Biomedical subjects

Kelly S Chu

Publications and source records attributed to Kelly S Chu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

A community-based group exercise program for persons with chronic stroke.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical and psychosocial effects of an 8-wk community-based functional exercise program in a group of individuals with chronic stroke. METHODS: Twenty-five subjects (mean age 63 yr) participated in a repeated measures design that evaluated the subjects with two baseline assessments 1 month apart, one postintervention assessment, and one retention assessment 1 month postintervention. Physical outcome measures assessed were the Berg Balance Test, 12-Minute Walk Test distance, gait speed, and stair climbing speed. Psychosocial measures assessed were the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL) and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). The 8-wk training consisted of a 60-min, 3 x wk-1 group program that focused on balance, mobility, functional strength, and functional capacity. The program was designed to be accessible by reducing the need for costly one-on-one supervision, specialized settings, and expensive equipment. RESULTS: Improvements from the exercise program were found for all physical measures and these effects were retained 1-month postintervention. Subjects with lower function improved the most relative to their initial physical status. Significant effects were found for the COPM, but not the RNL Index; however, subjects with lower RNL improved the most relative to their initial RNL Score. CONCLUSION: A short-term community-based exercise program can improve and retain mobility, functional capacity, and balance and result in a demonstrable impact upon the performance of activities and abilities that were considered meaningful to the subjects. Implementation of such community-based programs has potential for improving activity tolerance and reducing the risk for secondary complications common to stroke (e.g., falls resulting in fractures and cardiac events).

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Incidence of exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia in prepubescent females.

Due to the recent discovery of exercise-induced arterial hypoxemia (EIAH) in healthy active women with normal levels of peak oxygen uptake (V'(O(2)peak), this study examined the incidence of EIAH in prepubescent females. Nineteen healthy, active, prepubescent females (X +/- SD: age = 11.1 +/- 1.6 years; height = 145.8 +/- 9.1 cm; weight = 35.6 +/- 7.0 kg) performed a progressive maximal exercise test on an electronically braked cycle ergometer starting at 0 W and increasing power by 15 W. min(-1). During this test, expired gases, heart rate (HR), and percent arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (%SaO(2)) were measured. Results for physiological variables at maximal exercise were as follows: V'(O(2)peak) = 43.7 +/- 7.0 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1); HR(max) = 199 +/- 5 beats x min(-1); %SaO(2) = 96.6 +/- 1.2%. For nearly all subjects, the %SaO(2) at maximal exercise was above levels that would reduce V'(O(2)peak). Therefore, in comparison to previous reports of EIAH in adult women with similar V'(O(2)peak), EIAH does not appear to occur in the prepubescent female population.

Arteries↗

PubMed2002

Reliability and comparison of weight-bearing ability during standing tasks for individuals with chronic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the test-retest reliability over 2 separate days for weight-bearing ability during standing tasks in individuals with chronic stroke and to compare the weight-bearing ability among 5 standing tasks for the paretic and nonparetic limbs. DESIGN: Prospective study using a convenient sample. SETTING: Free-standing tertiary rehabilitation center. PARTICIPANTS: Fifteen community-dwelling stroke individuals with moderate motor deficits; volunteer sample. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Weight-bearing ability as measured by the vertical ground reaction force during 5 standing tasks (rising from a chair, quiet standing, weight-shifting forward, backward, laterally). RESULTS: The weight-bearing ability was less for the paretic limb compared with the nonparetic limb, but the intraclass correlation coefficients were high (.95-.99) for both limbs between the 2 sessions for all 5 tasks. The forward weight-shifting ability was particularly low in magnitude on the paretic side compared with the other weight-shifting tasks. In addition, the forward weight-shift ability of the nonparetic limb was also impaired but to a lesser extent. Large asymmetry was evident when rising from a chair, with the paretic limb bearing a mean 296N and the nonparetic side bearing a mean 458N. The weight-bearing ability during all 5 tasks correlated with one another (r range,.56-.94). CONCLUSIONS: Weight-bearing ability can be reliably measured and may serve as a useful outcome measure in individuals with stroke. We suggest that impairments of the hemiparetic side during forward weight shifting and sit-to-stand tasks presents a challenge to the motor systems of individuals with stroke, which may account for the poor balance that is often observed in these individuals.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

A moderate dose of pseudoephedrine does not alter muscle contraction strength or anaerobic power.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of an acute oral administration of pseudoephedrine (PSE) on muscle function, fatigue, and anaerobic power output. DESIGN AND MATERIALS: Healthy males (N = 10) and females (N = 10) were allocated to receive both a placebo and PSE (120 mg) using a randomized, double-blind, crossover experimental design. Each subject had their maximal voluntary contraction strength and fatigability measured for both handgrip and ankle dorsi-flexion. Following the strength measurements, a 30-second maximal cycle test was performed to determine lower extremity anaerobic power and fatigue. Plasma lactate was measured before and after exercise. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in any of the outcome variables between the placebo and PSE trials. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that a 120 mg dose of PSE did not enhance force production, time to fatigue, fatigue index, or power output in young men or women. Therefore, there does not appear to be an ergogenic benefit from the ingestion of 120 mg PSE in high-intensity exercise performance.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Functional walk tests in individuals with stroke: relation to perceived exertion and myocardial exertion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Functional walk tests such as the 6- and 12-Minute Walk Test (ie, 6MWT and 12MWT, respectively) are submaximal measures used to determine functional capacity in individuals with compromised ability. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between these walk tests and measures of exertion (perceived and myocardial), in addition to impairment in individuals with stroke. The relationship among the 6MWT, 12MWT, and the more traditionally assessed measure of self-paced gait speed (generally assessed over a short distance, eg, 10 m) was also evaluated. METHODS: Twenty-five community-dwelling individuals with stroke were evaluated for the following: 12MWT distance, 6MWT distance, self-paced gait speed over 8 m, plantarflexion strength, Berg Balance Scale, Ashworth Scale of Spasticity, and Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment. Heart rate (HR), rate-pressure product (RPP), and perceived exertion were assessed during the functional walk tests. Correlational analysis quantified the relationship between gait, impairment measures, and physiological responses during the functional walk tests. RESULTS: HR reached a steady state after 6 minutes and reflected a moderate exercise intensity of 63% of age-predicted maximum HR. The 6MWT, 12MWT, and self-paced gait speed were all highly correlated with one another (r>0.90) and were all also related to the severity of impairments. The functional walk distances did not relate either to perceived exertion or actual exertion (increase in the myocardial oxygen demand as measured by RPP). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke-specific impairments are the major limitations to the distance walked in individuals with stroke. If the functional walk test is used to assess performance of an individual over time (eg, in response to an intervention), we recommend that both exertion (eg, increase in RPP or HR) and distance be measured.

Aged↗