Comparing the Impact of Specific Strength Training vs General Fitness Training on Professional Symphony Orchestra Musicians: A Feasibility Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 94-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lotte Nygaard Andersen ◽  
Stephanie Mann ◽  
Birgit Juul-Kristensen ◽  
Karen Søgaard
Keyword(s):  
Strength Training ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Aerobic Capacity ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Symphony Orchestra ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Specific Strength ◽  
Fitness Training ◽  
The Impact

Musculoskeletal symptoms, especially in the upper body, are frequent among professional symphony orchestra musicians. Physical exercise may relieve pain but might also interfere with playing performance. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and effect of “specific strength training” (SST) versus “general fitness training” (GFT). METHODS: A feasibility study using randomized controlled methods. Primarily, evaluations involved self-reported impact on instrument playing and satisfaction with the interventions. Secondary evaluations included pain intensity, hand-grip strength, aerobic capacity, body mass index, and self-assessed physical fitness. A total of 23 professional symphony orchestra musicians were randomly allocated to either the SST (n=12) or GFT (n=11) groups. Participants conducted three 20-minutes exercise periods/wk at the workplace for 9 weeks. RESULTS: Evaluations of both interventions showed that approximately 50% of musicians were satisfied with the interventions and experienced a positive impact on playing, while 18% reported a slightly negative impact. From baseline to follow-up, SST showed a significant reduction in pain (26.3±22.5 to 11.4±15.2 mm), with no significant reduction for GFT (19.7±24.0 to 13.5±26.0 mm). GFT significantly improved aerobic capacity (34.1±7.9 mL/min/kg to 40.0±13.6 mL/min/kg) compared to no significant gain for SST. For GFT, a significant improvement was seen in self-reported muscle strength (5.7±1.3 to 6.5±1.8) with a tendency toward significant improvement in self-reported aerobic fitness (5.6±2.3 to 6.2±2.5). CONCLUSION: Exercise interventions have the potential to improve musicians’ working situation. For future research, muscle-strengthening exercises and aerobic fitness exercises might be combined in an intelligently designed program, which may include other relevant educational activities.

Effect of contrasting physical exercise interventions on rapid force capacity of chronically painful muscles

2009 ◽  
Vol 107 (5) ◽  
pp. 1413-1419 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lars L. Andersen ◽  
Jesper L. Andersen ◽  
Charlotte Suetta ◽  
Michael Kjær ◽  
Karen Søgaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Muscle Strength ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Strength Training ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Trapezius Muscle ◽  
Training Group ◽  
Peak Torque ◽  
Neck Muscle ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Specific Strength

Rapid force capacity of chronically painful muscles is inhibited markedly more than maximal force capacity and is therefore relevant to assess in rehabilitation settings. Our objective was to investigate the effect of two contrasting types of physical exercise on rapid force capacity, as well as neural and muscular adaptations in women with chronic neck muscle pain. A group of employed women ( n = 42) with a clinical diagnosis of trapezius myalgia participated in a 10-wk randomized controlled trial; specific strength training of the neck/shoulder muscles, general fitness training performed as leg-bicycling; or a reference intervention without physical activity. Maximal voluntary shoulder abductions were performed at static angles of 35° and 115° with simultaneous recording of electromyography (EMG) in the trapezius and deltoid. Maximal muscle strength and activation (peak torque and peak EMG) as well as rapid muscle strength and activation [rate of torque development (RTD) and rate of EMG rise] were subsequently determined. Trapezius muscle fiber characteristics were determined with ATPase histochemistry. Significant changes were observed only in the specific strength training group. Whereas peak torque increased 18–29% ( P < 0.01), RTD increased 61–115% ( P < 0.001). Peak EMG and rate of EMG rise increased correspondingly ( P < 0.05–0.001), and trapezius type II muscle fibers hypertrophied 20% ( P < 0.001). In conclusion, rapid force capacity of chronically painful muscles is highly responsive to rehabilitation with specific strength training. The underlying mechanisms were related to both pain reduction and general neuromuscular adaptations to strength training. Potentially, the present method can be a useful clinical screening tool of muscle function in rehabilitation settings.

