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Can muscle soreness after intensive work-related activities be predicted?

OBJECTIVES: It is currently unknown whether specific determinants are predictive for developing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after heavy work-related activities. The aim of this study was to analyze whether personal characteristics and performance measures are predictive for onset, intensity, and duration of DOMS after performing work-related activities during a Functional Capacity Evaluation in healthy participants.METHODS: Included in this study were 197 healthy participants (102 men, 95 women), all working within a broad range of professions. Five groups of predictors were tested in a multiple regression analysis model: personal variables, self-reported activity, self-reported health, perceived effort during the test, and objective outcomes of the test. Twenty-three independent variables were selected and tested with a backward regression analysis.RESULTS: The onset of DOMS could be explained for 7% by the variables: sex and the work index of the Baecke questionnaire. Variance of intensity of DOMS could be explained for 13% by the variables: age, sex, and VO2max. Variance in duration of DOMS could be explained for 8% by the variables: sex and reported emotional role limitations. Onset, intensity, and duration of DOMS remain unpredictable for 87% or more.CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that the intensity and duration of self-reported DOMS can only minimally be predicted from the candidate predictors used in this study.

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Effects of trunk muscle activation on trunk stability, arm power, blood pressure and performance in wheelchair rugby players with a spinal cord injury

In wheelchair rugby (WR) athletes with tetraplegia, wheelchair performance may be impaired due to (partial) loss of innervation of upper extremity and trunk muscles, and low blood pressure (BP). The objective was to assess the effects of electrical stimulation (ES)-induced co-contraction of trunk muscles on trunk stability, arm force/power, BP, and WR performance.

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Effects of trunk muscle activation on trunk stability, arm power, blood pressure and performance in wheelchair rugby players with a spinal cord injury

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Zin en onzin van stretchen

Over de effectiviteit van stretching wordt in de praktijk veel gespeculeerd en beweerd. De een gelooft er heilig in, de ander vindt het maar onzin. Tijd om de wetenschappelijke bewijzen eens op een rijtje te zetten. Stretching blijkt soms zinnig, en soms onzinnig.

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Nutrition Intervention Informed by Indirect Calorimetry Compared to Predictive Equations to Achieve Weight Goals in Geriatric Rehabilitation Inpatients: The NEED Study

ObjectivesTo assess if nutritional interventions informed by indirect calorimetry (IC), compared to predictive equations, show greater improvements in achieving weight goals, muscle mass, strength, physical and functional performance.DesignQuasi-experimental study.Setting and ParticipantsGeriatric rehabilitation inpatients referred to dietitian.Intervention and MeasurementsPatients were allocated based on admission ward to either the IC or equation (EQ) group. Measured resting metabolic rate (RMR) by IC was communicated to the treating dietitian for the IC group but concealed for the EQ group. Achieving weight goals was determined by comparing individualised weight goals with weight changes from inclusion to discharge (weight gain/loss: >2% change, maintenance: ≤2%). Muscle mass, strength, physical and functional performance were assessed at admission and discharge. Food intake was assessed twice over three-days at inclusion and before discharge using plate waste observation.ResultsFifty-three patients were included (IC n=22; EQ n=31; age: 84.3±8.4 years). The measured RMR was lower than the estimated RMR within both groups [mean difference IC −282 (95%CI −490;−203), EQ −273 (−381;−42) kcal/day)] and comparable between-groups (median IC 1271 [interquartile range 1111;1446] versus EQ 1302 [1135;1397] kcal/day, p=0.800). Energy targets in the IC group were lower than the EQ group [mean difference −317 (95%CI −479;−155) kcal/day]. There were no between-group differences in energy intake, achieving weight goals, changes in muscle mass, strength, physical and functional performance.ConclusionsIn geriatric rehabilitation inpatients, nutritional interventions informed by IC compared to predictive equations showed no greater improvement in achieving weight goals, muscle mass, strength, physical and functional performance. IC facilitates more accurate determination of energy targets in this population. However, evidence for the potential benefits of its use in nutrition interventions was limited by a lack of agreement between patients’ energy intake and energy targets.

