PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Physical Functional Performance”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 307 records · Page 17Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Dairy products, meat and sports performance.

Creatine supplementation improves repetitive, short-term performance. It has not been shown that exclusion of meat from the diet would impair repetitive short-term performance. In contrast, reduction of protein intake and a concomitant increase of carbohydrate intake during a period of 3-5 days improves anaerobic (2-7 minutes) performance. The protein intake in a mixed or lacto-vegetarian diet is adequate even for elite athletes, providing that energy requirements are met. Many dietary supplements have been suggested to increase muscle mass and/or to decrease fat mass. Although the effects of conjugated linoleic acid on body composition in athletes are not clear, some positive findings in untrained, obese individuals call for more studies. Strenuous training may impair immune function and increase the susceptibility to infections. Exclusion of meat from the diet does not seem to have adverse effects on immune function. Glutamine supplementation (>3-6 g/day) may improve immune function, but more studies are needed. Similarly, more studies on the possible effects of whey protein and probiotic supplementation on immune function and performance in physically highly active individuals are warranted. Vitamin and mineral balance are not usually a problem among athletes. Notable exceptions may be calcium and iron in some females. Increased calcium intake in athletes with hormonal and menstrual disturbances could theoretically help in maintaining bone status; however, no data are available. A diet with meat may help in maintaining adequate iron stores.

Body Composition↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A comparative analysis of the efficacy of rehabilitative treatment after a surgical intervention in ischemic heart disease patients at a rehabilitation center and under home conditions].

Early 12-week combined rehabilitation of IHD patients after surgery enhances physical performance, diminishes the damage of IHD risk factors, raises quality of life. Physical performance and cardiorespiratory functional reserve improve in a greater degree in patients undergoing rehabilitation according to the individual program in the rehabilitation center. Home rehabilitation also provides positive results but it is less effective.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Patient-reported quality of life early in dialysis treatment: effects associated with usual exercise activity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors associated with quality of life (QoL) early in treatment in a cohort of incident (i.e. newly diagnosed) dialysis patients. This multicenter study investigated QoL reported by patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) at approximately 60 days following the start of treatment. QoL was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 (MOS-SF 36) and by disease-targeted scales from the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL). Patient's QoL as measured by the SF-36 was substantially impaired compared to norms for the general population. In univariate analyses, patients' QoL scores were related to demographic variables (age, race, sex, educational level), clinical variables (predialysis BUN and serum creatinine, primary diagnosis of diabetes, cardiovascular comorbidity, average hematocrit and serum albumin in first months of treatment), dialysis variables (HD/PD modality, PD dialysis adequacy, facility patient-staff ratio) and patient's level of usual exercise activity. In multivariate analyses, the most important independent QoL predictor was patient's usual level of exercise activity. Exercise activity independently predicted two performance measures of physical functioning, maximal gait speed and repeated chair rises, as well as patient-perceived physical functioning. Continued study of patient outcomes in relation to adequacy of delivered dialysis, early versus late diagnosis of chronic renal failure (CRF), and patient's usual exercise activity is important because these variables can be the focus for intervention strategies to prevent early deterioration in dialysis patients' functional health status.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Features of mental state, mental and physical work capacity and hemodynamic parameters in healthy persons and patients with arterial hypertension working in conditions of psychoemotional stress].

The study covered features of psychologic state, mental, physical performance and hemodynamic parameters in healthy individuals and patients having high blood pressure, both facing psychoemotional strain at work. The patients suffering from hypertension of I B-II A stages developed inadequate psychic adaptation, asthenic and hypochondriac signs, worse mental and physical performance, lower cognitive functions of memory and attention.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1993

Physical impairments in the elderly population.

The model presented here provides a starting point for considering the physical impediments that accompany biologic aging. The scientific challenge for the future is to identify how specific modifiable variables can attenuate these physical impediments and distinguish them from those changes that are truly irreversible accompaniments of aging. The humanitarian challenge facing all health care professionals is to provide compassionate care, emotional support, and unfailing commitment to aging persons as they experience changes in physical function and role performance.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

Impact of disease activity and cumulative damage on the health of lupus patients.

