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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Relationship between estrogen use and musculoskeletal function in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between estrogen use and muscle strength, bone mineral density (BMD), and body composition variables in postmenopausal women. Forty healthy, untrained women participated in this study. Subjects (53-65 years) were > or =5 years postmenopausal and were categorized into either estrogen replacement therapy (ERT n=20) or non-estrogen replacement therapy (Non-ERT n=20) groups. METHODS: Muscular strength was measured by 1-RM testing using Cybex isotonic weight machines. Handgrip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Diagnostic Ultrasound was used to determine cross-sectional areas of the biceps brachii and rectus femoris muscle groups. BMD of the lumbar spine, proximal femur, and total body was assessed by Dual Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry (Lunar DPX-IQ). Body composition variables were obtained from the total body scan. Serum osteocalcin was measured as an indicator of bone remodeling. RESULTS: There were no significant differences (P>0.05) for isotonic muscular strength, muscle cross-sectional areas, handgrip strength, or percent fat between ERT and Non-ERT groups. ERT had significantly higher (P<0.05) BMD for the total body, femoral neck and Ward's Area. There were moderate positive relationships between lean body mass and the hip sites (r=0.61-0.70, P<0.05). Regression analyses determined that lean body mass was the strongest predictor of the hip BMD sites. Estrogen use also was a significant predictor for the femoral neck and Ward's Area sites. CONCLUSION: Women taking estrogen exhibited similar muscular strength, muscle size, and body composition as their estrogen-deficient counterparts. Estrogen use was also associated with higher BMD for the total body and hip sites. Generally, body composition, specifically lean body mass, influenced hip BMD more than muscular strength or estrogen use.

Body Composition↗

PubMed2003

[Resection of the first row of carpal bones: post-traumatic wrist and Kienbock's disease].

This study reports the outcomes of 27 proximal row carpectomies for stage II (Watson) scapholunate--(10 Slac) and scaphoid non union--(8 Snac) advanced collapse and stage III (Lichtman) Kienböck's disease (9 cases) followed for an average of respectively 72 and 50 months. Following surgical treatment, more than 80% of patients in both groups were pain free. The total arc of motion averaged 67 degrees (unchanged), for the post-traumatic arthritis, and 59 degrees for Kienböck's, a decrease of 17%. Grip strength averaged a 17% increase in comparison to the opposite size for both groups. Proximal row carpectomy showed a high degree of patient satisfaction and is a motion-preserving and grip-preserving procedure used in stage II post-traumatic arthritis but Lichtman III stage in Kienböck's disease had a comparatively poor result. Proximal row carpectomy simplifies the structure of the radiocarpal joint. When the cartilage on the capitate head and the radial lunate facet are not worn, this procedure provides a good result with respect to pain, range of motion and strength which is stable with time.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Longitudinal changes in selected physical capabilities: muscle strength, flexibility and body size.

OBJECTIVES: first, to record, in a representative sample of older men and women, longitudinal changes in (i) maximal voluntary strength of the handgrip muscles, (ii) maximal range of movement in the shoulder joint and (iii) body weight and skeletal size; second, to explore associations between the changes in muscle strength and both customary physical activity and health outcomes. DESIGN: longitudinal analyses of survivors measured at baseline, and 4-year and 8-year follow-ups. PARTICIPANTS: 350 survivors of a random sample originally aged 65 and over. RESULTS: over 8 years average loss of body weight was slight but significant at about 2 kg (less than 5%). Loss of shoulder range was negligible, while loss of muscle strength was significant at about 40 N (less than 2% per year). Demispan remained stable across all three points of measurement. These mean values concealed substantial variation in the rate of loss of strength, which was twice as fast in the older groups, especially in the women. These losses could not be attributed to worsening health, although this was observed. All the respondents had at least two chronic health problems at the 8-year stage. For the changes in handgrip strength, reduced reported habitual use of the handgrip muscles and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression were significant independent covariates in addition to age and time (all P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: there are significant independent associations between the loss of muscle strength in old age and both decline in physical activity and increase in depression scores. This is strongly suggestive of causal links and confirms the need to encourage physical activity and control depression in order to maintain strength and function in old age.

