Effectiveness of whole-body vibration exercise and core stabilization exercise in chronic non-specific low back pain: A randomized-controlled study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of whole-body vibration exercise (WBVE) and core stabilization exercise (CSE) on pain, muscle strength, and functional recovery in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (NLBP). Patients and methods: Between June 2016 and July 2017, a total of 74 patients with NLBP (12 males, 62 females; mean age: 44.7±8.9 years; range, 24 to 64 years) were included in this prospective, randomized-controlled study. The patients were randomly assigned to WBVE group (WBVEG, n=25), CSE group (CSEG, (n=25), and home exercise group as the control group (CG, (n=24). All groups performed 24 sessions of exercise for a total of eight weeks. Clinical outcome was measured using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), computerized isokinetic muscle strengths (IMS) and progressive isoinertial lifting evaluation (PILE) test. Results: The VAS and RMDQ scores in WBVEG and CSEG statistically significantly decreased (p<0.05). The difference between the pre-treatment and at three-month VAS scores during intense activity were significantly different in both WBVEG and CSEG than the CG (p<0.05). The IMS values, except for the isokinetic flexion total work (IKFTW), increased significantly in all three groups (p<0.05). The IKFTW values increased significantly in the WBVEG and CSEG (p<0.05). A statistically significant increase in the functional work performance with PILE was observed in all three groups (p<0.05). The differences between the pre-treatment and three-month PILE test (ground to back and back to shoulder) were significantly different in both WBVEG and CSEG than the CG (p<0.05). Conclusion: In the treatment of chronic NLBP, WBVE and CSE appear to be effective in pain and functionality. Although there was a significant improvement in muscle strength and functional work performance in all three groups, greater improvements were observed in the WBVEG and CSEG than the CG.

Oxygen Uptake Efficiency Slope and Prediction of Post-operative Morbidity and Mortality in Patients with Lung Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Peak oxygen consumption is a very valuable cardiopulmonary functional parameter in pre-operative evaluation of patients with lung cancer. However, it has several critical limitations for operability decision due to failure in achieving maximal level of exercise test for cases. The aim of this study was to reveal the importance of more accurate cardiopulmonary parameters that can be calculated from data of submaximal level test, such as oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) and to determine whether it could be used in the operability decision phase for borderline cases by means of morbidity and mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-five patients who were scheduled to undergo lung surgery due to lung cancer were included in the study. Peak oxygen uptake (pVO2), heart rate at the anaerobic threshold, and oxygen consumption volume at anaerobic threshold values were obtained after performing the cardiopulmonary exercise test. The OUES value was calculated from the ratio of the peak VO2 value and logarithmic equivalent of the ventilatory volume (VE). The following equation was used for determining OUES: VO2/log10 VE. RESULTS: The peak VO2 mean value was 21.37 ± 4.20 mL/min/kg in patients. However, OUES mean value was 12.44 ± 2.11. When the metabolic parameters of the patients were compared, a significant correlation was determined between the peak VO2 value and peak VE, OUES, and survival (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that OUES is significantly correlated with peak VO2 and it does not require the performance of maximal exercise and can be used together with peak VO2 in this patient population when there is difficulty in making decision for surgery in patients with lung cancer.

Athlete presentations and injury frequency by sport at a sports medicine university clinic.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to investigate the profile of athletes by determining the branch of sports, type, and area of sustained sports injury, and the frequencies through athletes' presentations to the largest university clinic in one of the most crowded and athlete-populated cities of Turkey, Istanbul. METHODS: The study population comprised 1302 athletes who presented to the sports medicine clinic between the dates of July 1st, 2014, and June 30th, 2015. This record-based study examined all athlete presentations using the physical examination cards. RESULTS: Eight hundred and sixty-five of the athletes were male. The median age of applicants was 21 years (interquartile range 16-30 years), the median body mass index was 22.23 kg/m2 (range, 20.01-24.67 kg/m2), and the median years of sports activity was 5 years (range, 0-10 years). Presentations to the clinic were significantly higher in April (p=0.003). The most commonly injured body part was the knee and soccer was the leading sport among the patients; anterior cruciate ligament injury was the most common pathology among soccer players. CONCLUSIONS: Athletes who presented to our clinic most commonly sustained a lower extremity injury. It was notable that ligament injuries were seen as commonly as muscle injuries.

Uncomplicated diabetes does not accelerate age-related sarcopenia.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is reported to accelerate sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass and function). We aimed to assess muscle mass and strength in elderly diabetics, elderly non-diabetics, younger diabetics and healthy subjects, and to define correlates of muscle mass and strength in these subjects. METHODS: Sixteen elderly diabetics, 16 younger diabetics, 16 elderly non-diabetics and 18 younger non-diabetics were included. Elderly and diabetic subjects were first evaluated with exercise testing. Isokinetic leg extension and flexion tests were performed using a Cybex 350 dynamometer. Muscle mass was calculated using bioelectric impedance analysis. RESULTS: Muscle mass was similar between all groups; however, muscle strength was significantly lower in diabetic and non-diabetic elderly subjects compared with younger diabetic subjects and non-diabetics. Muscle strength was positively correlated with albumin, metabolic equivalent and hemoglobin, and inversely correlated with age, HbA1c, functional capacity and CRP. Independent correlates of muscle strength were age and hemoglobin. There was no clinically significant correlate of muscle mass. Presence or duration of diabetes was not associated with muscle mass or strength. CONCLUSIONS: Uncomplicated diabetes does not seem to accelerate aging-related muscle mass or strength loss. Exercise test parameters may be useful markers in the screening of sarcopenia.

