Metabolic Responses to a Battling Rope Protocol Performed in the Seated or Stance Positions

Heart Rate Response and Flexibility Following Single Bout of Training Using a Seated Elliptical Trainer Among Younger and Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a 30-minute activity session using a seated elliptical trainer on heart rate response, knee and ankle range of motion and satisfaction among older and younger adults. Prior to and following completing a 30-minute bout of activity using a seated elliptical trainer, each participant’s leg flexibility was assessed. During every minute of the activity, the participant’s heart rate was recorded. Following the activity, the participants reported their satisfaction with the trainer. Older participants exhibited a greater heart rate response relative to their estimated maximum heart rate during and reported greater satisfaction with the elliptical trainer compared with younger participants. Both groups increased their leg flexibility following use of the trainer. Nurses could prescribe 30 minutes of activity using a seated elliptical trainer to employees in sedentary occupations to improve cardiovascular health and leg flexibility particularly among older adults.

Clinical reasoning framework for thoracic spine exercise prescription in sport: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

BACKGROUND

The thoracic spine is critical for athletic kinetic chain functioning yet widely overlooked in terms of specific evidenced-based exercise prescription. Thoracic mobility, motor control and strength are required to optimise performance in sport and minimise excessive load/stress on other components of the kinetic chain.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and evaluate mobility, motor control, work capacity and strength thoracic exercises for use in athletes.

DESIGN

Systematic review involving expert reviewers at key stages: searches and screening (n=1), eligibility, evaluation, data extraction and evaluation (n=3). Key databases and social media sources were searched to 16 August 2019. Eligible exercises were thoracic exercises to promote mobility, motor control, work capacity and strength. A narrative synthesis enabled an outcome-based classification of exercises, with level of evidence of individual sources informing overall level of evidence for each outcome (Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine).

RESULTS

From 2348 sources (social media, database searches and other sources), 38 exercises were included. Sources included images, video clips and written descriptions of exercises. Exercises targeting all planes of motion were evaluated and classified according to outcome. Exercises comprised functional and non-functional exercises for mobility (n=9), work capacity (n=15), motor control (n=7) and strength (n=7). Overall level of evidence for each outcome was level 5.

CONCLUSION

This synthesis and evaluation of exercises has captured the scope of thoracic exercises used in 'practice'. Evaluation against an expert-derived outcome-based classification provides practitioners with a framework to facilitate exercise prescription. Evaluation of validity and effectiveness of exercises on outcomes is now required.