Prehabilitation Before Total Knee Arthroplasty Increases Strength and Function in Older Adults With Severe Osteoarthritis

Preparing for the stress of total knee arthroplasty (TKA) surgery by exercise training (prehabilitation) may improve strength and function before surgery and, if effective, has the potential to contribute to postoperative recovery. Subjects with severe osteoarthritis (OA), pain intractable to medicine and scheduled for TKA were randomized into a usual care (UC) group (n = 36) or usual care and exercise (UC + EX) group (n = 35). The UC group maintained normal daily activities before their TKA. The UC + EX group performed a comprehensive prehabilitation program that included resistance training using bands, flexibility, and step training at least 3 times per week for 4-8 weeks before their TKA in addition to UC. Leg strength (isokinetic peak torque for knee extension and flexion) and ability to perform functional tasks (6-minute walk, 30 second sit-to-stand repetitions, and the time to ascend and descend 2 flights of stairs) were assessed before randomization at baseline (T1) and 1 week before the subject\u27s TKA (T2). Repeated-measures analysis of variance indicated a significant group by time interaction (p \u3c 0.05) for the 30-second sit-to-stand repetitions, time to ascend the first flight of stairs, and peak torque for knee extension in the surgical knee. Prehabilitation increased leg strength and the ability to perform functional tasks for UC + EX when compared to UC before TKA. Short term (4-8 weeks) of prehabilitation was effective for increasing strength and function for individuals with severe OA. The program studied is easily transferred to a home environment, and clinicians working with this population should consider prehabilitation before TKA. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT

A Smoking Cessation Project For African American Women: Implications For Relational Research

Smoking cessation among African Americans is a primary health objective for the nation. African American women are more likely than their counterparts to have a high dependency upon nicotine. Studies with African American women report lower quit rates than those for whites. A culturally sensitive pilot project was designed for African American women to investigate smoking, perception of family environment (FES-R, Life Events Scale, family survey), feasibility of family-focused followup sessions, and an exercise program. Baseline cigarettes were negatively correlated with the FES-R subscales for cohesion, active-recreational orientation, and moral/ religious emphasis; they were positively correlated with negativity in an important relationship. Predictors of ending cigarettes were scores for life events internal to the family and the FES-R subscale for independence. Interview and survey data identified potential sources of social support and perceived relational injustices. Future studies will explore expressed emotion, relational ethics, and interventions that improve relationships

Impact of prior exercise on hamstring flexibility : a comparison of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation and static stretching.

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A comparative analysis of cardiovascular disease risk factors for volunteer firefighters

Prévalence des facteurs de risque de maladie cardiovasculaire chez des pompiers américains : mesure du cholestérol, de la tension artérielle, de la condition physique et de l'activité physique