scholarly journals Determining the impact of postoperative complications in neurosurgery based on simulated longitudinal smartphone app-based assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lion D. Comfort ◽  
Marian C. Neidert ◽  
Oliver Bozinov ◽  
Luca Regli ◽  
Martin N. Stienen
Keyword(s):  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Smartphone Application ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Subjective Well Being ◽  
Longitudinal Assessment ◽  
User Friendliness ◽  
User Friendly ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Complications after neurosurgical operations can have severe impact on patient well-being, which is poorly reflected by current grading systems. The objective of this work was to develop and conduct a feasibility study of a new smartphone application that allows for the longitudinal assessment of postoperative well-being and complications. Methods We developed a smartphone application “Post OP Tracker” according to requirements from clinical experience and tested it on simulated patients. Participants received regular notifications through the app, inquiring them about their well-being and complications that had to be answered according to their assigned scenarios. After a 12-week period, subjects answered a questionnaire about the app’s functionality, user-friendliness, and acceptability. Results A total of 13 participants (mean age 34.8, range 24–68 years, 4 (30.8%) female) volunteered in this feasibility study. Most of them had a professional background in either health care or software development. All participants downloaded, installed, and applied the app for an average of 12.9 weeks. On a scale of 1 (worst) to 4 (best), the app was rated on average 3.6 in overall satisfaction and 3.8 in acceptance. The design achieved a somewhat favorable score of 3.1. One participant (7.7%) reported major technical issues. The gathered patient data can be used to graphically display the simulated outcome and assess the impact of postoperative complications. Conclusions This study suggests the feasibility to longitudinally gather postoperative data on subjective well-being through a smartphone application. Among potential patients, our application indicated to be functional, user-friendly, and well accepted. Using this app-based approach, further studies will enable us to classify postoperative complications according to their impact on the patient’s well-being.

A syndemics approach to exercise is medicine

2021 ◽  
pp. 136345932110214
Author(s):  
Caitlin Vitosky Clarke ◽  
Brynn C Adamson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Social Factors ◽  
Social Conditions ◽  
Self Concept ◽  
Exercise Interventions ◽  
Narrow Scope ◽  
The Social ◽  
Exercise Promotion ◽  
The Impact

This paper offers new insights into the promotion of the Exercise is Medicine (EIM) framework for mental illness and chronic disease. Utilising the Syndemics Framework, which posits mental health conditions as corollaries of social conditions, we argue that medicalized exercise promotion paradigms both ignore the social conditions that can contribute to mental illness and can contribute to mental illness via discrimination and worsening self-concept based on disability. We first address the ways in which the current EIM framework may be too narrow in scope in considering the impact of social factors as determinants of health. We then consider how this narrow scope in combination with the emphasis on independence and individual prescriptions may serve to reinforce stigma and shame associated with both chronic disease and mental illness. We draw on examples from two distinct research projects, one on exercise interventions for depression and one on exercise interventions for multiple sclerosis (MS), in order to consider ways to improve the approach to exercise promotion for these and other, related populations.

scholarly journals Online art therapy in elementary schools during COVID-19: results from a randomized cluster pilot and feasibility study and impact on mental health

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine Malboeuf-Hurtubise ◽  
Terra Léger-Goodes ◽  
Geneviève A. Mageau ◽  
Geneviève Taylor ◽  
Catherine M. Herba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
Art Therapy ◽  
Feasibility Study ◽  
School Children ◽  
Elementary School Children ◽  
Children’S Mental Health ◽  
Children's Mental Health ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Emerging literature on the current COVID-19 crisis suggests that children may experience increased anxiety and depression as a result of the pandemic. To prevent such school and mental health-related problems, there is a timely need to develop preventive strategies and interventions to address potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on children’s mental health, especially in school settings. Results from previous child clinical research indicate that art-based therapies, including mindfulness-based art therapy, have shown promise to increase children’s well-being and reduce psychological distress. Objective The goal of the present pilot and feasibility study was to compare the impact of an emotion-based directed drawing intervention and a mandala drawing intervention, on mental health in elementary school children (N = 22), in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both interventions were group-based and delivered online and remotely. A pilot study using a randomized cluster design was implemented to evaluate and compare both interventions in relation to child anxiety, depression, inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. Results Analyses of covariance revealed a significant effect of the type of drawing intervention on levels of inattention, after controlling for baseline levels. Participants in the emotion-based directed drawing group showed lower inattention scores at post-test, when compared to participants in the mandala group. Post-hoc sensitivity analyses showed significant decreases in pre-to-post scores for levels of hyperactivity for the complete sample. Conclusion Overall, results from this pilot and feasibility study showed that both an emotion-based directed drawing intervention and a mandala drawing intervention may be beneficial to improve mental health in elementary school children, in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. From a feasibility standpoint, results indicate that the implementation of both interventions online and remotely, through a videoconference platform, is feasible and adequate in school-based settings. Further work incorporating larger sample sizes, longitudinal data and ensuring sufficient statistical power is warranted to evaluate the long-term impact of both interventions on children’s mental health.

scholarly journals Randomized Exercise Trial of Aromatase Inhibitor–Induced Arthralgia in Breast Cancer Survivors