Aged↗

PubMed1996

Effects of pretest stimulative and sedative music on grip strength.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of stimulative (energizing) and sedative (relaxing) music on grip strength. A 2 x 3 (gender x condition) repeated-measures analysis of variance and post hoc tests showed that participants (N = 50) evidenced higher grip strength after listening to stimulative music (M = 43.94 kg.force) than after sedative music or a white noise control condition. Sedative music yielded lower scores than white noise. Men evidenced higher grip strength than women, but there was no interaction between gender and music condition. It was concluded that a simple motoric task such as grip strength provides a sensitive measure of psychophysical responses to music.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Intermanual differences on motor and psychomotor tests in alcoholics: no evidence for selective right-hemisphere dysfunction.

Some previous studies have suggested that alcoholics exhibit selective right-hemisphere dysfunction, based on alcoholics' poor performance on tests believed to subserve the right hemisphere. However, some of these experiments did not account adequately for differences in difficulty or novelty in putative right hemisphere tasks. This experiment was designed to evaluate and compare intermanual differences in grip strength, motor speed, fine-motor dexterity, and nonverbal problem-solving ability in 93 recently detoxified alcoholics, 54 long-term abstinent alcoholics, and 73 nonalcoholic controls. All subjects were right-handed men, matched for age and education, and both alcoholic groups had similar drinking histories. Using percent difference scores to assess intermanual differences, adjusted for demographics where appropriate, we found that, although recently detoxified alcoholics demonstrate some motor and psychomotor impairments, there is no evidence using these tests to suggest the right hemisphere is selectively more vulnerable to the effects of chronic alcohol abuse.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Force developmental phase and reliability in explosive and voluntary grip exertions.

The purposes of this study were to clarify the reliability of two types of grip exertions, explosive grip exertion and voluntary grip exertion up to the maximal grip strength and to examine their force patterns using force-time parameters. Subjects were 100 healthy young male volunteers (age: 17.8+/-2.50 yr.) who had no upper limb injury. Grip strength was measured two times with voluntary grip and then two times with explosive grip. 11 parameters derived from the force-time curve were selected to measure the developmental phase of muscle contraction. The reliability of maximal grip strength in explosive and voluntary grip exertions was very high (intraclass correlation = .95, .93). The difference between two trials in explosive grip tended to be smaller than that for voluntary grip, and reliability of the exertion pattern was higher for explosive grip than voluntary grip. The times to reach 90% of the maximal grip strength and the maximal grip strength in explosive grip were shorter than those in voluntary grip. The other 8 force-time parameters had higher values in explosive grip than voluntary grip and higher reliabilities. The force-time parameters reflect the properties of explosive exertion. The results suggest the possibility that static explosive strength could be evaluated using these force-time parameters.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Age, sex, and body mass index in performance of selected locomotor and fitness tasks by children in grades K-2.

The purpose of this study was to examine the contributions of 3 predictor variables (age, sex, and body mass index) to performance of 7 fundamental movement skills (locomotor; run, gallop, hop, leap, jump, skip, and slide) and 4 fitness tasks (grip strength, step test, sit and reach, and timed sit-ups) by 65 children in Grades K-2 (M=6 yr.). A multiple regression analysis indicated that running, leaping, and skipping improved with age. No sex differences were observed on any of the seven skills. In terms of the four fitness tasks, age was positively associated with timed sit-ups and grip strength and inversely associated with step-test performance. Sex was associated with step-test and sit and reach performance (girls performed better on both). Finally, body mass index was related to increased grip strength and fewer timed sit-ups.

