scholarly journals Effects of a Wearable Carriage Aid on Whole-Body Physiological Measures and Balance

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (22) ◽  
pp. 8076
Author(s):  
Saad A. Alabdulkarim ◽  
Abdulsalam M. Farhan ◽  
Mohamed Z. Ramadan

Carriage tasks are common and can lead to shoulder and lower back injuries. Wearable carriage aids have shown mixed effects on local physical demand measures. This study examined the impact of a wearable carriage aid on whole-body physiological measures (normalized oxygen consumption, minute ventilation, respiratory rate, and heart rate) to obtain a more comprehensive assessment regarding aid effectiveness. Additionally, this study investigated the effect of wearing the device on perceived balance. The potential moderating effect of carried load mass was considered. The examination was conducted while walking on a treadmill at a constant speed (2 km/h) for 5 min and was completed by 16 participants. Wearing the device reduced normalized oxygen consumption (~14%), minute ventilation (~7%), and heart rate (~3%), while substantially improving perceived balance (~61%). These effects were consistent across examined carried load levels. Although this study highlighted the potential for the developed aid, future studies are required for more diverse and realistic testing conditions.

Author(s):  
Andrew N. Bosch ◽  
Kirsten C. Flanagan ◽  
Maaike M. Eken ◽  
Adrian Withers ◽  
Jana Burger ◽  
...  

Elliptical trainers and steppers are proposed as useful exercise modalities in the rehabilitation of injured runners due to the reduced stress on muscles and joints when compared to running. This study compared the physiological responses to submaximal running (treadmill) with exercise on the elliptical trainer and stepper devices at three submaximal but identical workloads. Authors had 18 trained runners (male/female: N = 9/9, age: mean ± SD = 23 ± 3 years) complete randomized maximal oxygen consumption tests on all three modalities. Submaximal tests of 3 min were performed at 60%, 70%, and 80% of peak workload individually established for each modality. Breath-by-breath oxygen consumption, heart rate, fuel utilization, and energy expenditure were determined. The value of maximal oxygen consumption was not different between treadmill, elliptical, and stepper (49.3 ± 5.3, 48.0 ± 6.6, and 46.7 ± 6.2 ml·min−1·kg−1, respectively). Both physiological measures (oxygen consumption and heart rate) as well as carbohydrate and fat oxidation differed significantly between the different exercise intensities (60%, 70%, and 80%) but did not differ between the treadmill, elliptical trainer, and stepper. Therefore, the elliptical trainer and stepper are suitable substitutes for running during periods when a reduced running load is required, such as during rehabilitation from running-induced injury.


1999 ◽  
Vol 87 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc A. Czapla ◽  
Narong Simakajornboon ◽  
Gregory A. Holt ◽  
David Gozal

Tyrosine kinases (TKs) exert multiple regulatory roles in neuronal activity and synaptic plasticity and could be involved in modulation of cardiovascular and respiratory control mechanisms within the dorsocaudal brain stem. To study this issue, the cardioventilatory responses to 1-μl microinjection within the dorsocaudal brain stem of either vehicle (Veh), the inactive TK inhibitor analog tyrphostin A1 (A1; 1 mM), or the active TK inhibitors genistein (Gen; 10 mM) and tyrphostin A25 (A25; 1 mM) were assessed by whole body plethysmography in unrestrained Sprague-Dawley adult rats. No changes in minute ventilation, heart rate, or mean arterial pressure occurred with Veh, A1, Gen, or A25 during room air breathing ( P not significant). However, Gen and A25 attenuated the peak hypoxic ventilatory responses (HVR) to 10% O2( P < 0.006 vs. Veh), whereas A1 did not modify HVR ( P not significant). HVR reductions by Gen and A25 were primarily due to diminished respiratory frequency enhancements ( P< 0.002). No changes in heart rate or mean arterial pressure responses occurred during hypoxia with TK inhibition. In addition, increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of the NR2A/B subunits, but not of the NR2C subunit, of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor occurred at 5, 30, and 60 min of hypoxia in the dorsocaudal brain stem and returned to baseline values at 120 min. We conclude that hypoxia induces tyrosine phosphorylation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate glutamate receptor, and TK inhibition within the dorsocaudal brain stem attenuates components of HVR in conscious rats.


