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PubMed2003

PASSCLAIM - Physical performance and fitness.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the EC Concerted Action PASSCLAIM was to develop a set of methods and procedures for assessing the scientific support for function-enhancing and health-related claims for foods and food components. This paper presents a critical review of the existing methods to evaluate the different aspects of physical performance and fitness needed to support claims on foods and food ingredients intended to enhance specific physiological functions. DESIGN AND RESULTS: Based on an inventory of labelling claims on available sport nutrition products, seven physiological functions in the field of physical performance and fitness were identified: 1) strength and power, 2) endurance, energy supply and recovery, 3) hydration/re-hydration, 4) flexibility, 5) tissue growth, 6) free radical scavenger capacity and 7) immune function. For each function the existing methodology was reviewed critically and judged on suitability to generate scientific support for physiological function claims on foods. CONCLUSIONS: A database of methods including advantages and disadvantages of use has been generated for considering the scientific support of claims on foods and food ingredients relating to physical performance and fitness. It will contribute to the formulations of guidelines for assessing the scientific support of enhanced function or reduced disease risk claims on foods.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1996

[Evaluation of the physical performance of flying personnel].

Assessment of the physical performance (PP) can make the basis for judgment of whether the functions remained unaffected by a disease, particularly of the cardiac and pulmonary systems. To acquire this status in evaluation of functional disorders, PP determination must be accurate or reliable. Accuracy is unattainable because of the use of bicycle ergometers the precision of dose grading of which is not verified or adjusted. To take into account the characteristics of bicycle ergometer and subjects who undergo examination in a given laboratory will require the development of an in-lab PP standard. With this standard, PP evaluation will be adequate to the flight certification requirements.

Aerospace Medicine↗

PubMed1997

Creatine supplementation does not improve physical performance in a 150 m race.

Creatine supplementation has been shown by several authors to improve physical performance in very high intensity, intermittent, exercises. The effect on performance, as well as in plasma creatine and lactate concentrations has been studied in a group of twelve sprinters of national class when running a distance of 150 m on two occasions, before and after creatine (or placebo) supplementation for the previous three days. The most important differences in the biochemical parameters analyzed have been in plasma creatinine concentration, which increased substantially both before and after the race in the group that had received a daily supplement of 25 grams of creatine monohydrate for the previous three days. Creatine supplementation, therefore, did not improve physical performance, in the conditions, when running a 150 m distance.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed1988

Influence of vitamin E on physical performance.

There are two properties of vitamin E which are leading to its use for better physical performance. On one side it promotes an economical energy metabolism, on the other side it acts as a stabilizing antioxidant in membranes. One group of 6 high altitude mountain climbers was substituted with 2 x 200 mg dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and a second of 6 were given placebos during a 10 weeks expedition. The influence on the synthesis of lactic acid and on the exhalation of pentane was investigated. After 2 weeks the anaerobic threshold (AT) was higher in both groups. In the course of the experiment the AT of the treatment group increased further whereas the AT of the control group decreased significantly (p less than 0.01). Pentane exhalation, considered to be a measure for lipid peroxidation, showed no significant change after a 4 weeks substitution with vitamin E in the treatment group, but in the control group the exhaled pentane was more than 100% higher. The difference is significant, too (p less than 0.01). The results of this study show that vitamin E has a beneficial effect on physical performance and on cell protection, at least at high altitude.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Physical performance is associated with markers of vascular inflammation in patients with coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Coronary heart disease as well as major cardiovascular risk factors are associated with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory markers. There is, however, limited information about how changes in lifestyle improving the cardiovascular risk profile influence these levels. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether changes in lifestyle measures with special attention to physical activity, were associated with the levels of such markers. DESIGN: Coronary heart disease patients (n = 197) were randomized to either a comprehensive lifestyle intervention programme comprising regular physical activity, low fat diet and smoking cessation, or usual care with routine follow-up in the outpatient clinic for 6 months. An exercise test and fasting blood samples analysed for soluble cell adhesion molecules, C reactive protein and pro-inflammatory cytokines were evaluated before and at the end of the study. RESULTS: Improved diet, physical performance and reduction in smoking were obtained in the intervention programme when compared with usual care patients, but no significant group differences in levels of inflammatory markers were observed. In the total population, however, physical performance significantly and inversely predicted levels of soluble cell adhesion molecule 1, (P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (P < 0.001) and interleukin-6 (P = 0.01) at 6 months. Smokers had elevated levels of soluble cell adhesion molecule 1 when compared with non-smokers (P = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that physical performance is inversely correlated with levels of pro-inflammatory markers in coronary heart disease patients, possibly retarding the process of atherosclerosis. No effect on inflammatory markers was obtained with a 6-month lifestyle intervention programme when compared with patients who received usual care follow-up.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed1990

