Fitness efficacy of vibratory exercise compared to walking in postmenopausal women

In this study, we compared the efficacy of 8 months of low-frequency vibration and a walk-based program in health-related fitness. Twenty-seven postmenopausal women were randomly assigned into two groups: whole-body vibration (WBV) group (n = 18) performed three times/week a static exercise on a vibration platform (6 sets of 1-min with 1 min of rest, with a 12.6 Hz of frequency and an amplitude of 3 mm); walk-based program (WP) group (n = 18) performed three times/week a 60-min of walk activity at 70-75% of maximal heart rate. A health-related battery of tests was applied. Maximal unilateral concentric and eccentric isokinetic torque of the knee extensors was recorded by an isokinetic dynamometer. Physical fitness was measured using the following tests: vertical jump test, chair rise test and maximal walking speed test over 4 m. Maximal unilateral isokinetic strength was measured in the knee extensors in concentric actions at 60 and 300 degrees /s, and eccentric action at 60 degrees /s. After 8 months, the WP improved the time spent to walk 4 m (20%) and to perform the chair rise test (12%) compared to the WBV group (P = 0.006, 0.002, respectively). In contrast, the comparison of the changes in vertical jump showed the higher effectiveness of the vibratory exercise in 7% (P = 0.025). None of exercise programs showed change on isokinetic measurements. These results indicate that both programs differed in the main achievements and could be complementary to prevent lower limbs muscle strength decrease as we age [ISRCTN76235671]

Isolation of brucella strains in cattle from sedentary and nomadic communities and its public health implication

Brucellosis is a highly infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus brucella affecting animals leading to high economic loss and an impediment to livestock exportation. It also infects man with serious public health consequences. The disease is one of the world’smost important neglected tropical zoonoses. Brucellosis is considered endemic in Nigeria and current information on isolation in sedentary and nomadic cattle is required. We carried out an active surveillance in sedentary cattle in Kachia Grazing Reserve (KGR), Kaduna State and in nomadic communities on the Jos Plateau to isolate brucella organisms and carry out phenotypic and molecular characterization of the isolates to species leve

EQ-5D-Y-5L: developing a revised EQ-5D-Y with increased response categories

Purpose EQ-5D-Y is a generic measure of health status for children and adolescents aged 8–15 years. Originally, it has three levels of severity in each dimension (3L). This study aimed to develop a descriptive system of EQ-5D-Y with an increased number of severity levels and to test comprehensibility and feasibility. Methods The study was conducted in Germany, Spain, Sweden and the UK. In Phase 1, a review of existing instruments and focus group interviews were carried out to create a pool of possible labels for a modified severity classification. Participants aged 8–15 rated the severity of the identified labels in individual sorting and response scaling interviews. In Phase 2, preliminary 4L and 5L versions were constructed for further testing in cognitive interviews with healthy participants aged 8–15 years and children receiving treatment for a health condition. Results In Phase 1, a total of 233 labels was generated, ranging from 37 (UK) to 79 labels (Germany). Out of these, 7 to 16 possible labels for each dimension in the different languages were rated in 255 sorting and response scaling interviews. Labels covered an appropriate range of severity on the health continuum in all countries. In Phase 2, the 5L version was generally preferred (by 68–88% of the participants per country) over the 4L version. Conclusions This multinational study has provided a version of the EQ-5D-Y with 5 severity levels in each dimension. This extended version (EQ-5D-Y-5L) requires testing its psychometric properties and its performance compared to that of the original EQ-5D-Y-3L

Higher levels of physical fitness are associated with a reduced risk of suffering sarcopenic obesity and better perceived health among elderly. The EXERNET multi-center study

Objective: To evaluate the associations between physical fitness levels, health related quality of life (HRQoL) and sarcopenic obesity (SO) and to analyze the usefulness of several physical fitness tests as a screening tool for detecting elderly people with an increased risk of suffering SO. Design: Cross-sectional analysis of a population-based sample. Setting: Non-institutionalized Spanish elderly participating in the EXERNET multi-centre study. Participants: 2747 elderly subjects aged 65 and older. Measurements: Body weight, height and body mass index were evaluated in each subject. Body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance. Four SO groups were created based on percentage of body fat and relative muscle mass; 1) normal group, 2) sarcopenic group, 3) obesity group and 4) SO group. Physical fitness was evaluated using 8 tests (balance, lower and upper body strength, lower and upper body flexibility, agility, walking speed and aerobic capacity). Three tertiles were created for each test based on the calculated scores. HRQoL was assessed using the EuroQol visual analogue scale. Results: Participants with SO showed lower physical fitness levels compared with normal subjects. Better balance, agility, and aerobic capacity were associated to a lower risk of suffering SO in the fittest men (odds ratio < 0.30). In women, better balance, walking speed, and aerobic capacity were associated to a lower risk of suffering SO in the fittest women (odds ratio < 0.21) Superior perceived health was associated with better physical fitness performance. Conclusions: Higher levels of physical fitness were associated with a reduced risk of suffering SO and better perceived health among elderly. SO elderly people have lower physical functional levels than healthy counterparts

