Muscle Strength Of Upper Extremities Research Articles

The Effectiveness of Blood Flow Restriction Training on Upper Extremity Muscle Strength: A Systematic Review

Abstract Objective This systematic review aims to investigate the effect of blood flow restriction training (BFRT) on upper extremity muscle strength in pathological conditions of the upper extremity musculoskeletal system or in healthy individuals. Materials and Methods This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guideline statement. The randomized controlled studies which published from January 2000 to May 2022 were searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Inclusion criteria were healthy clinical population or musculoskeletal pathology related to the upper extremity, participants aged 18 and above, application of blood flow restriction to the arm, a randomized controlled study design, and publication in English. Additionally, the presentation of upper extremity muscle strength as an outcome measurement was required. The quality of the studies was evaluated using The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Articles that were non-randomized, inaccessible in full text, and scored 4 or below on the PEDro scale were excluded. Results Five studies were included with 219 participants. The included studies had PEDro scores ranging from 5 to 8, with an average score of 6.4. This review demonstrated a positive or neutral effect of BFRT on grip strength and shoulder strength. Conclusion Although some studies have reported positive effects of BFRT on upper extremity muscle strength, there is no conclusive evidence regarding the protocol to be used for increasing upper extremity muscle strength.

Case report: a rare combination of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and cervical septic spondylodiscitis

Ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine is a rare pathology with still unclear etiopathogenesis, although some authors associate it with metabolic diseases such as diabetes. Another rare disorder whose etiopathogenesis is also closely related to immunological disorders in diabetes is spinal epidural empyema. We present a case of a 62-year-old man with comorbidities of arterial hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus, with complaints of dysphagia and throat discomfort one and a half years prior to hospitalization. About a month before hospitalization, the patient reports pain with limited cervical mobility, followed by episodes of fever up to 38°C, with developing upper extremity muscle weakness and self-care incapacity. After imaging and laboratory studies, the patient was diagnosed with Forestier disease according to Resnick and Niwayama criteria, with ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament and spondylodiscitis with epidural empyema in the cervical compartment. The patient was started on empiric antibiotic therapy and emergency surgery was undertaken for osteophytectomy, median corpectomy with medullar decompression and vertebrodesis. Postoperatively, the patient had improvement in dysphagia and upper extremity muscle strength - MRC 5/5 at the 6-month follow-up. Timely diagnosis and operative treatment with adequate decompression, anterior vertebrodesis and subsequent targeted antibiotic therapy are essential for a good outcome in the management of patients with this combined pathology.

The Effect of Two-Handed Overhead Medicine Ball Throwing Exercises on Upper Extreme Muscle Strength and Kinematic Movement in Soccer Throw-ins

This study aims to analyze the effect of two-handed overhead medicine ball (THOMBT) training on upper extremity muscle strength and kinematic movement. This research utilized an experimental method with a pre-test and post-test design. Sample collection used a random sampling technique. The sampling results were then divided into a control group (CTRL) and an experimental group (THOMBT). The Shapiro-Wilk test and Levene's test were used as prerequisite tests. Paired t-tests and independent sample t-tests were used to compare improvements within and between groups. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Cohen's effect size (ES) was used to measure group differences. A total of 15 players were in the experimental group with an average age of 16.20 ± 0.77 years, while 15 other players were in the control group with an average age of 16.13 ± 0.83. Before and after the four-week trial period, upper extremity muscle strength testing was conducted using push-ups, sit-ups, and kinematic movement tests, which included throwing distance, arm angular speed, and release angle tests. The result is the THOMBT group showed significant improvements in push-ups (p = .000, Δ% = 22.44), sit-ups (p = .000, Δ% = 9.33), distance throws (p = .000, Δ% = 8.20), and arm angular velocity (p = .000, Δ% = 14.98). Meanwhile, the CTRL group did not have a significant increase. The conclusion is that THOMBT training for four weeks is effective in increasing upper extremity strength ability and movement kinematics, but not variable angle of release. Keywords: throws, medicine ball, muscle strength, kinematics movement.

