Effect of graded exercise on maximal aerobic capacity in hypertension

Forty subjects with essential hypertension [grade II] participated in this study after giving a written informed consent, in order to investigate the effect of exercise training program on maximal aerobic capacity. The age of the subjects ranged between 45 and 70 years. None of the subjects complained of any disease that is contraindicated for the study. The patients performed walking on the treadmill starting at 55% of each individual's heart rate reserve. Training intensity was increased by 5% to of heart rate reserve every month till reached 80%, of heart rate reserve. The training session time was 25 minutes at starting the program and ended by 50 minutes, three sessions per week for six months. Maximal aerobic capacity [VO2 max] and blood pressure were measured before the first session and then after completion of six months. The results showed that there was a significant increase in maximal aerobic capacity and a significant decrease in blood pressure after exercise training. This improvement may be due to that regular aerobic exercise induces a blood pressure lowering effect acting on the sympathetic/parasympathetic balance, that is reducing the sympathetic tone or enhancing the parasympathetic one

Assessment of PEP device in chronic bronchial asthma

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways associated with hyperresponsiveness, airflow limitation, and respiratory symptoms. It is the most common chronic lung disease in both the developed and developing worlds. There is evidence that over the last 20 years its prevalence has increased worldwide. Chest physiotherapy is widely prescribed to assist the clearance of airway secretions in people with asthma. Positive expiratory pressure [PEP] device provides constant back pressure to the airways during expiration. This may improve clearance by building up gas behind mucus via collateral ventilation. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of PEP device as a mean of improving mucus clearance and other outcomes in patients with chronic intrinsic bronchial asthma. The effect of 8 weeks of PEP device was studied on 24 men with chronic intrinsic bronchial asthma, 12 men as a PEP group and another 12 men as a control group. After PEP device in combination with forced expiratory technique, a more pronounced improvement in mucus clearance, oxygen saturation, and pulmonary function was seen in the PEP group. The control group demonstrated no difference between the baseline and after 8 weeks measurements for all variables Eight weeks of PEP device in combination with forced expiratory technique resulted in a significant improvement in the mucus clearance, oxygen saturation, and pulmonary function in patients with chronic intrinsic bronchial asthma

Influence of interferential current therapy with suction on intermittent claudication for creriatrics

Twenty-five male patients, ranging in age from forty-five to sixty years, with chronic moderate stable peripheral vascular disease with calvesi intermittent claudication in both lower limbs without pain at rest were admitted to the study. All patients were normotensive, without clinical history of coronary artery diseases, signs of cardiac failure or valvular heart diseases, or symptoms of cerebral vascular insufficiency and all of them were ex-smokers. Prior to entry into the study, the procedures were explained to each patient and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of interferential current therapy with suction on patients with intermittent claudication. The interferential current therapy was applied for 20 minutes via four suction electrodes three times per week [day other day] for three months duration for each lower limb. The ankle/brachial pressure index, pain-free and maximal walking times were measured before beginning of treatment with interferential current with suction and once again after the end of three months of treatment. The results showed that there are significant increases in ankle/brachial pressure index, pain-free and maximal walking times after treatment by interferential current with suction for three months. These effects have been attributed to that interferential therapy can induce an increase in circulation by the withdrawal of sympathetic tone in the muscular coat of the small arterioles

Efficacy of high frequency chest wall oscillation on pulmonary functions in chronic bronchitis

Twenty male patients with chronic bronchitis participated in this study, after giving a written informed consent, in order to investigate the changes that occur in the ventilatory functions and arterial oxygen saturation percentage as a result for administration of high-frequency chest wall oscillation. The age of the subjects ranged between 60 - 70 years. They underwent a thorough medical and physical examinations. None of the subjects complains of any disease that is contraindicated for the study. High-frequency chest wall oscillation was administered at 8 Hz, 16 Hz, and 24 Hz each for 5 minutes. With a pressure span n15/+ 10 mm Hg. The sessions were daily, fifteen minutes for each session, two sessions per day for three months duration. The session was performed with patients in sitting position and proceeded from the lowest to highest frequency. Pulmonary function tests:f orced vital capacity [PVC] forced expiratory volume in the first second of exhalation [FEV1-] and. artcrial oxygln saturation percentage [O2 sat%] were performed and measured before the first session and then after completion of three months. The results showed that there are significant increase in forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expirafory volume in the first second of exhalation [FEV I] and arterial oxygen saturation percentage [O2 sat%] after administration of high-frequency chest wall oscillation in cases of chronic bronchitis for three months. These effects have been attributed to improved interregional and intraregional gas mixing, mucus shearing due to increased mucus-airflow interaction, enhancement of cilia beat-frequency as a result of the reflex mechanism, and facilitation of the cephaled movement of mucus by the higher expiratory flows

Use of balance training in diabetic postural instability

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect to balance training program on postural instability in diabetic patients. A standard balance tests either static or dynamic performed in balance master system were evaluated before beginning of balance training and once again after the end of ten weeks of training. The age of the patients ranged between 52 and 62 years. No changes were made in the standard of medical care associated with diabetes for these subjects. All subjects received balance-training program on the balance master system three times per week [every other day] for 30 minutes for the session for ten weeks duration. The results showed that there were significant improvements in both static and dynamic measures after ten weeks of training. These improvements may be due to that visual information can compensate for sensorimotor loss and, with training, subjects can assimilate the information, thus establishing a central motor program, such that the external feedback would no longer be required

Effect of monochromatic infrared energy therapy in diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Thirty-two male subjects with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes for at least five years were enrolled in this study. A diagnosis of painful peripheral neuropathy, based on patient history and physical examination and none had lower extremity ulcers, were selected after giving a written informed consent in order to investigate the effect of monochromatic near-infrared photo energy on diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The age of the subjects ranged between 52 and 62 years. No changes were made in the standard of medical care associated with diabetes for these subjects. All subjects received monochromatic near-infrared photo energy treatment three times per week for 30 minutes for each foot for eight weeks duration. The Semmes-Weinstein monofilaments test and visual analog scale for pain [VAS] were evaluated before beginning of treatment with monochromatic near- infrared photo energy and once again after the end of eight weeks of treatment. The results showed that there were significant improvements in sensation and pain after treatment with monochromatic near-infrared photo energy for eight weeks. These effects have been attributed to dilatation of the vessels and improved circulation related to the localized release of nitric oxide, which is known to relax smooth muscles found in arteries, veins and lymph vessels. Nitric oxide is also a neurotransmitter and it leads to improving the nutrition for the nerves

Benefits of ten weeks high frequency electrical stimulation on muscle ischemia in patients with peripheral vascular disease

A sample consisting of 14 patients with peripheral vascular disease was participated in this study in order to investigate the effect of a high frequency transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the leg muscles on the pain-free walking time, maximum walking time and ankle/brachial systolic pressure index. None of the subjects complained of any disease, other than peripheral vascular disease, that can influence the study. A high frequency transcutaneous electrical stimulation session was applied for 30 minutes, five sessions weekly for ten weeks. The variables were assessed before the first session and after the end of ten weeks of stimulation. The results showed that there was a significant increase in all variables after the end of ten weeks of stimulation