Targeted spine strengthening exercise and posture training program to reduce hyperkyphosis in older adults: results from the study of hyperkyphosis, exercise, and function (SHEAF) randomized controlled trial.

A 6-month randomized controlled trial of spine-strengthening exercise and posture training reduced both radiographic and clinical measures of kyphosis. Participants receiving the intervention improved self-image and satisfaction with their appearance. Results suggest that spine-strengthening exercise and postural training may be an effective treatment option for older adults with hyperkyphosis. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study is to determine in a randomized controlled trial whether spine-strengthening exercises improve Cobb angle of kyphosis in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: We recruited adults ≥60 years with kyphosis ≥40° and enrolled 99 participants (71 women, 28 men), mean age 70.6 ± 0.6 years, range 60-88, with baseline Cobb angle 57.4 ± 12.5°. The intervention included group spine-strengthening exercise and postural training, delivered by a physical therapist, 1-h, three times weekly for 6 months. Controls received four group health education meetings. The primary outcome was change in the gold standard Cobb angle of kyphosis measured from standing lateral spine radiographs. Secondary outcomes included change in kyphometer-measured kyphosis, physical function (modified Physical Performance Test, gait speed, Timed Up and Go, Timed Loaded Standing, 6-Min Walk), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (PROMIS global health and physical function indexes, SRS-30 self-image domain). ANCOVA was used to assess treatment effects on change from baseline to 6 months in all outcomes. RESULTS: There was a -3.0° (95% CI -5.2, -0.8) between-group difference in change in Cobb angle, p = 0.009, favoring the intervention and approximating the magnitude of change from an incident vertebral fracture. Kyphometer-measured kyphosis (p = 0.03) and SRS-30 self-esteem (p < 0.001) showed favorable between-group differences in change, with no group differences in physical function or additional HRQoL outcomes, p > 0.05. CONCLUSIONS: Spine-strengthening exercise and posture training over 6 months reduced kyphosis compared to control. Our randomized controlled trial results suggest that a targeted kyphosis-specific exercise program may be an effective treatment option for older adults with hyperkyphosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER AND NAME OF TRIAL REGISTER: ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier NCT01751685.

Comparative Studies of Extinction and Backscattering by Aerosols, Fog, and Rain at 10.6 micro and 0.63 micro.

Theoretical calculations using continental, fog, and precipitation aerosol size distribution models are presented here for extinction and backscatter coefficients along horizontal propagation paths at sea level. The coefficients are presented for various atmospheric conditions and for wavelengths between 0.34 micro and 10.6 micro. Finally, the theoretical results are confirmed by comparison with outdoor transmission studies at 10.6 micro and 0.63 micro.

Atmospheric absorption at the line center of P(20) CO(2) laser radiation.

Atmospheric CO(2) absorption at the line center of P(20) CO(2) laser radiation has been calculated at different altitudes by using the relationship 1 - exp(-integral(l)(2)(l)(1) kdl). In this calculation, the absorption caused by water vapor has not been included. The line strength and the half-width at 295 K and 1 atm pressure used are 5.09 x 10(-4) cm(-2) atm -(1) and 0.07 cm -(1) atm (-1), respectively.

Water Vapor Continuum Absorption of Carbon Dioxide Laser Radiation near 10micro.

Laboratory measurements using a stabilized CO(2) laser and a 1-km long path absorption cell are presented here for pure water vapor and water vapor-air mixtures. An empirical extinction coefficient equation is presented and used to compute absorption for a variety of atmospheric slant paths. Finally, the laboratory results are confirmed by comparison with outdoor transmission studies over a 1.95-km path.

Effects of oxygen addition on pressure-broadened water-vapor absorption in the 10-microm region.

We have measured the monochromatic transmittances of pressure-broadened room-temperature water vapor samples at five laser frequencies of the CO(2) laser in the 10.4-microm band. Three different buffer gases were used. They were pure nitrogen, an 80:20 mixture of nitrogen and oxygen, and a 60:40 mixture of nitrogen and oxygen. The measurements at the five laser lines imply that oxygen is a less efficient broadener than nitrogen. The ratio of the oxygen-broadening coefficient to the nitrogen-broadening coefficient was measured to be 0.75 based on the data at the R(20) laser line. Results of this study demonstrate that pure nitrogen should not be used as a broadener for atmospheric modeling of monochromatic transmittances in the laboratory.

Water vapor-nitrogen absorption at CO(2) laser frequencies.

In this paper we report the results of a series of pressure-broadened water vapor absorption measurements at 27 CO(2) laser frequencies between 935 cm(-1) and 1082 cm(-1). Both multiple traversal cell and optoacoustic (spectrophone) techniques were utilized together with an electronically stabilized cw CO(2) laser. Comparison of the results obtained by these two methods shows remarkable agreement, indicating a precision which has not been previously achieved in pressure-broadened studies of water vapor. The data of 10.59 microm substantiate the existence of the large (>200) self-broadening coefficients determined in an earlier study by McCoy. In this work we have treated the case of water vapor in N(2) at a total pressure of 1 atm. We have also studied water vapor in air and will report those results separately.