560 research outputs found
Voluntary Activation of the Knee Extensors in Chronic Poststroke Subjects.
No full textMiller M, Flansbjer U-B, Lexell J: Voluntary activation of the knee extensors in chronic poststroke subjects. OBJECTIVE:: To assess the extent to which knee extensor muscle weakness in subjects with chronic mild to moderate poststroke hemiparesis is caused by a decreased voluntary activation. DESIGN:: Forty community dwelling and ambulant men and women (mean age, 59.8 +/- 5.5 yrs) with residual hemiparesis (19.2 +/- 8.5 mos poststroke) were tested. Torque measurements were performed on a computerized dynamometer and the superimposed electrical stimulation technique was used to assess voluntary activation of the knee extensors in both the paretic and the nonparetic lower limbs. RESULTS:: The mean voluntary activation ratio of the knee extensors in the nonparetic and paretic leg was 0.97 +/- 0.04 and 0.86 +/- 0.13, respectively. Subjects who had a greater relative weakness, implying a more pronounced poststroke impairment, also had lower voluntary activation ratios. The mean percentage difference in total torque between the nonparetic and the paretic knee extensors after the electrical stimulation was 36.4% +/- 17.0%. CONCLUSIONS:: Paretic knee extensor muscle weakness in chronic poststroke subjects is only partially explained by a reduced voluntary activation ability, indicating that other neuromuscular structural or functional factors contribute to poststroke hemiparetic muscle weakness
No Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Muscle Strength and Gait Performance in Persons With Late Effects of Polio: A Pilot Study.
No full textBrogårdh C, Flansbjer U-B, Lexell J. No effects of whole-body vibration training on muscle strength and gait performance in people with late effects of polio: a pilot study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and possible effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on muscle strength and gait performance in people with late effects of polio. DESIGN: A case-controlled pilot study with assessments before and after training. SETTING: A university hospital rehabilitation department. PARTICIPANTS: People (N=5; 3 men, 2 women; mean age, 64+/-6.7y; range, 55-71y) with clinically and electrophysiologically verified late effects of polio. INTERVENTIONS: All participants underwent 10 sessions of supervised WBV training (standing with knees flexed 40 degrees -55 degrees up to 60 seconds per repetition and 10 repetitions per session twice weekly for 5 weeks). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Isokinetic and isometric knee muscle strength (dynamometer), and gait performance (Timed Up & Go, Comfortable Gait Speed, Fast Gait Speed, and six-minute walk tests). RESULTS: All participants completed the 5 weeks of WBV training, with no discernible discomfort. No significant changes in knee muscle strength or gait performance were found after the WBV training period. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study did not show any significant improvements in knee muscle strength and gait performance following a standard protocol of WBV training. Thus, the results do not lend support to WBV training for people with late effects of polio
Evidence for nervous system degeneration with advancing age
No full textHuman skeletal muscle undergoes major structural and functional changes with advancing age. A progressive degeneration of the nervous system is now considered a major factor underlying these alterations. This review will briefly describe the changes that occur in the human motor unit with increasing age and focus specifically on the changes that relate to a degeneration of the nervous system
No Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Training on Muscle Strength and Gait Performance in Persons With Late Effects of Polio: A Pilot Study. [Elektronisk resurs]
No full textBrogårdh C, Flansbjer U-B, Lexell J. No effects of whole-body vibration training on muscle strength and gait performance in people with late effects of polio: a pilot study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and possible effects of whole-body vibration (WBV) training on muscle strength and gait performance in people with late effects of polio. DESIGN: A case-controlled pilot study with assessments before and after training. SETTING: A university hospital rehabilitation department. PARTICIPANTS: People (N=5; 3 men, 2 women; mean age, 64+/-6.7y; range, 55-71y) with clinically and electrophysiologically verified late effects of polio. INTERVENTIONS: All participants underwent 10 sessions of supervised WBV training (standing with knees flexed 40 degrees -55 degrees up to 60 seconds per repetition and 10 repetitions per session twice weekly for 5 weeks). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Isokinetic and isometric knee muscle strength (dynamometer), and gait performance (Timed Up & Go, Comfortable Gait Speed, Fast Gait Speed, and six-minute walk tests). RESULTS: All participants completed the 5 weeks of WBV training, with no discernible discomfort. No significant changes in knee muscle strength or gait performance were found after the WBV training period. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study did not show any significant improvements in knee muscle strength and gait performance following a standard protocol of WBV training. Thus, the results do not lend support to WBV training for people with late effects of polio
Twitter - Ett hållbart komplement till den allmänna marknadsföringen hos fastighetsmäklarbyråer?