Efectos de la tarea dual sobre el tiro libre en baloncesto

El objetivo de este estudio fue estudiar los efectos de una tarea dual en el tiro libre en baloncesto, comparando esa influencia en función de la categoría y el sexo de los jugadores. Los resultados muestran que existe un descenso del rendimiento provocado por la tarea dual de los baloncestistas de categoría infantil y junior (p&lt;0,05), no observándose lo mismo en la categoría senior. Tampoco se detectaron diferencias significativas entre el rendimiento de hombres y mujeres. Puede afirmarse, por tanto, que las tareas duales provocan un descenso en el rendimiento, sobre todo en etapas de formación, posiblemente por la automatización del patrón motor debido a un mayor tiempo de práctica en categorías senior. Por ello, las tareas duales pueden ser incluidas en los entrenamientos para crear situaciones estresantes y bajo presión similares a las que se pueden encontrar los deportistas en situaciones competitivas reales

Cost-effectiveness of a national exercise referral programme for primary care patients in Wales: results of a randomised controlled trial

This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.The research was independent and funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. RTE is supported by Public Health Wales. Additional support for LM and SM during write up was provided by The Centre for the Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer), a UKCRC Public Health Research: Centre of Excellence. Funding from the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council (RES-590-28-0005), Medical Research Council, the Welsh Assembly Government and the Wellcome Trust (WT087640MA), under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, is gratefully acknowledged

Low-frequency vibratory exercise reduces the risk of bone fracture more than walking: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a new type of exercise that has been increasingly tested for the ability to prevent bone fractures and osteoporosis in frail people. There are two currently marketed vibrating plates: a) the whole plate oscillates up and down; b) reciprocating vertical displacements on the left and right side of a fulcrum, increasing the lateral accelerations. A few studies have shown recently the effectiveness of the up-and-down plate for increasing Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and balance; but the effectiveness of the reciprocating plate technique remains mainly unknown. The aim was to compare the effects of WBV using a reciprocating platform at frequencies lower than 20 Hz and a walking-based exercise programme on BMD and balance in post-menopausal women. METHODS: Twenty-eight physically untrained post-menopausal women were assigned at random to a WBV group or a Walking group. Both experimental programmes consisted of 3 sessions per week for 8 months. Each vibratory session included 6 bouts of 1 min (12.6 Hz in frequency and 3 cm in amplitude with 60° of knee flexion) with 1 min rest between bouts. Each walking session was 55 minutes of walking and 5 minutes of stretching. Hip and lumbar BMD (g·cm(-2)) were measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and balance was assessed by the blind flamingo test. ANOVA for repeated measurements was adjusted by baseline data, weight and age. RESULTS: After 8 months, BMD at the femoral neck in the WBV group was increased by 4.3% (P = 0.011) compared to the Walking group. In contrast, the BMD at the lumbar spine was unaltered in both groups. Balance was improved in the WBV group (29%) but not in the Walking group. CONCLUSION: The 8-month course of vibratory exercise using a reciprocating plate is feasible and is more effective than walking to improve two major determinants of bone fractures: hip BMD and balance

Annual energy output simulation of an optical concentrator based PV system for energy security

Concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) system is an application of PV devices introduced with the aim of reducing the cost of BIPV systems through the use of an optical element to concentrate or focus the solar radiation from a large area, into a smaller area to which the solar cell is attached, thus reducing the overall cost by saving expensive PV material. This paper aims at presenting the simulation results of an annual prediction for a system comprising of CPV based on the Rotationally Asymmetrical Compound Parabolic Concentrator (RACPC) and compared it with a non-concentrated PV module installed in Bogota, Colombia under different weather conditions. The yearly energy yield of the CPV module was calculated to be 480 kWh whereas the non-concentrating PV module had a drop in the output - almost half of the CPV module output, having a final value of 231 kWh. This indicates that the RACPC can increase the output by a factor of 2.08. This study demonstrates that a CPV system can be used as an alternative to a conventional PV system; as it offers a lower cost without compromising its performance

La actividad física organizada en las personas mayores, una herramienta para mejorar la condición física en la senectud

