The effects of a 6-month Tai Chi Qigong training program on temporomandibular, cervical and shoulder joint mobility and sleep problems in nasopharyngeal cancer survivors

Introduction. Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) survivors often sustain head–neck–shoulder impairments from conventional treatments, which could disturb sleep. This novel study aimed to examine the efficacy of Tai Chi (TC) Qigong in optimizing temporomandibular joint (TMJ), cervical, and shoulder joint mobility and reducing sleep problems in NPC survivors. Methods. Fifty-two NPC survivors participated in the study. The experimental group (n = 25) received 6 months of TC Qigong training (1.5 h/session; 4 sessions/wk including self-practice) while the control group (n = 27) received no training. Cervical side flexion and rotation, shoulder flexion and horizontal flexion range of motion (ROM), mouth opening capacity (interincisor distance), and sleep problems (Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale) were assessed at baseline, mid-intervention (3 months), immediately after TC Qigong training, and at 6-month follow-up. Results. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed improvement in cervical side flexion ROM only (P .008) after the TC Qigong training. Deterioration was observed in shoulder flexion ROM and mouth opening capacity in the no-training controls over time (P < .008). Sleep problems also decreased in the TC Qigong group (P < .008), and this effect was most profound during the follow-up period. In addition, improvement in cervical side flexion ROM was associated with a reduction in sleep problems in the experimental group after TC Qigong training (P < .05). Conclusions. The 6-month TC Qigong intervention improved neck mobility, maintained TMJ and shoulder joint mobility, and reduced sleep problems for NPC survivors. TC Qigong could be an effective nonpharmacological intervention for managing progressive trismus, chronic neck and shoulder hypomobility, and reducing sleep problems among NPC survivors.postprin

Musculoskeletal strength, balance performance and self-efficacy in elderly Ving Tsun Chinese martial art practitioners: Implications for fall prevention

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Muscle strength is significantly associated with hip bone mineral density in women with Parkinson’s disease: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: To study the influence of physical impairments on hip bone mineral density in women with Parkinson’s disease.DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.Subjects/patients: Thirty-four women with Parkinson’s disease and 30 age-matched healthy controls.METHODS: Patients with Parkinson’s disease underwent a hip scan using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and total hip bone mineral density values were obtained. Motor Examination III of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale was used to assess leg tremor, leg agility, leg rigidity and postural stability. In addition, all subjects were evaluated for walking speed, walking endurance, and leg muscle strength.RESULTS: Based on the hip bone mineral density values, 12 patients with Parkinson’s disease (35%) had osteopaenia and another 3 patients (9%) had osteoporosis. Patients with Parkinson’s disease had significantly lower walking velocity (p = 0.002), walking endurance (p < 0.001) and leg muscle strength (p = 0.047) than controls. Multiple regression revealed that leg muscle strength alone accounted for 8.8–10.6% of the variance in hip bone mineral density among patients with Parkinson’s disease, after controlling for body mass index, post-menopausal years, Hoehn and Yahr stage, and postural stability (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Hip bone mineral density is independently associated with leg muscle strength in women with Parkinson’s disease.Department of Rehabilitation Science

Effects of group-based versus individual-based exercise training on motor performance in children with developmental coordination disorder : a randomized controlled pilot study

2009-2010 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordSelf-fundedPublishe

Measuring environmental barriers faced by individuals living with stroke : development and validation of the chinese version of the craig hospital inventory of environmental factors

2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordSelf-fundedPublishe

Balance, falls, and bone health : role of exercise in reducing fracture risk after stroke

2007-2008 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Evaluación de emisiones de benceno en tres estaciones de servicio de combustibles líquidos en el distrito de San Juan Bautista 2023

Benzene is a chemical compound widely used in the industry to manufacture a wide variety of products, including plastics, resins, detergents, medicines, pesticides, and other chemicals. The aim of our research was to determine whether benzene levels exceed the environmental air quality standard. For this purpose, the air absorption method using activated carbon tubes was employed, which were then analyzed in a gas chromatograph with a capillary column and an ionization detector. The results indicated that the amount of benzene emitted by each establishment was 357.6 liters, 284.9 liters, and 254.9 liters, respectively, and that the average detected level was 0.5482 ug/L. The conclusions determined that the levels of benzene volatilized at the service stations did not exceed the environmental air regulations.El benceno es un compuesto químico ampliamente utilizado en la industria para fabricar una extensa variedad de productos, que incluyen plásticos, resinas, detergentes, medicamentos, pesticidas y otros productos químicos. El objetivo de nuestra investigación fue determinar sí los niveles de benceno superan el estándar de calidad ambiental del aire. Para ello, se empleó el método de absorción de aire mediante tubos de carbón activado, que luego fueron analizados en un cromatógrafo de gases con columna capilar y un detector de ionización. Los resultados indicaron que la cantidad de benceno emitida por cada establecimiento fue de 357.6 litros, 284.9 litros y 254.9 litros, respectivamente, y que el nivel promedio detectado fue de 0.5482 ug/L. Las conclusiones, determinaron que los niveles de benceno volatilizados en las estaciones de servicios no superaron la normatividad ambiental para el aire

Reduced use of antimicrobials after vaccination of pigs against porcine proliferative enteropathy in a Danish SPF herd

The present study explored whether the use of group medication with antibiotics in a Danish pig herd was reduced after vaccination of the pigs against proliferative enteropathy (PE) caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. 7900 pigs originating from a single commercial sow herd were vaccinated against L. intracellularis, whereas 7756 pigs were kept as non-vaccinated controls. The pigs were included batch-wise in the study with every second batch being vaccinated. In the vaccinated batches, the consumption of oxytetracykline to treat PE was reduced by 79%, with a significantly lower number of pigs being treated (P < 0.0001). Vaccination also resulted in a highly significant improvement of average daily weight gain (+ 46 g/day; P = 9.55 × 10-31) and carcase weight (+ 1.25 kg; P = 4.54 × 10-05) as well as a shortened fattening period (-8 days; P = 2.01 × 10-45)