BsmI polymorphism in the vitamin D receptor gene is associated with leg extensor muscle strength in elderly men.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sarcopenia is defined as a reduction in skeletal muscle mass, strength, and endurance observed with advancing age. Although Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphism is reported to be associated with muscle mass and strength, evidence for this is limited and conflicting. In this study, we examined the association between the polymorphisms of VDR gene BsmI, TaqI and FokI and muscular mass and strength in elderly men. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a university hospital. One hundred and twenty men over 65 years of age participated, all participants were active men living independently in Istanbul, who were followed as outpatients in geriatric polyclinics. Most common diagnoses were hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and mild to moderate osteoarthritis. Morbid obese patients were not included in the study. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and VDR genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction. The peak torque of the knee flexors and extensors was measured on a Cybex 350 dynamometer. Body muscle mass was calculated by using bioelectric impedance analysis. RESULTS: The extensor strength of the knee was higher in BB homozygotic men than in the Bb/bb group. No significant association was found with TaqI and FokI haplotypes. There was no significant association between muscle mass and strength, or between muscle mass and VDR genotype. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that VDR gene BsmI polymorphism is associated with muscular strength in elderly men.

Comparison of the effectiveness of the traditional acupuncture point, ST. 36 and Omura's ST.36 Point (True ST. 36) needling on the isokinetic knee extension & flexion strength of young soccer players.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of the Traditional acupuncture point ST.36 and 'Omura's ST.36 Point' ("True ST.36") needling on the isokinetic knee extension & flexion strength of young soccer players. The Bi-Digital O-Ring Test (B.D.O.R.T.) of Yoshiaki Omura, M.D.,Sc.D. was used to determine the "True ST.36". Young soccer players (N = 24) between 16-18 years of age (Mean = 16.92 +/- 0.65) were involved in the study. The extension & flexion strengths of dominant legs were measured with Cybex 350 Extremity System isokinetically. The testing velocity was 60 degrees/sec. The peak torque value in Newton meters (Nm) was evaluated. Subjects were tested 3 times. Extension & Flexion 1 (EXT1, FLEX1) without acupuncture application, EXT2 & FLEX2 after application on the traditional acupuncture point, ST.36 and EXT3 & FLEX3 after application onto the 'Omura's New Foot-point' ("True ST.36"). Before each test, subjects warmed up for 10 minutes by cycling on an isokinetic ergometer at 50 RPM, 75 Watts load followed by stretching exercises of lower extremity. Mean EXT1, EXT2, EXT3 values were 196.92 +/- 28.70: 210.00 +/- 23.00; 224.42 +/- 21.70 respectively, where FLEX1, FLEX2, FLEX3 were 140.88 +/- 22.45; 151.13 +/- 21.27; 161.00 +/- 22.23. Comparisons of EXT1-EXT2, EXT1-EXT3, EXT2-EXT3, FLEX1-FLEX2, FLEX1-FLEX3, FLEX2-FLEX3 strength values showed all very high significance (P < 0.001) in favor of 1) Needling on relevant points and 2) Omura's ST.36 Point ("True ST.36"). We conclude that B.D.O.R.T. can help to determine new (True) Acupuncture points and, both points were effective for increasing the isokinetic knee extension & flexion strength of young soccer players very significantly where as Omura's ST.36 Point ("True ST.36") was more effective than Traditional Acupuncture point, ST.36.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism, left ventricular remodeling, and exercise capacity in strength-trained athletes.

The mechanisms that regulate the development of human physiological cardiac hypertrophy remain poorly understood. The renin-angiotensin system, which is modulated by genetic polymorphism, plays an important role in the regulation of vascular tone and myocardial hypertrophy. Although a few studies have analyzed the association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphism and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy in isotonic exercise-trained subjects who developed eccentric cardiac hypertrophy, there has been no research done in power athletes who developed concentric cardiac hypertrophy. We have hypothesized that ACE genotypic modulation characteristics may affect LV mass in power athletes. This study included 29 elite Caucasian wrestlers (mean age, 22.6 years) and 51 age-matched sedentary subjects. According to the absence or presence of the insertion segment in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, the subjects were classified as homozygous deletion-deletion (DD), insertion-insertion (II), or heterozygous insertion-deletion (ID). The association of LV hypertrophy with ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism was analyzed. Left ventricular mass and index were determined by echocardiography. Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotyping was performed on peripheral leukocytes using the polymerase chain reaction technique. The study and control group subjects were similar in height and weight. Left ventricular hypertrophy in the athletes was more apparent than in the controls. Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype II frequency was 17.2% (5) in the athletes, 17.6% (9) in the controls; ID frequency was 51.7% (15) in the athletes, 56.8% (29) in the controls; and the DD frequency was 31% (9) in the athletes and 25.4% (13) in the controls. Left ventricular mass and mass index were found to be higher in genotype DD (126.2 +/- 2.9g/m2) than genotype II (85.5 +/- 4.0g/m2) or genotype ID (110.1 +/- 2.3g/m2) in the athletes (P < 0.001). Furthermore, maximal oxygen consumption in genotype DD was found to be higher than in II and ID. An association was found between ACE gene I/D polymorphism and LV hypertrophy in strength-trained athletes.