To test if lupus activity and damage predict physical function and general health in lupus was the objective of this study. Ninety-six patients with lupus were seen at baseline and monthly for 4 months. Sociodemographic characteristics and lupus damage (SLICC/ACR DI), were collected at baseline while lupus activity (SLAM-R, SLEDAI), health status measures (HAQ, SF-36) and immunological tests were collected at each visit. Associations of lupus activity and damage with general health and physical function were evaluated. Baseline health status measures were greatly impaired and comparable to those of severe medical illnesses. In cross-sectional analyses, baseline activity score measured by SLAM-R, but not by SLEDAI, correlated with most subscales of SF-36. Baseline damage score SLICC/ACR DI correlated only with the HAQ and the physical function subscale of SF-36. Differences in both activity measures (SLAM-R and SLEDAI) over time correlated with change in health status measures while baseline cumulative damage (SLICC/ACR DI) correlated with the average level of physical function only. Lupus activity measures, SLAM-R and SLEDAI, although differing cross-sectionally, both reflected patients' health status performance over time and lupus damage measure, SLICC/ACR DI, performed well in assessing physical function. Lupus patients scores for health are poor and comparable to those found in severe medical illnesses.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1992

Controlled trial of physical training in chronic heart failure. Exercise performance, hemodynamics, ventilation, and autonomic function.

BACKGROUND: Many secondary abnormalities in chronic heart failure (CHF) may reflect physical deconditioning. There has been no prospective, controlled study of the effects of physical training on hemodynamics and autonomic function in CHF. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a controlled crossover trial of 8 weeks of exercise training, 17 men with stable moderate to severe CHF (age, 61.8 +/- 1.5 years; left ventricular ejection fraction, 19.6 +/- 2.3%), increased exercise tolerance (13.9 +/- 1.0 to 16.5 +/- 1.0 minutes, p less than 0.001), and peak oxygen uptake (13.2 +/- 0.9 to 15.6 +/- 1.0 ml/kg/min, p less than 0.01) significantly compared with controls. Training increased cardiac output at submaximal (5.9-6.7 l/min, p less than 0.05) and peak exercise (6.3-7.1 l/min, p less than 0.05), with a significant reduction in systemic vascular resistance. Training reduced minute ventilation and the slope relating minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production (-10.5%, p less than 0.05). Sympathovagal balance was altered by physical training when assessed by three methods: 1) RR variability (+19.2%, p less than 0.05); 2) autoregressive power spectral analysis of the resting ECG divided into low-frequency (-21.2%, p less than 0.01) and high-frequency (+51.3%, p less than 0.05) components; and 3) whole-body radiolabeled norepinephrine spillover (-16%, p less than 0.05). These measurements all showed a significant shift away from sympathetic toward enhanced vagal activity after training. CONCLUSIONS: Carefully selected patients with moderate to severe CHF can achieve significant, worthwhile improvements with exercise training. Physical deconditioning may be partly responsible for some of the associated abnormalities and exercise limitation of CHF, including abnormalities in autonomic balance.

Autonomic Nervous System↗
PubMed1986

Motor performance of women as a function of age and physical activity level.

In Study 1, simple and choice reaction time, balance, sit and reach flexibility, shoulder flexibility, and grip strength of older active women were compared with older inactive women, and active and inactive younger women. Except for grip strength, scores of older active women on all measures were significantly better than for older inactive women, and much more like those of the younger women. In Study 2, scores of avid women golfers were compared with the older active and inactive women from Study 1. On all variables, the scores of golfers were significantly better than those of the older inactive women, but not significantly different from the older active women. Findings were consistent with previous research on men, indicating that motor performance tends to be more highly related to lifelong physical activity level than to age.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Waddell signs: distributional properties and correlates.

OBJECTIVE: To determine what percentage of patients have none of the five nonorganic behavioral processes known as Waddell signs, and the relational pattern between Waddell signs and somatic complaints, disturbed functional performance, negative treatment attitudes, physical pathology, depression, generalized anxiety, and MMPI-2 validity scales. DESIGN: Case series survey. SETTING: A referral-based multidisciplinary pain center affiliated with a state medical school. PATIENTS: Seventy-five consecutive patients with chronic back pain. INTERVENTION: Medical evaluation and completion of self-report inventories. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Total number of Waddell signs, physical pathology, and pain intensity ratings were assessed by a physician during an initial medical evaluation. Degree of disturbed functional performance and psychological symptoms were assessed by self-report measures at the initial evaluation. RESULTS: Sixty-four percent of the patients had no Waddell signs. Total number of Waddell signs yielded positive and statistically significant correlations (p < or = .05) with depression, disturbed functional performance, somatic complaints, and pain intensity ratings. Correlations of slightly smaller and statistically nonsignificant magnitudes were revealed for Waddell signs with generalized anxiety, negative treatment attitudes, and physical pathology. Waddell signs were unrelated to age, duration of pain, gender, number of lumbar surgeries, and MMPI-2 validity scales. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, multiple Waddell signs and some of their correlates present various factors that might interfere with optimal response to treatment.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1998

The practice of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide in the United States: adherence to proposed safeguards and effects on physicians.

