Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Improve Fatigue and Cognitive Function
Breast CancerFatigueThis research is being done to determine whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve fatigue and certain thinking skills in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation is a form of brain stimulation during which low amounts of electrical current are delivered to the brain using electrodes attached to the scalp. The idea of using electrical stimulation to affect neurological symptoms has been around for more than 100 years with the first reported use in 1801. Since the 1960s, tDCS has been used in research for a variety of reasons including stroke rehabilitation, memory enhancement and for depression. People aged 18 or older who are currently receiving chemotherapy with docetaxel and who are experiencing fatigue may join.
Fatigue Induced by Overground Wheelchair Propulsion in Persons With a Spinal Cord Injury: Upper...
Spinal Cord InjuriesFatigue; Muscle1 moreWhat are the implications of wheelchair propulsion-induced fatigue for the development of shoulder pain and how can this knowledge improve prevention programs? With this project, the "Shoulder Health and Mobility group" of the Swiss Paraplegic Research in Nottwil (Switzerland) wants to investigate how fatigue during wheelchair propulsion affects risk factors for shoulder pain of persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI). The investigators want to find out how the handrim wheelchair propulsion technique changes with fatigue and want to define persons who are susceptible to fatigue. Getting life back after a SCI will most likely occur with the help of a wheelchair, whether it is at the beginning of rehabilitation or throughout further life. Gaining back mobility and participation in social life is important, also because of the multiple positive effects of physical activity on person's health and self-esteem, preventing several chronic diseases. Therefore, it is needed to try to stay away from shoulder injuries. Since the shoulder is very mobile and thus unstable, the joint is at increased risk for injuries. This is reflected in the high amount of persons with a SCI having shoulder pain (between 30 to 70 %). Once pain or an injury occurred, it is hard to recover, as so far no effective treatment is available. Several factors as gender, weight, age, level and completeness of the SCI, movement patterns and muscle strength were found to be related with injury and pain. However, it is currently not well understood what exactly causes shoulder injuries. Handrim wheelchair propulsion is an inefficient mode of propulsion and asks a lot of demands to the upper body. Because of the inefficient movement and the shoulder being prone to injuries, wheelchair propulsion has a high chance of inducing shoulder injuries and pain. Propelling with a technique minimizing the loads on the shoulders and improving the capacity to perform these movements (as increasing muscle strength) is of utmost importance as these factors can be modified by training. Previous intervention programs have learned wheelchair users to propel with long and smooth strokes aiming to reduce the loads. Although someone might be aware of the recommended techniques and can apply them, propulsion technique might change with fatigue and could become less optimal. A similar phenomena happens for example in landing strategies from a jump. In a fresh state, persons will try to have a stable landing reducing the impact on the lower limbs. With fatigue, however, there will be a tendency to forget about the proper landing technique which on its turn can increase the risk of injuries. This was suggested to be one of the reasons why there is an increased prevalence of injuries towards the end of a game. So far, it is unclear how fatigue alters propulsion technique and how these changes are related with an increased risk of shoulder pain. Tis project aims to achieve the goals by investigating how very strenuous wheelchair propulsion (fatigue intervention) of 15 minutes alters the propulsion technique of 50 persons with a SCI. All participants will perform the fatigue protocol in the movement analysis lab at the Swiss Paraplegic Research. During the protocol, participants will be requested to perform as many 8 loops as possible with their wheelchairs, including starts, stops, and right and left turns. Before and after the protocol, movement patterns, muscle usage and loads during wheelchair propulsion and the characteristics of the shoulder muscle tendons during rest will be assessed. Furthermore, the person's characteristics, such as weight, age, gender, time since injury, injury level, health conditions, use of medication, muscle strength and activity levels will be assessed. All these factors might be associated with the susceptibility to fatigue. To answer our questions, we will first compare the propulsion technique (movement patterns, loads, and muscle usage) before and after the protocol to investigate the direct effect of fatigue. Secondly, we will investigate the association of negative changes in tendon appearance (which has been related to injury) with the changes in the propulsion technique to investigate the implications of acute changes that might increase the risk of injury. Finally we will run a model including all variables to determine which person's characteristics are associated with an increased susceptibility to fatigue. The results will be highly relevant as it will give answers about the content, the aims and the target population of prevention programs for shoulder injury, aiming to improve mobility, participation, and quality of life in persons with SCI.
The Effect of Mental Fatigue on Lower Limb Functional Performance Tests and Brain Activity in a...
