Meng Ni

Comparative Impacts of Tai Chi, Balance Training, and a Specially-Designed Yoga Program on Balance in Older Fallers

OBJECTIVE To compare the effect of a custom-designed yoga program with 2 other balance training programs. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS A group of older adults (N=39; mean age, 74.15 ± 6.99 y) with a history of falling. INTERVENTIONS Three different exercise interventions (Tai Chi, standard balance training, yoga) were given for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Balance performance was examined during pre- and posttest using field tests, including the 8-foot up-and-go test, 1-leg stance, functional reach, and usual and maximal walking speed. The static and dynamic balances were also assessed by postural sway and dynamic posturography, respectively. RESULTS Training produced significant improvements in all field tests (P<.005), but group difference and time × group interaction were not detected. For postural sway, significant decreases in the area of the center of pressure with eyes open (P=.001) and eyes closed (P=.002) were detected after training. For eyes open, maximum medial-lateral velocity significantly decreased for the sample (P=.013). For eyes closed, medial-lateral displacement decreased for Tai Chi (P<.01). For dynamic posturography, significant improvements in overall score (P=.001), time on the test (P=.006), and 2 linear measures in lateral (P=.001) and anterior-posterior (P<.001) directions were seen for the sample. CONCLUSIONS Yoga was as effective as Tai Chi and standard balance training for improving postural stability and may offer an alternative to more traditional programs.

Comparative Effect of Power Training and High-Speed Yoga on Motor Function in Older Patients With Parkinson Disease.

OBJECTIVES To compare the effects of power training (PWT) and a high-speed yoga program on physical performances in older patients with Parkinson disease (PD), and to test the hypothesis that both training interventions would attenuate PD symptoms and improve physical performance. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING A laboratory of neuromuscular research and active aging. PARTICIPANTS Patients with PD (N=41; mean age ± SD, 72.2 ± 6.5y). INTERVENTIONS Two high-speed exercise interventions (specifically designed yoga program and PWT) were given for 12 weeks (twice a week), and 1 nonexercise control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale motor score (UPDRSMS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), Timed Up and Go, functional reach, single leg stance (SLS), postural sway test, 10-m usual and maximal walking speed tests, 1 repetition maximum (RM), and peak power (PPW) for leg press. RESULTS For the posttests, both training groups showed significant improvements (P<.05) in all physical measurements except functional reach on the more affected side, SLS, and postural sway compared with the pretests, and significantly better scores for UPDRSMS, BBS, Mini-BESTest, Timed Up and Go, functional reach on the less affected side, 10-m usual and maximal walking speed tests, 1RM, and PPW than controls, with no differences detected between the yoga program and PWT. CONCLUSIONS Both the specially designed yoga program and PWT programs can significantly improve physical performance in older persons with PD.

Core muscle function during specific yoga poses

OBJECTIVE To assess the potential use of 11 yoga poses in specific training and rehabilitation programs via examination of the muscle activation patterns in selected trunk and hip muscles. DESIGN Repeated-measures descriptive study. SETTING University laboratory, US. PARTICIPANTS Thirty healthy yoga practitioners with more than 3 months yoga practice experience (mean age±SD, 32.0±12.3 y; 8 M/22 F) participated. INTERVENTIONS Surface electromyographic signals of upper rectus abdominis, lower rectus abdominis, longissimus thoracis, external oblique abdominis and gluteus maximum muscle were recorded in 11 yoga poses: Halfway lift, Forward fold, Downward facing dog, Upward facing dog, High plank, Low plank, Chair, Mountain with arms down, Mountain with arms up, Warrior 1 (both sides). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Root mean square values of each muscle during each pose, normalized by the maximal voluntary contraction. RESULTS There were significant main effects of pose (p<.001) and muscle (p<.001), and a significant pose×muscle interaction (p=.001). The post hoc analysis revealed unique patterns for the five muscles of interest for each of the 11 poses (p<.024). CONCLUSIONS Variations in core muscle firing patterns depend on the trunk and pelvic positions during these poses. Training programs can be developed by choosing particular poses to target specific core muscles for addressing low back pain and declines in performance. The High plank, Low plank and Downward facing dog poses are effective for strengthening external oblique abdominis, Chair and Warrior 1 poses for targeting gluteus maximum, and Chair and Halfway lift poses for strengthening longissimus thoracis. And these three muscles could be strengthened by the Upward facing dog pose.

