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The Effects of Resistance Training on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized-Controlled Trial

Our aim was to determine the effects of resistance training on cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women. Forty-five women were included in the study. Resistance exercises were done with an intensity of 60% of 1-Repetition Maximum, for 12 weeks. Heart rate, blood pressure, estimated peak VO2, lipid profiles, and homocysteine levels were evaluated. There were significant time and group interactions for body mass index (p = .02), heart rate (p = .04), systolic blood pressure (p = .03), estimated mean peak VO2 (p = .00), and total cholesterol (p = .00), but there were no interactions with other evaluated parameters. Resistance training has beneficial effects on particular cardiovascular risk factors in postmenopausal women.

Is hypertension a risk factor for poor balance control in elderly adults

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate whether hypertension negatively affects the postural balance control of elderly adults under different sensory conditions. [Subjects and Methods] Fifty-four healthy elderly adults who were residents in a Geriatric Home Care Center were recruited for this study. Height, weight, body mass index and age of the volunteers were recorded. After applying the exclusion criteria, the final study group included 16 hypertensive (HT) and the control group included 10 non-hypertensive (Non-HT) healthy elderly adults. To evaluate postural balance control objectively, the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (modified CTSIB) test was performed under four different conditions: 1) eyes open on a stable surface; 2) eyes closed on a stable surface; 3) eyes open on an unstable surface; and 4) eyes closed on an unstable surface. [Results] The postural balance scores (center of gravity sway) of the HT group were slightly higher than those of the Non-HT group under conditions 1 (HT group=0.3°/sec, Non-HT group=0.2°/sec), 2 (HT group=0.8°/sec, Non-HT group=0.4°/sec) and 4 (HT group=4.5°/sec, Non-HT group=3.5°/sec), but no statistically significant differences were found between the HT and Non-HT groups under any sensory condition. [Conclusion] The result of this study indicate that controlled hypertension in elderly adults is not a cause of worse balance performance than controls on stable or unstable surfaces with the eyes open or closed.

Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia for Heart Turkish Version Study: cross-cultural adaptation, exploratory factor analysis, and reliability.

Purpose Individuals with cardiac problems avoid physical activity and exercise because they expect to feel shortness of breath, dizziness, or chest pain. Assessing kinesiophobia related to heart problems is important in terms of cardiac rehabilitation. The Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia Swedish Version for the Heart (TSK-SV Heart) is reliable and has been validated for cardiac diseases in the Swedish population. The aim of this study was to investigate the reliability, parallel-form validity, and exploratory factor analysis of the TSK for the Heart Turkish Version (TSK Heart Turkish Version) for evaluating kinesiophobia in patients with heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Methods This cross-sectional study involved translation, back translation, and cross-cultural adaptation (localization). Forty-three pulmonary arterial hypertension and 32 heart failure patients were evaluated using the TSK Heart Turkish Version. The 17-item scale, originally composed for the Swedish population, has four factors: perceived danger for heart problem, avoidance of exercise, fear of injury, and dysfunctional self. Cronbach’s alpha (internal consistency) and exploratory factor analysis were used to assess the questionnaire’s reliability. Results of the patients in the 6-minute walk test, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and Nottingham Health Profile were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation analysis with the TSK Heart Turkish Version to indicate the convergent validity. Results Cronbach’s alpha for the TSK Heart Turkish Version was 0.75, indicating acceptable internal consistency. Although exploratory factor analysis showed a different subgroup distribution than the original questionnaire, the model was acceptable for the four-factor model hypothesis. Therefore, the questionnaire was rated as reliable. Conclusion These results supported the reliability of the TSK Heart Turkish Version. Since the acceptable four-factor model fits the subgroups and measures of reliability are sufficiently high, the questionnaire seems reliable for pulmonary arterial hypertension and heart failure patients.

Effect of disease severity on upper extremity muscle strength, exercise capacity, and activities of daily living in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension

OBJECTIVE Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease. Although muscle strength, exercise capacity, quality of life, and activities of daily living of patients with PAH are affected, it is not known how they are affected by disease severity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate effects of disease severity on upper extremity muscle strength, exercise capacity, and performance of activities of daily living in patients with PAH. METHODS Twenty-five patients with disease severity classified according to the New York Heart Association (NYHA) as functional class II (n=14) or class III (n=11) were included in the study. Upper-extremity exercise capacity and limitations in performing activities of daily living were assessed with 6-minute pegboard and ring test (6PBRT) and the Milliken activities of daily living scale (MAS), respectively. Shoulder flexion, elbow extension, elbow flexion muscle strength, and handgrip strength were measured with dynamometer. RESULTS There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, or mean pulmonary artery pressure between groups (p>0.05). The 6PBRT, MAS, and elbow flexion (right) and grip strength (right and left) results were significantly lower in NYHA III group than in NYHA II group (p=0.004, p=0.002, p=0.043, p=0.002 and p=0.003, respectively). There was no significant difference in shoulder flexion, elbow flexion (left), or elbow extension between groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSION Results suggest that upper extremity exercise capacity, elbow flexion muscle strength (right), and handgrip strength decrease and that limitations in activities of daily living grow as disease severity increases in patients with PAH. When planning rehabilitation programs, disease severity should be considered and evaluations and treatments for the upper extremities should be included.

Clinical correlation between the 6-min walk test andcardiopulmonary exercise testing in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

BACKGROUND/AIM The aims of the present study were to assess the relationship between the distance walked during the 6-min walk test (6MWT) and exercise capacity as determined by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and to investigate the prognostic value of the 6MWT in comparison to clinical parameters of CPET and echocardiography findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty PAH patients participated in the study. Subject characteristics and New York Heart Association (NYHA) classifications were recorded. All subjects completed the 6MWT and CPET. Relationships among the variables were analyzed by the Pearson correlation test. Correlation coefficients between 6MWT distance and other variables were determined by linear regression analysis. RESULTS Distance walked in the 6MWT was significantly correlated with the following exercise parameters: peak oxygen consumption, work load, and metabolic equivalents. Additionally, cardiac index was correlated with peak oxygen consumption and metabolic equivalents. We also showed that cardiac index and age were two significant determinants for exercise performance, accounting for 35.4% of the variance in the 6MWT. CONCLUSION The 6MWT provides information that may be a better index for the patients NYHA functional class determination than maximal exercise testing.