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[Sports as therapy].

Over the last 2 decades the clinical application of physical exercise as a therapeutic strategy has developed from rehabilitation to prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. This shift in clinical application was accompanied by a more systematic research approach of the involved mechanisms and the objective clinical assessment of sport interventions using prospective randomized clinical trials. This ongoing process established physical exercise as an evidence-based and guideline-oriented treatment option. In stable coronary artery disease (CAD), exercise therapy has long been used for rehabilitation purposes following an acute myocardial infarction. A recent meta-analysis revealed a significant 27% reduction of total mortality among training patients. Four mechanisms are considered important mediators of the reduced cardiac event rate: improvement of endothelial function, reduced progression of coronary lesions, reduced thrombogenic risk, and improved collateralization. The therapeutic benefit of regular physical exercise has also been confirmed in direct comparison with an interventional strategy: a 12-month exercise therapy in stable CAD patients was associated with a higher event-free survival as compared to conventional percutaneous coronary intervention. In stable chronic heart failure (CHF), physical activity was traditionally discouraged-with negative consequences for the patients: exercise intolerance worsened, the progression of disease-related muscular atrophy accelerated. A carefully designed exercise program at 50-70% of the maximal oxygen uptake was effective in improving exercise capacity by 12-32%. In a recent meta-analysis, exercise therapy reduced the relative risk of CHF mortality by 35% and CHF-related hospitalizations by 28%. Considering the growing body of evidence in favor of sport as a therapy, training interventions should be considered additional/alternative therapeutic strategies as compared with established pharmacological/interventional options.

Coronary Artery Disease↗

Usefulness of mazindol in combined diet therapy consisting of a low-calorie diet and Optifast in severely obese women.

We conducted a double-blind test to examine whether or not the addition of mazindol, an appetite suppressor, to combined diet therapy [low-calorie diet + Optifast: 4600-3928kj(1100-940 kcal)/day] enhances the weight-reduction effect and reduces dropout from treatment in women with severe obesity. All of the patients were enrolled in the combined diet therapy and exercise [1255kj(300 kcal/day)] for 7 months. At the end of the first month, the patients were given, at random, three tablets of either 0.5 mg mazindol (18 women) or placebo (18 women) per day, in three doses for three months, in addition to the diet and exercise therapies. At 7 months, the key for the double-blind test was opened by the controller. Four of the 18 patients in the placebo group dropped out of the programme at 2 months after drug treatment, because they could not endure the intense hunger. Therefore, data for these 4 patients were excluded from evaluation. However, none of the patients treated with mazindol + combined diet therapy dropped out. The body weight and body-fat ratio showed marked reduction (p < 0.01 vs. premedication weight). The percent weight loss and percent reduction in body-fat ratio in the mazindol group was significantly (p < 0.01) greater than those found in the placebo group, which also showed a significant decrease in body weight and body-fat ratio (p < 0.01 vs. pre-medication weight) during the same period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

Long-term effects of 6-week whole-body vibration on balance recovery and activities of daily living in the postacute phase of stroke: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The long-term effects of 6-weeks whole-body vibration, as a novel method of somatosensory stimulation, on postural control and activities of daily living were compared with those of 6 weeks of exercise therapy on music of the same intensity in the postacute phase of stroke. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with moderate to severe functional disabilities were randomized within 6 weeks poststroke and within 3 days after admission to a rehabilitation center to either whole-body vibration or exercise therapy on music in addition to a regular inpatient rehabilitation program. The whole-body vibration group received 4x45-second stimulation on the Galileo 900 (30-Hz frontal plane oscillations of 3-mm amplitude) for 5 days per week during 6 weeks. The exercise therapy on music group received the same amount of exercise therapy on music. Outcome variables included the Berg Balance Scale, Trunk Control Test, Rivermead Mobility Index, Barthel Index, Functional Ambulation Categories, Motricity Index, and somatosensory threshold at 0, 6, and 12 weeks follow up. RESULTS: At baseline, both groups were comparable in terms of prognostic factors and outcome measures. Both at 6 and 12 weeks follow up, no clinically relevant or statistical differences in outcome were observed between the groups. No side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Daily sessions of whole-body vibration during 6 weeks are not more effective in terms of recovery of balance and activities of daily living than the same amount of exercise therapy on music in the postacute phase of stroke.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Hospital therapy improves exercise tolerance and lung function in cystic fibrosis.

