Search results for "31"
showing 10 items of 4401 documents
Reliability of the Dynamic Gait Index (Finnish version) in individuals with neurological disorders
2012
To produce a Finnish version of the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) and establish its reliability in people with neurological disorders affecting balance.A consecutive sample of 33 participants in inter-rater and 30 participants in intra-rater sample were tested. The DGI was administered in two testing sessions 1-2 h apart. Reliability was assessed with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman 95% limits of agreement, coefficient of reproducibility (CR), and standard error of the mean (SEM).The instructions from the original DGI were preserved during the translation process with no need for cultural adaptations. The relative reliability of the total scores proved to be high in i…
Reproducibility of Regional DEXA Examinations of Abdominal Fat and Lean Tissue
2013
<b><i>Objective: </i></b>The aim of this study was to develop and test the validity of a new repeatable method to delimit abdominal areas for follow-up of fat mass (FM) and lean tissue mass (LM) in DEXA examinations<i>. </i><b><i>Methods: </i></b>37 male volunteers underwent two DEXA examinations. Total body FM and LM measurements and corresponding abdominal measurements in a carefully defined region were calculated from the first scan. After repositioning of the subjects and a second scan, the delimited region was copied and the abdominal tissues re-calculated. <b><i>Results: </i></b>The mean LM of the abdo…
Body Composition and Power Performance Improved After Weight Reduction in Male Athletes Without Hampering Hormonal Balance
2014
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a 4-week weight reduction period with high protein and reduced carbohydrate intake on body composition, explosive power, speed, serum hormones, and acid-base balance in male track and field jumpers and sprinters. Eight participants were assigned to a high weight reduction group (HWR; energy restriction 750 kcal·d) and 7 to a low weight reduction group (LWR; energy restriction 300 kcal·d). Energy and carbohydrate intake decreased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) only in HWR by 740 ± 330 kcal·d and 130 ± 29 g·d, respectively. Furthermore, total body mass and fat mass decreased (p ≤ 0.05) only in HWR by 2.2 ± 1.0 kg and 1.7 ± 1.6 kg, respectively…
Effects of time-of-day on neuromuscular function in untrained men: Specific responses of high morning performers and high evening performers
2015
It has been clearly established that maximal force varies during the day in human muscles but the exact mechanisms behind the diurnal rhythms are still not fully clarified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the diurnal rhythms in maximal isometric force production in a large group of participants and also by separating the high morning performance types (n = 8) and the high evening performance types (n = 19) from the neutral types (n = 45) based on their actual maximal isometric force levels. Measurements were performed in the morning (7:26 h ± 63 min) and in the evening (17:57 h ± 74 min) for maximal bilateral isometric leg press force (MVCLP) together with myoelectric activi…
Effects of morning vs. evening combined strength and endurance training on physical performance, sleep and well-being
2019
The aim of the present study was to examine how combined strength and endurance training in the morning and evening influences the adaptations in strength and endurance performance, perception of time management, psychological well-being and sleep. The combined training period lasted for 24 weeks and the participants were divided into the morning training (MG, n = 18), evening training (EG, n = 24) and control groups (CG, n = 10). Isometric leg press force (iLP), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), sleep behavior, fatigue, time management, motivation, self-esteem and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) were assessed. Morning to evening difference in iLP was observed in both MG and EG at…
EMG and force production of the flexor hallucis longus muscle in isometric plantarflexion and the push-off phase of walking
2015
Large forces are generated under the big toe in the push-off phase of walking. The largest flexor muscle of the big toe is the flexor hallucis longus (FHL), which likely contributes substantially to these forces. This study examined FHL function at different levels of isometric plantarflexion torque and in the push-off phase at different speeds of walking. FHL and calf muscle activity were measured with surface EMG and plantar pressure was recorded with pressure insoles. FHL activity was compared to the activity of the calf muscles. Force and impulse values were calculated under the big toe, and were compared to the entire pressed area of the insole to determine the relative contribution of…
Plantarflexor muscle function in healthy and chronic Achilles tendon pain subjects evaluated by the use of EMG and PET imaging
2014
article i nfo Article history: Received 14 October 2013 Accepted 11 March 2014 18 F)-Fluorodeoxyglucose Background: Achilles tendon pathologies may alter the coordinative strategies of synergistic calf muscles. We hypothesized that both surface electromyography and positron emission tomography would reveal differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic legs in Achilles tendinopathy patients and between healthy controls. Methods: Eleven subjects with unilateral chronic Achilles tendon pain (28 years) and eleven matched controls (28 years) were studied for triceps surae and flexor hallucis longus muscle activity in response to repetitive iso- metric plantarflexion tasks performed at 30% of …
Local neck symptoms before and after thyroidectomy: a possible correlation with reflux laryngopharyngitis
2010
Objective Local symptoms in the neck such as swallowing, voice disorders and throat discomfort might be related to a goiter if present, but are also reported by patients suffering from reflux laryngopharyngitis. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of reflux laryngopharyngitis in patients with nodular goiter before and after uncomplicated total thyroidectomy (TT) in order to evaluate if its presence could have any role in the origin of swallowing and voice alterations and throat discomfort. Study Design case series prospective study Setting hospitalized care in University Hospital Patients and Methods We consider twenty-five patients, affected by non-toxic nodular goiter and…
Region-dependent hamstrings activity in Nordic hamstring exercise and stiff-leg deadlift defined with high-density electromyography
2018
Recent studies suggest region-specific metabolic activity in hamstring muscles during injury prevention exercises, but the neural representation of this phenomenon is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine whether regional differences are evident in the activity of biceps femoris long head (BFlh) and semitendinosus (ST) muscles during two common injury prevention exercises. Twelve male participants without a history of hamstring injury performed the Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) and stiff-leg deadlift (SDL) while BFlh and ST activities were recorded with high-density electromyography (HD-EMG). Normalized activity was calculated from the distal, middle, and proximal regions in the e…
Changes in Health Utility, Disability, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients After Spinal Fusion
2014
STUDY DESIGN Prospective longitudinal database study. OBJECTIVE To evaluate changes in health utility, disability, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients undergoing spinal fusion. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Recently, measuring disability, HRQOL, and health utility has become important when defining the value of surgical interventions. METHODS Data of spinal fusion patients from a prospective longitudinal database were analyzed. Health utility was captured by SF-6D (six dimensional health state classification from the 36-dimensional Short Form Health Survey) score, disability by Oswestry Disability Index, and HRQOL by the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. The changes in these…