Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on the Gender Differences in Typical Physical Fitness Tests of Young Individuals with Intellectual Impairment

The study aimed to examine the effect of therapeutic exercise intervention (TEI) on the gender differences in typical physical fitness tests of young individuals with intellectual impairment (II). Thirty-nine young individuals with II (22 boys, 17 girls; 18.9 ± 3.2 yrs) were examined before and after the implementation of a 3-month TEI. The examined fitness tests were the sit and reach test (SRT), the standing long jump (SLJ), and the Romberg balance test with open (RBTO) and closed (RBTC) eyes. Results revealed a significant (p.05) for the other tests. In conclusion, longer TEI is required to provoke fitness adaptations in young persons with II

The effectiveness of neural mobilization of the sciatic nerve - straight leg raise position and passive static stretching for the range of motion of the knee joint

Neural mobilisation has emerged as a significant treatment protocol, however clinical trials utilizing Passive Straight Leg Raise position in neural mobilisation are lacking. Neural mobilisation is a treatment modality which activates a range of mechanical and physiological responses in nervous tissues. Static stretching consists of a continuous stretch without movement, held in one position for a pre-specified period of time. The purpose of this study was to explore and compare the effectiveness of neural mobilisation of the sciatic nerve and passive static stretching of the hamstring muscles in order to increase range of motion (ROM) of the knee joint during extension

The prevalence of glucose metabolism abnormalities in Greek women with polycystic ovary syndrome

The prevalence of glucose metabolism abnormalities in PCOS women worldwide varies between 10 and 40% but there are no data in Greek PCOS women. In this retrospective study the prevalence of glucose abnormalities and the indices of insulin resistance (IR) and whole-body insulin sensitivity were estimated in a Greek population with PCOS. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (t2DM) were calculated. The prevalence of IGT, IFG and t2DM in our PCOS population was 7.6, 5.1 and 1.7%, respectively. The total prevalence of glucose abnormalities was estimated as 14.1%. The prevalence of t2DM was three- to four-fold higher than in the general Greek female population of the same age as this was estimated by 2, recently published studies. PCOS women with increased BMI and waist circumference and age greater than 30 years, present more severe IR and decreased whole-body insulin sensitivity. Our data indicates a relatively high prevalence of glucose intolerance and t2DM in a Greek population with PCOS. Obese women with PCOS are in higher risk to develop glucose abnormalities and probably t2DM later in life and therefore every woman diagnosed with PCOS should undergo a 2-h post load OGTT. © 2012 Informa UK, Ltd