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Biomedical subjects

G Ebenbichler

Publications and source records attributed to G Ebenbichler.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Reliability of pelvic floor muscle strength measurement in elderly incontinent women.

Pelvic floor muscles (PFM) play an important role in maintaining urinary continence with increasing age. Therefore, their contractile properties need to be evaluated. The aim of the study was to examine the reliability and correlation of simple techniques to measure PFM strength in elderly women with urinary incontinence. An interview was used to evaluate the ability to stop the urinary stream during micturition and to calculate the incontinence index. A pad test was applied to objectively evaluate the severity of the disease. Functional testing included a digital examination to measure the force and duration of one contraction, a perineometer measurement (Peritron) to assess maximal contraction force and contraction force of 5 s, and a cone-retention test (Femcon) while walking for 1 min and during Valsalva's manoeuvre. This procedure was performed on three separate occasions within one week. The 37 participating women with a mean age of 62+/-8 (mean+/-SD) years had a severity index of 4.4+/-2.6 and a urine loss of 9.5+/-13.6 mg during the pad test. Sixteen women were able to completely stop the urinary stream during micturition. The digital examination showed no intratester variability. The perineometer measurement showed that the absolute difference in maximal contraction force and mean contraction force within 5 s was less than 5.3 mm Hg and 4.5 mm Hg, respectively, with a probability of 0.95. While walking and during Valsalva's manoeuvre, 19 and 20 women, respectively, held the same cone in place on all three occasions. The maximal contraction force and mean force during the 5-s contraction correlated well with the ability to stop the urinary stream and the digital examination but only weakly with the cone-retention tests. The reliability of PFM strength measurement is highest in the digital examination, followed by perineometer measurements, and then by vaginal cone tests. As PFM function is easy to assess, it should be routinely done in the assessment of urinary incontinence in elderly women.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

The effect of calisthenic home exercises on postmenopausal fractures--a long-term observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term effects of calisthenic home exercises on the incidence of fractures in postmenopausal women. DESIGN: Controlled long-term observational study. METHODS: Postmenopausal women between 45 and 75 years of age who had been randomly assigned to an exercise or control group in the course of a previous study conducted 5-10 years ago, were invited for follow-up. The number of fractures before and during the observation time were recorded by means of a questionnaire. Vertebral deformities due to fractures were diagnosed by X-rays at entry and at follow-up. Walking speed, muscle strength, static posturography, and maximum oxygen uptake were measured in addition. RESULTS: After an average follow-up time of 7.6+/-1.1 years, 73 women of the exercise group and 64 subjects of the control group were investigated. Thirty-three per cent (n=24) of the exercise group reported to have exercised continuously at least three times a week for 20 min. No intergroup differences between the compliant and non-compliant exercisers and the control group were seen in the number of fractures. However, the incidence of fracture was lowest in women with a baseline bone mass less than one standard deviation (SD) below the mean for young adults (high BMC) and highest in those with more than 2.5 SD below the mean for young adults (low BMC) (P<0.001, odds ratio 2.9 [95% CI, 1.59-5.39]). CONCLUSION: This long-term follow-up did not produce any evidence that prescription of a calisthenic home exercise program may prevent fractures in postmenopausal women aged between 61+/-6.4 and 68+/-6.5 years.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with internal derangement of the temporomandibular joint.

This study intended in evaluating the effectiveness of exercise therapy in patients with craniomandibular disorders (CMD). Twenty consecutive patients suffering from CMD with anterior disc displacement without reduction consulting a CMD service were included in the study if they met following criteria: (i) pain in the temporomandibular region, (ii) reduced incisal edge clearance (<35 mm), (iii) magnet resonance imaging confirmed anterior disc displacement without reduction and (iv) evidence of postural dysfunction. All patients were assigned to a waiting list, serving as a no-treatment control period, according to a before-after trial. The treatment consisted of active and passive jaw movement exercises, correction of body posture and relaxation techniques. A total of 18 patients completed the study, no adverse effects occurred. Following main outcome measures were evaluated: (1) pain at rest (2) pain at stress (3) impairment (4) mouth opening at base-line, before and after treatment and at 6 month follow-up. As a result of treatment pain, impairment and mouth opening improved significantly more than during control period (paired samples t-test P < 0.05). After treatment four patients had no pain at all (chi-square: P < 0.05) and only seven patients revealed an impaired incisal edge clearance after treatment. (chi-square Test, P < 0.001). At follow up, seven patients had no pain and experienced no impairment. Exercise therapy seems to be useful in the treatment of anterior disc displacement without reduction.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Aerobic capacity in adult dermatomyositis/polymyositis patients and healthy controls.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment of myositis patients has relied on symptoms, strength testing, and serum muscle enzyme activity. Recently, functional assessments and evaluation of strength by dynamometry and of disease activity by magnetic resonance imaging have also been added. Aerobic testing in selected patients has been considered useful. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: University Hospital, Vienna, Austria. PATIENTS: Twenty-two subjects (8 outpatients with chronic dermatomyositis and 3 outpatients with chronic polymyositis, and 11 healthy controls) participated, allowing the identification of 11 case-control pairs matched by age (+/-3 years) and gender (mean age, 48+/-14 yrs; ratio of women to men, 18/4). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Target parameters were peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) to estimate aerobic exercise capacity and peak isometric torque for muscle strength. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was measured to assess elevation of muscle enzymes. RESULTS: The mean peak VO2 in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis was 15.3 mL/min/kg (SD = 5.8) and in the healthy controls 28.7 mL/min/kg (SD = 7.8). Cardiorespiratory capacity expressed as peak VO2 was thus significantly reduced at 53% (p = .0001) of the control value. Muscle strength expressed as peak isometric torque was significantly lower (p = .01) in patients (mean 148+/-73 Nm) when compared to the control group (mean 261+/-99 Nm). In myositis patients peak VO2 and peak isometric torque correlate well with each other (r = .7631; p = .0001), but not at all with serum CPK levels (r = .056; p = .869). CONCLUSION: Peak VO2 is significantly diminished in patients with dermatomyositis/polymyositis, compared with age- and sex-matched controls. Serum CPK did not significantly correlate with VO2. Aerobic exercise testing may be a useful assessment parameter in selected patients with dermatomyositis/ polymyositis.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed2000

