Knee extension isometric torque production differences based on verbal motivation given to introverted and extroverted female children.

To date, little research has been conducted to test the efficacy of different forms of motivation based on a female child's personality type. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of female children to perform a maximal knee extension isometric torque test with varying forms of motivation, based on the child's personality type (introvert vs. extrovert). The subjects were asked to perform a maximal isometric knee extension test under three different conditions: 1) with no verbal motivation, 2) with verbal motivation from the evaluator only, and 3) with verbal motivation from a group of their peers and the evaluator combined. A 2×3 mixed ANOVA was significant for an interaction (F 2,62=17.530; p<0.0005). Post hoc testing for the introverted group showed that scores without verbal motivation were significantly higher than with verbal motivation from the evaluator or the evaluator plus the peers. The extroverted group revealed that scores with verbal motivation from the evaluator or the evaluator plus the peers were significantly higher than without verbal motivation. Results suggest that verbal motivation has a varying effect on isometric knee extension torque production in female children with different personality types. Extroverted girls perform better with motivation, whereas introverted girls perform better without motivation from others.

The effects of loaded versus unloaded activities on foot volumetrics in older healthy adults.

BACKGROUND: Health care practitioners, including sports physical therapists, commonly prescribe and recommend aerobic exercise for those patients seeking to improve their cardiovascular fitness across all ages. Current literature demonstrates that weight bearing activities such as walking or running may lead to foot and ankle edema. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to determine if a significant difference exists between foot volumes (edema) in pre versus post-exercise measurements during a loaded activity (treadmill walking) or an unloaded activity (upright exercise bike) in 31 healthy subjects 50 years of age and older. METHODS: After a rest period, a pre-exercise volumetric measurement of the right leg was obtained by the use of a foot volumeter. The first condition (walking or cycling) was randomly chosen. Each subject completed two 10-minute exercise sessions. Immediately following both exercise sessions, a post-exercise volumetric measurement was completed. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference in foot volume was found between pre (mean = 742.39ml, 95% CI: 685.23 - 799.55) and post (mean = 753.03ml, 95% CI: 697.51ml - 808.55ml) measurements for the treadmill (weight bearing) protocol. When considering each sex separately, males produced significant increases in foot volume following tread-mill walking (pre mean = 871.00ml, 95% CI: 793.95ml - 948.05ml; post mean = 886.20ml, 95% CI: 811.28ml - 961.13ml), while females displayed no significant changes. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated a 1.4% increase in foot volume after 10 minutes of treadmill walking. Based on these results, it may be advisable to prescribe non-weight bearing exercise to active older individuals with pre-existing conditions for edema.

Does sitting posture in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease really matter? An analysis of 2 sitting postures and their effect [corrected] on pulmonary function.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate changes that occur in pulmonary function when postural changes in the sagittal plane are made in a seated position in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: Fourteen patients diagnosed with COPD participated in this study. Standard spirometric measurements (minute ventilation, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second) were taken for each patient in each of 2 sitting postures: slumped and upright. Breathing frequency, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation were also recorded for each of the 2 postures. Patients assumed each posture for 5 minutes before any measurements were taken, after which measurements were recorded each minute for an additional 5 minutes. RESULTS: A 2-factor (posture and time) analysis of variance with repeated measures on both factors was used to analyze the data. There were no significant differences between the means for heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and breathing frequency. Paired t tests likewise did not reveal any significant differences between the slumped and upright positions for forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced vital capacity, and minute ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that there are no differences in measures of pulmonary function (minute ventilation, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 1 second) and breathing frequency, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation between slumped and upright sitting in patients with COPD. Based on this evidence alone, it may be inappropriate to instruct a patient with COPD to sit upright to improve respiratory function. However, further study is warranted before any definite recommendations can be made regarding sitting posture and respiratory performance in individuals with COPD.

Investigation of vertical jump performance after completing heavy squat exercises.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether vertical jump height was influenced by completing a half squat or quarter squat exercise prior to jumping. Ten male subjects experienced with the squat exercise performed 4 warm up squat sets followed by 1 repetition with the weight of 90% of 1 repetition maximum of the half squat or quarter squat. No difference in jump heights after any of the 3 conditions, including a control group (F = 3.096, p = 0.070), was found. Correlations between the relative strength ratio and the difference in averaged jump heights before and after the half and quarter squat conditions were also tested, and no correlation was found (r = -0.128, p = 0.724, and r = -0.189, p = 0.601, respectively). Although statistical significance at the 0.05 level was not observed for the comparison of jump heights between conditions, we did observe a trend (i.e., p = 0.07). Therefore, we examined the individual responses to the exercises and determined that 5 of the subjects did increase their vertical jumps after both squat exercises. It may be that the influence of prejump exercise on jump performance may be individualized. Nevertheless, the use of a strength ratio does not appear to predict who will benefit from posttetanic potentiation in this type of exercise situation.

