Orientador: Marilza Vieira Cunha Rudge / Resumo: Objetivo - Determinar a influência da via de parto na força muscular do assoalho pélvico (AP) de primíparas, 4 a 6 meses pósparto. Sujeitos e Métodos - Estudo clínico, de corte transversal, para avaliar a função da musculatura do AP pelo teste da AFA e perineômetro pneumático e classificada em: zero - ausência de contração muscular, um - contração leve, dois - contração moderada não sustentada por 6 segundos e, três - contração normal sustentada por 6 segundos. As 94 mulheres, tinham entre 20 e 30 anos, foram divididas em 3 grupos de acordo com a via de parto: I com 32 primíparas pós-parto vaginal; II com 32 primíparas pós-parto cesárea e III com 30 nulíparas que serviram como grupo controle. A variável independente foi a via de parto e a dependente a força muscular do AP(1). Resultados e conclusões - A mediana e o 1º e 3º quartís da força muscular do AP foram menores (p=0.01) pós-parto vaginal (2.0;1-2) e intermediária pós-parto cesárea (2.0; 2-3) em relação as nulíparas (3.0;2-3) pelo AFA e perineômetro. Aumentou o risco relativo(RR) de exame alterado da força da musculatura do AP pós-parto vaginal (RR=2.579 IC 95%=1.32-5.04 p=0.002); (RR=2.31 IC 95%=1.24- 4.32 p=0.005) e pós-cesárea (RR=1.56 IC 95% = 0.94-2.57 p=0.12); (RR=1.38 IC 95%=0.85-2.23 p=0.29) pela AFA e perineômetro. O parto vaginal diminuiu a força muscular do AP de primíparas e comparando com a cesárea e as nulíparas. / Abstract: Objective - To evaluate the influence of the route of delivery on pelvic floor (PF) muscle strength, in primiparous patients at 4 to 6 months after delivery. Subjects and methods - A cross-sectional study was undertaken among primiparous women at 4 to 6 months postpartum to evaluate the PF muscle strength by AFA test and pneumatic perineometer, classified in: zero - lack of muscle contraction; one - weak contraction; two - moderate contraction not sustained for 6 seconds and three - normal contraction sustained for 6 seconds. 94 enrolled patients were divided in three groups based upon prior delivery route: I) 32 vaginal delivery with singleton cephalic presentation; II) 32 cesarean delivery; and III) 30 nuliparous patients served as a control group. The independent variable was the route of delivery and the dependent one was the muscle strength of the PF. Data were subjected to Student t test to estimate the relative risk and the Kappa test(1). Results and conclusions - The three subgroups were comparable with respect to maternal age, weight, gestational age and newborn weight. The 1st and the 3rd quartiles of the route of delivery on PF muscle strength were lower (p=0.01) for vaginal delivery (n=32) (2.0;1- 2) and intermediate for cesarean (n=32) (2.0; 2-3) comparing to the nuliparous (3.0; 2-3) by AFA test and pneumatic perineometer. The altered PF muscle strength in primiparous were significantly lower in the vaginal delivery group (RR=2.58, CI 95%=1.32-5.04, p=0.002); (RR=2.31, CI 95%=1.24-4.32, p=0.005); and postcesarean (RR=1.56, CI 95% = 0.94- 2.57, p= 0.12); (RR=1.38, CI 95%=0.85-2.23, p=0.29). Vaginal delivery decreases PF muscle strength when compared with caesarean delivery and control. / Mestre

M.Tech. (Chiropractic) / Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of chiropractic adjustment therapy (CAT) to the cervical spine on the reflex motorneuron excitability of C5 and C6 nerves on the biceps brachii muscle bilaterally. This study was also aimed at measuring the subsequent increase in strength of the biceps brachii muscle. Method: A selection of 30 participants, male or female and between the ages of 18 and 40 were recruited. Participants had to meet all the inclusion criteria and present with no contra-indications. Only one group was used as each participant served as their own control. Participants were seen seven times over a period of three weeks. The measurements were taken during the 1st, 4th and 7th consultations. On the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th consultations only treatment was applied. On the 7th consultation only data was collected and no treatment was done. Results: Statistically significant improvement of dynamometry and electromyographic measurements were noted over the consultation periods on both sides. No conclusion could be made regarding the comparison of dynamometer and sEMG measurements of the biceps brachii between each consultation and between each side (left and right) over the study period. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained in this research it may be deduced that CAT may have an effect on the neurological system and further more an effect by increasing motorneuron excitability at sites distant to the spine itself. These results are important to the Chiropractic profession as it shows that CAT does not only produce a segmental response, but that there are wide spread effects on structures distant to the spinal column. The extent of the effects CAT can elicit on the nervous system requires further investigation.

