A Novel Electromyographic Approach to Estimate Fatigue Threshold in Maximum Incremental Strength Tests.

Evaluation of muscular fatigue thresholds in athletes performing short-duration and explosive exercises is difficult because classic parameters do not suffer large variations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a new method to estimate the fatigue threshold in single muscles. Our approach is based on electromyographic data recorded during a maximum incremental strength test until the one repetition maximum is reached. Ten men and 10 women performed a half-squat strength test consisting of five incremental intensities of one repetition maximum. Neither heart rate nor blood lactate concentrations showed significant differences at the various intensities tested. Surface electromyographic activities of vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and rectus femoris were recorded, finding a break point corresponding to the fatigue threshold occurring in men at 70.74%, 71.48%, and 72.52% of one repetition maximum, respectively. In women, break-point values were 76.66% for vastus lateralis, 76.27% for vastus medialis, and 72.10% for rectus femoris. In conclusion, surface electromyography could be a useful, rapid, and noninvasive tool to determine the fatigue threshold of independent muscles during a maximal half-squat strength test.

[Relationship between quality of life, physical activity, nutrition, glycemic control and sarcopenia in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus]. / Relación entre calidad de vida, actividad física, alimentación y control glucémico con la sarcopenia de adultos mayores con diabetes mellitus tipo 2.

INTRODUCTION: The term sarcopenia is defined as age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and function, with a consequent impact on quality of life. However, there is a lack of studies examining the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prevalence of sarcopenia in patients over 65 years with type 2 DM and the influence of physical activity, diet, glycemic control, sex, age, and quality of life. METHODS: A total of 279 patients (155 females), aged 76.6 ± 6.27 years, participated in this study in order to analyze body circumferences (waist, hip, calf, and arm), body mass index, handgrip strength, physical activity level, nutritional status, quality of life, and glycemic control. The cut-off value for sarcopenia was defined as the body mass index lower than 9.2 or 7.4 kg/m2 for males and females, respectively. RESULTS: In participants, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 8.33%. Moreover, the level of sarcopenia was negatively associated with quality of life (r = -0.130, p = 0.030), physical activity (r = -0.164, p = 0.006), nutritional status (r = -0.274, p < 0.001), and male sex (r = -0.137, p = 0.022); and positively associated with age (r = 0.183, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of sarcopenia in patients with type 2 DM is moderate, and it is related to relevant health factors, such as lower quality of life, lower physical exercise level, and increased malnutrition, especially in older adult males.

Influencia de los pensamientos disfuncionales en la sobrecarga de los cuidadores de personas dependientes / The influence of dysfunctional thoughts on the burden of the dependent person caregiver

Objetivo. Conocer el nivel de pensamientos disfuncionales en los cuidadores y la relación que tienen con la sobrecarga en el desempeño del rol de cuidador. Método. Estudio descriptivo transversal, realizado en el Centro de Salud San Andrés Torcal, de la ciudad de Málaga durante 2010. Sujetos de estudio Muestra aleatoria de los cuidadores de personas dependientes de dicho centro. Se excluyeron los cuidadores de personas en proceso de cuidados paliativos, y aquellos casos en que los cuidados tenían una duración menor de 6 semanas. Se utilizaron el cuestionario de pensamientos disfuncionales (CPD) sobre los cuidados y el cuestionario de carga de Zarit. En los cuidadores se recogieron las variables sociodemográficas así como las variables en relación con los cuidados (presencia o no de ayuda para realizar los cuidados, duración de los cuidados, en su caso el tipo de ayuda que recibe para los mismos). En las personas dependientes se recogieron variables sociodemográficas, índice de Barthel y presencia o no del diagnóstico de demencia. Análisis utilizado: análisis descriptivo, coeficiente de correlación de Pearson para valorar la asociación entre variables cuantitativas, y test de Kolmogorov-Smirnov para analizar el ajuste a una distribución uniforme. Resultados. La puntuación en el CPD tiene una media de 49,94 (IC 95% 42,0-49,8). La sobrecarga medida mediante el cuestionario de Zarit y los pensamientos disfuncionales se asocian positivamente (coeficiente de correlación de Pearson 0,57; p <0,001). Conclusiones. Los pensamientos disfuncionales tienen un elevado impacto sobre nuestra población de cuidadores pudiendo ser un factor que contribuye a la aparición de cansancio en el desempeño del rol de cuidador. Existe una asociación positiva entre la sobrecarga de los cuidadores y los pensamientos más disfuncionales, más intensa en cuidadores de pacientes sin demencia (AU)

Objective. To determine the influence of dysfunctional thoughts and their relationship on the burden of caregivers. Method. Descriptive study conducted in the San Andrés Torcal Health Centre, Malaga, Spain, in 2010. Subjects. A random sample was selected from dependent person caregivers of the centre. Those patients who were receiving palliative care and those cases where the care was less than 6 weeks were excluded. We used the Dysfunctional Thoughts Questionnaire (DTQ) and the short Zarit questionnaire was used on the caregivers. Sociodemographic variables of the caregiver and variables related to care (presence of support, duration of care, and if applicable, the type of help received by them), were collected. Sociodemographic variables of the patients, as well as the Barthel index and presence or absence of dementia were recorded. Analysis used descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the association between quantitative variables and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. Results. The mean DTQ score was 49.94 (95% CI; 42.0 - 49.8). The burden measured by Zarit test and dysfunctional thoughts were positively associated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.57, P<.001). Conclusions. Dysfunctional thoughts have a high impact on our population of caregivers and may be a contributing factor to the onset of fatigue in the caregiver role. There is a positive association between stress of caregivers and dysfunctional thoughts, and is more intensive in caregivers of patients without dementia (AU)

[The influence of dysfunctional thoughts on the burden of the dependent person caregiver]. / Influencia de los pensamientos disfuncionales en la sobrecarga de los cuidadores de personas dependientes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of dysfunctional thoughts and their relationship on the burden of caregivers. METHOD: Descriptive study conducted in the San Andrés Torcal Health Centre, Malaga, Spain, in 2010. SUBJECTS: A random sample was selected from dependent person caregivers of the centre. Those patients who were receiving palliative care and those cases where the care was less than 6 weeks were excluded.We used the Dysfunctional Thoughts Questionnaire (DTQ) and the short Zarit questionnaire was used on the caregivers. Sociodemographic variables of the caregiver and variables related to care (presence of support, duration of care, and if applicable, the type of help received by them), were collected. Sociodemographic variables of the patients, as well as the Barthel index and presence or absence of dementia were recorded. ANALYSIS USED: descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation coefficient to assess the association between quantitative variables and Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. RESULTS: The mean DTQ score was 49.94 (95% CI; 42.0 - 49.8). The burden measured by Zarit test and dysfunctional thoughts were positively associated (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.57, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dysfunctional thoughts have a high impact on our population of caregivers and may be a contributing factor to the onset of fatigue in the caregiver role.There is a positive association between stress of caregivers and dysfunctional thoughts, and is more intensive in caregivers of patients without dementia.