Case Report of Cylindrical Grip on Improving Upper Limb Muscle Strength of SNH Patient

Non-hemorrhagic stroke patients who do not get optimal treatment will experience disability or physical weakness such as paralysis and weakened muscle strength, which results in a lack of joint range of motion, limb function, and decreased daily life activities. One of the ROM techniques to help recover the upper extremities to stimulate the hands, can be done with cylindrical grip exercises which are functional hand exercises by grasping a cylindrical object in the palm of the hand which aims to support the recovery of the ability to move and function of the hand. Objective: This case repost aims to determine the effect of giving cylindrical grip to stroke ptients to increase muscle strengt in the upper extremities. Method: The method used is a descriptive case report design based on Evidance Based Nursing (EBN) conducted on two subjects with non-hemorrhagic stroke. Results: After the implementation of ROM exercise nursing: cylindrical grip for 3 days in each patient starting from 18-22 September 2023 which was carried out for 5 minutes and repeated 7 times, changes were obtained in the muscle strength of Mrs.M's right hand which was originally 3 to 4 and Mr.W which was originally left hand muscle strength 2 to 4. Conclusions: ROM Exercise: Cylindrical grip can improve upper extremity muscle strength in non-hemorrhagic stroke patients.

Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (r-TMS) Therapy on Improving Motor Strength in Storke Patients at Dr. Moewardi Surakarta

Background: Stroke, an acute neurological dysfunction, poses a health challenge with potential fatality, emerging as a leading cause of long-term disability. This study explores the efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (r-TMS) with medical rehabilitation in enhancing stroke patients' motor strength, comparing it with standard therapy, focusing on the Medical Research Council score. Objective: Stroke is an acute manifestation resulting from neurological dysfunction, persisting for ≥24 hours or leading to death due to blood vessel disorders. The study aims to determine the effectiveness of r-TMS therapy in improving stroke patients' motor strength, comparing it with standard therapy based on the Medical Research Council score. Methods: A quasi-experimental study with a pre-post control group design involved 30 respondents selected through consecutive sampling in stroke units and outpatient clinics. Upper extremity muscle strength, measured with the Medical Research Council score, was analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Result: The post-test ranking value of the r-TMS group (20.56) exceeded that of the Non r-TMS group (10.46). The Mann-Whitney U test indicated a significant difference in the average ranking of the Medical Research Council scores between the two groups (p < 0.05, 0.001), highlighting the efficacy of r-TMS therapy in enhancing motor strength. Conclusion: This study shows that stroke patients receiving standard therapy and transcranial magnetic stimulation exhibit improvements in extremity motor strength compared to those undergoing medical rehabilitation alone. The r-TMS group notably showed a significant increase in extremity motor strength.

Physical exercise and chicken egg white supplementation increase muscle mass of stable COPD patients.

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) commonly exhibit muscle atrophy and dysfunction due to a reduction in muscle mass; and protein supplements such as chicken egg whites have been reported to improve muscle mass. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of physical exercise and egg white supplementation on the muscle mass of COPD patients. An experimental study was conducted among stable COPD patients at Universitas Sumatra Utara Hospital Medan, Indonesia, between August and October 2022. The patients were divided into two groups, control and interventional groups, with each patient subjected to a pre- and post-muscle mass assessment. All the patients performed respiratory endurance and upper extremity muscle strength training three times/week for a total of 12 weeks. In addition, the patients in the intervention group were also given egg white supplementation (10 eggs/day) during the period of intervention in addition to the physical training. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to identify the significance of the difference between pre- and post-intervention and between the control and intervention groups, respectively. A total of 38 COPD patients were included in the study, 19 from each group. Our data suggested no significant difference in muscle mass of the patients in the control group before and after 12 weeks of physical exercise (pre-intervention 27.37±4.54% and post-intervention 27.68±4.5% with p=0.174). However, there was a significant muscle mass increment of patients in the intervention group upon 12 weeks of physical training and egg white supplementation (pre-intervention 27.18±4.15%, post-intervention 29.95±3.76%, p<0.001). A significant difference in muscle mass was observed between patients in the control and the intervention groups (p=0.046) after the intervention. The study highlights that physical exercise in combination with egg white supplementation may serve as potential and effective non-pharmacological treatment for muscle mass restoration in COPD patients as compared to physical exercise alone.

