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Olympic-style sliding-seat rowing is a sport that has been extensively researched, with studies investigating aspects related to the physiology, biomechanics, kinematics, and the performance of rowers. In contrast, studies on the more classic form of fixed-seat rowing are sparse. The aim of this study is to address this lacuna by analysing for the first time the specific kinematics of fixed-seat rowing as practised by able-bodied athletes, thus (i) documenting how this technique is performed in a manner that is replicable by others and (ii) showing how this technique compares and contrasts with the more standard sliding-seat technique. Fixed-seat rowing was replicated in a biomechanics laboratory where experienced fixed-seat rowers, marked with reflective markers following the modified Helen–Hayes model, were asked to row in a manner that mimics rowing on a fixed-seat boat. The findings from this study, complimented with data gathered through the observation of athletes rowing on water, were compared to sliding-seat ergometer rowing and other control experiments. The results show that, in fixed-seat rowing, there is more forward and backward thoracic movement than in sliding-seat rowing (75–77° vs. 44–52°, p < 0.0005). Tilting of the upper body stems was noted to result from rotations around the pelvis, as in sliding-seat rowing, rather than from spinal movements. The results also confirmed knee flexion in fixed-seat rowing with a range of motion of 30–35°. This is less pronounced than in standard-seat rowing, but not insignificant. These findings provide a biomechanical explanation as to why fixed-seat rowers do not have an increased risk of back injuries when compared with their sliding-seat counterparts. They also provide athletes, coaches, and related personnel with precise and detailed information of how fixed-seat rowing is performed so that they may formulate better and more specific evidence-based training programs to meliorate technique and performance.

Objective Dyspnoea is the hallmark progressive symptom in interstitial lung disease (ILD). Breathing retraining in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) improves dyspnoea and walking distance (Garrod et al. 2005) but there is a dearth of evidence for ILD. This study aimed to identify whether breathing retraining incorporated during pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), leads to better dyspnoea and functional scores. Design 27 patients with ILD were randomly distributed to a control group (CG) who underwent a 12-week hospital-based PR programme or experimental group (EG), receiving PR with breathing retraining. The 6-minute walk test and dyspnoea scores were assessed at baseline and on completion. Results Statistical improvements in walking distance were recorded in the EG median 416.25; (IQR 368–463) week 0 to 475m (IQR 437–521) week 12; p = 0.017 and dyspnoea post exertion (median 3.00; IQR 1–5) week 0 to 2.50 (IQR 0.3–4) week 12; p = 0.033). The CG obtained a less, but statistically significant improvement 360m (IQR 330–405) week 0 to 412.50m (IQR 394–450) week 12 (p = 0.003). When comparing outcomes at week 12 between groups, superior results in dyspnoea at rest (EG 0 (IQR 0–0); CG 2 (IQR 0–2); p = 0.029), and walking distances (EG 475m (IQR 437–521); CG 412.50 (IQR 394–450; p = 0.015) were recorded for the EG. Conclusion Breathing retraining added to PR, resulted in improvements in dyspnoea scores and functional capacity in patients with ILD.

Background/Aims Pulmonary rehabilitation is known to facilitate improvements in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms, exercise tolerance and quality of life. Despite this, there is no consensus on the ideal programme intensity. This article aims to explore and compare the benefits of a high intensity and low intensity pulmonary rehabilitation programme., Methods A total of 30 patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were randomly and blindly allocated to either a high intensity or low intensity 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation programme., Results Significant improvements in functional and health-related quality of life measures were obtained in both groups. Most of the significant changes for the high intensity group were achieved by week 8. The low intensity group required a further 4 weeks of rehabilitation in order to reach a significant difference., Conclusions Results show that both low and high intensity pulmonary rehabilitation programmes were beneficial. However, the high intensity programme was more efficient in achieving these improvements than the low intensity group., peer-reviewed

Purpose: Pulmonary rehabilitation is known to lead to improvements in exercise tolerance, health-related quality of life and help reduce symptoms. Exercise, one of the largest components of such an intervention, although of great benefit, can increase the inflammatory response related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depending on intensity and duration. Through this study, the effects of a 12week, high-intensity PR programme on COPD inflammatory-related markers were investigated. Materials and methods: This study is a longitudinal, observational type of study. Sixty COPD patients were enrolled, 49 of which completed the programme. A 2-h high-intensity PR programme was delivered, twice weekly for 12 weeks. The following markers were assessed at baseline, 4, 8 and 12 weeks through rehabilitation – C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, neutrophil, eosinophil counts, complete blood count, six-minute walk test and St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire. Serum amyloid A levels were assessed at baseline, week 8 and 12 and exhaled NO at baseline and upon completion of the programme. Results: This 12-week PR programme resulted in no changes in the inflammatory markers but resulted in significant improvements in both the 6MW distance and health quality of life. Conclusions: Beneficial effects on functional and HRQoL measures resulted, which, however, appear unrelated to changes in the systemic inflammatory markers., peer-reviewed

