Kinesio Taping and the Circulation and Endurance Ratio of the Gastrocnemius Muscle

Context Kinesio Tex tape is a therapeutic tape that is applied with the Kinesio-taping (KT) method and is theorized to increase circulation and subsequently improve muscle function. However, little research has been conducted to determine how KT affects performance. Objective To determine the effect of KT on muscular endurance ratio, blood flow, circumference, and volume of the gastrocnemius muscle. Design Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting Research laboratory. Patients or Other Participants Sixty-one healthy, active people (23 men, 38 women; age = 19.99 ± 8.01 years, height = 169.42 ± 23.62 cm, mass = 71.53 ± 36.77 kg) volunteered to participate. They were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 groups: treatment KT, sham KT, and control. Intervention(s) Tape was applied based on group assignment. The treatment KT group received the ankle-tape technique as described in the KT manual. The sham KT group received 1 strip of Kinesio Tex tape around the circumference of the proximal gastrocnemius muscle. The control group did not receive tape application. Main Outcome Measure(s) The dependent variables were blood flow in blood perfusion units, volume of water displacement in milliliters, circumference of the gastrocnemius muscle in centimeters, and endurance ratio in joules measured before, 24 hours after, and 72 hours after the intervention. Separate repeated-measures analyses of variance were conducted for each dependent variable. Results We found no group-by-test day interaction for endurance ratios (F4,116 = 1.99, P = .10). Blood flow, circumference, and volume measurements also yielded no differences among groups (F2,58 range, 0.02–0.51; P > .05) or test days (F2,116 range, 0.05–2.33; P > .05). Conclusions We found KT does not enhance anaerobic muscle function measured by endurance ratio. The KT also did not affect circulation or volume of the gastrocnemius muscle in a healthy population.

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Evaluation of Genotoxicity and Efficacy of At-home Bleaching in Smokers: A Single-blind Controlled Clinical Trial

Operative Dentistry ◽

10.2341/14-121-c ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 40 (2) ◽

pp. E47-E55 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

JL de Geus ◽

M Rezende ◽

LS Margraf ◽

MC Bortoluzzi ◽

E Fernández ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Smoking Habit ◽

Gingival Tissue ◽

Controlled Study ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Shade Guide ◽

Experimental Group ◽

Single Blind ◽

At Home

SUMMARY Objective This single-blind controlled study evaluated the genotoxicity and efficacy of at-home bleaching in smokers and nonsmokers. Methods We selected 60 patients with central incisors A2 or darker: 30 smokers (experimental group) and 30 nonsmokers (control group). The bleaching was carried out with 10% carbamide peroxide for three hours a day for three weeks. The color was evaluated using a shade guide, Vita Bleachedguide 3D-Master, at baseline, during bleaching (first, second, and third weeks), and one week and one month after bleaching. Smears were obtained with a moistened wooden spatula from marginal gingiva. All the cytologic smears were stained with Giemsa solution. From each slide, 1000 cells were examined under 40× magnification and where micronuclei (MN) were located, they were examined under 100× magnification. The change in shade guide units at the different assessment periods and the frequency of MN were subjected to a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance and Tukey test (α=0.05). Results In both groups we detected a whitening of approximately 4 to 5 shade guide units, without color rebound after one month (p>0.05). The frequency of MN was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group, regardless of the bleaching treatment (p>0.001). Conclusion The efficacy of bleaching does not appear to be affected by the smoking habit. Additionally, at-home bleaching did not induce DNA damage to the gingival tissue during the bleaching period.