Body Mass Index↗

PubMed2005

[Isometric muscle strength measurements and assessment: a pilot study].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the anthropometric parameters and the isometric muscle strength in a working population sample in China, and to investigate the relationship between muscle strength and individual attributes, such as age, gender, height and weight. METHODS: The study population consisted of 146 male and 47 female people including workers, administrators and college students. Four types of muscle strength, i.e., handgrip, arm lift, shoulder lift, and torso pull, were measured. RESULTS: Left handgrip, right handgrip, arm lift, shoulder lift and torso pull of male workers were (42.07 +/- 7.20), (43.92 +/- 7.14), (26.79 +/- 4.64), (33.79 +/- 6.88), (88.56 +/- 17.98) kg, respectively while those of female workers were (21.29 +/- 5.09), (23.26 +/- 5.47), (13.29 +/- 3.37), (18.52 +/- 4.01), (41.06 +/- 12.04) kg, respectively. The female's strength was about 50% lower than the male's. The strength in the 40 approximately years old group was higher than that in other age groups. There were significant positive correlation between the gender and the isometric strength as well as between the body weight and the isometric strength. If the body weight served as the corrected parameter, there was no significant difference in the handgrip among the groups (P < 0.05), but the torso pull of male workers > college students > administrators. All relative muscle strengths except the torso pull were similar for all age groups. CONCLUSION: The body weight as the independent variable can be used for establishing the predictive equation of the muscle strength. Calculation of the relative muscle strength can relieve the interference of the body weight for the muscle strength.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1998

Effect of forearm rotation on grip strength.

Forearm rotation affects grip strength. In a study with 40 volunteers, an overall decrease in grip strength was observed when the forearm rotated from pronation to supination. In males grip strength in pronation was significantly lower compared to the neutral and supinated position, with the wrist free as well as in an immobilized wrist position. In females this was only observed with a free wrist position, but with the wrist immobilized, the grip strength was higher in supination compared to neutral and pronation.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Time course of stretch-induced isometric strength deficits.

Stretching in the warm-up has been shown to decrease several muscular performance variables, but the dose-response of this effect is unknown. This study documented the change in isometric grip strength over ten trials in a convenience sample of young adults randomly assigned to control (n=22) or repeated bouts of 10-s static stretches of the wrist flexors (n=35). There was a significant (P<0.05) difference in the change in mean normalized grip strength between the control and stretching groups that was not significantly different across gender. Grip strengths in the control group were consistent with a linear trend, while the grip strengths in the stretching group declined in a logarithmic fashion to 88.8% with 100 s of stretching. Statistically significant (P<0.05) differences in normalized grip strength between the two groups appeared after 40 s of stretching. Meaningful decreases in isometric grip strength following static stretching are likely to appear in young adults following 20-40 s of static stretching.

Female↗

PubMed1998

The outcome of tendon transfers for C6-spared quadriplegics.

The purpose of this study was to review retrospectively and evaluate a uniform group of C6-spared quadriplegics who had similar surgical procedures. Eight patients undergoing 12 procedures were reviewed at an average of 3.8 years follow-up. There were three bilateral procedures. All patients had extensor carpi radialis longus to flexor digitorum profundus and brachioradialis to flexor pollicis longus transfers to improve grip strength and key pinch. All patients reported subjective improvements in quality of life, activities of daily living and patient-centred goals. There were six excellent and two good results. Objective improvements included mild improvements in key pinch and grip strength.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Physical fitness and physical activity in obese and nonobese Flemish youth.

OBJECTIVE: To assess different aspects of physical fitness and physical activity in obese and nonobese Flemish youth. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: A random sample of 3214 Flemish schoolchildren was selected and divided into an "obese" and "nonobese" group based on body mass index and sum of skinfolds. Physical fitness was assessed by the European physical fitness test battery. Physical activity was estimated by a modified version of the Baecke Questionnaire. RESULTS: Obese subjects had inferior performances on all tests requiring propulsion or lifting of the body mass (standing-broad jump, sit-ups, bent-arm hang, speed shuttle run, and endurance shuttle run) compared with their nonobese counterparts (p < 0.001). In contrast, the obese subjects showed greater strength on handgrip (p < 0.001). Both groups had similar levels of leisure-time physical activity; however, nonobese boys had a higher sport index than their obese counterparts (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Results of this study show that obese subjects had poorer performances on weight-bearing tasks, but did not have lower scores on all fitness components. To encourage adherence to physical activity in obese youth, it is important that activities are tailored to their capabilities. Results suggest that weight-bearing activities should be limited at the start of an intervention with obese participants and alternative activities that rely more on static strength used.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

Isometric pull and push strengths of paraplegics in the workspace: 1. Strength measurement profiles.