Power training induced change in bradykinesia and muscle power in Parkinson's disease

UNLABELLED Power-based resistance training (PWT), using low load and high velocity, can improve physical function and quality of life in older persons. Patients with Parkinsons disease (PD), exhibiting muscular weakness and reduced movement speed, have been shown to be benefit from resistance training; however, little is known about the advantages of PWT for PD. PURPOSE To evaluate the effects of PWT on bradykinesia and muscular performance in older patients with PD. METHODS Twenty-six patients with mild to moderate PD were randomly assigned to a PWT or control group (CON). The PWT program was three months, incorporating two sessions/wk of high-speed resistance training combined balance and agility drills. Outcome measures included: upper and lower limb bradykinesia scores, one repetition maximums (1RM) and peak powers on biceps curl, chest press, leg press, hip abduction and seated calf, and quality of life (PDQ-39). RESULTS The PWT group produced significant improvement in both upper and lower limbs bradykinesia scores, 1RM and muscle peak power (p < .05), which surpassed the CON group except for power during the seated calf exercise. No significant correlations between changes in clinical measure of bradykinesia and muscle peak power were observed after training. Significant improvements were seen in the PDQ-39 overall score, subsections for mobility, activities of daily living and social support for the PWT group. CONCLUSION The 3-month PWT program significantly reduced bradykinesia and increased muscle strength and power in older patients with PD. Power training is an effective training modality to improve physical function and quality of life for PD.

Controlled pilot study of the effects of power yoga in Parkinson's disease

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of a specially designed power yoga program (YOGA) on bradykinesia, rigidity, muscular performance and quality of life in older patients with PD. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING University laboratory, US. INTERVENTION Twenty-six patients with mild to moderate PD were randomly assigned to a YOGA or control group (CON). The YOGA program was three months, incorporating two sessions/wk of yoga classes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Upper and lower limb bradykinesia and rigidity scores from the Unified Parkinsons Disease Rating Scale, one repetition maximums (1RM) and peak powers on biceps curl, chest press, leg press, hip abduction and seated calf, and quality of life (PDQ-39). RESULTS The YOGA group produced significant improvement in both upper and lower limbs bradykinesia scores, rigidity score, 1RM for all 5 machines and leg press power (p<.05). Significant improvements were seen in the PDQ-39 overall score, mobility and activities of daily living domain for the YOGA group. CONCLUSION The 3-month YOGA program significantly reduced bradykinesia and rigidity, and increased muscle strength and power in older patients with PD. Power training is an effective training modality to improve physical function and quality of life for PD.

Validity and reliability of a video questionnaire to assess physical function in older adults

BACKGROUND Self-report questionnaires are widely used to assess physical function in older adults. However, they often lack a clear frame of reference and hence interpreting and rating task difficulty levels can be problematic for the responder. Consequently, the usefulness of traditional self-report questionnaires for assessing higher-level functioning is limited. Video-based questionnaires can overcome some of these limitations by offering a clear and objective visual reference for the performance level against which the subject is to compare his or her perceived capacity. Hence the purpose of the study was to develop and validate a novel, video-based questionnaire to assess physical function in older adults independently living in the community. METHODS A total of 61 community-living adults, 60years or older, were recruited. To examine validity, 35 of the subjects completed the video questionnaire, two types of physical performance tests: a test of instrumental activity of daily living (IADL) included in the Short Physical Functional Performance battery (PFP-10), and a composite of 3 performance tests (30s chair stand, single-leg balance and usual gait speed). To ascertain reliability, two-week test-retest reliability was assessed in the remaining 26 subjects who did not participate in validity testing. RESULTS The video questionnaire showed a moderate correlation with the IADLs (Spearman rho=0.64, p<0.001; 95% CI (0.4, 0.8)), and a lower correlation with the composite score of physical performance tests (Spearman rho=0.49, p<0.01; 95% CI (0.18, 0.7)). The test-retest assessment yielded an intra-class correlation (ICC) of 0.87 (p<0.001; 95% CI (0.70, 0.94)) and a Cronbachs alpha of 0.89 demonstrating good reliability and internal consistency. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the video questionnaire developed to evaluate physical function in community-living older adults is a valid and reliable assessment tool; however, further validation is needed for definitive conclusions.

Changes In Leg Power Are Responsible For Clinically Meaningful Improvements In Parkinson'S Disease: 1318 June 2, 8: 45 AM - 9: 00 AM.

echocardiography including conventional and tissue Doppler) and peak oxygen consumption (open-circuit spirometry during graded exercise treadmill test) were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. RESULTS: HIIT resulted in a small but significant improvement in ejection fraction (55.4±0.6% to 57.8±0.7%, pre vs. post; p=0.004) while no significant changes were observed in MICT (56.0±0.5 to 57.0±0.7%, p=0.2) and control (56.3±1.0 to 55.0±1.3%, p=0.05). A greater improvement in ejection fraction was associated with a greater improvement in peak oxygen consumption (r=0.60, p=0.004). Left ventricular diastolic function (early (E) to late diastolic peak filling velocity: 1.06±0.04 to 1.02±0.04, early diastolic mitral annular velocity (e’): 9.8±0.3 to 9.4±0.3 cm/s, E/e’: 8.5±0.4 to 8.5±0.4, pre vs. post) and measures of cardiac structure remained unchanged in all groups following the 8-week intervention (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Eight weeks of HIIT resulted in small improvements in ejection fraction and these improvements were positively related with exercise-induced improvements in peak oxygen consumption.