Physiological hand tremors appear to be one of the most common types of tremors that occur during the lifespan. Activities most prominently affected by hand tremors are those involving the movement ...of small muscles, such as fine motor skills, which in turn could be influenced by several factors, including lateral dominance. The difference in skills due to lateral dominance is defined as inter-limb imbalance or inter-limb asymmetry. When this asymmetry is attributed to the tremor and the difference in tremor between the limbs, it could be defined as the inter-limb asymmetry of tremors. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of wobble-board hand exercise training on the inter-limb asymmetry of tremors. Thirty-two (eighteen males and fourteen females) participants (age: 25.2 ± 2.6 years, weight: 63.9 ± 10.5 kg, height: 1.66 ± 0.8 m, and BMI: 22.8 ± 2.3 kg/m2) were involved in the study. Before (PRE) and after (POST) the wobble-board hand exercises, postural hand tremor was evaluated using a tri-axial accelerometer fixed under the palm. Recordings were taken for 15 s. One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to examine the effects of hand exercises on inter-limb (dominant vs. non-dominant) asymmetry of tremor in testing time (PRE vs. POST) in relation to sex (male vs. female). The statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Significant differences were found in physiological hand tremors between limbs (dominant vs. non-dominant) in the PRE evaluation (p = 0.03) independently from sex while no differences were found in the POST evaluation. A significant difference emerged in the PRE evaluation for males (p = 0.04) and females (p = 0.03) in relation to the testing time and preferred hand. This difference was no longer present in the POST evaluation. In conclusion, wobble-board hand exercises could represent an effective strategy to reduce inter-limb asymmetry. These results emphasize the importance of task-specific training to maximize the reduction in inter-limb asymmetry of tremors following wobble-board hand exercises.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute effects of a mini trampoline training session (SuperJump®) on leg stiffness and reactive power (RP) while examining its relation to participants’ ...sex. A total of 20 participants (11 females, age: 24.4 ± 1.0 yrs; 9 males, age: 27.3 ± 2.9 yrs) performed continuous jump repetitions (RJs), measured on a force plate, before (PRE) and after (POST) a 30 min Superjump® session. Linear repeated measures mixed models were used to examine the effects of the Superjump® session on the leg stiffness mean (KMEAN), mean of the best RJs (KBEST), and RP in relation to sex. Before and after the mini trampoline training session, females showed lower KMEAN and KBEST values compared with males. Despite the significant (p < 0.002) decreases in RP after the Superjump® session in both males (PRE: 23.1 ± 6.5 W/kg; POST: 21.2 ± 6.1 W/kg) and females (PRE: 23.6 ± 5.5 W/kg; POST: 21.9 ± 5.3 W/kg), leg stiffness remained unchanged, suggesting a potential protective effect of mini trampoline training on leg stiffness during acute adaptations. These findings suggest that Superjump® training might exert a protective effect on leg stiffness, which prevents acute decreases that are commonly observed in other training modalities. The sex-related differences emerging from the present study emphasize the need for personalized approaches when integrating this innovative training tool into athletes’ regimens.
Inter-limb asymmetry is defined as the performance imbalance of a limb with respect to the other one. Studies demonstrated how plyometric training could minimize inter-limb imbalance by reducing ...asymmetries and the relative risk of musculoskeletal injuries. Among the different plyometric training modalities, SuperJump® represented a reliable method. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of SuperJump® training on dynamic balance Unilateral Asymmetry and Bilateral Asymmetry Indexes. Thirty-seven subjects were randomly allocated in two groups: SuperJump® (N = 20) and Control (N = 17). The SuperJump® group participated in the SuperJump® session, whereas the Control group did not receive any workout session. Before (PRE) and after (POST) the SuperJump® session, both groups performed the Wobble Board balance test. A significant difference (p < 0.003) between the SuperJump® in POST and Control groups in PRE intervention for dominant leg was found. No significant differences (p > 0.05) emerged between groups in testing time on Bilateral Asymmetry Index. Significant differences (p = 0.005) between PRE and POST in the SuperJump® group and an 18.9% Unilateral Asymmetry Index threshold reduction for the subjects were found. A strong relationship (R2 = 0.79) between delta (∆) change Unilateral Asymmetry Index and Unilateral Asymmetry Index baseline parameters was tested. Lastly, no significant differences (p > 0.05) in Unilateral Asymmetry Indexes between the Bilateral Asymmetry equal and change categories in the SuperJump® group was found. In conclusion, SuperJump® training played a key role in reducing Unilateral Asymmetry Index.
