Cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients: Factor mixture models with continuous non-normal distributions

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A 3-arm randomized controlled trial on the effects of dance movement intervention and exercises on elderly with early dementia

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Effects of a Short-Term Dance Movement Therapy Program on Symptoms and Stress in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Randomized, Controlled, Single-Blind Trial

Context: Integrated interventions with combined elements of body movement and psychotherapy on treatment-related symptoms in cancer patients are relatively scarce. Objectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the effectiveness of dance movement therapy (DMT) on improving treatment-related symptoms in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: A total of 139 Chinese patients with breast cancer awaiting adjuvant radiotherapy were randomized to DMT or control group. The intervention included six 1.5-hour DMT sessions provided twice a week over the course of radiotherapy. Self-report measures on perceived stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, sleep disturbance, and quality of life were completed before and after the three-week program. Results: DMT showed significant effects on buffering the deterioration in perceived stress, pain severity, and pain interference (Cohen d = 0.34–0.36, P  0.05). Conclusion: The short-term DMT program can counter the anticipated worsening of stress and pain in women with breast cancer during radiotherapy.postprin

Supporting women throughout the postpartum period: marital satisfaction and their emotional health

Conference Theme: Women's Health through the Life Cycle: the Asia PerspectivesPoster Presentation: no. 2postprintThe 10th Anniversary Symposium of the Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 2-3 March 2011. In Symposium Abstract Book, 2011, p. 4

Tai-chi for residential patients with schizophrenia on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functioning: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Objective. Patients with schizophrenia residing at institutions often suffer from negative symptoms, motor, and functional impairments more severe than their noninstitutionalized counterparts. Tai-chi emphasizes body relaxation, alertness, and movement coordination with benefits to balance, focus, and stress relief. This pilot study explored the efficacy of Tai-chi on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functioning disabilities towards schizophrenia. Methods. A randomized waitlist control design was adopted, where participants were randomized to receive either the 6-week Tai-chi program and standard residential care or only the latter. 30 Chinese patients with schizophrenia were recruited from a rehabilitation residency. All were assessed on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functional disabilities at baseline, following intervention and 6 weeks after intervention. Results. Tai-chi buffered from deteriorations in movement coordination and interpersonal functioning, the latter with sustained effectiveness 6 weeks after the class was ended. Controls showed marked deteriorations in those areas. The Tai-chi group also experienced fewer disruptions to life activities at the 6-week maintenance. There was no significant improvement in negative symptoms after Tai-chi. Conclusions. This study demonstrated encouraging benefits of Tai-chi in preventing deteriorations in movement coordination and interpersonal functioning for residential patients with schizophrenia. The ease of implementation facilitates promotion at institutional psychiatric services.published_or_final_versio

The psychophysiological effects of Tai-chi and exercise in residential Schizophrenic patients: a 3-arm randomized controlled trial

Background Patients with schizophrenia are characterized by high prevalence rates and chronicity that often leads to long-term institutionalization. Under the traditional medical model, treatment usually emphasizes the management of psychotic symptoms through medication, even though anti-psychotic drugs are associated with severe side effects, which can diminish patients’ physical and psychological well-being. Tai-chi, a mind-body exercise rooted in Eastern health philosophy, emphasizes the motor coordination and relaxation. With these potential benefits, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is planned to investigate the effects of Tai-chi intervention on the cognitive and motor deficits characteristic of patients with schizophrenia. Methods/design A 3-arm RCT with waitlist control design will be used in this study. One hundred and fifty three participants will be randomized into (i) Tai-chi, (ii) exercise or (iii) waitlist control groups. Participants in both the Tai-chi and exercise groups will receive 12-weeks of specific intervention, in addition to the standard medication and care received by the waitlist control group. The exercise group will serve as a comparison, to delineate any unique benefits of Tai-chi that are independent of moderate aerobic exercise. All three groups will undergo three assessment phases: (i) at baseline, (ii) at 12 weeks (post-intervention), and (iii) at 24 weeks (maintenance). All participants will be assessed in terms of symptom management, motor coordination, memory, daily living function, and stress levels based on self-perceived responses and a physiological marker. Discussion Based on a promising pilot study conducted prior to this RCT, subjects in the Tai-chi intervention group are expected to be protected against deterioration of motor coordination and interpersonal functioning. They are also expected to have better symptoms management and lower stress level than the other treatment groups.published_or_final_versio