The aim of this study was to establish reference data for the cervical spine’s dynamic force characteristics in a healthy adult urban South African population aged 19 to 69 years. The reference data was classified according to gender discriminate age categories. In total ten gender discriminate age categories, five male and five female, were created; 19 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49, 50 to 59 and 60 to 69-year-olds. The force characteristics measured, analysed and used to generate reference data in stanine format were: absolute peak torque (P-), relative peak torque (P-/BW), peak power (Pow-), relative peak power (Pow-/BW), peak work (W-), relative peak work (W-/BW), torque acceleration energy (TAE-), maximal voluntary cervical muscle contraction range of motion (MVCR-), controlled full range of joint motion (CFR-), joint angle at peak torque (Jang@P-) and peak torque ratios for cervical flexion (-F), extension (-E), lateral flexion to the dominant (-LD) and non-dominant (-LN) sides. In addition biographic and anthropometric data was also collected. Data, grouped in the ten gender discriminate age categories were compared and statistically and practically significant differences were highlighted between the gender discriminate age categories. Inferential statistics used included ANOVA and Cohen’s d. A significance level of α = .05 was used in all inferential statistical analyses. Correlations between various anthropometric and isokinetic strength variables were also explored.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of strength training by eccentric and isometric contractions in relation to isometric right leg strength. A secondary purpose was to determine if individual differences in eccentric strength gains were related to individual differences in isometric strength gains. Forty-five volunteer subjects were systematically assigned to three groups in such a manner that these groups were balanced in terms of initial isometric leg strength. The groups were then randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. One group trained with eccentric contractions, another with isometric contractions and the last acted as a control. The groups were tested for isometric leg strength before and after a six week training program. The Eccentric Group was also tested for eccentric leg strength during the first and last training sessions. The training sessions took place three times per week and three maximal contractions were performed during each session. The results indicated that both isometric and eccentric training produced significant isometric strength gains (t = 7.13, 6.64 respectively, p < .05) when compared to the Control Group. However, there was no significant difference between the strength gains of the two experimental groups (t = .49, p > .05). Within the eccentrically trained group it was also found that eccentric strength was significantly improved due to training (t = 5.52, p < .05) but that this improvement was uncorrelated (r = .27) with isometric improvement scores. Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that isometric and eccentric training were of approximately equal value in increasing isometric strength. Further, there was no relationship between isometric improvement scores and eccentric improvement scores. / Education, Faculty of / Curriculum and Pedagogy (EDCP), Department of / Graduate

No description available.

Strength and tone of the pelvic floor muscles are thought to play an important role in pelvic floor disorders, and are key outcomes monitored in pelvic floor rehabilitation, yet the standard approach to measuring these outcomes is through subjective assessment using manual palpation. While intravaginal dynamometers (IVD) have been designed to measure these characteristics in research settings, most are not sufficient to withstand the rigors of clinical use. This work presents the bench validation and subsequent updated design of a new mechanical constant speed mechanism for future inclusion in an IVD. Opening speeds of the original mechanism were validated with and without external loading using video analysis. The bench validation showed that the speed of arm opening was lower than the ranges specified for clinical use and was influenced by external loading. The mechanism was updated, and the bench test was repeated. The updated mechanism was found to provide output speeds that are within the ranges required clinically and were minimally impacted by external loading. The next step of this work is to reduce the size of the mechanism and improve output speeds to allow it to be assembled into a clinical prototype IVD.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to compare muscle strength and psychomotor performance measures in healthy (n = 18) and frail (n = 21) groups of elderly women utilizing movements requiring various amounts of strength and ballistic action. Subjects were community-dwelling females ranging in age from 66-92 years. Evaluations of functional assessment of motor skills and grip strength occurred. Psychomotor performance was measured through production of aiming movements on a Digitizing Tablet. RT, MT, and movement kinematics (e.g., peak velocity, deceleration, movement adjustments) were evaluated. Differences between groups were apparent in quantity and quality of movement. Healthy subjects were stronger and faster than frail subjects, producing smoother movements with fewer adjustments. Strength appears to differentially affect healthy and frail samples and merits further exploration.

This study was to clarify strength factors using 12 selected exercises on the Universal Gym, and to determine what measures present a valid method of assessing strength of college-aged males, Eighty-eight males enrolled in beginning weight-training classes used the Universal Gym for twelve weeks, Subjects were tested for maximum strength on 12 exercises, Alpha and canonical factor analyses were performed on raw scores of all measures, and on scores when body weight and standing height variances were removed. A three-factor structure of upper extremity, lower extremity, and trunk strength was revealed when weight, and weight and height combined were statistically controlled. Results showed that residualized scores of weight can be used to evaluate strength on the Universal.Gym,