Biomedical subjects

Richard R Suminski

Publications and source records attributed to Richard R Suminski.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A method for observing physical activity on residential sidewalks and streets.

Assessment of physical activity needs to improve in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the relationship between characteristics of the environment and physical activity. Our study evaluated a method [Block Walk Method (BWM)] for observing physical activity along residential sidewalks and streets. The BWM was utilized in 12 U.S. Census block groups over a three-month period. Examination transportation routes (ETRs), 1,524 m in length, were constructed and examined in each block group. On 6 days, ETRs were traversed by a trained observer for 50 min. Physical activities, street names, and geographical locations (e.g., addresses) were recorded. We found encouraging results for the BWM. The level of agreement between independent observers was >98% for activity type. The number of individuals seen walking, running, or biking did not differ significantly between the days of the week or observation times. The number of individuals observed was correlated with block group characteristics (e.g., percent walking/biking to work) and weather (e.g., temperature). The BWM is an easy to use, economically viable observational approach to obtaining reliable information concerning physical activities performed on residential streets and sidewalks. Its use could help advance our understanding about the environment-physical activity relationship.

Censuses↗

PubMed2005

Features of the neighborhood environment and walking by U.S. adults.

BACKGROUND: Manipulating the physical environment may be an efficacious way to promote physical activity. This study examined the relationships between features of the neighborhood environment and walking in the neighborhood by U.S. adults. METHODS: A random sample of women (n =266) and men (n =208) aged >18 years participated. Door-to-door interviews were conducted in 2003 to collect information about demographics, walking behavior, and features of the neighborhood environment. RESULTS: The analyses conducted in 2004 revealed that women were more likely to walk for exercise (odds ratio [OR]=4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01-20.72) or walk a dog (OR=3.3, 95% CI=1.01-11.08) in the neighborhood if neighborhood safety was average as opposed to below average (p <0.05). Women with an average number of neighborhood destinations were more likely to walk for transportation in the neighborhood (OR=5.7, 95% CI=1.63-19.73) than women with a below average number of neighborhood destinations (p <0.01). In men, none of the neighborhood features were significantly associated with walking for exercise or walking a dog. Men were less likely to walk for transportation in the neighborhood if the functional (OR=0.22, 95% CI=0.06-0.89) or aesthetic (OR=0.17, 95% CI=0.03-0.89) features of the neighborhood were average versus below average. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective studies are needed to determine if changes in neighborhood safety and awareness of neighborhood destinations promote increases in walking by women. Evaluations of the relationships between other environmental features and walking behavior in men are warranted.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Validation of the Adult OMNI Scale of perceived exertion for walking/running exercise.

PURPOSE: Concurrent and construct validity of the OMNI-Walk/Run Scale of Perceived Exertion was examined using young adult women and men (18-36 yr). METHODS: Concurrent validity was established by correlating OMNI-Walk/Run Scale ratings of perceived exertion (RPE-OMNI) with oxygen uptake (VO2), relative maximal oxygen uptake (%VO2(max)), ventilation (VE), respiratory rate (RR), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and heart rate (HR) to a graded exercise test on a treadmill. Construct validity was established by correlating RPE-OMNI with RPE from the Borg (6-20) Scale (RPE-BORG). Measurements were made every min throughout the test. RESULTS: The range of exercise responses across the incremental walking/running test for the female and male groups were: VO2 = 0.99-3.9 L x min(-1), HR = 98-190 beats x min(-1) and RPE-OMNI = 1.3-9.4. Correlation/regression analyses indicated that RPE-OMNI distributed as a positive linear function for all criterion measures; r = 0.67 to 0.88 (P < 0.05). RPE-OMNI was positively and linearly related to the RPE-BORG; r = 0.96 (P < 0.01) for both the female and male groups. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent and construct evidence supports use of the OMNI-Walk/Run Scale by adult women and men to estimate RPE during graded exercise test on a treadmill.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Stages of change among ethnically diverse college students.

