scholarly journals The Influence of Nordic Walking on Isokinetic Trunk Muscle Endurance and Sagittal Spinal Curvatures in Women after Breast Cancer Treatment: Age-Specific Indicators

Author(s):  
Justyna Hanuszkiewicz ◽  
Marek Woźniewski ◽  
Iwona Malicka

Nordic walking (NW) is a popular form of rehabilitation. NW improves psychophysical condition in breast cancer (BC) survivors. This study aimed to analyze the effects of NW on functional and postural changes of the trunk in women of different ages after BC. We hypothesized that an age relationship would be found. BC survivors (n = 39) were stratified by age as “middle- aged” (45–59 years) or “older” (60–75 years), then randomly allocated to the training intervention. A study group (SG, n = 19) participated in NW and a control group (CG, n = 20) performed general gymnastics. The sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance were recorded at two time points, pre- and post-training intervention. Significant within NW group changes (p < 0.05) were found for the total work (TW) and average power (AP) of trunk flexors and extensors and the upper thoracic angle in middle-aged women. In older Nordic walkers, significant increases in TW and AP of the trunk flexor muscles were observed, with a negative increase in the trunk inclination angle. In CG, no significant functional or postural changes were observed in response to general gymnastics. NW improved both functional and postural changes in middle-aged women. This study identified the limitations of NW training in older women.

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Maria Hanuszkiewicz ◽  
Marek Woźniewski ◽  
Iwona Malicka

Purpose: The aim of this work was to assess the impact of Nordic walking on sagittal spinal curvatures and isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer treatment. Methods: Thirty-nine breast cancer survivors were divided into two groups: a study group (n = 19) that performed Nordic walking, and a control group (n = 20) that performed a standard general exercise programme. Body posture was assessed using Moiré photogrammetry and trunk muscle (flexors and extensors) endurance at 120°/s was measured isokinetically. Statistical analyses were based on two-way ANOVA with Scheffe post hoc tests and Pearson’s r correlation tests. Results: Women who completed the 8-week Nordic walking intervention showed significant improvements in average power and total work, irrespective of the muscle group investigated. Following training intervention, greater strength-velocity values of the trunk muscles were observed in the study group, compared to the control group. There were no significant changes in postural parameters or correlations for trunk muscle function within spinal curvatures before and after the training interventions. When both groups were combined (Nordic walking + general exercises), functional-postural correlations following the intervention showed a statistically significant tendency toward a reduced inclination of the upper thoracic section, together with increases in all tested functional parameters of the trunk flexor and extensor muscles (r = –0.33 to r = –0.37). Conclusions: Compared to a standard general exercise programme, Nordic walking is more effective for improving isokinetic trunk muscle endurance in women after breast cancer. However, no changes in sagittal spinal curvatures were observed after the 8-week Nordic walking and general exercise interventions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique V. Taveira ◽  
Claudio A. B. de Lira ◽  
Marilia S. Andrade ◽  
Ricardo B. Viana ◽  
Hirofumi Tanaka ◽  
...  

Trunk muscle strength and control is an important prerequisite for everyday activities among elderly people decreasing the predisposition to falls. High levels of physical exercise performed by older athletes could offer benefits to core/trunk muscle strength and postural control compared with recreational physical activities and among elderly people with lower levels of physical activity. The present study aimed to compare trunk muscle strength and postural control of older running athletes vs. older physically active adults. Participants were master road runners (RUN, n = 15, six women, 64.3 ± 3.6 years) and physically active elderly (control group, CON, n = 15, six women, 65.4 ± 5.0 years) people that were submitted to the evaluations: esthesiometer, posturography (force plate), and isokinetic test (Biodex dynamometer) of trunk muscle extension and flexion. RUN presented higher values for relative peak torque of trunk extensor muscles at 60°/s (p = 0.046) and 180°/s (p = 0.007) and relative average power during trunk extension at 60°/s (p = 0.008) and 180°/s (p = 0.004) compared to CON. CON had a higher medial-lateral oscillation speed of the center of pressure in the stable condition with eyes closed (p = 0.004) compared to RUN. RUN presented higher isokinetic torque of extensor trunk muscles and better postural control than CON. This supposedly could help with postural control and balance and contribute to the prevention of falls among the elderly. The practice of running systematically by master athletes may partially explained our findings.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 329-336
Author(s):  
Nasser Mohammad Rahimi ◽  
◽  
Reza Mahdavinejad ◽  
Seyyed Reza Attarzadeh Hosseini ◽  
Hossein Negahban ◽  
...  

