensor digitorum communis (EDC) showed significant differences between healthy men and healthy women as well as between healthy women and RA patients. The extension and flexion force improved in both groups after six weeks of hand exercise (p<0.01). Hand function improved in both groups (p<0.01). The RA group showed improvement in the results of the DASH questionnaire (p<0.05). The cross-sectional area of the EDC increased significantly in both groups. Conclusions: A new finger extension force measuring device has been developed which provides objective and reliable data on the extension force capacity of normal and dysfunctional hands and is sufficiently sensitive to evaluate the effects of hand exercise. US provide useful information about muscle architecture. A significant improvement of hand strength and hand function in RA patients was seen after six weeks of hand training, the improvement was even more pronounced after 12 weeks. Hand exercise is thus an effective intervention for RA patients, providing better strength and function.

Symptoms associated with menopause are known to negatively affect quality of life for many women. Moreover, concern about risks associated with hormone replacement therapy can prompt women to seek non-pharmacological approaches to symptom management. Claims exist that yoga can be useful in the management of menopausal symptoms, possibly through modification of endocrine function. This study used a randomized controlled design to examine the effect of yoga on sedentary menopausal women with regard to menopausal symptoms, circulating hormones, musculoskeletal fitness, heart rate, blood pressure, and body mass index. Women participating in a traditional walking program served as the control group. Results indicate that both types of activity were beneficial for perimenopausal women, although the differences between yoga and walking for improvement in menopause symptoms were not statistically significant. The effects do not appear to be associated with hormonal changes. Musculoskeletal fitness in sedentary women improved with activity despite weight gain. / ix, 105 leaves ; 29 cm

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<p>The aim of the current study was to determine the relationship between low back pain and physical activity levels among nurses in Kanombe Military Hospital (KMH), as well as other confounding factors leading to low back pain. A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive design was used to conduct the study. The study population and sample included all clinical nurses in all the departments/wards at KMH (excluding three nurses doing administrative work only and the four who participated in the pilot study). A total of 133 nurses participated in the study and data was collected using three self administered questionnaires. The first one requested socio-demographic data, followed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) which examined the physical activity levels of nurses, and lastly the Nordic Musculoskeletal Disorder Questionnaire which examined low back pain prevalence. A response rate of 122 (92%) was obtained.</p>

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic heart failure (CHF) patients show a marked reduction in exercise capacity compared to that of healthy age-matched individuals. While inadequate gas exchange and resulting hypoxemia appears as the primary factor in COPD, an impaired cardiac output is the predominant explanation for the reduced oxygen delivery in CHF. However, the extent of the contributions of other systemic factors remains unclear. In light of the potential interactions between cardiac output (Qc) and pulmonary hyperinflation, there is surprisingly little data thus far on ventilatory constraints in CHF and on the role of blood flow delivery in COPD which may further limit the exercise capacity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the slope of the Qc versus oxygen uptake (VO2) response through several submaximal cycling loads in patients with moderately severe COPD and with that of moderate to severe CHF patients as well as age-matched healthy control subjects (CTRL). Also examined was the possibility that ventilatory constraints such as dynamic hyperinflation contribute to an abnormal stroke volume response in both diseases. Cardiac output was measured using the CO 2-rebreathing equilibrium technique during baseline conditions and cycling at 20, 40 and 65% of peak power in 17 COPD (Age: 64 +/- 8 yrs; FEV 1/FVC: 37 +/- 11%; FEV1: 41 +/- 15 % predicted), 10 CHF (Age: 57+/- 10 yrs; FEV1/FVC: 73.8 +/- 5.6%; FEV 1: 93 +/- 13% predicted) and 10 age-matched CTRL subjects. Inspiratory capacity (IC) was also measured for the determination of dynamic hyperinflation during the steady state exercise bouts. The results indicate that while the absolute Qc values are lower in COPD and in CHF than in CTRL during 65% peak power cycling (11.30 +/- 2.38 vs 12.40 +/- 2.08 vs 15.63 +/- 2.15 L&bull;min-1 respectively, p &lt; 0.01), likely due to their lower exercise metabolic demand. The Qc/VO2 response to increasing levels of exercise intensity was lower or normal in CHF patients compared to CTRL, while normal or hyperdynamic in most COPD patients. Indeed, the majority of patients with COPD exhibited Qc/VO2 slopes greater than 7.0, which may be indicative of a peripheral muscle bioenergetic disturbance that may drive the need for greater oxygen delivery, and thus result in an exaggerated central circulatory response.

Thesis (MAppSci in Physiotheraphy) -- University of South Australia, 1994

This thesis investigated the effect of high intensity, intermittent exercise (HIIE) on fat loss in young, sedentary women. It attempted also to identify possible mechanisms underpinning exercise-induced changes in adiposity. Study 1 investigated some of the metabolic and hormonal responses to two variations of HIIE. Sixteen female subjects were tested. The first session involved a cycle ergometer VO2peak test. The next two sessions were completed in random order. After baseline measures the women did 20 min of HIIE. There was a short bout exercise of 8 s work, followed by 12 s relative rest and a long bout exercise of 24 s work followed by 36 s relative rest. Seven subjects had excess postexercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and resting metabolic rate determined. Both exercise modalities made significant demands on the participants??? oxygen delivery systems. RER diminished over the 20 min of exercise and plasma glycerol concentrations increased. Lactate concentrations rose. Catecholamine concentrations were elevated postexercise. There was an elevated EPOC associated with above baseline fat utilisation. Study 2, a 15-week training study, was a randomised controlled trial comparing the effects of short bout HIIE and steady state (SS) exercise on fat loss. Forty-five women were randomly assigned to one of three groups: HIIE, SS, or control. Preliminary and posttraining testing included a DEXA scan and a VO2peak test including blood collection. All participants completed 3-d diet diaries and maintained their current diet for the course of the study. Participants exercised three times a week for the next 15 weeks under supervision. The HIIE group did 20 min of HIIE (8 s work:12 s rest) at a workload determined from the VO2peak test. The SS group cycled at 60%VO2peak , building to a maximum of 40 min exercise. Both exercise groups increased VO2peak . The HIIE group had a significant loss of total body mass (TBM) and fat mass (FM) when compared to the other groups. There was no change in dietary intake. There have been a number of studies examining the acute effects of HIIE but, to our knowledge, this is the first study examining the chronic effects of this particular exercise protocol.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--McMaster University, 2004. / Advisor: Kathleen A. Martin Ginis. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.A. (Psychology)) - Rhodes University, 2007.