The Impact of Pre-Performance Anxiety on VO2Peak Values in Female Collegiate Soccer Players

Peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) testing is commonly performed to assess endurance training effectiveness in athletes, including soccer players. However, how variables such as playing position, training type (off-vs. in-season), and performance anxiety levels affect maximal exercise capacity have not been determined. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of positioning, training type, and pre-performance directional anxiety on VO2 max values in female soccer players. METHODS: Sixteen female collegiate soccer players completed two trials using a cycle ergometer. VO2peak was determined by the participant’s inability to continue pedaling and/or an established plateau in VO2 despite increasing workload. Prior to testing, a Competitive State Anxiety Inventory (CSAI-2) was completed to determine somatic anxiety, cognitive anxiety, and self-confidence. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between VO2peak and positioning, training type, and pre-performance directional anxiety (p=0.085, p=0.115, p=0. 244 respectively). However, a strong correlation was found between somatic and cognitive anxiety (r2= 0.736, p=0.079). CONCLUSION: VO2peak values were not affected by positioning type in female collegiate soccer players. High and low levels of anxiety did not predict maximal performance capabilities; however, somatic and cognitive anxiety positively interacted in determining performance. To better characterize performance anxiety in the future, research could examine cortisol levels prior to maximal performance

Effectiveness of a Community-Based Exercise Program in an American Indian Population

PURPOSE:American Indians face a multitude of health disparities after a long history of relocation and intergenerational trauma. In order to alter these disparities, community based programs like the Fitness and Nutrition (FAN) program at the Minneapolis American Indian Center (MAIC), have been developed to confront high rates of preventable disease in American Indian communities. In collaboration with MAIC, the purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the self-reported physical and mental health of elders to guide program development. DESCRIPTION: A survey was created that inquired about physical and mental health both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. 115 surveys were distributed to MAIC elders during a community lunch distribution. OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS: There were 40 respondents to the survey. No significant difference was found in physical activity between pre-COVID reports compared to current reports. Between BMI classification groups, no significant difference was found in the impact on physical health, self-perceived rating of general health, or confidence in ability to be physically active. There was a significant difference in number of days per month impacted by mental health between BMI classification groups, with individuals classified as obese reporting 9.9 days per month of suboptimal mental health compared 1.2 days per month for individuals classified as normal BMI (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported amount of weekly physical activity did not significantly change during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-COVID amount. Individuals classified as obese based on BMI standards experienced significantly greater number of days per month with suboptimal mental health compared to individuals classified as normal BMI. IMPLICATIONS: Consistent physical activity during COVID could be related to the strong programming MAIC provides to its constituents. MAIC may want to target future programming to individuals with high BMI to mitigate the mental health impacts

A community-academic partnership for program assessment of a pediatric post-surgical rehabilitation program: The case of the Plaster House in Tanzania

Context: The Plaster House in Arusha, Tanzania provides rehabilitative care for infants and children following orthopedic, plastic, neurological, or general surgeries. The rehabilitation center, established in 2008, wanted to create an evaluation plan. Few rehabilitative care assessment tools are appropriate to programs serving populations in low-income countries.Methods: The Plaster House partnered with an interdisciplinary faculty team (7 disciplines) from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, USA. Through a 14-month iterative process, the team created an assets map, logic model and evaluation plan, and piloted assessment tools to track patient progress. An ecological framework guided the design of tools to define change at the individual, interpersonal, family and community levels.Results: For The Plaster House Team, the assets mapping process engaged the whole staff from project director and clinical team to gardeners, cooks, and housemothers. The naming of assets and reflections on social, behavioral and physical changes observed in the children enhanced collective efficacy of the program’s population impact. The evaluation plan strengthened their ability to communicate with donors and systematically track program changes. The academic team learned to hear, “That’s not going to work here” and move forward to co-create culturally and contextually appropriate tools.Conclusion and discussion: There are few assessment tools to measure individual, family and community change outcomes after surgery and rehabilitation for children in resource-limited settings. The final logic model and assessment tools could be adapted by programs internationally. The interprofessional community-academic partnership enhanced the quality and utility of the final products

A community-academic partnership for program assessment of a pediatric post-surgical rehabilitation program: The case of the Plaster House in Tanzania

Context: The Plaster House in Arusha, Tanzania provides rehabilitative care for infants and children following orthopedic, plastic, neurological, or general surgeries. The rehabilitation center, established in 2008, wanted to create an evaluation plan. Few rehabilitative care assessment tools are appropriate to programs serving populations in low-income countries. Methods: The Plaster House partnered with an interdisciplinary faculty team (7 disciplines) from St. Catherine University in St. Paul, MN, USA. Through a 14-month iterative process, the team created an assets map, logic model and evaluation plan, and piloted assessment tools to track patient progress. An ecological framework guided the design of tools to define change at the individual, interpersonal, family and community levels. Results: For The Plaster House Team, the assets mapping process engaged the whole staff from project director and clinical team to gardeners, cooks, and housemothers. The naming of assets and reflections on social, behavioral and physical changes observed in the children enhanced collective efficacy of the program’s population impact. The evaluation plan strengthened their ability to communicate with donors and systematically track program changes. The academic team learned to hear, “That’s not going to work here” and move forward to co-create culturally and contextually appropriate tools. Conclusion and discussion: There are few assessment tools to measure individual, family and community change outcomes after surgery and rehabilitation for children in resource-limited settings. The final logic model and assessment tools could be adapted by programs internationally. The interprofessional community-academic partnership enhanced the quality and utility of the final products

Interprofessional Collaboration with The Plaster House-Tanzania for Evaluation of Rehabilitative Care for Children with Disabilities

Presentation on the project objectives to create a framework for an overall evaluation plan including an assets map, logic model, assessment tools and identification of future IPE activities

Past and present of the use of cerclage wires in orthopedics

Cerclage wiring is a simple technique that has been practiced widely since the advent of surgical treatment of fractures. Many studies have reported the use of various cerclage technologies with a wide range of results and clinical applications. The increasing numbers of periprosthetic fractures have led to a revival of interest for this simple technique. When cerclages function as implants, they may be used alone or together with a protecting device such as external or internal splints (such as plates, nails, stems of prosthesis or a combination of thereof). This article presents a review of the available literature relating cerclage-wiring techniques and updates the recommendations for clinical use