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 1104-1111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melinda L. Irwin ◽  
Brenda Cartmel ◽  
Cary P. Gross ◽  
Elizabeth Ercolano ◽  
Fangyong Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cancer Survivors ◽  
Strength Training ◽  
Aerobic Exercise ◽  
Usual Care ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Joint Pain ◽  
Breast Cancer Survivors ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Arthralgia occurs in up to 50% of breast cancer survivors treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) and is the most common reason for poor AI adherence. We conducted, in 121 breast cancer survivors receiving an AI and reporting arthralgia, a yearlong randomized trial of the impact of exercise versus usual care on arthralgia severity. Patients and Methods Eligibility criteria included receiving an AI for at least 6 months, reporting ≥ 3 of 10 for worst joint pain on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and reporting < 90 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and no strength training. Participants were randomly assigned to exercise (150 minutes per week of aerobic exercise and supervised strength training twice per week) or usual care. The BPI, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) index, and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire were completed at baseline and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Intervention effects were evaluated using mixed-model repeated measures analysis, with change at 12 months as the primary end point. Results Over 12 months, women randomly assigned to exercise (n = 61) attended 70% (± standard deviation [SD], 28%) of resistance training sessions and increased their exercise by 159 (± SD, 136) minutes per week. Worst joint pain scores decreased by 1.6 points (29%) at 12 months among women randomly assigned to exercise versus a 0.2-point increase (3%) among those receiving usual care (n = 60; P < .001). Pain severity and interference, as well as DASH and WOMAC pain scores, also decreased significantly at 12 months in women randomly assigned to exercise, compared with increases for those receiving usual care (all P < .001). Conclusion Exercise led to improvement in AI-induced arthralgia in previously inactive breast cancer survivors.

scholarly journals Effects of physical fitness training on metabolic syndrome among military personnel in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2020-001761
Author(s):  
Che-Fu Chang ◽  
Y-C Wu ◽  
C-H Lai ◽  
P-C Chen ◽  
Y-L Guo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Metabolic Syndrome ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Military Personnel ◽  
Density Lipoprotein ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Health Examination ◽  
Running Performance ◽  
Fitness Training ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionMetabolic syndrome (MS) is strongly associated with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes but can be prevented with regular physical activity. This study aimed to assess the impact of a physical fitness training programme on MS among military personnel.MethodsThis retrospective observational study included volunteer army soldiers who underwent annual health examinations between 2011 and 2014. In 2011, the reformed physical fitness training programme and physical fitness test were introduced to the participants. MS evaluation and physical fitness performances were evaluated before and after implementing the training programme using a mixed-effects model and generalised estimating equation, adjusted for sex, age and smoking.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2014, 1720 soldiers underwent the annual health examination. In 2011, before the fitness programme, 246 soldiers (14.3%) had MS. After implementation, decreases in blood pressure and fasting glucose levels were observed and maintained for 3 years. Running performance was negatively correlated to triglycerides (ß=−11.37; p<0.001) and waist circumference (ß=−0.42; p<0.001) and positively correlated to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (ß=2.14; p<0.001). The severity of MS was reduced following introduction of the physical fitness programme.ConclusionsMS and its components improved after introducing the reformed fitness programme, with running performance proving to be most relevant to MS. Clinicians should encourage increased physical activity to prevent MS among military personnel.

scholarly journals Physical fitness performance, playing position and competitive level attained by elite junior soccer players

Kinesiology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-64
Author(s):  
Asier Los Arcos ◽  
Asier Gonzalez-Artetxe
Keyword(s):  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Aerobic Fitness ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Soccer Players ◽  
Countermovement Jump ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
Neuromuscular Performance ◽  
Maximal Aerobic Speed ◽  
Physical Tests ◽  
The Impact

The aim of this study was to look into the alleged impact of the physical fitness performance of elite junior soccer players on the professional career according to playing position. The physical tests (sprint test, countermovement jump [CMJ], and maximal aerobic speed [MAS]) performed by 165 players enrolled in the junior team of a Spanish 1st Division club (1998-2010) were evaluated. Players were classified as those who were promoted to the reserve team (Reserve Team) and those who were not (non-Reserve Team), and as those who were promoted to the Spanish 1st/2nd Divisions (PFL) and those who were not (NPFL) until the 2020-2021 season. Overall, no significant differences (p&gt;.05) were found between the Reserve Team and non-Reserve Team or between the PFL and NPFL players in neuromuscular performance. Aerobic fitness was greater (p&lt;.05; ES = .79 ± .60 , moderate; mean difference = 3.0%) for the Reserve Team lateral midfielders in comparison to that for the non-Reserve Team. The results suggest that the impact of physical fitness on the promotion of elite junior soccer players is limited.

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