Adequate recovery from intense exercise is essential to optimise performance and reduce the associated symptoms of tiredness, fatigue and lethargy. The purpose of the study was to :- i. investigate the effects of massage and stretching in delaying the development of fatigue during repeated bouts of dynamic activity and, ii. to investigate the relative effects of massage and stretching on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Eighteen volunteer males participated in this study. They were randomly allocated into one of six groups of an Orthogonal Latin square design. Subjects performed five repetitions of as many heel raises as possible in 45 seconds. Each repetition was followed by a recovery technique of three minutes duration. This was repeated weekly until each group has had all three recovery techniques. A fatigue index % was calculated from the decline in the number of repetitions from stage 1 to stage 5. Muscle soreness ratings were retrospectively assessed at 12-36 hour after each session. An analysis of variance showed a significant difference in the fatigue indices. Post hoc intergroup comparison using paired T-tests with the Bonferroni adjustment showed a significant difference between rest and massage (p=0.0001) and rest and stretching (p=0.0006). The differences between massage and stretching were not significant. Fourteen (77.8%) and Fifteen (83.3%) subjects showed an improvement in performance following massage and stretching respectively. Massage is associated with significantly less muscle soreness than stretching (p<0,001). DOMS was most frequently found in the stretching group while the lowest incidence and lowest mean ratings of muscle soreness associated with DOMS was found in the massage group. The difference between massage and stretching was marginal (p=046I) and showed a trend that massage is associated with less DOMS than stretching. This suggests that rest is the least beneficial recovery technique, and that massage may be superior to stretching as there is less muscle soreness. / Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)-University of Natal, 1997.

Recorded on July 27, 2007 by Eugene Barsky, Physiotherapy Outreach Librarian, UBC / N/A

Childhood overweight and obesity has become a significant health concern worldwide. Obese youth are now being diagnosed with health complications and chronic diseases previously observed only among older adults. In order to improve their health and decrease their risk of premature mortality, secondary prevention is essential. To help guide development of an effective intervention program for obese youth referred to specialized clinical care, a chart review was conducted on adolescents seeking physician treatment for obesity. Data indicate that this patient population suffers from obesity-related health complications, faces social issues and exhibits lifestyle practices predisposing them to weight gain. Given that physical inactivity is one major risk factor for obesity in this population, a logic model and training module have been developed for a physical activity intervention program, with nutrition interventions to soon be incorporated. This program, called Mentors in Motion, provides mentoring to obese youth as a means of enabling positive changes in physical activity behaviors, mental well-being and overall health. A pilot study research protocol was also developed as part of the thesis activity to test the effectiveness of Mentors in Motion and to determine further program needs and enhancements. The pilot study has been funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research and is underway.

<p>Neck pain is a common health problem affecting the general population and it can be associated with significant activity limitation, It contributes to a number of lost work days and high costs in its management. The purpose of this study was to identify the trends in the physiotherapy management of patients suffering from episodes of neck pain at the physiotherapy department of the Muhimbiki Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.</p>