Relationship between craniomandibular disorders and poor posture.

The purpose of this research was to show that a relationship between craniomandibular disorders (CMD) and postural abnormalities has been repeatedly postulated, but still remains unproven. This study was intended to test this hypothesis. Twenty-five CMD patients (mean age 28.2 years) were compared with 25 gender and age matched controls (mean age 28.3 years) in a controlled, investigator-blinded trial. Twelve postural and ten muscle function parameters were examined. Measurements were separated into three subgroups, consisting of those variables associated with the cervical region, the trunk in the frontal plane, and the trunk in the sagittal plane. Within these subgroups, there was significantly more dysfunction in the patients, compared to control subjects (Mann-Whitney U test p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Postural and muscle function abnormalities appeared to be more common in the CMD group. Since there is evidence of the mutual influence of posture and the craniomandibular system, control of body posture in CMD patients is recommended, especially if they do not respond to splint therapy. Whether poor posture is the reason or the result of CMD cannot be distinguished by the data presented here.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Roland-Morris questionnaire for German-speaking patients with low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-cultural adaptation and cross-sectional psychometric testing. OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a cross-cultural version of the Roland-Morris Questionnaire for use in German-speaking patients with low back pain. SUMMARY OF THE BACKGROUND DATA: Clinical research related to the management of back pain would be facilitated enormously if a small number of patient-oriented questionnaires became widely used. If the transposition of a questionnaire from its original cultural context is done by simple translation, it is unlikely to be successful because of language and cultural differences. Therefore, a simple direct translation of a questionnaire from one language to another does not permit its use in clinical trials. METHODS: The instrument was translated and back-translated, pretested, and reviewed by a committee. The German version of the Roland-Morris Questionnaire was tested in 125 patients with low back pain. The study was conducted at the spa resort at Senftenberg, Austria, which is visited by patients from all countries of German-speaking Europe. Reliability and concurrent construct validity were assessed with Pearson's correlation coefficient on the Roland-Morris Questionnaire scores compared with the scales of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 questionnaire. RESULTS: Pearson's correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability of the German version was r = 0.82 (P = 0.0001), and Cronbach's alpha was 0.81. The concurrent validity was r = 0.81 (Roland-Morris Questionnaire/pain rating; P = 0.0001), r = 0.48 (Roland-Morris Questionnaire/forward bending; P = 0.0001), and r = -0.47 (Roland-Morris Questionnaire/lateral bending; P = 0.0001). Correlation between the functional scales of the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 questionnaire and the Roland-Morris Questionnaire sum scores ranged from r = -0.29 (emotional limitations; P = 0.0011) to r = -0.71 (physical limitations; P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Because the German version of the Roland-Morris Questionnaire seems to be reliable and valid for the assessment of the functional status in German-speaking patients with low back pain, the use of this translated instrument can be recommended in future clinical trials.

Cross-Cultural Comparison↗
PubMed1998

EMG fatigue patterns accompanying isometric fatiguing knee-extensions are different in mono- and bi-articular muscles.

OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Isometric, fatiguing knee-extensions at 30%, 50% and 70% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were performed by 18 healthy human subjects. Surface electromyographic (SEMG) activity was recorded from the mono-articular vastus medialis (VM) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles, and the bi-articular rectus femoris muscle (RF). To make the bi-articular muscle work under (1) constant and (2) similar working conditions as the two mono-articulars do, the hip was fixed in a flexed position. The root mean square (RMS) SEMG recorded during fatigue was standardized to the respective values of MVC. The mean coefficients of regression of the RMS and median frequency (MF) changes were then analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance. RESULTS: The load effect upon the muscle fatigue changes, as measured by increase in RMS EMG, differed between the bi-articular muscle and the two mono-articulars, in that the parameter dropped with maximum load for the bi-articular, whilst it remained stable or even increased for the mono-articulars. This might suggest that the mono- and bi-articular muscles have different roles in fatigue tasks where the bi-articulars function purely as mono-articulars. By contrast, such a clear dichotomy between the bi-articular RF and the two mono-articulars, VM and VL, was lacking for the fatigue parameter of MF. CONCLUSIONS: As these findings were confined to the changes in RMS EMG, different neuronal coding mechanisms for the mono- and bi-articular muscles in the central nervous system may be inferred.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Benefit of 6 months long-term physical training in polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients.

OBJECTIVE: The benefit of long-term physical training in patients with chronic polymyositis or dermatomyositis (PM/DM) was studied prospectively. METHODS: Eight patients with chronic PM/DM participated in a training programme for 6 months. A group of five PM/DM patients without any physical training was observed for control purposes. RESULTS: While there was no significant change in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, the 'activities of daily living (ADL)' score improved significantly (P < 0.03), peak isometric torque (PIT) generated by muscle groups in the lower extremities rose significantly (P < 0.03) and there was a statistically highly significant increase in peak oxygen uptake (VO2max) relative to body weight (P < 0.02) due to the long-term training. The patients improved their aerobic capacity by 28%, which is clinically significant. In the untrained patients, no improvement in these target parameters was observed. CONCLUSION: In clinically stable DM/PM patients, long-term physical training can safely be performed and is recommended as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation management, particularly in view of the cardiopulmonary risk in these patients.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1997

Cortical DC potential shifts accompanying the central processing of visually presented analogue and digital time displays.

According to studies in brain-lesioned patients, the cortical substrate subserving the reading of digitally presented time displays seems to differ from that of reading analogue displays. While the right hemisphere has been assumed to be important for reading analogue displays, reading digital displays is attributed to the left hemisphere. This study attempts to localize the cortical substrate of reading analogue versus digital time displays in the intact human brain using scalp-recorded event-related slow negative DC potential shifts. In the arithmetic tasks, subjects had to judge whether or not the time conveyed by the last out of three tachistoscopically presented (analogue or digital) slides was the exact difference between the time conveyed by the first and the second slide. In the control condition, subjects only had to attend to (analogue or digital) time displays. With analogue slides, frontolateral recording sites revealed a right hemispheric preponderance of DC shifts measured in the interval between the second and third slide. Anterior temporal recording sites revealed a right hemispheric preponderance only when calculations were performed. By contrast, there was no hemispheric lateralization with digital slides. The arithmetic versus control manipulation modulated waveforms, but did not influence hemispheric laterality.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Scoliosis and its conservative treatment possibilities].

Idiopathic scoliosis (IS) is the most common spinal deformity. Prevalence rates are reported between 0.3% and 13.3% respectively and depend on the screening methods being used. Girls are more likely to be affected than boys. The etiology of IS remains unknown, and its prognosis depends on various factors including age of onset, skeletal and sexual maturity, type and severity of the curve. Non-operative treatments are observation, bracing, physical exercise and electrical muscle-stimulation. Bracing of the adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has been proven to be effective and is indicated in curves between 25 degrees and 45 degrees Cobb and rapidly progredient curves under 25 degrees Cobb. Electrotherapy was promising, but failed to alter natural history of IS. Efficacy of physical exercise training in patients suffering from IS has not been evaluated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Critical evaluation of ultrasound therapy].

Low dose ultrasound has been available for the treatment of various diagnoses since more than half a century. The literature offers a great number of reports with differing results. This review aims at providing a survey of clinical trials investigating low dose ultrasound therapy. Hence there are only few placebo-controlled trials published on the subject. There is some evidence for low dose ultrasound to be effective in the treatment of ulcus cruris and epicondylitis humeri lateralis. For other indications the effectiveness of this therapy lacks of controlled clinical studies and thus no clear conclusion can be drawn at present.

Humans↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluating rehabilitation progress by measuring thigh circumference].

QUESTION: Thigh girth measurements have been widely used to quantify rehabilitation progress following knee surgery, but the correlation between thigh girth and other functional measures has not been investigated. This study intended to investigate whether such a correlation exists. METHODS: 15 women with bilateral osteoarthrosis of the knee participated in this study. Isokinetic knee extensor strength, thigh girth and body mass were measured immediately before, then at six weeks and six months following cementless total knee arthroplasty. RESULTS: The involved side showed clear pre-operative isokinetic knee extensor strength deficits, and slight reductions in thigh girth. Post-operatively, mean strength deficits were reduced, whereas differences in mean thigh girth became lager. Although thigh girth changes correlated well with body mass, they did not correlate with knee extensor strength. CONCLUSION: Changes in thigh girth are mainly due to changes in body mass. Thigh girth measurement is of no use for the quantification of the rehabilitation progress in total knee arthroplasty.

Aged↗