CONTEXT: Despite intense debates about legalization, there are few data examining the details of actual euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) cases in the United States. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the practices of euthanasia and PAS are consistent with proposed safeguards and the effect on physicians of having performed euthanasia or PAS. DESIGN: Structured in-depth telephone interviews. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Randomly selected oncologists in the United States. OUTCOME MEASURES: Adherence to primary and secondary safeguards for the practice of euthanasia and PAS; regret, comfort, and fear of prosecution from performing euthanasia or PAS. RESULTS: A total of 355 oncologists (72.6% response rate) were interviewed on euthanasia and PAS. On 2 screening questions, 56 oncologists (15.8%) reported participating in euthanasia or PAS; 53 oncologists (94.6% response rate) participated in in-depth interviews. Thirty-eight of 53 oncologists described clearly defined cases of euthanasia or PAS. Twenty-three patients (60.5%) both initiated and repeated their request for euthanasia or PAS, but 6 patients (15.8%) did not participate in the decision for euthanasia or PAS. Thirty-seven patients (97.4%) were experiencing unremitting pain or such poor physical functioning they could not perform self-care. Physicians sought consultation in 15 cases (39.5%). Overall, oncologists adhered to all 3 main safeguards in 13 cases (34.2%): (1) having the patient initiate and repeat the request for euthanasia or PAS, (2) ensuring the patient was experiencing extreme physical pain or suffering, and (3) consulting with a colleague. Those who adhered to the safeguards had known their patients longer and tended to be more religious. In 28 cases (73.7%), the family supported the decision. In all cases of pain, patients were receiving narcotic analgesia. Fifteen patients (39.5%) were enrolled in a hospice. While 19 oncologists (52.6%) received comfort from having helped a patient with euthanasia or PAS, 9 (23.7%) regretted having performed euthanasia or PAS, and 15 (39.5%) feared prosecution. CONCLUSIONS: Intractable pain or poor physical functioning seem to be nearly absolute requirements for physicians to perform euthanasia or PAS. Only one third of cases are performed consistently with proposed safeguards. For some patients, end-of-life care that includes opioid analgesia and hospice care does not obviate their desire for euthanasia or PAS. While the majority of physicians seem comforted by their actions, some experience adverse consequences from having performed euthanasia or PAS.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed2000

Relationship among balance impairments, functional performance, and disability in people with peripheral vestibular hypofunction.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Physical therapy interventions are often based on assumed relationships among impairments, functional performance, and disability. The purposes of this study were (1) to describe balance impairments, functional performance, and disability in subjects with unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction (UVH) and bilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction (BVH), (2) to examine the relationship among these factors, and (3) to determine whether disability can be explained by commonly used tests of balance and functional performance. SUBJECTS: Participants were 85 subjects (mean age=62.5 years, SD=16.5) with UVH (n=41) or BVH (n=44) diagnosed by vestibular function tests and clinical examination. METHODS: Each subject completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) to obtain a measure of disability. Functional performance was measured with a modified Timed Up & Go Test (TUG). Balance impairments were measured with computerized posturography and balance tests. Descriptive statistics, correlational analyses, and stepwise regressions were performed. RESULTS: Subjects with BVH had poorer balance but similar TUG scores and perceived levels of disability, as compared with subjects with UVH. Weak to moderate correlations existed among balance measurements, TUG scores, and DHI scores. Balance impairments and TUG scores together explained 78% of the variance in DHI scores of the subjects with BVH, whereas balance impairments alone explained 13% of the variance in DHI scores of the subjects with UVH. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Balance impairments and functional performance appear to be more closely related to disability in individuals with BVH as compared with those with UVH. Clinical tests of balance impairments and functional performance appear to be useful in explaining disability.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Wandering in Alzheimer's dementia patients.