The isometric strength profiles of male and female paraplegics were determined for pull and push strengths in the normal, maximum, and extreme working reach envelopes. A computerized isometric strength measurement system was designed and constructed for the purpose. The strongest pull location was at extreme reach vertically above the shoulder and the strength values for males and females were 473 and 318 newtons (N), respectively. The strongest push location was at maximum reach, at vertical (phi) angle of 45 degrees and at horizontal (theta) angle of 45 degrees for males and at 0 degrees for women and the strength values were 235 and 172 N, respectively. The nature of the strength profiles was found to be similar for both the sexes. The pull and push strengths of the female were 77 and 68% that of the male, respectively.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Tracking of physical fitness from childhood to adulthood.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the tracking of selected aspects of physical fitness (peak handgrip force, sit-ups, aerobic fitness, and blood pressure) from childhood to adulthood. The investigation studied a randomly selected subgroup from the original participants in the Trois-Rivières growth and development study, 95 women (57 experimental and 38 control) and 96 men (56 experimental and 40 control). During their primary-school education, the experimental group had received 5 hours of physical education each week whereas the control group had received 40 minutes per week. Data were gathered when subjects were 10-12 years old (baseline) and during follow-up around the age of 35 years. Tracking between 10, 11, 12, and 35 years of age was assessed by correlation analysis. In females the tracking of grip strength increased from the interval 10-35 to the intervals 11-35 and 12-35 years of age (r = 0.54 to 0.69 and 0.67, respectively, all p < 0.001). In males the tracking of grip strength was less consistent, but also increased over the same intervals to become significant for the correlation between 12 and 35 years of age (r = 0.32, p < 0.05). Tracking for sit-ups also increased, from 0.29 to 0.38 for females and from 0.23 to 0.54 for males. The tracking of PWC 170/kg between 11 and 35 years was significant but low in females (r = 0.24) as well as in males (r = 0.34). The ability of childhood blood pressure to predict adult values was low in females (r = 0.24 for diastolic, ns; and r = 0.26 for systolic, p < 0.05) and absent in males. Presumably because some of the influence of the added physical education was lost by adulthood, the tracking of PWC 170/kg and grip strength was weaker for experimental than for control subjects. In conclusion, data from the Trois-Rivières longitudinal study showed limited tracking of PWC170/kg and situps in both sexes. The tracking of grip strength was moderately high in females but less consistent in males. This may reflect the larger influence of sex hormones on the muscle strength of males at puberty.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Measurement of upper and lower body strength and its relationship to underhand pitching speed.

This study investigated the possible relationship for legs, arms, shoulders, and grip strength with underhand throwing speed. 40 female subjects had their legs, arms, and shoulder strength measured using a multipurpose exercise machine for assessing resistive force. Grip strength was measured using a handgrip dynamometer. Underhand throwing speed was measured with a radar gun. Regression analysis indicated a relationship (p < or = .05) between strength of the arms and underhand pitching speed. No significant relationships were found for legs, shoulders, and grip strength, and underhand pitching speed.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Early dynamic motion versus postoperative immobilization in patients with extensor indicis proprius transfer to restore thumb extension: a prospective randomized study.

Transfer of the extensor indicis proprius is the gold standard for reconstruction of the extensor pollicis longus tendon to restore thumb extension. Twenty patients were included to a prospective randomized trial to assess whether an early dynamic motion protocol yields a better outcome than immobilization. Evaluation included postoperative range of motion, grip strength, duration of treatment, and time off work. Ten patients of each group had the thumb immobilized in an extension thumb spica cast for 3 weeks after surgery or underwent an early dynamic motion protocol. Follow-up examinations were performed 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery. At 3 weeks total range of motion of the interphalangeal joint was almost twice as good (59 degrees ) in the dynamic motion group compared with immobilized patients (31 degrees ). At 6 weeks no significant differences between the groups were found. A similar pattern for grip strength and pinch grip was found after 3 weeks, when patients undergoing the motion protocol had significantly better results than the immobilized group. Although the dynamic motion group still had better results after 4 weeks, hand function was similar in both groups after 6 and 8 weeks. Patients with early dynamic motion recovered their hand function more rapidly than immobilized patients, shortening total rehabilitation time and making dynamic motion treatment highly cost-effective.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

