Fatiguing Trunk Flexor Exercise Decreases Pain Sensitivity in Postpartum Women

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is common in the general population and among postpartum women. Abdominal muscle exercise is often used to treat LBP, but it is unknown if fatiguing abdominal muscle exercise can produce exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). Objectives: To assess pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at rest and following fatiguing trunk flexor exercise (EIH) in (1) nulligravid and postpartum women to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and childbirth and (2) nulligravid women and men to examine sex differences. Methods: Seventy healthy adults (31 postpartum women, 23 nulligravid women, 16 men) participated. Postpartum and nulligravid women were tested twice (16–18 weeks apart) to identify changes in EIH with postpartum recovery. PPTs were measured at the nailbed and superior rectus abdominis before and after exercise to investigate systemic and local EIH, respectively. Rectus abdominis muscle thickness was assessed with ultrasound. Results: Postpartum women reported lower PPTs than nulligravid women at the abdomen (p \u3c 0.05) whereas postpartum women had lower PPTs at the nailbed during the first session only. Men reported higher nailbed PPTs (p = 0.047) and similar PPTs at the abdomen than women (p = 0.294). All groups demonstrated EIH at the abdomen (p \u3c 0.05). Systemic EIH was absent in postpartum and nulligravid women (p \u3e 0.05), while men demonstrated hyperalgesia. Local EIH was positively associated with muscle thickness for men and women, which was not significant at the second timepoint. Limitations: Acute exercise response may not reflect changes that occur with exercise training. Conclusion: Fatiguing trunk flexor exercise produced local EIH for all groups including postpartum and nulligravid women. Clinically, trunk exercises may be useful for acute pain relief for clinical populations that are characterized by pain and/or weakness in the abdominal region muscles in populations with abdominal pain syndromes

Application of Hapke photometric model to three geologic surfaces using PARABOLA bidirectional reflection data

The Geologic Remote Sensing Field Experiment (GRSFE) was conducted in July and September of 1989 to collect data with both ground and airborne instrumentation. A major objective of GRSFE was to collect data which could be used to test radiative transfer models for the extraction of composition and textural surface properties from remotely acquired data. Reported here are the initial results from an application of the Hapke photometric model, using data from the Portable Apparatus for Remote Acquisition of Bidirectional Observations of Land and Atmosphere (PARABOLA), a ground based radiometer with three spectral channels. PARABOLA data was collected in the Lunar Crater Volcanic Field in Nevada, specifically from the region of Lunar Lake, a playa. The Hapke model was found to be inadequate for three relatively common geologic surfaces (a clay-rich, hard packed surface with decimeter sized mudcracks; a cobble site, similar to a playa site, but strewn with basaltic cobbles and pebbles; and a surface mantled basalt lava flow). The model is not at fault; rather, the complexity of most geologic surfaces is not accounted for in the initial assumptions

Muscle Function and Fatigability of Trunk Flexors in Males and Females

Background Optimal function of the abdominal muscles is necessary for several life functions including lifting and carrying tasks. Sex differences in strength and fatigability are established for many limb muscles and back extensor muscles, but it is unknown if sex differences exist for the abdominal muscles despite their functional importance. Methods Eighteen females (24.3 ± 4.8 years) and 15 males (24.1 ± 6.6 years) performed (1) isometric trunk flexion maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) in a range of trunk positions to establish a torque-angle curve and (2) submaximal (50% MVC), intermittent isometric contraction (6 s on, 4 s off) until task failure to determine fatigability of the trunk flexor muscles. Dual X-ray absorptiometry quantified body fat and lean mass. Physical activity levels were quantified with a questionnaire. Torque-angle curves, electromyography (EMG), MVC torque, and torque steadiness were compared with repeated measures ANOVA with sex as a between-subjects factor. Results For the torque-angle curve, MVC torque was reduced as the trunk angle increased toward flexion (p \u3c 0.001). Males had greater MVC torque than females at the extended positions (31% difference), with no sex differences in torque in upright sitting (p \u3e 0.05). Time-to-task failure for the submaximal fatigability task in upright sitting was similar between males and females (12.4 ± 7 vs 10.5 ± 6 min). Time-to-task failure was positively associated with strength (r = 0.473, p = 0.005) and self-reported physical activity (r = 0.456, p = 0.030). Lean mass in the trunk was positively associated with trunk flexor strength (r = 0.378, p = 0.011) and self-reported physical activity (r = 0.486, p = 0.007). Finally, torque steadiness [coefficient of variation of torque (CV)] during submaximal isometric contractions decreased with contraction intensity and was similar for males and females across all intensities. Conclusions Unlike many limb muscle groups, males and females had similar fatigability and torque steadiness of the trunk flexor muscles during isometric contractions. Stronger individuals, however, exhibited less fatigability. Lower self-reported physical activity was associated with greater fatigability of trunk flexor muscles. The relationship between strength and fatigability of the trunk flexor muscles and physical activity supports the importance of abdominal muscle strengthening to offset fatigability in both males and females

