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Biomedical subjects

T Takken

Publications and source records attributed to T Takken.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

Eccentric overload training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Eccentric overload training seems to be a promising conservative intervention in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The efficacy of eccentric overload training on the outcome measures of pain and physical functioning are not exactly clear. STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review of the literature. METHODS: Electronic databases were searched for randomised clinical trials concerning eccentric overload training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy. The Delphi list was used to assess the methodological quality of the studies. RESULTS: Nine clinical trials were included. Only one study had sufficient methodological quality. The included trials showed an improvement in pain after eccentric overload training. Because of the methodological shortcomings of the trials, no definite conclusion can be drawn concerning the effects of eccentric overload training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy. CONCLUSION: The effects of eccentric exercise training in patients with chronic Achilles tendinopathy on pain are promising; however, the magnitude of the effects cannot be determined. Large, methodologically sound studies from multiple sites in which functional outcome measures are included are warranted.

Achilles Tendon↗

Examining the psychometric characteristics of the Dutch childhood health assessment questionnaire: room for improvement?

The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric characteristics of the childhood health assessment questionnaire-disability index (CHAQ-DI). Seventy-six patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), age range 4.8-15.8 years, completed a CHAQ questionnaire one or more times. In total, 321 CHAQ questionnaires were available for analysis. Factor analysis and correlation were used to analyse the data. The analysis indicated that 12 items could be removed from the original 30 items of the CHAQ-DI. Also the addition of "aids and assistance" to the overall scoring method of the CHAQ-DI did not contribute to the overall measuring concept of the CHAQ-DI. The psychometric characteristics of the CHAQ-DI could be improved by removing 12 items from the original 30 items. Moreover, a simple scoring method, without the addition of aids and assistance to the total CHAQ-DI improves sensitivity to change of the CHAQ-DI.

Adolescent↗

Physical fitness, functional ability and quality of life in children with severe haemophilia: a pilot study.

In the Netherlands comparable levels of sports-participation between persons with haemophilia and healthy controls have been reported. This raises the question if children with haemophilia under the currently available prophylaxis do reach comparable levels of physical fitness and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as their healthy peers. The aim of this study was to investigate the level of physical fitness, functional ability and quality of life and to determine the feasibility to safely test the exercise capacity of boys with severe haemophilia A. Thirteen subjects participated in this study. Physical fitness was determined using the measurement of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2peak) attained during a graded maximal exercise test to volitional exhaustion. Joint health, physical activity levels and health-related quality of life (Haemo-Qol) were also measured. Mean VO2peak was 1.86+/-0.77 L min-1 (Z-score: -0.39+/-1.61) which was not significantly different from reference values. Relative VO2peak was 47.42+/-8.29 mL min-1 kg-1 (Z-score: -0.52+/-1.43), which did not differ significantly from reference values either. One boy suffered a joint bleeding one day after the test. Haemo-Qol scores in parents and children ranged from 3.2% to 36.7% (100% reflects poor outcome). Relationship between the child or parent reports of Haemo-QoL and both absolute and relative VO2peak ranged from R=0.00 and R=0.4. Exercise testing in children with severe haemophilia A was a safe procedure. Patients with severe haemophilia A with good joint health and no limitations of activities have comparable physical fitness and physical active lifestyle with healthy peers and good HRQoL.

Adolescent↗

Physiologic response of the six-minute walk test in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the physiologic response of the 6-minute walk test (6-mwt) in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: Eighteen children with JIA (age 7-17 years; 6 boys, 12 girls) performed a 6-mwt and a maximal exercise test. RESULTS: The physiologic response of the 6-mwt was on average between 80% and 85% of the peak values of heart rate and oxygen uptake (VO2peak) during the maximal exercise test, except for the minute ventilation, which had a mean percentage of 68.5%. Backward regression analysis showed that height and distance walked were the best predictors of VO2peak during cycling (R2 = 0.883, P < 0.001). During the 6-mwt, the difference between the first and second minute was significant in every variable, except for heart rate. The range of walking distance of children with JIA was comparable with that of healthy elderly people. CONCLUSION: The physiologic response of the 6-mwt is at a submaximal, intense level of exercise. The course of the responses during the 6-mwt was normal. The 6-mwt can be regarded as a good test for measuring functional exercise capacity.

