Biomedical subjects

Blaine C Long

Publications and source records attributed to Blaine C Long.

2 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

The uncertainty (validity and reliability) of three electrothermometers in therapeutic modality research.

CONTEXT: Data from electrothermometers are used to determine therapeutic modality usage, but the value of experimental results is only as good as the data collected. OBJECTIVE: To determine the reliability and validity of 3 electrothermometers from 2 manufacturers. DESIGN: A 3 x 4 x 17 factorial with repeated measures on 2 factors. Independent variables were trial (1, 2, 3), thermometer (mercury thermometer, Iso-Thermex calibrated from -50 degrees C to 50 degrees C, Iso-Thermex calibrated from -20 degrees C to 80 degrees C, and Datalogger), and time (17). SETTING: Human Performance Research Center. INTERVENTION(S): Eighteen thermocouples were inserted through the wall of a foamed polystyrene cooler, and 6 were connected to each of the 3 electrothermometers. The cooler was positioned on a stir plate and filled with room-temperature water (18.4 degrees C). A mercury thermometer was immersed into the water bath. Measurements of the water bath were taken every 10 seconds for three 3-minute trials. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The temperature variability of 3 electrothermometers was taken from a calibrated mercury thermometer. RESULTS: The Iso-Thermex electrothermometers did not differ statistically from each other in uncertainty (validity error +/- reliability error = 0.06 degrees C +/- 0.03 degrees C +/- 0.03 degrees C +/- 0.02 degrees C, P < .05), but both differed from the Datalogger (0.64 degrees C +/- 0.20 degrees C, P < .05). The Datalogger temperature was consistently higher than the mercury thermometer temperature. CONCLUSIONS: The Iso-Thermex electrothermometers were more stable than the Datalogger, and values were within the published uncertainty (+/-0.1 degrees C) when used with PT-6 thermocouples. The Datalogger we used had an uncertainty of measurement greater than that indicated in the user's manual (approximately +/-0.52 degrees C). Uncertainty of +/-0.84 degrees C can significantly influence the interpretation of results when intramuscular temperature changes are usually less than 5 degrees C.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Exercise and quadriceps muscle cooling time.

CONTEXT: Cryotherapy is commonly used for a variety of purposes; however, the body's response to cryotherapy immediately postexercise is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of prior exercise on crushed-ice-bag treatment of a large muscle group. DESIGN: 2 x 3 repeated-measures design on depth (1 cm and 2 cm below adipose tissue) and treatment (exercise followed by ice, exercise followed by no ice, and no exercise followed by ice). SETTING: Sports Injury Research Laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Six physically active, uninjured male volunteers. INTERVENTION(S): For the 2 exercise conditions, subjects rode a stationary cycle ergometer at 70% to 80% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate, as calculated by the Karvonen method. For the no-exercise condition, subjects lay supine on a treatment table. The cryotherapy treatment consisted of a 1-kg ice bag applied to the anterior mid thigh. For the no-ice condition, subjects lay supine on a treatment table. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Time required for the intramuscular temperatures at the 1-cm and 2-cm depths below adipose tissue to return to pre-exercise baseline and time required to cool the 1-cm and 2-cm depths to 10 degrees C below the pre-exercise temperature. RESULTS: The time to cool the rectus femoris to the pre-exercise temperature using a crushed-ice-bag treatment was reduced by approximately 40 minutes (P < .001). The ice bag cooled the 1-cm and 2-cm depths to the pre-exercise temperature within 7 minutes (P = .38), but the 2-cm tissue depth took nearly 13.5 minutes longer to cool than the 1-cm depth when no ice was applied (P = .001). The 1-cm depth cooled to 10 degrees C below the pre-exercise temperature about 8 minutes sooner than the 2-cm depth, regardless of whether the tissue was exercised or not (P < .001). Exercise shortened the cooling time to 10 degrees C below the pre-exercise temperature by approximately 13 minutes (P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise before cooling with a crushed-ice bag enhanced the removal of intramuscular heat.

Journal Article↗