Effect of a qigong intervention program on telomerase activity and psychological stress in abused Chinese women: a randomized, wait-list controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Abused women, who suffer from chronic psychological stress, have been shown to have shorter telomeres than never abused women. Telomere shortening is associated with increased risk of cell death, and it is believed that adopting health-promoting behaviors can help to increase the activity of telomerase, an enzyme that counters telomere shortening. Qigong is an ancient Chinese mind-body integration, health-oriented practice designed to enhance the function of qi, an energy that sustains well-being. Therefore, an assessor-blind, randomized, wait-list controlled trial was developed to evaluate the effect of a qigong intervention on telomerase activity (primary objective) and proinflammatory cytokines, perceived stress, perceived coping, and depressive symptoms (secondary objectives) in abused Chinese women. METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 240 Chinese women, aged >/= 18 years, who have been abused by an intimate partner within the past three years will be recruited from a community setting in Hong Kong and randomized to receive either a qigong intervention or wait-list control condition as follows: the qigong intervention will comprise (i) a 2-hour group qigong training session twice a week for 6 weeks, (ii) a 1-hour follow-up group qigong exercise session once a week for 4 months, and (iii) a 30-minute self-practice qigong exercise session once a day for 5.5 months. The wait-list control group will receive qigong training after the intervention group completes the program. Upon completion of the qigong intervention program, it is expected that abused Chinese women in the intervention group will have higher levels of telomerase activity and perceived coping and lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms than will abused Chinese women in the wait-list control group. DISCUSSION: This study will provide information about the effect of qigong exercise on telomerase activity and chronic psychological stress in abused Chinese women. The findings will inform the design of interventions to relieve the effects of IPV-related psychological stress on health. Also, the concept that health-promoting behaviors could slow down cellular aging might even motivate abused women to change their lifestyles. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials NCT02060123. Registered February 6, 2014.published_or_final_versio

Whole-body angular momentum during stair ascent and descent in individuals with and without knee osteoarthritis

Given the higher fall risk and the fatal sequelae of falls on stairs, it is worthwhile to investigate the mechanism of dynamic balance control in individuals with knee osteoarthritis during stair negotiation. Whole-body angular momentum ($$\:\overrightarrow{H}$$) is widely used as a surrogate to reflect dynamic balance and failure to constrain $$\:\overrightarrow{H}$$ may increase the fall risk. This study aimed to compare the range of $$\:\overrightarrow{H}$$ between people with and without knee osteoarthritis during stair ascent and descent. Seven participants with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis and eight asymptomatic controls were instructed to ascend and descend an instrumented staircase at a fixed cadence. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected and range of $$\:\overrightarrow{H}$$ in sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes were computed. The knee osteoarthritis group exhibited greater $$\:\overrightarrow{H}$$ in the sagittal plane during both stair ascent (P = 0.005, Cohen’s d = 1.7) and descent (P = 0.020, Cohen’s d = 1.3) as well as in the transverse plane during stair descent (P = 0.015, Cohen’s d = 1.3), than the control group. These observations may be explained by greater hip flexion (P  1.12) and reduced knee flexion moment (P P = 0.038, Cohen’s d=-1.2) during stair descent, in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. No significant difference in frontal plane $$\:\overrightarrow{H}$$ was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Individuals with knee osteoarthritis exhibited greater whole-body angular momentum during stair negotiation when compared to asymptomatic controls. Our findings may provide mechanistic rationale for a greater fall risk among people with knee osteoarthritis.This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors

Validation and reliability of the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly in Chinese population

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The role of tibialis posterior fatigue on foot kinematics during walking

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of localised tibialis posterior muscle fatigue on foot kinematics during walking. It was hypothesised that following fatigue, subjects would demonstrate greater forefoot and rearfoot motion during walking. It was also postulated that the magnitude of the change in rearfoot motion would be associated with standing anatomical rearfoot posture.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-nine subjects underwent an exercise fatigue protocol aimed at reducing the force output of tibialis posterior. An eight camera motion analysis system was used to evaluate 3D foot kinematics during treadmill walking both pre- and post-fatigue. The anatomical rearfoot angle was measured during standing prior to the fatigue protocol using a goniometer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Peak rearfoot eversion remained unchanged following the fatigue protocol. Although increases in rearfoot eversion excursion were observed following fatigue, these changes were of a magnitude of questionable clinical significance (<1.0°). The magnitude of the change in rearfoot eversion due to fatigue was not associated with the anatomical measurement of standing rearfoot angle. No substantial changes in forefoot kinematics were observed following the fatigue protocol.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data indicate that reduced force output of the tibialis posterior muscle did not alter rearfoot and forefoot motion during gait. The anatomical structure of the rearfoot was not associated with the dependence of muscular activity that an individual requires to maintain normal rearfoot kinematics during gait.</p