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Nutrition Intervention Informed by Indirect Calorimetry Compared to Predictive Equations to Achieve Weight Goals in Geriatric Rehabilitation Inpatients: The NEED Study

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Optimization of protocols using neuromuscular electrical stimulation for paralyzed lower-limb muscles to increase energy expenditure in people with spinal cord injury

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate if using surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) for paralyzed lower-limb muscles results in an increase in energy expenditure and if the number of activated muscles and duty cycle affect the potential increase.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.RESULTS: Energy expenditure during all NMES protocols was significantly higher than the condition without NMES (1.2 ± 0.2 kcal/min), with the highest increase (+ 51%; +0.7 kcal/min, 95% CI: 0.3 - 1.2) for the protocol with more muscles activated and the duty cycle with a shorter rest period. A significant decrease in muscle contraction size during NMES was found with a longer stimulation time, more muscles activated or the duty cycle with a shorter rest period.CONCLUSION: Using NMES for paralyzed lower-limb muscles can significantly increase the energy expenditure compared to sitting without NMES with the highest increase for the protocol with more muscles activated and the duty cycle with a shorter rest period. Muscle fatigue occurred significantly with the more intense NMES protocols which might cause a lower energy expenditure in a longer protocol. Future studies should further optimize the NMES parameters and investigate the long-term effects of NMES on weight management in people with SCI.

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Optimization of protocols using neuromuscular electrical stimulation for paralyzed lower-limb muscles to increase energy expenditure in people with spinal cord injury

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Pain response of healthy workers following a functional capacity evaluation and implications for clinical interpretation

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCEs) are used to quantify physical aspects of work capacity. Safety is a critical issue for clinical use of an FCE. Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) are known to report a temporary increase in pain following an FCE, but it is not known whether this increase is a normal pain response to FCE. It is currently unknown how healthy subjects respond to an FCE and whether this should be interpreted as a normal reaction after physical exercise. This study was performed to quantify the intensity, duration, location and nature of the pain response following an FCE in healthy subjects and to compare this pain response with the pain response of patients with CLBP from a previous study.METHODS: A total of 197 healthy working subjects between 20 and 60 years of age volunteered to participate in this study. All subjects performed a 12-item FCE. Pain response was measured by a self-constructed Pain Response Questionnaire (PRQ). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the pain response following an FCE. Mann-Whitney and t-tests were performed to compare the data from this study with data of patients with CLBP from a previous study.RESULTS: About 82% of all subjects reported a pain response following the FCE. The intensity of the pain response after 24 h post FCE was a median of 3.0 on a numeric rating scale (0-10). About 78% of all pain was reducible to muscle soreness. Pain was most often reported in the upper legs (51%), the lower back (38%) the shoulders (37%) and upper arms (36%). Symptoms decreased to pre-FCE levels in a mean of 3 days. The pain response of 2 subjects (1%) lasted for 3 weeks. The intensity and duration of the pain response of healthy subjects was not significantly different from the response of patients with CLBP.CONCLUSION: Pain response of 99% of all subjects who reported a pain response was interpreted as normal. It was concluded that a pain response following an FCE can be expected in healthy subjects and that this pain response is a normal musculoskeletal reaction. The pain response of patients with CLBP resembles the pain response of healthy subjects.

