Active clinical trials for "Fatigue"

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) can be identified as the muscular pain that occurs due to intense use of skeletal muscle through exercise or other activities performed intense enough or long enough to cause minor damage(Cheung et al., 2003). DOMS usually begins to show symptoms 24 hours post-activity, becomes most intense 48-72 hours post-activity and can sometimes last up to 5-10 days in ordinary cases(Cheung et al., 2003; Dutto and Braun 2004). Typical less severe cases still can cause an individual to alter proper movement mechanics - this alteration in mechanics can lead to the further injuring of the involved or compensating skeletal muscle tissues and the associated joints and skeletal structures. DOMS-related muscular pain can lead to functional deficits and altered movement mechanics that can lead to a greater risk of further injury or sources of pain. The body does this by trying to avoid the initial source of pain by adopting some form of compensation (such as a limp when walking) which may help reduce pain at the initial source but lead to another source of pain or risk injury at another joint or limb. DOMS is a common complaint of many runners from novice to expert and due to the increased forces in running, a compensatory pattern in walking is exaggerated in running and can affect the compensating structures to an even greater extent, further increasing the risk of injury. Biofreeze®, a topical analgesic, is used to block the pain signal from the affected structures to the brain when applied to muscles experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness. Blocking the pain signal from DOMS should allow an individual to restore their natural movement mechanics. The purpose of this study is to assess the interaction between Biofreeze® and delayed onset muscle soreness and how it affects movement mechanics and muscle function. Hypothesis: The application of a topical analgesic (Biofreeze®) on muscles experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) will increase force production and return running biomechanics to pre-DOMS values.

Postcancer fatigue (PCF) is a frequently occurring, severe and invalidating problem, impairing quality of life. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) also suffer from severe fatigue symptoms. Although it is possible to effectively treat CFS, the nature of the underlying physiology remains unclear. The presence of an underlying immunological problem has been suggested as an explanation for PCF and CFS. The aim of this study is to compare the humoral and cellular immune responses upon influenza vaccination in PCF patients, CFS patients, non-fatigued cancer survivors, and healthy controls. PCF (n=20) and CFS patients (n=20) will be vaccinated against influenza. Age and gender matched non-fatigued cancer survivors (n=20) and healthy controls (n=20) will be included for comparison. Antibody responses will be measured at baseline and at day 21 by a hemagglutination inhibition test. T cell responses will be measured at baseline and at day 7 by lymphocyte proliferation, activation, and cytokine secretion.

The purpose of this study is to determine which substances in cocoa produces changes in mental energy. This is a double blind study. The primary outcome measures are performance on tasks of sustained attention (serial subtract, continuous performance test and Bakan task) at pre and 90, 120 and 160 minutes post intervention, energy and fatigue symptoms (profile of mood state), and ratings of motivation to perform cognitive tasks. The assigned interventions are the following:

Objectives of this Multicentre, double-blind study versus placebo were to evaluate impact and safety of the daily administration of Extramel® 140 IU SOD for 12 weeks on perceived stress, physical and intellectual fatigue, pain perception, if present, and the impact on the quality of life of 70 subjects included with 60 that can be evaluated.

Being diagnosed and treated for cancer is usually associated with severe side effects and symptoms. Cancer patients can have difficulty to manage the symptoms as a result of treatment which may cause i) an interruption or cessation of cancer treatment ii) can have a negative impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). Family caregivers (FCs) of cancer patients are often the primary source of social and emotional support for patients, and play major roles in how well patients manage with the consequences of illness and treatment. Thus, FCs are clinically important, since supporting FCs indirectly supports patients. To help both cancer patients and their FCs to manage their symptoms, our center has developed WebChoice now called Connect, an internet based support system that extends traditional health services into cancer patients' homes. Connect provides individualized symptom management support, illness relevant information, and communication with a clinical nurse specialist in cancer care, as well as with other cancer patients and their FCs over the Internet. The objectives of this interdisciplinary research project are to test main and interaction effects of providing Connect to patients, to FCs or both simultaneously on 1) primary patient outcomes in terms of symptom distress, QoL, depression, fatigue and sleep 2) Primary FC outcomes in terms of symptom distress, QoL, depression, fatigue, sleep and FC burden 3) Secondary, or intermediate, patient and FC outcomes in terms of self-efficacy social support, and self-reported health care utilization.

