Autonomic function and inflammation in pregnant women participating in a randomized controlled study of Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting.

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in many women's lives, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms increases during this vulnerable period. Apart from well documented cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms, stress and depression are associated with physiological changes, such as reduced heart-rate variability (HRV) and activation of the inflammatory response system. Mindfulness Based Interventions may potentially have an effect on both HRV, inflammatory biomarkers, and self-assessed mental health.

The EXPANd trial: effects of exercise and exploring neuroplastic changes in people with Parkinson's disease: a study protocol for a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) affects many physiological systems essential for balance control. Recent studies suggest that intensive and cognitively demanding physical exercise programs are capable of inducing plastic brain changes in PD. We have developed a highly challenging balance training (the HiBalance) program that emphasizes critical aspects of balance control through progressively introducing more challenging exercises which incorporates dual-tasking.

Long-Term Effects of Balance Training on Habitual Physical Activity in Older Adults with Parkinson's Disease.

The HiBalance program is a progressive and highly challenging balance training intervention incorporating Parkinson's disease (PD) specific balance components. The program improves balance and gait and increases the amount of ambulation in short-term, in older adults with PD. Yet, potential short- and long-term effects on habitual physical activity and sedentary behavior are currently unidentified.

Long-term effects of highly challenging balance training in Parkinson's disease-a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives:: To determine long-term effects of a highly challenging training program in people with Parkinson's disease, as well as describe how initially observed improvements of the program deteriorated over time.

Design:: Long-term follow-up of previously reported outcomes at 10 weeks of a randomized controlled trial.

Setting:: University hospital setting.

Structural Validity of the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) in People With Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease.

Background: The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) is a clinical balance test comprising 14 items assumed to reflect the unidimensional construct "dynamic balance."

Objective: The study objective was to examine the dimensionality of the test and the properties of each item and their interrelationships in elderly people with mild to moderate Parkinson disease (PD).

Design: This was a cross-sectional study in a laboratory setting.

Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and its Association with Balance, Physical Function and Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: The desirable effects of physical activity in individuals with Parkinson's disease are well-known, although according to results from previous studies factors associated with objectively assessed physical activity are not fully investigated.

Objective: To investigate demographic, disease-related and mobility-related factors that associate with objectively measured physical activity, in a sample of older adults with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.

Methods: Demographic, disease-related and mobility-related factors were gathered by interview from a total of 91 older adults with Parkinson's disease, followed by an evaluation of balance control using the Mini-BESTest.

Accelerometer Cut Points for Physical Activity Assessment of Older Adults with Parkinson's Disease.

Objective: To define accelerometer cut points for different walking speeds in older adults with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease.

Method: A volunteer sample of 30 older adults (mean age 73; SD 5.4 years) with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease walked at self-defined brisk, normal, and slow speeds for three minutes in a circular indoor hallway, each wearing an accelerometer around the waist.

Levels and Patterns of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Elderly People With Mild to Moderate Parkinson Disease.

Background: Decreased movement ability, one of the hallmarks of Parkinson disease (PD), may lead to inadequate physical activity (PA) and excessive time spent in sedentary behaviors-2 factors associated with an elevated risk for lifestyle-related diseases, poor management of PD, and premature death. To identify the extent to which people with PD are physically active, a comprehensive characterization of PA in this population is needed.

Objective: The study objective was to describe levels and patterns of PA and sedentary behaviors in elderly people with PD.

Comparison of two accelerometer filter settings in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

This study compared common free-living physical activity (PA) outcomes, assessed with the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer and processed with two different filter settings, in a sample of elderly individuals with Parkinson´s disease (PD). Sixty-six individuals (73.1  ±  5.

Comparison of pedometer and accelerometer derived steps in older individuals with Parkinson's disease or osteoporosis under free-living conditions.

Aim: To compare self-reported pedometer steps with accelerometer steps under free-living conditions in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) or osteoporosis (OP).

Methods: Seventy-three individuals with PD and 71 individuals with OP wore a pedometer (Yamax LS2000) and an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT1M/GT3X+) simultaneously for one week.

Results: Fifty-one individuals with PD (72.

The correlation between the hyperacusis questionnaire and uncomfortable loudness levels is dependent on emotional exhaustion.

Objective: To validate the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ) in different strata of emotional exhaustion (EE).

Design: HQ-scores and uncomfortable loudness levels (ULLs) were assessed in 348 individuals (140 men and 208 women) with low, intermediate, and high EE-levels.

Results: Four individuals (1.

Possibilities and limitations of the Polar RS800 in measuring heart rate variability at rest.

A growing trend among clinical studies is the use of heart rate monitors (HRMs) for assessment of heart rate variability (HRV). These instruments offer a convenient alternative to traditional electrocardiographs (ECGs) for recording and processing of R-R data. Reports on the validity of such systems are, however, conflicting.

Stress and prevalence of hearing problems in the Swedish working population.

Background: Current human and experimental studies are indicating an association between stress and hearing problems; however potential risk factors have not been established. Hearing problems are projected to become among the top ten disabilities according to the WHO in the near future. Therefore a better understanding of the relationships between stress and hearing is warranted.