Effect of variable backpack load and strap option on the pulmonary function of children: A simulation using treadmill walking.

BACKGROUND: The restrictive effect of backpack loads on chest expansion has been widely reported but little is known whether pulmonary function in children is affected by the placement of the straps of the backpack. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of strap configuration and backpack loads on pulmonary function among school age children. METHODS: Eighteen children (mean age of 12±1.68 years) participated in this study. Pulmonary functionwas assessed using spirometryat baseline and during five test conditions. Two strap configurations were compared: double straps with the backpack worn midline on the back with one strap over each shoulder and single strap with the backpack worn laterally with one strap over the shoulder. RESULTS: A marginal increase was shown in all measures of pulmonary function during standing and walking, and as the backpack weight increased. However, all the marginal changes in pulmonary function tests across different weights and strap patterns were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Variable backpack loading and strap options appear to influence changes to the pulmonary function of children. Although the observed changes are marginal, it could not be determined if they have a long term effect. Further investigations of larger sample size are required to inform practice.

Therapeutic effect of continuous exercise training program on serum creatinine concentration in men with hypertension: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Creatinine (Cr) has been implicated as an independent predictor of hypertension and exercise has been reported as adjunct therapy for hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of continuous training programme on blood pressure and serum creatinine concentration in black African subjects with hypertension. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty seven male patients with mild to moderate (systolic blood pressure [SBP] between 140-180 & diastolic blood pressure [DBP] between 90-109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age matched and randomly grouped into continuous & control groups. The continuous group involved in an 8 weeks continuous training (60-79% HR reserve) of between 45 minutes to 60 minutes, 3 times per week, while the control group remain sedentary. SBP, DBP, VO2max, serum Cr, body mass index (BMI), waist hip ratio (WHR) and percent (%) body fat. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Pearson correlation tests were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Findings of the study revealed significant decreased effects of continuous training programme on SBP, DBP, Cr, BMI, WHR, % body fat and significant increase in VO2max at p< 0.05. Serum Cr is significantly and negatively correlated with SBP (-.335), DBP (.194), BMI (.268), WHR (-.258) and % body fat (-.190) at p<0.05. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated a rationale bases for the adjunct therapeutic role of moderate intensity continuous exercise training as a multi-therapy in the down regulation of blood pressure, serum Cr, body size and body fat in hypertension.

Therapeutic Effect of Continuous Exercise Training Program on Serum Creatinine Concentration in Men with Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Creatinine (Cr) has been implicated as an independent predictor of hypertension and exercise has been reported as adjunct therapy for hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of continuous training programme on blood pressure and serum creatinine concentration in black African subjects with hypertension. Methods: Three hundred and fifty seven male patients with mild to moderate (systolic blood pressure [SBP] between 140-180 et diastolic blood pressure [DBP] between 90-109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age matched and randomly grouped into continuous et control groups. The continuous group involved in an 8 weeks continuous training (60-79 HR reserve) of between 45minutes to 60 minutes; 3 times per week; while the control group remain sedentary. SBP; DBP; VO2max; serum Cr; body mass index (BMI); waist hip ratio (WHR) and percent () body fat. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and Pearson correlation tests were used in data analysis Results: Findings of the study revealed significant decreased effects of continuous training programme on SBP; DBP; Cr; BMI; WHR; body fat and significant increase in VO2max at p 0.05. Serum Cr is significantly and negatively correlated with SBP (-.335); DBP (.194); BMI (.268); WHR (-.258) and body fat (-.190) at p0.05. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated a rationale bases for the adjunct therapeutic role of moderate intensity continuous exercise training as a multitherapy in the down regulation of blood pressure; serum Cr; body size and body fat in hypertension

Effect of interval training programme on pulse pressure in the management of hypertension: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Pulse pressure (PP), might be a stronger determinants of cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of interval training program on PP in subjects with hypertension. METHODS: Two hundred and forty five male patients with mild to moderate (Systolic Blood Pressure [SBP] between 140-179 & Diastolic Blood Pressure [DBP] between 90-109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age-matched and grouped into exercise and control groups. The exercise (work: rest ratio of 1:1) groups involved in an 8-weeks interval training programs of between 45-60 minutes, at intensities of 60-79% of HR max (maximum heart rate), while the control group remained sedentary during this period. SBP, DBP, VO2max and PP were assessed. RESULTS: Findings of the study revealed significant correlation between PP and blood pressure; correlation of PP with SBP was much stronger (95% variance). Also, there was significant effect of the exercise training program on SBP, DBP and PP. Changes in VO2max also negatively correlated with changes in PP (r= -.285) at p<0.05. CONCLUSION: Moderate intensity interval training programs is effective in the non-pharmacological management of hypertension and may prevent cardiovascular event through the down regulation of PP in hypertension.