Surface electromyographic assessment of the effect of static stretching of the gastrocnemius on vertical jump performance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of static stretching of the gastrocnemius muscle on maximal vertical jump performance using electromyographic activity (EMG) of the gastrocnemius musculature to record muscle activation during vertical jump performance. Fourteen healthy adults (8 men and 6 women) aged 18-34 years, who were familiar with the vertical jumping task and had no lower extremity injuries or any bone or joint disorders within the past year, served as participants for this study. After a brief warm-up, participants performed the following sequence: (a) three baseline maximal vertical jump trials, (b) 15 minutes of quiet sitting and three 30-second bilateral static stretches of the gastrocnemius muscles, and (c) 3 maximal vertical jump trials. Jump height data were collected using the Kistler force plate, while muscle activity was recorded during the jumping and stretching trials using a Noraxon telemetry EMG unit. Vertical jump height data as well as EMG values were averaged for the 3 trials and analyzed using paired t-tests for pre- and poststretching (alpha = 0.05). Vertical jump height was 5.6% lower when poststretch heights were compared with prestretch heights (t = -4.930, p < 0.005). Gastrocnemius EMG was 17.9% greater when the EMG during poststretch jumps was compared with prestretch jumps (t = 2.805, p < 0.02). The results from this study imply that, despite increased gastrocnemius muscle activity, static stretching of the gastrocnemius muscles had a negative effect on maximal jumping performance. The practical importance concerns coaches and athletes, who may want to consider the potential adverse effects of performing static stretching of the gastrocnemius muscles only before a jumping event, as jump height may be negatively affected. Future research is required to identify the mechanisms that affect vertical jump performance.

The obese child: motivation as a tool for exercise.

The purpose of this article is to describe the importance of motivation in enhancing the participation of obese children in exercise activities. Recognizing the different influence that are important determinants of exercise behavior in children may help pediatric nurse practitioners play a significant role in advising parents and others of the need to offer positive, constructive, and immediate feedback without being evaluative, critical, or demanding. By addressing the problems of obesity and low fitness levels early in the child's life, a significant step can be taken toward reversing the negative trends of this unhealthy and potentially dangerous condition.

An evaluation of physical fitness parameters for graduate students.

Although graduate physical therapy students are taught the principles of fitness for incorporation into their professional lives, they have difficulty finding the time to implement these principles during graduate school. The authors studied 3 successive classes of graduate physical therapy students at the beginning and ending of their respective programs. They found that the women's percentages of body fat were significantly greater over the period of the study. The men's lower extremity strength decreased at the slower speeds (60 degrees/second), and the women showed increased strength at the higher speeds (180 and 240 degrees/second, respectively). Male grip strength significantly increased over the period of the study. To decrease students' percentages of body fat and increase their strength, the authors asserted that physical therapy students should be allowed more time to participate in fitness activities during their graduate school years.

Assessment of a curricular component designed to introduce physical therapy students to rural practice issues.

A rural health curricular component was designed for students enrolled in a physical therapy program in Nevada to change student attitudes about rural practice and to encourage more physical therapy students to seek employment in rural areas postgraduation. Student attitudes and beliefs related to rural practice were investigated following participation in a rural health conference and a full-time rural clinical affiliation. Twelve students (N = 12) participated. All reported positive impressions of rural practice after participating in the rural clinical affiliation and nine (75%) were favorable toward seeking employment in a rural setting. Two (17%) accepted rural health positions following graduation. Clinical experience in a rural setting was found to have the greatest influence on student attitudes about rural practice.

Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography with induction of anesthesia and neuromuscular blockade in surgical patients.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cerebral vascular effects of cis-atracurium and rocuronium given after thiopental induction of anesthesia. DESIGN: Randomized, single-blinded study. SETTING: University-affiliated hospital. PATIENTS: 39 adult ASA physical status I and II patients undergoing nonintracranial procedures. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received intravenously (IV), either saline placebo, cis-atracurium, or rocuronium after induction of general anesthesia with thiopental sodium. MEASUREMENTS: The right middle cerebral artery was insonated using a pulsed-wave range-gated transcranial Doppler, and data were recorded at preinduction, immediately postinduction, at injection of the study drug, and at 15-second intervals for 3 minutes thereafter. The variables recorded for each subject included the systolic, diastolic, and mean flow velocity, as well as pulsality index, systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), and end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration. MAIN RESULTS: No significant differences between the groups were present in the postanesthetic induction maximal or minimal mean flow velocity. CONCLUSIONS: cis-Atracurium and rocuronium, administered after thiopental, do not produce clinically relevant changes in cerebral blood flow velocity.

Intensive radiation therapy concurrent with up to 7-week continuous-infusion paclitaxel for locally advanced solid tumors: phase I studies.

Patients with locally advanced solid tumors of the lung, head and neck, and malignant astrocytomas usually succumb to their disease despite aggressive standard therapy. Laboratory data suggest that the addition of 1.0 to 10 nmol/L paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ), a microtubule stabilizing drug, to radiation therapy may result in significant radiation sensitization, perhaps due to accumulation of cells at G2/M. Relatively low concentrations (1.0 to 10 nmol/L) appear to be optimal for direct cytotoxicity and radiosensitization in vitro. Within this dose range, more prolonged exposure seems to result in higher response rates. The phase I trials reported here are designed to test the combination of paclitaxel, administered by continuous intravenous infusion (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), and standard, curative-intent radiation therapy. The ultimate goal of this study is to improve local and systemic control and survival for patients with these three tumor types. To date, 39 evaluable patients are enrolled in this study; there has been no dose-limiting toxicity up to 6.5 mg/m2/d. Observed toxicities include anemia, lymphopenia, mucositis, and cutaneous toxicities.

Influence of local steroid injections on traumatized tendon properties. A biomechanical and histological study.

We investigated the effects of peritendon injections of hydrocortisone acetate on the separation force required to completely avulse a posttraumatized Achilles tendon of the adult male rat. One hundred thirty-five rats were randomly assigned to 3 groups and subsequently traumatized, treated, and sacrificed. One group was used to examine the effect of trauma; the second to examine effects of trauma and injections of hydrocortisone acetate on the tension to failure strength of tendons; the third group was the control group. Injected animals received one, three, or five injections of 0.10 cc (125 mg/ml) hydrocortisone acetate and were sacrificed 3, 6, or 9 weeks following initial injection. Experimental animals (anesthetized) were traumatized by dropping a weight onto the Achilles tendon. The tendon was tested in tension to failure employing a soft tissue linear disseminator. Histologic analysis using light microscopy was performed. We concluded that hydrocortisone acetate has no deleterious effect on the rat Achilles tendon as measured biomechanically or histologically.

Changing concepts in spinal epidural abscess: a report of 29 cases.

A review of our recent experience with spinal epidural abscess (SEA) reveals several important changing concepts in diagnosis, etiology, management, and outcome. All cases of SEA seen by our service from August 1975 to July 1989 were reviewed retrospectively, and 29 patients were identified (19 men and 10 women, aged 13-78 years). Abscesses were located in the lumbar (n = 21), thoracic (n = 7), and cervical (n = 1) epidural spaces. Gram-positive organisms were the infectious agent in 72% of the cases, and Staphylococcus aureus was the sole agent in 45%; other agents were Gram-negative aerobes (n = 5), a Gram-negative anaerobe (n = 1), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n = 1), and Sporotrichum schenckii (n = 1), the last occurring in a young woman with acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Seventeen patients had concomitant extraspinal infections. Diagnosis was confirmed by myelography, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging. All patients underwent operative decompression and debridement; 2 required a second procedure for persistent infection. The most common operative findings were pus and granulation tissue in the epidural space (52%); the preoperative course correlated poorly with operative findings. The wound was closed primarily in 84% of cases. Postoperative intravenous antibiotic courses for the bacterial abscesses ranged from 1.5 to 6 weeks (median, 2 weeks), followed by antibiotics given orally for 0 to 6 weeks. Two patients died perioperatively. Neurological outcome was good in 21 patients and fair in 6 (mean follow-up, 1.4 years). Over the last 50 years the spectrum of organisms causing SEA has broadened, and the distinction between acute and chronic SEAs has minimal clinical significance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)