Showing papers by "Auckland University of Technology published in 1991"

A comparison of the effects of two sitting postures on back and referred pain.

Abstract: This study compared the effects of sitting with portable supports in either a kyphotic or lordotic posture on low-back and referred pain. Two hundred ten patients with low-back and/or referred pain were randomly assigned to either a kyphotic posture or lordotic posture group. The kyphotic and lordotic postures were facilitated by the use of a flat foam cushion or lumbar roll, respectively. Pain location, back pain, and leg pain intensity were assessed over a 24-48-hour period under both standardized clinical settings and general sitting environments. When sitting with a lordotic posture, back and leg pain were significantly reduced and referred pain shifted towards the low back. This study demonstrates that in general sitting environments a lumbar roll results in: 1) reductions in back and leg pain; and 2) centralization of pain. These findings do not apply to patients with stenosis or spondylolisthesis, whose symptoms may be aggravated by use of a lumbar roll.

Relationship between upper body anaerobic power and freestyle swimming performance.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the role of upper body anaerobic power, as measured by the Wingate Anaerobic Arm Test (WAAT), in 50-m sprint swim performance. Thirty competitive age-group swimmers (14 males and 16 females) participated in this investigation. Subjects had been training daily for 5 months prior to the study, swimming an average of 6,000 m.d-1, 6 d.wk-1. Swimmers performed a WAAT and a 50-m time-trial. Peak power (PP), mean power (MP) and fatigue index (FI) were determined for the WAAT. Subjects also reported their current competition performances for all distances up to 400 m. Significant relationships were obtained between swim speed over 50 m (S50) and PP (r = 0.82, p less than 0.001), S50 and MP (r = 0.83, p less than 0.001), and S50 and FI (r = 0.41, p less than 0.05). PP and MP showed significant but generally decreasing correlations with swim speed as distance increased. Substantial relationships (r = 0.74-0.96, p less than 0.001) were found between S50 and swim speeds over distances up to and including 400 m. This study shows a strong relationship exists between upper body anaerobic power, as measured by the WAAT, and performance in both sprint and longer distance (400 m) swim events. The WAAT may serve as a useful tool for coaches to objectively evaluate and monitor the upper body anaerobic power of competitive swimmers.

Dietary intakes of age-group swimmers.

Abstract: The purposes of this study were to collect information regarding the dietary habits of male and female age-group swimmers and report the energy consumptions of these athletes in relation to their daily training demands. Twenty competitive swimmers, who were training 6000 m per day 6 days a week, recorded all fluid and food consumed during a 4-day period. Dietary analysis revealed that 11 swimmers (55%) had calcium intakes below recommended dietary allowances (RDA), while 13 (65%) had iron intakes lower than RDA. Despite identical training loads and body mass, male swimmers had significantly greater (P = 0.004) daily mean (s.d.) energy consumption (3072(732) kcal, 12.9(3.1) MJ) than females (2130(544) kcal, 8.9(2.3) MJ) and were maintaining energy balance. Although the contribution of carbohydrate to total daily energy intake was the same for male (55%) and female swimmers (56%), the females ingested significantly less (P = 0.011) carbohydrate (292(87) g) than the males (404(88) g) and could be considered deficient in dietary carbohydrate with respect to their daily training demands.

Use of eccentric contraction of muscle to increase range of movement in the upper motor neurone syndrome

Abstract: There is considerable variability of opinion as to the role of the hyperactive stretch reflex in the movement deficit seen in upper motor neurone lesions. The clinical picture is further complicate...