Knee function was evaluated by knee score, activity level, clinical findings and performance tests, muscle size by computerized tomography (CT), morphology by light (LM) and electron microscopy (EM), muscle function by electromyography (EMG) and isokinetic performance in 29 patients with chronic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Preoperatively CT disclosed a significant mean atrophy of the quadriceps and nonsignificant changes of the other muscle areas of the injured leg. Morphology of m vastus lateralis of the injured leg was normal in more than half of the biopsies preoperatively, the rest showed signs of nonoptimal activation. Significant decreases in all isokinetic parameters were noticed together with significantly decreased EMG of the quadriceps muscle of the injured leg. Âfter surgical reconstruction the knees were immobilized in a cast for 6 weeks at either 30° or 70° of knee flexion. After cast removal CT showed significant decreases of all areas which also remained after training. The 30° group showed larger fibres (intracellular oedema) and more frequent morphological abnormalities than the 70° group. Fourteen weeks postoperatively the patients were allocated to either a combination of isometric and progressive resistance training or isokinetic training for 6 weeks. CT showed slightly larger areas at 20 weeks postoperatively than at 6 weeks. Morphological abnormalities were still prominent at 20 weeks postoperatively. Maximum isokinetic knee extensor mechanical output and endurance were markedly decreased at 14 weeks postoperatively but both improved progressively during the one year rehabilitation, mostly during the intensive 6 week training period but irrespective of training programme used. Fatiguability/endurance level improved over the preoperative level. Muscular work/integrated EMG was stable while EMG/t increased indicating neuromuscular relearning. The clinical result at 28 months foliowup was excellent or good in 93% of the patients and clinical stability improved in 66%. Independent upon primary knee immobilization angle or training programmes no differences could be demonstrated with respect to stability, range of motion, function or isokinetic mechanical output. Isokinetic performance was still significantly lower in the injured compared to the noninjured leg and not significantly different from the preoperative values. Morphology, only 6 cases, showed abnormalities similar to preoperative findings. In conclusion, the reason for the decreased maximum and total knee extensor performance in these patients with ACL tears is suggested to be nonoptimal activation of normal functioning muscle fibres depending on changes in knee joint receptor afferent inflow. No differences concerning the markedly improved postoperative clinical result could be seen between the different treatment modalities used. A nonoptimal muscular activation might explain the still decreased isokinetic performance present at followup. / <p>S. 1-40: sammanfattning, s. 43-137: 5 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu.se

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a modified sitting position straight leg raise on vastus medialis oblique (VMO) strength and EMG activity as compared to a traditional straight leg raise. A total of twenty-three subjects were recruited for this study. The subjects were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: (group I) modified straight leg raise (MSLR), and (group II) straight leg raise (SLR). The exercise program was three weeks long. University procedures for the protection of human subjects were followed. The subjects began with a 5 minute warm-up on a Cybex stationary bike set at 90 revolutions / minute. The subject then had electrodes placed on the Vastus Lateralis (VL) and Vastus Medialis Oblique (VMO). A Macintosh computer was used to record the EMG data. The subject then performed a standard Cybex test for knee flexion and extension. The Cybex dynamometer was placed at the knee joint line, the chair back tilt was at 85 degrees, the hip, chest, and thigh restraints were all fastened. The subjects in group I (Modified sitting SLR) and II (SLR) then returned the next day for their first rehabilitation lesson. Each subject group then participated in their respected exercise program for a total of three weeks. After three weeks of rehabilitation, the subjects retested using the same procedures followed in the pretest. A two tailed t-test was used to determine significance of the difference between means of the two groups. No significant differences were found between the two groups. / School of Physical Education

Although the benefits of exercise to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are well-known, individuals with NIDDM are at risk for macrovascular and microvascular complications associated with an abnormal systolic blood pressure (SBP) elevation during exercise. In order to compare the SBP and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) response between individuals with NIDDM and apparently healthy controls during submaximal exercise, eight individuals representative of each group completed a 10-minute submaximal treadmill exercise trial at 65% of functional capacity. Heart rate, blood pressure and RPE were monitored throughout the trial. Between group comparisons were made for SBP and RPE response, and the frequency of exercise SBP response _> 200 mmHg was investigated. No significant differences were observed in either SBP or RPE response between groups during the submaximal treadmill trials. In addition, none of the subjects from either group achieved a SBP ? 200 mmHg. While this study indicates that exercise at 65% of functional capacity is safe for this particular group of subjects with NIDDM, additional research is warranted to investigate cardiovascular response to exercise in a broader subject pool representative of the entire NIDDM population. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the vastus medialis oblique muscular electromyographical (EMG) activity during two therapeutic exercises: the modified straight leg raise and the traditional straight leg raise. Two subject groups of 10 subjects each, one with anterior knee pain (PHY) and the other group with no history of patellofemoral pathology (NORM), performed the traditional straight leg raise (SLR) and a modified straight leg raise with external hip rotation (MOD). Each subject performed an isometric maximum voluntary contraction and three trials of each of the two therapeutic exercises. The EMG variables analyzed were the percent of the maximum voluntary contraction for each muscle, vastus medialis oblique, vastus lateralis, and rectus femoris: the percent of the maximum voluntary contraction of the ratio between the vastus medialis oblique and the vastus lateralis; the percent of the maximum voluntary contraction for the integrated EMG for each muscle; and the percent of the maximum voluntary contraction for the root mean square for each muscle. The statistical analysis was conducted with two-way analysis of variance procedures. The statistical analysis revealed no significant differences; however, the data appeared to illustrate a trend toward more electromyographical activity in the vastus medialis oblique in the PHY subject group during the MOD therapeutic exercise. This suggests that the MOD therapeutic exercise may be able to isolate the vastus medialis oblique muscle in persons with anterior knee pain and allow them to regain strength and normal function earlier than with the use of the SLR therapeutic exercise. / School of Physical Education

