Policy assessment and policy development for physical activity promotion: results of an exploratory intervention study in 15 European nations.

Background: Purpose of the study was to test a theoretical model to assess and develop policies for the promotion of physical activity among older people as part of an international intervention study.

Methods: 248 semi-standardized interviews with policy-makers were conducted in 15 European nations. The questionnaire assessed policy-makers' perceptions of organizational goals, resources, obligations, as well as organizational, political and public opportunities in the area of physical activity promotion among older people.

Is fatigue after stroke associated with physical deconditioning? A cross-sectional study in ambulatory stroke survivors.

Objective: To determine the relationship between a measure of fatigue and 2 indices of physical fitness, lower limb extensor power (LLEP) and walking economy.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with stroke. Fatigue was assessed by vitality (VIT) score of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2).

Physical fitness training for stroke patients.

Background: Physical fitness is low after stroke. It is unknown whether improving physical fitness after stroke reduces disability.

Objectives: To determine whether fitness training (cardiorespiratory or strength, or both) after stroke reduces death, dependence and disability.

The psychosocial effects of exercise and relaxation classes for persons surviving a stroke.

Background: This study was set up to explore unexpected findings emergent from a randomized controlled trial of exercise versus relaxation post-stroke.

Purpose: Stroke survivors' experiences of taking part in exercise and relaxation classes were explored.

Methods: In-depth, semi-structured interviews carried out with 14 community-dwelling stroke survivors in Edinburgh.

Association of activity limitations and lower-limb explosive extensor power in ambulatory people with stroke.

Objective: To determine whether the explosive lower-limb extensor power of the affected and unaffected sides, and any asymmetry, are associated with activity limitations after stroke.

Design: Cross-sectional observational study of baseline data from a randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Measurements made in a hospital clinical research facility.

Fatigue after stroke: the development and evaluation of a case definition.

Objective: While fatigue after stroke is a common problem, it has no generally accepted definition. Our aim was to develop a case definition for post-stroke fatigue and to test its psychometric properties.

Methods: A case definition with face validity and an associated structured interview was constructed.

Stroke: a randomized trial of exercise or relaxation.

Objectives: To determine the feasibility and effect of exercise training after stroke.

Design: Randomized exploratory trial comparing exercise training (including progressive endurance and resistance training) with relaxation (attention control).

Setting: Interventions were performed in a rehabilitation hospital.

Evaluation of fatigue scales in stroke patients.

Background And Purpose: There is little information on how to best measure poststroke fatigue. Our aim was to identify which currently available fatigue scale is most valid, feasible, and reliable in stroke patients.

Methods: Fatigue scales were identified by systematic search, and the 5 with the best face validity were identified by expert consensus.

Oxygen uptake kinetics measured at the onset of comfortable self-paced walking in elderly women after hip fracture.

The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate the suitability of "comfortable" self-paced walking as a mode of exercise to study VO(2) kinetics, and (2) to investigate VO(2) kinetics after hip fracture using self-paced walking as the exercise mode. The study took place in a Scottish rehabilitation hospital physiotherapy gymnasium [hip fracture (HF) group] and a Scottish University Gymnasium [young (Y) and healthy elderly (HE) groups]. Fifteen women after HF (median age 81 years) and five Y and five older HE women (median ages 22 and 78 years, respectively) took part in the study.

Skeletal muscle IGF-I isoform expression in healthy women after isometric exercise.

Context: Little is known about the expression of skeletal muscle-specific isoforms of the insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene in response to exercise in humans. Data for women are sparse and the influences of age and physical training status are unknown. Here we aimed to describe the expression of mRNA for the IGF-I isoforms in the quadriceps muscles of women at rest and after isometric exercise.

Longitudinal changes in muscle strength and mass after acute stroke.

Background: Reduced mobility after stroke may cause a loss of muscle mass which may, in theory, contribute to disability. We investigated longitudinal changes in muscle strength, lean cross-sectional area and muscle mass in all limbs after acute stroke.

Methods: We recruited 17 patients within 72 h of hospital admission and measured (a) hand grip strength, (b) knee extensor strength and (c) arm and leg lean cross-sectional area on 6 occasions over 6 months.

Responses to walking-speed instructions: implications for health promotion for older adults.

This study examined the effect of age on descriptive walking-speed instructions commonly used in health promotion. Participants were 9 young (20-23 years) and 9 older (75-83 years) women. Oxygen uptake and walking speed were measured in response to descriptive walking instructions ("slow," "comfortable," "brisk," and "fast").

Cycling as a novel approach to resistance training increases muscle strength, power, and selected functional abilities in healthy older women.

Cycling on a mechanically braked cycle ergometer was used as a novel approach to compare the effects of three different 16-wk resistance-training programs on isometric force, power output, and selected functional abilities in 31 healthy 65- to 74-yr-old women. Training was conducted three times per week. During each session, individuals of the speed group performed 8 sets of 16 pedal revolutions at 40% of the maximal resistance to complete two revolutions (2 RM); strength group performed 8 sets of 8 revolutions at 80% of 2 RM; and combination group performed 4 sets of 16 revolutions at 40% and 4 sets of 8 revolutions at 80% of 2 RM.

Aerobic training in the 'oldest old': the effect of 24 weeks of training.

Objective: to determine the effects of aerobic training on the maximal aerobic power of healthy, very elderly people.

Design: a 12-week control period followed by 24 weeks of progressive, weight bearing, aerobic training.

Subjects: 26 men and women aged 79 to 91 years conforming to pre-determined health criteria.

Muscle function in elite master weightlifters.

Purpose: To determine whether explosive power and isometric strength of the lower-limb muscles in elite master Olympic weightlifters declines at a similar rate to nontrained healthy controls with increasing age.

Methods: 54 elite level masters weightlifters (aged 40-87), who were competitors at the World Masters Weightlifting Championships (1999), were compared with a similar number of aged-matched, healthy untrained individuals. Isometric knee extensor strength and lower-limb explosive power were tested.