We studied the benefits of in-hospital therapy on exercise capacity and related these changes to improvements in lung function in 17 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) of moderate to extreme severity, as defined by results of pulmonary function tests performed at admission and discharge. Tolerance and adaptations to exercise were assessed from measures of peak work capacity (PWC), peak heart rate (PHR), and peak ventilation (PVE) obtained during an incremental exercise test. Treatment lasted from nine to 18 days. All measures of lung function improved; there also were significant increases in PWC, PHR, PVE, and PHR/PWC. Exercise-induced arterial desaturation was less at discharge than at admission. The PWC of the most severely affected patients remained abnormally low, and their adaptations to exercise were abnormal at discharge. We concluded that intensive in-hospital therapy will significantly improve exercise tolerance and lung function in patients with CF with moderate to severe pulmonary dysfunction.

Adolescent↗

Angiotensinogen gene polymorphism (Met235Thr) influences visceral obesity and insulin resistance in obese Japanese women.

To investigate the relationship between angiotensinogen (AGT) Met235Thr polymorphism (M235T) and human obesity, because AGT is regarded as one of the cytokines produced from adipocytes and serum AGT concentrations are reported to be positively correlated with body mass index. One hundred and twenty obese Japanese women (age, 58.8+/-9.4 years; body mass index, 32.2+/-4.9 kg/m(2)) were enrolled. Angiotensinogen genotypes were determined with a fluorescent allele-specific DNA primer assay system. Subjects were divided into M/M, M/T, and T/T groups. Control subjects comprised 146 healthy age-matched women. Clinical characteristics and the effects of diet and exercise therapy for 6 months were compared among the 3 genotypes. The genotype frequencies of AGT M235T polymorphism were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equation (obese: M/M, 6.7%; M/T, 27.5%; T/T, 65.8%; control: M/M, 6.8%; M/T, 21.2%; T/T, 71.9%). The frequency of the T allele did not differ between obese and control subjects (0.80 vs 0.83). As the number of obese women with M/M genotype was only 8, comparisons of the characteristics and outcomes of weight reduction therapy were performed only between subjects with M/T genotype and T/T genotype. In the T/T group, % body fat and waist circumference at baseline were significantly greater than in the M/T group (36.3%+/-4.8% vs 33.8%+/-4.7%, P=.0105; 107.9+/-10.9 vs 102.6+/-7.9 cm, P=.0428, respectively). Before the weight reduction therapy, significantly higher insulin and higher homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-R) were demonstrated in the T/T group than in the M/T group (9.1+/-5.5 microU/mL vs 5.9+/-4.4 microU/mL, P=.0056; 2.3+/-1.4 vs 1.6+/-1.3, P=.0252, respectively). Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure at baseline in the T/T group tended to be higher than those in the M/T group, but the differences were not significant. No genotype-dependent difference in energy expenditure or outcome of weight reduction therapy was observed with respect to AGT M235T polymorphism. After the diet and exercise therapy, the blood pressure in the T/T group tended to be higher than that in the M/T group, but the difference was not significant. We demonstrated that the T/T genotype of the AGT M235T gene polymorphism was positively related to visceral obesity and hyperinsulinemia in obese Japanese women. Blood pressure did not show genotype-specific differences before or after the treatment. Further studies of the association between obesity and this gene polymorphism should contribute to understanding and treating obesity-related diseases.