The purpose of the research is to test the efficacy of a patient-controlled cognitive-behavioral intervention for pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance during cancer treatment, and to evaluate moderators and mediators of intervention effects. The intervention uses guided imagery, relaxation exercises, and nature sound recordings, self-administered via an MP3 player. The study will determine (1) if the intervention helps to control symptoms during chemotherapy, (2) if personal and clinical characteristics influence how well the intervention works, and (3) if the cognitive-behavioral strategies reduce markers of stress and inflammation found in blood and saliva.

The purpose of this study is to validate the acceptability, operational feasibility and efficacy of a combined fatigue countermeasure comprised of shorter-wavelength light and exercise during operational Orbit 1 night shifts to improve alertness and performance of flight mission controllers. Specifically, the investigators will: Feasibility. Test the feasibility of developing a break room containing fatigue countermeasures (shorter-wavelength light and exercise equipment) to be used by flight mission controllers during Orbit 1 night shifts, and the feasibility to schedule regular breaks during the Orbit 1 shift so that flight mission controllers have the opportunity to use the fatigue countermeasures break room. Acceptability. Test the acceptability of the use of the fatigue countermeasures break room evaluating when and how the room is used by flight mission controllers, as measured on End-of-Shift Productivity Questionnaire. Test the hypothesis that alertness and performance will be impaired in flight mission controllers during Orbit 1 operational night shifts as compared to flight mission controllers working a non-console day shift. Test the hypothesis that alertness and performance of flight mission controllers who exercise and are exposed to shorter wavelength light during the Orbit 1 night shift will be significantly more alert and have better mood, performance (e.g., less Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT) lapses, increased productivity) than those same mission controllers working Orbit 1 night shifts without exposure to the shorter wavelength light and exercise. Test the acceptability, operational feasibility and efficacy of implementing an anonymous sleep disorders screening for flight controllers, evaluated by number of visitors to the screening web site and the number of completed assessments.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating condition of unknown etiology. Recent studies have shown that CFS is associated with impaired cellular energetics and low levels of phosphocreatine. Since guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) acts as a highly bioavailable precursor of creatine it may provide an ideal dietary supplement to facilitate treatment and perhaps prevention of CFS. The overall hypothesis to be evaluated is that medium-term supplementation with GAA will improve clinical outcomes in well-defined adult CFS patients via augmented provision of creatine. Specific aims: (1) To determine the effects of GAA on CFS symptomatology using a fatigue severity inventory, soreness of locomotive apparatus scales, and a health-related quality of life survey; (2) To determine the effect of GAA on creatine metabolism using laboratory studies and magnetic resonance spectroscopy; (3) To characterize the physiological effects of GAA on work capacity via actigraphy and exercise performance tests; and (4); To determine the prevalence of subjectively reported side-effects and biochemical adverse events associated with GAA intervention.

RATIONALE: Cranial microcurrent electrical stimulation (CES) is mild electrical current received through electrodes placed on the earlobes. CES may lessen symptoms in women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy. It is not yet known whether CES is more effective than sham therapy in reducing symptoms caused by chemotherapy in women with breast cancer. PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying mild electrical stimulation to see how well it works compared with sham therapy in reducing symptoms caused by chemotherapy in women with stage I, stage II, or stage IIIA breast cancer receiving chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Sleep disorder counseling may reduce fatigue and insomnia as well as improve the well-being and quality of life of cancer survivors. Armodafinil may help relieve insomnia and fatigue in patients with cancer after chemotherapy. PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying how well cognitive behavioral therapy with or without armodafinil works in treating cancer survivors with insomnia and fatigue after chemotherapy.