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Effect of an early mobilisation programme on pain intensity after laparoscopic surgery: a randomised clinical trial

BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care ◽

10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002618 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. bmjspcare-2020-002618

Author(s):

Azam Dehghani ◽

Ali Hajibagheri ◽

Ismail Azizi-Fini ◽

Fatemeh Atoof ◽

Noushin Mousavi

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Laparoscopic Surgery ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Early Mobilisation ◽

Repeated Measures Analysis ◽

The Mean

BackgroundPain is a common complication after laparoscopic surgery. This study aimed to examine the effect of an early mobilisation programme on postoperative pain intensity after laparoscopic surgery.MethodsA randomised controlled clinical trial was conducted on 80 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. The patients were randomly allocated to intervention (n=40) and a control (n=40) group. In the intervention group, an early mobilisation programme was implemented in two rounds. The patient’s perceived pain was assessed using a Visual Analogue Scale 15 min before and 30 min after each round of early mobilisation. Data were analysed through the independent samples t, χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests and the repeated measures analysis.ResultsThe repeated measures analysis showed that the mean pain scores have been decreased over time (F=98.88, p<0.001). Considering the observed interaction between time and the intervention, the t test was used for pairwise comparisons and showed that the mean pain score was not significantly different between the two groups in 15 min before the first round of early mobilisation (p=0.95). However, the mean pain in the intervention group was significantly less than the control group in all subsequent measurements (p<0.05).ConclusionEarly mobilisation programmes such as the one implemented in the current study are easy and inexpensive and can be implemented safely for the reduction of pain after laparoscopic surgeries.

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The Omega-3 Index and Long-term Walnut Consumption in Elderly Participants of the WAHA Study (P08-107-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz044.p08-107-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Tony Jehi ◽

Sujatha Rajaram ◽

Joan Sabate ◽

Edward Bitok ◽

Keiji Oda

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Healthy Aging ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Generalized Least Squares ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Healthy Elderly ◽

Habitual Diet ◽

Loma Linda University

Abstract Objectives To determine if consuming walnuts daily for 2 years would improve the omega-3 index in healthy elderly compared to habitual diet without walnuts. Methods Design: Secondary analysis of the Walnuts and Healthy Aging (WAHA) study, a 2-year, randomized controlled clinical trial, conducted in Loma Linda University, CA, USA and Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. Subjects were randomly assigned to either a walnut or a control group. Study Population Included 193 WAHA study subjects from the Loma Linda center only, whose blood samples were collected and analyzed for RBC fatty acids. Statistical analysis To assess whether the changes of the Omega-3 index from baseline to year 1 and baseline to year 2 are significantly different between the walnut and control groups. Unstructured covariance model best fitted the data and was utilized. Then, repeated measures analyses were conducted to assess the delta change differences based on generalized least squares model. Results Omega-3 index did not significantly change between baseline and year 1 in either group. The index significantly increased by 1.5% (P < 0.001) in walnut group and by 1.8% (P < 0.001) in control group between baseline and year 2. This between-group difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Conclusions Preliminary findings suggest that consuming walnuts, a rich source of ALA, may not be adequate to improve the omega-3 index compared to a walnut free habitual diet. Background intake of EPA and DHA may have a more pronounced influence on the index and needs to be further explored. Funding Sources California Walnut Commission, Folsom, CA.

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Effects of red blood cells with reduced deformability on cerebral blood flow and vascular water transport: measurements in rats using time-resolved pulsed arterial spin labelling at 9.4 T

European Radiology Experimental ◽

10.1186/s41747-021-00243-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Adnan Bibic ◽

Tea Sordia ◽

Erik Henningsson ◽

Linda Knutsson ◽

Freddy Ståhlberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Cerebral Blood Flow ◽

Red Blood Cells ◽

Blood Cells ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Arterial Spin Labelling ◽

Control Group ◽

Study Group ◽

Percentage Points ◽

Spin Labelling

Abstract Background Our aim was to introduce damaged red blood cells (RBCs) as a tool for haemodynamic provocation in rats, hypothesised to cause decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) and prolonged water capillary transfer time (CTT), and to investigate whether expected changes in CBF could be observed and if haemodynamic alterations were reflected by the CTT metric. Methods Damaged RBCs exhibiting a mildly reduced deformability were injected to cause aggregation of RBCs. Arterial spin labelling (ASL) magnetic resonance imaging experiments were performed at 9.4 T. Six datasets (baseline plus five datasets after injection) were acquired for each animal in a study group and a control group (13 and 10 female adult Wistar rats, respectively). For each dataset, ASL images at ten different inversion times were acquired. The CTT model was adapted to the use of a measured arterial input function, implying the use of a realistic labelling profile. Repeated measures ANOVA was used (alpha error = 0.05). Results After injection, significant differences between the study group and control group were observed for relative CBF in white matter (up to 20 percentage points) and putamen (up to 18–20 percentage points) and for relative CTT in putamen (up to 35–40 percentage points). Conclusions Haemodynamic changes caused by injection of damaged RBCs were observed by ASL-based CBF and CTT measurements. Damaged RBCs can be used as a tool for test and validation of perfusion imaging modalities. CTT model fitting was challenging to stabilise at experimental signal-to-noise ratio levels, and the number of free parameters was minimised.

