The effects of gluteal squeezes compared to bilateral bridges on gluteal strength, power, endurance, and girth.

BACKGROUND: Hip extension weakness is correlated with low back, hip, and knee pathology. Isometric gluteal squeezes have been shown to elicit high electromyographic gluteal activity. However, there is little research regarding the specific effects of isometric gluteal squeezes on hip strength and functional outcomes. The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of gluteal squeezes on hip extension strength, vertical jump, broad jump, single-leg bridge endurance, and gluteal girth compared to bilateral gluteal bridging. METHODS: A total of 32 healthy university students (mean age 23.28 ± 2.15 years) were randomly assigned to perform either gluteal squeezes or bilateral bridges daily. Subjects were tested at baseline and after 8 weeks of training. Subjects' hip extension strength, vertical jump, broad jump, single-leg bridge endurance, and gluteal girth were tested. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the bridge and squeeze groups after 8 weeks of training. Both groups significantly improved hip extension strength bilaterally (p = 0.000-0.011). The squeeze group significantly increased gluteal girth at the level of the greater trochanter (p = 0.007), but no significant girth increase was seen in the bridge group (p = 0.742). Although increases were seen in both groups for the endurance and jump tasks, no statistically significant changes occurred for those outcomes. All outcome measurements demonstrated high reliability (ICC = 0.93-0.99). CONCLUSION: Gluteal squeezes were as effective as bilateral bridges for increasing hip extension strength. Gluteal squeezes also significantly increased girth at the level of the greater trochanter. These results provide clinical and aesthetic reasons to perform gluteal squeezes.

Impact of audiovisual biofeedback on interfraction respiratory motion reproducibility in liver cancer stereotactic body radiotherapy.

INTRODUCTION: Irregular breathing motion exacerbates uncertainties throughout a course of radiation therapy. Breathing guidance has demonstrated to improve breathing motion consistency. This was the first clinical implementation of audiovisual biofeedback (AVB) breathing guidance over a course of liver stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) investigating interfraction reproducibility. METHODS: Five liver cancer patients underwent a screening procedure prior to CT sim during which patients underwent breathing conditions (i) AVB, or (ii) free breathing (FB). Whichever breathing condition was more regular was utilised for the patient's subsequent course of SBRT. Respiratory motion was obtained from the Varian respiratory position monitoring (RPM) system (Varian Medical Systems). Breathing motion reproducibility was assessed by the variance of displacement across 10 phase-based respiratory bins over each patient's course of SBRT. RESULTS: The screening procedure yielded the decision to utilise AVB for three patients and FB for two patients. Over the course of SBRT, AVB significantly improved the relative interfraction motion by 32%, from 22% displacement difference for FB patients to 15% difference for AVB patients. Further to this, AVB facilitated sub-millimetre interfraction reproducibility for two AVB patients. CONCLUSION: There was significantly less interfraction motion with AVB than FB. These findings demonstrate that AVB is potentially a valuable tool in ensuring reproducible interfraction motion.

An imaging evaluation of the simultaneously integrated boost breast radiotherapy technique.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate in-field megavoltage (MV) imaging of simultaneously integrated boost (SIB) breast fields to determine its feasibility in treatment verification for the SIB breast radiotherapy technique, and to assess whether the current-imaging protocol and treatment margins are sufficient. METHODS: For nine patients undergoing SIB breast radiotherapy, in-field MV images of the SIB fields were acquired on days that regular treatment verification imaging was performed. The in-field images were matched offline according to the scar wire on digitally reconstructed radiographs. The offline image correction results were then applied to a margin recipe formula to calculate safe margins that account for random and systematic uncertainties in the position of the boost volume when an offline correction protocol has been applied. RESULTS: After offline assessment of the acquired images, 96% were within the tolerance set in the current department-imaging protocol. Retrospectively performing the maximum position deviations on the Eclipse™ treatment planning system demonstrated that the clinical target volume (CTV) boost received a minimum dose difference of 0.4% and a maximum dose difference of 1.4% less than planned. Furthermore, applying our results to the Van Herk margin formula to ensure that 90% of patients receive 95% of the prescribed dose, the calculated CTV margins were comparable to the current departmental procedure used. CONCLUSION: Based on the in-field boost images acquired and the feasible application of these results to the margin formula the current CTV-planning target volume margins used are appropriate for the accurate treatment of the SIB boost volume without additional imaging.

Empower U: effectiveness of an adolescent outreach and prevention program with sixth-grade boys and girls: a pilot study.

Sixth graders are at a prime age to modify behaviors and beliefs regarding exercise, nutrition, body image, and smoking. Empower U was created to change knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding these topics. This pilot study utilized pre/post assessments of 58 sixth graders from a private middle school in the midsouth. Results showed a significant increase in self-esteem as well as in exercise and nutrition knowledge and beliefs at posttest and a significant increase in body image as well as in self-reported exercise and nutrition behaviors at the 1-month follow-up. Empower U provides nurses with an effective educational program that may be useful in positively impacting health behaviors.