Controlled vitamin C restriction and physical performance in volunteers.

A double-blind study on the effects of vitamin C restriction on physical performance was executed with 12 healthy men. During seven weeks of low vitamin C intake six subjects were on a daily diet of regular food products, providing 20% of the Dutch Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for vitamin C (Dutch RDA is 50 mg/day). Other vitamins were supplemented at twice the RDA level. After three weeks of low vitamin intake an additional vitamin C dose of 15 mg/day was provided, resulting in a total intake of 25 mg/day (50% of the Dutch RDA). Six control subjects consumed the same diet supplemented with twice the RDA for all vitamins. In the restriction group blood vitamin C levels decreased significantly (p less than 0.01). Vitamin C restriction had no harmful effects on health, aerobic power (VO2-max), and onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA). However, an increased heart rate at OBLA level was observed during the period of low vitamin C intake (p less than 0.05), possibly by interference with either catecholamine or carnitine metabolism. These results suggest that short-term marginal vitamin C deficiency does not affect physical performance in single bouts of intensive exercise.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Use of health-care services, work absenteeism, leisure-time physical activity, musculoskeletal symptoms and physical performance after vocationally oriented medical rehabilitation-description of the courses and a one-and-a-half-year follow-up study with farmers, loggers, police officers and hairdressers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of vocationally oriented medical rehabilitation (VOMR) carried out in institutions with regard to the use of health-care services, work absenteeism, leisure-time physical activity, musculoskeletal symptoms and physical performance during 112 years of follow-up. The prospective cohort study consisted of 265 patients from four different occupational groups (loggers, hairdressers, police officers and female farmers) who took part in VOMR courses in three inhouse phases, financed by the Finnish Social Insurance Institution, and who had chronic musculoskeletal symptoms in their back and neck. The subjective physical and mental strain of work, subjective neck-shoulder and low-back pain, use of health-care services and leisure-time physical activity were assessed with a questionnaires. The muscle strength of the upper and lower extremities and trunk was determined and maximal VO2 was measured using the direct maximal bicycle ergometer test. The subjective physical and mental strain of work, subjective neck-shoulder and low-back pain and physical performance showed positive significant development and improvement. The changes in the use of health-care services and work absenteeism were minor or insignificant. The general finding was that the results from the second phase of the VOMR courses did not differ from those of the third phase. VOMR courses had a beneficial effect on physical performance and subjective pain caused by neck and back musculoskeletal diseases of farmers, loggers, police officers and hairdressers within 112 years of follow-up, but VOMR courses did not decreased the use of health-care services.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Assessing recurrent fall risk of community-dwelling, frail older veterans using specific tests of mobility and the physical performance test of function.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine if older individuals at risk for recurrent falls are best identified by mobility or functional assessments. METHODS: Eighty-four community-dwelling, frail male veterans, mean age of 75.5 years (SD=7.33), participated. The history of recurrent falls was determined by self or proxy report in a clinical interview. Mobility assessments included the Modified Gait Abnormality Rating Scale (GARS-M), stride length, and walking velocity; functional performance was determined using the Physical Performance Test (PPT). The clinical usefulness of the measures was described by determining the sensitivity and specificity of each measure using the history of recurrent falls as a standard. RESULT: Stepwise logistic regression analysis of the data indicated that the GARS-M (p < .01) and the PPT (p < .01) were the most important predictors of recurrent fall risk. The sensitivity and specificity of the measures used were: GARS-M, 62.3% and 87.1%; PPT, 79.3% and 71.0%; walking speed, 71.7% and 74.2%; and stride length, 63.2% and 77.4%. Together the GARS-M and PPT demonstrated the highest sensitivity of 90.6% and the highest specificity of 87. 1% based on a subject testing positive on at least one test. CONCLUSION: Used independently and in combination, the GARS-M and the PPT were clinically useful measures in screening for older individuals at risk for recurrent falls.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed1988

Physical performance and physiological responses following 60 hours of sleep deprivation.