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Effects of Lower Extremities Constraint Induced Movement Therapy on Gait and Balance of Chronic Hemiparetic Patients After Stroke: Description of a Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

10.21203/rs.3.rs-35081/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elaine Menezes Oliveira ◽

Gabriela da Silva Matuti ◽

Clarissa Barros de Oliveira ◽

Simone Ferreira de Freitas ◽

Catia Miyuki Kawamura ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Lower Extremities ◽

Movement Therapy ◽

Clinical Event ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Walk Test ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Constraint Induced Movement Therapy

Abstract BackgroundProtocols involving intensive practice have shown positive outcomes. Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (CIT) appears to be one of the best options for better outcomes in upper limb rehabilitation, but we still have little data about Lower Extremities - Constraint Induced Movement Therapy (LE-CIT) and its effects on gait and balance.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of an LE-CIT protocol on gait functionality and balance in chronic hemiparetic patients following a stroke.MethodsThe study adopts a randomized, controlled, single-blinded study design. 42 patients who suffered a stroke event, in the chronic phase of recovery (>6 months), with gait disability (no community gait), able to walk at least 10 meters with or without the advice or support of 1 person, will be randomly allocated to 2 groups: the LE-CIT Group or the Control Group (Intensive Conventional Therapy). People will be excluded if they have speech deficits that render them unable to understand and/or answer properly to evaluation scales and exercises selected for the protocol and/or if they have suffered any clinical event between the screening and the beginning of the protocol. Outcome will be assessed at baseline (T0), immediately after the intervention (T1), and after 6 months (T2). The outcome measures chosen for this trial are: 6 minute walk test (6minWT), 10 meter walk test (10mWT), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 3-D gait analysis (3DGA), Mini Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) and, as a secondary measure, Lower Extremity Motor Activity Log will be evaluated (LE-MAL). The participants in both groups will receive 15 followed days of daily exercise. The participants in the LE-CIT Group will be submitted to this protocol 2.5 hour/day for 15 followed days. It will include: 1) intensive supervised training, 2) use of shaping as strategy for motor training, and 3) application of a transfer package (plus 30 minutes). The Control Group will receive conventional physiotherapy for 2.5 hours/day over 15 followed days (the same period as the CIT intervention). Repeated measures analyses will be made to compare differences and define clinically relevant changes between groups.ResultsData collection is currently on-going and results are expected in 2021.Discussion: LE-CIT seems to be a good protocol for inclusion into stroke survivors’ rehabilitation as it has all the components needed for positive results, as well as intensity and transference of gains to daily life activities.Trial Registration: www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br (Register Number: RBR-467cv6). Date of registration: October 10, 2017. “Effects of Lower Extremities - Constraint Induced Therapy on gait and balance function in chronic hemipretic post-stroke patients”.

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Effects of Meditation on Mental Health and Cardiovascular Balance in Caregivers

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18020617 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 617

Author(s):

Lourdes Díaz-Rodríguez ◽

Keyla Vargas-Román ◽

Juan Carlos Sanchez-Garcia ◽

Raquel Rodríguez-Blanque ◽

Guillermo Arturo Cañadas-De la Fuente ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Loved One ◽

