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Biomedical subjects

L L Laubach

Publications and source records attributed to L L Laubach.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Exercise does not change high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women after ten weeks of training.

Effects of a 10 wk, three times per wk individualized bicycle ergometer training program were investigated in 16 healthy sedentary women 19-29 yr-old who were not taking oral contraceptives or other medications. Twelve women were in an interval type program, 6 in a continuous program, all performing 30 min exercise per session at 70% maximum heart rate reserve. Conditioning responses did not differ between the training regimens. Training produced increases in maximum oxygen uptake and physical work capacity. Percent body fat determined by underwater weighing was significantly reduced as was resting heart rate, after the training program. Maximum heart rate was unchanged. Despite changes in "fitness" variables, post-training values of high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides did not differ from pretraining. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly reduced at 2 and 5 wk of training and returned to control levels at 10 wk. Exercise conditioning leading to improved physical fitness in healthy women may not be associated with increments in high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

Adult

Wheelchair exercise performance of the young, middle-aged, and elderly.

The purpose of this study was to quantitate the maximal power output (POmax), peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), and maximal heart rate (HRmax) for wheelchair ergometer (WERG) exercise performed by three groups of disabled males: young adult (20-30 yr), middle-aged (50-60 yr), and elderly (80-90 yr). These subjects, who were confined to wheelchairs for similar time periods (mean = 11.7 yr), participated in progressive-intensity discontinuous test protocols on a WERG. Lower (P less than 0.01) mean POmax, peak VO2, and HRmax values were found with advancing age groups. In relationship to age, decreases in POmax and HRmax values were best described by parabolic models, whereas decreases in peak VO2 values were best described by a linear model. In comparison with young adults (83 W, 27 ml . kg-1 . min-1), surprisingly low POmax and peak VO2 values were found for the middle-aged (16 W, 10 ml . kg-1 . min-1) and elderly (7 W, 8 ml . kg-1 . min-1). When our peak VO2 data were combined with other data in the literature for upper body exercise by male disabled individuals, a decrease of 0.19 1 . min-1 or 2.9 ml . kg-1 . min-1 per decade of life was found.

Adult

Effect of a controlled exercise program on serum lipoprotein levels in women on oral contraceptives.

The effects of a 10-wk individualized bicycle ergometer interval training program were investigated in a group of 13 sedentary women on a specific oral contraceptive (50 micrograms mestranol, 1 mg norethisterone) to determine if, like men on physical training, their high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels would increase. Six additional women on the oral contraceptive served as a nonexercising control group. All subjects were between 18 and 30 yr and were nonsmokers. Diet and alcohol intake were stable throughout the study period, and were monitored throughout. The interval training program was three times per week, 30-min exercise per session, at 70% maximum heart rate reserve (resting heart rate + 0.7 x [maximum heart rate-resting heart rate]). Training produced increases (p < 0.05) in maximum oxygen uptake. Body weight was unchanged. However, unlike similar training programs with males, there were no significant changes in plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides. In women receiving estrogen progestin oral contraceptives, consistent exercise programs may fail to elevate high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, consistent with an interaction of sex hormone-exercise effects and/or with the less marked effect of exercise on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in women.

Adult

An exercise test to evaluate fitness for wheelchair activity.

The purpose of this study was to develop a wheelchair ergometer (WERG) test to evaluate fitness for manual wheelchair activity. Thirty able-bodied females participated in a progressive intensity, discontinuous test where exercise bouts were 4 min in duration interspersed with 5-min rest periods. Physiological responses of oxygen uptake (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (R), net mechanical efficiency (ME), pulmonary ventilation (VO) and heart rate (HR) were determined during the final minute of exercise at power output (PO) levels of 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 kpm/min. These responses were generally found to be linearly related to PO, however, net ME initially increased with PO and plateaued at approximately 11 per cent at 90 kpm/min. Criteria for fitness evaluation were based upon: (1) magnitude of physiological responses at each PO level; and (2) the maximal PO level completed.

Adult

Metabolic and cardiopulmonary responses to wheelchair and bicycle ergometry.

To evaluate wheelchair activity in reference to a more familiar mode of locomotion, metabolic and cardiopulmonary responses to wheelchair ergometer (WERG) and bicycle ergometer (BERG) exercise were compared. Eighteen able-bodies subjects were tested on a combination wheelchair-bicycle ergometer. Oxygen uptake (VO2), respiratory exchange ratio (R), pulmonary ventilation (VE), ventilatory equivalent (VE/VO2), percent net mechanical efficiency (ME), and heart rate (HR) were determined at power output (PO) levels of 30, 90, and 150 kpm/min on each ergometer. For WERG and BERG exercise, VO2, VE, and HR increased linearly with PO. Generally, VO2, R, VE, VE/VO2, and HR responses were higher (P less than 0.05) during WERG than BERG exercise at each PO. Blood lactate was determined after 150 kpm/min, and found to be higher (P less than 0.05) during WERG than BERG exercise. ME increased with PO and was lower (P less than 0.05) for WERG than BERG exercise at each PO level. The greater metabolic and cardiopulmonary responses observed during WERG exercise may be due to inefficient biomechanics and the relatively small upper body musculature used for propulsion.

Adult

Comparative muscular strength of men and women: a review of the literature.

The results from nine separate studies reporting comparable static and dynamic muscle strength measurements between men and women have been reviewed. The statistical data from these studies are presented in graphical and tabular form illustrating, when appropriate, the mean +/- 1 S.D., and the mean percentage difference between men and women for the given measurement.

Adult

Arm-reach capability of USAF pilots as affected by personal protective equipment.

Thirty-two USAF pilots participated in a study to determine the effects of personal protective equipment upon arm-reach capability. The reach envelope of each pilot was measured under two experimental conditions: 1) shirt-sleeved with the inertial reel unlocked; and 2) wearing complete winter flying assembly with the inertial reel locked. Selected descriptive statistics are presented for each of five angular positions. Arm-reach envelopes for various percentile values obtained for the two experimental conditions at 10 knob distances from the deck are shown. The results indicate that there are singificant practical differences in arm-reach capability between the shirt-sleeved and the complete winter flying assembly conditions.

Adult