The aim of this study was to determine the effect of whole body vibration training on selected health and fitness parameters, including: blood glucose levels, blood pressure, anthropometric profile, muscular flexibility, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance of persons with diabetes mellitus type II. The study was conducted in a descriptive, explorative manner utilizing a quasiexperimental design with an equistatic approach, employing match-pair design to participant grouping. The experimental design was a non-randomized two-group pre- and post-test design, in which approximately 16 male and female participants, who were chosen through convenience and snowball sampling with diabetes mellitus type II, completed the study. Pre- and post-test analysis was performed at the Biokinetics and Sport Science Unit. The whole body vibration training (experimental) group, trained three times a week for a period of ten weeks, performing exercises on the vibration platform with progressive increments in the intensity, duration, and number of the exercises. The control group remained sedentary throughout the intervention period. The dependant variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. ANOVA was done to determine pre- and post-test differences for both the experimental and control groups for all the variables. Post-Hoc analysis was done to determine and compare differences which may have existed between the experimental and control groups, with practical significance being determined by Cohen’s D analysis. The analysis of the results revealed significant improvements in systolic blood pressure, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and aerobic endurance.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (Clinical Psychology) in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand, 2005. / There is an increasing international need for additional interventions to be established that prevent mental illness and promote mental health. This study set out to investigate the impact of exercise as a treatment option for depression and low levels of psychological well-being over a two-month period. A comprehensive literature review examining previous studies using exercise as a treatment approach for depression and psychological well-being formed a foundation from which this study could be based. The design of this study used both a quantitative and qualitative approach. Data was collected through standardized questionnaires and completed pre and post-test by forty participants randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. Additional data was attained through two open-ended questions given to participants in the experimental group. The quantitative results were not statistically significant however did indicate clear trends towards positive changes in certain variables. These results in conjunction with the qualitative findings suggested that exercise does have a positive impact on depression and psychological well-being.

No description available.

M.A. (Psychology) / The incidence of hypertension in the geriatric population is very high and is a significant determinant of cardiovascular risk in this group Treatment of hypertension in the elderly is associated with decreased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The tendency for blood pressure to increase with age in westernised societies may depend on environmental and behavioural factors such as diet, stress, and inactivity. Little is known regarding the characteristics of elderly persons who do not exercise. regularly, but generally speaking, our population tends to decrease exercising with increasing age. This lack of knowledge limits the design and marketing of exercise programs to persons who could benefit from regular exercise...

Thesis (doctoral)--Université Pari I--Panthéon-Sorbonne, 2003. / Title from Summary page ; description based on resource as of 2005-06-22. Includes bibliographical references and index.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1990.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1985. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1990.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1985.

Physical inactivity is one of the major public health problems in many parts of the World. In Scotland it is reported that two thirds of Scottish adults (>16yrs) and one third of Scottish children (<16yrs) do not do sufficient physical activity to gain the health benefits of physical activity. Furthermore, there is still much debate about the nature and volume of physical activity required to provide health benefits. Therefore, more investigations are required to help improve our understanding of the links between physical activity, obesity and health. In addition, the assessment of habitual physical activity needs to be accurately quantified using appropriate methods that are valid and reliable. The main aims of this thesis were thus to assess the validity and reliability of three new generations of movement sensing devices (Actigraph, ActivPAL and SenseWear PRO2) in adults and adolescents in a controlled laboratory environment and to then use the most valid and reliable device in assessing the habitual physical activity of adults (lean and overweigh/obese) and adolescents in a free-living situation. Following objectively assessing the habitual physical activity, investigation of the associations between physical activity status and cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk markers in adults and adolescents were the last main aims of this thesis. In the first study, the results indicated that the new generations of the three devices were reliable in assessing EE during walking on the flat and on a 5% incline in lean and overweight/obese adults and lean adolescents. However, none iii of these devices and the methods or programme versions that were selected and applied was able to accurately estimate EE during walking on a treadmill. However, based on the sensitivity data obtained and previous evidence, the Actigraph was considered the most appropriate device for assessing the habitual physical activity due to its ability to discriminate between physical activity intensities. The second and third studies concluded that adults (including lean and overweight/obese) met the recommended physical activity guidelines for health and wellbeing purposes. However, the data suggest that overweight/obese participants may need to be advised to spend more time in MVPA and probably more vigorous activity to not only reduce body fat but also to increase cardiorespiratory fitness and reduce their chances of future cardiovascular and metabolic disease. The fourth and fifth studies, demonstrated that the Scottish adolescents –in the cross sectional study- were below the recommended physical activity guidelines. When the method of physical activity assessment was adjusted the Scottish adolescents were similar to the adolescents in other European countries and were observed to be more active than adolescents in some of the developed countries such as American adolescents (Texas State). In the case of lean adolescents who have a low physical activity- but who are not sedentary- the cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk markers may not be obvious at this stage, but the differences in glucose and HOMA-IR suggest that there may be early signs of progression towards metabolic disease in this group. iv The importance of the associations between vigorous physical activity and body fat, as well as between body fat and the risk markers of metabolic disease, suggests that future intervention studies should focus on monitoring the outcome from vigorous physical activity interventions vs. moderate activity within current guidelines.