Fundamentos. Un nivel adecuado de condición física (CF) es fundamental para el logro de un envejecimiento saludable. El objetivo de este estudio consistió en evaluar el impacto de la actividad física (AF) organizada y el número de horas de práctica sobre el nivel de CF de las personas mayores. Método. En el estudio participaron 3104 personas mayores de 65 años de España, pertenecientes al Proyecto Multicéntrico EXERNET (722 hombres y 2382 mujeres; edad media: 72, 1±5, 3 años). La CF se evaluó mediante 8 test específicos para esta población. La participación en AF organizada se registró mediante un cuestionario. Las diferencias en la CF en función de la práctica y número de horas de AF se midieron con ANCOVA ajustando por edad, horas de caminar y de estar sentado. Resultados. Aquellos que no participaban en este tipo de actividad incrementaban su riesgo de tener un nivel bajo de CF en la mayoría de las variables evaluadas, observándose algunas diferencias entre sexos (OR: desde 1, 6 hasta 2, 6 en hombres y desde 1, 4 hasta 2, 2 en mujeres). En los hombres no se observó ninguna diferencia significativa entre practicar menos de 2, 2-4 o más de 4 horas (todos P>0, 05), a excepción de la fuerza del brazo izquierdo; sin embargo, las mujeres que realizaban más de 2 horas de AF organizada a la semana tenían mayor equilibrio, fuerza de piernas y de brazos, flexibilidad de piernas, velocidad al caminar y resistencia aeróbica que aquellas que asistían a este tipo de sesiones menos de 2 horas a la semana (P<0, 05). Conclusiones. La práctica de AF organizada produce un efecto beneficioso sobre la CF de las personas mayores independientemente de la edad, las horas que estén sentados o el tiempo que dediquen a caminar. Background. An adequate level of fitness is critical to achieving healthy ageing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of organized physical activity (PA) and the number of hours of practice on the fitness levels of the elderly. Method. A total of 3104 people over 65 years old from Spain, belonging to the EXERNET Multicenter Project (722 men and 2382 women, mean age: 72.1 +/- 5.3 years) participated in the study. Fitness was evaluated by 8 specific tests for this population. Participation in organized PA was recorded through a questionnaire. Differences in fitness values depending on the participation in PA and the number of hours were measured with ANCOVA adjusting for age, hours of walking and sitting time. Results. Those who did not participate in this type of activity increased their risk of having a low level of fitness in most variables evaluated, with some differences between sexes (OR: from 1.6 to 2.6 in men and from 1.4 to 2.2 in women). In men, no significant differences were observed between practicing less than 2, 2-4 or more than 4 hours (P>0, 05), with an exception in the strength of the left arm. However, women who performed more than 2 hours a week in organized PA had better balance, strength of lower and upper extremities, flexibility of lower extremities, walking speed and aerobic capacity than those who performed less than 2 hours of PA a week (P<0, 05). Conclusions. The practice of organized PA produces a beneficial effect on the fitness of the elderly regardless of age, hours of walking and time sitting per day

Evolución de los niveles de condición física en población octogenaria y su relación con un estilo de vida sedentario

Objetivos: Determinar los cambios que se producen enla condición física a lo largo de dos años de seguimiento enoctogenarios y comprobar si un estilo de vida sedentariomodifica estas variaciones. Metodología: La condición física de 182 sujetos (48hombres, 134 mujeres) con una media de edad de 82,3 ±2,3 años se evaluó mediante 8 test (adaptados de las bate-rías “Senior Fitness Test” y “Eurofit”). Se realizó un aná-lisis de medidas repetidas entre los dos periodos de eva-luación y para ver las diferencias de condición física entrelos sujetos considerados sedentarios (permanecían senta-dos = 4 horas/día) y no sedentarios (permanecían senta-dos < 4 horas/día) Resultados: Entre las dos evaluaciones encontramos undescenso significativo en los test de agilidad (p 4 horas/día sufrieron un descen-so de la agilidad (p < 0,05). Se produjo una pérdida de ve-locidad y resistencia tanto en sedentarios como en no se-dentarios (p < 0,05). Conclusión: En dos años de seguimiento, se producencambios negativos en el nivel de condición física en perso-nas octogenarias. Periodos prolongados de sedestación setraducen en una pérdida de agilidad. La velocidad de lamarcha y resistencia parecen ser los componentes de lacondición física más afectados por el proceso de envejeci-miento en este grupo poblacional y su pérdida no vienedeterminada por las horas diarias de sedestación. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the changes in physical fitness over two years of following up in octogenarian people and to check whether a sedentary lifestyle modify these variations. Methods: Physical fitness of 182 subject (48 men, 134 women)with a mean age of 82,3 ± 2,3 years were evaluated using 8 different tests. A repeated measures analysis was carried out to see the differences between the two evaluation periods and to see the physical fitness differences between sedentary people (sit = 4 hours/day)and non sedentary people (sit 4 hours/day there was a decrease in the walking speed test between the two evaluations (p < 0.05). Moreover, there was a decrease of walking speed and endurance between the two evaluation periods in both sedentary and nonsedentary people (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In two years of following up, there are adverse changes in the level of physical fitness in octogenarians. Long periods of sitting time may translate into a loss of agility. Walking speed and endurance seem to be the components of physical fitness more affected by the ageing process in this population; and this loss is not determined by the hours of sitting per day