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a light-moderate versus hard exercise intensity on health and fitness benefits in a previously sedentary population. Twenty-six subjects, 17 male (mean age 45 + 3 yrs), 9 female (mean age 48 + 3 yrs) with at least one coronary artery disease risk factor volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects underwent laboratory testing comprising of, resting heart rate and blood pressure, body composition, blood lipid analysis and aerobic capacity (V02 ), prior to and 22-32 weeks after participating > 2 days per week in the Adult Physical Fitness Program (APFP) at Ball State University. After an initial exercise prescription subjects self selected an exercise intensity between 40-80% of their maximal heart rate range (MHRR) at which to train. Subjects were then grouped into those who trained at < 60% (light-moderate) and those who trained at > 60% (hard) of their MHRR.Those that self selected a hard training intensity did show a significantly greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure than the light-moderate intensity group. Subjects received a main training effect with a mean decrease in systolic blood pressure (123 ± 2.8 to 119 ± 2.4 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (78 ± 2.2 to 75 ± 1.7 mmHg), and mean increases for HDL-cholesterol (49 ± 2.5 to 53 ± 2.8 mg/dL), absolute functional capacity (2.676 +.162 to 2.843 +.169 L/min) and relative functional capacity (30.2 ± 1.5 to 32.8 + 1.8 ml/kg/min). In conclusion this study demonstrated health and fitness benefits when training at least 2 days per week with greater effects when training at a hard versus light-moderate intensity with regards to diastolic blood pressure. / School of Physical Education

To date, there is a scant amount of research on the long-term benefits of exercise training for individuals with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate standardized outcomes of a six-month maintenance pulmonary rehabilitation program to determine maintenance of functional capacity. Twenty-three subjects (sixteen men, seven women) diagnosed with clinical COPD ages 30-82 (65 + 12 years) participated in the retrospective study. The subjects were referred to an eight-week comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program after which upon twelve subjects continued onto a maintenance program. Eleven subjects chose not to participate in the maintenance program and were given a home exercise program and were encouraged to remain active. Hemodynamic, functional, and educational measures were taken prior to entry, upon completion of the hospital program, and again six-months post-program. Outcome tests were standardized using the Indiana Society of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation Outcomes Manual. Significant differences were found between the maintenance and non-maintenance groups for systolic blood pressure in resting, exercise, and recovery measures at six monthsreevaluation. Differences in oxygen saturation were also found to reach significance between the two groups during recovery from the six-minute walk test. Interestingly, duration of exercise was found to be statistically significant between the two groups as well as emergency room visits and physician visits within the last six months. The maintenance group tended to have fewer emergency room and physician visits in addition to having self-reported higher durations of exercise. In conclusion, maintenance pulmonary rehabilitation programs have been shown to maintain physical activity levels for COPD patients and as a result, fewer quality of life consequences specifically the number of hospital admissions and emergency room visits. / School of Physical Education