The Effect of Combination of Calcium Supplement and Physical Exercise on Increasing Muscle Strength in Chronic Ischemic Stroke

Background: Stroke causes muscle weakness which results in limitations in daily activities such as self-care, eating, walking, etc. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of calcium supplement and physical exercise on increasing muscle strength in chronic ischemic stroke patients. Method: This research used a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest with control group design. This research was conducted at Dadi Makassar Hospital and Haji Hospital from March to May 2023. The sample obtained was 37 subjects based purposive sampling with an unpaired numerical comparative formula for two sample groups. Consisting of 18 people in the treatment group who were given calcium supplements at a dose of 500 mg per day and physical exercise (Both training, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) and strengthening) and 19 people in the control group who were only given physical exercise. The research was carried out for 6 weeks using a Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) measuring instrument for muscle strength. This research used the Wilcoxon and Mann Whitney test. (α&lt;0.05) Results: There is a significant of increasing lower extremity muscle strength between pretest and posttest in treatment group and control group (p=0.001; p=0.014, p&lt;0.05), There is an increasing of the upper extremity muscle strength between pretest and posttest in treatment group and control group (p=0.001; p=0.025). There is no significant difference of increasing muscle strength in the upper and lower limb between two groups (p=0.051). Conclusion: Calcium supplements and physical exercise were no more significant in increasing muscle strength than physical exercise only in chronic ischemic stroke patients.

Perbandingan Efektifitas Latihan Rom Aktif Dan Akupresur Terhadap Kekuatan Otot Ekstremitas Atas Pada Pasien Stroke Non Hemoragik Di Ruang Rawat Inap Rsud Dr. Haryoto Lumajang

Stroke is a clinical syndrome that begins suddenly, progressively, in the form of focal or global neurological deficits that lasts 24 hours or more and can cause death. This is caused by nontraumatic cerebral blood flow disorders. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of active ROM and acupressure exercises on upper limb muscle strength in non-hemorrhagic stroke patients in the inpatient room of RSUD Dr. Haryoto Lumajang.&#x0D; The research method used was a pre-experimental design with the type of pre-test and post-test one group design. With a sample of 36 respondents with the Accidental Sampling technique and the test used was the Wilcoxon test.&#x0D; From the results before being given the ROM treatment, 11 respondents (61.1%) had poor muscle tone and before being given the acupressure treatment, 15 respondents (83.3%) had poor muscle tone. From the results after being given ROM treatment, 13 respondents (72.2%) had moderately good muscle tone and after being given the acupressure treatment, 14 respondents (77.8%) had poor muscle tone. The results of the Mann-Whitney analysis test obtained α = 0.003, which means that there is a comparison of the effectiveness of active ROM exercises and acupressure on upper limb muscle strength in non-hemorrhagic stroke patients.&#x0D; It is expected that patients with stroke will always try to practice ROM independently which has been taught by health workers, for the patient's family to participate and motivate patients to do ROM exercises to accelerate the healing of stroke patients.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Active ROM Exercises, Acupressure, Upper Extremity Muscle Strength, Non Hemorrhagic Stroke

The relationships between upper extremity muscle strength and endurance with respiratory function, functional capacity and quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis

Background/Aims The number of studies exploring isolated upper extremity muscle strength and endurance in paediatric patients with cystic fibrosis is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between upper extremity muscle strength and endurance with respiratory functions, functional capacity and quality of life in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis. Methods Children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis performed a flexed arm hang test to measure muscle endurance, movement against a dynamometer to measure muscle strength, a pulmonary function test and 6-minute walk test to measure functional capacity. The Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire Revised was used to assess quality of life. Results A total of 29 children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (15 girls, 14 boys) participated in the study. Biceps muscle strength moderately correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second predicted percentage, forced vital capacity predicted percentage and the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity predicted percentage (r=0.306, P=0.035; r=0.405; P=0.029; r=0.367, P=0.048, respectively). Biceps muscle strength, shoulder abductors muscle strength, hand grip strength and flexed arm hang test correlated with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity predicted percentage. Biceps muscle strength, shoulder abductors muscle strength, hand grip strength and flexed arm hang test correlated with 6-minute walk test distance (r=0.678, p&lt;0.001; r=0.732, p&lt;0.001; r=0.512, P=0.005; r=0.375, P=0.045, respectively). Biceps muscle strength and shoulder abductors muscle strength moderately correlated with emotional functioning and eating disturbances in the Cystic Fibrosis Questionnaire Revised (r=0.451, P=0.014). Conclusions Specific assessment of upper extremity muscle strength and endurance in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis may be helpful in informing physiotherapists of respiratory function, functional capacity and quality of life status.]