Mental FatigueReturn to Sport3 moreObjective of the study The main objectives of this project are: To assess the influence of mental fatigue on a return-to-play test battery in healthy population To assess the influence of mental fatigue on brain functioning during a balance and reaction time task in healthy population In a later stage, these experiments could be carried out in a clinical context (e.g. in an ankle sprain population). The researchers will use a randomized, placebo controlled, counter-balanced, cross-over design. Thirteen healthy subjects will visit the lab 3 times. On the first visit (familiarisation trial), the investigators will collect the participants' characteristics. The participants will also be familiarized to the procedures and materials of the experiment during this first visit. The second and third visit contain the experimental setup and will proceed as follows: first, the participants will fill in a mental fatigue scale (M-VAS) and motivation scale. Next, the subjects will carry out a functional test battery (hop test, vertical jump test, Y-balance test, and a balance reaction-time test). Session rate of perceived exertion (RPE) is measured to indicate how fatigued the participants feel because of the test battery; also, M-VAS is collected once more. Then, a short cognitive task (Flanker task) is followed by either a long intensive cognitive task (90 minutes Stroop task) or control task (90 minutes documentary). Afterwards, participants have to carry out the Flanker task, fill in M-VAS (2x), perform the same test battery, fill in session RPE and one final fatigue scale (Nasa TLX). Heart frequency and EEG will be measured continuously during the trials.
MicroRNAs as Biomarkers of Pain Intensity in Patients With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)MicroRNAs were shown to play an important role in regulating pain-processing in a wide range of experimental models and clinical pain disorders. Thus, the aim of the present study is to evaluate a set of Micro-RNAs as diagnostic biomarkers of pain intensity in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and to correlate with inflammatory markers and pain related comorbidities.
Effects of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Capacity, Inflammatory...
AthleteThe aims of the study are 1) to compare the differences in plasma coenzyme Q10, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, muscle impairment, fatigue recovery, and inflammation and exercise performances in athletes (i.e., soccer, and taekwondo players) and healthy non-athletes; 2) to investigate the relationship between plasma coenzyme Q10, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, muscle impairment, fatigue recovery, and inflammation and exercise performances; 3) to explore the influence on plasma coenzyme Q10, oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, muscle impairment, fatigue recovery, and inflammation and exercise performances after 12 weeks of coenzyme Q10 intervention (150 mg/day and 300 mg/day).
Fatigue and Exercise Training in Patients With Sarcoidosis
SarcoidosisFatigueThe aims of the current study is to explore if different exercise training protocols affect fatigue post-exercise, and if sarcoidosis-related fatigue and maximal and sub-maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) variables change after a 4-weeks exercise training period.
Regulation of KATP Channels and Na+/K+ ATPase in Relation to Fatigue Development
Insulin ResistanceTo investigate the role of ATP sensitive K+ potassium channels and the Na+/K+ pump in the development of fatigue in healthy and in insulin resistant subjects.
Muscle Fatigue in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple SclerosisIt is stated that 85% of patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) complain of gait disorders and 35-90% of them have fatigue. Many factors play a role in the fatigue mechanism in MS patients. Fatigue can increase the symptoms that already exist in MS patients. It is thought that fatigue caused a decrease in muscle strength, making walking worse. There are not enough studies investigating whether fatigue affects gait parameters in MS patients. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of muscle fatigue on muscle strength, joint position sensation, and gait in MS patients.
Investigation of Fatigue, Physical Activity, Sleep Quality and Anxiety Levels
Multiple SclerosisCovid-19Hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases have been reported worldwide, just 3 months after the first patients were identified in Wuhan, China. Just like other members of the community, MS patients are uncomfortable with the emotional distress and health anxiety caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. Most MS patients receive immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory therapies. Patients taking immunosuppressive agents are theoretically at increased risk of being affected by viral pandemics, and a higher health concern is expected in this group of patients. Moreover, MS patients lose social support. Patients with increased duration of stay can no longer access physical and cognitive rehabilitation therapies. We also know that increased anxiety and sleep disorders can cause MS patients to have an attack. When literature is examined, it is known that MS patients' physical activity levels decrease, fatigue, sleep quality and anxiety levels increase, so their quality of life and participation in daily life activities decrease. MS patients lose social support during the COVID-19 outbreak. For all these reasons, we think that the fatigue, physical activity level, anxiety level and sleep disturbances affected before the COVID-19 outbreak will be further affected for these reasons.
Physiological Responses to Maximal 4-s Sprint Interval Cycling
ExerciseCardiovascular Function2 moreThe optimal recovery duration depends on the intensity of exercise and in the present study the intensity was maximal power for 4-s while cycling an 'Inertial Load' ergometer (ILE). Recovery duration of 15, 30 and 45-s were given between 30 successive sprints.