BACKGROUND Several studies have demonstrated the positive effects of physical activity on skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength in women with osteoporosis. However, the impact of Nordic walking training on sarcopenia-related parameters in women with low bone mass remains unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of 12 weeks of Nordic walking training on skeleta...

OBJECTIVE To investigate at 5 years whether an initial 2 year home based strength training period imposes sustained effects on muscle strength, bone mineral density (BMD), structural joint damage, and on disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Seventy patients were randomised either to perform home based strength training with loads of 50-70% of repetition m...

STUDY DESIGN Randomized clinical trial, single-masked. OBJECTIVES To determine the effectiveness of using a modified neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) training program as an adjunct treatment for improving quadriceps strength and physical function in rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). BACKGROUND NMES training for quadriceps strengthening has...

BACKGROUND Muscle force is important for daily life and sports and can be measured with a handheld dynamometer. Reference values are employed to quantify a subject's muscle force. It is not unambiguous whether reference values can be generalized to other populations. Objectives in this study were; first to confirm the reliability of the utilization of hand-held dynamometers for isometric streng...

Pelvic floor muscle (PFM) force and coordination are related to urinary incontinence severity and to sexual satisfaction. Health professionals frequently combine classic PFM exercises with hip adduction/abduction contraction to treat these disorders, but the real benefits of this practice are still unknown. Based on a theoretical anatomy approach whereby the levator ani muscle is inserted into ...

Hand grip strength measurement is a recognized part of hand function assessment. The standard measurement using the Jamar dynamometer and comparing these results to the recommended normal values suggested by the manufacturers of the Jamar was questioned as these values were based on Western population. A study comparing a novel method of predicting grip strength using our software was conducted...

BACKGROUND Hand-grip strength (HGS) serves as a proxy measure for muscle function and physical health. Studies have shown that low HGS is associated with common age-related disorders including frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of the present study was to establish the normative values of HGS among older adults in Singapore and to compare it with data from Western and other Asian countries. The st...

We studied and compared parameters of the snake community of the Serra do Mendanha, Rio de Janeiro State, southeastern Brazil (22 degrees 48'-22 degrees 51' S and 43 degrees 31'-43 degrees 28' W), such as: abundance distribution, richness, species diversity and biomass, between forested areas, areas under regeneration and agriculture areas (banana plantations); to obtain information about the n...

BACKGROUND Hip strength is associated with numerous orthopaedic and neuromuscular injuries and/or pathologies and may be assessed with a variety of anatomic testing positions and techniques. Isokinetic dynamometers are generally too cumbersome and intricate for efficient use in mass screenings (for prognostic studies of risk for injury) as well as with special populations. The reliability of is...

Mobile emission inventories are constructed by multiplying a pollutant emission factor by a travel activity (e.g., number of trips, vehicle miles traveled, etc.). To create emission rates, vehicles are tested on dynamometers using driving cycles, or speed-time traces. The process currently used to create the driving cycles is deterministic. However, if we examine the data and data collection te...