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in sarcopenia management: A network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Sarcopenia frequently occurs with aging and leads to major adverse impacts on activities of daily living and quality of life in elderly individuals. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (omega-3 PUFAs) supplements are considered promising therapeutic agents for sarcopenia management; however, the evidence remains inconsistent. We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about omega-3 PUFA supplementation in patients with sarcopenia or in those at high risk for sarcopenia. Network meta-analysis (NMA) procedures were conducted using a frequentist model. The primary outcomes were (1) upper-extremity muscle strength and (2) lower-extremity physical function. The NMA of 16 RCTs showed that the high-dose (more than 2.5g/day omega-3 PUFAs) group yielded the greatest improvement in both upper-extremity muscle strength and lower-extremity physical function [compared to placebo/standard care groups, standardized mean difference (SMD)=1.68, 95% confidence interval (95%CI)=0.03-3.33, and SMD=0.73, 95%CI=0.16-1.30, respectively], and the effects were reaffirmed in subgroup analyses of placebo-controlled RCTs or those excluding concurrent resistance training programs. None of the investigated omega-3 PUFAs supplementation was associated with significantly increased skeletal muscle mass, fat mass, or overall body weight. Our findings provide a basis for future large-scale RCTs to investigate the dose effects and clinical application of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in sarcopenia management. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The current study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan (TSGHIRB No. B-109-29) and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022347161).

Relationship between quantitative strength and functional outcomes in the phase 2 FORTITUDE-ALS trial

Objective To assess the relationship among measurements of strength, function, and quality of life in an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinical trial. Methods In the FORTITUDE-ALS clinical trial (NCT03160898), 456 participants in the full-analysis set were treated with either reldesemtiv or placebo for 12 weeks; this post hoc analysis included all participants regardless of treatment assignments. Assessments included slow vital capacity (SVC), the ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R), and the 5-item ALS Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-5). Muscle strength was measured quantitatively with hand-held dynamometry, and grip strength with a dedicated dynamometer. The relationship between strength and ALSFRS-R fine and gross motor domain scores, or responses to ALSAQ-5 questions on hand function and walking, was assessed with Spearman’s rank correlation. The relationship between mean upper- or lower-extremity muscle strength and specific ALSFRS-R domains was modeled using principal-components analysis. Results Upper-extremity muscle strength and hand grip were highly correlated with ALSFRS-R fine motor scores and the ALSAQ-5 hand function question. Similarly, lower-extremity strength correlated well with ALSFRS-R gross motor domain and the ALSAQ-5 walking question. For SVC, correlation was poor with the ALSFRS-R respiratory domain, but stronger with the total score, potentially reflecting the insensitivity of the respiratory questions in the scale. Upper- and lower-extremity strength were both strong predictors of ALSFRS-R domain scores. Conclusions In this analysis of data from an ALS clinical trial, muscle strength quantified by dynamometry was strongly correlated with functional capacity. These results suggest that muscle strength directly relates to specific functions of importance to people with ALS.

Effects of an arteriovenous fistula stenosis prevention program in patients receiving hemodialysis.

To increase the efficiency of hemodialysis, an appropriate vascular pathway must be created, and its function must be maintained. This study aimed to identify the effects of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis prevention program on upper muscular strength, blood flow, physiological indexes, and self-efficacy among patients receiving hemodialysis. The participants were patients receiving hemodialysis at Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center in Daegu, Republic of Korea. They were divided into experimental and control groups based on the day of the week they received hemodialysis at the outpatient department and included 25 participants each. The study was conducted for 8 weeks. The AVF stenosis prevention program was effective in improving upper extremity muscle strength (F=15.23, p<0.001) and blood flow rate (F=36.00, p<0.001). As a result of the program, the phosphorus index level, which is a physiological indicator in hemodialysis patients, decreased (F=8.64, p<0.001). Encouragement and support through text messages and practice lists also resulted in an increase in self-efficacy (F=18.62, p<0.001). The AVF stenosis prevention program in this study resulted in an increase in upper extremity muscle strength through grip strength exercises and was effective in preventing AVF stenosis by increasing the blood flow rate.