Objectives: Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) approach evaluates and activates the spinal stabilizers to optimize the performance of posture and respiratory system. This study investigated the effects of DNS breathing exercises on upper and lower chest wall mobility (UCM and LCM), trunk extensor endurance, and thoracic kyphosis in a group of sedentary students with poor posture. Methods: In this randomized, controlled 6-week trial, 52 participants were randomly divided into two groups: a DNS breathing exercise group (n=26) and a control group (n=26). First, a pre-test of the UCM, LCM, trunk muscle endurance and thoracic kyphosis was done on each participant in random order. DNS breathing exercise protocol (six times a week for six weeks) was implemented and after its completion, all post-test parameters were taken. Descriptive statistical and the paired-sample t test were used to analyze the obtained data. Results: Significant improvements were observed in the post-test compared with pre-test in DNS breathing exercise group in UCM (6.2±1.6 vs 4.4±0.9 cm, P<0.001), LCM (7.7±1.7 vs 5.5±1.0 cm, P<0.001), trunk muscle endurance (110.1±33.5 vs 88.7±34.1 s, P<0.001), and thoracic kyphosis (146.9±5.5 vs 142.7±4.0 degree, P<0.001). In contrast, the change in these parameters in the control group was not statistically significant. Discussion: DNS breathing exercise with a focus on the integrated spinal stabilizing system and breathing techniques is an effective protocol to significantly improve UCM and LCM, trunk muscle endurance, and thoracic kyphosis. It is suggested that DNS breathing exercises be introduced to improve chest mobility and posture and provide physiological stabilization for the overall health and performance of student


2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-831
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Belskaya ◽  
Viktor Kosenok

Currently, the urgent task is to search for new biomarkers as a promising tool for early detection and monitoring of breast cancer. The aim of the study was to study the level of cytokines in the saliva of patients with breast cancer. In the case-control study volunteers participated, which were divided into 3 groups: the main (breast cancer, n = 43), the comparison group (fibroadenoma, n = 32) and the control group (conditionally healthy, n = 39). All participants were questioned; biochemical examination of saliva, histological verification of the diagnosis was carried out. Intergroup differences are estimated by a nonparametric criterion. It is shown that in the context of breast cancer, the level of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-18) is increasing, except for IL-8, the content of which decreases compared to the control group. When the disease progresses by the nature of the dynamics, the parameters are divided into two groups: IL-2, IL-4, IL-18 and IL-6, IL-8, IL-10. For the first group of cytokines, there was a decrease in content during the transition from the early stages to the more common ones. For the second group, when passing from stages T1-2N0M0 to T1-2NjM0, the level of cytokines remains practically constant. In the future, the level of cytokines is observed for stage T3_4N0_2M0, and for IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, the level of cytokines reaches values corresponding to early stages, whereas for IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18 in the same direction, a significant increase in indicators was noted. Additionally, the IL-6/IL-8 ratio was calculated depending on the tumor size, as well as the presence / absence of metastasis. It is shown that this ratio is statistically significantly increased in the advanced stages of the disease. Particularly interesting is the increase in this ratio in saliva at the initial stages of the disease.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 3-13
Author(s):  
Yuriy Dumanskiy ◽  
Oleksandr Bondar ◽  
Oleksandr Tkachenko ◽  
Evhenii Stoliachuk ◽  
Vasilii Ermakov

In recent years, breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer pathology and the most common cause of disability among women in developed countries. Finding the most effective ways of interaction between the patient and the doctor creates the preconditions for the necessary analysis of the treatment process from an objective and subjective point of view. Therefore, an important indicator to be taken into account is the quality of life of a patient. To compare the indicators of a comprehensive assessment of the quality of life of patients to the adverse locally advanced forms (LA) of breast cancer before and after systemic intravenous polychemotherapy (SPCTx) and selective endolymphatic polychemotherapy (ELPCTx) in neoadjuvant mode. The study was conducted on the basis of a random analysis of outpatient cards from 112 patients with LA BC T4A-DN0-3M0 who received a comprehensive antitumor treatment on the basis of the Donetsk regional antitumor center and the University Clinic of the Odessa National Medical University from 2000 to 2017, which was proposed a questionnaire at various stages of preoperative treatment. The first (control) group consisted of 65 patients (58 %) with inoperable forms of LA BC, which was performed in neoadjuvant mode by SPCTx. The second (study group) included 47 patients (42 %) with inoperable forms of LA BC, which was performed as a neoadjuvant course ELPCTx. According to the integral indicators of quality of life and quality of health between patients in the control and study groups, there was no statistically significant difference. In a detailed analysis of the indicators of symptomatic scales, the difference between the groups did not exceed the critical. Based on the results of a study conducted among patients receiving endolymphatic chemotherapy in a neoadjuvant mode, the subjective evaluations of treatment in absolute numbers have better reference values without statistical superiority. The study of the integrative indicator of quality of life and its discrete elements is an ergonomic and economical means of heuristic assessment of the health of patients in order to further develop more rational and convenient ways of solving urgent issues of modern oncology by increasing compliance and finding a compromise between the physician and the patient.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 229-235
Author(s):  
Alireza Didarloo ◽  
Leila Mokhtary ◽  
Hamid-Reza Khalkhali ◽  
Soheila Ahangarzadeh-Rezaei

