Unfavorable influence of structured exercise program on total leisure-time physical activity.

In randomized controlled trials (RCTs), with customized structured physical exercise activity (SPEA) interventions, the dose of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) should exceed the LTPA dose of the nonexercising control (C) group. This increase is required to substantiate health improvements achievable by exercise. We aimed to compare the dose of SPEA, LTPA, and total LTPA (SPEA + LTPA) between a randomized Nordic walking (NW) group, a power-type resistance training (RT) group, and a C group during a 12-week exercise intervention in obese middle-aged men (n = 144) with impaired glucose regulation. The dose of physical activity was measured with diaries using metabolic equivalents. No significant difference (P > 0.107) between the groups was found in volume of total LTPA. The volume of LTPA was, however, significantly higher (P < 0.050) in the C group than in the NW group, but not compared with the RT group. These results indicate that structured exercise does not automatically increase the total LTPA level, possibly, as a result of compensation of LTPA with structured exercise or spontaneous activation of the C group. Thus, the dose of total LTPA and the possible changes in spontaneous LTPA should be taken into account when implementing a RCT design with exercise intervention.

Evidence on physiotherapeutic interventions for adults with cerebral palsy is sparse. A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To identify evidence evaluating the effectiveness of physiotherapy in adolescents (>16 years of age) and adults with cerebral palsy. DATA SOURCES: Systematic literature search from the earliest available time until March 2009. Additional studies were identified through reference and citation tracking. REVIEW METHODS: Two reviewers independently agreed on eligibility, methodological quality and quality of evidence assessment. Standard methods were used for quality assessments. RESULTS: Included were 13 studies, two of which were randomized controlled trials. No article met the criteria for high methodological quality. Evidence of moderate quality was found on gait after strength training. Evidence of low quality was found on balance after strength training and workstation interventions. Low-quality evidence was also found on functionality after strength training in four studies evaluating gross motor capacity. There was very low-quality evidence on increased muscle strength and in outcome measures used to evaluate range of motion. CONCLUSION: Evidence for the effect of physiotherapy on adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy is sparse, and therefore there is an urgent need for well-designed physiotherapeutic trials for these people.

The profile and distribution of myosin heavy chain isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons.

AIM: Human lifestyle has drastically changed during the past century as the share of physical work in daily life has decreased. The purpose of the present study was to examine the distribution of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons, to compare the proportion of MHC isoforms of middle-aged and young sedentary persons and to demonstrate the effect of physical activity of MHC isoforms in middle-aged sedentary persons. METHODS: Eighty-nine middle-aged sedentary and 13 young sedentary persons volunteered for the study. Thirty middle-aged sedentary subjects participated in strength-conditional exercise program during 9 months. Vertical jumping height and maximal anaerobic work capacity were measured. Muscle samples were taken from vastus lateralis muscle. MHC isoform composition was determined by SDS-PAGE. RESULTS: Variation of MHC I and MHC IIa isoforms in middle-age sedentary persons demonstrated normal distribution. Significant differences of MHC isoform proportions between middle-aged and young sedentary participants were not observed. The proportion of MHC IIx decreased significantly after the exercise period that significantly improved the maximal anaerobic power and jumping height of participants. CONCLUSIONS: Normal distribution illustrated the proportion of MHC I and MHC IIa isoforms in 89 middle-aged sedentary persons while significant differences of MHC isoforms proportion between young and middle-aged sedentary persons were not observed. Even small increase of physical activity improved physical performance and decrease the MHC IIx proportion of middle-aged sedentary persons. Physically active lifestyle in middle age, when age-related changes have not started yet, may delay age-related changes in skeletal muscle.

