Slow versus traditional strength training in obese female participants: preliminary results.

The aim of this study was to provide comparative data on a slow versus a traditional supervised resistance training in an obese female population. Forty obese female patients admitted to our rehabilitation hospital were assigned randomly to a slow training group (ST group; mean age: 47.44 years, mean BMI: 38.53 kg/m) and a traditional training group (TT group; mean age: 54.34 years, mean BMI: 39.37 kg/m). The ST protocol included five repetitions for five consecutive bouts on the leg press and extension machine. The duration of each repetition (concentric+eccentric phases) was 6 s for leg press and 5 s for leg extension. The initial load was 50% of the one repetition maximum and then gradually reduced by 20% for each bout. The TT protocol included six consecutive repetitions for five bouts on the leg press and leg extension with 80% of the one repetition maximum load. Both groups performed 10 sessions. All of the patients were assessed by a visual analogue scale for pain, a Borg scale for subjective fatigue, and an isokinetic strength test. Statistically significant strength improvements were observed in both groups. In ST group statistically significant improvements in visual analogue scale scores for knee pain were found at post, larger than that observed in TT group. Subjectively perceived fatigue on the Borg scale decreased more at post in ST group in comparison with TT group. Our preliminary data suggest that ST may represent a preferential strengthening method in obese patients as it can lead to significant strength gains with a relatively lower loading effect on the knee, and hence reduced perception of pain.

Do wearable sensors add meaningful information to the Timed Up and Go test? A study on obese women.

The purpose of this study was to validate Time Up and Go test (TUG) as measured by a single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) placed on the lower back to that measured by a stopwatch in obese and normal weight women; in addition, the comparison of the performance of TUG test between obese and healthy women using the instrumented TUG (iTUG). Forty-four severely obese women and 14 age-matched healthy women were assessed simultaneously by IMU and stopwatch. The comparison between manual and instrumented assessment of total time duration showed no significant differences both in the healthy (8.32 ±â€¯0.96 s vs. 8.52 ±â€¯0.97 s, p > 0.05) and in the obese group (9.99 ±â€¯2.28 s vs. 9.81 ±â€¯2.52 s; p > 0.05). The comparison between obese and healthy group exhibited significant differences in terms of total time duration both during manual and iTUG, which is longer in obese women than normal weight women. The duration of the sub-phases in obese group is longer with the exception of sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit phase, with lower turning velocity both in mid- and final turning sub-phase. The results suggest that the iTUG is an objective and fast mobility test and it could add useful information to the manual TUG for clinical practice.

Effects of nanotechnology-based devices on postural control in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present preliminary randomized controlled study was to ascertain whether the use of newly developed nanotechnologies-based patches can influence posture control of healthy subjects. METHODS: Thirty healthy female subjects (age 39.4 years, BMI 22.74 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to two groups: one with active patches and a control group with sham patches. Two patches were applied with a tape: one on the subject's sternum and the other on the C7 apophysis. Body sway during quiet upright stance was recorded with a dynamometric platform. Each subject was tested under two visual conditions, eyes open and closed. We used a blocked stratified randomization procedure conducted by a third party. RESULTS: Subjects wearing the sham patches showed a significant increase of the center of pressure sway area after 4 hours when they performed the habitual moderate-intensity work activities. In the active patch group, a decrease of the sway path was evident, providing evidence of an enhanced balance control. CONCLUSIONS: Our preliminary findings on healthy subjects indicate that nanotechnological devices generating ultra-low electromagnetic fields can improve posture control.