Preoperative exercise interventions to optimize continence outcomes following radical prostatectomy.

Urinary incontinence is a common and predictable consequence among men with localized prostate cancer who have undergone radical prostatectomy. Despite advances in the surgical technique, urinary continence recovery time remains variable. A range of surgical and patient-related risk factors contributing to urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy have been described, including age, BMI, membranous urethral length and urethral sphincter insufficiency.

The test-retest reliability and criterion validity of a high-intensity, netball-specific circuit test: The Net-Test.

Objectives: To examine the test-retest reliability and criterion validity of a high-intensity, netball-specific fitness test.

Design: Repeated measures, within-subject design.

Methods: Eighteen female netball players competing in an international competition completed a trial of the Net-Test, which consists of 14 timed netball-specific movements.

Effect of physical activity in the first five days after cardiac surgery.

Objectives: To quantify physiotherapist-supervised and independent physical activity undertaken from the first to the fifth day after cardiac surgery (POD1 to POD5), and to relate the amount of physical activity undertaken with hospital stay and postoperative physiological functional capacity on POD6.

Methods: Physiotherapist-supervised and independent physical activity were monitored in 83 adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery, using a bi-axial accelerometer and skin sensors that measured, galvanic skin response and body temperature. Patients completed a 6-min walk test (6MWT) on POD6.

Regular walking improves plasma protein concentrations that promote blood hyperviscosity in women 65-74 yr with type 2 diabetes.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of regular treadmill walking on plasma factors that increase low-shear blood viscosity and red blood cell aggregation in older women with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Eighteen women with type 2 diabetes (age: 69±3 yr; body mass index: 30.5±5.

Preliminary findings in the heart rate variability and haemorheology response to varied frequency and duration of walking in women 65-74 yr with type 2 diabetes.

Heart rate variability (HRV) and haemorheology adaptations to 12 wk of varied-dose treadmill walking were investigated in women aged 65-74 yr with type 2 diabetes. Subjects were randomly allocated into two groups where exercise frequency and session duration were manipulated (Group 1: 2 × 60 min·wk(-1) or Group 2: 4 × 30 min·wk(-1)), but intensity and accumulated weekly duration of exercise were consistent between groups (100% gas-exchange threshold; 120 min·wk(-1)). Twelve weeks of exercise training significantly improved peak oxygen uptake, time to exhaustion, and gas-exchange threshold (p < 0.

Biochemical and endocrine responses to impact and collision during elite Rugby League match play.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the prematch and short-term postmatch biochemical and endocrine responses to the intensity, number, and distribution of impacts associated with collisions during elite Rugby League match play. Seventeen elite male Rugby League players each provided blood and saliva samples 24 hours prematch, 30 minutes prematch, 30 minutes postmatch, and then at 24-hour intervals for a period of 5 days postmatch to determine plasma creatine kinase concentration ([CK]) and salivary cortisol concentration ([sCort]). The intensity, number, and distribution of impact forces experienced by players during match play were recorded using portable global positioning systems (GPSs).

Performance analysis of elite Rugby League match play using global positioning systems.

The aim of this study was (a) to examine the physiological demands of competitive Rugby League match play using portable Global Positioning Systems (GPSs) to monitor players' movement patterns and heart rate (HR) and (b) examine positional comparisons to determine if players' physiological requirements are influenced by their playing position during Rugby League match play. Twenty-two elite male Rugby League players were monitored during 5 regular season competition matches using portable GPS software. There was no difference in the total distance traveled between backs (5,573 ± 1,128 m) and forwards (4,982 ± 1,185 m) during match play.

Heart rate variability is related to impaired haemorheology in older women with type 2 diabetes.

Impaired heart rate variability (HRV)and haemorheology are independently associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetic complications. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between parameters of HRV,and red blood cell (RBC) aggregation and deformability, in older women with type 2 diabetes. Twenty women (age 69 ± 2 yr) with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and twenty controls (age 69 ± 3 yr) participated in the study.

Creatine kinase and endocrine responses of elite players pre, during, and post rugby league match play.

The purpose of the present study was to (a) examine player-movement patterns to determine total distance covered during competitive Rugby League match play using global positioning systems (GPSs) and (b) examine pre, during, and postmatch creatine kinase (CK) and endocrine responses to competitive Rugby League match play. Seventeen elite rugby league players were monitored for a single game. Player movement patterns were recorded using portable GPS units (SPI-Pro, GPSports, Canberra, Australia).

Markers of postmatch fatigue in professional Rugby League players.

The aim of the present study was to identify neuromuscular, biochemical, and endocrine markers of fatigue after Rugby League match play. Seventeen elite Rugby League players were monitored for a single match. Peak rate of force development (PRFD), peak power (PP), and peak force (PF) were measured during a countermovement jump (CMJ) on a force plate pre and postmatch play.

The role of rate of force development on vertical jump performance.

The purpose of this study was to examine a) the relationship between rate of force development (RFD) and vertical jump (VJ) performance during a counter movement jump (CMJ), and b) the reliability of RFD recorded during the CMJ and squat jump (SJ) forms of the VJ. Twenty-three physically active men aged 23 ± 3.9 years participated in the study.