The purpose of this research was to describe wandering behaviors of institutionalized patients with Alzheimer's disease in their natural environment. Such descriptive information is necessary before successful product and/or nursing intervention programs can be developed. Videotaped behavioral observations yielded detailed data descriptive of patients with middle and late dementia. These patients have the physical ability to perform various functions, activities, or actions; the individual's mental ability is less supportive of physical ability. The degree of task simplicity required to enable the patient to complete unsupervised tasks depends on the level of dementia. The need for interventions is greatest during unstructured periods of the day.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Validation of questionnaires to estimate physical activity and functioning in end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Patients on dialysis are less physically active than sedentary persons with normal kidney function. To assess the consequences of inactivity and the results of efforts to increase activity in the end-stage renal disease (ESRD) population, valid instruments to measure physical activity and physical functioning in this group are needed. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study to establish the validity in ESRD of several questionnaires designed to measure physical activity or physical functioning in the general population. Questionnaires studied included the Stanford 7-day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire (PAR), the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE), the Human Activity Profile (HAP), and the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36-item questionnaire (SF-36). Physical activity was measured using three-dimensional activity monitors (accelerometers) over a seven-day period (the "gold standard"). Patients also underwent physical performance tests, including measurement of gait speed, stair climbing time, and chair rising time. Study questionnaires were administered, and questionnaire results were compared with each other and with activity monitor and physical performance test results. RESULTS: Thirty-nine maintenance hemodialysis patients participated in the study. Dialysis patients scored worse than previously published healthy norms on all tests. All questionnaires correlated with seven-day accelerometry and with at least one measure of physical performance. The HAP correlated best with accelerometry (r = 0.78, P < 0.0001). Seventy-five percent of the variability in physical activity measured by accelerometry could be explained by a model that combined information from the HAP and the PASE. The HAP and the physical functioning scale of the SF-36 were about equally well correlated with physical performance measures. CONCLUSIONS: These questionnaires are valid in patients on hemodialysis and should be used to study the physical activity and rehabilitation efforts in this population further.

Cross-Sectional Studies↗
PubMed2005

Evaluating the accuracy of minimum data set bed-mobility ratings against independent performance assessments: systematic error and directions for improvement.

PURPOSE: The Minimum Data Set (MDS) Activities of Daily Living (ADL) bed-mobility item, which rates the staff-assistance level necessary for bed movement, is used to target scheduled repositioning interventions and to identify physical function changes in nursing home residents; however, accuracy of the item is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the MDS ADL bed-mobility item as completed by nursing home nurses with independent performance assessments conducted by research staff. DESIGN AND METHODS: A convenience sample of 197 long-stay residents from 26 California nursing homes participating in a larger project was used in this cross-sectional study to compare independent research-staff performance assessments (using graduated assistance protocols of residents' ability to move in bed) and nursing home nurse MDS bed-mobility ratings. Participants also wore movement monitors to verify performance assessments. RESULTS: Poor agreement existed between the nursing home nurse MDS bed-mobility ratings and the research-staff performance assessments across all assistance levels (kappa range, kappa = 0.007, p =.918 to kappa = 0.484, p <.001), with better agreement seen in totally dependent participants and with fewer elapsed days between MDS ratings and performance assessments. The odds of nursing home nurse errors (underestimating or overestimating dependency) on the MDS bed-mobility item were 2.1 times higher for participants judged independent by research staff compared with participants judged as requiring physical assistance by research staff (95% confidence interval, 1.14-4.03) when adjusted for number of days between nurse MDS ratings and research-staff performance assessments. IMPLICATIONS: Nursing home nurses overestimated resident dependency in bed mobility. The systematic inaccuracies in MDS bed-mobility ratings have implications for their use as a basis for targeting residents for repositioning programs and determining changes in residents' physical function. Performance assessments utilizing graduated assistance protocols are recommended as a method of improving the accuracy of MDS bed-mobility ratings.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Discrepancies between self-reported and observed physical function in the elderly: the influence of response shift and other factors.

GOAL: To explore the influence of social, psychological, and health factors on self-report of function. SUBJECTS: A convenience sample of 289 community-dwelling elderly aged 65-97 years. METHODS: We compared a measure of function based on observed performance, the Physical Capacity Evaluation (PCE) with a self-reported measure of functional limitations (HAQ), in a cross-sectional study. Stepwise multiple regression identified variables predicting self-reported disability, controlling for observed function. RESULTS: Controlling for PCE, self-reports of greater disability (HAQ) were predicted by current joint pain or stiffness, use of prescription medications, urban dwelling, depression, female gender, lack of memory problems, arthritis and lack of exercise. A final model included recent decline in function, dissatisfaction with function, gender, joint pain or stiffness, and observed function, explaining 85% of the variance in self-reported disability. The hypothesis that aging is associated with declining expectations of functional ability was not supported. However, recent health problems affected participants' reporting of limitations, consistent with a recalibration-type response shift. Perceived decline in function over the past six months, a fall within the last month, illness in the last week and pain or stiffness on the day of the exam all raised self-reports of disability. As suggested by adaptation level theory, subjects with recent problems might have an inflated perception of limitations due to shifts in their internal standards. When administered first, the observed performance test improved correlations between observed and self-reported function, primarily among those who did not report a recent decline in function. This suggests that this group may have benefited more from salient information about their abilities provided by performing the PCE before self-report. CONCLUSION: Our data confirm the importance of social, psychological, and health influences in self-report of disability, and are consistent with the hypothesis that people may recalibrate their self assessments based on recent health problems.

Aged↗