Aged↗

Exercise for people with peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral neuropathies are a wide range of diseases affecting the peripheral nerves. Demyelination or axonal degeneration gives rise to a variety of symptoms including reduced or altered sensation, pain, muscle weakness and fatigue. Secondary disability arises and this may result in adjustments to psychological and social function. Exercise therapy, with a view to developing strength and stamina, forms part of the treatment for people with peripheral neuropathy, particularly in the later stages of recovery from acute neuropathy and in chronic neuropathies. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine the effect of exercise therapy on functional ability in the treatment of people with peripheral neuropathy. In addition, secondary outcomes of muscle strength, endurance, broader measures of health and well being, as well as unfavourable outcomes were examined. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group register (July 2002 and updated February 2004) and MEDLINE (from January 1966 to June 2004), EMBASE (from January 1980 to June 2004), CINAHL (from January 1982 to July 2002) and LILACS (from January 1982 to July 2002) electronic databases. Bibliographies of all selected randomised controlled trials were checked and authors contacted to identify additional published or unpublished data. SELECTION CRITERIA: Any randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trial comparing the effect of exercise therapy with no exercise therapy or drugs or an alternative non-drug treatment on functional ability (or disability) in people with peripheral neuropathy at least eight weeks after randomisation was included. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently selected eligible studies, rated the methodological quality and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: Only one trial fully met the inclusion criteria. An additional two trials assessed outcomes less than eight weeks after randomisation and were also included. Methodological quality was poor for several criteria in each study. Data used in the three studies could not be pooled due to heterogeneity of diagnostic groups and outcome measures. The results of the included trials failed to show any effect of strengthening and endurance exercise programmes on functional ability in people with peripheral neuropathy. However, there is some evidence that strengthening exercise programmes were moderately effective in increasing the strength of tested muscles. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: There is inadequate evidence to evaluate the effect of exercise on functional ability in people with peripheral neuropathy. The results suggest that progressive resisted exercise may improve muscle strength in affected muscles.

Exercise Therapy↗

Combination therapy of exercise and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor markedly improves insulin sensitivities in hypertensive patients with insulin resistance.

The contraction of muscle enhances the release of bradykinin (BK) and improves glucose uptake by the muscle. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) slows the breakdown of BK, thus the effect of BK is augmented in the presence of ACEI. The present study investigated whether the combination of exercise (increased production of BK) and ACEI (delay in breakdown of BK) might further improve insulin sensitivity in hypertensive patients with insulin resistance (HOMA-R>1.8). Patients were assigned either to increased walking distance (Walking group) or taking 2 mg temocapril, an ACEI, daily (ACEI group) for 8 weeks. Then both interventions were given to all patients for 8 weeks (ACEI+Walking group). Blood concentrations of triglycerides were slightly lower in the ACEI+Walking group than at baseline, although there were no significant differences in total cholesterol or high density lipoprotein-cholesterol among the 2 groups. Blood glucose was not significantly different with each treatment, but blood concentrations of insulin and HOMA-R were significantly lower in the Walking and ACEI groups compared with the Control group. The combination of walking and ACEI further lowered blood concentrations of insulin and HOMA-R, which suggests that this treatment is beneficial for hypertensive patients with insulin resistance.

Adult↗

Current therapy of the failing heart.

Myocardial dysfunction eventuating in systolic and diastolic pump function abnormalities is a consequence of a wide variety of cardiac diseases. The symptoms that develop in this syndrome appear to be related as much to peripheral and neurohormonal mechanisms as to the underlying pathological and cardiac functional abnormality. Relief of symptoms, slowing of the progression of the cardiac functional abnormality, and prolongation of life provide the major agenda for the physician faced with the management of these patients. Judicious use of vasodilators, diuretics, digoxin, dietary therapy, and exercise therapy can relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life in most patients suffering from this syndrome. Recent evidence that vasodilator drugs can prolong life now provides the physician with further justification for routine use of this class of compounds. The eventual solution to the high mortality in this common disease process may be prevention of the development of overt heart failure by more prompt recognition and early treatment of the signs of ventricular dysfunction. This possibility must await the completion of current and proposed clinical trials.

Exercise↗

Caring for the patient with fibromyalgia: the rehabilitation nurse's role.

