Effect of exercise on the caloric intake of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention on the total caloric intake (TCI) of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. A secondary purpose was to determine whether or not a relationship existed between changes in TCI, body fat composition (%BF), and fatigue during the study, which lasted 6 months. Twenty females recently diagnosed with breast cancer, scheduled to undergo chemotherapy or radiation, were assigned randomly to an experimental (N = 10) or control group (N = 10). Outcome measures included TCI (3-day food diary), %BF (skinfolds), and fatigue (revised Piper Fatigue Scale). Each exercise session was conducted as follows: initial cardiovascular activity (6-12 min), followed by stretching (5-10 min), resistance training (15-30 min), and a cool-down (approximately 8 min). Significant changes in TCI were observed among groups (F1,18 = 8.582; P = 0.009), at treatments 2 and 3, and at the end of the study [experimental (1973 +/- 419), control (1488 +/- 418); experimental (1946 +/- 437), control (1436 +/- 429); experimental (2315 +/- 455), control (1474 +/- 294), respectively]. A significant negative correlation was found (Spearman rho(18) = -0.759; P < 0.001) between TCI and %BF and between TCI and fatigue levels (Spearman rho(18) = -0.541; P = 0.014) at the end of the study. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that an exercise intervention administered to breast cancer patients undergoing medical treatment may assist in the mitigation of some treatment side effects, including decreased TCI, increased fatigue, and negative changes in body composition.

Effect of exercise on the caloric intake of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an exercise intervention on the total caloric intake (TCI) of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment. A secondary purpose was to determine whether or not a relationship existed between changes in TCI, body fat composition ( percentBF), and fatigue during the study, which lasted 6 months. Twenty females recently diagnosed with breast cancer, scheduled to undergo chemotherapy or radiation, were assigned randomly to an experimental (N = 10) or control group (N = 10). Outcome measures included TCI (3-day food diary), percentBF (skinfolds), and fatigue (revised Piper Fatigue Scale). Each exercise session was conducted as follows: initial cardiovascular activity (6-12 min), followed by stretching (5-10 min), resistance training (15-30 min), and a cool-down (approximately 8 min). Significant changes in TCI were observed among groups (F1,18 = 8.582; P = 0.009), at treatments 2 and 3, and at the end of the study [experimental (1973 ± 419), control (1488 ± 418); experimental (1946 ± 437), control (1436 ± 429); experimental (2315 ± 455), control (1474 ± 294), respectively]. A significant negative correlation was found (Spearman rho(18) = -0.759; P < 0.001) between TCI and percentBF and between TCI and fatigue levels (Spearman rho(18) = -0.541; P = 0.014) at the end of the study. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that an exercise intervention administered to breast cancer patients undergoing medical treatment may assist in the mitigation of some treatment side effects, including decreased TCI, increased fatigue, and negative changes in body composition.

Intimidation and violence by males in high school athletics.

This study examined verbal intimidation (VI), physical intimidation (PI), and physical violence (PV) in high school athletics, both by program and by sport. Antecedents were identified via principal component analysis; they included contextual setting, attitude, pressure, and coaching. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess relationships between antecedents and VI, PI, and PV. Coaching was the only significant predictor in 9 of 15 regression analyses of overall VI, PI, and PV, and one of two significant predictors in 4 of 6 additional analyses. Coaching was the only significant predictor of VI in basketball and football, PI in football and soccer, and PV in basketball and soccer. In addition to coaching, contextual setting was a significant predictor of PI in basketball, attitude was a significant predictor of PV in football, and pressure was a significant predictor of VI in soccer. The implications of these findings are discussed.

