Rory Suomi

Effects of arthritis exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived activities of daily living measures in older adults with arthritis.

OBJECTIVE To ascertain the effectiveness of the National Arthritis Foundation (NAF) aquatic and on-land exercise programs on functional fitness and perceived ability to perform activities of daily living (ADL) measures in older adults with arthritis. DESIGN The effects of aquatic and on-land exercise intervention programs were analyzed by repeated-measures analysis of variance by using a planned comparison approach with an independent 3 x 2 (group by test) design. omega(2) analyses were used to ascertain the relative treatment magnitude of each dependent variable. SETTING Testing in an indoor track facility; exercise programs conducted in community settings. PARTICIPANTS A volunteer sample of 30 men and women with arthritis (osteoarthritis, n=22; rheumatoid arthritis, n=8), randomly assigned into either an aquatic exercise (n=10), on-land exercise (n=10), or control group (n=10). INTERVENTION Eight-week on-land and aquatic exercise program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Functional fitness, ADLs, and hand-held dynamometry measures assessed on a 1-day pretest and posttest session, before and after an 8-week exercise program. RESULTS Aquatic and on-land exercise subjects showed significant improvements on 9 of 12 functional fitness, 3 of 4 ADLs, and 7 of 8 hand-held isometric strength tests after their respective exercise programs. No significant changes were found in any of these measures for the control group. CONCLUSION Both NAF exercise programs appear to be effective in improving functional physical fitness and perceived ability to perform ADL measures in older adults with arthritis.

Postural Sway Characteristics in Women With Lower Extremity Arthritis Before and After an Aquatic Exercise Intervention

OBJECTIVE To examine the reliability of postural sway assessment in women with lower extremity arthritis and to ascertain the effects of an aquatic exercise intervention program on these measures. DESIGN The reliability of postural sway measures was analyzed by within-subjects (Subject times Trial) analysis of variance (ANOVA). The effects of aquatic exercise were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA using a planned comparison approach with an independent 2 x 2 (Group times Test) design. SETTING Testing in a motor control research laboratory; aquatic exercise in a warm water pool at an area YMCA. PARTICIPANTS Volunteer sample, 24 women with lower extremity arthritis (rheumatoid [RA] n = 11, osteo [OA] n = 13) randomly assigned into an aquatic exercise group (n = 14) or control group (n = 10). INTERVENTION Postural sway measures under a two-legged stance test on two separate test days: day 1, pretest; day 2, posttest, administered after a 6-week aquatic exercise program. RESULTS Reliability correlation coefficients for postural sway measures ranged from .64 to .94 for both subject groups. Aquatic exercise subjects significantly reduced lateral sway and total sway area scores (by 18% to 30%) under both visual conditions after the 6-week intervention. Postural sway scores were significantly higher under the no-vision condition than under the vision condition in each group for both test sessions. Both OA and RA groups had normal sagittal/lateral ratio scores. CONCLUSION Women with lower extremity arthritis can be reliably assessed on postural sway measures on a stable two-legged stance test. Although they had normal sagittal/lateral sway ratio scores (ie, scores typical for nonarthritic peers), vision played an important role in their postural stability for this balance task. Aquatic exercise reduced postural sway in women with lower extremity arthritis, as demonstrated by a two-legged stance test, and this exercise program appears to be a viable treatment for increasing postural stability in this population.

Effect of Magnetic Insoles on Postural Sway Measures in Men and Women during a Static Balance Test

Numerous anecdotal reports have suggested a growing public enthusiasm for magnetic devices for treatment of pain and various motor and sensory dysfunctions Although the principles behind magnetic therapy are well documented, a complete technical explanation of whether static magnet application is effective is lacking due to a paucity of scientific research. In this study the effectiveness of magnetic insoles on postural sway measures during a single application were investigated Twenty-eight adults (14 old, 14 young) were assessed on postural sway measures while performing a static two-legged stance test on a Kistler force platform under two treatment conditions (magnetic insoles, nonmagnetic insoles) Significant reductions in total sway area and lateral sway scores were obtained by the older adults while standing on the magnetic insoles. These preliminary results indicate that treatment of postural instability using magnetic insoles may be a viable alternative for older adults.

Self-directed strength training: Its effect on leg strength in men with mental retardation☆

OBJECTIVE To compare isokinetic measures of peak torque (newton-meters) and total work (joules) in men with mental retardation on a test of knee extension after 12 weeks of trainer-directed training and 1 year of self-directed training. DESIGN Repeated measures of analysis of variance using a planned comparison approach involving an independent 2 x 3 (group x test) design. SETTING Subjects were tested at a university athletic training facility on three separate days. SUBJECTS Volunteer sample of 12 subjects with mental retardation: 6 in strength training group, 6 in control group. INTERVENTION Subjects performed an isokinetic knee extension test at a velocity of 60 degrees/sec on three separate days. Test 1 was the pretest, test 2 was conducted after 12 weeks of trainer-directed hydraulic resistance training, and test 3 was conducted after 1 year of self-directed hydraulic resistance training. RESULTS For both isokinetic parameters measured, the strength-trained subjects demonstrated significantly higher scores after 12 weeks of training and after 1 year of training than the scores achieved on the pretest. No significant differences in peak torque or total work scores were found between test 2 and test 3 scores for the strength-trained group. No significant changes in isokinetic scores between test sessions were found for the control subjects. CONCLUSION Men with mental retardation can maintain strength following a self-directed hydraulic resistance strength training program.

Postural Sway Characteristics of Single Leg Stance in Men with Mental Retardation

This study examined the postural sway characteristics of 10 men with mental retardation and 10 each normal men and women during the one-logged stance test. Significant differences between the men with mental retardation and the other two groups were found on measures of lateral sway and on the sagittal sway:lateral sway ratio.