Effects of external light loading in power-type strength training on muscle power of the lower extremities in middle-aged subjects.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of training either with a light load or without any load in a 16-week power-type strength training intervention in sedentary middle-aged subjects. A total of 85 subjects participated in the study. In a supervised 22-week training intervention, including 16 weeks of power-type strength training, 42 subjects (Light Load group=LL group) trained with a 1.1 kg weight on each ankle and 43 subjects (No Load group=NOL group) trained without any external load. Subjects were comparable concerning their training attendance, and anthropometric and physiological characteristics. Training effects were evaluated by measuring Vertical Squat Jump (VSJ), 20-metre Running Time (20 mRT), Maximal Anaerobic Cycling Power of leg muscles (MACP), and Maximal Oxygen Uptake (V.O (2 max)) before and after the intervention. The LL group improved VSJ and MACP significantly (p<0.05), compared with the NOL group. No difference between the groups was observed in 20 mRT or in V.O (2 max). To conclude, the external loads of 2.2 kg, in total, increased the efficiency of power-type strength training in vertical jumps and in anaerobic power in leg muscles, but not in sprint running.

Effects of a 6-month exercise program on patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: To improve walking and other aspects of physical function with a progressive 6-month exercise program in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: MS patients with mild to moderate disability (Expanded Disability Status Scale scores 1.0 to 5.5) were randomly assigned to an exercise or control group. The intervention consisted of strength and aerobic training initiated during 3-week inpatient rehabilitation and continued for 23 weeks at home. The groups were evaluated at baseline and at 6 months. The primary outcome was walking speed, measured by 7.62 m and 500 m walk tests. Secondary outcomes included lower extremity strength, upper extremity endurance and dexterity, peak oxygen uptake, and static balance. An intention-to-treat analysis was used. RESULTS: Ninety-one (96%) of the 95 patients entering the study completed it. Change between groups was significant in the 7.62 m (p = 0.04) and 500 m walk tests (p = 0.01). In the 7.62 m walk test, 22% of the exercising patients showed clinically meaningful improvements. The exercise group also showed increased upper extremity endurance as compared to controls. No other noteworthy exercise-induced changes were observed. Exercise adherence varied considerably among the exercisers. CONCLUSIONS: Walking speed improved in this randomized study. The results confirm that exercise is safe for multiple sclerosis patients and should be recommended for those with mild to moderate disability.

Feasibility of power-type strength training for middle aged men and women: self perception, musculoskeletal symptoms, and injury rates.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the feasibility of a power-type strength training programme for middle aged men and women, the impact of the training programme on perceived health and fitness and on knee and low back symptoms, and the rate of exercise induced injuries. METHODS: A total of 154 voluntary, healthy, sedentary men and women participated in a training programme lasting about four months. The explosive force of leg extensor muscles was measured by means of standing long jumps and vertical squat jumps. Perceived health, perceived fitness, and low back and knee symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention by using a questionnaire. Musculoskeletal disorders and exercise induced injuries were reported during the training programme. RESULTS: Perceived fitness improved in both men (p<0.01) and women (p<0.0001), but perceived health only in women (p<0.01). Men with increased explosive force in squat jumping also showed better perceived health (p<0.05), and women with increased explosive force in standing long jump showed better perceived fitness (p<0.05). Exercising men who had increased knee symptoms had significantly higher body mass index than the other exercising men (p<0.05). The exercise induced injury rate was 19% in men and 6% in women. CONCLUSIONS: Successful completion of the exercise programme, together with the increased physical activity and relatively low injury rate, may have contributed to the participants finding the exercise programme positive and stimulating and believing that their health and fitness had improved. The low rate of musculoskeletal injury suggests that this type of supervised exercise programme is feasible for untrained middle aged people.

Isoresistive dynamometer measurement of trunk muscle velocity at different angular phases of flexion and extension.