Collegiate coaches' knowledge of eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To assess, through exploratory research, 1) collegiate coaches' knowledge of eating disorders, 2) the confidence of collegiate coaches in their response correctness to questions about eating disorders among athletes, and 3) demographic data related to prior education about eating disorders and the role of the athletic department in providing such educational experiences. DESIGN AND SETTING: We distributed a 2-part questionnaire to 258 NCAA Division I-A coaches from 5 universities selected by sampling convenience. SUBJECTS: One hundred thirty-eight collegiate coaches responded to the questionnaire for a response rate of 53.5%. MEASUREMENTS: Our survey consisted of 30 true-false questions that tested knowledge of eating disorders overall and in 5 domains. These domains included etiology, identifying signs and symptoms, management and treatment, risk factors, and education and prevention of eating disorders. Coaches indicated their level of certainty in their responses by rating their confidence level on a 4-item Likert-type scale. Demographic data focused on educational programs attended by coaches and teams. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze all data. RESULTS: Our results suggest a need for coaches to achieve a greater knowledge of eating disorders in all domains. Evidence showed that educational programs about eating disorders were not often sponsored by the athletic department for coaches or athletes. There seemed to be poor communication between athletic departments and coaches regarding the availability of eating disorder educational resources. CONCLUSIONS: Data suggested coaches could benefit from comprehensive education in all domains of eating disorders; however, further study is needed to validate these findings, to determine the actual effectiveness of education in the prevention of eating disorders, and to differentiate coaches' knowledge specific to sport coached and to coach and team sex.

Sociodemographic analysis of drug use among adolescent athletes: observations-perceptions of athletic directors-coaches.

Through observations and perceptions of athletic directors/coaches, this study (1) broadly examined substance abuse of adolescent (high school) student-athletes; (2) made comparisons of substance abuse between student-athletes and students comprising the general student body; and (3) made selected comparisons of substance abuse between the regional data of this study and that of a national survey of high school coaches done by George H. Gallup International Institute (1991). Some comparisons were also made with the findings of a survey of drug use patterns among a sample of 10,883 public school students conducted by the Alcohol and Drug Defense (ADD) Section, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (1991; 1989; 1987a, 1987b) and a survey of drug use patterns among 2,685 high school student-athletes (Shields, 1988). The drug abuse problem for student-athletes was observed-perceived to be of lesser magnitude regionally than nationally and to be less for student-athletes with their peers in the general student body. In virtually every comparison of student-athletes with their peers in the general student body, the drug problem was seen to be less for student-athletes, and in some instances, dramatically less.

The effects of intermittent compression on edema in postacute ankle sprains.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three treatment protocols on pitting edema in patients with first- and second-degree sprained ankles. Thirty subjects with postacute (greater than 24 hours postinjury) ankle sprains and pitting edema but not requiring cast immobilization were randomly assigned to an elastic wrap group (N = 10), an intermittent compression group (N = 10), or an elevated control group (N = 10). Pretreatment and posttreatment volumetric measurements of the subjects' ankles were obtained by the water displacement method. After the pretreatment measurement, the groups were treated for 30 minutes. All subjects' ankles were elevated by raising the foot section of an adjustable table to a 45 degrees angle during treatment. For the first treatment group, the intermittent compression device was set at 40-50 mm Hg, with a 60-second on time and a 15-second off time. For the second treatment group, an elastic wrap was applied from the heads of the metatarsals to 12.7 centimeters above the malleoli. Control group subjects received only the elevated position as their treatment. A three by two repeated measures ANOVA with a follow-up post hoc test revealed that the elevated control group subjects had the least amount of edema (p < .0006). The two compression protocols produced increased edema in the subjects' sprained ankles following treatment. In conclusion, elevation is the most appropriate of the three treatment protocols if the major therapeutic objective is to minimize edema in the postacute phase of rehabilitation. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1991;14(2):65-69.

Comparison of three treatment procedures for minimizing ankle sprain swelling.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of cold, heat, and contrast bath treatments on the amount of edema in first- and second-degree sprained ankles during the postacute phase of rehabilitation. Thirty subjects with postacute sprained ankles were assigned to a cold (n = 10), heat (n = 10), or contrast bath (n = 10) treatment group. A specially constructed tank was used to take pretreatment and posttreatment volumetric measurements of subjects' sprained ankles. Descriptive statistics, a 3 x 3 two-way analysis of variance for repeated measures, and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference post hoc test revealed that cold therapy produced the least edema in subjects with sprained ankles (p less than .05). All three treatments (cold, heat, and contrast bath) produced an increase in the amount of edema in the postacute sprained ankles of the subjects. Heat and contrast bath therapy produced almost identical increases in the amount of ankle edema on each of the three days of the study. We concluded that cold therapy is the most appropriate of the three treatments if the therapeutic objective is to minimize edema before rehabilitative exercise during the third, fourth, and fifth days postinjury for first- and second-degree ankle sprains.