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent type of cancer among women that is fatal if not diagnosed and treated in due time. Health beliefs play an important role in people's willingness to engage in health-promoting behaviors. Objective: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of the health belief model (HBM)-based training intervention on women’s health beliefs towards breast cancer screening behaviors. Methods: The study of educational intervention was conducted on women referred to healthcare centers. The sample was selected by convenient sampling and randomly assigned to control and intervention groups of 50 subjects. The intervention group received the theory-based training intervention, but the control group received only the routine care. Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) was used for collecting the study data. Data analysis was performed using independent t-test, paired t-test, Chi-squared test, and correlation coefficient in SPSS software version 16.00. Results: The mean age of the subjects for control and intervention groups was 39.06±9.78, 38.32±8.27, respectively. Overall, 38%, 12% and 13%of the subjects reported breast selfexamination behavior, mammography and clinical breast examinations, respectively. Before the intervention program, the overall mean score of health beliefs in groups of control and intervention was 160.82±23.28, and 159.14±20.61, respectively. After educational intervention, the overall mean score of beliefs in the intervention group changed from 159.14±20.61 to 195.26±24.42, and it was statistically significant (p<0.001). In the control group, after the intervention, no significant changes were observed in the mean score of total health beliefs and were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Among the variables of the HBM, women's perceived self-efficacy toward breast selfexamination experienced the most positive change after an educational intervention. Conclusion: Our results indicated that HBM-based training significantly improved women’s beliefs toward breast cancer screening behaviors. It is suggested that trainers in the healthcare system use these educational approaches to promote people’s beliefs toward breast cancer and its screening methods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 790-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farnaz D. Moghaddam ◽  
Pejman Mortazavi ◽  
Somayeh Hamedi ◽  
Mohammad Nabiuni ◽  
Nasim H. Roodbari

Background and Purpose: Melittin, as the main ingredient of honeybee venom, that has shown anticancer properties. The present study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic impacts of melittin on 4T1 breast cancer cells. Methods: Hemolytic activity of different concentrations (0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8μg/ml) of melittin was assayed and then cytotoxicity of selected concentrations of melittin (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64μg/ml), 2 and 4μg/ml of cisplatin and 0.513, 0.295 and 0.123μg/ml of doxorubicin was evaluated on 4T1 cells using MTT assay. We used Morphological evaluation and flow cytometric analysis was used. Real time PCR was also used to determine mRNA expression of Mfn1 and Drp1 genes. Results: All compounds showed anti-proliferative effects on the tumor cell line with different potencies. Melittin had higher cytotoxicity against 4T1 breast cancer cells (IC50= 32μg/ml-72h) and higher hemolytic activity (HD50= 1μg/ml), as compared to cisplatin and doxorubicin. Mellitin at 16 and 32μg/ml showed apoptotic effects on 4T1 cells according to the flow cytometric analysis. The Real time PCR analysis of Drp1 and Mfn1 expression in cells treated with 16μg/ml of melittin revealed an up-regulation in Drp1 and Mfn1 genes mRNA expression in comparison with control group. Treatment with 32μg/ml of melittin was also associated with a rise in mRNA expression of Drp1 and Mfn1 as compared to the control group. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that melittin has anticancer effects on 4T1 cell lines in a dose and time dependent manner and can be a good candidate for further research on breast cancer treatment.


Author(s):  
Sajad Jeddi ◽  
Saeedeh Khalifi ◽  
Mahboubeh Ghanbari ◽  
Asghar Ghasemi

Background and objective: The effects of hypothyroidism during pregnancy and lactation on carbohydrate metabolism have been mostly studied in male animals. The aim of this study is therefore to investigate effect of fetal and neonatal hypothyroidism (FH and NH) on the glucose tolerance in middle-aged female rat offspring. Methods: Pregnant female rats were divided into three groups: Rats in the control group consumed tap water, while those in the FH and NH groups consumed 250 mg/L of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) in their drinking water during gestation or lactation periods, respectively. After weaning, the female offspring were separated and divided into 3 groups (n=8/group): Control, FH, and NH. Body weight was recorded monthly and intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed at month 12. Results: Compared to controls, female rats in the FH group had significantly higher plasma glucose levels than controls throughout the IVGTT except at min 60. Values at min 5 of the FH and control group were 196.1±1.9 and 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, respectively (P<0.05). In the NH group, plasma glucose levels were significantly higher only at min 5 (185.7±14.1 vs. 155.3±5.9 mg/dL, P<0.05). Conclusion: Hypothyroidism during fetal or neonatal periods caused glucose intolerance in middle-aged female offspring rats.


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