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Cancer patients bring with them physiological and psychological side effects and physical activity is emerging as a major tool to improve their quality of life and survival. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week multilateral training program on perceived fatigue, lower back flexibility, balance and task specific functional mobility in cancer patients. Twenty participants (52.6±17.1 years) were pair-matched based on age and then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=10) that performed a progressive training of cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility and postural education exercises (~60min, 2d·wk-1), or a wait-list control group (n=10). Measures pre-intervention and post-intervention included psychological and physiological measurements. After intervention, significant improvements (p < 0.01) were detected in experimental group for the perceived fatigue, trunk lateral flexibility test (right and left sides), stork balance stand test (right and left sides) and 30 seconds chair stand test. Findings suggest that multilateral training program may improve the physical fitness and reduce perceived fatigue in cancer patients providing an important support to deal with physiological and psychological side effects. In addition, this multilateral approach may actually prevent physical inactivity, muscle wasting, and loss of energy in special populations.

Cancer patients bring with them physiological and psychological side effects and physical activity is emerging as a major tool to improve their quality of life and survival. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 8-week multilateral training program on perceived fatigue, lower back flexibility, balance and task specific functional mobility in cancer patients. Twenty participants (52.6±17.1 years) were pair-matched based on age and then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=10) that performed a progressive training of cardiorespiratory, resistance, flexibility and postural education exercises (~60min, 2d·wk-1), or a wait-list control group (n=10). Measures pre-intervention and post-intervention included psychological and physiological measurements. After intervention, significant improvements (p < 0.01) were detected in experimental group for the perceived fatigue, trunk lateral flexibility test (right and left sides), stork balance stand test (right and left sides) and 30 seconds chair stand test. Findings suggest that multilateral training program may improve the physical fitness and reduce perceived fatigue in cancer patients providing an important support to deal with physiological and psychological side effects. In addition, this multilateral approach may actually prevent physical inactivity, muscle wasting, and loss of energy in special populations.

PurposeHealth coaching is effective for chronic disease self-management in the primary care safety-net setting, but little is known about the persistence of its benefits. We conducted an observational study evaluating the maintenance of improved cardiovascular risk factors following a health coaching intervention.MethodsWe performed a naturalistic follow-up to the Health Coaching in Primary Care Study, a 12-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing health coaching to usual care for patients with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Participants were followed up 24 months from RCT baseline. The primary outcome was the proportion at goal for at least 1 measure (hemoglobin A1c, systolic blood pressure, or LDL cholesterol) that had been above goal at enrollment; secondary outcomes included each individual clinical goal. Chi-square tests and paired t-tests compared dichotomous and continuous measures.Results290 of 441 participants (65.8%) participated at both 12 and 24 months. The proportion of patients in the coaching arm of the RCT who achieved the primary outcome dropped only slightly from 47.1% at 12 to 45.9% at 24 months (P = .80). The proportion at goal for hemoglobin A1c dropped from 53.4% to 36.2% (P = .03). All other clinical metrics had small, nonsignificant changes between 12 and 24 months.ConclusionsResults support the conclusion that most improved clinical outcomes persisted 1 year after the completion of the health coaching intervention.