Isoresistive trunk muscle dynamometer is a potentially useful piece of equipment in evaluation of trunk muscle velocity, but to date, studies analysing the possibilities and limitations of such measurements are scarce. The aim of this study was to analyse the trunk muscle velocity in repetitive flexion and extension movements at three different angular phases, using an isoresistive trunk muscle dynamometer, and to assess the reliability of the measurements. The study population consisted of 120 healthy, sedentary men and women who volunteered for the study. The measurements were carried out before and after a 22-week training intervention programme. The results show that the peak velocities of the phases between 15 and 35 degrees in flexion and 20-0 degrees in extension (i.e. the second phases) correlated highly (r=0.99 in flexion and in extension) with the peak velocity of the whole movement ranging from -5 to 55 degrees in flexion and 40 to -20 degrees in extension. Correlations were high, both before and after the intervention. The LISREL model analysis showed high reliability of measurement for the second angular phases (in flexion and extension). According to the model, the correlation between the first and second measurement (with a 22-week training intervention in between) was 0.78 in flexion and 0.81 in extension. In conclusion, the angular phases from 15 to 35 degrees in flexion and from 20 to 0 degrees in extension represent the peak velocity of the whole movement. Negative residual correlations between the first and last angular phases in the LISREL model reflect the way of performing the movement: the faster the start the slower the end, and vice versa.

Surface contamination to UV-curable acrylates in the furniture and parquet industry.

Surface contamination to ultraviolet radiation curable coatings (UV coatings), used increasingly in the parquet and furniture industry, is a matter of concern as a source for skin contamination. UV coatings contain chemically and biologically reactive acrylates, well known as skin contact irritants and sensitizers. Surface contamination may spread secondarily to equipment and other unexpected areas even outside the workplace. Yet, studies concerning this type of contamination are lacking due to lack of suitable sampling methods. Surface contamination of the work environment with risk for skin exposure to UV coating was measured employing a quantitative adhesive tape sampling method developed for this purpose. A pilot study was first performed at three workplaces to evaluate the contamination. In the main study, we wanted to locate and identify in detail the surface contamination of areas where problems exist, and to determine the extent of the problem. Measurements were performed at seven workplaces on two separate workdays (round 1 and 2) within a six-month period. Samples were collected from the workplaces based on the video monitoring of skin contact frequency with the surfaces and categorized into three groups to analyze risk. The pilot study indicated that surface contamination to TPGDA containing UV coatings was common, found in 76 percent of the surfaces, and varied with a maximum of 909 microg TPGDA 10 cm(-2) sampling area. In the main study TPGDA was found in 153 out of 196 collected samples (78.1%); for round one 78.1 percent (82 out of 105 samples) and for round two 78.0 percent (71 out of 91 samples). The average TPGDA mass on positive surface samples was on the first round 2,247 +/- 7,462 microg, and on the second round 2,960 +/- 4,590 microg. We conclude that surface contamination to uncured UV coatings at UV-curing lines is common and this involves a risk for harmful, unintentional skin exposure to acrylates.

Workers' dermal exposure to UV-curable acrylates in the furniture and Parquet industry.

The use of ultraviolet radiation-curable coatings (UV-coatings) has increased rapidly in the parquet and furniture industry. Work with UV-coatings involves risk from skin exposure to chemically reactive, concentrated acrylates that are known skin contact irritants and sensitizers. Yet, the methods and tools for measuring and quantifying dermal exposure from hazardous chemicals directly on the skin are limited and methods to measure skin exposure to UV-coatings in occupational or environmental settings have been lacking. Skin exposure to UV-coatings was measured employing a quantitative tape stripping method that we have developed for this purpose. A pilot study was performed at three workplaces. In the main study, workers' skin exposure to uncured UV-coatings was measured at seven workplaces and on two separate workdays (rounds 1 and 2) within a six-month period to determine exposure variation. Skin exposure was measured at four standardized sites on the hand, 3-4 times per work shift. The forehead was sampled once. A questionnaire was carried out with the workers in both rounds to find out factors that can affect skin exposure to UV-coatings. The pilot study indicated that both skin and surface contamination to TPGDA-containing UV-coatings were common and varied up to 2110 microgram on the sampling area of 10cm(2). In the main study skin contamination due to TPGDA was found on 16 of 23 workers, at 6 out of the 7 workplaces, and from 36 (5. 4%) of the 664 samples. In round one 8.6% (n=383) of the samples contained TPGDA and in round two 1.1 % (n=281). The average TPGDA mass on all the positive samples (n=36) was 30.4+/-77.0 microgram for the first and second rounds alone this mass was 30.6+/-80 (n=33) and 28.3+/-16.5 microgram (n=3), respectively. Despite the limited sampling area and sampling sites, we could find residues of TPGDA at all sampling times, even at the beginning of the work shift. This may be due to transfer of UV-coatings through contaminated equipment, shoes and surfaces. Our study indicates that there is a risk of harmful skin exposure to UV-coatings in the furniture and parquet industry.