Analisis Praktik Klinik Keperawatan pada Pasien Stroke Hemoragik dengan Terapi Inovasi Mobilisasi (Rom Pasif) dan Rangsangan Taktil Terhadap Pemulihan Anggota Gerak Atas di Ruang Hcu Rsud Prof. Dr. H. Aloei Saboe Kota Gorontalo

Background: Stroke is one of the main health problems for the community because stroke can cause damage to the brain that appears suddenly, progressively, and quickly due to non-traumatic brain blood circulation disorders.&#x0D; Purpose: To conduct an analysis of managed cases with a medical diagnosis of hemorrhagic stroke with innovative mobilization therapy (Passive ROM) and tactile stimulation for upper limb recovery in the HCU Room of Prof. Dr. H. Aloei Saboe City of Gorontalo&#x0D; Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental design with pre and post test. To determine the effect of providing innovative mobilization therapy (Passive ROM) and tactile stimulation to hemorrhagic stroke patients in the HCU Room of Prof. Dr. H. Aloei Saboe City of Gorontalo. The sample used in this study were 5 patients with the sample criteria being patients who had hemorrhagic strokes who were treated in the HCU Room at Prof. Hospital. Dr. H. Aloei Saboe Gorontalo City, patients who experience hemiparesa, patients have awareness of compos mentis.&#x0D; Results: Implementation of innovation in Mrs.FK On the first day the Ara test score was 0 until the third day there was no increase in the Ara test value which was still 0. Mr. RA on the first day the Ara test value was 1, on the third day the Ara test value increased enough to be 2. On Mr. UT on the first day the Ara test value was 0, on the third day the Ara Test value was 1. Mr. AH on the first day the Ara test value was 0, on the third day the Ara Test value was still 0. Mr. MH on the first day the Ara test value was 1, on the third day the Ara Test value increased to 2.&#x0D; Conclusion: Based on the research conducted, it was found that 5 respondents from the results of the study had the same complaint, namely experiencing weakness/hemiparesis of the upper extremities. The client's upper extremity muscle strength is 1/5, 3/4, 2/4, 4/2, 4/5, when the motor function test is carried out by holding the researcher's hand the client is unable to grip,

Analisis Praktik Klinik Keperawatan Pada Pasien Stroke Non Hemoragik dengan Pemberian Latihan Pemasangan Puzzle Jigsaw Terhadap Peningkatan Kekuatan Otot Ekstermitas Atas Rsud Prof. Dr. H. Aloei Saboe Kota Gorontalo

Stroke is an acute neurological condition caused by decreased blood flow to the brain. Nervous system dysfunction occurs suddenly (within seconds) or rapidly (within hours) and the symptoms and signs correspond to the local area of ​​the brain affected.&#x0D; Objective: To conduct an analysis of managed cases with a medical diagnosis of non-hemorrhagic stroke with jigsaw puzzle pairing exercise therapy to increase upper extremity muscle strength&#x0D; Methods: This research is a quasi-experimental design with pre and post test. This type of research is a research design that is used to look for causal relationships with research involvement. The sample used in this study were 6 patients with a critical sample of patients who had non-hemorrhagic stroke who were treated at Prof. Hospital. Dr. Aloei Saboe Gorontalo City.&#x0D; Results: The results of the study showed that changes in muscle strength were only present in Mr. I.T obtained an increase on the evaluation of the third day of implementation where there was an increase in muscle strength to 5/4, which means there was an increase using the MMAS (Modified Muscle Assessment Scale) it was found that the client was only able to lift the top part of the puzzle and put it back. (The patient reaches forward at arm's length, lifts the top of the puzzle, releases it back to the part of the table that is closest to the patient's body).&#x0D; Conclusion: Based on the research conducted, it was found that 6 respondents from the results of the assessment had measuring results that had been carried out after the Jigsaw Puzzle installation exercise, it was found that there was a change in the range of motion of the client's fingers while for the client's muscle strength and fine motor movements there had been no change. Stroke attack can cause permanent physical disability.

