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A synthetic kinematic index of trunk displacement conveying the overall motor condition in Parkinson's disease.
Troisi Lopez, E, Minino, R, Sorrentino, P, Rucco, R, Carotenuto, A, Agosti, V, Tafuri, D, Manzo, V, Liparoti, M, Sorrentino, G
Scientific reports. 2021;(1):2736
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by motor impairment, affecting quality of life and increasing fall risk, due to ineffective postural control. To this day, the diagnosis remains based on clinical approach. Similarly, motor evaluation is based on heterogeneous, operator-dependent observational criteria. A synthetic, replicable index to quantify motor impairment is still lacking. Hence, we have designed a new measure of postural stability which assesses the trunk displacement in relation to the center of mass, that we named trunk displacement index (TDI). Twenty-three PD patients and twenty-three healthy controls underwent motor examination through a stereophotogrammetric system. A correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship of TDI with gait parameters and clinical motor scale (UPDRS-III). The TDI sensitivity was estimated, comparing pre- and post- L-DOPA subclinical dose intake. The TDI showed significant correlations with many gait parameters and with the UPDRS-III. Furthermore, the TDI resulted capable in discriminating between off and on state in PD, whereas gait parameters failed two show any difference between those two conditions. Our results suggest that the TDI may be considered a highly sensitive biomechanical index, reflecting the overall motor condition in PD, and provided of clinical relevance due to the correlation with the clinical evaluation.
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A comparison of water-based and land-based core stability exercises in patients with lumbar disc herniation: a pilot study.
Bayraktar, D, Guclu-Gunduz, A, Lambeck, J, Yazici, G, Aykol, S, Demirci, H
Disability and rehabilitation. 2016;(12):1163-71
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine and compare the effects of core stability exercise programs performed in two different environments in lumbar disc herniation (LDH) patients. METHOD Thirty-one patients who were diagnosed with LDH and were experiencing pain or functional disability for at least 3 months were randomly divided into two groups as land-based exercises or water specific therapy. Also, 15 age-sex-matched healthy individuals were recruited as healthy controls. Both groups underwent an 8-week (3 times/week) core stabilization exercise program. Primary outcomes were pain, trunk muscle static endurance and perceived disability level. The secondary outcome was health-related quality of life. RESULTS Level of static endurance of trunk muscles was found to be lower in the patients compared to the controls at baseline (p < 0.05). Both treatment groups showed significant improvements in all outcomes (p < 0.05) after 8-week intervention. When two treatment groups were compared, no differences were found in the amount of change after the intervention (p > 0.05). After the treatment, static endurance of trunk muscles of the LDH patients became similar to controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION According to these results, core stabilization exercise training performed on land or in water both could be beneficial in LDH patients and there is no difference between the environments. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION An 8-week core stabilization program performed in water or on land decrease pain level and improve functional status in LDH patients. Both programs seem beneficial to increase health-related quality of life and static endurance of trunk muscles. Core stability exercises could be performed in water as well, no differences were found between methods due to environment.
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Short-term creatine supplementation has no impact on upper-body anaerobic power in trained wrestlers.