The authors applied the stage-of-change construct in the transtheoretical model to examine the distribution of Asian (n = 869), African American (n = 373), White (n = 1322), and Hispanic (n = 535) American undergraduate students across the 5 stages of change for exercise. Stage of change varied as a function of ethnicity. Higher percentages of minorities were in the precontemplation and contemplation stages. The likelihood of being in these stages was from 43% to 82% greater for minorities than for White students. Also examined were the congruency between stage of change and self-reported levels of physical activity. Half of the sedentary students and 15.6% of the active students were misclassified by the stage-of-change procedure. Misclassification rates were higher for minority women (27.8%) than for White women (17.8%) and for Asian students (24.6%) compared with all others (20.6%). The results of this study have implications for the design of physical activity interventions based on stage of change.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Physical activity among ethnically diverse college students.

The authors compared physical activity patterns among 874 Asian, 332 African, 1,101 White, and 529 Hispanic American college students aged 18 to 25 years. According to self-report responses, 46.7% of the sample did not engage in vigorous physical activity and 16.7% were physically inactive. Among women, ethnic-specific rates of physical inactivity were Asian, 28.1%; African, 23.5%; White, 17.4%; and Hispanic, 20.3%. For men, rates of inactivity were Asian 11.7%; African, 7.7%; White, 12.0%; and Hispanic, 13.8. Weight-training activity, youthful physical activity, and TV viewing accounted for a significant portion of the variance in physical activity levels (13.1% for women and 14.8% for men). The results of this study support the need for physical activity interventions for college students, particularly minorities.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Effect of carbohydrate ingestion on ratings of perceived exertion during a marathon.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of carbohydrate substrate availability on ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) and hormonal regulation during a competitive marathon. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind study design was used in which subjects ran the marathon, and every 3.2 km, RPE and heart rate were measured. The marathoners were randomly assigned to receive carbohydrate (C) (N = 48) or placebo (P) (N = 50) beverages at a rate of 1 L x h(-1) during the race. RESULTS: Heart rate (%(HRMAX) ) was lower in P (82.0% +/- 0.6) than C (84.2% +/- 0.6) (P < 0.01), especially during the final 10 km: (78.7% +/- 1.0) and (84.5% +/- 0.7), respectively (P < 0.001). RPE was not significantly different between P and C throughout the marathon (P = 0.08) or during the final 10 km: (16.8 +/- 0.3) and (16.1 +/- 0.3), respectively (P = 0.06). Postrace plasma glucose (P < 0.001), insulin (P < 0.001), and lactate (P < 0.05) levels were significantly lower in P than C, and postrace cortisol (P < 0.05) significantly higher in P compared with C. CONCLUSIONS: Marathoners ingesting carbohydrate compared with placebo beverages were able to run at a higher intensity while reporting a nonsignificant difference in RPEs during a competitive race.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Influence of racial origin and skeletal muscle properties on disease prevalence and physical performance.

Skeletal muscle properties are related to disease (e.g. obesity) and physical performance. For example, a predominance of type I muscle fibres is associated with better performance in endurance sports and a lower risk of obesity. Disease and physical performance also differ among certain racial groups. African Americans are more likely than Caucasians to develop obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Empirical studies indicate that aerobic capacity is lower in African Americans than Caucasians. Because genetics is a partial determinant of skeletal muscle properties, it is reasonable to assume that skeletal muscle properties vary as a function of race. As such, genetically determined and race-specific skeletal muscle properties may partially explain racial disparities in disease and physical performance. However, additional research is needed in this area to enable the development of more definitive conclusions.

Black People↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Web-assisted instruction for changing social cognitive variables related to physical activity.

The authors examined the efficacy of Web-assisted instruction for promoting the use of social cognitive theory (SCT) strategies related to physical activity. They recruited college students attending health courses. The authors created 3 groups (Web-assisted, comparison, and control) based on the course structure. The Web-assisted group received information on exercise and fitness and a Web-based program (treatment, n = 127); 7 sections received the same exercise and fitness information as the treatment condition, but no Web-based program (comparison, n = 118); and 6 sections received information in unrelated areas (control, n = 178). The Web-based program consisted of 9 Web assignments (1 per week) that targeted key SCT variables. Satisfaction with the Web-based program was high. Use of self-regulation strategies was significantly higher at posttest in the treatment group than it was in the other groups. Knowledge concerning the skills taught by the Web assignments was significantly greater in the treatment group than it was in the comparison group. The results of this study demonstrate that a Web-based instructional program has a positive impact on knowledge and skills related to SCT strategies for changing physical activity behavior.

Adolescent↗