Group Methods ◽

Vagal Nerve Activity ◽

The Time Domain ◽

Mental Overload ◽

Experimental Group

Background: Caring for a loved one can be rewarding but is also associated with substantial caregiver burden, developing mental outcomes and affecting happiness. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a four-week, 16-h presential meditation program on physiological and psychological parameters and vagal nerve activity in high-burden caregivers, as compared to a control group. Methods: A non-randomized repeated-measures controlled clinical trial was conducted. Results: According to the ANCOVA results, the global happiness score (F = 297.42, p < 0.001) and the scores for all subscales were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group at 5 weeks. Anxiety levels were also significantly reduced in the experimental group (F = 24.92, p < 0.001), systolic (F = 16.23, p < 0.001) and diastolic blood (F = 34.39, p < 0.001) pressures, and the resting heart rate (F = 17.90, p < 0.05). HRV results revealed significant between-group differences in the HRV Index (F = 8.40, p < 0.05), SDNN (F = 13.59, p < 0.05), and RMSSD (F = 10.72, p < 0.05) in the time domain, and HF (F = 4.82 p < 0.05)) in the frequency domain, which were all improved in the experimental group after the meditation program. Conclusions: Meditation can be a useful therapy to enhance the mental health and autonomic nervous system balance of informal caregivers, improving symptoms of physical and mental overload.

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Early Results of a Helmetless-Tackling Intervention to Decrease Head Impacts in Football Players

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-51.1.06 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 50 (12) ◽

pp. 1219-1222 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Erik E. Swartz ◽

Steven P. Broglio ◽

Summer B. Cook ◽

Robert C. Cantu ◽

Michael S. Ferrara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Football Players ◽

Head Impacts ◽

Early Results ◽

Division I Football ◽

Collegiate Football

Objective To test a helmetless-tackling behavioral intervention for reducing head impacts in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I football players. Design Randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting Football field. Patients or Other Participants Fifty collegiate football players (intervention = 25, control = 25). Intervention(s) The intervention group participated in a 5-minute tackling drill without their helmets and shoulder pads twice per week in the preseason and once per week through the season. During this time, the control group performed noncontact football skills. Main Outcome Measure(s) Frequency of head impacts was recorded by an impact sensor for each athlete-exposure (AE). Data were tested with a 2 × 3 (group and time) repeated-measures analysis of variance. Significant interactions and main effects (P < .05) were followed with t tests. Results Head impacts/AE decreased for the intervention group compared with the control group by the end of the season (9.99 ± 6.10 versus 13.84 ± 7.27, respectively). The intervention group had 30% fewer impacts/AE than the control group by season's end (9.99 ± 6.10 versus 14.32 ± 8.45, respectively). Conclusion A helmetless-tackling training intervention reduced head impacts in collegiate football players within 1 season.

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Beneficial Effects of a Specially Designed Home Meal Replacement on Cardiometabolic Parameters in Individuals with Obesity: Preliminary Results of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13072171 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 2171

Author(s):

Jae-Woo Lee ◽

Yonghwan Kim ◽

Taisun Hyun ◽

Seunghye Song ◽

Woojung Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Density Lipoprotein ◽

Control Group ◽

Controlled Clinical Trial ◽

Meal Replacement ◽

Post Intervention ◽

Cholesterol Ratio ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Triglyceride Glucose Index ◽

Before And After

We aimed to investigate if a home meal replacement (HMR), designed with a low ω-6/ω-3 fatty acid ratio, improves cardiometabolic parameters, including metabolic syndrome (MetS) in obese individuals. We conducted a monocentric, controlled, randomized crossover trial. The HMR contains higher protein and fat content, lower carbohydrate content, and a lower ω6FA/ω3FA ratio than the regular diet. Sixty-four participants were randomized into two groups and switched to the other group following a 4-week intervention. While subjects in the HMR group were provided three HMRs daily, those in the control group were requested to maintain their regular dietary pattern. We conducted paired t-tests, repeated measures analysis of variance, and McNemar tests before and after the intervention. Body mass index (BMI) and weight were lower in the HMR group after adjusting for age, sex, and total energy intake and significantly changed in the between-group differences. The waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, triglyceride–glucose index, and triglyceride to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were reduced in the HMR group (all p < 0.05). The percentage of subjects with MetS significantly decreased from 39.1% at baseline to 28.1% post-intervention (p = 0.035). Using the HMR for 4 weeks reduced the BMI, weight, and MetS prevalence in individuals with obesity. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04552574).