The effect of 60 h of sleep deprivation (SD) upon physical performance and physiological responses to exercise was examined in 11 male subjects. The experiment consisted of two conditions separated by at least 10 d. In the experimental condition (E) subjects remained awake for 60 h and in the control condition (C) the same subjects had 7 h of sleep per night. In both conditions subjects reported to the laboratory on the evening prior to d 1 and slept for 7 h. Physical performance testing was carried out on d 1 and again on d 3 after either two nights of sleep or two nights of SD. Results obtained on d 3 are expressed relative to d 1, the control day. Maximal isometric and isokinetic muscular strength and endurance of selected upper and lower body muscle groups, performance of the Wingate Anaerobic Power Test, simple reaction time, the blood lactate response to cycle exercise at 70% VO2max, and most of the cardiovascular and respiratory responses to treadmill running at 70% and 80% VO2max, were not significantly altered as a result of SD. These results suggest that sleep loss of up to 60 h will not impair the capability for physical work, a finding of considerable importance in sustained military operations which frequently involve the combination of both physical and mental tasks.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Vitamin and mineral status: effects on physical performance.

Public health recommendations encourage the selection of a balanced diet and increasing physical activity to foster health and well-being. Whereas the adverse effects of restricted intakes of protein, fat, and carbohydrate on physical performance are well known, there is limited information about the impact of low intakes of vitamins and minerals on the exercise capacity and performance of humans. Physically active people generally consume amounts of vitamins and minerals consistent with the recommendations for the general public. However, when intakes are less than recommendations, some noticeable functional impairments occur. Acute or short-term marginal deficiencies, identified by blood biochemical measures of vitamin B status, had no impacts on performance measures. Severe deprivation of folate and vitamin B12 result in anemia and reduce endurance work performance. Evidence of vitamin A and E deficiencies in athletic individuals is lacking apparently because body storage is appreciable. In contrast to vitamins, marginal mineral deficiencies impair performance. Iron deficiency, with or without anemia, impairs muscle function and limits work capacity. Magnesium deprivation increases oxygen requirements to complete submaximal exercise and reduces endurance performance. Use of vitamin and mineral supplements does not improve measures of performance in people consuming adequate diets. Young girls and individuals participating in activities with weight classifications or aesthetic components are prone to nutrient deficiencies because they restrict food intake and specific micronutrient-rich foods. This information will be useful to professionals who counsel physically active people and scientific groups who make dietary recommendations to improve health and optimize genetic potential.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed1996

Use of bioelectrical impedance analysis measurements as predictors of physical performance.

Through its association with fat-free mass (FFM), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) offers an alternative to physical performance testing. We examined the relations between stature2/resistance (S2/R), FFM, and muscular strength in data from three studies of young military men and women. Resistance was measured at 50 kHz by using the conventional tetrapolar electrode method. FFM was based on skinfold thicknesses, and estimated with the regression equations of Durnin and Womersley. Strength was measured as a one-repetition maximum on an incremental lift test (IL1RM), which is widely used by the military services to predict overall body strength. Although there was an association between IL1RM and S2/R in each of these studies (correlations ranged from 0.35 to 0.53), correlations were strongest between FFM and S2/R (R = 0.53 to 0.85), indicating that BIA and FFM derived from skinfold thicknesses are better correlated with each other than are the relations of either of these with physical performance. Modest increases in FFM and strength in one 8-wk training study correlated with S2/R; however, large decreases in FFM and strength in another study (with weight losses of 10 kg in 8 wk) were not reflected by changes in S2/R. Thus, BIA is not particularly useful for performance prediction despite its moderate relation to FFM. BIA is especially problematic with large changes in body composition, for which there are apparent deviations in hydration status; expedient methods such as skinfold predictions will be more resistant to such effects.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

An appraisal of pancreatectomy for advanced cancer of the pancreas based on survival rate and postoperative physical performance.