Aedma, M, Timpmann, S, Lätt, E, Ööpik, V
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. 2015;:45
Abstract
BACKGROUND Creatine (CR) is considered an effective nutritional supplement having ergogenic effects, which appears more pronounced in upper-body compared to lower-body exercise. Nevertheless, results regarding the impact of CR loading on repeated high-intensity arm-cranking exercise are scarce and in some cases conflicting. Interestingly, few of the conducted studies have structured their research designs to mimic real world sporting events. Therefore, our purpose was to address the hypothesis that CR ingestion would increase anaerobic power output in consecutive upper-body intermittent sprint performance (UBISP) tests designed to simulate wrestling matches on a competition-day. METHODS In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study, 20 trained wrestlers were assigned to either placebo or CR supplemented group (0.3 g ∙ kg(-1) of body mass per day). Four 6-min UBISP tests interspersed with 30-min recovery periods were performed before (trial 1) and after 5 days (trial 2) of supplementation. Each test consisted of six 15-s periods of arm-cranking at maximal executable cadence against resistance of 0.04 kg ∙ kg(-1) body mass interspersed with 40-s unloaded easy cranking periods and 5-s acceleration intervals (T1-T4). Mean power (MP), peak power (PP), fatigue index and heart rate parameters were measured during UBISP tests. Also, body weight and hydration status were assessed. Principle measures were statistical analysed with mixed-model ANOVAs. RESULTS Mean individual CR consumption in the CR group was 24.8 ± 2.5 g ∙ d(-1). No significant (P > 0.05) differences occurred in body mass or hydration status indices between the groups or across trials. MP, PP and fatigue index responses were unaffected by supplementation; although, a significant reduction in MP and PP did occurred from T1 to T4 in both trial 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Overall heart rate responses in the tests tended to be higher in the CR than PLC group (P < 0.05); but, trends in responses in trials and tests were comparable (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION These results suggest that 5-day CR supplementation has no impact on upper-body muscle anaerobic power output in consecutive UBISP anaerobic tests mimicking wrestling matches on a competition day.
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Dietary sodium citrate supplementation does not improve upper-body anaerobic performance in trained wrestlers in simulated competition-day conditions.
Aedma, M, Timpmann, S, Ööpik, V
European journal of applied physiology. 2015;(2):387-96
Abstract
PURPOSE Similarly to a wrestling match, upper-body intermittent sprint performance (UBISP) test elicits severe acidosis. This study aimed to determine whether sodium citrate (CIT) ingestion would help to better maintain peak power (PP) and mean power (MP) output across four consecutive UBISP tests simulating wrestling matches of a competition-day. METHODS In a double-blind, counterbalanced, crossover manner, 11 trained wrestlers ingested either placebo (PLC) or CIT (900 mg kg(-1)) within a 17-h supplementation period. Thereafter they completed four (T1-T4) 6-min UBISP tests interspersed with 30-min recovery periods. RESULTS Compared with PLC, CIT supplementation resulted in a persistent increase (P < 0.05) in blood HCO3 (-) concentration and pH: pre-T1 25.6 % and 0.08 units, post-T4 39.1 % and 0.14 units, respectively. Post-T1 blood lactate concentration in CIT (16.1 ± 3.8 mmol L(-1)) was higher (P = 0.037) than that in PLC (13.7 ± 2.3 mmol L(-1)). Decrease in plasma volume across the supplementation period and UBISP tests was greater (P = 0.03) in PLC (-6.91 ± 4.37 %) than in CIT (-1.51 ± 4.34 %). There was an overall decrease (P = 0.028) in ratings of perceived exertion in CIT compared with PLC, but no between-trial difference (P > 0.05) in PP or MP in any UBISP test occurred. CONCLUSION In trained wrestlers, CIT ingestion induces alkalosis, counteracts reduction in plasma volume, increases post-test blood lactate concentration and reduces perceived exertion, but does not improve PP or MP attained in consecutive UBISP tests simulating four wrestling matches of a competition-day.
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Validation of a subject specific 3-actuator torque-driven model in human vertical jumping.
Cimadoro, G, Yeadon, MR, Van Hoecke, J, Alberti, G, Babault, N, Minetti, AE
Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference. 2012;:4883-6
Abstract
In this study, a forward dynamic subject specific 3-actuator torque-driven model of the human musculoskeletal system was created based on measurements of individual characteristics of a subject. Simulation results were compared with experimental vertical squat jumping with and without adding weights. By analyzing kinematic and kinetic experimental data at the instant of the toe-off for the same initial conditions, it was shown that a simple computer simulation using a suitable cost function could reproduce the real task performed by humans. This investigation is the first step in a wider project that will incorporate elastic components, and that will evaluate the advantages of the individual subject approach in modeling.