The effect of training of military skills on performance in cold environment.

This study was conducted to evaluate how training for disassembling and assembling a weapon and patrol data message terminal and loading a magazine in different temperatures affected the ability to perform those skills in a cold environment. One group trained six times on separate days in a warm environment (19 degrees C), the second group trained three times in a warm environment and then three times in a cold environment (-15 degrees C), and the third group trained six times in the cold environment. Training first in warm and then in cold shortened performance time by 6% to 28%, in comparison to training only in a warm environment.

A review of longitudinal studies on youth predictors of adulthood physical activity.

The aim of this article was to review the literature on the youth predictors of physical activity in adulthood. The outcome measure in the reviewed studies was the level and types of physical activity at adult age. The youth predictors here included different measures of physical activity, health and fitness as well as some social and behavioral variables measured in childhood or in adolescence.

Body size from birth to adulthood and bone mineral content and density at 31 years of age: results from the northern Finland 1966 birth cohort study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between body size from birth to adulthood and bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) at the age of 31 years in a longitudinal study of the Northern Finland birth cohort for 1966. Data were collected at birth, 1, 14, and 31 years. This analysis was restricted to a subsample of individuals (n =1,099) for whom the BMC (g) and BMD measurements (g/cm(2)) were performed on the distal and ultradistal radius by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at the age of 31 years.

Body mass index and weight change from adolescence into adulthood, waist-to-hip ratio and perceived work ability among young adults.

Objectives: To study how body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) at 14 and 31 years (y) changes in BMI between 14 and 31 y, and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) at 31 y are associated with poor perceived working ability at 31 y.

Design And Subjects: A population-based cohort, originally 11637 people, born in Northern Finland in 1966 was resurveyed at 14 and 31 y.

Measurements: Perceived work ability (measured by modified work ability index, WAI), BMI, WHR, alcohol intake, smoking, basic education and work history were recorded at 31 y and BMI also at 14 y.

Hand preference and risk of injury among the Northern Finland birth cohort at the age of 30.

The aim of this study is to examine two hypotheses. The first hypothesis proposes that left-handers have a higher injury risk than right-handers. The second hypothesis assumes that ambidextrous people have an elevated risk of injury compared with both right- and left-handers.

Cardiorespiratory fitness of males and females of northern Finland birth cohort of 1966 at age 31.

This study aimed to measure cardiorespiratory fitness of about 9000 males and females at age 31, to produce the reference values and relate them to the level of physical activity and body mass index (BMI). Study population was the Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966. At age 31, 8786 persons responded to a postal inquiry including questions about physical activity and 5497 of them also performed a step test.

Thermal manikin measurements--exact or not?

According to the European prestandard ENV 342:1998, the thermal insulation of cold-protective clothing is measured with a thermal manikin. Systematic studies on the reproducibility of the values, measured with different types of clothing on the commonly used standing and walking manikins, have not been reported in the literature. Over 300 measurements were done in 8 different European laboratories.

Change in the level of physical activity from adolescence into adulthood and obesity at the age of 31 years.

Objective: To evaluate how a change in the level of leisure-time physical activity from adolescence into adulthood is associated with overall and abdominal obesity at the age of 31 y.

Design: Prospective follow-up study of Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966.

Subjects: In all, a population of 2834 males and 2872 females aged 31 y was studied.

Predictors of abdominal obesity among 31-y-old men and women born in Northern Finland in 1966.

Objective: To find predictors of abdominal obesity (defined by >90th percentile of waist/hip ratio (WHR)) and related factors among 31-y-old men and women.

Design: Longitudinal study of the northern Finland birth cohort of 1966 with measurements obtained at birth, 14 and 31 y.

Subjects: A total of 2841 men and 2930 women with data on WHR at 31 y.

Physical activity and social status in adolescence as predictors of physical inactivity in adulthood.

Background: Physical inactivity is related to an increased risk of certain chronic diseases. The aim here was to evaluate how physical activity and social status in adolescence are associated with physical inactivity in adulthood.

Methods: The sample comprised 3664 males and 4130 females who answered questions on physical activity and social status at 14 and 31 years of age in follow-up surveys of the Northern Finland birth cohort of 1966.

The effect of lumbar support on the effectiveness of anti-G straining manuevers.

Introduction: The ability of fighter pilots to perform efficient anti-G straining maneuvers (AGSM) is vital for their G-tolerance. The aim of this study was to evaluate if the use of a lumbar support that optimizes the posture of the spine enhances the effectiveness of AGSM.

Methods: Eleven fighter pilots performed four AGSM training sessions with 4-5 repetitions in each session, each lasting approximately 10 s.

Body size from birth to adulthood as a predictor of self-reported polycystic ovary syndrome symptoms.

Objective: To study the association between body size from birth to adulthood and self-reported symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), particularly hirsutism and menstrual disturbances.

Design: Longitudinal, population-based study of a cohort of women born in 1966 in northern Finland. The study population included 2007 women who were not pregnant and did not use hormonal contraception.

Adolescent participation in sports and adult physical activity.