Adolescent↗

Prolonged exercise testing in two children with a mild Multiple Acyl-CoA-Dehydrogenase deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Multiple Acyl-CoA-Dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is an inherited metabolic disorder characterized by impaired oxidation of fatty acids and some amino acids. METHODS: We were interested whether children with MADD could tolerate a prolonged low-intensity exercise test and if this test could have any additional diagnostic value. Therefore, we performed a maximal exercise test and a low-intensity prolonged exercise test in 2 patients with MADD and in 5 control subjects. During a prolonged exercise test the subjects exercised on a cycle ergometer at a constant workload of 30% of their maximum for 90 minutes and heart rate, oxygen uptake, fuel utilization and changes in relevant blood and urinary parameters were monitored. RESULTS: The tests were tolerated well. During the prolonged exercise test the fatty acid oxidation (FAO) was quite low compared to 5 control subjects, while characteristic metabolites of MADD appeared in plasma and urine. CONCLUSION: We suggest that the prolonged exercise test could be of diagnostic importance and might replace the fasting test as a diagnostic procedure in some cases, particularly in patients with anamnestic signs of intolerance for prolonged exercise.

Journal Article↗

Is physical fitness decreased in survivors of childhood leukemia? A systematic review.

The aim of this review is to determine whether physical fitness, assessed by peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)) measurement, is reduced in survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) compared to healthy children. A systematic literature search (up to June 2004) was performed using Medline, Sportdiscus, Cinahl, Embase, Cochrane and PEDro database and reference tracking. The VO(2peak) (ml kg(-1) min(-1)) reached during a maximal exercise test until volitional exhaustion was used as the main outcome for this review. In all, 17 studies were identified in the literature. Data from three studies (102 ALL survivors, age ranging from 7 to 19 years) were pooled in a meta-analysis. Although there was a significant heterogeneity between the included studies (P=0.0006), the standardized mean difference (SMD) value of -0.61 (P=0.07) indicated that VO(2peak) tended to be reduced in survivors of childhood ALL compared to healthy control subjects, that is, decrease of -5.97 ml kg(-1) min(-1) (95% confidence interval (CI): (-12.35, 0.41); P=0.07) or -13% (95 % CI: (-27, 0.004)). Physical fitness tends to be reduced in survivors of ALL during childhood, which suggests the need for this population group to engage in regular physical activities with the purpose of increasing their functional capacity. Although more research is needed, this functional improvement might ameliorate the quality of life of ALL survivors as physical and outdoors activities are an essential part of daily routine during childhood.

Child↗

Aquatic fitness training for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of an aquatic training programme for JIA patients. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with JIA (age range 5 to 13 yr) participated in this study and were randomized into an experimental (n = 27) and a control (n = 27) group. The children in the experimental group received a training programme consisting of a 1 h per week supervised training programme in a local pool of approximately 20 sessions. Effects were analysed on the following domains: functional ability, health-related quality of life, joint status and physical fitness. RESULTS: Although all measures improved more in the experimental group than the control group, none of the differences was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The current research found no significant effect of an aquatic fitness training programme in children with JIA. Since there were no signs of worsening in health status, one can conclude that this was a safe exercise programme.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗

Relationship between functional ability and physical fitness in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between aerobic and anaerobic physical fitness and functional ability in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). METHODS: Eighteen children with JIA (age 7 to 14 yr., 3 male/15 female) performed a maximal aerobic exercise test and a Wingate anaerobic exercise test. Functional ability was concurrently assessed using the Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ). RESULTS: A low relationship between aerobic fitness and functional ability was found (r = 0.0 to 0.4, p > 0.05, except for eating r = 0.46, p < 0.05). The correlations between anaerobic physical fitness and functional ability in JIA patients were strong (r = 0.5 to 0.75, p < 0.05). This indicated a good relationship between anaerobic fitness and functional ability. CONCLUSION: The strong association between anaerobic physical fitness and functional ability showed the importance of anaerobic physical fitness for children with JIA.