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Co-operative design of a coach dashboard for training monitoring and feedback

Athlete development depends on many factors that need to be balanced by the coach. The amount of data collected grows with the development of sensor technology. To make data-informed decisions for training prescription of their athletes, coaches could be supported by feedback through a coach dashboard. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of a coach dashboard based on scientific knowledge, user requirements, and (sensor) data to support decision making of coaches for athlete development in cyclic sports. The design process involved collaboration with coaches, embedded scientists, researchers, and IT professionals. A classic design thinking process was used to structure the research activities in five phases: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test phases. To understand the user requirements of coaches, a survey (n = 38), interviews (n = 8) and focus-group sessions (n = 4) were held. Design principles were adopted into mock-ups, prototypes, and the final coach dashboard. Designing a coach dashboard using the co-operative research design helped to gain deep insights into the specific user requirements of coaches in their daily training practice. Integrating these requirements, scientific knowledge, and functionalities in the final coach dashboard allows the coach to make data-informed decisions on training prescription and optimise athlete development.

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Co-operative design of a coach dashboard for training monitoring and feedback

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Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation

In order to overcome cancer-related problems and to improve quality of life, an intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme for cancer patients was developed. We hypothesised that this six-week intensive rehabilitation programme would result in physiological improvements and improvement in quality of life. Thirty-four patients with cancer-related physical and psychosocial problems were the subjects of a prospective observational study. A six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme consisted of four components: individual exercise, sports, psycho-education, and information. Measurements (symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force and quality of life [RAND-36, RSCL, MFI]) were performed before (T0) and after six weeks of rehabilitation (T1). After the intensive rehabilitation programme, statistically significant improvements were found in symptom-limited bicycle ergometry performance, muscle force, and several domains of the RAND-36, RSCL and MFI. The six-week intensive multi-focus rehabilitation programme had immediate beneficial effects on physiological variables, on quality of life and on fatigue.

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Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation

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Sports injuries and illnesses in first-year physical education teacher education students

Background/aim We aimed to investigate the magnitude and characteristics of injuries and illnesses in Dutch physical education teacher education (PETE) students.Methods During the first 21 weeks of the academic year, 245 first-year students registered their health problems online using the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) Questionnaire on Health Problems.Results A total of 276 injuries, 140 illnesses and 69 unclassified health problems were reported. We found an injury incidence rate of 11.7 injuries per 1000 hours (95% CI 10.4 to 13.2). Injury characteristics were: 42% overuse injuries, 62% causing absence from sports (median injury time loss=2 days) and 64% reinjuries. Most injuries were located at the knee, lower leg (anterior) and ankle. The duration of the illnesses was short (<1 week).Summary and conclusions We implemented a new registration method in the PETE academic programme. The results show that the risk for health problems is high for PETE students. Prevention is necessary, and to decrease injuries prevention programmes should focus on the lower extremities.

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Can muscle soreness after intensive work-related activities be predicted?

Effects of trunk muscle activation on trunk stability, arm power, blood pressure and performance in wheelchair rugby players with a spinal cord injury

Zin en onzin van stretchen

Nutrition Intervention Informed by Indirect Calorimetry Compared to Predictive Equations to Achieve Weight Goals in Geriatric Rehabilitation Inpatients: The NEED Study

Optimization of protocols using neuromuscular electrical stimulation for paralyzed lower-limb muscles to increase energy expenditure in people with spinal cord injury

Pain response of healthy workers following a functional capacity evaluation and implications for clinical interpretation

Co-operative design of a coach dashboard for training monitoring and feedback

Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation

Sports injuries and illnesses in first-year physical education teacher education students

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Can muscle soreness after intensive work-related activities be predicted?

Effects of trunk muscle activation on trunk stability, arm power, blood pressure and performance in wheelchair rugby players with a spinal cord injury

Zin en onzin van stretchen

Nutrition Intervention Informed by Indirect Calorimetry Compared to Predictive Equations to Achieve Weight Goals in Geriatric Rehabilitation Inpatients: The NEED Study

Optimization of protocols using neuromuscular electrical stimulation for paralyzed lower-limb muscles to increase energy expenditure in people with spinal cord injury

Pain response of healthy workers following a functional capacity evaluation and implications for clinical interpretation

Co-operative design of a coach dashboard for training monitoring and feedback

Physical functioning and quality of life after cancer rehabilitation

Sports injuries and illnesses in first-year physical education teacher education students