No full textABSTRACT Titel Twitter – Ett hållbart komplement till den allmänna marknadsföringen hos fastighetsmäklarbyråer? Nivå C- uppsats i Företagsekonomi Författare Lisette Lexell & Johan Wirtz Handledare Jonas Kågström Datum 2012 – Maj Syfte Syftet med denna uppsats är att få en klarare bild av hur fastighetsmäklarbyråers användning av det sociala nätverket Twitter ser ut, vad deras syfte med användningen är och vilken grupp av människor de vänder sig till. Vi vill få svar på om Twitter fungerar som ett hållbart komplement till den allmänna marknadsföringen hos fastighetsmäklarbyråerna. Metod Kvalitativa intervjuer med relevanta personer på fastighetsmäklarbyråer, som idag har konton på Twitter, har genomförts för att kunna undersöka och jämföra befintliga och obefintliga strategier för användning av byråernas Twitter-konton. En analys med programvaran Gephi har utförts där pluginet Retweet Monitor kartlägger spridningen av retweets vid en specifik #hashtag. En kvantitativ enkät med syfte att identifiera fastighetsmäklarbyråernas followers, har också genomförts. Resultat och slutsats Denna studie resulterade i att Twitter kan vara ett hållbart komplement till den allmänna marknadsföringen hos fastighetsmäklarbyråer, om kanalen används på rätt sätt. En modell skapades för att kartlägga hur fastighetsmäklarbyråerna kan och använder sig av Twitter. Förslag på vidare forskning Ett intresse skapades under arbetets gång om hur en strategi för fastighetsmäklarbyråer på Twitter kan utformas. Detta kan ses som ett förslag till vidare forskning. Med Gephi och Retweet Monitor finns stora möjligheter till vidare forskning av byråernas Twitter-konton och dess followers. Uppsatsen bidrag Uppsatsen kartlägger fastighetsmäklarbyråernas aktivitet på Twitter och detta kan ligga till grund vid eventuellt framtagande av en strategi i framtiden. Nyckelord Twitter, Fastighetsmäklarbyrå, Marknadsföring, GephiTitle Twitter – A sustainable supplement to the general marketing of real estate agencies? Level Final assignment for Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Author Lisette Lexell & Johan Wirtz Supervisor Jonas Kågström Date 2012 – May Aim The purpose of this thesis is to get a clearer view of how real estate agencies using the social netwok Twitter, what their purpose of the usage are and what group of people they turn to. We want to find out whether Twitter works as a substainable complement to the general marketing for real estate agencies. Method Qualitative interviews with relevant people in real estate agencies, which currently have accounts on Twitter, have been conducted to examine and compare existing and nonexistent strategies for use of the agencies Twitter accounts. An analysis of the software Gephi has been done where the plugin Retweet Monitor charts the spread of retweets at a specific #hashtag. A quantitative survey designed to identify real estate agencies followers, has also been conducted. Result & Conclusions This study resulted in that Twitter can be substainable complement to the general marketing för real estate agencies if the platform is used proberly. We also created a model that maps out how real estate agencies can and make use of Twitter. Suggestions for future research An interest was created during the process of how a strategy for real estate agencies on Twitter can be designed. We see this as a proposal for further research. With Gephi and Retweet Monitor, we see great opportunities for further research of the agencies Twitter accounts, and its followers. Contribution of the thesis In this thesis we have identifies the real estate agencies activity on Twitter and this could be the basis for possible establishment of a strategy in the future. Key words Twitter, Real estate agency, Marketing, Geph
Human aging, muscle mass, and fiber type composition
No full textTo assess the age-related loss of muscle mass and to determine the mechanisms behind this aging atrophy, the muscle structure and fiber type composition have been estimated, using invasive and noninvasive techniques. Limb muscles from older men and women are 25-35% smaller and have significantly more fat and connective tissue than limb muscles from younger individuals. Comparisons of muscle biopsies from younger and older individuals reveal that type 2 (fast-twitch) fibers are smaller in the old, while the size of type 1 (slow-twitch) fibers is much less affected. Studies of whole muscle cross sections also show a significantly smaller number of muscle fibers, a significantly lower relative type 2 fiber area, and a significant increase in fiber type grouping with increasing age. These results indicate a gradual decrease in size/volume with advancing age, accompanied by a replacement by fat and connective tissue. This aging atrophy seems to be due to a reduction in both number and size of muscle fibers, mainly of type 2, and is to some extent caused by a slowly progressive neurogenic process</p
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