2011 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Schäfer ◽  
Peter Sedlmeier

people often report changes in emotional arousal when listening to their preferred music. Can this subjective impression be related to objective physiological measures? And if so, does preference induce arousal or could arousal also influence preference? In Study 1, participants listened to 18 pieces of music and rated the strength of preference as well as their experienced emotional arousal for each piece. In addition, physiological arousal was measured via heart rate, skin conductance, and respiration rate. Results showed that subjective reports about emotional arousal were much more closely connected to the strength of music preference than were physiological measures such as heart rate or skin conductance. The two types of arousal (emotional, physiological) were not substantially associated with each other. In Study 2, we manipulated physiological arousal while one group of participants watched their faces in a mirror during music listening. Effects on music preference differed: For a given piece of unknown music, higher induced arousal yielded higher preference ratings. However, this result only held when the music was not too complex. The results indicated that arousal was not solely a consequence of listening to preferred music but might also be a potent determinant of music preference.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Lisa Martin-Niedecken ◽  
Tiziana Schwarz ◽  
Alexandra Schättin

Physical inactivity remains one of the biggest societal challenges of the 21st century. The gaming industry and the fitness sector have responded to this alarming fact with game-based or gamified training scenarios and thus established the promising trend of exergaming. Exergames—games played with the (whole) body as physical input—have been extolled as potential attractive and effective training tools. Simultaneously, researchers and designers are still exploring new approaches to exploit the full potential of this innovative and enjoyable training method. One way to boost the attractiveness and effectiveness of an exergame is to individualize it with game adaptations. A physiological parameter that is often used to balance the physical challenge and intensity of exergames to the player’s fitness skills is the heart rate (HR). Therefore, researchers and designers often rely on age-based, maximum HR (HRmax) formulas originating from performance diagnostics. In combination with the player’s assessed real-time HR during an exergame session, the pre-determined HRmax is used to adapt the game’s challenge to reach a pre-defined HR and physical intensity level (in-exergame adaptations), respectively. Although the validity and reliability of these age-based HRmax formulas were proven in heterogeneous target populations, their use is still often criticized as HR is an individual parameter that is affected by various internal and external factors. So far, no study has investigated whether the formula-based pre-calculated HRmax compared to a standardized individually pre-assessed HRmax elicits different training intensities, training experiences, and flow feelings in an exergame. Therefore, we compared both variants for in-exergame adaptation with the ExerCube – a functional high-intensity interval training exergame – in healthy young adults. Comparing the results of the two conditions, no significant differences were found for HR parameters and perceived physical and cognitive exertion, nor for overall flow feelings and physical activity enjoyment. Thus, the formula-based in-exergame adaptation approach was suitable in the presented study population, and the ExerCube provided an equally reliable in-exergame adaptation and comparable exergame play experiences. We discuss our findings in the context of related work on exergame adaptation approaches and draw out some implications for future adaptive exergame design and research topics.


1995 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 373-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmelo Bazzano ◽  
Lee N. Cunningham ◽  
Giovanni Cama ◽  
Tony Falconio

This study examined the physiology of the 1-mile walk test as administered in the field with 16 (7 M, 9 F) older adults (mean age 66.1 ± 5.9 yrs). Physiologic data were obtained via a Cosmed K2 miniaturized O2analyzer with telemetric capabilities during a maximal treadmill (TM) test and a 1-mile walk test (MWT). Oxygen consumption (ml · kg−1· min−1), minute ventilation (L · min−1), and heart rate (b · min−1) values obtained at maximal levels on the TM were 25.6 ± 7.6, 57 ± 17, and 155 ± 16, respectively. The measured V̇O2submax during the MWT was 18.5 + 5, V̇Esubmax was 44 ± 10, and HR submax was 140 ± 19. The subjects were able to hold 74% of the V̇O2max, 81% of V̇Emax, and 91% of HR max. An upward drift for HR and V̇Ewas noted while V̇O2remained constant throughout the MWT. The MWT with older subjects requires a vigorous level of metabolic and cardiorespiratory intensity. For healthy older adults who have been properly screened for hidden metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, participation in the MWT appears feasible.