Fatiguing Trunk Flexor Exercise Decreases Pain Sensitivity in Postpartum Women

BackgroundLow back pain (LBP) is common in the general population and among postpartum women. Abdominal muscle exercise is often used to treat LBP, but it is unknown if fatiguing abdominal muscle exercise can produce exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH).ObjectivesTo assess pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) at rest and following fatiguing trunk flexor exercise (EIH) in (1) nulligravid and postpartum women to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and childbirth and (2) nulligravid women and men to examine sex differences.MethodsSeventy healthy adults (31 postpartum women, 23 nulligravid women, 16 men) participated. Postpartum and nulligravid women were tested twice (16–18 weeks apart) to identify changes in EIH with postpartum recovery. PPTs were measured at the nailbed and superior rectus abdominis before and after exercise to investigate systemic and local EIH, respectively. Rectus abdominis muscle thickness was assessed with ultrasound.ResultsPostpartum women reported lower PPTs than nulligravid women at the abdomen (p < 0.05) whereas postpartum women had lower PPTs at the nailbed during the first session only. Men reported higher nailbed PPTs (p = 0.047) and similar PPTs at the abdomen than women (p = 0.294). All groups demonstrated EIH at the abdomen (p < 0.05). Systemic EIH was absent in postpartum and nulligravid women (p > 0.05), while men demonstrated hyperalgesia. Local EIH was positively associated with muscle thickness for men and women, which was not significant at the second timepoint.LimitationsAcute exercise response may not reflect changes that occur with exercise training.ConclusionFatiguing trunk flexor exercise produced local EIH for all groups including postpartum and nulligravid women. Clinically, trunk exercises may be useful for acute pain relief for clinical populations that are characterized by pain and/or weakness in the abdominal region muscles in populations with abdominal pain syndromes

The A+B -> 0 annihilation reaction in a quenched random velocity field

Using field-theoretic renormalization group methods the long-time behaviour of the A+B -> 0 annihilation reaction with equal initial densities n_A(0) = n_B(0) = n_0 in a quenched random velocity field is studied. At every point (x, y) of a d-dimensional system the velocity v is parallel or antiparallel to the x-axis and depends on the coordinates perpendicular to the flow. Assuming that v(y) have zero mean and short-range correlations in the y-direction we show that the densities decay asymptotically as n(t) ~ A n_0^(1/2) t^(-(d+3)/8) for d<3. The universal amplitude A is calculated at first order in \epsilon = 3-d.Comment: 19 pages, LaTeX using IOP-macros, 5 eps-figures. It is shown that the amplitude of the density is universal, i.e. independent of the reaction rat

Ethical aspects of technologies of surveillance in mental health inpatient settings – Enabling or undermining the therapeutic nurse/patient relationship?

...The Editorial explores ethical aspects of utilising surveillance technologies in mental health care contexts: Might such technologies enable or diminish the effectiveness of the therapeutic relationship? How might their adoption impact trust, trustworthiness, respect and respectfulness in mental health nursing practice

Fatigability of the Lumbopelvic Stabilizing Muscles in Women 8 and 26 Weeks Postpartum

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are associated with lumbopelvic pain and instability. Fatigability of the lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles after childbirth is unknown, and no clinical tests exist to assess this important metric of muscle function. Objectives: To compare fatigability of the lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles in postpartum and nulligravid (control) women using the Active Straight Leg Raise (ASLR) Fatigue Task, and to determine whether fatigability is associated with interrecti distance (IRD), physical function, and pain/disability. Study design: A longitudinal case-control study. Methods: Twenty-nine nulligravid (25.4 +/- 9.1 years) and 31 postpartum women (31.4 +/- 5.2 years; vaginal delivery n = 18) were tested at 2 time points, 16 weeks apart (postpartum women tested at 8-10 and 24-26 weeks postpartum). Muscular function was assessed with manual muscle testing (MMT), the ASLR test, and a new ASLR Fatigue Task. Other measures included IRD, rectus abdominis thickness, physical activity, and 6-minute walk distance. Results: Postpartum women were 23% more fatigable (P = .028) and were weaker (MMT) (P \u3c .001) than controls up to 26 weeks postpartum. The ASLR Fatigue Task (time-to-failure) was associated with smaller IRD, greater rectus abdominis thickness, higher physical activity levels, greater MMT strength, and further distance walked in 6 minutes (P \u3c .05). Conclusion: Postpartum women (up to 6 months) had greater fatigability of the lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles and lower physical function than nulligravid women, suggesting core muscle function and fatigability should be assessed after pregnancy and childbirth. The ASLR Fatigue Task could be a clinically useful tool to determine fatigability of the lumbopelvic stabilizing muscles in women postpartum

A ‘near‐life experience’: lived experiences of spirituality from the perspective of people who have been subject to inpatient psychiatric care

Aims: To describe lived experiences of spirituality from the perspective of people who have been subject to inpatient psychiatric care and to interpret these experiences from an understanding of health as dialectical. Methods: After approval from a regional ethical board,eleven participants were recruited from two organisations for people with mental health problems. Participants were asked to narrate about spiritual experiences and occasions where such experiences had come close. The transcribed interviews were analysed by means of a phenomenological hermeneutical approach. Findings: A structural analysis of the text resulted in three themes; perceiving the presence of something extra mundane, making sense of reality and struggling for acceptance. The comprehensive understanding highlights spiritual experiences as going beyond religion, even though religious experiences appear as part of it. These experiences can indeed be a resource contributing to experiences of hope, connectedness, meaning and coherence in life. However, they can also give rise to doubt, anxiety and feelings of loneliness and hopelessness. Rather than understanding spiritual experiences as being either ‘good’ or ‘bad’, we could approach spirituality as something that is always present in alternate and inter-related forms. Metaphorically, this could be understood as a ‘near-life experience’, summarising participants’experiences related to their struggle with issues related to suffering and health which are simultaneously present. Conclusions: If psychiatric nurses could approach this complexity and, without being judgemental, explore seemingly positive and negative experiences of spirituality as dialectically related to each other, rather than viewing them as either resources or problems, this could contribute to insiderness care and hopefully also support people who struggle with these experiences to seek help when needed