How Much Tremor Is Functional? Di Rocco, Francesca; Fusco, Andrea; De Maio, Marianna ...
Medicine and science in sports and exercise,
9/2023, Volume:
55, Issue:
9S
Journal Article
Prolonged sedentary behavior is considered a risk factor for health throughout the human lifespan. Although outdoor activities, such as walking and hiking, can be effective in reducing sedentary ...behavior, there is a lack of data harmonization on the psychophysiological characteristics of hiking trails. Therefore, this research protocol aims to provide an innovative and uniform methodology to provide a psychophysiological characterization of hiking. Enrolled subjects will be allocated in groups equally distributed for age, physical activity level (physically active vs. sedentary), and sex (male vs. female). Subjects will perform two treadmill tests in laboratory sessions and two hiking tests in field sessions. The Ruffier test will be performed before each session to assess subjects’ exercise capacity. During each session, body mass measurement, cardiometabolic evaluation, heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring, rating of perceived exertion, and physical activity enjoyment rate will be assessed. To measure breath-by-breath ventilation, oxygen consumption, and energy expenditure, subjects will be equipped with a portable gas analyzer during one laboratory session and one field session. Findings from the present study protocol have the potential to fill a gap in assessing hiking-related fitness, promoting physical and mental health, and offering a practical way to evaluate fitness for hiking, encouraging outdoor activity. These findings will have the potential to impact tourism, health, and well-being through outdoor experiences.
OBJECTIVE: Chronic renal insufficiency and/or proteinuria in type 2 diabetes may stem from chronic renal diseases (CKD) other than classic diabetic nephropathy in more than one-third of patients. We ...interrogated urine proteomic profiles generated by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight/mass spectrometry with the aim of isolating a set of biomarkers able to reliably identify biopsy-proven diabetic nephropathy and to establish a stringent correlation with the different patterns of renal injury. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Ten micrograms of urine proteins from 190 subjects (20 healthy subjects, 20 normoalbuminuric, and 18 microalbuminuric diabetic patients and 132 patients with biopsy-proven nephropathy: 65 diabetic nephropathy, 10 diabetic with nondiabetic CKD nd-CKD, and 57 nondiabetic with CKD) were run using a CM10 ProteinChip array and analyzed by supervised learning methods (Classification and Regression Tree analysis). RESULTS: The classification model correctly identified 75% of patients with normoalbuminuria, 87.5% of those with microalbuminuria, and 87.5% of those with diabetic nephropathy when applied to a blinded testing set. Most importantly, it was able to reliably differentiate diabetic nephropathy from nd-CKD in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Among the best predictors of the classification model, we identified and validated two proteins, ubiquitin and β₂-microglobulin. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest the presence of a specific urine proteomic signature able to reliably identify type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic glomerulosclerosis.
In the approach to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus one of the fundamental pillars is the evaluation of the nutritional status of the patient, generally this group of chronic diseases is associated with ...nutritional alterations due to a decrease in energy reserves and an inadequate intake of nutrients Which negatively impacts on the integral management of this pathology and its comorbidities. The present study aimed to correlate parameters of anthropometric evaluation and serum protein levels in patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and malnutrition hospitalized in the Internal Medicine Services of the Central University Hospital Dr. Antonio María Pineda. The type of work was observational or what is the same non-experimental, transversal of cases and controls, retrospective. The sample consisted of 30 diabetic malnourished type 2 diabetic patients and 15 healthy individuals, who underwent quantification of BMI, mean arm circumference, tricipital fold, subscapular fold, percentage of fat area and muscle area, and quantification of The total and fractionated proteins. It was evidenced that the group of diabetics had lower anthropometric and biochemical parameters than healthy ones. In turn, it was observed that more than 90% of diabetics and about 60% of healthy individuals had deficits in the fat and muscle area, despite having protein and BMI within normal. There was no statistical correlation between the anthropometric and biochemical parameters. It is concluded that in spite of not having correlation, the inclusion of the skin folds within the evaluation of the patient are indispensable elements to provide an adequate nutritional diagnosis.
