D.Phil. / Asthma exemplifies a major medical concern and is a considerable cause of morbidity and mortality globally and in South Africa. Biokineticists have in the past primarily prescribed aerobic modes of exercise to asthmatics regardless of other modes of exercise that could be used in the management of asthma, each with their own unique benefits. The aim of this investigation was to develop a management model from a biokinetic perspective for the management of asthma in moderate, persistent asthmatics. The present study utilised a quantitative, comparative, research trial making use of a pre-test, eight-week intervention period and a post-test. Eighty-eight sedentary moderate, persistent asthmatics were matched by age and gender and randomly assigned to either a non-exercising control group (NE) (n = 22), an aerobic exercise group (AE) (n = 22), a diaphragmatic inspiratory resistive breathing group (DR) (n = 22) or an aerobic exercise combined with diaphragmatic resistive breathing group (CE) (n = 22). Dependent t-Tests and rank-ordered analyses revealed that five of the 13 pulmonary function parameters assessed were found to be significantly altered following the AE and CE training, with the CE training having a larger impact than AE training. The DR training resulted in improvements in four of the 13 pulmonary function parameters. The CE and AE training were also found to be equally effective at altering physical work capacity, while the DR training proved ineffective at altering physical work capacity. The CE training proved to be the most effective at improving the abdominal and chest wall excursion parameters. The DR training was found to be the least effective mode of exercise training to impact favourably on abdominal and chest wall excursion parameters. The DR and CE training had a similar significant and favourable change in respiratory muscle flexibility followed by the AE training only impacting on nine of the 11 respiratory muscle flexibility parameters. Regarding the respiratory muscle strength, despite AE and CE training altering 18 of the 20 parameters, CE training was found to be more effective. DR training only altered 16 of the 20 respiratory muscle strength parameters. The DR training was the only modality to alter a postural parameter, albeit unfavourably. Even though the DR and AE training significantly altered four of the six anthropometric parameters, the AE training proved to be superior, while CE training proved least effective as it altered v only three of the measured anthropometric parameters. The overall success of the CE training exemplified the fact that an optimal training regime for the management of asthma may require both an aerobic exercise and diaphragmatic inspiratory resistive breathing component. Exercise training, and specifically CE training is a cost-effective, home-based asthma management programme that may reduce the public health burden of this disease and provide the patient with alternative treatment options. CE training should form the cornerstone in the management of asthma to minimise and prevent asthma exacerbations and thus improve health-related quality of life and may even prove to be life-saving.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease causing bronchospasm, which leads to the sensation of shortness of breath. Children with asthma are often afraid of exercise because the exercise induced exacerbation which gives children a sense of breathlessness. As a result, they usually have a sedentary lifestyle that decreases their physical fitness. However, there is evidence supporting the claim that exercises do not induce exacerbation, and exercise should be encouraged to asthmatic children to improve their physical fitness. In Hong Kong, protocol for exercise training with asthmatic children is limited. This is unfortunate because recent studies have shown that exercise training has improved the physical fitness of asthmatic children. This present studies used databases included PubMed (from 1950 to 2012), Ovid MEDLINE® (from 1950 to 2012), CINAHL (from 1982 to 2012), and ProQuest (from 1999 to 2012), to identify significant research on the topic. Eight studies, including seven RCTs and one cohort study, were chosen for in depth review. They were all good quality studies with satisfactory results that identified improvement in physical fitness for mild to moderate asthmatic children after exercise training. This present studies proposed an exercise training program for a pediatric ward in a public hospital in Hong Kong. The target population is children, aged 7 to 17, who suffer from mild to moderate asthma. They will enroll in an exercise training program to perform cycling in a clinical setting three times per week. The program will be sustained for nine weeks. The participants will undergo the innovation under the supervision of trained nurses. Evidence-based protocol is developed for the innovation to guide nurses on how to carry out the exercise training effectively and smoothly. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) grading system is adopted to measure the levels of evidence and grading of the recommendations in the protocol. A communication plan will be developed to gain support from the identified stakeholders. A pilot study plan will be established in order to determine the feasibility of the proposed innovation. The exercise stress test, which is the primary outcome of the innovation, will be measured in the pilot study. Knowledge, job satisfaction, and confidence level of staff will be evaluated. The effectiveness of the innovation will be evaluated based improvements as measured by lung function, exercise stress and quality of life of the asthmatic children after exercise training. It will also consider nurse competency in carrying out the exercise training program. In the pediatric ward of a public hospital, mild to moderate asthmatic children are going to perform cycling under close monitoring and supervision. The proposed clinical setting for exercise program is intentional. Its relax atmosphere may encourage asthmatic children to do more exercises even after the training program. The researcher identifies transferable elements in the innovation, including characteristics of the patients, staff, setting and philosophy of care. The feasibility of the program is evaluated according to the culture and resource environment. The cost effectiveness is considered and it factors in the benefits of the innovation physically and psychologically. In order to implement this program successfully, a well-designed and planned protocol is proposed. The innovation is designed to be effective in improving the physical and psychological fitness of asthmatic children. / published_or_final_version / Nursing Studies / Master / Master of Nursing

The effects of exercise intensity on the stereotypic behaviours of three autistic subjects were examined. Two exercise programs which differed on the basis of intensity as measured by heart rate were implemented. The frequency of stereotypic behaviours were measured prior to exercise, immediately following exercise and 90 minutes following exercise. / Significant reductions in stereotypic behaviors occurred as a function of the vigorous exercise condition only. The mean reduction of stereotypic behaviours between pre-jogging and post-jogging was 17.5%. The duration of these reductions was found to be temporary. Increases to pre-exercise levels were noted in stereotypic behaviours one and a half hours following implementation of the exercise conditions. / For the purpose of examining any differential effects of exercise intensity, the stereotypic behaviours of all subjects were categorized into three components motor, verbal and other. The motor component of stereotypic behaviour was most prominent. The moderate exercise condition had little effect on the motor component, while the vigorous exercise condition resulted in a mean reduction of 17%.

Thesis (MAppSc in Physiotherapy)--University of South Australia, 1997

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-57). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of New South Wales, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 178-200). Also available online (PDF file) by a subscription to the set or by purchasing the individual file.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2004. / Document formatted into pages. Includes bibliographical references. Abstract available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center; full text release delayed at author's request until 2005 Aug. 2.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin-Madison. / Typescript. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 96-110).

Thesis (M.Psych.Sport.&Ex.) - University of Queensland, 2004. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2004. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-114).