Responses of spruce seedlings (Picea abies) to exhaust gas under laboratory conditions--I. Plant-insect interactions.

The effects of motor vehicle exhaust gas on Norway spruce seedlings (Picea abies (L.) Karst) and plant-insect interaction of spruce shoot aphid (Cinara pilicornis Hartig) was studied. The exhaust gas concentrations in the fumigation chambers were monitored and controlled by measuring the concentration of nitrogen oxides (NO(x)) with a computer aided feedback system. The concentrations of major exhaust gas components (black carbon [BC], fine particles, VOCs and carbonyl compounds) in the chamber air were also measured. Responses of Norway spruce seedlings to a 2 and 3-week exhaust gas exposure and subsequent performance of spruce shoot aphid were studied using realistic exposure regimes; 50, 100 and 200 ppb NO(x). The feedback control system based on NO(x) concentrations proved an adequate and practical means for controlling the concentration of exhaust gases and studying plant responses in controlled environment chambers. The exhaust exposure resulted in increased concentrations of proline, glutamine, threonine, aspartic acid, glycine and phenylalanine and decreased concentration of arginine, serine, alanine and glycine in young needles. No changes in soluble N concentrations were observed. The results are interpreted as a stress response rather than use of NO(x) as a nitrogen source. No changes in total phenolics and only transient changes in some individual terpene concentrations were detected. The exhaust gas exposure stressed the exposed seedlings, but had no significant effect on N metabolism or the production of defence chemicals. Aphid performance was not significantly affected. Soluble N, secondary metabolism and aphid performance were not sensitive to exhaust gas exposure during shoot elongation in Norway spruce.

A method for measuring dermal exposure to multifunctional acrylates.

UV-curable acrylates are used increasingly for coating wood surfaces in the furniture industry. One of the active components, tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA), is known to be both an allergen and irritant to the skin. Methods to measure dermal exposure to skin irritants and allergens, such as acrylates, are insufficient for exposure assessment and there is none for this compound. The aim of this investigation was to develop a skin and surface sampling method, based on tape stripping, and a gas chromatographic method for quantitative analysis for assessing occupational skin exposure to multifunctional acrylates. Twelve adhesives were tested for their efficiency to remove TPGDA and UV-coating from a glass surface, the skin of guinea pigs and human volunteers employing the tape-stripping method in order to find the best performing tape. Variables that affect removal efficiency such as the applied dose and its retention time on the skin, tape adhesion time on the skin, and the number of strippings required to detect the contaminant from the skin were studied. Fixomull tape performed the best during sampling and analysis and had the most consistent removal efficiencies for the studied substances. The average removal efficiency with a single stripping at the 2 microliters TPGDA exposed skin sites was 85% (RSD = 14.1), and for UV-resin exposed sites 63% (RSD = 20.2). The results indicated that this method can be used for measuring dermal exposure to multifunctional acrylates efficiently, accurately, and economically. This method provides a sensitive and powerful tool for the assessment of dermal exposure to multifunctional acrylates both from the skin and from other contaminated surfaces in occupational field settings.