The authors would like to thank all the participants who participated in this study and the CEO of the state general hospital for his support., The St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test (CAT) are the measures used to assess health status. This study aims to examine the responsiveness of these tools by severity of dyspnoea category in patients with COPD. Forty-nine COPD patients who underwent a 12-week pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programme were assessed at baseline, 12 weeks and at 28-week follow-up. Patients were categorized into two groups by severity of dyspnoea category (i.e. mild to moderate (modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) 1–2) and severe to very severe (mMRC 3–4)) using the mMRC dyspnoea scale. Effect size (ES) was computed as estimates of responsiveness. The SGRQ demonstrated greater responsiveness by total sample (SGRQ, ES = 0.87; CAT, ES = 0.75) and for the mMRC 3–4 category (SGRQ, ES = 0.91; CAT, ES = 0.76) on completion of PR. At 28-week follow-up, overall comparable responsiveness of the CAT and SGRQ was identified by total sample (SGRQ, ES = 0.75; CAT, ES = 0.74) and by severity of dyspnoea category. The symptom, impact and activity domains of the SGRQ showed good responsiveness, with greater ESs obtained overall for the mMRC 3–4 category. On completion of PR, the SGRQ demonstrates a greater responsiveness with COPD patients, especially in relation to the mMRC 3–4 category, while both the CAT and SGRQ show comparable responsiveness on follow-up., peer-reviewed

Background: Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (COPD) is characterised by persistent and progressive airflow obstruction with enhanced chronic inflammatory responses. This pulmonary inflammation might be localised or it can be an 9over-spill9 of a systemic process. Aims & Objectives : Through this study, the effects of a 12 week, high intensity Pulmonary Rehabilitation programme on markers of systemic inflammation were looked into. Such a programme resulted in improvements in 6 minute walking distance and health related quality of life. Methods: Forty-nine patients were enrolled. The following inflammatory makers were investigated at baseline, 4, 8 and at 12 weeks during rehabilitation - C Reactive Protein (CRP), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Neutrophil, Eosinophil counts and complete blood count (CBC). Serum Amyloid A (SAA) was measured at baseline, 8th and at the 12th week. Exhaled NO was measured at the start and end of the programme. Results: No statistically significant changes in the inflammatory markers occurred as a result of the exercise intervention. There was a marked peak in CRP, ESR and SAA by the 8th week. The levels declined to baseline values at the 12th week of Pulmonary Rehabilitation. Conclusions : The said programme resulted in improvements in 6 minute walking distance and Health Related Quality of Life. However, systemic inflammatory processes with exercise as a monitor of response to high intensity exercise in COPD is still debatable.

Objective. The optimal time-frame for pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is still debated. A 12 week programme was designed looking at whether the benefits were reached at or before a 12 week period of PR for COPD patients. Method. Seventy-five patients (59 males, 16 females) aged 40 75 years were referred from the local general hospital in Malta. Baseline assessments were carried out on all patients 2 weeks before initiation of the programme. Sixty patients were eligible to start a twice-weekly, 12 week multidisciplinary programme delivered after the screening process. The Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), dyspnoea score using the Borg scale, spirometry testing, plethysmography, COPD Assessment Tool (CAT) score, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Hospital and Anxiety scale score were monitored at 4 weekly intervals throughout the 12 weeks of PR for these COPD patients. Results. The 6MWT distance increased by a mean total of 132.45 m (p < 0.001) by 12 weeks, with the highest change recorded in the first 4 weeks for the milder COPD patients. Lung function test improvements were marginal. Borg scale readings at rest and following exertion decreased significantly from weeks 0 to 4 but remained fairly constant thereafter. The Body mass index, airway Obstruction, Dyspnoea, and Exercise capacity (BODE) index, SGRQ and CAT score values decreased significantly throughout the weeks irrespective of the initial Medical Research Council score. Anxiety scoring decreased significantly by 12 weeks, while the depression rating improved by 8 weeks. Conclusion. These findings show that 12 weeks of PR in this cohort of COPD patients resulted in clinically significant changes in functional outcome measures which are supported by statistically significant changes in health-related quality of life measures. In milder COPD cases, by 4 weeks of PR gains in exercise tolerance had already resulted. The more severe group required more time to obtain improvements. Therefore, hospitals could organize shorter PR programmes for larger numbers of patients with milder COPD., peer-reviewed