En el abordaje de la Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 uno de los pilares fundamentales es la evaluación del estado nutricional del paciente, generalmente este grupo de enfermedades crónicas está asociado con alteraciones de la nutrición debido a una disminución de las reservas energéticas y a una inadecuada ingestión de nutrientes que impacta negativamente en el manejo integral de dicha patología y sus comorbilidades El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo correlacionar parámetros de evaluación antropométrica y niveles de proteínas séricas en pacientes con Diabetes Mellitus tipo 2 y desnutrición, hospitalizados en los Servicios de Medicina Interna del Hospital Central Universitario Dr. "Antonio María Pineda". El tipo de trabajo fue observacional transversal de casos y controles, retrospectivo. La muestra estuvo conformada por 30 pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 desnutridos y 15 individuos sanos, a los cuales se les realizó la cuantificación de IMC, circunferencia media del brazo, pliegue tricipital, pliegue subescapular, porcentaje de área grasa y área muscular, y la cuantificación de las proteínas totales y fraccionadas. Se evidenció que el grupo de diabéticos tuvo parámetros antropométricos y bioquímicos inferior a los sanos. A su vez se pudo observar que más de 90 % de los diabéticos y alrededor de 60 % de los individuos sanos tuvieron déficit de en el área grasa y muscular, a pesar de tener proteínas e IMC dentro de lo normal. No hubo correlación estadística entre los parámetros antropométricos y bioquímicos. Se concluye que a pesar de no haber correlación, la inclusión de los pliegues cutáneos dentro de la evaluación del paciente son elementos indispensables para brindar un diagnóstico nutricional adecuado.
In a preliminary consensus document the authors proposed criteria and methods to identify upper limb work-related MSDs due to biomechanical overload. With this document they intend to define severity ...according to shared models and procedures so as to fit behaviours to diagnostic procedures and their medical-legal assessment. This becomes especially important in view of Ministerial Decree of April 27 2004 fixing the new lists of diseases having a possible work-related origin that must be reported by law in accordance with art. 139 of law n. 1124, and also on account of the impact of such diseases which, for the first time in Italy, are regulated by law.
The working group, which included INAIL and ISPESL experts and was fully supported by SIMFER (Italian Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) and SINC (Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology), defined a general clinical procedure (anamnesis, objective examination and instrumental assessment) regarding each portion of the concerned upper limb (shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand). Once the presence and characteristics of anatomic and functional damages are established, the results allow a classification scheme to be proposed of upper limb diseases (tendon disorders and entrapment neuropathy) divided into 6 increasing severity stages: initial, medium, medium-severe, severe and extremely severe. Special attention was paid to two instrumental examinations that proved to be of great clinical interest, at least in occupational health: echography of soft tissues (in appendix) and electroneurography for entrapment neuropathy. The limitations of this proposal are discussed but the main goal was achieved: to standardize terms and provide homogeneous criteria to achieve classification of upper limb damage due to biomechanical overload for increasing severity levels. The working group research activity is part of a research project funded by ISPESL.
In via of the progressive emergence in Italy of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, the EPM Research Unit decided to set up a national working group with the aim of producing a Consensus Document ...including methods and criteria as an initial attempt towards managing such diseases as true "listed" work-related diseases as is already done in the other European Union countries. The working group includes experts from INAIL, ISPESL, welfare assistance institutions, local prevention and health protection services: The group's research activity was included in ISPESL's funded research plan.
The Consensus Document includes a review of epidemiologic issues reported in the international literature, comments on the application of current legislation, observations on the guilt profiles of employers and occupational physicians, as well as medical-legal issues. The document proposes an analytical list of musculoskeletal disorders of upper (and lower) limbs and the operational criteria for identification of working activities involving a risk from upper limb biomechanical overload. In this case, more than on other occasions, it was realized how difficult it is to adopt consolidated task/risk/damage matrices since the same task may or may not be at risk depending both on the way the task is done and on the technical aspects (lines, work parts, procedures, tools) and organization (rate, rotas, breaks).
For the specific aims of the present document, it is possible to identify, though not exhaustively and with some limitations, a series of jobs and working conditions where the risk may be reasonably presumed and for which it is possible to adopt a list system (at least as regards "significant exposure"). The document also includes a chapter on health surveillance recommendations for the occupational physician.
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