Background: Physical activity in adolescence has been reported to enhance physical activity in adulthood, but detailed information on the enhancing effect of different types of adolescent sports is lacking. We evaluated the association between participation in different types of adolescent sports and physical activity in adulthood.

Methods: The sample comprised 7794 males and females who responded to the mailed questions on physical activity status at age 14 years and at age 31 years in follow-up surveys of the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort.

Cold and the risk of cardiovascular diseases. A review.

The higher occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in winter is well known, and several explanatory mechanisms have been suggested based on increased blood pressure, haematological changes and respiratory infections. Most investigations have used ecological data such as daily temperatures recorded at weather stations and mortality in the general population. Cause-specific mortality is the outcome measure most commonly used.

Incidence of frostbite and ambient temperature in Finland, 1986-1995. A national study based on hospital admissions.

Objectives: The association of frostbite with ambient temperature in Finland is not known. The present study determined the incidence of frostbite and its association with sex, age and ambient temperature in a nationwide sample.

Study Design: The first admissions of all patients (n=1,275) admitted to hospital in Finland during the period 1986-1995 with frostbite as a principal or secondary diagnosis were associated with ambient temperature on the day of admission.

Simulated parachute descent in the cold: thermal responses and manual performance.

Background: Ejection from a fighter aircraft can expose the pilot to extreme cold and windy conditions. Knowledge of the effects of such conditions on thermal responses and performance of the pilot is scarce.

Hypothesis: It is expected that the temperature of bare skin and fingers may decrease to the level where health and/or performance are hampered.

Unemployment and obesity among young adults in a northern Finland 1966 birth cohort.

Objective: To establish (1) if obesity in adolescence predicts a long history of unemployment and other adverse social outcomes at age 31 y and, conversely, (2) the effect of a long history of unemployment on the risk of obesity at 31 y.

Design And Subjects: A longitudinal, population-based study of 9,754 subjects born in 1966 in Northern Finland was conducted. The cohort members were studied at birth, 1, 14 and 31 y.

Extractable latex allergens in airborne glove powder and in cut glove pieces.

Background: Quantification of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergens of NRL glove extracts has been reported in several studies. Similarly, immunoassay studies reporting the level of NRL aeroallergens in air samples have been published. When studying the NRL allergens of gloves, however, little attention has been focused on identifying the relationship between extractable NRL allergens of medical gloves and NRL aeroallergens in indoor air.

Cold exposure and musculoskeletal disorders and diseases. A review.

The aim of this study was to investigate how cold exposure may be associated with musculoskeletal problems either on symptomatic or disease level based on available relevant scientific literature. The data collection resulted in ten scientific articles, from which nine were epidemiological and one a case report consisting of three cases. The results indicated that musculoskeletal symptoms are more frequent in cold store work and in related conditions than in normal temperature work and symptoms seems to be increased when the working time in cold environment increases.

Neuromuscular performance limitations in cold.

This review will focus on the effects of cooling on muscular performance and its variables, functional properties of the muscles and some neural aspects of muscle function. The changes are described in terms of different cold exposures with varying intensity, therefore also looking at the dose dependent relationship between cooling and performance decrement. In addition, relationship between rewarming exercise and performance enhancement is described.

Associations between pain, grip strength, and manual tests in the treatment evaluation of chronic tennis elbow.

Objective: The objective was to assess the associations between changes in pain and grip strength and manual tests among patients with chronic tennis elbow.

Design: Measurements for 45 consecutive patients with unilateral tennis elbow were made before and after an exercise intervention.

Setting: The setting was a physiatric outpatient clinic.

Chronic medial and lateral epicondylitis: a comparison of pain, disability, and function.

Objectives: To investigate pain, disability, and muscle function of the arm in medial epicondylitis and to compare the results with those in chronic lateral epicondylitis.

Design: Cross-sectional, case-control study.

Setting: University hospital clinic admitting chronic hand patients.

Occupational physical activity is related to physical fitness in young workers.

Purpose: We evaluated the association between occupational physical activity and fitness in young workers, taking into account leisure-time physical activity, body size, and smoking.

Methods: The study population comprised 2188 men and 1987 women, members of the Northern Finland birth cohort 1966, who participated in the 1997-1998 follow-up survey and were employed at the time of the survey. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a 4-min step test and muscular fitness by tests of maximal isometric handgrip and isometric trunk extension.

Stress-related eating and drinking behavior and body mass index and predictors of this behavior.

Background: Earlier studies on stress and obesity have not considered coping in situations involving stress. This study examines the associations between stress-related eating and drinking and obesity and the factors predicting this behavior. Predictive factors include risk factors for adult obesity, longitudinal socioeconomic status, and perceived social support.

Combined effect of repetitive work and cold on muscle function and fatigue.

This study compared the effect of repetitive work in thermoneutral and cold conditions on forearm muscle electromyogram (EMG) and fatigue. We hypothesize that cold and repetitive work together cause higher EMG activity and fatigue than repetitive work only, thus creating a higher risk for overuse injuries. Eight men performed six 20-min work bouts at 25 degrees C (W-25) and at 5 degrees C while exposed to systemic (C-5) and local cooling (LC-5).