The relationship between vitamin D and sarkopenia in patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Backround: Vitamin D is essential for the optimal function of many bodily systems and it is associated with various types of metabolic illnesses such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. Decreased absorption of vitamin D may pose a risk for sarcopenia by affecting the lipid profile responses in metabolic syndrome (MetS). Purpose Our aim is to examine the relationship between vitamin D level and selected sarkopenia parameters such as muscle and fat mass, muscle strength, body composition, and walking speed in patients with MetS. Method 67 patients (mean age=50.3±7.69/years, F:51, M:16) aged 35-65 years and diagnosed with MetS (according to NCEP-ATP III criteria) were included in the study. Body mass index (BMI), muscle and fat mass of the participants were assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis (TANITA). Waist and hip circumferences were measured. Right and left quadriceps muscle strength (J-Tech CommanderTM Muscle Tester) and grip strength (Jamar dynamometer) of the dominant hand (all patients were right dominant) were measured with dynamometer. Walking speed was calculated by dividing the distance walked by minutes in the 6-minute walking test. Results Of the patients, 9 (13.4%) were categorized as deficiency (&amp;lt;12 ng/mL), 10 (14.9%) had inadequacy (≥12 and &amp;lt;20 ng/mL) and 48 (71.6%) had sufficiency (≥ 20 ng/mL) level of vitamin D. There was a significant correlation between vitamin D level and body fat mass (r=-0.29, p=0.017), BMI (r=-0.29, p=0.014), hip circumference (r=-0.28, p=0.021) and left quadriceps muscle strength (r=-0.288, p=0.018). There was no correlation between vitamin D level, 6 minutes walking speed, body muscle mass, right quadriceps muscle strength and hand grip strength (p&amp;gt;0.05). Conclusion In this study, although vitamin D level was associated with left lower extremity muscle strength in patients with MetS, it was not associated with other sarcopenia parameters such as muscle mass, upper extremity muscle strength and walking speed. The relationship between vitamin D level, fat mass and body composition seen in our study may be due to altered lipid metabolism responses. We think that the effects of vitamin D on sarcopenia in MetS should be prospectively examined in a larger sample including elderly patients and considering the vitamin D intake.

Association between Stress and Physical Fitness of University Students Post-COVID-19 Pandemic

Post-COVID-19 pandemic, most universities changed their educational model from online courses to onsite learning, allowing students to attend regular face-to-face classes. These changes can cause stress in students, which affects physical fitness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress levels and physical fitness in female university students. The participants were 101 female university students, 18-23 years of age. All participants completed the Suan Prung Stress Test-60 (SPST-60). The physical fitness test included body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, as well as musculoskeletal fitness. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine the associations between SPST-60 scores and physical fitness. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. We found a negative correlation between the sources of stress scores, here environment, and maximal oxygen consumption (β = -0.291; 95% CI, -0.551, -0.031). We also found that symptoms of stress scores in the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems were positively associated with waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR) (β = 0.010; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.017 and β = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.000, 0.012, respectively). Moreover, the symptoms of stress, here emotion, were positively associated with the WHR (β = 0.005; 95 %CI, 0.001, 0.009) and negatively associated with upper extremity muscle strength (β = -0.005; 95% CI, -0.009, 0.000). The results of this study confirmed the associations between stress levels in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era and WHR, maximal oxygen consumption, and upper extremity muscle strength. As a result, stress reduction or prevention alternatives should be considered in order to maintain physical fitness and prevent stress disorders.

Effects of Passive Scapular Stabilization on Upper Extremity Muscle Strength in Patients With Rotator Cuff Repair

Effects of Passive Scapular Stabilization on Upper Extremity Muscle Strength in Patients With Rotator Cuff Repair

Relationship between age and handgrip strength: Proposal of reference values from infancy to senescence.

Measurement of hand grip strength (HGS) has been proposed as a key component of frailty and has also been suggested as a central biomarker of healthy aging and a powerful predictor of future morbidity and mortality. (a) To determine whether a nonlinear relationship model could improve the prediction of handgrip strength (HGS) compared to the linear model and (b) to propose percentiles to evaluate HGS according to age and sex for a regional population of Chile from infancy to senescence. A cross-sectional descriptive study was developed in a representative sample of the Maule region (Chile). The volunteers amounted to 5,376 participants (2,840 men and 2,536 women), with an age range from 6 to 80 years old. Weight, height, HGS (right and left hand) according to age and sex were evaluated. Percentiles were calculated using the LMS method [(L (Lambda; asymmetry), M (Mu; median), and S (Sigma; coefficient of variation)]. There were no differences in HGS from 6 to 11 years of age in both sexes; however, from 12 years of age onwards, males presented higher HGS values in both hands (p < 0.05). The linear regression between age with HGS showed values of R 2 = 0.07 in males and R 2 = 0.02 in females. While in the non-linear model (cubic), the values were: R 2 = 0.50 to 0.51 in men and R 2 = 0.26 in women. The percentiles constructed by age and sex were: P5, P15, P50, P85, and P95 by age range and sex. This study demonstrated that there is a nonlinear relationship between chronological age with HGS from infancy to senescence. Furthermore, the proposed percentiles can serve as a guide to assess and monitor upper extremity muscle strength levels at all stages of life.