The effect of cervical traction combined with conventional therapy on grip strength on patients with cervical radiculopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if combining intermittent cervical traction with conventional physical therapy methods is more effective than using conventional approaches alone in the improvement of the grip strength and treatment of the patients with unilateral cervical 7 (C7) radiculopathy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial (RCT). SETTING: An outpatient physical therapy clinic, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Iran. PATIENTS: A sample of convenience of 30 patients with unilateral C7 radiculopathy participated in this study. Patients were assigned randomly to a control (N = 15, mean age = 46.93 +/- 5.32) and an experimental group (N = 15, mean age = 47.53 +/- 5.6). INTERVENTIONS: Electrotherapy/exercise treatment for control group and combined cervical traction and electrotherapy/exercise for experimental group. Ten physical therapy sessions, three times a week for each group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Grip strength as an appropriate objective parameter was measured before treatment and after 5 and 10 treatment sessions. RESULTS: Statistical analysis (paired t-test) revealed significant increase in grip strength after 10 treatment sessions in control (p < 0.01) and experimental group (p < 0.01) compared with pretreatment score. In the ANCOVA, controlling for pretest scores, no significant difference was found between the two groups in the after 10 treatment sessions grip score (p = 0.65). However, the change in grip strength after five sessions was significantly greater for the experimental group than for the control group (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The application of cervical traction combined with electrotherapy and exercise produced an immediate improvement in the hand grip function in patients with cervical radiculopathy.

Cervical Vertebrae↗

PubMed1999

Chronic pain disability exaggeration/malingering and submaximal effort research.

OBJECTIVE: This is the first review of chronic pain (CP) malingering/disease simulation research. The purpose of this review was to determine the prevalence of malingering within CP patients (CPPs), whether evidence exists that malingering can be detected within CPPs, and to suggest some avenues of research for this topic. DESIGN: A computer and manual literature search produced 328 references related to malingering, disease simulation, dissimulation, symptom magnification syndrome, and submaximal effort. Of these, 68 related to one of these topics and to pain. The references were reviewed in detail, sorted into 12 topic areas, and placed into tabular form. These 12 topic areas addressed the following: existence of malingering within the CP setting; dissimulation, identification simulated (faked) facial expressions of pain; identification of malingering by questionnaire; identification of malingered sensory impairment; identification of malingered loss of hand grip strength; identification of submaximal effort by isometric strength testing; identification of submaximal or malingered effort by isokinetic strength testing; identification of submaximal or malingered effort by the method of coefficient of variation; self-deception; symptom magnification syndrome; and miscellaneous malingering identification studies. Each report, in each topic area, was rated for scientific quality according to guidelines developed by the Agency for Health Care, Policy and Research (AHCPR) for rating the level of evidence presented in the reviewed study. The AHCPR guidelines were then used to rate the strength and consistency of the research evidence in each topic area based on the type of evidence the reports represented. All review conclusions were based on the results of these ratings. SETTING: Any medical setting reporting on either malingering or disease simulation, or dissimulation, or submaximal effort and pain. PATIENTS: Normal volunteers, CPPs, or any group asked to produce a submaximal or malingered effort or a malingered test profile. RESULTS: The reviewed studies indicated that malingering and dissimulation do occur within the CP setting. Malingering may be present in 1.25-10.4% of CPPs. However, because of poor study quality, these prevalence percentages are not reliable. The study evidence also indicated that malingering cannot be reliably identified by facial expression testing, questionnaire, sensory testing, or clinical examination. There was no acceptable scientific information on symptom magnification syndrome. Hand grip testing using the Jamar dynamometer and other types of isometric strength testing did not reliably discriminate between a submaximal/malingering effort and a maximal/best effort. However, isokinetic strength testing appeared to have potential for discriminating between maximal and submaximal effort and between best and malingered efforts. Repetitive testing with the coefficient of variation was not a reliable method for discriminating a real/best effort from a malingered effort. CONCLUSIONS: Current data on the prevalence of malingering within CPPs is not consistent, and no conclusions can be drawn from these data. As yet, there is no reliable method for detecting malingering within CPPs, although isokinetic testing shows promise. Claims by professionals that such a determination can be made should be viewed with caution.

Chronic Disease↗