Exercise-based rehabilitation of Dysphagia

This study determined the effectiveness of a 12-week cycle of Ruesi Dadton (RSD) among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), for improving cognitive and physical performance. Seventy-six participants were included and were divided equally into two groups. A group performed RSD exercise for 60 min, 3 times/wk for 12 weeks, and the control group did not perform RSD exercise. The primary endpoint was cognitive function, as assessed by the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA), Mini-Mental State Examination, verbal fluency (VF) test, and trail making test parts A and B (TMT-A and TMT-B). The secondary endpoints were the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, handgrip, and gait speed results, which were used to evaluate the physical function. There were significant differences in the TMT-B and handgrip scores (P< 0.05) between the two groups. Both groups had improved MoCA scores (P< 0.05) and normal walking speeds (P< 0.01). Additionally, the RSD group showed improved VF test (...

Purpose: to analyze the effects of the respiratory exercise in the biomechanics of swallowing in normal
subjects. Methods: the muscle respiratory’s exercise in normal subjects was administered for
seven consecutive days by the incentive spirometer flow (three sets of ten repetitions for inspiration
and expiration).The biomechanics of swallowing was evaluated by videofluoroscopy through temporal
variables (pharyngeal transition time) and visuoperceptual (number of swallows, waste in the pyriform
sinuses and valleculae, penetration/aspiration). For statistical analysis was used the Wilcoxon test,
Equality of Two Proportions and Kappa. Results: were evaluated 16 young women with a mean age
of 21,2±3,4 years. In visuoperceptual variables was observed almost perfect agreement between evaluators
(p<0,001) and in temporal variable (p=1,00). After the training period there was a significant
reduction in the pharyngeal transition time (p=0,02). Conclusion: the use of incentive spirometer flow
significantly influence the biomechanics of swallowing, especially in reducing the pharyngeal transition
time.

This study examined and compared, based on year of study and gender, the health and performance indices of university undergraduate students. Eighty-nine students (mean±standard deviation age, 22.47±2.22 years) were randomly selected for assessment prior to second semester examination of 2015/2016 academic year. body mass index, resting metabolic rate, visceral fat, skeletal muscle mass, body fat, systolic & diastolic blood pressure, resting heart rate, upper & lower body endurance, handgrip strength, and lower back and hamstring flexibility were assessed. The students had sedentary heart rate, low skeletal muscle mass, average upper and lower body endurance, and weak handgrip strength. Significant difference existed in the visceral fat (P=0.008) between third and fourth year students. There were significant gender differences in resting metabolic rate (P=0.000), skeletal muscle mass (P=0.000), body fat (P=0.000), systolic blood pressure (P=0.001), heart rate (P=0.005) and handgrip ...

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an 8-week Taekwondo (TKD) intervention on balance in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A total of 14 children with ASD participated in this study. Eight children (eight males; mean age, 10.25± 2.38 yr) completed TKD intervention (50 min/2 times/8 week), and six children received no intervention serving as controls (five males, one female; mean age, 10.00± 2.83 yr). A computed posturography system with a long forceplate (NeuroCom Balance Master) was used to evaluate static (double and single leg stance with various test conditions) and functional balance (step-quick-turn). Balance was measured before and after the intervention. A mixed-model analysis of variance showed a significant group by time interaction in single leg stance balance. After the intervention, the TKD group displayed a greater improvement in single leg stance balance with eyes closed condition than the control group (P= 0.046). Within-group anal...

In sports such as basketball and volleyball, loss of balance due to the inability to maintain body stability and lack of postural control adversely affect athletic performance. Deaf athletes appear to struggle with balance and postural stability problems. The purpose of this study was to examine postural sway values in parallel and single leg stance of Olympic deaf basketball and volleyball players and reveal differences between the branches. Twenty-three male athletes from the Turkish national deaf basketball (n= 11) and volleyball (n= 12) teams participated in the study. After anthropometric measurements, the subjects completed postural sway (PS) tests in parallel/single leg stances with open eyes and closed eyes on a force plate. PS parameters (sway path, velocity, and area) obtained from the device software were used for the statistical analysis. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare differences in PS parameters between basketball and volleyball players, and the alpha valu...

Purpose: The study was undertaken to investigate the impact of physical activity (PA) and body weight on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among type 2diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attending a tertiary health facility in south-west Nigeria. Relevance: Despite numerous health benefits of PA, it promotion is often inadequate and majority of this population do not become or remain regularly active. This study provides additional evidence of importance of regular PA. Participants: Consecutive sample of 119 participants with mean age (61.8±11.8 years) were selected. They included 47 men (39.5%) and 72 women (60.5%). Methods: A cross-section of the participants’ PA were assessed using long form of International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and were categorized as physically active or inactive. Their quality of life was assessed with health survey Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Standard methods were used to assess their body weight and height. Analysis: Data was analysed us...

A verbal fluency (VF) task is a test used to examine cognitive perception. The main aim of this study was to explore a possible relationship between taste perception in the basic taste categories (sweet, salty, sour, and bitter) and subjects’ taste preferences, using a VF task in healthy and dysphagic subjects. In addition, we correlated the results of the VF task with body mass index (BMI). The hypothesis is that categorical preferences would be consistent with the number of verbal responses. We also hypothesized that higher BMI (.30 kg/m2) would correlate with more responses in either some or all four categories. VF tasks were randomly administered. Analysis criteria included number of verbally produced responses, number of clusters, number of switches, number and type of errors, and VF consistency with taste preferences. Sixty Greek-speaking individuals participated in this study. Forty-three healthy subjects were selected with a wide range of ages, sex, and education levels. Seventeen dysphagic patients were then matched with 17 healthy subjects according to age, sex, and BMI. Quantitative one-way analysis of variance (between groups as well as repeated measures), post hoc, and chi-square, and qualitative analyses were performed. In the healthy subjects’ group, the differences among the mean number of responses for the four taste categories were statistically significant. When comparing the two matched groups of healthy and dysphagic subjects, there were no statistically significant differences in the mean number of responses in the four basic taste categories. However, for both groups, most responses were generated in the following descending order: sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. The bitter category presented the majority of errors for both groups. Obese subjects produced a greater mean number of responses for the “sweet,” “sour,” and “bitter” categories; conversely, underweight subjects produced a larger mean number of responses for the “salty” category, even though these differences were not statistically significant. The relationship of VF with taste perception and BMI could contribute to evidence-based knowledge that can be used for clinical practice.