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic, potentially disabling, cluster of symptoms that manifests as pain for 3 months or more and pain with pressure on 11 of 18 tender points throughout the body. Because there is no known cause, and therefore, no cure, treatment focuses on the control or relief of symptoms. Many patients are referred to rehabilitation settings for physical or exercise therapy. While exercise is helpful in the control of the pain, stiffness, fatigue, sleep disorders, and mood changes, a holistic approach to treatment is more effective. Rehabilitation nurses provide major support for patients with FM. Validation of the patients' experiences is essential for achieving quality of life. Many patients have a history of being undertreated because of a lack of credibility and invisibility of the illness. This article provides background information about FM, summarizes the FM trajectory, reviews approaches to management, and discusses the role of rehabilitation nurses in a holistic approach to care of clients with FM.

Female↗

Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for low back pain: a randomized crossover study.

CONTEXT: Low back pain (LBP) contributes to considerable disability and lost wages in the United States. Commonly used opioid and nonopioid analgesic drugs produce adverse effects and are of limited long-term benefit in the management of this patient population. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of a novel nonpharmacologic pain therapy, percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS), with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and flexion-extension exercise therapies in patients with long-term LBP. DESIGN: A randomized, single-blinded, sham-controlled, crossover study from March 1997 to December 1997. SETTING: An ambulatory pain management center at a university medical center. PATIENTS: Twenty-nine men and 31 women with LBP secondary to degenerative disk disease. INTERVENTIONS: Four therapeutic modalities (sham-PENS, PENS, TENS, and exercise therapies) were each administered for a period of 30 minutes 3 times a week for 3 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pretreatment and posttreatment visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain, physical activity, and quality of sleep; daily analgesic medication usage; a global patient assessment questionnaire; and Health Status Survey Short Form (SF-36). RESULTS: PENS was significantly more effective in decreasing VAS pain scores after each treatment than sham-PENS, TENS, and exercise therapies (after-treatment mean +/- SD VAS for pain, 3.4+/-1.4 cm, 5.5+/-1.9 cm, 5.6+/-1.9 cm, and 6.4+/-1.9 cm, respectively). The average +/- SD daily oral intake of nonopioid analgesics (2.6+/-1.4 pills per day) was decreased to 1.3+/-1.0 pills per day with PENS (P<.008) compared with 2.5+/-1.1, 2.2+/-1.0, and 2.6+/-1.2 pills per day with sham-PENS, TENS, and exercise, respectively. Compared with the other 3 modalities, 91 % of the patients reported that PENS was the most effective in decreasing their LBP. The PENS therapy was also significantly more effective in improving physical activity, quality of sleep, and sense of well-being (P<.05 for each). The SF-36 survey confirmed that PENS improved posttreatment function more than sham-PENS, TENS, and exercise. CONCLUSIONS: In this sham-controlled study, PENS was more effective than TENS or exercise therapy in providing short-term pain relief and improved physical function in patients with long-term LBP.

Adult↗

Comparison of the responsiveness of the Harris Hip Score with generic measures for hip function in osteoarthritis of the hip.

OBJECTIVE: To compare responsiveness of the Harris Hip Score with generic measures (that is, the Short Form-36 (SF-36), and a test of walking speed and pain during walking) in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip. METHOD: The first 75 cases within the population of a randomised clinical trial on manual therapy and exercise therapy were selected for secondary analysis. Experienced (self reported) recovery by the patients after treatment (five weeks) was used as an external criterion for clinically relevant improvement. Responsiveness was evaluated by comparing responsiveness ratios and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: The responsiveness ratio for the Harris Hip Score was high (1.70) compared with walking speed (0.45), pain during walking (0.66), and the subscales of the SF-36-"bodily pain" (0.42) and "physical functioning" (0.36). The area under the curve also was highest for the Harris Hip Score (0.92) compared with walking speed (0.71), pain during walking (0.73), and the SF-36 subscales-bodily pain and physical functioning (both 0.66). CONCLUSION: The Harris Hip Score is more responsive than the test of walking speed, pain, and subscales for function of the SF-36 in patients with OA of the hip. The Harris Hip Score seems to be a suitable instrument to evaluate change in hip function in patients with OA of the hip.

