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Biomedical subjects

M A Minor

Publications and source records attributed to M A Minor.

11 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Physical fitness and work capacity in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate physical fitness and work capacity in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The 42 subjects were a subset of a prospective trial of conditioning exercise in rheumatic disease. Assignment to an exercise or nonexercise group was determined by proximity to the intervention, a 3-month supervised group exercise program. Physical fitness and work capacity were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. RESULTS: At baseline, subjects were deconditioned and limited in hand function, lifting ability, and lower extremity mobility. Only the exercise group improved their aerobic capacity and exercise tolerance. There were no significant changes in measured work capacity in either group. Moderate to strong correlations were found between aerobic capacity, mobility, hand function, and work capacity. Grip strength was a strong and consistent correlate of work capacity. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that physical capacity, particularly hand function, may be important in the complex phenomenon of work disability in RA.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

Exercise tests as outcome measures.

Outcome assessments of physical fitness attributes such as endurance, strength, and flexibility are not measured routinely in clinical trials or clinical practice in either adults or children with rheumatic diseases. Although physical fitness is not a measure of disease severity, it can be a critical indicator of capacity to function. Adequate fitness is necessary for the performance of positive health behaviors that enhance health status and wellness in spite of chronic disease. The purpose of this paper is to explore the conceptual, methodologic, and analytic issues related to the use of exercise tests as outcome measurements of physical functioning in persons with rheumatic disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Exercise in the management of osteoarthritis of the knee and hip.

Osteoarthritis OA is a disorder that confines itself to affected joints; however, impairment, functional limitation, and disability related to OA can reach far beyond the perimeters of articular cartilage and subchondral bone. OA often is compared to other arthritides and defined by what it is not: OA is not a systemic disease; OA is not a disease of primary inflammation; OA is not life threatening. Too often OA also has been considered not interesting, not important, and not responsive to conservative treatment. However, reports documenting the personal and socioeconomic impact of OA are increasing recognition of its importance [1] and recent advances in understanding its pathogenesis are stimulating research [2]. OA is characterized by specific changes in articular cartilage and subchondral bone. Cartilage shows fibrillations, increased water content, and loss of integrity. Underlying bone is less compliant and may exhibit microfractures, sclerosis, and osteophytes at joint margins [3]. These changes result in increased friction, decreased shock absorption, and greater impact loading of the joint. The traditional view of OA is that the disease process starts with an unrepaired injury to articular cartilage. There is also evidence, however, that reduced compliance in bone and periarticular structures may initiate degenerative processes [4,5]. Although radiographic evidence of joint space narrowing and osteophytes may help confirm a diagnosis of OA, the clinical criteria for classification and reporting of hip and knee OA are described in terms of pain and limitation of motion [6,7] Table 1. Radiographic and laboratory data add little to the accuracy of these criteria [6]. Moreover, there is no clear association between radiographic findings and function or pain [8].(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1994

OA-rehab: designing a personalized exercise program for people with osteoarthritis.

We describe the design of a multi-media performance support system (PSS) based on the documented benefits of a personalized exercise program for people with arthritis, on the known value of self-efficacy and stages of change, and on principles of learning theory. The poster will show examples of incorporating motivational and cognitive principles into a PSS.

Exercise Therapy↗
PubMed1993

Physical interventions in the management of pain in arthritis: an overview for research and practice.

This paper reviews arthritis-related literature on the effectiveness of a number of physical interventions to reduce pain. Original research reports as well as information from principle texts and review articles of thermal agents, topical applications, phoresis, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, cold laser, and exercise are included. Although the biophysical actions of many physical interventions are partially understood, their effects on pain and function have not been defined clearly. The results of studies of one or a combination of physical interventions were generally inconsistent and reflected a wide variety of research designs and methods. Most physical agents, used alone, had minimal effects on pain. Interventions that combined physical agents and exercise were more successful in attenuating pain and also decreasing impairment. Research and clinical experience have provided insights into appropriate selection of physical intervention and their effectiveness in achieving treatment goals in arthritis care. However, considerable investigation into the mechanisms of action, differential effects of dose, staging and treatment combinations, and the relation of pain, impairment, and function remains to be undertaken.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1989

Efficacy of physical conditioning exercise in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

A group of 120 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis volunteered to be subjects for this study of aerobic versus nonaerobic exercise. Patients were stratified by diagnosis and randomized into an exercise program of aerobic walking, aerobic aquatics, or nonaerobic range of motion (controls). The retention rate for the 12-week program was 83%. Exercise tolerance, disease-related measures, and self-reported health status were assessed. The aquatics and walking exercise groups showed significant improvement over the control group in aerobic capacity, 50-foot walking time, depression, anxiety, and physical activity after the 12-week exercise program. There were no significant between-group group differences in the change scores for flexibility, number of clinically active joints, duration of morning stiffness, or grip strength. Our findings document the feasibility and efficacy of conditioning exercise for people who have rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Exercise tolerance and disease related measures in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

One hundred and twenty patients with symptomatic rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or osteoarthritis (OA) in weight bearing joints (RA = 40; OA = 80) performed subjective maximal graded exercise tests on a motor driven treadmill. Disease related measures were also assessed. Findings from this sample indicated that people with arthritis were significantly impaired in exercise tolerance, flexibility and biomechanical efficiency. Significant differences between diagnoses appeared on a number of disease related measures; however, there was little correlation between disease related measures and exercise tolerance. Women demonstrated a greater aerobic impairment than men; and women with RA had a greater aerobic deficit than women with OA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1982

Incest and child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse was examined nationally and in the Washington, DC and Howard University Hospital area. In an attempt to describe this widespread problem, two case histories are presented which reflect some of the typical characteristics of child sexual abuse cases seen at Howard University Hospital. Pertinent literature is reviewed citing the prevalence rates and the personality and environmental factors which may contribute to the sexual abuse of children in this country. Finally, the role of the physician in identifying and treating the physical and emotional effects of child abuse are discussed.

Child↗