Last
2 Weeks: November Correspondence
Course Sale Ends 11/30/07
FitBits
Exercise ETC's Monthly Research Review
November 15, 2007
Compiled by Chris Marino, MS, CSCS
Director of Education, Exercise ETC
New
ACSM/AMA Initiative:
" Exercise Is Medicine"
As both role model and care provider, the physician has an incredible opportunity to influence his/her patient's health behaviors for the better. Research has indicated that patients are more likely to initiate and/or adhere to a health-promoting behavioral change if counseled by their physician, at least for the short-term. Unfortunately, few physicians regularly address possibly the most essential component of good health: exercise. Studies have shown that factors such as physician's age (over 40), personal exercise and health habits, comfort with counseling and knowledge of exercise all affect his/her willingness or rather lack thereof to prescribe exercise for patients.
The American College of Sports Medicine and American Medical Association hope that a newly formed partnership program will provide physicians with the support, education and mechanisms by which to make prescribing exercise an important component of patient care. The new initiative titled "Exercise Is Medicine" is calling on physicians and other healthcare professionals to "assess, to advocate for, and to review every patient’s physical activity program during every visit."
It is expected that this program will create opportunities for fitness professionals to better network with physicians and generate referrals for supervised exercise instruction. The current initiative is to spread the word about this exciting program to physicians so that they may plan how to best assimilate it into their practices.
You can learn more about this program by clicking on: http://www.exerciseismedicine.org/taskforce/index.htm
Energy Drinks Can Increase Heart Risk
Stimulants such as caffeine are known to increase blood pressure and heart rates, both of which have been linked to increased mortality. In fact, many preventive health programs use these values as benchmarks for measuring progress, representing both improved health and reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and death.
Unfortunately, the demand for mental acuity in our society led to the advent of super-caffeinated beverages or mixed stimulant energy drinks. Although they may be effective in keeping you awake and focused, some individuals may experience significant cardiovascular risk from even modest use of such products. A recent study has researchers at Wayne State University concerned.
Blood pressure and heart rate was assessed in 15 healthy young adults following consumption of a popular energy drink. The participants ingested two cans of the energy drink and then remained seated watching a movie while blood pressure and heart rate were assessed over a 3-hour period. The researchers documented increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 9.6% and 7.8% respectively, and an 11% increase in HR.
Initial concern was expressed for patients taking anti-hypertensive medication and individuals with diagnosed cardiovascular disease. However, this finding could indicate risk with long-term regular use of these products when considering accompanying factors such as high-stress jobs/projects, lack of sleep, and other negative health behaviors. Consequently, many health experts recommend limiting intake of beverages that contain caffeine or other stimulants to the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee daily.
Preidt, Robert. Energy Drinks Could Pose Blood Pressure Risks. HealthDay. Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Alternative Exercise Improves Outcomes in Heart Failure Patients
Multiple studies published this month support the use of alternative exercise therapy (i.e. yoga and tai chi) in patients suffering from chronic heart failure, a condition that is represented by decreased contractile function of the heart muscle.
First, researchers at Emory University School of Medicine evaluated eight-weeks of yoga therapy in a group of 19 patients with heart failure. They measured markers of inflammation commonly associated with heart failure: interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and extra-cellular superoxide dismutase, in addition to quality of life and exercise tolerance. The patients who participated in yoga therapy experienced a 26% reduction in symptoms compared to 3% of patients who received only medical therapy. Markers of inflammation were also improved indicating Yoga has a similar effect to aerobic exercise in this population. Some people have expressed concern with the safety of yoga in this population. All participants in this study completed the intervention without complication.
In a second study published this month researchers studied the impact of Tai Chi on exercise tolerance in heart failure patients. Fifty-two patients, 42 men and 10 women, participated in either 16 weeks of Tai Chi twice weekly or received traditional medical care without exercise. Unfortunately, Tai Chi did not improve exercise tolerance indicated by total distance walked in a shuttle walk test. However, Tai Chi participation improved both heart failure symptoms and quality of life better than traditional medical care. Importantly, the Tai Chi participants experienced no episodes of increased symptoms and researchers claimed that they found enjoyment in the classes.
It's important to note that more intense cardiovascular endurance and strength training protocols resulted in more substantial gains in both exercise tolerance, strength and reduction in symptoms. However, the studies presented indicate that alternative forms of exercise may prove useful as complimentary forms of therapy and/or in cases where endurance or strength exercise is not advisable based on the severity of the condition.
Kelly, Susan. Yoga boosts health in heart failure patients: study. Reuters Health. Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Barrow, DE, et al. (2007) An evaluation of the effects of Tai Chi Chuan and Chi Kung training in patients with symptomatic heart failure: a randomized controlled pilot study. Postgraduate Medicine Journal. 83(985): 717-21.
QiGong Exercise Helps Chronic Neck Pain
Although TaiChi and QiGong (Chee-Gong) have been used for centuries in Eastern civilizations to treat and prevent many forms of illness, there is little empirical evidence in support of their use for treating musculoskeletal pain in Western societies. A study published last month evaluated the effects of QiGong on neck pain.
Researchers in Sweden compared the effects of QiGong to traditional exercise therapy in 122 patients complaining of chronic, non-specific neck pain, 70% were women. Participants received up to 12 treatments over a period of three months. Assessments were completed both before and after treatment, and at both 6 months and 12 months post-treatment.
In the end, both QiGong and exercise therapy significantly improved outcomes at all time-lines for this group of patients. Variables experiencing improvement included: average neck pain in the most recent week, current neck pain, neck pain diary, neck disability, and cervical rotation range of motion.
Previously, both strength and endurance exercise therapy had been found to be moderately effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with chronic non-specific neck pain. Interestingly, QiGong exercise incorporates slow rhythmic movements of the whole body, whereas most traditional approaches to neck pain have involved direct isometric strength or flexibility exercise for neck pain. Future studies may address the mechanisms by which improvements are achieved via QiGong. The measurements in this study consisted of self-reports and did not document physiological change in muscle function.
Although this one study does not provide substantial evidence to change the current treatment models, rehabilitation professionals may now have a new tool to recommend to their patients for complimentary care of chronic neck pain.
Lansinger, B, et al (2007) QiGong and Exercise Therapy in Patients With Long-term Neck Pain: A Prospective Randomized Trial. Spine. 32(22):2415-2422.
Last
2 Weeks: November
Correspondence Course Sale
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