Aged↗

Cardiovascular disease in patients with dysvascular amputation.

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in individuals with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Among patients who have undergone lower extremity amputation as a result of PVD, the prevalence of concomitant cardiovascular disease may be as high as 75%. Comorbid heart disease may complicate the postamputation course of recovery, delay initiation of rehabilitation training, and inhibit the achievement of maximal functional independence. A variety of methods have been used to assess cardiac status and risk in amputation patients undergoing physical training; these have included clinical evaluation, resting electrocardiography, and continuous dynamic electrocardiography during either standard physical therapy exercise or adapted ergometry. Several conditioning training programs have been developed to improve the cardiovascular fitness of patients with dysvascular amputation, the results of which have been favorable. These assessment and intervention strategies have extensive applicability in the clinical management of patients with dysvascular amputation.

Amputation, Traumatic↗

Nonpharmacologic management strategies.

Nonpharmacologic management strategies for Parkinson's disease should focus on educating the patient and family, empowering them to take control over the disease through physical, occupational and speech therapy, exercise, and good nutrition. An educated understanding of psycho-social resources will enable the patient and family to develop strategies to cope with life style changes encountered in the successful management of Parkinson's disease.

Disease Progression↗

The idiopathic musculoskeletal pain syndromes in childhood.

Idiopathic musculoskeletal pain syndromes in children have a variety of manifestations; they can be diffuse or well localized, constant or intermittent, with or without autonomic symptoms and signs, completely incapacitating or not limiting activities, and they can tax the physician's diagnostic skill. A careful history and examination is usually all that is needed to make a diagnosis, although the differential diagnosis is large and might require laboratory and radiographic investigation. Pain and functional assessment help track the progress with therapy. Intense exercise therapy is associated with the best outcome. Psychologic issues should be evaluated to determine if further psychologic intervention is indicated. The medium-term outcome is probably good for most of these children, but the long-term prognosis is unknown. One must be aware that other manifestations of psychologic problems might emerge. By the time these children and their families see the rheumatologist they are desperate and can be frustrating to work with due to their difficulty in accepting any kind of psychologic element to the pain and its associated disability. Nevertheless, it is rewarding to help the children understand and work through their pain so they can resume normal lives.

Child↗

Medical treatment of peripheral vascular disease: good or bad?

The majority of patients with intermittent claudication are treated conservatively; smoking must be stopped and exercise therapy commenced. There are various classes of drugs that are widely prescribed for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease. In this editorial the medical treatment of peripheral vascular disease is claimed to achieve at least one of three goals: (1) improvement of the functional capability; (2) inhibition of the progression of the atherosclerotic and anatomical lesions; (3) reduction of the cardiac and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Guidelines are given for well controlled trials for newly developed drugs for the treatment of peripheral vascular disease in the future.

Arterial Occlusive Diseases↗

The role of skeletal muscle in glucose transport, glucose homeostasis, and insulin resistance: implications for physical therapy.

Skeletal muscle has a fundamentally important role in the maintenance of normal glucose homeostasis and in regulating whole-body carbohydrate metabolism. In this review, we discuss the regulation of skeletal muscle glucose transport by muscular activity and inactivity. A large number of patients routinely seen by physical therapists exhibit some form of skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Therefore, we discuss how skeletal muscle insulin resistance can be localized to a relatively small muscle mass, or in other circumstances can affect a large proportion of the muscle mass leading to disturbances in whole-body glucose homeostasis. We review the mechanisms and regulation of skeletal muscle glucose transport as background for understanding how defects in this process may contribute to the underlying pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Research into the events regulating glucose entry into skeletal muscles has considerable impact on how physical therapy exercise prescriptions may benefit patients with disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism. With an understanding of the principles of proper exercise prescription, physical therapists can use exercise training as a primary therapeutic intervention to improve local muscle and whole-body glucose utilization, and thereby minimize insulin resistance.

Blood Glucose↗