Reduction of cardiovascular event rate: different effects of cardiac rehabilitation in CABG and PCI patients.

Objective: In coronary artery disease, the implementation of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programme favourably affects cardiovascular prognosis. However, it remains uncertain whether patients benefit to a similar extent from CR after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In this study, we have assessed whether CR is equally effective for suppressing the two-year cardiovascular event incidence after CABG or PCI.

Clinical assessment of scapular positioning in musicians: an intertester reliability study.

Context: The reliability of the measurement of the distance between the posterior border of the acromion and the wall and the reliability of the modified lateral scapular slide test have not been studied. Overall, the reliability of the clinical tools used to assess scapular positioning has not been studied in musicians.

Objective: To examine the intertester reliability of scapular observation and 2 clinical tests for the assessment of scapular positioning in musicians.

Time trial performance in normal and high ambient temperature: is there a role for 5-HT?

The original central fatigue hypothesis suggested that fatigue during prolonged exercise might be due to higher 5-HT activity. Therefore, we examined the effects of acute administration of a selective 5-HT reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) on performance and thermoregulation. Eleven healthy trained male cyclists completed four experimental trials (two in 18 degrees C, two in 30 degrees C) in a double-blind randomised crossover design.

Training adherence in early cardiac rehabilitation: EFFECT OF EXERCISE SESSION DURATION.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the prolongation of exercise sessions (from 40 to 60 minutes) on training adherence in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: In this prospective, randomized clinical trial, 417 CAD patients (mean age = 63 +/- 10 years, 78% males) followed a 7-week exercise training intervention, 3 sessions each week, at 65% of the maximal oxygen uptake capacity. Subjects were randomly assigned to 40-minute (n = 198) or 60-minute (n = 219) exercise sessions, with equal time distribution on the different exercise modalities (42%-treadmill, 33%-bike, and 25%-arm cranking device, in each session).

Effects of four recovery methods on repeated maximal rock climbing performance.

Purpose: Considering the development of rock climbing as a competitive sport, we aimed at investigating the influence of four recovery methods on subsequent maximal climbing performance.

Methods: In a randomly assigned crossover design, 13 female well-trained climbers (27.1 +/- 8.

Low-back problems in recreational self-contained underwater breathing apparatus divers: prevalence and specific risk factors.

Low-back problems (LBP) are one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in the general population, with reported lifetime prevalences of 50% to 80%. Also, certain sports participants (e.g.

Continuous low- to moderate-intensity exercise training is as effective as moderate- to high-intensity exercise training at lowering blood HbA(1c) in obese type 2 diabetes patients.

Aims/hypothesis: Exercise represents an effective interventional strategy to improve glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. However, the impact of exercise intensity on the benefits of exercise training remains to be established. In the present study, we compared the clinical benefits of 6 months of continuous low- to moderate-intensity exercise training with those of continuous moderate- to high-intensity exercise training, matched for energy expenditure, in obese type 2 diabetes patients.

Performance and thermoregulatory effects of chronic bupropion administration in the heat.

Unlabelled: The combination of acute dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibition (bupropion; BUP) and heat stress (30 degrees C) significantly improves performance (9%). Furthermore the maintenance of a higher power output resulted in the attainment of significantly higher heart rates and rectal temperatures--above 40 degrees C--in the BUP trial compared to the placebo trial. Since BUP is an aid to cease smoking that is taken for longer periods, question remains if similar performance and thermoregulatory effects are found following administration of BUP over several days (10 days).

No influence of noradrenaline manipulation on acute exercise-induced increase of brain-derived neurotrophic factor.

Purpose: To examine the influence of a selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) on the exercise-induced increase in circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 11 young, healthy male subjects were treated with either placebo or reboxetine. On each occasion, they performed a 60-min cycling exercise at 55% of their maximal power output (Wmax) followed by a time trial (TT) at 75% of Wmax.

Effectiveness of active versus passive recovery strategies after futsal games.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of immediate postgame recovery interventions (seated rest, supine electrostimulation, low-intensity land exercises, and water exercises) on anaerobic performance (countermovement jump [CMJ], bounce jumping, 10-m sprint), hormones (salivary cortisol, urinary catecholamines), and subjective ratings (rate of perceived exertion [RPE], leg muscle pain, Questionnaire of Recovery Stress for Athletes [RestQ Sport], 10-point Likert scale), and hours of sleep of futsal players. Heart rate (HR), blood lactate, and RPE were used to evaluate the intensity of 4 futsal games in 10 players using a crossover design (P < 0.05), randomly allocating athletes to 1 of the 4 recovery interventions at the end of each game.

Diagnosing overtraining in athletes using the two-bout exercise protocol.

Objective: In this work, whether a two-bout exercise protocol can be used to make an objective, immediately available distinction between non-functional over reaching (NFO) and overtraining syndrome (OTS) was studied.

Design: Underperforming athletes who were diagnosed with the suspicion of NFO or OTS were included in the study. Recovery of the athletes was monitored by a sports physician to retrospectively distinguish NFO from OTS.

Importance of exercise training session duration in the rehabilitation of coronary artery disease patients.

Background: In cardiac rehabilitation, 40-60-min exercise training sessions are advised. However, because of the increasing coronary artery disease (CAD) prevalence and higher workload for cardiac rehabilitation centres, it remains unclear whether 40-min exercise training sessions are equally effective as 60-min exercise training sessions.

Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial.

Acute norepinephrine reuptake inhibition decreases performance in normal and high ambient temperature.

Combined inhibition of dopamine (DA)/norepinephrine (NE) reuptake improves exercise performance and increases core temperature in the heat. A recent study demonstrated that this effect may primarily be related to increased DA activity. NE reuptake inhibition (NERI), however, has received little attention in humans, certainly in the heat, where central fatigue appears to be a main factor influencing performance.

Validity of cross-friction algometry procedure in referred muscle pain syndromes: preliminary results of a new referred pain provocation technique with the aid of a Fischer pressure algometer in patients with nonspecific low back pain.

Objectives: Deep cross-friction pressure with a finger or an elbow in the proximal gluteal region causes a sciaticlike pain along the side of the thigh and the leg as a clinical presence of referred pain (RP) in patients with nonspecific low back pain (LBP). This study investigated the reliability and discriminative ability of experimentally provoked RP as a result of deep cross-friction with the aid of a Fischer algometer. The new clinical examination method measures the provoked RP threshold resulting in an outcome, expressed in kg/cm2.

The effects of acute dopamine reuptake inhibition on performance.

Introduction: Acute bupropion (dopamine/noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor) administration significantly improved time trial performance and increased core temperature in the heat (30 degrees C).

Purpose: The present study was performed to examine the effect of a dopaminergic reuptake inhibitor on exercise capacity and thermoregulation during prolonged exercise in temperate and warm conditions.

Methods: Eight healthy well-trained male cyclists participated in this study.

Unravelling intracellular immune dysfunctions in chronic fatigue syndrome: interactions between protein kinase R activity, RNase L cleavage and elastase activity, and their clinical relevance.

This study examined possible interactions between immunological abnormalities and symptoms in CFS. Sixteen CFS patients filled in a battery of questionnaires, evaluating daily functioning, and underwent venous blood sampling, in order to analyse immunological abnormalities. Ribonuclease (RNase) L cleavage was associated with RNase L activity (rs=0.

Commuter cycling: effect on physical performance in untrained men and women in Flanders: minimum dose to improve indexes of fitness.

The purpose was to examine (1) the effect of cycling to work on physical performance; (2) the minimum weekly energy expenditure needed for fitness improvement based on the dose-response relationship between total caloric expenditure and fitness changes. Healthy, untrained men and women, who did not cycle to work, participated in a 1-year intervention study. Sixty-five subjects were asked to cycle to work at least three times a week.

Comparison of two exercise testing protocols in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

This study examined whether a linear exercise stress-testing protocol generated different peak exercise performance variables than a stepwise exercise testing protocol in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We conducted a comparative study with patients randomly allocated to one of two exercise testing protocols. Twenty-eight women with CFS completed two self-reported measures (the CFS Symptom List and the CFS Activities and Participation Questionnaire) and then performed until exhaustion either the linear or the stepwise exercise testing protocol with continuous monitoring of physiological variables (heart rate and oxygen uptake).

Power performance of soccer referees before, during, and after official matches.

The study aimed at verifying the effect of soccer refereeing on power performances, evaluated by means of countermovement (CMJ) and bounce (BJ) jumps. Ten soccer referees (age 23 +/- 3 years; V(.-)O2max 51.

Cycling to work: influence on indexes of health in untrained men and women in Flanders. Coronary heart disease and quality of life.

The purpose of this study was to examine if a 1-year lifestyle intervention study (cycling to work) has an influence on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and health-related quality of life, in previously untrained healthy adults. Healthy, untrained men and women, who did not cycle to work, participated in an intervention study. Sixty-five subjects (intervention group: IG) were asked to cycle to work at least 3 times a week and 15 controls (CG) were asked not to change their living habits.

Brain neurotransmitters in fatigue and overtraining.

Since the publication of the serotonin hypothesis, numerous theories involving the accumulation or depletion of different substances in the brain have been proposed to explain central fatigue. Although the theoretical rationale for the "serotonin-fatigue hypothesis" is clear, several seemingly well-conducted studies have failed to support a significant role for 5-hydroxytryptamine in the development of fatigue. As brain function appears to be dependent upon the interaction of a number of systems, it is unlikely that a single neurotransmitter system is responsible for central fatigue.

Different diagnostic tools in nonfunctional overreaching.

The current diagnosis of overreaching and overtraining is based on exclusion. In the present paper, four possible confirmative tools have been examined in three female speed skaters between 16 and 19 years old. A nonfunctional overreached (NFO) athlete, an athlete who was recovering from NFO and a healthy athlete were examined.

Injury rate and socioeconomic costs resulting from sports injuries in Flanders: data derived from sports insurance statistics 2003.

Objective: This study determines the injury rate (%) and the associated direct medical and indirect costs of sports injuries in Flanders.

Setting: Epidemiological cohort designs and a human capital method were set up to measure respectively the medical direct and indirect cost of sports injuries.

Participants: 72 out of 82 Flemish sports federations participated.

The importance of an exercise testing protocol for detecting changes of peak oxygen uptake in cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: To assess which exercise testing protocol is most sensitive for assessing peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) changes as a result of cardiac rehabilitation.

Design: Prospective randomized clinical trial.

Setting: Outpatient cardiac rehabilitation center.