The follow-up results of surgical procedures for cancer of the pancreas at three affiliated hospitals during the past 15 years (1974-1989) were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the merit of pancreatectomy in surgical treatment of advanced stages of this disease. Included were 4 cases of stage I, 14 cases of stage II, 19 cases of stage III, 43 cases of localized stage IV, and 35 cases of generalized stage IV. Pancreatectomy was performed in 67 cases; 100%, 92.9%, 89.5%, 67.4%, and 11.4% of the stage I, II, III, localized IV, and generalized IV cases, respectively. For the localized stage IV cases, in which the cancerous lesions were advanced but limited to the peripancreatic region, 29 pancreatectomies, 12 bypass operations, and 2 exploratory laparotomies were performed. This group included 17 curative and 12 noncurative pancreatectomies. The 50% survival periods were 257 days after curative pancreatectomy, 226 days after noncurative pancreatectomy, 120 days after bypass operation, and 33 days after exploratory laparotomy. The difference in overall survival rate between curative and noncurative pancreatectomies was not significant. The overall survival rates after both curative and noncurative pancreatectomies were significantly higher than the rate after bypass operation. The postoperative physical performance status after pancreatectomy was significantly better than after the palliative procedures. No significant difference in the status was found between patients after standard and extended pancreatectomies. There was no significant difference in the survival rates or the physical performance status between the pancreatectomy group and the palliative surgery group for the generalized stage IV cases, in which the cancerous lesions extended beyond the peripancreatic region. On the basis of these findings, it is concluded that pancreatectomy extends the postoperative survival period without impairment of the physical performance status in patients with advanced cancer of the pancreas. Even when the pancreatectomy proves to be a noncurative resection, this aggressive surgical approach may be of benefit to this group of patients. It should be noted, however, that pancreatectomy is not beneficial to patients whose lesions have already become generalized.

Adult↗

PubMed1975

[The perception of physical performance in different work conditions (author's transl)].

Borg's RPE method was used by the authors to evaluate physical performance of healthy subjects during exercise tests performed either in the night or daytime and involving different muscle masses (upper and lower limbs). The reliability of RPE scale was confirmed. The perception of physical performance appeared to be higher in the night-time and when upper limbs were involved.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

[Physical performance capacity, metabolism and hormonal behavior as affected by diltiazem].

After giving their informed consent, 16 healthy male physical education students received daily dose of 3 X 60 mg diltiazem or placebo respectively in a double-blind cross-over experimental set-up for consecutive test phases of 3 weeks each. The behaviour of physical performance capacity, metabolism and hormones under diltiazem was investigated during incremental performance tests and during continuous endurance tests on the treadmill. Maximum performance capacity and maximum oxygen uptake as well as endurance capacity remained uninfluenced. Under maximum as well as under lower work loads heart rates were reduced by 3-10 beats/min. Carbohydrate and lipid metabolism including the lipoproteins as well as HGH, cortisol and insulin showed the same behaviour under diltiazem and placebo. Adrenaline and noradrenaline in blood plasma also remained uninfluenced. An impairment of physical performance capacity under diltiazem is not to be expected. This finding is of major importance for persons treated with diltiazem who engage in sport.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

[Chronic pancreatitis: weight loss and poor physical performance - experience from a specialized rehabilitation centre].

There are various potential explanations for weight-loss and poor physical performance in patients with chronic pancreatitis: In severe chronic pancreatitis the decline in enzyme secretion is an important cause for the malassimilation syndrome frequently seen in these patients. Occasionally, difficulties may arise in establishing this decline and in quantifying the secretory capacity of the gland. Many patients limit their food intake because of the pain caused by eating. In untreated patients with diabetes, glucosuria may contribute to their malnutrition. Insufficient funds for food due to alcoholism and anorexia may also be of some significance. Concomitant gastrointestinal diseases and malabsorption following gastrointestinal surgery are frequently found in patients with chronic pancreatitis. Neurological complications and traumatic lesions after accidents - often in connection to the underlying alcoholism - are joined by physical inactivity and thus contribute to the development of muscular atrophy and decreased physical performance. Consequently, rehabilitation of patients with chronic pancreatitis is challenging: They not only need expert medical treatment of both the symptoms of chronic pancreatitis and the concomitant disorders. Therapy must also include dietary support, careful physical training, and - in cases caused by alcoholism - psycho-social support. So far, the multi-professional competence required for these purposes can only be expected in a specialized rehabilitation centre.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Effects of CO2 inhalation prior to maximal exercise on physical performance.