Effects of athletic training on physical fitness and stroke velocity in healthy youth and adult tennis players: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Better physical fitness and stroke velocity in healthy elite compared to sub-elite tennis players have been shown in previous studies. However, evidence-based knowledge regarding the effectiveness of athletic training on physical fitness and stroke velocity is currently lacking. Thus, the objective of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to characterize, aggregate, and quantify athletic training effects on measures of physical fitness and stroke velocity in healthy youth and adult tennis players. A computerized systematic literature search was performed in the databases PubMed, Web of Science, and SportDiscus from their inception date to August 2022. Studies were included, among others, if the intervention period lasted a minimum of four weeks and if at least one parameter of physical fitness (i.e., speed, agility, lower-extremity muscle power, upper-extremity muscle power/strength, endurance, balance, flexibility) or stroke performance (i.e., stroke velocity) was tested. Initially, 11,511 articles were identified, after removing duplicates and assessing abstracts and full texts, 24 articles were used to calculate weighted standardized mean differences (SMD). For measures of physical fitness, athletic training resulted in small (speed: SMD = 0.44), moderate (endurance: SMD = 0.61, upper-extremity muscle power: SMD = 0.72; flexibility: SMD = 0.63), and large (agility: SMD = 0.93, lower-extremity muscle power: SMD = 0.88; upper-extremity muscle strength: SMD = 0.90; balance: SMD = 0.88) effects. Further, a large effect (SMD = 0.90) on stroke velocity was detected. The additionally performed sub-analyses showed differences in the effectiveness of athletic training on variables of physical fitness and stroke speed when considering players' age (i.e., youth players: <18 years; adult players: ≥18 years). Precisely, there was a high potential for training-related adaptations in adult players with respect to lower-extremity muscle power, upper-extremity muscle strength, and stroke velocity and in youth players with respect to endurance. Interventions to promote physical fitness and stroke velocity in healthy tennis players revealed varying levels of effectiveness ranging from small to large and these were additionally affected by players' age. Therefore, future studies should investigate modalities to increase training efficacy in youth and adult tennis players, especially for fitness components that showed small- to moderate-sized changes.

Relationship between functional classification, upper extremity muscle strength, and agility in wheelchair rugby athletes

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a força e a agilidade de atletas do rúgbi em cadeira de rodas (RCR) por meio de diferentes classificações funcionais (CFs), bem como descrever a relação da agilidade com a força muscular isométrica (FMI) de membros superiores. Foram analisados 10 atletas de RCR, divididos em dois grupos: Grupo 1 (G1): CF 0,5 e 1,0; e Grupo 2 (G2): CF 1,5 a 2,5. A FMI foi avaliada pela dinamometria, e a agilidade pelo teste em ziguezague. A correlação de Spearman foi utilizada para descrever a relação entre a FMI e o desempenho no teste de agilidade, enquanto o teste t foi usado para comparar a força e a agilidade entre as diferentes CFs (p≤0,05). A FMI dos extensores do ombro foi maior no G2 (p=0,001; d=3,10), que também se mostrou mais ágil que o G1 (G1=23,66s&gt;G2=17,55s; p=0,015; d=2,00). Verificou-se a correlação entre força muscular bilateral de extensores de ombro e agilidade em ambos os grupos (r=−0,721; p=0,019). Atletas com pontuação alta na CF são mais ágeis comparados a atletas com pontuações baixas e, portanto, apresentam maior velocidade de deslocamento ao executar as tarefas do RCR. Maior força muscular dos extensores de ombro é associada à maior agilidade em atletas do RCR.