Therapeutic effect of a moderate intensity interval training program on the lipid profile in men with hypertension: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Physical inactivity has been established as a major primary risk factor for the development of hypertension. Also, factors such as elevated total cholesterol (TC) and reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) have been implicated as risk factors for coronary events in hypertension. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of interval training program on blood pressure and lipid profile of subjects with hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 245 male patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] between 140 and 180 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] between 90 and 109 mmHg) were age matched and grouped into interval and control groups. The interval (n=140; 58.90 ± 7.35 years) group was involved in an 8-week interval training (60-79% HR max reserve) program of between 45 minutes and 60 minutes at a work/rest ratio of 1:1 of 6 minutes each, while the control hypertensive (n=105; 58.27 ± 6.24 years) group remained sedentary during this period. Cardiovascular parameters (SBP and DBP), VO 2 max, TC, HDL, and artrogenic index (AI) were assessed. Student's t-test and Pearson correlation test were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Findings of the study revealed significant decreased effects of the interval training program on SBP, DBP, TC AI, and significant increased effects on VO 2 max and HDL level at P<0.05. There was also a significant correlation between changes VO 2 max and changes in AI. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the interval training program is an effective adjunct nonpharmacological management of hypertension and a means of upregulation of HDL.

Effect of interval exercise training programme on C-reactive protein in the non-pharmacological management of hypertension: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: Increased serum levels of inflammatory mediators have been associated with numerous disease states including hypertension. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with future development of hypertension and cardiovascular event in hypertension, which suggests that hypertension, is in part an inflammatory disorder. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of interval training programme on blood pressure and CRP in the non pharmacological management of hypertension. METHODS: Two hundred and forty five male subjects with mild to moderate (Systolic Blood Pressure [SBP] between 140-179 & Diastolic Blood Pressure [DBP] between 90-109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age-matched and randomly grouped to interval (n=140) and control groups (n=105). The interval (work: rest ratio of 1:1) groups involved in an 8-weeks interval training programs for between 45-60 minutes, at intensities of 60-79% of HR reserve, while the control group remained sedentary during this period. SBP, DBP, VO2max and CRP were assessed. Students't and Pearson correlation tests were used in data analysis. RESULTS: Findings of the study revealed significant effect of interval exercise training program on SBP, DBP and CRP. The study also showed positive significant correlation between changes in CRP and changes in SBP (r=225) and DBP (r= .324) at p<0.05. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that moderate intensity interval training programs is effective in the non-pharmacological management of hypertension and may prevent cardiovascular event through the down regulation of CRP in hypertension.

Effects of Aerobic Exercise Training on Psychosocial Status and Serum Uric Acid in Men with Essential Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Chronic psychosocial stress and serum uric acid (SUA) level have been implicated in the etiology and cardiovascular events risk factors in hypertension. Studies have reported significant benefit of exercise in the overall management of hypertension. However; studies on the effect of exercise on psychosocial stress and SUA in the management of hypertension seem scanty. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of continuous training program on SUA and psychosocial status of black African (Nigerian) population with hypertension. Subjects and Methods: Age-matched randomized controlled trial was used; subjects with diagnosis of hypertension attending the hypertensive clinic of Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital (MMSH); Kano; Nigeria form the population for the study. Two hundred and seventeen subjects with mild to moderate (systolic blood pressure (SBP) between 140 and180 and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between 90 and 109 mmHg) essential hypertension were grouped into continuous (112) and control groups (105). The continuous group involved in an 8 weeks continuous training (60-79 HR max) of between 45 and 60 min; 3 times per week; while the controls group remain sedentary. SBP; DBP; SUA; VO 2 max and psychosocial status were assessed. Student t-test and Pearson correlation test were used in data analysis. Results: The study revealed significant beneficial effect of continuous training programs on VO 2 max; SBP; DBP; SUA; and psychosocial status (P 0.05). Psychosocial status and SUA was significantly and positively and negatively correlated respectively with VO 2 max at P 0.01. Conclusions: This study concludes and supports the recommendations of moderate intensity (continuous) training program in blood pressure reduction; SUA and psychosocial stress management in hypertension

Response of femoral venous oxygen tension to graduated pressure stockings--possible relationship to deep vein thrombosis.

Venous oxygen tension (pO2) was measured in discrete samples of blood obtained through the femoral vein of cardiac catheterisation patients before, during and after application of sustained external graduated pressure in the form of compression stockings (T. E. D. Kendall). There was a significant reduction (p less than 0.05) of pO2 from the baseline value both 30 sec and one minute after the application of the pressure stockings. Thereafter, the pO2 rose to baseline values. Two minutes after the stockings were removed there was again a significant reduction (p less than 0.05) of pO2 from the baseline value. We suggest that the decrease in venous pO2 on application of external pressure may be a reflection of washing out of stagnant hypoxic blood from the venous valve pockets, which may be related to the formation of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).