Activities of Daily Living↗

The physiological and physical determinants of functional ability measures in children with juvenile dermatomyositis.

OBJECTIVE: To study the relationships of muscle strength and maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) with Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) score, Childhood Myositis Assessment Score (CMAS) and Child Health Questionnaire [physical summary (CHQ-PhS) and psychosocial summary (CHQ-PsS)] scores in juvenile dermatomyositis. METHOD: Fifteen patients (age 5-14 yr) participated. CMAS, CHAQ, CHQ, muscle strength and VO(2peak) were measured. RESULTS: Correlations revealed significant relationships between CHAQ and (i) muscle strength (r=-0.72) and (ii) absolute VO(2peak) (r=-0.68); between CMAS and relative VO(2peak) (r=0.73); and between CHQ-PhS and (i) muscle strength (r=0.57) and (ii) relative VO(2peak) (r=0.58). Backward regression analysis showed that muscle strength was the best indicator of variation in CHAQ. Age and relative VO(2peak) were the best indicators for CMAS. Body mass and age were the best indicators for CHQ-PsS. Body mass and muscle strength were the best indicators for CHQ-PhS. CONCLUSION: CMAS, CHAQ and CHQ correlate with muscle strength and VO(2peak). CMAS, CHAQ and CHQ depend on different physical and physiological variables.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Physical activity and health related physical fitness in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain insight into the interaction between daily physical activity and components of health related physical fitness in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. METHODS: Forty five patients (10 male/35 female; mean (SD) age 8.9 (2.2) years) participated in the study. Body mass, height, skinfold thickness, number of swollen joints, and joint range of motion were determined. The maximal oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)) was assessed during a graded maximal bicycle exercise test. Daily physical activity levels were measured with a Caltrac activity monitor and a parental physical activity rating (PAL) on a five point Likert scale. RESULTS: Partial correlation coefficients (to control for age) between physical activity and indices of health related physical fitness showed significant relationships between Caltrac motion counts and absolute VO(2peak) (r=0.31) and relative VO(2peak) (r=0.34), but not with the indices of body composition. There was also a significant correlation between PAL and relative VO(2peak) (r=0.33). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity was significantly related to cardiorespiratory fitness but not to body composition in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis. A longitudinal follow up should show whether an active lifestyle protects for loss of aerobic fitness in this patient group.

Aging↗

Methotrexate for treating juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: In both adult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile arthritis, the focus has shifted from 'inflammation parameters' to more patient centered disability outcomes. In RA this resulted in the development of the Outcome Measures in Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT), and in juvenile arthritis the Pediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organization (PRINTO) core set. This PRINTO-core set was established using a combination of statistical and consensus formation techniques. This core set contains a number of patient centered disability measures. This review systematically searched the available literature and reports the available evidence of efficacy of MTX, with special focus on patient centered disability measures in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic review on the effects of MTX on functional ability, range of motion, quality of life, overall well-being and pain for patients with JIA. SEARCH STRATEGY: The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CCTR) and MEDLINE were searched up to March 2001, using the search strategy sensitive for randomised controlled trials, used by the Cochrane Collaboration. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials comparing MTX against placebo or standard care in patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) were selected. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers (TT, JN) determined the studies to be included in this review and extracted the data of patient centered disability measures. The data were pooled using standardized mean differences (SMD) for limited joint range score, number of joints with swelling, and number of joints with pain on motion. Physicians global assessment and parents global assessment were evaluated with pooled odds ratios (OR). MAIN RESULTS: Only two studies with a total 165 JIA patients under 18 years of age were included in this review. For JIA patients, MTX therapy had small to moderate effects on patients centered disability. The effect on joint range of motion, number of joints with pain and swelling and parent's assessment of disease activity showed a relative percentage improvement from 3 to 18% greater with MTX than with placebo. REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence suggests that MTX does not have clinically significant effects (>20%) on patient centered disability measures in JIA patients.

Adolescent↗