Search results for "Physical Medicine"

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist: An update

2014

Summary Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a new ventilation mode that provides a proportional assistance to the inspiratory effort of the patients. It is based on the use of the diaphragm electromyographic activity (Edi) for the control of the ventilation assistance. The ability of NAVA to improve the limitations of the conventional assisted ventilator modes has been assessed in clinical studies and discussed in this report, as the latest applications of NAVA in children and non-invasive ventilation, due to the improvement of the patient–ventilator interactions delivered by NAVA. We also review the most recent literature on a new trend to use the Edi as a predictor of weaning s…

2020

Gait variability observed in step duration is predictive of impending adverse health outcomes among apparently healthy older adults and could potentially be evaluated using wearable sensors (inertial measurement units, IMU). The purpose of the present study was to establish the reliability and concurrent validity of gait variability and complexity evaluated with a waist and an ankle-worn IMU. Seventeen women (age 74.8 (SD 44) years) and 10 men (73.7 (4.1) years) attended two laboratory measurement sessions a week apart. Their stride duration variability was concurrently evaluated based on a continuous 3 min walk using a force plate and a waist- and an ankle-worn IMU. Their gait complexity (…

Effect of Olympic Weight Category on Performance in the Roundhouse Kick to the Head in Taekwondo

2012

Effect of Olympic Weight Category on Performance in the Roundhouse Kick to the Head in Taekwondo In taekwondo, kick performance is generally measured using impact force and time. This study aimed to analyse performance in the roundhouse kick to the head according to execution distance between and within Olympic weight categories. The participants were 36 male athletes divided into three categories: featherweight (n = 10), welterweight (n = 15) and heavyweight (n = 11). Our results show that taekwondo athletes in all weight categories generate a similar relative impact force. However, the results indicate that weight has a large impact on kick performance, particularly in relation to total r…

Quantitative ultrasonography of muscle: Detection of adaptations to training in elderly women

1996

Abstract Objective: To develop quantitative ultrasonography in studying the adaptation of quadriceps muscle mass and composition to short-term physical training and rehabilitation in elderly women. Design: Randomized control trial. Setting: Measurements in a research laboratory and training in a fitness center and sports hall. Participants: Forty-two women, aged 76 to 78 years, with no indications against intensive physical exercise, randomly assigned to strength ( n = 16), endurance ( n = 15), and control ( n = 11) groups. Twelve subjects from the strength, 12 from the endurance, and 11 from the control group completed the study. Intervention: Supervised physical training 3 times a week fo…

Effects of Strength Training on Muscle Strength Characteristics, Functional Capabilities, and Balance in Middle-Aged and Older Women

2006

Progressive strength training can lead to substantial increases in maximal strength and mass of trained muscles, even in older women and men, but little information is available about the effects of strength training on functional capabilities and balance. Thus, the effects of 21 weeks of heavy resistance training--including lower loads performed with high movement velocities--twice a week on isometric maximal force (ISOmax) and force-time curve (force produced in 500 milliseconds, F0-500) and dynamic 1 repetition maximum (1RM) strength of the leg extensors, 10-m walking time (10WALK) and dynamic balance test (DYN.D) were investigated in 26 middle-aged (MI; 52.8 +/- 2.4 years) and 22 older …

Motor and cognitive development: the role of karate

2014

Background: regular physical activity has an effect on biological responses in both muscles and organs that, in turn, alter the structure and functions of the brain. Therefore, this study aims at comparing motor (sprint, coordination ability and explosive legs strength skills) and cognitive abilities (working memory, attention, executive functioning) in children. Methods: 39 children with average chronological age of 9 years were divided in: Karatekas (n=19) and Sedentary (n=20) groups. Their abilities were measured by motor and cognitive tests. Motor skills were assessed through a battery composed by the 20 mt Sprint test, the Agility test and the Standing board jump Test. Cognitive profil…

Studies using pharmacological blockade of muscle afferents provide new insights into the neurophysiology of perceived exertion

2016

The increase in blood pressure observed during physical activities is exaggerated in patients with hypertension, exposing them to a higher cardiovascular risk.Neural signals from the skeletal muscles appear to be overactive, resulting in this abnormal response in hypertensive patients.In the present study, we tested whether the attenuation of these neural signals in hypertensive patients could normalize their abnormal increase in blood pressure during physical activity.Attenuation of the neural signals from the leg muscles with intrathecal fentanyl injection reduced the blood pressure of hypertensive men during cycling exercise to a level comparable to that of normotensive men.Skeletal musc…

Is karate effective in improving postural control?

2012

Background: Performing complex motor skills, such as the ones performed by karate athletes, requires a great sense of balance. Because the posturo-kinetic performance seems to be improved by sport practice, especially by sports involving a lot of posturokinetic activities, the aim of this review was to critically analyse the scientific literature in order to appraise whether any positive correlation between karate and improved postural control is scientifically supported. Material/Methods: The online search engines Scirus and Medline were used for generating the data. A comprehensive literature search was conducted based on the following keywords: “karate”, “postural control” and “body sway…

The function of neuromuscular system in maximal stretch-shortening cycle exercises: Comparison between power- and endurance-trained athletes.

1994

Abstract Differences in neuromuscular function between power athletes ( n = 10) and endurance athletes ( n = 10) were investigated in six different experimental conditions. In drop jumps and in stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) exercises on the sledge (sledge jumps), the subjects performed about 10 maximal jumps from the optimum dropping height (O) as well as from the dropping height of optimum −40 cm (O − 40) and optimum +40 cm (O + 40). The five to six best jumps were taken for further analysis. In every condition the power group had better physical performance compared to their endurance counterparts. During the pre-activity, the rate of electromyographic (EMG) development of the power athl…

Stress and recovery states after a 24 h ultra-marathon race: A one-month follow-up study

2011

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the athlete’s perception of stress and recovery states following a 24 h ultra-marathon race. Design and method Psychological states were assessed in 14 male subjects before as well as 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 21, and 30 days after the race. Results The results suggest an ultra-endurance race induces perceived stress and leads to subsequent alterations in perceived recovery, whatever the psychological, physical, emotional or social dimensions according to a unique time-course for the several components evaluating the stress and recovery process. Stress and recovery levels related to the 24 h race showed that a period of 2 weeks is r…