2001 ◽  
Vol 204 (12) ◽  
pp. 2133-2144 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Froget ◽  
P. J. Butler ◽  
Y. Handrich ◽  
A. J. Woakes

SUMMARY The use of heart rate to estimate field metabolic rate has become a more widely used technique. However, this method also has some limitations, among which is the possible impact that several variables such as sex, body condition (i.e. body fat stores) and/or inactivity might have on the relationship between heart rate and rate of oxygen consumption. In the present study, we investigate the extent to which body condition can affect the use of heart rate as an indicator of the rate of oxygen consumption. Twenty-two breeding king penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) were exercised on a variable-speed treadmill. These birds were allocated to four groups according to their sex and whether or not they had been fasting. Linear regression equations were used to describe the relationship between heart rate and the rate of oxygen consumption for each group. There were significant differences between the regression equations for the four groups. Good relationships were obtained between resting and active oxygen pulses and an index of the body condition of the birds. Validation experiments on six courting king penguins showed that the use of a combination of resting oxygen pulse and active oxygen pulse gave the best estimate of the rate of oxygen consumption V̇O2. The mean percentage error between predicted and measured V̇O2 was only +0.81% for the six birds. We conclude that heart rate can be used to estimate rate of oxygen consumption in free-ranging king penguins even over a small time scale (30min). However, (i) the type of activity of the bird must be known and (ii) the body condition of the bird must be accurately determined. More investigations on the impact of fasting and/or inactivity on this relationship are required to refine these estimates further.


1982 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 525-529 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. B. Mekjavic ◽  
P. A. Rowe ◽  
J. B. Morrison

Four divers conducted two identical work protocols, consisting of swimming against a graded resistance on an underwater ergometer at a depth of ten feet. In one protocol the divers used fins each having a surface area of 540 cm2 and in the second protocol they used fins whose surface area was 940 cm2. Oxygen consumption, heart rate, ventilation, breathing frequency and kick rate were monitored throughout the twenty minute work period. The 540 cm2 fins demanded a siqnificantly higher metabolic rate than the 940 cm2 fins (50.85 ± 1.54 compared to 46.99 ± 1.52 ml.min.-1.kg-1). The smaller fins also elicited higher heart rates (171.8 ± 4.3 min.-1) than the larger fins (142.5 ± 8.7 min.-1) and induced a higher kicking frequency than was required with the larger fins (43 ± 4 min.-1 and 32 ± 1 min.-1 respectively). Ventilatory volume at the end of the final workload was 128.6 ± 7 1/min. with small fins and 111.1 ± 6.5 1/min. with large fins. These data suggest that the larger fins are more economical in terms of minute ventilation and metabolic cost and are less demanding on the cardiovascular system. Subjectively, the larger fins were perceived as less fatiguing than the smaller fins.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Ames ◽  
Meaghan R Gade ◽  
Chelsey L Nieman ◽  
James R Wright ◽  
Christopher M Tonra ◽  
...  

Abstract The field of conservation physiology strives to achieve conservation goals by revealing physiological mechanisms that drive population declines in the face of human-induced rapid environmental change (HIREC) and has informed many successful conservation actions. However, many studies still struggle to explicitly link individual physiological measures to impacts across the biological hierarchy (to population and ecosystem levels) and instead rely on a ‘black box’ of assumptions to scale up results for conservation implications. Here, we highlight some examples of studies that were successful in scaling beyond the individual level, including two case studies of well-researched species, and using other studies we highlight challenges and future opportunities to increase the impact of research by scaling up the biological hierarchy. We first examine studies that use individual physiological measures to scale up to population-level impacts and discuss several emerging fields that have made significant steps toward addressing the gap between individual-based and demographic studies, such as macrophysiology and landscape physiology. Next, we examine how future studies can scale from population or species-level to community- and ecosystem-level impacts and discuss avenues of research that can lead to conservation implications at the ecosystem level, such as abiotic gradients and interspecific interactions. In the process, we review methods that researchers can use to make links across the biological hierarchy, including crossing disciplinary boundaries, collaboration and data sharing, spatial modelling and incorporating multiple markers (e.g. physiological, behavioural or demographic) into their research. We recommend future studies incorporating tools that consider the diversity of ‘landscapes’ experienced by animals at higher levels of the biological hierarchy, will make more effective contributions to conservation and management decisions.


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