In the untrained subjects, inhalation of 4.5-6.0% CO2 prior to maximal treadmill exercise does not affect physical performance and maximum oxygen uptake, while blood lactate levels during recovery have a tendency to greater decrease in CO2 breathing than that in the room-air breathing. It was suggested that CO2 inhalation immediately prior to maximal exercise as applied here is not a useful tool in increasing physical performance.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Reliability and responsiveness of two physical performance measures examined in the context of a functional training intervention.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The reliability and responsiveness of 2 physical performance measures were assessed in this nonrandomized, controlled pilot exercise intervention. SUBJECTS: Forty-five older individuals with mobility impairment (mean age=77.9 years, SD=5.9, range=70-92) were sequentially assigned to participate in an exercise program (intervention group) or to a control group. METHODS: The intervention group performed exercise 3 times a week for 12 weeks that targeted muscle force, endurance, balance, and flexibility. Outcome measures were the 8-item Physical Performance Test (PPT-8) and the 6-minute walk test. Test-retest reliability and responsiveness indexes were determined for both tests; interrater reliability was measured for the PPT-8. RESULTS: The intraclass correlation coefficient for interrater reliability for the PPT-8 was. 96. Intraclass correlation coefficients for test-retest reliability were.88 for the PPT-8 and.93 for the 6-minute walk test. The intervention group improved 2.4 points and the control group improved 0.7 point on the PPT-8, as compared with baseline measurements. There was no change in 6-minute walk test distance in the intervention group when compared with the control group. The responsiveness index was.8 for the PPT-8 and.6 for the 6-minute walk test. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Measurements for both the PPT-8 and the 6-minute walk test appeared to be highly reliable. The PPT-8 was more responsive than the 6-minute walk test to change in performance expected with this functional training intervention.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Measures of physical performance and risk for progressive and catastrophic disability: results from the Women's Health and Aging Study.

BACKGROUND: Physical performance measures can predict incident disability, but little research has assessed and compared how these measures predict progressive and rapid-onset (catastrophic) disability. The authors evaluated the ability of upper and lower extremity performance measures to predict progressive and catastrophic disability in activities of daily living (ADL), mobility, and upper extremity function. METHODS: The incidence of progressive and catastrophic disability was assessed semiannually during a 3-year period in 884 women participating in the Women's Health and Aging Study I. Four-meter walking speed, balance, and chair stands tests were used to evaluate lower extremity function. The putting-on-blouse test, the Purdue pegboard test, and grip strength were used to assess upper extremity function. Summary performance scores (SPS) for the lower and upper extremities were calculated. Among participants in whom disability developed, those who reported no difficulty in the previous year were defined as cases of catastrophic disability, and those who previously reported little or some difficulty were considered to be cases of progressive disability. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to evaluate the association of performance measures and time to incident disability. The predictive ability of performance measures was compared using receiver-operator characteristic curves. RESULTS: All lower and upper extremity measures, with the exception of grip strength, significantly predicted the onset of progressive ADL disability, but only walking speed was significantly associated with the onset of catastrophic ADL disability. The chair stands test, walking speed, and the lower extremity SPS were significantly associated with the onset of both progressive and catastrophic mobility disability. Only lower extremity individual tests and SPS significantly predicted the onset of both progressive and catastrophic upper extremity disability. The receiver-operator characteristic curves for ADL and mobility disability showed that all performance measures evaluated had a greater predictive ability for progressive than for catastrophic incident disability. This finding was not consistent for upper extremity disability. The areas under the curve for walking speed and lower extremity SPS were very similar, ranging from 0.58 to 0.81 and from 0.57 to 0.85, and the predictive ability of these two measures was the greatest for all disability outcomes assessed. CONCLUSION: Physical performance measures of lower extremity and, in particular, walking speed and lower extremity SPS are valuable tools to predict different forms of disability, especially those with a progressive onset.

Activities of Daily Living↗