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The Recovery Benefit on Skin Blood Flow Using Vibrating Foam Rollers for Postexercise Muscle Fatigue in Runners

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17239118 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (23) ◽

pp. 9118

Author(s):

Yi-Horng Lai ◽

Ai-Yi Wang ◽

Chia-Chi Yang ◽

Lan-Yuen Guo

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Muscle Fatigue ◽

Skin Blood Flow ◽

Gastrocnemius Muscle ◽

Blood Perfusion ◽

Endothelial Activation ◽

Flow Oscillation ◽

Flow Perfusion ◽

Before And After ◽

Blood Flow Oscillation

Purpose: To determine the effect of vibrating rollers on skin blood flow after running for recovery from muscle fatigue. Method: 23 healthy runners, aged between 20 to 45 years, participated in a crossover trial. Muscle fatigue was induced by running, and recovery using a vibrating roller was determined before and after the intervention. Each subject was measured at three time points (prerun, postrun, and postroller) to compare skin blood flow perfusion and blood flow oscillation at the midpoint of the dominant gastrocnemius muscle. The results show that blood perfusion is greater when a vibrating roller is used than a foam roller, but there is no statistical difference. The analysis of blood flow oscillation shows that vibrating rollers induce 30% greater endothelial activation than a foam roller. Vibrating rollers significantly stimulate the characteristic frequency for myogenic activation (p < 0.05); however, the effect size is conservative.

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WALKING WITH BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION IMPROVES THE DYNAMIC STRENGTH OF WOMEN WITH OSTEOPOROSIS

Revista Brasileira de Medicina do Esporte ◽

10.1590/1517-869220182402175290 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 135-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elísio Alves Pereira Neto ◽

Simoni Teixeira Bittar ◽

Júlio César Gomes da Silva ◽

Patrick Allan Souza Pfeiffer ◽

Heleodório Honorato dos Santos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Repeated Measures ◽

Effective Means ◽

Dynamic Strength ◽

Blood Flow Restriction ◽

Control Group ◽

Significance Level ◽

Flow Restriction ◽

Significant Difference

ABSTRACT Introduction: Improving strength levels is important to women with osteoporosis. Resistance and aerobic exercise are effective means of reaching this goal; however, the use of low-load exercises with blood flow restriction is an alternative to traditional methods of exercise to achieve the same strength gains in this population. Objective: To analyze the chronic effects of aerobic and resistance training combined with blood flow restriction on the maximal dynamic strength (MDS) of women with osteoporosis. Methods: Twenty women (61.40±4.63 years of age, 61.82±12.54 kg, 1.51±0.05 m, 27.16±5.55 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to four groups: 1 - high-intensity resistance training (HI); 2 - low-intensity resistance training with blood flow restriction (LI-BFR); 3 - aerobic training with blood flow restriction (ABFR); and 4 - control group (CG). Unilateral knee extension MDS was assessed using the one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength test before and after the 6th and 12th weeks of intervention. The data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a Bonferroni post-hoc test performed using SPSS (version 21.0), considering a significance level of P<0.05 for all tests. Results: Baseline comparisons showed that HI and CG had lower strength levels than LI-BFR and ABFR groups (P<0.05). The ABFR group exhibited a significant increase in MDS between the 1st and the 6th week (9%, P=0.001) and between the 1st and the 12th week (21.6%, P=0.008). The LI-BFR group exhibited increased MDS between the 1st and the 6th week (10.1%, P=0.001), between the 1st and the 12th week (24.2%, P=0.003) and between the 6th and 12th week (12.8%, P=0.030). The HI group exhibited a significant difference between the 1st and the 6th week (38.7%, P<0.001), between the 1st and the 12th week (62%, P<0.001) and between the 6th and 12th weeks (17.4%, P=0.020), whereas the CG had no significant differences between the timepoints (P>0.05). Conclusions: ABFR and LI-BFR effectively increased the MDS of women with osteoporosis.

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