PurposeHealth coaching is effective for chronic disease self-management in the primary care safety-net setting, but little is known about the persistence of its benefits. We conducted an observational study evaluating the maintenance of improved cardiovascular risk factors following a health coaching intervention.MethodsWe performed a naturalistic follow-up to the Health Coaching in Primary Care Study, a 12-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing health coaching to usual care for patients with uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, or hyperlipidemia. Participants were followed up 24 months from RCT baseline. The primary outcome was the proportion at goal for at least 1 measure (hemoglobin A1c, systolic blood pressure, or LDL cholesterol) that had been above goal at enrollment; secondary outcomes included each individual clinical goal. Chi-square tests and paired t-tests compared dichotomous and continuous measures.Results290 of 441 participants (65.8%) participated at both 12 and 24 months. The proportion of patients in the coaching arm of the RCT who achieved the primary outcome dropped only slightly from 47.1% at 12 to 45.9% at 24 months (P = .80). The proportion at goal for hemoglobin A1c dropped from 53.4% to 36.2% (P = .03). All other clinical metrics had small, nonsignificant changes between 12 and 24 months.ConclusionsResults support the conclusion that most improved clinical outcomes persisted 1 year after the completion of the health coaching intervention.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the inter-session reliability of force–velocity–power profiling and estimated maximal strength in youth. Thirty-six males (11–15 years old) performed a ballistic supine leg press test at five randomized loads (80%, 100%, 120%, 140%, and 160% body mass) on three separate occasions. Peak and mean force, power, velocity, and peak displacement were collected with a linear position transducer attached to the weight stack. Mean values at each load were used to calculate different regression lines and estimate maximal strength, force, velocity, and power. All variables were found reliable (change in the mean [CIM] ¼ -1 to 14%; coefficient of variation [CV] ¼ 3–18%; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] ¼ 0.74–0.99), but were likely to benefit from a familiarization, apart from the unreliable maximal force/velocity ratio (CIM ¼ 0–3%; CV ¼ 23– 25%; ICC ¼ 0.35–0.54) and load at maximal power (CIM ¼ -1 to 2%; CV ¼ 10–13%; ICC ¼ 0.26– 0.61). Isoinertial force–velocity–power profiling and maximal strength in youth can be assessed after a familiarization session. Such profiling may provide valuable insight into neuromuscular capabilities during growth and maturation and may be used to monitor specific training adaptations.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the inter-session reliability of force–velocity–power profiling and estimated maximal strength in youth. Thirty-six males (11–15 years old) performed a ballistic supine leg press test at five randomized loads (80%, 100%, 120%, 140%, and 160% body mass) on three separate occasions. Peak and mean force, power, velocity, and peak displacement were collected with a linear position transducer attached to the weight stack. Mean values at each load were used to calculate different regression lines and estimate maximal strength, force, velocity, and power. All variables were found reliable (change in the mean [CIM] ¼ -1 to 14%; coefficient of variation [CV] ¼ 3–18%; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] ¼ 0.74–0.99), but were likely to benefit from a familiarization, apart from the unreliable maximal force/velocity ratio (CIM ¼ 0–3%; CV ¼ 23– 25%; ICC ¼ 0.35–0.54) and load at maximal power (CIM ¼ -1 to 2%; CV ¼ 10–13%; ICC ¼ 0.26– 0.61). Isoinertial force–velocity–power profiling and maximal strength in youth can be assessed after a familiarization session. Such profiling may provide valuable insight into neuromuscular capabilities during growth and maturation and may be used to monitor specific training adaptations.

Meylan, C. M. P., Cronin, J. B., Oliver, J., Hughes, M. M. G., Jidovstseff, B., & Pinder, S. (2015). The reliability of isoinertial force–velocity–power profiling and maximal strength assessment in youth. Sport Biomechanics, 14(1), 68-80. Available here

peer-reviewed, Background: People with physical disabilities (PWPD) have limited opportunities to participate in sport activities. Sitting light volleyball (SLVB) is an adapted sport that combines light volleyball and paralympic sitting volleyball. This study examined the effectiveness of an SLVB intervention program to improve the physical and psychological health outcomes of PWPD in Hong Kong, China. Methods: Thirty-two PWPD [13 women; SLVB group, n=18; control group (CG), n=14] with an average age of 48.89 years (SD=14.42 years) participated in a 16-week intervention consisting of basic SLVB skills, and they also received instructions on the required posture, team tactics, and SLVB rules. Physical (i.e., muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, flexibility, and aerobic endurance) and psychological (i.e., physical activity enjoyment and quality of life) health outcomes were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Individuals in the SLVB group exhibited statistically significant improvements in cardiovascular endurance [F(1,29)=4.23, p=.049], body composition [F(1,23)=6.67, p=.017], and physical activity enjoyment [F(1,29)=16.94, p=.001] compared with adults in the CG. Conclusions: Participating in SLVB has physical and psychological benefits for adults with physical disabilities in this study.